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RECORD REVIEW:Last Time AroundAgain: Ex-Springfieldsby WENDY F,LAWRENCE and MICHAEL KIMMELRemember those exciting days in the late sixties1 The musical super groups of the times were comprised of such enormous talents they could hardly be expected to maintain stability over time Cream * Clapton. Bruce, Baker* and the\ardbirds (Clapton, Page, Beck) werei ipped apart by the electricity of the individuals The break-ups of the softer iountry giants was quieter, but nonetheless profound Chris Bill man left the Byrds and formed the Flying Burrito Bros David Crosby joined with GrahamNash lt;Hollies * and brought along Steve stills from another band that perhaps had I he most tar reaching effect on softer Miterican music; The Buffalo SpringfieldMost of the country influences of \merican rock can be directly traced to the Springfield And much of that country flavor of the Springfield can be traced to Jim Messina (remember Carefree Country Days” on Last Time Around? Almost immediately after the break-up. Messina and Springfield’s Richie Furay started Poco In order to spend more timeworking through country’ motifs and producing other albums (Compton RatteauC Messina left Poco in November, 1070 A talent of Jim Messina couldn’t be kept hidden long, however, and he has recently reappeared on a new album, Kenny i oggins with Jim Messina Siltin’ in i Col C 31044),The album is notable for a number of reasons It evidences the emergence of Messina as a superb songwriter i Nobody But you”, “liOviiT Me”) of which we onlyhad a taste from Poco days loggins shows himself to le a strong second guitarist toMessina's intricate lead work, their vocalsslide together well to form smooth harmoniesVahevella is a magnificent song w ith a powerful Caribbean beat to which Merel Hr eg ante (drums* plays quite adeptly, as he does on all cuts Also outstanding is To Make A Woman Feel Wanted” which I oggms and Messina wrote together It's both exciting and relieving to see Messina in the recording studio as a performer aswell as a producer Only a rare country talent like his siltin' in could put together such a fine alum One of the most eonsistantly influential member of the Springfield was NeilYoung His fourth solo album Harvest • Reprise MS 2032) is yet another stage in his musical evolution While some cuts (Heart of Gold,” A Needle and Damage Done” ‘extensions of the excellent acoustic work he did on Yfier I he t.oUtnish. and Alabama another example of Young s lyrical preoccupation with the South(Southern Man”*, he has once again gone off in an unexpected directionThe introduction of full orchestration on There’s a World” and A Man MM Needs a Maid is ultimately the disappointing feature of Harvest A musician as fine as Neil Young certainly does not weed the 1 ondon Symphony Orchestra to accentuate his already beautiful compositions One can only nostalgically recallhis simple acoustic version of A Man Needs a Maid” in his Carnegie Hall concert last yearBut these1 two cuts cannot dispel thecompelling quality of the entire album HisNeil Younghauntmgly lonely vocal on Old Man” are complimented by the enchanting back-up vocals of Linda Ronstadt and James Tuv!or It is songs like Old Mam that allow Neil Young to transcend the predefined limits of folk, rock or country music placing him in an eminent category all his own Backing Young on Harvest is a newgroup called the Stray Gators composed of among others Ben Keith on the pedal steel Ken Buttrev on drums, and Jack Nit/.che twho was responsible for the production and orchestration on the album) Nit/che’s been part of Young's ensemble for a long time, producing and playing piano with the Rockets, Crazy Horse and now the Gators His old group, Crazv Horse just released their secondAlburn, Nurse 'Reprise MS 2059' with Nit/.che Danny Whitten (guitar writer * and Nils J ofgren gone. Crazy Horse is txit a rythmic skeleton of its former self The only members remaining are Bill Talbotbass* and Ralph Molina (drums' Looseis an uninspiring rock album and the absence of Nit/.che et al is sorely missed onwthis follow-up to their first outstandingreleaseIn main ways the Springfield precursed most of the* softer rock sounds we hear todav Harvest and Siltin’ Hi are but two examples ol where the Springfield members have gone It s hard to imagine being let down by any of the geniuses compacted into that one group The other m cm tiers . (Steve Stills and Richie Furay i albums will stand on that.8uffy (who el*®’!
Newspaper Details
Poughkeepsie Miscellany News
Poughkeepsie, New York, US
Fri, Mar 10, 1972
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Olav S.
NO 30 Jul 2020
Other Publications Near Poughkeepsie, New York
Poughkeepsie Vassar Alumnae Quarterly
Poughkeepsie Vassar Chronicle
Poughkeepsie Unscrewed
Poughkeepsie Vassar Miscellany
Poughkeepsie Miscellany News
