Tuesday’s Tune: Cowgirl in The Sand

“I wanna tell you somethin’: Neil’s never been insecure about anything in his fuckin’ life. First among equals is Neil Young, and it’s always been that way. When neil’s got an axe in his hand, it’s like the Hulk. His aura becomes solid – he becomes eight feet tall, six foot wide. The only guy other than John Lennon who can actually go from folk to country to full orchestra. The only guy. I think when it’s all written down, he will unquestionably stand in the top five that ever made rock and roll.”

– David Briggs, interviewed by Jimmy McDonough for his book Shakey.

This recording of ‘Cowgirl in the Sand’ is from Neil Young & Crazy Horse’s Boston performance, 1976.

“We first met Neil and jammed with him a little in Laurel Canyon when he was in the Buffalo Springfield and The Rockets were just coming together,” says Billy Talbot. “Later, Neil heard our album, really liked it, and he sat in with us at The Whisky. Then he wanted to record this song, ‘Cinnamon Girl,’ with Danny, Ralph and me. So we went up to Neil’s studio in Topanga Canyon to work on that one song.”

The March 1969 session went so well that Young invited the musicians back to record “Cowgirl In the Sand,” “Down By the River” and the rest of the songs that would fill ‘Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere,’ the first album by Neil Young & Crazy Horse (the new name Young had bestowed upon Molina, Talbot and Whitten).

Enjoy!

Neil Young: Guitar, Keyboards, Banjo, Harmonica, Vocals
Frank Sampedro: Guitar, Keyboadrs, Vocals
Billy Talbot: Bass, Vocals
Ralph Molina: Drums, Vocals