Studio Album · No. 6
Zuma Songwriting Credits by Neil Young
Holds writing credit on 9 of 9 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 9 / 9 documented
Scored across the 9 tracks with documented writers, by whether Neil Young carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 9 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Zuma marks Neil Young's full-band reunion with Crazy Horse, the first album with the group since guitarist Danny Whitten's death, with Frank "Poncho" Sampedro stepping in on rhythm guitar. Young wrote all nine songs, and the record balances tight, garage-rock electric workouts like "Don't Cry No Tears" and "Barstool Blues" against its sprawling centerpiece, "Cortez the Killer," a seven-minute guitar epic whose lyrics Young first sketched in high school. The closing track, "Through My Sails," is a holdover from aborted Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young sessions and features all four CSNY members, with Stephen Stills on bass and Crosby and Nash on backing vocals. The album signaled Young emerging from his bleaker "Ditch Trilogy" with renewed energy.
"Zuma" is the 1975 album by Neil Young, his first record co-credited to Neil Young and Crazy Horse in six years and a mix of country rock, hard rock, and acoustic rock. It is anchored by "Cortez the Killer," one of Young's best-known compositions with the band, alongside "Don't Cry No Tears," "Danger Bird," and "Barstool Blues." Young and David Briggs produced most of the tracks, with Young and Tim Mulligan handling "Pardon My Heart," "Lookin' for a Love," and "Through My Sails," the last featuring backing vocals from Stephen Stills, David Crosby, and Graham Nash. The record introduced the Crazy Horse lineup of Frank Sampedro on rhythm guitar, Billy Talbot on bass, and Ralph Molina on drums, which stayed stable until 2014. It peaked at number 25 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold in the US in 1997.
Track Listing & Credits 9 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Don't Cry No Tears
|
Neil Percival Young | Neil Percival Young | Neil YoungDavid BriggsTim Mulligan | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 2 |
Danger Bird
|
Neil Percival Young | Neil Percival Young | Neil YoungDavid BriggsTim Mulligan | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 3 |
Pardon My Heart
|
Neil Percival Young | Neil Percival Young | Neil YoungDavid BriggsTim Mulligan | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 4 |
Lookin' for a Love
#48
|
Neil Percival Young | Neil Percival Young | Neil YoungDavid BriggsTim Mulligan | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 5 |
Barstool Blues
|
Neil Percival Young | Neil Percival Young | Neil YoungDavid BriggsTim Mulligan | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 6 |
Stupid Girl
|
Neil Percival Young | Neil Percival Young | Neil YoungDavid BriggsTim Mulligan | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 7 |
Drive Back
|
Neil Percival Young | Neil Percival Young | Neil YoungDavid BriggsTim Mulligan | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 8 |
Cortez the Killer
|
Neil Percival Young | Neil Percival Young | Neil YoungDavid BriggsTim Mulligan | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |
| 9 |
Through My Sails
|
Neil Percival Young | Neil Percival Young | Neil YoungDavid BriggsTim Mulligan | Neil Young (Lead Vocals, Guitar) |