Neil Young Review: Glastonbury Headliner’s ‘Oceanside Countryside
- For many, especially those of Gen X, revisiting Neil Young feels like returning to a pleasant, familiar space.
- Though, the release of "Oceanside Countryside," a collection of "lost" recordings, raises the question: Is this for the fans, or is it testing their loyalty?
- For those less familiar, these country rock songs were recorded in 1977, intended as an album preceding 1978's Comes a Time.
Neil Young’s “Oceanside Countryside”: A Gift or a Test of Patience?
Table of Contents
- Neil Young’s “Oceanside Countryside”: A Gift or a Test of Patience?
- Neil Young’s “Oceanside Countryside”: A Gift or a Test of Patience?
- the Backstory of “Oceanside Countryside”
- Original Mixes and Sonic Textures
- A deeper Dive into the Music
- Final Thoughts
- Neil Young’s “Oceanside Countryside”: Your questions Answered
- What is “Oceanside Countryside” by Neil Young?
- When was “Oceanside Countryside” recorded?
- Is “Oceanside Countryside” all-new material?
- What is the importance of the “original mixes” on “Oceanside Countryside”?
- Were were the songs on “Oceanside Countryside” recorded?
- How does ”Oceanside Countryside” relate to Neil Young’s album “Comes a Time”?
- Which songs from “Oceanside Countryside” also appear on ”Comes A Time”?
Published: [Current Date]
For many, especially those of Gen X, revisiting Neil Young feels like returning to a pleasant, familiar space. As the “Godfather of grunge,” Young’s influence on the Nineties indie scene is undeniable. His songs, like “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” and “Hey Hey, My My,” were staples at gatherings, blending sensitive acoustic melodies with a cynical electric edge.
Though, the release of “Oceanside Countryside,” a collection of “lost” recordings, raises the question: Is this for the fans, or is it testing their loyalty? Following his deliberations about appearing at this year’s Glastonbury Festival, releasing an album without new material seems audacious. Many of these 10 tracks have surfaced in various forms across Young’s extensive archives, including appearances on Rust Never Sleeps, Hawks and Doves, Comes a Time, Live At Massey Hall 1971 and Archives Vol III. Online forums reflect the sentiment,with collectors admitting that “Neil’s really trying my patience with this one.”
The Backstory of “Oceanside Countryside”
For those less familiar, these country rock songs were recorded in 1977, intended as an album preceding 1978’s Comes a Time. the initial five tracks were laid down in Florida, largely with Young playing the instruments himself, while the latter five were recorded in Nashville with a full band. New listeners seeking an introduction before Glastonbury might appreciate the classic, mandolin-infused tracks like “Sail Away” and “Goin’ Back”.
The song “Pocahontas”, previously released on three albums, features a more prominent strumming, intensifying Young’s narrative of Native Americans fleeing European colonizers who “killed us in our teepee, cut our women down”.
Original Mixes and Sonic Textures
A key selling point is that these are the original 1977 mixes, making it essential for dedicated collectors. Perhaps the nuances of the late 20th century can be discerned. There’s a metallic sharpness in the guitars, and Young’s voice sounds more distant, evoking an outdoor setting. The lesser-known track “The Old Homestead” (originally on Hawks and Doves) features a prominent theremin, enhancing the campfire ghost story of a naked horse rider fleeing the FBI and prehistoric birds.
A deeper Dive into the Music
“It Might Have Been” is a full band performance, a mellow country track with fiddle and 4/4 guitar chords. The lyrics explore Young’s recurring themes of regret and lost dreams. “It’s not to late to set things straight,” he sings. ”Let’s never say ‘it might have been’.”
Final Thoughts
Young seems intent on monetizing every piece of recorded music in his archives.The release of Oceanside Countryside on both clear and black vinyl feels contradictory, given his history of speaking out against environmental destruction and corporate greed. Ethical considerations aside, many will likely tune in to Young’s Glastonbury set. The allure of nostalgia is strong, and forgiveness may come easily, at least until the hypothetical release of Live at Glastonbury 2025!
Neil Young’s “Oceanside Countryside”: A Gift or a Test of Patience?
Published: 2025-03-08
For many, especially those of Gen X, revisiting Neil Young feels like returning to a
pleasant, familiar space. As the “Godfather of grunge,” Young’s influence on the Nineties indie scene is
undeniable. His songs, like “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” and “Hey Hey, My My,” were staples at
gatherings, blending sensitive acoustic melodies with a cynical electric edge.
Though, the release of “Oceanside Countryside,” a collection of “lost” recordings, raises the question: Is
this for the fans, or is it testing thier loyalty? Following his deliberations about appearing at this
year’s Glastonbury Festival, releasing an album without new material seems audacious. Many of
these 10 tracks have surfaced in various forms across Young’s extensive archives, including appearances
on Rust Never Sleeps, hawks and Doves, Comes a time, Live At Massey Hall 1971 and Archives
Vol III. online forums reflect the sentiment,with collectors admitting that “Neil’s really trying my
patience with this one.”
the Backstory of “Oceanside Countryside”
For those less familiar,these country rock songs were recorded in 1977,intended as an album preceding
1978’s Comes a Time. the initial five tracks were laid down in Florida, largely with Young playing
the instruments himself, while the latter five were recorded in Nashville with a full band. New listeners
seeking an introduction before Glastonbury might appreciate the classic, mandolin-infused tracks
like “Sail Away” and “Goin’ Back”.
The song “Pocahontas”,previously released on three albums,features a more prominent strumming,
intensifying Young’s narrative of Native Americans fleeing european colonizers who “killed us in our teepee,
cut our women down”.
Original Mixes and Sonic Textures
A key selling point is that these are the original 1977 mixes, making it essential for dedicated collectors.
Perhaps the nuances of the late 20th century can be discerned. Ther’s a metallic sharpness in the guitars,
and Young’s voice sounds more distant, evoking an outdoor setting. The lesser-known track “the Old
Homestead” (originally on Hawks and Doves) features a prominent theremin, enhancing the campfire
ghost story of a naked horse rider fleeing the FBI and prehistoric birds.
Records/AP)
A deeper Dive into the Music
“It Might Have Been” is a full band performance, a mellow country track with fiddle and 4/4 guitar chords. The
lyrics explore Young’s recurring themes of regret and lost dreams. ”It’s not to late to set things straight,”
he sings. “Let’s never say ‘it might have been’.”
Final Thoughts
Young seems intent on monetizing every piece of recorded music in his archives.The release of
Oceanside Countryside on both clear and black vinyl feels contradictory, given his history of speaking
out against environmental destruction and corporate greed. Ethical considerations aside, many will likely
tune in to Young’s Glastonbury set. The allure of nostalgia is strong, and forgiveness may come
easily, at least until the hypothetical release of Live at Glastonbury 2025!
Neil Young’s “Oceanside Countryside”: Your questions Answered
What is “Oceanside Countryside” by Neil Young?
“Oceanside Countryside” is a recently released album of previously unreleased recordings by Neil Young, made between May and December 1977. It’s part of his “Analog Original Series” and is considered a “lost” album, recorded before his 1978 album, Comes a Time. The album leans into a country/folk sound, characteristic of that era in Young’s career.
When was “Oceanside Countryside” recorded?
The songs on “Oceanside Countryside” were recorded from May to December 1977. This places its creation just before the release of Neil Young’s Comes a Time in 1978.
Is “Oceanside Countryside” all-new material?
No, not entirely. While “Oceanside Countryside” is presented as a distinct album, several tracks have appeared in different versions on other Neil Young albums, including Rust Never Sleeps, Hawks and Doves, Comes a Time, Live At Massey Hall 1971 and Archives Vol III.
What is the importance of the “original mixes” on “Oceanside Countryside”?
The appeal for collectors primarily lies in the fact that these are the original 1977 mixes of the songs. Listening to these mixes offers a glimpse into the sonic landscape of that era, with described nuances like a “metallic sharpness” in the guitars and a more “distant” vocal presence.
Were were the songs on “Oceanside Countryside” recorded?
The album’s tracks were recorded in two locations:
Florida: The first five tracks were primarily recorded in Florida with Neil Young playing most of the instruments.
nashville: The remaining five tracks were recorded in Nashville with a full band.
How does ”Oceanside Countryside” relate to Neil Young’s album “Comes a Time”?
“Oceanside Countryside” was recorded before Comes a time, acting as a precursor. they share a similar country/folk sound.
Which songs from “Oceanside Countryside” also appear on ”Comes A Time”?
Three songs appear on both albums:
“Goin’ Back”
“Human Highway”
* “Field of Possibility