So this was the first time Dave Crosby - ex The Byrds,
Stephen Stills - ex Buffalo Springfield, Graham Nash - ex The Hollies, and
Neil Young - ex Buffalo Springfield had recorded as a band (heralded as
the first American super group, whereas in fact Graham Nash was English,
and Neil Young Canadian) with the addition of Dallas Taylor on Drums, and
Greg Reeves on Bass.
The album ‘Deja Vu’ was #1 in America on pre-sales
alone, such was the expectations of their second album. It soon became #1
worldwide as the boys did not fail to deliver the expected goods.
Throughout the album the harmonies are picture perfect, the guitar work
exceptional, and the songwriting of the highest standard. The sound of the
songs brings music screaming and shouting out of the hippie days of the
sixties into the more realistic days of the early seventies, keeping the
poppy feel of the sixties as it adds a hard edged guitar sound more
identified with the seventies. Saying that, the album is timeless.
The album contains songs from each of the four artists
that were to lay the template for the rest of their careers. Two songs
from Stephen Stills, including opener ‘Carry On’, which shows all the
facets of the collective musicians, beautiful harmonies, and spiraling
guitars that bring the song to a dramatic climax after a beguiling vocal
break in the middle section. ‘Carry On’ was often stretched out to
over twenty minutes in the electric part of their live set. Stills later
shows the other side of his songwriting ability with the mournful acoustic
ballad ‘4+20’.
Graham Nash follows ‘Carry On’ with the perfect pop
tune devoted to the next generation, ‘Teach Your Children’. The long
time friend Jerry Garcia from The Grateful Dead joins on steel guitar. As
if there wasn’t enough talent on this recording already. Nash also
contributes ‘Our House’, written about his time living with Joni
Mitchell. This song must have lightened many relationships over the years.
One listen would melt even the hardest heart.
In contrast we are given the guitar/rock of Dave
Crosby’s ‘Almost Cut My Hair’. 33 years later it is still the most
requested song from Crosby, whether as a solo performer or as a collective
with other members of these musicians. The lyrics were inspired after the
tragic assassination of Robert Kennedy, and are typical of the time.
“Almost cut my hair, it happened just the other day, It’s getting
longer every day, I couldn’t say it was getting in my way, But I
didn’t and I wonder why, I feel like letting my freak flag fly, It must
be because I had the Flu for Christmas, That it increases my paranoia,
Like looking in your mirror and seeing a police car.” Crosby also
supplied the title track with its fascinating false beginning, heartfelt
lyrics (specially for a man of only 25), amazing display of the bass
guitar from Greg Reeves that was to inspire generations of American bass
players, and yet another star guest appearance - John Sebastion (ex
Lovin’ Spoonful) on Harmonica. John Sebastion was almost in the band
himself after jamming with the others at Mama Cass’ house in their
formative days.
In true democratic fashion Neil Young gave in two
songs, perhaps two of the best of his star studded career. This is even
more incredible considering that later that year he released his solo
classic ‘After the Gold Rush’. The two songs are the stunning
‘Helpless’, a song of rare beauty, and the album’s longest song
‘Country Girl’, given to us in three parts, which I make no excuse
about including some lyrics… ‘’No pass out signs on the door set me
thinking, Are Waitresses paying the price of their winking, Whilst Stars
sit at Bars and decide what they are drinking, They drop by the Bar
because it’s faster than sinking’ Too late to keep the change, too
late to pay, No time to stay the same, no time to stay the same, too young
to change.”
Making up the ten songs there is also a cover of Joni
Mitchel’s tribute to the legendary 1969 Festival ‘Woodstock’, which
the band give a trademark performance of. (A remarkably similar version of
the song was also recorded by ‘Matthew Southern Comfort’ featuring Ian
Matthews previously of ‘Fairport Convention’. It was #1 in England in
October 1970.)
The final track on the album is the rocking
‘Everybody I Love You’, co-written by Stephen Stills and Neil Young. A
fine way to bring the album to a fitting climax.
It was obvious that there was far too much talent, not
to mention too much ego, amongst these musicians for them to stay together
as a band. But while they were, what glorious music they made. Only last
year they were able to bury all their past hatchets and perform together
again. According to reports none of the magic they had created way back
then had been lost.
Many people consider ‘Deja Vu’ to be one of rock
music’s all time classics. Mott the Dog is not one to disagree.
Musicians
Stephen Stills - Lead Guitars, Acoustic Guitars,
Keyboards, and Vocals
Graham Nash - Vocals
Neil Young - Lead Guitars, Keyboards, Acoustic Guitar, and Vocals
David Crosby - Twelve String Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, and
Vocals
Dallas Taylor – Drums
Greg Reeves - Bass
Songs
Carry on
Teach Your Children
Almost Cut My Hair
Helpless
Woodstock
Deja Vu
Our House
4+20
Country Girl
(a) Whiskey Boot Hill
(b) Down, Down, Down
(c) “Country Girl”
Everybody I Love You
Jake
Needham’s book The Big Mango (ISBN 974-8237-36-2) has been very popular
since its release at the end of the millennium, and is now published as an
MMPB edition. (For those like me who were unaware of the acronym, it
stands for Mass Market Paper Back, so never let it be said you can’t
learn anything from a book review!)
Mott’s CD review: Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young
Pawed by Mott the Dog