1984 Neil Young Austin City Limits Concert (1992, KLRU-TV, Full Telethon Broadcast) 

This was the first time I saw Neil Young.I was 13. Him Singing Sugar Mountain totally entranced me. I went right to the local store and got a copy of Live Rust. Wore it out. Thank you Austin City Limits. They exposed me to so much great music I would have never heard.

Love Neil Young,Been Listening to him for more than 50 Years now,Would Love to meet Neil Young in person.

Haven't listened to this in a while but it packs a healthy wallop still/again. Rufus Thiebideaux rocks me. California Sunset and Powderfinger get me excited in the best love-of-music way. And watching the Big Daddy move those long legs, dance and play never fails to thrill! A Treasure indeed.

Spectacular upload. I cannot thank you enough! Outta' this world!

I've seen Neil about 18 times over the years since 1978. In many different styles, eras, bands etc. My first show was 1978 on my college campus, about 200 yards from my dorm room. The Rust Never Sleeps Tour with Crazy Horse. Incredible. I hadn't seen a recent picture of Neil so I thought he still looked like the long haired hippie Neil I saw in the then recent Like a Hurricane video with the fan blowing. Imagine my shock when Neil walks out with a closely cropped short haircut! In front of those huge oversize "speakers". He looked like a little kid! And if I recall, the first songs he sings are I Am a Child and Sugar Mountain! 😅 I admit, I then kind of lost touch with Neil's music in the early 80s. When that Doo Wop album came out and I saw some MTV videos, I thought he finally had lost it. So I basically missed Neil in the 80s, my fault. My 2 biggest concert regrets when it comes to Neil are missing THIS International Harvesters Tour in 1985, and then Neil with The Restless band in 1989, which was the complete opposite, a heavy distortion fest. They played one of their few shows right in my home town and I blew it. That would never really happen again. Starting with 1991 with the Smell the Horse Tour (see WELD live video), I saw almost every tour that I wanted to. Those 2 just burn in my regret file.

I saw him in October 84 in Calgary, Alberta....thanks for the memory, I was 30, great year!!

What a diamond this performance is. Thank you

Back in 1992, PBS rebroadcasts Neil Young's 1984 Austin City Limits performance, which was originally broadcast in 1985, as part of the program's 10th season, and the special was entitled "Neil Young in Concert: An Austin City Limits Special".

Thank you for sharing this concert. It is fantastic.

This is a real gem.

Great quality, thanks for the upload. I have a VHS version of this for years, but this version is better quality. I also have a very high quality 2 cd set of the whole show. Always loved this show even though Country Neil is not necessarily my favorite Neil. This is the apex of Country Neil circa 1984-85. Neil was in kind of a tough place in the early 80s where it suddenly seemed he was "out of style" as the crazy synth rock New Wave was what all the cool kids were doing. So Neil kind of drifted from genre to genre in the 80s. Part of it was Neil had an autistic son with cerebral palsy who had severe communication issues. Neil was frustrated with his inability to communicate normally with him, and 2 things came out of that. 1) he developed and shared his love of trains with his son, so toy train collecting became a thing they could share together. 2) Neil's interest in new technologies led him to explore vocal synthesis and vocoders and that tied into a way to communicate with his son (don't ask me how that works). As a result Neil came out with the techno heavy albums Re-ac-tor and Trans in the early 80s. Re-ac-tor had techno heavy rock tunes like T-bone and Shots where synths and synclavier were used. Then on Trans there was even more of a techno emphasis, especially on Transformer Man, Computer Man and especially Sample and Hold, all songs with heavy use of a vocoder, which is how he was communicating with his son. After that period of techno exploration without big hits, he does a complete left turn with a 50s style Doo Wop album, Everybody's Rockin. His record company Geffen is completely unhappy as these albums in the 80s aren't doing well commercially and Geffen tells Neil "this music doesn't even sound like Neil Young". So they want him to go back to the Like a Hurricane/Cortez the Killer/Powderfinger/Hey Hey My My Neil. Ie, a Neil with commercial appeal. The next thing Neil does, being the type who doesn't like being told what to do, is put out a pure Country rock album called Old Ways, with fiddles and banjos and songs about Cowboys etc. But no real hits. When that album finally comes out, Geffen is beside himself and actually files a breach of contract lawsuit against Neil "for making music unrepresentative of Neil Young" 😂!! Neil's response was basically, "well, I simply will keep making albums like this (Old Ways), and then this type of music WILL be representative of me." 😂😂 That's classic Neil. So this Austin City Limits show is what Neil was doing in 1985, sticking it to Geffen, and putting a full country band together called The International Harvesters to play not only this new Country Neil, but the old folky early favs like Comes a Time, Heart of Gold, Old Man, etc. Actually it was a great band and tour, but they weren't selling tons of albums or selling out 20,000 seat arenas much. As usual, Neil had the last laugh, Geffen didn't succeed with the lawsuit, and Neil went back to his old label Reprise and would experience a HUGE popular resurgence in the late 80s starting with The Blue Notes album and then FREEDOM!!

Neil Young great legend never die

Just fricking crazy. Songs, band, Neil. Down by River...be on my side...he just plays. Thank you for the work uploading!!!

David Geffen: “We need another Heart of Gold” Neil: “Oh, ok.” Records as Neil and the Shocking Pinks

2:36 Are You Ready For The Country 6:17 Are There Any More Real Cowboys? 9:35 Comes A Time 12:33 Field of Opportunity 15:54 Amber Jean 19:41 Roll Another Number (For the Road) 22:26 Heart Of Gold 34:19 Let Your Fingers Do The Walking 37:25 The Needle & The Damage Done 39:54 Helpless 45:47 California Sunset 48:48 Old Man 1:01:19 Powderfinger 1:06:29 Get Back To The Country 1:09:19 Down By The River

This has always been my favorite performance by Neil Young. What a heck of a fiddle player they've got! I pick banjo and guitar and that kid play the s*** out of that banjo!

Pure gold, this is.

This is so awesome - and those pledge breaks, talk about nostalgia 😄. Thanks for uploading, what a great set of music.

Fantastic!! Thanks for sharing

Neil is remarkable.

Wow. I love this ❤. Back to the Country. The violin and banjo are superb . ❤❤❤

Neil was my neighbor back in the day in Santa Cruz, Ca. He used to play at the local club called the Catalyst with a band he called The Ducks. They charged about $3.00 and would play for hours. Best value for my entertainment dollar I reckon..

Oh do I love this. I remember watching it on tv when it was first broadcast. This is an absolute gem. All the musicians are so talented but I especially like Rufus on the fiddle. I don't think I've ever heard a better fiddle player. Thank you for posting this.

Neil's amazing singer/songwriter, man, I was 24 back then, it honestly doesn't seem that long ago, time slips by.

One the all-time great versions of “Down by the River”…

I always loved the baked-in mischief in his smile.

Love this performance! "Are you ready for the country, 'cause it's time to go"

Everyone loved seeing you at Austin City Limits . Great cause . Super concert . Loved it . We love you Mr Neil. ❤❤❤

Great stuff !!

Neil Young das been part of my life since early 70s im 62 so I started early I loved Harvest Affter the Gold Rush but everything since .Don't be Denied See the Sky about to Rain Long Road brings me to my knees

I remember seeing this ACL when it first came out. I recorded it for my old VCR and I played the heck out of it. The International Harvesters were a great backup band.

For ever neilyoung ,,, this concert is my favorite en his band so great it's pure country collection at all times

I saw neil at grand ole opry around this time now going to franklin Tennessee tomorrow nite see him again been 40 years

heckin' awesome ! ! !

Neal’s best collection of musicians !

Anthony Crawford is a great great talent....plays everything beautifully....reminds me of Danny Whitten playing jff of Neils riffs.....Neil should keep him around!

I loved that fiddle player. I saw Neil at the Spectrum in Philadelphia 1974. He had giant 12' tall speakers on stage. I remember "Cinnamon Girl" very well. Great stuff.

This is my favorite hat he has . The Country Neil with his conductor hat . Best Austin City Limits I have seen . Looks he had a great time . We love you Mr Neil. ❤❤❤

I also Still have my original vcr or this but thanks as this is so much easier. Saw this show at Jones Beach Loved this Neil

Nice to see him as a young man still sounds the same 😊

I love the way you are dressed Neil . You are very handsome . Love your hat . Some of these songs I haven't heard . Still like them . We love you Mr Neil ❤❤❤❤

Saw Neil with the International Harvesters in 1984 at the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium (yes, the home of the Louisiana Hayride). Great show. My favorite version of "Down By the River" I've heard Neil perform live.

What a great fiddle player , and the band ,

Rufus Thibodeaux was a fantastic fiddle player…cut his teeth playing with Bob Wills, then Jimmie C Newman in Nashville…was a funny guy too…miss him dearly…

Love the outfit he is wearing . The hat is my favorite . Awesome . This is a very good show . The music is fantastic. We love you Mr Neil. ❤❤

Look at those children..! Such a long time ago..!!✌🏼❤️

This makes me happy!

This version of Old Man is so good.

Canada has given the world some amazing talents: Joni, Neil, Leonard Cohen, McGarrigles, Lightfoot.

He looks so young!!

Super

Dear Neil: Pls remaster and issue. Sincerely, all of your fans.

Shoutout to the PBS pledge drive people! What other channel consistently airs an hour of straight-up American music just for the love? PBS is for the people!

For some guys, time should not pass away...long may you run, Neil!

❤ Neil I love you

You can tell this is old no area code on the PBS phone number and Neil has brown hair. Neil is like a fine wine both are an acquired taste

I just donated!

This has one of the best live versions of Down By The River that I've ever seen. Thank you for uploading this.

Nice, hey, isn't that Anthoney Crawford on lead guitar and vocals? He's a great guy, great singer and out there kickin it still with his wife in Sugarcane Jane band... Get out there and catch him live and on youtube! Great show for such a long time back with Neil Young...

48:48 Slide guitar and banjo on Old Man!

Great

Powderfinger is stupid good. Down By The River is really fascinating- murder ballads. Love em.

Saw Neil in the early 80s in Perth, Western Australia. He brought out the International Harvesters for a similar set to this, then did a solo set, then unannounced, brought out Crazy Horse for a full set. Just an insane concert and just what I needed to become a lifelong Neil Young fan. Have seen him several times since and he never disappoints.

Would you upload the original version of Neil Young's Austin City Limits concert from 1985, including the Southwest Texas Public Broadcasting Council logo, funding credits, Austin City Limits 10th Anniversary intro, closing credits with "London Homesick Blues", and the text reading "(c) 1985 THE SOUTHWEST TEXAS PUBLIC BROADCASTING COUNCIL", and the 1984 PBS "Split Profile" logo at the end?

He looks so young!

Man, that's a young Tom Spencer!

To grasp the excellence that is Neil Young simply skip to the last song and closing segment 1:09:20

I wanted an ACL hat, called the number to pledge, and the line wasn't working🤨

I cannot believe that the new Young Camp wants to defund PBS unbelievable

This, when Neil was "nervous".

Is this video available on the Neil Young Archives website?

I do support public television, so I pledge $75

I was born in the wrong year

I love Crazy Horse but the Stray Gators were so tight.

Who is that on keyboard piano? Is that Spooner Oldham?

🎉❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Set list anyone?

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤BELLO BELLO BELLO TIENE ARCANGEL BELLO BELLO

even near 40yrs ago!, DANG - does ANYBODY do LIVE music BETTER than AustinCityLimits! (and STILL do!...) Yee-HA 🤠

Ok ,my best musician in rock and more are Neil young, John Fogerty,Group Status Quo ,Bruce Springsteen,

Neil Young never lived in Santa Cruz.And he only played the catalyst one time

39:53 helpless

I'M READY FOR THE COUNTRY I'M TIRED OF THE CITY LIMITS

I love Neil Young especially 70s version. The band is tight the effort is there but the music or songs feel inauthentic, like Neil is miscasting himself as a country and western singer. At times its almost comical like is he putting us on? No but the eighties musical inspiration had hit the skids.

dig the backers here

I'd like to know who the band members are. Fiddle, pedal steel, piano, harmonica......wow.

who was the other guitarist and back up singer

He is great,John Fogeerty is thev Best.

I always liked Neil but it's funny that he never gets any grief when he puts on a cowboy hat and gets all country-fried gravy like this but when he put on the wraparound sunglasses and got all techy people raked him through the coals. He's from Ottawa! He's no more Texas than he is Silicon Valley.

2:33 Ready for the Country 6:00 Anymore Real Cowboys 9:19 Comes a Time 12:30 Field of Opprotunity 15:50 Amber Jean 19:30 Roll Another # 22:25 Heart of Gold 25:20 INTERMISSION - this is 9 mins of B.S...so you can subtract it from the total time of the video with performance 34:18 Fingers do the Walkin 37:23 Needle/Damage 39:52 Helpless 44:49 California Sunset 48:45 Old Man 52:14 subtract another 9 Mins of B.S. 1:01:17 Powderfinger 1:06:29 Back to the Country 1:09:17 Down by the River I think the complete original broadcast with 40 more minutes of music in ACTUAL order of performance is at this link: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-u21Y-efZAo4.html

1:01:17 Powderfinger

😎👍😉🤟🎼☠🖤🍻 Smile. \m/ ' [-_-] ' \m/. Bye. Bottoms up and cheers. Stay loud, stay proud, stay heavy. Take care, and be safe . #Adanporsiempre .

Back when Austin City Limits was great . Yeh I guess Im an ole fuddy duddy. Can I say that without offending anyone 65 and older?

😮i

I was a pretty darn good cowboy I just got tired of the cows eating my plants

There's a sameness to the country stuff. When he switches to 00.22 "Heart of Gold," it's obvious. Wow! 00:39 Helpless 00:49 Old Man 1:00 Powderfinger 1:09 Down by the River

He´s not a country singer, he´s a punk rocker

Please member me, thanks 🙏🙏🙏

I donate to @WHYY if they played this shit instead of paying Bill Marrazzo nearly $840,000 dollars

It interesting how NY “borrowed” the country rock concept from FBB and his bud’s SS Manassas