Studio Album · No. 41
World Record Songwriting Credits by Neil Young
Produced by Neil Young, Rick Rubin · Engineered by Ryan Hewitt, Louis Remenapp, Taylor Jackson
Holds writing credit on 11 of 11 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 11 / 11 documented
Scored across the 11 tracks with documented writers, by whether Neil Young carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 11 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Every song on World Record is written by Neil Young, who built the record around environmental themes, from the opening "Love Earth" to the worried "The World (Is in Trouble Now)" and the hopeful "I Walk with You (Earth Ringtone)." It is his second album in a row produced with Rick Rubin, who recorded Crazy Horse live to analog tape at his Shangri-La studio in Malibu. The writing favors loose, communal performances over polish, and Young lets the closing "Chevrolet" stretch past fifteen minutes into an extended Crazy Horse jam. A short reprise of "This Old Planet" bookends the album and reinforces its ecological message.
"World Record" is a 2022 folk rock album by Neil Young and Crazy Horse addressing environmental concerns, climate change, and humanity's relationship with the Earth. Recorded between May 2 and 11, 2022 at Rick Rubin's Shangri-La studio in Malibu, the album marks the first released collaboration between Neil Young and Rubin as co-producers, backed by Crazy Horse members Nils Lofgren on pedal steel and slide guitar, Billy Talbot on bass, and Ralph Molina on drums. Young developed several melodies by whistling during forest walks near his Colorado home, recording the ideas on a flip phone before building full songs. The album's centerpiece is the 15-minute "Chevrolet," which ties autobiographical reflections on vehicles and life to environmental advocacy. The record earned a Metacritic score of 75 and charted strongly internationally, with reviewers praising Rubin's muscular production while noting the band's raw energy remained intact.
Track Listing & Credits 11 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Love Earth
|
Neil Young | Neil Young | Neil YoungRick Rubin | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Crazy Horse (Backing Band) |
| 2 |
Overhead
|
Neil Young | Neil Young | Neil YoungRick Rubin | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Crazy Horse (Backing Band) |
| 3 |
I Walk with You (Earth Ringtone)
|
Neil Young | Neil Young | Neil YoungRick Rubin | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Crazy Horse (Backing Band) |
| 4 |
This Old Planet (Changing Days)
|
Neil Young | Neil Young | Neil YoungRick Rubin | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Crazy Horse (Backing Band) |
| 5 |
The World (Is in Trouble Now)
|
Neil Young | Neil Young | Neil YoungRick Rubin | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Crazy Horse (Backing Band) |
| 6 |
Break the Chain
|
Neil Young | Neil Young | Neil YoungRick Rubin | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Crazy Horse (Backing Band) |
| 7 |
The Long Day Before
|
Neil Young | Neil Young | Neil YoungRick Rubin | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Crazy Horse (Backing Band) |
| 8 |
Walkin' on the Road (To the Future)
|
Neil Young | Neil Young | Neil YoungRick Rubin | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Crazy Horse (Backing Band) |
| 9 |
The Wonder Won't Wait
|
Neil Young | Neil Young | Neil YoungRick Rubin | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Crazy Horse (Backing Band) |
| 10 |
Chevrolet
|
Neil Young | Neil Young | Neil YoungRick Rubin | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Crazy Horse (Backing Band) |
| 11 |
This Old Planet (Reprise)
|
Neil Young | Neil Young | Neil YoungRick Rubin | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Crazy Horse (Backing Band) |