Crazy Horse (album)
Encyclopedia
Crazy Horse is the 1971 debut album by Crazy Horse
, released by Reprise Records
. It peaked at number 84 on the Billboard
album chart.
.
The core trio from the Rockets, Danny Whitten
, Billy Talbot
, and Ralph Molina
, provided instrumental backing for Young's 1969 album Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
, and performed on some songs from Young's 1970 album After the Gold Rush
. During sessions for the latter, they met teenage guitar prodigy Nils Lofgren
, and producer/keyboardist Jack Nitzsche
, who had worked with Phil Spector's
Wrecking Crew
and The Rolling Stones
. They meshed, and Crazy Horse expanded into a quartet to back up Young for a short tour
in early 1970, and then into a quintet with Lofgren for this album, picking up a contract with Reprise Records
after the exposure garnered from Gold Rush.
This was Whitten's last album release before his death from drug overdose in 1972. For the recording of this album in the fall of 1970, they also recruited Ry Cooder
, who had worked previously with Nitzsche on sessions for the Stones. Cooder plays on three tracks.
The album contains compositions from four principal writers. Whitten's ballad, "I Don't Want to Talk About It
", would be covered by a variety of artists, including Rita Coolidge
, Everything But the Girl
on their 1988 album Idlewild
, and Rod Stewart
, who had a hit with the song in the U.K.
, taken from his 1975 album Atlantic Crossing
. Neil Young's "Dance Dance Dance," had yet to be released by Young himself. Randy Newman
had already performed Nitzsche's "Gone Dead Train" on the soundtrack for the 1970 film Performance
by Donald Cammell
and Nicolas Roeg
. The Lofgren-penned "Beggar's Day" was covered by Scottish rock band Nazareth
on their 1975 album Hair of the Dog
, and a live version of "Downtown," by Whitten and Young, would appear on Young's 1975 album Tonight's the Night. On Neil Young's 2007 vault release Live At the Fillmore East 1970
, the song is credited to Whitten alone.
Crazy Horse was released on compact disc on March 22, 1994, as part of the Warner Brothers
archive series, produced for compact disc by Lee Herschberg. It appeared in its entirety as part of Rhino Handmade's Scratchy
compilation from 2005, which also included outtakes from the sessions for this album. That compilation is no longer in print.
Additional personnel
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:...
, released by Reprise Records
Reprise Records
Reprise Records is an American record label, founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operated through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:...
. It peaked at number 84 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
album chart.
History
Members of this band had already released an album in 1968 as The Rockets, and had appeared on record twice with Neil Young as Crazy HorseCrazy 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:...
.
The core trio from the Rockets, Danny Whitten
Danny Whitten
Daniel Ray Whitten was an American musician and songwriter best known for his work with Neil Young and Crazy Horse, and for the song "I Don't Want To Talk About It", a hit for Rita Coolidge, Rod Stewart and Everything but the Girl.- Biography :Whitten was born on May 8, 1943, in Columbus, Georgia....
, Billy Talbot
Billy Talbot
Billy Talbot is an American singer-songwriter and musician, best known as the bassist of Crazy Horse.-Music career:Born in New York City, Talbot started his musical career singing on street corners at the age of 14. He moved to New Jersey with his family the next year, and by 17 he had moved to...
, and 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...
, provided instrumental backing for Young's 1969 album Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere is the second studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, released on Reprise Records catalogue RS 6349...
, and performed on some songs from Young's 1970 album After the Gold Rush
After the Gold Rush
After 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...
. During sessions for the latter, they met teenage guitar prodigy Nils Lofgren
Nils Lofgren
Nils Hilmer Lofgren is an American rock music recording artist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist...
, and producer/keyboardist Jack Nitzsche
Jack Nitzsche
Bernard Alfred "Jack" Nitzsche was an arranger, producer, songwriter, and film score composer. He first came to prominence in the late 1950s as the right-hand-man of producer Phil Spector, and went on to work with the Rolling Stones, Neil Young and others...
, who had worked with Phil Spector's
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
Wrecking Crew
The Wrecking Crew (music)
The Wrecking Crew was a nickname coined by the drummer Hal Blaine after the fact for a group of session musicians in Los Angeles, California, who earned wide acclaim in the 1960s. They backed dozens of popular singers, and were one of the most successful "groups" of studio musicians in music history...
and The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
. They meshed, and Crazy Horse expanded into a quartet to back up Young for a short tour
Live at the Fillmore East (Neil Young album)
Live at the Fillmore East is a live album by Neil Young and Crazy Horse featuring guitarist Danny Whitten. In February and March 1970, Young and Crazy Horse went on tour to support Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere. Live at the Fillmore East, released in 2006, features performances from the tour...
in early 1970, and then into a quintet with Lofgren for this album, picking up a contract with Reprise Records
Reprise Records
Reprise Records is an American record label, founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operated through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:...
after the exposure garnered from Gold Rush.
This was Whitten's last album release before his death from drug overdose in 1972. For the recording of this album in the fall of 1970, they also recruited Ry Cooder
Ry Cooder
Ryland Peter "Ry" Cooder is an American guitarist, singer and composer. He is known for his slide guitar work, his interest in roots music from the United States, and, more recently, his collaborations with traditional musicians from many countries.His solo work has been eclectic, encompassing...
, who had worked previously with Nitzsche on sessions for the Stones. Cooder plays on three tracks.
The album contains compositions from four principal writers. Whitten's ballad, "I Don't Want to Talk About It
I Don't Want to Talk About It
"I Don't Want to Talk About It" is the name of a song written by Danny Whitten. Whitten's band, Crazy Horse released it as a track on their 1971 eponymous album....
", would be covered by a variety of artists, including Rita Coolidge
Rita Coolidge
Rita Coolidge is a multiple Grammy Award-winning American vocalist. During the 1970s and 1980s, she charted hits on Billboard's Pop, Country, Adult Contemporary and Jazz charts.-Career:...
, Everything But the Girl
Everything but the Girl
Everything but the Girl was a two-person English band, formed in Hull during 1981, consisting of lead singer and occasional guitarist Tracey Thorn and guitarist, keyboardist, and singer Ben Watt . They are currently inactive although vocalist Tracey Thorn hinted that they may reform someday...
on their 1988 album Idlewild
Idlewild (Everything but the Girl album)
Idlewild is the fourth album by British music duo Everything but the Girl. It was released in 1988.-Track listing:All tracks composed by Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt; except where indicated# "I Don't Want to Talk About It"...
, and Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
, who had a hit with the song in the U.K.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, taken from his 1975 album Atlantic Crossing
Atlantic Crossing
Atlantic Crossing is Rod Stewart's sixth album, released in 1975, and peaking at number nine on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart. On June 30, 2009, Rhino released a two-disc version with bonus tracks....
. Neil Young's "Dance Dance Dance," had yet to be released by Young himself. Randy Newman
Randy Newman
Randall Stuart "Randy" Newman is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist who is known for his mordant pop songs and for film scores....
had already performed Nitzsche's "Gone Dead Train" on the soundtrack for the 1970 film Performance
Performance (film)
Performance is a 1968 British crime drama film; the film was produced in 1968 but not released until 1970. Directed by Donald Cammell and Nicolas Roeg, Performance stars James Fox and Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones in his film acting debut.-Plot:...
by Donald Cammell
Donald Cammell
Donald Seaton Cammell was a Scottish film director who enjoys a cult reputation thanks to his debut film Performance, which he co-directed with Nicolas Roeg.-Biography:...
and Nicolas Roeg
Nicolas Roeg
Nicolas Jack Roeg, CBE, BSC is an English film director and cinematographer.-Life and career:Roeg was born in London, the son of Mabel Gertrude and Jack Nicolas Roeg...
. The Lofgren-penned "Beggar's Day" was covered by Scottish rock band Nazareth
Nazareth (band)
Nazareth is a Scottish hard rock band, founded in 1968, that had several hits in the UK in the early 1970s, and established an international audience with their 1975 album Hair of the Dog. Perhaps their best-known hit single was a cover of the ballad "Love Hurts", in 1975...
on their 1975 album Hair of the Dog
Hair of the Dog
-Bonus track information:The remastered editions include both "Guilty" and "Love Hurts" plus the following bonus tracks:* Some editions include also "Holy Roller" and "Holy Roller "...
, and a live version of "Downtown," by Whitten and Young, would appear on Young's 1975 album Tonight's the Night. On Neil Young's 2007 vault release Live At the Fillmore East 1970
Live at the Fillmore East (Neil Young album)
Live at the Fillmore East is a live album by Neil Young and Crazy Horse featuring guitarist Danny Whitten. In February and March 1970, Young and Crazy Horse went on tour to support Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere. Live at the Fillmore East, released in 2006, features performances from the tour...
, the song is credited to Whitten alone.
Crazy Horse was released on compact disc on March 22, 1994, as part of the Warner Brothers
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
archive series, produced for compact disc by Lee Herschberg. It appeared in its entirety as part of Rhino Handmade's Scratchy
Scratchy: The Complete Reprise Recordings
Scratchy: The Complete Reprise Recordings is a 2005 compilation album released by the group Crazy Horse. It is a re-issue of the first two Crazy Horse albums, Crazy Horse and Loose, on Reprise Records, with bonus tracks and the first single by the pre-Crazy Horse group Danny & The Memories.-Disc...
compilation from 2005, which also included outtakes from the sessions for this album. That compilation is no longer in print.
Track listing
- "Gone Dead Train" (Nitzsche, Russ Titelman) – 4:06
- "Dance Dance Dance" (Neil YoungNeil YoungNeil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
) – 2:10 - "Look at All the Things" (Whitten) – 3:13
- "Beggar's Day" (Lofgren) – 4:28
- "I Don't Want to Talk About ItI Don't Want to Talk About It"I Don't Want to Talk About It" is the name of a song written by Danny Whitten. Whitten's band, Crazy Horse released it as a track on their 1971 eponymous album....
" (Whitten) – 5:18 - "Downtown" (Whitten, Young) – 3:14
- "Carolay" (Nitzsche, Titelman) – 2:52
- "Dirty, Dirty" (Whitten) – 3:31
- "Nobody" (Lofgren) – 2:35
- "I'll Get By" (Whitten) – 3:08
- "Crow Jane Lady" (Nitzsche) – 4:24
Personnel
- Danny WhittenDanny WhittenDaniel Ray Whitten was an American musician and songwriter best known for his work with Neil Young and Crazy Horse, and for the song "I Don't Want To Talk About It", a hit for Rita Coolidge, Rod Stewart and Everything but the Girl.- Biography :Whitten was born on May 8, 1943, in Columbus, Georgia....
- guitars, lead and backing vocals - Billy TalbotBilly TalbotBilly Talbot is an American singer-songwriter and musician, best known as the bassist of Crazy Horse.-Music career:Born in New York City, Talbot started his musical career singing on street corners at the age of 14. He moved to New Jersey with his family the next year, and by 17 he had moved to...
- bass, backing vocals - 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, backing vocals, lead vocal on "Dance Dance Dance" - Nils LofgrenNils LofgrenNils Hilmer Lofgren is an American rock music recording artist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist...
- guitars, backing vocals, lead vocal on "Beggar's Day" - Jack NitzscheJack NitzscheBernard Alfred "Jack" Nitzsche was an arranger, producer, songwriter, and film score composer. He first came to prominence in the late 1950s as the right-hand-man of producer Phil Spector, and went on to work with the Rolling Stones, Neil Young and others...
- piano, backing vocals, lead vocal on "Crow Jane Lady"
Additional personnel
- Ry CooderRy CooderRyland Peter "Ry" Cooder is an American guitarist, singer and composer. He is known for his slide guitar work, his interest in roots music from the United States, and, more recently, his collaborations with traditional musicians from many countries.His solo work has been eclectic, encompassing...
- slide guitar on "I Don't Want to Talk About It," "Dirty Dirty," "Crow Jane Lady" - Gib Gilbeau - violin on "Dance Dance Dance"
- Russ TitelmanRuss TitelmanRuss Titelman is an American record producer and songwriter. He has to date won three Grammy Awards. He earned his first producing the Steve Winwood song "Higher Love", and his second and third for Eric Clapton's Journeyman and Unplugged albums...
- producer