2007 studio album by Neil Young
Chrome Dreams II is the 28th studio album by Canadian-American musician Neil Young. The album was released on October 23, 2007 as a double LP and as a single CD. The album name references 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.[11]
The album debuted on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart at number 11, selling about 54,000 copies in its first week.[12] 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.[13]
Writing
The album features a mix of different types of songs featuring different musical styles and lengths. 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 War and Everybody's Rockin' were albums focused on one subject or style, Chrome Dreams II is more like After the Gold Rush 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.[14]
The first three songs on Chrome Dreams II date from the 1980s. "Beautiful Bluebird" was first recorded in 1985[15] during sessions for Old Ways.[16] "Boxcar" had been previously recorded for Freedom[17][18] and Ragged Glory, but was ultimately left off both albums. Both songs appear on Chrome Dreams II as new recordings.
The 18 minute "Ordinary People" was recorded in July 1988 during initial sessions for the Freedom album.[19] It features the backing musicians from Young's Bluenotes tour.[20] The song was released as the album's first single.[21]
According to a 2020 post on his Neil Young Archives website, the lyrics to "Dirty Old Man" explore "the ugliest parts of alcoholism. I really loathe what it does to people."
The epic "No Hidden Path" was inspired by long walks on Young's ranch. He explains in a 2019 post to his website that it's "about the forest on Broken Arrow where I used to walk regularly." The song features as the centerpiece of the 2009 Jonathan Demme film Neil Young Trunk Show.
Recording
Chrome Dreams II was produced by The Volume Dealers (Neil Young & Niko Bolas), 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). A horn section, The Blue Note Horns, appear on one track, "Ordinary People," while the Young People’s Chorus of New York City appear 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.[22]
Personnel
Primary musicians
- Neil Young – acoustic & electric guitars, banjo, harmonica, grand piano, pump organ, Hammond B-3 organ, vibes, percussion, vocal
- Ben Keith – pedal steel guitar, lap slide guitar, Dobro, electric guitar, Hammond B-3 organ, vocal
- Rick Rosas – bass guitar, vocal
- Ralph Molina – drums, percussion, vocal
Musicians for "Ordinary People"
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
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
Production
- Recorded at- Feelgood's Garage (except Ordinary People and The Way choir session)
- Recorded and mixed by- Niko Bolas
- Assisting Engineers- John Hausmann, Rob Clark
- L.A. Johnson- in studio
- Will Mitchell- in studio sound
- Larry Cragg- guitar tech
- Harry Sitam- senior technical engineer
- Digital editing- Rob Clark
- Analog-Digital transfers by John Nowland
- Mastered by Tim Mulligan
Ordinary People
- Recorded at Plywood ANALOG
- Recorded and mixed by- Niko Bolas
- Assistant Engineers- Brent Walton, Tim McColm
- Digital editing- Tim Mulligan
- Analog-Digital transfers by John Nowland
- Mastered by Tim Mulligan
The Way- choir session
- Recorded at Avatar Studios, New York City
- Recorded by- Niko Bolas
- Assistant engineer- Colin Suzuki
- 2nd assistant engineer- Eric Pfeifer
- Choir arrangements by Darrell Brown & Neil Young
Elliot Roberts- direction
Bonnie Levetin- Lookout Management
DVD Production
- Directed By Bernard Shakey
- Produced By L.A. Johnson
- Executive Producer Elliot Rabinowitz
- Associate Producer Will Mitchell
- Edited by Toshi Onuki, Mike Derrosset
- DVD Art Direction- Toshi Onuki
- DVD Authoring and Menus Design- Rich Winter
- Post Production at Total Media Group
- Principle Images by Larry Cragg
- Additional Images by Will Mitchell, L. A. Johnson and Anthony Crawford
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