Neil Young, Hawks & Doves (1980)

It’s easy sometimes to agree with the conventional wisdom that Neil Young released/releases some filler. I’ve certainly always admired the way he just moves on, he keeps moving, almost ignoring the album as soon as it has dropped. If it resonates then so it does. If not then it’s still there – in some sense. Or it’s like it never was. But conventional wisdom is just that: conventional. And Neil Young isn’t just that. So I reckon if you’ve ignored Hawks & Doves you could/should give it another try. It never really worked for me when it was reissued on CD – in 2003. But I dug out the LP and gave it another go. Always loved his Little Wing. And I reckon that even on the crummiest Neil Young album you’ll find one or two gems. You find that here. Easily. It was a great Sunday afternoon LP. Sure, it was cobbled together and it includes some leftovers but Neil Young always has a gem or two. And this album – less than 30 minutes long – won’t trouble you too much if you don’t find something to dig.

Sample Track: The Old Homestead

The Vinyl Countdown is a document of every LP I listen to, brand new discoveries and old-old favourites; extremely pre-loved, previously abandoned or with the shrink-wrap having just been removed it’s all here at The Vinyl Countdown