Neil Young (album)

Neil Young
Studio album by Neil Young
Released	November 12, 1968
Recorded	August – October 1968 at Wally Heider Recording, Sunset Sound Recording and TTG Recording, Hollywood, CA
Genre	Folk Rock
Length	35:32
Label	Reprise
Producer	Neil Young, David Briggs (Tracks 5, 6 and 9 produced by Jack Nitzsche, Ry Cooder and Neil Young)
Neil Young chronology
Neil Young (1968) Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (1969)

Neil Young is the self-titled debut studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, which was his debut release as a solo artist following his departure from the band Buffalo Springfield. Released first in November 1968, it was then partially remixed and re-released in January 1969.

Release

Many sources cite that Neil Young was released in January 1969; however, the album was originally released on November 12, 1968 (Young's 23rd birthday). The first release of the album 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 in both stereo and mono.

Young was unhappy with the sound quality of the first release, so the album was partially remixed in January 1969 and then re-released without Haeco-CSG processing. The "Neil Young" header was added to the album cover; previously the cover art had consisted of only the portrait. Copies of the original 1968 version are now rare and highly sought-after.

Neil Young was remastered and released on HDCD-encoded CD 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 4 LPs available via his official website (this box set was limited to 1000 copies – a CD version of 3000 copies exists, too). A high resolution digital Blu-ray disc is planned, although no release date has been set.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
Pitchfork Media	(7.8/10.0) link
Rolling Stone	(favorable) link

Track listing

All songs written by Neil Young, except when 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.

Side one

1. "The Emperor of Wyoming" – 2:14
2. "The Loner" – 3:55
3. "If I Could Have Her Tonight" – 2:15
4. "I've Been Waiting for You" – 2:30
5. "The Old Laughing Lady" – 5:58 (5:05 on original mix)

Side two

1. "String Quartet from Whiskey Boot Hill" – 1:04 (Jack Nitzsche)
2. "Here We Are in the Years" – 3:27
3. "What Did You Do to My Life?" – 2:28
4. "I've Loved Her So Long" – 2:40 (2:00 on original mix)
5. "The Last Trip to Tulsa" – 9:25

Personnel

• Neil Young: guitars, piano, synthesizer, harpsichord, pipe organ, vocals
• Ry Cooder – guitar
• Jack Nitzsche – electric piano
• Jim Messina – bass
• Carol Kaye – bass
• George Grantham – drums
• Earl Palmer – drums
• Merry Clayton, Brenda Holloway, Patrice Holloway, Gloria Richetta Jones, Sherlie Matthews, Gracia Nitzsche – backing vocals

Production

• Dale Batchelor – Engineer
• David Briggs – Producer
• Danny Kelly – Photography
• Donn Landee – Engineer
• Jack Nitzsche – Producer
• Rik Pekkonen – Arranger, engineer
• Mark Richardson – Engineer
• Henry Saskowski – Engineer
• Ed Thrasher – Album art direction
• Roland Deihl – cover painting
• Neil Young – Arranger, producer

External links

• Lyrics
• Official Documentation for Neil Young