The Archives Vol. 1 1963–1972
Neil Young · 2009
465 min · 125 tracks · alternative rock
A sprawling collection of raw, emotive tracks that traverse the boundaries of rock, folk, and country with poignant storytelling.
Top tracks — play these first
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Aurora Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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Sugar Mountain — This track encapsulates the bittersweet nostalgia that permeates Young's work, reflecting on lost youth with haunting melodies and heartfelt lyrics. Its recurring presence in his discography highlights its significance in shaping his identity as an artist.
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Down by the River — With its extended instrumental sections and emotive guitar work, this song showcases Young's ability to blend narrative depth with musical exploration, embodying the essence of his live performances. Its themes of love and loss resonate deeply throughout his oeuvre.
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Heart of Gold — This iconic track stands as a testament to Young's search for authenticity and meaning, featuring simple yet profound lyrics paired with a memorable melody. Its commercial success helped cement Young's status as a leading voice in rock music.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic journey through emotional peaks
- long-form exploration of nostalgia
- reflective moments for solo listening
- intimate storytelling across decades
- background warmth for casual gatherings
Maybe skip if you
- prefer immediate gratification
- seek standalone hit singles
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Deep Cut — A comprehensive archival release that showcases Young's early work for dedicated fans.
- Themes
- 1960s counterculture· nostalgic reflections· American landscapes
- Career context
- Released in 2009, this compilation marks Neil Young's first archival release, showcasing his prolific output between 1963 and 1972. At this point in his career, Young was well-established as a major figure in rock music, following the critical acclaim of albums like 'Harvest' (1972) and 'After the Gold Rush' (1970). This collection serves to illuminate the evolution of his sound during these formative years.
Tracklist
Disc 1
- 1 Aurora Start here 2:10
- 2 The Sultan 2:35
- 3 I Wonder 2:23
- 4 Mustang 2:25
- 5 I’ll Love You Forever 3:24
- 6 (I’m a Man and) I Can’t Cry 2:34
- 7 Hello Lonely Woman 3:59
- 8 Casting Me Away From You 2:15
- 9 There Goes My Babe 2:26
- 10 Sugar Mountain 2:43
- 11 Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing 3:05
- 12 Runaround Babe 2:39
- 13 The Ballad of Peggy Grover 2:48
- 14 The Rent Is Always Due 2:54
- 15 Extra, Extra 2:44
- 16 Flying on the Ground Is Wrong 3:11
- 17 Burned 2:18
- 18 Out of My Mind 3:09
- 19 Down, Down, Down 2:14
- 20 Kahuna Sunset 2:55
- 21 Mr. Soul 2:46
- 22 Sell Out 1:43
- 23 Down to the Wire 2:31
- 24 Expecting to Fly 3:47
- 25 Slowly Burning 3:01
- 26 One More Sign 2:05
- 27 Broken Arrow 6:18
- 28 I Am a Child 2:19
Disc 2
- 1 Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere 2:18
- 2 The Loner 3:53
- 3 Birds 2:18
- 4 What Did You Do to My Life? 1:56
- 5 The Last Trip to Tulsa 9:29
- 6 Here We Are in the Years 3:20
- 7 I’ve Been Waiting for You 2:31
- 8 The Old Laughing Lady 6:03
- 9 I’ve Loved Her So Long 2:49
- 10 Sugar Mountain 6:15
- 11 Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing 5:24
- 12 Down by the River 9:19
- 13 Cowgirl in the Sand 10:08
- 14 Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere 2:29
Disc 3
- 1 Emcee (intro) / Sugar Mountain (intro) 1:18
- 2 Sugar Mountain 5:34
- 3 Incredible Doctor Rap 3:10
- 4 The Old Laughing Lady 5:14
- 5 Audience Observation / Dope Song / Band Names Rap 2:59
- 6 Flying on the Ground Is Wrong 3:58
- 7 On the Way Home (intro) 0:25
- 8 On the Way Home 2:41
- 9 Set Break / Emcee (intro) 1:20
- 10 I’ve Loved Her So Long 2:15
- 11 Allen A‐Dale Rap 2:20
- 12 I Am a Child 2:26
- 13 1956 Bubblegum Disaster 2:04
- 14 The Last Trip to Tulsa 7:02
- 15 Words Rap 2:14
- 16 Broken Arrow 4:39
- 17 Turn Down the Lights Rap 0:52
- 18 Whiskey Boot Hill 2:22
- 19 Expecting to Fly (intro) 0:54
- 20 Expecting to Fly 2:55
Disc 4
- 1 Cinnamon Girl 3:02
- 2 Running Dry (Requiem for the Rockets) 5:37
- 3 Round and Round (It Won’t Be Long) 5:56
- 4 Oh Lonesome Me 4:02
- 5 Birds 1:39
- 6 Everybody’s Alone 2:33
- 7 I Believe in You 3:30
- 8 Sea of Madness 3:18
- 9 Dance Dance Dance 2:27
- 10 Country Girl 5:13
- 11 Helpless 3:50
- 12 It Might Have Been 4:18
Disc 5
- 1 Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere 3:36
- 2 Winterlong 3:40
- 3 Down by the River 12:24
- 4 Wonderin’ 3:35
- 5 Come On Baby Let’s Go Downtown 3:51
- 6 Cowgirl in the Sand 16:09
Disc 6
- 1 Tell Me Why 3:00
- 2 After the Gold Rush 3:48
- 3 Only Love Can Break Your Heart 3:11
- 4 Wonderin’ 2:12
- 5 Don’t Let It Bring You Down 2:59
- 6 Cripple Creek Ferry 1:36
- 7 Southern Man 5:33
- 8 Till the Morning Comes 1:18
- 9 When You Dance, I Can Really Love 3:48
- 10 Ohio 3:02
- 11 Only Love Can Break Your Heart 4:16
- 12 Tell Me Why 5:43
- 13 Music Is Love 3:22
- 14 See the Sky About to Rain 3:56
Disc 7
- 1 On the Way Home 3:42
- 2 Tell Me Why 2:29
- 3 Old Man 4:57
- 4 Journey Through the Past 4:15
- 5 Helpless 4:16
- 6 Love in Mind 2:47
- 7 A Man Needs a Maid / Heart of Gold (suite) 6:39
- 8 Cowgirl in the Sand 3:45
- 9 Don’t Let It Bring You Down 2:46
- 10 There’s a World 3:33
- 11 Bad Fog of Loneliness 3:27
- 12 The Needle and the Damage Done 3:55
- 13 Ohio 3:40
- 14 See the Sky About to Rain 4:05
- 15 Down by the River 4:08
- 16 Dance Dance Dance 5:48
- 17 I Am a Child 3:19
Disc 8
- 1 Heart of Gold 3:51
- 2 The Needle and the Damage Done 2:13
- 3 Bad Fog of Loneliness 1:57
- 4 Old Man 3:25
- 5 Heart of Gold 3:10
- 6 Dance Dance Dance 2:17
- 7 A Man Needs a Maid 4:13
- 8 Harvest 3:11
- 9 Journey Through the Past 2:23
- 10 Are You Ready for the Country? 3:25
- 11 Alabama 4:06
- 12 Words (Between the Lines of Age) 15:55
- 13 Soldier 3:24
- 14 War Song 3:29
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Blood on the Tracks
Bob Dylan
Shares a narrative-driven approach and emotional depth in songwriting, blending folk and rock elements.
Blue
Joni Mitchell
Equally introspective with a focus on personal storytelling and a warm acoustic sound palette.
Music from Big Pink
The Band
Combines rootsy Americana with rich harmonies and storytelling, echoing Young's expansive sonic landscape.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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