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An unofficial news blog for Neil Young fans from Thrasher's Wheat with concert and album updates, reviews, analysis, and other Rock & Roll ramblings. Separating the wheat from the chaff since 1996.
Cameron Crowe on Neil Young's "Almost" "Almost Famous" Scene @ ~~24:30.
In 1983, Cameron Crowe (Jerry Maguire, Vanilla Sky, Almost Famous) was an ambitious young music journalist who had just released his debut film: a documentary about Tom Petty, titled “Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party.”
It aired once on MTV and was never seen again. Now, that lost documentary is arriving for the first time in cinemas. The Oscar-winning director joins Tom to discuss his first film, his early life as a rock journalist, his upcoming Joni Mitchell biopic, and how Neil Young was originally cast in “Almost Famous.”
"A trio of musicians born in Alabama, South Africa and Germany wowed fans in Mexico by playing a song about a 16th century Spanish conqueror written by a 20th century Canadian hippie."
And here's another cover the next night here if you're so inclined.
Comment of the Moment: Neil Young & Crazy Horse's "Cortez the Killer"
Hernán Cortés
16th Century Spanish Conquistadore
With all of the excitement over the DUME album's vinyl release (see DUME Coming Feb 23rd - Another "Lost" Neil Young & Crazy Horse Album), it seemed like as good a time as any to revisit what many consider to be one of Neil Young and Crazy Horse's finest moments in the studio: "Cortez the Killer".
Like many over the years I have often wondered
about the pivot from 3rd person to 1st person which comes as such a
surprise when you first listen to the song. I think this comment from @ronaldwilhelm3449 might be the answer though - sounds quite plausible
to me.
"This song has many layers of depth to it.
It is a song
about Cortez and the Aztecs, but in the context of the whole album,
Zuma, it also serves as an allegory to human relationships, which is
what the entire Zuma album is about.
The theme of the album follows the
singer's emotions as he deals with a personal break-up. How he blames
the woman (Don't Cry No Tears, Danger Bird, Pardon my Heart), how he
tries to restart his life (Looking for a Lover, Barstool Blues), how he
shows contempt for the women in his life (Stupid Girl, Drive Back) and
how he realizes, finally, that the fault is his (Cortez) dancing in and
destroying the life of another person ("I still can't remember when or
how I lost my way").
"Through my Sails" ends the album, with the singer
reaching a new realization about himself and relationships. In the
context of the album, it all makes sense. It is amazing to me, that the
climax of the album, when he finally realizes that he is Cortez, Neil
uses an allegory to the destruction of the Aztec civilization.
What
happens when a selfish spirit, invades the tranquility of another person
and destroys their world. Since individual relationships, and
civilization relationships are all "human relationships", Neil is giving
the Zuma singer the ultimate moment of realization.
[Neil Young] is Cortez."
Thanks so much for sharing this comment Ron. Agree. Ronald seems to nail ZUMA themes and tie them in together with the song Cortez quite nicely. Obviously, another one of the more fascinating Neil songs.
Did you know that in the 1970's, Neil Young's song “Cortez The Killer” was banned in Spain
because it offended General Franco’s regime. In Spain, Hernando Cortez
(or Hernán Cortés) is considered a national hero as the conquistador who
conquered Mexico's Aztec Empire for Spain.
Here's another one of those "Reaction" videos that seems to be a "Trend" on the Tube of You's these days.
Amy Shafer, LRSM, FRSM, RYC, is a classical harpist, pianist, and music teacher, Director of Piano Studies and Assistant Director of Harp Studies for The Harp School, Inc., holds multiple degrees in harp and piano performance and teaching, and is active as a solo and collaborative performer. (Thanks Bob G.!)
Here is reaction and analysis of Neil Young's song "Cortez the Killer".
If
you haven't checked out these types of reaction videos before, they're
pretty cool to watch just for the physical reactions themselves.
VIDEO: Dinosaur Jr. & Jason Isbell Cover Neil Young’s "Cortez the Killer" - Brooklyn, NY, 12/6/23
J Mascis & Jason Isbell
Music Hall of Williamsburg, New York - 12-6-23
(Click photo to enlarge)
Another cover of Neil Young’s "Cortez the Killer" as set closer by Dinosaur Jr./J Mascis with Jason Isbell at the residency celebrating 30 years of “Where You Been” at Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, NY on 12/6/23.
VIDEO: Dinosaur Jr., Warren Haynes, Kurt Vile Cover Neil Young’s Cortez the Killer
J Mascis & Warren Haynes
Music Hall of Williamsburg, New York - 12-2-23
(Click photo to enlarge)
Warren Haynes and Kurt Vile joined Dinosaur Jr. with J Mascis for a cover of Neil Young’s "Cortez the Killer" at Music Hall of Williamsburg in New York on 12-2-23.
Photo of the Moment: ZUMA by Neil Young Billboard (1975)
ZUMA by Neil Young Billboard (1975)
(Click photo to enlarge)
The Photo of the Moment is of a billboard promoting the release of Neil Young w/ Crazy Horse's album ZUMA in 1975.
No further details are available. The billboard appears to be possibly Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA. (see comments below)
UPDATE:
CSN Bilboard
Stephen Stills Bilboard
Incidentally, ZUMA was released 47 years ago tomorrow, November 10, 1975.
ZUMA
Neil Young & Crazy Horse - 1975
Neil Young & Crazy Horse's 1975 album ZUMA, of course, contains the classic track "Cortez The Killer".
The song is the evocative story of the European explorer Cortez
"searching for that palace in the sun", while Aztec emperor Montezuma
(ZUMA) "often wandered with the secrets of the world".
As we learned back in 2020, the reaction to hearing Neil Young's music for the first time can be both delightful and amusing.
Most of us remember quite distinctly our experience of hearing Neil Young for the very first time. (Here's ours.)
So here's a few random reactions to hearing Neil Young's song "Cortez The Killer" for the very first time. enjoy!
Incidentally -- or not -- the video above by SyedRewinds -- who is a Hip Hop fan primarily -- seems quite entranced and intrigued by the lengthy intro jam.
A new page has been added to Neil Young's Times-Contrarian | NYA -- a NEW THIS WEEK section.
The new Neil Young news updates seems to be in response to the many queries and requests - both here and on NYA Letters To Editor - for some type of notification on what is happening on NYA. Given the absolute avalanche of news on Neil Young's planned releases and Times-Contrarian updates, it has become nearly impossible for even the most dedicated of rusties to keep abreast of all the Neil happenings.
Such a good problem to have if ever there was one and definitely a 1st world problem, for sure. So much wheat, so little chaff -- as they say.
Much excitement over past 24 hours here at Thrasher's Wheat and the global rust community.
If you're just tuning in now, here's the quick background.
On Monday Sept 7, NYA published our letter to Neil Young about the "Almost Famous" film (directed by Cameron Crowe) soundtrack and the source of “Cortez the Killer”. To which Neil challenged this blog's readership to "Check your sources, Thrasher!"
And so we did with stunningly delightful results in yet another "Neil-incidence".
“Cortez the Killer” by Neil Young In Concert via Sugar Mountain
Note: In the movie "Almost Famous", at about 02:15:13, right after the plane
turbulence scene where the drummer shouts that he's gay, a live acoustic
version of Neil Young's "Cortez the Killer" starts to play.
The parts used in "Almost Famous" film are taken from: 1:30-2:10 & 3:20-4:40.
Next, is this a 12 string acoustic guitar version? 21 concerts listed on Sugar Mountain of CTK on 12 string.
OK, TW readers and sources, which version of the acoustic “Cortez the Killer” is in the film "Almost Famous"? It's gotta be a Bridge Benefit concert. But which one?
Check those tapes! We're checking ours.We attended 96 & 99 and maybe 95 Bridge Benefits, so that would be pretty cool.
10 Camera Edit w/ HQAudio: Susan Tedeschi, Dave Matthews Band Cover Neil Young’s ‘Cortez the Killer’
Last week, we posted a video of Dave Matthews Band with Susan Tedeschi covered Neil Young’s "Cortez The Killer" in Jacksonville, Florida on May 1, 2019.
Multi-cam video featuring footage from 10 different concert-goers has been combined with high-quality audio by ChesterCopperpot5
Susan Tedeschi & Dave Matthews Jacksonville, Florida - May 1, 2019 Photo by @JeffCoffin via Instagram
Neil Trivia du jour... “Cortez The Killer”, was banned in Spain because it offended General Franco’s regime. In Spain, Hernando Cortez (or Hernán Cortés) is considered a national hero as the conquistador who conquered Mexico's Aztec Empire for Spain.
So what's up with the song "Cortez The Killer"? Well, the time shifting from past, present and future is pretty mind-bending, despite what some historical purists might think about the song's accuracy. From the article American Educator - Cultural Literacy Rocks by Matthew Davis, who has some quibbles with Young's lyrical/historical record:
"The romanticizing of the Aztecs begins in the opening lines, when Young claims that all of these native peoples were beautiful and healthy, a condition which has probably never prevailed in any civilization at any time.
Young also glides over the subject of human sacrifice. It is true that the Aztecs "offered life in sacrifice / So that others could go on." They believed that such sacrifices would appease the gods. But the lives they sacrificed were human lives: sacrificial victims were tied to an altar, whereupon their chests were sliced open and their still-beating hearts offered to "the angry gods." By avoiding the fact that the Aztecs killed human beings and emphasizing the unselfish motives behind these sacrifices, Young puts a cheerful face on a terrible practice and presents a one-sided view of the Aztecs.
"Hate was just a legend, / And war was never known," is more of the same kind of romanticizing, all too common today. The residents of pre-Columbian Mexico were well acquainted with hate and war. In fact, the Aztecs stand out in the annals of history as an exceptionally belligerent civilization: In order to keep their altars supplied with a steady diet of sacrificial victims, the Aztec emperors kept up a perpetual war with neighboring peoples.
It would be more accurate to say that "peace was never known."
In an interview in Mojo Magazine in 1995, Neil Young is asked about Cortez The Killer and where he gets his information:
YOUNG:" It was a combination of imagination and knowledge. What Cortez represented to me is the explorer with two sides, one benevolent, the other utterly ruthless I mean, look at Columbus! Everyone now knows he was less than great and he wasn't even there first (laughs). It always makes me question all these other so-called 'icons' (smiles). "
During a show in Manassas, VA on August 13, 1996, Neil said that he'd written Cortez in high school while suffering "Montezuma's Revenge". Incidentally, we attended the Manassas '96 concert & it was awesome. Now that said, he may have just been joking around when he made the comment.
RS: The story goes that when you guys cut "Cortez the Killer," the board went down and you lost the entire last verse. Is that true?
Frank "Poncho" Sampedro: Yeah. True. Check it out.
What David Briggs did …We didn't know the power went out. In the room we were playing we had power, but where he was recording, in the control room, they lost power. When they got power back up and running, David ran the tape back and listened to right where he lost us and kept listening to us playing, and then he punched and started the tape back in right in time with where we where. [Laughs]
So that verse is gone.
So will the missing verse of "Cortez the Killer" ever be re-stored? Or has it been lost forever to the ages? [Cries]
And Young's reaction to hearing the loss of the recorded verse? "I never liked that verse anyway", and it has never been performed live (source).
Looking at the lyrics - 7 verses in a 7:29 track - one might glance over them and say “well, okay...”. Detached from the music they may appear as a loose collection of impressions. To fully appreciate however their richness and (probably) multi-layered context, one has to listen to them in conjunction with the music.
When Young says [it was] "a lotta shit I just made up because it came to me", I don’t believe that for one second. If it just came to him and he scribbled the lyrics on a piece of paper, my question then would be “Where did it come from?” Was it Montezuma’s ghost speaking to him, enacting his wisdom instead of his revenge for which he is better known for?
In any case it is an artist’s prerogative to keep the deeper meaning - or the absence thereof - from one of his creations to himself and let the listener make up his own mind; which I am about to do...
The ’simple’ big chords, guitar solo, rhythm and pace of the song paint a picture of doom heading for a continent that up to that moment was pretty much untouched and unscaved by Western ‘civilisation’. I think by now you are getting where I am heading with this...
When I first listened to the track, armed with only bare-bone knowledge of Young’s work and the history of the conquistadores, images of the movie “1492” rose to my mind. Yes, “1492” isn’t about Cortés but Columbus. The point made here being the imagery not the historical context, although they belong to the same narrative. That of conquest.
Full lyrics analysis of Neil Young's song 'Cortez the Killer' at African Exponent by Peter LJ Hesen.
"Cortez The Killer" Concert Video - Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Casa de Campo, Madrid, 25/4/87
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