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Between 1970 and 1972, Stephen Stills was busy playing with Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, and working on a series of solo albums. In addition to all this activity he led the supergroup that appears on this stunning release. Originally a double ... Full Descriptionalbum of four distinct sides, MANASSAS finds Stills and company (which includes friends and session musicians Chris Hillman, Dallas Taylor, and Al Perkins, among others) at the intersection of rock, folk, country, blues, and Latin flavors. Distinctive styles are noticeable song by song, yet the whole is a hodge-podge, and it is the strength and credibility of the mixture that makes MANASSAS such a great experience.
The first fourth of the album focuses on '60s rock with Afro-Cuban overtones (imagine Buffalo Springfield sitting in with Santana), followed by a batch of country and bluegrass-oriented material (with Chris Hillman's influence more strongly felt). The dreamy, swaying "It Doesn't Matter" kicks off the third section, which has a folk-rock feel, replete with multi-part harmonies and chiming guitars. The final section brings things back to amped-up rock, wrapping up the set with the rootsy groove of "Blues Man," a tribute to Jimi Hendrix. A rich and varied collection that is as sophisticated and complex as it is earthy and easy to listen to, MANASSAS is considered by many to be one of the great overlooked gems of the '70s rock.
Stephen Stills/Manassas: Stephen Stills (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, bottleneck guitar, piano, electric piano, Clavinet, organ, Moog synthesizer); Al Perkins (vocals, guitar, steel guitar); Chris Hillman (vocals, guitar, mandolin); Joe Lala (vocals, congas, timbales, percussion); Paul Harris (piano, tack piano, electric piano, Clavinet, organ); Fuzzy Samuels (bass instrument); Dallas Taylor (drums).
Recording information: Criteria Studio, Miami, Florida.
Additional personnel: Byron Berline (fiddle); Sydney George (harmonica); Jerry Aiello (piano, electric piano, Clavinet, organ); Bill Wyman (bass instrument); Roger Bush (acoustic bass guitar).Rolling Stone (5/25/72, p.62) - "...a substantial, honest sound...the familiar, inviting flavor of the bands that Manassas' principal members have been involved with (The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Flying Burrito Brothers, CSN&Y)..."
Q (7/93, p.114) - 3 Stars - Good - "...Touching on straight rock, Cuban rhythms, acoustic blues, synthesizer workouts and grounded in fine ensemble performances, MANASSAS is just about a forgotten classic...it's easy to see what the fuss was all about..." Hide Description Stephen Stills Manassas Songs Purchase Manassas CD To buy, Click on price to add to cart | David Crosby If I Could Only Remember My Name CD (1971)
Manassas album
 $9.85  
For his highly anticipated 1971 solo debut, David Crosby recorded a unique, eclectic, and willfully expansive album. The cream of early-70s California rock is assembled here, with the various celebrities joining together in an organic, collective approach that's embodied in the opener, the free-spirited jam of "Music Is Love." Throughout the record, Crosby moves from the sauntering Western shuffle of "Cowboy Movie" to the wondrously spiritual harmonies of "Tamalpais High (At About 3)" and, eventually, the hallowed chants of "I'd Swear There Was Somebody Here."
Musically the album has an exploratory, almost jazzy feel, with its bright production cloaking the listener in acoustic strains and lush, layered harmonies. These qualities perfectly evoke the relaxed, hazy California lifestyle of the time. For all ...
| | Stephen Stills 2 CD (1971)
Manassas CD music
$9.85 
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Manassas music CDs
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| | Stephen Stills CD (1970)
Manassas songs
$9.85 
The best-known cut here is the '70s radio staple "Love the One You're With," with its percolating percussion and free-love ethos. Equally arresting is "Black Queen," an acoustic guitar showcase allegedly recorded after Stills had downed a bottle of tequila. The gorgeous, stirring "Do for the Others" is another highlight. Stills plays many of the instruments himself, but a star-studded guest list, including Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton (who plays lead on the bluesy "Go Back Home"), and Jimi Hendrix (who solos on the rocker "Old Times Good Times"). Yet this is Stills's show all the way, showcasing his songwriting, singing, and musicianship to superb effect.
This outstanding solo debut came at a particularly successful and creative time for Stephen Stills. In the first few years of the 1970s, he recorded two solo albums, released the superb Manassas double-album, and performed as part of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. No one would expect a musician spreading himself so thin to be able to make a record as focused, nuanced, and bursting with ideas as STEPHEN STILLS-- yet that is exactly what Stills did. On ...
| | Mike Bloomfield Super Session CD (1968) Bonus Tracks; Remastered
Manassas album
$9.25 
A surprise best-seller when it was first released, this mostly improvised pairing of singer/keyboardist/producer Al Kooper with two major guitar heroes of the day sounds fascinating all these years later precisely because of the distance of time--nobody makes records like this any more. The material runs the gamut from folk pop (covers of Donovan and Dylan), to blues ("Albert's Shuffle," "You Don't Love Me"), to heady jams ("His Holy Modal Majesty"), to big-band jazz ("Harvey's Tune").
All the tunes make effective templates for the kind off-the-cuff music-making that in less capable hands might have resulted in simple noodling. In fact, although Bloomfield and Stills don't play together on any of the cuts (Bloomfield played on one side of the original LP, Stills on the other), all three principals get off lots of good licks and producer Kooper has some interesting tricks up his sleeve, as in the over-the-top phasing he lavishes on "You Don't Love Me." The only real disappointment here is that Stills, a far better singer than Kooper, never opens his mouth.
Those familiar with the Live Adventures album these two recorded at the Fillmore West know how brilliant they could be on stage, and here's another gem, recorded at the Fillmore East this time and featuring 'One Way Out,' 'It's My Own Fault' (with Bloomfield trading licks with Johnny Winter...Johnny was signed to Columbia after this gig!). Newly remastered & now with 4 bonus tracks, 'Albert's ...
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Manassas Music Review Average Rating: (4.8 out of 5 stars)   List All Reviews One of the best albums ever
This was one of those rare occasions when EVERY song on the album was good. NO filler at all. These guys brought out the best in Stephen Stills and vice versa. I bought it when it came out and still listen to it today and every time I hear it, I like it that much more.
Submitted by jrs53 (Texas)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 1 of 2 found this helpful. Stills delivers a Double Pleasure set
A powerful mix of quality melodies and lyrics. An acoustical masterpiece complimented with soothing four part harmony.
Submitted by alanrose ("Miami, Fl, USA") 
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No A classic countryrock album from the Seventies!
The debut album by Stethen Stills & Manassas is still a gem after all these years. The original double-album has been released as a CD several times and on the latest edition the HDCD-technology has been taken into use. This makes for a much more rich and full sound and is probably closer to the original sound that the band was striving for in 1972. The musicianship is first-class and almost every song is a stand-out cut. Lots of guitars and harmonies with great support from the fabulous Chris Hillman.
Submitted by a reviewer (Hvidovre, Denmark)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No Masterpiece
An absolute masterpiece. Hard rock, blues rock, folk rock, country(/bluegrass) rock, all delivered to perfection within a conceptual framework. Stills, Hillman, band, and special guests (Byron Berline, Bill Wyman, etc.) are al at the top of their game. Absolutely essential.
Submitted by Paul (Little Rock, AR, USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No  One of my favourite Rock-CD's
I happened to be in the audience at the concert in Frankfurt in 1972 - it was great! And so was the double album at the time respectively the cd today! A wonderful mix of Rock, Blues, Country & Western I still enjoy to listen to!
Submitted by theo.höhle.web.de (Offenbach, Germany)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
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