Homegrown is the latest old album from Neil Young to see the light of day as part of his archive series.
Most of Homegrown was recorded in 1974 when Neil was writing and recording new material at a blistering pace. He had just released On The Beach before starting on it while Tonight’s the Night from 1973 was still in the can. When it came time to pick an album to release for 1975, Neil skipped Homegrown and went with Tonight’s the Night instead. His reasoning was that Homegrown turned out to be “too dark and personal” for public consumption.
He didn’t abandon the tunes entirely. Parts of Homegrown have popped up over the years in one form or another. I could do a whole post on it but lucky for me, Rolling Stone already has. Regardless, it is safe to say that a majority of this album has never been officially heard before.
Remarkable considering how good it truly is.
Love is A Rose and Star of Bethlehem are the album’s two best known tunes as they both still get some radio play (At least here in Canada) and both are included on Neil’s first greatest hits album, Decade in 1977. Love is A Rose features Neil solo on the vocals/harp/acoustic guitar while Star of Bethlehem features the whole band and Emmylou Harris on back up vocals, making it the better representation of a majority of the album.
Really, if you’re into Neil’s most popular album, Harvest, you’ll feel at home here. He is in his country/folk mode and even a couple of members from his back up band on Harvest, The Stray Gators, play on most of the tunes. Returning is Tim Drummond on bass but even more importantly (Sorry Tim!) is Ben Keith on steel pedal guitar. His playing is essential to that Harvest sound. Heck, with Keith here, I might even believe you if you told me these tracks were recorded during the same sessions.
The album’s opener, Separate Ways, makes the statement as Keith’s pedal steel predominantly twangs away over that signature Neil slow shuffle. Try is next and features Emmylou Harris on back up vocals again. Both of these have The Band’s Levon Helm is behind the kit.
The remainder of side one, Mexico, Homegrown, and Kansas all have a similar vibe and probably should have never been buried in the first place. Florida is the only exception to the goodness. It features Neil talking like he is way into the herb while Ben Keith plays some annoying feedback behind him. I have yet to sit through its entirety and probably never will. Forgive me if there is a good song towards the end of the track.
Side two has a little more rock ‘n roll edge with the sleezy blues of We Don’t Smoke It No More starting it off. White Line is an acoustic number but you have Robbie Robertson digging into the lead licks for it. Then Vacancy follows it up with a big Crazy Horse like riff.
I find “lost” albums that come out decades later usually feeling scrapped together, or at least show evidence for why it was shelved in the first place. Florida aside, Homegrown does not fall into that mould and I believe Neil when he says he had personal reasons for not releasing it.
Imagine that situation…. “I’m not going to release this musical genius because it is too personal. Take this other bit of musical genius instead.” lol, only Neil Young.
4.5/5
My brother says I need to hear this. Now that you have given it the green light I guess had better get on it.
Merry Xmas to you and Sarah.
Cheers pal!
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Your brother is right! Merry Christmas to you too Deke! To you and the fam!
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I am not a huge fan of Neil’s, but there was a box of vinyl my niece was going to let me have and in it was Harvest. As she was cleaning up the box, she lifted out Harvest and the vinyl fell out and hit the floor and shattered. I didn’t have the nerve to tell her that was the One I was interested the most (until I saw the Stooges in there).
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Ouch! I would have cried even though I already have Harvest. I hate to see good vinyl go to waste.
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I was actually so pissed, but I didn’t let her know as she was kind enough to give me everything else.
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Maybe you were meant to get it another way.
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I like your thinking, but if it involves me having to pay for it now, I am not liking that approach at all 🙂
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Nice post, I’ve been hesitating over this one. Whether it was worth it or not, you may have just tipped the balance.
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Neil’s offerings lately have been hit or miss. The studio albums from the archives have been solid so far.
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I bought the live Tonight’s The Night and thought it was incredible. Chilling when he sings the title song.
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Yeah, I snagged that one too. It is definitely a good one.
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Neil is either in my life or outta my life. The last paragraph you wrote sums up his creativity nicely.
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Thanks! I’m happy to be able to enjoy his work.
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I too have trepidation when content is released years later – with films, it’s rarely a good sign!
But with the 1001 albums, if there’s a gap between production & release, surprisingly the albums are generally quite strong (including, as you pointed out, Neil’s Tonight’s the Night)
Having to choose which musical genius to release is a nice problem to have!
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A “problem” only someone like Neil Young can have!
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Yup I want this one. That’s a heady period for him!
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I think it is a must for any Neil Young fan!
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Well, since I have just about everything here, in one form or another, this’ll be here eventually!
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I havent got around to this yet (I havent got around to a few of his recent releases). I guess it’s time for a Neil binge. I did take ‘Arc’ for a walk yesterday. Just the mood I was in.
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Oof… Arc… That is some hardcore Neil right there.
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Sometimes I just get the urge for that kind of noise. I ran into someone I knew so I only got 20 minutes in. Probably 20 minutes to long for most folks.
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lol, Neil tapped into something for you!
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Relief from all the shit thats going down. Keeping me level in a twisted way. Either that or getting hammered.
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Ugh, yeah. They’re saying “normal” won’t be until the fall at best. Not that I’m in a hurry to see anyone and have rush hour traffic return. But people not getting sick and dying would be nice.
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