Ranking Neil Young's First Decade of Albums | All Music

Neil YoungPhoto by Gary Burden

As we await the latest album from Neil Young ( see announcement for album titled 'Second Song', recorded with the Chrome Hearts) here's Ranking the Neil Young Albums from His First Decade | All Music by Daniel de Visé:

Few artists garner more attention on AllMusic than Neil Young. Trust me: I've seen the numbers.

Back in the '80s, when I was searching out used vinyl of On the Beach and Time Fades Away in Chicago record stores, those records felt like guilty pleasures. Neil Young wasn't widely regarded as a top-drawer artist, like Springsteen or Dylan, although the triple-LP Decade in 1977 made a pretty strong case.

That's all changed now. Fans and pundits have come to regard Young as the standard-bearer for real, garage-band rock and roll, passing the tradition from the Troggs and The Standells and Seeds in the '60s to Kurt Cobain and Pearl Jam and Wilco in the '90s and beyond, carrying the torch through the eras of yacht rock, arena rock, prog rock, synth rock, hair metal and disco. All hail the Godfather of Grunge.

Young has been churning out solo albums for nearly 60 years. Some of the later ones are really good. And that poses a problem: Every time Young puts out a Ragged Glory or Harvest Moon, he pushes the old stuff a little further into the past. Time fades away.

As good as those albums are – I also love Mirror Ball – I don't think they hold a candle to most of Young's recordings from roughly the first Decade. In that spirit, let's go back and revisit the early albums: The first 10 solo studio LPs, from Neil Young through Rust Never Sleeps, and the essential live set Time Fades Away.

Here's my attempt at a ranking.

Full review and ranking @  Ranking the Neil Young Albums from His First Decade | All Music by Daniel de Visé.

Also, see:

Neil Young's Ditch Trilogy

"Time Fades Away", "Tonight’s the Night" & "On the Beach"

(See Neil Young 's Ditch Trilogy/Quadrilogy/Quintology/Sextology In Light of "Homegrown" Release: What Might Have Been? )

Neil Young's "Ditch Quadrilogy":
"Time Fades Away", "Tonight’s the Night", "On the Beach" & "ZUMA"

"Every Neil Young Studio Album, Ranked" | UPROXX by Steven Hyden

image credit: Neil Young Album Cover Images via Sugar Mountain | Discography

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Neil Young Albums From Worst To Best | Stereogum
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The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time| Rolling Stone
P. 80 - 3 of Neil Young's Albums
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1. Rust Never Sleeps (1979)

 (see Every Neil Young Album Ranked | The Guardian)

More on Neil Young's albums, reviews and commentary.

Also, see more on the origin of the expression "Ditch Trilogy" as applied to Neil Young's 3 albums "Time Fades Away", "Tonight’s the Night" & "On the Beach". Also, see Neil Young's Ditch Trilogy -- Or is it a Quadrilogy? Or Quintology?.

Also, see The Beautiful, Enduring Gloom of Neil Young's Ditch Trilogy | PandoraMusic.

UPDATE:  

• The Essential Neil Young Albums
• Neil Young Albums From Worst To Best | Stereogum  
• The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time| Rolling Stone
• Every Neil Young Album Ranked | The Guardian) 
• Neil Young's albums, reviews and commentary
• Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Times
• Neil Young: Rolling Stone | 100 Greatest Guitarists
• Reviews of 52 Neil Young Albums | Everybody's Dummy 
• Results and discussion of Poll for Favorite Neil Young Studio Album of 21st Century 
• Comment of the Moment: Poll Results for Favorite Neil Young Studio Zero's Album 
• Neil Young on Swedish TV Interview Discussing His Catalog - 2005
• Listening to All of Neil Young's Albums in Chronological Order: His journey, his self-appointed task by Mike "Expecting 2 Fly"

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Neil Young's Vinyl Releases & "A GREAT QUESTION"

 A GREAT QUESTIONNeil Young Archives | Letters to Editor 
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Neil Young's vinyl releases have long been -- paradoxically -- a source of great joy and frustration.

Finally, it seems that someone has gotten Neil's attention on the long running issue of vinyl quality, decisions and pricing.

Over on  Neil Young Archives | Letters to Editor , Peter in Dublin writes a thoughtful and provocative letter which NYA headlines as "A GREAT QUESTION".  Read the letter in full for all the specific details.  To summarize very briefly this complex, multi-faceted subject, the vinyl frustrations have peaked around releases with "etching sides", i.e., no music.  For example, Tuscaloosa album on 2 LPs, but on 3 sides, but now with Bonus Tracks released on NYA that could have gone on Side 4 instead of an etching of the Crazy Horse logo.

Another example given is the Toast album, totaling only 51 minutes on 2 LPs, again on only 3 sides, with Side 4 an etching of the Crazy Horse logo.

Peter in Dublin goes on to cite numerous other Neil Young's vinyl releases which fall short of fan expectations of vinyl quality and value.

Neil responds with:

"What a great refreshing letter!!!!"

Neil goes on to reply that he plans to review the letter with Engineers John Hanlon, Niko Bolas and others to "come up with answers".

Thanks to Peter in Dublin for asking the uncomfortable questions.

More on Neil Young's Vinyl Releases and the  NEIL YOUNG OFFICIAL RELEASE SERIES.

 NEIL YOUNG OFFICIAL RELEASE SERIES VOLUME 5 

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REVIEW: Neil Young 72: Archives Vol. III | Everybody’s Dummy

Neil Young Archives Volume #3 Drops

 

The reviews for  Neil Young Archives Volume #3 continue to roll in from around the EARTH.

Here's an in-depth review with all of the track analysis we need to disCERN the nuggets.  Not that there's a lot of chaff on NYA#3, but getting to the wheat is the treat.

 

Neil Young Archives Volumes #1 - 3 
Photo by Pat "Barefoot Floors" Q.

From Everybody’s Dummy, here's a clip from their #72 Neil young review:

Accepted Neil lore is that he recorded an album of mostly solo acoustic songs to be called Oceanside Countryside, to which the label execs suggested he add more instrumentation. 

Rather than be offended, he did exactly that, resulting in what would be eventually released as Comes A Time. Because there is no documentation otherwise in the box, it’s therefore implied that the Oceanside Countryside disc presents that unreleased first draft verbatim, which is curious, as it’s sequenced in strict recorded order, unlike Homegrown and Chrome Dreams. (Neil has since confirmed the official planned running order included eight of the songs on this disc, plus the older “Captain Kennedy” and “The Old Homestead”, and not chronologically.) At any rate, there are some nice stripped-back mixes of Comes A Time songs, plus the familiar “Pocahontas” and “Lost In Space”, unreleased takes of “It Might Have Been” and “Dance Dance Dance”, a rightfully rejected “Comes A Time”, and a mix of “Peace Of Mind” with a lost verse.

The sessions to complete Comes A Time—which also included outtakes of “We’re Having Some Fun Now”, an unreleased version of “Love/Art Blues”, and a cover of the oldie “Please Help Me, I’m Falling”—bookend a one-off benefit performance performed by Neil with Nicolette, the session players, and the Gone With The Wind Orchestra. That show is not in the box, but the rehearsal for it makes up the bulk of the Union Hall disc. It’s a mix of old and new songs, including a pointed medley of “Dance Dance Dance” and “Love Is A Rose”, a strings-laden “Alabama” with a “Sweet Home Alabama” tag, and the mega-rare “Lady Wingshot”.

Thanks much Everybody’s Dummy!  Good notes to assist on zeroing in the most vital elements of NYA#3.  While we would love to sit down and listen to 17 discs, it's just impossible these days.  Many times we wish things like this came out in the 1980's.  Not that we had unlimited time back in the 80's but everything was so different back in the days that used to be.

Full review @ Neil Young 72: Archives Vol. III  | Everybody’s Dummy.

More on Neil Young’s Archives Vol. III:

Neil Young: Archives Vol. III - 17 CD BOX SET

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More on Neil Young’s Archives Vol. III  @ Unboxing Neil Young Archives Vol. III (1976–1987)  

• Today's The Day! Neil Young Archives Volume #3 Drops
• Neil Young Archives Vol #3 Now Live on NYA + Comment of the Moment
• In Depth Review: Neil Young Archives Vol. 3 | Davy's Flicks 
  
• Comment of the Moment: Neil Young Archives Vol #3 "Takes" Compilation
  
• Neil Young Patron ZOOM Call Update: Discusses NYA#3 & More 
  
• Exclusive First Look: Neil Young - Archives Vol. III | Qobuz  
• TRACKLIST: Neil Young Archives Vol. III + Comment of the Moment 
• Neil Young Archives Vol. III - 17 CD BOX SET - Pre-Order + Promo Video 
  
• Neil Young Archives Volume #3: September Release Planned.
• WHAT IS NEIL YOUNG GOING TO PUT IN NEIL YOUNG ARCHIVES VOL. 4? | NYU  
• Neil Young Archives Volume #4 Creation Begins 
  

Unboxing Neil Young Archives Vol. III (1976–1987) 

(Watch Neil unbox NYA#3) 

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In Depth Review: Neil Young Archives Vol. 3 | Davy's Flicks

In Depth Review: Neil Young Archives Vol. 3 | Davy's Flicks
Here is an in depth review of Neil Young Archives Vol. 3 from our pal @ Davy's Flicks. 

   

Davy staggers thru the magintude of Neil Young Archives Vol. 3. Davy reports that it took him over two dedicated weeks to immerse himself in the boxset.  And this covers only the 17 CDs -- not the BluRay films, which will come in the future.

Also, Davy takes head on some of the "complaints" on NYA#3.  Nice balanced job on that difficult task Davy!  We know that we have a great deal of difficulty in criticizing an artist's lifetime capstone project.  While we all expect perfection in all things, the impossibility is the reality. Reasonable expectations, as always.

More of Davy's reviews @ REVIEW: Neil Young's Latest Trifecta - Somewhere Under The Rainbow, High Flyin' & Molina, Talbot, Lofgren All Roads Lead Home 

REVIEW: Neil Young's Latest Trifecta - Somewhere Under The Rainbow, High Flyin' & Molina, Talbot, Lofgren All Roads Lead Home 

More on Neil Young’s Archives Vol. III:

Neil Young: Archives Vol. III - 17 CD BOX SET

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More on Neil Young’s Archives Vol. III  @ Unboxing Neil Young Archives Vol. III (1976–1987)  

• Today's The Day! Neil Young Archives Volume #3 Drops
• Neil Young Archives Vol #3 Now Live on NYA + Comment of the Moment
• Comment of the Moment: Neil Young Archives Vol #3 "Takes" Compilation
  
• Neil Young Patron ZOOM Call Update: Discusses NYA#3 & More 
  
• Exclusive First Look: Neil Young - Archives Vol. III | Qobuz  
• TRACKLIST: Neil Young Archives Vol. III + Comment of the Moment 
• Neil Young Archives Vol. III - 17 CD BOX SET - Pre-Order + Promo Video 
  
• Neil Young Archives Volume #3: September Release Planned.
• WHAT IS NEIL YOUNG GOING TO PUT IN NEIL YOUNG ARCHIVES VOL. 4? | NYU  
• Neil Young Archives Volume #4 Creation Begins 
  

Unboxing Neil Young Archives Vol. III (1976–1987) 

(Watch Neil unbox NYA#3) 

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Comment of the Moment: Neil Young Archives Vol #3 Now Live on NYA

 

Neil Young Archives Volumes #1 - 3 Photo by Pat "Barefoot Floors" Q.(Click photo to enlarge)

As mentioned here last week, the Neil Young Archives Volume #3 is now streaming on NYA.com.

Our Comment of the Moment is on Neil Young Archives Vol #3 Now Live on NYA by Dionys:

Collecting material and immaterial things is an expression of human nature. 

Even the non-materialistic aborigines of Australia collect(ed) dreamings as narratives and assembled their painted representations on rocks.

Another perspective: They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” So collecting things and thoughts ultimately is an expression of identity.

I sometimes imagine all these Neil Young fans and collectors of other things (including myself) building towers "to make a name of themselves" by passing their shrines and pyramids on to the next generation and meanwhile we are enjoying good music.That's why i switched back to vinyl, because these files and CDs need a ton of sophisticated and ever-changing technology. Somewhere I have data files on diskettes but the technology to read them is long time gone. Those LPs from the 50's that I inherited from my dad still play fine. Still I could not resist buying the large CD edition.

I am convinced that there are NY towers and pyramids in Europe that are far taller then mine, but hey - it's part of my headstone that I am interested in, so I added another brick in my wall of sound.

In these parts of the world the normal citizen by now had eight decades to accumulate possessions. During these years one could have done far worse than heaping up books, music and art.

Thanks much for Our Comment of the Moment Dionys!  Always appreciate your insights and perspective. This really resonates for those trying to remove attachments while seeking a simpler, slower life style.

Neil Young Archives Volume #3 Drops

 

 

More on Neil Young’s Archives Vol. III  @ Unboxing Neil Young Archives Vol. III (1976–1987)  

• Today's The Day! Neil Young Archives Volume #3 Drops
• Neil Young Archives Vol #3 Now Live on NYA
• Comment of the Moment: Neil Young Archives Vol #3 "Takes" Compilation
  
• Neil Young Patron ZOOM Call Update: Discusses NYA#3 & More 
  
• Exclusive First Look: Neil Young - Archives Vol. III | Qobuz  
• TRACKLIST: Neil Young Archives Vol. III + Comment of the Moment 
• Neil Young Archives Vol. III - 17 CD BOX SET - Pre-Order + Promo Video 
  
• Neil Young Archives Volume #3: September Release Planned.
• WHAT IS NEIL YOUNG GOING TO PUT IN NEIL YOUNG ARCHIVES VOL. 4? | NYU  
• Neil Young Archives Volume #4 Creation Begins 
  

Unboxing Neil Young Archives Vol. III (1976–1987) 

(Watch Neil unbox NYA#3)  

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Neil Young Archives Vol #3 Now Live on NYA + Comment of the Moment

Dark River Lion @darkriverlion | X.com

 

The Neil Young Archives Volume #3 is now streaming on NYA.com

Per NYA post yesterday, "Look on the Timeline and find it there!"

Also, Neil mentions that the NYA Tape Log Complete book is expected to be out "within a year".

 

Neil Young Archives Volume #3 Drops

 

So some good news for those still awaiting their box to arrive, although we do understand the frustration out there with the delay on pre-order shipments.

Which brings us to the  Comment of the Moment by Tom D.

So like so many I’m seeing on the web, I’m taking my time going through volume 3. 

Instead of trying to cram everything in at once or listening to just the stuff I’m most interested in, I’m listening to it in order methodically. Right off the bat, I have to say that i was totally confused with the first two discs (and first dvd) of the set. 

Now I’m going to put this disclaimer here, this is NOT a complaint. 

Both the cds and the blu ray of Across the water might be the best chronicle of a Crazy Horse show ever. And I’m not saying this to be hyperbolic, up until now i always thought Rust never sleeps was the best, this one gives it a run for its money. 

But what really got me scratching my head was, why wasn’t this all in volume 2? Why isn’t THIS odeon budokan? Much like how journey through the past ends volume 1 with a great movie that really caps the whole box set, i feel like this blu ray could have done the same for volume 2. 

I always thought odeon budokan was too truncated and was somewhat disappointing especially since the rest of volume 2 was so thorough. I’m glad that volume 3 rectifies this with across the water but why is it all split between 2 boxsets? And it’s from the same tour! I thought at first it would maybe be from the crazy horse tour that took place after the stills-young debacle but no, not only is it from the same tour, it’s from some of the same shows! 

Plus the other glaring difference is just how much better across the water is performance wise than odeon budokan. I can’t tell whether cowgirl is the same performance just edited on odeon or if it’s a different performance but either way, across the water is far superior. That goes all around except for maybe cortez which is great on odeon. 

Anyway, I’ll say it again, this not a complaint, just a real headscratcher. 

The only thing I can think of is they didn’t want to put a blu ray in volume 2 for budget reasons? Maybe they just wanted to keep it as all cds? It’s a shame cuz like I said, it would have been the cherry on top but I’m glad we got it either way. 

And it will enable me to make a mix called Across The Budokan which is a pretty kick ass title so I can thank neil’s eccentric nature for that as well!

Thanks for comment Tom.  As noted, certainly understand the frustrations.

Neil Young: Archives Vol. III - 17 CD BOX SET

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More on Neil Young’s Archives Vol. III  @ Unboxing Neil Young Archives Vol. III (1976–1987)  

• Today's The Day! Neil Young Archives Volume #3 Drops
• Comment of the Moment: Neil Young Archives Vol #3 "Takes" Compilation
  
• Neil Young Patron ZOOM Call Update: Discusses NYA#3 & More 
  
• Exclusive First Look: Neil Young - Archives Vol. III | Qobuz  
• TRACKLIST: Neil Young Archives Vol. III + Comment of the Moment 
• Neil Young Archives Vol. III - 17 CD BOX SET - Pre-Order + Promo Video 
  
• Neil Young Archives Volume #3: September Release Planned.
• WHAT IS NEIL YOUNG GOING TO PUT IN NEIL YOUNG ARCHIVES VOL. 4? | NYU  
• Neil Young Archives Volume #4 Creation Begins 
  

Unboxing Neil Young Archives Vol. III (1976–1987) 

(Watch Neil unbox NYA#3) 

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Comment of the Moment: Neil Young Archives Vol #3 Albums

Neil Young Archives Volume #3 Drops   

With the release last week of Neil Young Archives Vol #3, the artist's full vision  comes into sharp focus  on the massive accomplishment.

Dark River Lion @darkriverlion

 
Which -- of course -- brings us to the latest TW Comment of the Moment on Neil Young Archives Vol #3 albums by Dan S.  In a bit of digressing from our standards practices here @ TW, we're not going to fully excerpt the CotM.  Instead, we're going to link over to the comments by Dan S.

Dan has been listening to each of the Neil Young Archives Vol #3 albums and dropping individual mini-reviews of each disc.

So check out the review comments by Dan on the Neil Young Archives Vol #3 albums.  Enjoy.

And thanks Dan - as always - for the thoughtful input here @ TW.  It is greatly appreciated and a gift to our fellow readers and Neil fans.  The rustie grain community is far richer with all of our voices, each contributing their unique perspectives while sharing our joys and insights of "the treasures".

Neil Young: Archives Vol. III - 17 CD BOX SET

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More on Neil Young’s Archives Vol. III  @Unboxing Neil Young Archives Vol. III (1976–1987)  

• Today's The Day! Neil Young Archives Volume #3 Drops
• Neil Young Patron ZOOM Call Update: Discusses NYA#3 & More 
  
• Exclusive First Look: Neil Young - Archives Vol. III | Qobuz  
• TRACKLIST: Neil Young Archives Vol. III + Comment of the Moment 
• Neil Young Archives Vol. III - 17 CD BOX SET - Pre-Order + Promo Video 
  
• Neil Young Archives Volume #3: September Release Planned.
• WHAT IS NEIL YOUNG GOING TO PUT IN NEIL YOUNG ARCHIVES VOL. 4? | NYU  
• Neil Young Archives Volume #4 Creation Begins 
  

Unboxing Neil Young Archives Vol. III (1976–1987)

(Watch Neil unbox NYA#3) 

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What Happens When a Beloved Rock Star Gets Fed Up? | Neil Young's 1974 On the Beach Album | The Atlantic

Neil Young's On The Beach - 1974
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Last year, we shared the news that Neil Young is planning a 50th anniversary edition of the album On The Beach. 

And here we are in 2024 -- and while no 50th anniversary edition details as of yet --  we did get news on Neil Young Archives Vol. III, a 17 CD BOX SET.

Nevertheless, the tributes to Neil Young's 1974 masterpiece continue to roll in.  Here's the latest: What Happens When a Beloved Rock Star Gets Fed Up? | Neil Young was never more paranoid or pessimistic than with 1974’s On the Beach—for good reason | The Atlantic by Elizabeth Nelson. (thanks Bob G.!)

By the year of On the Beach’s release, rock and roll had become big business, and the American concert landscape was changing as a result. 

Bob Dylan and the Band had reconvened on their multimillion-grossing run of dates, and CSNY, too, had begun to sell out stadiums and arenas on what came to be known, by dint of its excess, as the Doom Tour. In time, messianic pop singers would create grotesque carbon footprints in the interest of advancing their brands. Young and his band were fueled by a combination of potent fried weed and honey, called “honey slides”—and the creeping paranoia that accompanies getting too stoned matches the mood of the album’s closing songs.

Young sounds confused but resolute.

On the almost seven-minute title track,he makes suggestions, seemingly to himself: “Get out of town, think I’ll get out of town,” in a way that makes you think as a listener, He’s never going to get out of town. “Motion Pictures”—an elegy for his estranged partner, the actor Carrie Snodgress—is about Young embracing the beauty of nature, as the people around him are captivated by their television sets. “All those people, they think they’ve got it made,” he sings. “I wouldn’t buy, sell, borrow, or trade / Anything I have to be like one of them.” He sings: “I’d rather start all over again.”

Full article @  What Happens When a Beloved Rock Star Gets Fed Up? | Neil Young was never more paranoid or pessimistic than with 1974’s On the Beach—for good reason | The Atlantic by Elizabeth Nelson. 

More on Neil Young's 1974 masterpiece album On The Beach ...

Rare "On The Beach" Poster with Neil facing camera

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More on Neil Young's "Ditch Trilogy/Quadrilogy".

Neil Young's "Ditch Quadrilogy" (see Neil Young's "Ditch Quadrilogy" Re-Re-Release is Finally Coming! Official Release Series Discs 5-8 (4CD): May 12, 2017 Release)

 

"The Drought" & "On The Beach"(see The Surrealism of Neil Young's "On The Beach" Album )

 

Also, see:

• On The Beach Album by Neil Young: A 50 Year Old Masterpiece  
• Comment of the Moment: 50th Anniversary Edition of Neil Young's On The Beach Album Planned 
• The Essentials: On the Beach by Neil Young | The Old Grey Cat
• "Time Fades Away", "Tonight’s the Night" & "On the Beach": The Beautiful, Enduring Gloom of Neil Young's Ditch Trilogy
  
• The Surrealism of Neil Young's "On The Beach" Album
  
• Tattoo of the Moment: "On The Beach Face" Neil Young's Album Cover
• On The Beach: 45 Years Later, Still Neil Young’s "Most Beautiful (and Most Depressing) Album")
• Nick Cave and His Favorite Neil Young "Hiding Song": "On the Beach"
  

 

Neil Young On The Beach: Reflecting on Reflections 

(See  On The Beach: 45 Years Later, Still Neil Young’s "Most Beautiful (and Most Depressing) Album")

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'The Songs of Neil Young': Northfield (MN) Fine Arts Boosters Fundraiser - Nov 18

 'The Songs of Neil Young'Northfield (MN) Fine Arts Boosters fundraiser

Here is an interview about 'The Songs of Neil Young', a fundraiser for the Northfield (MN) Fine Arts Boosters. 

Check out this new interview with The Morning Show - Ray Coudret on Northfield Fine Arts Boosters fundraiser 'The Songs of Neil Young', 11-17-23 from the KYMN Morning Show. https://t.co/v0kzT9eGwa

— KYMN | 95.1 The One (@KYMN95TheOne) November 17, 2023

Here's what we found interesting in the interview. The organizer discusses researching Neil Young and learning that Neil has a lot of songs to choose from.

Bob Dylan has published over 600 songs. 

Bruce Springsteen has published almost 600 songs. 

Tom Petty has published about  400 songs. 

Neil Young has published over 1100 songs.

More on the ever so prolific Neil Young.

Neil Young Archives Albums Ranked | Ultimate Classic Rock

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Neil Young Archives Albums Ranked | Ultimate Classic Rock

Neil Young Archives Albums Ranked | Ultimate Classic Rock

Yeah, we know everyone despises lists. 

Best to Worst.  Worst to Best. Greatest to Least Greatest, etc. so bear with us here for a moment as we share something relevant for all of our Neil Young aficionados.

Recall at the end of last year, the posting A Gentle Request From A Beleaguered Neil Young Fan where Neil fan John K. was overwhelmed by the options for holiday gifts?

If ever there was a "good problem", then certainly this is it where we have a plethora of Neil Young Archives Albums to choose from. With limited time and budgets, where might the Neil fan maximize and optimize? Or is this even the right approach?

While definitely some of Neil Young Archives albums are significantly "more essential", nearly all contain relevant, surprising delights.

From Neil Young Archives Albums Ranked | Ultimate Classic Rock:

Neil Young's Archives Series launched in 2006 as Live at the Fillmore East collected a pair of 1970 shows with Crazy Horse from the famous New York club.

Since then, the Archives have grown to include branches dedicated to the live Performance Series (concerts from over the decades), the FOfficial Bootleg Series (famous underground albums that have circulated illegally for years), and the Special Release Series (entire albums from Young's extensive vaults that were never released for one reason or another).

The key component of the series, which was to begin with a multi-disc box set spanning the earliest years of Young's career and then unspool chronologically, has yielded only two era-spanning collections so far. It's still in the mid-'70s, so there's a long way to go.

The individual albums released in the interim – sometimes two or three records are dumped at once; others trickle out at a slower pace – have covered everything from Young's earliest club shows as a solo acoustic act to less-vintage live shows with Crazy Horse, the Stray Gators and his other backing bands from throughout the decades.

Arguably the most interesting finds in the Archives have been the unreleased albums that were replaced by other official works. Records like Homegrown and, especially, Chrome Dreams have been bootlegged and talked about for years. Having artist-approved versions of these classic records has been a highlight of this ongoing series, as you'll see in the below list of Neil Young Archives Albums Ranked Worst to Best.

Note: The box sets add other Neil Young records to the catalog – both live LPs and unreleased studio albums – but this list includes only those recordings that were released as stand-alone albums. 

Full article @  Neil Young Archives Albums Ranked | Ultimate Classic Rock.

More on essential Neil Young albums.

Every Neil Young Album Ranked

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