The Archives Vol. 1 1963–1972 cover

Released 17 years ago this June

The Archives Vol. 1 1963–1972

Neil Young · 2009

465 min · 125 tracks · alternative rock · blues · folk rock

An expansive journey through Neil Young's early sound, blending folk, rock, and poignant storytelling.

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 want

  • prefer immediate gratification
  • seek standalone hit singles

Where this album fits

Themes
1960s counterculture· nostalgic reflections· American landscapes
Career context
Released in 2009, 'The Archives Vol. 1 1963–1972' marks Neil Young's first extensive retrospective collection, showcasing his prolific output during the late 60s and early 70s. This period includes landmark albums such as 'Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere' and 'After the Gold Rush', establishing Young as a major voice in rock music. The compilation features previously unreleased material alongside beloved classics, reflecting his evolution as an artist.
Stylistic neighbors
Bob Dylan· Tom Petty· The Band
Sounds like this from elsewhere
Blood on the Tracks by Bob Dylan — Shares a narrative-driven approach and emotional depth in songwriting, blending folk and rock elements.
Blue by Joni Mitchell — Equally introspective with a focus on personal storytelling and a warm acoustic sound palette.
Music from Big Pink by The Band — Combines rootsy Americana with rich harmonies and storytelling, echoing Young's expansive sonic landscape.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

Disc 1

  • 1 Aurora 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

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata