Say it ain’t so, Neil? Perhaps the reports are wrong, and perhaps the “Archives” will still make their way to Blu-ray eventually, but Billboard is reporting that Neil Young’s much-anticipated 10-disc “Archives Vol. 1 (1963-1972)” has been delayed until next year, and that apparently it will make its way only onto (yawn) standard DVD [update: Billboard has updated to read that the Archives will be Blu-ray only!].

For the time being, we’ll be treated to a live album release—with the timing making it almost an anniversary release—highlighting Young’s “Sugar Mountain: Live at Canterbury House 1968” two-day November performances in Ann Arbor, MI.

We’d been holding out great hope for Young to join the increasing ranks of great music to make its way to high-resolution Blu-ray. He rocked the JavaOne conference earlier this year and heralded the extra storage space and download capabilities that the Blu-ray format offers, saying that regular DVD couldn’t really accommodate everything he wanted to offer in his music archives—including superior audio quality.

Look for the “Sugar Mountain” release from Reprise on November 25, and while we wait for word on the format of the “Archives,” whenever they may arrive, at least November and its slew of Blu-ray music is quickly nearing.

Of course, who knows? At least one Engadget HD commenter claims we will see the Blu-ray archives in early 2009—and his username is “Neil Young Fan,” so we have to trust him, right?

About the Author:
Arlen Schweiger - Managing editor of Electronic House Magazine

Arlen contributes product news items to electronichouse.com along with his role on the print publication. Got a tip? Send it along!