05-25-2019, 07:31 PM
(05-25-2019, 07:15 PM)Juniper Wrote:Yeah I saw that when I looked to try and find the first time Neil played with Crosby stills and Nash.(05-25-2019, 05:51 PM)tvguy Wrote:(05-25-2019, 05:20 PM)Juniper Wrote:(05-25-2019, 05:11 PM)tvguy Wrote:He could harmonize with them, yes. But truth be told, Neil's voice is the worst of the 4. You say he was off key Cortez. He often is. His singing voice is not strong. It just is a great fit for his songs and the right pitch to fit with what they were doing. I honestly believe it's because his voice is fragile and often barely able to hit the range he is singing in that makes his voice perfect for his songs and music. I know a lot of people though, who will say they can't listen to Neil BECAUSE of his voice.(05-25-2019, 04:54 PM)Juniper Wrote: I love Neil's voice. I think it adds a very specific quality to his own very unique songs. But you are wrong. That's not why he joined CSNY. He joined CSNY because CSN was going on tour. CSN's one really good musician was Stills. He was doing most of the complex musical stuff for the band. Crosby was rhythm guitar. Nash was mostly the high vocalist. CSN needed a good instrumentalist to join them on their tour. Stills knew Neil from their Buffalo Springfield days, and suggested him. That's why he joined them. As soon as he did he changed everything about them because his style was so strong. Some feel to their detriment. But not me. People forget he was at Woodstock. He didn't want the filmographers to film him, so he's barely in the footage. Neil being the old curmudgeon he was and is was kicking them if they got too near him.I love Neil's voice.
IMO so did everyone including Crosby Still and Nash. Yes there were looking for someone and someone with talent playing guitar like that had with Stills.
But I clearly remember Crosby and Nash talking about the first time they played with Neil that they knew INSTANTLY he was going to be in their band.
I get they were not looking for a voice but Neils voice fit in and harmonized beautifully and they knew it right off the bat.
It just is a great fit for his songs and the right pitch to fit with what they were doing
Well that's exactly what I'm saying and I remember some old video where Crosby and Nash said exactly that. I can't find it though.
I know a lot of people though, who will say they can't listen to Neil BECAUSE of his voice.
You can find a "lot of people" that think just about anything. And even if a lot didn't like his voice obviously a lot did. I still believe his unique voice may have been his best asset as far as his rise to popularity.
For me I think it was his clever ways to play an acoustic guitar.
What I remember about Graham Nash's opinion on Neil was that he wasn't really sure about having Neil in the group at all, but was won over after meeting with him for breakfast. He also said that the effect of having Neil in the group was like lobbing a hand grenade into a vacuum.
He said they NEEDED musical skills badly and wanted to lose their kind of goodie two shoes rep and that Neil would bring a "darker element"
And that surprised me because I didn't think of Neil that way.. The rolling Stones, yes. Clapton Yes.