Early Daze

Early Daze
Studio albumby Neil Young&Crazy Horse
Released	June 28, 2024
Recorded	January 17 – October 17, 1969
Studio	Sunset Sound,Hollywood Wally Heider Recording Studios,Hollywood Larrabee Sound Studios,Hollywood
Genre	Hard rock country rock rock
Length	38:24
Label	Reprise
Producer	Neil Young David Briggs Jack Nitzsche
Neil Youngchronology
Fuckin' Up (2024) Early Daze (2024)
Crazy Horsechronology
Fuckin' Up (2024) Early Daze (2024)

Early Dazeis the 47th studio album byNeil Young,featuring his backing bandCrazy Horse.Young has referenced it on multiple occasions, including 12 years earlier, in his biographyWaging Heavy Peace.After being postponed and teased several times, Neil Young announced in May that he would be releasing the album on June 28, 2024.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	79/100
Review scores
Source	Rating
Glide Magazine
Mojo
PopMatters
Rolling Stone
Uncut	7/10

Early Dazereceived a score of 79 out of 100 on review aggregatorMetacriticbased on three critics' reviews, which the website categorised as "generally favorable".Mojocited that the album was "short but sweet", andUncutsaid that, while the album was not remarkable, it gives insight into how much "repetitive, labour intensive hackwork" goes into transforming material into actual finished albums.PopMatters'Justin Cober-Lake said that, while the album highlights Neil Young's early days, it "adds only a little bit to our understanding of who the musicians were and are".

Recording history

Neil Young first met with Crazy Horse for the albumEverybody Knows This Is Nowhere,but certain songs never made the cut or were recorded after the fact. All 10 songs were recorded with the first Crazy Horse lineup, which includedDanny Whitten(guitar and lead vocals),Ralph Molina(drums),Billy Talbot(bass), andJack Nitzsche.None of the songs are unreleased, as all have appeared on other albums, with and without Neil Young. However, six of the songs were revealed to be unreleased versions: "Come On Baby Let's Go Downtown"(later released onTonight's the Nightwith a different recording), "Winterlong", "Wonderin'", "Look at All the Things", "Helpless",and"Down by the River"(with alternate lead, and perhaps also backing vocals). Two alternate mixes appear as" Birds "and" Everybody's Alone, "while"Cinnamon Girl"appears as the original 7 inch single, and"Dance Dance Dance"as it appears onNeil Young Archives Volume 1.

Track listing

1. "Dance Dance Dance"– 2:24
   • Neil Young – guitar, vocal; Danny Whitten – guitar, vocal; Billy Talbot – bass; Ralph Molina – drums, vocal; Jack Nitzsche – tambourine
   • Recorded at Larrabee Studios, 10/17/1969.
   • Recording first released onNeil Young Archives Volume 1in 2009.
   • Song first released on Crazy Horse's solo album entitledCrazy Horse.
2. "Come On Baby Let's Go Downtown"– 4:12
   • Neil Young – guitar, vocal; Danny Whitten – guitar, vocal; Billy Talbot – bass; Ralph Molina – drums, vocal; Jack Nitzsche – piano
   • Recorded at Larrabee Studios, 10/17/1969.
   • Song first released on as "Downtown" onCrazy Horse,later released onTonight's the Nightin 1975.
3. "Winterlong" – 3:39
   • Neil Young – guitar, vocal; Danny Whitten – guitar, vocal; Billy Talbot – bass; Ralph Molina – drums, vocal; Jack Nitzsche – piano
   • Recorded at Larrabee Studios, 10/17/1969.
   • Song first released onDecadein 1977.
4. "Everybody's Alone" – 2:31
   • Neil Young – guitar, piano, vocal; Danny Whitten – guitar, vocals; Billy Talbot – bass; Ralph Molina – drums, vocal
   • Recorded at Sunset Sound, Hollywood, 8/4/1969.
   • Recording first released as a different mix onNeil Young Archives Volume 1in 2009.
5. "Wonderin'" – 2:19
   • Neil Young – guitar, vibes, vocal; Danny Whitten – guitar, vocal; Billy Talbot – bass; Ralph Molina – drums, vocal
   • Recorded at Sunset Sound, Hollywood, 8/7/1969.
   • Song first released onEverybody's Rockin'as a rockabilly song, although the song dates back to 1969.
6. "Cinnamon Girl"– 3:01
   • Neil Young – guitar, vocal, handclaps; Danny Whitten – guitar, vocal, handclaps; Billy Talbot – bass, handclaps; Ralph Molina – drums, vocal, handclaps
   • Recorded at Wally Heider Recording Studios, Hollywood, 3/20/1969.
   • Recording appears onEverybody Knows This Is Nowhereand the original 7 inch single.
7. "Look at All the Things" – 2:58
   • Neil Young – guitar, vocal; Danny Whitten – guitar, vocal; Billy Talbot – bass; Ralph Molina – drums, vocal
   • Recorded at Wally Heider Recording Studios, Hollywood, 10/9/1969.
   • Song first released onCrazy Horsein 1971.
8. "Helpless"– 4:39
   • Neil Young – guitar, vocal; Danny Whitten – guitar, vocal; Billy Talbot – bass; Ralph Molina – drums, vocal
   • Recorded at Sunset Sound, Hollywood, 10/9/1969.
   • Song first appears withCrosby, Stills, Nash & YoungonDeja Vu.
9. "Birds" – 3:38
   • Neil Young – guitar, vocal; Danny Whitten – guitar, vocal; Billy Talbot – bass; Ralph Molina – drums, vocal
   • Recorded at Sunset Sound, Hollywood, 8/3/1969.
   • Recording first released as a different mix onNeil Young Archives Volume 1in 2009.
   • Song first appeared onAfter the Gold Rushin 1970.
10. "Down by the River"– 9:03
    • Neil Young – guitar, vocal; Danny Whitten – guitar, vocal; Billy Talbot – bass; Ralph Molina – drums, vocal
    • Recorded at Wally Heider Recording Studios, Hollywood, 1/17/1969.
    • Song first released onEverybody Knows This Is Nowherein 1969.

Personnel

Neil Young & Crazy Horse

• Neil Young– guitar, vocals, piano (4), vibes (5), handclaps (6), production, writing (1-6, 8-10)
• Danny Whitten– guitar, vocals, handclaps (6), writing (2, 7)
• Billy Talbot– bass, handclaps (6)
• Ralph Molina– drums, vocals, handclaps (6)
• Jack Nitzsche– piano (1–3), production (1)

Additional contributers

• David Briggs– production (2–10)
• John Nowland – mixing (1–4, 7–8)
• John Hanlon– mixing (4–5, 8–9)
• Jeff Pinn – mixing assistance
• Chris Bellman– mastering
• Frank Gironda – direction
• Gary Burden– art direction
• Jenice Heo– art direction
• Al Kramer – cover photos
• Annalie Kothschild – spread photo

Charts

Chart performance forEarly Daze

Chart (2024)	Peak position
Belgian Albums (UltratopFlanders)	42
Belgian Albums (UltratopWallonia)	66
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)	12
Hungarian Physical Albums (MAHASZ)	6
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)	88
Scottish Albums(OCC)	14
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)	67
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)	19
UK Album Downloads(OCC)	79
USTop Album Sales(Billboard)	17
USTop Current Album Sales(Billboard)	17
US Folk Albums (Billboard)	23
USVinyl Albums(Billboard)	18