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| name = Mirror Ball
| name = Mirror Ball
| type = studio
| type = studio
| artist = [[Neil Young]] feat. [[Pearl Jam]]
| artist = [[Neil Young]]
| cover = NeilYoungMirrorBall.jpg
| cover = NeilYoungMirrorBall.jpg
| alt =
| alt =
| released = August 7, 1995<ref>https://neilyoungarchives.com/#/album?id=A_043</ref>
| released = August 7, 1995<ref>{{cite web|url=https://neilyoungarchives.com/#/album?id=A_043|title = Neil Young Archives}}</ref>
| recorded = January 26&nbsp;– February 10, 1995
| recorded = January – February 10, 1995
| studio = [[Bad Animals Studio|Bad Animals]], Seattle, Washington
| venue =
| genre = [[Grunge]]<ref>{{cite web|date=October 11, 2021|title=Top 30 Grunge Albums|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/top-grunge-albums/|access-date=December 28, 2021|website=Ultimate Classic Rock}}</ref>
| studio = [[Bad Animals Studio]], [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
| genre = [[Rock music|Rock]], [[alternative rock]], [[grunge]]
| length = 55:14
| length = 55:14
| label =
| language = [[English language|English]]
| label = [[Reprise Records|Reprise]]/[[Epic Records|Epic]]
* [[Reprise Records|Reprise]]
* [[Epic Records|Epic]]
| producer = [[Brendan O'Brien (music producer)|Brendan O'Brien]]
| producer = [[Brendan O'Brien (music producer)|Brendan O'Brien]]
| chronology = [[Neil Young]]
| chronology = [[Neil Young]]
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}}
}}


'''''Mirror Ball''''' is the 21st studio album by Canadian musician [[Neil Young]], and features members of American rock band [[Pearl Jam]]. It was released on August 7, 1995 through [[Reprise Records]]. The album has been certified [[RIAA certification|gold]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]] in the United States.
'''''Mirror Ball''''' is the 23rd studio album by Canadian musician [[Neil Young]], and features members of American rock band [[Pearl Jam]]. It was released on August 7, 1995, through [[Reprise Records]]. The album has been certified [[RIAA certification|gold]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]] in the United States.

In the same year, Pearl Jam released an accompanying EP titled ''[[Merkin Ball]]''.

==Background==
As [[grunge]] peaked in popularity in the early 1990s, some of the bands expressed admiration for Young's career and influence. At least one music writer noted a similarity in ethos and style between the emerging genre and Young's work, dubbing him the "Godfather of Grunge".<ref>The Godfather of Grunge Rock. Steve Martin. Pulse!. December 1991</ref> Of the younger groups, Young had a particularly close relationship with Pearl Jam. He explains, "We're sympathetic. They're definitely old souls—they've been around. Musically there's youthful energy, but without the sound of inexperience. And our musical styles are compatible; it's like a big wall of sound with a lot of nuances in there."<ref name="Durchholz, Daniel 2012">Durchholz, Daniel, and Gary Graff. 2012. Neil Young: Long May You Run: The Illustrated History. Minneapolis, Mn: Voyageur Press.</ref> Pearl Jam incorporated "[[Rockin' in the Free World]]" into their setlists throughout their 1992 tour. In October, both artists performed, separately, at [[Bob Dylan]]'s [[The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration]], and Young invited the band to play an acoustic set two weeks later at that year's [[Bridge School Benefit]] concert. Pearl Jam appeared as an opening act on Young's 1993 tour of North America with [[Booker T. & the M.G.'s]]. In September, Young joined the group to perform "[[Rockin' in the Free World]]" at the [[1993 MTV Video Music Awards]].

In January 1995, Young asked [[Eddie Vedder]] to induct him into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]. Later that week, Young agreed to appear alongside Pearl Jam at a benefit supporting [[Voters for Choice]], where he performed new songs "Song X" and "Act of Love" with his longtime collaborators [[Crazy Horse (band)|Crazy Horse]]. At the benefit, Pearl Jam joined Young on stage for an encore performance of "Act of Love", which the band had learned by recording Young's set at the Hall of Fame ceremony. Young was inspired by the performance and became eager to record the song with the band in a studio. "I said, 'Maybe we ought to record it. It sounds good.' They were thinking the same thing. So we set a date to go in and record. I wanted to have more than one song, so I came in with three songs in hand."<ref name="Durchholz, Daniel 2012"/> Young elaborates to [[Dave Marsh]] in a contemporary radio interview: {{blockquote|"We played this Choice benefit, Pro-Choice benefit in Washington. I played with Crazy Horse and then I came out and played with them. You know, we just like playing together. It sounds good when we play together. We like each other. We played "Act Of Love" at that. It was first time we'd ever played it together. They told me they learned from a DAT because they heard it the night before. It was really in a great groove, so we were thinking this was really good, we really smoked it, we should catch this and get it on tape. So we were talking a little bit about that and we decided to make a plan. Try to figure out when we could do it. We did it about a week or so later. Got two days in the studio."<ref name="Dave Marsh 1995">Dave Marsh. Mirror Ball radio broadcast interview. June 1995.</ref>}}


==Recording==
==Recording==
The album's recording sessions took place in January 1995 and February 1995 at [[Bad Animals Studio]] in [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]]. The album was produced by [[Brendan O'Brien (music producer)|Brendan O'Brien]], who had previously worked on [[Pearl Jam]]'s 1993 album, ''[[Vs. (Pearl Jam album)|Vs.]]'', and 1994 album, ''[[Vitalogy]]''.
The album's recording sessions took place in January 1995 and February 1995 at [[Ann Wilson|Ann]] and [[Nancy Wilson (rock musician)|Nancy Wilson]]'s [[Bad Animals Studio]] in [[Seattle]]. The album was produced by [[Brendan O'Brien (music producer)|Brendan O'Brien]], who had previously worked on Pearl Jam's 1993 album, ''[[Vs. (Pearl Jam album)|Vs.]]'', and 1994 album, ''[[Vitalogy]]''.


[[Neil Young]] joined Pearl Jam in the studio in Seattle in January 1995, eleven days after performing with the band at an abortion-rights benefit in [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref name="strauss">Strauss, Neil. [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE0DF1239F931A35754C0A963958260&scp=6&sq=neil+young+mirror&st=nyt "The Predictably Unpredictable Neil Young"]. ''[[The New York Times]]''. July 2, 1995. Retrieved on March 27, 2008.</ref> The album was recorded in four days' studio time (January 26, January 27, February 7, and February 10).<ref>(1995) Album notes for ''Mirror Ball'' by Neil Young, [CD booklet]. New York: Reprise Records.</ref><ref name="mojo">Kent, Nick. [http://www.thrasherswheat.org/tfa/mojointerview1295pt2.htm "Neil Young Interview: Part #2"]. ''[[Mojo (magazine)|MOJO Magazine]]''. December 1995.</ref> Young took the approach of recording the songs live in the studio. Young brought "Song X", "Act of Love", and five other songs into the studio to record for the first session in January.<ref name="strauss"/><ref name="mojo"/> For the second session in February, he brought in two more songs.<ref name="mojo"/> Young also wrote two new songs during the February recording sessions, and one song from the January sessions was re-recorded.<ref name="mojo"/> Young said that all of the songs, with the exception of "Song X" and "Act of Love", were written in the four-day time period in which the album was recorded.<ref name="mojo"/>
Young joined Pearl Jam in the studio in January 1995, eleven days after performing with the band at an abortion-rights benefit in [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref name="strauss">{{cite news|last=Strauss|first=Neil|author-link=Neil Strauss|date=July 2, 1995|title=The Predictably Unpredictable Neil Young|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/02/arts/the-predictably-unpredictable-neil-young.html|access-date=March 27, 2008|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The album was recorded in four days' studio time (January 26, January 27, February 7, and February 10).<ref>(1995) Album notes for ''Mirror Ball'' by Neil Young, [CD booklet]. New York: Reprise Records.</ref><ref name="mojo">{{cite web|last=Kent|first=Nick|date=December 1995|title=Neil Young Interview MOJO Magazine Pt#2|url=http://www.thrasherswheat.org/tfa/mojointerview1295pt2.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811221219/https://www.thrasherswheat.org/tfa/mojointerview1295pt2.htm|archive-date=August 11, 2021|website=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]}}</ref> Young recorded the songs live in the studio, songs he had written the day before each session. "The beauty of the thing is that hardly any talking had to happen at all. I'd bring the song in and run it down, then everybody would play it. I don't think we did more than five takes on anything. We all knew what we had to do. Everybody was together."<ref name="Durchholz, Daniel 2012"/>


Young brought "Song X", "Act of Love", and five other songs into the studio to record for the first session in January, including "Downtown", "Big Green Country" and "Peace and Love".<ref name="strauss"/><ref name="mojo"/> For the second session in February, he brought in two more songs.<ref name="mojo"/> Young also wrote two new songs during the February recording sessions, and one song from the January sessions was re-recorded.<ref name="mojo"/> On February 7, the group captured "I'm the Ocean" and "Truth Be Known" and Young recorded "What Happened Yesterday" solo on pump organ. "Throw Your Hatred Down" and "Scenery" would be recorded February 10. Young recorded "Fallen Angel" at one final solo session on February 26, again on pump organ. Young said that all of the songs, with the exception of "Song X" and "Act of Love", were written during the album's sessions.<ref name="mojo"/>
Young said he traveled to Seattle to record the record for a "challenge."<ref name="mojo"/> He said, "Recording ''Mirror Ball'' was like audio vérité, just a snapshot of what's happening. Sometimes I didn't know who was playing. I was just conscious of this big smouldering mass of sound."<ref name="mojo"/> Young called Pearl Jam drummer [[Jack Irons]] "unbelievable."<ref name="mojo"/> He stated that he "played his ass off on every take at every session," and added, "I can't say enough good things about him."<ref name="mojo"/> Pearl Jam vocalist [[Eddie Vedder]] was not around much for the recording sessions.<ref name="tenpast">Weisbard, Eric, et al. "Ten Past Ten". ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''. August 2001.</ref> Vedder explained that he was "in the midst of a pretty intense stalker problem," adding that "leaving the house wasn't the easiest thing to do."<ref name="tenpast"/> Vedder would refer to the issue in the song "Lukin" from Pearl Jam's 1996 album, ''[[No Code]]''.<ref>{{cite web | last = Hiatt | first = Brian | url = https://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/pearl_jam_the_second_coming | title = The Second Coming of Pearl Jam | work = [[Rolling Stone]] | date = 2006-06-16 | accessdate = 2007-06-22 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090429081700/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/pearl_jam_the_second_coming/page/2 | archive-date = 2009-04-29 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Neil Young has been heard praising the fact that Eddie Vedder was absent during the recordings. Young likens Vedder's voice to the sounds of all the genocides combined. "Now the album won't be an entire waste of time like all of Eddie's previous projects " Neil Young. Pearl Jam guitarist [[Stone Gossard]] said that ''Mirror Ball'' "came at a time when we needed it, that Neil thought we were a band that would be good to make a record with. He probably felt sorry for us. He made it all right for us to be who we were. He's not taking his career so seriously that he can't take chances. Suddenly, our band seemed too se


Young said he traveled to Seattle to make the record for a "challenge."<ref name="mojo"/> He said, "Recording ''Mirror Ball'' was like audio vérité, just a snapshot of what's happening. Sometimes I didn't know who was playing. I was just conscious of this big smouldering mass of sound."<ref name="mojo"/> Playing in a group with two other lead guitarists reminded him of his days in [[Buffalo Springfield]].<ref name="mojo"/> [[Mike McCready]] told ''[[Guitar World]]'', "We'd be jamming, and I'd look over and say to myself, 'That's Neil Young, and he's playing leads. That's the shit!' I could only wish to be that good. I was completely honored to be playing with him. We're enamored of him...and I'm honored he says he's into us. I think he just likes where we're coming from. He sees a lot of honesty in our music.<ref>Lifton, Dave. 2015. When Neil Young Teamed up with Pearl Jam for 'Mirror Ball.' Ultimate Classic Rock. June 27, 2015. https://ultimateclassicrock.com/neil-young-pearl-jam-mirror-ball/.</ref><ref name="Durchholz, Daniel 2012"/> Young called Pearl Jam drummer [[Jack Irons]] "unbelievable."<ref name="mojo"/> He stated that he "played his ass off on every take at every session," and added, "I can't say enough good things about him."<ref name="mojo"/> Pearl Jam vocalist [[Eddie Vedder]] was not around much for the recording sessions.<ref name="tenpast">Weisbard, Eric, et al. "Ten Past Ten". ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''. August 2001.</ref> Vedder explained that he was "in the midst of a pretty intense stalker problem," adding that "leaving the house wasn't the easiest thing to do."<ref name="tenpast"/> Vedder referred to the issue in the song "Lukin" from Pearl Jam's 1996 album ''[[No Code]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hiatt|first=Brian|date=June 16, 2006|title=The Second Coming of Pearl Jam|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/pearl_jam_the_second_coming|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429081700/https://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/pearl_jam_the_second_coming/page/2|archive-date=April 29, 2009|access-date=June 22, 2007|website=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref> Pearl Jam guitarist [[Stone Gossard]] said that ''Mirror Ball'' "came at a time when we needed it, that Neil thought we were a band that would be good to make a record with. He probably felt sorry for us. He made it all right for us to be who we were. He's not taking his career so seriously that he can't take chances. Suddenly, our band seemed too serious."<ref name="tenpast"/>
rious."<ref name="tenpast" />


==Writing==
==Music and lyrics==
''Mirror Ball'' captures a loose [[Rock music|rock]] sound. The album has a very raw sound to it, with songs ending in feedback and band members talking at the start and at the end of many songs, including Young remarking at the end of "Downtown": "Well, we know ''that'' one. That's funky." Young wrote all of the tracks for the album except for "Peace and Love", which was co-written by Young and Vedder. William Ruhlmann of [[AllMusic]] said "[[Pearl Jam]] boasts spirited rhythms and dense guitar interplay that Young makes excellent use of in a series of songs built out of simple, melodic riffs."<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|title=allmusic ((( Mirror Ball > Review )))|url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r216905|pure_url=yes}}|website=[[Allmusic]]|author=Ruhlmann, William|accessdate=March 21, 2009}}</ref>
''Mirror Ball'' captures a loose [[Rock music|rock]] sound. The album has a very raw sound to it, with songs ending in feedback and band members talking at the start and at the end of many songs, including Young remarking at the end of "Downtown": "Well, we know ''that'' one. That's funky." Young wrote all of the tracks for the album except for "Peace and Love", which was co-written by Young and Vedder. William Ruhlmann of [[AllMusic]] said "Pearl Jam boasts spirited rhythms and dense guitar interplay that Young makes excellent use of in a series of songs built out of simple, melodic riffs."<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|last=Ruhlmann|first=William|title=Mirror Ball - Neil Young {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/mirror-ball-mw0000177187|access-date=March 21, 2009|publisher=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref>


On the lyrical content of ''Mirror Ball'', Young said, "There's idealism and reality, the two have got to come together yet there are always major problems when they do. Maybe that's the crux of what I'm trying to say in this new album. It's also a commentary of the differences between my peace and love '60s generation and the more cynical '90s generation."<ref name="mojo"/> "Song X" and "Act of Love" were written about [[abortion]].<ref name="strauss"/> "Downtown" includes references to [[Jimi Hendrix]] and [[Led Zeppelin]]. The reference to Led Zeppelin was partly inspired by Young's performance with the band at the 1995 [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] induction ceremony.<ref name="strauss"/>
On the lyrical content of ''Mirror Ball'', Young said, "There's idealism and reality, the two have got to come together yet there are always major problems when they do. Maybe that's the crux of what I'm trying to say in this new album. It's also a commentary of the differences between my peace and love '60s generation and the more cynical '90s generation."<ref name="mojo"/>
"Song X" and "Act of Love" were written about [[abortion]].<ref name="strauss"/> "This isn't an easy subject to confront head-on. People who say that human beings shouldn't have the right to dismiss a human life - they have a point. You can't dismiss that point. But then there's the reality. There's idealism and reality, the two have to come together yet there are always major problems when they do."<ref name="mojo"/>

"I'm the Ocean" acknowledges the difficulty of living in the moment and how easy it is for life to become a series of quick flashes of different experiences. Young explains in a 2018 post to his ''Archives'' website: "Too may times in this life, we miss what is going on right in front of us......I try but sometimes i don't see. Lots of love to the searchers..."<ref>November 19, 2018. Neil Young Archives</ref> He elaborates in a contemporary radio interview: "It's kind of like a bunch of flashes of things going on all at the same time or something. So you get kind of the feeling that your life is flashing before you. So that makes you think you're floating up on the ceiling somewhere watching. I just got caught up in this thing where everything just kept happening and all I could do was write it down."<ref name="Dave Marsh 1995">Dave Marsh. Mirror Ball radio broadcast interview. June 1995.</ref>

"Downtown" includes references to [[Jimi Hendrix]] and [[Led Zeppelin]]. The reference to Led Zeppelin was partly inspired by Young's performance with the band at the 1995 [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] induction ceremony, where they played "[[When the Levee Breaks]]" together.<ref name="strauss"/>

"Peace and Love" features vocals by both Young and Vedder, who also share writing credits. Young told [[Kurt Loder]] for [[MTV News]]: "Ultimately what happened was that I never finished it. Eddie finished it. Because I had this melody in this place. It was a great way to save it."<ref>Neil Young Interview. MTV News with Kurt Loder. 1995.</ref>

"Throw Your Hatred Down" explores the nature of conflict and shares a message of non-violence. "I was thinking about the kids in the schoolyard who are fighting - like just the different ways to go and they're started right there. Just how...where does it start...where do we start the conflict? You know, where does it begin? It must begin at birth or something, because conflict is always there. It seems part of our nature, as sad as it sounds. I mean it must just be there...and I just, you know...was drifting around in my head trying...I just had all these images of this...conflict and people planning ways to overcome evil and evil planning ways to encroach on good."<ref name="Dave Marsh 1995">Dave Marsh. Mirror Ball radio broadcast interview. June 1995.</ref>

The album closes with the extended "Scenery" featuring the group with Brendan O'Brien on piano and "Fallen Angel" which reprises the melody of "I'm the Ocean" with Young alone on pump organ.

==Packaging==
A [[Disco ball|mirror ball]] graces the album's cover. Because of legal complications between their respective record companies, only Young's name appears on the album sleeve, although the members of Pearl Jam are credited individually in the album's [[liner notes]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |title=Pearl Jam Biography, Songs, & Albums |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/pearl-jam-mn0000037730/biography |access-date=June 22, 2007 |publisher=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref> Pearl Jam's ''[[Merkin Ball]]'' complements the layout and content of the album packaging for ''Mirror Ball''.

==Tour==
Following the completion of ''Mirror Ball'', the members of Pearl Jam (minus Vedder) and producer O'Brien (on keyboards) joined Young in August 1995 for an eleven-date tour in Europe to promote the album. When the band toured, fans referred to them as "Neil Jam".<ref>{{cite web|title=1995 Concert Chronology for Pearl Jam|url=http://www.fivehorizons.com/tour/cc/t1995.shtml|website=www.fivehorizons.com}}</ref> Pearl Jam guitarist [[Mike McCready]] said, "It was a dream come true. We got to play a bunch of Neil Young songs with Neil Young himself and got to go to Berlin, to Jerusalem, to the Red Sea."<ref>{{cite web|last=Quinn|first=Bryan|date=March 9, 2009|title=Q+A session with Pearl Jam|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/music/music-news/qa-session-with-pearl-jam-1013177|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312072753/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/music/music-news/2009/03/09/q-a-session-with-pearl-jam-86908-21184381/|archive-date=March 12, 2009|website=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]}}</ref> This tour proved very successful with Young's manager Elliot Roberts calling it "one of the greatest tours we ever had in our whole lives."<ref>{{cite book|last=McDonough|first=Jimmy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N__84GtwaUUC|title=Shakey: Neil Young's Biography|date=2003|publisher=[[Anchor Books]]|isbn=978-0-679-75096-3|page=718|author-link=Jimmy McDonough}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Pearl Jam and Neil Young|url=http://www.thrasherswheat.org/jammin/pj.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009081338/https://www.thrasherswheat.org/jammin/pj.htm|archive-date=October 9, 2021|access-date=December 28, 2021|website=Thrasher's Wheat}}</ref> The performance in [[Dublin]] was professionally filmed and recorded for potential commercial release.<ref>Mcdonough, Jimmy. 2003. Shakey: Neil Young’s Biography. New York: Anchor Books.</ref>


==Reception==
==Release and reception==
{{Album ratings
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="allmusic"/>
| rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="allmusic"/>
| rev2 = ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]''
| rev2 = ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]''
| rev2score = {{rating|2|5}}<ref name="blender">[http://www.blender.com/guide/back-catalogue/54134/mirror-ball.html "Neil Young: ''Mirror Ball''"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101111063007/http://www.blender.com/guide/back-catalogue/54134/mirror-ball.html |date=2010-11-11 }}. ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]''. Retrieved on May 20, 2009.</ref>
| rev2score = {{rating|2|5}}<ref name="blender">{{cite web|title=Mirror Ball|url=http://www.blender.com/guide/back-catalogue/54134/mirror-ball.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101111063007/https://www.blender.com/guide/back-catalogue/54134/mirror-ball.html|archive-date=November 11, 2010|access-date=May 20, 2009|website=[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]}}</ref>
| rev3 = [[Robert Christgau]]
| rev3 = [[Robert Christgau]]
| rev3score = {{Rating-Christgau|hm1}}<ref name="Christgau">Christgau, Robert. [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Neil+Young "Neil Young"]. robertchristgau.com. Retrieved on May 20, 2009.</ref>
| rev3score = {{Rating-Christgau|hm1}}<ref name="Christgau">{{cite web|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|title=Neil Young|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Neil+Young|access-date=May 20, 2009|publisher=robertchristgau.com}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev4 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev4score = (A-)<ref name="entertainmentweekly">{{cite magazine | url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,297787,00.html | title=Young and the Restless | accessdate=2009-05-20 | author=Browne, David | magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] | date=1995-06-30}}</ref>
| rev4score = (A-)<ref name="entertainmentweekly">{{cite magazine|last=Browne|first=David|author-link=David Browne (journalist)|date=June 30, 1995|title=Young and the Restless|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,297787,00.html|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103235650/https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,297787,00.html|archive-date=January 3, 2014|access-date=May 20, 2009}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[NME]]''
| rev5 = ''[[NME]]''
| rev5score =(9/10)<ref name="nme">(June 24, 1995). "Review: ''Mirror Ball''". ''[[NME]]'' (p. 56).</ref>
| rev5score =(9/10)<ref name="nme">(June 24, 1995). "Review: ''Mirror Ball''". ''[[NME]]'' (p. 56).</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev6 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="rollingstone">{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/neilyoung/albums/album/97358/review/5943075/mirror_ball | title=Neil Young: ''Mirror Ball'' | accessdate=2009-05-20 | author=Consideine, J.D. | magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] | date=1998-02-02}}</ref>
| rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="rollingstone">{{cite magazine|last=Consideine|first=J.D.|date=February 2, 1998|title=Neil Young: ''Mirror Ball''|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/neilyoung/albums/album/97358/review/5943075/mirror_ball|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930204239/https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/neilyoung/albums/album/97358/review/5943075/mirror_ball|archive-date=September 30, 2007|access-date=May 20, 2009}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''
| rev7 = ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''
| rev7score = {{rating|8|10}}<ref name="spin">(September 1995). "Review: ''Mirror Ball''". ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' (p. 109).</ref>
| rev7score = {{rating|8|10}}<ref name="spin">(September 1995). "Review: ''Mirror Ball''". ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' (p. 109).</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''
| rev8 = ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''
| rev8score = favorable<ref name="time">[http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,4185,00.html "Music . . . Mirror Ball" (''Mirror Ball'' review)]. ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''. June 23, 1995. Retrieved on May 20, 2009.</ref>}}
| rev8score = favorable<ref name="time">{{cite web|date=June 23, 1995|title=MUSIC . . . MIRROR BALL|url=https://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,4185,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100122231413/https://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,4185,00.html|archive-date=January 22, 2010|access-date=May 20, 2009|website=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref>}}
''Mirror Ball'' reached number five on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] album chart. ''Mirror Ball'' has been certified gold by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]].<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&title=Mirror+Ball&artist=Neil+Young&perPage=25&go=Search
| title=Gold and Platinum Database Search
| accessdate=2007-02-12}}</ref>


''Mirror Ball'' reached number five on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] album chart. ''Mirror Ball'' has been certified gold by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&title=Mirror+Ball&artist=Neil+Young&perPage=25&go=Search| title=Gold and Platinum Database Search| publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]| access-date=February 12, 2007}}</ref>
''[[NME]]'' gave ''Mirror Ball'' a nine out of ten. In the review, ''Mirror Ball'' is called "another fine Neil Young album....the record's sound is...big, woolly, live and booming."<ref name="nme"/> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' staff writer J.D. Considine gave ''Mirror Ball'' four out of five stars, saying, "Though Young is clearly the dominant partner—it's his concept, after all, his songs and his album—it's Pearl Jam who ultimately end up determining the music's shape and feel, providing a level of input and energy that goes well beyond the normal purview of a backing band."<ref name="rollingstone"/> ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' gave the album eight out of ten stars. The review said, "Sometimes it's easier to string together some power chords and a few forlorn references to religion, fame and suicide than to actually write songs. And sometimes that's just fine."<ref name="spin"/> David Browne of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' gave the album an A-. Browne said that "the album has a spontaneous, bang-it-out casualness that is, to say the least, extremely rare for a rock veteran." However, Browne criticized the album's lyrics, calling them "mostly jumbled rehashes of standard Young imagery."<ref name="entertainmentweekly"/> ''[[Time magazine|Time]]'' reviewer [[Christopher John Farley]] said that "Pearl Jam serves as an extraordinary backup band on the new album." Farley added that the album is "one of the most consistently rewarding works of Young's long rewarding career."<ref name="time"/>

''[[NME]]'' gave ''Mirror Ball'' a nine out of ten. In the review, ''Mirror Ball'' is called "another fine Neil Young album....the record's sound is...big, woolly, live and booming."<ref name="nme"/> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' staff writer J.D. Considine gave ''Mirror Ball'' four out of five stars, saying, "Though Young is clearly the dominant partner—it's his concept, after all, his songs and his album—it's Pearl Jam who ultimately end up determining the music's shape and feel, providing a level of input and energy that goes well beyond the normal purview of a backing band."<ref name="rollingstone"/> ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' gave the album eight out of ten stars. The review said, "Sometimes it's easier to string together some power chords and a few forlorn references to religion, fame and suicide than to actually write songs. And sometimes that's just fine."<ref name="spin"/> David Browne of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' gave the album an A−. Browne said that "the album has a spontaneous, bang-it-out casualness that is, to say the least, extremely rare for a rock veteran." However, Browne criticized the album's lyrics, calling them "mostly jumbled rehashes of standard Young imagery."<ref name="entertainmentweekly"/> ''[[Time magazine|Time]]'' reviewer [[Christopher John Farley]] said that "Pearl Jam serves as an extraordinary backup band on the new album." Farley added that the album is "one of the most consistently rewarding works of Young's long rewarding career."<ref name="time"/>


Allmusic staff writer William Ruhlmann gave the album three out of five stars, saying that "''Mirror Ball'' is typically uneven."<ref name="allmusic"/> Critic [[Robert Christgau]] said that Young "was born to lumber, and Pearl Jam wasn't."<ref name="Christgau"/> ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]'' gave the album two out of five stars. The review said that "it could have been better. The fault is less with Pearl Jam, who thrash so awkwardly they make [[Crazy Horse (band)|Crazy Horse]] sound like [[Steely Dan]], than with Young’s unmemorable songs."<ref name="blender"/>
Allmusic staff writer William Ruhlmann gave the album three out of five stars, saying that "''Mirror Ball'' is typically uneven."<ref name="allmusic"/> Critic [[Robert Christgau]] said that Young "was born to lumber, and Pearl Jam wasn't."<ref name="Christgau"/> ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]'' gave the album two out of five stars. The review said that "it could have been better. The fault is less with Pearl Jam, who thrash so awkwardly they make [[Crazy Horse (band)|Crazy Horse]] sound like [[Steely Dan]], than with Young’s unmemorable songs."<ref name="blender"/>


"Downtown" and "Peace and Love" had accompanying [[music video]]s. "Downtown" was the most successful song from ''Mirror Ball'' on the rock charts, reaching number six on the [[Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks|Mainstream Rock]] charts. "Peace and Love" also charted on the Mainstream Rock charts. At the [[Grammy Awards of 1996|1996 Grammy Awards]], "Downtown" received a nomination for [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Song|Best Rock Song]] and "Peace and Love" received a nomination for [[Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance|Best Male Rock Vocal Performance]].<ref name="grammy">{{cite web
"Downtown" and "Peace and Love" had accompanying [[music video]]s. "Downtown" was the most successful song from ''Mirror Ball'' on the rock charts, reaching number six on the [[Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks|Mainstream Rock]] charts. "Peace and Love" also charted on the Mainstream Rock charts. At the [[Grammy Awards of 1996|1996 Grammy Awards]], "Downtown" received a nomination for [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Song|Best Rock Song]] and "Peace and Love" received a nomination for [[Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance|Best Male Rock Vocal Performance]].<ref name="grammy">{{cite web| url = http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1996/grammys.htm| title = 38th Grammy Awards| publisher = Rockonthenet| access-date = September 5, 2007}}</ref> ''Mirror Ball'' received a nomination for [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Album|Best Rock Album]].<ref name="grammy"/> Album cover artist [[Gary Burden]] was nominated for a [[Grammy Award]] for Best Recording Package.<ref name="GrammyGaryBurden">{{cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/gary-burden/16457 |title=Artist: Gary Burden |last= |first= |date= |website=Grammmy.com |publisher= |access-date=2023-06-20}}</ref>
| url = http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1996/grammys.htm
| title = 38th Grammy Awards
| publisher = Rockonthenet
| accessdate = 2007-09-05
}}</ref> ''Mirror Ball'' received a nomination for [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Album|Best Rock Album]].<ref name="grammy"/>

In Australia it peaked at #4 on the ARIA charts on July 9, 1995, making it Young's highest-charting album in Australia.<ref>{{cite web|author=Steffen Hung |url=http://www.australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Neil+Young&titel=Mirror+Ball&cat=a |title=Neil Young - Mirror Ball |publisher=australian-charts.com |date= |accessdate=2012-03-02}}</ref>

==Packaging==
Tying in with the album title, a [[Disco ball|mirror ball]] graces the album's cover art. Because of legal complications between their respective record companies, only Young's name appears on the album sleeve, although the members of Pearl Jam are credited individually in the album's [[liner notes]].<ref name="Erlewine">{{cite web | url = {{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p5118|pure_url=yes}} | title = Pearl Jam > Biography | accessdate=2007-06-22 | last = Erlewine | first = Stephen Thomas | work =[[Allmusic]]}}</ref> Pearl Jam's ''[[Merkin Ball]]'' complements the layout and content of the album packaging for ''Mirror Ball''.

==Tour==
Following the completion of ''Mirror Ball'', the members of Pearl Jam (minus Vedder) and producer O'Brien (on keyboards) joined Young in August 1995 for an eleven-date tour in [[Europe]] to promote the album. When the band toured, fans referred to them as "Neil Jam".<ref>[http://www.fivehorizons.com/tour/cc/t1995.shtml "1995 Concert Chronology"]. fivehorizons.com.</ref> Pearl Jam guitarist [[Mike McCready]] said, "It was a dream come true. We got to play a bunch of Neil Young songs with Neil Young himself and got to go to Berlin, to Jerusalem, to the Red Sea."<ref>Quinn, Bryan. [http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/music/music-news/2009/03/09/q-a-session-with-pearl-jam-86908-21184381/ "Q+A session with Pearl Jam"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312072753/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/music/music-news/2009/03/09/q-a-session-with-pearl-jam-86908-21184381/ |date=2009-03-12 }}. ''[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]''. March 9, 2009.</ref> This tour proved very successful with Young's manager Elliot Roberts calling it "one of the greatest tours we ever had in our whole lives."<ref>McDonough, Jimmy. "Shakey: Neil Young's Biography", Anchor, 2003. {{ISBN|0-679-75096-7}} [http://www.thrasherswheat.org/jammin/pj.htm]</ref>


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
{{track listing
{{tracklist
| collapsed =
| collapsed =
| headline =
| headline =
Line 109: Line 119:


==Outtakes==
==Outtakes==
The songs "[[I Got Id]]" and "Long Road", both written and sung by Vedder, were cut from the album.<ref name="strauss"/> Both songs were recorded at the tail end of the ''Mirror Ball'' sessions.<ref name="cohen">{{cite web
The songs "I Got Id" and "Long Road", both written and sung by Vedder, were cut from the album.<ref name="strauss"/> Both songs were recorded at the tail end of the ''Mirror Ball'' sessions.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cohen|first=Jonathan|title=Merkinball - Pearl Jam {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/merkinball-mw0000624683|access-date=April 29, 2007|publisher=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref> The tracks were later released on Pearl Jam's 1995 ''[[Merkin Ball]]'' EP.
| url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r330062|pure_url=yes}}
| title=Merkinball
| author=Cohen, Jonathan
| website=[[Allmusic]]
| accessdate=2007-04-29}}</ref> The tracks were later published on Pearl Jam's 1995 ''[[Merkin Ball]]'' EP.


==Personnel==
==Personnel==
Line 127: Line 132:


;Production
;Production
*[[Brendan O'Brien (music producer)|Brendan O'Brien]]&nbsp;– [[record producer|production]], [[Audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing]], electric guitar, [[piano]], background vocals
*John Aguto, Sam Hofstedt, Chad Munsey&nbsp;– [[Audio engineering|assistant engineering]]
*John Aguto, Sam Hofstedt, Chad Munsey&nbsp;– [[Audio engineering|assistant engineering]]
*Nicky Alexander, Girsh&nbsp;– drum technicians
*Nicky Alexander, Girsh&nbsp;– drum technicians
Line 135: Line 141:
*[[Henry Diltz]]&nbsp;– back cover and inside [[photography|photo]]
*[[Henry Diltz]]&nbsp;– back cover and inside [[photography|photo]]
*Brett Eliason&nbsp;– engineering
*Brett Eliason&nbsp;– engineering
*[[Emek]]&nbsp;– logo lettering
*[[Emek (designer)|Emek]]&nbsp;– logo lettering
*Joe Gastwirt&nbsp;– [[Analog recording|Analog]] to [[High Definition Compatible Digital|HDCD]] transfers, digital editing, [[Audio mastering|digital mastering]]
*Joe Gastwirt&nbsp;– [[Analog recording|Analog]] to [[High Definition Compatible Digital|HDCD]] transfers, digital editing, [[Audio mastering|digital mastering]]
*John Hausman&nbsp;– production assistance
*John Hausman&nbsp;– production assistance
Line 141: Line 147:
*Tim Mulligan&nbsp;– digital editing, digital mastering
*Tim Mulligan&nbsp;– digital editing, digital mastering
*John Nowland&nbsp;– Analog to HDCD transfers
*John Nowland&nbsp;– Analog to HDCD transfers
*[[Brendan O'Brien (music producer)|Brendan O'Brien]]&nbsp;– [[record producer|production]], [[Audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing]], electric guitar, [[piano]], background vocals
*Jeff Ousley, Tim "Scully" Quinlan&nbsp;– [[guitar technician]]s
*Jeff Ousley, Tim "Scully" Quinlan&nbsp;– [[guitar technician]]s
*"Pflash" Pflaumer&nbsp;– assistance
*"Pflash" Pflaumer&nbsp;– assistance
Line 157: Line 162:
! Position
! Position
|-
|-
| [[VG-lista|Norwegian Albums Chart]]<ref name="NOR">{{cite web|url= http://norwegiancharts.com/search.asp?cat=a&search=neil+young|title=Norwegian Single/Album Chart / Neil Young / Longplay |publisher= norwegiancharts.com| accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref>
| [[VG-lista|Norwegian Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web|url= http://norwegiancharts.com/search.asp?cat=a&search=neil+young|title=Norwegian Single/Album Chart / Neil Young / Longplay |publisher= norwegiancharts.com| access-date=February 19, 2008}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 2
| style="text-align:center;"| 2
|-
|-
| [[Sverigetopplistan|Swedish Albums Chart]]<ref name="SWE">{{cite web|url= http://swedishcharts.com/search.asp?cat=a&search=neil+young|title=Swedish Single/Album Chart / Neil Young / Longplay |publisher= swedishcharts.com| accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref>
| [[Sverigetopplistan|Swedish Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web|url= http://swedishcharts.com/search.asp?cat=a&search=neil+young|title=Swedish Single/Album Chart / Neil Young / Longplay |publisher= swedishcharts.com| access-date=February 19, 2008}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
|-
|-
| [[ARIA Charts|Australian Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.australian-charts.com/search.asp?search=neil+young&cat=a|title=Australian-Charts.com|publisher= australian-charts.com | accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref>
| [[ARIA Charts|Australian Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.australian-charts.com/search.asp?search=neil+young&cat=a|title=Australian-Charts.com|publisher= australian-charts.com | access-date=February 19, 2008}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 4
| style="text-align:center;"| 4
|-
|-
| [[UK Albums Chart]]<ref name="everyhit">{{cite web
| [[UK Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.everyhit.com/| title = EveryHit.com| access-date = February 16, 2007}}</ref>
| url = http://www.everyhit.com/
| title = EveryHit.com
| accessdate = 2007-02-16
}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 4
| style="text-align:center;"| 4
|-
|-
| US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]<ref>{{cite web
| US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Neil Young - The Billboard 200|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/neil-young/chart-history/tlp/|access-date=December 28, 2021|website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref>
| url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p5896|pure_url=yes}}
| title=Neil Young&nbsp;– Billboard Albums
| publisher=[[AllmMsic]]
| accessdate=2007-06-11}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 5
| style="text-align:center;"| 5
|-
|-
| [[Canadian Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xwsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA44 |title=HITS OF THE WORLD |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=5 August 1995 |accessdate=December 29, 2018}}</ref>
| [[Canadian Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xwsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA44 |title=HITS OF THE WORLD |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=5 August 1995 |access-date=December 29, 2018}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 4
| style="text-align:center;"| 4
|-
|-
| [[Media Control Charts|German Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/Young%2C+Neil/?type=longplay| title= Chartverfolgung / Young, Neil / Longplay| publisher= musicline.de| access-date= July 19, 2007| archive-date= September 30, 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070930211000/http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/Young,+Neil/?type=longplay| url-status= dead}}</ref>
| [[Media Control Charts|German Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web
| url= http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/Young%2C+Neil/?type=longplay
| title= Chartverfolgung / Young, Neil / Longplay
| publisher=musicline.de
| accessdate=2007-07-19}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 8
| style="text-align:center;"| 8
|-
|-
| [[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|New Zealand Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web
| [[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|New Zealand Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web| url = https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Neil+Young&titel=Mirror+Ball&cat=a| title = NEIL YOUNG&nbsp;— MIRROR BALL (ALBUM)| publisher = New Zealand-charts.com| access-date = July 17, 2007}}</ref>
| url = https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Neil+Young&titel=Mirror+Ball&cat=a
| title = NEIL YOUNG&nbsp;— MIRROR BALL (ALBUM)
| publisher = New Zealand-charts.com
| accessdate = 2007-07-17
}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 10
| style="text-align:center;"| 10
|-
|-
| Austrian Albums Chart<ref name="AUT">{{cite web|url= http://austriancharts.at/search.asp?cat=a&search=neil+young|title=Austrian Single/Album Chart / Neil Young / Longplay |publisher= austriancharts.at| accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref>
| Austrian Albums Chart<ref>{{cite web|url= http://austriancharts.at/search.asp?cat=a&search=neil+young|title=Austrian Single/Album Chart / Neil Young / Longplay |publisher= austriancharts.at| access-date=February 19, 2008}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 15
| style="text-align:center;"| 15
|-
|-
| [[MegaCharts|Dutch Albums Chart]]<ref name="NLD">{{cite web|url= http://dutchcharts.nl/search.asp?cat=a&search=neil+young|title=Dutch Single/Album Chart / Neil Young / Longplay |publisher= dutchcharts.nl| accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref>
| [[MegaCharts|Dutch Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web|url= http://dutchcharts.nl/search.asp?cat=a&search=neil+young|title=Dutch Single/Album Chart / Neil Young / Longplay |publisher= dutchcharts.nl| access-date=February 19, 2008}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 18
| style="text-align:center;"| 18
|-
|-
| [[Swiss Music Charts|Swiss Albums Chart]]<ref name="SWI">{{cite web|url= http://hitparade.ch/search.asp?cat=a&search=neil+young|title=Schweizer Hitparade |publisher= hitparade.ch| accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref>
| [[Swiss Music Charts|Swiss Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web|url= http://hitparade.ch/search.asp?cat=a&search=neil+young|title=Schweizer Hitparade |publisher= hitparade.ch| access-date=February 19, 2008}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 24
| style="text-align:center;"| 24
|}
|}
Line 215: Line 203:
!scope="column"|Position
!scope="column"|Position
|-
|-
! scope="row"|German Albums Chart<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-jahr/for-date-1995 |title=Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts|language=German |publisher=[[GfK Entertainment]]|accessdate=August 13, 2018}}</ref>
! scope="row"|German Albums Chart<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-jahr/for-date-1995 |title=Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts|language=de |publisher=[[GfK Entertainment]]|access-date=August 13, 2018}}</ref>
|align="center"|48
|align="center"|48
|}
|}
Line 226: Line 214:
!colspan="2"| Peak chart positions
!colspan="2"| Peak chart positions
|-
|-
!style="width:2.5em;font-size:75%"| [[Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks|US Main]]<br /><ref name="allmusic.com">{{cite web
!style="width:2.5em;font-size:75%"| [[Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks|US Main]]<br /><ref>{{cite web|title=Neil Young - Mainstream Rock Airplay|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/neil-young/chart-history/rtt/|access-date=December 28, 2021|website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref>
!style="width:2.5em;font-size:75%"| [[Canada|CAN]]<br /><ref>{{cite magazine| url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.8522&volume=61&issue=25&issue_dt=July%2024%201995&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=lhaled67omcph7v3aq7fbveid1| title=Canadian Charts - "Downtown"| magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]| access-date=March 7, 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113175322/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.8522&volume=61&issue=25&issue_dt=July%2024%201995&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=lhaled67omcph7v3aq7fbveid1| archive-date=January 13, 2014| url-status=dead}}</ref>
| url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p5896|pure_url=yes}}
| title=Neil Young&nbsp;– Billboard Singles
| website=[[Allmusic]]
| accessdate=2007-06-11}}</ref>
!style="width:2.5em;font-size:75%"| [[Canada|CAN]]<br /><ref>{{cite magazine
| url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.8522&volume=61&issue=25&issue_dt=July%2024%201995&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=lhaled67omcph7v3aq7fbveid1
| title=Canadian Charts - "Downtown"
| magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]
| accessdate=2008-03-07
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113175322/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.8522&volume=61&issue=25&issue_dt=July%2024%201995&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=lhaled67omcph7v3aq7fbveid1
| archive-date=2014-01-13
| url-status=dead
}}</ref>
|-
|-
|rowspan="2"|1995
|rowspan="2"|1995
Line 252: Line 228:
| colspan="30" style="text-align:center; font-size:8pt;"| "—" denotes songs that did not chart.
| colspan="30" style="text-align:center; font-size:8pt;"| "—" denotes songs that did not chart.
|}
|}

==Certifications and sales==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=album|artist=Neil Young|title=Mirror Ball|nocert=true|relyear=1995|salesamount=150,000|salesref=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1995/BB-1995-11-18.pdf|publisher=[[Billboard magazine|Billboard]]|title=Alternative Boosts German Sales|author=Wolfgang Spahr|page=59|issn=0006-2510|date=November 18, 1995|accessdate=April 27, 2022}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|artist=Neil Young|title=Miror Ball|award=Silver|relyear=1995|certyear=1995|id=4294-261-2|accessdate=April 27, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=Neil Young|title=Mirror Ball|award=Gold|relyear=1995|certyear=1995|accessdate=April 27, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}


==References==
==References==
Line 262: Line 245:
{{Pearl Jam}}
{{Pearl Jam}}


{{Authority control}}
[[Category:1995 albums]]

[[Category:1995 collaborative albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Brendan O'Brien (record producer)]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Brendan O'Brien (record producer)]]
[[Category:Neil Young albums]]
[[Category:Neil Young albums]]
[[Category:Pearl Jam albums]]
[[Category:Pearl Jam albums]]
[[Category:Reprise Records albums]]
[[Category:Reprise Records albums]]
[[Category:Collaborative albums]]
[[Category:Grunge albums]]
[[Category:Alternative rock albums by Canadian artists]]

Revision as of 23:57, 24 June 2024

Mirror Ball
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 7, 1995[1]
RecordedJanuary – February 10, 1995
StudioBad Animals, Seattle, Washington
GenreGrunge[2]
Length55:14
Label
ProducerBrendan O'Brien
Neil Young chronology
Sleeps with Angels
(1994)
Mirror Ball
(1995)
Dead Man
(1996)

Mirror Ball is the 23rd studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, and features members of American rock band Pearl Jam. It was released on August 7, 1995, through Reprise Records. The album has been certified gold by the RIAA in the United States.

In the same year, Pearl Jam released an accompanying EP titled Merkin Ball.

Background

As grunge peaked in popularity in the early 1990s, some of the bands expressed admiration for Young's career and influence. At least one music writer noted a similarity in ethos and style between the emerging genre and Young's work, dubbing him the "Godfather of Grunge".[3] Of the younger groups, Young had a particularly close relationship with Pearl Jam. He explains, "We're sympathetic. They're definitely old souls—they've been around. Musically there's youthful energy, but without the sound of inexperience. And our musical styles are compatible; it's like a big wall of sound with a lot of nuances in there."[4] Pearl Jam incorporated "Rockin' in the Free World" into their setlists throughout their 1992 tour. In October, both artists performed, separately, at Bob Dylan's The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration, and Young invited the band to play an acoustic set two weeks later at that year's Bridge School Benefit concert. Pearl Jam appeared as an opening act on Young's 1993 tour of North America with Booker T. & the M.G.'s. In September, Young joined the group to perform "Rockin' in the Free World" at the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards.

In January 1995, Young asked Eddie Vedder to induct him into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Later that week, Young agreed to appear alongside Pearl Jam at a benefit supporting Voters for Choice, where he performed new songs "Song X" and "Act of Love" with his longtime collaborators Crazy Horse. At the benefit, Pearl Jam joined Young on stage for an encore performance of "Act of Love", which the band had learned by recording Young's set at the Hall of Fame ceremony. Young was inspired by the performance and became eager to record the song with the band in a studio. "I said, 'Maybe we ought to record it. It sounds good.' They were thinking the same thing. So we set a date to go in and record. I wanted to have more than one song, so I came in with three songs in hand."[4] Young elaborates to Dave Marsh in a contemporary radio interview:

"We played this Choice benefit, Pro-Choice benefit in Washington. I played with Crazy Horse and then I came out and played with them. You know, we just like playing together. It sounds good when we play together. We like each other. We played "Act Of Love" at that. It was first time we'd ever played it together. They told me they learned from a DAT because they heard it the night before. It was really in a great groove, so we were thinking this was really good, we really smoked it, we should catch this and get it on tape. So we were talking a little bit about that and we decided to make a plan. Try to figure out when we could do it. We did it about a week or so later. Got two days in the studio."[5]

Recording

The album's recording sessions took place in January 1995 and February 1995 at Ann and Nancy Wilson's Bad Animals Studio in Seattle. The album was produced by Brendan O'Brien, who had previously worked on Pearl Jam's 1993 album, Vs., and 1994 album, Vitalogy.

Young joined Pearl Jam in the studio in January 1995, eleven days after performing with the band at an abortion-rights benefit in Washington, D.C.[6] The album was recorded in four days' studio time (January 26, January 27, February 7, and February 10).[7][8] Young recorded the songs live in the studio, songs he had written the day before each session. "The beauty of the thing is that hardly any talking had to happen at all. I'd bring the song in and run it down, then everybody would play it. I don't think we did more than five takes on anything. We all knew what we had to do. Everybody was together."[4]

Young brought "Song X", "Act of Love", and five other songs into the studio to record for the first session in January, including "Downtown", "Big Green Country" and "Peace and Love".[6][8] For the second session in February, he brought in two more songs.[8] Young also wrote two new songs during the February recording sessions, and one song from the January sessions was re-recorded.[8] On February 7, the group captured "I'm the Ocean" and "Truth Be Known" and Young recorded "What Happened Yesterday" solo on pump organ. "Throw Your Hatred Down" and "Scenery" would be recorded February 10. Young recorded "Fallen Angel" at one final solo session on February 26, again on pump organ. Young said that all of the songs, with the exception of "Song X" and "Act of Love", were written during the album's sessions.[8]

Young said he traveled to Seattle to make the record for a "challenge."[8] He said, "Recording Mirror Ball was like audio vérité, just a snapshot of what's happening. Sometimes I didn't know who was playing. I was just conscious of this big smouldering mass of sound."[8] Playing in a group with two other lead guitarists reminded him of his days in Buffalo Springfield.[8] Mike McCready told Guitar World, "We'd be jamming, and I'd look over and say to myself, 'That's Neil Young, and he's playing leads. That's the shit!' I could only wish to be that good. I was completely honored to be playing with him. We're enamored of him...and I'm honored he says he's into us. I think he just likes where we're coming from. He sees a lot of honesty in our music.[9][4] Young called Pearl Jam drummer Jack Irons "unbelievable."[8] He stated that he "played his ass off on every take at every session," and added, "I can't say enough good things about him."[8] Pearl Jam vocalist Eddie Vedder was not around much for the recording sessions.[10] Vedder explained that he was "in the midst of a pretty intense stalker problem," adding that "leaving the house wasn't the easiest thing to do."[10] Vedder referred to the issue in the song "Lukin" from Pearl Jam's 1996 album No Code.[11] Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard said that Mirror Ball "came at a time when we needed it, that Neil thought we were a band that would be good to make a record with. He probably felt sorry for us. He made it all right for us to be who we were. He's not taking his career so seriously that he can't take chances. Suddenly, our band seemed too serious."[10]

Writing

Mirror Ball captures a loose rock sound. The album has a very raw sound to it, with songs ending in feedback and band members talking at the start and at the end of many songs, including Young remarking at the end of "Downtown": "Well, we know that one. That's funky." Young wrote all of the tracks for the album except for "Peace and Love", which was co-written by Young and Vedder. William Ruhlmann of AllMusic said "Pearl Jam boasts spirited rhythms and dense guitar interplay that Young makes excellent use of in a series of songs built out of simple, melodic riffs."[12]

On the lyrical content of Mirror Ball, Young said, "There's idealism and reality, the two have got to come together yet there are always major problems when they do. Maybe that's the crux of what I'm trying to say in this new album. It's also a commentary of the differences between my peace and love '60s generation and the more cynical '90s generation."[8]

"Song X" and "Act of Love" were written about abortion.[6] "This isn't an easy subject to confront head-on. People who say that human beings shouldn't have the right to dismiss a human life - they have a point. You can't dismiss that point. But then there's the reality. There's idealism and reality, the two have to come together yet there are always major problems when they do."[8]

"I'm the Ocean" acknowledges the difficulty of living in the moment and how easy it is for life to become a series of quick flashes of different experiences. Young explains in a 2018 post to his Archives website: "Too may times in this life, we miss what is going on right in front of us......I try but sometimes i don't see. Lots of love to the searchers..."[13] He elaborates in a contemporary radio interview: "It's kind of like a bunch of flashes of things going on all at the same time or something. So you get kind of the feeling that your life is flashing before you. So that makes you think you're floating up on the ceiling somewhere watching. I just got caught up in this thing where everything just kept happening and all I could do was write it down."[5]

"Downtown" includes references to Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. The reference to Led Zeppelin was partly inspired by Young's performance with the band at the 1995 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, where they played "When the Levee Breaks" together.[6]

"Peace and Love" features vocals by both Young and Vedder, who also share writing credits. Young told Kurt Loder for MTV News: "Ultimately what happened was that I never finished it. Eddie finished it. Because I had this melody in this place. It was a great way to save it."[14]

"Throw Your Hatred Down" explores the nature of conflict and shares a message of non-violence. "I was thinking about the kids in the schoolyard who are fighting - like just the different ways to go and they're started right there. Just how...where does it start...where do we start the conflict? You know, where does it begin? It must begin at birth or something, because conflict is always there. It seems part of our nature, as sad as it sounds. I mean it must just be there...and I just, you know...was drifting around in my head trying...I just had all these images of this...conflict and people planning ways to overcome evil and evil planning ways to encroach on good."[5]

The album closes with the extended "Scenery" featuring the group with Brendan O'Brien on piano and "Fallen Angel" which reprises the melody of "I'm the Ocean" with Young alone on pump organ.

Packaging

A mirror ball graces the album's cover. Because of legal complications between their respective record companies, only Young's name appears on the album sleeve, although the members of Pearl Jam are credited individually in the album's liner notes.[15] Pearl Jam's Merkin Ball complements the layout and content of the album packaging for Mirror Ball.

Tour

Following the completion of Mirror Ball, the members of Pearl Jam (minus Vedder) and producer O'Brien (on keyboards) joined Young in August 1995 for an eleven-date tour in Europe to promote the album. When the band toured, fans referred to them as "Neil Jam".[16] Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready said, "It was a dream come true. We got to play a bunch of Neil Young songs with Neil Young himself and got to go to Berlin, to Jerusalem, to the Red Sea."[17] This tour proved very successful with Young's manager Elliot Roberts calling it "one of the greatest tours we ever had in our whole lives."[18][19] The performance in Dublin was professionally filmed and recorded for potential commercial release.[20]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[12]
Blender[21]
Robert Christgau(1-star Honorable Mention)[22]
Entertainment Weekly(A-)[23]
NME(9/10)[24]
Rolling Stone[25]
Spin[26]
Timefavorable[27]

Mirror Ball reached number five on the Billboard 200 album chart. Mirror Ball has been certified gold by the RIAA.[28]

NME gave Mirror Ball a nine out of ten. In the review, Mirror Ball is called "another fine Neil Young album....the record's sound is...big, woolly, live and booming."[24] Rolling Stone staff writer J.D. Considine gave Mirror Ball four out of five stars, saying, "Though Young is clearly the dominant partner—it's his concept, after all, his songs and his album—it's Pearl Jam who ultimately end up determining the music's shape and feel, providing a level of input and energy that goes well beyond the normal purview of a backing band."[25] Spin gave the album eight out of ten stars. The review said, "Sometimes it's easier to string together some power chords and a few forlorn references to religion, fame and suicide than to actually write songs. And sometimes that's just fine."[26] David Browne of Entertainment Weekly gave the album an A−. Browne said that "the album has a spontaneous, bang-it-out casualness that is, to say the least, extremely rare for a rock veteran." However, Browne criticized the album's lyrics, calling them "mostly jumbled rehashes of standard Young imagery."[23] Time reviewer Christopher John Farley said that "Pearl Jam serves as an extraordinary backup band on the new album." Farley added that the album is "one of the most consistently rewarding works of Young's long rewarding career."[27]

Allmusic staff writer William Ruhlmann gave the album three out of five stars, saying that "Mirror Ball is typically uneven."[12] Critic Robert Christgau said that Young "was born to lumber, and Pearl Jam wasn't."[22] Blender gave the album two out of five stars. The review said that "it could have been better. The fault is less with Pearl Jam, who thrash so awkwardly they make Crazy Horse sound like Steely Dan, than with Young’s unmemorable songs."[21]

"Downtown" and "Peace and Love" had accompanying music videos. "Downtown" was the most successful song from Mirror Ball on the rock charts, reaching number six on the Mainstream Rock charts. "Peace and Love" also charted on the Mainstream Rock charts. At the 1996 Grammy Awards, "Downtown" received a nomination for Best Rock Song and "Peace and Love" received a nomination for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.[29] Mirror Ball received a nomination for Best Rock Album.[29] Album cover artist Gary Burden was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Recording Package.[30]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Neil Young, except "Peace and Love" by Young and Eddie Vedder

No.TitleLength
1."Song X"4:40
2."Act of Love"4:54
3."I'm the Ocean"7:05
4."Big Green Country"5:08
5."Truth Be Known"4:39
6."Downtown"5:10
7."What Happened Yesterday"0:46
8."Peace and Love"7:02
9."Throw Your Hatred Down"5:45
10."Scenery"8:50
11."Fallen Angel"1:15

Outtakes

The songs "I Got Id" and "Long Road", both written and sung by Vedder, were cut from the album.[6] Both songs were recorded at the tail end of the Mirror Ball sessions.[31] The tracks were later released on Pearl Jam's 1995 Merkin Ball EP.

Personnel

Pearl Jam
Production
  • Brendan O'Brien – production, mixing, electric guitar, piano, background vocals
  • John Aguto, Sam Hofstedt, Chad Munsey – assistant engineering
  • Nicky Alexander, Girsh – drum technicians
  • Joel Bernstein – production assistance, typography, and mosaic portrait of Neil Young
  • Gary Burden – art direction and design
  • Rhonda Burns – CD label computer graphics
  • Nick DiDia – additional engineering
  • Henry Diltz – back cover and inside photo
  • Brett Eliason – engineering
  • Emek – logo lettering
  • Joe Gastwirt – Analog to HDCD transfers, digital editing, digital mastering
  • John Hausman – production assistance
  • KPOB – art direction and design assistance
  • Tim Mulligan – digital editing, digital mastering
  • John Nowland – Analog to HDCD transfers
  • Jeff Ousley, Tim "Scully" Quinlan – guitar technicians
  • "Pflash" Pflaumer – assistance
  • Sal Trentino – amplifier technician
  • Ian Geiger - guitar technician
  • George Webb – bass technician
  • Keith Wissmar – ambience

Chart positions

Album

Chart (1995) Position
Norwegian Albums Chart[32] 2
Swedish Albums Chart[33] 3
Australian Albums Chart[34] 4
UK Albums Chart[35] 4
US Billboard 200[36] 5
Canadian Albums Chart[37] 4
German Albums Chart[38] 8
New Zealand Albums Chart[39] 10
Austrian Albums Chart[40] 15
Dutch Albums Chart[41] 18
Swiss Albums Chart[42] 24

Year-end charts

Chart (1995) Position
German Albums Chart[43] 48

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions
US Main
[44]
CAN
[45]
1995 "Downtown" 6 13
"Peace and Love" 34
"—" denotes songs that did not chart.

Certifications and sales

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Germany 150,000[46]
United Kingdom (BPI)[47] Silver 60,000^
United States (RIAA)[48] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  2. ^ "Top 30 Grunge Albums". Ultimate Classic Rock. October 11, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  3. ^ The Godfather of Grunge Rock. Steve Martin. Pulse!. December 1991
  4. ^ a b c d Durchholz, Daniel, and Gary Graff. 2012. Neil Young: Long May You Run: The Illustrated History. Minneapolis, Mn: Voyageur Press.
  5. ^ a b c Dave Marsh. Mirror Ball radio broadcast interview. June 1995.
  6. ^ a b c d e Strauss, Neil (July 2, 1995). "The Predictably Unpredictable Neil Young". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 27, 2008.
  7. ^ (1995) Album notes for Mirror Ball by Neil Young, [CD booklet]. New York: Reprise Records.
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  13. ^ November 19, 2018. Neil Young Archives
  14. ^ Neil Young Interview. MTV News with Kurt Loder. 1995.
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  17. ^ Quinn, Bryan (March 9, 2009). "Q+A session with Pearl Jam". Daily Record. Archived from the original on March 12, 2009.
  18. ^ McDonough, Jimmy (2003). Shakey: Neil Young's Biography. Anchor Books. p. 718. ISBN 978-0-679-75096-3.
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  29. ^ a b "38th Grammy Awards". Rockonthenet. Retrieved September 5, 2007.
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  35. ^ "EveryHit.com". Retrieved February 16, 2007.
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  37. ^ "HITS OF THE WORLD". Billboard. 5 August 1995. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
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  39. ^ "NEIL YOUNG — MIRROR BALL (ALBUM)". New Zealand-charts.com. Retrieved July 17, 2007.
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