Firehills in Hanoi, Vietnam

I have been in Hanoi, Vietnam since May 9. I was temporaly transfered to a factory in Hanoi to help accounting for newly established subsidiary. Long time no see. Because I could access my dashboard but could not access my blog through network of the factory and dial-up in my apartment. Finally the company set up ADSL in my apartment and I can access my blog now, so I wrote this. I do not why I could not access my blog because I am not quite sure about network. Anyway more than 1 month has past since I asked the company to set up ADSL in my apartment. I can show you some of photos in Vietnam next time.

Hourai & Nishinasuno Country Club

We have lo----ng Golden Week Holidays of Japan from April 29 to May 7. I went to my office on May 1 and 2 because these 2 days were not public holidays. Anyway, 4 golf nuts visited Hourai & Nishinasuno County Club on May 4 and 5. I could control only my driver shots and puttings. Other all iron shots were terrible. Other than scores of golf we enjoyed hot spring, good food and drinks and stayed in the lodge. Last year in Golden Week I went to Pebble Beach Golf Resort with one of my friends in Japan, but this year we could not arrange golf abroad. Above picture is Par 4, 11th hole of Hourai CC.

Live Albums listening with gigabeat of Toshiba

I don't use iPod. I bought a gigabeat of Toshiba two yeas ago because everybody has iPod. Hard disk of new gigabeat was broken with just one month use and I asked Toshiba to repair. After that my gigabeat is going very well. I 'm listening to it for about three hours on a weekday on my way to/from my office. I'm listening albums by alphabetical order of album title. Now is "L". I listend to LED ZEPPELIN 1-4、LET IT BREED by ROLLING STONES. After that I started to listen to the albums with title starting with LIVE---;

1.LIVE 1961-2000/BOB DYLAN
2.LIVE CREAM/CREAM
3.LIVE CREAM VOL.2/CREAM
4.LIVE FROM NEON PARK/LITTLE FEAT
5.LIVE LICKS/ROLLING STONES
6.LIVE RUST/NEIL YOUNG & CRAZY HORSE
7.LIVE AT B.B.KING BLUES CLUB/JEFF BECK
8.LIVE AT WATKINS GLEN/THE BAND

(To be continued)

Neil Young with Linda and/or Nicolette(5)Rust Never Sleeps

4th album of Neil Young with Linda Ronstadt and/or Nicolette Larson is "Rust Never Sleeps". In late 1978, after releasing of various reviews of "Comes A Time", Young started next job, which had 23 shows with Crazy Horse in Unite States. Some critics said the show was too exaggerated because the set had too large amplifier or speakers. I think it was actually Neil Young. Neil Young is Neil Young. He married with Pegi in these days and he should have been happy, but he didn't. His 2nd son, Ben, between Pegi, was cerebral palsy. On the day before final show, his house in Maribu was burned to ashes as there was a big fire in southern California. However Young went forward on projects in 1979. In July,the film, "Rust Never Sleeps" was released. This was filmed at the live at San Francisco Cow Palace in October 22, 1978. All critics didn't welcome this screenplay, but it didn't make bad impact on the album, "Rust Never Sleeps".

Young chose best acoustic and electric sets in this album. 1."My My, Hey Hey (Out Of The Blue)" was said as one of his best songs at that time. "The King" in the words "The King is gone" in this song is Jonny Rotten of Sex Pistols. 2."Thrasher" is a song with long lyric. I believe Mr.Thrasher of Neil Young News likes this song. By the way, title, "Rust Never Sleeps" is the words in the last song "Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black)"

I'm sorry, preface was too long. Don't forget Nicolette Larson. Acoustic sets of 1-5 were all performed by Neil Young, Nicolette Larson, Joe Osborne, and Carl Himmel, says the liner. But I can hear Nicolette's harmony only in 5. "Sail Away". We don't know when and where these songs were recorded. There are several live performances in 1-5, but Rust Never Sleeps Live was with Crazy Horse, so no Nicolette or Himmel during that tour. I can hear some harmony in 3.Pocahontas, but I can't recognize who is singing.

Rust Never Sleeps by Neil Young

1.My My, Hey Hey (Out Of The Blue)
2.Thrasher
3.Ride My Lama
4.Pocahontas
5.Sail Away
6.Powder Finger
7.Welfare Mothers
8.Sedan Delivery
9.Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black)

Who was the opening actor at The Roxy Theatre

Nicolette Larson's Live At The Roxy was performed at The Roxy Theatre at Sunset Blvd. W. Hollywood, California on December 20, 1978. So, when this memorial theatre opend and who was the opening actor? According to my favorite book about Neil Young, John Robertson's "Neil Young: The Visual Documentary", says that from September 20 to 23 of 1973, Neil Young and Crazy Horse performed main act and Graham Nash was supporting act at the opening of The Roxy. It is said Young performed two shows a day with no guarantee for the owners of The Roxy, Lou Adler or David Geffin, etc. Audience was not satisfied because Young didn't play hit songs. Young bought each audience a drink. He thought owners shoud pay, but manager of The Roxy didn't want to. I need to confirm this until the page of the history of The Roxy on thier website disclose this.

Neil Young with Linda and/or Nicolette(4)Comes A Time

Young was recording so called "Gone with The Wind" album after "American Stars'n Bars" but he reconsidered songs list or something and release was delayed so much. Renamed "Comes A Time" was released finally in September 1978. Fans and critics welcomed this new album. Young used so many musicians for this album, including my favorite Karl Himmel, drums, J.J. Cale, guitar, called "Gone With The Wind Orchestra". Crazy Horse also joined recording. So many people but they were well controlled. Beautiful songs there. 10.Four Strong Winds by Ian Tyson, Canada. Young had not recorded other musician's songs ever.

Now to return to the subject. Biggest point of this album is powerful and beautiful Nicolette Larson's harmony vocal, I believe. Her vocal was featured on most of the songs on this album. On the album she was a partner of Young, not a backing vocal only. Young originally planned to release "Lotta Love" on "American Stas'n Bars", but he allowed Larson to release it on her first album, but he recorded this song on "Comes A Time".


"Comes A Time" by Neil Young
1.Goin' Back
2.Comes a Time
3.Look Out for My Love
4.Lotta Love
5.Peace of Mind
6.Human Highway
7.Already One
8.Field of Opportunity
9.Motorcycle Mama
10.Four Strong Winds

Neil Young with Linda and/or Nicolette(3)American Stars'n Bars

American Stars'n Bars by Neil Young was memorial album which he introduced Nicolette Larson to music scene by chance. In 1977, the next year when this album was released, album "Nicolette" was released with a lot of first-class musicians in west coast.

How did Young know Nicolette? According to John Rogan's "NEIL YOUNG:The Definitive Story of his Musical Career", Young asked Linda Ronstadt to find female vocalist for his new album. Linda told Young, "I recommend Nicolette, but I will come too." On April 4, 1977 two female vocalists came to Young's Ranch, I think this should be in Woodside, and sang some songs but they thought this was a rehearsal. They sang backing vocal at 1-5. At the last part of 1.The Old Country Waltz, there is a female cheerful laugh, which should be Linda's. Mixing of backing vocal was very modest, so it is a bit difficult to distinguish who are singing on the back. Album was issued in June 1977. 8.Like A Hurricane's single mix was finished. Album reached to 21th at US album chart of Billboard on August 27. According to John Robertson's "Neil Young: The Visual Documentary", Young started close association with Nicolette. He also started recording of new album, which temporary title was "Gone With The Wind". Nicolette played very important part of this new album.

Young also welcomed Emmylou Harris for backing vocal to 6.Star Of Bethlehem. Linda, Nicolette and Emmylou, wow! 3 big female vocalist on his back, Young completed "American Stars'n Bars".

"American Stars'n Bars" by Neil Young
1. The Old Country Waltz
2. Saddle Up Palomino
3. Hey Babe
4. Hold Back The Tears
5. Bite The Bullet
6. Star Of Bethlehem
7. Will To Love
8. Like A Hurricane
9. Homegrown

Rock'n Roll Travel in U.S.A.-West Coast-

I finished to read Japanese translation of "Rock'n Roll Travel in U.S.A.-West Coast-" written by J.Perry and Ed Glinert, published in 1996 by Fodor's Travel Publishing. I want to have an original English book, but I can't find it in Amazon.U.S.A. Title could not be correct. Authors tell music, musicians and clubs in West Coast with inside story. I found a lot of new things to me. I have been in California for three years form 1999 to 2002. I watched lots of concert at relatively bigger stadiums or halls, like Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, HP Pavilion in San Jose, Warfield in San Francisco, Yoshi's in Oakland, Villa Montalvo and Mountain Winery in Saratoga, etc but I have never been to House of Blues, wall painting by Santana in San Francisco, former Winterland, The Roxy Theatre in Sunset, Wisky A Go-Go in West Hollywood. When I have a chance to go to California again, I want to visit these places without playing golf for a while.

Strange Custom of Golf in Japan

I finished to read ""Strange Custom of Golf in Japan"" written by Nobuyuki Ando who is a director of Japan Golf Association. I agree with him about that practice of golf in Japan should be changed from very local practice to golobal standard. He explains in this book how different from global standard golf in Japan is. Course design, caddy, separate start from out/in, two greens, lunch time after front nine, or local rule like starting from fourth shots from very front tee in case of out of bounds at tee shot. In Japan many golf courses have electric carts now, so recently we don't play with caddy often. But I played about 250 rounds for 3 years in California and played with caddy only twice at Pebble Beach GL and Riviera.

He doesn't say in this book, but there are two points that I can suggest to golf courses in Japan. They are (1)rate discount for 9 holes only (early morning back 9) and twilight, (2)discount for residents. Some courses in Japan already have early morning back 9 discount or afternoon start, but still not many. I suppose that (1) plus (2)can increase numbers of resident players greatly. Increase of income can cover maintenance cost increased by introduction of early morning or twilight start. I live very near to Funabashi Country Club, but I cannot play often because play fee is incredibly expensive, almost US$300 in the weekend for non-members. If they have early morning back 9 for US$70-80 and twilight for US$100-150, and more discount for residents at the weekend, I can play once a month here. I will be a good guest for Funabashi because they will be my home course.

One more thing I can remember in this book is the words in the Analects of Confucius, The Master said, "The progress of the superior man is upwards; the progress of the mean man is downwards." I like this words. This is surely applicable to golf.

Soubu Coutry Club North Course

I have just come back from Soubu Coutry Club North Course. Today I am day-off because I have to attend the meeting for retiree of my company in the afternoon. I have decided to quit my job and join the company I was temporarily transfered to. Mr.K, who went Taiheiyo Club Minori Course with me yesterday, is also off today, so we decided to play golf today in Soubu Country Club North Course because it is very near to our residences. This course is next to Soubu Country Club Inba Course and has beautiful nine holes with tall trees. Besides the condition of greens, Soubu Coutry Club North Course is one of the best public courses in Chiba prefecture with excellent cost performance. I hit some terrible shots but we enjoyed very much this morning.