REVIEW: Neil Young's Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition (CD/DVD) | All About Jazz

Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition Deluxe LP Box SetRelease Date: 12/02/2022
 (Click photo to enlarge) 

Here is an in-depth review of Neil Young's Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition (CD/DVD) | All About Jazz by Doug Collette:

Worthy of a Grammy nomination in itself, archivist/photographer Joel Bernstein's clear-headed combination of prose and photos in the hardbound five-inch square fifty-six pages, combined with the images of Hendry Diltz and others), reveals at least some of the details of the period. Young himself did not divulge much of the kind till years later: serious back issues and treatment with medication thereof prevented him from playing too much electric guitar the way he usually did—there is a photo of him in traction on page eight —which may also account for the turgid motion that so often prevails throughout the LP.

In contrast to the commanding combination of fragility and resolute strength so evident on the BBC solo footage (where the audio is oddly muffled at certain points), "Words" simply plods on, much like "Old Man" from the album proper. In stark contrast, the nuances of the latter's gorgeous melody, like that of "Out On The Weekend," become resplendent when Young plays them solo on acoustic guitar in a circle-in- the-round setting captured by the BBC.

Meanwhile, "Are You Ready for the Country?" lacks a genuinely spry bounce despite the presence of savvy Nashville sessioneer drummer Kenny Buttrey. And, contemporary political correctitude aside, as with the social diatribe that is "Alabama"—a sequel to the similarly simplistic thinking at the heart of "Southern Man"—"A Man Needs A Maid" doesn't benefit from the heavily-orchestrated arrangement much more than "There's A World."

In comparison, a solo performance recorded live of "The Needle and The Damage Done" is the best composition to find its way to this release. There were some others of equal and arguably greater quality that unfortunately did not become final inclusions either, but in light of how Young cobbled together other albums from a variety of sources—American Stars 'n Bars (Reprise, 1977) is just one—it's reasonable to suggest some of these live cuts, plus the outtakes, would make for a better album than Harvest (the forced rhymes of which song might compel another name for that LP).

Arguably superior to anything on the album as it was eventually released, "Bad Fog of Loneliness" is among the three included on a woefully-short (seven-minute nine-second) CD labeled 'Harvest Outtakes" (considering the time available on a disc, they might have been included with the LP's ten cuts). It swings unlike most of the band tracks on the album proper and although "Dance Dance Dance" is proportionately slight compared to the aforementioned song, its upbeat air, thanks no doubt in part to the presence of Tony Joe White on electric guitar, would effectively lighten the mood in juxtaposition with "Journey Through The Past.''

Full review of Neil Young's Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition (CD/DVD) | All About Jazz by Doug Collette.

More on PREVIEW TRAILER: Neil Young: Harvest Time.

Neil Young's 'Harvest Time'
 (Click photo to enlarge)

 

More on  Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition by Neil Young.

 

Neil Young in the Barn

photo by Joel Bernstein/courtesy of Gary Strobl

(see  PREVIEW TRAILER: Neil Young: Harvest Time)

 

Also, see:

• Neil Young (himself!) Unboxing Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition (Vinyl)
• Comment of The Moment: Neil Young's 'Harvest Time' 
• Details on the  50th Anniversary Edition of the album Harvest 
• HARVEST Outtakes by Neil Young: "Journey Through The Past"
  
• Unboxing Video: Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition by Neil Young
  
• ESSAY: Neil Young’s Harvest at Age 50 by Harvey Kubernik 
• "Neil Young's Harvest: A Multi-Voice Narrative" by Harvey Kubernik
• Neil Young Remembers "The Innocence": WORDS
• Neil Young's "Song of the Day": "Are You Ready The Country?" + VIDEO 
• Neil Young's Memories of Recording Harvest Album: "Sessions of a Lifetime"
• Neil Young's Song Of The Day: "Heart of Gold" + 1971 Interview 
• Unboxing Video: Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition by Neil Young 
• INTERVIEW: Neil Young Says He Was Offered Millions to Tour Harvest Album | AARP  

Harvest by Neil Young - Released on February 1, 1972

(see ESSAY: Neil Young’s Harvest at Age 50 +

"Neil Young's Harvest: A Multi-Voice Narrative" by Harvey Kubernik)

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Comment of The Moment: Neil Young's 'Harvest Time'

Neil Young in the Barn

photo by Joel Bernstein/courtesy of Gary Strobl

(see  PREVIEW TRAILER: Neil Young: Harvest Time)
 

The Comment of The Moment is from post Film Review: Neil Young's 'Harvest Time' | Variety by Jim: 

Went Sunday afternoon to "Harvest Time" in North Carolina and the 92 seat theater was also pretty full. I'd guess about 70 people of various ages. 

I thought it was great and was surprised how quickly it went. Was thinking the film was heading to Nashville toward the end but then it didn't go there. 

Sat in the front row so I could think about what was going on. When you sit close to the screen your eyes have to interact with what is going on so at movies it is important to sit close. (Words of wisdom from the film master who warned of entrainment further back in the theater. Robert Altman taught me that trick over breakfast when I was a young lad during a propaganda discussion and his film work for the government on Lookout Mountain in Laural Canyon.)

Did the idea to film start after Johnny Cash show and recording that night with Linda and James? 

Guess this HQ recording of the Johnny Cash show appearance linked below could be considered an outtake of the movie but it also when the birth of the "Harvest" sessions, right? 

Did the Stray Gators first get together on February 6, 1971? The Johnny Cash Show aired on February 17th, 1971 but was recorded ten days earlier on the 7th in Nashville according to Sugar Mountain. 

In the NYA files it says "Old Man" and "Bad Fog of Loneliness" were recorded on the 6th with James/Linda on both, "Dance, Dance, Dance" recorded on the 7th, "Heart of Gold" was recorded on the 8th again with James/Linda. 

Wonder if the band did the basic tracks on the 6th and then vocal overdubs were done by James/Linda on the 8th? 

Recording date: https://sugarmtn.org/sm_show.php?show=197102070 

Release date and the Neil Young segment: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/neil-young-johnny-cash-show/ 

Loved all the piano close-ups with Jack and Neil in the movie. Wish they would have interviewed the LSO musicians as they left the session to see what they thought of the song and the rich hippie who played with them. 

While watching the movie was thinking I wish they would have done a concert film, like Red Rocks, for the Grey Riders with Hargus "Pig" Robbins. Anyone who saw that tour knows what I'm talking about. Hargus didn't take the emotional level of songs up just a notch, it was several notches, to the point that Neil hasn't released the good stuff yet he did with him. Having seen the Grey Riders three weeks before the first Farm Aid I was ticked that they cut away from the show for "This Old House." 

What a great version of the song that got kind of ruined by CSNY.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3gp-8nYAYk 

Whenever I talked with Neil Young one to one he always looked directly unflinchingly into my eyes the whole time while giving thoughtful answers. It was interesting what he said disliking fame in the movie and he could see that weird vibe the way people acted and in their eyes. 

[Full disclosure: I was an employee of weekly Variety from 1979 to 1992 ] 

My roommate produced an Altman film series and had guests each week. This was while I was working evenings at a hospital. I'd wake up and in the kitchen would be director Robert Altman, actor Elliott Gould or screenwriter/director Joan Tewkesbury in the midst of having a fantastic breakfast. I'd brush my teeth, grab some coffee and join in bright and early for me. 

Regrettably I didn't put what I learned from my roommate to work and have a Neil Young Festival. Man, that would have been fun...I would have had both David Briggs (LA and Nashville) one week, Joel Bernstein another, Elliott Roberts, maybe Ben Keith for the musician side, Ron Stone and maybe Elliott Mazer.

 Thanks Jim. Yes, a really delightful Neil experience, made even more special by his absence from the stage for over 3 years now.  I think were all pretty thrilled to see Neil these days even if its from 50 years ago.

So many highlights for us...

• Neil, Stills & Nash all jamming on separate pianos in the studio
• The jeep ride thru the Redwoods trees
  
• Neil kissing Carrie delicately
• Elliot telling a poor taste joke 
• Drummond's pump pipe scene
• seeing the young L.A. Johnson recording sound

But missed Bruce Berry scene somehow?  Anyone recall where BB shows up?

Well, that's entrainment for you! 

More on PREVIEW TRAILER: Neil Young: Harvest Time.

Neil Young's 'Harvest Time'
 (Click photo to enlarge)

 

More on  Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition by Neil Young.

 

Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition Deluxe LP Box SetRelease Date: 12/02/2022
 (Click photo to enlarge)

 

Also, see:

• Neil Young (himself!) Unboxing Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition (Vinyl)
• Details on the  50th Anniversary Edition of the album Harvest 
• HARVEST Outtakes by Neil Young: "Journey Through The Past"
  
• Unboxing Video: Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition by Neil Young
  
• ESSAY: Neil Young’s Harvest at Age 50 by Harvey Kubernik 
• "Neil Young's Harvest: A Multi-Voice Narrative" by Harvey Kubernik
• Neil Young Remembers "The Innocence": WORDS
• Neil Young's "Song of the Day": "Are You Ready The Country?" + VIDEO 
• Neil Young's Memories of Recording Harvest Album: "Sessions of a Lifetime"
• Neil Young's Song Of The Day: "Heart of Gold" + 1971 Interview 
• Unboxing Video: Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition by Neil Young 
• INTERVIEW: Neil Young Says He Was Offered Millions to Tour Harvest Album | AARP  

Harvest by Neil Young - Released on February 1, 1972

(see ESSAY: Neil Young’s Harvest at Age 50 +

"Neil Young's Harvest: A Multi-Voice Narrative" by Harvey Kubernik)

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Film Review: Neil Young's 'Harvest Time' | Variety

Neil Young's 'Harvest Time'
 (Click photo to enlarge) 

Today, December 1, Neil Young's documentary film 'Harvest Time' will be screening.

Here is  a film review of Neil Young's 'Harvest Time' in Variety by Jem Aswad:

While much of the footage is fascinating, the admitted absence of a plan comes across in the final product: It’s two full hours of Young rehearsing, recording and hanging out for long stretches of time with the newly formed Stray Gators backing band, along with vignettes of him recording backing vocals with sometime-bandmates Stephen Stills and David Crosby in California and Stills and Graham Nash in New York; working up “A Man Needs a Maid” with the London Symphony Orchestra (Glyn Johns, of “Get Back” fame, appears in several scenes); giving stellar solo performances of “Heart of Gold” and “Old Man”; and working through several songs with the band in the legendary barn at the ranch, surrounded by bales of hay and the dry, dry hills of Northern California, complete with grazing cows. He also performs some contemporaneous songs that didn’t make the album, like “Journey Through the Past” and “Bad Fog of Loneliness” (a 50th anniversary boxed set of the album, due Friday, includes three outtakes and Young’s fantastic 1971 solo concert for the BBC — marking a fifth 1971 solo concert release.)

Also appearing are Young’s partner at the time, actor Carrie Snodgress; musicians Jack Nitzsche (who would later take up with Snodgress and be arrested for threatening her), Tim Drummond, Ben Keith and Kenny Buttrey; managers Elliott Roberts and Ron Stone; photographer Joel Bernstein, roadie Bruce Berry (who would die of a drug overdose within a few months and be immortalized in Young’s song “Tonight’s the Night”) and others. A sobering number of them are now deceased.

We see many of the classic songs from the album come to life, with plenty of closeups on the 25-year-old, stringy-haired Young, who seems impossibly young and earnest, yet still iconic and iconoclastic. Conversely, we see the bro-chemistry between him, Crosby, Stills and Nash; and watch him interact with the unexpectedly cool conductor of a rather fussy-looking London Symphony Orchestra — a reminder of how much of the 1971 world was still, in the parlance of the era, “square.”

On that note, simply seeing the clothes — the flared jeans, patterned shirts, boots and big belt buckles — the haircuts and the attitudes is a head-spinning throwback: They’re drinking beer in the middle of the day and smoking weed out of some insane contraption (Nitzsche declines twice); at one point Young calls himself a “rich hippie,” which he probably still does. In the Nashville studio, the camera pans across a room in the Nashville studio with dark wood paneling, an electric typewriter and paper datebook on the desk and Rod Stewart’s “Maggie May” playing on the radio — it just doesn’t get more peak 1971 than that. 

To wit: “I feel more free now than I’ve ever felt before,” Young says. 

“So it’s groovy, y’know, I can dig it.”

Full review of Neil Young's 'Harvest Time' @ Variety by Jem Aswad.

More on PREVIEW TRAILER: Neil Young: Harvest Time.

Neil Young in the Barn

photo by Joel Bernstein/courtesy of Gary Strobl

(see  PREVIEW TRAILER: Neil Young: Harvest Time)

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PREVIEW TRAILER: Neil Young: Harvest Time

 Neil Young: Harvest Time   (Click photo to enlarge)

 

Ahh, Northern California ranch country. So beautiful and serene w/ Neil's Alabama bouncing off the barn walls into the valleys and across the Pacific.

Here is a preview trailer for the film documentary Neil Young: Harvest Time. 

The upcoming Harvest box set commemorates the 50th anniversary of the album's release.

Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition Deluxe LP Box SetRelease Date: 12/02/2022
 (Click photo to enlarge)

The documentary film Neil Young: Harvest Time “takes viewers on an intimate journey to Young’s Broken Arrow Ranch in Northern California for the ‘Harvest Barn’ sessions, to London for an iconic performance with the London Symphony Orchestra, and to Nashville where the then 20-something Neil Young worked on various tracks of this signature album,” according to the distributor, Trafalgar Releasing.

The film, shot between January and September 1971, includes footage of Young creating and recording Harvest classics like “Old Man” and “Heart of Gold,” as well as other songs from the RIAA-certified four-times Platinum album. You can watch a clip from the film now.

“I was 24, maybe 23 and this album made a big difference in my life,” Young says of Harvest. “I had a great time and now when I listen to it, I think I was really just lucky to be there. I hope you enjoy this story, which is Harvest Time, and which talks about everything that happened.”

Neil Young: Harvest Time will debut December 1 in select theaters worldwide, with an encore presentation on December 4. Tickets go on sale November 10 at NeilYoungHarvestTime.com.

 

Neil Young in the Barn

photo by Joel Bernstein/courtesy of Gary Strobl

 

Per announcement for Deluxe LP Box Set:

• Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition Deluxe LP Box Set 

• Heart of Gold

• Journey Through The Past Releases 11/4 

• NYA Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition Hi Res Download Code 

 

Harvest by Neil Young - Released on February 1, 1972

(see ESSAY: Neil Young’s Harvest at Age 50 by Harvey Kubernik)

 

Neil Young's Memories of Recording Harvest Album: "Sessions of a Lifetime"

 

INTERVIEW: Neil Young Says He Was Offered Millions to Tour Harvest Album | AARP 

 

Also, see:

• Details on the  50th Anniversary Edition of the album Harvest  
• ESSAY: Neil Young’s Harvest at Age 50 by Harvey Kubernik
  
• Neil Young Remembers "The Innocence": WORDS
• Neil Young's "Song of the Day": "Are You Ready The Country?" + VIDEO 
• Neil Young's Memories of Recording Harvest Album: "Sessions of a Lifetime"
• Neil Young's Song Of The Day: "Heart of Gold" + 1971 Interview 
• Unboxing Video: Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition by Neil Young 
• INTERVIEW: Neil Young Says He Was Offered Millions to Tour Harvest Album | AARP  

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Unboxing Video: Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition by Neil Young

Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition Deluxe LP Box SetRelease Date: 12/02/2022
 (Click photo to enlarge) 

Last week, we learned of the details of the  50th Anniversary Edition of the album Harvest  by Neil Young.

Here is an "Unboxing Video" of the Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition.

 

 

Neil Young in the Barn

photo by Joel Bernstein/courtesy of Gary Strobl

 

Per announcement for Deluxe LP Box Set:

• Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition Deluxe LP Box Set 

• Heart of Gold

• Journey Through The Past Releases 11/4 

• NYA Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition Hi Res Download Code 

 

Harvest by Neil Young - Released on February 1, 1972

(see ESSAY: Neil Young’s Harvest at Age 50)

 

Neil Young's Memories of Recording Harvest Album: "Sessions of a Lifetime"

 

INTERVIEW: Neil Young Says He Was Offered Millions to Tour Harvest Album | AARP 

 

Also, see:

• Details on the  50th Anniversary Edition of the album Harvest 
• Neil Young Remembers "The Innocence": WORDS
• Neil Young's "Song of the Day": "Are You Ready The Country?" + VIDEO
• Neil Young's Song Of The Day: "Heart of Gold" + 1971 Interview

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Comment of the Moment: Neil Young's Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition Deluxe Box Set

Detail: Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition Deluxe Vinyl Box Set

The Comment of the Moment is on last week's announced of Neil Young's Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition Deluxe Box Set by Tomatron:

The tag is steep but not egregiously so as the ATGR box was.

The outtakes on their own disc make plenty of sense on vinyl - a 7” is a suitable presentation for 3 short tunes, and its artwork features a great photo from the barn sessions. Official audio released by NYA makes the BBC 100% worth including.

What in the world are they doing putting out DVDs when it could be blu-ray? The lower quality relegates them to bonus discs. And buying this album on CD is a real step down from the now-ubiquitous hi-res streaming or the entirely analog experience of the LPs. But the $50 asking price is reasonable considering all the legendary music and extras within. This release is a fine gift for the fan who grew up with the record but never got into the weeds (ditch?) of the catalog, and wouldn’t be delving into the completism of the Archives but would enjoy revisiting that time in an expanded fashion.

The vinyl set would be an especially lovely present for a new fan who would be getting Harvest for the first time. For those of us who have heard it all by now, the availability of BBC audio will be a sweet stream, and the unseen comprehensive film of Harvest Time will be a must play on the Hearse/Movietone screen, no additional dollars required.

Hearing this fully developed Heart Of Gold on the heels of the wealth of bootleg and performance series concerts from the preceding tour has been a bit of thrill. The flavor of the acoustics is quite different in the BBC setting, and the singer’s mood is subdued and refined at this stage. I don’t recall Out On The Weekend ever being done like this; by the time it went on the road for what became the TFA tour, the Stray Gators we’re rocking the full band version. 

A budget-priced, stand-alone BBC LP at some point would be a welcome addition to the shelves.  

Thanks Tomatron! (not sure why this didn't publish on 1st try? So thanks for trying again.)

Yes, it does appear to be a very nice edition and an improvement over the After the Goldrush 50th edition which seemed a little on the underwhelming side. 

Another comment by Richie C on whether this might be a trend on all major albums getting the 50th treatment got us thinking here.  After lots of investments in NY Archives box sets with the understanding that it's everything from the era and then having to go back to purchase missing elements seems troubling and a greedy hand move.  Or did Neil explain somewhere why this material wasn't included on NYA#1?

But, as with everything, if folks keep buying, the greedy hand will keep selling.

More on Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition Deluxe Box Set.

Neil Young's Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition Deluxe Box Set Release Date: 12/02/2022
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Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition Deluxe Box Set Announced | Neil Young Archives/The Greedy Hand

Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition Deluxe LP Box SetRelease Date: 12/02/2022
 (Click photo to enlarge) 

Details of the  50th Anniversary Edition of the album Harvest  by Neil Young have been announced on The Greedy Hand store.

Per announcement for Deluxe LP Box Set:

• Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition Deluxe LP Box Set 

• Heart of Gold

• Journey Through The Past Releases 11/4 

• NYA Harvest 50th Anniversary Edition Hi Res Download Code 

Press release:

Young’s fourth solo album remains one of the most beloved in his catalog and is dense with songs that have long-permeated radio waves. The 50th Anniversary Edition Box Sets will be released December 2, 2022 on Vinyl and CD, boasting the original album, three studio outtakes on CD/7” vinyl, an unreleased live 1971 BBC solo performance on CD, LP and DVD.  The film Harvest Time is a previously unseen 2-hour documentary filmed in 1971, documenting the Harvest sessions.  Also included in the package is a hardbound book and fold-out poster. The vinyl box sets include a lithograph print.

Fans of the record will receive a new glimpse into Harvest through the two DVDs included in the box set. The first is Harvest Time, an unreleased two-hour film shot during the making of Harvest, with footage from Young’s ‘Harvest Barn’ sessions in Northern California, recording sessions in Nashville and London. The second is a film of the unreleased solo BBC Concert recorded on February 23, 1971. Also included are three unreleased tracks from the original Harvest sessions: “Bad Fog of Loneliness,” “Journey Through The Past,” and “Dance Dance Dance.”  Additionally, the hardbound book will include never-before-seen photos along with extensive liner notes by photographer Joel Bernstein.

Harvest 50th Anniversary track listing:

CD 1/LP 1 - Harvest

1. Out On The Weekend
2. Harvest
3. A Man Needs A Maid
4. Heart Of Gold
5. Are You Ready For The Country?
6. Old Man
7. There’s A World
8. Alabama
9. The Needle And The Damage Done
10. Words (Between The Lines Of Age)

CD 2/LP 2 - Neil Young Live In Concert at the BBC, February 1971

1. Out On The Weekend
2. Old Man
3. Journey Through The Past
4. Heart of Gold
5. Don’t Let It Bring You Down
6. A Man Needs A Maid
7. Love in Mind
8. Dance Dance Dance

CD 3/7” vinyl - Harvest outtakes

1. Bad Fog Of Loneliness
2. Journey Through The Past
3. Dance Dance Dance

DVD 1:

Harvest Time (2-hour film)

DVD 2:

Neil Young Live In Concert at the BBC

Harvest by Neil Young - Released on February 1, 1972

(see ESSAY: Neil Young’s Harvest at Age 50)

 

Neil Young's Memories of Recording Harvest Album: "Sessions of a Lifetime"

 

INTERVIEW: Neil Young Says He Was Offered Millions to Tour Harvest Album | AARP 

 

Also, see:

• Neil Young Remembers "The Innocence": WORDS
• Neil Young's "Song of the Day": "Are You Ready The Country?" + VIDEO
• Neil Young's Song Of The Day: "Heart of Gold" + 1971 Interview

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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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