For nearly 45 years, Neil Young fans have been clamoring for Homegrown, the lost album that was nearly released in 1975 and most recently slated for the still-yet-to-happen Record Store Day 2020. Now, it's been announced that the album described by Neil as "the missing link between Harvest, Comes A Time, Old Ways and Harvest Moon" will finally reach fans on June 19.
"[Homegrown] is all analog! The purest sound," Young wrote in a post on his Neil Young Archives site. "Hear the vinyl. Get a nice phonograph player. This is the record to do that on! My first ever narration with Ben 'Longgrain' Keith and live sound effects. Some beautiful music and fun rockin' songs as well. This is the one that got away. I am stoked to share this with you."
And while much of the industry is in flux due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Neil hasn't stopped moving forward with his Archives projects. Also on the radar is a audiovisual release of a Greendale stage tour performance from Toronto in September 2003 entitled Return to Greendale. That one is currently set for release on double vinyl in July.
The Neil Young Archives team has also unearthed pro-shot video and multitrack audio tapes of Neil Young and Crazy Horse's celebrated November 1990 show at The Catalyst. Previews have been posted sporadically in the Hearse Theatre section of the Archives website, whetting the appetite for the October release. "I think this has to be one of my all-time favorite Crazy Horse performances!" Neil wrote last year. "It's hard to believe this did not come out a long time ago! What a great vibe."
Neil will also look back to a solo show from January 1971 with Young Shakespeare, the show came three days after his Massey Hall concert and stands as a career "high water mark," according to producer John Hanlon. Currently slated for November 27, Young Shakespeare will include both audio and video content.
If that weren't enough, it seems that the long-awaited box set Neil Young Archives, Volume 2 will finally arrive on August 21 should all go to plan. Neil has revealed it will be a 10-CD set covering the prolific period from 1972-1976 and will include Odeon Budokan, a live album and concert film from the Zuma tour's stops in London and Japan.
Finally, Neil has been in touch with Graham Nash about compiling a 50th Anniversary Edition of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young's Deja Vu album which would likely appear by the end of the year.
Looking ahead to 2021, Young has announced that he's also been working on an album called Road of Plenty , which spotlights his work with Crazy Horse during the late '80s. The album will feautre recordings from the group's 1986 tour, plus "some amazing music" recorded during th rehearsals for Saturday Night Live in 1989.
Given the current state of the world - and the ever-mercurial state of this singular artist - these plans may well change, but we'll be sure to keep you informed. One thing is certain, though: Neil Young fans have a lot to be excited about as he continues to journey through the past! Check out the track listing for Homegrown - confirmed for June 19 - below!
Neil Young, Homegrown (Warner, 2020)
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Indie-exclusive LP + print bundle: Locate your nearest record shop!
- Separate Ways
- Try
- Mexico
- Love Is A Rose
- Homegrown
- Florida
- Kansas
- We Don't Smoke It No More
- White Line
- Vacancy
- Little Wing
- Star of Bethlehem
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Will "Homegrown" be part of the 10-CD Set "Neil Young Archives, Volume 2"? In other words, if I buy "Homegrown" now, will I be buying it again with the Volume 2 Archive?
That’s a great question. Neil set that precedent by including some of his Performance Series releases in Volume 1. I’ll try to find out!
Neil has said before on his site (in previous letter responses) that all of the tracks from Homegrown will be on Vol. 2, though in the order they (and other songs/outtakes from these sessions) were recorded in, not as a stand-alone album. That said, Vol. 2 won’t be released on vinyl, so this is still an essential purchase regardless, IMO.
"Given the current state of the world – and the ever-mercurial state of this singular artist – these plans may well change"
Truer words were never spoken! If 1/4 of these come out on time, I and many others, will be amazed!
Is this a vinyl only release for the time being?
That’s my question too... No CD??
I can confirm that there will be an indie-exclusive LP release. Still looking into CD, though it would be really out of character to not do a CD/digital this time around.
You have your 'Homegrown' item with a CD tab - hence I assumed it has a CD issue.
Auto purchase for Homegrown.
But what about Oceanside/Countryside? Was slated as 'coming soon' in early 2019. Also, Ragged Glory II?
I wouldn't be surprised if Oceanside/Countryside is a chapter in the Archives though I don't have anything concrete on that yet. Neil has written on the NYA website that Ragged Glory II is pushed to 2021.
Thanks Sam
These days, when Neil Young says that he's going to release archival material, it's like Charly Records saying that they're going to release a 3-CD edition of "Small Faces-The Autumn Stone". It's simply not believable. It's like waiting for Godot, for the cows to come home or for hell to freeeze over. Ain't gonna happen.
What are you talking abou, Phil Cohen?
Neil hardly stops releasing archive material!
Maybe you meant "The Archives Vol 2?"
Grande Neil Young. muito bom parabéns🙋😀🌌🛤️
CDJapan offering an SHM-CD for release on 27 May! "Only 24 initially supplied quantity left" - just ordered one. Who knows!
I can't wait to listen to this while delivering newspapers!
With a possible upgraded CSNY Deja Vu, will this include the rumored CSNY Live At The Fillmore as well?
Yes there is a CD version.
Also note the LP comes in two versions. There is a limited (15,000?) LP with lithograph and printed inner sleeve. Available through independents like Rough Trade and Townsend Music.