Heart of Gold (Neil Young song)

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Heart of Gold is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young from his 1972 album Harvest. It became Young’s only U.S. No. 1 single. In Canada it reached No. 1 on the RPM singles chart in April 1972 and again in May. Billboard named it the 17th best song of 1972. Rolling Stone later ranked it among the greatest songs: No. 297 in 2004, No. 303 in 2010, and No. 259 in 2021.

The track features backup vocals by James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt. It was written during a time when Young had a back injury, so he used acoustic guitar and harmonica instead of electric guitar. It was recorded February 6–8, 1971, at Quadrafonic Sound Studios in Nashville. Ronstadt and Taylor were in town for Johnny Cash’s TV show, and producer Elliot Mazer arranged for them to sing backup. Young had performed the song live in 1971 before Harvest was recorded, including a Massey Hall concert where he played it on piano.

Young has said the song, along with Harvest and Out on the Weekend, was inspired by his budding relationship with actress Carrie Snodgress. In 1985 Bob Dylan said he disliked hearing the song when it was so popular. Record World noted its Dylanesque harmonica and folk feel. In 2005, CBC named it the third greatest Canadian song of all time.