Neil Young – Neil Young (1968)

Neil is Canadian but like many others he re-located to America, specifically L.A. in the mid 60s. He met up with Stephen Stills and formed a band, Buffalo Springfield, who had some local success.  But Neil has always been restless and rarely stays in either a band or a musical style for long; he calls it following his muse, but others say he is just difficult.  The band broke up after just three albums and Neil struck out on his own with this superb album.  Neil had recently met Elliot Roberts who was managing a young Joni Mitchell and he became Neil’s manager.  He also met David Briggs who he asked to produce the record; these two have been with Neil through all his changes and tours until their deaths.  Neil seems to either be constantly writing songs, or has no difficulty in coming up with new stuff – unlike others who struggle with writer’s block.  Neil has never stopped writing and recording, releasing over fifty studio albums as well as many live records, and quite a few with his occasional collaborators Crosby Stills and Nash and he returns every few years to collaborate with Crazy Horse who backed him on his second album.  Confused but amazed by his incredible output I had bought most of his albums but gave up earlier this century, overwhelmed by the sheer output.  This debut is quite brilliant and is very much in his signature style of country rock; best tracks are ‘The Loner’, ‘The Old Laughing Lady’ and ‘Last Trip To Tulsa’.