Neil Young Readies ‘Lost’ Album ‘Oceanside Countryside’ For Release

Neil Young will release his “lost” album, Oceanside Countryside, on February 14 through Reprise Records. Young previewed the album recorded in 1977 by sharing the album track, “Field Of Opportunity.”

The latest installment in Young’s Analog Original Series (AOS), Oceanside Countryside was recorded between May and December 1977. The unreleased album was recorded ahead of sessions for Comes A Time, which was released in 1978. Three songs appear on both albums, “Field Of Opportunity,” “Goin’ Back” and “Human Highway.”

Additionally “Lost in Space,” “Captain Kennedy” and “The Old Homestead” appear on both Oceanside Countryside and Young’s 1980 LP, Hawks & Doves. The tracks “Field of Opportunity” and “Dance Dance Dance” are from the original versions featuring Young on backing vocals instead of Nicolette Larson.

Young shared a statement regarding Oceanside Countryside finally getting the opportunity to be officially released:

“This analog original album was recorded in 1977 and unreleased. These songs are the original mixes done at the time of the recordings in the order I planned for the album. I sang the vocals and played the instruments on Oceanside in Florida at Triad studios and Malibu at Indigo studio.

“I sang the vocals and recorded with my great band of friends, Ben Keith [pedal steel guitar], Joe Osborne [bass], Karl T. Himmel [drumms], and Rufus Thibodeaux [fiddle] at Crazy Mama’s in Nashville on Countryside. I hope you enjoy this treasure of an Analog Original recording, recorded by Tim Mulligan, as much as I do. Listening to it now, I think I should have put it out back then.”

The track “The Old Homestead” was recorded by Young with Tim Drummond on bass and The Band’s Levon Helm on drums. “Pocahontas” is a solo Young performance.

Listen to the newly shared version of “Field Of Opportunity” below:

Oceanside Countryside Tracklist

Side One: Oceanside

1. Sail Away
2. Lost In Space
3. Captain Kennedy
4. Goin’ Back
5. Human Highway

Side Two: Countryside

1. Field Of Opportunity
2. Dance Dance Dance
3. The Old Homestead
4. It Might Have Been
5. Pocahontas