Personnel: Neil Young (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars); Frank Sampredo (acoustic & electric guitars, synthesizer); Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Nicolette Larson (background vocals). Ben Keith (steel guitar, dobro, background vocals); Carole Mayedo (violin); Billy Talbot (bass, background vocals); Tim Drummond (bass); Ralph Molina (drums, background vocals); Karl T. Himmel (drums).

Producers: Neil Young, David Briggs, Tim Mulligan, Elliot Mazer.

All tracks have been digitally remastered using HDCD technology.

Released right after the career albums TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT and ZUMA and right before the big-selling COMES A TIME and RUST NEVER SLEEPS, this country-rocky 1977 album is often forgotten. But it introduced the sensational "Like A Hurricane," which has remained a staple of Young's concerts, and such quirky favorites as "Homegrown," an ode to marijuana, and "Old Country Waltz," which is exactly what it says it is. As Neil Young's legendary 1970s albums go, it might be a bit of a tossed-off affair, but most country-rockers can only dream of making one album this good.

What the critics say...

Spin (12/03, p.125) - "...It's got 'Like a Hurricane,' one of rock's great guitar-wank epics..."
Q (4/02, p.142) - "...Weirdly sex-obsessed country tracks, taped at rehearsals without telling fellow vocalist Linda Ronstadt..."
Musician (5/94, p.68) - "...AMERICAN STARS 'N' BARS (1977) found Young and Crazy Horse cranking out their most primitive garage rock with a honky-tonk edge..."