American Stars 'N Bars [Enhanced] [Original recording remastered]

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
2003 remastered reissue of 1977 album. This roots 'n' rock album features guests, Emmylou Harris & Linda Ronstadt, & the fan favorite 'Like A Hurricane'. The album initially peaked at #21 & achieved gold status. Nine tracks. Reprise.

Tracks:

The Old Country Waltz
Saddle Up Palomino
Hey Babe
Hold Back The Tears
Bite The Bullet
Star Of Bethlehem
Will To Love
Like A Hurricane
Homegrown

Album Description

2003 remastered reissue of 1977 album. This roots 'n' rock album features guests, Emmylou Harris & Linda Ronstadt, & the fan favorite 'Like A Hurricane'. The album initially peaked at #21 & achieved gold status. Nine tracks. Reprise.

Customer Reviews:

Not a complete loss, but a loss just the same.......2007-02-22

A few interesting songs: Like a Hurricane blows everything else on this album off the map and is easily one of Neil's best guitar showpieces. Love that solo... Bite the Bullet and Homegrown are also good, I suppose. But you get the feeling Neil was on cruise control here. I guess he spent most of his artistic chips on the Ditch Trilogy (and After the Gold Rush, for that matter), and really wouldn't win them back until 1979's Rust Never Sleeps. He was in the midst of his country period here, and I'm no country fan, so perhaps that's why I can't get into the record's constant country gimmicks (pedal steel, fiddle, 2/4 bassline, etc.), and Neil had temporarily forgotten how to write a decent lyric (Hurricane excepted). The one big experiment(Will to Love) just so happens to be awful. The rest is insubstantial at best (Saddle up the Palomino; The Old Country Waltz; Star of Bethlehem) and borderline torturous at worst (Hey Babe; Hold Back the Tears). It's not as bad as Comes a Time or most of the '80's albums, but it's bad just the same.

Classic Neil.......2007-01-23

Even better than I remembered it. If you're a Neil fan, this has to be in your collection.

I don't understand..........2006-10-05

I don't really know what the criticisms of American Stars n Bars were when it came out because I wasn't born. I have really only discovered early Neil Young in the last couple years. But I have no criticism on it. This album is no more a patchwork of styles than "Harvest," argued by some to be his greatest album. If you enjoy alt-country, rock, or serious singer-songwriter stuff you will appreciate this album.

True fans won't be disappointed!.......2006-07-21

I found this album in the cut-out section of a record shop when I was like 20 years old. I never heard of it but it was Neil so I gave it a try. Don't be fooled by the price!!!! If you're a fan you'll listen to this often & it won't ever collect dust in your CD shelf!!!

Worth it just for Like A Hurricane, but not that alone.......2006-06-07

Neil's 1977 album doesn't seem to get much praise. I'm here to tell you that is is far better then most are telling you.

Highlights:

Like A Hurricane (best guitar solo ever)
The Old Country Waltz (great lyrics, great song)

First off I'm a huge Neil Young fan, own 13 of his albums including Harvest (my favourite album of all time), After the Gold Rush, as well as harder albums like Tonights The Night and Ragged Glory. Where does American Stars 'N Bars fit in? Well, I'd put it ahead of Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere. Yes thats right. And while I haven't listented to Tonights The Night much, I'm almost ready to put it ahead of that album as well.

So what does that mean to a prospective buyer? Get this album. Its worth it for Like A Hurricane alone, and if you've never heard this song (hard to believe), run out and buy this album. The guitar solo is so amazing. Definately Neil's best rock song, maybe even overall. No less impressive is The Old Country Waltz, the album opener. There is something about this song I really love. Next up are Saddle up the Palamino, Hey Babe and Hold Back The Tears. The latter two are quite good, with Saddle up the Palamino a little less impressive. Bite the Bullet is interesting, one of the albums rockers. Star of Bethelem is a great, slow song. Will to Love is extremely long for what it is, just Neil playing the same rhythm over and over again with quiet lyrics. I'll have to listen to this one some more to figure out what I really think, but initial impressions are good. Its definately unique. Like a Hurricane comes up next, no need to mention anything I haven't already said. Closing out the album is Homegrown. Honestly, who cares what follows Like A Hurricane, but this is the albums third rock song. As far as I can gather, its a song about growing your own pot. Yep, sounds like Neil.

So yes Like A Hurricane defines this album, and is responsible for alot of my enjoyment, but there are other songs, songs that you've never heard that make this album well worth the price.

Hope my little review makes at least one person buy this album that wasn't going to initially.

Keep on Rockin' in the Free World!

Average customer rating:

American Stars 'N Bars
Neil Young
Manufacturer: Wea International
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

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Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

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Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00009YXAE
Release Date: 2003-08-11

Tracks:

Old Country Waltz - Crazy Horse, , Neil Young
Saddle Up the Palomino - Crazy Horse, , Neil Young
Hey Babe - Crazy Horse, , Neil Young
Hold Back the Tears - Crazy Horse, , Neil Young
Bite the Bullet - Crazy Horse, , Neil Young
Star of Bethlehem - Crazy Horse, Neil Young
Will to Love - Crazy Horse, Neil Young
Like a Hurricane - Crazy Horse, Neil Young
Homegrown - Crazy Horse, Neil Young
Like a Hurricane [Multimedia Track] - Neil Young

Average customer rating:

American Stars 'N Bars
Neil Young
Manufacturer: Reprise
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Rock | Styles | Music

Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Classic Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000AN10K
Release Date: 2003-09-22

Tracks:

Old Country Waltz - Crazy Horse, , Neil Young
Saddle Up the Palomino - Crazy Horse, , Neil Young
Hey Babe - Crazy Horse, , Neil Young
Hold Back the Tears - Crazy Horse, , Neil Young
Bite the Bullet - Crazy Horse, , Neil Young
Star of Bethlehem - Crazy Horse, Neil Young
Will to Love - Crazy Horse, Neil Young
Like a Hurricane - Crazy Horse, Neil Young
Homegrown - Crazy Horse, Neil Young
Like a Hurricane [Multimedia Track] - Neil Young

Album Details

Digitally remastered Japanese version.

Average customer rating:

American Stars'n Bars

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000AA7B16
Release Date: 2005-09-27

Album Description

Japanese pressing has been remastered and features 9 tracks. Warner Bros. 2005.

Average customer rating:

American Stars 'N Bars
Neil Young
Manufacturer: Reprise
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00016XMOY
Release Date: 2006-01-03

Tracks:

Old Country Waltz - Crazy Horse, , Neil Young
Saddle Up the Palomino - Crazy Horse, , Neil Young
Hey Babe - Crazy Horse, , Neil Young
Hold Back the Tears - Crazy Horse, , Neil Young
Bite the Bullet - Crazy Horse, , Neil Young
Star of Bethlehem - Crazy Horse, Neil Young
Will to Love - Crazy Horse, Neil Young
Like a Hurricane - Crazy Horse, Neil Young
Homegrown - Crazy Horse, Neil Young
Like a Hurricane [Multimedia Track] - Neil Young

Album Description

Japanese remastered reissue of 1977 album packaged in a miniature LP sleeve. Reprise. 2004.

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Japanese Limited Edition in an LP-STYLE Slipcase.

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