Neil Young’s Oceanside Countryside: A Long-Lost Album Finally Sees the Light of Day

The Lost Album That Almost Was

In the spring of 1977, shortly after releasing American Stars ‘n Bars—a record comprised of both new material and tracks dating back to 1974—Neil Young returned to the studio to work on his next album. By then, he had already recorded and abandoned multiple projects in the preceding years, but his prolific nature pushed him forward once again. This time, he was joined by a familiar cast of musicians, including pedal steel guitarist Ben Keith and drummer Levon Helm, as he shaped a collection of songs that would become Oceanside Countryside.

Like several of Young’s other shelved records from the ’70s—such as Homegrown, Hitchhiker, and Chrome Dreams—Oceanside Countryside remained unreleased for decades. The album was ultimately replaced in Young’s discography by Comes a Time (1978), an album that shared some of its material but underwent extensive overdubbing before its official release. Now, over forty years later, Oceanside Countryside finally sees the light of day as part of the Neil Young Archives’ Analog Original Series, restoring Young’s original 1977 vision.

A Familiar Yet Fresh Perspective

Fans of Neil Young will recognize many of the songs on Oceanside Countryside, though they appear here in their earliest, unaltered forms. The album’s opening track, “Sail Away,” would later find its place on Rust Never Sleeps (1979), while “Field of Opportunity” appears without the backing vocals from Nicolette Larson that were added for Comes a Time. The song “Dance Dance Dance” has an even more layered history—originally recorded by Young in 1969 with Crazy Horse for yet another unreleased project, the track was later included on Crazy Horse’s 1971 self-titled debut. Young later reworked its melody into the song “Love Is a Rose,” which was initially intended for Homegrown in 1974.

Despite its long history, Oceanside Countryside offers something distinct. Unlike Comes a Time, which was fine-tuned with overdubs and additional instrumentation, this album retains a rawer, more organic sound.

A Two-Sided Experience

Structurally, Oceanside Countryside follows a format similar to Rust Never Sleeps, featuring two contrasting sides. Side 1 is stark and intimate, with Young performing solo, accompanied only by his acoustic guitar. In contrast, Side 2 brings in a full band, enriching the sound with pedal steel, fiddle, dobro, and saw, evoking the country-rock warmth of Harvest (1972). This dichotomy highlights Young’s versatility, offering listeners both his stripped-down introspection and his fuller, ensemble-driven arrangements.

A Purist’s Take on a Classic Era

Although Oceanside Countryside shares three songs with Comes a Time, it provides a more unfiltered depiction of Young’s artistic process during this period. Comes a Time signified Young’s return to country music and was carefully polished before its 1978 release, but Oceanside Countryside remains true to its original, unembellished recordings. For longtime fans and newcomers alike, this album offers an essential listen—one that brings listeners closer to Young’s purest form of musical expression.

With its long-overdue release, Oceanside Countryside stands as yet another testament to Neil Young’s relentless creativity, proving that even his “lost” albums hold timeless significance in his storied career.