Crazy Horse - Crazy Moon - 1978 (1997)

Product Description: Unfairly overlooked at the time of its original release in 1978, Crazy Moon features a swag of great tunes & uncredited (although obvious) lead guitar contributions from Neil Young. Incredibly scarce on vinyl, now finally available on CD. The full original album (taken from pristine master tapes) features the core rhythm section of drummer Ralph Molina & bassist Billy Talbot. This unique 'Expanded Edition' is augmented by 7 bonus tracks - 5 by The Rockets (with carefully restored audio quality not previously available), 'Pills Blues', 'Let Me Go', 'Stretch Your Skin', 'Won't You Say You'll Stay' & 'Mr. Chips' & 2 from the 1973 album, Crazy Horse at Crooked Lake, 'Lady Soul' & 'Rock & Roll Band'. A collector's classic, with extensive, informative liner notes, period photographs & sections of the original artwork.

Review: It's difficult to believe that Neil Young saved some of his most manic guitar work for someone else's album, but from the opening notes of "She's Hot" there's no doubt who's playing lead guitar. This was the era of ZUMA and RUST NEVER SLEEPS. Listen to the extended solos in "She's Hot", "Downhill", and "Going Down Again": played by a man having fun with old black. "Thunder and Lightning" rivals any guitar solo Neil Young ever played including "Cowgirl in the Rain" and "Down by the River." Of course there are a few plodders when Neil Young isn't playing but on the whole the album is brilliant.

Track Listing
01 - She's hot - 3:13
02 - Going down again - 3:27
03 - Lost and lonely feelin' - 3:13
04 - Dancin' lady - 3:24
05 - End of the line - 3:12
06 - New Orleans - 3:13
07 - Love don't come easy - 3:13
08 - Downhill - 4:17
09 - Too late now - 2:56
10 - That day - 3:20
11 - Thunder & lightning - 3:58

Personnel
Primary Musicians:
Frank Sampedro: Vocals, guitars, harmonica & wurlitzer on "Lost and Lonely Feeling"
Billy Talbot: Vocals, bass
Ralph Molina: Vocals, drums, acoustic guitar on "Love Don't Come Easy"
Barry Goldberg: Piano, organ

Secondary Musicians:
Neil Young: guitar on "She's Hot", "Going Down Again", "New Orleans", "Downhill", and "Thunder and Lightning"
Bobby Notkoff: violin on "Dancin' Lady"
Jay Graydon: electric guitar on "That Day" and "End Of The Line"
Ben Keith: pedal steel on "Lost and Lonely Feeling"
Greg Leroy: slide guitar on "Lost and Lonely Feeling", "Love Don't Come Easy", and "Too Late Now"
Kirby Johnson: piano on "End Of The Line"
Michael Curtis: synthesizer on "That Day"
Michael Kowalski: drums on "Love Don't Come Easy"
The East L.A. Horns - Steve Lawrence, Tom Brey, and Kenny Walther: horns on "Thunder and Lightning" and "Love Don't Come Easy"