The album, a significant musical/cultural artifact, is memorable more for the veneration that we hippie kids—I was there—showered on our countercultural heroes than for the so-so quality of the music
Just signed onto this and catching up with earlier posts. I listened to this 1969 concert release when it was released and was very disappointed with it. Frankly, given the superior Four-Way Street, there was no good reason for this release except to generate income. BTW, several years ago, they released a compilation of performances from the group's 1974 tour; it was pretty awful. I note that it's no longer available, either from Amazon as a physical record or on Spotify. Amazon offers a single disc version.
I got this as a bootleg MP3 a few years ago and found it uneven but excitingly protean as if something was being invented in front of my ears, even if imperfectly. It will probably lose some of that edge as an official release - thanks for the warning!
I was at their Woodstock performance and I remember thinking “these guys aren’t in tune with each other”. I am a music illiterate and don’t know. C sharp from a B flat, but I know when it doesn’t sound right, and they didn’t that night. However still loved their energy and the force they generated.
I'm going to check out that 4 Way version of Southern Man. Neil Young was the best part of CSN&Y and put out the best solo stuff by far. Curious about that unreleased Buffalo Springfield record.
There was no unreleased Buffalo Springfield recird. Last time around was cobbled tigether and released after they'd broken up, if that's what you're referring to. Sorry if that was unclear
While i never could enjoy "Our House" or much of Nash's songs, I believe he contributed the high , unusual harmony that was so distinctive in their vocal mix. In addition he seemed to be the most grounded of this crew. Maybe a low bar there. I was pretty taken with their stuff back in the day but it hasn't weathered well for me. Nice piece though.
Great read, and I can hear all the things you're pointing out about these selections.
Fortunately, listening to these guys even wrecked or off-key takes me right back to that time and being entranced by them again. There was a magic there even when things weren't entirely in synch. They were heroic figures for me too.
That's also the first time I've listened to that version of "Down by the River". Stellar.
Loved reading this. And glad that you remember so many intricacies of that night at Filmore East. I still go back to the So Far Album many times and now some music to explore that I wasn't aware of. I saw the four together about 15 years ago. Probably one of the most memorable concerts I've attended.
Just signed onto this and catching up with earlier posts. I listened to this 1969 concert release when it was released and was very disappointed with it. Frankly, given the superior Four-Way Street, there was no good reason for this release except to generate income. BTW, several years ago, they released a compilation of performances from the group's 1974 tour; it was pretty awful. I note that it's no longer available, either from Amazon as a physical record or on Spotify. Amazon offers a single disc version.
I got this as a bootleg MP3 a few years ago and found it uneven but excitingly protean as if something was being invented in front of my ears, even if imperfectly. It will probably lose some of that edge as an official release - thanks for the warning!
I was at their Woodstock performance and I remember thinking “these guys aren’t in tune with each other”. I am a music illiterate and don’t know. C sharp from a B flat, but I know when it doesn’t sound right, and they didn’t that night. However still loved their energy and the force they generated.
I'm going to check out that 4 Way version of Southern Man. Neil Young was the best part of CSN&Y and put out the best solo stuff by far. Curious about that unreleased Buffalo Springfield record.
There was no unreleased Buffalo Springfield recird. Last time around was cobbled tigether and released after they'd broken up, if that's what you're referring to. Sorry if that was unclear
Ah, I misread. Thanks the explanation. A lot of the unreleased Neil Young stuff coming out the last few years is pretty cool.
While i never could enjoy "Our House" or much of Nash's songs, I believe he contributed the high , unusual harmony that was so distinctive in their vocal mix. In addition he seemed to be the most grounded of this crew. Maybe a low bar there. I was pretty taken with their stuff back in the day but it hasn't weathered well for me. Nice piece though.
Great read, and I can hear all the things you're pointing out about these selections.
Fortunately, listening to these guys even wrecked or off-key takes me right back to that time and being entranced by them again. There was a magic there even when things weren't entirely in synch. They were heroic figures for me too.
That's also the first time I've listened to that version of "Down by the River". Stellar.
Loved reading this. And glad that you remember so many intricacies of that night at Filmore East. I still go back to the So Far Album many times and now some music to explore that I wasn't aware of. I saw the four together about 15 years ago. Probably one of the most memorable concerts I've attended.