"10 Days with The Loner": Neil Young in Amsterdam - 1974

Neil Young @ Amsterdam's Memphis Hotel - Sept, 1974

from Decade album by Joel Bernstein

 

 
A recent comment by Art Symbol sent us over to a link by Dutch journalist Constant Meijers from Neil Young's time in Amsterdam following the final CSNY 1974 tour show at Wembley Stadium in London. 

Joni Mitchell w/ Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Wembley Stadium, London, 1974-09-14
(details @ Photo of the Moment)

Constant Meijers had intimate access to Neil's entourage as Neil tried to figure out his next move following the massive success of the CSNY 1974 stadium tour.  Meijers is the author of the concert review of Neil Young's Tonight's the Night tour in London, 1973, that was part of the album's liner notes.

 

"Welcome on Miami Beach, Ladies and Gentlemen!"

from Neil Young's Tonight's the Night liner notes 

by Constant Meijers

(Liner Note translation from Dutch to English)

 

During the compiling of the Decade album, Neil Young did not forget his brief stay in Amsterdam in September 1974. One of the innersleeve photos, showing Neil and his guitar on a bed, was taken in a hotel room at the Amsterdam Memphis Hotel by official CSN&Y photographer Joel Bernstein. (see top photo)

​This is an account of Neil’s stay in Amsterdam, told by Constant Meijers, which was published in Muziekkrant Oor, giving an exclusive, albeit shortened, version of his account of Neil Young’s stay. It was originally intended to be published as a chapter of The Loner - A Biography Of Neil Young.

This article has been painstakingly translated into English by Peter Didderiens. The pictures were taken by Gijsbert Hanekroot.

Here is the story of "10 days with The Loner"  by Constant Meijers.

ReflectionsNeil Young on CSNY 1974 Tour Oakland, CA - 7/13 or 14/74
Photo by Gijsbert Hanekroot
(More on The Story Behind The Photographer: Neil Young & Gijsbert Hanekroot)

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Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young: Looking Back Through The Years

Joni Mitchell + Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Wembley Stadium, London - September 14, 1974
(Click photo to enlarge)
We look back as we look forward to the release of the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's Live 1974 Box Set next month. (Now #20 #19 on Amazon.com Bestseller Listing.)

Here are a few highlight's from the Thrasher's Wheat Archives in the meantime:

• Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's Reunion: A Show of Strength, Rolling Stone - August 15th, 1974
• "The American Beatles": Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
• Photo of the Moment: Joni Mitchell w/ Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - 1974
• Dallas Taylor Interview
• It's Been 39 Years: CSNY 1974 Tour Box Set Planned for 2013 Release
• Crosby and Nash Interview: CSNY 1974 Tour Box Set
• Crosby Stills Nash & Young 2006 Tour
• Deja Vu Film (CSNY 2006)

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Wembley Stadium, London, 1974-09-14
Photo by smartsetpix | Flickr
(click photo to enlarge)

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Comment of the Moment: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - 1974 Live

David Crosby, Graham Nash, Neil Young and Stephen Stills
Oakland Coliseum, July 14, 1974
Photo by David Zimmer
(Click photo to enlarge)
Lots and lots of commentary on the upcoming Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's Live 1974 Box Set.

Although unreleased, unheard and more than a month away, opinions already seem to be forming based on 40 years of memories -- both good and bad, it would seem.

The Comment of the Moment on Neil Young News: Photo: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young 1974-08-23, Tampa, Florida from Raincheck:

We should remember that AT THE TIME these shows were mostly received and reviewed very very well. They were long, varied, had a lot of new material from all four. Bootlegs, while often in sketchy quality, sound like good shows.

Later CSNY trashed the shows. But that had a lot to do with where they were in their lives, excesses offstage, strained relationships in the band, trying to play huge venues for the first time, etc.

I expect that a well curated and mixed set from these shows will be better than the reputation of this tour. If they had followed it up with a great album, it would be remembered differently. Instead it is remembered as a sort of failed reunion. In fact, it was musically very interesting. They all stopped pissing in the wind for a while and showed what CSNY could have been in the seventies.

Thanks Raincheck!

As for us? Well, we'll reserve our opinion until we actual listen to a few times. In the meantime, we're anticipating greatly and really looking forward to reliving the memories of that Summer of '74. We were there at the Virginia concert on August 17 at Forman Field.

And -- obviously (or maybe not?) -- it left quite an impression upon our young, delicate little mind. 40 years. 40 songs.

Believe us when we say that no matter what memories the box set brings back from 40 long years ago, nothing will ever change the impression that that day made upon us and the music that Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young delivered on that very long, hot sunny summer day.

It's been a long time comin',
It's goin' to be a long time gone.

Thoughts?

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It's Been 39 Years: CSNY 1974 Tour Box Set Planned for 2013 Release

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Wembley Stadium, London, 1974-09-14
Photo by smartsetpix | Flickr
(click photo to enlarge)
As we've reported over the years, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young have been working on a CSNY 1974 Tour Box Set and it now seems to be ready just in time for the 39th anniversary of the tour!?

Of course, we're glad to see this after waiting a few decades, but at this point, why not wait another year for the 40th? And maybe coincide with a tour? Just a thought.

From Crosby, Stills, Nash Young to Release Long-Awaited 1974 Live Album in August | Music News | Rolling Stone By Andy Greene:

"It's going to come out August 27th," Graham Nash tells Rolling Stone. "It's going to fuckin' stun people. We only multi-tracked eight or nine shows from the tour, and we've chosen the best from those gigs. We've had to do a little tuning, but not that much . . . But the spirit of the band! If I take myself out the band and look at it, it was a fuckin' great band."

David Crosby shares his bandmate's excitement. "I am one of the most egotistical people on this planet," he says with a laugh. "But the legend looms larger! You have to remember that in 1974, the Beatles were over and the Stones were playing a completely different kind of music. When I hear this shit, I think, for a moment we were probably the best band. It's startlingly good."

They have yet to settle on a title. "I want to call it What Could Possibly Go Wrong?" says Crosby.

A number of other comments by CSN in Rolling Stone with Neil content. But no actual Neil, naturally.

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.


Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
1974-08-23, Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Photo Gallery by John Gellman Photography
Photos © John Gellman

Planned as a three CD and a DVD set, the box is being put together by Joel Bernstein and Stanley Johnston from eight full shows from that tour.


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

I saw them on their reunion tour at the Capital Center in DC and it was one of the best concerts I've been to.

The DC crowd was attentive and appreciated their wooden music as much as their electric. It was like attending several concerts in one as they played together, then split up to play individually or as a duo (Crosby & Nash) and then finished together. It was a long concert, but awesome. As stated by an earlier poster, Neil Young was clearly the star of that night, when he played a solo set near the show's end. I hope they include something from the DC show.

I am definitely looking forward to this release!

Crosby Stills Nash Young & Mitchell - Helpless (1974)
Nick Dagan | MySpace Video CSNY w/ Joni Mitchell - "Helpless", 1974-09-14, Wembley Stadium, London, England Rolling Stone - August 15th, 1974 More on the reunion tour of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young in 1974. In an interview with CBS This Morning in 2012, Crosby, Stills, and Nash discussed their current tour and how the dynamics of the group are better than ever before. (Thanks Mike!)

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CSNY 1974 Tour Box Set: Release Now Set for 2013

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Wembley Stadium, London, 1974-09-14
Photo by smartsetpix | Flickr
(click photo to enlarge)

As we've reported over the years, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young have been working on a CSNY 1974 Tour Box Set. At the rate they've been going, they just might have it ready for the 40th anniversary of the tour!?

Now comes word from 4 Way Site that the CSNY 1974 Concert DVD is due to be released in the first quarter of 2013.

In an interview with CBS This Morning Crosby, Stills, and Nash discussed their current tour and how the dynamics of the group are better than ever before. "Were really good this year, people are responding well." Nash said.

The group also mentioned the release of their new concert DVD in July. But perhaps the biggest news of all was an announcement about the long-awaited 1974 reunion box set. "When Neil joins us, its different, its a darker edge, more mysterious, he brings a different kind of music to us." Nash said.

The box set is tentatively set to be released in the first quarter of 2013.

Graham Nash left fans will one final hopefully comment about the possible status of an incoming CSNY tour." If you have a new record, don't you have to go and perform it?

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.



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

Planned as a three CD and a DVD set, the box is being put together by Joel Bernstein and Stanley Johnston from eight full shows from that tour.


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

A comment by Yardbird:

I saw them on their reunion tour at the Capital Center in DC and it was one of the best concerts I've been to.

The DC crowd was attentive and appreciated their wooden music as much as their electric. It was like attending several concerts in one as they played together, then split up to play individually or as a duo (Crosby & Nash) and then finished together. It was a long concert, but awesome. As stated by an earlier poster, Neil Young was clearly the star of that night, when he played a solo set near the show's end. I hope they include something from the DC show.

I am definitely looking forward to this release!

Crosby Stills Nash Young & Mitchell - Helpless (1974)

Nick Dagan | MySpace Video
CSNY w/ Joni Mitchell - "Helpless", 1974-09-14, Wembley Stadium, London, England

From Stephen Stills: As I Come of Age by Bill DeYoung:

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young attempted a studio reunion in the fall of '73, but the old bitterness reappeared and it failed. By the following spring, however, they were rehearsing at Young's ranch for what turned out to be the first all–stadium rock 'n' roll tour.

"We did this wonderful, monstrous tour, but no album came out of it," Stills said of the summer '74 jaunt, which had many fans bitching that the foursome been brought back together—remember that guy at Big Sur? — for the money.

Stills has an answer. "We grossed $11 million," he said. "But we were getting away with a profit margin of less than 20 percent. They were spending so much money on this grandiose shit, and the parties, and the backstage, and taking care of all of their friends.

"We didn't do enough press; we were not doing the right things because everybody was too hip for that or something. I found that a little disconcerting. There's such a thing as too cool."

He tried to get the band to rehearse a proper set. "The rehearsals were like jam sessions. I was the burr under the saddle, and the irritating force that kept telling them 'could we please get a cogent arrangement together here?'

"And the potheads were all about 'oh, just let it happen.' This is my perspective—please take it in context—we've got this enormous opportunity to get up there on the tall dogs' level. So I'm of a mind that there's a certain amount of discipline that should be exercised."

Today, the stadium tour is remembered for the unruly crowds, drowning out the acoustic sets; and for the more–fiery–than–ever electric guitar interchanges between Stills and Young.

"By this time, I'd played with Hendrix, I'd been playing lead guitar in my own band for a while, and I didn't suck," Stills said. "Like I did before.

"There was a lot of manic energy around. The same kind of stuff that used to have the Who beating the shit out of each other, the same kind of stuff that broke up a lot of other bands. We kind of steeled ourselves to it.

"But I was angry a lot. There was one time after a show where I thought I'd really played good, and we walk off the stage. On the stage I'd gotten a lot of stink–eye from David, and Neil said 'You played all over everything.'

"There was this 'CSNY' made in ice backstage. There's a picture somewhere, and I've got an expression on my face that says this guy is ready for a fight.

"They start giving me shit, and the show blew. We were playing too loud and the harmonies weren't together, we weren't using any methodology to get ourselves singing correctly. There was too much of everything around, including old girlfriends, every sycophant you could possibly imagine—each camp had its own set of sycophants. We were just buying into the whole act.

"I walked backstage and I was so frustrated, I took this thing apart with backfists and knuckle punches and karate. I took it apart right in front of them. This thing had to be 10 inches deep and four inches wide. I went through the 'N' with one punch, and it just shattered.

"Because I knew they were going to come after me about something that I'd done wrong on the stage, and I just put an end to it."

Rolling Stone - August 15th, 1974
More on the reunion tour of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young in 1974.

(Thanks Matt!)

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