Ditch Trilogy
Encyclopedia
The Ditch Trilogy refers to a trio of rock music
albums by Neil Young
made in the wake of his chart-topping best-seller, Harvest. The moniker derives from a quote by Young, printed in the self-penned track-by-track liner notes to his career summary compilation Decade
of 1977. In the text about the only #1 single of his life, "Heart of Gold
," Young states: "This song put me in the middle of the road. Travelling there soon became a bore so I headed for the ditch. A rougher ride but I saw more interesting people there."
After his success with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
and Harvest, Young took an abrupt artistic turn with the soundtrack and film Journey Through the Past
. His next three albums cemented this move. Much of this work is characterized by loose, almost "sloppy" playing, a type of performance which Young encouraged. Lyrical themes from this time include the hollowness of show business and commercial success ("LA" from Time Fades Away
), the toll exacted by hard drug use, specifically the heroin-related deaths of former Crazy Horse
guitarist Danny Whitten
and roadie Bruce Berry
(the title track of Tonight's the Night), and other, less specific but still downbeat subject matter.
The three albums of the Ditch Trilogy (also known as the "Doom Trilogy", or the "Depression Trilogy") are:
Young would return to commercial clover with the CSNY reunion tour in 1974, by which time all of the material for the above albums had been recorded. He followed up Tonight's the Night with Zuma
, a loose but more upbeat record in the vein of Everybody Knows this is Nowhere
. Sleeps with Angels
, an album Young recorded with Crazy Horse
following Kurt Cobain
's suicide in 1994, is seen by some critics as thematically linked to the ditch trilogy.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
albums by Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
made in the wake of his chart-topping best-seller, Harvest. The moniker derives from a quote by Young, printed in the self-penned track-by-track liner notes to his career summary compilation Decade
Decade (Neil Young album)
Decade is a triple album compilation by Neil Young, released in 1977, now available on two compact discs. It contains 35 of Young's songs recorded between 1966 and 1976, among them five tracks that had been unreleased up to that point...
of 1977. In the text about the only #1 single of his life, "Heart of Gold
Heart of Gold (song)
"Heart of Gold" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young. Released from the 1972 album Harvest, it is so far Young's only U.S. #1 single. In Canada, it reached #1 on the RPM national singles chart for the first time on April 8, 1972, on which date Young held the top spot on both the...
," Young states: "This song put me in the middle of the road. Travelling there soon became a bore so I headed for the ditch. A rougher ride but I saw more interesting people there."
After his success with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Crosby, Stills & Nash (and Young)
Crosby, Stills & Nash is a folk rock supergroup made up of David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash, also known as Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young when joined by occasional fourth member Neil Young...
and Harvest, Young took an abrupt artistic turn with the soundtrack and film Journey Through the Past
Journey Through the Past
Journey Through the Past is a soundtrack album from the film of the same name by Neil Young, released in November of 1972 on Reprise Records, catalogue 6480. It peaked at #45 on the Billboard 200, and since its initial release on vinyl, cassette tape and 8-track tape cartridge it has remained out...
. His next three albums cemented this move. Much of this work is characterized by loose, almost "sloppy" playing, a type of performance which Young encouraged. Lyrical themes from this time include the hollowness of show business and commercial success ("LA" from Time Fades Away
Time Fades Away
Time Fades Away is a 1973 live album by Neil Young, consisting of previously unreleased material. It was recorded with The Stray Gators on the tour following 1972's highly successful Harvest and has not been reissued on CD due to Young's dissatisfaction with that particular series of concerts...
), the toll exacted by hard drug use, specifically the heroin-related deaths of former Crazy Horse
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:...
guitarist 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....
and roadie Bruce Berry
Bruce Berry
Bruce Berry was a professional roadie for the members of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, both as a group and individually. He got his start by working at his brother Ken's store SIR which brought him steady gigs. His happy, charismatic personality endeared him to the group and he was always on the...
(the title track of Tonight's the Night), and other, less specific but still downbeat subject matter.
The three albums of the Ditch Trilogy (also known as the "Doom Trilogy", or the "Depression Trilogy") are:
- Time Fades AwayTime Fades AwayTime Fades Away is a 1973 live album by Neil Young, consisting of previously unreleased material. It was recorded with The Stray Gators on the tour following 1972's highly successful Harvest and has not been reissued on CD due to Young's dissatisfaction with that particular series of concerts...
, RepriseReprise RecordsReprise 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:...
1973 - On the Beach, RepriseReprise RecordsReprise 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:...
1974 - Tonight's the Night, RepriseReprise RecordsReprise 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:...
1975
Young would return to commercial clover with the CSNY reunion tour in 1974, by which time all of the material for the above albums had been recorded. He followed up Tonight's the Night with Zuma
Zuma (album)
Zuma is the seventh studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, his second with Crazy Horse, released in 1975. Some believe the album was named after Zuma Beach in Malibu; however, it seems more logical that the title comes from Montezuma, as he is featured prominently in the song Cortez The...
, a loose but more upbeat record in the vein of 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...
. Sleeps with Angels
Sleeps with Angels
Sleeps With Angels is the twenty-second studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, his sixth with Crazy Horse, released on the Warner Bros. Records/Reprise label....
, an album Young recorded with Crazy Horse
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:...
following Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
's suicide in 1994, is seen by some critics as thematically linked to the ditch trilogy.