Bridge School Concerts: 25th Anniversary Edition

Audio Mixer: Niko Bolas.
Recording information: Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA.
The Bridge School Concerts: 25th Anniversary Edition collects 25 songs over two discs recorded live at the famed Shoreline Ampitheatre in Shoreline, California. Neil Young, who has headlined the annual Bridge Benefit shows for over 25 years, is a staunch supporter of the groundbreaking, non-profit organization, which educates children with severe speech and physical impairments, and he's brought in more than a few famous faces over the years to grace the Shoreline's stage. This 2011 collection includes a nice mix of living legends (Paul McCartney, Elton John, Willie Nelson, the Who, Bruce Springsteen) and contemporary hit makers (Gillian Welch, Band of Horses, Norah Jones, Sheryl Crow, Sarah McLachlan), all of whom contribute to a solid, unfussy set of originals and covers that's more than worth the anthology's miniscule asking price. ~ James Christopher Monger