The Crosby, Stills & Nash triumvirate shot to immediate superstardom with the release of its self-titled debut LP, a sparkling set immortalizing the group’s amazingly close, high harmonies. While elements of the record haven’t dated well — Nash’s Eastern-influenced musings on the hit “Marrakesh Express” now seem more than a little silly, while the antiwar sentiments of “Wooden Ships,” though well-intentioned, are rather hokey — the harmonies are absolutely timeless, and the best material remains rock-solid. Stills’ gorgeous opener, “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” in particular, is an epic love song remarkable in its musical and emotional intricacy, Nash’s “Pre-Road Downs” is buoyant folk-pop underpinned by light psychedelic textures, and Crosby’s “Long Time Gone” remains a potent indictment of the assassination of Robert Kennedy. A definitive document of its era. — Jason Ankeny
Track Listing:
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” | Stephen Stills | Stills | 7:25 |
2. | “Marrakesh Express” | Graham Nash | Nash | 2:39 |
3. | “Guinnevere” | David Crosby | Crosby with Nash | 4:40 |
4. | “You Don’t Have to Cry” | Stephen Stills | Stills with Crosby & Nash | 2:45 |
5. | “Pre-Road Downs” | Graham Nash | Nash | 2:56 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | “Wooden Ships” | David Crosby, Paul Kantner, Stephen Stills | Crosby with Stills | 5:29 |
2. | “Lady of the Island” | Graham Nash | Nash | 2:39 |
3. | “Helplessly Hoping” | Stephen Stills | Stills with Crosby & Nash | 2:41 |
4. | “Long Time Gone” | David Crosby | Crosby with Stills | 4:17 |
5. | “49 Bye-Byes” | Stephen Stills | Stills | 5:16 |
Schill Score: 8/10
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