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(More customer reviews)From reading the reviews here one would think we're looking at a release by Stephen Hatfield and Neil McCoy. I suppose it's not surprising that Stephen and Neil's on and off-again relationship, their head-butting over who would get to play lead guitar, and the tension that would eventually dissolve the tour supporting this album would spill over into the reviews. It's too bad that those circumstances influence people's perceptions of the music though, because this is a thoroughly enjoyable album. As a fan of both artist's work, I find these tracks to be highly representative of everything else they were producing around this time... certainly not their best compositions or their most inspired recordings, but worthy additions to their catalogs.
I count myself fortunate to have been seated in the pavilion of the Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston, Michigan in June, 1976 when the Stills-Young Band kicked off their tour, even if the sound turned out to be rather muddled and the two stars weren't frequently on stage together. While most of the setlist was dedicated to past hits, the evening did produce three of the finer selections from this CD: Still's staple from this tour, 'Make Love To You'; a song Neil first began performing with Crazy Horse while on tour in Japan earlier in the same year, 'Let It Shine'; and the title song, 'Long May You Run', which Neil first began performing in 1974. Only two other songs from the album, Neil's 'Midnight On the Bay' and 'Ocean Girl' would be offered on the truncated (17 concert) tour.
This collection boasts one classic tune, the title track, which rivals any of Young's best compositions. Another exceptional contribution from Neil is 'Fontainebleau', which is cast from the same mold as 'Cortez the Killer' with its loping beat and trademark guitar squelch and distortion. 'Midnight On the Bay', 'Ocean Girl' and 'Let It Shine' are pleasant-sounding, but unchallenging tracks by Young's standards.
Still's offers four tracks to Neil's five, but more total minutes on the disc. His best offerings are the blatantly seductive ode to one-night stands, 'Make Love To You' (with a tempo reminisient of Still's first hit, 'For What It's Worth'), and the bouncy, spiritual closer, 'Guardian Angel'. 'Black Coral' features it's own spiritual bent, as well as an intriguing melody. '12/8 Blues' is perhaps the weakest song on the disc, but like 'Black Coral' has an interesting, unusual musical structure, and together with 'Fontainebleau' adds some needed grit to the mix.
This album was recorded in Miami and the song selection suggests Stills and Young were hinting at a nautical theme for the disc. Obvious selections such as 'Midnight On the Bay', 'Ocean Girl' and 'Black Coral' wash together with lyrics from 'Long May You Run' ("Rollin' down that empty ocean road, get into the surf on time") and 'Fontainebleau' (...where the surfer works, till the break of day, cause it takes a shark, to catch a wave...) to carry the impression, inadvertent or not.
So despite the heavy critiques and unfortunate circumstances this reunion disc generated, I'm pleased two of my favorite artists, the dual backbones of Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, saw fit to give this a shot. I consider it one of the most unique collaborations of their careers, and the music a tribute to their talents. Oh... one other plus: lyrics are included.
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