The Archives Vol. 1 1963–1972
Neil Young Archives Vol. 1: 1963–1972 is the first in a planned series of box sets of archival material by Canadian-American musician Neil Young. It was released on June 2, 2009, in three different formats - a set of 10 Blu-ray discs in order to present high resolution audio as well as accompanying visual documentation, a set of 10 DVDs and a more basic 8-CD set. Covering Young's early years with The Squires and Buffalo Springfield, it also includes various demos, outtakes and alternate versions of songs from his albums Neil Young, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, After the Gold Rush, and Harvest, as well as tracks he recorded with Crazy Horse and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young during this time. Also included in the set are several live discs, as well as (on the Blu-Ray/DVD versions) a copy of the long out-of-print film Journey Through the Past, directed by Young in the early 1970s.
On January 31, 2010, the box set won the Grammy Award for Best Art Direction on a Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package, and was shared by Neil Young along with his art directors Gary Burden and Jenice Heo.[12] Neil Young Archives Volume II: 1972–1976 did not follow until November 2020, covering his work from 1972 to 1976, and was released only as a 10-CD box set.
Background[edit]
This is the first of several projected box sets in the Neil Young Archives series, which will eventually chronicle the artist's entire career. The box, which won a Grammy Award for Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package,[13][14] features previously released as well as rare and unreleased material from the first decade of Young's career, spanning his Winnipeg years with the Squires, Buffalo Springfield, Crazy Horse, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and his first several solo albums.
After conflicting statements over the years, it was eventually revealed that the set would be released in three formats: CD, DVD and Blu-ray. The DVD and Blu-ray editions contain 10 discs (including Journey Through The Past released for the first time on DVD and Blu-ray) and a 236-page full-color hardbound book in special packaging, while those with the Blu-ray edition would receive free online updates in perpetuity (though the last update was posted in April 2010, with all BD Live updates eventually being pulled altogether in early 2016). The CD set has 8 CDs (Discs 00 & 01 fit on one disc, and Disc 09 is not included) and a CD-sized booklet. Each disc in the Archives was also available individually exclusively through Warner Bros. at launch.[15] CD, DVD and Blu-ray box set pre-orders from Warner Bros. also included a 7" 45 RPM single with "Aurora" and "Mustang" from Disc 00.[15] In addition, people who pre-ordered the DVD and Blu-ray box sets received, in early May, a bonus copy of Disc 00 (Blu-ray only) so that they could "test drive" the contents.[16] All DVD and Blu-ray box sets also included a card with a code for downloading MP3s of all the tracks in the box set.[15]
Of the 137 tracks on the track listing, 47 were previously unreleased. These included live versions and alternate mixes of previously released songs. Thirteen of the songs on this set had previously never been released in any form. The 10-disc sets included a number of 'hidden tracks' which were not included in the 8-CD set.
The audio format on the Blu-ray version is presented in 24-bit/192 kHz stereo PCM on all discs except Journey Through The Past which includes selectable DTS Surround or stereo 24-bit/96 kHz PCM tracks. The DVD version includes a 24-bit/96 kHz stereo PCM track, while the CDs are in the standard 16-bit/44.1 kHz format.[17]
Multimedia production[edit]
Directed by Bernard Shakey
Produced by L.A. Johnson
Executive producer: Elliot Rabinowitz
Associate producer: Will Mitchell
Director of photography: Ben Johnson
Edited by Toshi Onuki
Archivist: Joel Bernstein
Art direction: Toshi Onuki
Blu-ray authoring & programming by MX, San Francisco, CA
Project team: Travis Boyle, Ole Lütjens, Joe Rice, Richard Ross, Tony Rotundo, Christine Sugrue
DVD authoring: Rich Winter
Graphics production: Ziemowit “Jim” Darski, Kris Kunz
Graphics production assistance: Sarah Wylie Ammerman, Hannah Johnson, Beca Lafore, Ouater Sand
Menu sound design: Hands on Sound
Neil Young biography: Dave Toms
Neil Young tour information: Pete Long
Licensing and clearances: Marcy Gensic
Additional editing: Mark Faulkner
Production assistance: Adam Sturgeon, Kevin Graff
Grip: Joe Mendoza
Post-production at Total Media Group, South San Francisco, CA
Audio Production[edit]
Audio production at Redwood Digital, Woodside, CA
Audio tape restoration and analog-to-HDCD® 24-bit 192 kHz digital transfers by John Nowland
Digital editing and Blu-ray/DVD mastering by Tim Mulligan
Assisting engineer: John Hausmann
Audio production assistance: Will Mitchell
Senior technical engineer: Harry Sitam
Audio restoration on Disc 3, Live At The Riverboat (Toronto 1969) by Jamie Howarth at Plangent Processes
Archival audio tape research: Neil Young, Joel Bernstein & John Nowland
Archives audio tape librarian: John Hausmann
Source tapes and discs courtesy of Neil Young Archives, Warner Music Group (Steve Lang), David Briggs, Joel Bernstein, Peter K. Siegel, V Records (Mike Groshak), Bob Bradburn, John Elwood, Ray Dee, Craig Todd & Harvey Kaslow, Ron Chapman, Richard Lemker & Dan Britt
Art & Text Production[edit]
Art direction and design: Gary Burden & Jenice Heo for R. Twerk & Co., with Neil Young
Photographs, artwork, text, and credits researched and compiled by Joel Bernstein
Production: L.A. Johnson
Production co-coordinator: Will Mitchell
Image archive assistance by Jean Camber
Image licensing and clearances by Marcy Gensic, Eric Custer, Villette Harris & Lyn Fey
Special thanks to Jack Harper & Pete Long for their tireless assistance
Direction: Elliot Roberts
At Lookout Management: Bonnie Levetin
Inspiration and support: Pegi Young
Special thanks: Ben Young, Amber Young, Zeke Young