As the story goes, Neil Young’ manager had to force him out of his hotel room to perform the shows that ended up on this record. You can’t blame Young for feeling a little nervous. These legendary shows were recorded at the Canterbury House in Ann Arbor, Michigan less than a month before his 23rd birthday. It was a short time after the demise of Young’s band, Buffalo Springfield, and just a month before his self-titled, debut solo album was released. Young was afraid he didn’t have enough songs to fill a set by himself (perhaps he would have felt a little more at ease had he planned the set, which he tells the audience he never does). This album features only Neil and his guitar and material that was recorded over a two-night stint at the Canterbury House. Sugar Mountain, which is the third in Young’s Archives Performance Series, includes thirteen songs and several tracks of delightfully awkward, rambling stories stuck in between.
The set opens with a somewhat cliche, late ’60s stoner-type introducing Young and commenting on the surprising number of people that showed up causing the show to sell out. Neil opens with a fine performance of “On the Way Home” before commenting on the length of his hair and his songwriting. It is this kind of quirky, personal touch that makes this such a charming record. It also provides a unique listening experience to hear this legendary musician while his landmark albums Harvest, On the Beach, and Rust Never Sleeps were still simply circulating deep inside him.
The name of the album comes from the legendary performance of “Sugar Mountain” (which Young claims he wrote when he was still in his teens). This track was officially released in the late ’70s on a Young collection and fans have been wondering if there were more from the show still intact ever since. On this record, Young relies pretty heavily on some of the songs he penned for Buffalo Springfield including “Mr. Soul,” “Expecting to Fly,” “Birds,” “On the Way Home,” “Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing,” “Out of My Mind,” and “Broken Arrow.” But he also includes several tracks from his debut record, “If I Could Have Her Tonight,” “The Last Trip to Tulsa,” “I’ve Been Waiting for You,” “The Old Laughing Lady,” and “The Loner,” which would have been brand new to the listeners in December 1968.
There are some funny moments in Young’s banter with the audience, particularly in his discussion of his previous job at a bookstore and his claim that he “used to be a blues band.” Yet what really makes this set notable is the intimate, personal nature of these performances. This record boasts a strong set of songs and awkwardly funny stories which create an intimate atmosphere that shouldn’t be missed. Young’s vulnerability draws the listener in, making this a thoroughly enjoyable listen for fans of folk-rock and it stands as an absolute must for those who follow Neil Young and have been awaiting the release of this show for years.
Neil Young
Sugar Mountain: Live at Canterbury House 1968
Reprise, 2008
Rating: 4.5/5.0
