Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen (The Best Of Neil Sedaka) - Neil Sedaka

Advantages: Makes a change from nubile young things
Disadvantages: The nudge nudge wink wink element from some

...on the true story of a Yorkshire village where the local WI decided to use the calendar to raise funds to refurbish the relative?s room in the Oncology department of the local hospital. The story follows the underhanded scheming that needed to go on behind the starchy matronly ?Marie? who runs the local group, and the signing up of prospective ?models? for the artwork. Then the difficulty of finding a photographer whom the women could trust to take their photographic portraits but who should preferably be female. Of course, the portraits would be in true WI style and feature the normal WI fayre, but with naked bods in them! All in the best possible taste, of course. The main character, Annie (played by Julie Walters) is the reason behind the refurbishment of the hospital. Following a long illness, and her interminable waiting in the dull... Read review

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Advantages: Great Songs Throughout, That Stand Together As A Great Cohesive Piece Of Work
Disadvantages: Not Quite As Accessible As Harvest

...sounding exactly as I would expect a final track to sound, it has an air of finality, that is often lacking on many closing tracks. I have always enjoyed Neil Young?s work and his ability as a song writer has never been in doubt, and that point is clear here, with many tracks providing, as they should, multiple angles to a certain idea, or a suggestion of further ideas left unsaid. It is though still quite a light, enjoyable album, and includes many tracks that leave you simply enamoured with the unique (in a good way) vocals of Neil Young, whom I have always seen as a great vocalist, moving away from generic forms. And despite its short length, coming in at just over thirty-five minutes (the norm for many early Neil Young releases), it feels somehow complete, and not lacking depth or quality, which it has in abundance. Many albums can simply... Read review

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Advantages: Alternative country/rock classic
Disadvantages: none

...on at the time of recording. The heavy sense of loss and longing also hangs over this record like a calming breeze, particularly in the Needle and the Damage done, a heart-felt song written about Danny Whitten - guitar player in Neil's part time backing band "Crazy Horse".The line "every junkie's like a setting sun" always stands out in a way that is both timeless, evocative and beautiful. The other stand out song for me, is Old Man - a yearning and poetic song about an old caretaker who lived in Neil's Broken Arrow farm in California. The words strike a chord with me, particularly how the already wealthy 24 year old Neil Young refuses to be constrained by the trappings of fame and how the dignity of the old man in the song is something which Neil's sees in himself, or what he wants to see in himself. Neil to this today remains an unbowed man who... Read review

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