Live At Berkeley 1971
Omnivore, 2023
8/10
Listen to Live At Berkeley 1971
The legendary musician Stephen Stills was touring under his own name in the early ‘70s, and these previously unreleased recordings took place over two nights at the Berkeley Community Theater and welcome David Crosby on a couple of tunes.
‘Love The One You’re With” opens the listen with swift and flowing acoustic guitar amid the quick drumming and Stills’ inimitable vocals, and “Do For The Others” follows with a harmonic, folk friendly display of emotive song craft.
Crosby’s contributions arrive early on in the listen, where he harmonizes with Stills on the breezy “You Don’t Have To Cry”, while “The Lee Shore” finds a dreamy place to reside with its cozy acoustic guitar and poetic singing.
Further on, “Black Queen” has Stills manipulating his guitar with a bluesy appeal that’s quite stylish, and “Lean On Me” recruits a full horn section for the rowdy and roaring funk rocker. “Ecology Song” exits the listen, and it’s a brisk and dynamic retro-rocker that’s gritty, busy and full of exciting musicianship.
This tour had Stills performing a bare acoustic first set, and closing each night with a lively electric set featuring the Memphis Horns. We’re treated to plenty of both, and it comes with the drummer Dallas Taylor, bassist Calvin “Fuzzy” Samuels, keyboardist Paul Harris, guitarist Steve Fromholz, and percussionist Joe Lala.
An artist who made so much great music with Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills & Nash and Manassas, Stills also enjoyed an exceptional solo career, and these recordings capture him at a very unpredictable and energetic point in his work.
Travels well with: David Crosby & The Lighthouse Band- Live At The Capitol Theatre; Paul Weller- Fat Pop (Volume 1)