Stephen Stills: Live CD Track Listing

A list by checkmate

Stephen Stills Live (1975)
Originally Released November 1975\nCD Edition Released April 21, 1992\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: This live record features Stephen Stills with a great voice that may be a bit weary but is, perhaps, even more emotional and personal. Separated into an acoustic side and an electric side, Stills triumphs during both sets. The electric side is highlighted by the tight "Wooden Ships," while the acoustic side shines with "Change Partners" and a frenetic version of "Crossroads." -- Zachary Curd\n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\n"Four Days Gone" and you'll still be listening to Stephen live!!, June 18, 2007 \nBy Craig Fenton "Craig The Airplane Man" (Airplaneville, New Jersey)\nAs the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" and a former radio disc-jockey, I am often asked to write and or discuss various recordings from the 60's and 70's. \n\nA great artist always seems to have one release if not more that has slipped through the cracks. Stephen Stills "Live" (March 8 and 9 of 1974) is missing from too many CSN and sometimes Y fans collections. \n\nMaybe it is because the trademark Stills harmonies aren't the featured attribute of the recording. At the front of the line is the terrific guitar playing of Donnie Dacus (Chicago, Roger McGuinn, and Billy Joel) with the pure emotion of Still's stage energy and song content. \n\nThe album was split into an acoustic side and an electric. "Wooden Ships" is outstanding from the electric portion and representing the acoustic selections in fantastic fashion is "Everybody's Talkin At Me." Stills is superlative in the inclusion of the cover tunes "Rocky Mountain Way" (Put on the map by Joe Walsh, although he did not write it), "Crossroads" (From blues great Robert Johnson, made famous by the legendary Cream version), "You Can't Catch Me" (A Chuck Berry classic that John Lennon did a 5 star version on his "Rock & Roll" album), and "Everybody's Talkin At Me" (Although written by folk great Freddie Neil, the signature version is from Harry Nilsson). \n\nStills rendition of the Freddie Neil composition is one of the finest covers ever. The joy and heartfelt fondness for the song is evident in every word. \n\nYes, he did go back to the vaults and unlock Buffalo Springfield material for us! \n\nIn case this has been gathering dust in your vinyl collection, an upgrade to CD would do wonders. If you haven't experienced the pleasure of this effort, no time is better than now! \n\nEnjoy the music and be well, \nCraig Fenton \nAuthor of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" \n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nDEFINITELY ONE OF THE BEST LIVE ALBUMS BE STEPHEN STILLS, December 24, 2004 \nBy TIM LUCERO "THE PSYCHODELIC ROCK" (Huntsville, Alabama United States)\nThe musicians from STEPHENS STILLS solo band in 1974 display excellent musical skills. The sound of JERRY AIELLO's HAMMOND organ sounds a whole lot like ELP's KEITH EMERSON, KENNY PASSARELLI plays excellent bass guitar, and the percussion lineup of JOE LALA (congos) from MANNASSAS and RUSS KUNKEL (drums) really rock and roll. Most importantly, the highlight of Stephen's solo band is the then unknown and probably now forgotten guitarist DONNIE DACUS (later of Chicago) who guitar riffs blow NEIL YOUNG off the stage. WOODEN SHIPS is a outstanding beginner for this album; furthermore, it outdoes the CSN's studio version, CSNY's live version from WOODSTOCK, and any other live version as well. I love DONNIE intro lead guitar at the beginning of this song, the middle of the song, and the dual lead guitar of STEPHEN and DONNIE at the end of the song. The arrangement of this version sounds a whole lot more balanced. The 2-part harmony vocals of STEPHEN and DONNIE give the song a better balance as well; there is also the occasional high-pitch harmony vocal of KENNY. FOUR DAYS GONE is a great ballad with STEPHEN on the piano, along with JERRY's organ riffs and definitely DONNIE's lead guitar. The melody of JET SET and JOE WALSH's ROCKY MOUNTAIN WAY is killer with STEPHEN's lead guitar and DONNIE'S slide guitar, SPECIAL CARE is a excellent rocker with trading lead guitars. CHANGE PARTNERS is a outstanding acoustic ballad, and STEPHEN plays some outstanding riffs on the melody CROSSROADS and YOU CAN'T CATCH ME. The other songs are great too. I was so amazed when I heard this cd. I can not and will not understand will DONNIE became so unpopular; additionally, STEPHEN should have brought him into the reformation of CSN in 1976 as the perfect replacement for NEIL YOUNG throughtout the remainder of the 70s, 80s, 90S to this day. It also would have save him from a lot of trouble with CHICAGO. Furthermore, when I listen to DONNIE's guitar riffs on this album, I hear the style of LED ZEPPELIN's JIMMY PAGE and the sound BAD COMPANY's MICK RALPHS at the same time. \n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nA Great Live Album, November 29, 2003 \nReviewer: A music fan\nI often worry about live albums. They are often contractual obligation fodder tossed into the marketplace by an artist who is ready to move to a new label. In fact, Stills was apparently set to move to Columbia from Atlantic. However, this album stands as one of the best live discs from its era. It features great singing and playing. And, it was also noteworthy for dividing the set into unplugged and electric portions. This is a wonderful live disc. \n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\na timepiece, October 30, 2003 \nBy D. Schmittdiel (Clinton Twp., MI)\nIn 1974, after completing a summer tour with David Crosby, Graham Nash and Neil Young, Stephen Stills launched a solo tour which stopped in my home town of Detroit in March. I was fortunate to see a sterling, dynamic performance at the largest Masonic Temple in North America, an old and ornate venue, from a front row balcony seat. Stills was at his peak, and he put together what had to be one of the hardest rocking bands of his career, the sort of band Crazy Horse has always been for Neil Young. \nThis unnamed band, and the recording master, seem intent on highlighting the impressive lead guitar interplays between Stills and Donnie Dacus, who would play a major role on a later studio album by Stephen, 'Illegal Stills'. For the most part, Stills contributes a psychedelic wah-wah, at times in rhythm guitar mode, while Dacus rips off one sterling solo after another. Jerry Aiello's keyboards and Russ Kunkel's drums resound loud and clear as well through the high decibel mix. A bit muted are Kenny Passarelli's bass (I suppose something had to yield the right-of-way), and especially Joe Lala's percussion, better suited to the more tempered sounds of Manassas. Stills handles virtually all the vocals, although Dacus and Passarelli occasionally add some surprisingly harmonious harmonies.\n\nThe real magic of this live performance, recorded over two nights at Chicago's Auditorium Theatre, lies in the song selection. By this point in his career, Stills had an impressive catalog to select from, and his choices are an eclectic mix of his own best work, coupled with some impressive covers. Of the 11 songs featured, 4 were penned by other artists.\n\nThe album is divided between an electric and acoustic set. On the CD, the opening number is a scorching version of 'Wooden Ships', the Crosby-Stills composition from the first CSN album. The only drawback to this arrangement is that Stills handles all the vocals, blurring the dramatic verbal interplay between the two warring soldiers featured in the opening lyrics. Nonetheless, the hard-driving spin Stills puts on this take has always sounded to me like the 'right way' to play 'Wooden Ships'. Despite some brief audible feedback on the lyrics early on, this may be the best rendition of 'Wooden Ships' ever put on record. \n\nTwo Buffalo Springfield compositions are included, the timely (considering the year, 1974, was in the immediate aftermath of the Vietnam era) 'Four Days Gone', which paints a sympathetic portrait of a draft evader, with Stills sitting in on piano. This song represents the only respite in a burning electric set. A raucous rendition of 'Special Care' concludes the electric set in a highly frentic mood, and this is the only time Lala's vibrant percussion can be seriously appreciated.\n\nInserted between these Springalo Toones is the centerpiece of the electric set, a chest pounding medley of the Joe Walsh masterpiece, 'Rocky Mountain Way', and the blues-rock Manassas number, 'Jet Set'. Stills and the band segue seamlessly between the two numbers, which adapt to an amazingly complementary musical structure. The only drawback here is a muddy attempt by Stills to replicate Walsh's deft use of the voicebox on Barnstorm's studio version of 'Rocky Mountain Way'.\n\nThe acoustic side is just as artistically rendered and eclectic as the powered side. 'Change Partners', from Stills second solo album, is a beautiful opening selection. The set ends with a somewhat predictable choice from the same album, 'Word Game'. Sandwiched between are '4+20', a crowd favorite, again from the debut CSN LP, and 3 unusual covers. First up is another medley, mixing the classic, up-tempo blues of 'Crossroads' with Chuck Berry's barreling 'You Can't Catch Me'. This robust medley is followed by the completely unpredictable choice of Fred Neil's hit, 'Everybody's Talking At Me'. Unlike the electric set, where Stills all but takes a backseat to Dacus, the acoustic numbers feature some of the finest guitar work Stills has ever put on record, no small accomplishment.\n\nInspiration is dripping from these performances, and the recording is remarkably clean, especially the acoustic set. Indeed, it is hard to imagine a rock audience showing enough discipline today to actually allow an uninterrupted performance of acoustic music such as we have here. \n\nSo in a number of ways this brief slice of Live Stills serves as a timepiece reminding us of 'what was', both in our own lives, and in the career of a remarkable musician. And give the dearth of live material from his most productive years, this CD is a 'must-have' for fans of Stephen Stills. \n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nFor Stills' Fans Only, October 17, 1998 \nBy Bill B at billb@neta.com (Phoenix, Az)\nThis is an album that received poor reviews when it was released. For the most part I agree. It doesn't begin to capture the energy that Stills displays during his concerts. In addition, the recording mix (at least on the original LP) was mediocre. The vocals are too weak, and certain instruments, especially the keyboards, are too pronounced. I also think the tempo of many of the songs is too quick which gives them a 'rushed' feel. Nonetheless, this recording does provide a glimpse of a performer, who at his best, is as good as anyone in the business. \n\n\nHalf.com Details \n\nAlbum Notes\nPersonnel: Stephen Stills, Donnie Dacus (vocals, guitar); Jerry Aiello (keyboards); Kenny Passarelli (bass, background vocals); Russ Kunkel (drums); Joe Lala (percussion).\n\nRecorded live at at the Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, Illinois on March 8 & 9, 1974.
This rock cd contains 9 tracks and runs 36min 25sec.
Freedb: 84088709
Buy: from Amazon.com

Categories

Latest lists

Stephen Stills: Live CD Track Listing

Category

Tags

cyList

Legal