Ambitious, successful and indispensable

Stephen Stills (who had a break with Crosby Stills Nash & Young and the cheek solo lately) created in 1972, Manassas, with those who were then his occasional studio musicians and he believes in the great potential (Chris Hillman, former Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers, Al Perkins, Dallas Taylor - who held the battery Crosby Stills Nash - Calvin Fuzzy Samuels - idem, former CSN - Joe Lala and Paul Harris), but whose experience will turn short (2 albums). Manassas is the name of a city in northern Virginia, the scene of battles of Bull Run during the Civil War (the cover photo is taken at Manassas Junction, the train station of the city). Manassas, double album of 21 songs, is a record that I would describe as ambitious but successful, fundamental, essential and sublime, a quality identical to the previous opus eponymous father Stills anything more rock sounding. Organized into four sections (4 faces of two vinyl), The Raven, The Wilderness, Consider and Rock & Roll ... we can not talk as long as no history of a conceptual project links these different drawers. Manassas covers a number of musical genres including, revisits turn rock music, Latin, country, bluegrass, folk and blues. The result is impressive with songs such as Song Of Love (the brilliant voice Stills sets the tone with guitars that are sensual) Colorado (rocks but what chaeurs!), The go-getter Right Now, What To Do (fantastic) , The Love Gangster (which has the distinction of seeing bassist Bill Wyman contribute to the album. He reportedly said he had been tempted to abandon the Stones in favor of Manassas). I have a weakness for a pleasant as Rock And Roll Crazies, mix of rock, Cuban notes and bluegrass (it whips the Lynyrd good!) And the piece of fence Man Blues Stephen Stills during which confirms four minutes during and alone with his guitar, he is a great guitarist, song-writer and performer. The Manassas experience is more compelling. Stephen Stills was at the height of his talent and is an amazing group leader helped by another big man, Chris Hillman (formerly byrds). The album, too unknown to me, is the sixth in a row placed in best sellers (it will rank fourth in the Billboard). The critics praised the album. For the latter, this is his best album. Anecdotally, some members of Manassas (Stills and himself, of course!) Contributed to the album of Véronique Sanson (Stills's wife at the time). But from this, we do not care royally. The key lies elsewhere. In this album that I recommend them all. From the top!