Watch Neil Young Perform ‘Down by the River’ Back in 1976

When Crazy Horse went on tour in 1976 to promote Zuma, Neil Young sent a video crew to London’s Hammersmith Odeon and Tokyo’s Budokan Hall to capture their performances. The performance captured on audio tapes became the Odeon Budokan from the Neil Young Archives Volume II. However, not anyone had the privilege to see it live, so bootlegs became an answered prayer to those who needed to see it.

One of Crazy Horse’s most creative times began with Zuma. This album was recorded in the Malibu basement of a house producer David Brigg rented. Since their debut album, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, the band has undergone several changes. The first song Crazy Horse recorded with Young was a version of “Down By The River,” which originated in one of their lengthy jam sessions inside the latter album.

The rare video below features Young with Crazy Horse performing “Down By the River” from a live concert. Its video quality suffers from being rescued from a bootleg tape at the London show. But until Young finds and releases the original copy, it’s the best we have.

You can watch it here.