Neil Young and Jack White stopped by The Tonight Show last night and made history. White brought along his refurbished 1940s-era Voice-o-Graph recording booth for Young to use in recording live covers of Willie Nelson’s song “Crazy” and Ivory Joe Hunter’s “Since I Met You Baby,” which were simultaneously pressed to vinyl. After the show, the newly pressed vinyl was played on a turntable.
The performance was in support of Young’s latest covers album, A Letter Home, which was recorded in the same manner in White’s Third Man Studios in Nashville. Young was inspired to make this vintage-style album after visiting Third Man for Record Store Day 2013. The deluxe box set of the effort is due out May 27.
Before the performance, the two musicians sat down with Jimmy Fallon for a brief interview about the album’s recording process and Fallon’s history imitating Young.
“These are songs by great songwriters who influenced me while I was growing up,” Young said about choosing the covers. “All of them could play their own instrument and sing by themselves and deliver a song. And that made a big difference to me when I was younger. So that’s why I chose those songs because they mean so much to me.”
According to White, nearly 1,000 people have recorded in the booth since they acquired it, and it’s apparently the only one available to the public in the world.
Check out the replay below, and let us know what you think in the comments section!
Wow. That was fun. Neil Young singing "Crazy" on our show tonight!!! pic.twitter.com/DVR2LyGy2b
— jimmy fallon (@jimmyfallon) May 12, 2014
Interview:
Voice-o-Graph explained:
“Crazy”:
“Since I Met You Baby”:
