Heart of Gold (Neil Young song)

Heart of Gold from the album Harvest is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young, and the only number 1 hit in his long musical career.

Background

The song, in which James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt participated as a backing singer, comes from a series of gentle acoustic pieces, which are partly due to a back injury of the musician. Young was due to the injury not long standing and playing electric guitar. Therefore, he played acoustic guitar, which he could play sitting down.

The song was included in the Quadrafonic Studios in Nashville, Tennessee as part of the sessions for the album Harvest 1971. Ronstadt and Taylor were at this time in Nashville, to act in the TV program of Johnny Cash, and the producer of the album, Elliot Mazer, she engaged as a background singer.

Cover versions

The song has been covered by, among others, Boney M., Matchbox Twenty, Tori Amos, Free Dominguez, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Richard Lloyd, Sheryl Crow, Bettye LaVette, Zakk Wylde, Carla Cook, Lawrence Gowan, Stereophonics, Rockapella, Roxette, James Last Orchestra, Sally Dworsky, Dave Matthews, Jimmy Buffett, Bela B. and Charles Bradley.

Reception

The Rolling Stone Magazine chose the song at number 297 of the 500 best songs of all time.

2005 Heart of Gold from CBC Radio One third best Canadian song of all time was chosen.