By the end of 1970, Neil Young was replacing his identity as former member of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, and becoming the solo performer we know today, playing a series of six shows at Washington D.C.’s Cellar Door. After the band had split up in July, Young released After The Gold Rush, which succeeded in boosting his name and reputation quickly. Young took a break from shows in 1970 to focus on new material, until he eventually booked two nights at Carnegie Hall for December. To prepare for these big solo shows, Young chose to rehearse with six gigs at Washington, D.C.’s Cellar Door. All of the shows were recorded, capturing tracks like “Tell Me Why” and “Birds” from his last album, as well as the debuts of later songs “Old Man” and “See The Sky About To Rain.” There are also a few covers in the set, Buffalo Springfield’s “I Am A Child” and “Flying On The Ground Is Wrong.” It’s been over 40 years since Young’s shows at the Cellar Door, and the recordings are finally set to be released on vinyl and CD December 10th. Listen to some of the live recordings below.

(via Rolling Stone)

Live At The Cellar Door is out 12/10 on Reprise.