Today I want to celebrate the memory of the American singer-songwriter Frederick Ralph Morlock Jr., better known as Fred Neil, who was born 88 years ago today. Although mostly forgotten these days, he was a pivotal part of the folk scene in New York in the early 1960’s.
Bob Dylan recalls that when he arrived in New York, he was advised to seek out Fred Neil. When he finally did, Neil invited him up on stage to join in. As a songwriter he is best known for Everybody’s Talkin’, who Harry Nilsson had a smash hit with after it was used on the soundtrack to the Oscar movie Midnight Cowboy.
Fred Neil more or less retired from the music industry already in the mid 70’s, and passed away in 2001 In additoin to Nilsson, his songs have been covered by among others The Lovin’ Spoonful, Jefferson Airplane and Linda Ronstadt. To celebrate his memory, here is his own verson of Everybody’s Talkin’, and one more!
Fred Neil - Everybody’s Talkin*
Fred Neil - The Other Side of This Life