Stephen Stills
The Dr. Pepper Concert Series in Central Park NY
Summer 1979 & 1980
This long running concert series, formerly sponsored by Schaeffer
Beer, ended in 1980, due to the
reconstruction of Wollman Skating Rink. The seating was "festival
style" (non-reserved), with the
"cheap seats" on the bleachers for $2.00 and the pricey tickets
on the floor for $4.00 bucks. The name
of the game if you wanted to get in the running for a primo seat,
was to wait online in the park, till the
doors opened; whence you "ran" to claim your domain for the evening.
I was fortunate to get up front for
shows like Johnny Winter and Stephen Stills in the summers of
1979 and 1980.
Once the decision to renovate the skating rink was in place, it
was deemed that promoter Ron Delsener
would not be allowed to set up shop there again. He sought out
a new location for the outdoor concert
series, and brought the shows to Pier 84, on the East Side of
NYC, hunkered between the "Circle Line"
and the Battleship "The Intrepid." The festival's sponsor became
another bad beer, (Miller) this time and
the shows ran there thru the summer of 1991. CSN played two shows
at the Pier in 1984 with the
Fabulous Thunderbirds, and two in 1985 with The Band. I have deeply
ingrained memories of Richard
Manuel (formerly of "The Band") sitting at the merchandise booth,
that tour. What a talent that we lost
in Richard. Some of the others I saw grace that stage were Joe
Cocker, Paul Butterfield, Jorma
Kaukonen, Gregg Allman, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Ian Hunter, King Crimson,
etc....
The Summer of 1979, WPLJ radio station, which used to be an AOR
rock station, aired a number
of the shows from the Festival, live on-the-air. The Stills '79
and '80 shows were part of the live
broadcasts, and have been highly circulated in the tape trading
community.
The day of the show in July '79, I waited for the doors to open,
with some new friends, I met while on line.
I got to be there for the sound check and Stills greeted the crowd,
stomping his feet in glee, waving at us.
Once inside I secured my section and awaited showtime. I had seen
Stills and Co. earlier in the year,
in March during the 1st leg of the tour, and now there was different
lineup. Instead of Bonnie Bramlett
on vocals it was Brooks Hunnicutt.
Brooks worked with among others: Steve Cropper, Donald "Duck"
Dunn, and John Prine. She sang on
alot of 70's rock albums including: Rita Coolidge's "Fall Into
Spring," John Prine's "Common Sense,"
Dave Mason's "Let It Flow," and Stephen Stills "Thoroughfare Gap."
What was unique for Stills '79 tour, was that first Bonnie Bramlett
and then Brooks Hunnicutt sang
the lead vocals for "Love the One You're With".
The crowd was VERY pumped.. true Stills fans.. and lots of 'em.
The band opened up with the tasty, never officially released latin
gem "Precious Love."
Next a blues homage, to James Marshall Hendrix's "Red House."
Followed by a tasty "Go Back Home."
Then Mike Finnigan takes the lead vocal on "Fine Love Theme."
Next up, Brooks Hunnicut on lead vocals for "Love the One You're
With."
"Cuba Al Fin", a song Stephen specially wrote for the momentous
Havana Jam Festival, which took
place in March 1979.
Finnigan back on the vocals for "Part Time Love."
A rousing "For What It's Worth.
The hypnotic drone, of a stunning "Cherokee", left me speechless.
"Thoroughfare Gap", was given a solo acoustic treatment, the only
song played that nite from the 1978 Thoroughfare Gap record.
"Come Into My Kitchen", the classic Robert Johnson cover, tasty fare, with some acoustic blues.
In 1980 The Stephen Stills Band set up shop for the second to
last concert before the Concert Series
finale in the park. They smoked it again! The radio broadcast
the following songs:
PreRoad Downs Nice opener, unexpected turn for Stephen to take
the lead vocal on this one, but it
always emotes good up, energy. Into .....Love The One You're With"
For What It's Worth
Part Time Love
Make Love to You
Cherokee
Turn Back the Pages
Wooden Ships
Hoochie Coochie Man
Rocky Mountain Way
Carry On
Teach Your Children
|
suitelorraine.com STILLS area |