My sister recently texted me a link to an article “10 Best Neil Young Songs of All Time”. It was an interesting list of mostly his electric songs. I told her I would send her my list of what I thought were Young’s best acoustic-based songs.[1] What a rabbit hole I went down. My list covers the years from 1968 to 1979 organized by album[2]. Here we go.
Neil Young
The Old Laughing Lady – First song on the first album. Also frequently the first song on the 1976 U.S. tour with Crazy Horse. “Don’t call on pretty Peggy…”.
Déjà Vu (CSNY)
Helpless – Spinning three chords into gold, as only Neil can do.
Country Girl – One of my favorites. Beautiful combination of three songs with soaring CSN harmonies.
After The Gold Rush
After The Gold Rush – One of his greatest songs. Taking us from King Arthur to space travel in three verses.
Tell Me Why – The acoustic guitars jump out of the speakers, thanks to long-time producer David Briggs. “Is it hard to make arrangements with yourself?”.
Don’t Let It Bring You Down – “It’s only castles burning”. I prefer the live version on CSNY’s “Four Way Street”.
Harvest
Out On The Weekend – Nailing the girl blues loneliness vibe.
Old Man – Written in his early twenties, a song that’s meaning shifts as we age.
Heart of Gold – The one and only and not his greatest. Which is how it usually is with an artist’s most commercially successful song.
A Man Needs A Maid – Some thought the orchestra bit was overblown but this is such a romantic song. “When will I see you again?”.
Harvest – Not really sure what this song is about but it really works.
Needle and the Damage Done – Live cut from 1971 Royce Hall show. One of the best anti-drug songs.[3]
Journey Through The Past (Movie Soundtrack)
Soldier – Only new song on the soundtrack from Neil’s first movie.
Time Fades Away
Journey Through The Past – First premiered on the 1971 acoustic tour. Second best song about Canada after Helpless.
Love In Mind – This recording is also from 1971 Royce Hall show.
On The Beach
See The Sky About To Rain – Old songs keep showing up[4]. Full-band re-arrangement of song again from the 1971 acoustic tour. A lot a great songs didn’t make it onto Harvest.
For The Turnstiles – Surreal duet with Ben Keith on dobro and Neil on Banjo. “You can really learn a lot that way”.
Ambulance Blues – The existential angst of the early 70’s, from Patty Hearst to Nixon, rolled out in eight minutes.
Zuma
Though My Sails – Last CSNY song until the 80’s. Recorded prior to the 1974 CSNY tour.
Decade
Campaigner – Unreleased song on this 1977 retrospective. “Even Richard Nixon has got soul”.
Comes A Time
Lotta Love – Bit hit for Nicolette Larson in the late 70’s. Very poppy for Neil.
Comes A Time – “It’s a wonder tall trees ain’t laying down”.
Look Out For My Love – “It’s in your neighborhood”.
Four Strong Winds (cover) – Beautiful song originally done by the Canadian duo Ian and Sylvia.
Rust Never Sleeps
Thrasher – Incredible lyrical imagery about lost friendships and life.
Pocahontas – Neil at his shape-shifting best. “Marlon Brando, Pocahontas and me”.
[1] My sister got me started with Neil Young when she loaned me her copy of “After The Gold Rush” which I still have.
[2] No acoustic songs stand out on Everyone Knows This Is Nowhere, Tonight’s The Night (only “New Mama” just ok) and American Stars and Bars (“Star of Bethlehem” maybe).
[3] For years I owned single LP bootleg from the 1971 tour called “Live on Sugar Mountain” which was recorded on February 1, 1971 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles. The bootleg was actually a two-record set but it was also sold in the single-record format.
[4] “Too Far Gone” from 1976, that would have been on this list, finally showed up the 1989 album Freedom.