Customer Reviews

Allies

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There are several reasons why fans of Crosby, Stills and Nash would sell their eye teeth to obtain a copy of 'Allies'. First off, there are several songs available here that can't be had elsewhere... and they're darn good songs, too. The other reason is the sheer rarity of the disc... it was only released briefly in Japan and scant copies made their way to foreign shores. The lead track, 'War Games', was withdrawn at the last minute from its intended role as the theme song for the 1983 hit film starring Matthew Broderick. The album was soon engulfed in legal tangles from which it has never emerged. For these reasons, 'Allies' is the CD equivilent of Babe Ruth's rookie card.

As far as the content of the disc is concerned... it's certainly good, but not great, and it has a patchwork quality that renders it the misfit in the CSN catalog. The tracks are drawn from three sources. The first source are two new studio tracks, the aforementioned 'War Games', a fiesty Stephen Stills anti-military-industrial complex tune. Stephen was a pioneer in the use of the moog synthesizer, and it is used to great effect on both new songs, but especially on the charging 'War Games'. The follow-up is a Stills-Graham Nash composition, 'Raise A Voice', another protest tune, but this one possesses a bright, optimistic sound. It is interesting how the songwriting styles of both Stills and Nash can be heard in the elements of this song, and once again we are treated to a tempered and creative use of the synthesizer, a device which became imfamous for it's overuse, misuse, and abuse later in the decade.

Most people are aware that by 1982 David Crosby was caught in the throes of a disabling drug addiction, and his contribution to CSN's last important album, 'Daylight Again', was severely compromised. In fact, Stills and Nash made extensive use of Timothy B. Schmitt and even Art Garfunkle to mask the absence of Crosby's vocals on that disc. On this disc, two live tracks from the earlier CSN reunion (in 1977) are featured to establish Crosby's presence. Both 'Shadow Captain' and Joni Mitchell's 'For Free' (the latter performed solo by David) are vibrant and emotionally gripping performances. Other tracks from this show in Houston are available on the 'Long Time Gone' video, but only on 'Allies' can fans appreciate these two rarities.

The remainder of the tracks on the disc are derived from the 1982 New Universal Amphitheatre performances that wound up on the 'Daylight Again' video tape, now available on DVD. Two are Stills songs ('Dark Star' and 'For What It's Worth'), two are Nash numbers ('Barrel Of Pain' and 'Wasted On the Way'), one is by Stills and Nash ('Turn Your Back On Love'), and 'Blackbird' is a Paul McCartney composition, treated with loving, harmonic resonance by CSN. All are excellent recordings... the only criticism being that the "Hey", in the lyric "Hey, what's that sound" from 'For What It's Worth' is left for the audience to fill in. Relying on amateurs causes this great classic to lose some steam.

Good luck finding a copy. I used a cassette version of the recording to make my review. I owned a vinyl copy in the early 1980's, and purchased the cassette for a chance to hear those great studio tracks once again. Both Stills and Nash were on a minor roll in the early 1980's, so it's a shame their dedicated fan base can't access these great works. Whoever is responsible should readily amend the situation.

This somewhat maligned album, released at the time when Crosby's drugabuse had reached ludicris proportions, is actually a lot better than it's reputation. In fact most of the music is downright brilliant.

The album consists of 2 studiotracks, amongst them Stills' poignant "War Games", and 8 live tracks, recorded around the same time as the "Daylight Again"-show (available on DVD). The band that includes the late, legendary drummer Jeff Porcaro is tight and inventive. Specially Mike Finnegan shines on organ and some potent vocals, often covering for Crosby, who isn't audible on most tracks, not even on his own "Shadow Captain".

Stills was really the man in charge at the time, contributing fine songs like "Don't Turn Your Back On Love" and "Dark Star", singing with authority and finess and of course playing some great solos. Nash, the always reliable, coming up with the politically still all too relevant "Barrels Of Pain" (about nuclear waste) and the beautiful and optimistic "Wasted On The Way".

Yet the highlight of the album is no doubt Crosby's spinetingling and intense version of Joni Mitchell's "For Free", singing like a man possesed (which he of course also was at the time).

This new Rhino-version is clearly a vast sonic improvement, making it a worthy testimony to one of the all-time greatest bands.

The track list above is definitely NOT thel track list from Allies.

Is this a misprint?

Allies is a great album. It's on of the few cassettes I've held onto because of the scarcity of the CD.

I recommend cranking For What It's Worth to 11.

Ever wonder what happened to the album that contained the song "War Games"? This song was played and promoted on American album rock radio stations and was in the theatrical movie trailer right before the release of the movie in 1983. Then, like a thief in the night, the song (along with the album) suddenly and strangely disappeared from the face of the earth. Hopefully one day it will be re-released on cd.

TRACKLIST:

1. War Games (Stills) - 2:18 *

2. Raise A Voice (Nash/Stills) - 2:31 *

3. Turn Your Back On Love (Stills) - 5:04 **

4. Barrel of Pain (Nash) - 5:46 **

5. Shadow Captain (Crosby) - 4:30 ***

6. Dark Star (Stills) - 4:48 **

7. Blackbird (John Lennon/Paul McCartney) - 2:30 **

8. For Free (Joni Mitchell) - 3:48 ***

9. Wasted On The Way (Nash) - 2:37 **

10. For What It's Worth (Stills) - 5:38 **

(* Studio Track, Recorded in Los Angeles, California, 1983)

(** Recorded Live at the New Universal Amphitheatre, Universal City, California, 1982)

(*** Recorded Live in Houston, Texas, 1977)

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PERSONNEL

David Crosby: vocals, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar

Craig Doerge: keyboards, acoustic piano, synthesizer

Michael Finnigan: vocals, keyboards

James Newton Howard: keyboards

Danny Kortchmar: guitar

Joe Lala: percussion

Graham Nash: vocals, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar

George Perry: bass

Jeff Porcaro: drums

Michael Stergis: rhythm guitar

Stephen Stills: vocals, guitar, lead guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboards

Efrain Toro: percussion

Joe Vitale: drums

This is great cd with some fine harmonies as only CSN can do them. Especially like "Blackbird" a Beatles track that CSN now "owns". We're past the 1/20 release date..are we still going to see this one come out this year? Hasn't been on cd except for a very limited run...long out of print. Hope this is rectified soon.

as everyone knows the tracks listed are dead wrong/ especially =real good for free= and the stuff that actually is on the album is available nowhere else, but someone stole mine (vinyl)and although I want it the price is a wee bit dear, i think i paid like 2 bucks back in the day - sigh

I've been a huge fan of this group since high school.I had all their albums on vinyl,tape,and most of them on CD.They are a legendary group.I'm 60 years old now,probably they are too.All of their albums are reasonably priced except this one.It's an awesome album,that I'd love to own.But the price is ridiculous.I'd never pay $100.00 dollars for any album.Bring the price down to a reasonable amount of $15-$20,and I'll buy it.Even a bonafide collector isn't stupid enough to pay the price your site has on it.We live in tough economic times.Give the public's wallet a break.