Neil Young - Chrome Dreams - Black + White Label (1977) [FLAC]

Review by Ben Davies, allmusic.com:

Chrome Dreams is a collection of demos and outtakes taken from Neil Young's American Stars and Bars sessions, and although this album never had an official release, it's been made widespread through underground manufacturing. Any fears as to sound defects should be laid aside, however -- this release is remarkably close to official quality audio. Many tracks on Chrome Dreams are otherwise unavailable in studio form, noticeably including the live regulars "Pocahontas", "Sedan Delivery" and "Powderfinger". For Neil Young zealots, these alone would make Chrome Dreams^ a definite purchase. But add to that "Stringman", Young's touching ode to Stephen Stills, as well as the emotional "Hold Back the Tears." As any Young fan could tell from this list, Chrome Dreams is quite an album. The fine track list, together with the rarity value, should make this a high priority on the purchase list of all Neil Young fans or, indeed, all rock fans.

guitars101.com:

For those who aren't aware of the album's history, let me place it into context: In October of 1976, Neil was set to release the three-lp best-of Decade. At the last minute, however, he changed his mind and instead requested his record company, Reprise, to shelve the project for one year. He had plans for a new album, he said, that would be ready for a November release. He even proffered the title: Chrome Dreams. November came and went, of course, and no new Neil product was in sight. Fast forward to March of 1977: acetates of the proposed album are pressed, with the track listing as follows: Side one: a solo acoustic "Pocahontas," "Will to Love," "Star of Bethlehem," "Like a Hurricane," "Too Far Gone" Side two: a solo acoustic "Hold Back the Tears," "Homegrown," "Captain Kennedy," "Stringman," a less frenetic "Sedan Delivery," a solo acoustic "Powderfinger," "Look Out for My Love." Jump ahead to June, when American Stars 'n' Bars is released: five of the songs planned for Chrome Dreams make the cut. The rest? They'd surface in the years to come, some with nary a change in arrangement and others. . . refashioned for the times. The questions surrounding this album, then, are what has kept it firmly entrenched in the Neil pantheon as a "mythical" album. What if Neil had released it in instead of American Stars 'n' Bars? While ASnB is good--let's face it, it doesn't rank in the same league with this lost treasure. And what would have become of Rust Never Sleeps, which shares three tracks? And why, exactly, did Neil shelve this masterpiece? Of course, any answers are pure conjecture--which is half the fun. In short, this is a fine--nay, great--bootleg. Performances are topnotch throughout, especially the acoustic "red men run son" version of "Powderfinger" and ... all of the other songs.