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Neil Young — Payola Blues
Album: Everybody's Rockin'
Avg rating:
5.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 193









Released: 1983
Length: 3:07
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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This one's for you Al Freed,
Wherever you go, whatever you do
'Cause the things they're doing today
Will make a saint out of you
Payola blues.
I've got the payola blues
Even though I already paid my dues.

Listen to me Mr. D.J.,
hear what I've got to say
If a man is making music,
they ought to let his record play.
Payola blues
No matter where I go
I never hear my record on the radio.

Well, here's three thousand,
that ought to get it on.
Well, thanks a lot man!
I love your new song.
Payola blues
No matter where I go
I never hear my record on the radio.

And it goes like this.

I got a brand new record company,
new manager too.
Got a great new record,
I can't get through to you.
Payola blues
No matter where I go
I never hear my record on the radio.

How about this new Mercedes Benz,
that ought to get it on.
Well, thanks a lot man!
I'll play it all day long.
Payola blues
No matter where I go
I never hear my record on the radio.

I've got the payola blues, payola blues
I'm paying those payola blues
No matter where I go
I never hear my record on the radio.
Comments (23)add comment
Wow.... don't think I've ever heard this one.
Outstanding!
Posted 7 years ago by grahamdillabough    [ Reply ]
Wow.  Just wow.  Thanks, Bill, for providing the context around which this album was created.  Listening to it, Young's frustration with his record company is conspicuously evident.
Posted 7 years ago by offroadbiker    [ Reply ]
Oh wow, what is this, Neil?! Ha ha ha.
Posted 7 years ago by ziggytrix    [ Reply ]
Love it {#Roflol}
Posted 7 years ago by markybx    [ Reply ]
Saw this tour in 83 in LA.  Still remember how fun it was..good times Neil
Posted 7 years ago by grooveMO62    [ Reply ]
what the! ............ yikes Neil! I know what the commentary/statement was supposed to be but .... lol! I guess that is why it sounds the way it does too, so I guess, then it is good
Posted 7 years ago by jocelynsart    [ Reply ]
Geffen wanted Neil to do a rock n' roll record after the country heavy Old Ways.  So he did this album!  Too Funny!  
Posted 7 years ago by Baketown    [ Reply ]
As for all NY songs - sucko barfo is more than enough. I'd rather give 0 or minus -1 in notes.
Posted 7 years ago by ortega1    [ Reply ]
I wonder just how much money NY paid out over the years for payola.
Posted 8 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
 On_The_Beach wrote:
 jbuhl wrote:
This effort was critically pan'd. I have the vinyl version and like it.  Love the "Wandering" video.

 


 "Wonderin'" actually, and yes, one of the wackiest and best videos ever!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0PlwVPbM5k

 
I uploaded that back in 2007... and Bill still won't play it.
https://www.radioparadise.com/?name=songinfo&song_id=40246
Come on Bill!  {#Cheesygrin}

Posted 8 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]
 jbuhl wrote:
This effort was critically pan'd. I have the vinyl version and like it.  Love the "Wandering" video.

 


 "Wonderin'" actually, and yes, one of the wackiest and best videos ever!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0PlwVPbM5k
Posted 8 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
 ScottFromWyoming wrote:
I think I had this album for a while. Must have sold it to pay rent back in 88 or so. I always liked the weird projects from Neil almost more than his more mainstream stuff. Trans was pretty cool, to me.

 
Yeah, we still have Trans—one of Neil's weirder projects. Amazing guy, amazing career, amazing versatility.
Posted 8 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
Makes me cry like a baby Neil. Ya know what I mean?
Posted 8 years ago by merobreno    [ Reply ]
 sing it Neil.. lovin that stylin pink suit too.. {#Cheesygrin}
Posted 8 years ago by moodfood    [ Reply ]
This hurts my ears.
 
Posted 8 years ago by mdfergy    [ Reply ]
This album was so much fun.
Posted 8 years ago by msymmes    [ Reply ]
I still remember settling down to a Neil young video years ago, only to discover it was the live footage that accompanied this album. Don't think I ever recovered!! Gotta give it to Neil though, he probably did because a) he fancied it and b) his record company didn't {#Cheesygrin}

 
Posted 8 years ago by andrewj6446    [ Reply ]

This album should have been subtitled “I will not be dictated to by a record company” or “Careful what you ask for”


Posted 8 years ago by ScottishWillie    [ Reply ]
This is the first Neil Young album I didn't buy when it came out - it just didn't click back then.  Not sure it does now ...
Posted 8 years ago by hanssachs    [ Reply ]
This effort was critically pan'd. I have the vinyl version and like it.  Love the "Wandering" video.

 
Posted 9 years ago by jbuhl    [ Reply ]
I think I had this album for a while. Must have sold it to pay rent back in 88 or so. I always liked the weird projects from Neil almost more than his more mainstream stuff. Trans was pretty cool, to me.
Posted 9 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]

I like this! The topic seems more true than 30 years ago...
What's on commercial radio these days?...
I even like his singing.  
Posted 9 years ago by Aud    [ Reply ]
Never thought I'd hear this record on the radio.
Posted 9 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]