November sees the 50th anniversary of Neil Young’s Like A Hurricane (apparently). “So what!” comes the outcry. Indeed. It’s just an excuse to post this cracking live version from Berlin 1982:
Commenter Eric Rice puts it succinctly: “My favorite of the many versions of this song. Bruce Palmer’s bouncy bass line propels it forward more forcefully than other versions. Neil’s guitar solo was never better articulated or more passionate. Even the pause to fix his tie sounds intentional if you’re just listening. He was in top form for this entire concert and it was right before Nils Lofgren decamped for New Jersey and Springsteen.”
50 years since Zuma was released, too
Are you saying that Like A Hurricane was released as a single?
As Jaygee notes, it’s 50 years since Zuma (and if course Cortez The Killer), however American Stars ‘n Bars was released two years later in 1977.
77 is the right answer (I thought it was 76 and checked)
CAT was Neils 78 release
No it was released in 1978. This version anyway. If you watch the video carefully you will see my namecheck.
NY certainly played LAH onstage at the Hammersmith Odeon in March 1976 – I was there on the Tues or Weds night. One of my top five shows ever
Footage of him playing the song live in front of a ginormous wind-tunnel-type fan was also shown on the OGWT not long after. I believe there is film of a whole concert from that run of shows
I remember seeing that OGWT clip at the time – one of those formative moments…
With the stage crew dressed up in creepy hooded robes, like something from Don’t Look Now. Isn’t that the Rust Never Sleeps film?
Different tour from a couple of years later
Ah, yes – https://neilyoungnews.thrasherswheat.org/2011/01/rare-photo-neil-young-hammersmith-odeon.html
It was recorded in November 1975 so it is indeed 50 years old, but as was often the case with Neil it was in the can for a couple of years.
This version would be from the Trans tour, I saw him a month earlier at Wembley Arena. Apart from being one of the most bizarre concerts I ever saw, I remember little detail like how good a version of Hurricane was played. I do remember Nils playing some nice accordion on Old Man
Here’s the Hammy Odeon footage
Plus a couple more tracks – Down by the River and Cortez
If it was before Nils decamped to NJ where is he?
Is he hiding behind the bongoes as they are taller than him.
Great version great solo but not sure what the point of the tambourine is.
Is that why he calls himself Shaky – because he shakes tambourines?
A wry comment on his being epileptic
Roxy Music converted it into a (to me) convincing slice of slinky sophistication on the High Road live mini lp: