Chapter from my Musical Journey Book-
England in 1974 was a country in crisis, politically and socially. Strikes, civil unrest, three-day weeks, power cuts, a decaying infrastructure, were troubling many. Saturday September 14th did not seem to be a day where any of that was noticed – at least not by me. Historians look back on this time as something of a dark age (excuse the pun) but to a nineteen year old at the time everything seemed fine, even what must have been a shabby Inter City train from the North seemed ok to me. Even the crumbling Empire relic that Wembley Stadium was becoming seemed impressive that day.
This day was the day of the largest stadium concert up until then, headed by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young but by no means dwarfed by them were Joni Mitchell and Dylan’s trusted collaborators The Band.
Arriving at the twin towers we could hear Jessie Colin Young on stage but as he had been put on earlier than scheduled and it took some time to get into the stadium, we missed seeing him. As we walked into the cavernous space of Wembley to find a seat the bright summery tones of the Eagles ‘Take It Easy’ were being belted out over the sound system. All seemed right with the world and the song captured the mood of what was a glorious late summers day.
The sad passing of Robbie Robertson and Garth Hudson means the lineup of The Band have all left the stage. A generation, my generation, is passing on. Robbie and The Band were musicians I admired as much as anyone. Like many people my introduction to them was via their collaborations with Dylan and how they shaped his sound and influenced so many of the musicians to follow. I so looked forward to their set at Wembley. My recollections here of The Band, Joni and CSNY are nearly fifty years in reflection, but I don’t feel my views have changed over the years, so this is how I saw the day and the astonishing array of talent served up to us on that remarkable day.
The Band were a major disappointment. I appreciated they were performing off the back of what must have been a heavy, stressful tour of the US with Dylan who took them on his reappearance before his adoring public. There was though to my young untrained eye something wrong with them this day. Robbie Robertson was leading from the front as usual but seemed preoccupied and in constant dialogue with others on stage. They were hesitant between numbers, their sound not as seamlessly together as they were on record. Even the adaptable Dylan might have struggled if they had backed him up in this manner. It was only years later when various accounts of this weekend were written that the story of this performance came to light.
Leaving aside that members of the band had seemingly had a late night to say the least prior to the concert, it was related later that one band member was barely functioning, and the hesitation and consultations were because they were winging it on stage, desperately trying to cover for him as they performed as a virtual four piece. Richard Manuel was seemingly not in any condition to perform adding to the usually harmonious performance expected of The Band. The concern was that they could only carry this for so long and indeed the set was cut short. At the time I did not appreciate anything so dramatic was going on, simply puzzled that they were so disappointing – it was sad. At least I saw them, Robbie Robertson led the line as best he could, I enjoyed seeing him in the flesh with his guitar sounding as gorgeous as ever. They were close to the end, ‘The Last Waltz’ was being readied, on this performance it was clear the road had indeed taken its toll.
The Band setlist:
Hard Times the Slop
Just Another Whistle Stop
Stage Fright
The Weight
The Shape I’m In
Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
Across the Great Divide
Endless Highway
Smoke Signal
I Shall Be Released
The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show
Mystery Train
The Genetic Method
Chest Fever
Up on Cripple Creek
Joni came next and such a contrast. She was magnificent. Looking all Parisian casual chic heading the band with dynamic confidence. This was a perfect setting for her. Tom Scott and the LA Express were tight, professional musicians who may have intimidated a lesser talent trying to perform in front of them. They backed her to perfection, but Joni was the director, the female band leader dominating the front of the stage. Her latest album ‘Court & Spark’ formed the backbone of her set and was just the right selection of songs for such a day as this.
Opening with ‘Free Man in Paris’ soaring around the famous old stadium, she went from strength to strength, confidence oozing from every note she sang. She even carried off ‘For Free’, as incongruous as it was in this setting – no one was playing for free here to this 80,000 crowd. Tom Scott and the LA Express added that summer jazz vibe that her set needed, with such complimentary arrangements you would have though they had been all as a band together for years. Looking back at the set list after all these years you could easily put this together on Spotify (other streaming services are available thankfully) and call it your greatest hits list for Joni – ‘A Case of You’ was the glaring omission but I cannot quibble. The encore was the Annie Ross song ‘Twisted’. With a nice touch she brought Annie Ross on stage. An electrifying set came to a conclusion, and she was gone. I never saw her in concert again but what joy to have seen her give such a magnificent performance – unforgettable.
Joni Mitchell setlist:
Free Man in Paris
You Turn Me On, I’m a Radio
Woodstock
Big Yellow Taxi
Rainy Night House
The Last Time I Saw Richard
This Flight Tonight
Raised on Robbery
Same Situation
People’s Parties
Blue
All I Want
Help Me
For Free
Carey
The Last Time I Saw Richard
Twisted
So, to arguably the main reason for being here – Crosby, Stills, Nash AND Young. This was the first time I had seen Neil Young and I have to confess he along with Joni was the main reason I had made the trip from Lancashire. A lot went on this day, however two things stand out, still in full Technicolor after all these years. We were sat in line with the wide walkway that led to the side of the stage and come showtime what can only be described as a tribe of musicians, wives, girlfriends, children, agents, corporate hangers on, slowly moved along to the stage with CSNY in amongst them. I remember the scene well, but my abiding memory is of this one person standing out in this throng as they made their way to the stage – Neil Young. Of all the scores of people he was the only one that your eye focused on. On stage it was even more apparent that only one person was dominating this show and he stalked the stage as if he was playing a solo gig.
That I suppose is the problem with this band, much as I loved them at the time. Young was dominant, you couldn’t take your eyes off him and when he was truly centre stage it was obvious his songs and delivery were on another level. I appreciate some reviews say that the four of them as a unit were glorious, irresistible on this Wembley stage, but I didn’t see it like that. A personal reflection for sure but I have always seen it that way. There were moment of genuine stunning collaboration – ‘Suite Judy Blue Eyes’ for sure, the angry, forceful delivery of ‘Ohio’ was the peak of their togetherness. A song that was probably one of the fastest Young had ever written still packed an emotional punch that saw the four of them all in line and unison belting out a message they all clearly still believed in. The light-show came to the fore on this to add a stunning dimension to a super charged performance. Young’s ‘Helpless’ was another occasion where the individual elements all gelled beautifully and with Joni Mitchell coming on to add ethereal harmony this was a magic moment.
CSNY were all superb musicians in their own right but it was always going to be a night of some musicians are equal, but some are more equal than others. There was always a tension in the group dynamic, each one or in the case of Crosby & Nash the two of them, needing their moment in the spotlight. In reality, before such a large crowd only Neil Young could genuinely pull this off. Crosby and Nash were lost in such a large space and Stephen Stills, well he was just trying too hard. The moments he shared with Neil Young in dualling guitars were exhilarating but the need to win the dual meant neither knew when to stop. Their competitiveness and egos would cause a major split two years later on their Long May You Run tour. Tonight, it was tension driven but at least they stayed on the same stage to the end. I saw Crosby & Nash a couple of years later at Manchester Free Trade Hall and they gave a wonderful performance together, two friends bouncing amicable off each other in a warm, good natured evening of harmonious music and gentle songs. That was the perfect environment for them – Wembley was just too large and impersonal.
The highlights before the successful finale came when Neil Young went centre stage. ‘Traces’ was an unrecorded song that gripped the audience. ‘Pushed it over the End’ came before the closing harmonious finale. Remarkably a song that is legendary for him never releasing it, although a version from this tour and a later collaboration are now on stream. Classic Young with a band, driving them on but always out in front and the focus of attention. Like ‘Cortez the Killer’ it build up with a long intro until Young inserts the narrative building to a simple, effective chorus. A device he uses often, but why not when it is so captivating.
Unquestionably the highlight of the evening was when he played ‘Don’t be Denied’. It was so breathtaking that you almost felt it was time to go home, that was the peak. A number one song for many Young afficionados, it really packed a punch. Young fires out the repeated line ‘Don’t be Denied’ with venom and feeling, with the gorgeous powerful sound of his Gretsch White Falcon highlighting the peaks of this song. It rocked you back in your seat and for the audience on the hallowed turf it must have been like being caught in a wind tunnel. Young was not to be denied this night.
The four of them ended on an extraordinary high – together. You felt that this was in some ways the end, every last ounce of energy and goodwill was pouring out of them. ‘Carry on’ maybe carried on too long but a powerful statement nonetheless. ‘Ohio’ perfectly wrapping up the day and it would have been clear to them on stage that it was in fact the end of their best days of collaboration. It was certainly clear to Neil Young, who headed straight off on a European road trip, that his road was solo and with Crazy Horse. He added a lot to CSNY but he would have too many diverse ideas to stay with the confines of the needs of others. It was a great journey while it lasted though.
So, a mad dash across London to reach a dark and run down Euston station and our train to the North. It was a grubby, tired train but who cared. It was all we knew back then, nothing could dampen the excitement of this day.
CSNY Setlist
Love the One You’re With
Wooden Ships
Immigration Man
Helpless
Military Madness
Johnny’s Garden
Traces
Almost Cut My Hair
Teach Your Children
Only Love Can Break Your Heart
The Lee Shore
Time After Time
It’s All Right
Another Sleep Song
Our House
Hawaiian Sunrise
Star of Bethlehem
Love Art Blues
Old Man
Change Partners
Blackbird
Myth of Sisyphus
Word Game
Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
Déjà Vu
First Things First
Don’t Be Denied
Black Queen
Pushed It Over The End
Pre-Road Downs
Carry On
Ohio
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