Jeff’s Classic Album Tasting Notes - Episode 1
I was pondering what five albums not only defined my musical "centre", but defined my personality and character; and were, and in many ways, still are - the soundtrack to my life.
My next posts will provide you with an advisable beverage to accompany the album in discussion, and some of my ‘tasting notes’ - highlights of key elements, inspiration I get as a musician and producer, and emotions that are evoked from the songs.
Keep in mind - these are my opinions. I’d love to hear if these albums impact you like they do for me.
CSNY - So Far
A masterful collection of timeless songwriting and technical perfection in guitar arrangements. The gold standard for guitar and vocal harmonization. The album has always been a comfort from the stresses in life. David Crosby, Stphen Stills, Graham Nash and Neil Young performed a four-guitar, four-voice, hippie-era musical masterpiece expression of peace and love.
This album goes well with two bottles of Pabst Blue Ribbon. Not because Hipster’s are drinking it these days, but because three of these go well with this album and are authentic to the era. So crack your first PBR and let’s start the album.
Deja Vu
Rolls like clockwork, with an initial note of synchronicity and arpeggiated intricacy, then decends into a soulful and melancholy bed of introspection.
Harmonized guitar line at 0:28 and chord that changes the entire song at 0:56 put you in a trance.
Snare hit at 2:21. Sweet.
Guitar and vocal break at 2:36… can anyone avoid moving to this groove?
Ending bass solo is so deep and soulful.
Helplessly Hoping
Calming harmonies and reenforcing sense of family love.
Dryness of the guitar compliments the sweet reverb behind the angelic vocal harmonies.
Wooden Ships
The most calming post-apocalyptic song ever written. Finishes with a feeling of brotherly love and humanitarianism.
Note the guitar tone and reverb at the beginning, the splash of the reverb on the guitar at 1.51
Neil’s guitar solos flow like the water the ‘ wooden ships’ sail on.
Switch to shuffle at 2:18 is wonderful, and compliments Neil’s endless soloing.
Teach Your Children
Two words: Pedal steel.
The fact that my dad loved this song so much to sing in at the most random times reenforced what his goal was in being a father to four sons. Good family vibes.
Ohio
Ruined the thought of the state of Ohio for me forever. First time I went to Ohio, I kept asking, “ hey where did those students get shot by the national guard?”. Even today, every time Ohio is mentioned, I immediately break into singing this song.
Neil’s guitar and vocal work here is among his best.
Right about now - you should crack into that second PBR...
Find The Cost of Freedom
Great guitar work. Similar production value to ‘Helplessly Hoping’.
Vocal harmonies at 1:29 will give you goosebumps.
Alright… enough folk music… lets rock….
Woodstock
This song is a showcase of the talent in this group.
At 0:51 - chorus is some of the best vocal work ever.
The Hammond organ off to the left is classic.
Our House
Another reinforcement of the feeling of family found on ‘Helpless’ and ’teach’. Wow.... I guess that was my dad’s idea of what the ideal family was. Pretty sweet. He tried hard to meet this standard.
Helpless
Neil leaves you feeling alone and introspective - like a ‘town in North Ontario’.
I’m assuming that the swelling guitar in the background is not pedal steel - but a Les Paul with a volume pedal. So soulful.
The piano and strummed acoustic guitar interplay is such a wonderful bed. Throw in that guitar out left with the tremolo, and geez....
So much going on in this song - yet so subtle.
Guinnevere
Go re-tune your guitar... this odd-tuned song is a surprising masterpiece of guitarmanship, not to mention the obvious poetic perfection. The guitar duet uses a non-standard tuning (EBDGAD) to create the droning melancholy.
Note Nash’s angelic voice harmonized with Crosby - mind blowing at 1:18, 2:25, 2:51 and 3:48. Notice the metronome at 2:31 and again at 3:56? I love eerie artifacts in recordings like this.
Stop drawing pentagrams.
Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
End this album with a smile. This song can’t stop happy feelings from surfacing.
Guitar through a Leslie in the far left is awesome!
The change at 2:50 is filled with wonderful guitar flourishes and a soulful vocal harmony.
Big reverb on the percussion of the Indian-inspired segment at 4:44 are gorgeous.
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