Tonight’s show is so amazing it begins early! We’re dancing to celebrate the birthday of one of the greatest rockers of all time, the amazing Neil Young.
A legend was created when Neil was driving his hearse down Sunset Boulevard, got stuck in traffic, and Steven Stills and Richie Furay did their famous u-turn leading to the creation of the Buffalo Springfield, one of the pioneering groups of folk/country rock. After that volatile group split, Neil went on to a stellar solo career, occasionally dropping in on Crosby, Stills, and Nash to create one of the all-time "super groups" in rock history. And he's still rockin'!
I saw him live in 1976 in Austin, and his energy was beyond kinetic! I also saw him in Santa Barbara a few years ago, and he rocks as hard as ever. In a rare treat for astrologers, I found his birth information in Wikipedia: 6:45 AM, 12 November 1945, Toronto. That makes him a double Scorpio with a Moon at 14 Aquarius. (As my Moon is that exact degree - "A Train Entering A Tunnel" - it's no wonder I've always loved his Spirit and his music! And I also was extremely intense when on stage all those years ago...)
Enjoy what you're about to hear, since this musical force majeure has been and continues to be one of the best. I found quite a few videos from across the years to whet your appetites and get you in the groove!
We’ll kick this off with a montage of video clips from 1967 of the Buffalo Springfield doing "For What It's Worth."
From The Hollywood Palace tv show in 1967, the Buffalo Springfield lip synching and clowning around doing ”For What It’s Worth” and ”Mr. Soul" (Last year I had two separate clips; this year’s mashes both into one.)
This is from the Popendipity TV special in September 1967! Introduced by Flip Wilson, here’s a rare live performance of Steven’s “Rock and Roll Woman"
This year we have rare live footage of the Buffalo Springfield on television in 1966/67 with a couple of outtakes! The Buffalo Springfield Live in 1966-67 (Play list: 1)In the Studio WTAI “Neighbor Don’t You Worry” and 2) “Sit Down I Think I Love You” (Unfortunately, Neil’s not here and that’s not Bruce on the bass.) 3)”Mr. Soul” (1967 TV live broadcast), 4)”Rock and Roll Woman” (1968 TV live broadcast), 5) “Baby Don’t Scold Me” (outtake from the first album), and 4) “My Kind of Love” (alt. take)
Live at the Hollywood Bowl in April 1967 with a lot of other acts (and a lousy sound system), the Buffalo Springfield opened the first 17 minutes of the show with ”Pay the Price,” "Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing” “For What It’s Worth,” “Mister Soul”
Here's a fantastic audio-only live performance by the original Buffalo Springfield in late 1967 at the Fillmore West doing Neil's song from the 3rd album, "On The Way Home."
This is a much better recording of how great they were live! (Unfortunately, this was during the months when Neil was not with the group, but it still captures the sound.) From the "Teen and Twenty Club" in Huntington Beach in August 1967, here's 2 hours and 25 live concert of Buffalo Springfield Live in 1967 The set list includes "Pay The Price," "Nobody's Fool," "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing," "Rock & Roll Woman," "My Kind Of Love," "For What It's Worth," "Bluebird," "Mr. Soul," "Go And Say Goodbye," "Hung Upside Down," "Midnight Hour," "Do I Have To Come Right Out and Say It," and "Leave.")
I found the next two clips from June 1967 just after Neil quit the group (he’d quit, come back, then quit again, and come back again.) They’re still classics, with David Crosby filling in for Neil. This is the only video of their performance set at the legendary Monterey Pop Festival in the Summer of Love! Introduced by Steven’s friend Peter Tork, here’s the Buffalo Springfield performing "For What It's Worth."
Here’s the audio of most of their set. Welcome to 18 minutes from June 1967. The Buffalo Springfield Live at Monterey Pop – 1967 (Set list: "For What It's Worth," “Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing,” “Rock and Roll Woman,” “Bluebird,” “A Child’s Claim to Fame”)
Getting back to Neil…..
From their first album, here's the original studio version of Neil's "Flying On The Ground Is Wrong"
Here’s a rare audio-only clip from 1966 of an early acoustic solo demo by Neil of "Flying On The Ground Is Wrong"
An extraordinarily beautiful solo by Neil on piano at Carnegie Hall in 1970 performing "Flying On The Ground Is Wrong," and from that same show, on acoustic guitar, “Cinnamon Girl”
Also from the first album, Neil's "Out of My Mind" and "Burned."
From their second album, here's the original studio version of Neil's "Expecting To Fly" (it begins quietly, so be patient!) From the same album, here's the amazing “Broken Arrow" (Neil says those crowd screams at the beginning are from a Beatle concert, not a Buffalo Springfield show.)
The audio only live performance from Texas in 1968 by the Buffalo Springfield doing “Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing" has disappeared.
Here's one of the reasons it was very hip to live in LA in the mid to late 60s! I found a 31+ minute set of the Buffalo Springfield live at Whittier High School – Jan 1968 that captures some of the excitement they were said to generate. Not the greatest recording but it’s not bad. The set list includes ”On the Way Home,” “Good Time Boy,” "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing," “Mister Soul,” “A Child’s Claim To Fame,” “For What It’s Worth” and “Bluebird.” "Rock & Roll Woman" opened but was not recorded.
Due to drug busts in early 1968, the band decided to break up. Last year I had clips from their last two shows on May 3, 1968 at San Diego State University. The first part of the clip features 2 songs by the Electric Flag, led by Buddy Miles. The last half of the clip features the last lineup of the Buffalo Springfield, and includes Neil, Stephen, Richie, Dewey, and Jim Messina on bass. They are "A Child's Claim to Fame" and "Rock and Roll Woman." Better luck next year.
Also gone is the 22+ minute live performance of “Bluebird,” the final song of the final concert of the original Buffalo Springfield in Long Beach, May 5, 1968. Instead, here’s the studio “long version” of 9 minutes of "Bluebird"
This year I found the entire Long Beach show! This is the final show the Buffalo Springfield ever did, so enjoy the end of one era and the beginning of a new one! For your enjoyment, Buffalo Springfield – The Final Concert: Long Beach – May 1968
Here’s a solo acoustic performance by Neil from the live album Sugar Mountain: Live at the Canterbury House – 1968 of "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing"
Here’s another solo acoustic performance, this time at the Riverboat Coffee House in Toronto in 1969, of the exquisitely beautiful "Expecting To Fly"
On to CSN&Y!
From 1969, a live performance on the Music Scene television show by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young doing "Down By The River"
Also from 1969 on the Tom Jones tv show, CSN&Y live doing David’s iconic song “Long Time Gone”
From Woodstock in 1969, Steven and Neil doing an acoustic and funky version of Neil's "Mr. Soul" Also from that iconic performance, “Wooden Ships”
It’s gone again. Very rare Woodstock footage of Neil and the boys doing “Helplessly Hoping” and “Long Time Gone” have vanished. Better luck next year.
Here’s an hour and 13 audio clip of the band’s set at Woodstock. Neil is not on the first few songs. He comes on to do a duet with Stephen, “Mr. Soul” and “I’m Wonderin’,” and all four did “You Don’t Have to Cry,” “Find the Cost of Freedom,” and “49 Bye-Byes.”
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young at Woodstock
On television in 1970, here’s a great performance of CSN&Y of "Down By The River"
We’ll finish this brief segment with 2 hours and 47 of CSN&Y live on video in Wembley in 1974! This was the band at their peak, for better and for worse!
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young at Wembley Stadium - Sept 1974
Back to Neil!
Here’s a treat! A 29 minute video of a live acoustic set of Neil performing Live at the BBC in 1971. Set list: “Out on the Weekend,” “Old Man,” “Journey Through the Past,” “Heart of Gold,” “Don't Let It Bring You Down,” “A Man Needs a Maid,” “Love in Mind,” and “Dance Dance Dance.”
If you don’t want to sit through the entire set, here are "Heart Of Gold," and ”Journey Through the Past”
Live at Toronto’s Massey Hall in 1971, Neil in a solo acoustic video performance of "On the Way Home" and "Tell Me Why." Also from that performance, Neil’s chilling indictment of American fascism on a day of infamy, “Ohio”
Here’s the entire audio-only show! Neil Young Live at Massey Hall - 1971
Back to various combinations of Neil with others.
Jumping ahead two decades to 1991, live in Golden Gate Park, CSN&Y doing a live performance of "Wooden Ships." From the same show, the marching song for millions! “Ohio”
From the 2010 Bridge School Concert, a reunited Buffalo Springfield doing 5 of their original tunes!
Here's one of my favorite Neil Young tunes off of their first album, the honky tonk rocker “Burned”
"Do I Have to Come Right Out and Say It"
From the 2011 Buffalo Springfield reunion tour, "Broken Arrow"
From the Fox Theater in Oakland in June 2011, the reunited Buffalo Springfield doing a live performance of "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing" and "Bluebird."
(Or you could just see the entire 93 minute show at this link: Buffalo Springfield - Fox Theater - Oakland, CA - 6/2/11 Sorry some of the camera work is so jumpy, but we appreciate what we get!)
From the 2011 Bonnaroo Festival, the reunited Buffalo Springfield doing "On The Way Home," (they take the stage about 3 minutes into the video) and then "I Am A Child." These are followed by "Mr. Soul," and then a smoking 11+ minutes of "Bluebird." We’ll close this Bonnaroo Fest set with Neil’s 11 minute “in your face” anthem, "Rockin’ in the Free World."
Going back to the beginning of his solo career, set to stills, here’s one of my favorites from his first solo album! Welcome to the original studio version of "The Emperor of Wyoming"
Also from his first album, a live 1973 performance from the Winterland in SF in March 1973 set to stills of "The Loner"
Here are three live audio-only clips from the Fillmore East in 1970!
“Cinnamon Girl,” “Down By the River,” and Neil Young and Crazy Horse at the Fillmore East 1970
From the 1978 concert tour Rust Never Sleeps, here's Neil Young and Crazy Horse in SF doing "Like A Hurricane"
Last year I had an hour of this show, but it’s gone. Instead, here’s the only video I can find of Neil Young Live in Berlin 1982 – “Mr. Soul”
Last year I had the performance from the 1982 Trans Tour, but it’s gone. Instead, from the “Ragged Glory” tour, Neil and Crazy Horse in a live 1991 video performance of “Cinnamon Girl”
A new score! Here’s Neil’s entire 1984 performance on Austin City Limits as it was rebroadcast 8 years later for a telethon. Neil Young On Austin City Limits
From Milan in 1987, Neil Young & Crazy Horse in a live film performance of "Cinnamon Girl" and “Comes A Time”
Live from 1993, Neil unplugged doing an acoustic solo performance of "Long May You Run"
From August 1995, here’s a full 1 hour 52 minute video of Neil Young and Pearl Jam in Salzburg
From a week later, here’s a full 1 hour 50 minute video of Neil Young and Pearl Jam in Dublin
From 1997, Neil doing a live acoustic performance of his song "Buffalo Springfield Again"
From Toronto in 2000, Neil's blistering indictment of the Nixon administration and authoritarians in general! "Ohio"
The video of CSN&Y having a great time in their encore performance in April 2000 at the MCI Center doing the very psychedelic Byrds' classic “Eight Miles High"is gone.)
Here’s an entire 2 hour and 49 show from the Chicago stop on that tour! For your enjoyment, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young Live in Chicago 2000
From Toronto, Ontario in Nov 2007, Neil doing a solo acoustic performance of "Cowgirl In The Sand"
From Calgary in October 2008, "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere"
From 2008, live and extremely electric! "Cowgirl In The Sand"
Also from 2008, "Powderfinger"
Live in Berlin at an unknown time, Neil and Crazy Horse cranking up “Like A Hurricane”
Live From Hyde Park in June 2009, Neil doing "Cinnamon Girl"
From the same show, with Paul McCartney doing "A Day In The Life"
Here’s a great find! From 2012, here’s the entire one hour 51 minute set of Neil Young live at the Austin City Limits Music Festival
We'll close this birthday tribute with several versions of one of the strongest rockers ever written! Here's the music video of "Rockin' in the Free World"
Last year I had his SNL 9 minute grinding in your face fist pumping rock and roll of this song, but it’s disappeared. But I did find this 5 minute rehearsal on that show of "Rockin' in the Free World"
Here's Neil Young and Pearl Jam at the 1993 MTV Music Video award ceremony doing "Keep On Rockin' In The Free World"
From 2009 in Hyde Park, looking like an avenging angel of blinding light, 10 minutes of live electricity! "Keep On Rockin' In The Free World"
Here's Neil with Bruce Springsteen, Michael Stipe, John Fogerty and Pegi Young at Vote For Change in October 2004 doing a smoking version of "Keep On Rockin' In The Free World"
This year I found the audio of the whole 44 minute Vote for Change set of Neil Young with the Dave Matthews Band – Vote For Change 2004. (They begin with “All Along the Watchtower” and it rocks!)
For our finale, though neither of them wrote this song, and Jimi did the definitive version, this performance is still one of my favorites! From 2004, Neil and the Boss doing a highly intense electric offering of "All Along The Watchtower."
From 2002, an equally intense live video performance by Neil of this masterpiece “All Along the Watchtower”
For our first encore, from Farm Aid 2004, here are a few in order!
For our second encore, thanks to Alexei, we have Neil Young's "rock opera" and "audio novel" 2003 album compared with some literary classics "for its complexity and emotional depth in exploring a small town in America." For your enjoyment, Greendale
For more, here's the Neil Young You Tube channel
You should definitely check out any of the numerous concert performances from his 2015 tour, "The Monsanto Years," which are all over you tube. He is still one of the most militant rockers alive, and it's clear he loathes Monsanto and GMOs. Here’s the link to the entire album Neil Young and the Promise of the Real – The Monsanto Years (to note, Starbucks was never aligned with Monsanto in a suit against GMO labeling, and was not part of the suit in any way.)
The official Neil Young Archives website.
Happy 78, Neil! Thanks for reminding us to rock, and rock still harder, and then rock some more. Long may you run like a hurricane down by the river, broken arrow. Keep rockin’ in the free world!
Copyright © 2023 Robert Wilkinson
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