Canadian master Neil Young is releasing his never-before-heard 1976 acoustic solo album, “Hitchhiker”, on September 8th. By the way, the full 10-track effort is already streaming via NPR.
Young recorded in a single session at Indigo Studios in Malibu, California, “pausing only for weed, beer, or coke”, as he recounted in his memoir “Special Deluxe”. He was accompanied by long-time producer David Briggs, while John Hanlon would later handle post-production duties.
Of the 10 tracks, eight would find their way onto other albums, often sounding entirely different than they do in their raw form here. “Pocahontas”, “Powderfinger” and “Ride My Llama” all ended up on “Rust Never Sleeps”; “The Old Country Waltz” is on “American Stars ‘n Bars”; “Captain Kennedy” closes “Hawks & Doves” while “Campaigner” is on 1977’s “Decade” compilation, for example. Two of the songs — “Hawaii” and “Give Me Strength” — have never before been commercially released.