Manassas was an American rock band, formed by Stephen Stills in 1971.
"Manassas" is their 1972 debut double album.
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.
Track listing
The Raven
1. Song of Love (Stephen Stills) - 3:28
2. Medley - 3:34
(a) Rock & Roll Crazies (Stephen Stills, Dallas Taylor)
(b) Cuban Bluegrass (Stephen Stills, Joe Lala)
3. Jet Set (Sigh) (Stephen Stills) - 4:25
4. Anyway (Stephen Stills) - 3:21
5. Both of Us (Bound to Lose) (Stephen Stills, Chris Hillman) - 3:00
The Wilderness
1. Fallen Eagle (Stephen Stills) - 2:03
2. Jesus Gave Love Away for Free (Stephen Stills) - 2:59
3. Colorado (Stephen Stills) - 2:50
4. So Begins the Task (Stephen Stills) - 3:57
5. Hide It So Deep (Stephen Stills) - 2:44
6. Don't Look at My Shadow (Stephen Stills) - 2:30
Consider
1. It Doesn't Matter (Chris Hillman, Rick Roberts, Stephen Stills) - 2:30
2. Johnny's Garden (Stephen Stills) - 2:45
3. Bound to Fall (Mike Brewer, Tom Mastin) - 1:53
4. How Far (Stephen Stills) - 2:49
5. Move Around (Stephen Stills) - 4:15
6. The Love Gangster (Stephen Stills, Bill Wyman) - 2:51
Rock & Roll is Here to Stay
1. What to Do (Stephen Stills) - 4:44
2. Right Now (Stephen Stills) - 2:58
3. The Treasure (Take One) (Stephen Stills) - 8:03
4. Blues Man (Stephen Stills) (In tribute: Jimi Hendrix, Al Wilson, Duane Allman) - 4:04
Released: April 12, 1972
Recorded: Criteria Sound Studios, Miami, Florida
Genre: Country Rock
Length: 70:07
Label: Atlantic Records
Producer: Stephen Stills, Chris Hillman, Dallas Taylor
Personnel
Stephen Stills - vocals, guitar, bottleneck guitar, piano, organ, electric piano, clavinette
Chris Hillman - vocals, guitar, mandolin
Al Perkins - pedal steel guitar, guitar, vocals
Calvin "Fuzzy" Samuel - bass
Paul Harris - organ, tack piano, piano, organ, electric piano, clavinette
Dallas Taylor - drums
Joe Lala - percussion, vocals
Sydney George - harmonica
Jerry Aiello - piano, organ, electric piano, clavinette
Bill Wyman - bass
Roger Bush - acoustic bass
Byron Berline - fiddle
Jerry Garcia - pedal steel guitar
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