Sugar Mountain Live Warner Bros/ Reprise ****:While every Neil Young fan worth their weight in dust and gold is anticipating the release next year of the 10-disc Archives Vol 1 1963-1972 set, here is something of almost equal importance.

Historically, it captures the moment of the launch of Young's solo career (a 1968 Michigan acoustic concert ) some months following his departure from Buffalo Springfield. In careerist terms, it was an experimental gig, executed primarily to see if Young could cut the mustard on his own. Sonically it's stark (it was originally captured on a two-track tape recorder) yet also immensely effective. Interspersed with then newly written material (including Birds) are soundbites of between- song banter that prove Young to be far less mindful of his audience than he is today. Unadorned it may be, but Young is the connector between broken heart and saved soul, and here he is in top form. www.neil young.com TONY CLAYTON-LEA

Download tracks: Last Trip to Tulsa, Old Laughing Lady