Yet Even More New & Old Neil Young Still To Come

Rust Never Sleep! (sic)Unreleased Rust-oleum Commercial

In the latest batch of Letters To Editor on Archives site,  Neil Young responds to various queries and throws out lots of tantalizing tidbits of sonic treats.  (Thanks Phil!)

Here's what we already know for upcoming releases:

• Way Down in Rust Bucket - February
• Young Shakespeare - March 
• Eldorado (Re-issue of overseas EP)  - May
  
• Alchemy - October 

So that makes for roughly 20 audio disc releases over a ~16 month period*.  You would have to go back to  2009's "deluge of 16* Neil Young discs" to compare.

Also, from LTE's:

• Johnny's Island: finished with 7 unreleased tracks + the 3 Trans acoustic, 
• Ragged Glory Extended  - + 4 more tracks
  
• EARLY DAZE (unreleased Crazy Horse) - coming in '22
• NYA Volume #3 - coming in 2022 w/  "Barefoot Floors"
• CSNY 70 / 71 Fillmore East - coming in 2022 w/ 4 camera video of CSNY
• Landing On Water - coming in high resolution
• Buffalo Springfield Boxset - coming in high resolution @ 24bit/88.2khz.

Also the following tracks suggested by James in Kansas are coming in unreleased records and/or outtakes:

• Sea Of Madness (rough with CSNY Sept 2–3 1969)
• Everybody's Alone (with CSNY)
• Long May You Run (CSNY mix from original pressing of Decade)
• Wonderin' (from Tonight's The Night sessions)
• New Mama (from Time Fades Away studio sessions)
• Sedan Delivery (from Zuma sessions)
• Hold Back The Tears (1975–1976 period, different intro than released version on American Stars n' Bars)
• Sample And Hold (original LP mix)
• If You Got Love (version listed but left off Trans)
• Rainin' In Paradise (Islands In The Sun / Trans outtake)
• For The Love Of Man (1980s outtake)
• Box Car (Times Square / Eldorado / Freedom outtake)
• Interstate (1985 with International Harvesters)
• Interstate (1990 acoustic with Crazy Horse, Ragged Glory outtake later released on Big Time single and LP pressings of Broken Arrow)
• Philadelphia (from the Motion Picture Soundtrack)
• Ode To Wild Bill / Home On The Range / Buffalo Stomp (from Where The Buffalo Roam soundtrack LP)
• Theme From Dead Man (from a promo CD for the Dead Man album)

Despite what many might think, we are really very lucky and blessed to be alive during our historic  "The Times".

Recall, how back in 2009, we posted "Neil Young's 17th CD* Release of Year "Dreamin' Man" Pushed Back"?  Looks like 2020 was a runner up.  (Thanks John A.!)

But -- as everybody knows -- numbers add up to nothin'! (* disc /=/ release)

So, why do "We Sing This Song Because We Love The Man" ?

Thrashers on The Rail @ Neil Young and His Electric Band
Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York - Dec. 15, 2008
Photo by penfifteenclub on Flickr(See "I Sing The Song Because I Love The Man, I Know That Some of You Don't Understand")

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"Spirits Fly": Neil Young's Statement on Elliot Mazer: 1941 - 2021

 

Elliot Mazer: 1941 - 2021

 

Neil Young's Statement on Elliot Mazer: 1941 - 2021 via NYA: 

"Spirits Fly"

Elliot and I first met in Nashville - January 1971, while I was doing the Johnny Cash TV show. At that time, seeing how many new unrecorded songs I had, Elliot immediately got a studio and a group of musicians together so that I could record. James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt were in town doing the Johnny Cash Show the next week and came in to do vocals on the recordings Elliot made.

Elliot put together the band, Kenny Buttrey, Tim Drummond and Ben Keith with John Harris on piano. It was a natural sound and we played effortlessly together.

Elliot made that all happen and it became Harvest. We went on to do more records, our string of releases included Harvest, American Stars & Bars, Hawks & Doves, Everybody's Rockin', Old Ways, Lucky 13 and the recently released "lost" album Homegrown, as well as the concert film - Solo Trans.

A master in the studio, Elliot was a really good guy. He had a great way about him and I wish we had gotten to do more together. I am happy and thankful though that we got what we did get. Harvest is one of my most recognized recordings and it all happened because of Elliot Mazer. Thanks Elliot. Lots of love bro.

More on Elliot Mazer: 1941 - 2021 + A Tribute by Harvey Kubernik. 

 Elliot Mazer: 1941 - 2021 24 channels at 192kHz, Levon Helm's snare, The Green Board
[Neil Young's famous Universal Audio 610 console used to record among other's the Elliot Mazer-produced Harvest]

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"Young Shakespeare" Album by Neil Young - Preview Track + Video: "Tell Me Why"

"Young Shakespeare" Album by Neil Young

 

A preview track and video for "Tell Me Why" from the upcoming "Young Shakespeare" album by Neil Young  is now available on NYA.

As noted here in 2020, Neil Young discussed the unreleased album and film titled "Young Shakespeare" from January 1971 at the Shakespeare Theater in Stratford, Connecticut as "the earliest known film of any of my performances."

 

Via press release:

Just two months after the release of his seminal After the Gold Rush, Neil Young sat down for a performance at The Shakespeare Theater on January 22, 1971. The Stratford, CT show captures the artist stripped down to the bare essentials—acoustic guitar, piano, and harmonica.

The concert was recorded for presentation on German TV later that year but was not publicly available until now. The original 50 year-old analog tapes have been lovingly restored, making available early acoustic recordings of two After the Gold Rush songs, early Harvest tunes, and beloved favorites such as “Ohio,” “Cowgirl in the Sand,” “Helpless,” “Down by the River,” and “Sugar Mountain.”

Young wrote on NYA that Young Shakespeare is, “a more calm performance, without the celebratory atmosphere of Massey Hall, captured live on 16mm. Young Shakespeare is a very special event. To my fans, I say this is the best ever…one of the most pure-sounding acoustic performances we have in the Archive.”

Young Shakespeare Deluxe (CD, LP & DVD) 

 

Previously Neil tantalizingly teased that maybe he would pair "Young Shakespeare" with the 50th Anniversary release of "After The Goldrush" in 2020 as a double record.

That window has come and gone and it now appears that both albums are on the NYA Timeline as separate albums for 2021.  

RELEASE DATE: March 26th with pre-orders for the album and film on LP, CD, DVD, and Deluxe Box Set beginning on Friday, 2/12.

Neil Young Concert Ticket Stub
1971-01-22, Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford, Connecticut, USA
via Sugar Mountain

"Young Shakespeare" tracklist:

Tell me why
Old man
The Needle And The Damage Done
Ohio
Cowgirl in the sand
A Man Needs A Maid
Heart of gold
Dance Dance Dance
Helpless
Don't Let It Bring You Down
Down By The River
Sugar Mountain

Neil Young - Tell Me Why (live) - Young Shakespeare (Official Music Video)

More on "Young Shakespeare" album by Neil Young.

Young Shakespeare
Times Contrarian | NYA

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Certificate of Authenticity: Neil Young Archives Volume II (1972 - 1976)

Certificate of Authenticity
Neil Young Archives Volume II (1972 - 1976)

We received our Certificate of Authenticity for Neil Young Archives Volume II (1972 - 1976) earlier this week.

 Neil Young Archives Volume II (1972 - 1976) 

As folks might recall last year, the Neil Young Archives Volume II sold out in 48 hours.

 

So we feel very fortunate to obtain one of the limited edition copies and have been enjoying immensely.

For more, see ROUNDUP: Neil Young Archives Volume II (1972 - 1976) Boxset.

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Elliot Mazer: 1941 - 2021 + A Tribute by Harvey Kubernik + UPDATE

 Elliot Mazer: 1941 - 2021 24 channels at 192kHz, Levon Helm's snare, The Green Board
[Neil Young's famous Universal Audio 610 console used to record among other's the Elliot Mazer-produced Harvest] 

 UPDATE:  "Spirits Fly": Neil Young's Statement on Elliot Mazer: 1941 - 2021

Producer Elliot Mazer has passed away.

Elliot Mazer's long working relationship with Neil Young and his many projects is impressive -- Grammy-award-winning Record Producer, Studio Owner, Recording Engineer, Inventor, Professor, and more. Elliot worked with Janis Joplin, Santana, Sinatra, The Who, and most famously Neil Young. 

Elliot Mazer was the Producer for Neil Young's album Harvest.

He was also involved in the developmental phases of the digital technologies, including work at Stanford University’s Computer Center for Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA), building what is regarded as the first all-digital recording studio, and more recently working with the Warner Music Group on their Archive Project, and consulting to OraStream and Pono. 

See Interview with Elliot Mazer - Neil Young's Producer & Engineer.

On recording Neil Young's album Harvest in Nashville at Quadrafonic Studios, in an interview:

Elliot Mazer: "When Neil played those songs, everything about the arrangements and sound seemed obvious. 

Neil came in sang the songs and looked at the studio," recalls Elliot. "I helped him get the band. We set up the studio so that he could be right in between the members of the band. He asked if we could put him near the drums. My role was to guide the sessions, create the sounds and give him confidence that we would get great recordings of his music. I brought him in for his first playback and he was happy, and off we went. We had great sounds, great earphone mixes and we were ready to go a few minutes after he got to the studio. 

The studio never got in his way.

Read more »

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"Daughters" by Neil Young - Official Music Video

 

The Official Music Video for the song "Daughters" by Neil Young from Archives Vol. II is now up on YouTube.  

Recorded on December 11, 1974 in Nashville for the album "Homegrown", the song was omitted from the album, but is on Archives Disc #6 "The Old Homestead" as an outtake.

There is some discrepancy as to whether background vocals are Nicolette Larson or  Emmylou Harris. Credits indicate Nicolette. But given that Nicolette Larson's first collaboration with Neil Young was in 1977 on "Comes A Time", might it be possible that the vocals were added 3 years later? 

 

So, Emmylou or Nicolette?

 

More on Neil Young's new album "Homegrown" and preview track "Try". Track list and details @ Neil Young's new album "Homegrown".

 

Also, more on NEIL YOUNG ARCHIVES Volume #2 and Old Homestead (1974).

 

More on Nicolette Larson & Neil Young.


A Tribute To Nicolette Larson: Lotta Love Concert

More on Neil Young and Emmylou Harris.

 
Neil Young and Emmylou Harris
photo from "Heart of Gold" film

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Henry Diltz: Uncut, Never-Before-Seen Interview | 'Inventing David Geffen' | PBS American Masters Archive

Henry Diltz - November 13, 2009

Inventing David Geffen |  PBS | American Masters

 

As noted recently, a rather significant announcement, PBS American Masters Archive Releases 1,000+ Hours of Uncut, Never-Before-Seen Interviews: Patti Smith, David Bowie, Neil Young & More. 

 

David Geffen, Elliot Roberts, & Neil Young
Frame from  'Inventing David Geffen': American Masters

(See So What Makes Neil Young's Muse Tick?) 

 

In December 2012, PBS | American Masters broadcast the documentary film "Inventing David Geffen. American Masters: Inventing David Geffen is "an unflinching portrait of Geffen, who narrates his unorthodox rise from working class Brooklyn boy to billionaire entertainment power broker in extensive interviews." 

Interviewees include Neil Young, Elliot Roberts, David Crosby, Henry Diltz, Gary Burden and many others.

From the unaired interview with Henry Diltz on working with Geffen and his clients, Neil Young and his manager Elliot Roberts. (Ed. note, unedited raw transcript)

Henry Diltz: It seems amazing that so many huge artists came out of that one little office [Geffen-Roberts], you know, with Hoagy Carmichael upstairs, you know, who wrote, Stardust and Skylark and Old Buttermilk Sky was one of my favorites. 

And downstairs, you had these amazing this new generation of songwriters, you know, of Neil Young and Joni Mitchell and Jackson Browne and Henley and Fry and Dan Fogelberg, you know, and Joe Walsh and a fellow David Blue (?). They didn't stick around long enough to get famous. But he was kind of a Dylanesque character and a good friend of Elliot Roberts. But it's amazing that all these huge artists came out of that that one little club house office, you know.

Photographer Henry Diltz, with his iconic photograph of Crosby, Stills and Nash 1969 debut album cover is featured prominently in the exhibit at the Grammy Museum exhibit "California Dreamin': The Sounds of Laurel Canyon, 1965 - 1977"

(See Laurel Canyon Exhibit at Grammy Museum: California Dreamin' Explores Music Scene in the ’60s, ’70s)

 

"Unpainted Faces"
by Henry Diltz
(See "Unpainted Faces" by Henry Diltz )

 

 

David Crosby - May 14, 2012 Inventing David Geffen |  PBS | American Masters(See more on full David Crosby: Uncut, Never-Before-Seen Interview | 'Inventing David Geffen' | PBS American Masters Archive)

 

Gary Burden - November 12, 2012

Inventing David Geffen |  PBS | American Masters

(See more on full  Gary Burden: Uncut, Never-Before-Seen Interview | 'Inventing David Geffen' | PBS American Masters Archive.)

 

Also, see Neil Young's Uncut, Never-Before-Seen Interview | 'Inventing David Geffen' | PBS American Masters Archive.

 

 Neil Young - November 29, 2011

'Inventing David Geffen' | PBS | American Masters

 

Also, see Elliot Roberts Uncut, Never-Before-Seen Interview | 'Inventing David Geffen' | PBS American Masters Archive.

 

Elliot Roberts - July 22, 2009 'Inventing David Geffen' |  PBS | American Masters 

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