Neil Young (album)

The first release of the album used the Haeco-CSG encoding system. This technology was intended to make stereo records compatible with mono record players, but had the unfortunate side effect of degrading the sound. Young was unhappy with the first release. "The first mix was awful", he was reported as saying in Cash Box of September 6, 1969. "I was trying to bury my voice, because I didn't like the way it sounded".[3]

The album was therefore partially remixed (as announced in Rolling Stone issue 47, from December 13), and re-released without Haeco-CSG processing. Most of the songs from the original album were re-released with only the Haeco-CSG processing removed. Only a few songs on the reissue were remixed in full: "Here We Are In The Years", "What Did You Do To My Life?", and "If I Could Have Her Tonight". The words "Neil Young" were added to the top of the album cover after what was left of the original stock had been used up, so copies of both mixes exist in the original sleeve. Copies of the original mix on vinyl are now rare and much sought-after by Neil Young fans who believe that the remix diminished the songs, especially "Here We Are in the Years".

Neil Young was remastered and released on HDCD-encoded compact discs and digital download on July 14, 2009 as part of the Neil Young Archives Original Release Series. It was released on audiophile vinyl in December 2009, both individually and as part of a box-set of Neil's first four LPs available via his official website. This box set was limited to 1000 copies. The remaster was also released on CD, individually and as Disc 1 of a 4-CD box set Official Release Series Discs 1-4, released in the US in 2009 and Europe in 2012.[4] High resolution digital files of both the CSG and non-CSG albums are available to subscribers on the Neil Young Archives website.

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[5]
Pitchfork	7.8/10[6]
Rolling Stone	favorable[7]

Rolling Stone wrote "in many ways, a delightful reprise of that Springfield sound done a new way".[7] In its retrospective review, AllMusic described it as "an uneven, low-key introduction to Young's solo career".[5]

All tracks are written by Neil Young, except where noted. Arrangements on "The Old Laughing Lady", "String Quartet from Whiskey Boot Hill" and "I've Loved Her So Long" by Young, Nitzsche and Ry Cooder. Track timings are from the original 1968 vinyl release, catalogue number RS 6317.[8]

Side one

1. "The Emperor of Wyoming" – 2:14
2. "The Loner" – 3:55
3. "If I Could Have Her Tonight" – 2:15
4. "I've Been Waiting for You" – 2:30
5. "The Old Laughing Lady" – 5:05

Side two

1. "String Quartet from Whiskey Boot Hill" (Jack Nitzsche) – 1:04
2. "Here We Are in the Years" – 3:27
3. "What Did You Do to My Life?" – 2:00
4. "I've Loved Her So Long" – 2:40
5. "The Last Trip to Tulsa" – 9:25

• Neil Young – vocals, guitars, piano, synthesizer, harpsichord, pipe organ, production
• Ry Cooder – guitar, production
• Jack Nitzsche – electric piano, arrangements, production
• Jim Messina, Carol Kaye – bass
• George Grantham, Earl Palmer – drums
• Merry Clayton, Brenda Holloway, Patrice Holloway, Gloria Richetta Jones, Sherlie Matthews, Gracia Nitzsche – backing vocals
• unidentified - trumpet, trombone, tenor saxophone, French horn, clarinet, timpani, strings

Production

• David Briggs – production
• Dale Batchelor, Donn Landee, Mark Richardson, Henry Saskowski – engineering
• Rik Pekkonen – arrangements, engineering
• Danny Kelly – photography
• Ed Thrasher – album art direction
• Roland Diehl – cover painting

• Lyrics
• Official documentation for Neil Young