Album Review // Neil Young // Oceanside Countryside
Within Neil Young's Analog Original Series (AOS), a collection of albums reproduced from the original analog master tape recordings (as was custom before digital audio workstations), was a curious inclusion — a "lost" album recorded from May to December of 1977, intended as a follow-up to 1977's American Stars 'N Bars. The would-be prequel to 1978's Comes a Time includes demos and original mixes of "Human Highway" and "Field of Opportunity" (which appeared on that album), as well as an acoustic demo of "Goin' Back." The name Oceanside Countryside is likely a reference to the two sides of the album — the first five songs (Side A) are solo performances by Young recorded in Florida, while the following four songs (Side B) were recorded in Nashville with a full bluegrass band. The album ends with an acoustic performance by Young on an early mix of "Pocahontas," which would later be featured on 1979's Rust Never Sleeps, with Crazy Horse. Two standout tracks on the album are "The Old Homestead" featuring The Band's Levon Helms and the catchy "Dance Dance Dance" featuring the "King of the Cajun Fiddlers" Rufus Thibodeaux. Neil Young has said of this release, "Listening to it now, I think I should have put it out back then." This is a laidback masterpiece filled with cunning lyrics and catchy tunes that gives the listener a glimpse into the writing and recording process of one of America's greatest musicians.
