Splendid Isolation: Neil Young's Vocals Isolated on 'Heart of Gold' | Far Out Magazine

 Neil Young: In the 1970's

A rather interesting experiment involving Neil Young's oh-so classic and beloved song 'Heart of Gold'.

From Hear Neil Young's remarkable isolated vocals for 'Heart of Gold' | Far Out Magazine by Jack Whatley:

If one song sealed Neil Young’s transformation from counter-culture stalwart to a new rock and roll poster boy, then it has to be ‘Heart of Gold’. 

Another brilliant song from the Harvest album, which could have easily dominated this list, sees Young transcend rock and roll and turn pop, if only for a short while.

Featuring backing vocals from none other than James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt, the song shot Young into stardom and was later despised by the songwriter. It’s a song that, ironically, Bob Dylan saw as purposely copying him: “The only time it bothered me that someone sounded like me was when I was living in Phoenix, Arizona, in about ’72 and the big song at the time was ‘Heart of Gold’,” he once commented.

From performance in 1971 on the BBC, here is Neil Young's song  'Heart of Gold'  with his vocals isolated.  Listen.

 

Also, see more on Neil Young's song 'Heart of Gold', the lyrics and meaning.

And speaking of "Splendid Isolation",  see a special Bridge Concert Memory: "Splendid Isolation" by Warren Zevon w/ Neil Young in 1993. 

 

Warren Zevon and Neil Young - 1993

(Note: Neil's right hand)

Bridge Concert Memory: "Splendid Isolation" by Warren Zevon w/ Neil Young 

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