Rick Clark's Music I Love Blog - Artist: Fred Neil / Album: The Many Sides of Fred Neil
Unless you are into Sixties Folk, you might not know the artistry of Fred Neil, a deeply soulful singer-songwriter who’s devoted group of followers included Bob Dylan, John Sebastian, and David Crosby among many others. If you like Sixties-early Seventies pop and rock, then you might be familiar with Nilsson’s Grammy-winning version of “Everybody’s Talkin’” from the film Midnight Cowboy or Linda Ronstadt’s or Tim Buckley’s version of “The Dolphins,” Jefferson Airplane’s or The Lovin’ Spoonful’s “Other Side of This Life” or Roy Orbison’s “Candyman.” I could throw out a whos-who laundry list of great artists who have recorded Neil’s music, but I generally prefer his own deeply soulful versions.
Between 1964 and 1971, Neil put out six albums, a couple I personally love Bleeker & MacDougal (1965) and Fred Neil (1966). Those two albums alone would be great to have in any collection, but The Many Sides of Fred Neil (released in 1998 on Collectors Choice) is one 2-CD collection that impressively compiles the best of all his work, including a handful of previously unreleased gems.
There is a shambling loose-limbed push and pull on many of the tracks, which are fluidly dialed into the spell created by Neil’s marvelously rich bluesy baritone and 12-string acoustic guitar playing. There is an area in Neil’s lower range he happily mines to great effect that is invitingly warm and unhurried, even when his lyrics are plumbing some serious melancholy. This is evocative lights down low music.
If I had to pick some good introduction tracks I love on this excellent collection, I’d say check out his gorgeously aching live version of “Everybody’s Talkin’.” It gives me chills every time I hear it. There are two versions of “Ba Dee Da,” one with Canned Heat’s Al Wilson laying down some fine harmonica and the other, my favorite, with harmony vocal. “The Dolphins” addresses Neil’s lifelong commitment to protecting and researching dolphins.
Neil never seemed to be that concerned with self-promotion and big success, so after an impressive run in the ‘60s, he moved to Coconut Grove, Florida, and faded from the music world. He passed away in 2001 at home from cancer. Hopefully, by checking out some of these tracks, you’ll see why Fred Neil was a giant to those who knew his music. As always, thanks for listening.
Fred Neil - “The Dolphins” from Fred Neil (1966)
Fred Neil “Everybody’s Talkin’” (live)