Just two months after the release of his seminal album After The Gold Rush, Neil Young played a solo show at The Shakespeare Theater, Stratford, CT on January 22 1971. The show was filmed and recorded, and the concert shown on German TV later in 1971.   In 2020, while Neil and his team were reviewing his Archive for future projects, Neil re-visited the 16mm film and audio recording of this show that had been preserved in the Archive for almost 50 years. Piecing together the tapes and footage, Neil realized that he had the full concert – the film of which is the earliest live footage of Neil performing that is known to exist. Neil has written on NYA that this show is “superior to our beloved “Massey Hall”. A more calm performance, without the celebratory atmosphere of Massey Hall, captured live on 16mm. “Young Shakespeare” is a very special event. To my fans, I say this is the best ever.”

Side A 01 Tell Me Why 02 Old Man 03 The Needle and the Damage Done 04 Ohio 05 Dance Dance Dance 06 Cowgirl in the Sand Side B 07 A Man Needs A Maid/Heart of Gold medley 08 Journey Through The Past 09 Don’t Let It Bring You Down 10 Helpless 11 Down By The Riv