Neil Young has been in the news this past week, pulling his music from Spotify in protest of the streaming platform’s indirect broadcasting of vaccination disinformation (via one of its podcasts). While certainly in character for the legendary Canadian musician, the squabble has sadly distracted from a memorable milestone – the 50th anniversary of Young’s seminal album, “Harvest.”

Released on Feb. 1, 1972, the country-rock classic turned out to be the Toronto-born artist’s only No. 1 album, out of over 50 in a distinguished career that continues to see the 76-year-old still contributing new music.

Correspondingly, Harvest also spawned Young’s only No. 1 single, “Heart of Gold,” which is considered by many the greatest tune of all time by a Canadian artist.

(The album also featured “Alabama,” a follow-up to “Southern Man” and final straw that prompted the famous Lynyrd Skynyrd rebuttal, “Well, I heard Mr. Young sing about her/ Well, I heard ol’ Neil put her down/ I hope Neil Young will remember, a southern man don’t need him around anyhow” in “Sweet Home Alabama”).

Less controversially, and featuring backing vocals by Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor, “Heart of Gold,” went on to become such a massive hit that Young later claimed it drove him away from the mainstream, leading him to explore other (sometimes less likeable) musical paths in the future.

That aside, Young’s catalogue in the 1960s and ‘70s, including efforts with Crosby, Stills and Nash, (who yesterday also pulled their music from Spotify) is unparalleled, peaking with “Harvest” and providing a gold standard in “Heart of Gold” – a song that provides a timely reminder that, even then, ol’ Neil’s sentiments were spot on.

Here’s a performance of the song from Farm Aid in 1985.

Lyrics

I want to live
I want to give
I’ve been a miner
For a heart of gold
It’s these expressions
I never give
That keep me searching
For a heart of gold
And I’m getting old
Keep me searching
For a heart of gold
And I’m getting old

I’ve been to Hollywood
I’ve been to Redwood
I crossed the ocean
For a heart of gold
I’ve been in my mind
It’s such a fine line
That keeps me searching
For a heart of gold
And I’m getting old
Keeps me searching
For a heart of gold
And I’m getting old

Keep me searching
For a heart of gold
You keep me searching
And I’m growing old
Keep me searching
For a heart of gold
I’ve been a miner
For a heart of gold