Bad Fog of Loneliness
Encyclopedia
"Bad Fog of Loneliness" is a song written by Canadian
singer-songwriter Neil Young
, recorded in 1971, but not released until 2007 on the album Live at Massey Hall 1971
and in 2009 on The Archives Vol. 1 1963-1972.
According to Young's introduction to the song on Live at Massey Hall, he intended to perform it on the Johnny Cash Show but his appearance was canceled. By the time he was re-scheduled to appear in February, 1971, he decided that the song was "too old" and would do something else instead.
The song also appears on The Archives Vol. 1. This studio version features Ben Keith
on pedal steel guitar
, Tim Drummond
on bass guitar
, Kenny Buttrey
on drums, and Linda Ronstadt
and James Taylor
on background vocals. As this is the same lineup that recorded "Heart of Gold"
and "Old Man"
, it strongly suggests that this song was recorded as part of the Harvest sessions on February 6-7, 1971.
The song has much in common with much of what Young was writing at the time. The riff in the introduction is reminiscent of that of "The Needle and the Damage Done
". The change from 4/4 to 3/4 time in the bridge is similar to what he does in "Words (Between the Lines of Age)."
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
singer-songwriter Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
, recorded in 1971, but not released until 2007 on the album Live at Massey Hall 1971
Live at Massey Hall 1971
Live At Massey Hall 1971 is a live album by Neil Young. Released in 2007, the album features a solo, acoustic performance from Massey Hall in Toronto, Canada on 19 January 1971 during the Journey Through the Past Solo Tour. It is the second release in Young's Archives Performance Series.. It...
and in 2009 on The Archives Vol. 1 1963-1972.
According to Young's introduction to the song on Live at Massey Hall, he intended to perform it on the Johnny Cash Show but his appearance was canceled. By the time he was re-scheduled to appear in February, 1971, he decided that the song was "too old" and would do something else instead.
The song also appears on The Archives Vol. 1. This studio version features Ben Keith
Ben Keith
Bennett Keith Schaeufele , better known by his stage name Ben Keith, was an American musician and record producer...
on pedal steel guitar
Pedal steel guitar
The pedal steel guitar is a type of electric guitar that uses a metal bar to "fret" or shorten the length of the strings, rather than fingers on strings as with a conventional guitar. Unlike other types of steel guitar, it also uses pedals and knee levers to affect the pitch, hence the name "pedal"...
, Tim Drummond
Tim Drummond
Tim Drummond is an American bass guitarist who has toured and recorded with many notable artists including Conway Twitty, Bob Dylan, James Brown, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Crosby, Stills, & Nash, Ry Cooder, J. J. Cale, Lonnie Mack, Miles Davis, B.B...
on bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, Kenny Buttrey
Kenny Buttrey
Aaron Kenneth Buttrey was an American drummer and arranger. According to CMT, he was "one of the most influential session musicians in Nashville history"....
on drums, and Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
and James Taylor
James Taylor
James Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000....
on background vocals. As this is the same lineup that recorded "Heart of Gold"
Heart of Gold (song)
"Heart of Gold" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young. Released from the 1972 album Harvest, it is so far Young's only U.S. #1 single. In Canada, it reached #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...
and "Old Man"
Old Man (song)
"Old Man" is a song written and performed by Neil Young on his 1972 album Harvest.The song was written for the caretaker of the Northern California Broken Arrow Ranch, which Young purchased for $350,000 in 1970. The song compares a young man's life to an old man's and shows that the young man has,...
, it strongly suggests that this song was recorded as part of the Harvest sessions on February 6-7, 1971.
The song has much in common with much of what Young was writing at the time. The riff in the introduction is reminiscent of that of "The Needle and the Damage Done
The Needle and the Damage Done
"The Needle and the Damage Done" is a song by Neil Young that describes the descent into heroin addiction of musicians he knew. It was written about the heroin use of his Crazy Horse guitarist Danny Whitten, and previews the theme of "Tonight's the Night", a song that addresses the heroin overdose...
". The change from 4/4 to 3/4 time in the bridge is similar to what he does in "Words (Between the Lines of Age)."