Crosby Stills Nash & Young - Deja Vu
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Free Music Notes for Deja Vu
Free Music Review: The Biggest Album To Come Out Of The Late Sixties!
Hit: 5 Stars
From the very beginning of their fateful collaboration, it was clear that this was to be the first of the new super-groups, composed of discontented refugees who either quit or were bounced from monster groups like the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, and the Hollies. When after an initial success with a first album the group decided to add Still's former partner in crime from the Buffalo Springfield group Neil young to the line-up, the strange witches brew of creative energy and talent that resulted exploded onto the contemporary rock scene at Woodstock to an amazed audience with such power and originality. Of course, this number one album was the first result of their original collaboration, and it shot to the top of the charts, where it remained for years!This album is full of smash hits and breath-taking sounds, from the opening "Carry On" to the elegiac "Teach Your Children" to the faux-comical "Almost Cut My Hair". They don't make a single false step here, in what was then acclaimed to be the first technically "perfect" studio album. Indeed, everything is seemingly perfect, from the plaintive sounds of Young's piercing falsetto in "Helpless" to Nash's masterfully gentle ballad "Our House". Of course, their masterpiece on this album is the epic tribute to "Woodstock", a cover of Joni Mitchell's song that they rushed to include on the album after hearing her sing it to them on the phone right after the Woodstock festival, which she couldn't get to because of the traffic. To see how well they transformed her folksy dirge into a rock classic is to understand their native talents and interpretive skills. Everything here is terrific, and my own favorites of "4 and 20" and "Everybody I Love You" are less played and appreciated than most of the other hits emanating from this classic album. This is one of the ten best albums from the sixties, and one everyone who calls himself (or herself) a rock fan must own and have on the shelf. Enjoy!
Free Music Review: A Classic
Hit: 5 Stars
Crosby, Stills & Nash released their first album very succesful in 1969, and in 1970 with the addition of Neil Young they were ready to release a second album, "Deja Vu".
The three original members were all experienced songwriters and great singers, and with Neil Young on top of the hat, it could hardly go wrong; and It did not.
All four members contribute two songs each. Moreover, the two old friends from Buffalo Springfield, Stills and Young together wrote the finale number, "Everybody I Love You". Finall they recorded a cover-version of Joni Mitchell's "Woodstock" . The Woodstock Festival was an event the four members took an active part in.
There is a lot to go for on this album, not least the beautiful harmony vocal arrangements. The songwriting is also of very high class. Both Nash's contributions are among the best he has written, "Our House" is great and "Teach Your Children" has probably already become a classic, covered by several other artists
Both Neil Young's songs are also very fine - in particular the very moving to "Helpless".
Still's upbeat "Carry On" is a perfect opening number. A complex composition that shows many different facets of the group. His quiet acoustic "4 and 20" is a sweet little song and one of the simplest on the album.
I've always had it a bit difficult with David Crosby's songs. They often seem somewhat convoluted. "Almost Cut My Hair" is a blues-like number, very well arranged, but with corny hippie-like lyrics. The titletrack is more unconventional - again with a somewhat pretentious lyrics.
The closing-track "Everybody I Love You" - sounds much like a Steve Stills number, almost as good as the opening-track.
"Woodstock" is probably the most rocking song on the album - strong but perhaps not as interesting as the group's own original songs.
Free Music Review: Musical Portrait of a Generation
Hit: 5 Stars
Back when I was in high school, Deja Vu was one of the most popular albums with kids who were of a counter-culture bent. But it was also an album, due to the presence of the Graham Nash contributions Our House and Teach Your Children, that kids could play loudly at home without parents shouting at them to "turn that g#*d*#* noise down!". While the band's eponymous debut (sans Neil Young) brought them fame and fortune, it was Deja Vu that had such broad appeal that it became the musical portrait of a generation.
Admittedly, my vinyl copy of Deja Vu had been gathering dust for years as I have so much other music I had nearly forgotten CSNY. But recently, I saw this on sale at a bargain price in Costco and snapped it up after remembering how much I used to enjoy it as a kid. Well, I tell you, one listen brings the old days back to life. The industry reviewer says that songs like Almost Cut My Hair are dated, but I say they still sound as good today as when I first heard them.
Though the entire album is highly enjoyable, my favorites are: the stirring Carry On, the country-rock Teach Your Children, the anthemic Almost Cut My Hair, the evocative Our House, the plaintive 4 + 20, and the glorious Country Girl. Everytime I put this on, visions of old times and places flash though my mind.
Note that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and some other organization have chosen Deja Vu as one of 200 albums that should be in everyone's collection. I've seen that list and my stomach churns as I read it. But I was pleased to note that the compilers got roughly one out of ten right and this album is definitely one of those few. Obviously, if you are checking this CD out on the listings here you must have some familiarity with it. So if you have not gotten this remastered version of Deja Vu yet, the time to do so is now. You'll never be sorry you did.
Free Music Review: A Greatest Hits album in itself!
Hit: 5 Stars
Crosby, Stills, and Nash released their debut in 1969 and brought a lot of attention to themselves. Not bad considering ABBEY ROAD, LET IT BLEED, TOMMY, the first two Led Zeppelin albums, and numerous other rock classics were also released that year. For their second LP, they were joined by Stills' former Buffalo Springfield bandmate Neil Young. With DEJA VU, they released the best album of their career, even better than their great debut.
Stephen Stills' kicks the album off with the rocker "Carry On" and the album doesn't let up. He also penned the solo acoustic "4+20" and co-wrote the excellent closer "Everybody I Love You" with Young.
Graham Nash shows his poppier insticnts with his two tracks. "Teach Your Children" was the big hit from the album and foreshadowed the burgeoning country rock movement. It also features some good pedal steel work from Jerry Garcia. "Our House" with its piano, harmonies, and domestic lyrics plays like a tribute to Paul McCartney and stands up with some of Sir Paul's best work.
Neil Young's "Helpless" is one of his many great songs. A beautiful melody and backing vocal arrangement contrast with the ragged qualities of Young's lead vocals and instrumentation. "Country Girl" is a typically idiosyncratic medley. Musically, it lives up to its title.
I've never cared that much for David Crosby's "Almost Cut My Hair." After penning the previous LP's highpoint "Long Time Gone," this is a rather disappointingly bland rocker. He fairs better on the pastiche that is the title track.
Despite my dislike of "Almost Cut My Hair," I still give this album 5 stars because the best songs outweigh the one bad one. Though Young would not record with the trio for another 18 years, they did release an absolute rock classic with DEJA VU.
Free Music Review: Their 2nd classic album
Hit: 5 Stars
Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young avoided the dreaded sophomore jinx with their second album Deja Vu. The album is a more diverse affair than their debut thanks in no small part to the addition of Neil Young. Deja Vu is a more electric album as well with the addition of more bass and lead guitar. The album contains less harmonies than the debut but are still plentiful and very well done.
All four members bring strong contributions to the fold with Crosby and Stills's songs being slightly weaker than on Crosby, Stills, & Nash. Crosby contributes "Deja Vu" and "Almost Cut My Hair." The former track is very strong and one of the more eclectic tracks they've ever produced. The latter track is a druggy electric track with Crosby singing in a louder tone and Neil Young's outro solo sounding reminiscent of his work with Crazy Horse. Stills contributes the very strong opening track "Carry On" and the melancholy but powerful acoustic track "4+20." Both very strong songs, but not as definitive as the tracks on their first album. Graham Nash's songs, however, are very strong. "Teach Your Children" and "Our House" were both big hits and it's easy to see why. The former has a country feel with excellent lyrics, melody, and harmonies. The latter is a piano driven track with both a great hook and melody. Neil Young's contributions "Helpless" and the three-song suite "Country Girl" are both solid mid-tempo tracks and contain very strong harmonies. Stills & Young's closing track "Everybody I Love You" is also very strong, sounding like something they would have done with Buffalo Springfield but rocks harder. Last but not least there is an excellent version of Joni Mitchell's "Woodstock" which rocks much harder than the original. An excellent album and along with their debut is highly recommended.