Neil Young

Harvest

First released1972

Harvest was recorded between 1971 and 1972 across multiple locations including the Broken Arrow Ranch in California, the Record Plant in Los Angeles, and other studios, reflecting Neil Young's preference for flexible recording environments during this period. The album was produced by Neil Young himself along with Jack Nitzsche, who contributed arrangements and production work, with engineer Henry Lewy playing a crucial role in capturing the album's sound. Young employed a mix of studio musicians and members of Crazy Horse, along with orchestral arrangements by Nitzsche, creating the album's distinctive blend of acoustic and electric instrumentation. The recording process was influenced by Young's recovery from a serious back injury sustained in 1972, which affected the sessions' timeline and his ability to participate in certain recordings. Harvest became one of Young's most commercially successful albums, reaching number one on the Billboard 200 and establishing his status as a major crossover artist beyond his rock and country-rock audiences.