A Treasure (Live)

Touring with the International Harvesters, a cast of serious country music professionals, Neil Young performed at his own country-western best. It was the ‘80s when Young zig and zagged in every direction trying to catch fire. He caught it here. While Old Ways is a formal studio album, A Treasure is a powerful and spirited live album of much the same material. “Are You Ready For the Country?” is in ferocious form. The previously unreleased “Amber Jean,” for his daughter,” is touching. “Nothing Is Perfect” sways as a Happy Homesteader anthem. Joe London’s “I Might Have Been” hits all the right points for a classic country number. Young revamps “Southern Pacific” and “Motor City” from Re*Ac*Tor into focused honkytonkers. Buffalo Springfield’s “Flying On the Ground Is Wrong” transforms into a breezy, country number. You can practically hear the cowboy hat on this release. To see it, you’ll need the Deluxe Version which features video proof. Either way, this is a much-needed shot in the arm for Young’s often-overlooked mid-‘80s period.