Fred Neil (March 16, 1936 – July 7, 2001) was an important American blues a… Read Full Bio ↴Fred Neil (March 16, 1936 – July 7, 2001) was an important American blues and folk singer and songwriter in the 1960s and early 1970s. He is best remembered for writing the top 40 hits "Candy Man", performed by Roy Orbison and "Everybody's Talkin'", performed by Harry Nilsson.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, Neil was one of the songwriters who for a time worked out of New York City's famous Brill Building. He has often been called a pioneer of the folk rock & singer-songwriter musical genres; his most frequently cited disciples are Tim Buckley, Harry Nilsson, and the Jefferson Airplane, but his most prominent descendants have been Stephen Stills, James Taylor, Paul Simon and Joni Mitchell. In concert appearances, as well as the liner notes for his 2003 album, Meet Me In Margaritaville: The Ultimate Collection, Jimmy Buffett called Neil "one of my heroes." Some of Neil's early compositions were recorded by Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison; he played as a session guitarist on hits by Bobby Darin and Paul Anka. In 1968, Nilsson recorded a cover version of Neil's song "Everybody's Talkin'," which became a huge hit a year later when it was featured in the film Midnight Cowboy.
Neil was an accomplished professional musician atypically inclined to a very modest frugality. "Candy Man", his first of two Top-40-hit compositions, substantially introduced him to a sufficient income stream for life in his early 20's; he became increasingly disinclined to work if he did not feel like it. Consequently his two fully realized albums (see next paragraph) are remarkable for their singularly unpretentious authenticity. His combination of baritone vocal and 12-string guitar remains unusual, and his combo recordings provide his shimmering melodies with muscular grooves; but his exemplarity is that of resolving the apparent opposition between aesthetic integrity and commercial value almost entirely in favor of aesthetic integrity, which gives all of his recordings a unique historical resonance.
He had debts to previous singer-songwriters such as Woody Guthrie, Robert Johnson, Chuck Berry and Hank Williams (Senior); but his approach to melody was more in the manner of Cole Porter and to rhythm very much in the school of Ray Charles. His popularly acclaimed albums are "Bleecker & MacDougal" (also known as A Little Bit of Rain) without drums (1965) and "Fred Neil" (also known as Everybody's Talkin') in (1966), made during his residences in the Greenwich Village section of lower Manhattan in New York City and in Coconut Grove, Florida, respectively.
The reigning web expert in (October) 2005 has been Richie Unterberger. The Rick O'Barry interview at the dedicated website (fredneil.com) claims that a third fully realized album, Neil's "Stuff Sessions" of 1978, was never released by Columbia. The unreleased "Walk on the Water" album was recorded at Bayshore studios in Coconut Grove, with a second set of sessions taking place in NJ with the group Stuff.
After the mid 1970s he ceased to maintain a residence in Woodstock, New York, and spent his remaining decades enjoying life on the shores of southern Florida. His last public performance was in 1981 coffeehouse concert in Coconut Grove where he joined Buzzy Linhardt onstage.
Fred Neil died of natural causes in 2001.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, Neil was one of the songwriters who for a time worked out of New York City's famous Brill Building. He has often been called a pioneer of the folk rock & singer-songwriter musical genres; his most frequently cited disciples are Tim Buckley, Harry Nilsson, and the Jefferson Airplane, but his most prominent descendants have been Stephen Stills, James Taylor, Paul Simon and Joni Mitchell. In concert appearances, as well as the liner notes for his 2003 album, Meet Me In Margaritaville: The Ultimate Collection, Jimmy Buffett called Neil "one of my heroes." Some of Neil's early compositions were recorded by Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison; he played as a session guitarist on hits by Bobby Darin and Paul Anka. In 1968, Nilsson recorded a cover version of Neil's song "Everybody's Talkin'," which became a huge hit a year later when it was featured in the film Midnight Cowboy.
Neil was an accomplished professional musician atypically inclined to a very modest frugality. "Candy Man", his first of two Top-40-hit compositions, substantially introduced him to a sufficient income stream for life in his early 20's; he became increasingly disinclined to work if he did not feel like it. Consequently his two fully realized albums (see next paragraph) are remarkable for their singularly unpretentious authenticity. His combination of baritone vocal and 12-string guitar remains unusual, and his combo recordings provide his shimmering melodies with muscular grooves; but his exemplarity is that of resolving the apparent opposition between aesthetic integrity and commercial value almost entirely in favor of aesthetic integrity, which gives all of his recordings a unique historical resonance.
He had debts to previous singer-songwriters such as Woody Guthrie, Robert Johnson, Chuck Berry and Hank Williams (Senior); but his approach to melody was more in the manner of Cole Porter and to rhythm very much in the school of Ray Charles. His popularly acclaimed albums are "Bleecker & MacDougal" (also known as A Little Bit of Rain) without drums (1965) and "Fred Neil" (also known as Everybody's Talkin') in (1966), made during his residences in the Greenwich Village section of lower Manhattan in New York City and in Coconut Grove, Florida, respectively.
The reigning web expert in (October) 2005 has been Richie Unterberger. The Rick O'Barry interview at the dedicated website (fredneil.com) claims that a third fully realized album, Neil's "Stuff Sessions" of 1978, was never released by Columbia. The unreleased "Walk on the Water" album was recorded at Bayshore studios in Coconut Grove, with a second set of sessions taking place in NJ with the group Stuff.
After the mid 1970s he ceased to maintain a residence in Woodstock, New York, and spent his remaining decades enjoying life on the shores of southern Florida. His last public performance was in 1981 coffeehouse concert in Coconut Grove where he joined Buzzy Linhardt onstage.
Fred Neil died of natural causes in 2001.
Faretheewell
Fred Neil Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Fred Neil:
A Little Bit of Rain If I should leave you Try to remember the good times Warm…
Ba-De-Da I get so tired Hangin' around this town All this old city…
Bleecker & MacDougal I was standing on the corner Of the Bleecker and…
Blues on the Ceiling Blues on the ceiling Over my head Running down the walls …
Candy Man Come on baby, let me take you by your hand Come…
Cocaine Sweet Cocaine I say cocaine Cocaine Runnin? round your hear…
Country Boy Now I'm just a country boy I got sand all in…
Dade County Jail You know, Dade County Jail Is nine stories tall I say Dade…
December's Dream I can see her slowly walking Through the empty streets of…
Everybody's Talkin' Everybody's talking at me I don't hear a word they're sayin…
Everything Happens Neil It happens every time There's really nothing I can …
Faretheewell (Fred's Tune) Well if I'd have wings Like Noah's dove Will I fly this…
Felicity Even though I know the rain may fall Somewhere the sun…
Gone Again I woke up this morning With an aching pain deep down I…
Green Rocky Road Keep on talkin' 'bout Green rocky road Promenade in green …
Handful of Gimme You waltz in here With a handful of gimme A mouthful of…
I Got 'em I say I got 'em If you want 'em now (If…
I've Got A Secret Neil I've got a secret, I shouldn't tell, I'm gonna go to…
I've Got a Secret (Didn't We Shake That Sugaree) I've got a secret, I shouldn't tell I'm gonna go to…
Little Bit Of Rain If I should leave you Try to remember the good times Warm…
Lonesome Valley You've gotta walk that lonesome valley You've gotta walk i…
Merry Go Round Where's the Jim Crow section On this merry go round I just…
Mississippi Train Mississippi train Take my baby now she's gone Mississippi…
Other Side of This Life Would you like to know a secret It's just between you…
Other Side to This Life Would you like to know a secret just between you…
Please Send Me Someone To Love Show the world how To get along Peaceful in turn, when all…
Prettiest Train Cuando venga a buscarme ya no estare Cuando quiera llamarme …
Send Me Someone To Love Show the world how To get along Peaceful in turn, when all…
Sweet Cocaine Sweet Cocaine I say cocaine Cocaine Runnin? round your hear…
Sweet Mama Sweet mama Don't be mean to me Well sweet baby Don't be m…
That's The Bag I'm In I burned my fingers on the coffee pot Toast was…
The Dolphins Sometimes I think about Saturday's child And all about the …
The Other Side Of This Life Would you like to know a secret just between you…
The Water Is Wide The water is wide I can't cross over And neither have I wing…
Travelin' Shoes You know too many people Too many times Keep complainin' t…
Water is Wide The water is wide I can't cross over And neither have I w…
Yonder Comes The Blues Raindrops falling on a roof of tin Oh bad news Roof keeps…
You Don't Miss Your Water In the beginning you really loved me But I was blind…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Dan Kimble
I became a big Fred Neil fan long, long ago. I am a singer.....and Fred is one of the best I've ever heard. Search his songs on UTUBE and see what I mean.....incredible!
Greg Mckay
I bought this Album way back circa 1977 thinking it contained Nilson's "Everybody's Talkin" version from Midnight Cowboy. I was disappointed when I discovered it wasn't that. In My first Apartment around 1984 I discovered the Gem that this Album was after replaying it in its entirety. "Farethewell" stole my heart and soul and CRUSHED me when I finally got to 'listen" for real! Thank You Mr Neil. The song still crushes me to pieces EVERY time I listen.
Matty Alfieri
How time flies. Even your comment is 8 years old already.
Doug Stone
What a voice. Soul, soul, soul. Blues, blues, blues. One of the most respected singer/song writers in the village days. He escaped the temptations of new york and ended up working in dolphin protection. Over 45 years listening to him and he never fails to move me. Fashions in music come and go and many from the 60's turned out to be only of their time. Fred is timeless.
ruben Michnick
This is a masterpiece- its really a shame that so many people in my age dosnt know what music really is..
Alice deTocqueville
Play this for them!
Michael Tarnpoll
What Fred Neil song isn't?
Ray Saunders
Odetta said it best: "There are two voices I heard in my life that no microphone can possibly capture. Paul Robeson is one, and the other is Fred Neil."
Kevin Weilacher
You're one lucky person to have known Fred. I consider his songs and music to be some of the best there ever was.. His voice just resonates through you....It's so wonderful... Hold those memories tight to you....They are precious.
Richard Bedford
The child he embraces is truly beautiful. Is that his own child? I love his vocalization, it is unique to him. Is this man still living? His voice is like the deep purr of a large cat.