photo: Rainer Drechsler
Nils Lofgren is a unique guitar player. Not many can claim that they have played with Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen. Neil gave him his first break in 1969, securing a record deal for his band Grin and enlisting him as a sideman for his seminal album After The Gold Rush. Lofgren also played piano on that one, an instrument he wasn't familiar with at all, and he took him long hours to figure out the parts for Southern Man. Neil was impressed and presented him with his prized Martin D-18 acoustic guitar after the recording sessions were finished.
Lofgren still plays that D-18. It was on the two instruments he uses on his tribute album The Loner - Nils Sings Neil, the other being the Hardman 5 ft. baby grand piano that used to belong to his father-in-law. With a Neumann mic on loan the album was recorded in his home, making it an at-ease effort. Lofgren mostly picked vintage Neil songs, including some from his Buffalo Springfield days (Flying On The Ground, Mr. Soul). He knows the songs inside out, but he is no copy-cat - adding little touches to the songs here and there. This album is work of love, from one great player to another. Can somebody please release it on high grade vinyl? A 2LP gatefold sleeve would be nice.
The Loner - Nils Sings Neil is released on Vision Music. Buy it from CD Baby.
Tracks:
- Birds
- Long May You Run
- Flying on the Ground
- I Am A Child
- Only Love Can Break Your Heart
- Harvest Moon
- Like A Hurricane
- The Loner
- Don't Be Denied
- World On A String
- Mr. Soul
- Winterlong
- On The Way Home
- Wonderin'
- Don't Cry No Tears
MP3: Nils Lofgren - Mr. Soul
» nilslofgren.com