Neil Young’s ‘lost’ album Homegrown to be released after 45 years

'It’s the sad side of a love affair. The damage done. The heartache. I just couldn’t listen to it. I wanted to move on'

Intended for release in 1975, ‘Homegrown’ retains the country-rock sound of Young’s ’Harvest’, but has more of an intimate feel (Rebecca Cabag/AP)

Neil Young’s ‘lost’ 1975 album Homegrown is set for release next month, 45 years after it was first completed.

Arriving on 19 June via Reprise Records, the 12-track album is described by Young as “the unheard bridge between Harvest and Comes a Time”.

Five tracks from the record went on to be placed on Young’s other albums, including “Love Is A Rose”, “Homegrown”, “White Line”, “Little Wing” and “Star Of Bethlehem”.

Confirming its release, Young wrote: “I apologise. This album Homegrown should have been there for you a couple of years after Harvest. It’s the sad side of a love affair. The damage done. The heartache. I just couldn’t listen to it. I wanted to move on.

“So I kept it to myself, hidden away in the vault, on the shelf, in the back of my mind….but I should have shared it. It’s actually beautiful. That’s why I made it in the first place.

“Sometimes life hurts. You know what I mean. This is the one that got away. Recorded in analogue in 1974 and early 1975 from the original master tapes and restored with love and care by John Hanlon.

“Levon Helm is drumming on some tracks, Karl T Himmel on others, Emmylou Harris singing on one, Homegrown contains a narration, several acoustic solo songs never even published or heard until this release and some great songs played with a great band of my friends, including Ben Keith – steel and slide – Tim Drummond – bass and Stan Szelest – piano.

“Anyway, it’s coming your way in 2020, the first release from our archive in the new decade. Come with us into 2020 as we bring the past.”

The announcement comes after Young confirmed Road of Plenty, an archival album consisting of music made during his 1986 world tour with his band Crazy Horse. Road of Plenty is set for release next year.