Like a Hurricane (song)

For the Scorpions song, see Rock You Like a Hurricane.

"Like a Hurricane" is a song written by Neil Young in 1975 and first released on the album American Stars 'n Bars in 1977.

"Like a Hurricane"
Cover to German single release, backed by "The Old Country Waltz"
Single by Neil Young and Crazy Horse
from the album American Stars 'n Bars
B-side	"Hold Back the Tears"
Released	August 8, 1977
Recorded	November 29, 1975
Studio	Broken Arrow Ranch, Woodside, California
Genre	Rock
Length	8:20 (Album version) 5:24 (Single edit)
Label	Reprise
Songwriter(s)	Neil Young
Producer(s)	Neil Young David Briggs Tim Mulligan
Neil Young singles chronology
"Hey Babe" (1977) "Like a Hurricane" (1977) "Sugar Mountain" (1977)

History

Young wrote the song in July 1975 at a time when he was unable to sing because of an operation on his vocal cords. An edited version of "Like a Hurricane" was released as a single on August 8, 1977, with "Hold Back the Tears" as B-side.^[1] Driven by Young's trademark fierce guitars, the song became a landmark of the 'electric side' of his concerts and one of the most famous of Young's songs. The song has been played on nearly every tour Young has done since its release. It has also appeared on the compilations Decade and Greatest Hits and on the live albums Live Rust, Weld, Unplugged (this rendition is played almost entirely on a pump organ) and Way Down in the Rust Bucket.

Composition

The bridge into the chorus of "Like a Hurricane" was inspired by Del Shannon's 1961 song "Runaway".^[2]

Reception

Cash Box said that "the melodies are carried by Young's voice and guitar, all brought into focus against a distant landscape of multi-layered string effects."^[3]

Cover versions

Recorded for music release:

• Roxy Music released their live version of the song, recorded at the Glasgow Apollo in 1982, on the 1983 EP The High Road and the live LP Heart Still Beating.
• The song was also covered by The Mission on their second single "Garden of Delight". It was later included on the album The First Chapter (a compilation of their first singles) and Ever After - Live.
• Jay Farrar, backed by country-rock band Canyon, covered this song on his live album Stone, Steel, & Bright Lights.
• Heather Nova recorded the song at a 1995 concert in Hiroshima, released on import-only CDs Maybe An Angel (Japan) and Truth & Bone (Germany). She also included it in her all-covers 2022 album Other Shores.
• Jeff Healey covered the song on his 2008 posthumous album Mess of Blues.
• The Coal Porters covered the song on the 2010 album Durango.
• Adam Sandler covered the song on the 2009 album Covered, A Revolution in Sound, of Warner Brothers artists performing cover songs. He also performed the song on the Late Show with David Letterman, to promote the release.
• Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit covered the song on the 2012 album Live From Alabama.
• New Orleans singer Theresa Andersson sings it in the 2006 film New Orleans Music in Exile.
• In 2018, Pony Boy (the recording pseudonym of Los Angeles singer-songwriter Marchelle Bradanini) covered the song on a split 7-inch single with Australian singer Emma Swift, on which both musicians covered Neil Young songs.^[4]

Personnel

• Neil Young – lead guitar and lead vocals
• Frank "Poncho" Sampedro – Stringman synthesizer and background vocals
• Billy Talbot – bass guitar and background vocals
• Ralph Molina – drums and background vocals

See also

• The Unplugged Collection, Volume One

References

1. "Like a Hurricane / Hold Back the Tears".
2. Halliwell, Martin, "Neil Young: American Traveller", Reaktion Books, 2015, p. 117.
3. "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. September 3, 1977. p. 18. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
4. Trageser, Stephen (2018-02-22). "Cream Premiere: Hear Emma Swift and Pony Boy Cover Neil Young on Their Split 7-Inch". Nashville Scene. Nashville, Tennessee. Retrieved 2020-10-11.

External links

• Like a Hurricane (Adobe Flash) at MySpace (streamed copy where licensed)