Neil Young Unearths Teenage Compositions for Upcoming Album 'Second Song'
Veteran musician Neil Young is set to captivate audiences with his upcoming album, 'Second Song,' which will revisit his formative musical years. The album is slated to include fresh renditions of two compositions from his adolescence, alongside a selection of recent works. This blend of early and contemporary creations offers a fascinating glimpse into Young's artistic evolution, showcasing how his foundational melodies continue to resonate with his current sound. His decision to delve into his archives and reimagine these tracks adds a unique dimension to his extensive discography.
During a virtual Q&A session on July 8 with devoted subscribers of the Neil Young Archives, the iconic artist unveiled the titles of these two rediscovered gems: 'I’ll Love You Forever' and 'Casting Me Away From You.' 'I’ll Love You Forever' was initially recorded by Young and his high school band, the Squires, at CJLX radio station in Fort William, Ontario, on November 23, 1964. Young recounted how a local DJ facilitated this early recording, marking one of his first ventures into professional music production. This tender ballad, featuring Ken Koblun on bass and Bill Edmondson on drums, remained unreleased until 2009, when it debuted on 'Neil Young Archives Vol. 1: 1963–1972'. For 'Second Song,' Young has re-recorded the track with his current collaborators, the Chrome Hearts, reportedly achieving a sound that felt 'really good' and showcased the band's excellent performance.
The second teenage composition, 'Casting Me Away From You,' was first captured on October 15, 1965, at the Toronto residence of Young's friend, Comrie Smith, as the Squires' journey was drawing to a close. Young recalled recording it in Smith's attic, a melody that evidently stayed with him throughout his career. This song shares its melodic structure with 'The Emperor of Wyoming,' an instrumental piece from his 1968 self-titled debut album. Furthermore, a lyrical phrase from 'Casting Me Away From You' — 'we found things to do in stormy weather' — later reappeared in his 1976 track 'Long May You Run.' Like 'I’ll Love You Forever,' the original recording of 'Casting Me Away From You' was only publicly heard with the release of 'Neil Young Archives Vol. 1' in 2009.
Young elaborated that many of the new tracks on 'Second Song' are notably lengthy, characterized by multiple verses rather than extended instrumental sections. He described them as 'rambling set of songs' that materialized during his time in Colorado around the turn of the year. Upon returning to Malibu, he quickly recorded five of these new songs, completing four on the very first day. With more studio time booked, Young decided to revisit his vast archives, ultimately selecting 'I’ll Love You Forever' and 'Casting Me Away From You' because they 'just seemed to fit with the new ones.' He emphasized that there was no specific concept initially, but the inclusion of these older songs provides a reflective contrast and juxtaposition, making the album cohesive.
Looking ahead, Young's European tour, initially planned for this summer with Elvis Costello, was canceled in February due to his need for a break. His sole live appearance this year was a surprise four-song acoustic set at David Suzuki’s 90th birthday concert in Vancouver on May 22. He is also slated to perform at Farm Aid on September 26 in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and mentioned the possibility of a warm-up show before that event.