Monday, February 21, 2022

50+ Reasons Why Neil Young's Music Matters

neil_bob_eric
Bob Dylan, Neil Young & Eric Clapton,
Madison Square Garden, New York City - 1992



Not that we really needed any proof, but here are 50 reasons why Neil Young is the second most influential singer-songwriter of the 21st century still performing today.

Hopefully, you'll find it interesting. It's been a lot fun. Enjoy!

(Note: See methodology approach at bottom of post) 

  1. Bob Dylan and Neil Young
  2. John Lennon and Neil Young
  3. Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young
  4. Pearl Jam and Neil Young
  5. Joni Mitchell and Neil Young
  6. Paul McCartney and Neil Young
  7. Keith Richards and Neil Young
  8. Jimmy Page and Neil Young
  9. Jimi Hendrix and Neil Young
  10. Buddy Miles (Jimi Hendrix drummer) and Neil Young
  11. Pete Townshend and Neil Young
  12. John Entwistle and Neil Young
  13. U2's Bono and Neil Young
  14. Lynyrd Skynyrd and Neil Young
  15. Elvis Presley and Neil Young
  16. Booker T. and the MG's and Neil Young
  17. Willie Nelson and Neil Young
  18. The Monkees and Neil Young
  19. Kurt Cobain and Neil Young
  20. Carlos Santana and Neil Young
  21. Linda Ronstadt and Neil Young
  22. The Allman Brothers Band and Neil Young
  23. Led Zeppelin and Neil Young
  24. Stevie Nicks and Neil Young
  25. Frank Zappa and Neil Young
  26. Dave Grohl and Neil Young
  27. Emmylou Harris and Neil Young
  28. Johnny Cash and Neil Young
  29. Patti Smith and Neil Young
  30. Clarence Clemons and Neil Young
  31. Buffy Sainte-Marie and Neil Young
  32. Sonic Youth and Neil Young
  33. Jackson Browne and Neil Young
  34. Jerry Garcia and Neil Young (Search)
  35. Grateful Dead and Neil Young
  36. Bonnie Raitt and Neil Young
  37. Elton John and Neil Young
  38. Jerry Lee Lewis and Neil Young
  39. Van Morrison and Neil Young
  40. Tom Waits and Neil Young
  41. Ben Harper and Neil Young
  42. Levon Helm and Neil Young
  43. Warren Zevon and Neil Young
  44. David Bowie and Neil Young
  45. Tony Bennett and Neil Young
  46. Lucinda Williams and Neil Young
  47. Miles Davis and Neil Young
  48. Leon Russell and Neil Young
  49. Diana Krall and Neil Young
  50. Donald "Duck" Dunn and Neil Young
  51. Johnny Rotten and Neil Young
  52. Sid Vicious and Neil Young
  53. Phil Ochs and Neil Young
  54. Leonard Cohen and Neil Young
  55. Los Lobos and Neil Young
  56. Nils Lofgren and Neil Young
  57. Chrissie Hynde of Pretenders and Neil Young
  58. David Byrne (of Talking Heads) and Neil Young
  59. Lou Reed and Neil Young
  60. Randy Newman and Neil Young
  61. Roger Waters and Neil Young
  62. Sheryl Crow and Neil Young
  63. Uncle Tupelo and Neil Young
  64. Wilco and Neil Young
  65. Nels Cline (of Wilco) and Neil Young
  66. Jay Bennett of Wilco and Neil Young
  67. Jay Farrar and Neil Young
  68. Les Paul and Neil Young
  69. Richard Thompson and Neil Young
  70. Bert Jansch and Neil Young
  71. Bryan Ferry (Roxy Music) and Neil Young
  72. Beck and Neil Young
  73. Rick James and Neil Young
  74. Kathleen Edwards and Neil Young
  75. Brian Wilson and Neil Young
  76. Merle Haggard and Neil Young
  77. Bob Mould (Husker Du) and Neil Young
  78. The Black Crowes' Chris Robinson and Neil Young
  79. Norah Jones and Neil Young
  80. Jakob Dylan and Neil Young
  81. Gov't Mule and Neil Young
  82. Ron Sexsmith and Neil Young
  83. Devo and Neil Young
  84. Jewel and Neil Young
  85. Michael Stipe (R.E.M.) and Neil Young
  86. Peter Buck (R.E.M.) and Neil Young
  87. Nirvana and Neil Young
  88. Red Hot Chili Pepper's Flea and Neil Young
  89. Paul Simon and Neil Young
  90. Randy Bachman and Neil Young
  91. Johnny Marr (The Smiths) and Neil Young
  92. Matthew Sweet and Neil Young
  93. Jonathan Richman and Neil Young
  94. The Cowboy Junkies and Neil Young
  95. The Everly Brothers and Neil Young
  96. Dan Fogelberg and Neil Young
  97. David Grohl and Neil Young
  98. Meat Puppets' Curt Kirkwood and Neil Young
  99. Dave Matthews and Neil Young
  100. Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Neil Young
  101. Phish and Neil Young
  102. My Morning Jacket and Neil Young
  103. Ryan Adams and Neil Young
  104. Nicolette Larson and Neil Young
  105. Elvis Costello and Neil Young
  106. Merry Clayton and Neil Young
  107. Chris Cornell and Neil Young
  108. Ryan Adams and Neil Young
  109. Jimmy Buffett and Neil Young
  110. Bettye LaVette and Neil Young
  111. Jack White and Neil Young
  112. White Stripes and Neil Young
  113. Gram Parsons and Neil Young
  114. Ed Robertson (BareNaked Ladies) and Neil Young
  115. Billy Corgan and Neil Young
  116. Noel Gallagher (Oasis) and Neil Young
  117. Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon and Neil Young
  118. Nick Cave and Neil Young
  119. Drive-By Truckers and Neil Young
  120. John Mayer and Neil Young
  121. Death Cab For Cutie's Chris Walla and Neil Young
  122. Ben Folds and Neil Young
  123. Grace Potter and Neil Young
  124. Lukas Nelson and Neil Young
  125. Joe Satriani and Neil Young
  126. Lady GaGa and Neil Young
  127. Everest's Russell Pollard and Neil Young
  128. Scott McCaughey and Neil Young
  129. Mark Kozelek (Red House Painters & Sun Kil Moon) and Neil Young
  130. Kim Richey and Neil Young
  131. Crowded House and Neil Young
  132. Fleet Foxes Robin Pecknold and Neil Young
  133. Dala and Neil Young
  134. Davy Jones (The Monkees) and Neil Young
  135. Bobby Darin and Neil Young
  136. Cher and Neil Young
  137. Lee Harvey Osmond and Neil Young
  138. Kurt Vile and Neil Young
  139. Mark Lanegan and Neil Young
  140. The Psychic Ills and Neil Young
  141. Smoke Fairies and Neil Young
  142. Adam Sandler and Neil Young
  143. Jimmy Fallon and Neil Young
  144. Will Ferrell and Neil Young
  145. Dana Carvey and Neil Young
  146. Justin Sullivan (New Model Army) and Neil Young
  147. Axl Rose (Guns n Roses) and Neil Young
  148. Courtney Love and Neil Young



Six degrees of separation from Neil Young.

(NOTE on methodology to compile listing: This listing does NOT include musician in the core bands  , , or .  See those links for more details on band's musicians.)

And Neil has some pretty cool friends, too.

UPDATE: Over on Far Out Magazine, the editors have compiled a list of every musician to appear on Neil Young's studio albums. (Thanks Alan!)

While we did not do an exact count, it looks like well over 50 musicians.  In a similar vein, we here at Thrasher's Wheat started a similar endeavor 25 years ago and this is what we came up with above on 50+ Reasons Why Neil Young's Music Matters.

Every musician to appear on Neil Young studio albums:

  • Ry Cooder
  • Jack Nitzsche
  • Jim Messina
  • Carol Kaye
  • Earl Palmer
  • Merry Clayton
  • Gloria Richetta Jones
  • Danny Whitten
  • Ralph Molina
  • Billy Talbot
  • Nils Lofgren
  • Stephen Stills
  • James Taylor
  • Linda Ronstadt
  • David Crosby
  • Graham Nash
  • Ben Keith
  • Tim Drummond
  • Kenny Buttrey
  • Rusty Kershaw
  • Tim Drummond
  • Rick Danko
  • Levon Helm
  • Frank Sampedro
  • Russ Kunkel
  • George “Chocolate” Perry
  • Joe Vitale
  • Joe Lala
  • Nicolette Larson
  • Emmylou Harris
  • Spooner Oldham
  • Rufus Thibodeaux
  • Joe Osborn
  • Larrie Londin
  • J. J. Cale
  • Johnny Christopher
  • Ray Edenton
  • Shelly Kurland
  • Bruce Palmer
  • Larry Byrom
  • Anthony Crawford
  • Waylon Jennings
  • Ralph Mooney
  • Hargus “Pig” Robbins
  • Gordon Terry
  • Terry McMillan
  • Béla Fleck
  • Bobby Thompson
  • Gove Scrivenor
  • Marty Stuart
  • Gail Davies
  • Janis Oliver-Gill
  • Kristine Oliver-Arnold
  • Steve Jordan
  • Danny Kortchmar
  • Chad Cromwell
  • Rick “The Bass Player” Rosas
  • John Fumo
  • Tony Marsico
  • Astrid Young
  • Maria Newman
  • Israel Baker
  • Donald Dunn
  • Wayne Jackson
  • Curtis Wright
  • Lukas Nelson
  • Micah Nelson
  • DRAM
  • Nico Segal
  • Robbie Robertson
  • Stan Szelest

See anyone missing?  Drop a comment below or send us an email to:

thrasher ATSIGN thrasherswheat.org


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Thursday, February 21, 2019

The Monkees and Neil Young

Buffalo Springfield Meets The Monkees 
Neil Young, Richie Furay, Dewey Martin, Peter Yarrow, Stephen Stills, Peter Tork + Others

More on Buffalo Springfield. Also, see:

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Sunday, February 12, 2012

Brian Wilson and Neil Young

Brian Wilson and Neil Young
Photo via | WireImage |


Paul McCartney was honored as the 2012 MusiCares Person of the Year by an array of musical stars in Los Angeles, CA on February 10, 2012.

Brian Wilson and Neil Young were among the many musical star attendees.

Fore more, see Paul McCartney Honored at Musicares by Neil Young & Crazy Horse, others.

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Sunday, July 19, 2009

Wilco's Nels Cline and Neil Young

An interview with Wilco's Nels Cline where he discusses the influence of Neil Young's music from Detroit Free Press:
Q: The last time Wilco was in town you were opening up for Neil Young at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Did you get to spend much time with Neil on the road?

Nels Cline: Not really. But I've been a huge fan of Neil's since his days in the Buffalo Springfield. His early solo work was the soundtrack to my teenage depression. His guitar style was crucial to me growing up.

On tour he was focused working on new material for his latest album, the one nobody likes ("Fork in the Road"). ... I sat and listened to every sound check and he seemed to be in a constant state of concentration on his new music. He seems like a total workaholic, with a super-powerful fierceness.

The last night of the tour for us with him was at Madison Square Garden, and he invited everybody onstage, including us and the band Everest. So we were all on stage with Neil doing "Rockin' In the Free World." I was so exhilarated watching Neil goin' at it I started crying.

More on Wilco and Neil Young and other musicians inspired by Neil Young.


Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Jay Bennett and Neil Young

jay-bennett.jpg
Jay Bennett: 1963-2009


From Jay Bennett 1963-2009 - A Final Interview - Glide Magazine by Brian Robbins where Jay Bennett discusses Neil Young's musical influence.

Jay Bennett, the former Wilco multi-instrumentalist, passed away in his sleep on early Sunday morning (May 24, 2009) due to unknown causes. He was 45. Bennett was best known for his work with Wilco, the group for which he wrote and recorded on 1996's Being There, 1999's Summerteeth and 2002's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, as well as the band's Woody Guthrie themed albums with Billy Bragg, Mermaid Avenue and Mermaid Avenue, Volume 2.

Bennett was recently in the news for as he sued Wilco front man Jeff Tweedy for breach of contract stemming from his work for Wilco. The suit came less than two weeks after Bennett publicly revealed that he needed hip replacement surgery which he could not afford due to lack of health insurance.

Brian Robbins spoke with Bennett in late 2008 for a revealing and uniquely written Glide feature that explored Bennett's creative ramblings. Robbins last heard from Bennett around May 6th, just after news of the lawsuit broke. He had been corresponding to Robbins about the hip procedure and appeared as Robbins states - "in good spirits and sweet as ever."

Read on for one of Jay Bennett's last interviews, published in Glide last September 25, 2008.
Suddenly I hear a voice over the wires – is that Jay? No, I don’t think so … kind of a mumbling sing-song … but as it gets louder, I realize it is Jay, walking back to the phone. I begin to make out some words:

"What do you mean

He had bullet holes in his mirrors

He tried to do his best

But he could not

Please take my advice

Please take my advice

Please take my advice

Open up the tired eyes"


Wow.

“Tired Eyes” from Tonight’s The Night, Neil Young’s fractured 1975 tribute to recently dead friends. If the original wasn’t weird enough for you, you ought to hear Jay Bennett at the tail end of a long awake spell doing a weary Neil Young impression over a speakerphone.

Wow.

Jay Bennett: Okay, I’m back.

BR: Uhhh … Neil Young?

JB: Oh, (laughs) yeah. I kinda OD’d on Tonight’s The Night while we were working last night. My studio manager was playing it over and over and over. I finally said, ‘Look, I’m going to start weeping or fall asleep or pass out … you’ve got to play something up-tempo here – I’m trying to stay awake and stay focused and that ain’t gonna do it.’ But, hey: Neil Young – beautiful slop, you know? Can’t beat it.

BR: Oh, man – “Heart Of Gold” was the inspiration for my taking up the harmonica when I was a teenager. First time I heard “Heart Of Gold,” I said, ‘I want to do that; I can do that. It can’t be that hard - but it’s perfect.’

JB: Well, that’s the beauty of a harmonica – no wrong notes.
***
JB: When I sequence, I still sequence in terms of two sides. I still conceptualize it as a record with a side A and a side B.

BR: Really?

JB: Oh, man, I’ve been listening to so much vinyl at the studio lately … we must’ve listened to Nebraska and Tonight’s The Night about a hundred times apiece. It’s great: you’ve got, like, 15 minutes of music to a side – Neil’s records were always short – with an opener and a closer on each side. It really makes the process of sequencing a lot easier if you can define your opener and your closer on side A and side B … then you just have to fill in the gaps. It’s really an easier approach for me.

Full final interview with Jay Bennett on Glide Magazine. Thanks Brian.

In a review of Wilco's A Ghost Is Born it was noted that:
Bennett was a significant creative factor in Wilco, and Tweedy may have needed Bennett to stay focused creatively just as McCartney needed Lennon.
Rest in Peace Jay.
Jay Bennett: 1963-2009

Yes, you're trying to break my heart.

More on other musicians inspired by Neil Young. Also, Tonight's The Night: The deepest and darkest of "Ditch Trilogy" albums.



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