Just before his renown 1971 Massey Hall set, Neil Young booked a December 1970 stand at New York’s Carnegie Hall with a number of recently written, now classic, tunes in tow. The Toronto homecoming and NYC gig would inevitably help cement his new new material for the ages, but first Young warmed up the solo act in a more intimate club, playing a week at Washington D.C.’s Cellar Door. These shows are notable for many of the same reasons Young fans love the Massey Hall release, though this archival set — out next week — is even more raw and rife with off-the-cuff-energy. Below, hear the first time “Old Man” was performed live, “Birds” (one of my favorite Neil songs), and more from Young’s late-1970 run. “Cinnamon Girl” is played for the first time on piano above.
