Neil Young - 80

Four years ago, I wrote in these spaces of my eighty favorite Bob Dylan songs on the occasion of his 80^th birthday. Four years later, I’m going to give the same treatment to Neil Young, I started to like his music during my freshman year in college. Most of the people in my dorm had the same classes so we all took our exams together. Our tests would often be in the evenings. One guy on my floor was a Neil Young fan, and before every exam he would play Like a Hurricane from Live Rust. It stuck with me ever since. My first Neil Young concert was a solo acoustic show at McNichols Arena in Denver, January 1983. The next time I saw him was with Crazy Horse at Arco Arena in Sacramento. It was January 1991, and specifically it was the night Desert Storm started. The show started with Jimi Hendrix’s version of the Star-Spangled Banner while one of the roadies was hoisting a giant microphone stand that was adorned with a large yellow ribbon. I saw him one final time with Crazy Horse in Virginia in 1996. Since then he has been target-fixated on saving the planet, and he started to preach. I have no use for preaching, but I can enjoy what came before.

Like that Dylan blog from four years. I’ll list my Top 10, then the remainder in the order they were recorded. This list is heavily weighted toward the 1970s [and for good reason]:

1.      Down By The River [NY & Crazy Horse, Everybody Knows This is Nowhere, 1969]

2.      Cinnamon Girl [NY & Crazy Horse, Everybody Knows This is Nowhere, 1969]

3.      When You Dance I Can Really Love [NY & Crazy Horse, After the Gold Rush, 1970]

4.      Ohio [CSNY, single, 1970]

5.      The Needle & The Damage Done [NY, Harvest, 1972]

6.      Revolution Blues [NY, On the Beach, 1974]

7.      Like A Hurricane [NY & Crazy Horse, American Stars ‘n’ Bars, 1977]

8.      Cortez The Killer [NY & Crazy Horse, Zuma, 1976]

9.      Powderfinger [NY & Crazy Horse, Rust Never Sleeps, 1979]

10.    Rockin’ in the Free World [NY, Freedom, 1989]

The rest:

1.      Down to the Wire [Buffalo Springfield, Decade, 1977 (recorded 1967)]

2.      Mr. Soul [Buffalo Springfield, Buffalo Springfield Again, 1967]

3.      Broken Arrow [Buffalo Springfield, Buffalo Springfield Again, 1967]

4.      Expecting to Fly [Buffalo Springfield, Buffalo Springfield Again, 1967]

5.      I Am a Child  [Buffalo Springfield, Last Time Around, 1968]

6.      Sugar Mountain [NY, Decade, 1977 (recorded 1968)]

7.      The Loner [NY, Neil Young, 1968]

8.      I’ve Been Waiting for You [NY, Neil Young, 1968]

9.      The Old Laughing Lady [NY, Neil Young, 1968]

10.  Tell Me Why [NY, After the Gold Rush, 1970]

11.  After the Gold Rush [NY, After the Gold Rush, 1970]

12.  Only Love Can Break Your Heart [NY, After the Gold Rush, 1970]

13.  Don’t Let It Bring You Down [NY, After the Gold Rush, 1970]

14.  Southern Man [NY & Crazy Horse, After the Gold Rush, 1970]

15.  Birds [NY, After the Gold Rush, 1970]

16.  Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing [NY, Carnegie Hall 1970, 2021]

17.  Flying on the Ground is Wrong [NY, Carnegie Hall 1970, 2021]

18.  On The Way Home [NY, Live at Massey Hall 1971, 2009]

19.  Out On The Weekend [NY, Harvest, 1972]

20.  A Man Needs A Maid [NY, Harvest, 1972]

21.  Old Man [NY, Harvest, 1972]

22.  Alabama [NY, Harvest, 1972]

23.  Soldier [NY, Decade, 1977 (recorded 1972)]

24.  Walk On [NY, On the Beach, 1974]

25.  For the Turnstiles [NY, On the Beach, 1974]

26.  On the Beach [NY, On the Beach, 1974]

27.  Ambulance Blues [NY, On the Beach, 1974]

28.  Tonight’s The Night [NY, Tonight’s the Night, 1975 (recorded 1973)]

29.  New Mama [NY, Tonight’s the Night, 1975 (recorded 1973)]

30.  Albuquerque [NY, Tonight’s the Night, 1975 (recorded 1973)]

31.  Lookout Joe [NY, Tonight’s the Night, 1975 (recorded 1973)]

32.  Tonight’s the Night Part II [NY, Tonight’s the Night, 1975 (recorded 1973)]

33.  Vacancy [NY, Homegrown, 2020 (recorded 1975)]

34.  Barstool Blues [NY & Crazy Horse, Zuma, 1976]

35.  Don’t Cry No Tears [NY & Crazy Horse, Zuma, 1976]

36.  Winterlong [NY & Crazy Horse, Decade, 1977 (recorded 1975)]

37.  Fontainebleau [The Stills-Young Band, Long May You Run, 1976]

38.  Goin’ Back [NY, Comes a Time, 1978]

39.  Comes a Time [NY, Comes a Time, 1978]

40.  Look Out for My Love [NY & Crazy Horse, Comes a Time, 1978]

41.  Lotta Love [NY & Crazy Horse, Comes a Time, 1978]

42.  My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue) [NY, Rust Never Sleeps, 1979]

43.  Thrasher [NY, Rust Never Sleeps, 1979]

44.  Pocahontas [NY & Crazy Horse, Rust Never Sleeps, 1979]

45.  Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black) [NY & Crazy Horse, Rust Never Sleeps, 1979]

46.  Southern Pacific [NY & Crazy Horse, Re-ac-tor, 1981]

47.  This Note’s For You [NY, This Note’s For You, 1988]

48.  Crime In The City (Sixty To Zero Part I) [NY, Freedom, 1989]

49.  Eldorado [NY, Freedom, 1989]

50.  On Broadway [NY, Freedom, 1989]

51.  Too Far Gone [NY, Freedom, 1989]

52.  White Line [NY & Crazy Horse, Ragged Glory, 1990]

53.  F*!#In' Up [NY & Crazy Horse, Ragged Glory, 1990]

54.  Love and Only Love [NY & Crazy Horse, Ragged Glory, 1990]

55.  Unknown Legend [NY, Harvest Moon, 1992]

56.  From Hank to Hendrix  [[NY, Harvest Moon, 1992]

57.  War of Man [NY, Harvest Moon, 1992]

58.  All Along the Watchtower [Live] [NY, “Bobfest,” 1992]

59.  Driveby [NY & Crazy Horse, Sleeps With Angels, 1994]

60.  Change Your Mind [NY & Crazy Horse, Sleeps With Angels, 1994]

61.  Blue Eden [NY & Crazy Horse, Sleeps With Angels, 1994]

62.  Safeway Cart [NY & Crazy Horse, Sleeps With Angels, 1994]

63.  Act Of Love [NY, Mirror Ball, 1995]

64.  Peace And Love [NY, Mirror Ball, 1995]

65.  Big Time [NY & Crazy Horse, Broken Arrow, 1996]

66.  Slip Away [NY & Crazy Horse, Broken Arrow, 1996]

67.  Goin’ Home [NY & Crazy Horse, Are You Passionate?, 2002]

68.  No Wonder [NY, Prairie Wind, 2005]

69.  Psychedelic Pill [NY & Crazy Horse, Psychedelic Pill, 2012]

70.  Walk Like a Giant [NY & Crazy Horse, Psychedelic Pill, 2012]

Happy Birthday, Neil!

  

Bob Dylan - 80

Bob Dylan turns 80 a week from today. There are articles aplenty from critics who have picked their Top 80 songs from Dylan. Rather than comb over every song like music critics have done, all these songs are on my iPod, added over the years.  They may not be Dylan’s best, but they are my favorites. I put that disclaimer in so that no one will play “what about…” with me. I have ranked my Top 10 all-time favorites and have listed the remaining 70 songs in the order which they were recorded. To rank all 80 would take more time than I’m willing to dedicate. This is not a “best of” list – that is arbitrary, and my definition of “best” probably doesn’t agree with yours. These are my favorite Bob Dylan songs as recorded by Bob Dylan. I don’t include covers by others [All Along the Watchtower [Jimi Hendrix], If Not For You [George Harrison], just to name a couple]. That’s for another list… 

1. Tangled Up In Blue – Blood on the Tracks, 1975 

2. Like A Rolling Stone - Highway 61 Revisited, 1965 

3. High Water (For Charley Patton) - Love And Theft, 2001 

4. Love Sick – Time Out of Mind, 1997 

5. Masters Of War - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, 1963 

6. When The Ship Comes In - The Times They Are a-Changin', 1964 

7. Ballad Of A Thin Man - Highway 61 Revisited, 1965 

8. Highway 61 Revisited [Alternate Version] - The Bootleg Series Vol. 7: No Direction Home, 2005 – recorded 1965 

9. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat [Alternate Version] - The Bootleg Series Vol. 7: No Direction Home, 2005 – recorded 1966 

10. Desolation Row - Highway 61 Revisited, 1965 

1. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right- The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, 1963 

2. A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, 1963 

3. Talkin' World War III Blues - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, 1963 

4. Talkin' John Birch Paranoid Blues - The Bootleg Series, Vols. 1-3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961-1991, 1991 – recorded 1963 

5. Chimes of Freedom - Another Side of Bob Dylan, 1964 

6. It Ain’t Me Babe - Another Side of Bob Dylan, 1964 

7. The Ballad of Hollis Brown - The Times They Are a-Changin', 1964 

8. One Too Many Mornings - The Times They Are a-Changin', 1964 

9. The Times They Are A-Changin' - The Times They Are a-Changin', 1964 

10. It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding) - Bringing It All Back Home, 1965 

11. Subterranean Homesick Blues - Bringing It All Back Home, 1965 

12. Gates of Eden - Bringing It All Back Home, 1965 

13. She Belongs To Me - Bringing It All Back Home, 1965 

14. Love Minus Zero/No Limit - Bringing It All Back Home, 1965 

15. It's All Over Now, Baby Blue - Bringing It All Back Home, 1965 

16. Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues - Highway 61 Revisited, 1965 

17. Tombstone Blues - Highway 61 Revisited, 1965 

18. It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry - Highway 61 Revisited, 1965 

19. Positively 4th Street – single, 1966 

20. Visions Of Johanna [Alternate Version] - The Bootleg Series Vol. 7: No Direction Home, 2005 – recorded 1966 

21. The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest -John Wesley Harding, 1967 

22. Lay Lady Lay – Nashville Skyline, 1969 

23. Knockin' On Heaven's Door - Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid, 1973 

24. Forever Young (Continued) – Planet Waves, 1974 – This is the shorter, mire funky version. The version everyone else likes is boring to me. 

25. Dirge – Planet Waves, 1974 

26. Wedding Song – Planet Waves, 1974 

27. Simple Twist Of Fate - Blood on the Tracks, 1975 

28. Shelter From The Storm – Blood on the Tracks, 1975 

29. Idiot Wind – Blood on the Tracks, 1975 

30. You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go – Blood on the Tracks, 1975 

31. If You See Her, Say Hello – Blood on the Tracks, 1975 

32. Buckets Of Rain – Blood on the Tracks, 1975 

33. Isis – Desire, 1976

34. Black Diamond Bay – Desire, 1976

35. Slow Train - Slow Train Coming, 1979 

36. Gotta Serve Somebody - Slow Train Coming, 1979 

37. The Groom's Still Waiting At the Altar – Shot of Love, 1981 

38. Every Grain of Sand – Shot of Love, 1981 

39. Man Of Peace - Infidels, 1983 

40. Blind Willie McTell - The Bootleg Series, Vols. 1-3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961-1991, 1991 – recorded in 1983 

41. Tweeter & the Monkey Man – The Traveling Wilburys Volume 1, 1988 

42. Political World – Oh Mercy, 1989 

43. Everything Is Broken – Oh Mercy, 1989 

44. Where Teardrops Fall – Oh Mercy, 1989 

45. What Was It You Wanted – Oh Mercy, 1989 

46. Man in the Long Black Coat – Oh Mercy, 1989

47. Series of Dreams - Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits, Vol. 3, 1994 [Oh Mercy outtake, 1989]

48. Dignity - Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits, Vol. 3, 1994 [Oh Mercy outtake, 1989]

49. Born In Time - Tell Tale Signs: The Bootleg Series Vol. 8, 2008 – recorded 1989

50. Dirt Road Blues – Time Out of Mind, 1997 

51. Dreamin' Of You - Tell Tale Signs: The Bootleg Series Vol. 8, 2008 – recorded 1997 

52. Things Have Changed – The Essential Bob Dylan, 2000 

53. Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum - Love And Theft, 2001 

54. Lonesome Day Blues - Love And Theft, 2001 

55. Honest With Me - Love And Theft, 2001 

56. Cry a While - Love And Theft, 2001 

57. Down In The Flood [Live] – Masked and Anonymous, 2003 

58. Cold Irons Bound [Live] – Masked and Anonymous, 2003 

59. Tell Ol' Bill - Tell Tale Signs: The Bootleg Series Vol. 8, 2008 – recorded 2005 

60. Thunder On The Mountain - Modern Times, 2006 

61. Someday Baby - Tell Tale Signs: The Bootleg Series Vol. 8, 2008 – recorded 2006 

62. Ain’t Talkin' - Tell Tale Signs: The Bootleg Series Vol. 8, 2008 – recorded 2006 

63. Beyond Here Lies Nothin' - Together Through Life, 2009 

64. It's All Good - Together Through Life, 2009 

65. Pay In Blood – Tempest, 2012 

66. Early Roman Kings – Tempest, 2012 

67. Scarlet Town – Tempest, 2012 

68. False Prophet – Rough And Rowdy Ways, 2020 

69. Goodbye Jimmy Reed – Rough And Rowdy Ways, 2020 

70. Crossing the Rubicon – Rough And Rowdy Ways, 2020