3 Songs in Defense of Neil Young’s Most Divisive Era

“The more they tried to stop me, the more I did it. Just to let them know that no one’s gonna tell me what to do.”

That’s how Neil Young described his relationship with Geffen Records to Rolling Stone in 1988. The record label famously sued Young because it alleged his albums weren’t sufficiently commercial.

Geffen’s $3.3 million lawsuit against Young claimed his new albums were “musically uncharacteristic of [his] previous recordings.” The suit was eventually settled and after three more albums with Geffen, Young returned to Reprise for This Note’s for You in 1988.

Young’s Geffen years have divided his fans more than any other in his long career. His recent Archives Vol. III collection covers the years 1976–1987. The massive 198-track set documents his transformation across a musically diverse and tumultuous decade.

This list highlights (and defends) three must-hear songs from Young’s most divisive period.

“Computer Age” from Trans (1982)

Many marquee names were lost in an ’80s wilderness, including Bob Dylan. Neil Young’s electronic album left diehards flummoxed and many others angry. But Trans was inspired by Young’s attempts to communicate with his son Ben, who was born with cerebral palsy. Though surprising at the time, his 13th studio album is both heartbreakingly moving and ahead of its time. A new wave effort from the godfather of grunge, taking his Sennheiser VSM201 vocoder to its limits.

When I see the light
I know I’m more than just a number
And I stand by you
Or else we just don’t see the other

“Mystery Train” from Everybody’s Rockin’ (1983)

When David Geffen signed Young in 1982, Trans wasn’t the kind of album he had in mind. Following Young’s synth-heavy experiment, Geffen asked for a “rock” album. Young responded by forming a backing band called the Shocking Pinks, greased his hair, and recorded a collection of 1950s-era rockabilly tunes. His cover of Junior Parker’s “Mystery Train” sounds like Young and his band had a good time throwing the middle finger.

Train, train, coming down, down the line (Mystery train, mystery train)
Will it’s bringing back my baby, because she’s mine all mine

“Are There Any More Real Cowboys?” from Old Ways (1985)

Young returned to country rock on Old Ways. Geffen had rejected an earlier attempt at a country album following Trans. So, after releasing Everybody’s Rockin’, Young headed to Nashville and leaned further into country music. He recorded an album using musicians from Harvest and Comes a Time. Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson—two artists familiar with contrarian relationships with the music industry—appear on the album, too. “Are There Any More Real Cowboys?” is a lamenting duet with Nelson. Just two outlaws searching for something real.

Are there any more real cowboys
Left out in these hills?
Will the fire hit the iron, one more time?
And will one more dusty pick-up
Coming rolling down the road
With a load of feed before the sun gets high?
Well, I hope that working cowboy never dies

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