Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesEarly Daze is an archival album, not a newly recorded Neil Young release: its ten tracks document the first Crazy Horse lineup in 1969, with Danny Whitten credited on guitar and vocals alongside Young, Ralph Molina, Billy Talbot and Jack Nitzsche. Released June 28, 2024, the 38-minute collection is most compelling as a portrait of that ensemble taking shape—and as a map of how familiar songs changed across early versions and mixes.
A 1969 snapshot, released in 2024
The official release description dates all ten recordings to 1969 and identifies the lineup as Young with Whitten, Molina, Talbot and Nitzsche. It is the same group that played the performances later issued as Live at the Fillmore East, recorded March 6–7, 1970. The official album listing credits Whitten as guitarist and vocalist, not as the group’s sole frontman. That distinction matters: the set brings his presence into focus while remaining a band document.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Early Daze | $24.50 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
YOUNG NEIL - BIG TIME | $32.47 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Neil Young - Harvest (Songbook) (Guitar Recorded Versions) | $23.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Neil Young Greatest Hits - Easy Guitar Songbook with Notes and Tab | 16 Classic Songs for Beginners... | $19.87 | Buy on Amazon |
Its appeal lies in the contrast between the songs’ still-forming identities and the rough, collaborative sound of the group around them. Apple Music’s editorial description frames the material as a meeting of “folk prettiness” and rock abrasion, calling attention to a vulnerable “Winterlong,” a trudging “Helpless,” and loose, raw takes of “Down by the River” and “Come On Baby Let’s Go Downtown.” Those are platform-editorial characterizations, but they point to the album’s central interest: hearing these songs in forms that do not yet feel fixed.
What is on Early Daze?
The official sequence is:
- “Dance Dance Dance”
- “Come On Baby Let’s Go Downtown”
- “Winterlong”
- “Everybody’s Alone”
- “Wonderin’”
- “Cinnamon Girl”
- “Look at All the Things”
- “Helpless”
- “Birds”
- “Down by the River”
The official store says “Dance Dance Dance” was the only previously released track and that none of these recordings had appeared on LP before. That does not mean every performance was wholly unknown: several songs had appeared in other forms, and some selections here are alternate mixes or versions rather than entirely new compositions. Pitchfork’s May 17, 2024 announcement identifies six songs presented in their first incarnation: “Come On Baby Let’s Go Downtown,” “Winterlong,” “Wonderin’,” “Look at All the Things,” “Helpless” and “Down by the River.”
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →#1 Best Overall
- Dance Dance Dance
- Come on Baby Let's Go Downtown
- Winterlong
- Everybody's Alone
- Wonderin'
How these versions differ from familiar releases
The album’s archival value becomes clearer when its specific versions are separated from the broader claim that the songs are “unreleased.” The official descriptions identify the following distinctions:
| Track | What is distinctive about this version |
|---|---|
| “Everybody’s Alone” | A different mix from the version on Neil Young Archives, Vol. 1 (1963–1972). |
| “Cinnamon Girl” | The original 7-inch mono mix, released April 20, 1970, with a guitar outro absent from the LP version. |
| “Birds” | An unreleased stereo mix; its mono mix had appeared as the B-side of “Only Love Can Break Your Heart.” |
| “Down by the River” | An alternate-vocal version; Pitchfork lists this performance among the six songs presented in their first incarnation. |
| “Dance Dance Dance” | The only track the official store identifies as previously released; it also says none of the ten recordings had previously appeared on LP. |
The wording around “Cinnamon Girl” is especially precise: this is not simply an alternate performance claim but the original single’s mono mix, including an ending omitted from the LP version. “Birds” offers the opposite sort of comparison, pairing an unreleased stereo mix with a mono B-side familiar from the single. The result is less a set of ten uniformly unseen recordings than a compact lesson in how mixes, edits and early performances shape a catalog.
Rank #2
Does the album put Danny Whitten front and center?
It does so by making his role audible within a defined lineup, not by recasting the band around him. The official credits place Whitten on guitar and vocals, alongside Molina’s drums and vocals, Talbot’s bass and vocals, and Nitzsche’s keyboards, tambourine and vocals, with Young. That shared credit supports hearing Whitten as a central member of the early Crazy Horse sound; it does not establish that he leads every track or displaces Young as the group’s focal figure.
For listeners interested in Whitten, the value is contextual. The album presents him as part of the group’s working musical fabric—one of several credited voices and instrumentalists—rather than isolating him in a solo showcase. Its broader subject is the chemistry of the original lineup as it interprets songs that would continue to evolve.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallCrashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWho is Early Daze for?
Established Young and Crazy Horse listeners are best placed to appreciate the version-to-version comparisons, especially the single mix of “Cinnamon Girl,” the alternate “Everybody’s Alone,” and the stereo “Birds.” For a newer listener, the sequence still offers a concise entry into the first lineup and the push-pull between gentler melodies and a looser rock attack. But because it is an archival collection of early recordings and variants, it is more revealing as a companion to the better-known catalog than as a definitive introduction to these songs.
Apple Music lists ten tracks and a 38-minute duration. The album was released June 28, 2024. Official listings show LP and CD editions; the US official LP and CD pages showed sold out when accessed, while Warner Music Canada had an LP listing. Availability may change by territory and date.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Easy Guitar with Notes & Tab
- Pages: 72
- Instrumentation: Guitar
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
