Posted November 29, 2022

Neil Young: Harvest Time
Neil Young
Studio: Shakey Pictures, Trafalgar Releasing & Warner Records
Show Time: December 1, 2022
Select Encores: December 4, 2022

It will come as no surprise (or, at least, it shouldn’t) that Boomerocity watches a lot of documentaries about artists and bands near and dear to baby boomer’s hearts. So, when Boomerocity was invited to an advance screening/streaming of “Neil Young: Harvest Time,” we were both honored and excited to participate.

The documentary was filmed in the first nine months of 1971. Neil was 20-something years . . . well, Young. He was neck deep in the “Harvest Barn” sessions that were taking place at his Broken Arrow Ranch in Northern California. Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the release of Neil’s “Harvest” album, much of the footage of the doc was filmed there as well as in Nashville where he worked on some of the tracks from the album. There is also some interesting footage shot in London were recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra.

Fans will love watching the behind-the-scenes rehearsals and performances of songs that would later be released on his Harvest album the following year (1972). I know I felt that I was a fly on the wall listening to iconic songs like “Heart of Gold,” “Old Man,” “Alabama,” and “A Man Needs A Maid” as if I was getting to hear them before the rest of the world got to and became a part of a body of work that publishing behemoth, Hipgnosis, reportedly paid $150 million for fifty-percent ownership.

Ah! The beauty of capitalism.

Photo by Henry DiltzWhat I think is especially cool is that there isn’t much – if any – voice over chatter guiding the viewer through what is going on through the course of the film.

I don’t know about y’all, but I really love hearing musicians talk amongst themselves about creating their work. Yes, the temperament that Young gradually became noted for is displayed just a little bit. Such is the typical artist temperament.

A special treat in the film is watching Neil, Graham Nash, and Stephen Stills singing “Words (Between the Lines of Age). To Click Above To Order Your Box Setwitness the three legends hone their craft to record this amazing tune is worth the price of admission entirely on its own.

It's that cool.

I watched the documentary on my computer. I’d love to see it on the big screen and encourage you to do so if you’re fortunate enough to have a screening in a town or burg near you. This, of course, will get us good and ready to get the package deal that will become available December 2nd in the form of a 50th Anniversary Edition Box Set on vinyl, CD, and DVD. That’s a must have collection for the serious Neil Young fan, for sure, so be on the lookout for it.

Click here to find a theater featuring Neil Young: Harvest Time.