Chrome Dreams II
Encyclopedia
Chrome Dreams II is the thirty-first studio album
by Canadian musician Neil Young
. The album was released on October 23, 2007. The album is a sequel to Chrome Dreams
, a legendary Neil Young album from 1977 that had originally been scheduled for release but was shelved in favor of American Stars 'N Bars.
The album debuted on the U.S. Billboard 200
chart at number 11, selling about 54,000 copies in its first week. In addition, the song "No Hidden Path" was nominated for a Grammy Award
for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance at the 51st Grammy Awards, 2009.
(aka The Volume Dealers), and features the ensemble of Crazy Horse
drummer Ralph Molina
, pedal steel guitarist and dobro player Ben Keith
(Harvest, Comes A Time
, Harvest Moon
) and bassist Rick Rosas (Freedom
, Living With War
, This Note's for You
). The Blue Note Horns are on one track, "Ordinary People," and the Young People’s Chorus of New York City on "The Way." Most of the recording was done live with few overdubs at Feelgood's Garage studio near Redwood City, California, with two vintage gas pumps out front and vintage studio gear inside.
According to Young,
.
that was shelved by Geffen Records; "Boxcar" was a track on the unreleased Times Square album, which was scrapped in favor of the more commercially viable Freedom
; and "Ordinary People," which was recorded in summer 1988 for what became the Freedom
album, was highly regarded as one of Young's greatest unreleased songs, and was often played live during the "Sponsored By Nobody" tour with The Bluenotes to promote the album. This was the album's first single, and was sent to radio on Monday, September 10. The length of this track (clocking in at 18:13) makes it hard to program into today's limited radio playlists, so it was initially heard on radio web sites.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by Canadian musician 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...
. The album was released on October 23, 2007. The album is a sequel to Chrome Dreams
Chrome Dreams
Chrome Dreams is the name of a 1977 unreleased album by Neil Young, and also of an acetate from that period which is claimed to be of that album....
, a legendary Neil Young album from 1977 that had originally been scheduled for release but was shelved in favor of American Stars 'N Bars.
The album debuted on the U.S. Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart at number 11, selling about 54,000 copies in its first week. In addition, the song "No Hidden Path" was nominated for a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance at the 51st Grammy Awards, 2009.
Production
Chrome Dreams II was produced by Young and Niko BolasNiko Bolas
Niko Bolas is an American music producer, sound engineer, and consultant and business developer in the fields of virtual reality and Internet radio...
(aka The Volume Dealers), and features the ensemble of Crazy Horse
Crazy Horse (band)
Crazy Horse is an American rock band best known for its association with Neil Young. It has been co-credited on a number of albums throughout Young's career and has released five albums of its own.-Early years:...
drummer Ralph Molina
Ralph Molina
Ralph Molina is an American musician, best known as the drummer for Neil Young's backing band Crazy Horse.Born in Puerto Rico, Molina has been a member of Crazy Horse since they were formed in 1962 as Danny & the Memories. He has remained throughout the band's many personnel changes, and has...
, pedal steel guitarist and dobro player Ben Keith
Ben Keith
Bennett Keith Schaeufele , better known by his stage name Ben Keith, was an American musician and record producer...
(Harvest, Comes A Time
Comes a Time
Comes a Time is the ninth album by Neil Young, and a return to the country/folk rock sound of Harvest . Many of the tracks include harmony vocals from Nicolette Larson. Originally, it had started out as a solo record, but when Young played it for Reprise executives they asked him if he wouldn't...
, Harvest Moon
Harvest Moon (album)
Harvest Moon is the twenty-first studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, released in 1992. Many of the musicians appearing on it also appeared on his 1972 album Harvest, and this album is considered by many to be a pseudo-sequel to Harvest....
) and bassist Rick Rosas (Freedom
Freedom (Neil Young album)
Freedom has received mainly positive reviews. Allmusic's William Ruhlmann rated the album four-and-a-half out of five stars, explaining that it "was the album Neil Young fans knew he was capable of making, but feared he would never make again." He also stated that "there were tracks that harked...
, Living With War
Living With War
Living with War is the twenty-ninth Grammy and Juno Award-nominated studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, released in 2006. The album's lyrics, titles, and conceptual style are highly critical of the policies of the George W. Bush administration; the CTV website defined it as "a musical...
, This Note's for You
This Note's for You
This Note's for You is the seventeenth studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, released in 1988. It was originally credited to Young and the Bluenotes. Most of the album's concept centered around the commercialism of rock and roll, and tours in particular...
). The Blue Note Horns are on one track, "Ordinary People," and the Young People’s Chorus of New York City on "The Way." Most of the recording was done live with few overdubs at Feelgood's Garage studio near Redwood City, California, with two vintage gas pumps out front and vintage studio gear inside.
According to Young,
"It's an album with a form based on some of my original recordings, with a large variety of songs, rather than one specific type of song. Where Living with WarLiving With WarLiving with War is the twenty-ninth Grammy and Juno Award-nominated studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, released in 2006. The album's lyrics, titles, and conceptual style are highly critical of the policies of the George W. Bush administration; the CTV website defined it as "a musical...
and Everybody's Rockin'Everybody's Rockin'Everybody's Rockin' is the thirteenth studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, released in 1983. The album was recorded with the Shocking Pinks , and features a selection of rockabilly songs . Running 25 minutes, it is Young's shortest album...
were albums focused on one subject or style, Chrome Dreams II is more like After the Gold RushAfter the Gold RushAfter the Gold Rush is the third studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young. Released in August 1970 on Reprise Records, it was one of the four high-profile albums released by each member of folk rock collective Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young in the wake of their chart-topping 1970 album Déjà Vu...
or Freedom, with different types of songs working together to form a feeling. Now that radio formats are not as influential as they once were, it's easier to release an album that crosses all formats with a message that runs through the whole thing, regardless of the type of song or sound. Some early listeners have said that this album is positive and spiritual. I like to think it focuses on the human condition. Like many of my recordings, this one draws on earlier material here and there. I used to do that a lot back in the day. Some songs, like 'Ordinary People,' need to wait for the right time. I think now is the right time for that song and it lives well with the new songs I have written in the past few months. I had a blast making this music."
CD release
- "Beautiful Bluebird" - 4:27
- "Boxcar" - 2:44
- "Ordinary People" - 18:13
- "Shining Light" - 4:44
- "The Believer" - 2:39
- "Spirit Road" - 6:32
- "Dirty Old Man" - 3:17
- "Ever After" - 3:32
- "No Hidden Path" - 14:31
- "The Way" - 5:15
Vinyl release (double album)
There was a double LP pressing of the record with 180 gram vinyl. All songs were written by Neil YoungNeil 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...
.
Side one
- "Boxcar" - 2:44
- "Beautiful Bluebird" - 4:27
- "Spirit Road" - 6:32
- "Dirty Old Man" - 3:17
Side three
- "Ever After" - 3:32
- "The Way" - 5:15
- "The Believer" - 2:39
- "Shining Light" - 4:44
Track Notes
The first three songs of Chrome Dreams II date from the 1980s. "Beautiful Bluebird" was first recorded for the original version of Old WaysOld Ways
Old Ways is the fourteenth studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, released in 1985. Young refers to this album in interviews as Old Ways II, as he had originally planned to release a country album titled Old Ways in 1983. Geffen objected to this, asking Young for a "rock 'n roll" album,...
that was shelved by Geffen Records; "Boxcar" was a track on the unreleased Times Square album, which was scrapped in favor of the more commercially viable Freedom
Freedom (Neil Young album)
Freedom has received mainly positive reviews. Allmusic's William Ruhlmann rated the album four-and-a-half out of five stars, explaining that it "was the album Neil Young fans knew he was capable of making, but feared he would never make again." He also stated that "there were tracks that harked...
; and "Ordinary People," which was recorded in summer 1988 for what became the Freedom
Freedom (Neil Young album)
Freedom has received mainly positive reviews. Allmusic's William Ruhlmann rated the album four-and-a-half out of five stars, explaining that it "was the album Neil Young fans knew he was capable of making, but feared he would never make again." He also stated that "there were tracks that harked...
album, was highly regarded as one of Young's greatest unreleased songs, and was often played live during the "Sponsored By Nobody" tour with The Bluenotes to promote the album. This was the album's first single, and was sent to radio on Monday, September 10. The length of this track (clocking in at 18:13) makes it hard to program into today's limited radio playlists, so it was initially heard on radio web sites.
DVD release
A version of Chrome Dreams II with a bonus DVD, containing the album in high resolution 24 bit/96 kHz stereo was also released.Personnel
The following people were known to be involved in the production of the album.http://www.thrasherswheat.org/2007/09/chrome-dreams-ii-lyrics-and-liner-notes.htmlPrimary musicians
- Neil Young - acoustic and electric guitars, banjo, harmonica, grand piano, pump organ, Hammond B-3 organ, vibes, percussion, vocal
- Ben KeithBen KeithBennett Keith Schaeufele , better known by his stage name Ben Keith, was an American musician and record producer...
- pedal steel guitar, lap slide guitar, dobro, electric guitar, Hammond B-3 organ, vocal - Rick Rosas - bass, vocal
- Ralph MolinaRalph MolinaRalph Molina is an American musician, best known as the drummer for Neil Young's backing band Crazy Horse.Born in Puerto Rico, Molina has been a member of Crazy Horse since they were formed in 1962 as Danny & the Memories. He has remained throughout the band's many personnel changes, and has...
- drums, percussion, vocal
Musicians for "Ordinary People"
- Neil Young - electric guitar, vocal
- Joe Canuck - vocal
- Frank “Pancho” SampedroFrank SampedroFrank "Poncho" Sampedro is an American guitarist and member of the rock and roll band Crazy Horse, known mainly for its longtime collaboration with singer-songwriter Neil Young....
- guitar - Rick Rosas - bass
- Chad CromwellChad CromwellChad Cromwell is an American drummer, best known for his work with Neil Young and with Mark Knopfler.- Personal life :Cromwell was born in Paducah, Kentucky, and three years later moved with his family to Memphis, Tennessee...
- drums - Ben KeithBen KeithBennett Keith Schaeufele , better known by his stage name Ben Keith, was an American musician and record producer...
- alto saxophone - Steve Lawrence - tenor saxophone, keyboards
- Larry Cragg - baritone saxophone
- Claude Cailliet - trombone
- John FumoJohn FumoJohn Fumo is an American trumpet, flugelhorn, and electric trumpet player. He maintains an active performing, recording, and touring schedule in addition to his CalArts teaching....
- trumpet - Tom Bray - trumpet (solo)
Background singers
- The Wyatt Earps - Ben Keith, Ralph Molina, Neil Young
- The Jane Wyatts - Nancy Hall, Annie Stocking, Pegi Young
- The Dirty Old Men - Larry Cragg, Ben Keith, Ralph Molina, Rick Rosas, Neil Young
“The Way” choir
The Young People’s Chorus of New York City- Francisco J. Núñez, Artistic Director/Founder
- Elizabeth Núñez, Conductor
Choristers
- Rebecca Shaw
- Vera Kahn
- Moraima Avalos
- William Cabiniss
- Che Elliott
- Rosa Loveszy
- Christina Lu
- Jamal Marcelin
- Lluvia Perez
- Owen Smith
- Julie Urena
- Emily Viola
- Reginald Wilson
- Catherine McGough
- Helen Parzick