Young's "simplest, most acoustic, and best produced" record since 1972's Harvest, but more "down to earth and direct" in comparison and highlighted by a healthier perspective to his usual angst and varied songs performed in a consistent style. While lamenting a lack of energy to some degree, Coppage said that repeat listens of the album will provide "rewarding experiences with texture and mood, some real tunes, and the real personality Young puts into his work". Somewhat less impressed was Greil Marcus of Rolling Stone. Describing Comes a Time as "a restrained and modest set of love songs that traces a long affair from first light to final regrets", he expressed disappointment at the relative "facelessness" of the songwriting when compared with rougher music on earlier albums like Zuma (1975) and American Stars 'n Bars (1977). At the end of 1978, Comes a Time was voted the year's eighth best album in the Pazz & Jop, an annual poll of American critics nationwide, published in The Village Voice. Christgau, the poll's supervisor, ranked it fifth on his own year-end list accompanying the poll. According to Rolling Stones Milo Miles, while the album may have sounded out of place amidst the punk rock craze of 1978, it is in retrospect Young's "most timeless and easy-to-love works, a brief but immaculate" work. Miles interprets the opening track "Goin' Back" as Young returning to folk music in refuge from the real world, much as in the same way the album altogether offers listeners "a steady haven in dark times" with lyrics about "taking shelter from troubles and going out to face them again". AllMusic's William Ruhlmann recommended the album to fans of Harvest, saying "melodies, love lyrics, lush arrangements, and steel guitar solos dominated, and Young's vocals were made more accessible by being paired with Nicolette Larson's harmonies." Track listing All songs are written by Neil Young, except where noted. Track numbering and timings are from the original vinyl release, MSK 2266. Personnel Musicians Neil Young – guitar, harmonica, vocals, production Frank Sampedro – guitar, piano, vocals (on tracks 3 and 4) Billy Talbot – bass, vocals (on tracks 3 and 4) Ralph Molina – drums, vocals (on tracks 3 and 4) Tim Mulligan – saxophone Nicolette Larson – harmony / lead vocals (except on tracks 3 and 4) Ben Keith – steel guitar Karl Himmel – drums Tim Drummond – bass Spooner Oldham