Hometown: Toronto, Canada
First Solo Recordings: 1969

Personnel:
Neil Young -guitar, harmonica, piano, vibraphone, vocals
Kenneth A. Buttrey - drums
Tim Drummond -bass, drums
Ben Keith -guitar, vocals
Nils Lofgren -guitar, piano, vocals
Ralph Molina -drums, vocals
Jack Nitzsche -guitar, keyboards, piano
Billy Talbot -bass
Danny Whitten -guitar, vocals

Bands In The Family:
Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

Deeply personal and full of commentary and a tribute to Crazy Horse guitarist Danny Whitten and roadie Bruce Berry, Tonight's The Night draws its power not from observations about loss and love, but rather from coping, understanding and human frailty.

The title song is uplifting and sad in the same turn as Young sings about his friend Bruce Berry. Young illustrates not just what the man did for a living, loading the band's van, but also how Young knew his roadie as a man. Young also takes a turn towards the blues with "Speakin' Out" and "World On A String" as his backing band, which includes guest turns by Nils Lofgren on guitar and piano, spilling their musical guts. "Come on Baby Let's Go Downtown" is a live track from the Fillmore East that includes Danny Whitten on guitar. The focus of the song is not on the lyrics and music, but the chemistry between Young and Whitten as they trade licks and share the vocals. It's a goodbye instead of a gratuitous live track thrown in to boost sales.

Things get really sentimental on "Roll Another Number For the Road." A sad-eyed smile floats out of the steel guitar work and the piano bars are drenched with enough tear-jerking chains as Young says that he's had enough of his Woodstock glory days. As the record moves on, Young becomes more interested in just leaving things behind for a while so he can think. His commentary and memories grow deeper on "Albuquerque," "New Momma," "Lookout Joe," and "Tired Eyes." On the latter, Young takes pointed shots at folks quick to judge his friends Barry and Whitten before they know their character.

The production on the record is simple and real. Off kilter vocals, muffled drum parts and distorted guitars give the record a raw feel. Memories, feeling, emotion and introspection. It's all here as Young strips his soul bare once again. Only this time, the sarcasm and invection are toned down by Young's very real concern for the souls of his loved ones.