On this day April 11, 1988, Neil Young and the Bluenotes released the album This Note’s For You, Young’s sixteenth studio album and a bold departure from his previous sound. Stepping into a horn driven blues rock style, the album took direct aim at commercialism in music and the growing trend of artists endorsing products.
The title track This Note’s For You became a talking point for its rebellious message and the music video, which MTV initially refused to air. The song mocked corporate sponsorships with the now iconic lyric “Ain’t singing for Pepsi, ain’t singing for Coke,” and the video parodied big name artists like Michael Jackson. When MTV finally aired it, the video went on to win Video of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards.
The album reached number 61 on the US Billboard 200 and showed Neil Young’s willingness to experiment and challenge the music industry — no matter the consequences.
Fun fact: The album was released under the name Neil Young and the Bluenotes, but after a legal dispute with another band called The Bluenotes, Young later referred to the group as Ten Men Workin’.
Trivia question: What Neil Young album released in 1988 featured a horn section and criticized corporate sponsorship in music?
The title track This Note’s For You became a talking point for its rebellious message and the music video, which MTV initially refused to air. The song mocked corporate sponsorships with the now iconic lyric “Ain’t singing for Pepsi, ain’t singing for Coke,” and the video parodied big name artists like Michael Jackson. When MTV finally aired it, the video went on to win Video of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards.
The album reached number 61 on the US Billboard 200 and showed Neil Young’s willingness to experiment and challenge the music industry — no matter the consequences.
Fun fact: The album was released under the name Neil Young and the Bluenotes, but after a legal dispute with another band called The Bluenotes, Young later referred to the group as Ten Men Workin’.
Trivia question: What Neil Young album released in 1988 featured a horn section and criticized corporate sponsorship in music?
