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3 Neil Young Songs From the 1970s That Every Grunge Fan Should Know
The article highlights three Neil Young songs from the 1970s that it says help explain his influence on grunge. Young became known as the “Godfather of Grunge” and later collaborated with Pearl Jam, while his distorted guitars, dark atmosphere and storytelling anticipated qualities associated with 1990s grunge.
“Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black)” peaked at No. 79 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979, and the article compares its riff and rebellious spirit with Nirvana and early punk. It also points to the dramatic solos and darker mood of “Cortez The Killer” from *Zuma*, and describes “Powderfinger” as sounding strikingly contemporary more than 40 years after its release.
In short
- Neil Young’s 1970s sound helped shape grunge.
- “Hey Hey, My My” reached No. 79 in 1979.
- “Cortez The Killer” and “Powderfinger” also stand out.
Explained simply
Neil Young is a Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist whose work spans folk, rock and heavier electric music. His changing sound and often rough-edged guitar playing influenced later musicians, including artists associated with grunge, a style of rock that became prominent in the 1990s.
Young’s 1970s songs “Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black)”, “Cortez The Killer” and “Powderfinger” show different parts of that sound, from loud guitar riffs to darker moods and story-led lyrics. He later performed with Pearl Jam, one of the best-known grunge bands.