i cannot put into words how grateful i am to watch this footage right now and whenever i want.. this is one of my all time favourite songs and this is such an incredible performance!!!! csny are simply magical. i'm glad to be here to hear this. i will never stop loving and listening to this song.
Written out of respect for the gardener at Ringo's home in Surrey, where Stlls stayed before buying the much loved property. Johnny treated all the flora on that property like his beloved children. A beauty of a song, here treated with love & respect. ❤
There was a rumour at the time that Johnny's Garden was John Lennon's house. I used to put it on, stoned, and I'd be dancing around to it in the room alone. That was at the peak of my life, when I used to think I was immortal. Roy Harper
Stills wrote this, documenting a period in his life, as well as honoring John the gardener of Brookfield House in Elstead, Surrey (previously owned by Spencer Tracy, then Peter Sellers, then Ringo Starr, then Stills). John tended the huge estate's outdoors brilliantly, and Sellers, Starr and Stills all knew and loved & respected John. First released on Stills' band Manassas' 1972 debut album. It's just a gorgeous, soulful, heartfelt song.
When them 4 got together and sang, they looked at each other and knew that they were kings of vocaldom....this can’t change. It’s the last chapter of voices. And The world knew it. But Neil and his harmonica box track wanna be too much like Dylan !
Tonight we are watching the presidential state of the union. My husband and I disagree on political ideals. I put in my earbuds, and spent time in Johnny's Garden. It brought me peace as well. 🌱🌼 Thank you for some tranquility tonight❤
This is a beautiful song. I listened to it on CD about half a dozen times while having breakfast this morning, before heading into the city centre - I live on a hillside, overlooking a beautiful harbour and peninsula. I like a number of Stills' songs; this isn't his best song, but it is my favourite of all his songs. He's the full package, but he is definitely better in a band than solo.
Dude you must be crazy, Stills is the engine of this band and many of his recordings both before and after CSN prove him to be one the most talented and best guitarists of our time. Both He and Neil Young run rings around the solo careers of Nash and Crosby. However all of them together made magic. I prefer his solo acoustic work better than anything else he does. I've played myself for 50 years and find Stills guitar work as well as his vocals and lyrics unmatched.
Here's some background from Stephen Stills on what inspired this tune. During Stephen's sojourn in England in the 80s when he "joined the English muso set" & hung around with "Ritchie" (Ringo Starr), Eric Clapton, Keef Richards, Klaus Voorman, Mo (Maurice) Gibb & others, he liked the English country side & the vibe so much, he bought a home called, Brookfield House in Elstead, Surrey, which Ringo bought from Peter Sellers. With that home & its huge rambling grounds & flowing stream, came a gardener (Much loved by both Peter, Ringo & obviously, Stephen as well), named Johnny. This gardener was the basis of the lead character in that WONDERFULLY inspiring, thought provoking & enthralling movie called "Being There". If you haven't yet seen that movie, I'd like to suggest that you do. It would add to the magic of this tune.... Johnny was that character, but "without the suit". Stephen referred to Johnny as "with grey hair, now departed & an absolute character ! Also that he was completely unintelligible". Mind you then, with all the different dialects & accents in that fair Isle, I know what he meant ! But Johnny "lived with his flaura, as if they were his children" & that says it all for me.
John Knottenbelt Wow!!!! I loved this song (in its acoustic version) something like 40 years ago when I first heard it. One of my all time favorites; and now, just before we greet 2017, to read the story behind not only this wonderful song but also its' relevance to "Being There"... What can I say? I am grateful dear friend!! Thank you for this most valuable contribution!
Drove my Triumph TR4 from LBI to Atlantic City racetrack in '74 w/o a ticket. Came in through the stables. After having a smoke - jumped the fence & witnessed magic happen. Santana opened. Hey Mike from Quakertown - you out there?
I bit the bullet, up and left suburban Long Island, New York for the heartland of Missouri. I can relate to this song. When I get on my trusty Sears lawn tractor, I always have the whole Manassas double album playing on my headphones. And not a a care in the world.
Neil on on a very very rare White Falcon? Brilliant! No reissued White Falcons had been commissioned in 1974 ... it's a real one* how I could never afford a real White Falcon being over one hundred thousand dollars? 😤 just wondering what happened with that guitar 🎸? Of course the lineup of performers on this performance or very Special overlooking guitars 🎸 🤔
Stills is on - one of my favorite songs. And you can see/hear when Neil comes in. Ouch. Egos. Love them both, but dang I guess the divorce was inevitable.
You actually see Nash roll his eyes. Crosby gives no fucks. Great "band" but totally dysfunctional even from the early days. Anyone want to sleep with Joni?
Love Stills and the Gretsch guitar but acoustic version is the best version. This was in their heyday when Crosby wasn’t so bloated and Neil young jammed with them before David’s drug use and stupid comments tore them apart.
The real shame here is that these guys were so coked up, they lost the opportunity to really showcase their true talents...and I'm a huge fan, especially of Stills...but it was what so many of these bands were caught up in during these times...
