British guitarist analyses Crosby, Stills, Nash AND Young flying the FREAK flag! 

Stephen Stills is one UNDER RATED guitarist, i have always love his songs whether as CSN or in Buffalo springfield. Excellent musician

I've had the honor of seeing David Crosby perform solo, with Graham Nash, and as CSN (sadly no Y). At a CSN concert in 90's, Stills and Nash were leaving the stage and Nash hit center C on the piano. David set down his microphone, stepped to the edge of the stage, and belted out, totally acappella, the most beautiful, concert hall filling rendition of "My Country Tis of Thee". With no mic! Bringing tears to the eye and the crowd to their feet. There is NOTHING more awe-inspiring than that...

David Crosby, the lion of LA made it to 2023. When I saw you at Woodstock in 1969 I never dreamed I'd be watching you on RU-vid in 2023. We made it this far David, don't ask me how. I'll be there soon, along with my hair. It's longer than Fil's, in fact it's longer than it was at Woodstock. We made history man, and Fil is keeping it alive. Thanks Fil, you're the best.

As someone who had real long hair in 1971, this song and the album 4 way street were very meaningful. The cops would constantly pull you over and check for dope, your family was on you all the time. But we didnt give in

I love CSN. One reason why is because of the range of music styles in their catalog. Crosby's blues, Stills' Latin inspired rock, and Nash's folksy pop. Then when they come together and just throw energy into a jaw dropping harmony... amazing.

Fil, let your freak flag fly as long as you like. Hair don’t mean shite, it what’s inside the cranium that matters. You are brilliant!

I’ve always loved Stephen Stills’ guitar work.

Gotta do Stills acoustic on Suite Judy Blues live. Life changing.

I’m a child of the 70’s and I love your hair. Another awesome review. Your podcast rocks!

BIG ol' bunch o' cocaine going on there. But these guys were/ are great! Haven't seen this performance before. I really like it. Flying my freak flag for quite a number of years, and love this song. Stills and Young are two of my favorites for the reasons you point out, Fil. They are both unique and recognizable. Simplicity, packed with feeling. You RARELY find this in modern mainstream music. Even underground players have difficulty pulling it off. Another winner, sir.

I love your commentary and the wide range of music you explore. One note on this song. David Crosby told Rolling Stone magazine that he wrote this song soon after Robert Kennedy was murdered and the “felt like I owe it to someone” line refers to Kennedy.

I love your reaction and analysis! I find it interesting that you note how vocalist and musicians pushed themselves while on stage. I think back then, we were all just living in the moment. They were giving their all to us, the audience, and we were giving it back. With money, sponsorship, and big business, I don't see bands risking themselves onstage like they did back in the day. Thanks for another great reaction, oh, and please don't cut your hair. I love your individuality!

Well there you go again Fil bringing out the best and my I say on point for the feel of the music as it's being performed. Love seeing these jam sessions thet used to be performed at shows. As always another great analogy.

What a wonderful band, they were undoubtedly four incredible musicians and also known by their unbelievable harmonies! Without Young they would go on to create masterpieces, still listen to this day.

I only found your videos today but have already watched maybe 15 or so of them. I grew up in the 60's and 70's so these were my teenage go to concerts and music. I listen to them all the time but what I find the most fun watching them over again with you is your facial expressions. It is so fantastic to see younger people smile and their eyes sparkle when listening to greatest musicians of all time which the majority of them were from the 60's and 70's. You might get a few every decade that make a good song or two now but there were 100's of them back then. They were all competing to do better than the others and to make it to the top 10 back then was a major accomplishment to beat out all the competition.

Another informative video. Thanks Fil. You are an excellent instructor. Your thoughts are always very well expressed and informative. Rock

Each one of them are legends who changed the face of music and the face of music for generations. Great post.

Just a few days ago I pulled out an old CD of CSN&Y (So Far) and listened to it while driving through the Mojave Desert. Haven't listened to them in quite a while. Saw them in concert back in the late 80's. Great video 👍 😎🤘

There was an old tv show footage of them doing Down By the River by Neil...the back and forth guitar that Stills and Young did is priceless.

Fil, you're a great guy. I was young then, so I know you would have fit in really well back in the Sixties and Seventies. It's easy to imagine you there.

HI FIL YOU DO SUCH A VERY GOOD JOB. LOVE YOU AND YOUR VIDEOES. CROSBY STILLS AND YOUNG ROCKS. LOVE THEIR SONGS. THANKS FIL . PEACE AND LOVE

Great stuff. Thanks. Always liked their studio work.

Oh yeah. I cut my hair when I was 59 years (not old) after growing a "chrome dome" (I was 22 years in '74). You are right Fil this was an anthem for we San Francisco hippie/freaks. In Marin where these guys lived just before they magically grew together in The Canyon, it was a lifestyle of what seemed a majority I can say without fear of overstating. It seemed all of us were somehow attached to the music world in one way or another. Hunter S. Thompson said it best: "The Wave Speech" "Strange memories on this nervous night in Las Vegas. Five years later? Six? It seems like a lifetime, or at least a Main Era - the kind of peak that never comes again. San Francisco in the middle sixties was a very special time and place to be a part of. Maybe it meant something. Maybe not, in the long run . . . but no explanation, no mix of words or music or memories can touch that sense of knowing that you were there and alive in that corner of time and the world. Whatever it meant. . . . History is hard to know, because of all the hired bullshit, but even without being sure of “history” it seems entirely reasonable to think that every now and then the energy of a whole generation comes to a head in a long fine flash, for reasons that nobody really understands at the time - and which never explain, in retrospect, what actually happened. My central memory of that time seems to hang on one or five or maybe forty nights - or very early mornings - when I left the Fillmore half-crazy and, instead of going home, aimed the big 650 Lightning across the Bay Bridge at a hundred miles an hour wearing L. L. Bean shorts and a Butte sheepherder's jacket . . . booming through the Treasure Island tunnel at the lights of Oakland and Berkeley and Richmond, not quite sure which turn-off to take when I got to the other end (always stalling at the toll-gate, too twisted to find neutral while I fumbled for change) . . . but being absolutely certain that no matter which way I went I would come to a place where people were just as high and wild as I was: No doubt at all about that. . . . There was madness in any direction, at any hour. If not across the Bay, then up the Golden Gate or down 101 to Los Altos or La Honda. . . . You could strike sparks anywhere. There was a fantastic universal sense that whatever we were doing was right, that we were winning. . . . And that, I think, was the handle-that sense of inevitable victory over the forces of Old and Evil. Not in any mean or military sense; we didn’t need that. Our energy would simply prevail. There was no point in fighting - on our side or theirs. We had all the momentum; we were riding the crest of a high and beautiful wave. . . . So now, less than five years later, you can go up on a steep hill in Las Vegas and look West, and with the right kind of eyes you can almost see the high-water mark - that place where the wave finally broke and rolled back."

I saw Crosby, Stills, & Nash about a year and a half ago in Portland and they still have it. David can still belt it out and is still writing. He performed a song that he had recently wrote and performed it for the first time. Stephen was amazing on the guitar. I think Stephen Stills is underrated as a guitar player. Graham still has the voice and can really hit the high notes and harmonize really well.

It's just a great blues track. Always been a favourite of mine. Thanks Fil.

I first grew my hair long in 8th grade, 1971, in a small Iowa town that had very little long hair around. It was a huge deal! And because of the struggle and bs I had to go through it helped shape me into the man i became. And so I've let my freak flag fly to this very day! Btw, yours looks great!

Spot on, Fil....be yourself!!! Haven't heard these guys in quite a while. You have been taking me back to my youth! Keep up the awesome analyses, Fil. You ROCK!!!!

WTG. My fave song. I'm gonna let my freak flag fly!!!! We can all relate. Great job. I've enjoyed your sessions on the music of my era. Thoroughly enjoyable. Great guitar syncrony. God putthem together for his personal enjoyment.

Love this tune. Don't cut your hair Fil, you're too cute... 😊

Love your analyses, your enthusiasm for music from my generation AND your hair! Glad you embrace your uniqueness. Thx for the videos!

Just love these guys and their music. Thank you for doing this. The first outdoor rock concert I went to was CSN in Santa Barbara in 1970 or 71. (Thank you, Danny, for inviting me.) We were in high school and both had long hair. A few years later I saw David Crosby perform this song acoustic solo at Bread and Roses Festival in Berkeley. He was very intense and kinda scary. Now I'm just another old lady who misses the past. Fil, I totally agree with your admonition to be yourself. Nobody has the right to tell you how to be You! 🎶

Mr. Fil, you'd look great in long hair, short hair or no hair! You have that million dollar smile that looks good with anything! I love your hair just the way it is! You're going to have killer looks no matter what you do!! Much❤❤❤❤ from Lisa.

Love love this whole bluesy rock vibe.

This is a great song and I love their music. Your analysis are always priceless ☮😊

So Fil, I'm a contemporary of this band. Born in 1947, went to Vietnam in 1967, and have had long hair ever since. Even today, my hair is half way down my back and I wear it either in a pony tail or braid it. Since yesterday I have had two encounters with black people involving my hair. The first, yesterday, in a Big Box spirit store, three young black men were coming in and one said, "long hair, don't care." Today, waiting for a doctor's appointment an older black man said, "I'm digging your hair." We met again on the way out and I shook his hand and wished him luck and he said, "take care of that hair." So, never cut your hair. My hair is an inseparable part of who I am. Seeing Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young live, is to this day, my all time favorite concert. You do more to elevate real music than any other person on the internet. Kudos.

My favorite part of CSN&Y is Y. Mainly because of how much the music really moved him. I love music that makes me feel. He’s also got a warmer voice than David. Hubby loves all of them. As far as what people look like or wear, we have always loved individual expression. Except the waistband below the bottom thing. Boys and men especially. I’ve seen enough skidmarks tyvm. But the hair? I’ve never seen the difference between a boy with long hair and a girl. It’s just hair. Rock on to your own tune guys! Hubby says thank you Fil. Great video.

Fil, at my age I can only be jealous of your hair. Funny that both Crosby and Stills at this time were kinda losing their hair. Stills has always been one of my favorite guitarists. ROCK!!

Everytime I've seen these guys together or individually it's been very very great and I've actually been to see them a lot of times over the years , csny was so great though all together

So glad I stumbled across your channel. When the world seems harsh, with unrelenting negativity, I can relax and just chill with one your videos. It’s nice to get a dose of good music and analysis delivered by someone who seems like an encouraging, genuinely nice person (you, lol). 👍

Greatest folk blues song of all time for me This song is my childhood sitting with my dad as he played record after record from his collection of nearly 12k vinyl. Guitar is the one instrument that has the ability to express such complex emotions to fill out the empty space between the melody and the beat. These 4 artists all have gutar skills that blend together as seemlessly harmonies.

The late Author Dave McGowan writes about everyone here esp. David Crosby and his ancestor's who WERE all in the American establishment in "Weird Scenes inside the Canyon" . It's MORE than worthwhile finding out the truth about the Laurel Canyon Musician's & how inorganic and contrived the whole "Hippie scene" was in reality. Cheers Fil!

Fil: whatever you do, don't cut your hair! You so remind me of the guys/musicians back in the day. Great stuff! Great analysis as always, too!

Stills with widest guitar strap ever. Oh yeah, saw Crosby at The Boathouse in Santa Barbara back on a glorious winter January day in '19. We met eyes and it was a quick recognition then just leave him alone. Dining mate JD Souther was at their table, too. I don't think anyone else recognized them as everyone were tourists from some other part of the world and half our age or less. LOL

I truly enjoy your evolutionary process to the podcast that you have now, but as a non-musician I miss the early days when I discovered you and you would let a song play almost completely through and do your analysis.❤

Don't remember seeing this live performance...Thanks for the analysis! I still listen to them when I need to "separate the wheat from the chaff". Timeless.

As a young kid, I remember this on the radio. Always loved it. Imagine hearing Free, CCR, The Troggs, Janis, Rare Earth, and Neil Young, just to name a few, all in the same hour, on AM radio!!!!

I can’t even imagine your hair cut. It wouldn’t be YOU. Good analysis of the emotion of the performance.

Great performance. Nice jam there, that song really wanted me to get a Convertible with the top down and crank it all the way on the dial, just cruise!!!!

That's funny and I can relate.. in a different way. You said people ask why you don't cut your hair and your response is, why don't you grow your hair long? People often tell me I am too kind and too sensitive. My response is always, maybe you aren't sensitive enough. BAM! Music speaks so many languages and unites so many different kinds of people... ROCK!

David has personal experience with seeing a police car in his rear view mirror. The haircuts the Beatles were sporting in 1964 were objectionable, but the time we got to the Summer of Love there was a clear societal / generational divide that was easily recognizable by hair and dress. There were definitely areas where long hair could get your ass kicked or a night in the local jail.

Aaaahhhh, yes -- my anthem during the 1960s. Buffalo Springfield brought me here. Fly your freak flag high!

Awesome & I thank thee for all. I was born in 57 so I can & do relate alot to your choices in Music!.

Incredible talent (CSNY)......enjoyed your review very much!

Fil, you have fabulous hair. I love your analysis of and obvious respect for country artists like Glen Campbell, Waylon Jennings, and especially Roy Clark. Thank you for recognizing all the amazing talent that represent the soundtrack of Boomer lives!

Hey Neil, I see letter “S” for wife Susan (the unknown legend ;) You’re my fave NEILLY!

Been a fan of CSN(Y) since before they existed (Buffalo Springfield, The Hollies, The Byrds). I was lucky enough to actually catch the 74/75 tour in Houston, when I was a freshman in college. They would go from absolutely rocking (like this song), then switch to acoustic and fantastic harmonies. THANK YOU for reviewing!!!

I saw Crosby, Stills, and Nash about 15 years ago. The concert was pretty good, although Stephen Sills had a bit of trouble staying on pitch and (from my high vantage point) was enjoying a few cocktails. Graham Nash was truly magical on vocals, and at one point David Crosby comes up to the mike and says, (paraphrasing from an old memory) "Stephen writes rock songs that sell millions and make the crowds cheer. Graham writes songs with soaring harmonies that sell millions and make the crowds cheer. Me? I write the weird shit.", and then he plays one of his songs, and it was pretty weird.

Lord I saw CSN in 2014 in a small venue. Love the Haight Asbury years! I cried when he played Delta. His voice is still very strong even now. What a group of crazed, smart hippies who ‘ got on’ perfectly, musically speaking. Stills is in a league of his own. David was born breaking a mold. Great analysis and Fil, keep your hair!!!!! Long haired male musicians are what most people love and expect! Long Time Gone is one of my top 5 favorite CSN songs! Neil is just nasty on that guitar! It’s almost, in my opinion, angry. Love it! I can only play a C cord but I can groove to each note and separate the guitar sounds which is a blessing!

Another band you could spend a year just analyzing! the four main members CSN&Y are each talented in their own rights. cool performance here. great analysis ! as they said back in the 1960's (It's not the hair on top you should be concern about, it's the minds underneath?) thanks for this one Fil.

Mr.Stills seems to be running things in this number, and his playing is tops!

Phil, I do love your channel!

Marrakesh Express, their cover of 'Woodstock', Ohio, Guinevere ... so many great songs.

Hello Fil, Another great video and commentary as always. I had friends who were really into Steven Stills and his guitar playing, but on my limited budget I chose the heavier guitar music like Deep Purple, mostly because you only heard the top 40 songs in the country on the radio. AM radio at that. I heard the songs from these guys with the great harmonies, but I never heard this. I keep hearing all this stuff I missed growing up and realizing just how much talent came out in the 60s and into the 70s, up until the (ugh) disco era. No wonder people were doing so many drugs. I mean except me of course. No really. lol I always think about Bob Dylan’s Lyrics “I’m gonna grow my hair down to my feet so strange, so I look like a walking mountain range.” I was a child in the 60s, and everybody I wanted to be like (rock stars with guitars, and groupies), had long hair. I wanted long hair, but I was only ten in 1970, and it was either go out on my own or cut my hair. I’m not 10 anymore and I ain’t cuttin’ my hair!!! Sorry, I got carried away. Thanks Fil.

I grew up with Deja Vu, an absolutely amazing album, everyone from my era owned that album. I tell ya Fil, I feel so fortunate to have been born in an era when I could listen to the bands of the 70's live. Life was great back then, V8 muscle cars, a myriad of bands from soft rock to hard rock, metal, everything was there, it was such a diverse time of music. If If could I'd go back to the 70's and never return. Interestingly Dave Crosby sounds a bit horse here, he must have been singing too much at this time. Great analysis as usual Fil, thank you buddy.

Yes very much a social statement, still on the hair...I wear it long too ...I took off my hat and said imagine that; me, workin' for you...

I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for 40+ years. Never gave a thought to long hair, short hair or no hair. To me, it wasn't a revolution thing but a personal choice. This is an amazing video. Didn't have an opportunity to see them live, but love their music.

I’m a girl from the 70’s and I love your hair Fil!

Oh yes love these guys😃 what a jam on few words nothing complicated😆👉love this breakdown fil😀🤙

Also very close to my heart, in fact I'm including this number in my Jam band: "Classic Case", it is just a brilliant song.

that was a great performance, I'm really only recently appreciating Mr. Crosby's talents, what a shame Neil and David had a falling out, thanks for this one Fil, cheers. Rock.

Stephen Still is an amazing talent on many instruments. Most folks completely miss that fact. I saw him solo in a small club in the 70s where he chatted back and forth with all of us. When he plays with Neil Young there is a strange synergy that elevates everything.

Best version of “Cut my hair”, WOW👍 Where can I find it? Really JAMMIN🎸

One of my favorite Croz songs. Saw him recently with the Sky Trails band...Still sounds as good as ever.

So true, We humans are each so unique some freakier than others. Hell yea for our freak quality!

Great commentary as usual, Fil. In my opinion, this song has a deeper meaning than just wearing your hair long as a protest against the establishment. I was in 20 years old when the song came out, during the height of the Vietnam War. (It was released in March, 1970, a few months before "Ohio" was released by CSN&Y in May of that year. I was in college at the time, and remember "Ohio" playing from a dorm room window a short time after the Kent State killings). In my interpretation, Crosby's line "I feel like I owe it to someone" is a way of expressing solidarity with those who protested the war, and for those who died. Almost 60,000 Americans were killed in that war, with many times that number of Vietnamese and Cambodians killed. Crosby is one of the great lyricists of popular music, and this line is one of his best. You would have had to have lived through this to really understand why the lyrics of this song move people of my generation. It was a very dark time in the history of our country.

Good review...you should do Carry On, Wimbley Stadium, 1974. I'm going to attempt time travel here and span from one reply to another. On Dec. 5, 2019, I replied to a Mommas and Pappas video. I told the story of Cass planning to kidnap Grahm Nash. The meeting took place at Joni Mitchel's house and not Crosby's. Loved CSN&Y since their inception and all the variations through time. One major point about this group of individuals is that their music dealt with real life, explored and exposed issues that involved human traits. How we see ourselves and 'the other', relationships good and bad. Examples: Nash's LetThe Water Carry Us Away, Stills We Are Not Helpless, Neils Southern Man, Crosby's What Are Their Names?. Many issues that most would run from and attempt to hide from. When getting to this group you will see, many things. Crosby, "what's going on in my head???"

Back in the late 60s/early 70s, the long hair rebelliousness was a counter response to the military (with their short haircuts) and the Vietnam war. The anti-war crowds and returning Vietnam vets would grow their hair long.

I continue to be just stunned by your analyses of music made in the early 70s when I was lucky enough to be just a younger teenager from your young perspective in 2019. Your commentary on the lyrics is so spot on - yes, long hair was a sign of being anti-establishment compared to today (style choice, or in the case of the 'man bun', a dictate of fashion). But what you say about the music just so nails it. Not my favourite CSN&Y track by far but after hearing this version I am a fan. Great work!

I am almost 70 years young, and my hair is once again, just like in 1969, down to my waist. Why? Because I am once again letting my freak flag fly...lol.. Anyone that doesn't understand this song, wasn't a "freak" in 1969. You damned right it means something. I just mentioned this song today to my young cousin when talking about why my hair is long again. . Coincidence that I come home and see this Fil?. I think not. Maybe not. I am reliving my youth, the times we are living in now, make it imperative. PEACE

From one freak to another it’s more important to be yourself than to conform to what someone else’s idea of normal is. I’ve always loved this song!

Love Stills when he collaborated with Al kooper and Mike Bloomfield on the album titled " Super Session" and especially the Donovan's song "Season of the Witch"

"A little bit of expression" Neil expresses more with one note than most players can express playing every note.

CSNY are one of my favorite bands! They are great musicians separately but together they are magic! Seen them many times & wish they would tour again. 🤘🎵✌ BTW I love your hair!

Amen Fil... be you bro.. obviously you’re completely comfortable in your own skin! Keep rockin ✊🏼 Thanks man... Great song choice.. who ever asked

I have to agree with David about the lyrics, I'm afraid! This is not my favourite CS&N (& Y) song, but that's more a function of the majority of their output being so absolutely marvelous! I've been a great Stephen Stills fan since I first came across him on the "Super Session" album, together with Al Kooper et al. Stephen is, in my opinion, sadly underrated as a guitarist, songwriter and singer. I spent the second half of my teens growing up in apartheid South Africa, where for a man or boy to have long hair was to risk getting beaten up and/or expelled from school. When I went back to UK in the early seventies I just let it grow! By then I was just one of thousands and nobody stared or made remarks. Now, I hardly have enough to grow it long, unfortunately! As always, Fil, a very interesting and informative video. Thanks!

Music a great way to share Ideas without conflict Parliament should be a song contest where ideas are jammed by musical groups.

Fil my man CSNY now that is a righteous band. Well done rock on

The original Super Group. My personal favorite live performance is Southern Man, from Four Way Street...I loved when they added Neil Young...and then there's Rust Never Sleeps Live. What can you say about these guys. They defined a generation with their sound. Cheers Fil, great breakdown as usual.

Another great live performance is their Southern Man track, 1970 @ Fillmore East. Check it out Fil.

Great song. I still hear people today say “let my freak flag fly”. I wish they had tried to play the very difficult lead which walks down.....but CSNY are still Awesome

Big fan of CSN&Y, great band, great song, Stills and Young, two great guitarists and amazing song writing

I haven't heard this version before with the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young combo. It's quite different to Dave's version on his If I Could Only Remember My Name album, which is a lot slower and softer; more melodic. Both versions are really powerful. Great stuff. :)

Deffo rock my world since it came out..(im 64) saw them at wembley with Joni 1974..still got long hair now

Yo, Fil: Another concert memory. My GF at the time in the mid 80s took me to see CS&N in concert (no Neil Young). Very good show, and fantastic seats (mid third row). The only problem was the college kids were used to much more rowdiness at concerts. As a result, I believe it was Graham Nash who asked everybody to sit down, and shut up, so they could hear their harmonies. That still cracks me up! Great reaction as always. Rock!

makes me want to binge on some CSN&Y and I didn't cut my hair for many years

love your voice Fil

Great songs always lead those who capture them. Wherever they want to go. That's why these song chasers are so interesting on the long run.

Fantastic.

I also love CSNY and in this video I would like to further point out as it is evident in this 'live performance' where a solo performance is presented which in the early years of rock concerts it was a part of the event presentation that the audience anticipated and looked forward to listen where an artist could take the lead and enhance the song for a short transitional moment be it drums, bass, lead, keyboard or percussion; the point being it was enjoyed as part of the listening environment. This particular song 'Almost Cut My Hair" from the Deja' Vu 1970 Albums many great songs plus [Woodstock, Deja Vu, 4 + 20] I remember listening so much as in my home it was on vinyl record and in my car it was on 8 track :) !

" I'm goin' find a space inside a laugh, yes Separate the wheat from some chaff..." I'm glad you left your hair as is Fil. I let my freak flag fly in many ways and all I can say is I am who I am and I don't want it any other way. Lol.