The Loner (Neil Young song)

Last updated
"The Loner"
Single by Neil Young
from the album Neil Young
B-side "Sugar Mountain"
ReleasedFebruary 21, 1969
RecordedAugust 28, 1968
Studio Wally Heider Recording
Sunset Sound Recorders
TTG Recording, Hollywood
Genre Folk rock
Length3:05 (single)
3:55 (album)
Label Reprise 0785
Songwriter(s) Neil Young
Producer(s)
Neil Young singles chronology
"The Loner"
(1969)		"Down by the River"
(1969)

"The Loner" is a song by Neil Young, his first solo single. It was released on his solo debut album in November 1968, and then an edited version as his debut solo single three months later on Reprise Records. It missed the Billboard Hot 100 chart completely, but over time has become a staple of his performance repertoire. Both it and "Sugar Mountain", its B-side recorded live at the Canterbury House in Ann Arbor, Michigan, were released on album together for his 1977 compilation, Decade .

Contents

History

"The Loner" was written while Buffalo Springfield was in its last throes. The widely held assumption that the song was written about Stephen Stills (who covered the song on his 1976 album Illegal Stills [1] ) can perhaps not be disproved (Young himself rarely provides clarity on such issues), but it is perhaps more likely that the song is autobiographical in nature, especially since Young was, of all Springfield members, the most bothered by playing as a member of a band. [2]

Recorded with former Springfield member Jim Messina (bass) and George Grantham (drums) (they were uncredited on the album sleeve), it is the first Young track produced by David Briggs, with whom Young would collaborate until Briggs's death. [2] Strings were arranged by David Blumberg, whom Young met through Briggs. [3] Young's guitar is in Double drop D tuning; [4] "psycho guitar noises" were made, according to Briggs, by putting the guitar through a Leslie speaker [5] (the sound has also been referred to as a "fuzztoned rave-up" [6] ). The lyrics are characterized by dread and disorientation, coming from an "immobile protagonist" who "witnesses extraordinary visual displays". [7]

Praise came quickly. Rolling Stone said: "'The Loner' is a contemporary lament that features a nice blending of Neil's guitar with strings in non-obtrusive fashion, allowing Young's balanced ice-pick vocal to chip effectively at the listener." [8] Cash Box said that there was "tremendous power in the instrumentals and [Young's] vocal." [9] Allmusic critic Matthew Greenwald stated that "lyrically, it's one of Young's finest autobiographical songs, a virtual self-portrait. [1] The song is still played live, as is one other song from Neil Young, "The Old Laughing Lady". [2] Stephen Stills has played the song live with and without Young. [10] [11]

The song was featured on the soundtrack of the 1970 movie The Strawberry Statement and is included on the movie soundtrack album.

Notable covers

"The Loner" has been covered by the following artists:

Related Research Articles

<i>After the Gold Rush</i> 1970 studio album by Neil Young

After the Gold Rush is the third studio album by the Canadian-American musician Neil Young, released in September 1970 on Reprise Records. It is one of four high-profile solo albums released by the members of folk rock group Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young in the wake of their chart-topping 1970 album Déjà Vu. Young's album consists mainly of country folk music along with several rock tracks, including "Southern Man". The material was inspired by the unproduced Dean Stockwell-Herb Bermann screenplay After the Gold Rush.

<i>Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere</i> 1969 studio album by Neil Young with Crazy Horse

Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere is the second studio album by Canadian-American musician Neil Young, released in May 1969 on Reprise Records, catalogue number RS 6349. His first with longtime backing band Crazy Horse, it emerged as a sleeper hit amid Young's contemporaneous success with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, ultimately peaking at number 34 on the US Billboard 200 in August 1970 during a 98-week chart stay. It has been certified platinum by the RIAA.

<i>On the Beach</i> (Neil Young album) 1974 studio album by Neil Young

On the Beach is the fifth studio album by Canadian-American musician Neil Young, released by Reprise Records in July 1974. The album is the second of the so-called "Ditch Trilogy" of albums that Young recorded following the major success of 1972's Harvest, whereupon the scope of his success and acclaim became apparent; On the Beach was inspired by his feelings of retreat, alienation, and melancholy in response to this success.

<i>Comes a Time</i> 1978 studio album by Neil Young

Comes a Time is the ninth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young, released by Reprise Records in October 1978. The album is largely performed in a quiet folk and country style. It features backing harmonies sung by Nicolette Larson and additional accompaniment by musicians that had accompanied Young on his commercial pinnacle, Harvest. Like Harvest, the lyrics to many of its songs are inspired by relationships. In his memoir, Waging Heavy Peace, Young describes Comes a Time as one of his best albums ever.

<i>Neil Young</i> (album) 1968 studio album by Neil Young

Neil Young is the debut studio album by Canadian/American musician Neil Young following his departure from Buffalo Springfield in 1968, issued on Reprise Records, catalogue number RS 6317. The album was first released on November 12, 1968, in the so-called 'CSG mix'. It was then partially remixed and re-released in late summer 1969, but at no time has the album ever charted on the Billboard 200.

<i>Time Fades Away</i> 1973 live album by Neil Young

Time Fades Away is a 1973 live album by Canadian-American musician Neil Young. Consisting of previously unreleased material, it was recorded with the Stray Gators on the support tour following 1972's highly successful album Harvest. Due to Young's dissatisfaction with the tour, it was omitted from his catalogue and not released on compact disc until 2017. The album is the first of the so-called "Ditch Trilogy" of albums that Young recorded following the major success of Harvest, whereupon the scope of his success and acclaim became so apparent that Young subsequently experienced alienation from his music and career.

<i>Long May You Run</i> 1976 album

Long May You Run is a studio album credited to the Stills–Young Band, a collaboration between Stephen Stills and Neil Young, released in 1976 on Reprise Records. It peaked at #26 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold in the United States by the RIAA. The album is the sole studio release by Stills and Young as a duo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)</span> Song of Neil Young

"Hey Hey, My My " is a song written by Canadian-American musician Neil Young. Combined with its acoustic counterpart "My My, Hey Hey ", it bookends Young's 1979 album Rust Never Sleeps. The song was influenced by the punk rock zeitgeist of the late 1970s, in particular by Young's collaborations with the American art punk band Devo, and what he viewed as his own growing irrelevance.

<i>Zuma</i> (Neil Young & Crazy Horse album) 1975 studio album by Neil Young and Crazy Horse

Zuma, the seventh studio album by Canadian/American musician Neil Young, was released on Reprise Records in November 1975. Co-credited to Crazy Horse, it includes "Cortez the Killer", one of Young's best-known songs.

"Danger Bird" is a song written by Neil Young. It was first released on his 1975 album with Crazy Horse, Zuma. A live version was also released on the 1997 album Year of the Horse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mr. Soul</span> 1967 single by Buffalo Springfield

"Mr. Soul" is a song recorded by the Canadian-American rock band Buffalo Springfield in 1967. It was released June 15, 1967, as the B-side to their fourth single "Bluebird" and later included on the group's second album Buffalo Springfield Again.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bluebird (Buffalo Springfield song)</span> Song by the rock group Buffalo Springfield

"Bluebird" is a song recorded by the American rock group Buffalo Springfield. It was written and produced by Stephen Stills, with co-production by Ahmet Ertegun. In June 1967, Atco Records released it as a single to follow-up their hit "For What It's Worth" (1966).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing</span> 1966 single by Buffalo Springfield

"Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing" is a song by the Canadian-American folk rock band Buffalo Springfield, released as the group's debut single in August 1966. Neil Young wrote the song in Yorkville in 1965 shortly after returning from a series of performances in Toronto, during a period when his bid at a solo career had been met with little positive response. The lyrics reflect metaphorically on Young's frustration toward his stalled career in music, and was inspired by Ross "Clancy" Smith, an aberrant classmate who incited awe in his school. Commentators recognize "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing" as one of Buffalo Springfield's signature songs, as well as a milestone in Young's progression as a songwriter.

"The Old Laughing Lady" is a song written by Neil Young that was first released on his 1968 debut solo album Neil Young.

"Harvest" is a song written by Neil Young that was the title song of his 1972 album Harvest.

"Unknown Legend" is a song written by Neil Young that was first released on his 1992 album Harvest Moon. Although it was not released as a single, it reached #38 on the Billboard Magazine Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (song)</span> Neil Young song

"Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" is a song written by Neil Young that was originally released as the title track of his 1969 album with Crazy Horse, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere. The song was written earlier, and a different version was originally considered for Young's 1968 solo debut album Neil Young.

"Country Girl" is a song written by Neil Young that was first released on Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's 1970 album Déjà Vu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Come On Baby Let's Go Downtown</span> Song written by Danny Whitten

"Come On Baby Let's Go Downtown", also known as "(Come On Baby Let's Go) Downtown" or "Downtown", is a song written by Danny Whitten, possibly in collaboration with Neil Young, that was first released on Crazy Horse's 1971 album Crazy Horse. A live version was later released on multiple Neil Young albums, most famously on his 1975 album Tonight's the Night, and then on his 2006 album Live at the Fillmore East. Phish has covered the song in concert.

"Tonight's the Night" is a song written by Neil Young that was first released on his 1975 album Tonight's the Night. Two versions of the song bookended the album, with one version as the first song, and the other as the last. "Tonight's the Night" has also appeared on some of Young's live and compilation albums.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Greenwald, Matthew. "The Loner". Allmusic. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Williamson, Nigel (2002). Journey Through the Past: The Stories Behind the Classic Songs of Neil Young. Hal Leonard. pp. 21–22. ISBN   9780879307417 . Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  3. ↑ Young, Scott (2009). Neil and Me. Random House. p. 117. ISBN   9780771070594 . Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  4. ↑ "Neil's Alternate Tunings". HyperRust. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  5. ↑ McDonough, Jimmy (2003). Shakey: Neil Young's Biography. Random House. p. 443. ISBN   9780679750963 . Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  6. ↑ Prown, Pete; Newquist, Harvey P.; Eiche, Jon F. (1997). Legends of Rock Guitar: The Essential Reference of Rock's Greatest Guitarists. Hal Leonard. p. 116. ISBN   9780793540426 . Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  7. ↑ Echard, William (2005). Neil Young And The Poetics Of Energy. Indiana UP. pp. 15–16. ISBN   9780253217684 . Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  8. ↑ Tersch, Gary von (5 April 1969). "Rev. of Neil Young, Neil Young". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  9. ↑ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. December 7, 1968. p. 22. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
  10. ↑ Zimmer, Dave (2008-09-23). Crosby, Stills & Nash: The Biography. Da Capo Press. p. 199. ISBN   9780306816154.
  11. ↑ McDonough, Jimmy (2003). Shakey: Neil Young's Biography. Random House. p. 709. ISBN   9780679750963 . Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  12. ↑ McDonough, Jimmy (2003). Shakey: Neil Young's Biography. Random House. p. 402. ISBN   9780679750963 . Retrieved 11 September 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.