Top 10 Neil Young Songs

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Creating any kind of ‘best of’ list in regard to Neil Young Songs is, in itself, inherently flawed. This is because Neil Young never was, and still isn’t, one artist. From the days of Buffalo Springfield all the way through an incredibly complex genre-leaping solo career, Young has dabbled in just about everything. This list attempts, however, to solidify ten of his finest efforts into a single listing. (Disclaimer: This listing is in descending order of importance and doesn’t include any work from CSNY. They’re an entirely different beast that Young arrived to the party late with, so it doesn’t make sense to consider songs from their catalog.)

# 10 – Living With War

In case it hasn’t been made abundantly clear many times throughout the years, Neil Young is a raving progressive with very liberal tendencies. Thus, he was hyper-critical of the American government during the Bush Era, particularly in respect to the Republican president’s foreign entanglements. Living With War the album was a full collection of anti-Bush rhetoric, even going as far as to suggest his impeachment. The title track is one of Neil Young’s strongest protest songs, met perfectly with a minimalist brass section and fiery lead vocals.

# 9 – Like A Hurricane

In the number nine spot on our Top 10 Neil Young songs list is the intense rocking track “Like A Hurricane.” The song was released on the album American Stars ‘n Bars. The album was released in 1977. This killer track features some of Neil Young’s most exciting and passionate guitar playing on vinyl. The song is similar to Del Shannon’s Runaway in the third changes and melody, but Neil Young’s ferocious guitar playing and emotional lyrics made this one an all-time favorite.

# 8 – Motion Pictures

1974’s On The Beach is a bit of a mixed bag. The record, as Young remembers it, was essentially one giant trip for him and his band. The seemingly lazy, but often brilliant drug-addled meanderings of the record remain some of the songwriter’s most interesting endeavors. ‘Motion Pictures,’ a track on the opposite side of the album, is an excellent excursion through Young’s powerhouse lyricism that’s as sharp as a tack. It’s worth mentioning that Robyn Hitchcock has done a fine job in recent years revitalizing the song with his rendition, too.

# 7 – Old Man

There are just so many classic Neil Young songs to pick from, it made creating a top 10 Neil Young songs list almost impossible. We couldn’t leave this one off. The song was released on the classic Harvest album in 1972. The song also featured the beautiful Linda Ronstadt on backing vocals.

# 6 – Down by the River

Neil Young’s first studio effort with his long-time backing group, Crazy Horse, set the stage for a four-decade collaboration. ‘Down by the River,’ a bizarre love story gone awry, exhibits Young’s instrumental prowess above all. The song was released on the 1969 al=bum entitled Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere.

The track’s extended guitar solos don’t feel excessive or ostentatious, as lengthy solos typically do. Instead, his tactful shredding remains the most memorable and legendary aspect of the song. While focusing on his folk era, fans often forget how strong of a rock and roller Young was and still is. He can really play guitar.

# 5 – Heart Of Gold

From the opening guitar riff and chord changes to classic intro harmonica solos, this one became one of the all-time classic from the 1970s. You knew in the first second what song it was when you heard it. “Heart Of Gold,” was released on the album Harvest in 1972. The song went all the way to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 making it Neil Young’s only number one single of his career in the United States.

# 4 – Cinamon Girl

If you were to ask many Neil Young fans what was the first song that really turned them on to Neil Young, we would argue that many fans would pick Neil Young’s classic song “Cinnamon Girl.” Not many musical artists could write such lived acoustic folk numbers and then do a complete 360 and compose and record such raucous loved rock and roll songs like “Cinnamon Girl.” Neil Young was one of the best at it.

# 3 – The Needle and the Damage Done

Many ‘top ten’ or ‘best of’ lists of Neil Young Songs include at least several tracks from 1972’s ‘Harvest.’ While it is a landmark album for the performer, it isn’t entirely fair to hone such an impressive and diverse catalog into one folk album. That said, one song must shine through. It isn’t ‘Old Man,’ and it isn’t ‘Heart of Gold.’ No, it’s ‘The Needle and the Damage Done.’ The live recording, which was used on the studio album, strips Neil Young down – not just instrumentally, but emotionally. In 1972, his peers were dropping like flies to drugs, especially to heroin. ‘The Needle and the Damage Done’ tells it straight, and it doesn’t mess around.

# 2 – After The Gold Rush

‘After The Gold Rush’ is quite the record. There isn’t a song on it that isn’t spectacularly good. It’s the album that brought fans classics like ‘Only Love Can Break Your Heart,’ ‘Birds,’ and the Lynyrd Skynyrd-enraging ‘Southern Man.’ (Quite seriously, ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ is a response to it.) Its star tune is the title track, though. As wonderful as Young is at creating unending layers of distortion and complexity, he simply cannot be beaten when he embraces brevity. ‘After The Gold Rush’ is Neil Young, some of his most beautiful imagery, and a piano. That’s all you’ll ever need.

# 1 – Thrasher

Running with the theme of Young embracing a certain level of brevity in his performance, ‘Thrasher’ is arguably his most unappreciated song – and one of his most superb. The track is nothing short of an epic, calling upon the appreciation of homegrown Americana good feelings and farmers that later influenced Young so much that he founded Farm Aid with Willie Nelson. ‘Thrasher’ is, without a doubt, a perfect exploration of Neil Young’s most evocative, compelling poetry. The performance, masterfully executed on a twelve string, is the epitome of Neil Young. The song is a treasure – a diamond hidden underneath a pile of gold.