His superb new album, “Chrome Dreams II,” almost could be a primer for his extraordinary range. And the format of his current tour — acoustic and electric sets and a band composed of alumni from his most beloved backing units (Crazy Horse, Stray Gators, Bluenotes) — allows for maximum capacity to surprise. To celebrate the appearance Saturday of rock’s quickest-change artist, we’ve unscientifically selected five of Neil Young’s greatest left turns.

Throw a dart at his crazy quilt career, and wherever it lands will be different from everything surrounding it. The secret of this ceaseless change is that when he happens to alight in a musical place he’s visited before, it makes even the familiar feel fresh and slightly exotic.