Saturday, September 1, 2007

IT'S LIKE SILVER AND GOLD


Between new releases and stuff from the archives, it’s an exciting time to be a Neil Young fan. The "NY Times" reports that Neil is going to release Chrome Dreams II - the sequel to an album that was never actually released. Chrome Dreams featured a bunch of classic songs that later surfaced on other albums - "Hold Back The Tears" and "Like A Hurricane" from American Stars 'n' Bars, "Pochahontas" from Rust Never Sleeps and "Too Far Gone" from Freedom. Chrome Dreams II is going to have some songs that were written previously, and some new ones as well.
According to the great Neil fansite Thrasher's Wheat, Neil's new album will be out in October, and different retail outlets will have different exclusive tracks - all taken from an early live Neil performance known as "The Riverboat" tapes - a solo acoustic gig that was recorded soon after the breakup of Buffalo Springfield. The complete performance will be released on The Archives Volume 1 box set, allegedly due out next year - featuring 8 CDs, 2 DVDs and a 150 page book, covering 1963-1972. Of course, a lot of times with Neil, "next year" means "never." I first heard about this box set when I was in college, which was a while ago. By the way, when is that documentary film about last summer's Crosby Stills Nash & Young tour coming out?
Supposedly Neil will be kicking off a tour with Crazy Horse this year, even though the album isn't a Crazy Horse record, although it does feature drummer Ralph Molina (along with steel guitarist Ben Keith who plays on lots of Neil's stuff, and Rick "The Bass Player" Rosas, who has worked on some of Neil's recent records (and worked with him in the '80s on his Bluenotes record and Freedom).
Not enough Neil for you? He also plays on his wife Pegi Young's debut album, and is developing a comic book based on his Greendale album/film. I've got my ticket to see Neil (along with Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, The Allman Brothers Band, the mighty Supersuckers) and more at Farm Aid this weekend.

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