Neil Young
12/8/12
Final Paper
History Rock and Roll
Neil Young
“Everybody Knows This is Nowhere” (1969)
“Harvest” (1972
I chose to write my final paper on one of my favorite musical artists, Neil Young. I believe Young is one of the most prolific and respected artist of the 20th century. Born and raised in Canada, Young moved to the States in the 60's and soon began his career as the guitarist of the well known band Buffalo Springfield (1966). This jump-started to what would become a 45+ year career for this activist, songwriter, guitarist, singer, and philanthropist. Despite Buffalo Springfield success, which lead to a future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame bid, the band eventually broke up. Young and former band-mate Steven Stills soon partnered together with Graham Nash and David Crosby to form “Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young (1969). I think this super group would have been considered to be the “American Beatles” during the early 70's. Though Young stuck with CSN&Y over the next 30 years, he still concentrated on his solo work, which involved his band “The Rockets” which was later renamed 'Crazy Horse'. Over the next few years, Young would transpire to become one of the most influential songwriters, and most talented guitarist of his generation. In 1969, Young released his second album with Crazy Horse, “Everyone Knows This Is Nowhere”. This album had mixed reviews, but soon became a success with hit tracks such as “Down By the River, “Cinnamon Girl”, and “Cowgirl in the Sand”. The album soon reached #34 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart in 1970, and “Cinnamon Girl” #55 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart. (RollingStones.com/neilyoungbio) A biography of Neil Young stated “The songs were deliberately underwritten and sketchy as compositions, their lyrics more suggestive than complete, but that made them useful as frames on which to hang the extended improvisations” (http://www.allmusic.com) In 1972, Young
Final Paper
History Rock and Roll
Neil Young
“Everybody Knows This is Nowhere” (1969)
“Harvest” (1972
I chose to write my final paper on one of my favorite musical artists, Neil Young. I believe Young is one of the most prolific and respected artist of the 20th century. Born and raised in Canada, Young moved to the States in the 60's and soon began his career as the guitarist of the well known band Buffalo Springfield (1966). This jump-started to what would become a 45+ year career for this activist, songwriter, guitarist, singer, and philanthropist. Despite Buffalo Springfield success, which lead to a future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame bid, the band eventually broke up. Young and former band-mate Steven Stills soon partnered together with Graham Nash and David Crosby to form “Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young (1969). I think this super group would have been considered to be the “American Beatles” during the early 70's. Though Young stuck with CSN&Y over the next 30 years, he still concentrated on his solo work, which involved his band “The Rockets” which was later renamed 'Crazy Horse'. Over the next few years, Young would transpire to become one of the most influential songwriters, and most talented guitarist of his generation. In 1969, Young released his second album with Crazy Horse, “Everyone Knows This Is Nowhere”. This album had mixed reviews, but soon became a success with hit tracks such as “Down By the River, “Cinnamon Girl”, and “Cowgirl in the Sand”. The album soon reached #34 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart in 1970, and “Cinnamon Girl” #55 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart. (RollingStones.com/neilyoungbio) A biography of Neil Young stated “The songs were deliberately underwritten and sketchy as compositions, their lyrics more suggestive than complete, but that made them useful as frames on which to hang the extended improvisations” (http://www.allmusic.com) In 1972, Young