Today's Neil Young's birthday. A songwriter that I deeply admire like so many. I thought I'd discuss his connection with The Band on his studio albums. Enjoy.
Neil Young’s long-awaited release of Homegrown in 2020 felt like an artifact from another time. Initially set aside in 1975 in favour of Tonight’s the Night, Rick Danko from The Band significantly influenced Young’s choice to release Tonight’s the Night, leaving other records from that era unreleased.
Young later described Homegrown as “too personal” and “a little too down.” Yet, it’s that raw vulnerability that gives it a crucial place in his body of work, serving as a bridge between the heartland themes of Harvest and the deep introspection found in On the Beach.
The songs emerged from a tumultuous phase in Young’s life, marked by his breakup with actress Carrie Snodgress. Tracks like “Separate Ways” and “Try” lay bare the heartbreak and confusion he was experiencing—too intimate to share back then.
Much of Homegrown’s allure for me comes from Young’s collaborations with The Band. During the December 1974 Quadraphonic sessions in Nashville, Levon Helm’s drumming on songs like “Separate Ways” and “Try” brought a raw, earthy vibe, perfectly complementing Young’s heartfelt lyrics with a warm, organic sound on the album.
Robbie Robertson’s involvement also brought something unique. In 1974, just two days before the iconic Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young concert at Wembley Stadium with The Band, Young and Robertson recorded at Ramport Studios in London. The outcome was a haunting rendition of “White Line,” with Robertson’s intricate guitar work weaving through Young’s playing.
During that era, On the Beach also featured contributions from The Band, this time with Rick Danko instead of Robertson. Danko’s bass on “Revolution Blues” created a menacing undercurrent, enhancing the song’s sense of paranoia, while Helm’s steady, laid-back drumming balanced the song’s tension. Their collaboration gave the album a gritty realism, amplifying themes of societal decay and disillusionment.
When Homegrown was finally released in 2020, it felt like opening a time capsule—a long-hidden album that captured Young at a pivotal and unvarnished point. It’s both haunting and hopeful, making it a perfect companion to On the Beach, where he was already wrestling with survival and disillusionment. We can blame Rick Danko for keeping this one from us for so long! But in all seriousness, the studio collaborations between The Band and Neil Young remain an underrated favourite of mine.
