Neil Young Returning To Toronto's Massey Hall

Neil Young's first single from his upcoming Chrome Dreams II album is being sent to radio stations this week, but don't expect too many stations to play it.

"Ordinary People" is more than 18 minutes long, which doesn't fit the tightly formatted programming of 21st century radio, but there's no harm in requesting it at your favourite rock station just for the hell of it to see if they'll give it a spin.

"Ordinary People" is one of three older songs on Chrome Dreams II, which will be released on Oct. 16 by Reprise. It was performed about a dozen times in 1988 with Young's band at the time, The Bluenotes.

"Boxcar" was originally intended for Times Square, which never materialized but eventually evolved into the Freedom album and Eldorado EP. Young performed the song solo with electric guitar while on tour with The Bluenotes and also played it a number of times in 1989 with another of his groups, The Restless. "Beautiful Bluebird" is a country ballad recorded in Nashville in the early '80s.

Young will embark on a 20-date North American tour in support of Chrome Dreams II, beginning on Oct. 18 in Boise, Idaho and ending on Dec. 13 in New York City. The tour includes shows on Nov. 26 and 27 at Toronto's Massey Hall, where he recorded the Live At Massey Hall album in 1971. That record was finally released this past March.

The musicians who played on the new album — Ben Keith (pedal steel, dobro), Ralph Molina (drums) and Rick Rosas (bass) — will act as Young's touring band. Pegi Young, Neil's wife, will be the opening act. Her rootsy self-titled debut was released by Warner Bros. in June.

Here are the songs on Chrome Dreams II:

"Beautiful Bluebird"
"Boxcar"
"Ordinary People"
"Shining Light"
"The Believer"
"Spirit Road"
"Dirty Old Man"
"Ever After"
"No Hidden Path"
"The Way"