Neil Young--Not too bright eh?

[Steve]

Heh Heh. I thought the music was pretty good on Living With war. One sounds like Chimes of Freedom.

Shots rules.

I like the T-Bone song too.

Not sure I hear his vocals being any different than what theyve been the last 20 years or so,dino.

[dino]

because in the last 20 years was already fucked up

[manho]

The truth about Rod Stewart's rock'n'roll lifestyle

Tim Dowling
Thursday October 25, 2007
Guardian

In an era when middle-aged men unashamedly purchase electric guitars in hopes of recapturing a lost youth much cooler than the one they actually lost, how does the older professional rock star, for whom a vintage Fender Stratocaster is just one more deductible business expense, salve his weary soul? For Rod Stewart, the answer is: model railways.

Those men who are about to look up from their newspapers and say, "If you ever catch me playing with a toy train set, please shoot me," should be advised to hold their tongues, for one never knows what one will get up to past the age of 50, the traditional threshold of unembarrassability. It's unlikely that Rod himself, in his early days with the Faces, ever imagined that he would one day own and operate a 1500sq ft, 1:87 scale model of Grand Central Station and environs (circa 1940), complete with 5ft skyscrapers and 9,000 feet of track. Nor, perhaps, would he picture it appearing on the front cover of a popular model railway enthusiasts' magazine, or himself saying, "It means more to me to be on the cover of Model Railroader than to be on the cover of a music magazine."

Rod Stewart is not the only celebrity model-rail freak out there, although for caution's sake we should perhaps describe them as "alleged celebrity model rail freaks", since a false identification would surely constitute some form of defamation. One website lists 50 famous model railroaders, nearly half of whom, tellingly, are dead, and therefore beyond the jurisdiction of the libel courts. Hermann Göring was rumoured to have constructed an extensive Marklin layout for himself. Johnny Cash favoured Lionel trains, and appeared in their advertisements in the 1970s. Neil Young is even more deeply involved in the hobby; he owns a 20% stake in Lionel LLC. Roger Daltrey, Phil Collins, Lionel Richie and Bruce Springsteen have also, at one time or another, dabbled.

The lesson is clear: no matter how old you are, it's probably a good idea to think long and hard before you walk into a music shop and buy that second hand six-string. Rock'n'roll is a crazy ride - you never know where you'll end up.

Guardian Unlimited © Guardian News and Media Limited 2007

[dino]

:-) nice article nick

i always wanted a train when i was a kid, my parents never gave me one - i think thats why i'm such a fucked up person

[david]

I think it's been a long while since Rod Stewart was embarrassed about anything . . .

[Poke]

Any chance of an mp3 from this tour?

Always felt Neil was a both a gifted melodist and horrible lyricist. An Elton that needed a Bernie.

[manho]

"An Elton that needed a Bernie."

i see what you're getting at, but bernie was shite. neil's lyrics are simple but he's writing from the heart. bernie was writing copy for ads.

[manho]

when i found out back in the 70s that dylan had been collaborating on songs i thought, what the fuck, why would he need some cunt to write with? now we know, of course.

correct me if i'm wrong, but i don't think neil has ever collaborated. he's writing his life. take it or leave it but it's him.

[hobo]

manho nailed it with that last one

I'm listening to Chrome Dreams now and i kind of like it - Ordinary People is an astonishing song but I have heard better versions

[Steve]

Pocahontas is way better than anyting sir eltin has ever done.

[Poke]

steve said:

Pocahontas is way better than anyting sir eltin has ever done.

I wasn't making any kind of broad qualitative comparison between Neil and Elton, sir.

I mean, you're wrong on your own terms anyway...

[owen]

neil is a great songwriter but id sooner listen to t-rex. thats just me tho.

i think hes very much an american/canadian thing.

[Steve]

Nope. to chris.

[dino]

manho said:

when i found out back in the 70s that dylan had been collaborating on songs i thought, what the fuck, why would he need some cunt to write with? now we know, of course.

correct me if i'm wrong, but i don't think neil has ever collaborated. he's writing his life. take it or leave it but it's him.

everybody i love you, co-written with stephen stills

war song, co-written with graham nash

both crappy songs

and also some other songs co-written with stills on the dreadful CSNY american dream, but i dont have the nerve to even touch that album to check the credits

[Steve]

Ive never heard that one. The Neil stuff is bad too right?

[david]

Beyond terrible. That is, as bad as everything else on the album.

[dino]

there is a good Croz song, Compass

The Croz is the only one of course who could still deliver a good song in shit time for everybody else

[toom]

Name of Love is a good one from that too (Neil song). The title track isn't horrible (Neil song). And of course Nighttime for the Generals (Crosby). (only kidding about that last one, hahaha)

[dino]

the real good song on that shite album is This old house, by neil young

well, good.... decent

[david]

I hate the song American Dream and there's no such thing as a good Croz song. The rest of it is also dreck. As a whole, that album is easily the worst thing Neil had anything to do with.