Happy Birthday, Neil Young! Hear a Classic Crazy Horse Performance From 1976

Music Features Neil Young
Happy Birthday, Neil Young! Hear a Classic Crazy Horse Performance From 1976

Last month, Neil Young announced a new live acoustic album, recorded during his storied November 1976 tour. Out on CD/digital Nov. 30 and vinyl Dec. 14 on Shakey Pictures Records (Young’s own imprint on Reprise Records), Songs For Judy will consist of 22 songs recorded in various cities across the U.S. throughout that tour. It will also feature one previously unreleased song, “No One Seems To Know.”

“The tour had been so satisfying, and so different from all that rock would become in the ensuing years, something indelible was captured in our humble collection,” said Cameron Crowe, who assembled Songs For Judy with Joel Bernstein, in the album announcement. “Listening to it today is a little like discovering postcards from home. It was a precious time in Neil Young’s journey, a breath of oxygen in between some of his biggest adventures.”

To celebrate Neil Young’s 73rd birthday (today, Nov. 12), let’s look back at one of those very shows from November 1976, Young’s Nov. 22 late show with Crazy Horse at the Boston Music Hall, which you can listen to below via the Paste vault. Young had spent most of 1976 touring with Crazy Horse in favor of his most recent collaboration with the rock band, 1975’s Zuma, and his sixth solo album, Tonight’s the Night, from the same year. Listening to this particular heated rock ‘n’ roll set, you’ll wonder how Young ever managed to croon out sleepy folk fare with Crosby, Stills & Nash—he’s in his electric element with Crazy Horse. Featuring Frank Sampedro on guitar, Billy Talbot on bass and Ralph Molina on drums, the quartet played several songs from 1969’s Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, including “Cowgirl In The Sand” and “Cinnamon Girl” and Young solo classics like “Homegrown” and “Southern Man.” They also tackled Zuma’s “Don’t Cry No Tears” and “Drive Back.”

Earlier this year, Young also announced a newly renovated online music archive. On the updated platform, listeners can subscribe with a monthly membership fee to hear almost everything from Young’s expansive catalogue, including music from his days playing in high school bands. Songs For Judy will also be available via the site, NeilYoungArchives.com, which maintains aspects that are free to everyone in addition to the paid features.

Again, you can listen to Neil Young’s 1976 concert in Boston with Crazy Horse below via the Paste vault. While you’re at it, check out our list of Neil Young’s 25 best songs, and/or our roundup of his best political songs. For more information on Songs For Judy, including the tracklist and album art, go here. Keep scrolling for another Neil Young/Crazy Horse matchup, a 1994 video of the group playing in California, also available via the Paste archives.

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