Stephen Stills - Viva Las Vegas (2019)

EXTRAORDINARY MID-90s BROADCAST RECORDING FROM STEPHEN STILLS Recorded for live FM broadcast at the 4,000 seater Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, this mid 1990s performance by Stephen Stills came four years after his last solo album, 1991 s Stills Alone. The instrument he played on that stripped down album, a metal-top acoustic resonating guitar fitted with electric pick-ups, was out again for the initial acoustic set at this 95 performance, following which his electric set featured Gerald Johnson on bass, Mike Finnigan on keyboards and vocals, and Joe Vitale on drums An enthusiastic 'Midnight Rider' opens the acoustic set, and Stills sounds in improved voice over the raw, gravely sound that surprised many fans on Stills Alone. Two medleys are featured; 'So Begins the Task' coupled with 'Johnny's Garden', and the 'Daylight Again/Find the Cost of Freedom' suite, close the unplugged part of the show. The electric set finds Stills still on the metal-top acoustic for the first three numbers. 'Love the One You're With' ignites the crowd, following which 'Change Partners' features some superb harmonies with Finnigan. Finnigan cuts loose next on the vocals for the blues standard 'Born Under a Bad Sign'. For the remaining five electric numbers, Stills dips into the CSNY catalogue for 'Long Time Gone', 'Dark Star' and 'Woodstock', and throws in his biggest hit with The Buffalo Springfield, 'For What It's Worth', delivered as an audience sing-along. The concert closer is a ramped up version of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band's minor hit from 1965, 'Born In Chicago .