This is one of those songs that never gets old. I remember the Spring of 1970, walking through campus, and this song seemed to be playing though every open window. 55 years later and it still feels fresh and new to me.
For CSN harmonies, I think Helplessly Hoping is the ticket. Their harmonies are on point and their voices are split in the mix so you can hear each individual voice. Beautiful.
The first time they played that song in public was at Woodstock. If you listen another time or two, regardless of how you feel now, it will own you for the rest of your life.
I remember seeing CS&N way back in 2012 now when I was in my mid 20s and how great it was when that outro at 17:04 hit. Thousands of old head hippies just gettin’ after it, dancing in the bleachers like wildlings 😅 it was a beautiful sight
Stephen Stills came to CSN from Buffalo Springfield, David Crosby from The Byrds, and Graham Nash from The Hollies. All of those groups are worth looking into. The title "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" is a double entendre - a reference to "sweet" blue-eyed Judy Collins and "suite" as a musical form with several distinct elements combined. They were all gifted songwriters, but Stephen Stills has often been under-appreciated as a guitarist. Their harmonies are a hallmark.
Could be pounding on the guitar box, but I've always assumed it was someone playing a tabla (Indian hand drums). They have that same thwacky sound and the Beatles and others had introduced Eastern instruments like the sitar and tabla into Western rock music just a few years before this song came out.
@@mu6best Mm-hm. Regardless of how the sound is being produced, they are using rhythms and bass/treble counterpoint typical of tabla music, which is interesting.
@@paintedjaguarFor live performances it is David Crosby whose percussive rhythms swell from finger-tapping a D-45 Martin. Stephen is fingerstyling busily the bended notes., slurs, the hammering on & off
"Judy" is folk singer Judy Collins with whom Steven stills had a relationship. It was seriously deteriorating and the song laments that. "Suite" is a play on words. It's sweet judy who had blue eyes
The story at the time was that Steven was trying to write A song for Judy to win her back but all these ideas kept bouncing through his head but none of them had an ending so he combined the four of them into this masterpiece.
OMG!!! I have this album. It's amazing. If you want to know more about the CULTURE from whence this came, watch some of the documentaries about Laurel Canyon, CA, in the 1960s - '70s. CSN were a huge part of that, along with Neil Young, Gram Parsons, The Byrds, Frank Zappa, Joni Mitchell, The Doors, The Mamas and Papas, Carole King, Linda Ronstadt, The Eagles, and many others. Laurel Canyon was a fascinating place worthy of study. It's a suburb of LA, very near Hollywood and the Sunset Strip. Laurel Canyon was a rabbit hole I went down as a result of viewing photography by Henry Diltz, who photographed the cover of this album (Crosby, Stills, and Nash). Some of the very best music of that era came from that hotbed of creativity. Fun facts: Both David Crosby and Graham Nash were lovers of Joni Mitchell's at various points. Cass Elliot, of The Mamas and Papas, introduced Graham Nash to David Crosby and Stephen Stills - and Joni Mitchell. AFAIK, Judy Blue Eyes is Judy Collins, the musician, and yes, this is a suite of several song fragments. Graham Nash was also a photographer. He later opened a very high end boutique photo lab called Nash Editions to make very large giclée (inkjet) prints. I saw him speak at the Photo Marketing Association meeting many years ago. He is highly intelligent. This album evokes so much history! If you have not watched the old movie, *Woodstock,* about the 1969 festival, do so. Crosby, Stills and Nash, and so many other important bands from the 1960s, performed there. It was an amazing time to grow up.
You are making me feel old!...this song is called Suite for Judy Blue Eyes...it is about Judy Collins, who one of the guys was involved with back in the day...( possibly '68 - '70 ish time frame). I had this album and played it to death...loved these guys' harmony. Thanks for featuring it😎
You did a great job on this. Yes, it's so different and awesome that it takes you aback that first time! You just know it was really really good! Now, it'll get even better with each listen.
My friend across the street in my freshman year of High School had this album and it was such a fun song for a young teenager who had little idea of the world ahead but knew this was a great song. We had so many great artist back then in my humble opinion. Peace.
Stills was from Buffalo Springfield, Nash was from the Hollies and Crosby cane from the Byrds. They were joined on their second album,Deja Vu, by Neil Young, who also came from Buffal Springfield and also a solo artist.
@@dougking4377 i gotta disagree at least 25%.. David Crosby was a misanthrope who contributed very little musically comparatively.. he hampered the overall trajectory of the band.. whereon the other3 made it soar despite the disheveled wet blanket who ultimately couldnt tour cause he was trying get a liver.. yet still drink
@@chrisross-fd3foDavid Crosby’s talents are forever on parade in his first solo album, and elsewhere. He was arguably the better vocalist of the three. His addictions were a colossal issue and he was endlessly apologetic because of them. R I P David.
@@chrisross-fd3fo "Wooden Ships", "Guinnevere", "Almost Cut My Hair", "Long Time Gone", and "Delta" were all Crosby songs I suggest you take a look at his incredible work with most of the top names in music through the 70s and 80s
@rickbruner5525 Guinevere is his only truly solely written song.. and its good but 60yrs later it never gets played.. The godlike Wooden Ships is a masterpiece but also a propaganda tool..the words have as much to do with David Crosby as Ike Turner has to do w Proud Mary.. Its not his song..he supposedly wrote the melody but it really makes no sense cause he didnt play any of it on the album..and that opening riff is pure Stills..nor did he play any instruments on Deja Vu..it really seems like some end around for Paul Kantners record label disputes.. I checked through a few articles and Graham Nash Said he contributed one line..to Long Time Gone. I really dont know any other performer who is so well known and contributed less to 3 bands and really was in the final analysis ground zero for their ultimate demise.. id love to hear a similar artist in that regard.. he had Ginger Bakers attitude and none of his talents.. he laid waste to every relationship w those guys he had .including Graham Nash.. geez thats hard to do... Edit OMG as i hit send Donovan popped into my head.. i said no way ... true but possibly. I knew Donovan had a song Guinivere id just forgotten about it.. wrote in 1966 Crosby 1968.. Guinnevere one extra N..Medieval themed both.. There's always an asterisk sonewhere w Dave..now i think i probably dont know Crosby's version
Great reaction, Jessie! I enjoyed your comments and appreciation of the song. I actually saw Judy perform live a few months ago. She is in her 80s but still sang and talked for 90 minutes or so. Her voice still sounded good!
It's an amazing song that was part of CS&N's first every live performance together, which was at Woodstock. There's a video of that performance on TH-cam which is also worth watching.
CSNY released a live album in the 70s called " 4 Way Street. I listened to it on 8 track tape. The first half is acoustic music and the second half is electric guitars and about of great jamming. I believe it was a double album with 2 records so alot of music.
Suite is a piece using different movements based on a common theme. Steven Stills wrote this about his relationship with Judy Collins. Stills plays all of the instruments ( not sure about the percussion) and sings the lead vocals.
Ahhh...to be so young and not know who CSN are! LOL I was just as impressed with their sound and harmonies the first time I heard this album. Fun Fact: When CSNY played this at Woodstock '69 and Stephen said this is the second time we've played in front of people...we're scared sh!tless! The first time was in Honolulu!
The good news is, Buffalo Springfield (Stills), The Hollies (Nash), and The Byrds (Crosby) had all played in public many times. CSN were just working out their harmonies and, as perfectionists, wanted everything to sound perfect. They were good enough to make rock history. Their version of Joni Mitchell's song, *Woodstock,* was the theme of the movie, *Woodstock.*
@@williamburkholder769Their own amps and instruments were across a sea of a Woodstock attendees . Using detoured guitar and borrowed equipment, their performance is largely out of tune throughout.
A very important thing you may not be aware of or realize the importance of - this wa# from an album released in 1969 - about😅 55 years ago - up until then rock music was pat boone singing a very vanilla version of don't step on my blue Swede shoes. It is impossible for you to realize what an impact this had at the time. Throw in some first experiences with cannabis- headphones were relatively new - eight tracks with split speakers in cars - it was all a bit fabulous - overwhelming and fabulous. 76 now and so happy I lived through those extraordinary musical transitions.
You are sharp. Fun to watch this music tickle your brain. Especially when you listen to great music I love. For harmonies try the group that Graham Nash left The Hollies. Tons of hits.
The best cover band of this song (IMO) is by “Foxes and Fossils” of Suite Judy Blue Eyes. You will be amazed as it was done so authentically to the original song. The cover band has done so many songs so well.
This is one of my very favorite songs... top 10 for me. Back when I was in Jr. Highschool I'd call in to the overnight radio D.J.s and request this one so often that they learned my voice.
I always loved this song. I remember hearing it on the radio when my mother was listening to it. CSN&Y are a hallmark group and I listen to them whenever I can. Just donated $10 to your cause. All the best.
This was a great reaction. What an arc from "This isn't something I'd regularly listen to" to "Wow! This is interesting, I learned a lot in two minutes!" I was sure you'ld come around, too. As a boomer who lived this, we were already invested as fans of all of these artists and their previous bands. That's what made them a "supergroup" The Byrds, Buffollo Springfield and The Hollies were all Top 10 hit making groups. The layers of drama on top of the height of artistic accomplishment these YOUNG people achieved was astounding. There had been nothing like it before. You hit on a breakthrough album in music history as well as cultural watershed.
Exactly! Imagine living in a time when there were a hundred creative rock bands like today's The Warning, and about a quarter of them lived in Laurel Canyon or the greater L.A. area...
This was written by Stephen Stills and is about his end of relationship/break up with singer/songwriter Judy Collins. Further, a Suite is a musical composition typically consisting of a series of movements or sections. Some say the title is also a play of words regarding Judy Collins and her beautiful blue eyes. I'd like to think that is so.
Stephen used a crazy modal tuning in the key of E maj, lots of open drone strings. I learned to play this song in highschool and boy was I proud of that!LOL
Great reaction! This is one of those songs that I like when I hear it, but I don't really seek it out. I get liking songs that are outside what you'd normally listen to.
Great reaction! David Crosby is a frickin legend! Que linda me la traiga Cuba La reina de la Mar Caribe Cielo sol no tiene sangreahi Y que triste que no puedo vaya oh va, oh va
I didn't get to San Fransisco until '72 but Greewood Park was still used for an annual free concert benefit for the school system. I saw Steppenwolf, Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane at my first outdoor concert upon arrival and thought that was just something that happened once you got there! Like Dorothy arriving at Oz.
Oh wow, i grew up on this song (yes, Virginia, FM radio played whole song)! I never knew the story behind it or that it was 4 dif "suites". This channel's host is interesting, i like her musings about❤
first time tuning in to your reactions. Honestly I'm wary of very young reactors reacting to classics like this - can often be superficial. But nice work, very thoughtful, well done!
Good job, Jess. Great song. Little history regarding the picture. The picture was taken at an abandoned condemned house in LA. CSN had just finished recording the album and was looking for an album cover. They decided to use this picture but it was in the wrong order. From left to right it was in Nash Stills Crosby order. They were gonna reverse the picture but then would have showed Stills holding guitar left handed so they decided to go back and have picture retaken in Crosby Stills Nash order but the house was torn down so they just decided to keep the original which was taken by iconic R&R photographer Henry Diltz. Song is written about Stephen Stills girlfriend, singer Judy Collins.
Henry Diltz told that story in a lecture he gave a few years ago at B&H Photo Video in NYC. He showed a great slide show of his pictures from Laurel Canyon and various rock band assignments. Look it up! It's fascinating. Henry is quite the character. He's 86!
@@williamburkholder769 Yes, he was in the Laurel Canyon documentary. I noticed his work on the morrison hotel gallery website. Many wonderful pictures there by other photographers also. Also available for purchase from original negative but pricy
@@Dave-hb7lx Henry has made a good living from selling prints of his work! He's one of my favorite rockstar photographers because of his connections to so many of the Laurel Canyon crowd in the '60s.
Steven Stills sings the melody & brief solos, Grahm Nash does the high harmonycwith David Crosby in the middle. I saw them at Greenward Park in San Fransisco with the addition of Neil Young the summer of '69.
Great reaction! I see you've reacted to Led Zeppelin's Dazed and Confused. Probably not the best LZ song to start with for a first time listener. I highly recommend checking out the studio versions of the Led Zeppelin songs "Since I've Been Loving You" and "Stairway to Heaven". Please listen to the studio versions first before following the loud minority in the comment section who will want you to listen to live versions. The live versions often consisted of improvisations and long drawn out jam sessions, and the sound quality wasn't the best. The studio versions are soooo much better. Both songs will touch your soul! I subscribed! Peace
I have heard this song so many times since I was a teen in the 70's. I never gave the suite of several songs much thought. I certainly never caught on to the word play. I guess that is because I grew up on progressive rock with their key changes, chord changes along with several movements that were par for the course in what I listened to. I have always liked this and several other songs that others have mentioned in the comments. I enjoyed your reaction, your honest reaction. Thanks!
AO! Big coincidence. Last night my dinner guest told me that Mama Cass (Elliot) of the 'Mamas & the Papas' introduced these guys to each other during the Laurel Canyon scene in the 60's. They made a video tribute to her in '82 and a Greatest Hits dedication in 2005. ❤ ...Just saw your latest post 🫂
Cass Elliot (She HATED the Mama moniker) made a TON of connections among musicians living in the Laurel Canyon neighborhoods back then. Her parties were legendary. Apparently, she knew all the right (and wrong) drug dealers.
@@williamburkholder769 I could imagine she would hate it. Being in the "Mamas" & the Papas may have had something to do with it. Yes, re all the connections, it was huge. And that ham sandwich story, most likely a way to avoid the truth. But what a talent she was. Ok, I'm sticking to Cass Elliot from now on. Thanks for that.
Stills and Nash are still debating as to whether it was Cass or Joni that brought the three of them together. But the story is that Stills and Crosby played "You Don't Have To Cry" and Nash asked them to play it again. He then asked them to play it one more time and added the high harmony, and that's how CSN was born.
@@michlkwitz The story told in one of the documentaries I watched is that the initial greeting happened at a pot party at Cass Elliot's house. Joni was there, and probably had a hand in getting the conversation started. Henry Diltz was likely there with his camera.
@@williamburkholder769 Sounds like one big talent orgy. And given the entertaining attitude adjustment I'm surprised anyone can remember what happened.
I fell in love the first time to CSN. The song is about the love between Steve Stills and Judy Collins. CSN was brought together by Mama Cass in Laurel Canyon Los Angeles
This comes from one of my all time favorite albums, I can honestly say since it came out, {yes I'm old} I've listened to it at least once a month, I've had the album in every conceivable format, it's the first thing I Download onto a new phone, it's wonderful to see young acts now covering songs from this album, also the production of the album, produces today can still learn from it.
I remember how blown away i was the first time I heard the full album - those harmonies were instantly iconic. Wooden Ships, Wasted On The Way, Southern Cross, and this one are my favorites.
Actually taken from poems and letters written for or to Judy Collins, his soon to be ex-girlfriend. What an amazing 1st song from their 1st album. That's setting the bar high! IMHO 🎶🎶🎵🎶🔥💯✌️☮️🕊️
CSN and Sometimes Y were part of the Laurel Canyon sound as was Judy Collins who was the lover of Steven Stills at the time, this was his his attempt to win her back. There is a great documentary of the whole Laurel Canyon scene that is worth a watch.
It is indeed a suite with different sections about Stills' relationship with folk singer Judy Collins, who has blue eyes - listen when Neil Young is singing with them (CSNY)
A suite is a collection of different movements put together as one . That's Steven Stills in the middle and Judy Collins is the object of the song. They actually toured together recently. Both are great artists.
Later, Neil Young joined them, and his surname was added to the other three. This song was one of the songs Disc Jockeys put on when they needed a restroom break. 😉👍
If you listen to Helplessly Hoping you will hear some amazing harmonies for sure, but there is alliteration in the lyrics as well that is amazing. There was a taste of it in Suite JBE as well, in case you missed it: Lacy lilting lyric Losing love lamenting Change my life, make it right Be my lady
Really? Gee I thought everything WAS great....Chicago, 1972 Diaolgue Parts 1 and 2: "If had your outlook, my feelings would be numb, I'd always think that everything was fine..."😂
You are correct that strong harmonization was a hallmark of folk and folk-rock music during the 1960s and 70s. Besides CSN, you might check out groups like the Everly Brothers, Simon & Garfunkel and Peter, Paul & Mary. They are all noted for their great harmonies.
The origin of the musical jargon is in classical (and older) music. Wiki: "A suite, in Western classical music, is an ordered set of instrumental or orchestral/concert band pieces. It originated in the late 14th century as a pairing of dance tunes; and grew in scope so that by the early 17th century it comprised up to five dances, sometimes with a prelude. The separate movements were often thematically and tonally linked."
![There's Levels to this Song!! | CSN - Crosby, Stills, Nash - Suite: Judy Blue Eyes [REACTION]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8-iSFMT1up4/mqdefault.jpg)
![There's Levels to this Song!! | CSN - Crosby, Stills, Nash - Suite: Judy Blue Eyes [REACTION]](/img/tr.png)
This is one of those songs that never gets old. I remember the Spring of 1970, walking through campus, and this song seemed to be playing though every open window. 55 years later and it still feels fresh and new to me.
For CSN harmonies, I think Helplessly Hoping is the ticket. Their harmonies are on point and their voices are split in the mix so you can hear each individual voice. Beautiful.
A great comparison would be the original by CSN and a cover done a couple years ago by Home Free
I totally agree.
I agree!!😁😁🇬🇧
@ Brandi Carlisle does a very nice version also.
100%
The first time they played that song in public was at Woodstock. If you listen another time or two, regardless of how you feel now, it will own you for the rest of your life.
I Still Have My Pictures from Woodstock and All The Bands that were There. It Was a groovy Time! 😊✌
2nd time
I prefer the Woodstock version.
I remember seeing CS&N way back in 2012 now when I was in my mid 20s and how great it was when that outro at 17:04 hit. Thousands of old head hippies just gettin’ after it, dancing in the bleachers like wildlings 😅 it was a beautiful sight
Stephen Stills came to CSN from Buffalo Springfield, David Crosby from The Byrds, and Graham Nash from The Hollies. All of those groups are worth looking into.
The title "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" is a double entendre - a reference to "sweet" blue-eyed Judy Collins and "suite" as a musical form with several distinct elements combined.
They were all gifted songwriters, but Stephen Stills has often been under-appreciated as a guitarist. Their harmonies are a hallmark.
I'm so impressed that you knew he was playing the body of the guitar and not a drum. Great ears!
Could be pounding on the guitar box, but I've always assumed it was someone playing a tabla (Indian hand drums). They have that same thwacky sound and the Beatles and others had introduced Eastern instruments like the sitar and tabla into Western rock music just a few years before this song came out.
@@paintedjaguar All of the guitars are Stills on the studio version (not the bass or drums). He said it was the guitar body on those parts.
@@mu6best Mm-hm. Regardless of how the sound is being produced, they are using rhythms and bass/treble counterpoint typical of tabla music, which is interesting.
@@paintedjaguarFor live performances it is David Crosby whose percussive rhythms swell from finger-tapping a D-45 Martin. Stephen is fingerstyling busily the bended notes., slurs, the hammering on & off
"Judy" is folk singer Judy Collins with whom Steven stills had a relationship. It was seriously deteriorating and the song laments that. "Suite" is a play on words. It's sweet judy who had blue eyes
The story at the time was that Steven was trying to write A song for Judy to win her back but all these ideas kept bouncing through his head but none of them had an ending so he combined the four of them into this masterpiece.
You should look up a picture of Judy Collins. She has the bluest eyes of the worlds are seen.
@@FrogLegs313 Hence "Suite"
This was one of my dads favorite bands. He would have me play songs on repeat.
They are the reason I love harmony - playing guitar and singing.
OMG!!! I have this album. It's amazing. If you want to know more about the CULTURE from whence this came, watch some of the documentaries about Laurel Canyon, CA, in the 1960s - '70s. CSN were a huge part of that, along with Neil Young, Gram Parsons, The Byrds, Frank Zappa, Joni Mitchell, The Doors, The Mamas and Papas, Carole King, Linda Ronstadt, The Eagles, and many others. Laurel Canyon was a fascinating place worthy of study. It's a suburb of LA, very near Hollywood and the Sunset Strip. Laurel Canyon was a rabbit hole I went down as a result of viewing photography by Henry Diltz, who photographed the cover of this album (Crosby, Stills, and Nash). Some of the very best music of that era came from that hotbed of creativity. Fun facts: Both David Crosby and Graham Nash were lovers of Joni Mitchell's at various points. Cass Elliot, of The Mamas and Papas, introduced Graham Nash to David Crosby and Stephen Stills - and Joni Mitchell. AFAIK, Judy Blue Eyes is Judy Collins, the musician, and yes, this is a suite of several song fragments. Graham Nash was also a photographer. He later opened a very high end boutique photo lab called Nash Editions to make very large giclée (inkjet) prints. I saw him speak at the Photo Marketing Association meeting many years ago. He is highly intelligent. This album evokes so much history! If you have not watched the old movie, *Woodstock,* about the 1969 festival, do so. Crosby, Stills and Nash, and so many other important bands from the 1960s, performed there. It was an amazing time to grow up.
Nice reaction, you caught it was a Suite, caught the hammering drum beats on the guitar wood, and of course the Bass line. Great reaction! ❤
CSN/CSN&Y have been a favorite of mine since the early 70's. Great harmonies and song writing. A rabbit hole worth traveling down.
You are making me feel old!...this song is called Suite for Judy Blue Eyes...it is about Judy Collins, who one of the guys was involved with back in the day...( possibly '68 - '70 ish time frame). I had this album and played it to death...loved these guys' harmony.
Thanks for featuring it😎
You did a great job on this. Yes, it's so different and awesome that it takes you aback that first time! You just know it was really really good! Now, it'll get even better with each listen.
My friend across the street in my freshman year of High School had this album and it was such a fun song for a young teenager who had little idea of the world ahead but knew this was a great song. We had so many great artist back then in my humble opinion. Peace.
One of the greatest songs of all time. Great choice!
Steven Stills player almost every instrument on this album. They knew they were going to have to find musicians to go on tour.
Stills was from Buffalo Springfield, Nash was from the Hollies and Crosby cane from the Byrds. They were joined on their second album,Deja Vu, by Neil Young, who also came from Buffal Springfield and also a solo artist.
Wooden Ships, Deja Vu, Guinevere, Southern Cross, and so many more amazing songs from these dudes!!
"Teach Your Children" and "Wasted on the Way.
And Judy Collins herself is worth a deep dive...
It's all about Steven Stills. He was a musical genius. Love the one you're with, Helplessly Hoping, and Wooden Ships are 3 of their best
All 4 were great CSN&Y
@@dougking4377 i gotta disagree at least 25%.. David Crosby was a misanthrope who contributed very little musically comparatively.. he hampered the overall trajectory of the band.. whereon the other3 made it soar despite the disheveled wet blanket who ultimately couldnt tour cause he was trying get a liver.. yet still drink
@@chrisross-fd3foDavid Crosby’s talents are forever on parade in his first solo album, and elsewhere. He was arguably the better vocalist of the three. His addictions were a colossal issue and he was endlessly apologetic because of them. R I P David.
@@chrisross-fd3fo "Wooden Ships", "Guinnevere", "Almost Cut My Hair", "Long Time Gone", and "Delta" were all Crosby songs I suggest you take a look at his incredible work with most of the top names in music through the 70s and 80s
@rickbruner5525 Guinevere is his only truly solely written song.. and its good but 60yrs later it never gets played.. The godlike Wooden Ships is a masterpiece but also a propaganda tool..the words have as much to do with David Crosby as Ike Turner has to do w Proud Mary.. Its not his song..he supposedly wrote the melody but it really makes no sense cause he didnt play any of it on the album..and that opening riff is pure Stills..nor did he play any instruments on Deja Vu..it really seems like some end around for Paul Kantners record label disputes.. I checked through a few articles and Graham Nash Said he contributed one line..to Long Time Gone. I really dont know any other performer who is so well known and contributed less to 3 bands and really was in the final analysis ground zero for their ultimate demise.. id love to hear a similar artist in that regard.. he had Ginger Bakers attitude and none of his talents.. he laid waste to every relationship w those guys he had
.including Graham Nash.. geez thats hard to do... Edit OMG as i hit send Donovan popped into my head.. i said no way ... true but possibly. I knew Donovan had a song Guinivere id just forgotten about it.. wrote in 1966 Crosby 1968.. Guinnevere one extra N..Medieval themed both.. There's always an asterisk sonewhere w Dave..now i think i probably dont know Crosby's version
CSN is iconic. When Neil Young joined them, they got even better. Now I feel _really_ old that you didn't know who they were.
CSN&Y live at the Filmore
Judy reportably told Stephen, "It is a beautiful song, but we are not getting back together!"
Great reaction, Jessie! I enjoyed your comments and appreciation of the song. I actually saw Judy perform live a few months ago. She is in her 80s but still sang and talked for 90 minutes or so. Her voice still sounded good!
A fine and thoughtful reaction. Glad you like the song too.
It's an amazing song that was part of CS&N's first every live performance together, which was at Woodstock. There's a video of that performance on TH-cam which is also worth watching.
CSNY released a live album in the 70s called " 4 Way Street. I listened to it on 8 track tape. The first half is acoustic music and the second half is electric guitars and about of great jamming. I believe it was a double album with 2 records so alot of music.
These voices together never get old!
Una de mis favoritas !!
De CSN.........
Great!!!!!
Sigue reaccionando a nuestros clasicos ...
Ssludos desde
Puebla , Mexico ..
Stephen Stills played all the guitars and the bass on this.
It's my understanding that Stills played ALL of the instruments on this song, plus the lead vocals. Crosby & Nash sang the gorgeous backing vocals.
Suite is a piece using different movements based on a common theme. Steven Stills wrote this about his relationship with Judy Collins. Stills plays all of the instruments ( not sure about the percussion) and sings the lead vocals.
Dallas Taylor plays the drums in the 2nd section
Crosby played with the Byrds, Stills played with the aBuffalo Sprinfmgfield and Nash played with the Hollies. Stills wrote this one.
Ahhh...to be so young and not know who CSN are! LOL I was just as impressed with their sound and harmonies the first time I heard this album. Fun Fact: When CSNY played this at Woodstock '69 and Stephen said this is the second time we've played in front of people...we're scared sh!tless! The first time was in Honolulu!
The good news is, Buffalo Springfield (Stills), The Hollies (Nash), and The Byrds (Crosby) had all played in public many times. CSN were just working out their harmonies and, as perfectionists, wanted everything to sound perfect. They were good enough to make rock history. Their version of Joni Mitchell's song, *Woodstock,* was the theme of the movie, *Woodstock.*
@@williamburkholder769Their own amps and instruments were across a sea of a Woodstock attendees . Using detoured guitar and borrowed equipment, their performance is largely out of tune throughout.
@@JayAr709 Woodstock was not the best of environments for musical perfection, for sure. It was all about the emotion and the history in the making.
Bunch of freakin hippies :) Love some of their songs. Great harmonies.
A very important thing you may not be aware of or realize the importance of - this wa# from an album released in 1969 - about😅 55 years ago - up until then rock music was pat boone singing a very vanilla version of don't step on my blue Swede shoes. It is impossible for you to realize what an impact this had at the time. Throw in some first experiences with cannabis- headphones were relatively new - eight tracks with split speakers in cars - it was all a bit fabulous - overwhelming and fabulous. 76 now and so happy I lived through those extraordinary musical transitions.
i love that you reacted to this song of my childhood
You are sharp. Fun to watch this music tickle your brain. Especially when you listen to great music I love. For harmonies try the group that Graham Nash left The Hollies. Tons of hits.
One of the great classic rock albums.
Great video and love your voice!
You are musically savvy. Delightful.
Great harmonies, great guitars, great song, what else can you ask for.
This album this song was on is one of the best albums. Every song is a master piece
The best cover band of this song (IMO) is by “Foxes and Fossils” of Suite Judy Blue Eyes. You will be amazed as it was done so authentically to the original song. The cover band has done so many songs so well.
This is one of my very favorite songs... top 10 for me. Back when I was in Jr. Highschool I'd call in to the overnight radio D.J.s and request this one so often that they learned my voice.
I always loved this song. I remember hearing it on the radio when my mother was listening to it. CSN&Y are a hallmark group and I listen to them whenever I can. Just donated $10 to your cause. All the best.
Steven Stills is a musical genius.
I never knew that Stills played the bass on this as well, no wonder it's so lyrical. Masterpiece.
Stills plays and writes almost everything...
A very unique sound, you always know who it is. Thanks, nice to hear it again.
6:07 - My favorite line from the song is "Fear is the lock and laughter the key to your heart." It just hits.
Just discovered you, and I'm quite glad!
Love to see your reactions to Hendrix, Zeppelin, or Cream perhaps?
This was a great reaction. What an arc from "This isn't something I'd regularly listen to" to "Wow! This is interesting, I learned a lot in two minutes!" I was sure you'ld come around, too. As a boomer who lived this, we were already invested as fans of all of these artists and their previous bands. That's what made them a "supergroup" The Byrds, Buffollo Springfield and The Hollies were all Top 10 hit making groups. The layers of drama on top of the height of artistic accomplishment these YOUNG people achieved was astounding. There had been nothing like it before. You hit on a breakthrough album in music history as well as cultural watershed.
Exactly! Imagine living in a time when there were a hundred creative rock bands like today's The Warning, and about a quarter of them lived in Laurel Canyon or the greater L.A. area...
One of my top 5 songs -- after 60 years of listening.
This was written by Stephen Stills and is about his end of relationship/break up with singer/songwriter Judy Collins. Further, a Suite is a musical composition typically consisting of a series of movements or sections.
Some say the title is also a play of words regarding Judy Collins and her beautiful blue eyes. I'd like to think that is so.
It’s a play on words. It’s a musical suite and an homage to Judy’s(Collins) sweet blue eyes.
50 other people already explained that.
Stephen used a crazy modal tuning in the key of E maj, lots of open drone strings. I learned to play this song in highschool and boy was I proud of that!LOL
Steven Stills and Judy Collins. A love story. Many listens to appreciate friend.
The "body" of the guitar -
thank you :D
Kudos for going with the studio track and not some crappy sounding live version!!!
Great reaction! This is one of those songs that I like when I hear it, but I don't really seek it out. I get liking songs that are outside what you'd normally listen to.
Great reaction! David Crosby is a frickin legend!
Que linda me la traiga Cuba
La reina de la Mar Caribe
Cielo sol no tiene sangreahi
Y que triste que no puedo vaya oh va, oh va
I saw them at Greenwood Park in San Fransisco with the addition of Neil Young the summer of '69.
I didn't get to San Fransisco until '72 but Greewood Park was still used for an annual free concert benefit for the school system. I saw Steppenwolf, Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane at my first outdoor concert upon arrival and thought that was just something that happened once you got there! Like Dorothy arriving at Oz.
I could see you doing radio. Very intelligent and great speaking voice.
Can you imagine driving around with your friends at 16years old getting drunk or stoned till we hours in the morning listening to the best music ever
Yes.😅
I LOVE Crosby, Stills, and Nash (CSN)!!!
Oh wow, i grew up on this song (yes, Virginia, FM radio played whole song)! I never knew the story behind it or that it was 4 dif "suites". This channel's host is interesting, i like her musings about❤
Beautiful song this one.
first time tuning in to your reactions. Honestly I'm wary of very young reactors reacting to classics like this - can often be superficial. But nice work, very thoughtful, well done!
Good job, Jess. Great song. Little history regarding the picture. The picture was taken at an abandoned condemned house in LA. CSN had just finished recording the album and was looking for an album cover. They decided to use this picture but it was in the wrong order. From left to right it was in Nash Stills Crosby order. They were gonna reverse the picture but then would have showed Stills holding guitar left handed so they decided to go back and have picture retaken in Crosby Stills Nash order but the house was torn down so they just decided to keep the original which was taken by iconic R&R photographer Henry Diltz. Song is written about Stephen Stills girlfriend, singer Judy Collins.
Henry Diltz told that story in a lecture he gave a few years ago at B&H Photo Video in NYC. He showed a great slide show of his pictures from Laurel Canyon and various rock band assignments. Look it up! It's fascinating. Henry is quite the character. He's 86!
@@williamburkholder769 Yes, he was in the Laurel Canyon documentary. I noticed his work on the morrison hotel gallery website. Many wonderful pictures there by other photographers also. Also available for purchase from original negative but pricy
@@Dave-hb7lx Henry has made a good living from selling prints of his work! He's one of my favorite rockstar photographers because of his connections to so many of the Laurel Canyon crowd in the '60s.
The Beatles did their share of three part harmonies. This Boy, Yes It Is, Because, etc. But yes CSN had it nailed as well.
Steven Stills sings the melody & brief solos, Grahm Nash does the high harmonycwith David Crosby in the middle. I saw them at Greenward Park in San Fransisco with the addition of Neil Young the summer of '69.
Crosby in the middle trying not to ruin crap.. really took away from the class of Graham Nash Stephen Stills and (lol) Neil Young..
Stills sings the high part in the 2nd section with Crosby on the bottom
You should look into the history of Laurel Canyon a neighborhood of LA which is where CSN met and many other legendary artists also lived.
This is one song you never get tired of....
Song was written about Judy Collins, who DOES have amazing blue eyes.
What a way to kick off the seventies!
Great reaction! I see you've reacted to Led Zeppelin's Dazed and Confused. Probably not the best LZ song to start with for a first time listener. I highly recommend checking out the studio versions of the Led Zeppelin songs "Since I've Been Loving You" and "Stairway to Heaven". Please listen to the studio versions first before following the loud minority in the comment section who will want you to listen to live versions. The live versions often consisted of improvisations and long drawn out jam sessions, and the sound quality wasn't the best. The studio versions are soooo much better. Both songs will touch your soul!
I subscribed!
Peace
I have heard this song so many times since I was a teen in the 70's. I never gave the suite of several songs much thought. I certainly never caught on to the word play. I guess that is because I grew up on progressive rock with their key changes, chord changes along with several movements that were par for the course in what I listened to. I have always liked this and several other songs that others have mentioned in the comments.
I enjoyed your reaction, your honest reaction. Thanks!
AO! Big coincidence. Last night my dinner guest told me that Mama Cass (Elliot) of the 'Mamas & the Papas' introduced these guys to each other during the Laurel Canyon scene in the 60's. They made a video tribute to her in '82 and a Greatest Hits dedication in 2005. ❤ ...Just saw your latest post 🫂
Cass Elliot (She HATED the Mama moniker) made a TON of connections among musicians living in the Laurel Canyon neighborhoods back then. Her parties were legendary. Apparently, she knew all the right (and wrong) drug dealers.
@@williamburkholder769 I could imagine she would hate it. Being in the "Mamas" & the Papas may have had something to do with it. Yes, re all the connections, it was huge. And that ham sandwich story, most likely a way to avoid the truth. But what a talent she was. Ok, I'm sticking to Cass Elliot from now on. Thanks for that.
Stills and Nash are still debating as to whether it was Cass or Joni that brought the three of them together. But the story is that Stills and Crosby played "You Don't Have To Cry" and Nash asked them to play it again. He then asked them to play it one more time and added the high harmony, and that's how CSN was born.
@@michlkwitz The story told in one of the documentaries I watched is that the initial greeting happened at a pot party at Cass Elliot's house. Joni was there, and probably had a hand in getting the conversation started. Henry Diltz was likely there with his camera.
@@williamburkholder769 Sounds like one big talent orgy. And given the entertaining attitude adjustment I'm surprised anyone can remember what happened.
I fell in love the first time to CSN. The song is about the love between Steve Stills and Judy Collins. CSN was brought together by Mama Cass in Laurel Canyon Los Angeles
This comes from one of my all time favorite albums, I can honestly say since it came out, {yes I'm old} I've listened to it at least once a month, I've had the album in every conceivable format, it's the first thing I Download onto a new phone, it's wonderful to see young acts now covering songs from this album, also the production of the album, produces today can still learn from it.
I remember how blown away i was the first time I heard the full album - those harmonies were instantly iconic. Wooden Ships, Wasted On The Way, Southern Cross, and this one are my favorites.
Wooden Ships and Carry On are my favourites of theirs and deserve a listen.
Actually taken from poems and letters written for or to Judy Collins, his soon to be ex-girlfriend. What an amazing 1st song from their 1st album. That's setting the bar high! IMHO 🎶🎶🎵🎶🔥💯✌️☮️🕊️
Yes Suite as in the definition "a modern instrumental composition in several movements of different character"
My first time visit. You run a nice channel here.
Judy Blue Eyes is Judy Collins. This is Stills' song about their breakup
CSN and Sometimes Y were part of the Laurel Canyon sound as was Judy Collins who was the lover of Steven Stills at the time, this was his his attempt to win her back. There is a great documentary of the whole Laurel Canyon scene that is worth a watch.
Well said❤
The group performed this (very roughly) at Woodstock; they had just come together.
The guitar tuning for this is EEEEBE. Crazy tuning, but it works beautifully for this song.
It is indeed a suite with different sections about Stills' relationship with folk singer Judy Collins, who has blue eyes - listen when Neil Young is singing with them (CSNY)
A suite is a collection of different movements put together as one . That's Steven Stills in the middle and Judy Collins is the object of the song. They actually toured together recently. Both are great artists.
David Crosby from the Byrds. Stephen Stills from Buffalo Springfield and Graham Nash from the Hollies.
Honesty wow!
Later, Neil Young joined them, and his surname was added to the other three. This song was one of the songs Disc Jockeys put on when they needed a restroom break. 😉👍
Stairway to Heaven was the other one I used...
Judy is Judy Collins. She was a singer who David Crosby was in love with.
the title is a play on words. it means "suite" as a song composed of parts, and "sweet" as a description of judy
If you listen to Helplessly Hoping you will hear some amazing harmonies for sure, but there is alliteration in the lyrics as well that is amazing.
There was a taste of it in Suite JBE as well, in case you missed it:
Lacy lilting lyric
Losing love lamenting
Change my life, make it right
Be my lady
I appreciated the honesty of your reaction. I become suspicious of those who say everything is great and there are many on TH-cam.
Really? Gee I thought everything WAS great....Chicago, 1972 Diaolgue Parts 1 and 2: "If had your outlook, my feelings would be numb, I'd always think that everything was fine..."😂
You are correct that strong harmonization was a hallmark of folk and folk-rock music during the 1960s and 70s. Besides CSN, you might check out groups like the Everly Brothers, Simon & Garfunkel and Peter, Paul & Mary. They are all noted for their great harmonies.
Judy Blue Eyes is folk singer Judy Collins.
The origin of the musical jargon is in classical (and older) music. Wiki:
"A suite, in Western classical music, is an ordered set of instrumental or orchestral/concert band pieces. It originated in the late 14th century as a pairing of dance tunes; and grew in scope so that by the early 17th century it comprised up to five dances, sometimes with a prelude. The separate movements were often thematically and tonally linked."
I thin the term she was looking for is “medley.” A composition made of multiple songs.