Old Ways  by Neil Young

Old Ways from 1985 is perhaps the most "misunderstood" album in Neil Young's career, as it was at the center of a historic legal battle. The record company Geffen Records sued Young for $3.3 million, with the incredible accusation that he was making music that "did not sound like Neil Young." (!) The company wanted a rock album, but he insisted on the country sound. When Geffen rejected the first version of Old Ways in 1983, Young sent them Everybody's Rockin', a pure rockabilly album, as an ironic response to their demand for "rock 'n' roll".

Despite the company's reactions, Young managed to gather the "elite" of country. Legends like Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings participate in the album. What we hear today is essentially "Old Ways II". The original 1983 album remained on the shelf for two years until the legal battle ended with an apology from the company. While albums like Harvest had country influences, Old Ways is considered the only time Young completely "immersed" himself in the genre, using Nashville instruments such as pedal steel, violin, and banjo.

Neil Young's involvement with this sound and his contact with Willie Nelson during the recordings led to the founding of Farm Aid, the historic charitable festival for farmers (!)