MUST HEAR NEIL: Rare & Unreleased

The third in my extremely popular 'MUST HAVE' Neil series (exact statistics of popularity currently unavailable), this time focused on rare and unreleased tracks.  As one of the most prolific artists in history, and having been performing for over 40 years, Neil has amassed a huge number of tracks that have either not made it onto albums, have only made it onto limited release B-sides, or were only ever performed rarely live.

One of my favourites is Pushed It Over the End.  Only ever performed a total of 13 times in 1974, in a full band version with Crosby, Stills & Nash, as well as once solo acoustically, the song is easily good enough to have made it onto an album.  It would have fit in perfectly on the mellow On the Beach.



Interstate dates from Neil's mid-80's country phase, and has had a few incarnations over the years.  It was originally meant to be released as the aborted Farm Aid EP in 1985, and was recorded with his touring band in this period, The International Harvesters.  The version linked in the youtube clip is likely that version, with the gorgeous fiddle and piano.  Neil also recorded a couple solo acoustic versions, one with electric overdubs that dates to 1986, and another without the overdubs from the Ragged Glory sessions.  This is the version that was eventually released as a b-side to the Big Time single off the Broken Arrow album.




Cocaine Eyes dates to the late 80s, and made its debut on Neil's 1989 tour.  It would subsequently find a 1989 release on the Japan-only Eldorado EP, and appears on the aborted-album bootleg Times Square.  The first track on the EP, Cocaine Eyes is a blistering track with Neil's trademark distorted sound.  It marked a return to heavy rock after years of experimenting throughout the 80s with different styles, and it is LOUD.  The riff is dirty and grunge-y, and the song was apparently written about former/sometimes current band-member Stephen Stills.  I love nothing more than hearing Neil play a loud, distorted guitar riff, and this song barrels along. Also look for Heavy Love on youtube.  It dates from the same EP, and is in a similar vein - heavy.  A pre-cursor to the loud and intense tour that would spawn the Weld dvd.



That's one from the 70s, two from the 80s, so here's one from the 90s.  Don't Spook the Horse is a long jam with Neil & Crazy Horse stemming from the sessions for the amazing Ragged Glory album.  It is in a similar vein to that album - loud, rough, and long.  It found a release as a b-side to the Mansion on the Hill single release, and was finally played live in during 1997's HORDE tour with the Horse.  Another example of why the connection of Neil Young and Crazy Horse is incredible.



This is a tiny sampling of what is out there beneath the surface of Neil's work.  While not all of his unreleased/rare material is high quality, it is all a part of the story.

And remember - you better not spook the horse!