With the reformation of Crowded House I think we've seen the last of Neil Finn solo albums (and Finn Brothers albums) for a very long time. Now that Neil has put the band back together it's pretty hard to believe he'll be able to (or even want to) take time and material away from it for a side project. When Neil put CH back together he made a commitment to Nick, Mark, and now Matt. Neil's also said in interviews that he's "over being solo" and that "being in a band is more healthy and what other band could it be?" and it's also been stated the band plans to continue making albums. They plan to start recording a new one in January of 2008.

So, I think it's time to take a look back at 1996-2006 (Neil's solo decade). What were the highlights? the lowlights? Could we compile a "best of Neil Finn solo" collection?

Ultimately we only got two solo albums in 10 years. Along with a lot of b-sides, a mostly instrumental movie soundtrack, a partial re-recording of One Nil, and a live album which featured a lot of non-solo material. Though he also released Afterglow and Everyone Is Here which are both great.

So what were Neil's biggest solo successes? "Can You Hear Us" was a NZ only single but was also the only solo song to go to #1 in the charts anywhere (thanks to it's All Blacks tie in). His cover of "I Can See Clearly Now" made it into the relatively popular animated movie Antz and though it did not appear on the US soundtrack plenty of Americans were exposed to it in theaters. "She Will Have Her Way" and "Sinner" probably got the most radio play. I don't recall anything from One Nil / One All making much of a radio impact.

In compiling a "best of Neil solo" collection I took all of that into account along with the fact that the new Crowded House album is an 85% Neil solo effort. When you get right down to it I think only three or four songs really qualify as Crowded House songs. "Don't Stop Now", "She Called Up", and "Transit Lounge" were all recorded after the reunion with the new band lineup. I think "Even a Child" may also have been recorded around this time too. The rest of it was written and mostly recorded as a solo work. Based on information from frenz.com/neilfinn and what I've said above this is about what I think the new Neil album would've looked like:

Time On Earth - Neil Finn solo
1. Nobody Wants To
2. Say That Again
3. Pour Le Monde
4. Heaven That I'm Making
5. Stare Me Out
6. A Sigh
7. Silent House
8. English Trees
9. Lost Island
10. Walked Her Way Down
11. People Are Like Suns

So with all that information, what collection of 15 songs or so best sums up Neil's time as a solo artist? Here's my take on it:

1. Dots on the Shell
- perhaps the very first Neil solo song, though Crowded House had not yet broken up. He co-wrote it with Yothu Yindi and it appears on their 1993 album Freedom.
2. She Will Have Her Way
- first single and highest charting solo song (outside of NZ)
3. Sinner
- First US single, I think.
4. Last One Standing
- Third single
5. Tokyo
- Great song that should have been on TWT
6. I Can See Clearly Now
- Antz movie soundtrack, Australian single
7. Can You Hear Us?
- NZ only single.
8. Driving Me Mad
- One All US single
9. Last to Know
- Almost a UK single from One Nil
10. Turn & Run
- Duet with Cheryl Crow
11. Drive Home
- from the Rain Soundtrack
12. Lullaby Requiem
- new song for US version of One All
13. Nobody Wants To
- probably would've been a single from TOE
14. Pour Le Monde
- Also a potential single from TOE
15. Silent House
- co-write with the Dixie Chicks
<<>>
16. Anytime (7WC live version)
- much better than the studio version
17. There is a Light that Never Goes Out (7WC live version)
- Released as a radio-only single in some places.

Perhaps this collection is a bit mellow towards the end but I just don't think his rocking out numbers have been as "classic" as the songs I included.
...oh, it's time for me to get to class!

***Round 6 is here!***
Click it and Tick it!

http://frenzforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/7311061171/m/6...351041045#7351041045

I thought about it more and decided that I have to use "Human Kindness (radio edit)" in place of "Lullaby Requiem". For the sake of energy and because HK was a US single and Neil did play it for millions of Americans on late night TV.

That isn't entirely true, and I know because I asked him. I have an interview with Neil to be posted on KTVU.com soon, and he said there may be some non-Crowded House project that could be loosely called a Neil Finn solo project in the works. He did indicate he's looking forward to a new CH record being done and looking forward to recording over the next 12 months. I know CH still has dates in Europe to finish, but I took from our chat (don't take this literally, I'll have it all in the interview soon) that recording is his number one thing/priority in the next 12 months or so. I'm sure he'll be happy to play the CH dates coming up, but recording is on the schedule (he was at his studio when I spoke to him). Look for the article/interview on KTVU.com by the end of the week beginning June 9, 2008.

Painaporo wrote:

quote:

With the reformation of Crowded House I think we've seen the last of Neil Finn solo albums (and Finn Brothers albums) for a very long time. Now that Neil has put the band back together it's pretty hard to believe he'll be able to (or even want to) take time and material away from it for a side project. When Neil put CH back together he made a commitment to Nick, Mark, and now Matt. Neil's also said in interviews that he's "over being solo" and that "being in a band is more healthy and what other band could it be?" and it's also been stated the band plans to continue making albums. They plan to start recording a new one in January of 2008.

But nothing is ever etched in stone.

If Neil suddenly decided that he's sick of all the hoopla tomorrow, he could simply walk away. After all, he's not married to Nick, Mark or Matt.

I personally think that Neil is at an age and stage where he can choose what he wants to do, when he wants to do it, and how he wants it to be done.

He took time out for Split Enz, he's taking a bit of time out for the Finn Brothers shows in New Zealand in July.

And that's why its all so exciting.

I'd be interested to know if your article/interview will be available to those outside the US ch67?

Since the reformation of CH, I haven't so much wondered, "Is Neil finished with his solo career?" as I have, "What's to become of all those great tunes while he's playing with Crowded House?"

I think it's a fair bet that we won't ever hear the Crowdies busting out any of Neil's solo material (even though I am sure they could do a kicking rendition of, say, "Hole in the Ice," among others.) But I don't know if it's so clear that Crowded House is going to go on indefinitely, into Neil's musical twilight. He's still a relatively young man for someone with such a prolific and varied output, and I think we have already seen evidence that Neil is forever taking flight with various projects - hence the unbelievable amount of Finn music of which we are all fortunate enough to be the beneficiaries.

In other words, I think time will tell, but I certainly wouldn't be surprised if in another 5-10 years, Neil hits the road on his own to dust off some of his remarkable solo work.

Anything can happen.

I'm still trying to get this straight in my head.....do you think that his solo stuff would have been Crowded House songs had they stayed together a decade ago? I know some songs are experimental but I do think he would have taken the band in a different direction anyway. Solo or full Crowded House band, I'm sure Neil would have had that musical experimentation within him burn too much which would have resulted in a different Crowded House sound, one that may have sounded much like One Nil or TWT. After all, unlike other artists that have solo projects in the midst of their group's work....Neil was forceably (is that a word?) thrusted into a solo career, due to a breakup caused by a drummer that may have created such a wedge in the band that left him no choice but to put a pre-mature end to Crowded House (and maybe some legal areas which we don't know about that did not allow Neil to continue work under the Crowded House name....and I am totally guessing on that one....)

quote:

Originally posted by Texas Rose:
Painaporo wrote:
[QUOTE]
I'd be interested to know if your article/interview will be available to those outside the US ch67?

As long as you can get on the Web, I don't know why it wouldn't be available. The article isn't up just yet, and it will be pretty regionalized to the northern California reader, but check www.ktvu.com for a Neil Finn interview posted June 9 or later. I can almost promise it won't be done by the 9th, more likely it will be done by the end of the week. I have been overwhelmed with all sorts of work, and the web stuff is secondary to my actual job at KTVU (we are a TV station, so it's music related things I typically do for the site, and I have to do one per week. However, finding the time to write an appropriate "lead in" and then transcribe the nearly half hour chat (not every word exchanged will go into the interview, you don't normally include the "Hi, how you doing, it's an honor to speak with you" stuff because it isn't relevant to the reader). But yes, you should be able to read the article outside the US. If you have trouble, send me a message here and I'll send you the article once it's done, how's that?

I have done 2 Crowded House show reviews, and you may be able to find them if you do a search for Crowded House on the site... check them out (or try) and let me know if you found them. If so, you should be able to find whatever I write on the web. Chuck Harrell is my name, so search that if you don't get a Crowded house result. Sometimes things fall off the grid and you have to search around it to get it, or it may be on another station's site (I've seen my work on sites other than KTVU's that are part of the TV station network we deal with as web providers).

Let me know!

I don't think one can be to sure of what Neil Finn will do. I think he does what he feels like doing, and what he feels like doing is subject to change on short notice. Good thing I like surprises

quote:

Originally posted by emilybeck:

I think it's a fair bet that we won't ever hear the Crowdies busting out any of Neil's solo material

Actually, CH already has done Neil solo songs. It's late and I'm tired and I don't remember what song(s) but I'm sure someone will fill in my mental lapse..... Martine??

I remember hearing that they did Sinner somewhere reasonably recently. Didn't they also do SWHHW?

They sure did, and Driving Me Mad was in there at one of the US shows too

quote:

Originally posted by Half-Full:
I don't think one can be to sure of what Neil Finn will do. I think he does what he feels like doing, and what he feels like doing is subject to change on short notice. Good thing I like surprises

I so much agree with this. I would think Neil Finn would be so surprised (or midly amused) as well to see some people on a forum have his whole future career etched out in stone for him.

Neil misses being in a band, he gets his band back together. Neil wants to play with his mates, he rings his mates. Neil wants to play with his brother, he rings his brother. Neil wants to take Split Enz on a world tour..........oh wait, that was just me wishful thinking for our overseas frenz!!

Point is, you can't say we'll never see a Neil Finn solo project again or not for a very long time. You may be wishing that to be true and if it makes you happy then so be it, but if you really think you can, can you tell me next weeks lottery numbers?

quote:

Originally posted by Mrs Horse Pants:
I remember hearing that they did Sinner somewhere reasonably recently.

Yes, we got a spur-of-the-moment performance of Sinner on night two in Chicago.

I think there's a real hunger to hear his solo stuff but I'm happy with anything he wants to do. I think people were just as delighted to hear Split Enz and CH tunes when he was touring his solo stuff.

Many musicians have taken time off from their "day jobs" to explore solo material, it doesn't mean their work with their band is done. Sometimes it goes over really well and sometimes it falls flat and back to the their band they go with their musical tails between their legs.

Neil is such a font of superb songwriting that I can't see this fate befalling him if he decides to take time out from CH in the coming years to flex his solo muscles. He's got the goods no matter what

quote:

Originally posted by ch67:
That isn't entirely true, and I know because I asked him. I have an interview with Neil to be posted on KTVU.com soon, and he said there may be some non-Crowded House project that could be loosely called a Neil Finn solo project in the works.

I wonder if this could be a reference to the 7 Worlds Collide studio album that has been floating around this forum lately. That would certainly be a non-Crowded House activity that could "loosely" be called a Neil Finn solo project.

quote:

Originally posted by Paināporo:

quote:

Originally posted by ch67:
That isn't entirely true, and I know because I asked him. I have an interview with Neil to be posted on KTVU.com soon, and he said there may be some non-Crowded House project that could be loosely called a Neil Finn solo project in the works.

I wonder if this could be a reference to the 7 Worlds Collide studio album that has been floating around this forum lately. That would certainly be a non-Crowded House activity that could "loosely" be called a Neil Finn solo project.

That could very well be, but why re-record, in the studio, something originally done live? Songs like "She Will Have Her Way" (and many others on that CD) have been done in the studio.

Can someone explain to me what I am missing? I don't see this project as being all that great an idea, unless you just want to record something and you're shy of ideas. I don't think Neil is that kind of artist, one that likes repeating himself. But, I don't know, I don't know the man and I don't know what "specific' projects he is really keen on except a new CH CD. Could be another Finn Bros. project in the works, who knows?

quote:

Originally posted by ch67: That could very well be, but why re-record, in the studio, something originally done live? Songs like "She Will Have Her Way" (and many others on that CD) have been done in the studio.

My guess is, *if* it's a 7WC project (which I think would be amazing, 7WC is easily my most played Finn related album), then they'll be recording new tracks.

What we have to remember here is that we're dealing with speculation.

Painoporo was presenting an opinion, ie that he/she (sorry ) thinks we've seen the last of Neil performing solo.

That doesn't mean we have and it doesn't mean we haven't.

So whether they re-record 7WC, or whether they don't, or whether Neil does another solo record, or whether he doesn't, is all speculation.

So you haven't actually missed anything ch67.

quote:

he/she (sorry )

I am a HE ... it's the cat picture isn't it? Too feminine? The cat is a man too ... a cat man.

Anyway, I don't see any point to recording a 7WC studio album unless they're doing all new material. If this is true, I wonder how much would be Neil Finn songs and how much would be songs by the other songwriters involved.

Personally, I think it's a bad idea and think Neil should be focusing on making the next CH record the best album it can be. But that's just my opinion.

quote:

Yes, we got a spur-of-the-moment performance of Sinner on night two in Chicago.

Fair enough. I stand corrected. I still feel, though, that Crowded House will never be the forum for Neil's solo stuff to get the serious air-time it deserves. Throw in a tune every once in awhile, perhaps, but that's it.

When you have a catalog like his, though, it must be hard to sort through all the riches.

I do know that the first time I saw Neil play a solo show (TWT 1998), he seemed fairly ready to blow the roof of our magical Theater of the Living Arts here in Philly. It was really exciting to see. It was like he had something to prove about his autonomy outside of Split Enz and Crowded House. Obviously, though, he has a different feeling about what it means to be a solo artist now.

This has been a very entertaining thread.

Cheers.