David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, and Neil Young are reflecting on their early years through the first time release of a new live album, Live At The Fillmore East, 1969, coming from Rhino on October 25. The set, which will be presented as a double live album, captures the famed foursome’s Sept. 20, 1969, at the historic Fillmore East in New York City, less than a month after the group’s famous second-ever live show at Woodstock in Aug. 1969. As a preview, a live capture of “Helplessly Hoping” has dropped.
The group of players was heavily involved in making the Live At The Fillmore East, 1969 set. Stills and Young assembled and mixed the original eight-track concert recordings with help from John Hanlon at Los Angeles’ Sunset Sound Studios. AAA lacquer cut, the audio reflects the highest audio fidelity for an intrinsic listening experience. Explaining the process, Young commented via a press release, “[We] have the tapes, and they sound so real. We mixed at Sunset Sound – the analog echo chamber, no digital echo. We’re staying all analog throughout the production…Pure. Analog. No digital – an Analog Original.”
The September 20 concert served as the band’s fourth show in two days at the Fillmore East and included acoustic and electric sets. Stills said, “the acoustic part of the show took care of itself, but now that we had equipment and Dallas [Taylor, drums] and Greg [Reeves, bass] and sizable shows to do, we just went for it. What we lacked in finesse, we made up for in enthusiasm…A band on the run. Expecting to fly.”
Early fan favorites, such as the love-swept “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” the stinger “Down By The River,” and today’s single release, “Helplessly Hoping,” serve as tracklist highlights. Opening with the light and playful poetics from Stills, fluttering acoustic guitars beckon the ensemble’s signature harmonies, a collective croon of mournful lyrics that reflect the absence of a lover. The biggest draw is the fun the ensemble is having and the improvisational nature of their delivery, which also includes an interlude of laughter.
Touching on previous musical ensembles where members shared roots, like Buffalo Springfield, with the Young scribed “I’ve Loved Her So Long,” written for the group’s final album, 1968’s Last Time Around. Touching on his experience with Stills, Young said, “For me, CSNY was a chance to reunite with Steve Stills and carry on the Buffalo Springfield vibe. Crosby’s great energy was always our catalyst. Graham and Stephen’s vocals, along with David’s and mine, were uplifting every night. Great moments I will never forget.”
In addition to the presentation of acoustic songs, the impending collection also percolates a variety of electric captures, including expansive versions of “Wooden Ships,” “Long Time Gone,” and “Sea Of Madness,” as well as a show-closing “Find The Cost Of Freedom,” a new number by Stills that later would be released as the B-side to the protest anthem, in response the Kent State Massacre, “Ohio.” “Hearing the music again after all these years, I can tell how much we loved each other and loved the music that we were creating,” Nash says. “We were four people reveling in the different sounds we were producing, quietly singing together on the one hand, then rocking like f**k for the rest of the concert.”
Pre-order Live At The Fillmore East, 1969 now.
Steam the live cut of “Helplessly Hoping.”
Live At The Fillmore East, 1969:
LP Tracklist – Acoustic Set, Side One
1. “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes”
2. “Blackbird”
3. “Helplessly Hoping”
4. “Guinnevere”
5. “Lady Of The Island”
Side Two
6. “Go Back Home”
7. “On The Way Home”
8. “4 + 20”
9. “Our House”
10. “I’ve Loved Her So Long”
11. “You Don’t Have To Cry”
Electric Set – Side One
1. “Long Time Gone”
2. “Wooden Ships”
3. “Bluebird Revisited”
4. “Sea Of Madness”
Side Two
5. “Down By The River”
6. “Find The Cost Of Freedom”
CD Tracklist – Acoustic Set
1. “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes”
2. “Blackbird”
3. “Helplessly Hoping”
4. “Guinnevere”
5. “Lady Of The Island”
6. “Go Back Home”
7. “On The Way Home”
8. “4 + 20”
9. “Our House”
10. “I’ve Loved Her So Long”
11. “You Don’t Have To Cry”
Electric Set
12. “Long Time Gone”
13. “Wooden Ships”
14. “Bluebird Revisited”
15. “Sea Of Madness”
16. “Down By The River”
17. “Find The Cost Of Freedom”