"Hello Lonely Woman" was one of the first songs that Neil Young ever wrote. When he released The Archives Vol. 1 in 2009, a disc of Early Years (1963-1965) included an acoustic version of the song, performed by Neil with Comrie Smith. Now, Neil has released a version of the song recorded in 1988 with his 10-man blues band, The Bluenotes. Listen above on Neil's official YouTube.
Neil Young's brief output with The Bluenotes as a backing band was restricted to just one album, This Note's For You, in 1988. This was largely because Young was going through a period during the '80s when he was making albums that experimented with different styles and band lineups, before returning to top form in 1989. Many consider the '80s period to be the low point of Young's career, and he was actually sued by his own record label in 1983 for making music that was "not commercial." The demise of The Bluenotes was also due to the fact that Harold Melvin (founder of Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes) sued Young to prevent him from using the name. After that, the group went by the moniker "Ten Men Workin'," but Neil went on to other projects and hasn't come back to the big blues band setup for an album or tour since.
The track above is taken from a new archival release titled Bluenote Café. The release will be a 4 LP or 2 CD set, culled from 11 different concerts from 1987 to 1988. This particular cut was recorded at a venue called The World in New York City on April 18, 1988. It's a little stiff compared to other bootleg versions of the song that are floating around with more captivating leads. It does show Young getting back to his roots, while also trying things he had never done as a professional. This is a fun track that's interesting for hardcore fans and collectors, but not even close to Neil Young's best work.
Set to be officially released on November 13, 2015, you can pick up Bluenote Café on Amazon (Vinyl, CD, MP3).
We've also heard a previously unreleased version of "Crime In The City" from Bluenote Café, which you can listen to here on Zumic as well.
For Neil Young's latest music, news, and tour dates, check out his Zumic artist page.
