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The indefatigable Neil Young has announced the two latest additions to his ongoing Original Bootleg Series.  On April 14, Young will release Somewhere Under the Rainbow (1973) and High Flyin’ (1977) recorded, respectively, with The Santa Monica Flyers and The Ducks.  Both titles will be available on vinyl, CD, and in digital formats including high-resolution audio at The Greedy Hand Store.

Somewhere Under the Rainbow, OBS No. 2, was recorded live at London’s Rainbow Theatre (today, an Evangelical church) on November 5, 1973. Young was joined by The Santa Monica Flyers, a.k.a. Nils Lofgren (lead and rhythm guitar, piano, accordion, vocals), Ben Keith (pedal steel guitar, vocals), Billy Talbot (bass, vocals), and Ralph Molina (drums, vocals). (Talbot and Molina, of course, have been the only two consistent members of Crazy Horse since the band’s inception; Lofgren played in the band in 1970-1971, 1973, and from 2018 to the present day.  Ben Keith first worked with Young on 1971’s Harvest, beginning a 40-year collaboration.)  The Flyers all played on the sessions for Young’s Tonight’s the Night album, much of which was played at the Rainbow.  They were in a particularly improvisational frame of mind that night, leading to some of the most spontaneous and charged performances of the artist’s career.  The intense show was rounded out by some all-time classics including “Flying on the Ground Is Wrong,” “Helpless,” and “Cowgirl in the Sand.”  Somewhere Under the Rainbow offers new liner notes from original engineer Pete Long.  It arrives on two CDs or two LPs.

High Flyin’, OBS No. 6, captures the short-lived band known as The Ducks, a.k.a. Young, Moby Grape’s Bob Mosley (bass/vocals), Jeff Blackburn (guitar/vocals), and Johnny Craviotto (drums/vocals).  The band played a mere 22 shows in summer 1977, most unannounced, around the Santa Cruz area at clubs including The Back Room, The Crossroads Club, and The Catalyst.  The Ducks evolved from The Jeff Blackburn Band, and setlists would typically feature material sung by all four members.  This release has been drawn from various shows and is the first official release by The Ducks.  Five Young songs are featured: “Mr. Soul,” “Are You Ready for the Country,” “Little Wing,” “Sail Away,” and “Human Highway.”  Jeff Blackburn would go on to co-write “My My Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)” with Neil.  High Flyin’ will be issued on two CDs or three LPs.

Both Original Bootleg Series releases are due on April 14 from Neil Young Archives and Reprise Records.

The Ducks, High Flyin’ (NYA OBS 2) (Reprise, 2023)

2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
3LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

CD 1

1. I Am a Dreamer
2. Younger Days
3. Gypsy Wedding
4. Are You Ready For The Country?
5. Hold On Boys
6. My My My (Poor Man)
7. I’m Tore Down
8. Hey Now
9. Wide Eyed and Willing
10. Truckin’ Man
11. Sail Away
12. Gone Dead Train
13. Silver Wings

CD 2

1. Human Highway
2. Your Love
3. I’m Ready
4. Little Wing
5. Car Tune
6. Windward Passage
7. Leaving Us Now
8. Soul
9. Two Riders
10. Honky Tonk Man
11. Sailor Man
12. Silver Wings

Neil Young and The Santa Monica Flyers, Somewhere Under The Rainbow (NYA OBS 6) (Reprise, 2023)

2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

CD 1

1. Tonight’s The Night
2. Mellow My Mind
3. World On A String
4. Speakin’ Out
5. Albuquerque
6. New Mama
7. Roll Another Number (For The Road)
8. Tired Eyes
9. Tonight’s The Night – Part II

CD 2

1. Flying On The Ground Is Wrong
2. Human Highway
3. Helpless
4. Don’t Be Denied
5. Cowgirl In The Sand