American Stars ‘n Bars (1977)

American Stars ‘n Bars (1977)

Easily Neil’s most underrated album, American Star ‘n Bars is another in a long line of Neil Young ‘identity crisis records,’ but taken as a collection of songs, it’s practically perfect. One of several albums to provide sanctuary for songs orphaned by the aborted Homegrown album (others ended up on Hawks & Doves and the retrospective Decade), American Stars ‘n Bars contains a first side of mostly excellent country rock material and a particularly strong second: “Star Of Bethlehem” is an Emmylou Harris-assisted bit of folk rock confection that would have been right at home on Harvest; pot-paean “Homegrown” is silly but irresistible; and the dosed-sounding “Will To Love” is a heartfelt loner folk tune about, err, salmon. This leaves the fireworks display that is “Like A Hurricane,” one of Neil Young & Crazy Horse’s most potent guitar epics, on par with “Cortez The Killer,” “Down By The River” and “Cowgirl In The Sand.” Any Shakey disciple who doesn’t own a copy of American Stars ‘n Bars should have their fan club membership revoked at once.