Neil Young Recording Guide

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1968–1972: Solo Career

August–October 1968: Wally Heider Recording, Sunset Sound, Sunwest Recording and TTG Recording, Hollywood, CA

Producer: David Briggs and Neil Young

Recorded:

  • [O] The Emperor Of Wyoming [1, 2, 6*]
  • [O] The Emperor Of Wyoming [(alt. mix): 3]
  • [O] The Loner [1, 2, 6*]
  • [O] If I Could Have Her Tonight [1, 2]
  • [O] I've Been Waiting For You [1 > (4, 5)]
  • [O] I've Been Waiting For You [2]
  • [O] I've Been Waiting For You [(alt. mix): 6]
  • [O] Here We Are In The Years [1 > (4, 5)]
  • [O] Here We Are In The Years [2, 6]
  • [O] Here We Are In The Years [(alt. mix): 6†]
  • [O] What Did You Do To My Life? [1 > (4, 5)]
  • [O] What Did You Do To My Life? [2]
  • [O] What Did You Do To My Life? [(alt. mix): 6]
  • [O] The Last Trip To Tulsa [1, 2, 6]
  • [O] Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere [3 > (4, 5), 6]
  • [O] Birds [6]

Sources:

  • [1] Neil Young (Reprise RS 6317; January 22, 1969 [original version])
  • [2] Neil Young (Reprise RS 6317; October 1969 [remixed/remastered])
  • [3] "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" b/w "The Emperor Of Wyoming" (Reprise RS 0819; March 31, 1969) [promo single]
  • [4] Hard To Find (Westwood One RAD-HTF-94-27; 1994) [in-house/promo CD]
  • [5] Rarities [fan compilation CDR set]
  • [6] Neil Young Archives Vol 1: 1963–1972 (disc 2 [* hidden track; † BD-live download]) [Reprise; June 02, 2009]

The first promotional white label pressing of the "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" single accidentally included an outtake from the 1968 Neil Young LP sessions instead of the proper 1969 Crazy Horse version; other pressings included the correct version in an extended 2:31 mono mix. The version of "The Emperor Of Wyoming" on all versions of this single is also an alternate mono mix.

"My first album was very much a first album. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. And I did, thanks to the wonder of modern machinery. That first album was overdub city. It's still one of my favorites though." [1]

References:

August/Fall 1968: ???

Producer: Jack Nitzsche, Ryland Cooder and Neil Young

Recorded:

  • [O] The Old Laughing Lady [1, 2, 3]
  • [O] I've Loved Her So Long [1, 2, 3]
  • [O] String Quartet From Whiskey Boot Hill [1, 2]

Sources:

  • [1] Neil Young (Reprise RS 6317; January 22, 1969 [original version])
  • [2] Neil Young (Reprise RS 6317; October 1969 [remixed/remastered])
  • [3] Neil Young Archives Vol 1: 1963–1972 (disc 2) [Reprise; June 02, 2009]

"That first album of mine was basically just Jack and me." [Young: Mojo, 1995]

References:

c. mid-January 1969: Wally Heider Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA

Producer: David Briggs and Neil Young

Engineer: David Briggs

Recorded:

  • [O] Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere [(alt. mix): 1]
  • [O] Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere [2, 3]
  • [O] Down By The River [(Jan. 17): 2, 3]
  • [O] Cowgirl In The Sand [(Jan. 18): 2, 3]

Sources:

  • [1] "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" b/w "The Emperor Of Wyoming" (Reprise RS 0819; April 28, 1969)
  • [2] Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (Reprise RS 6349; May 14, 1969)
  • [3] Neil Young Archives Vol 1: 1963–1972 (disc 2) [Reprise; June 02, 2009]

c. March 1969: Wally Heider Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA

Producer: David Briggs and Neil Young

Engineer: David Briggs

Recorded:

  • [O] The Losing End (When You're On) [1, 5]
  • [O] Running Dry (Requiem For The Rockets) [1, 5]
  • [O] Cinnamon Girl [(March 20): 1, 5]
  • [O] Cinnamon Girl [(alt. mix): 2 > (3, 4)]

Sources:

  • [1] Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (Reprise RS 6349; May 14, 1969)
  • [2] "Cinnamon Girl" b/w "Sugar Mountain" (Reprise RS 0911; April 20, 1970)
  • [3] Hard To Find (Westwood One RAD-HTF-94-27; 1994) [in-house/promo CD]
  • [4] Rarities [fan compilation CDR set]
  • [5] Neil Young Archives Vol 1: 1963–1972 (disc 4) [Reprise; June 02, 2009]

The "Cinnamon Girl" single features an edited mono mix of the track with an alternate vocal.

"Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere is probably my best. It's my favorite one. I've always loved Crazy Horse from the first time I heard the Rockets album on White Whale. The original band we had in '69 and '70 — Molina, Talbot, Whitten and me. That was wonderful... Everything I've ever done with Crazy Horse has been incredible. Just for the feeling, if nothing else." [1]

References:

c. August 1969: Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA

Producer: Neil Young & David Briggs

Recorded:

  • [O] Oh Lonesome Me [(alt. mix): 1, 6?]
  • [O] Oh Lonesome Me [2]
  • [O] I Believe In You [2, 6]
  • [O] I Believe In You [(alt. mix): 6*]
  • [O] Birds [3 > (4, 5), 6]
  • [O] Everybody's Alone [6]
  • [O] Dance, Dance, Dance [6?]
  • [X] Wonderin'
  • [X] It Might Have Been
  • [X] Winterlong
  • [X] Look At All The Things [Whitten]

Sources:

  • [1] "Oh Lonesome Me" b/w "I've Been Waiting For You" (Reprise RS 0898; February 9, 1970)
  • [2] After The Gold Rush (Reprise RS 6383; September 19, 1970)
  • [3] "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" b/w "Birds" (Reprise RS 0958; October 19, 1970)
  • [4] Hard To Find (Westwood One RAD-HTF-94-27; 1994) [in-house/promo CD]
  • [5] Rarities [fan compilation CDR set]
  • [6] Neil Young Archives Vol 1: 1963–1972 (disc 4 [* hidden track]) [Reprise; June 02, 2009]

The single version of 'Oh Lonesome Me' is an alternate extended mix. A Crazy Horse version of 'Birds' from these sessions was included on the "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" single.

[You recorded another album with Crazy Horse in '69 straight after Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, that also had Jack Nitzsche on piano. It was apparently a sort of country-rock affair and most of the tracks were recorded live. Then you scrapped it all of a sudden and put out Goldrush instead. Why?]

"Well, it wasn't really scrapped... It exists... See, things were moving very quickly at that time so it's hard to say... exactly why I went for Goldrush instead of that project. I just remember thinking that Goldrush was the next logical step after Everybody. Just after I'd begun playing with CSN&Y, I went out on the road and did some really funky things that indicated that our next album would be in that particular vein. We recorded 'Wonderin'', 'Dance, Dance, Dance', 'It Might have Been', 'Winterlong' and several others. They'll appear on the Archives, I've had them transferred to digital." [1]

"Another song from that period [when I was growing up] that I loved, and also ended up doing a version of with Crazy Horse and Jack Nitzsche on piano, that's going to end up on Archives — it's a country waltz called 'It Might Have Been' recorded by Jo London. It was a big hit in Canada though it didn't mean anything in the States. Great record. Real, real soulful rendition. Unfortunately on my version, I screwed up almost all the words..." [1]

References:

c. September 1969: ABC Studios, Los Angeles, CA ["The Music Scene"; with CSNY]

Recorded:

  • [O] Down By The River [1]

Sources:

  • [1] [DVD]

c. September–November 1969: Stephen Stills' home studio [With CSNY]

Producer: CSNY

Engineer: Bill Halverson

Recorded:

  • [U] Sea Of Madness [Sept. 2/3: 1]

Sources:

  • [1] CSNY Studio Archives [bootleg CD]

c. October–December 1969: Wally Heider Recording Studios, San Francisco, CA [With CSNY]

Producer: CSNY

Engineer: Bill Halverson

Recorded:

  • [U] Everybody's Alone [(Oct. 24): 2]
  • [O] Helpless [(Nov. 17): 1]
  • [O] Helpless [(alt. mix): 3]
  • [O] Country Girl [1, 3]
  • [O] Everybody I Love You [1]

Sources:

  • [1] Déjà Vu [Atlantic SD 7200; March 11, 1970]
  • [2] CSNY Studio Archives [bootleg CD]
  • [3] Neil Young Archives Vol 1: 1963–1972 (disc 4) [Reprise; June 02, 2009]

February 19, 1970: KQED TV Studio

Recorded:

  • [U] Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere [1]
  • [U] Everybody's Alone [1, 2]
  • [U] Dance Dance Dance [1]
  • [U] On The Way Home [1]
  • [U] Wonderin' [1]
  • [U] Sugar Mountain [1]

Sources:

  • [1] Rarities [fan compilation CDR set]
  • [2] ABD.2000 [fan compilation CDR set]

c. March – June 1970: home studio, Topanga, CA

Producer: Neil Young & David Briggs with Kendall Pacios

Engineer: Henry Saskowski

Recorded:

  • [O] Tell Me Why [1, 3]
  • [O] After The Gold Rush [1, 3]
  • [O] Only Love Can Break Your Heart [1, 3]
  • [O] Southern Man [1, 3]
  • [O] Till The Morning Comes [1, 3]
  • [O] Don't Let It Bring You Down [1*, 3]
  • [O] Don't Let It Bring You Down [(remix): 1, 3*]
  • [O] Birds [1, 3*]
  • [O] When You Dance I Can Really Love [1*, 3]
  • [O] When You Dance I Can Really Love [(remix): 1, 3*]
  • [O] Cripple Creek Ferry [1, 3]
  • [O] Wonderin' [3]
  • [U] I Believe In You [(alt. mix): 2]

Sources:

  • [1] After The Gold Rush [* first pressing] (Reprise RS 6383; Sept. 19, 1970)
  • [2] Rarities [fan compilation CDR set]
  • [3] Neil Young Archives Vol 1: 1963–1972 (disc 6 [* hidden track]) [Reprise; June 02, 2009]

"After the Gold Rush, which was kind of the turning point, was a strong album. I really think it was. A lot of hard work went into it. Everything was there. The picture it painted was a strong one. After the Gold Rush was the spirit of Topanga Canyon. It seemed like I realized that I'd gotten somewhere. I joined CSNY and was still working a lot with Crazy Horse . . . I was playing all the time. And having a great time. Right after that album, I left the house. It was a good coda." [1]

References:

May 21, 1970: Record Plant Studio 3, Hollywood, CA [with CSNY]

Producer: CSNY

Engineer: Bill Halverson

Recorded:

  • [O] Ohio [1, 2, 3, 4]

Sources:

  • [1] "Ohio" / "Find The Cost Of Freedom" (Atlantic 2740; June, 1970)
  • [2] Decade (Reprise 3RS 2257; Oct. 28, 1977)
  • [3] Greatest Hits (Reprise 48924-2; Nov. 16, 2004)
  • [4] Neil Young Archives Vol 1: 1963–1972 (disc 6) [Reprise; June 02, 2009]

February, 1971: Quadrafonic Sound Studios, Nashville, TN

Producer: Elliot Mazer & Neil Young

Engineer: Elliot Mazer

Recorded:

  • [O] Bad Fog Of Loneliness [Feb. 6: 2]
  • [O] Old Man [(Feb. 6): 1, 2]
  • [O] Heart Of Gold [(Feb. 8): 1, 2]
  • [O] Out On The Weekend [1]

Sources:

  • [1] Harvest (Reprise MS 2277; Feb. 1, 1972)
  • [2] Neil Young Archives Vol 1: 1963–1972 (disc 8) [Reprise; June 02, 2009]

February 23, 1971: BBC TV Studios, London

Recorded:

  • [O] Out On The Weekend [1, 2]
  • [O] Old Man [1]
  • [O] Journey Through The Past [1, 2]
  • [O] Heart Of Gold [1]
  • [O] Don't Let It Bring You Down [1]
  • [O] A Man Needs A Maid [1]
  • [O] Love In Mind [1, 2]
  • [O] Dance, Dance, Dance [1, 2, 3]

Sources:

  • [1] [bootleg DVD-R]
  • [2] A Perfect Echo [fan compilation CDR set]
  • [3] ABD.2000 [fan compilation CDR set]

March, 1971: Barking Town Hall, London, UK [with the London Symphony Orchestra]

Producer: Jack Nitzsche

Recorded:

  • [O] A Man Needs A Maid [1, 2]
  • [O] There's A World [1, 2*]

Sources:

  • [1] Harvest (Reprise MS 2277; Feb. 1, 1972)
  • [2] Neil Young Archives Vol 1: 1963–1972 (disc 8 [* hidden track]) [Reprise; June 02, 2009]

April, 1971: Quadrafonic Sound Studios, Nashville, TN

Producer: Elliot Mazer & Neil Young

Engineer: Elliot Mazer

Recorded:

  • [O] Harvest [1]

Sources:

  • [1] Harvest (Reprise MS 2277; Feb. 1, 1972)

c. September 26–27, 1971: Broken Arrow Studio #2, Woodside, CA

Producer: Elliot Mazer & Neil Young

Engineer: Elliot Mazer

Recorded:

  • [O] Are You Ready For The Country? [1, 3]
  • [O] Are You Ready For The Country? [(alt.take): 2]
  • [O] Alabama [1, 3]
  • [O] Alabama [(alt.take): 2]
  • [O] Words (Between The Lines Of Age) [1]
  • [O] Words (Between The Lines Of Age) [(alt.take): 2, 3]
  • [O] Journey Through The Past [3]

Sources:

  • [1] Harvest (Reprise MS 2277; Feb. 1, 1972)
  • [2] Journey Through The Past (Reprise 2XS 6480; November 7, 1972)
  • [3] Neil Young Archives Vol 1: 1963–1972 (disc 8) [Reprise; June 02, 2009]

"I recorded most of Harvest in [a] brace. That's a lot of the reason it's such a mellow album. I couldn't physically play an electric guitar. 'Are You Ready for the Country', 'Alabama' and 'Words' were all done after I had [a disc-removal] operation." [1]

References:

May 22, 1972: Broken Arrow Ranch 1, Woodside, CA [with Graham Nash and the Stray Gators]

Producer: Elliot Mazer, Tim Mulligan, L.A. Johnson & Neil Young

Recorded:

  • [O] War Song [1 > (2, 3, 4), 5]

Sources:

  • [1] "War Song" / "The Needle And The Damage Done" (Reprise REP 1099; June 24, 1972 [single])
  • [2] Hard To Find (Westwood One RAD-HTF-94-27; 1994) [in-house/promo CD]
  • [3] ABD.2000 [fan compilation CDR set]
  • [4] Rarities [fan compilation CDR set]
  • [5] Neil Young Archives Vol 1: 1963–1972 (disc 8) [Reprise; June 02, 2009]

c. November 17, 1972: ???

Producer: Neil Young & L.A. Johnson

Recorded:

  • [O] Soldier [1, 2]
  • [O] Soldier [(alt. mix): 3]

Sources:

  • [1] Journey Through The Past (Reprise 2XS 6480; November 7, 1972)
  • [2] Decade (Reprise 3RS 2257; Oct. 28, 1977)
  • [3] Neil Young Archives Vol 1: 1963–1972 (disc 8) [Reprise; June 02, 2009]

"There was an unfortunate sequence of events surrounding Journey Through The Past. The record company told me that they'd finance me doing the movie only if I gave them the soundtrack album. They took the [soundtrack] and put it right out." [1]

References:

December 1972: Broken Arrow Ranch, Woodside, CA

Producer: Elliot Mazer

Recorded:

  • [O] Lookout Joe [1]

Sources:

  • [1] Tonight's The Night (Reprise MS 2221; June 20, 1975)