Pieces

Manassas - Pieces

Pieces
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CD Details

Artist: Manassas
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
CD Release Date: 2009-09-22
Music Label: Rhino
Soundtracks:
  1. Witching Hour
  2. Sugar Babe
  3. Lies (with Joe Walsh)
  4. My Love Is A Gentle Thing
  5. Like a Fox
  6. Word Game
  7. Tan Sola Y Triste
  8. Fit To Be Tied
  9. Love and Satisfy
  10. High & Dry
  11. Panhandle Rag
  12. Uncle Pen
  13. Do You Remember the Americans
  14. Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (And Loud, Loud Music)
  15. I Am My Brother

Music reviews of Pieces

Music Review: finally, more Manassas
Rating: 4 Stars

This disc is reminicent of what happened with Cream circa 1970. The band had already dissolved and the players had gone their separate ways, and all that was left was to cull from splicings on the recording studio floor or concert soundboards. Cream didn't leave much tape behind, but fortunately there was just enough leftovers from Manassas' studio sessions to put together this little gem. I regard it as more than just snippets of unfinished projects. There is actually the makings of a decent album here, and virtually all of the songs have a degree of completeness to them. In fact, 'PIeces' could easily drive hard-core Manassas fans into long-winded debates about what coulda-shoulda been on 'Down the Road', the follow-up to the band's incredible debut double-LP. No one in their right minds would alter one note on those first two discs.

Stephen's first post-Manassas work, 1974's 'Live', continued to highlight the guitarist's acoustic and wah-pedal virtuosity. But beginning with 1975's 'Stills', Stephen's solo projects began to take on a pop feel that seemed to abandon the folk-rock and psychedelic underpinnings that drove his early career success. These tracks with Manassas harken back to those peak years in Stephen's tenure as one of the finest composers and performers on the rock scene. Two of the tracks included, in fact, pre-date even the formation of Manassas. A sterling, complete alternate version of 'Sugar Babe' appears, as does the one true snippet on the disc, a 1:35 teaser of 'Word Game'. Both tracks appeared on Stephen's second solo disc. The version of 'Word Game' offered here is quite unique in it's structure, presented sans the complex acoustic picking that accompanies virtually every version I've heard. That would seem to be the sole purpose to its inclusion here.

Alternate versions of several 'Down the Road' tracks are included. 'Tan Sola Y Triste' is an alternate instrumental backing of 'Pensamiento'; 'Do You Remember the Americans' is a less intense version, more down home and casual than the original release, but not necessarily better. 'Lies', on the other hand, is a much meatier alternate with some sweet psychedelic leads from Stephen. It's hard to imagine why this version of the Chris Hillman track wasn't chosen for 'Down the Road'. Speaking of Chris, there are also two entertaining bluegrass tracks from the co-frontman of this band, 'Panhandle Rag' and 'Uncle Pen', as well as a fine sounding cover of the Souther-Hillman-Furay track, 'Love and Satisfy'.

With all that going for it, I haven't even mentioned the true highlights of the disc! A mighty live version of 'High and Dry' again graces us with Stephen's maestro-like psychedelic guitar. A five-minute plus excursion on 'Witching Hour' opens the disc, a track possessing a classic feel much like 'Wooden Ships' or 'Shadow Captain' injected into CSN albums. 'Like a Fox' is a tuneful romantic ballad featuring strong harmonies from none other than Bonnie Raitt. 'My Love Is a Gentle Thing' is every bit as tender and unassuming as a ballad can be, and 'Fit To Be Tied' is better known as 'Shuffle Just As Bad', a funky blues number from 1975's 'Stills', this version being more genuine and persuasive in its tone. The album is topped off with 'Dim Lights, Thick Smoke', a slow cruise through the blues, and 'I Am My Brother', a decent solo acoustic folk piece.

Bill DeYoung provides some well-written liner notes, having done some recent interviews with Stills (who used the word "friggin'" back in the 70's?... has to be a recent comment), Hillman and others to flesh out the background and memories of Manassas. In perhaps an attempt at revisionist history, DeYoung refers to Stills as "a born collaborator", conflicting with reports of his head bumping with Crosby, Nash and Young, and the members of Manassas nicknaming him 'The Boss'. There are also rare period photographs of the band and memorabilia. While 'Pieces' is only an addendum to the 3 vinyl discs released by the band in the 70's, any addition to the Manassas catalog must be honored, and this disc easily earns its four stars.
More Pieces free music reviews:
1 2 3 4

Description of Pieces

After recording his second solo album, Stills formed Manassas in 1971 with a talented group of musicians that included Chris Hillman, a former member of the Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers. Manassas released two albums, 1972's eponymous double-album debut and the 1973 follow-up, Down The Road. MANASSAS - PIECES features alternate versions of two songs from Down The Road: 'Do You Remember The Americans' and 'Lies' (featuring guitarist Joe Walsh). The collection also includes the legendary group's unreleased performances of 'Sugar Babe' and 'Word Game,' a pair of songs Stills recorded in 1971 for his second solo album. The remaining tracks include 'Like A Fox,' a song recorded with blues guitarist Bonnie Raitt on background vocals and the Latin-tinged 'Tan Sola Y Triste' (Spanish for 'So Alone and Sad').

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