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Crosby Stills & Nash's debut album was released in the early spring of 1969. I was nineteen years old then, already a huge Byrd and Buffalo Springfield fan. And so how could I not flip over the beautiful air-tight hamonies of Suite Judy Blue Eyes, Merrakesh Express, Wooden Ships and Lady of The Island. As the group expanded to include former Buffalo Springfield member Neil Young I felt the threat of "sell-out" creeping into their oh so pure. laid-back, homegrown style. Sure Helpless and Country Girl extended their reach, providing a dynamic that may have been missing from that brilliant debut album. Yes Nash continued to grow as a songwriter with Teach Your Children and Crosby's Almost Cut My Hair became the Freak Flag Anthem for every kid across America who wanted to grow his hair. Yet at the same time I felt a certain loss of innocence...a kind of sense that this was more than just an impomtu gathering of great muscians creating songs and performing for nothing more than their own self gratification. In short CSN&Y became an arena act and a brand name.
Then in 1970 and 1971 the group seemed to splinter. Stephen Stills put out his self titled solo effort. Neil Young countered with one of his masterpieces After The Gold Rush and David Crosby assembled what could only be described as a gathering of the tribes, (Grace Slick, Paul Kantner, Jack Casady, Joni Mitchell, Jorma Kaukonen, Jerry Garcia, Steven Stills, Neil Young and many others). Last but by no means least, Graham Nash's Songs For Beginners, found the Hollies founding member in great form, penning some of his best songs including I Used To Be King, Military Madness and We Can Change The World.
That brings us to Graham Nash & David Crosby @ 1972. I guess the best way to desribe this album is to say that both kind of took a step back. Yes they both enjoyed early success in their respective bands The Byrds and The Hollies in the mid to late sixties. Both had composed some beautiful songs the likes of Carrie-Anne, Bus Stop, Eight Miles High and Mind Gardens. And now here was their opportunity to put together a collection of their best song writing to date. Here was a chance to perform not as super-stars, but as musicians, kindred spirits and friends.
The results?...Well, just listen to the opening chorus of Southbound Train or Page 43. No these guys aren't doing it for the money or the fame. They simply love singing together. And what of their song writing? well consider this...Here it is February 2008...We're on the eve of a historic presidential election. There's an unpopular war going on. The incumbent President is politically inept, even despised. And what do you suppose is one of the major issues?...You guessed it....Imigration. Well sit back...Listen and read between the lines and see just what Graham Nash, (an immigrant himself) has to say on the subject. "Immigration Man...I won't tow your line today...Let Me In." I dare say his position is a whole lot more relevant today than presidential hopefuls the likes of McCain, Clinton and Obama.
Of all the varied combos these 4,(Crosby, Stills, Nash and/or Young)have put together over the years, I would have to say the best is CSN. Having said that, however, the best comination besides CSN has been Crosby and Nash. Their albums have been the most cohesive and satisfying. The Stills-Young experiment didn't quite work, and the CSNY combination was less a group effort than a batch of solo recordings under the CSNY banner. Of the four Crosby-Nash albums, this is, in my opinion, the best one. I bought this album on vinyl in 1972 and played it over again until I came to know the songs as you would come to know old friends. Page 43, Frozen Smile, Immigration Man..all wonderful songs. I'm certainly not taking anything away from Stills or Young. I think their talents speak for themselves. What I am saying is that when I hear Crosby and Nash together, I get the feeling of good friends singing together because they like to.
You don't get the impression of two guitar wizards trying to out duel each other. So, if you're thinking of exploring the Crosby-Nash combination, start with this, the first album, and go from there. You'll like it.
Finally, after eons out of print, Atlantic made available again this gem from the early 70's, a great album even in the context of the great music that was still being created, regularly, back then, and probably one of Crosby & Nash's most accomplished collaborations. Everything you likely already cherish about these two is present here, heartfelt and immaculate harmonies, strong and distinct compositions from both artists, and superb musicianship -again provided by the 60's elite of California's session players. When it comes to specific songs, it's more a matter of personal choices than objective hierarchies. Nash's songs are particularly moving and fiercer -as much as "fierce" is ever something to be said about Graham Nash- than anything in "Songs For Beginners." Crosby's pieces carry the wonderful dramatic undertow he could invoke -it seems, at will- ever since The Byrds' days and, more poignantly, in his first solo album and Deja Vu. All in all, a thing of beauty. No disappointments, no proverbial "black holes." An example of the significant music that you could still expect in the early seventies, before that decade turned grandiose and stupid.
I heard a cut (Southbound Train) off this album (re-issue) on XM radio. I didn't recognise it, but liked it so I picked up the cd. A couple of song here are great , but a couple sound more like demo's or works in progress. Also some of the lyrics are really stupid. I guess its typical of a 70's era album with 3 or 4 good songs and the reast mediocre. If you like CS+N, you'll enjoy this album
It's very difficult to add anything more insightful to the many glowing reviews of this cd. But without hesitation I will say that here is a recording that, to my mind, is the equal to anything else recorded by CSNY collectively or individually. The songs, the harmonies, the dreamy atmosphere that pervades the tracks combine to create a musical mystique rarely heard on record. I purchased the cd based on all the positive reviews here on Amazon, so I knew that it had to be good - I just didn't know that it would be this good! Prior to listening to "Graham Nash/David Crosby" my favorite side project to the CSNY machine was "Wind on the Water" but this record is simply a classic. I can only wonder what it would have been like if Stephen Stills had been a part of it. Based on the songs he was writing at the time (Manassas) it probably would have been better than Deja Vu.
Magnífico disco de David Crosby y Graham Nash. El primero que hicieron como dúo al margen de Stephen Stills y de Neil Young. En esta grabación, estos dos sensacionales compositores y cantantes dan un verdadero recital de su calidad artística, con acordes de guitarras mágicos y haciendo gala de su dominio de las armonías vocales. Imprescindible para los seguidores de ambos o de CSNY.
Graham Nash created a masterpiece when he released Songs for Beginners. I know "Chicago" is supposed to be the big hit song on this CD but there are better tracks such as "Military Madness", "Better Days" and "Simple Man". I don't really feel that there are any, what I would call, filler tracks on this CD. Great vocals, clear and defined instrumentation and a stellar back-up cast of players make the listening experience a joy. Some of the supporting recording artist on the CD include Rita Coolidge and David Crosby. I have seen Crosby, Stills & Nash twice and heard quite a few of these songs live, they were fantastic. The production on this CD, I have a remastered version, is surprisingly good considering the age of the recordings. For those of you who enjoy this style of folk rock I would also suggest David Crosby's "If I Could Only Remember My Name".
Un pezzo di storia della musica. Un curioso ma duraturo sodalizio fra due artisti così differenti! Crosby che sperimenta soluzioni musicali difficili, ardite, che a volte necessitano diversi ascolti prima di apprezzarle. Al contrario di Nash che propone arie semplici, orecchiabili, che restano subito in mente. Due opposti che si ritrovano gemelli quando si tratta di unire le voci e creare dei cori sempre stupefacenti per cantare dei testi che sono spesso poesie. A very stoney record...... parafrasando il titolo delle loro serate nella califirnia degli inizi degli anni 70
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