Hi, everyone. Welcome to this week’s edition of Music Monday.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Neil Young will turn 80 years young next week. Born November 12, 1945 in Toronto, Canada, he was in his first band while he was in junior high but eventually quit school to pursue music on a full time basis. While playing in local clubs with the band The Squires, he met Stephen Stills & eventually the two men (and three others) formed Buffalo Springfield in Los Angeles in 1966. Their song, “For What It’s Worth” was written by Stills to reflect the pushback the counterculture was experiencing at that time. Despite that early success, the band broke up two years later due to internal & external struggles.

Young released his self-titled debut album in 1968. He would join Stills again in Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young from 1969-1970 where he found his own words of protest when he wrote, “Ohio” about the 1970 Kent State college campus tragedies. Young continued his solo work which eventually became his main focus. Fast forward nearly 60 years later, Young has obtained legendary status, is still making music and supporting causes he believes in like one of his own, Farm Aid, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in September (more about that here).

My favorite song by Young was released in 1972 on his fourth studio album, Harvest. A 50th anniversary edition deluxe CD box set came out in December 2022. It includes a DVD of a concert recorded on February 23, 1971 at the BBC Radio Theatre in London, England & first broadcast in the the UK on April 1, 1971. Two videos from that performance were uploaded to Young’s YouTube channel. Despite having heard those songs thousands of times before, there is something about his voice in this show that makes me ache for a home I no longer have. Sigh.

Happy birthday, Neil Young. Thank you for every song.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Top: Neil Young circa 1972. Bottom: The artist on stage at Farm Aid 40 in September 2025. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs by Derek & The Dominos was released 55 years ago on November 9, 1970. It is the group’s only album but the title song remains one of the most iconic & definitive songs in classic rock’s illustrious history. The band-which consisted of Eric Clapton on guitar & vocals, Jim Gordon on drums, Carl Radle on bass and Bobby Whitlock on piano and vocals-initially met as members of Delaney & Bonnie and Friends and formed when all four men were together during the 1970 recording sessions for George Harrison’s extraordinary debut album, All Things Must Pass.

As if Clapton’s lyrics & angst ridden vocals combined with the band’s electrifying sound were not powerful enough on their own, guest musician Duane Allman brought his own remarkable spin with his lead & slide guitar contributions. He & Clapton were already fans of one another and finally met when their mutual producer, Tom Dowd, brought the Dominos to an Allman Brothers show just as the Layla sessions were starting in August 1970. Allman wanted to come to the studio and Clapton insisted he bring his guitar. History was made with Allman playing on 11 of 14 tracks-nine originals and five cover songs-including Jimi Hendrix’s, “Little Wing”.

Clapton-the surviving member of the band-has continued to play several of the tracks throughout his career. He reconfigured the title song into a slower number without the piano coda for his “Unplugged” performance in 1992. It became a Top 20 song that fall.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Top: Derek & The Dominos 1970 album. Middle: The band (L-R): Eric Clapton, Bobby Whitlock, Jim Gordon and Carl Radle. Bottom: A photo from August or September 1970 during the recording of the album (L-R): Duane Allman, Gordon, Radle, Whitlock and Clapton (seated). (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Patti Smith’s debut album, Horses, was released 50 years ago on November 10, 1975. She was one of the first performers to contribute to the punk rock genre by combining her poetry with music as a means to celebrate both art forms. The album’s eight tracks are original songs with two of them using excerpts from rock classics.

The album cover is a photograph of Smith taken by her friend, Robert Mapplethorpe. On Day 67 of my Lockdown Countdown, I mentioned how much I loved her 2010 book. Specifically I wrote, “If you are a fan of Smith’s writing, I encourage you to read her memoir, “Just Kids”.  It is about her life in the late 1960’s/early 1970’s when she was living in Manhattan and met artist Robert Mapplethorpe.  It is a great read and she tells their story beautifully.” I echo those sentiments today.

Initially Smith’s androgenous look in the photo for the album was met with some resistance by her record company, Arista. But Smith insisted and eventually the president of the label, Clive Davis-who signed her to his label after seeing her perform at NYC’s legendary club, CBGB-gave it his blessing.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Top: Patti Smith’s 1975 debut album. Bottom: The cover of Smith’s 2010 memoir features a photo of her & Robert Mapplethorpe on the cover. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young: “Helpless” (1970, written by Neil Young).

Neil Young: “Heart Of Gold” (Live performance recorded on February 23rd 1971 at the BBC Radio Theatre in London, England. First broadcast in the UK on April 1st 1971. The video debuted in December 2022 for the 50th Anniversary Edition of Harvest, originally released in 1972. Written by Neil Young).

Neil Young: “Old Man” (Live performance recorded on February 23, 1971 at the BBC Radio Theatre in London, England. First broadcast in the UK on April 1, 1971. The video debuted in December 2022 for the 50th Anniversary Edition of Harvest, originally released in 1972. Written by Neil Young).

Neil Young: “Powderfinger” (1979, written by Neil Young).

Derek & The Dominos: “Layla” (1970, written by Eric Clapton and Jim Gordon).

Derek & The Dominos: “Bell Bottom Blues” (1970, written by Eric Clapton and Bobby Whitlock).

Patti Smith: “Gloria (part one: “In Excelsis Deo” / part two: “Gloria” (1975, part one written by Patti Smith, part two written by Van Morrison).

Stay safe & well.