Customer Reviews

Carry On

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

For the casual fan or for those just wanting a decent collection of the best songs, this may be all the CSN(Y) you need; however, for me, I found this 2-CD set very good, but not enough.

It is very well recorded, includes all CSN(Y)'s top songs and some very pleasant surprises: 3 alternate mixes, 1 unreleased, 1 live, 1 unedited, 8 alternate/unreleased versions and more. Even a fan who already has all their recordings (maybe especially him/her) will greatly appreciate this offering.

For me, even though the alternate versions are very good and interestingly different, I cannot imagine not having the original versions of CSN(Y)'s best songs. So for my taste, I find "Carry On" while excellent, leaves me with the desire to listen to the impossible-to-improve-upon original versions of the songs on CSN's debut album and "Deja Vu". With these first two in your possession, "Carry On" can possibly complete your CSN(Y) needs unless you are a completest or hard-core fan.

At any rate, all of this music is classic and shines much brighter than anything that has been produced lately.

** one word of caution: if you are one who only likes the original versions of songs and cannot tolerate even slightly altered versions you may want to pass on this one - although, the casual listener may not even be able to recognize some of these from the originals ... just FYI ...

The reputation of Crosby, Stills & Nash has for too long been eclipsed by Neil Young. On the strength of this compilation, CSN&Y deserve renewed appreciation as a partnership of equals (even if some of the partners were more equal than others).

To be fair to Young's enormous and well-earned following, he has achieved substantially more in his solo career than the others. However, it is by no means evident listening to this material that his contribution to the group effort was significantly worthier than that of the others. And surprisingly, perhaps, the passage of time has been kinder to the compositions of the supposedly junior duo of Crosby and Nash than it has to Stills and Young. What I am saying is that the fey, rambling ballads of Crosby, and the snappy, focused pop tunes of Nash sound fresher and more listenable to modern ears than the cheesy Hammond-plastered post-Buffalo Springfield hippy-jazzy-folky-rock'n'roll of the other two.

And frankly, these guys all owe Nash a beer or two for keeping his head together and lavishing so much care on their back catalog over the last few years - not to mention writing most of the best material on the successive middle-aged come-back albums of the eighties and nineties. Nobody would have forecast that in the happy haze of the late sixties and early seventies.

The one sad fact about this compilation is that it includes so many alternative cuts. Yeah, yeah, historical interest and all that, but that's not what people buy compilations for, is it? You can excuse Graham sticking in a couple more of his own songs than artistic taste might justify - after all, he's done all the work - but this business with previously unreleased versions turns some of the tracks into a disappointment. Even this has its consolations, however; the gorgeous laid back electric groove of "The Lee Shore" (previously only heard in the live acoustic rendition on 4 Way Street) is more than adequate compensation for the hoarse and unappetising live version of "Dark Star" on this compilation.

Four stars then - and it would have been five if they'd stuck with the original versions.

I hesitated buying this seeing that it's an import and concerned whether or not the sound is of good quality. Anyway, I just bought this CD today and am very happy with it. If you want all the good songs that's not on the "so far" album and don't want to pay for the box set, this is the album to get. This 2-cd collection is like the best of the box set, without those other unwanted songs.

Do you love the music of CSNY but don't want to buy the box set and would like more than just the old stuff? Then look no further. This is the collection you've been looking for. This 2-disc set hits the highlights of the big box set but without being stingy. All of the great old songs plus the later stuff too (i.e. "Southern Cross," "Just A Song Before I Go," & "Wasted On The Way.") Included also are some solo songs (Stephen Stills' "Love The One You're With" and "Change Partners.") While it features the main songs Neil Young contributed to the band ("Ohio," etc.,) there is none of his solo material. Of course, the obligatory "previously unreleased" songs are included, but thankfully they don't irritate you with alternate versions. This is the only CSNY you'll ever need to buy so it's well worth the import price tag.

The cd is taken from an overseas lp master tape and is not mixed for cd. If you want the best sound quality, purchase the America version (MCA - 088 112 043-2) lovingly remastered by Stephen Barncard.

Wow! My purpose in buying this CD was simply so I'd have the single version of Graham Nash's "Chicago"--a song I love. After the dark, ominous, march-like piano opening, Nash and the back-up singers (missing on the live version) hit a five-part, or so, harmony chord as they sing "we can chaange the world, re-arraange the world..." Soulful. Beautiful.

I would tell anyone considering CSN&Y to buy, first, Crosby, Stills and Nash (1969) and Deja' Vu (1970)--their stellar, classic, records. I also, in general, don't recommend
compilation CDs. All too often compilations leave out some of the best music. I must say, however, this one is more than a pleasant surprise--an exception.

For one, the band (CSN) put this together--not an industry flack; and Nash produces. Moreover, it has much of their best solo stuff that you would not otherwise get without buying numerous solo CDs. For example: "Love the one You're With," "Change Partners, and "Johnny's Garden" by Stills are here. Neil Young's "Helpless" and "Ohio" are included too as is a previously unreleased CSNY song, "Horses through a Rainstorm"
The studio version of Crosby's "Lee Shore" is great and long-missed.

This CD starts with one of the greatest guitar intros, and songs, in rock history: "Woodstock"--recorded less than three mos. after the event. It's so amazing that Joni Mitchell wrote the song and CSNY recorded it is such a short period.

There are several alternate takes of well-known CSNY songs. From my experience, alternate takes are seldom as good as the original (why they weren't the original). But there are some nice surprises with this CD. For example, a demo of "Guinnevere" with Jack Casady on bass sounds as good if not better than the original. The very first CSN recording: "You Don't Have to Cry" includes a country-sounding Stills guitar and a reverb on the vocal that is beautiful. The original, un-cut recording of "Almost Cut my Hair," while not as polished as the Deja Vu version, is a jamming song.

All in all, I'm surprised by how good the whole CD sounds--I haven't tired of hearing it yet. Whether you are new to CSN or already familiar with their music, this is a more than worthy addition.

First of all, I'm sorry to offend the purists by giving the 2 CD set 5 stars. After all, there are so many alternate mixes and unreleased versions of well known songs, how could this get such a perfect rating? Well, folks, the alternate takes are AS GOOD if not SUPERIOR to the originals. For instance, the drums and alternate Stills vocal take only helps "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes." I can't imagine how someone would disagree. "Helplessly Hoping" is more countrified, but this is no way bad- just different. Everything is wonderfully remixed, too- what a plus! Get this over the new Greatest Hits...it's much better!

I was rather dissapointed/annoyed that the version of "Dark Star" is not the one that was released on CSN. This CD contains a rather funky version recorded at a concert in Portland. The second CD is primarily unreleased versions also, although most are fairly decent. Had I this purchase to do over, I would have just purchased a few of their albums, not this compilation.

This collection is good of course, but I can't believe that we haven't gotten a new one that's not an import, or not 4 discs, is remastered, and includes a slightly different tracklist and better packaging. "Essential C.S.N." anyone? Anyway, this is a decent 36 track set, and does have what you would expect. What's here is "Love The One You're With", "Teach Your Children", "Wooden Ships", "Helpless", and "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes", among many more. This also has two of my favorites "Wasted On The Way", and the excellent "Southern Cross", from the "Daylight Again" album. There's also the earlier "So Far" collection, but this one has 25 more tracks than that one does. Anyone should love these songs, it doesn't matter if you live in "Ohio", or "Woodstock".

Years ago, a friend of mine taped a CSN compilation album called "Replay" for me. Having migrated to CDs, I was unable to obtain a CD version of "Replay", but I did find this compilation which has all the same songs and more!!!

The live version of "Dark Star" blew me away--I listen to it over and over again!!!!

I consider it one of the greatest crimes that I was born too late to hear this music in its heyday ('course I'd probably be dead of a drug overdose or at least have killed the majority of my brain cells). But I do remember them recording "Southern Cross" in the 80s, which was a favorite of mine back then and it's on this CD.

And let's not forget the melodic, yet in-your-face lyrics of "Wind on the Water."

This is all the CSN you'll need!!!!