Greatest Hits (Neil Young album)

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Greatest Hits
Compilation album by Neil Young
Released November 16, 2004
Recorded 1969 - 1991
Genre Rock, Country rock, Folk-rock
Label Reprise
Producer David Briggs, Neil Young, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Kendall Pacios, Elliot Mazer, Henry Lewy, Tim Mulligan, Ben Keith, Niko Bolas
Professional reviews
Neil Young chronology
Greendale
(2003)		 Greatest Hits
(2004)		 Prairie Wind
(2005)

Greatest Hits is Neil Young's third compilation album after Decade and Lucky Thirteen. Eleven of the first twelve tracks appear on Decade, and the disc spans his solo career from 1969 through 1992.

Contents

[edit] Remastering

All tracks on this album were remastered using the HDCD process, which Young has been utilizing for his studio work since 1995. The album was also released as a high-resolution DVD Audio disc, and in a two-disc format including the audio album plus a bonus DVD with videos for "Rockin' in the Free World" and the "Harvest Moon". Extensive notes on the remastering process can be found on Young's website. [1]

On the press release, Young said:

"One of the most important jobs of any musician is to provide quality sound to the people. Quality has taken a hit in recent years, but it's starting to come back thanks to DVD-stereo. There is just no comparison between DVD-stereo and a regular compact disc or even 5.1 sound. It's the difference between a true reflection of the music and a mere replica. I've always been a strong believer in analogue and this is about as close to the rewarding listening experience of vinyl as the real thing."[2]

[edit] Commentary

Given Young's well-known attitudes regarding remastering and repackaging, and the fact that the back cover of the disc states that the tracks included were "based on original record sales, airplay and known download history," thus the most familiar material from Young's career, some[citation needed] suggest that Greatest Hits may have been assembled by the label in order to have a Young compilation on the market to compete with other single-disc blockbusters as The Beatles' 1 or Elvis Presley's 30 #1 Hits. Featuring improved sound for most of the tracks, however, it could also be a precursor[citation needed] of Reprise convincing Young to remaster his back catalogue through 1979 in HDCD, something that has yet to occur as of November 2007.

[edit] U.S. charts

The album debuted on Billboard 200 album chart for December 4, 2004 at number 27, with first week sales of approximately 51,000 copies.[1] It remained on the chart for 17 weeks. It was awarded a certified gold record by the RIAA on January 23, 2006.

[edit] Track listing

All songs written by Neil Young

  1. "Down by the River" – 9:16 (17 January 1969) Neil Young & Crazy Horse
  2. "Cowgirl in the Sand" – 10:05 (18 January 1969) Neil Young & Crazy Horse
  3. "Cinnamon Girl" – 2:59 (20 March 1969) Neil Young & Crazy Horse
  4. "Helpless" – 3:37 (7 November 1969) Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
  5. "After the Gold Rush" – 3:46 (12 March 1970) Neil Young
  6. "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" – 3:08 (15 March 1970) Neil Young
  7. "Southern Man" – 5:31 (19 March 1970) Neil Young
  8. "Ohio" – 2:59 (21 May 1970) Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
  9. "The Needle and the Damage Done" – 2:10 (30 January 1971) Neil Young
  10. "Old Man" – 3:22 (6 February 1971) Neil Young & The Stray Gators
  11. "Heart of Gold" – 3:07 (8 February 1971) Neil Young & The Stray Gators
  12. "Like a Hurricane" – 8:20 (29 November 1975) Neil Young & Crazy Horse
  13. "Comes a Time" – 3:04 (2 November 1977) Neil Young
  14. "Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)" – 4:59 (22 October 1978) Neil Young & Crazy Horse
  15. "Rockin' in the Free World" – 4:41 (10 March 1989) Neil Young
  16. "Harvest Moon" – 5:03 (22 September 1991) Neil Young

[edit] 7" single

  1. "The Loner" – 3:50 Neil Young
  2. "Sugar Mountain" – 5:41 Neil Young
  • Issued exclusively with the vinyl edition of the album

[edit] References

  1. ^ Margo Whitmire, "Eminem Thankful To Remain No. 1", Billboard.com, November 24, 2004.
v • d • e
Neil Young
Crazy Horse • The Stray Gators
Discography

Studio albums: Neil Young • Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere • After the Gold Rush • Harvest • On the Beach • Tonight's the Night • Zuma • American Stars 'N Bars • Comes a Time • Rust Never Sleeps • Hawks & Doves • Re-ac-tor • Trans • Everybody's Rockin' • Old Ways • Landing on Water • Life • This Note's for You • Freedom • Ragged Glory • Harvest Moon • Sleeps with Angels • Mirror Ball • Broken Arrow • Silver & Gold • Are You Passionate? • Greendale • Prairie Wind • Living with War • Living with War: In the Beginning • Chrome Dreams II

EPs: Eldorado

Live albums: Time Fades Away • Live Rust • Weld • Arc • Unplugged • Year of the Horse • Road Rock Vol. 1

Soundtracks: Journey Through the Past • Where the Buffalo Roam • Philadelphia • Dead Man

Compilations: Decade • Lucky Thirteen • Greatest Hits

Archive Series: Live at the Fillmore East • Live at Massey Hall 1971 • The Archives Vol.01 1963-1972

Unreleased albums: Homegrown • Human Highway • Chrome Dreams
Also see
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