Neil Young - Cortez The Killer (Live Paramount Theater Oakland, Ca, 20.3.99) - Almost Famous Version

The parts used in Almost Famous are taken from: 1:30-2:10
3:20-4:40
Cameron Crowe said about using a 1999 recorded version in a film about the 70's: "there's bootlegs of Neil playing in '92/'93 which is where the version of "Cortez The Killer" that we used in Almost Famous came from. It's just really hard to top solo, acoustic versions of those songs. That's just where I sit as a Neil fan"

[@FilmGarrett]

I come back here a lot

[@sundaynightdrunk]

Me too, brother. It's sad, but sometimes I need to be sad.

[@ausgaze]

@@sundaynightdrunk i'm also here, in the corner quite frequently

[@kfitzz]

It's been 5 yrs are you back?

[@FilmGarrett]

@@kfitzzhell yeah! Wish I could download this version. It’s perfect.

[@jdlocotxftw2002]

Beautiful . .the harmonic's first note wails like pure sorrow and just rips into my heart . . I can't explain it . .maybe cause I'm Mexican

[@chrisrose5885]

Nothing to do with you being Mexican, Soul brother. You don't explain it, you feel it :-)

[@Jeaneeto]

It just sounds just beautiful, oh by the way......I'm mexican too..✌

[@luisfernandobulhoesfigueir6721]

I totally understand you, cause I'm brazilian.

[@brettdavis7922]

No, it's because you're human 🖤

[@timoakes450]

@@chrisrose5885 It's because your Mexican-haha!!!lol TOMMY27

[@clubhub1]

The women all were beautiful, the men stood straight and strong.....xx

[@scottjones5503]

I come here a lot and when I mean a lot I like 4 times a week. Many versions of one of neils greatest achievements. And Something so reassuring yet so ghostly about the harmonica brings goosebumps to me every time. Always listen for out of mind escape for a few minutes and for that I’m greatfull

[@TremendousQuill]

This vid has been in my favourites since i found it during Covid. It took me sooooooo long to find a version similar to that airport scene but since then, and as others have said, any time I need a mental break, or just to be transported somewhere else, this is where I come to. Simply saying thank you for posting this seems so insufficient for all the healing this video has given me, but it's all I have to offer; my eternal gratitude to you.

[@vic748]

Ive been coming here since i could find it! Wish i could own this rendition on physical.. cd or vinyl. Ill take any form. What a beautiful song.

[@TremendousQuill]

@@vic748 I think there's a very similar version available on the extended version of the Almost Famous soundtrack. With the catch being, the only place I could find to get that being Amazon Music. Might be worth checking out. Not phyiscal, but might be of some assistance.

[@timfontenot5]

Grateful to see him perform this song on June 1, 1999 Houston Texas. Thankfully I taped the show to. I’m still the only one to hear the tape.

[@fairsexrhodes6264]

This is probably my favorite soundtrack of all time, but not all of these songs are on it. Thank you so much for covering everything. God, I love this.

[@patkeene320]

Neil is amazing. Always has been.

[@jensilein4651]

A Neil Young masterpiece...

[@dariociarletta8204]

most beautiful acoustic version. it's like a dream! Meraviglioso !

[@brad0717]

floating down a river in complete peace always comes to mind, what a well composed song.

[@rudyvandunk4003]

Simply put.. a total masterpiece.. The muse, Way more than excellent..!

[@goldenhay2293]

This really is stunning. After hearing and loving the album version so many times, wondering how if possible it could be improved. Then this. Transcending beauty. The best version of any of his songs. Fuck spo#ify. Thank you to whomever posted this

[@timoakes450]

As everyone had heard this on ?"Almost Famous?" was serching searching searching for it it-THIS VERSION? BLAST OFFFF MATE -ESCAPE -THANKS NEIL-BUY THE WAY OSWALD WAS A PATSY/AN 9/11 WAS OSBL-EVIL

[@tomprice3258]

Pure magic. Beautiful! I don't know where my songs come from either, and that is fine with me, as long as they keep coming!

[@86332]

GRACIAS.Neil Young brought across the water on this one

[@skatefarmerftw]

This is my favourite song of all time. Favourite version.

[@timoakes450]

What a KILLER KILLER

[@iamremmie]

Write what you want. -Russell

[@jamiebunnyy]

:( that part

[@robertlinhart7429]

RachelMieleMusic 😓😓😓

[@cynthiacorcoran9389]

Hello Russell and November.

[@ZombieOrchestra]

You SOLD HER for a case of beer, and I LOVE HER!

[@iamremmie]

Zombie Orchestra ❤️❤️❤️ nostalgia

[@Sitgesful]

"a lot of people ask me where the song comes from... a lot of people ask me... I don't know". I know: from heaven!

[@davidjudson4625]

Best version of Cortez ever . There were also a couple like this on the Greendale tour . I actually do have the full show on CD . Hopefully it sees an official release via archived at some point . There are some killer tunes on this including a down by the river that’s stellar.

[@RickyFlippy]

How do I get a copy?

[@gwinston56]

What a beautiful picture. Noticing the reflection in the glasses blew me away.

[@Chessxx1]

I mean ok

[@sheffmanu8]

"Write what you want......."

[@patkeene320]

Utterly amazing. With great audio, too.

[@davidcastle7845]

Best version of this song.

[@mmk7340]

Insanely good version of this classic tune. God bless Neil Young.

[@pamelamartinson7895]

I listen to this often and wanted to say thank you.

[@amhay]

Liz Hunt you're welcome :)

[@FilmGarrett]

I wish I could get this version on cd. I come and listen to this version way too much.

[@dwgrahamthebarber8007]

My favorite version of this song! On another note, I wish I could buy a Stillwater album

[@chrishayton7051]

stillwater cd comes with the deluxe set of the movie!

[@michaelsieger9133]

stillwater? the kid's on drugs

[@timoakes450]

@@michaelsieger9133 IF ONLY

[@milodragovitch74]

Just perfect, thanks a lot...

[@steviehegarty1]

the version used in the film is the bridge school benefit. there is a bootleg torrent of the whole concert floating out there somewhere.

[@ffm595]

Tysm for this. I immediately fell in love with this version of the song when I heard it in Almost Famous, and it took me ages to finally find it. The harmonica blows me away every time, such a beautiful song.

[@ausgaze]

i was doing the same, when they are walking off the plane. I just thought that sounds like cortez and here i am.

[@timoakes450]

So f...k right on mate -thanks a lot tommy24

[@jamescarey2367]

They came dancing across the water Cortez ,Cortez crazy badman.

[@artvallejos1460]

here he comes

[@ausgaze]

i love this version better.

[@markbravo1722]

Crist . I miss my family 💔. The words of this song are irrelevant compared to the emotion it evokes .

[@jamesko220]

October 2020, I come here a lot.

[@simplybrad74]

So damn good. ✌🏻

[@RustedTelevisione]

Awesome! Been waiting for this version for a longgggg time!

[@damianmmurphy5764]

Perfection

[@boulakhraskhennouf1510]

Chaque fois que neil chante cette chanson elle differente quel genie.

[@mchesler44]

Took me years to locate that music when the band Deboard the plane. Four fists along an airport wall. A nauseous William, and a parting of ways.... for the moment. So much meaning with few words.

[@nothingbuttruth3641]

Wonderful version, thanks!

[@CoachDave12]

Guitar players- Double dropped D- Em D Am. The D ringing on the high E string on the Am is crucial

[@76barone]

Grazie Neil!

[@steviehegarty1]

more exactly its the bridge school benefit XIII I read an article years ago saying that it was there that Crowe took the version from. I've ran the 2 audio files together and they match perfectly

[@MrRugbyloosehead]

Almost Famous brought me here, stayed because it’s a great track!

[@geoffreythorpe7804]

Thank you.

[@MakeMeLo]

Thank you!!

[@amhay]

Thanks!

[@86332]

GRACIAS!!!!

[@chrsitiethebarber]

Spectacular

[@amhay]

As far as I know, this concert has never been issued on CD.

[@Chessxx1]

Cali 99 h can just feel it 🌊⚡️❄️🌎🌰🌱🌲🍂

[@kahlua619]

Double drop d folks. And hammer on the shit out of everything else. Little harp in g just for extra sauce

[@sundaynightdrunk]

Thumping on the guitar body with your loose fingers is a huge part of Neil's acoustic sound. I've watched him do it live several times and it's amazing the punch it puts into strumming.

[@Kerwalk]

You sure a C Harp wouldn't be better?

[@Kerwalk]

Christ, you're right. G Harp works well too

[@sueyorio424]

👍👍👍👍👍👍♥️🌲♾👱‍♀️🧓 Thank you FOREVERGREEN Neill YOUNG!! R&S YORIO

[@MrPathfinder1988]

awesome

[@peeeons]

another example of them using the live version in a movie, and me wondering why the studio version doesn't sound the same..bravo

[@lanomyster]

woah finally!! i knew it wasnt the other acoustic version on utube!, and i also checked manny versions natural beauty. thanks

[@artreyz]

He came dancing across the water With his galleons and guns Looking for the new world And the palace in the sun On the shore lay Montezuma With his coca leaves and pearls In his halls, he often wandered With the secrets of the world And his subjects gathered 'round him Like the leaves around a tree In their clothes of many colors For the angry gods to see And the women all were beautiful And the men stood straight and strong They offered life in sacrifice So that others could go on Hate was just a legend And war was never known The people worked together And they lifted many stones And they carried them to the flat lands But they died along the way And they build up with their bare hands What we still can't do today And I know she's living there And she loves me to this day I still can't remember when Or how I lost my way He came dancing across the water Cortez, Cortez What a killer

[@tonysbluesstream]

Thanks for the Words Man.

[@69Wildcat]

Awesome!!!

[@belamormia102]

💓💓💓💓

[@jakepadgett5569]

That harmonica

[@wimdehaan7722]

I just downloaded the complete concert (yes, I know it is not a legal download, but i did not have to do anything for it, I just followed the Google link), OMG incredible good, wondering why this was not officially released. Officially it is a bootleg, but sound is that good, this is for sure not an audience recording 😉

[@RickyFlippy]

How do I get a copy?

[@gailparker8532]

WE SEE BECAUSE WE WANT TO...WE HEAR...BECAUSE HE MAKES US. 🌹

[@timoakes450]

no argument

[@rickl.snyder3796]

You hear because you want too, you feel because he makes you

[@Jeaneeto]

IT IS NEIL YOUNG.........NEED I SAY MORE? GREAT.......

[@TheBrujo666]

Transcendental.

[@amhay]

Thanks for the comment. You can look up in my youtube channel a playlist of all the songs featured in the movie, with footnotes/

[@MrEurojourney]

Anyone know where i can get a copy of this '99 concert. Would be happy to pay for bootleg disc. Thx all.

[@grannymonday]

1m 53s - 2m 06s is like being in heaven.

[@alantracy6757]

DADGBD tuning for the guitarists playing along with Neil

[@cynthiacorcoran9389]

Almost famous, me as Alice was already the only child star in HISTORY. Honored sopranio at seven. Ordained at twelve.

[@timoakes450]

NEXT ??/

[@stkaiser7]

How can I get a recording of this for my iTunes?? I've been looking for this version forever!! Since I saw the movie.

[@groovyf]

midnightbootlegs.tumblr.com/post/142236828961/bridge-school-benefit-xiii-october-31-1999-all

[@opiumproj]

pelle d'oca

[@lanomyster]

tune the guitar to D, play chords Em, D, Am7 repetitively and the lead will come easy

[@sundaynightdrunk]

For anyone confused, it's actually in "double drop-D" tuning: DADGBD. From standard tuning, just drop the low E to D, and the high E to D.

[@2508wolfman]

SURE

[@FatMike1083]

Some knows what pitch is that harmonic please

[@chrisostrom1099]

The harmonica? It's a G harp...

[@bcrizzle8558]

Write what you want.

[@jiyujizai]

💙😃🌼🌾

[@ferguspuskas]

damn - oh well thanks anyway!

[@saintslagazo2995]

los Marcos dniza project LMH PHOENIX Arizona

[@zatoichidblind]

is there guitar tabs for this version? where can i find?

[@ferguspuskas]

Is this version on a Neil Young album?

[@NS-gr5dc]

Been playing this song thinking about my divorce

[@f.j.r.g.2297]

Le voy a dar a Neil unas ideas para canciones: - McArthur the killer - Patton the killer - General Custer the killer - Andrew Jakson the killer - Harry S. Truman the atomic killer Entre otros...

[@sueyorio424]

That's a wow ! 😢😢😢

[@ronelliott5405]

Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, Biden