CINNAMON GIRL (NEIL YOUNG SONG)

"'Cinnamon Girl'" is a song by Neil Young. It debuted on the 1969 album ''Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere'', which was also Neil's first album with backing band Crazy Horse. It is well known for its opening distorted-guitar riff, which continues through the song. The single reached #55 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in 1970.

Contents

Performance notes

Notable covers

External links

Performance notes

This song, more than any other, displays the very prominent role played by Danny Whitten in the sound of Neil Young's early recordings. It is Crazy Horse's rhythm guitarist who sings the high harmony part, while Neil Young takes care of the low harmony part.
Neil performed the song on his recently acquired Les Paul, Old Black. This guitar would be used by Neil on his more hard rock material.
The song is written in Double Drop D Tuning (DADGBD), also known by Neil as D Modal Tuning. This tuning is used in several of his most famous songs. ("Cortez the Killer", "Fuckin' Up", "The Loner", "Ohio", "Inca Queen", "The Old Laughing Lady", "Ride My Llama", "When You Dance I Can Really Love")
In the opening riff, one can hear clearly where many of the heavier grunge bands of the early 1990s got their inspiration. A good example of the riff's influence is found on Soundgarden's album ''Badmotorfinger'', where many of the riffs display a chugging sound similar to that in "Cinnamon Girl".

Notable covers

"Cinnamon Girl" has been covered by several artists, including:

★ The Gentrys on their self-titled album for Sun Records in 1970

★ Type O Negative, on their album ''October Rust''

★ John Entwistle, featured as a bonus track on his solo debut, ''Smash Your Head Against the Wall''

★ The Sisters Euclid, on the Neil Young tribute ''Run Neil Run''

★ Boyd Tinsley, on ''True Reflections''

★ Matthew Sweet, on his 2006 album of covers with Susanna Hoffs, ''Under the Covers, Vol. 1''

★ The Smashing Pumpkins played the song at live shows sporadically in during the 1990s

★ Los Lobos has also played the song at concerts

★ Bernard Fowler covers this song on his album ''Friends With Privileges''

★ Its main riff is used on Hole's song/noise suite "Starbelly", featured on the 1991 album ''Pretty on the Inside''

★ Hawksley Workman on the DVD ''Live in Lille''

External links

★ Official Neil Young website

★ Unofficial Neil Young website