CSNY 74 - "Pre-Road Downs" Brings Pre-Release Downs

Rolling Stone - August 15th, 1974
As with all of the big bands, fans often have their favorites.

With The Beatles, you had some who centered on Paul and others on John.

With The Rolling Stones, you had some who centered on Mick and others on Keith.

With The Who, you had some who centered on Roger and others on Pete.

And so on.

And with Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young , you had some who centered on "CSN" and others on "Y".

As with all things, to each her own.

Can't really say we ever really understood those CSNY fans who heavily favored a particular member -- say Neil for example -- yet were contemptuous of other members.

As we commented yesterday on Preview Track: CSNY 74 - "Pre-Road Downs" (Live in 1974):

"They are one person
They are two alone
They are three together
They are for each other"


Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
1974-08-23, Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Photo Gallery by John Gellman Photography
Or consider this...

Here's a listing of Neil Young songs that were played on the ' 74 tour but are not represented on the upcoming boxed set:

Cowgirl
Human Highway
A Man Needs a Maid
Ambulance Blues
On the Way Home
Homefires
The Needle and the Damage Done
Out on the Weekend
Down by the River
The Losing End
Birds
Old Homestead
Roll Another Number
Heart of Gold
Walk On
Star of Bethlehem
(Thanks anon!)

Maybe someday these songs will see their own release?

Back in 2010, we reported that a box set of CSNY's 1974 tour was in the works.

The news set off quite a reaction with numerous comments on memories from CSNY's 1974 tour. In many ways, the tour marked the end of an era as well as the beginning of a new era. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's 1974 summer tour was unprecedented in many ways -- not the least of which was a pioneering mega huge sound system able to blast tens of thousands at outdoor stadiums. The Bill Graham produced spectacle went on to usher in the massive rock and roll extravaganzas that so many other acts would later follow.

The latest update is from Billboard.com:

[Graham Nash] hopes to put the finishing touches on a Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young live album from the quartet's legendary 1974 tour for a hoped-for spring 2011 release. Nash and archivist Joel Bernstein are putting the set together from multi-track recordings of nine concerts, and listening to them has shown Nash that 'we were really a fine band. It's very obvious when you play the tracks that we're listening to each other, not stepping on each other's toes, not overblowing. It's really, really good.'

Nash adds that Neil Young, himself an exacting archivist, has 'give me basically carte blanche' to put the set together. 'He knows me. He trusts me. He feels I can do this. He will be very involved, of course, because I'm not mixing anything finally until Neil's heard it and approves -- the same with David [Crosby] and Stephen.'

After the '74 show is done, Nash plans on to move to a 1970 CSNY show from the Fillmore East in New York city, as well as Crosby Nash shows from 1970 and 1993. He's also waiting for final permissions from some famous musical friends for a Crosby Nash collaborative album to benefit the Children's Defense Fund, which he hopes will come out in 2011 as well.

(Merci Jacques-Eric !)

Previously, David Crosby had this to say on the box set in The Columbian by Alan Sculley:

“This CSNY thing is going to eclipse almost everything else,” David Crosby said. “I think it’s going to be just pretty much beyond belief. What I’ve heard, I was just stunned.”

“When you really hear them now, it’s just astounding,” he said. “The stuff that they’ve played me, I can’t even believe how … good it is.”

Stephen Stills and Neil Young
CSNY Concert: 1974-08-23, Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Photo Gallery by John Gellman Photography

Some memories from 1974....

From JoeRay Skrha:

Hi Gang,

I saw CSNY in Buffalo 8-11-1974 and Cleveland 8-31-1974... Both days were in the top 10 of concerts I ever attended. Buffalo was at the newly opened Rich Stadium, sunny warm day, great sound and Jesse Colin Young, Santana and CSNY. Cleveland was at Municipal Stadium, 88,000 people, great sound, Jesse Colin Young, The Band, Santana and CSNY. Bill Graham who ran the tour was at he very best. Rock and Roll was young, raw and alive.

This was the tour I wish I could experience again. It took a rap for being the Doom Tour... I disagree... Perhaps some musicians over did it but for those of us in attendance (always sat 20 feet back on Neils side), I was simply blown away. Neil recorded each concert in 8-16 or 24 track. Perhaps the archives BD-Live will allow more than one concert to be released. Even most of the audience recordings from this tour sounded good without much echo or distortion.

The sound was clear and alive.

Peace,
Joe Ray Skrha

From MARIAN M.:

My first time seeing Neil live (at the tender age of 19) was CSNY Reunion Tour 1974 @ Atlantic City Race Track (August 9)...standing for hours in the RAIN (rain, rain, rain, and still more rain), standing because there was nowhere to sit (all mud)! It was still all worth it to see Neil and the rest of the guys!

I loved seeing David Crosby walking out on stage holding up the newspaper with the headline in HUGE letters, 'Nixon Resigns'; this was met with a thunderous roar from the audience. This whole show was a glorious celebration!

The only songs I'm sure about (36 years later) being played were 'Don't Be Denied' and 'Pushed It Over the End,' which I LOVED! I have never seen a set list for this concert.

Is there anybody out there that can supply more information?

Even the possibility of a box set being released for this 1974 tour thrills my heart!!!!!!!

I sure hope this is true!!!!

Marian M.

More on the reunion tour of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young in 1974.

More commentary on CSNY's 1974 Tour Box Set here and here.

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