Neil Young (album)

Neil Young
Studio album by Neil Young
Released	November 12, 1968 or January 22, 1969
Recorded	August–October 1968
Studio	Wally Heider Recording Sunset Sound Recording TTG Recording, Hollywood, United States
Genre	Folk rock
Length	35:32
Label	Reprise
Producer	Neil Young David Briggs Jack Nitzsche, Ry Cooder and Neil Young ("The Old Laughing Lady", "String Quartet from Whiskey Boot Hill" and "I've Loved Her So Long")
Neil Young chronology
Neil Young (1969) Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (1969)Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere1969
Alternate cover
1969 reissue cover

Neil Young is the self-titled debut studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young following his departure from Buffalo Springfield in 1968, issued on Reprise Records. Some sources place the album's release date on January 22, 1969,^[1] while other sources have the release date as Young's 23rd birthday, November 12, 1968.^[2][3][4] It was then partially remixed and re-released in November 1969, but at no time has the album ever charted on the Billboard 200.

Release

The album was released on January 22, 1969.^[1] The first release used the Haeco-CSG encoding system. This technology was intended to make stereo records compatible with mono record players, but had the unfortunate side effect of degrading the sound. Young was unhappy with the first release. "The first mix was awful", he was reported as saying in Cash Box of September 6, 1969. "I was trying to bury my voice, because I didn't like the way it sounded."

The album was therefore remixed (as announced in Rolling Stone issue 47, from December 13), and re-released without Haeco-CSG processing. The words "Neil Young" were added to the album cover after what was left of the original stock had been used up, so copies of both mixes exist in the original sleeve. Copies of the original mix are now rare and sought-after, because many Neil Young fans believe that the remix diminished the songs, especially "Here We Are in the Years".

Neil Young was remastered and released on HDCD-encoded compact discs and digital download on July 14, 2009 as part of the Neil Young Archives Original Release Series. It was released on audiophile vinyl in December 2009, both individually and as part of a box-set of Neil's first four LPs available via his official website. This box set was limited to 1000 copies; a CD version of 3000 copies also exists. A high resolution digital Blu-ray disc is planned, although no release date has been set.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[5]
Pitchfork	7.8/10[6]
Rolling Stone	favorable[7]

Rolling Stone wrote "in many ways, a delightful reprise of that Springfield sound done a new way."^[7] In its retrospective review, AllMusic described it as "an uneven, low-key introduction to Young's solo career".^[5]

Track listing

All tracks written by Neil Young, except where noted. Arrangements on "The Old Laughing Lady", "String Quartet from Whiskey Boot Hill" and "I've Loved Her So Long" by Young, Nitzsche and Ry Cooder.

Personnel

• Neil Young – vocals, guitars, piano, synthesizer, harpsichord, pipe organ, production
• Ry Cooder – guitar, production
• Jack Nitzsche – electric piano, arrangements, production
• Jim Messina, Carol Kaye – bass
• George Grantham, Earl Palmer – drums
• Merry Clayton, Brenda Holloway, Patrice Holloway, Gloria Richetta Jones, Sherlie Matthews, Gracia Nitzsche – backing vocals
• unidentified - trumpet, trombone, tenor saxophone, French horn, clarinet, timpani, strings

Production

• David Briggs – production
• Dale Batchelor, Donn Landee, Mark Richardson, Henry Saskowski – engineering
• Rik Pekkonen – arrangements, engineering
• Danny Kelly – photography
• Ed Thrasher – album art direction
• Roland Diehl – cover painting

References

External links

• Lyrics
• Official documentation for Neil Young