Howdy and happy Wednesday, there’s a new timeline concert up!
Neil Young & The International Harvesters at the Minnesota State Fair, September 1, 1985 is now fully live and listenable on NYA!
Patron David Skoglund has requested this one a number of times, so I’ll let him talk you into dropping whatever you’re listening to and listen to this instead.
I was 16 in 1985. That summer I worked at the Minnesota State Fair. Capping off the fair with a concert was the perfect end to summer. The show itself was life changing for me. Been a die hard fan ever since. Many shows, many tours. All the albums, live tapes, etc. You’re the reason I learned to play guitar. Currently a proud Archives Patron.
I know this one is in the Archives. You shared two songs from this on A Treasure (which I do treasure). I feel like the 1985 version of the International Harvesters needs more airplay. There were only a few tracks on A Treasure from 1985. Hargus Robbins on the call and response piano/guitar jam on “Down By The River” is a thing of beauty.
*From the stage you made a comment on how you had been feeling homesick but felt better because of the audience reception. A couple of weeks later you debuted “Interstate” which has some lines about the same feeling. I like to think that song was born that night in Minnesota.
Lots of great songs. The Harvester’s take on “Country Home” deserves to be heard again. Nicolette Larson opened the show and guested on “Comes A Time” that night. Wonderful moment. An amazing take on “Helpless” dedicated to the nearly full moon in the summer night sky over the venue. A thunderous “Grey Riders” that closed with actual fireworks (a post show staple at the Minnesota State Fair).*
(Some of y’all may have noticed that it’s been semi-up for a few days without announcement while we worked out a technical quirk with desktop playback — thanks for all your letters of encouragement while we got that sorted out.)
with love,
john o