Neil Young’s Harvest was the best selling album of 1972. The record’s popularity was due largely to the success of singles “Old Man” and “Heart of Gold,” Young’s first and only number one single. There are a number of celebrity guest appearances and the London Symphony Orchestra performs on two tracks. As Harvest has been overanalyzed by critics and writers for over 40 years, I’ve decided to explore some of the stranger, but true, details of the writing and recording process.
Young kept David Crosby locked up in cage, feeding him only raw meat and PCP. When he felt Crosby was in the proper state of mind, he let him out just long enough to contribute backing vocals on two tracks.
“The Needle and the Damage Done” was recorded live on January 30th, 1971 at a show at UCLA. To evoke the proper emotion, Young had a roadie stick a needle into his left testicle while singing and playing guitar.
Stevie Nicks was originally supposed to duet with Young on the title track, but left the session before singing a single note. Her assistant wasn’t with her and she was unable to find anyone to blow cocaine up her b-hole.
Waylon Jennings released a far inferior rendition of “Are You Ready for the Country?” in 1976 which reached number seven on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. Young once commented to a friend that “my shits sound better than that.”
“There’s A World” was recorded immediately after Young’s first homosexual experience, which he thoroughly enjoyed. Young scribbled down “Take it in and blow hard,” which ended up as the final line in the chorus.
James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt were recruited to sing backup on “Heart of Gold” and “Old Man.” To loosen up, Young insisted on having a three-way before they recorded, where they tried out the “Eiffel Tour” among other positions.
Young claimed “Old Man” was written about Louis Avila, the caretaker of his Broken Arrow Ranch. The truth is that Young got super drunk at a bar in Half Moon Bay and got into a fight with a man 30 years his senior.
When he was unable to think of lyrics for “Out on the Weekend,” Young sacrificed a chicken, covered his naked body in its blood, and called on the Dark Lord to assist him in the songwriting process.
The electric-based songs were recorded in a barn at Young’s ranch. If you listen closely to “Words” at 3:48, you can faintly hear Young’s horse stomping around.
The lyrics to “A Man Needs a Maid” were written after Young had an argument with his girlfriend regarding him being too lazy to cook or clean up after himself. He later apologized for what he called his “sexist, immature remarks.”
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