DVD Review: Neil Young - Heart of Gold

By Patrick Luce Jun 18, 2006, 19:34 GMT

Academy-award winning director Jonathan Demme beautifully captures Rock & Roll Hall of Fame legend, Neil Young as he prepares and presents the performance of a lifetime with the help of his wife Peggi and friends country star Emmylou Harris, steel guitarist Ben Keith and more at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry. ...more

Fans will not want to pass up on the new concert/documentary ‘Neil Young – Heart of Gold’ two-disc DVD thanks to Jonathan Demme’s direction and the talent of singer/songwriter Neil Young.

The film captures the heart and power of Young’s songs as he performs them with a host of friends (including Emmylou Harris and Young’s wife Pegi) at the famous Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry in the summer of 2005. The footage was shot a shortly after Young had recovered from cerebral aneurysm – which was also around the same time as the death of Young’s father Scott Young.

Demme’s direction takes you beyond the front row of a concert fan and onto the stage right beside Young as he performs classic songs and also new material from his latest album ‘Prairie Wind.’ The director also takes you behind the scenes through interviews with Young and friends about the concert, their history together, and what it meant for Young to return to Nashville for his latest album.

The DVD starts off with interviews from Young and the various members of his band (many of which he has recorded and toured with for years). The performers talk about how they first met Young, how they felt when they learned about his brain surgery, and the feelings involved in playing on a stage as legendary as Ryman Auditorium.

Demme then shifts the interviews perfectly into the introduction of the concert as Young and company take the stage to perform several songs from his new album (which takes up much of the beginning of the concert) including “Prairie Wind.” Young then shifts to some of his “classic” songs including “Harvest Moon,” “Heart of Gold,” “Old Man,” and “Needle and the Damage Done.”

Young plays several songs in row before taking a break to share stories of his father, and his first experiences playing guitar as a kid. Young’s stories about the meanings behind the songs make the lyrics have that much more impact, and demonstrate how the artist is able to capture emotion in his music. Young’s stories range to tales about his father and his childhood on a chicken farm to his now adult daughter and his famous guitar (which was once owned by country music icon Hank Williams). The singer also reflects on how music has changed – including the music of the “traditional” Nashville.

Demme captures the emotions of each song on the DVD

The new material clearly shows that the singer/songwriter has not lost a step in his ability to write music that connects with an audience and continues to relate to the world around him. Although the concert is a departure from some of his more rocking tunes with Crazy Horse, it is a bit of a return to some of his earlier work – most notably 1972’s ‘Harvest’ and 1992’s ‘Harvest Moon.’

Demme does an excellent job capturing the concert. The director’s use of lighting, camera angles, and color help the emotion of Young’s performance seem that much stronger. It truly feels like you are watching a once in a lifetime concert.

The second disc of DVD comes loaded interviews with Young and friends and a look at a vintage performance from Young on the Johnny Cash Show in 1971. Features include “Fellow Travelers,” “Cruising with Neil,” “These Old Guitars,” Cruising with the Players,” “Rehearsal Diaries,” “Finishing Touches,” and “Warming up with Neil and the Jubilee Singers.”

While the features are interesting and sure to be a hit with Young fans, they get a bit old after a while and cover much of the same ground. Young shares stories about Nashville, his history in the music industry, and even pays a visit to a famous guitar store in Nashville. These features are great and provide you with a better background of the concert and Young’s reasons for wanting it recorded. At the same time, it might be a bit of overkill for the average fan.

Young truly gives a once in a lifetime performance

Neil Young – Heart of Gold is one of the best concert DVDs that I have seen, and Demme’s direction really lets you feel like you are part of the audience. If you are already a Neil Young fan then I highly recommend the DVD. If you are not, give it a chance and you might just become one.

Neil Young – Heart of Gold is now available at Amazon and AmazonUK. Visit the DVD’s database for more information.