Any Major Dude With Half A Heart

In November I posted the first Neil Young Songbook, to mark the man’s 80^th birthday. To my surprise, there was a need for a second volume. And, well, here it is.

As in Volume 1, this collection pays tribute to Neil Young’s range: folk, country, hard rock, introspective balladry and political protest. The selections span from the late 1960s to the 2020s. Early adopters included the Everly Brothers, who in 1968 covered Mr Soul, written by Young for his former band, Buffalo Springfield.

Former bandmates David Crosby and Stephen Stills feature with solo tracks written or co-written by Young. The former’s Music Is Love was written by Crosby, Graham Nash and Young, almost getting the old gang back together.

It’s often forgotten that Young also wrote Nicolette Larson’s hit A Lotta Love. It features here in Larson’s live version from the 1979 No Nukes concert, backed by The Doobie Brothers.

Young’s hard-rocking ways are covered by Bon Jovi, Rick Derringer, Red Hot Chili Peppers and — rocking surprisingly hard — David Bowie.

On the rocking side, Sassafras’s version of Ohio is a highlight, better than the original. Matthew Sweet and the Indigo Girls likewise improve on Cortez The Killer.

More modern acts like Neko Case, Red June and especially Maria McKee with closer Barstool Blues do well in interpreting the quieter, more reflective side of Young’s writing.

It might be just a bonus track, but Boz Scagg’s 2018 blues jam of On The Beach is quite excellent.

As ever, the mix is timed to fit on a standard CD-R, includes home-freeworldrocked covers, and the above text in PDF format. PW in comments.

1. Bon Jovi – Keep On Rockin’ In The Free World (live) (1995)
2. David Bowie – I’ve Been Waiting For You (2002)
3. Ocean Colour Scene – On The Way Home (1997)
4. Paul Weller – Out On The Weekend (1995)
5. Neko Case – Dreamin’ Man (2001)
6. Red June – Comes A Time (2010)
7. Emmylou Harris – Long May You Run (live) (1982)
8. Jessi Colter – Hold Back The Tears (1978)
9. David Crosby – Music Is Love (1971)
10. Matthews Southern Comfort – Tell Me Why (1970)
11. Stephen Stills – New Mama (1975)
12. The Everly Brothers – Mr Soul (1968)
13. David Clayton-Thomas – Don’t Let It Bring You Down (1972)
14. Richie Havens – The Loner (1974)
15. Sassafras – Ohio (1975)
16. Nicolette Larson & The Doobie Brothers – A Lotta Love (live) (1979)
17. Rick Derringer – My My, Hey Hey (Out The Blue) (1980)
18. Matthew Sweet & The Indigo Girls – Cortez The Killer (1992)
19. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (2012)
20. Idlewild – Lookin’ For A Love (2017)
21. Maria McKee – Barstool Blues (2005)
BONUS TRACKS
22. Boz Scaggs – On The Beach (2018)
23. Sufjan Stevens – There’s A World (2023)

GET IT!

Previous Songbooks:
ABBA
Ashford & Simpson
Barry Gibb Vol. 1
Barry Gibb Vol. 2
Bill Withers
Billy Joel
Bob Dylan Volumes 1-5
Brian Wilson
Bruce Springsteen
Burt Bacharach & Hal David Vol. 1
Burt Bacharach & Hal David Vol. 2
Burt Bacharach’s Lesser-Known Songbook
Carole Bayer Sager
Carole King Vol. 1
Carole King Vol. 2
Chuck Berry
Cole Porter Vol. 1
Cole Porter Vol. 2
Dolly Parton
Elton John & Bernie Taupin
George Harrison
Gordon Lightfoot
Hank Williams
Holland-Dozier-Holland
John Prine
Jimmy Webb Vol. 1
Jimmy Webb Vol. 2
Jimmy Webb Vol. 3
Kris Kristofferson
Lamont Dozier
Laura Nyro
Leonard Cohen
Neil Diamond
Neil Young Vol. 1
Paul McCartney Vol. 1
Paul McCartney Vol. 2
Pete Townshend
Prince
Rod Temperton
Rolling Stones Vol. 1
Rolling Stones Vol. 2
Sly Stone
Steely Dan
Stevie Wonder Vol. 1
Tom Waits
Van Morrison

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