Like a Hurricane (Neil Young song)

Infobox Single
Name = Like a Hurricane


Caption = "Like a Hurricane" by Neil Young
Artist = Neil Young & Crazy Horse
from Album = American Stars 'N Bars
A-side =
B-side = "Hold Back the Tears"
Released = August 8, 1977
Format = 45 RPM Record
Recorded = November 1975
Genre = Rock
Length = 5:24
Label = Reprise
Writer = Neil Young
Producer = Neil Young
David Briggs
Tim Mulligan
Certification =
Chart position =
Last single =
This single =
Next single =
Misc =

"Like a Hurricane" is a song written by Neil Young in 1975 and first released on the album "American Stars 'N Bars" in 1977.

History

The song was written in July 1975 after a cocaine-fueled night with friend and La Honda neighbor Taylor Phelps in the back of his car, (a DeSoto Suburban), when Neil Young was unable to sing due to an operation on his vocal cords. Driven by Young's trademark fierce guitars, the song has been played on nearly every tour Neil Young has done since. It has also appeared on the compilations "Decade" and "Greatest Hits" and on the live albums "Live Rust", "Weld" and "Unplugged" (this last rendition is played almost entirely on a pump organ).

An edited version of "Like a Hurricane" was released as a single on August 8th 1977, with "Hold Back the Tears" as B-side. [ [http://www.sidestreetrecords.com/discography/discogNeil45s.html Neil Young complete discography] ]

Critical praise

*Rock critic Dave Marsh described the song as "an eight-minute tour de force of electric guitar feedback and extended metaphor (Smokey Robinson meets Jimi Hendrix on Bob Dylan's old block)."
*For years it has been in Belgium's 100 best songs ever [ [http://tijdloze.stijnshome.be/index.php?p=art&q=88 Tijdloze 100 nl icon] ] .
*In the Netherlands, it is the most appreciated Young song [ [http://top2005.radio2.nl/2005/site/page/zoek/ Top2000 nl icon] ] .
*In Germany, it is highly rated [ [http://www.rollingstone.de/forum/showthread.php?t=430 German list of songs de icon] ] .
*In Britain, it is also highly appreciated [ [http://www.adriandenning.co.uk/young.html Adrian's Album Reviews : Neil Young ] ] .
*In India, it is also highly appreciated.Fact|date=September 2008
*In Taiwan it has received moderate appraisal. Fact|date=September 2008
*In China, the song has been banned because in Mandarin to be "like a hurricane" is against Maoist dogma.Fact|date=September 2008
*In March 2005, "Q" magazine placed it at number 32 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks.
*Was labeled as "Best Song About Hurricanes" by the Decatur (IL) Herald & Review - July 08

Cover versions

* New Orleans singer Theresa Andersson sings it in the 2006 film, "New Orleans Music in Exile" which follows the events after Hurricane Katrina.
* Roxy Music covered the song, and released it on its live albums "The High Road" and "Heart Still Beating".
* The song was also covered by The Mission on their 2nd single, the double A side Garden Of Delight/Like A Hurricane. It was later included on the compilation album "First Chapter" (a compilation of their first singles) and "Ever After - Live".
* Jay Farrar, backed by country-rock band Canyon, covered this song on his live album "Stone, Steel, & Bright Lights".
* The American Band The Walkabouts covered the song on their album Death Valley Days.
* Spanish rock group Babylon Chat covered the song translating the lyrics into Spanish "Como Un Huracan".
* "The Billy Rubin" covered the song on the album "Punk Chartbusters Vol. 3"
* Heather Nova recorded the song at a 1995 concert in Hiroshima, released on import-only CDs "Maybe An Angel" (Japan) and "Truth & Bone" (Germany).
* Placebo covered a part of the song on a few occasions (live) as a part of the Placebo song 'English Summer Rain'.
* Jeff Healey covered the song on his 2008 album Mess of Blues.

Musicians

* Neil Young - Lead Guitar and lead vocals
* Frank "Poncho" Sampedro - Stringman synthesizer and background vocals
* Billy Talbot - Bass guitar and background vocals
* Ralph Molina - Drums and background vocals

References