Review: CSNY Vault Release, ‘Live At The Fillmore East 1969’ – A Wonderful “Snapshot In Time” Live LP
I will fully admit up front that I was really looking forward this release from the CSNY vaults, a live album culled from a performance by the band at the legendary Fillmore East from September of 1969. I was concerned my high expectations might foil my listening experience – but have no fear, this is an exceptional performance. Apparently all four members of the band – David Crosby, Graham Nash, Stephen Stills and Neil Young – all had a hand in this release but it was Stills and Young who actually mixed, edited and put the album together. The actual performance was 21 songs and they cut it down to these 17 songs, probably so it’d fit onto a double vinyl album. Young is an analog guy. CSNY, performing at the Fillmore East, in 1969… oh yes, sign me up. Makes me want to put on tie-dye and bell bottom jeans…but I don’t cosplay.
This is, by my count, the third great live album from CSNY. As most longtime readers know, their first live LP, 1971’s 4 Way Street made our list of Essential Live Albums. In 2014 the band released the three-disc 1974 box which was culled from performances from CSNY’s reunion tour in 1974 that Crosby dubbed “the Doom Tour.” That live album, 1974, was superb and I considered naming that to my Essential Live LP list, but at the time it hadn’t acquired the patina that 4 Way Street had. Although admittedly, I still go back to 1974 quite a bit. I have to say, this record could easily be mentioned as “in the running” for my favorite CSNY live album. I know CSNY have a few other live albums, mostly as a trio, but I prefer my live CSN with some Young.
Those years 1969 and 1970 were pretty amazing days for CSNY. Their first album, as a trio before Neil Young joined, was released in May of 1969. By August of 1969 Neil had joined and they played their second gig – at Woodstock. They played this series of shows – two shows a night – at the legendary Fillmore East in September of 1969, a mere month and a half after Woodstock. I can almost smell the incense and pot. It wasn’t until march of ’70 that they released their second album – as a quartet – the masterpiece Deja Vu. That’s quite a journey over 10 months. Life and fame were coming at them pretty damn fast.
While there a few flaws here, this is still a great live album. I think Stills and probably more likely Young were a tad harsh on the editing. One of the things I’ve always liked about CSNY live was the stoney banter between songs, as the members talked to the crowd or each other. There’s precious little of that here. There are a few moments when Graham Nash, perhaps my least favorite of the quartet, gets a little overwrought and sings with a bit too much bonhomie. But hey, it’s a live recording, variances from the studio recording is part of the deal.
What I like so much about this album is that it really captures a moment in time. They were coming off the high of that first album, Crosby Stills Nash, and had just played their second gig at Woodstock. They still seem to all really be into this group. The esprit de corps is running high here. There’s none of that solo success quite yet to turn each member into a more selfish participant. When they sing the Beatles’ cover “Blackbird,” they all laugh together like they’re just happy they were able to pull it off. They’re still invested in succeeding together. They were in the process of putting together Deja Vu. I don’t sense any of the infighting that would come later. Crosby, in particular, seems joyful. Of course this was right before his girlfriend, Christine Hinton, died in a tragic car crash (September 30, 1969) and I don’t know if he was ever the same after that.
The band opens up with their signature song, “Suite Judy Blue Eyes.” The version on 4 Way Street was merely a snippet of the track, this is the full-on, almost 9-minute rendition. It feels like they’re kids with a new toy. They explore their harmonies with awe that they’re able to sound like that. I was really taken with the entire acoustic set. We get songs from the Crosby Stills Nash album along side tracks that weren’t released yet but would come out on Deja Vu and a few that would come out on solo albums much later. We also get some early Neil Young and some Buffalo Springfield. It’s just a great set list.
It’s fun to hear these guys laugh their way through “Helplessly Hoping.” “Guinnevere” and “Our Lady Of The Island” are just gorgeous. The harmonies are stunning. Stills lays down some blues on “Go Back Home.” Neil does a wonderful acoustic “On The Way Home” from the Springfield. “4+20” has always knocked me out and this is a great live version. You could hear a pin drop in the Fillmore East. “Our House,” as yet unreleased, is just Graham Nash singing and accompanying himself on organ (at least I think that’s him on organ). It was so different and I’m so used to the studio version it took me a few listens to realize what a great performance it is. Young’s version of “I’ve Loved Her So Long” from his solo debut played here is pretty much the definitive version of that song. So gorgeous! They wrap up the acoustic set with “You Don’t Have To Cry,” and with the soaring vocal harmonies, it’s wonderful.
The electric section starts with a spirited rendition of “Long Time Gone,” Crosby’s song about the RFK assassination. Granted Graham Nash gets a little carried away but I like this version. “Wooden Ships” is one of my favorite riffs and they kill this version. I was surprised to hear Stills do “Bluebird Revisited,” his sequel to the Buffalo Springfield tune “Bluebird,” which didn’t come out until Stephen Stills 2. I like it better live. Young does “Sea Of Madness” which he famously performed at Woodstock. I love that song. Young has described the version of “Down By The River” found here complete with a Stills-Young guitar duel as the definitive version. I’m not sure I’m ready to agree with that but at 17-minutes, it’s a pretty raucous version.
They shift back to acoustic and just perfectly sing “Find The Cost Of Freedom” and it just about brings tears to my eyes. It’s a brief but beautiful way to end the show.
These guys would go on to put out Deja Vu, then everybody put out solo albums and off they all went on their separate ways… only to reunite on occasion over the years. If these guys had been able to stay together as a foursome they’d be thought of in the same vein as the Stones or the Beatles. But, I’ll admit I dig their solo stuff. I just think they elevated each other’s game. Together they just seemed to be more than the sum of their parts…
This is a great live album, and I love live albums, that I recommend to all fans of rock n roll, CSNY, or a groovy hippy vibe. Check this one out, post haste! Cheers!
Grat review! This is on my list!
Thank you!
To put it in the words of Jackson Browne with a little twist: In ’69 I was seventeen and I called the road my own. Just to say that CSN&Y turned my whole world upside down and their music has been the guiding line for the rest of my life.
At that time, music could still change lives and that is exactly what happened to me.
No other band or artist has ever impressed me as much as CSN&Y did. Cheers!
Thank you so much for sharing that Guy! They were quite a remarkable band. Sad we won’t see them back together again with Croz gone. But at least we’ve got these great vault releases to get us through. I saw them in 2000 and they were still killer!
I hate myself for writing this, but I never saw a group fall apart faster from too much fame, big ego’s, money, booze and drugs. And that can also be determined in 1974. Three of them had made little musical progress except for Neil Young.
After their great start and their first solo albums, Stills and Crosby were the first to suffer and saw their careers take a dive or, like Croz, not have a single song written at all. And I even think that’s a bit understandable because their success with CSN&Y was too far out of reach for them to reach that level again individually. Except with Neil’s talent which is beyond category. Santé
What do you mean “not have a single song written at all”? Crosby released his first solo album in ’71, and his first duo album with Graham Nash the following year. This meant half of the songs were written by Crosby. Both albums were certified Gold. On the ’74 tour, he performed new songs including Carry Me and Time After Time. He was writing some of the best songs of his career, several of which appeared the following year on the Wind on the Water album.
Stills also released the top 5 album, Manassas in ’72, and the follow up in ’73 was less successful but was full of good-to-great songs. He also performed several new songs on the ’74 tour, many of which appeared on the Stills album the following year.
Where does this mythical narrative that only Neil wrote songs between 1970 and ’74 come from, and why do so many people repeat something so easily disproved? Do they not bother to look at the set lists or recording discographies? Good grief.
I didn’t catch the original statement. Obviously Croz continued to write songs on his first solo album and those great duo records with Nash! Good catch! I love Wind On The Water. While I do think drugs eventually took their toll on both Croz and Stills their body of work in the first half of the 70s was damn good. Hey I even think his songwriting contributions on Daylight Again, while limited, were actually pretty good. Thank you for clarifying! Cheers!
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always been a fan of CSN, CSN&Y and the four members, but the 1974 tour wasn’t called the Infamous ‘Doom Tour’ for nothing The band and key associates talk about a wild 1974 run of drug-fueled and ego-ridden gigs.
I just wanted to say that their success was too overwhelming and some of them couldn’t handle it and turned to drugs and booze and their further careers suffered from that.
We all know what happened to David Crosby in the 80s and 90s and what effort it took for him to get back on track.
Graham Nash wrote the song ‘Wasted on the Way’ for a reason.
I love those guys to death but they could have gotten a lot more out of their careers.
P.S. I have almost all their albums, together and individually, and you will hardly find a bigger fan than me. But I’m also a critical fan. Sorry for that. Cheers
P.S.
I love the 1974 live album and sometimes I’d better keep my mouth shut.
Bye you all, this was my last post on this blog. Cheers!
Guy, you’ve merely expressed your opinions here and you and your opinions are welcome. If you don’t feel comfortable commenting – which makes me feel bad as this should be a rock n roll haven – I hope you will continue to read B&V. I’m sorry if this has been a negative experience for you. If you don’t want to comment, if you’ll hit the “like” button at least I’ll know you’re out there helping me carry the rock n roll torch!!! I hope you reconsider your no comment stance. Cheers!!
Don’t take it personally Kenneth, I love your blog and I consider you as a friend. But I know that I am a very opinionated person and I also realize that I have to tone that down a bit. Also in terms of politics (according to my wife). I’m a little fucked up about everything that’s been happening lately. And it’ ain’t that pretty at all. ( So i’m gonna hurl myself against the …) No no, just a joke.
Of course I will continue to follow your blog because that way I stay up to date with the music I love. Guy
I always appreciate a good Warren Zevon quote…
I’ve had a boot of this gig for a long time, and just like that massive Dylan ’74 box, it’s just nice to have this classic in great sound. I also love your comments about CSNY’s ’74 release. I’ve always thought that tour was their edgiest, most interesting of all. Great setlists.
Yeah, I love that ‘1974’ box. I put that on all the time… I had no idea there was a boot of this show but I’m guessing there’s always a boot of most live shows. I had a bunch of Springsteen boots but now that he’s cleaned them up and “officially” released them, it’s nice to have that clean copy so completely agree with you. I’m quite taken with the acoustic portion of this ’69 show… Cheers!
Great review. I can’t wait to get this album. I’ve been a fan since my Big Brother brought home their first album in 1969. I saw them in concerts with various permutations over the years, the last time was in 2006. A truly inspired, great band.
Thank you so much for the feedback. It wasn’t until I was in college that I discovered those first two LPs and I’ve been on the bandwagon ever since. Saw them in Y2K (CSN &Y) and am hopeful we get a live album from that tour too!! Cheers!