(La Honda, CA) – Singer-songwriter Neil Young, famous for his inharmonious discordant vocal talents, and well-polished semi-improvisational recordings, has revealed that he has a nearly perfect photographic memory.

He opened up about his remarkable memory in an interview with Novel Premise.

Novel Premise: When did you realize that you had such a great memory?

Neil Young: I’m not sure. I guess I’ve always thought that I had a good memory. I think so, anyway.

N.P.: Are there some things that you find it easier to remember than others?

Young: My songs, mostly. Sometimes, I forget the guitar solos, so I just play a couple of notes over and over. Two notes aren’t difficult to remember. But that’s auditory, and not visual, so that doesn’t count against having a photographic memory.

N.P.: What do you find difficult to remember?

Young: I really don’t know. I really don’t know. Nothing, I guess.

N.P.: What advice would you give to others who want to improve their memory.

Young: I’ve never thought about that much. I’d say that they should really pay attention to things, especially those things that you make money at. It pays to remember the words to your songs. And some chords.

N.P.: If you had the opportunity to forget anything in your life, what would it be?

Young: American Stars and Bars.  I tried to do a country thing on that album, but didn’t take it too seriously. But check out my album Old Ways; it’s real country music. I’m not sure why I don’t get a lot of credit for that one.

N.P.: Neither do I. I think that album was tremendous, especially the song My Boy. It’s both tender and heartbreaking at the same time.

Young: Are you thinking about the song Old King? I really miss that dog. He’s history, but I still love him.

N.P.: No. That was on your Harvest Moon album, and I really didn’t think that song was one of your good ones.

Young: Harvest Moon? Really? Huh. I’m sorry you didn’t like it. I really poured my heart into that one.

N.P.: It really just didn’t seem to fit in with the other songs on the album. Especially your songs Harvest Moon and Unknown Legend.

Young: How can a legend be unknown? I think you’re confusing me with Leonard Cohen.

N.P.: No, I wouldn’t do that. Cohen could never have written Pocahontas. I mean, what a classic line: “Marlon Brando, Pocahontas and Me.”

Young: Yeah. Yeah. That was me.

N.P.: So, how do you remember things?

Young: Pretty well. That’s what folks with photographic memories do.

N.P.: No, I mean, do you have any special techniques for remembering things?

Young: I just fake it most of the time. The rest of the time, I just make stuff up.

N.P.: Really?

Young: Yeah, really. Surprised?

N.P.: No, I suppose not. Would you do a song for us?

Young: No.

N.P.: Okay. Thought I’d ask. Thanks for taking the time to talk with us.

Young: How many of you are there?

N.P.: Just one. When I said “us,” I meant me as a representative of Novel Premise.

Young: You’re welcome. It’ll never happen again.