Young Jams for Votes, Readies 'Greatest Hits'

10/04/2004 4:43 PM, Reuters
Jonathan Cohen

Although not an announced part of the lineup, Neil Young spent the weekend making appearances at Vote for Change tour stops in Toledo, Ohio and Detroit.

Sources suggest the veteran Canadian singer-songwriter may turn up to play with every VFC bill before the trek wraps Oct. 11 in Washington, D.C.

Young dropped in on Pearl Jam's Saturday evening show in Toledo, stunning the crowd at the start of the second encore when he and his wife, Pegi, guested with Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder on an acoustic version of "Harvest Moon."

Young stuck around to rock through "All Along the Watchtower," "Cortez the Killer," "Rockin' in the Free World" and, with Peter Frampton chipping in on guitar, "Act of Love," which appeared on the 1995 Young/Pearl Jam album "Mirror Ball."

The next evening, Young was even busier, reprising "Harvest Moon" and "Heart of Gold" with the Dixie Chicks and James Taylor at Detroit's Fox Theater. Later on, he teamed with Dave Matthews Band just outside the city at the Palace of Auburn Hills for "Watchtower" and "Rockin' in the Free World."

Meanwhile, Reprise has set a Nov. 16 release date for Young's first "Greatest Hits." The 16-track set boasts such classics as "The Needle and the Damage Done," "Southern Man," Young's sole No. 1 hit, "Comes a Time," and "Cinnamon Girl," along with the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young cuts "Ohio" and "Helpless."

"Greatest Hits" also will be available with a bonus DVD featuring the original stereo master mixes of the music. When each song is played, the DVD will display the cover of the vinyl album from which it is drawn spinning on turntable. Bonus features include a photo gallery, lyrics and music videos for "Harvest Moon" and "Rockin' in the Free World."

Young will host and perform at his annual Bridge School Benefit on Oct. 23-24 outside San Francisco. Paul McCartney , Sonic Youth, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Tony Bennett are also on the bill.

Here is the track list for "Greatest Hits":

"Down by the River"

"Cowgirl in the Sand"

"Cinnamon Girl"

"Helpless"

"After the Gold Rush"

"Only Love Can Break Your Heart"

"Southern Man"

"Ohio"

"The Needle and the Damage Done"

"Old Man"

"Heart of Gold"

"Like a Hurricane"

"Comes a Time"

"Hey, Hey, My, My (Into the Black)"

"Rockin' in the Free World"

"Harvest Moon"

Reuters/Billboard