Full Breakdown
Neil Young and Chrome Hearts Unveil New Album Featuring 1963 Songs
4/24/2026, 11:47:26 AM
Core Event: New Album Completion with Archival Material
Neil Young announced that his band, the Chrome Hearts, finished mastering a new album at Rick Rubin’s Shangri-La studio in Malibu. The record includes three unreleased songs Young wrote in 1963 while with The Squires in Winnipeg. A blog post titled “Moon to Moon” first disclosed the project; the album’s title remains unrevealed.
Background & Context: From Early Band to Recent Projects
In 1963, 17-year-old Young left high school and performed with The Squires in Winnipeg. He later joined Buffalo Springfield in 1966, launching his career. His prior album, *Talkin’ to the Trees*, appeared less than a year before this new project, prompting a swift studio return.
Key Figures & Groups
- Neil Young – singer-songwriter, author of the 1963 songs.
- Chrome Hearts – backing band for the new album.
- Rick Rubin – owner of Shangri-La studio where mastering occurred.
- Taylor Swift – mentioned in Young’s analog-format appeal.
Timeline
April 11, 2024 – Young posted a blog noting a summer release and analog vinyl pressing.
Early 2024 (Tuesday) – Mastering at Shangri-La completed.
The album’s material, including the three 1963 songs, was assembled within roughly one month.
Why It Matters / Impact
Including songs from Young’s teenage years shows his practice of revisiting early work. His call for artists to “go analog” reflects a critique of digital distribution, reinforced by his removal of music from Amazon and earlier Spotify withdrawal. Emphasizing analog vinyl may affect market interest in physical formats.
Official Statements & Responses
Young said the band “needed more” material, prompting a search of his archives that uncovered the 1963 songs. In his blog, he urged artists to prioritize analog formats for better sound and announced a return to record-store sales to support independent distribution, reiterating his opposition to corporate control of music.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We needed more,” — Neil Young
- “The next morning I had a song going through my head and was playing it. I checked it out in the archives and found it was from 1963, unreleased. There were more.” — Neil Young
- “go analog so people can hear the difference, Taylor!” — Neil Young
- “I still have a choice and will go back to record stores 100% to support the people. Nuff said.” — Neil Young
What's Next
Young expects a summer release, with the album issued on analog vinyl. Further details, including the official title and distribution plan, will be announced via his blog and press releases.
