First album is a showcase for Stills’ writing, playing and singing. Some of his best work here. Johnny’s Garden is like an ear worm for me. Keep humming all day, and it cheers me up.

Stephen stills is one of the must underrated guitar players of all time could play it all. His solo work combined with the two albums with manassas are genius👌

The first Manassas is a masterpiece, a desert island disc for me. The Love Gangster was co-written with Bill Wyman. The record company took a few Hillman songs off Down the Road for more Stills because he was the "name" to the detriment of the art. There is also an outtakes compilation called Pieces, released in 2009, which is very good. On the "grey" market there is radio broadcast of their debut show in Amsterdam which is fantastic.

A great rediscovery. More than just a footnote from the golden era of rock music.

Excellent choice Pete, I didn't think many people still remember the awesome Manassas.

Pete it is nice for you to talk about Manassas. This first album was one everybody had to have back in the day. It was so varied and deep that it made you so “hip” to be aware of it. Of course you couldn’t hear it on AM radio because it was so hitless. The album did sell well. But if you had this record, you were immediately so cool !!! Strangely I wasn’t even aware of the second album until a few months ago … my cousin gave me a copy of it. I guess after your review l has better get down to business and listen to it !!!

Gotta admit I was taken aback when you did this. Never expected to see Manassas on your channel. The first record was always a low key love by me while still listening to sabbath. And you’re so right about the second album; you can tell drugs took over and though it’s good, it’s not anywhere near the first in quality. Thanks Pete!! Happy Labor Day!

That first record is so diverse . So much good listening for different moods

Very well done Sir. Thank you. You will like Pieces by Manassas. Am a Mr.Stills’ fan since the 60’s. I attended the Manassas concert at the University of Georgia in the spring of 1973. It was an absolutely superb demonstration of top tier musicianship, singing and entertainment.

Glad to see you reviewing manassas. The first is a masterpiece and in my all time top five. Keep up the good work 👏

OMG, I never thought I would here you do a segment on Manassas . I had the first double album on vinyl back in the mid 70’s , as a CS&N as well as CSN&Y fan I grabbed as much as I could afford, this and Stephen’s first solo were my favorite. Today online the band Manassas does not Exist, it’s under Stills ( streaming, Amazon, or music web sites ) I always thought the second album was just live so I never looked at it. Can’t go wrong with Manassas album, each of the 4 sides is a slightly different style. Stephen Stills is a highly underrated guitarist, just listen to the jams between him and Neil the 2nd ( electric ) disk of 4 way street, add to that his acoustic playing….

Great episode, Pete. Stills is such a brilliant musician. Both albums is great.

My all-time favorite musician of all time, Stephen Stills!!!

Just terrific stuff Stills played some of those songs in concert for years with his band!

The Flying 🌯 Burrito Brothers that is a new one to me i will definitely look into them today

@wolf1977

Жыл бұрын

Too country for me, kinda like the country tunes that Buffalo Springfield did but without the rock/pop numbers

@robintaylor485

Жыл бұрын

@@wolf1977 Well I can tell you right now it’s not gonna cut it for me either but I’m gonna check it out I’ll be back in touch in about 15 minutes

@327journal

Жыл бұрын

Make sure to check out the Gram Parsons era with Gilded Palace of Sin and Burrito Deluxe.

went through the first Stills album beginning to end - it's fantastic. Thanks for this great review.

Stills also released an album of Manassas out takes many years later (2009ish?) called Pieces, and the first track on that (Witching Hour) is worth the price of admission alone, if you're a Stills or Manassas fan and haven't heard that you need to!

@wolf1977

Жыл бұрын

I have that one, excellent record! And yeah "Witching Hour" is a great track. Actually 8 total great tracks for me, enough for it to tie with the debut for my #1

@seaoftranquilityprog

Жыл бұрын

yep, it's good!

Manassas - one of the greatest double albums of all time. What a spread of music, all lead by the mercurial, the one and only Mr Stephen Stills. Second album also excellent but they were disbanding at the time. Still a great album. Manassas - still one of my fav go to albums. Cya

Hey Pete. Since we both heard the Mansssas Debut recently, that explains why we both left that album off our picks for the albums that are 50 years old series a few months back. Here's another album you never heard. Back in 1968, Richard Nixon was sure he was going to lose that presidential election. He was a marvelous keyboard player and had lined up to be a regular member of a soon to be famous rock supergroup. That's right, hard to believe, I know. As it turned out, much to his surprise, he did win that election. Now we'll never know what album masterpieces could have been heard by........... CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & NIXON. It's Sunday Pete. Have a laugh on me.

Manassas (first album) is one of the best double albums of all time. I saw the band in Logan UT of all places. It was a cold snowy night and the band was an hour late because of the weather. Great concert.

Saw Steven Stills 12 years ago, didn't realize what a great guitar player he was.

Saw a revamped Flying Burrito Bros backing up Loggins and Messina in Seattle back in 1975? Good concert.

Any excuse is a good excuse! Agree!!! Back in the day, I held both of those LPs in my hands. I was on a steady diet of Hard Rock. ..didn't pull the trigger on the cds until about 2000.

The second one is a fine album but the first one is one of my desert island albums. Fantastic record!

Great review on a great band. Keep up the good work!

The first Manassas album is great. Chris Hillman was also in the Byrds back in the 60's

@asdfzxcv3617

Жыл бұрын

True!!!

@aroe3896

11 ай бұрын

Glad to see someone else pointing out the Byrds lineage. A definite peer of the Springfield impact- and harmony-wise. Hillman started out in bluegrass

@user-kz8wf7yz7s

10 ай бұрын

Can’t forget Chris Hillman’s Byrd years

Stills said "Atlantic could've really swung with Manassas, but Ahmet Ertigan kept asking me 'When is the band (CSN&Y) getting back together ' "Shit, I don't know." was his reply. That just shows record execs. get stuck on what works rather getting behind what COULD work.

@gj8683

8 ай бұрын

Same thing happened with Captain Beyond at Atlantic. Supergroup, great debut album, but it was too hard-edged while Atlantic was focused on Southern Rock. And the irony that Greg Allman helped the band get on the label.

Nice to see these mentioned...I was a fan when then were released. Btw, I didn't hear you mention Joe Lala.

I like both of their albums quite a bit, but I like the first one more, without a doubt. Stills was my favorite from that scene. His self-titles solo album is high on my all-time favorites list. Thanks for the video, Pete!

Fuzzy Samuel’s and Dallas Taylor were also part of csnys first album

Hi Pete I'm going to check them out. I'm a fan of CSN and CSN&Y. I'm not much of a fan of Buffalo Springfield. I know some of there songs.

I always think that Stephen stills is the most talented as much as a guitar player, songwriting and singer

@wolf1977

Жыл бұрын

Yeah he's right up there for me too, a shame that he almost totally blew out his voice later on. In that proposed-but-never-happened Hendrix band he would've been playing bass (a broken hand scrubbed those plans)

Thanks for the info especially blackberry smoke,firewind,pagan's mind

This was a pleasant surprise ranking. As people are saying in the comments the first album is a masterpiece and a top ten all time favorite for me. But don’t discount the second album lots of deep cuts a very underrated album not the masterpiece the first album was but well worth anyones time. Nice job Pete Cheers.

I highly recommend that you check out the 2 Blues Image albums: "Blues Image" and "Open" - they will blow you away.

Love the any excuse excuse.

I like how each side of the album has a different flavor. The second album, to me, fell quite a bit short. Haven't heard the third because local stores don't have it.

Pete would you say you're more a Stephen Stills or Neil Young fan at this point? I've never heard Manassas, definitely going to check them out now thanks for this! Really informative and engaging reviews as always.

I'm a HUGE Stephen Stills fan (said this before but I think he's one of the best talents coming out of the 60's & going big in the 70's)...I've got 8 Manassas albums (incl boots) so I'll rank all of 'em, in my usual 'grouping' format: 1. S/T debut & Pieces (a tie) - the first one is great, Pieces is a compilation of alternate takes and outtakes from '09. Bobby Whitlock plays keys on the debut & Bill Wyman even guests on one track. Love the alternate versions! Killer vocal harmonies, great song writing (by Stills). Kenny Passarelli was in the touring band (Joe Walsh's Barnstorm). The debut went Gold, it's the album Stills recorded after his 2nd solo record Stills 2. Supposedly he was driving the others to record 24x7 (which probably didn't go over too well). It's really too bad this band folded so quickly 2. Winterland (Live) & Down The Road (another tie) - the first is taken from a radio broadcast of their 7th October 1973 show. Nice acoustic "Safe At Home", "Six Days On The Road " which is a Burrito Bros tune. "Go Back Home" & "Johnny's Garden" are great. Also the great "49 Bye Byes" & medley "Daylight Again - Find The Cost Of Freedom". The sound quality's not that great but...Down The Road - "Business On The Street" & "City Junkies" (my fave track - FANTASTIC!) are great, so is "Lies" - check out Joe Walsh playing slide (there's a different/slightly longer version of it on Pieces). "Isn't It About Time", "Pensamiento", "Guaguanco De Vero", "Rolling My Stone" - great tunes 3. Down The Road Outtakes - a bootleg I think so I probably shouldn't include it here but there are some real nuggets here: "The Seventh Mountain", "People they Just Don't Seem To Understand", "Six More Days And I'll Be Gone", "Peace Of Mind" & couple of different versions of other tune on the actual album. Typical boot quality though... 4. Live Treasure - another boot I think from a live radio broadcast (pretty good sound) of a 22 March 1972 Amsterdam show. A great acoustic "Love The One You're With"! "The Song Of Love", "Rock N Roll Crazies" & the wonderful "The Treasure" 5. A Hot Buffalo & Burrito - another "unofficial" live release, this time from that same Live Treasure show plus from Hollywood Bowl May 23, 1972 and 3 tracks from 1973 BBC "live in studio" sessions. "Blues Man" (acoustic) & "Both Of Us" (two acoustic numbers) & the classic "Rock & Roll Woman". The sound varies 6. Musikladen (Live) - live German broadcast from '72 of an audience-less 40 minute "concert". I think there's also a DVD of some of this, maybe even the whole thing. Best tracks: "Bound To Fall" & "It Doesn't Matter" (wonderful song) Stills would put out his 1975 solo Stills two years after the 2nd Manassas record, another all time classic as far as I'm concerned. His first solo, s/t album from 1970 is the only studio album to ever feature both Hendrix & Clapton (on one track each). Some say that both played together on the track "Go Back Home" which would be another first but I think that's unconfirmed

My first ever live show. Gainesville Fla, I guess 1972, but I’m the worlds worst historian. Mind blown. Geek for life. Worth noting, started reading man thing comics somewhere in that era as well.

Oh hey Pete hadn't come on here in while, nice different hairdo. Manassas rules; it's great they were able to make the 73 one but that double album is dynamite (wouldn't a quite made my 30 high school favorites since I got as college freshman heh heh). Nothing against side 3 but sides 1, 2 and 4 are over in a flash every time Stills's most beautiful numbers since Buffalo Spfd, I say

Have you done a Flying Burrito Bros review yet? You can’t overlook Gram Parsons influence on the genre.

My dad had their debut record. I still have it, but i didn't listen to it until the late 90s. i was totally impressed. I later learned that one of my Dad's best friends (RIP Jimmy George) had a first cousin who played harmonica and sax on a couple tracks (Sydney George). The style of this album is hard to pin down (a little Grateful Dead, a little CSNY/Buffalo Springfield, a little Little Feat, and bits of folk, country and blues). Overall, really good shit.

manassas pièces is great too

Nice, Steven could always do the brilliant soloing on guitar whether with Buffalo Springfield CSN&Y or with Manassas. Even jammed with things with Hendrix.

Chris Hillman - Excellent bass with the Byrds!

Per me il primo dei Manassas è un capolavoro, come del resto il primo di Stills. Tra il 66 ed il 73, Stills è stato sicuramente uno dei migliori autori e chitarristi. Purtroppo la band di è sciolta subito dopo.

Great band to review. I agree the ranking. The first album is an exceptional classic, the second one less so, still good, but not quite the quality of the first.

Check out a couple of early 2000 albums by a band called The Rides. Consists of Stephen Stills and Kenny Wayne Shepard. Very good.

@wolf1977

Жыл бұрын

Yep two albums, Can't Get Enough & Pierced Arrow. Always thought that was a weird team-up, Stills' guitar chops are more than enough to support recording solo albums, or at least teaming up with other non-guitarists & handling all of the guitars himself...By then Stills' voice had taken a beating but there are some good tunes (not many): "Don't Want Lies" & "Virtual World". I find some of the songs not really in Stills' style, they sound out of place to me. There are some postings on YT claiming that this band is the best work Stills ever did - I have to think those folks never heard his actual classic 70's albums, the Manassas stuff, CSN (&Y), Stills-Young Band, Buffalo Springfield...

There's always a lot of Stephen Stills solo albums out there that can be ranked. Ans the first Manassas album is the better of the two.

@wolf1977

Жыл бұрын

The 1975 solo Stills would be my #1 hands down. Stills 2 is also excellent. Transmission Impossible & Carry On are tremendous for live/box sets. I'd have to also include Stills-Young Band/Long May You Run, on my very short list of all time great 70's albums (as good as Stills)

@bryankafka2952

Жыл бұрын

The two albums by The Rides are pretty good as well.

Paul Harris, formerly of King Harvest, also play the flute.

I know it's bad form to disagree with you but some of the laid back pedal steel on Manassas is some of the best Americana I've ever heard. So Begins The Task, Johnny's Garden etc...the rest is wonderful also...

...and check out Manasas on The Beat Club's youtube Channel.

pete glad you got to listen to manassas. the first is a double album classic. the second not as good. if you want to hear the best music stills has made since the first manassas album, check out the two albums he made as the rides. stills kenny wayne sheperd and barry goldberg make a fine blues/ rock band. stills sounds reborn.

Pete I know I am off topic but are you aware that there is a YEZDA URFA offshoot band. They made one album in 1982 and it features the vocalist and some other members. Incredible album. “Crafty Hands” - Crafty Hands (1982) You must listen being a fan of YEZDA.!

1. Manassas 2. Down the Road

Firefall covered a Manassas song called "it doesn't matter" the music is similar but the lyrics in the Firefall version are completely different

@johnlivingston6162

Жыл бұрын

Not really a cover.. Firefall originally wrote it.. Stephen took it and changed some lyrics

Please do The Killers or foo fighters 🙏🙏

"Jefe, what is a plethora?" 😁

@jazzpunk

Жыл бұрын

Plethora of piantas...?

@seaoftranquilityprog

Жыл бұрын

Why not just look it up? It's an 'abundance of' or excess of...

@jazzpunk

Жыл бұрын

@@seaoftranquilityprog It's a joke from The Three Amigos

I would pick the first one. And Stephen Still first two albums

Joe Lala too

@gj8683

8 ай бұрын

I was going to say that, too. He was the essential ingredient for Latin percussion and also contributed to the vocals.

How could you not mention Chris Hillman being a member of the BIRDS?

To me down the road has more production value and a tighter sounds while the first manassas album is mostly quick spontaneous jam tracks

@MrRocknroll1057

4 ай бұрын

Also Chris was in the bryds along with David Crosby no surprise he added wonderful harmonies and vocals

You don't really have to "rank" them. Just mention your least favorite and we can figure out where the remaining album goes.

First one a classic second a disappointment