On Sep. 20, 1969, at the heart of New York’s electric East Village, the influential folk-rock supergroup Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young (CSNY) performed a concert at the historic Fillmore East venue. One month after their iconic Woodstock set, CSNY recorded a double live album cleverly titled “Live at Fillmore East, 1969.” However, the live album has not been released to the public until now.
Decades after “Live at Fillmore East, 1969” was recorded, it was finally unearthed from the band’s archives and released to the public for the first time on Oct. 25, 2024. The album transports the listener into the groovy ambiance of New York during the late 1960s. “Live at Fillmore East, 1969” features acoustic and electric sets. In the opening song, “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” Stephen Stills uses raw and untouched vocals to start the song, while David Crosby, Graham Nash and Neil Young sing catchy melodic harmonies. The next track is a cover of “Blackbird” by The Beatles. While the song is a loveable classic, the CSNY version falls flat compared to Paul McCartney’s original ethereal sound. In the closing of the electric set, the band ends with a delicate and spirited symphony in the song “Find the Cost of Freedom.” The song continues to linger even after it’s finished, providing the listener with a deep sense of sentimental self-reflection.
When Crosby, the band’s co-founder, died in Jan. 2023 at the age of 81 from complications from contracting COVID-19, fans of CSNY had lost all hope that new music from the band would never be released again. Though all 17 tracks on the album have been heard by the public before, the live, unabridged versions of the songs offer fans a new, unique and authentic listening experience.
“Live at Fillmore East, 1969” is more than just an album; it is a time capsule that captures the magic of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young at the peak of their career. Fans of CSNY, old and young, can experience the unfiltered energy and distinctive harmonies of the live album. In remembrance of the late Crosby, this album serves as both a tribute to his musical influence and a gift to fans who thought there would never be more CSNY music released. The echoes of the album’s acoustic and electric sounds capture the freedom and spirit of the 1960s in New York.
Since their formation in 1968, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young cemented a creative union of some of the most prolific rock and roll musicians from the Woodstock epoch. The newly unearthed release of “Live at Fillmore East, 1969,” is a snapshot of American music history. Not only is the album a gift to the older generations who grew up on CSNY ballads, but it invites a whole new generation of music listeners to discover and appreciate their songs. The release of the album decades after the live performance and years after one of the lead singers died is a testament to the immense impact and longevity of CSNY music. With 20 million records sold and billions of streams, CSNY music remains forever woven into the tapestry of the American folk songbook.
