CSNY Live 1974

I heard CS&N in NYC about 1.5 years ago, they were still able to sing, they surprised me in a very positive way, was a concert highlight for me.

Just because you're older doesn't mean you automatically can't sing or play anymore. You may not look as good doing it but usually you're a much better musician and if you didn't abuse yourself totally, the voice should still work up into the 70's anyway. Hell. McCartney still sounds great.

NOBODY sings as well at 70 as they do at 30 or 40--it's natural physical degradation. Range and flexibility decline. For some (McCartney, Fogerty) it's a little and for others it's a lot.
Other "maturation" factors can actually result in an improvement in areas for some singers, but you can't get past the "older muscles" factor. That's why you don't see Deion Sanders on the football field or Michael Jordan on the basketball court.

If you've heard Steven Stills lately, there is no denying that his voice is shot. And I mean really, really gone. However, he can still sling his axe pretty well.

And thanks for the heads up on this box set. The recordings come from a time when CSN&Y were one of the finest bands on the planet...

-RW-

The last time I saw Fleetwood Mac, I believe that they demonstrated a neat trick to address this issue. Every time Stevie Nicks had to go to her highest registers, two "sound alike" back up singers joined in. They were subtle enough in the mix enough to preserve her timbre and the illusion that it was Nicks, but audible enough to convey the note.

I was impressed: The songs worked despite the natural decline in her voice and showed that a creative work-around can help diminish (tho not completely eliminate) this essentially inevitable problem.