Fred Neil-The Many Sides Of (2CD), folky singer/songwriter

Before Bob Dylan became the poster boy for the 60's Folk Revival, the undisputed king of the Greenwich Village scene was the late Fred Neil. Its said a worshipful Dylan used to carry his guitar & Neil occasionally let the newcomer from Minnesoata sit in on harmonica.

But Neil proved reluctant to embrace the fame Dylan so wryly made a side-show of. He hated performing live & at the time of Harry Nilsson's hit with, "Everybody's Talkin'" the song's author turned his back on it all & headed South to Florida. where he remained in obscurity till his death in 2002. He reportedly last performed sometime in the 70's.

Along with the classic, BLEECKER & MACDOUGAL, this collection is all you need. The first thing that will strike you is that voice. Johnny Cash laced with Sinatra. A deep, gravelly baritone. Able to plumb the darkest depths or fleetingly rise above it all. His 12-string playing is just as formidable. A sort of Folk, Jazz infused Raga as evidenced on "Cynicrustpetefredjohn".

Though "Everybody's Talkin'" was a major hit, Neil's "Dolphins" remains the most covered. The best known being those by Beth Orton & Jeff Buckley. As for Neil's original, it has a haunting, dream-like quality. As if he were difting in eye of a storm whose chaos is spinning out of control around him.

As for Neil's version of "Everybody's Talkin'". I prefer it to Nilsson's MIDNIGHT COWBOY version. Spare & slowed down the songs' true meaning comes out. It still carries a breeziness, but less busy & forced, allowing the dark undercurrent to hit home. Without out a doubt, one the most understated songs about heroin addiction ever written. Something Neil alledgedly knew 1st hand & which eventually lead to his abdicating New York in an effort to get clean.

Other highlights include "Sugaree" and the wry pessimism of "Bag I'm In". This collection also features the SESSIONS album which is more rambling & unfocused but still full of captivating moments like "Rosie" & "Merry-Go-Round" ( featuring a dark segue into Leadbelly's "In The Pines").

Disc 2 contains live material & rarities. "You Don't Miss Your Water" features a duet with none other than a young Gram Parsons & there's another gem in an unreleased cover of "December's Dream".

I have to confess, I've never been a fan of the whole 60's coffee house Folk thing. The Weavers, Kingston Trio, Peter Paul & Mary. It's enough to make me cringe. Same goes for the whole Phil Ochs political/protest singer thing. Unlike his contemporaries, Neil seemed determined to remain far from the maddening crowd of protests & marches. Yet his music seems to reflect the price one pays for running away from it all. A quality which makes him timeless.(Amazon Review)