Studio Album · No. 36
Peace Trail Songwriting Credits by Neil Young
Holds writing credit on 10 of 10 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 10 / 10 documented
Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether Neil Young carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Neil Young wrote all ten songs on Peace Trail and cut the record in four days at Shangri-La Studios in Malibu in September 2016, working with a stripped-down trio of himself on guitar and vocals, Jim Keltner on drums, and Paul Bushnell on bass. The sessions captured first or early takes, and the acoustic-leaning, sketch-like feel comes from that speed rather than from polish; Keltner played the title track without snares on a single take that became the master. The album is openly topical, with "Indian Givers" written for the Standing Rock Sioux protesters opposing the Dakota Access Pipeline, a cause Young supported in person. Young also pushes into new territory by running his voice through Auto-Tune and a vocoder on tracks like "My Pledge" and the closing "My New Robot," the first time he had used such treatments since the early 1980s.
"Peace Trail" is a 2016 album by Neil Young described as primarily acoustic rock, his 38th studio album and a return to recording outside his regular band Promise of the Real. Neil Young produced the record with John Hanlon over four days in September 2016 at Rick Rubin's Shangri-La Studios in Malibu, working with drummer Jim Keltner and bassist Paul Bushnell. The album features politically engaged songs including "Indian Givers," written in support of Standing Rock Sioux activists, "Show Me," addressing women's rights, and the title track "Peace Trail." The record peaked at number 76 on the Billboard 200 while reaching number 3 on the Americana/Folk Albums chart and number 8 on Top Rock Albums. Young explained his creative urgency by saying that "when it's there, it's there, and you can't make it wait."
Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Peace Trail
|
Neil Percival Young | Neil Percival Young | Neil YoungJohn Hanlon | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 2 |
Can't Stop Workin'
|
Neil Percival Young | Neil Percival Young | Neil YoungJohn Hanlon | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 3 |
Indian Givers
|
Neil Percival Young | Neil Percival Young | Neil YoungJohn Hanlon | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 4 |
Show Me
|
Neil Percival Young | Neil Percival Young | Neil YoungJohn Hanlon | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 5 |
Texas Rangers
|
Neil Percival Young | Neil Percival Young | Neil YoungJohn Hanlon | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 6 |
Terrorist Suicide Hang Gliders
|
Neil Percival Young | Neil Percival Young | Neil YoungJohn Hanlon | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 7 |
John Oaks
|
Neil Percival Young | Neil Percival Young | Neil YoungJohn Hanlon | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 8 |
My Pledge
|
Neil Percival Young | Neil Percival Young | Neil YoungJohn Hanlon | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 9 |
Glass Accident
|
Neil Percival Young | Neil Percival Young | Neil YoungJohn Hanlon | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 10 |
My New Robot
|
Neil Percival Young | Neil Percival Young | Neil YoungJohn Hanlon | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |