The first live performance of Rockin’ in the Free World from Neil Young has been hailed as “not of this realm” by listeners.
Rockin’ in the Free World would feature on Freedom and has been a staple of Young’s live shows ever since its release. Its first-ever on-stage performance, as well as the rest of the show in Seattle, has been captured and uploaded to YouTube. Fans were thrilled by the release, which has been praised by listeners as a performance which hears Young and the band working out the subtleties of the song. Fans have called the Live at Paramount Theatre concert a “spectacular audience recording” which manages to capture not just the thrills of Young and the band’s performance, but the atmosphere at the venue. It’s here that Rockin’ in the Free World is performed for the first ever time to a live audience, with the show well worth a listen, according to fans.
One person wrote: “I love how they are figuring out Rockin’ in the Free World for the first time and how the chorus and the whole song develop.” Another added: “Spectacular audience recording. Besides spot-on microphone placement and the incredible guerrilla recording mix, this recording, too, has the perfect mix of exuberance and reverence from the Seattle audience that adds to the performance rather than making you wish you had a soundboard to drown out the yahoos. Some great banter between the folks on the microphone pick up! The upload is very much appreciated.”
A third shared: “There’s just no words to convey the quality of this music, man, it’s not of this realm.” One fan even suggested both Chad Cromwell and Rick Rosas were the “kick” Young needed to continue creating at a high level.
The fan wrote: “It is my personal opinion that Chad Cromwell and Rick Rosas was the single best kick to Neil’s ass. They took his playing to another level at a time when his career was beginning to fade away. Their work as a trio was a loud juggernaut of manic energy. Like a rocket careening out of control, yet somehow hitting its target.”
Another agreed, adding: “This was the beginning of an unbelievable hot streak for Young and Crazy Horse.” A full setlist for the show, which also included songs like Cinnamon Girl and Mr. Soul, can be found below.
- Comes a Time
- Sugar Mountain
- The Needle and the Damage Done
- After the Gold Rush
- For the Turnstiles
- Silver and Gold
- The Ways of Love
- Days That Used to Be
- Heart of Gold
- Heavy Love
- Don’t Cry
- Cocaine Eyes
- Eldorado
- Boxcar
- Mr. Soul
- Cinnamon Girl
- Rockin’ in the Free World
- Bad Fog of Loneliness
- Down by the River
- Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)
- On Broadway
- Tonight’s the Night
A full performance of the show can be found below.
