Stephen Stills - Manassas 2LP, 180G Vinyl [NEW, SEALED]

$

22

Editorial Reviews
A sprawling masterpiece, akin to the Beatles' White Album, the Stones' Exile on Main St., or Wilco's Being There in its makeup, if not its sound. Rock, folk, blues, country, Latin, and bluegrass have all been styles touched on in Stephen Stills' career, and the skilled, energetic musicians he had gathered in Manassas played them all on this album. What could have been a disorganized mess in other hands, though, here all gelled together and formed a cohesive musical statement. The songs are thematically grouped: part one (side one on the original vinyl release) is titled 'The Raven,' and is a composite of rock and Latin sounds that the group would often perform in full live. 'The Wilderness' mainly centers on country and bluegrass (Chris Hillman's and Al Perkins' talents coming to the forefront), with the track 'So Begins the Task' later covered by Stills' old flame Judy Collins. Part three, 'Consider' is largely folk and folk-rock. 'Johnny's Garden,' reportedly for the caretaker at Stills' English manor house and not for John Lennon as is often thought, is a particular highlight. Two other notables from the 'Consider' section are 'It Doesn't Matter' (later redone with different lyrics by the song's uncredited co-writer Rick Roberts on the first Firefall album) and 'Move Around,' which features some of the first synthesizer used in a rock context. The closing section, titled 'Rock & Roll Is Here to Stay,' is a rock and blues set with one of the landmarks of Manassas' short life, the epic 'The Treasure.' A sort of Zen-like meditation on love and 'oneness,' enlivened by the band's most inspired recorded playing it evolves into a bluesy groove washed in Stills' fierce electric slide playing. The delineation lines of the four themed song groupings aren't cut in stone, though, and one of the strengths of the album is that there is a lot of overlap in styles throughout. The CD reissue's remastered sound is excellent, though missed is the foldout poster and handwritten lyrics from the original vinyl release. Unfortunately, the album has been somewhat overlooked over the years, even though Stills considers it some of the best work he has done. Bill Wyman (who guested on 'The Love Gangster') has said he would have quit the Rolling Stones to join Manassas. 

1 Song Of Love 3:26

2 Rock And Roll Crazies/Cuban Bluegrass 3:31

3 Jet Set (Sigh) 4:22

4 Anyway 3:19

5 Both Of Us (Bound To Lose) 3:02

6 Fallen Eagle 2:05

7 Jesus Gave Love Away For Free 3:01

8 Colorado 2:52

9 So Begins The Task 4:01

10 Hide It So Deep 2:46

11 Don't Look At My Shadow 2:29

12 It Doesn't Matter 2:30

13 Johnny's Garden 2:45

14 Bound To Fall 1:53

15 How Far 2:51

16 Move Around 4:15

17 The Love Gangster 2:51

18 What To Do 4:44

19 Right Now 2:58

20 The Treasure (Take One) 8:04

21
Blues Man 4:04

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ITEM CONDITION

1) All of our DVDs, CDs, and LPs, and Box Sets, unless specifically mentioned, are factory sealed. That means that the item has not been opened since it came from the factory and is still covered by the original shrink-wrap.
2) Most products have a small imperfection. It is because of this minor imperfection that we are able to offer our items at a lower price than you can find most other places. These imperfections include.a small hole or scratch through the UPC, a small hole in the item spine, or a cut (often referred to a "cut-out") in the case.  If this matters to you, please be sure to ask before you bid. 
3) ALL of our LP sets have a scratch through the UPC. In 90% of the cases there is some minor damage to the LP cover because of this scratch. If this matters to you and you would like to know more about the scratch, please be sure to ask before you bid.

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RETURNS
1) We do accept returns, but only if the item is unopened. That means that the original shrink-wrap must still be sealed on the item to be eligible for return.
2) We have sold 1000s of items with the imperfections mentioned above, and we have yet to see one that hurts the media in any way.  If the media is damaged by this scratch, you are able to return the item for a full refund, even if the item is open.
3) Buyers are responsible for the return shipping costs and we recommend sending in a manner that tracks delivery. We will refund the full purchase price including original shipping after we have received the item.