Neil Young’s ‘Cortez the Killer’ Continues to Be a Rock Classic 51 Years After its Release
Over fifty years since its initial release, Neil Young’s iconic 1975 track “Cortez the Killer” continues to be hailed as a timeless rock masterpiece, despite its absence from the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Featured on Young’s Zuma album with his longstanding band Crazy Horse, the nearly eight-minute-long song has garnered widespread acclaim from critics, fellow musicians, and fans alike. While hits like “Heart of Gold,” “Old Man,” and “Cinnamon Girl” secured spots on the Hot 100 chart, “Cortez the Killer” never made an appearance.
Neil Young, a renowned singer-songwriter and performer, has enjoyed significant success on the charts with 11 entries on the Hot 100, including the chart-topping “Heart of Gold” in 1972. The fact that “Cortez the Killer” never achieved similar mainstream recognition makes its enduring popularity all the more remarkable.
Despite its commercial trajectory, “Cortez the Killer” has garnered substantial accolades over the years. The song was positioned at No. 329 on Rolling Stone’s prestigious list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.” Young revealed that he penned the song during his high school days in Winnipeg, drawing inspiration from Hernán Cortés’ conquest of the Aztec Empire in the 16th century. However, he clarified that the song was not meant to be historically accurate.
Notable for its slow guitar progression, recurring chord sequence, and Young’s distinctive extended solos, “Cortez the Killer” is recorded in a double drop D tuning of DADGBD. A technical issue during production resulted in an unexpected ending to the original recording, with one verse and additional instrumental segments cut short. Upon learning of the glitch, Young dismissed the missed verse, reportedly saying: “I never liked that verse anyway.”
Decades later, during Young’s 2024 tour with Crazy Horse, the lost verse resurfaced, offering fans a rare glimpse of the song’s initially excluded material. Kim Gordon, co-founder of Sonic Youth, praised the song in 2020, selecting it as one of her favorites during an interview on BBC 6 Music. Gordon commended Young’s experimental approach to musical styles throughout his illustrious career and recounted touring with him during the Ragged Glory Tour in 1990.
Young’s music, including “Cortez the Killer,” has not escaped political dispute. The song was reportedly prohibited in Spain during Francisco Franco’s regime due to its depiction of Spanish colonialism. Following Franco’s demise, the song was permitted for release in Spain under the title “Cortez, Cortez.”
Neil Young remains a revered figure in the realm of rock music, with a career spanning over six decades and including groundbreaking albums like After the Gold Rush, Harvest, and Zuma. His impact endures through recent projects like the surprise concert film Corduroy Plants and an upcoming studio album, Second Song.
“Cortez the Killer” serves as a testament to the fact that a song’s lasting impact and legacy transcend mere chart positions. Despite never gracing the Billboard Hot 100, the track remains a pinnacle of Neil Young’s oeuvre and a permanent fixture in the annals of classic rock history.