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Stephen Stills — So Begins The Task
Album: Manassas
Avg rating:
7.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1036









Released: 1974
Length: 3:57
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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And so begins the task
I have dreaded the coming of
For so long
I wait for the sun
To remind my body
It needs restin'
And I must learn to "live" without you now
I must learn to give only part some how
Camping on the edge
Of your city I wait
Hoping someday
You might
See
Beyond yourself
The shadows on the ceiling
Hard
But not real
Like the bars that cage
You within yourself
And I must learn to live without you now
I must learn to give only part some how
And I must learn to without you now
As I cannot learn to give only part some how
All of these cages
Must
And shall be set aside
They will only
Keep
Us from the knowing
Actors
And stages
Now fall before the truth
As th love
Shared
Between us
Remains
...Growing
And I must learn to live without you now
As I cannot learn to give only part some how
Comments (97)add comment
Still just fucking gorgeous..
Posted 8 months ago by GingerandMe    [ Reply ]
Absolutely gorgeous. We've all been there..
Posted 1 year ago by GingerandMe    [ Reply ]
My jam the day it was released. Unfortunately it was the only Stills band I did not  see.  He is one of the best period. 
Posted 1 year ago by georgewburrows    [ Reply ]
I love this damn song.  its a classic 9
Posted 2 years ago by brollo    [ Reply ]
 radiojunkie wrote:
parrothead wrote: Let's see...looks like they're still on the album cover!



Posted 3 years ago by a_geek    [ Reply ]
This may be close to a perfect song in every way. 
Posted 4 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
Love the lyrics on this one. Timeless.
Posted 5 years ago by emcibulka    [ Reply ]
Don't get no better!
Posted 5 years ago by dublanica    [ Reply ]
 primm wrote:
{#Music} this double album is outstanding from cover to cover ! a super collection of several genres of different styles not to mention a great line  up of musicians / a desert island must have

 
Agreed.  Purchased it just a few years ago and still love pretty much everything on it
Posted 6 years ago by Typesbad    [ Reply ]
{#Music} this double album is outstanding from cover to cover ! a super collection of several genres of different styles not to mention a great line  up of musicians / a desert island must have
Posted 7 years ago by primm    [ Reply ]
A lot of great musicianship, singing and songwriting on this old album. 
Posted 7 years ago by ExpatLarry    [ Reply ]
Great album(s).
Each of the 4 sides was a different style of music, if memory serves.
Posted 8 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
BOR-ING!!!
Posted 8 years ago by Johnny_Wave    [ Reply ]
 DanFHiggins wrote:

the show I saw at Meriweather Post Pavilion in Maryland had opening act Joe Walsh and group.

Stills came out as an intermission type act between headliners, pulled up a chair and started playing acoustic for awhile. Then invited his neighbor and friend Walsh out to jam. 

Without a doubt some of the finest guitar playing I've been privileged to ever see and hear. 

Then throw in Stills with Manassas ( a super group in and of itself) and man - was that a show.

Pure Gold
 
Wow. God...I wish more bands had this kind of attitude. 
Posted 9 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
Oh, dear - it's the old horizontal guitars. TFFPSD.
Posted 9 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
 DanFHiggins wrote:

the show I saw at Meriweather Post Pavilion in Maryland had opening act Joe Walsh and group.

Stills came out as an intermission type act between headliners, pulled up a chair and started playing acoustic for awhile. Then invited his neighbor and friend Walsh out to jam. 

Without a doubt some of the finest guitar playing I've been privileged to ever see and hear. 

Then throw in Stills with Manassas ( a super group in and of itself) and man - was that a show.

Pure Gold
 
I am holding my throat and wretching in a pure, unabating ragged rage of jealousy...a toxic shade a green I turn at the thought. How I envy your good fortune
 
Posted 9 years ago by fatcatjb    [ Reply ]
So nice...and I am feeling the lyrics oh so painfully right now.  Used to have roommates in E-school who played this a lot. Awesome...
Posted 10 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
Wow, what a great song.  And I've never heard it before.  Thanks for playing!
Posted 10 years ago by davedog    [ Reply ]
Godlike.  Harmonies?  Yes; vocal and instrumental.  Lyrics?  To me; heartrending.
Posted 10 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
 d-don wrote:
Genius. 10
 
Most defiantly is
Posted 10 years ago by Peter_Bradshaw    [ Reply ]
just sweet have not heard this for years, many fine memories
thanks
Posted 10 years ago by nancyt    [ Reply ]
Genius. 10
Posted 11 years ago by d-don    [ Reply ]
wow this is sweet, Stills' is astounding sometimes
Posted 11 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
Yep.  Got to.  Somehow.
Posted 11 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
David Crosby, during an interview with Rolling Stone in probably 1970-71, said that for all of his virtuosity on guitar, Stills's "trip" was singing. I think this song is lovely evidence of that. I'm puzzled that he disappeared from the map for so long after this and his string of solo albums. Aside from the occasional CSNY album/gig, he just didn't seem to be around. Shame really. IMHO one definition of musical genius.
Posted 12 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
 d-don wrote:
I saw this group in Portland in, I think, 1972. Great show, and this is a great album.
 
the show I saw at Meriweather Post Pavilion in Maryland had opening act Joe Walsh and group.

Stills came out as an intermission type act between headliners, pulled up a chair and started playing acoustic for awhile. Then invited his neighbor and friend Walsh out to jam. 

Without a doubt some of the finest guitar playing I've been privileged to ever see and hear. 

Then throw in Stills with Manassas ( a super group in and of itself) and man - was that a show.

Pure Gold

Posted 12 years ago by DanFHiggins    [ Reply ]
More Stills, always welcome.
Posted 12 years ago by railroadwail    [ Reply ]
Very nice first time hearing this. Thanks yet again RP.
Posted 12 years ago by RipperP    [ Reply ]
A great track from a sadly forgotten album.
Posted 12 years ago by nagsheadlocal    [ Reply ]
Great! Love it.
Posted 12 years ago by Dahlia_Gumbo    [ Reply ]
 paulmack wrote:

A good ol' Stills track - one of the ones I liked most on this album (preferred his first solo LP more, myself). But this is one I used to play on my college radio station. And, to me, it's always a treat to hear Jerry Garcia playing pedal steel - his work as a sideman on the albums of others (David Crosby, for example) playing pedal steel augments what little we got from his tenure with New Riders of the Purple Sage. I'm no country guy and would never pass myself off as a connoisseur of this instrument, but I always absolutely loved Garcia's take on the instrument. Just a little different (check out 'Dirty Business' from the first NRPS album for a good example of what I mean). Tasty on this tune, too, IMHO.



 
OK, 2.5 years late to respond. I completely agree with you about Garcia's approach to pedal steel. It always stands out as his work alone. I suppose one could find stylistic similarities with his guitar playing, but he seems to have approached the instrument very differently. It works beautifully in the background and as a solo instrument. You are right about Dirty Business (down in Cold Creek, I reckon). Saw NRPS with the Dead in 1971, near the end of his gig with the group. Can't remember much of it today...
Posted 12 years ago by bam23    [ Reply ]
 angelomisterioso wrote:
Desert island top ten album/cd/dvd/itunes
 
What an underrated album this is.

One of my all time favorites.
Posted 12 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]
And I saw the same show in Portland, circa 1972,  and enjoyed the second half—more acoustical.
Posted 12 years ago by Larry_Rosenow    [ Reply ]
Truly a great album... my fav...  Johnnys Garden   AHEM, Bill, can we get a play?

Posted 12 years ago by anotherlistener    [ Reply ]
 KurtfromLaQuinta wrote:


I even had it on 8 track.

I covered all modes.
 
I bought a cassette deck after hearing this on a friends' cassette player (I had 8-track only at the time).  I think this cassette thing might catch on.

Posted 13 years ago by run4more    [ Reply ]
I saw this group in Portland in, I think, 1972. Great show, and this is a great album.
Posted 13 years ago by d-don    [ Reply ]
Desert island top ten album/cd/dvd/itunes
Posted 13 years ago by angelomisterioso    [ Reply ]
Thanks, Bill! I haven't heard this cut in 30+ years. Extraordinary lyrics, music and memories. 
Posted 13 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
Good stuff here!
Posted 13 years ago by whtahtefcuk    [ Reply ]
WONDERFUL!
Posted 13 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
 PeeBee wrote:
Just outstanding! I still love this album. Bought it way back on vinyl and replaced it much later on CD. So many different styles on this album...
 

I even had it on 8 track.

I covered all modes.
Posted 13 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]
I just discovered this album a few months ago.  I don't know how I missed it all these decades.  Fantastic piece of work.  This cut is one of my faves, but there are a lot of others.  I recommend it to any avid RP listener.
Posted 13 years ago by Typesbad    [ Reply ]

Bonnie Raitt - Bluebird (orig. by Steven Stills), Live (1972)

Bonnie Raitt
Sigma Sound Studios
Rainbow Room, WMMR
Philadelphia, PA, US
February 22, 1972

Band Info:
Bonnie Raitt - Guitar, piano, vocals
Dan (Freebo) Freeberg - Bass
T.J. Tindle - Guitar, harp
John Davis - Harp


Posted 13 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]

For What Its Worth - Stephen Stills, Live (1991)

Crosby, Stills & Nash Acoustic Concert
1991, Stephen's Solo performance

"This is effin' brilliant! Stephen Stills has the sexiest voice ever in rock music (or any music) - a fitting gift for this compassionate humanitarian and maestro guitarist..."    mmelindam

 




Posted 13 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
 braincloud wrote:
too much country in this song
 

Well you better not listen to "Jesus Gave Away Love for Free" off of this album.
You'd go into countifried shock.

What a great albun.
Love the Chris Hillman influence on it.
Really like "Both of Us (Bound to Lose)".
Posted 14 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]
One of my all time favorite albums.  I have it in my car and never tire - lots of styles.  Stills is one of those great unheralded musicians - good song writing, and a pretty good guitar player too.
Posted 14 years ago by George_Tirebiter    [ Reply ]
Just outstanding! I still love this album. Bought it way back on vinyl and replaced it much later on CD. So many different styles on this album...
Posted 14 years ago by PeeBee    [ Reply ]
wonderful pedal steel guitar work!
Posted 14 years ago by fatcatjb    [ Reply ]

A good ol' Stills track - one of the ones I liked most on this album (preferred his first solo LP more, myself). But this is one I used to play on my college radio station. And, to me, it's always a treat to hear Jerry Garcia playing pedal steel - his work as a sideman on the albums of others (David Crosby, for example) playing pedal steel augments what little we got from his tenure with New Riders of the Purple Sage. I'm no country guy and would never pass myself off as a connoisseur of this instrument, but I always absolutely loved Garcia's take on the instrument. Just a little different (check out 'Dirty Business' from the first NRPS album for a good example of what I mean). Tasty on this tune, too, IMHO.



Posted 15 years ago by paulmack    [ Reply ]
Not familiar with this one.  Nice.
Posted 15 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
Wonderful!  Stops me dead in my tracks.  He had the best voice of the four and was likely the superior guitar player too.  In concert he was the least flashy but the best musician.  Brings a smile to my face every time.
Posted 15 years ago by walchenbach    [ Reply ]
Bloke is a genius. Long live.
Posted 15 years ago by Mack    [ Reply ]
When Stephen was at the peak of his powers. Beautiful. {#Good-vibes}
Posted 15 years ago by rtrudeau    [ Reply ]
Forgot what a great "solo" career he had (Yes, I consider Manasas Still's band...sue me)
Posted 15 years ago by Randomax    [ Reply ]

 TheJack wrote:
One of the most over rated ever...
 
Yeah, like all those other guys back in the day, i.e. Hendrix, Clapton, Townshend, bunch of pikers!!

Posted 15 years ago by ydjb    [ Reply ]
Stills at his best, Manassas!!!!   {#Clap}

Posted 15 years ago by ydjb    [ Reply ]
wore this one out twice. classic and most excellent
Posted 15 years ago by jktravl    [ Reply ]
I heard awhile back that Steve has prostate cancer. I haven't heard an update. Anybody else heard anything?

BTW, Steve is DEFINITELY the best guitar player in CSN&Y. Sorry, but that's not even open to discussion.

I love Graham, David, and Niel. I'm just saying. {#Clap}
Posted 15 years ago by toterola    [ Reply ]
The true genius of CSN&Y.
The most underrated of the four by a long shot.
Posted 16 years ago by countyman    [ Reply ]
wow - it's great to hear something from the Manassas CD. I had this on vinyl when it first came out. haven't listened in years. thanks ~
Posted 16 years ago by Alifreckles50    [ Reply ]
bokey wrote:
Is that where pollock come from?
Watch it!
Posted 16 years ago by meloman    [ Reply ]
TheJack wrote:
One of the most over rated ever...


You must mean one of the most under-rated ever....... Steven Stills is a true genius. He has very few peers within his genre, IMHO.
This is just one of his many, many unique gems.

Posted 16 years ago by nigelr    [ Reply ]
Opus 347 - Stephen Stills Relentlessly Similar Sonata in Repetive minor in Repetive minor. . .. . 3 . . Zzz
Posted 16 years ago by a_genuine_find    [ Reply ]
One of those records that was played everywhere at one point by people in the '70's, if you didn't own it (I didn't), you'd hear it a lot anyway. I liked it better later, seeing the jams were pretty good even if I initially hadn't liked the songs all that much, it is good background music.
Posted 16 years ago by andrewimft    [ Reply ]
spotcheckbilly wrote:
I wore out this album in college.
Yeah, me too.
Posted 16 years ago by felix_the_man    [ Reply ]
I wore out this album in college.
Posted 16 years ago by spotcheckbilly    [ Reply ]
meydele wrote:
I have memories of this song from when I was a kid . . . it must have been on the radio, or perhaps my cool older cousin had the LP. In any case, it seems that I need to get it myself. This is fairly awesome.
I doubt it was on the radio. Maybe I'm your cool older cousin. Get the CD. It is truly awesome!
Posted 17 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]
I have memories of this song from when I was a kid . . . it must have been on the radio, or perhaps my cool older cousin had the LP. In any case, it seems that I need to get it myself. This is fairly awesome.
Posted 17 years ago by meydele    [ Reply ]
A nice song from a great album How about Johnny's Garden
Posted 17 years ago by inindian    [ Reply ]
too much country in this song
Posted 17 years ago by braincloud    [ Reply ]
This album has better songs on it.
Posted 17 years ago by eastcoast    [ Reply ]
flydguzmon wrote:
This was a major album for me in the early '70's when I was in HS. For awhile Stills really produced some very good material. Play "ANYWAY" if you can someday, Still(s) one of my all time favorites even today!
This disc is a wonderful blend of rock, folk, latin, and ballads. I don't beleive their second effort clicked, but this one is a classic. SS at his best.
Posted 17 years ago by gopre    [ Reply ]
One of the great song writer contributors of our era -- Stills is one them with the talent for weaving melodic and lyrical nets that catch sounds of the soul and spirit...
Posted 17 years ago by DJac    [ Reply ]
rastille wrote:
Booooooooooooooooring
Your keyboard seems to be having trouble with letters sticking. Might be time to look into getting a new one. Oh, not my favorite Stephen Stills song, but it is still oh so easy on the ears.
Posted 17 years ago by FeydBaron    [ Reply ]
Booooooooooooooooring
Posted 17 years ago by rastille    [ Reply ]
WonderLizard wrote:
the bass on this cut wouldn't pass muster in junior high.
Yes Fuzzy Samuels is terrible. Maybe that's why he played bass on "We're Not Gonna Take It" by The Who on "Tommy". (In additon to the good CSNY stuff,including 4 Way Street) Their regular bass player(what's his name) must have been worse than this guy. ocsike wrote:
The song is alright, but don't go looking for Polland on the map. . . :
Is that where pollock come from?
Posted 17 years ago by bokey    [ Reply ]
go_ski_mully wrote:
...sorry chief 10 & 10 ...and now we bomb Polland.
Ooo, that's dark . . . but funny! And you are so right about the 10 & 10! Neil and Stephen are the best.
Posted 17 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
I love this album also. Brings back good memories of high school.
Posted 17 years ago by dixiedeb    [ Reply ]
This in no way deserves being 'lumped' with Neil Young. Very few people deserve such a tragic fate. Stephen Stills singing is easy on the ears and puts one at ease; Neil Young's affect is the antithesis. algrif wrote:
Lump him with Neil Young. A solid 2 in my book.
Posted 17 years ago by MojoJojo    [ Reply ]
Tho' I'm ordinarily loathe to criticize musicians' performances and love this album, the bass on this cut wouldn't pass muster in junior high.
Posted 18 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
go_ski_mully wrote:
...sorry chief 10 & 10 ...and now we bomb Polland.
The song is alright, but don't go looking for Polland on the map... as you won't find anything to bomb. ps.: search for Poland!
Posted 18 years ago by ocsike    [ Reply ]
Johnny's Garden is another nice track from this album.
Posted 18 years ago by birdland    [ Reply ]
Ender43 wrote:
I love this album...
me too ... my favorite back in HS
Posted 18 years ago by jamm    [ Reply ]
algrif wrote:
Lump him with Neil Young. A solid 2 in my book.
...sorry chief 10 & 10 ...and now we bomb Polland.
Posted 18 years ago by go_ski_mully    [ Reply ]
radiojunkie wrote:
Let's see...looks like they're still on the album cover!
hehehe...good one!
Posted 18 years ago by jamm    [ Reply ]
parrothead wrote:
All those names on the album cover. I wonder where they are now?
Let's see...looks like they're still on the album cover!
Posted 18 years ago by radiojunkie    [ Reply ]
This bears repeating.
Posted 18 years ago by rgrace    [ Reply ]
Excellent album. More, please!
Posted 18 years ago by acatamongus    [ Reply ]
All those names on the album cover. I wonder where they are now?
Posted 18 years ago by parrothead    [ Reply ]
algrif wrote:
Lump him with Neil Young. A solid 2 in my book.
I lump them together too, and they both come out 9s.
Posted 18 years ago by meloman    [ Reply ]
This album is one of the best ever. Talk about eclectic!
Posted 18 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]
This was a major album for me in the early '70's when I was in HS. For awhile Stills really produced some very good material. Play "ANYWAY" if you can someday, Still(s) one of my all time favorites even today!
Posted 18 years ago by flydguzmon    [ Reply ]
It's been a long time. Nice to reaquaint myself with this.
Posted 18 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
Lump him with Neil Young. A solid 2 in my book.
Posted 18 years ago by algrif    [ Reply ]
I love this album...
Posted 18 years ago by Ender43    [ Reply ]
One of the most over rated ever...
Posted 18 years ago by TheJack    [ Reply ]
play it some more bill! once again it's now been over 4 years!?!!?!!! come on bill, please.
Posted 20 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]