Crosby, Stills & Nash – Crosby, Stills & Nash

This is an excellent older pressing. Sounds amazing. Those voices are hypnotic.
Recommended.

So much timeless music came out in and around the year 1969, and one of the seminal albums, for both its innovative sound, character and quality, was the first Crosby, Stills & Nash release. Looking back at the cover, I can only wonder if I was ever so young, and if I didn’t have the pictures to prove it, I may have dismissed those years as nothing more then a dream.

So ... I could talk about the groups these amazing artists sprang from, but you all know those stories. Or I could talk about the splendid harmonies, guitar playing, and the return to the Americana music sound, but it would be much more pleasant to listen to them, then to read my words. Of course, I could always speak of the times, or the counter culture, but all of that is the stuff of history at this juncture. So where does that leave us at this point ... why with me, and the effect this album had on my life.

I had just landed in Vietnam when I finally got myself a copy of this album, thought I didn’t need one, as it was playing from record players and reel to reel tape machines from every hootch ... at times the whole Base was awash in the sounds of Crosby, Stills & Nash. With this release, the world was finally to came to terms with the mighty ‘Air Guitar,’ and though it was not a very feminine, or a girlie thing to do ... you guys have NEVER experienced ‘Air Guitar’ until you have seen a woman in olive drab BDU’s [Battle Dress Uniform], left foot on her camouflaged helmet, wailing away, using a fully automatic M16 [with the safety in the ‘On’ position] as a guitar, with the music blasting to the max ... that was the one good thing about being in Vietnam, there weren’t alot of people to disturb ... and I was the undisputed champion of the ‘Air Guitar’ for the entire 44th Medical Unit. I was lightening fast on the draw, I had the power chords down, I could reel back and bow forward with my head almost touching my knees, I had blisters on my fingers, and a smile on my face ... of course we all scrambled when we heard the feedback from the rotors, as a line of choppers were circling to touch down.

But even in the OR, some kind soul had made a tape mix of songs which always included, “Guinnevere,” “Wooden Ships,” “Lady Of The Island,” and of course “Helplessly Hoping,” ... I can still taste the tears from that song, as they inched their way down my cheeks, leaving tiny trails in the red dust that covered my face.

*** The Fun Facts: The current residents don't wanna see your face on their porch, it's a private residence at 809 Pam Avenue in West Hollywood, California.

Review by Jenell Kesler

My version has the following matrix runout etchings

Side one: ST.A.691575-CCC-1 AT RB D(backward) W
Side two: ST-A-691576-BEEE-1

Help

So this first pressing DID NOT come with a lyric sheet?

Maybe you all can help me. I have a version of this release that matches the codes/specs almost exactly, i.e. sd 8229, but on the label i have -RI instead of -CTH: ST-A-691575RI. Can anyone advise? There are already so many versions of this release I hesitate to think I've got a new one.

It seems like just yesterday I brought home this first lp from Crosby, Stills and Nash. The lp offers superior musicianship, impeccable harmonies and for all of it the album is curiously sterile in its perfection.
I almost find the collection to be the first CD, in that it features oh so clean recordings that somehow have none of the 'warmth' of analog recording.
And talk about Overplay Hell, "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" is a pleasant enough song in its way, but I am thoroughly tired of it. Most of these songs I completely digested the first time I heard them, with no inclination to play any of them over and over again.
The one song that I seem to still enjoy is the relatively minor "Marrakesh Express" by Graham Nash. It doesn't aspire to be much, which I find refreshing.
But this was the era of the "supergroup", no? And C, S and N filled the bill admirably. Unfortunately, I enjoy Stills' earlier work with Buffalo Springfield more, I like Crosby's work with the Byrds more, and I still get a kick out of Nash's tunes with the Hollies more than this collection.
Anyway, the whole idea of the "supergroup" sees rock and roll gaining respectability and putting on pompous airs. Makes me think about Elvis Costello's comment about "The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" many years ago...."sounds like a contradiction in terms".
And if I hear "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" one more time, I'm going to turn into a suicide bomber.