The latest in a dizzying number of archival releases from offers up a 1970s gem from his country-rock phase.
鈥淥ceanside Countryside鈥� opens and closes with a pair of Young classics: 鈥淪ail Away鈥� and 鈥淧ocahontas.鈥� In between are eight tracks that will be familiar to Young diehards, but less recognizable to more casual fans.
But this release isn't targeted to Young newbies. It is the latest in which releases that were recorded in analog before digital processing. 鈥淥ceanside Countryside鈥� is squarely focused on appealing to Young completists 鈥� especially those with a decent stereo.
鈥淥ceanside Countryside鈥� is a sister record to Young鈥檚 鈥淐omes a Time,鈥� released in 1978. Three songs appear on both 鈥� 鈥淕oin' Back,鈥� 鈥淗uman Highway" and 鈥淔ield of Opportunity.鈥� Musically, the two records have a similar country rock sound.
Not content to make things simple, 鈥淥ceanside Countryside鈥� carries the same title as a disc in Young's massive box set 鈥淎rchives Volume III: 1976鈥�1987鈥� from last year. And while the songs are similar on each, they are not identical.
鈥淥ceanside Countryside鈥� presents its 10 songs as they were originally prepared for release, broken up into five 鈥淥ceanside鈥� tracks on the first side and five 鈥淐ountryside鈥� offerings on the second side.
The five 鈥淥ceanside鈥� tracks were recorded in Florida and Malibu, California, with Young playing solo. The 鈥淐ountryside鈥� songs were laid down in Nashville, Tennessee, and live up to the name. Longtime Young collaborators and bandmates, like Ben Keith on steel guitar, lend that side of the record a familiar country swing.
In the ever-widening pantheon of Young archival releases, 鈥淥ceanside Countryside鈥� doesn't reveal much about Neil that wasn't already known.
Think of it more as a complement, a fun little nugget that fills in a microscopic gap in Young's recording history. It's for fans who just can't get enough of 1970s Neil, especially on high quality vinyl.
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Scott Bauer, The Associated Press
