Neil Young - Hitchhiker

 

Our local library definitely has someone who is a Neil Young fan working there and that's no problem for me as I dig finding these releases for free! This is a fairly fascinating album - released in 2017 (his 37th studio album!), it was actually recorded in 1976 in one night with just Neil and his acoustic guitar (and occasional harmonica). The record label thought these were unfinished and did not release it as an album at the time, but certain takes later received overdubs and became well known numbers, such as "Pocahontas".

That number opens this CD and, of course, it sounds familiar, but stripped down, showing the strength of the number on its own, and following in this vein is "Powderfinger", which also sounds like it could have been the backing track for the take we all now know. "Captain Kennedy" shows off his finger-pickin' style (nice, traditional-sounding melody, as well), "Hawaii" and "Give Me Strength" were previously unreleased before this album but the former is another quiet, well written ballad, while the latter is a mid-tempo strummer with another strong melody - certainly no reason why these should have been neglected, other than the fact that Neil always has lots more where these come from.

"Ride My Llama" is pretty similar to the later version, with its downtuned stummin' (not dissimilar to numbers like "Cinnamon Girl" in basic feel), but, at one minute, 50 seconds, it definitely feels unfinished, but the title cut is upbeat and powerful, even in this stripped down take, and is fully formed and a fine tune, as is "Campaigner", with his famous line about Nixon having soul (still don't believe that one), "Human Highway" is another of Neil's which sounds like it easily could have been an old, traditional folk tune but, of course, with his unique twists, and the record concludes with "The Old Country Waltz" which is, indeed, a sad, waltz beat, performed on the piano (with harmonica accompaniment) for a change, and sounding like a good ending number, somehow - perhaps due to its melancholy nature.

I can see why a record label would want the performances to be a bit more fleshed out, especially in the mid-70's, but Neil has always been able to carry a performance on his own. I dig these intimate looks at his songs - fans will certainly want this!