"Heart of Gold" | ||||
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Single by Neil Young | ||||
from the album Harvest | ||||
B-side | "Sugar Mountain" | |||
Released | January 1972 (U.S.) | |||
Recorded | February 6–7, 1971 | |||
Studio | Quadrafonic Sound, Nashville, Tennessee | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:07 | |||
Label | Reprise | |||
Songwriter(s) | Neil Young | |||
Producer(s) |
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Neil Young singles chronology | ||||
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Audio sample | ||||
"Heart of Gold" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young. From his fourth album Harvest , it is Young's only U.S. No. 1 single. In Canada, it reached No. 1 on the RPM national singles chart for the first time on April 8, 1972, on which date Young held the top spot on both the singles and albums charts, and No. 1 again on May 13. [5] Billboard ranked it as the No. 17 song for 1972. [6]
In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked it No. 297 on their list of the 500 greatest songs of all time, [7] No. 303 in an updated 2010 list, [8] and No. 259 in 2021. [9]
The song, which features backup vocals by James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt, is one of a series of soft acoustic pieces which were written partly as a result of a back injury. Unable to stand for long periods of time, Young could not play his electric guitar and so returned to his acoustic guitar, which he could play sitting down. He also played his harmonica during the three instrumental portions, including the introduction to the song. [10] [11]
"Heart of Gold" was recorded during the initial sessions for Harvest on February 6–8, 1971, at Quadrafonic Sound Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. [12] Ronstadt (who herself would later cover Young's song "Love Is a Rose") and Taylor were in Nashville at the time for an appearance on Johnny Cash's television program, and the album's producer Elliot Mazer arranged for them to sing backup for Young in the studio. [13] [14]
Young played this song in 1971 solo shows before recording it. At a January 19 concert (preserved on Live at Massey Hall 1971 , released in 2007) he played it on piano, starting with "A Man Needs a Maid" and then segueing into this song. By the time of Harvest, he had separated the two songs and played "Heart of Gold" on guitar and harmonica.
Young wrote in the liner notes of his 1977 compilation album Decade : "This song put me in the middle of the road. Traveling there soon became a bore so I headed for the ditch. A rougher ride but I saw more interesting people there." This statement was in response to the mainstream popularity that he gained as a result of the number-one status of "Heart of Gold".
Young has stated that this song, as well as "Harvest" and "Out on the Weekend" from the same album, were inspired by his then blossoming love for actress Carrie Snodgress. [15]
In 1985, Bob Dylan said he disliked hearing the song, despite always liking Young: [16]
The only time it bothered me that someone sounded like me was when I was living in Phoenix, Arizona, in about '72 and the big song at the time was "Heart of Gold". I used to hate it when it came on the radio. I always liked Neil Young, but it bothered me every time I listened to "Heart of Gold." I think it was up at number one for a long time, and I'd say, "Shit, that's me. If it sounds like me, it should as well be me."
Upon the single release, Record World said that "Dylanesque harmonica and lyric content give this one more of a folk feel than [Young's] most recent work." [17]
In 2005, "Heart of Gold" was named the third greatest Canadian song of all time on the CBC Radio One series 50 Tracks: The Canadian Version . [24]
Chart (1972) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report) [25] | 14 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [26] | 30 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) [27] | 17 |
Canada Top Singles (RPM) [28] | 1 |
France (IFOP) [29] | 31 |
Ireland (IRMA) [30] | 12 |
Japan (Oricon) [31] | 28 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [32] | 9 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [33] | 8 |
New Zealand ( Listener ) [34] | 10 |
Norway (VG-lista) [35] | 4 |
South Africa (Springbok Radio) [36] | 8 |
UK Singles (OCC) [37] | 10 |
US Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
US Billboard Easy Listening [38] | 8 |
US Cashbox Top 100 Singles [39] | 1 |
US Record World Top 100 Singles [40] | 1 |
West Germany (Official German Charts) [41] | 6 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Italy (FIMI) [42] | Gold | 50,000‡ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [43] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [44] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [45] | Gold | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Decade is a compilation album by Canadian–American musician Neil Young, originally released in 1977 as a triple album and later issued on two compact discs. It contains 35 of Young's songs recorded between 1966 and 1976, among them five tracks that had been unreleased up to that point. It peaked at No. 43 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart, and was certified platinum by the RIAA in 1986.
Harvest is the fourth studio album by Canadian-American musician Neil Young, released on February 1, 1972, by Reprise Records, catalogue number MS 2032. It featured the London Symphony Orchestra on two tracks and vocals by guests David Crosby, Graham Nash, Linda Ronstadt, Stephen Stills, and James Taylor. It topped the Billboard 200 album chart for two weeks, and spawned two hit singles, "Old Man", which peaked at No. 31 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and "Heart of Gold", which reached No. 1. It was the best-selling album of 1972 in the United States.
"That'll Be the Day" is a song written by Buddy Holly and Jerry Allison. It was first recorded by Buddy Holly and the Three Tunes in 1956 and was re-recorded in 1957 by Holly and his new band, the Crickets. The 1957 recording achieved widespread success. Holly's producer, Norman Petty, was credited as a co-writer, although he did not contribute to the composition.
Harvest Moon is the 21st studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, released on November 2, 1992. Many of its backing musicians also appeared on Young's 1972 album Harvest.
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"Old Man" is a song written and performed by Canadian rock singer-songwriter and guitarist Neil Young from his 1972 album Harvest. "Old Man" was released as a single on Reprise Records in the spring of 1972, reaching number 4 in Canada, and number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for the week ending June 3.
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Coat of Many Colors is the eighth solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released on October 4, 1971, by RCA Victor. The album was nominated for Album of the Year at the 1972 CMA Awards. It also appeared on Time magazine's list of the 100 Greatest Albums of All Time and at No. 257 on Rolling Stone's 2020 list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Parton has cited the title track on numerous occasions as her personal favorite of all the songs she has written.
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Don't Cry Now is the fourth solo studio album by American singer Linda Ronstadt. It was released by Asylum Records on October 1, 1973 and contained ten tracks. While some tracks were new material, many of the songs were cover tunes. The album explored the genres of Country folk, country rock and pop rock. It was Ronstadt's first album recorded on the Asylum label and first to feature producer Peter Asher. Don't Cry Now was given favorable reviews from several music publications and was a commercial success. Along with reaching chart positions in multiple countries, it also certified gold in the United States for selling over 500,000 copies.
"After the Gold Rush" is a song written and performed by Neil Young and is the title song from his 1970 album of the same name. In addition to After the Gold Rush, it also appears on the compilation albums Decade, and Greatest Hits, and on Live Rust.
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Thanks to Helm, 'Separate Ways' sits perfectly beside Young classics such as 'Cinnamon Girl' and 'Heart of Gold' as one of the greatest contributions to folk-rock.
with a few older 'country-rock' throw-ins like "Heart of Gold."