New York City News

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer-songwriter has announced plans to release his next album, Chrome Dreams II, on Oct. 16 via Reprise Records.

The collection is Young's follow-up to last year's critically acclaimed, politically charged Living with War.

Young heralded the release of the new album in a mock newspaper (dubbed the NY Times ) on his official Website. In his post, the musician revealed Chrome Dreams II was a sequel to the now legendary album he recorded back in 1977 but ultimately shelved without explanation.

The second Chrome is a 10-song cycle running over 60 minutes. Seven of the cuts are brand new and three are older songs that Young wrote years ago but only now felt comfortable putting to tape. Two of the tracks on the disc are among the longest he's ever recorded, clocking in at 18 minutes and 30 seconds and 13 minutes, respectively.

Chrome Dreams II was produced by Ny and Niko Bolas, the production team otherwise known as the Volume Dealers. In a tradition dating back to 1969, Young unveiled the new material in a concert in Burbank for approximately 100 people, among them Reprise executives.

The original Chrome Dreams LP is considered by various music critics and Young aficionados to have been a seminal work, but exists only in relatively rare bootleg form.

However, several of the tracks eventually wound up on later albums including a version of "Homegrown" on 1977's American Stars 'N Bars; "Look Out for My Love" on 1978's Comes a Time; and "Pocahontas,"  "Sedan Delivery" and "Powerderfinger" on 1979's Rust Never Sleeps.

Chrome Dreams took on an even greater mythical stature after notes, lyrics and artwork for the record was destroyed in a fire that gutted Young's Malibu home in early 1978.

But while fans will be pleased with new Neil on the way, they'll have to wait a little longer for that multidisc Archives box set he's been promising.

The first volume, Live at the Fillmore East, came out last September and featured a concert Young performed with Crazy Horse in 1970. A second volume, the acoustic Live at Massey Hall, was released last March.

But a much larger retrospective, The Archives Vol. 01 1963-1972, said to include eight CDs and three DVDs, isn't due in stores now until Feb. 18.

In the meantime, Young will support Chrome Dreams II with a six week fall tour scheduled for October and November. He'll also likely try out some of the new material during his set at the Farm Aid benefit concert, to be held at Randall's Island in New York City on Sept. 9.