After their first big public appearance at Woodstock in 1969, David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, and Neil Young spent the rest of that most tumultuous year touring and writing songs for their CSNY debut album, 1970’s Déjà Vu. Somewhere in between, the band played September 20, 1969, concert at the historic Fillmore East in New York City. A multi-track recording of that show was recently discovered and now we have Live At The Fillmore East, 1969.
Featuring both acoustic and electric sets, the 17 songs reveal a group of incredible talents, who command the stage on their own as much as they do as part of the band they were to become. First up is The Acoustic Set, beginning with “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” a beautifully harmonized stab at “Blackbird,” along with “Helplessly Hoping” and “Guinnevere,” which features perfect picking and harmonies. Nash manages a slightly rough solo vocal go on “Our House,” his organ accompaniment the only instrument, and Young brings in a startling lead vocal on “I’ve Loved Her So Long.” The voices together truly make a magical mix, but Stills is the standout, both with his acoustic guitar flipping and flicking and his vocal.
The Electric Set features the group filled out with drummer Dallas Taylor and bassist Greg Reeves. It begins with Reeves; low rumble pushing along “Long Time Gone.” Young takes out “Down By The River” from his Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere album, stretching it out to a big jam between him and Stills with the whole set ending on “Find The Cost Of Freedom,” a Stills tune that would be released as the B-side to “Ohio.” It’s a quick flick of a song, offering, once again, a beautiful mix of voices, but it’s not much of a tune actually, proving the weakest moment on Live At The Fillmore East, 1969. That being said, it’s a real treat to hear this music, not only because of its historical significance before CSNY truly exploded, but also because the four principals just sound so damn good together.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
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Live At The Fillmore East, 1969
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