| Chrome Dreams II | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 23, 2007 | |||
| Recorded | May 31 – July 6, 2007[a] | |||
| Studio | Broken Arrow Ranch | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 65:53 | |||
| Label | Reprise | |||
| Producer |
| |||
| Neil Young chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 76/100[1] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| The Guardian | [3] |
| The Independent | [4] |
| NME | 7/10[5] |
| The Observer | [6] |
| Pitchfork | 5.6/10[7] |
| Rolling Stone | [8] |
| Spin | 7/10[9] |
| The Times | [10] |
| Uncut | [11] |
Chrome Dreams II is the 30th studio album by Canadian-American musicianNeil Young. The album was released on October 23, 2007, as a double LP and as a single CD. The album name referencesChrome Dreams, a legendary Neil Young album from 1977 that had originally been scheduled for release but was shelved in favor ofAmerican Stars 'n Bars.[12]
The album debuted on the USBillboard 200 chart at number 11, selling about 54,000 copies in its first week.[13] In addition, the song "No Hidden Path" was nominated for aGrammy Award forBest Solo Rock Vocal Performance at the51st Grammy Awards, 2009.[14]
The album features a mix of different types of songs featuring different musical styles and lengths. According to Young,
It's an album with a form based on some of my original recordings, with a large variety of songs, rather than one specific type of song. WhereLiving with War andEverybody's Rockin' were albums focused on one subject or style,Chrome Dreams II is more likeAfter the Gold Rush orFreedom, with different types of songs working together to form a feeling. Now that radio formats are not as influential as they once were, it's easier to release an album that crosses all formats with a message that runs through the whole thing, regardless of the type of song or sound. Some early listeners have said that this album is positive and spiritual. I like to think it focuses on the human condition. Like many of my recordings, this one draws on earlier material here and there. I used to do that a lot back in the day. Some songs, like "Ordinary People" need to wait for the right time. I think now is the right time for that song and it lives well with the new songs I have written in the past few months. I had a blast making this music.[15]
The first three songs onChrome Dreams II date from the 1980s. "Beautiful Bluebird" was first recorded in 1985[16] during sessions forOld Ways.[17] "Boxcar" had been previously recorded forFreedom[18][19] andRagged Glory, but was ultimately left off both albums. Both songs appear onChrome Dreams II as new recordings.
The 18-minute "Ordinary People" was recorded in July 1988 during initial sessions for theFreedom album.[20] It features the backing musicians from Young'sBluenotes tour.[21] The song was released as the album's first single.[22]
According to a 2020 post on hisNeil Young Archives website, the lyrics to "Dirty Old Man" explore "the ugliest parts of alcoholism. I really loathe what it does to people."
The epic "No Hidden Path" was inspired by long walks on Young's ranch. He explains in a 2019 post to his website that it's "about the forest on Broken Arrow where I used to walk regularly." The song features as the centerpiece of the 2009Jonathan Demme filmNeil Young Trunk Show.
Chrome Dreams II was produced by The Volume Dealers (Neil Young &Niko Bolas), and features the ensemble ofCrazy Horse drummerRalph Molina, pedal steel guitarist and Dobro playerBen Keith (Harvest,Comes A Time,Harvest Moon) and bassistRick Rosas (Freedom,Living With War,This Note's for You). A horn section, The Blue Note Horns, appear on one track, "Ordinary People," while theYoung People’s Chorus of New York City appear on "The Way." Most of the recording was done live with few overdubs at Feelgood's Garage studio near Redwood City, California, with two vintage gas pumps out front and vintage studio gear inside.[23]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Beautiful Bluebird" | 4:27 |
| 2. | "Boxcar" | 2:44 |
| 3. | "Ordinary People" | 18:13 |
| 4. | "Shining Light" | 4:43 |
| 5. | "The Believer" | 2:39 |
| 6. | "Spirit Road" | 6:32 |
| 7. | "Dirty Old Man" | 3:17 |
| 8. | "Ever After" | 3:32 |
| 9. | "No Hidden Path" | 14:31 |
| 10. | "The Way" | 5:15 |
Primary musicians
Musicians for "Ordinary People"
Background singers
Additional roles
DVD production
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[24] | 38 |
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[25] | 27 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[26] | 16 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[27] | 40 |
| Canadian Albums (Billboard)[28] | 8 |
| Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[29] | 20 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[30] | 14 |
| Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[31] | 32 |
| French Albums (SNEP)[32] | 9 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[33] | 13 |
| Irish Albums (IRMA)[34] | 15 |
| Italian Albums (FIMI)[35] | 28 |
| Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[36] | 5 |
| Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[37] | 80 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[38] | 13 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[39] | 72 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[40] | 14 |
| USBillboard 200[41] | 11 |
| USTop Rock Albums (Billboard)[42] | 6 |
| US Indie Store Album Sales (Billboard)[43] | 3 |
