Neil Young - New Ways (1985)

'Old Ways' was Neil Young's fifteenth solo album, and for this one he wanted to record a country record, which had been his intention for some time. His first attempt at a country album was in January 1983, when he recorded several songs at producer David Briggs' Nashville recording studio, with long-time collaborators Ben Keith, Tim Drummond, Karl T. Himmel, Spooner Oldham and Rufus Thibodeaux, who had all previously backed Young on 'Comes A Time' from 1978. The songs 'Old Ways', 'Depression Blues', 'California Sunset', 'My Boy', 'Are There Any More Real Cowboys?' and 'Silver And Gold' all date from these sessions, but after turning in 'Trans' and the unreleased 'Island In The Sun' in 1982, Young's record label, Geffen, objected to a country album, asking Young for a "rock 'n roll" record, which he gave them in the form of 1983's 'Everybody's Rockin''. His label were so against Young recording a country album that they even sued him for playing that type of music, but that just made him more determined to do it. He saw country music and his adopted country music persona as a respite from his then-waning career in rock music, the demands of his record company, and his struggles to record the rock album that would become 'Landing On Water', and so in 1984 he toured with the band from the 1983 sessions. In Spring 1985 he returned to the studio to record his country music album, and during sessions at various Nashville studios over a dozen new songs were recorded with both his long-time collaborators and local studio musicians, along with special guest Waylon Jennings. The sessions featured many of the musicians from the earlier 'Harvest' and 'Comes A Time' albums, while Willie Nelson added vocals and guitar to the 1983 recording of 'Are There Any More Real Cowboys?'. Many of the songs on the album reflect a sense of contentment with family life, with 'Once An Angel' being a tribute to his wife, Pegi, while 'My Boy' is an ode to his son, Zeke, and 'Amber Jean' celebrates the birth of his new-born daughter. Despite the label's reluctance, most reviews were favourable, and fans appreciated the relaxed set of songs, full of good feelings and superb playing. Most of the 1983 recordings were tucked away in the vaults, and so they are resurrected here, along with some 1985 outtakes, in a companion record that I've titled 'New Ways'. 

Track listing

01 Time Off For Good Behaviour
02 Your Love Again

03 Depression Blues
04 This Old House
05 Your Love Is Good To Me
06 California Sunset
07 Leavin' The Top 40 Behind
08 Interstate
09 Amber Jean
10 My Boy
11 Let Your Fingers Do The Walking
12 Hillbilly Band