At 79 years old, Neil Young remains an unmovable force in the landscape of rock and roll. A titan of the genre, he has spent a lifetime crafting a sound that is both timeless and ever-evolving, a raw, emotional, and unapologetically honest reflection of the world around him. To be a fan of Neil Young is to be a fan of authenticity itself. So, when the question arises of which albums a legend like Young might hold in the highest regard, it’s a matter of intense speculation and passionate debate. While Young himself has not recently released a definitive list of his “favorite” rock albums, a deep dive into his discography reveals a clear set of masterworks that have not only defined his career but have also shaped the very trajectory of rock music for generations. These are the albums that are consistently cited by critics, fans, and fellow musicians as his most important, most influential, and most beloved. These are the five albums that would undoubtedly be contenders for Neil Young’s own list of his greatest achievements.

1. Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (1969)

The raw, electric energy that would come to define a significant portion of Neil Young’s career found its first true expression on his second album, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere. This is the album where Young, for the first time, plugged in with the legendary band Crazy Horse, and in doing so, created a sound that was both ragged and sublime. The album is a landmark of the burgeoning country-rock and folk-rock movements, but it is the blistering, extended guitar jams that truly set it apart.

From the opening chords of “Cinnamon Girl,” with its infectious, driving riff, it’s clear that this is a different Neil Young than the one who had released his more folk-oriented debut a year earlier. The album is a showcase for the symbiotic relationship between Young’s songwriting and Crazy Horse’s untamed, intuitive playing. The extended tracks, “Down by the River” and “Cowgirl in the Sand,” are not just songs; they are epic, emotional journeys, with Young’s guitar solos telling stories of love, loss, and longing.

Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere is the sound of a young artist finding his voice in the most electrifying way possible. It’s an album that is both a product of its time and completely timeless, a testament to the power of a great band and a songwriter who was just beginning to scratch the surface of his immense talent. It’s an album that laid the groundwork for decades of rock and roll to come, and for that reason alone, it is a cornerstone of his legacy.

2. After the Gold Rush (1970)

If Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere was a statement of electric power, After the Gold Rush was a return to the more introspective, acoustic-driven songwriting that had always been at the core of Young’s artistry. Released just a year later, the album is a stunning collection of songs that are both deeply personal and universally resonant. The album’s title track, a surreal, dreamlike ballad, sets the tone for a record that is full of beauty, melancholy, and a profound sense of searching.

The songs on After the Gold Rush are a masterclass in songwriting. “Only Love Can Break Your Heart,” his first top 40 hit, is a perfect piece of folk-pop, while “Southern Man” is a fiery, politically charged rocker that directly confronts the racism of the American South. The album is a beautiful and sometimes stark tapestry of acoustic ballads and electric-driven rock, a duality that would become a hallmark of Young’s career.

After the Gold Rush is an album that is both of its time and for all time. It’s a record that captures the disillusionment and hope of a generation, but its themes of love, loss, and the search for meaning are timeless. It’s an album that has been a source of comfort and inspiration for millions, and its place in the pantheon of great rock albums is secure.

3. Harvest (1972)

Without a doubt, Harvest is Neil Young’s most commercially successful album, and for good reason. It’s a record that is both accessible and deeply personal, a collection of songs that are as catchy as they are emotionally resonant. The album’s lead single, “Heart of Gold,” became a number-one hit, and its gentle, melodic sound made Young a global superstar.

But to dismiss Harvest as simply a collection of radio-friendly hits would be to do it a grave disservice. The album is a rich and varied work, with songs that range from the aformentioned country-folk of “Heart of Gold” and “Old Man” to the orchestral grandeur of “A Man Needs a Maid” and “There’s a World.” Young recorded the album with a new group of musicians, the Stray Gators, who provided a more polished and refined sound than the raw energy of Crazy Horse.

Harvest is an album that has been both praised and criticized for its commercial appeal, but there is no denying its enduring power. It’s a record that has touched the lives of millions, and its songs have become a part of the cultural fabric. It’s an album that proved that commercial success and artistic integrity did not have to be mutually exclusive, and it remains a high-water mark in Young’s long and storied career.

4. Tonight’s the Night (1975)

In the wake of the massive success of Harvest, Neil Young did what he has always done: he defied expectations. Instead of following up with another collection of radio-friendly hits, he released Tonight’s the Night, a dark, raw, and emotionally devastating album that stands as one of the most uncompromising works in the history of rock and roll.

The album was recorded in the aftermath of the overdose deaths of two of Young’s close friends, Crazy Horse guitarist Danny Whitten and roadie Bruce Berry. The grief and despair that Young was feeling is palpable in every note of the record. The songs are loose, ragged, and often sound as if they are on the verge of falling apart. Young’s vocals are raw and strained, and the music is a stark, stripped-down blues-rock.

Tonight’s the Night is not an easy album to listen to, but it is an incredibly powerful one. It’s a record that confronts the darkest aspects of the rock and roll lifestyle with a brutal honesty that is both shocking and deeply moving. It’s an album that has been cited as a major influence by countless artists, and it remains a testament to the power of music to confront and transcend even the most profound of tragedies.

5. Rust Never Sleeps (1979)

By the late 1970s, many of the rock and roll heroes of the 1960s were beginning to seem like relics of a bygone era. The rise of punk rock had brought a new energy and a new attitude to the music world, and many of the old guard were struggling to keep up. Neil Young, however, was not one of them. With Rust Never Sleeps, he proved that he was as relevant and as vital as ever.

The album is divided into two distinct halves, one acoustic and one electric, a structure that perfectly encapsulates the two sides of Young’s musical personality. The acoustic side features some of his most beautiful and introspective songs, including “My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue),” a meditation on the fleeting nature of fame and the enduring power of rock and roll. The electric side is a blistering, full-throttle assault, with Young and Crazy Horse tearing through songs like “Powderfinger” and “Sedan Delivery” with a ferocity that would put any punk band to shame.

Rust Never Sleeps is an album that is both a celebration and a critique of rock and roll. It’s a record that acknowledges the past while looking firmly to the future. It’s an album that proved that Neil Young was not content to rest on his laurels, and that he was still capable of making music that was as powerful and as relevant as anything he had done before. It’s a fitting end to a decade of incredible creativity, and a powerful statement from an artist who was just getting started.