Here’s a good Christmas surprise for you. Neil Young, in a statement published on his Neil Young Archives site, has unearthed a previously lost album. Titled “Summer Songs“, the album was recorded in 1987.
Described by Young himself as “lost for years, but not forgotten,” “Summer Songs” consists of eight songs that were recorded at Young’s Broken Arrow Ranch. The album features Young on all instruments. It was produced by Young and Niko Bolas, aka the Volume Dealers.
“They’re pipin’ music in…yer getting it…someday,” Young wrote in a statement. “Remember the old songs? This ones for you!”.
He made the collection of solo tracks available to subscribers of his Neil Young Archives project, while confirming that it will appear on general sale in the coming months.
Variants of seven of the tracks featured in later records, with “Wrecking Ball,” “Someday” and “Hangin’ on a Limb” part of 1989’s “Freedom“, “One of These Days” part of 1992’s “Harvest Moon”, “For the Love of Man” part of 2012’s Psychedelic Pill and “American Dream” plus “Name of Love” part of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s 1988 title “American Dream”. “Last of His Kind” has never previously been released.
“I think you will enjoy this very cool recording,” Young wrote to subscribers. “‘American Dream’ feels more real than ever. How could somethin’ so good go bad so fast? Wow, that was a little sad. But things are still good down on the farm right? Not so fast.”
Elsewhere on the site he noted: “To give you an idea of place and time, Farm Aid and the Bridge School Concerts had just begun their long runs. This group of songs had just been written and put down in the studio… I don’t remember the sessions at all!” He added: “The words of these originals are significantly different from their subsequent master album releases in many cases. Several completely new and unheard verses are found in the songs of this collection.” He also reported that the album “will be released in mid 2022 by my friends at Reprise Records.”
Last week, Young and Crazy Horse released “Barn”, their first album since “Colorado“, which was released two years ago. A few weeks ago in an appearance on The Howard Stern Show, Young gave some more insight into his latest Archives box set and explained why he won’t be touring until it’s safe to attend shows. He previously cancelled an appearance at this year’s Farm Aid, saying that it was too soon to play live.
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