Product Description

This 12 song compilation of previously unreleased demos from 1968 to 1971 offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the earliest days of one of rock's most legendary partnerships. After four decades as 'three together', the creative partnership of David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash is one of the most enduring and influential in contemporary music. This compilation of previously unreleased material takes an unprecedented look at the earliest days of their collaboration with 12 demos from 1968 to 1971-destined to be classic songs that would later be featured on CSN's studio albums and solo titles. While a number of demos feature members performing solo (and one finds them joined by Neil Young), the set opens with the trio harmonizing on 'Marrakesh Express', recorded four months before their self-titled debut LP was released in 1969.

Track Listing

1. Marrakesh Express (Crosby, Stills & Nash)
2. Almost Cut My Hair (David Crosby)
3. You Don't Have To Cry (Stephen Stills)
4. Deja Vu (David Crosby)
5. Sleep Song (Graham Nash)
6. My Love Is A Gentle Thing (Stephen Stills)
7. Be Yourself (Graham Nash)
8. Music Is Love (David Crosby, Neil Young & Graham Nash)
9. Singing Call (Stephen Stills)
10. Long Time Gone (David Crosby & Stephen Stills)
11. Chicago (Graham Nash)
12. Love The One You're With (Stephen Stills)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4702 in Music
• Brand: CROSBY,STILLS & NAS
• Released on: 2009-06-02
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .12 pounds

Customer Reviews

A Good Trip Back For What It's Worth
To my ears these demos are of better quality than the recent Stills release "Just Roll Tape"...The song selection/sequencing and the way the performances/performers vary make it a great disc to listen to from beginning to end. So not only do you get the early skeletal versions of the songs (and they really sound much better than "rough demos") with different twists...you also get a real "album" with various moods that you can enjoy in its own right. Not a lot of harmony singing...so this shouldn't be an introductory cd for anyone, but fans will definitely appreciate these versions!

DEMOS
One disc 41 minutes approximately. The sound,even for demos,is fine. These tracks were overseen by Graham Nash who was in charge of this release.

First David Crosby released his box set. Then Graham Nash released his. Stephen Stills' box set is being assembled as I write this. Plus,with all the talk about the huge Neil Young set released today in various formats,the time was ripe for this collection of demos from CSN.

These twelve tracks,from 1968-1971,all of which ended up either on CSN or various solo albums,are a trip back in time. This is similar to STEVE STILLS' "Just Roll Tapes" release(though not even as "finished" as those tracks) from a while ago. Basically whoever you hear on vocals is the composer of the song,some of which have their own moody feel,much different than the versions released.

The first track,"Marrakesh Express", finds the trio blending their voices together a few months before their first album was released. The only other tracks with more than one member singing together are "Music Is Love",which features Crosby,Young and Nash,and "Long Time Gone",with Crosby and Stills on vocals. The rest of these tracks feature one of the trio on vocals-after all,these are demos,a guide for the rest of the group to flesh out at a later time.

The arrangements,being demos,are skeletal-very simple. As such,this collection is an insight into some of the groups'/members' more famous songs. Is this the great lost collection of CSN(Y) tracks? No. For those looking for that CSN(Y) sound-the seemingly effortless blending of voices,the fine instrumental backdrops-you'll have to stick with the group's various releases. There are some good things on this set. Songs that most everybody is familiar with are here,but even then,they are "work" songs,so the familiar tracks may sound a bit slower in some cases,and some of the lyrics may be missing because the group had not fleshed these tracks out beyond simply getting them down on tape. It's nice to compare and contrast these songs ("Almost Cut My Hair" is a good example) with the finished gems listeners are familiar with. Long time listeners of the group will like to hear how various songs sounded in their embryonic stage. The best thing about this release is both Stills' and Crosby's voices. Even here they propel their tracks with the fine,aching (in Stills case) or with the smooth tenor voice of Crosby. The closest thing to a finished sounding track is "Long Time Gone",which benefits with a rhythm section backing Crosby's voice. Nash has one of his best moment here on his "Chicago",still one of his best compositions.

This collection is for fans who can't get enough of CSN(Y),or the individual members who make up this super group. Listeners who want anything this group records will also have to have this set. Is there worthwhile music here? Yes,for those who want to hear the inner-workings of this group,which will give some insight into what these songs sounded like in their beginning stages. Those who are looking for the groups' fine trademark harmonies and arrangements may want to hear this set before buying. The star rating is for some of the tracks here,which even at this stage are a treat to hear. Some of these tracks benefit from a simple voice (Stills' voice especially) and guitar arrangement,and it would be nice if this group released a finished album in this same vein. Is it worth owning? Absolutely. Is it a crucial release? No.

Surprisingly strong collection of '68-'71 demos
Usually when I see a collection like this, I'm thinking "another money-grabbing job by the label or the band" and I tend to be highly sceptical. That said, the allure of this collection is such that I simply had to check it out.

"Demos" (12 tracks; 42 min.) brings demos from the early days, the earliest being from August, 1968 and the latest from February, 1971. This compilation starts off with the most "finished" of these demos, a nice "Marrakesh Express" (the only song on here actually performed by CS&N). However, it is followed in two of the next three tracks by 2 demos from David Crosby that are nothing short of jaw-dropping: just David and his guitar on an early version of "Almost Cut My Hair", and a 7 min. version of "Deja Vu", which you have to hear to believe it. Those songs along are worth this CD, period, and we still have two-thirds of the album to go! Stephen Stills' "My Love Is a Gentle Thing" and "Singing Call" are very nice, as is "Music Is Love", accredited to Crosby, Young & Nash (the finished version of this would appear on David Crosby's album "If I Could Only Remember My name"). The last 'can't miss' highlight is the Graham Nash demo of "Chicago" (just Graham and piano), the song's optimism/naivite is touching.

In all, I can't emphasize enough how pleased, even impressed, I am with this album. It's basically having CS&N sitting in your house and crooning their songs unplugged just for you. I wonder if this is it, tough? At just 42 min. there was room on here for a lot more. Or are they going to stretch this out on yet another CD? Stay tuned...