Record Reviews

CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG ~ AMERICAN DREAM ATLANTIC 075678188824 (Barcode: 075678188824) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1988 Released: 1988 This is the second studio album by the iconic Classic Rock group Crosby, Stills, Nash & YoungFind albums by this artist. The four singers / songwriters are supported by bassist Bob GlaubFind albums by this artist, drummer Joe VitaleFind albums by this artist, percussionist Joe LalaFind albums by this artist and several other guests. The album presents fourteen original songs, recorded over a period of several months in 1988 an written or co-written by the group members and the musicians playing on the album, with Neil YoungFind albums by this artist being involved in writing half of the songs on the album. Personal conflicts, ego wars and genuine problems prevented Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young from fulfilling their tremendous potential and the fact that they managed to record only three studio albums is a travesty. "American DreamFind albums with this title" is a truly prophetic title, since the two decades that separate the recording of this album from their groundbreaking debut "Déjà VuFind albums with this title" not only changed the worldwide music scene but also marked the shattering of the America Dream in every aspect: political, social, moral and intellectual. The days of Freedom and Hope were gone and the bleak reality took over. If any other group wrote and recorded these fourteen songs they would have been considered as excellent, but sadly in comparison to their glorious past these songs, which also suffered from the 1980s production malady, sound somewhat pale and underachieved, which gave both the critics and even the faithful fans plenty of opportunity to bitch bitterly. To be fair, in retrospect the album is not that bad at all, surely not in comparison to what passes as music these days. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young did not loose their ability to compose superb melodies, write meaningful lyrics and sing sublime vocal harmonies, which can all be found on this album. If not for the somewhat muddy sound and dreadful synthesizers the album sounds quite nice and surprisingly stands the test of time relatively well, especially so the two David CrosbyFind albums by this artist songs, which are up to par with his usual classics. Overall this is perhaps not the greatest recording by these iconic musicians, but definitely an album worth to be remembered and re-visited periodically, making sure it is not forgotten.

Updated: 19/01/2019Posted: 19/01/2019

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG ~ CSNY 1974 RHINO 081227960353 (Barcode: 081227960353) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1974 Released: 2014 This magnificent Box Set is the document of the legendary 1974 tour by the seminal Classic Rock group Crosby, Stills, Nash & YoungFind albums by this artist. Organized by the no less legendary Rock impresario Bill GrahamFind albums by this artist, the tour lasted between July 9th 1974 and September 14th 1974, totaling in 31 shows. An additional one-off show was also played on December 14, 1974. Overall this was the most extensive tour ever attempted by a Rock act to that date. The group was assisted by three additional musicians: bassist Tim DrummondFind albums by this artist, drummer Russell KunkelFind albums by this artist and percussionist Joe LalaFind albums by this artist. The Box Set consists of three CDs and a DVD, which are a selection from the music recorded and filmed during the tour. CDs 1 and 3 offer electric sets and CD 2 offers a purely acoustic set. The Box Set also includes a marvelous 188-page book with information and beautiful photographs. The entire Box Set is an obvious labor of love, mostly invested by Graham NashFind albums by this artist, who became a de facto group archivist and Joel BernsteinFind albums by this artist who was in charge of some superb productions over the years. The three CDs offer an amazing collection of forty songs, which in retrospect are some of the finest songs ever written, not only by the Mighty Four, but in the general Classic Rock idiom´s time span. They include of course material from the debut Crosby, Stills & NashFind albums by this artist album and the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young album, as well as from the individual solo albums recorded by the group members. Some of the songs present in this box have never been released in their live version before. The sound quality and the individual performances captured on these recordings are some of the finest Classic Rock moments ever recorded. Every word and every sound are just perfect and exactly what is needed at the given moment. The intimacy and camaraderie between the group members and the rapport they manage to create with the audience are simply stellar. The four decades that separate the dates of the recording of these concerts and the date of the release of this Box Set did not manage to take an iota off the glory, beauty and artistry of the music presented here. The world managed to sink into darkness and stupidity, and as a result this music shines even brighter now than it did at the time of its creation. Thank God for the invention of sound recording. This Box Set proudly joins the great Classic Rock live recordings heritage that keeps some of us mentally alive today.

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted: 20/01/2019

3CD+DVD 4 Digipak Box Set Recommend To A Friend

CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG ~ LOOKING FORWARD REPRISE 093624743620 (Barcode: 093624743620) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1997 - 1999 Released: 1999 This is the third (and so far the last) studio album by the iconic Classic Rock group Crosby, Stills, Nash & YoungFind albums by this artist. The album was initially planned as the next Crosby, Stills & NashFind albums by this artist album, but at a later stage Young joined the trio and contributed his playing and material to turn this into a bona fide quartet album. The four singers / songwriters are supported by keyboardist Michael FinniganFind albums by this artist, bassist Donald DunnFind albums by this artist, drummer Joe VitaleFind albums by this artist, percussionist Joe LalaFind albums by this artist and several other guests. The album presents twelve songs, recorded over a period of almost three years between 1997 and 1999, all bar one written or co-written by the group members, with David CrosbyFind albums by this artist contributing two songs, Stephen StillsFind albums by this artist three songs, Graham NashFind albums by this artist two songs and Neil YoungFind albums by this artist four songs. The last song was written by guitarist Denny SarokinFind albums by this artist, who also plays on the album. Personal conflicts, ego wars and genuine problems prevented Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young from fulfilling their tremendous potential and the fact that they managed to record only three studio albums is a travesty. "Looking Forward" sadly did not become prophetic as far as the quartet was concerned, although they did play several tours as a quartet in the years that followed. If any other group wrote and recorded these twelve songs they would have been considered as excellent, but sadly in comparison to their glorious past these songs, which also suffered from the uneven production, sound somewhat pale and underachieved, which gave both the critics and even the faithful fans plenty of opportunity to bitch bitterly, although it performed better in the charts than its predecessor "American DreamFind albums with this title". To be fair, in retrospect the album is not that bad at all, surely not in comparison to what passes as music these days. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young did not loose their ability to compose superb melodies, write meaningful lyrics and sing sublime vocal harmonies, which can all be found on this album. The album sounds quite nice and surprisingly stands the test of time relatively well, especially so the David Crosby and Graham Nash songs, which are up to par with their usual classics. Overall this is perhaps not the greatest recording by these iconic musicians, but definitely an album worth to be remembered and re-visited periodically, making sure it is not forgotten.

Updated: 02/02/2019Posted: 02/02/2019

CD 1 HDCD Recommend To A Friend

STEPHEN STILLS / MANASSAS ~ MANASSAS ATLANTIC 075678280825 (Barcode: 075678280825) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1972 Released: 1996 This is the debut album by the short-lived excellent band ManassasFind albums by this artist led by legendary American Rock icon Stephen StillsFind albums by this artist which also included ex-ByrdsFind albums by this artist / Flying Burrito BrothersFind albums by this artist vocalist / guitarist Chris HillmanFind albums by this artist, guitarist Al PerkinsFind albums by this artist, bassist Calvin SamuelsFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Paul HarrisFind albums by this artist, drummer Dallas TaylorFind albums by this artist and percussionist Joe LalaFind albums by this artist. Rolling StonesFind albums by this artist bassist Bill WymanFind albums by this artist guests on several tracks. The original double LP album presents twenty one excellent songs, split across the four sides of the two LPs with a separate subtitle for each of the sides, all bar one written or co-written by Stills and superbly performed by the band. Stills emerges on the album not only as a first rate vocalist, guitarist and bandleader but primarily as a superb songwriter, cementing his status initiated as a member of Buffalo SpringfieldFind albums by this artist and Crosby, Stills, Nash & YoungFind albums by this artist, where he already contributed some of his finest creations and his material featured on the two solo albums released before forming Manassas. Musically the album epitomizes the best of American Rock, which emerged from the amalgam of Blues, Folk and Country music with electric Rock And Roll. Plenty of heartfelt vocals, excellent vocal harmonies and surging guitar work supported by rock steady rhythm section were the ingredients of the irresistible formula that American Rock knew how to push to the max at the time. In retrospect this album is often considered as one of the top achievements of American Classic Rock in the 1970s, listed side by side such albums as Derek And The DominosFind albums by this artist masterpiece "Layla And Other Assorted Love SongsFind albums with this title". Dedicated to the great and prematurely dead American Rock Heroes: Jimi HendrixFind albums by this artist, Al WilsonFind albums by this artist (of Canned HeatFind albums by this artist) and Duane AllmanFind albums by this artist, Stills clearly defines his influences and pays tribute to the fallen victims of the demanding Rock careers. An essential piece of the American Classic Rock heritage, this album is a must in any serious Classic Rock collection and definitely worth to be re-discovered by the new generations of listeners.

Updated: 18/01/2019Posted: 18/01/2019

CD 1 HDCD Remastered Recommend To A Friend