A Treasure

A Treasure
A Treasure
Live album by Neil Young
Released	June 14, 2011
Recorded	1984-1985
Genre	Country, rock
Length	52:43
Label	Reprise
Producer	Neil Young, Ben Keith
Neil Young chronology
Archives Performance Series chronology
Singles from A Treasure
	"Grey Riders"; Released: May 20, 2011;

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	^[1]
Robert Christgau	A−^[2]
Pitchfork	7.3/10^[3]
Rolling Stone	^[4]

A Treasure is a live album by Canadian / American musician Neil Young, released on June 14, 2011, featuring performances from his 1984-1985 U.S. tour with the International Harvesters. The album is volume nine in Young's Archives Performance Series and the sixth to be released.^[5]

Background[]

The album results from a tour following Young's recording what he later called the first Old Ways, an album of country music that his record company refused to release since they claimed it wasn't commercial enough. In this period, the early to mid-eighties, Young played music in many different genres.^[6] His backing band, the "International Harvesters", consisted of professional country musicians from Nashville some of whom had also played (as "The Shocking Pinks") on his rock and roll album Everybody's Rockin'. The album contains old Young songs and newer songs from Old Ways.^[4] It contains five previously unreleased songs (tracks 1, 5, 8, 11, and 12).

According to Young, the album's name comes from Ben Keith. "I hadn't heard these takes in 25 years, but when we unearthed them co-producer Ben Keith said, 'This is a treasure.'" ^[7]

Track listing[]

All songs written by Neil Young except where indicated.

"Amber Jean" – 3:17
- Recorded for Nashville Now TV, Nashville, 9/20/1984.
"Are You Ready for the Country?" – 3:39
- Recorded at Riverbend Music Center, Cincinnati, 9/21/1984.
"It Might Have Been" (Ronnie Green, Harriet Kane) – 2:43
- Recorded for Austin City Limits TV, Austin, 9/25/1984.
"Bound for Glory" – 5:59
- Recorded at Gilleys Rodeo Arena, Pasadena, TX, 9/29/1984.
"Let Your Fingers Do the Walking" – 3:03
- Recorded at Universal Amphitheater, Universal City, CA, 10/22/1984.
"Flying on the Ground Is Wrong" – 4:48
- Recorded at Greek Theater, Berkeley, CA, 10/26/1984.
"Motor City" – 3:22
- Recorded at Greek Theater, Berkeley, CA, 10/26/1984.
"Soul of a Woman" – 4:28
- Recorded at Greek Theater, Berkeley, CA, 10/26/1984.
"Get Back to the Country" – 2:31
- Recorded at Greek Theater, Berkeley, CA, 10/26/1984.
"Southern Pacific" – 7:53
- Recorded at Minnesota State Fair, St. Paul, 9/1/1985.
"Nothing Is Perfect" – 5:02
- Recorded at Minnesota State Fair, St. Paul, 9/1/1985.
"Grey Riders" – 5:58
- Recorded at Pier 84, New York, 9/10/1985.

Personnel[]

Neil Young – guitar, vocals
Ben "Long Grain" Keith – pedal steel guitar, lap slide guitar, stringman, vocals
Anthony Crawford – guitar, banjo, vocals
Rufus Thibodeaux – fiddle
Spooner Oldham – piano
Tim Drummond – bass
Karl T. Himmel – drums
Hargus "Pig" Robbins – piano (on tracks 10, 11, 12)
Joe Allen – bass (on tracks 10, 11, 12)
Matraca Berg & Tracy Nelson – background vocals (on track 11)

Audio Production[]

Recorded and Mixed by Tim Mulligan, except track 1 by Terry Farris and track 3 by Jeff Peterson
Mastering by Tim Mulligan at Redwood Digital, Woodside CA
NYA Research by: John Nowland and Joel Bernstein

Blu-ray Production[]

Directed by: Bernard Shakey
Produced by: Will Mitchell
Executive Producer: Elliot Rabinowitz
Editor: Atticus Culver-Rease
Blu-ray Authoring, programming at MX, San Francisco, CA
Post Production at Upstream Multimedia
Graphics: Kris Kunz
Production Assistance: Hannah Johnson, Mark Faulkner
Licensing: Marcy Gensic
Research: Anthony Crawford, Archives Guy, Mark Golley
Archival concert video footage courtesy of: Jay Flanzraich, Robert Sampimon
“Nashville Now” footage used with permission by CMT
Additional footage courtesy of BBC, used with permission
International Harvesters photos courtesy of Pegi Young
Joe Allen photo: courtesy of Steve Cross

Tech Notes and Credits film:

Directed by: Bernard Shakey
Produced by: Neil Young
Camera: Benjamin Johnson
Sound: Will Mitchell

Chart performance[]

Chart (2011)	Peak position
Canadian Albums Chart	18
U.S. Billboard 200	29
U.S. Billboard Top Rock Albums	7

External links[]

Neil Young official site A Treasure page featuring a video of tech notes on the album

Notes[]

^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "A Treasure – Review". Allmusic. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
^ Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Neil Young". Robert Christgau's Consumer Guide. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
^ Berman, Stuart (June 17, 2011). "Neil Young / International Harvesters: Archives Performance Series Vol. 9: A Treasure". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Greene, Andy (9 June 2011). "Rev. of Neil Young, A Treasure". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
^ "Thrasher's Wheat – A Treasure". Neil Young. Thrasher's Wheat. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
^ Gill, Andy (17 June 2012). "Rev. of Neil Young International Harvesters, A Treasure". The Independent. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
^ "Thrasher's Wheat – A Treasure: New Neil Young Album Coming". Neil Young. Thrasher's Wheat. Retrieved 12 June 2011.

[AMG-1] Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "A Treasure – Review". Allmusic. Retrieved 25 June 2011.

[2] Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Neil Young". Robert Christgau's Consumer Guide. Retrieved 28 August 2011.

[Pitchfork-3] Berman, Stuart (June 17, 2011). "Neil Young / International Harvesters: Archives Performance Series Vol. 9: A Treasure". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 29, 2019.

[greene-4] Jump up to: ^a ^b Greene, Andy (9 June 2011). "Rev. of Neil Young, A Treasure". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 25 June 2012.

[5] "Thrasher's Wheat – A Treasure". Neil Young. Thrasher's Wheat. Retrieved 1 June 2011.

[6] Gill, Andy (17 June 2012). "Rev. of Neil Young International Harvesters, A Treasure". The Independent. Retrieved 25 June 2012.

[7] "Thrasher's Wheat – A Treasure: New Neil Young Album Coming". Neil Young. Thrasher's Wheat. Retrieved 12 June 2011.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]