Ridgetop

The Zoo Crew is spinning "Ridgetop" by Jesse Colin Young from his 1973 album Song For Juli, a track that’s a love letter to his former home in Point Reyes, California. In a 2016 interview with Psychedelic Baby Magazine, Young shared that the song was inspired by the "grand adventure" of living on a ridgetop in West Marin, where he built his home in 1971 after moving from New York’s Lower East Side. He described the area as a paradise, with its rugged, isolated charm—pine needles on the lawn, ruts in the road, and a sense of peace that kept tourists at bay. The song’s lyrics capture this vibe, celebrating the solitude and natural beauty of his Marin County retreat. Tragically, this beloved home was destroyed in the 1995 Mount Vision Fire, a 12,000-acre wildfire that reduced his house to ashes. In a Songfacts interview, Young admitted that performing "Ridgetop" after the fire was initially "hell," as the loss felt like a death. Yet, he continued to play it, finding ways to reconnect with the song’s spirit despite the devastation.

Another layer to "Ridgetop" comes from its recording process, detailed in Young’s 2016 Psychedelic Baby interview. The song was crafted in his newly built home studio in Inverness, California, a space that survived the 1995 fire and is now used by his son Cheyenne’s band, Beso Negro. Young spent a year recording Song For Juli with a talented group of musicians, including Scott Lawrence on piano, Jeff Myer on drums, David Hayes on bass, and Jim Rothermel on saxophone. Rothermel’s three-minute sax cadenza in live performances, like the nearly 13-minute version on the 1976 album On The Road, gave "Ridgetop" an expansive, jazzy feel. Young noted that the album marked a musical transition, blending folk, jazz, and rock influences, and was deeply tied to his life as a father to his daughter Juli and newborn son Cheyenne. Fans on Reddit have praised the song’s folk-rock groove, with one 2019 post calling it a standout for its vivid imagery of Young’s California life.

Jesse Colin Young, born Perry Miller on November 22, 1941, kicked off his musical journey in New York City’s Greenwich Village during the early 1960s folk boom. According to his bio on jessecolinyoung.com, Young grew up in Queens, where his parents’ love for classical music led him to learn piano as a child. He later picked up classical guitar at Phillips Academy in Massachusetts but was expelled from the strict school. After a brief stint at Ohio State University, where living behind a record store broadened his musical tastes, he transferred to New York University. There, he juggled studies with coffeehouse gigs, eventually dropping out to pursue music full-time. His stage name, Jesse Colin Young, was inspired by outlaws Jesse James and Cole Younger, plus Formula One engineer Colin Chapman, reflecting his rebellious yet creative spirit. His first break came with the 1964 album The Soul of a City Boy, recorded in just four hours for Capitol Records, featuring a cover of "Four in the Morning" that gained radio traction.

Young’s career soared as a founding member of The Youngbloods, whose 1967 hit "Get Together" became an anthem of the Woodstock era. After the band split in 1972, he launched a prolific solo career, with Song For Juli becoming his most successful album, charting for nearly a year. His music, blending folk, blues, jazz, and rock, reflected his social and environmental activism, including his involvement in the 1979 No Nukes concert. Despite setbacks like Lyme disease and the loss of his home, Young continued creating, releasing his final album, Highway Troubadour, in 2020. He passed away on March 16, 2025, at 83, leaving a legacy as a pioneer of American roots music.

You can explore more about Jesse Colin Young on his official website, jessecolinyoung.com, which features news, music, and updates. His Facebook page is active with fan posts and memories, while his Instagram shares photos and clips from his career. On X, fans continue to celebrate his work, though the account is less active. For fan communities, check out the Youngbloods Fans Facebook Group, where Zoo Freaks can connect over their love for Young’s music. Another fan hub is Last.fm, where listeners track his songs and share reviews. These platforms keep the spirit of Young’s music alive for fans worldwide.