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Neil Young has redefined himself artistically so many times, it’s easy to forget there was ever a point in his career when the music industry expected something specific from him.
Played live by Young and International Harvesters, a group of Nashville pros like lap steel ace Ben Keith who toured with him in 84 and 85, A Treasure is a snapshot of an era when Young’s then-label, Geffen, went to war with him for not representing himself in a commercially viable way.
Judging by his sales during that decade, they probably had a solid argument. Now we can appreciate these country songs, played with great skill and musicianship, in context: just another phase and genre that Young can flawlessly pull off.
Top track: Grey Riders
