Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, Neil Young with Crazy Horse, 1969

For me this album, which I had NEVER heard before this year, is four songs. But what songs!

“Cinnamon Girl,” “Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere,” “Down By the River,” and “Cowgirl in the Sand.”

I fell in love with the four instantly. The music sounds as fresh as today.

 Since I am listening to this on Spotify and it does not have the musician credits, here they are: 

 Neil Young:  guitar, harmonica, vocals
 Danny Whitten (1943-72): guitar, vocals
 Billy Talbot:  bass
 Ralph Molina:  drums, vocals
 Bobby Notkoff: violin “Running Dry”
 Robin Lane: vocals “Round and Round”

Whitten is largely reponsible for the sound of this album. He was a heroin addict and was the inspiration for "The Needle and the Damage Done" on Harvest.

The Academy In Peril, John Cale, 1972

File under discoveries. I can recommend this album without reservation. The music is beautiful and thoughtful. Cale has a sense of humor about himself and it shows here. The academy is in peril because the rockers have invaded it (the very thing that might blow a little fresh air into the old place). Not sure who Cale thought would be the audience for this. That’s the trouble with classicists.