Crazy Horse: Downtown 1971

 

In 1971 Crazy Horse were at a loose end. After being plucked out of obscurity two years earlier by Neil Young. When he changed their name from The Rockets to Crazy Horse and used them to record his second solo album (Everyone Knows This Is Nowhere). They then tour with him and recorded bits of his third album (After The Gold Rush).  Now they were unemployed again as the ever-restless Neil Young wanted to work with different musicians and had Cosby, Stills, Nash & Young commitments. They decided to capitalize on their newfound fame. Keeping the name Crazy Horse they recorded an album.

Downtown was the only single released - at the time - from the album. In different markets different songs were used as the B-side for example in France it was Crow Jane Lady. On the version I have its Dance, Dance, Dance. Although the mp3s are take from a CD not the vinyl. 

Downtown was written by the guitarist Danny Whitten and Neil Young. A version recorded live at the Fillmore East in 1970 appears on Neil Young’s 1975’s Tonight’s The Night.  The B-side Dance, Dance, Dance is sung by the drummer Ralph Molina. It was written solely by Neil Young. In 1975 he re-wrote the lyrics calling it Love Is A Rose and gave it to Linda Ronstadt to record. Neil Young’s own version appeared on his 1977 compilation album Decade.

Danny Whitten                        Guitar, lead vocals
Ralph Molina                                 Drums, vocals
Billy Talbot                                        Bass, vocals
Nils Lofgren                                    Guitar, vocals
Jack Nitzsche                                  Piano, vocals

Produced by        Jack Nitzsche & Bruce Botnick

Downtown
Dance, Dance, Dance

As a bonus here's the original 'I Don't Want To Talk About It.' Taken from the Crazy Horse album. It was written by guitarist the late Danny Whitten.
I Don't Want To Talk About It
And the Linda Ronstadt's 'Love Is A Rose'. To compare with Dance, Dance, Dance
Lind Ronstadt - Love Is A Rose