Made on a whim in one day during the final months of Buffalo Springfield, these tapes present Stills singing solo, working out a bakers dozen of then new compositions with only his guitar. The tape quality is a little rough but passable by low budget standards with it's 13 sparse versions of songs that would become hits and fan favorites. Some would find their way onto the Crosby,Stills and Nash album, as well as Stills first few
albums for Atlantic. At the time his girlfiend was the famed Judy Collins, for whom he wrote the immortal "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes". Like I mentioned the tape quality is so so but worlds better than some of the demo tapes of the Velvet Underground that made their way onto disc in the 90's.

Almost destroyed, these vintage demo tapes initially lingered in a studio for some time before finding there way into the hands of fellow CSN compadre Graham Nash, who subsequently convinced Stills to release them. And his advice was right. Even in their embryonic incarations the songwriting and singing are sharp. Given the strength of the songwriting and the subsequent stature of the songs, one can't help but be fascinated in listening to a songwriter like Stills working them out onto tape for the first time. "Change Partners" is typical of Stills early pop aspirations. "So Begins The Task" is a bit more subdued than it would be on the Manassas album. "Wooden Ships" is very
introspective without the psychedelic production it would get in the
studio."Helplessly Hoping" already sounds like a classic.

One real suprise here is in the form of a song called "The Doctor Will See You Now" featuring a Neil Young like riff on which we have Stills singing in a high register. High and in tune. "Black Queen" and, of course "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" are other highlights. An interesting treat for fans of the seminal singer songwriters.