Vacancy

Zoo Freaks, get ready to dive into the raw emotion of Neil Young's "Vacancy" from his 1975 album Homegrown, a track that’s finally seeing the light after being locked away for nearly half a century. Recorded in January 1975 at Young’s Broken Arrow Ranch Studio, "Vacancy" is a fiery, guitar-driven rocker featuring Stan Szelest on Wurlitzer organ, Ben Keith on lap slide guitar, Tim Drummond on bass, and Karl T. Himmel on drums. The song captures Young’s anguish as he confronts a lover’s emotional distance, with lyrics like “I look in your eyes and I don’t know what’s there / You poison me with that long, vacant stare.” Young described Homegrown as “the unheard bridge between Harvest and Comes A Time,” but shelved it because it felt “a little too personal,” reflecting the pain of his breakup with actress Carrie Snodgress. In a 1975 Rolling Stone interview with Cameron Crowe, Young admitted, “It scared me... I’ve never released any of those. And I probably never will. They’re a little too real.” Yet, in 2020, he shared it, apologizing on the Neil Young Archives for keeping it hidden: “I should have shared it. It’s actually beautiful.”

Another layer to "Vacancy" comes from its earlier recording at Chess Studios in Chicago, where Young and his band, including Frank “Poncho” Sampedro, laid down a wild, distorted version. In a 2021 interview, Sampedro recalled the session: “Our version was so much more out of control and just bashing and crazy. All those little turnarounds at the end of the verses just got lost in ours because it was just distortion and craziness going on.” This chaotic take didn’t make the final cut, but it highlights Young’s willingness to experiment. The song’s release in June 2020, as a single before Homegrown dropped, resonated with fans, especially amid global uncertainty, with Thrasher’s Wheat noting its eerie relevance to “soaring unemployment, urban flight, and ‘For Lease’ signs everywhere.” Young never performed "Vacancy" live, making its studio version a rare gem for Zoo Freaks to spin.

Neil Young, born November 12, 1945, in Toronto, Canada, kicked off his musical journey in the 1960s Winnipeg scene, playing in high school bands like The Squires. After moving to Los Angeles, he co-founded Buffalo Springfield in 1966 with Stephen Stills and Richie Furay, blending folk, rock, and country in hits like “For What It’s Worth.” Young’s restless spirit led him to a solo career, often backed by Crazy Horse, producing classics like After the Gold Rush (1970) and Harvest (1972). His raw, high tenor voice and deeply personal lyrics, paired with his gritty guitar work, earned him the nickname “Godfather of Grunge.” Young also joined Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, contributing to their 1970 album Déjà Vu. Over decades, he’s remained a chameleon, shifting from acoustic folk to distorted rock, always prioritizing authenticity over commercial polish.

Zoo Freaks can connect with Neil Young through his official website, Neil Young Archives, a treasure trove of his music, videos, and updates. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and X for the latest news and reflections. Fans gather at Thrasher’s Wheat, an unofficial blog with concert updates and album analyses since 1996. Join the Neil Young Fans Facebook group to share your love for his music, or check out HyperRust, another fan-driven site with tour info and community vibes. Spin "Vacancy" loud, Zoo Freaks, and feel the raw heart of Neil Young!