ONCE MORE WITH FEELING – ‘BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD AGAIN’ neilsambrook@btinternet.com December 5, 2020 ‘Buffalo Springfield Again’ is a record so textured and deeply resonant it becomes a West Coast version of ‘Sgt. Pepper.’ RANTS & REFLECTIONS Bruce Palmer, Buffalo Springfield, Crosby Stills and Nash, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Dewey Martin, Jim Messina, Manassas, Neil Young, Poco, Richie Furay, Stephen Stills
THRILLS & STILLS – ‘STEPHEN STILLS’ neilsambrook@btinternet.com October 24, 2020 ‘STEPHEN STILLS’ (November 1970) shows him in such sparkling form it casts a shadow over every album he had yet been involved with. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Buffalo Springfield, Crosby Stills and Nash, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Deja Vu, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Manassas, Ringo Starr, Stephen Stills, Stephen Stills II
FEVER IN THE FUNK HOUSE – Twenty Great Albums of 1972………. neilsambrook@btinternet.com October 8, 2020 ‘EXILE ON MAIN STREET’ – a sprawling, gutsy double-set and most remarkable album of the Stones illustrious career. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Al Green, David Bowie, Deep Purple, Jackson Browne, Joe Walsh, Joni Mitchell, Little Feat, Mike Nesmith, Mott The Hoople, Neil Young, Paul Simon, Randy Newman, Rod Stewart, Rolling Stones, Steely Dan, Stephen Stills, Stevie Wonder, The Band, Todd Rundgren, Van Morrison
THE THIRD DEGREE – Crosby, Stills & Nash return in 77 with ‘CSN’ neilsambrook@btinternet.com September 17, 2020 Given its smooth arrangements, slick production and album cover, the origins of yacht rock can be found on ‘CSN’ RANTS & REFLECTIONS Crosby Stills and Nash, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, CSN, David Crosby, Deja Vu, Graham Nash, Manassas, Stephen Stills
THE GOLD STANDARD – Neil Young & ‘AFTER THE GOLD RUSH’ neilsambrook@btinternet.com August 20, 2020 After The Gold Rush’ is a landmark recording – not just for Neil Young but 70s rock as a whole. RANTS & REFLECTIONS After The Goldrush, Crazy Horse, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Deja Vu, Neil Young, On The Beach, Stephen Stills
CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’ – ‘ECHO IN THE CANYON’ has good reverberations…….. neilsambrook@btinternet.com August 4, 2020 ‘ECHO in the CANYON’ is a love letter to the audacious new music that seeped out of LA during the mid-60s. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Buffalo Springfield, David Crosby, Echo in the Canyon, Jackson Browne, Stephen Stills, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, The Byrds, The Mamas and The Papas, Tom Petty
THOU DOTH PROTEST – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young voice their anger with ‘OHIO’ neilsambrook@btinternet.com April 29, 2020 Mentioning the President by name in the opening line ‘Tin soldiers and Nixon coming’ gives ‘Ohio’ intense resonance. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Crosby Stills Nash and Young, David Crosby, Deja Vu, Graham Nash, Neil Young, Ohio, Stephen Stills
GOING OUT ON A HIGH OR SIGH – Twenty ‘last’ albums that are great or grate…….. neilsambrook@btinternet.com March 9, 2020 ‘The title cut is a powerful piece, but too many other songs lack trademark Beatle originality.’ LET'S LIST AGAIN Buffalo Springfield, Byrds, Cream, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Faces, Free, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Mott The Hoople, Queen, Small Faces, Stephen Stills, The Band, The Beatles, The Clash, The Jam, Wings
YOUNG ASSOCIATES – Neil teams up with CSN for ‘DEJA VU’ (1970)….. neilsambrook@btinternet.com January 21, 2020 Parts of ‘Deja Vu’ are good,’ reflected Neil Young, ‘but they’re the parts I’m not on.’ RANTS & REFLECTIONS Buffalo Springfield, Crosby Stills and Nash, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, David Crosby, Deja Vu, Eagles, Graham Nash, Little Feat, Neil Young, Stephen Stills, The Byrds, The Hollies
STILL(S) AMAZING AFTER ALL THESE YEARS – Stephen Stills & ‘MANASSAS’ neilsambrook@btinternet.com July 24, 2019 On ‘MANASSAS’ (1972) Stills incorporates blues, rock, bluegrass, funk and Latin-shuffles into a sprawling, nigh-on faultless collection. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Buffalo Springfield, Chris Hillman, Crosby Stills and Nash, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Flying Burrito Brothers, Manassas, Neil Young, Stephen Stills