In a recent interview, Graham Nash discussed the Deja Vu re-issue boxset and what it was like working with Neil Young.
Today, another interview on the Deja Vu re-issue boxset and working with Neil Young, this time with Stephen Stills. Also, the full Deja Vu 50th Anniversary edition is now streaming on NYA (more below).
From Stephen Stills on CSNY: "We were all quite full of ourselves" | Uncut by Peter Watts:
Uncut: How did Neil change the dynamic?
Stephen Stills: Neil was one of those who wanted us to sing it and play it at the same time and be done, and the first time you get it right – that’s the take. I like a bit more polish so I’m not actually that fond of these extra tracks in the reissue. I was thinking about this last night and for me it’s like seeing the mannequins undressed in the shop window. Why do you want to put these out there even though they sound great?
Isn’t there a raw honesty to them?
Yeah, if you say so.
For me it sounds like we’d just got the words correctly in the right order. Some of it is good. It was odd. I had a knee replacement last year so I was flat on my back while these were being collected and a bit distracted. They sent me MP3 files that sounded like rancid shit, the worst car radio on an AM setting. That was very hard for me to listen so I didn’t realise they had taken such a deep dive into my vault. They went on this excursion, it was like this archaeological dig, so when the final set finally turned up I was, “Wait, what’s all this?”
Neil has always been the smartest one of us, he gave us three songs and kept the rest.
He’s now put together his own archive over the years, and I found that quite clever actually. It’s what I was supposed to be doing but with one thing or another it went out the way. So I have mixed feelings. I’ve often got my foot stuck in my mouth so I don’t want to make too much of it.
But it’s nice to remember that time and this is very reflective of it.
Fans seem to always want more.
Well, they think they do.
Neil seems to release everything.
He releases everything in huge batches. I always thought it was excessive but he seems to do it very well. I’m happy for him and look forward to be playing with him now I am free to mix and mingle.
Full interview at Stephen Stills on CSNY: "We were all quite full of ourselves" | Uncut by Peter Watts.
Also, see INTERVIEW: Graham Nash On Deja Vu Re-Issue, Neil Young & More.
.Thank you!!)
Also, the full 4 disc Deja Vu 50th Anniversary edition is now streaming on NYA (more below).
Also, see ESSAY: 50th Anniversary of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's "Deja Vu" by Harvey Kubernik.
Deja Vu Photo Composites
via Susan Miller
I love Stephen Stills!!!
ReplyDeleteI hope Stephen and Neil do play!!!
ReplyDeleteGood ol'Stephen.
ReplyDeleteLEDGE
Just finished listening to the entire Deja Vu box set and I’m extremely impressed. I don’t want to single anything out quite yet as I need to listen several times before I commit to individual songs, but the vinyl sounds excellent and the pressing is beautiful. There are 29 unreleased tracks and several of them are remarkable. The booklet comes with a historical and well written text, and includes some great photos of some very young and talented musicians. The cover is an exact replica of the original album and the sound of the music is phenomenal. Only one unreleased song from Neil, but his unmistakable guitar work can be heard on several of the unreleased material, and needless to say.... incredible.
ReplyDeleteMore later,
Peace 🙏
Stills has some very interesting and substantive points. Someone should interview this guy more often, he is honest and open. I always thought, and I will preface this with "I know nothing about music" that Stills is a great guitarist.
ReplyDelete@ Dan - thanks for review and look fwd to hearing more thoughts and reactions.
ReplyDeletewe haven't made it though all the discs as of yet. Just from titles alone, some intriguing tracks and combinations.
For the next podcast of TW Radio, we do a deeper dive into Deja Vu re-issue. Should have that uploaded later today.
@ Abner - absolutely on Stills. Our hunch is that these days he makes for a better print interview.
do hope that the upcoming virtual benefit concert gets off the ground.
Thrasher did you see that movie about Laurel Canyon that Jacob Dylan produced/directed? It seemed that Stills was having some trouble articulating his words? He seemed mentally fine but that something was perhaps wrong with his speech? It was hard to tell. He was especially funny when he told the story of the famous pot bust where he went out the window.
ReplyDeleteYes Abner. We're aware of Stills vocal issues.
ReplyDeleteHis voice has been on decline for a very long time now. As he mentions in interview, his last tour was w/ Judy Collins where he mainly played guitar and had a few harmonies.
we did mention the upcoming benefit. last time, Neil did heavy lifting on vocals w/ Stills on guitar and harmony.
tis a very sad thing ...
Yes, let's have Young, Stills and Crosby with no lead vocals from Stephen. Bring back Timothy B. for upper-range vocals.
ReplyDeleteIt is a sad thing, he had a great voice.
ReplyDelete