"Heart of Gold" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young. From his fourth studio album Harvest (1972), it is Young's only U.S. No. 1 single. In Canada, it reached No. 1 on the RPM national singles chart for the first time on April 8, 1972, on which date Young held the top spot on both the singles and albums charts, and No. 1 again on May 13. Billboard ranked it as the No. 17 song for 1972.
In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked it No. 297 on their list of the 500 greatest songs of all time,The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time Rolling Stone. Issue 963, December 9, 2004. No. 303 in an updated 2010 list,The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time - Neil Young, Heart of Gold. Rolling Stone. 2010. and No. 259 in 2021.
Description The song, which features backup vocals by James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt, is one of a series of soft acoustic pieces which were written partly as a result of a back injury. Unable to stand for long periods of time, Young could not play his electric guitar and so returned to his acoustic guitar, which he could play sitting down. He also played his harmonica during the three instrumental portions, including the introduction to the song.McDonough, Jim, Shakey, Random 2002, pp. 352-354, 370.Crowe, Cameron, Neil Young, the Last American Hero. Rolling Stone, February 8, 1989, webpage found November 29, 2007.
"Heart of Gold" was recorded during the initial sessions for Harvest on February 6–8, 1971, at Quadrafonic Sound Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. Ronstadt (who herself would later cover Young's song "Love Is a Rose") and Taylor were in Nashville at the time for an appearance on Johnny Cash's television program, and the album's producer Elliot Mazer arranged for them to sing backup for Young in the studio."Thrasher", Neil Young's Heart of Gold, web page found November 29, 2007.Mazer, Elliot, Neil Young's Heart of Gold . In Mix, May 1, 2001, webpage found November 29, 2007.
Young played this song in 1971 solo shows before recording it. At a January 19 concert (preserved on Live at Massey Hall 1971, released in 2007) he played it on piano, starting with "A Man Needs a Maid" and then segueing into this song. By the time of Harvest, he had separated the two songs and played "Heart of Gold" on guitar and harmonica.
Young wrote in the liner notes of his 1977 compilation album Decade: "This song put me in the middle of the road. Traveling there soon became a bore so I headed for the ditch. A rougher ride but I saw more interesting people there." This statement was in response to the mainstream popularity that he gained as a result of the number-one status of "Heart of Gold".
Young has stated that this song, as well as "Harvest" and "Out on the Weekend" from the same album, were inspired by his then blossoming love for actress Carrie Snodgress.
In 1985, Bob Dylan said he disliked hearing the song, despite always liking Young:Bob Dylan: Not Like a Rolling Stone Interview December 1985 Spin. The only time it bothered me that someone sounded like me was when I was living in Phoenix, Arizona, in about '72 and the big song at the time was "Heart of Gold". I used to hate it when it came on the radio. I always liked Neil Young, but it bothered me every time I listened to "Heart of Gold." I think it was up at number one for a long time, and I'd say, "Shit, that's me. If it sounds like me, it should as well be me."
Upon the single release, Record World said that "Dylanesque harmonica and lyric content give this one more of a folk feel than [Young's] most recent work."
Personnel Neil Young – guitar, harmonica, vocals Teddy Irwin – guitar Ben Keith – pedal steel guitar Tim Drummond – bass Kenny Buttrey – drums Linda Ronstadt – vocals James Taylor – vocals
Notable covers
James Last covered the song in 1972. It reached No. 17 on the Canadian RPM AC charts, December 30, 1972. Boney M. covered the song on Nightflight to Venus, released in 1978. A cover by Willie Nelson peaked at No. 44 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1987. Roxette covered the song on their MTV Unplugged in 1993. Tori Amos covered the song on her album Strange Little Girls, released in 2001. Johnny Cash covered the song (with Red Hot Chili Peppers) on his 2003 posthumous box set Unearthed. Canadian Diana Krall included it as a bonus track in 2015 on her 12th studio album. Wallflower: The Complete Sessions. Ruth B performed the song in September 2017 for Young's induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. Fiona Apple released a cover of the song in April 2025.
Recognition In 2005, "Heart of Gold" was named the third greatest Canadian song of all time on the CBC Radio One series 50 Tracks: The Canadian Version.'50 Tracks' list of essential Canadian music, 2005
Charts Chart (1972) PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)14 Canada Top Singles (RPM) 1France (IFOP)31Japan (Oricon)28New Zealand (Listener)10South Africa (Springbok Radio)8 US Billboard Hot 100 1 US Billboard Easy Listening8US Cashbox Top 100 Singles1US Record World Top 100 Singles1
Chart (2025)Peakposition Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan) 14
Certifications
Personnel Neil Young — lead vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica Teddy Irwin — guitar Ben Keith — pedal steel guitar Tim Drummond — bass Kenny Buttrey — drums James Taylor — backing vocals Linda Ronstadt — backing vocals
References