In the early 1960s, long before he became a rock icon, Neil Young was honing his craft as a member of the Winnipeg-based band, the Squires. As anticipation builds for his upcoming album Second Song, set for release on September 18 via Reprise Records, Young has treated fans to a new version of a song he wrote over 60 years ago: “Casting Me Away From You.” This release marks a significant moment for long-time followers, as the track serves as a bridge between his formative years and his current creative output with his new band, Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts.
While Young admits he is not entirely certain of the exact date of composition, he estimates the song originated around 1964 or 1965. The Squires never officially released the track, though a version recorded with high school friend Comrie Smith eventually surfaced on the 2009 box set Neil Young Archives Vol. I (1963 – 1972). That early recording captured a charming, Everly Brothers-inspired simplicity that has long fascinated collectors.
The new iteration, recorded at Rick Rubin’s Shangri-La studio in Malibu, trades that early pop sensibility for a lonesome, countrified atmosphere. Young has shared the track via the Neil Young Archives website, accompanied by vintage footage shot by cinematographer David Meyers at Young’s Broken Arrow Ranch in the early 1970s. Reflecting on the process, Young noted, “When we recorded Second Song early this year, I ran out of tunes fast. I only had the five new ones, long ones, and I needed more, so I started to feel it out and came up with ‘Casting Me Away’ — from the deep past.”
CASTING ME AWAY FROM YOU is one of my early songs. I think I wrote it in 64 or 65. When we recorded Second Song; early this year I ran out of tunes fast. I only had the 5 new ones, long ones, and I needed more, so i started to feel it out and came up with Casting Me Away – from the deep past. There is an old recording with my school-mate Comrie Smith, somewhere in the ARCHIVES from that time. I recorded it for the Second Song album with the Chrome Hearts the next day.
In the early 70s, some time soon after i moved to Broken Arrow Ranch, David Meyers, the great cinematographer, jumped on the back of my old jeepster and we took a ride across Broken Arrow. 20 years or so before Rick Rosas shot the trip that is now ‘Second Song’.
Check this video out! Zeke’s mom, Carrie Snodgress, is riding her horse along with Timer, our dog, who’s riding with me as we cross the beautiful ranch on a new road. Love to you,
neil
The release of this track arrives as the band prepares for a busy season. Despite canceling a planned European tour for this summer, the group is scheduled to return to the stage next month to perform at Farm Aid and join Willie Nelson for two special shows.
