More Developments on New Album Americana by Neil Young & Crazy Horse

Geronimo in a 1905 Locomobile Model C
Photo Wikipedia
(Click photo to enlarge)

Well, much discussion, anticipation and speculation regarding the news on the album cover art and track listing for Americana, the upcoming release by Neil Young & Crazy Horse.

The album cover design has a fascinating back story.

The Americana cover is based on a photograph of Geronimo driving a car on June 11, 1905, near Ponca City, Okla. The car is a Locomobile, and the Indian in full headdress to Geronimo's left is Edward Le Clair Sr., a Ponca Indian. When Geronimo died in 1909, he was buried in the vest.

Apparently, according to album notes, the Americana cover was rescued from the 2010 warehouse fire from an earlier design in 1975. The faces of Neil Young, Billy Talbot (Geronimo), Ralph Molina, & Poncho Sampedro were pasted over the original photo for a cover that was never used.

Americana by Neil Young & Crazy Horse

More from Neil Young's official website:

AMERICANA is collection of classic, American folk songs. In their day, some of these may have been referred to as "protest songs", "murder ballads", or campfire-type songs passed down with universal, relatable tales for everyman.

But -- without so much as a note being heard by anyone outside the Ranch crowd -- the album already seems to be coming under criticism:

• unoriginal, uninspiring Americana covers
• using a children's choir
• songs with titles like "God Save The Queen" smacking of "pro imperialism"
• exploitation of the Native American

A comment by thezumaband:

Seems a bit premature and in some cases ideologically biased to be judging something that hasn't been heard yet.

Lighten up, folks.

And take a listen to the acoustic version of "Oh Susannah" from the Bridge concert. He's doing a dramatically different take on these iconic songs of his/my/our 50s childhood. They should be particularly heavy given the electric treatment.

"Oh! Susanna" (Live) - Dave Matthews / Neil Young - Mtn. View, Shoreline - October 23, 2011


Neil Young wearing Geronimo T-shirt - 2004
"Geronimo - My Heroes have always Killed Cowboys"
(Click photo to enlarge)

More on album cover art and track listing for Americana.

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