Why do we even bother anymore? Everybody knows this is never coming out until after Neil is six feet under. He’ll keep tinkering with it on his deathbed. And then probably put something in his will to never release it.

Anyway, now the official line is that Neil Young Archives Vol. 1 (1963-1972), a 10-disc Blu-ray and DVD set, is “expected early in 2009.”

To tide us over (once again), Reprise is releasing Sugar Mountain: Live at Canterbury House 1968 on November 25. Yes, two days after Chinese Democracy is set to hit the shelves.

Six months after leaving Buffalo Springfield and five days before his 23rd birthday, Neil Young set out to test his solo chops, arriving with only a guitar and a two-track TEAC recorder for a pair of shows in Ann Arbor, Mich. Young booked the dates to gauge audience acceptance of his lone delivery, and the warm reception sent the singer/songwriter down a storied career that is thriving 40 years later.

I’m sure this will be cool. But come on, man.