Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I would probably nominate Bill Haley and His Comets as Americas first super group. I love the other nominations though, especially the Partridge Family....

America's first supergroup...hmmm...was it The X-Men or the Fantastic Four?

And then there are these guys:

Yul Brynner
Steve McQueen
Charles Bronson
Robert Vaughn
James Coburn
Horst Buchholz
Brad Dexter

I'm not so sure about the Comets. Maybe we have a differnt definition of supergroup. Back in the day, when it was coined, it had to do with folks from already successful bands who left and formed a band with other "celebrities"...

Like most here, the early CSN&Y is the stuff that I really like most. There is some pretty good video available on YouTube, including a great version of "Down By The River' from the old David Steinberg Show from '69

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v5E27Fp ... re=related

As far as the first "supergroup" in North America, you're all wrong! Everyone knows it was Dino, Desi & Billy!

CSNY certainly took the world by storm for many reasons. To begin, borrowing vocal talent from The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and The Hollies has to set the stage for a number of great compositions and performances. In this regard they certainly did not disappoint. Not withstanding their compositional skills, to my way of thinking the genius was in the vocals that were a unique blend of the groups from which they came.

Unfortuately, the personalities and addictions of its members in concert with their individual projects did not allow them to sustain a common focus. Each member had tasted success and CSNY, while brilliant, was not hungry enough to stay together. Their individual talents that allowed them to break away from their intial groups had them destined to be short lived.

I also consider that the group's style became old and failry predictable after the first couple of albums. They still turned out great work, but the consistent brilliant work was in the very early days of the group when they were intrigued by their unique blend of vocals.

Sad but true, Peter. All the edge was in the early years...although the mid-70's CSN album was excellent. But they were of the 60's, and when those times faded, so did CSNY. Fortunately, their output was good enough to stand the test of time.

That's all sadly very true Mark,

When you have to prove a point you usually try harder. That's exactly the position that CS&N found themselves in. They had to prove that they could be successful together and so early on in their career together, they tried their best to be the very best and in the process (all kidding aside), they became America's first supergroup by definition.

It remains that CSNY came out at a time when band harmonies (if they existed at all) where kept right in the background of musical excesses because the members of those bands couldn't really harmonise all that well...

CSN(Y) could, and they were/are extremely good at it. When I heard "Teach Your Children" back whenever, that was all I needed in order to go out and buy the "Deja Vu" LP (which I still have!).

I think that the first real "supergroup" I heard (if we follow the loose meaning of the term) was in fact "The Traveling Wilburys"!

I mean, which other pop group can anyone remember that had as members the like of George Harrison, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison (!!!), Jeff Lynne and last but certainly not least, Bob Dylan!?

Yes Manuel, they fit the def to a tee also!

Yes, the Wilburys would have to win the superest supergroup award, wouldn't they? And each of their songs were written and recorded in the course of a one day process.

Wouldn't it be something if you could have a group consisting of George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, and John Lennon? Wow!!

Mike, that CSNY video is great. Looks like they loved playing music, as opposed to playng rock stars!

Gotta get me a Gretsch!

shamustwin wrote:Mike, that CSNY video is great. Looks like they loved playing music, as opposed to playng rock stars!

Gotta get me a Gretsch!

Jerry, out of all the YouTube clips I've seen of this band, that one in particular is my absolute favorite. They looked as though they were really enjoying it all....not to mention being incredibly stoned! Just check out the drummer again

FWIW, I've always liked the way Stills and Young played together. Their styles contrast to the point where they meld together very well, if that makes any sense. Neil comes from a very primative Rock background whereas Steve has a funky, Bluesy phrasing to his playing. I would have loved to have seen them when this clip was recorded.

and thats a REAL poncho, not a SEARS poncho, that Stills has on.

tamborineman wrote:and thats a REAL poncho, not a SEARS poncho, that Stills has on.

And a pair of zircon-encrusted tweezers!