Crosby, Stills & Nash (album)
Encyclopedia
Crosby, Stills & Nash is the first album by Crosby, Stills & Nash, released in 1969 on the Atlantic Records
label. It spawned two Top 40 hits, "Marrakesh Express
" and "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
," which peaked respectively at #28 the week of August 23, 1969, and at #21 the week of October 25, 1969, on the Billboard Hot 100
singles chart. The album itself peaked at #6 on the Billboard
Top Pop Albums chart.
Sweetheart of the Rodeo
and The Band's
Music From Big Pink
of the previous year, it helped initiate a sea change in popular music away from the ruling late sixties aesthetic of bands playing blues-based rock music
on loud guitars. Crosby, Stills & Nash presented a new wrinkle in building upon rock's roots, utilizing folk, blues, and even jazz without specifically sounding like mere duplication. Not only blending voices, the three meshed their differing strengths, Crosby for social commentary and atmospheric mood pieces, Stills for his diverse musical skills and for folding folk and country elements subtly into complex rock structures, and Nash for his radio-friendly pop melodies, to create an amalgam of broad appeal. Eventually going multi-platinum, in addition to the abovementioned singles, Crosby, Stills & Nash features some of their best known songs in "Wooden Ships
" and "Helplessly Hoping". "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
" was composed for Judy Collins
, and "Long Time Gone" was a response to the assassination
of Robert F. Kennedy
.
This album proved very influential on many levels to the dominant popular music
scene in America for much of the 1970s. The success of the album generated gravitas for the group within the industry, and galvanized interest in signing like acts, many of whom came under management and representation by the CSN team of Elliot Roberts
and David Geffen
. Strong sales, combined with the group's emphasis on personal confession in its writing, paved the way for the success of the singer-songwriter
movement of the early seventies. Their utilization of personal events in their material without resorting to subterfuge, their talents in vocal harmony, their cultivation of painstaking studio craft, as well as the Laurel Canyon
ethos that surrounded the group and their associates, established an aesthetic for a number of acts that came to define the "California
" sound of the ensuing decade, including The Eagles, Jackson Browne
, post-1974 Fleetwood Mac
, and others.
In 2003, the album was ranked number 259 on Rolling Stone
magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time
.
The album has been issued on compact disc
three times: mastered by Barry Diament at Atlantic Studios
in the mid-1980s; remastered by Joe Gastwirt
at Ocean View Digital and reissued on August 16, 1994; reissued again by Rhino Records as an expanded edition using the HDCD process on January 24, 2006.
On a new edition of the album to be released on December 6, 2011, the track 'Guinnevere' will be changed to 'Guinevere'. Marshall Blonstein , head of Audio Fidelity, said "Since 1969, every vinyl, cassette and CD version of the album had it spelled with two n’s. But recently the group decided to take out the [historically inaccurate] extra ‘n.’ So our CD booklet, tray card and even the original LP labels now show the title with just the one ‘n.’” Noise11.com
The 2006 expanded edition of the CD features an additional four tracks, as well as a slight difference in the cover art. The face of drummer Dallas Taylor was added to the original as he was not present at the photoshoot. He can be seen looking through the window of the door on the rear of the sleeve. In the expanded edition, however, he is absent.
On the cover the members are, left to right, Nash, Stills, and Crosby, for no particular reason, the reverse of the order of the album title. The photo was taken by their friend and photographer Henry Diltz before they came up with a name for the group. They found an abandoned house, north of 809 Palm Avenue, across from a Santa Monica car wash that they thought would be a perfect fit for their “image”. A few days later they decided on the name “Crosby, Stills, and Nash”. To prevent confusion, they went back to the house a day or so later to re-shoot the cover in the correct order, but when they got there they found the house had been reduced to a pile of timber.
Additional Personnel
Jefferson Airplane
guitarist Paul Kantner
was finally credited as co-composer of "Wooden Ships" on the expanded edition, something long acknowledged on his group's version of the song from their Volunteers
album, released the same year.
David Crosby singing an excerpt of "Come On in My Kitchen
" between "Long Time Gone" and "49 Bye-Byes" was left off the 2006 reissue at the request of the late Robert Johnson's estate.
Singles - Billboard (North America)
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
label. It spawned two Top 40 hits, "Marrakesh Express
Marrakesh Express
"Marrakesh Express" is a song recorded by Crosby, Stills, and Nash, which they released on their 1969 self-titled debut album. The author of its lyrics and composer of its music, Graham Nash, a former member of The Hollies, had originally intended to record the song with them. Indeed, the Hollies...
" and "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
"Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" is a suite of short songs written by Stephen Stills and performed by Crosby, Stills and Nash. It appeared on the group's self-titled debut album in 1969. It was also released as a single , going to #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart...
," which peaked respectively at #28 the week of August 23, 1969, and at #21 the week of October 25, 1969, on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
singles chart. The album itself peaked at #6 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Top Pop Albums chart.
History
The album was a very strong debut for the band, instantly lifting them to stardom. Along with the Byrds'The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...
Sweetheart of the Rodeo
Sweetheart of the Rodeo
Sweetheart of the Rodeo is the sixth album by American rock band The Byrds and was released on August 30, 1968 on Columbia Records...
and The Band's
The Band
The Band was an acclaimed and influential roots rock group. The original group consisted of Rick Danko , Garth Hudson , Richard Manuel , and Robbie Robertson , and Levon Helm...
Music From Big Pink
Music from Big Pink
Music from Big Pink is the 1968 debut album by rock band The Band. It features the well-known song, "The Weight". The music was composed partly in 'Big Pink', a house shared by Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, and Garth Hudson in West Saugerties, in upstate New York...
of the previous year, it helped initiate a sea change in popular music away from the ruling late sixties aesthetic of bands playing blues-based rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
on loud guitars. Crosby, Stills & Nash presented a new wrinkle in building upon rock's roots, utilizing folk, blues, and even jazz without specifically sounding like mere duplication. Not only blending voices, the three meshed their differing strengths, Crosby for social commentary and atmospheric mood pieces, Stills for his diverse musical skills and for folding folk and country elements subtly into complex rock structures, and Nash for his radio-friendly pop melodies, to create an amalgam of broad appeal. Eventually going multi-platinum, in addition to the abovementioned singles, Crosby, Stills & Nash features some of their best known songs in "Wooden Ships
Wooden Ships
"Wooden Ships" is a rock song written and composed by David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Paul Kantner in the late 1960s. The song was written and composed in Florida on Crosby's boat...
" and "Helplessly Hoping". "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
"Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" is a suite of short songs written by Stephen Stills and performed by Crosby, Stills and Nash. It appeared on the group's self-titled debut album in 1969. It was also released as a single , going to #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart...
" was composed for Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Judith Marjorie "Judy" Collins is an American singer and songwriter, known for her eclectic tastes in the material she records ; and for her social activism. She is an alumna of the University of Colorado.-Musical career:Collins was born and raised in Seattle, Washington...
, and "Long Time Gone" was a response to the assassination
Robert F. Kennedy assassination
The assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, a United States Senator and brother of assassinated President John F. Kennedy, took place shortly after midnight on June 5, 1968, in Los Angeles, California...
of Robert F. Kennedy
Robert F. Kennedy
Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy , also referred to by his initials RFK, was an American politician, a Democratic senator from New York, and a noted civil rights activist. An icon of modern American liberalism and member of the Kennedy family, he was a younger brother of President John F...
.
This album proved very influential on many levels to the dominant popular music
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
scene in America for much of the 1970s. The success of the album generated gravitas for the group within the industry, and galvanized interest in signing like acts, many of whom came under management and representation by the CSN team of Elliot Roberts
Elliot Roberts
Elliot Roberts is an American music manager, record executive, and philanthropist, best known for helping start the careers of Neil Young and Joni Mitchell....
and David Geffen
David Geffen
David Geffen is an American record executive, film producer, theatrical producer and philanthropist. Geffen is noted for creating Asylum Records in 1970, Geffen Records in 1980, and DGC Records in 1990...
. Strong sales, combined with the group's emphasis on personal confession in its writing, paved the way for the success of the singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
movement of the early seventies. Their utilization of personal events in their material without resorting to subterfuge, their talents in vocal harmony, their cultivation of painstaking studio craft, as well as the Laurel Canyon
Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles, California
Laurel Canyon is a canyon neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. It was first developed in the 1910s, and became a part of the city of Los Angeles in 1923 ....
ethos that surrounded the group and their associates, established an aesthetic for a number of acts that came to define the "California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
" sound of the ensuing decade, including The Eagles, Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has sold over 17 million albums in the United States alone....
, post-1974 Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
, and others.
In 2003, the album was ranked number 259 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" is the title of a 2003 special issue of American magazine Rolling Stone, and a related book published in 2005.Related news articles:...
.
The album has been issued on compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
three times: mastered by Barry Diament at Atlantic Studios
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
in the mid-1980s; remastered by Joe Gastwirt
Joe Gastwirt
Joe Gastwirt is an audio engineer, known for digitally remastering hundreds of CDs for famous artists, including the Grateful Dead, Tom Petty, Jimi Hendrix, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, and Yes. His remasters have been critically acclaimed.-References:...
at Ocean View Digital and reissued on August 16, 1994; reissued again by Rhino Records as an expanded edition using the HDCD process on January 24, 2006.
On a new edition of the album to be released on December 6, 2011, the track 'Guinnevere' will be changed to 'Guinevere'. Marshall Blonstein , head of Audio Fidelity, said "Since 1969, every vinyl, cassette and CD version of the album had it spelled with two n’s. But recently the group decided to take out the [historically inaccurate] extra ‘n.’ So our CD booklet, tray card and even the original LP labels now show the title with just the one ‘n.’” Noise11.com
Cover
The original vinyl LP was released in a gatefold sleeve that depicted the band members in large fur parkas with a sunset in the background on the gatefold (shot in Big Bear, California), as well as the iconic cover art. A long folded page inside displayed the album credits, lyrics, track listing, as well as a quasi-psychedelic pencil drawing.The 2006 expanded edition of the CD features an additional four tracks, as well as a slight difference in the cover art. The face of drummer Dallas Taylor was added to the original as he was not present at the photoshoot. He can be seen looking through the window of the door on the rear of the sleeve. In the expanded edition, however, he is absent.
On the cover the members are, left to right, Nash, Stills, and Crosby, for no particular reason, the reverse of the order of the album title. The photo was taken by their friend and photographer Henry Diltz before they came up with a name for the group. They found an abandoned house, north of 809 Palm Avenue, across from a Santa Monica car wash that they thought would be a perfect fit for their “image”. A few days later they decided on the name “Crosby, Stills, and Nash”. To prevent confusion, they went back to the house a day or so later to re-shoot the cover in the correct order, but when they got there they found the house had been reduced to a pile of timber.
Side one
- "Suite: Judy Blue EyesSuite: Judy Blue Eyes"Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" is a suite of short songs written by Stephen Stills and performed by Crosby, Stills and Nash. It appeared on the group's self-titled debut album in 1969. It was also released as a single , going to #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart...
" (Stills) – 7:25- Stephen Stills-vocals, guitar, bass, percussion; David Crosby-vocals; Graham Nash-vocals; Dallas Taylor-drums
- "Marrakesh ExpressMarrakesh Express"Marrakesh Express" is a song recorded by Crosby, Stills, and Nash, which they released on their 1969 self-titled debut album. The author of its lyrics and composer of its music, Graham Nash, a former member of The Hollies, had originally intended to record the song with them. Indeed, the Hollies...
" (Nash) – 2:39- Stephen Stills-vocals, guitar, organ, piano, bass; David Crosby-vocals; Graham Nash-vocals, acoustic guitar; Jim Gordon-drums
- "GuinnevereGuinnevere"Guinnevere" is a folk song written by David Crosby in 1969. The song appears on Crosby, Stills & Nash's critically acclaimed eponymous debut album. The song is notable for its serene yet pointed melody and its unique lyrics, which compare Queen Guinevere to the object of the singer's affection,...
" (Crosby) – 4:40- David Crosby-vocals, guitar; Graham Nash-vocals
- "You Don't Have to Cry" (Stills) – 2:45
- "Pre-Road Downs" (Nash) – 3:01
Side two
- "Wooden ShipsWooden Ships"Wooden Ships" is a rock song written and composed by David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Paul Kantner in the late 1960s. The song was written and composed in Florida on Crosby's boat...
" (Crosby, Stills, Paul Kantner [uncredited]) – 5:29- Stephen Stills-vocals, lead guitar, bass, organ; David Crosby-vocals, rhythm guitar; Graham Nash-vocals; Dallas Taylor-drums
- "Lady of the IslandLady of the Island"Lady of the Island" is a folk song written by Graham Nash in the late 1960s. The song appears on Crosby, Stills & Nash's critically acclaimed, self-titled debut album. The song is notable for taking its inspiration from fellow folk musician Joni Mitchell, with whom Nash was romantically involved...
" (Nash) – 2:39- David Crosby-vocals; Graham Nash-vocals, acoustic guitar
- "Helplessly Hoping" (Stills) – 2:41
- Stephen Stills-vocals, guitar; David Crosby-vocals; Graham Nash-vocals
- "Long Time Gone" (Crosby) – 4:17
- Stephen Stills-vocals, guitar, bass, organ; David Crosby-vocals; Graham Nash-vocals; Dallas Taylor-drums
- "49 Bye-Byes" (Stills) – 5:16
2006 Expanded Edition
- "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" (Stills) – 7:24
- "Marrakesh Express" (Nash) – 2:38
- "Guinnevere" (Crosby) – 4:39
- "You Don't Have to Cry" (Stills) – 2:44
- "Pre-Road Downs" (Nash) – 2:57
- "Wooden Ships" (Crosby, Paul KantnerPaul KantnerPaul Lorin Kantner is an American rock musician, known for co-founding the psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane and its spin-off band Jefferson Starship.- Overview :...
, Stills) – 5:27 - "Lady of the Island" (Nash) – 2:38
- "Helplessly Hoping" (Stills) – 2:41
- "Long Time Gone" (Crosby) – 4:17
- "49 Bye-Byes" (Stills) – 5:12
- "Do for the Others" (Stills) – 2:49 - Stills & Nash
- "Song with No Words (Tree with No Leaves) [New Remix]" (Crosby) – 3:18 - Crosby & Nash
- "Everybody's Talkin'" (Fred NeilFred NeilFred Neil was an American folk singer-songwriter in the 1960s and early 1970s. He did not achieve commercial success as a performer, and is mainly known through other people's recordings of his material – particularly "Everybody's Talkin'", which became a hit for Harry Nilsson after being...
) – 3:14 - "Teach Your Children" (Nash) – 3:14 - Crosby & Nash
Personnel
Crosby, Stills & Nash- David CrosbyDavid CrosbyDavid Van Cortlandt Crosby is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. In addition to his solo career, he was a founding member of three bands: The Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash , and CPR...
– rhythm guitar, vocals - Stephen StillsStephen StillsStephen Arthur Stills is an American guitarist and singer/songwriter best known for his work with Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills & Nash . He has performed on a professional level in several other bands as well as maintaining a solo career at the same time...
– lead guitar, bass, organ, vocals - Graham NashGraham NashGraham William Nash, OBE is an English singer-songwriter known for his light tenor vocals and for his songwriting contributions with the British pop group The Hollies, and with the folk-rock band Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Nash is a photography collector and a published photographer...
– vocals, percussion, acoustic guitar - Dallas TaylorDallas Taylor (drummer)Dallas Woodrow Taylor Jr. was born in Denver, Colorado, 7 April 1948. He is a session drummer who has played on several rock records of the 1960s and 1970s...
– drums, percussion
Additional Personnel
- Jim GordonJim Gordon (musician)James Beck "Jim" Gordon is an American recording artist, musician and songwriter. The Grammy Award winner was one of the most requested session drummers in the late 1960s and 1970s, recording albums with many well-known musicians of the time, and was the drummer in the blues-rock supergroup Derek...
- drums on "Marrakesh Express" - Cass ElliotCass ElliotCass Elliot , born Ellen Naomi Cohen and also known as Mama Cass, was an American singer and member of The Mamas & the Papas. After the group broke up, she released five solo albums. Elliot was found dead in her room in London, England, from an apparent heart attack after two weeks of sold-out...
- background vocals on "Pre-Road Downs" - Bill Halverson - engineer
- Gary BurdenGary BurdenGary Burden is an American artist specializing in the field of album covers. He is considered as one of the pioneers of the concept of album cover art. In the 1960s and '70s he designed covers for many rock stars, such as Mama Cass, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Joni Mitchell, The Doors, The Eagles...
– art direction, design - Henry DiltzHenry DiltzHenry Stanford Diltz is a folk musician and photographer, who has been active since the 1960s....
– photography - David GeffenDavid GeffenDavid Geffen is an American record executive, film producer, theatrical producer and philanthropist. Geffen is noted for creating Asylum Records in 1970, Geffen Records in 1980, and DGC Records in 1990...
– direction - Ahmet ErtegünAhmet ErtegunAhmet Ertegün was a Turkish American musician and businessman, best known as the founder and president of Atlantic Records. He also wrote classic blues and pop songs and served as Chairman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and museum...
– spiritual guidance - Barry Diament - mastering, first CD issue
- Joe Gastwirt – mastering, 1994 reissue
- Raymond Foye – liner notes, 2006 reissue
Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965. A pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement, Jefferson Airplane was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve mainstream commercial and critical success....
guitarist Paul Kantner
Paul Kantner
Paul Lorin Kantner is an American rock musician, known for co-founding the psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane and its spin-off band Jefferson Starship.- Overview :...
was finally credited as co-composer of "Wooden Ships" on the expanded edition, something long acknowledged on his group's version of the song from their Volunteers
Volunteers (Jefferson Airplane album)
-Personnel:*Grace Slick – vocals, piano on "The Farm", "Hey Fredrick", "Eskimo Blue Day", and "Volunteers", organ on "Meadowlands", recorder on "Eskimo Blue Day"*Paul Kantner – vocals, rhythm guitar*Marty Balin – vocals, percussion...
album, released the same year.
David Crosby singing an excerpt of "Come On in My Kitchen
Come On in My Kitchen
"Come On in My Kitchen" is a blues song by Robert Johnson. Johnson recorded the song on Monday, November 23rd, 1936 at the Gunter Hotel in San Antonio, Texas - his first recording session...
" between "Long Time Gone" and "49 Bye-Byes" was left off the 2006 reissue at the request of the late Robert Johnson's estate.
Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Black Albums | 35 |
| Pop Albums | 6 |
Singles - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | "Marrakesh Express" | Hot 100 | 28 |
| "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" | Hot 100 | 21 |