Split Picks: Bernard Shakey's 'Rust Never Sleeps' (1979) Vs. 'Human Highway' (1983)

Split Picks wrestles with an all-time great concert film from Neil Young and a comedy with a complicated history

When he’s not behind the camera, director Bernard Shakey spends his time as a Canadian-born rock ‘n’ roll star who goes by the name Neil Young. Split Picks returns to look at two films directed by Shakey, with Breanna McCann joining for the first time, and Bennett Glace returning for yet another episode. They discuss all things Neil Young, Crazy Horse, and the passion projects Young directed as his alter-ego.

Rust Never Sleeps (1979) stands tall among the finest concert films ever made. With a stage full of comically oversized props set by Roadeyes, Young begins solo and runs through the highs of his career before Crazy Horse joins him to debut some now classic songs. Each shot of the film is near-iconic and its setlist will fulfill any Young fan’s requests.

Taking cues from Japanese horror films, The Wizard of Oz, and Jerry Lewis, Human Highway (1983) follows a small group of workers at an auto shop and diner who all have dreams of getting out, or at least winning the local talent show at the nuclear power plant. It just so happens to be the last day on Earth. Human Highway flopped when it came out, but a vastly improved director’s cut has given it new life.

Listen to the episode to see which film reigns supreme, and why, after all this, Bennett’s biggest question is why didn’t Neil Young star in more comedies?

Listen to the episode below, or on Spotify, Apple, or Amazon:

Split Tooth Media · Split Picks: Bernard Shakey’s ‘Rust Never Sleeps’ Vs. ‘Human Highway’

Craig’s Top 12 Neil Young Albums:

Tonight’s The Night
Zuma
On The Beach
Ragged Glory
After The Gold Rush
Psychedelic Pill
Harvest
Rust Never Sleeps
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Harvest Moon
Re·Ac·Tor
The Monsanto Years

Bennett’s Top 12 Neil Young Albums (presented alphabetically):

After the Gold Rush
American Stars n’ Bars
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Everybody’s Rockin’
Le Noise
On the Beach
Re·Ac·Tor
Rust Never Sleeps
Time Fades Away
Tonight’s the Night
Trans
Zuma

Breanna’s Top 12 Neil Young Albums:

After The Gold Rush
On The Beach
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Harvest
Neil Young
Time Fades Away
Comes A Time
Rust Never Sleeps
Harvest Moon
This Note’s For You
Hawks & Doves
Everybody’s Rockin’

Watch the trailer for Human Highway here:

Listen to past episodes of Split Picks here:

Split Tooth Media · Split Picks

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Split Picks theme music by Nick Miller, Lee Walker, and Craig Wright
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