This one takes me back, Youdopia. Back in 1982 Neil Young released an electronic album, or a New Wave album, whatever you want to call it, named Trans. It pissed everybody off because they wanted more Crazy Horse, Rust, or Sugar Mountain. Our man Neil, who is incredibly prolific, had been hanging out with Devo, while filming his horrible movie Human Highway. It flopped upon release, but… it holds up well in retrospect. Neil does what he wants to, and although his ways are mysterious, we must never doubt his talent. It’s telling that the album Neil released after this one, was his rockabilly album. The song you are about to watch is Sample and Hold. It’s a live version from a concert video from the Trans tour. It’s awesome. Nils Lofgren is playing with him as well. I’ve copied the lyrics to the song, because the Vocoder, while cool, is nigh unintelligible.  Enjoy some of the coolest shit ever. If you want to watch Neil Young and Devo perform My My, Hey Hey, click this link.

Neil Young & Nils Lofgren – Sample & Hold

Yorkshire-Pudding | MySpace Video

Sample and Hold
Hair: Blonde
Eyes: Blue
Weight: 110
Disposition: Even
Mood Code: Rotary Adjustable

I need a unit to sample and hold
But not the angry one
A new design, new design.

I need a unit to sample and hold
But not the lonely one
A new design, new design.

I need a unit to sample and hold
But not the lonely one
A new design, new design.

Sample and hold.

We’ll send it out right away
Satisfaction guaranteed.
Please specify
The color of skin and eye
We know you’ll be happy.

Don’t hesitate to give us a call
We know you’ll be satisfied
When you energize
And see your unit come alive
We know you’ll be happy.

I need a unit to sample and hold
But not the lonely one,
the lonely one,
the lonely one
Sample and hold.
Weight: 110.

Perfection in every details
Fabricated from
the curl of the hair
To the tip of the nail
Because our units never fail
We know you’ll be happy.

I need a unit to sample and hold.

Don’t hesitate to give us a call
We know you’ll be satisfied
When you energize
And see your unit come alive
We know you’ll be happy.

I need a unit to sample and hold.

We know you’ll be happy 110
We know you’ll be happy
We know you’ll be happy.

But not the lonely one
A new design, new design
Perfection in every detail,
new design
Sample and hold.

The reasons that this is funny are manifold. Yea, verily the Nords and the Germans can’t help but be a little creepy… what with all the genocide and reindeer hearts. However, this is HIGH lar i us. HERE is why this is relevant to we Youdopians. It all started with Rockabilly Week.
It is primarily funny in a Borat kind of way, but the guy is being funny on purpose. However… he’s still German-ish and it’s like the SS Glee Club performing the Lumber Jack Song. Uh uh. Back to the mines with you, Klaus.

I remember this from the good old video days of MTV. If I recall correctly, the director/editor cut out every fifth frame (or something) to give the video that herky jerky look. I don’t know whose idea it was to make Neil look like a transient. Probably his. Great song. Great mono mix. Great video. Tap them toes. It ain’t armegeddon yet.