NEIL YOUNG – BRUSSELS – 30 JUNE 2025
29 June 2025
I’m ready, Neil.
Two weeks ago the 79-year-old rocker in the free world launched his first
album, titled Talking To The Trees with his new band The Chrome Hearts.
.
New record, new tour
Neil Young
NEIL YOUNG’s Dark Masterwork ‘TONIGHT’S THE NIGHT’ Is 50 Today
Significant longplayers from yesteryear
20 June 2025
NEIL YOUNG released his dark masterwork TONIGHT’S THE NIGHT,
his 6th album, on 20 June 1975, 50 years ago today. It peaked at #25
in the US.
It was a direct expression of grief. Danny Whitten, guitarist of Young‘s band
Crazy Horse, Young’s friend and roadie Bruce Berry had both died of drug
overdoses in the months before the songs were written.
Whitten wrote the song I Don’t Want To Talk About It
made famous by Rod Stewart
Young: “At S.I.R. we were playing, and these two cats who had been a close part of our
unit, of our force and our energy – were both gone to junk. Both of them O.D.’d, and we’re playing in a place where we’re getting together to make up for what is gone and try to make ourselves stronger and continue. Because we thought we had it with Danny Whitten, at least
I did.
I thought that I had a combination of people that could be as effective as groups like
the Rolling Stones had been. Just for rhythm, which I’m really into. I haven’t had that rhythm for a while and that’s why I haven’t been playing my guitar; because without that behind me I won’t play. I mean you can’t get free enough. So I’ve had to play the rhythm myself ever since Danny died”.
Back sleeve
Rolling Stone wrote: “Tonight’s the Night finds Neil Young on his knees at the top of the heap, struggling to get back to his feet. The musical difficulties of last year’s On the Beach have been resolved as directly as possible by a return to recording with Crazy Horse and Nils Lofgren, with whom Young recorded his 1970 masterpiece, After the Gold Rush… Crying over the death of his real and imagined friends, Neil Young seems at once heroic and mock heroic, brave and absurd. Like the best of both, he leaves us as he found us, ravaged but rocking.”
I regularly return to that bone-chilling LP. It has an inexplicable magic.
Key tracks: Tonight’s The Night / World On A String / Come On Baby
Let’s Go Down Town / Albuquerque / New Mama / Lookout Joe / Tired Eyes
ALBUM
BOB DYLAN And NEIL YOUNG Released Both An Album 5 Years Ago
19 June 2025
Artist: BOB DYLAN
Album: Rough And Rowdy Ways
His 39th studio LP.
Released: 21 June 2020
Pitchfork said: “Six decades into his career, Bob Dylan delivers a gorgeous and meticulous record. It is the rare Dylan album that asks to be understood and comes down to meet its audience.”
Artist: NEIL YOUNG
Album: Homegrown
His 42nd one.
Released: 21 June 2020
Pitchfork: “After 46 years, Neil Young unearths a lost but highly consequential album, a collection of humble, stripped-back love songs he began writing at what was arguably the artistic zenith of his career. It’s a reminder of the qualities that make him such an excellent songwriter, and also, in some ways, an icon of 1970s, post-hippie masculinity.”
NEIL YOUNG Still Is A Caring Garage Rocker At Heart – New Album ‘TALKIN TO THE TREES’ With THE CHROME HEARTS Is Out Now
16 June 2025
No retirement time whatsoever for 79-year-old legend NEIL YOUNG.
Only health problems would slow down his 24/7 appetite for making
music/playing live.
This weekend he released his first album with his new band
THE CHROME HEARTS. It’s called TALKIN TO THE TREES.
Press info: “Talkin To The Trees is a personal and powerful album featuring
ten new compositions by Young. “Big Change”, the first song from the album,
comes with a message that left no doubt where Neil Young stands in these
challenging times.
The Chrome Hearts are Spooner Oldham (Organ); Micah Nelson (Guitar and Vocal); Corey McCormick (Bass and Vocal); Anthony LoGerfo (Drums); with Neil Young (Guitar, Harp, Piano, Vibes). The album is co-produced by Lou Adler and Young, and recorded at Shangri La Studios in Malibu.”
TUTV Talkin To The Trees brings Young‘s 1975 masterwork Tonight’s The Night instantly
to mind, sonically that is. Raw and rough, as if the LP was recorded live in one take, in
a garage with lots of echo and plenty of ramshackle guitars, buzzing electricity and
Young‘s characteristic, ardent vocals. Very familiar, very entertaining.
From riff-robust rockers (Family Life, Dark Mirage, Let’s Roll, Big Chance) to country-bluesy musings (Silver Eagle, Moving Ahead), to melancholic balladry (Talkin To The Trees, Battle Of Love, Thankful).
It’s pure Young, musically and thematically, wondering about the world’s future, warning for environmental pollution dramas, difficult times to come for our children, and the need of a big positive change. At 79, he’s still socially and climate concerned as he was in his prime. At 79, he still delivers mind-and-ear pleasing records.
KEY SINGLE
ALBUM
NEIL YOUNG Duets With Beach Boy AL JARDINE On Romantic Gem ‘MY PLANE LEAVES TOMORROW (AU REVOIR)’
Reveries for the laziest day of the week
1 June 2025
AL JARDINE, the now 82-year-old, former beach boy co-vocalist/co-founder
has no plans to retire. He just released a 4-track EP titled Islands In The Sun .
It’s his first new music since his 2010 LP, named
A Postcard From California. Actually his only
solo album.
It features two tunes written by Jardine himself, and two reworked
versions of The Coasters’ Leiber/Stoller classics ‘Smokey Joe’s Café’ and
‘Crumple Car’.
One of the two Jardine written songs, a romantic tearjerker named MY PLANE LEAVES TOMORROW (AU REVOIR) features vocals by living legend Neil Young and a short trumpet moment by Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea. Their parts were already recorded during the ‘Posctard From California’ sessions, but Jardine only finished the song recently.
Have a listen. It’s a beauty.
The whole EP is a nostalgic beauty.
.
Jardine will play a handful of gigs with his Pet Sounds Band this summer.
7/04 – Lake, MN @ Mystic Amphitheater at Mystic Lake Casino Hotel
7/18 – Cohasset, MA @ South Shore Music Circus
7/23-24 – Phoenix, AZ @ Musical Instrument Museum
8/23 – Des Plaines, IL @ The Des Plaines Theatre
8/24 – St. Charles, IL @ The Arcada Theatre
9/05 – Atlantic City, NJ @ Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
9/07 – Concord, NH @ Chubb Theatre at Capitol Center for the Arts
Big Blasts From The Past – STEVE MILLER BAND – NEIL YOUNG – THE CLASH
Significant LongPlayers from yesteryear
14 May 2025
Band: STEVE MILLER BAND
Active: 1966–present
Album: FLY LIKE AN EAGLE
Their 9th LP.
Released: 14 May 1976.
Today, 49 years ago.
Rolling Stone voted it 1976’s Best Album.
#3 in the US. #11 in the UK.
SINGLE
ALBUM
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All SMB Albums
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Artist: NEIL YOUNG
Active: 1963–present
Album: EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS IS NOW
His 2nd solo one.
Released: 14 May 1969
Today, 56 years ago.
#31 in the UK, #32 in Canada.
Rolling Stone said: “Perpetually mournful, without being maudlin or pathetic. It hints at a world in which sorrow underlies everything because that world is recognizable to most of us, Young’s singing is often strangely moving.”
SINGLE
ALBUM
.
All NY Albums
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Band: THE CLASH
Active: 1976–1986
Album: COMBAT ROCK
5th LP.
Released: 14 May 1982
Today, 43 years ago.
#2 in the UK, #7 in the US.
Alternative Press: “The penultimate Clash album employing lessons learned in the previous three years. Their most commercially rewarded release containing their most poignant song ‘Straight to Hell’.”
SINGLE
ALBUM
NEIL YOUNG And THE CHROME HEARTS Ready To Roll Again
Daily electricity to load your batteries
3 May 2025
79-year-old NEIL YOUNG is one of those artists (such as Bob Dylan, Springsteen,
The Stones, Van Morrison, Elvis Costello, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, and many more)
who were born with music in their DNA. They eat, sleep, and breathe music and
have no intention whatsoever to retire.
He recorded an album with his new band The Chrome Hearts ,
baptized Talkin’ To The Trees, and coming our way on June 12th.
Press info: “Talkin To The Trees is a personal and powerful album featuring ten new compositions by Young. “Big Change”, the first song from the album, was released in January 2025, with a message that left no doubt where Neil Young stands in these challenging times.
The Chrome Hearts are Spooner Oldham (Organ); Micah Nelson (Guitar and Vocal); Corey McCormick (Bass and Vocal); Anthony LoGerfo (Drums); with Neil Young (Guitar, Harp, Piano, Vibes). The album is co-produced by Lou Adler and Young, and recorded at Shangri La Studios in Malibu.”
Before any details of the LP were known, we got the first single Big Chance. And
here’s preview number two, named LETS ROLL AGAIN. A vintage Young rocker.
TOUR
NEIL YOUNG Debuted New Robust Rocker ‘LET’S ROLL AGAIN’ Last Saturday In Los Angeles
New striking strokes
79-year-old NEIL YOUNG is one of those artists (such as Bob Dylan, Springsteen, the Stones, Van Morrison, Elvis Costello, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, and many more) who were born with music in their DNA. They eat, sleep and breath music and have no intention whatsoever to retire.
Young is again omnipresent, with several releases of new old/live albums, a new LP
and an upcoming world tourThe Chrome Hearts , a concert movie, titled Coastal
which premiered last week
Last Saturday he played at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles.
Here he premiered a new robust rocker LET’S ROLL AGAIN,
and rollin’ it does. I suppose it will be on the upcoming LP with
his new band.
Former colleague and friend Stephen Stills joined Young on stage for
a rendition of Buffalo Spingfield‘s big 1966 hit For What It’s Worth,
written by Stills (almost 800 million streams on Spotify).
TOUR
Ticket Info HERE
FIONA APPLE Covers NEIL YOUNG For Upcoming Tribute LP – Hear Magnific Version Of ‘HEART OF GOLD’
Reveries for the laziest day of the week
27 April 2025
A new tribute and charity album, titled
Heart Of Gold: The Songs of Neil Young Vol. 1
will be available from April 25 on.
This immersive LP invites you to journey through a rich tapestry of sound and sentiment, blending beloved classics with fresh interpretations of Young songs that honor his legacy. Volume I features covers by Courtney Barnett, Eddie Vedder, The Lumineers, Sharon Van Etten, Mumford and Sons, Brandi Carlile, and many more.
Proceeds from the album will benefit The Bridge School Of California. An organization dedicated to the educational needs of children with speech and physical impairments.
American songstress and wonderful voice FIONA APPLE
also did a Young one. She chose HEART OF GOLD .
Magnific.
EDDIE VEDDER Shows His Love For Living Legend NEIL YOUNG
Reveries for the laziest day of the week
30 March 2025
A new tribute and charity album, titled Heart Of Gold: The Songs of Neil Young Vol. 1
will be available from April 25 on. Pre-order info here.
This immersive LP invites you to journey through a rich tapestry of sound and sentiment, blending beloved classics with fresh interpretations of Young songs that honor his legacy. Volume I features covers by Courtney Barnett, The Lumineers, Sharon Van Etten, Mumford and Sons, Brandi Carlile, and many more.
Proceeds from the album will benefit The Bridge School Of California. An organization dedicated to the educational needs of children with speech and physical impairments.
Cover of Vedder‘s solo album ‘Eartling’ – photo by Danny Clinch
Pearl Jam‘s EDDIE VEDDER also shows his love for Young with
a sensitive cover of Needle And The Damage Down from his
1972 LP Harvest.
– NEEDLE AND THE DAMAGE DONE –