Neil Young and Danny Whitten worked together often. Whitten was one of the main guitarists of Crazy Horse for a number of years. His creative connection with Young started way back in 1967. In fact, Crazy Horse likely would have never existed if Whitten were not involved. Despite his tragic end, Whitten’s influence is still felt in Young’s music today. Let’s look at just a few Neil Young classics that were made even better with the late great Danny Whitten’s involvement.
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“Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere”
This title track comes from the very first album that Neil Young produced with the band Crazy Horse. And it’s one of the most memorable songs in his early discography. “Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere” is a countercultural delight, and the connection between Young and Danny Whitten on this song is really something to behold. That melody is gorgeous, and I’d say Whitten produced one of the best guitar riffs of this particular era of Crazy Horse’s career.
“Cowgirl In The Sand”
Another standout release from Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, “Cowgirl In The Sand” is a long-winded country rock tune. It clocks in at about 10 minutes long, and not a second is wasted on filler. Whitten’s guitar riffs are powerful, and that middle section in which Whitten and Young battle it out on their respective instruments is a highlight of the song. This is probably the greatest example of the partnership Young and Whitten enjoyed, even if it was short-lived.
“Come On Baby Let’s Go Downtown”
Danny Whitten’s songwriting chops only appear on one track from Tonight The Night from 1975, considering he passed away a few years prior to its release. That track is “Come On Baby Let’s Go Downtown”, a live Whitten original that first appeared on Crazy Horse’s 1971 self-titled album. This live version is probably the most famous version, and it’s a posthumous powerhouse of a song. Whitten provides his vocal talents to the song as well. He proved that his singing capabilities were quite underrated when he was alive.
It’s also a heartbreaking song, considering it was written about a drug addict, and Whitten also lost his battle with addiction at the age of 29.
Photo by Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music/Getty Images
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