💔
As an album it's a tough listen; a drunken, shambolic affair that was recorded with a pretty loose assembly of musicians in the wake of the deaths of two of Neil's close friends (one his guitarist, one his longtime roadie) from drug ODs.
But this version of "World On A String" comes from his super-underrated "Unplugged" album (1993) and there's enough distance between the original 1973 recording sessions and a 90s world that appreciated "Uncle Neil" as a grunge forebear to appreciate it for what it is: "I have fame, I have dough, I have a ranch, it don't matter, my friends are gone." Pure heartfelt lament.
Apr 2, 2024
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It’s kinda ugly but I love this album. My friend gave me this record before he died and it’s just my favorite.
Aug 23, 2024
Really good neil song that I don't know if I had heard before but I heard it in a coffee shop the other day and loved it!
Jun 6, 2025
A little overlooked and a little maligned as being part of that period in Bob’s career (starting after the motorcycle incident) where he ended his streak of revolutionary albums (that had his contemporaries in a constant chokehold from ‘63-‘66), and instead began turning inwards; a little more pastoral, a little more run-down and homey. Whatever, he could’ve stopped after Visions of Johanna, anything after is a blessing. It pains me when people treat this as pedestrian or unessential music. Close to John Wesley Harding in sound and aesthetic but more honest and not as interested in folk-mythmaking. This is like his McCartney, total domestic bliss and joie de vivre. Sign On The Window is my favourite.
Hopefully gets some reappraisal after Timmy covered Three Angels on SNL.
Feb 10, 2025
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The man responsible for dozens of Teenage Symphonies to God
"Sad songs about happy things" (the first time, as a kid, I can recall the sweet/sour combo of melodies that could make you cry attached to songs about endless, bottomless love)
I've long since lost track of how many weddings and funerals I've attended that have featured this song; suffice it to say, "a lot."
God only knows what we'd been without him 🙏🏻
4d ago
May 22, 2025
Hey tyler hopefully this doesn’t violate some PI.FYI golden rule
But after nearly two years of writing, editing and arguing, my book about the EP is coming out in May and can be preordered here:
https://hozacrecords.com/product/aifl/
The book is about the origins, history and cultural impact of the EP since these little objects first started coming out in the 50s.
Over 50 of my music biz friends then helped me shape the list and review the top 200 ever released, according to us (ha).
For those of you who are into this kind of geekery/snobbery, I can’t wait to hear what you think. A labor of love, as all books are! ❤️
Mar 27, 2024