Crosby, Stills & Nash

My only complaint is that they don't use an Oxford comma in their band name. Nice combo of nostalgic and folksy rock, this might have been my favorite album so far

Nice and chill album, I get why they were popular. Idk if it's heinous to say it but felt like the Beatles meets Simon and Garfunkel

I expected this to be better and score higher, but in reality this album pretty much made me angry. It should be better, it has all the ingredients to be better, yet it is really boring, almost all the songs sound the same, and that same isn't an enjoyable song to begin with. It should probably score 2, but I'm angry at it, so 1 it is.

High school in the 80's I listen to mostly thrash metal, hard rock and some punk/hardcore with a splattering of some random things like the Cure. I starting hangin out with other kids into different music. One of my first times getting high, my friend puts this album on vinyl, Suite Judy Blue Eyes comes flowing out of the speakers filling my ears and head with those warm sweet harmonies, wow I never heard anything like this. I was hooked, on both the music and the weed. I still love this album and CSN, even though David Crosby is an ass.

They were better with Neil Young and Neil Young is better without them.

CSN's self-titled debut cannot be touched! From Judy Blue Eyes to You Don't Have to Cry to Wooden Ships to Teach Your Children Well (and everything in between), there is no better folk rock record of its time. Where is the 6 star option?!

Absolute classic album. One of the best folk rock albums ever. Great guitars, great diversity, and of course, the harmonies. Legends.

Here are some fun facts. In 1982, David Crosby crashed his car into a fence after having a cocaine seizure. Responding police found his coke and a loaded .45. When they asked Crosby why he felt the need to travel with a loaded weapon, he supposedly replied, "John Lennon." At one point, Stephen Stills started to believe he had been on missions with the US Marines in Vietnam and began wearing fatigues on stage during concerts and signing autographs “Stephen Stills, US Marine Corps”. In 2016, Graham Nash, who was in his 70's at the time, divorced his wife of 38 years to marry a 40-year old. His adult children stopped talking to him, which he said was probably for the best. These were three talented individuals and this is a pretty decent album and Deja Vu is even better. It is a shame that after making some pretty decent albums these guys spent the next 50 years ruining their lives and the lives of the people around them. Don't do drugs kids.

Needs more Young

Another band I've never listened to that I assumed would be pretty dated sounding, but man I really dug this one too. Marrakesh Express and Guinevere were my favorites here.

Perfect album, shame Neil Young had to go ruin such a great group.

Great harmony and comfortable music

Pleasant but forgettable. Unlike other supergroups these three don't seem different enough to provide an interesting contrast.

I always forget there's CSN & CSNY. This is classic easy, chill, jamming music.

I'm a big fan of The Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel, so you would think this would be up my alley, but this album sounded a bit samey from track to track for my tastes. Apparently there were iconic hits, but none of the tracks really grabbed me. It appears that all of their songs that I enjoy are on other albums in their career, particularly those with Neil Young, which is weird because I typically don't enjoy Neil Young's solo career. Great harmonizing but I found the songs boring pretty quickly. I'd rather just listen to another Simon & Garfunkel album. If I had to a pick a track I might want to listen to again, I guess "Marrakesh Express" was okay.

I bought this album off my Cousin about 1973. Loved the album and it is still one of my favourite albums of all time. Teach Your Children and Guinnivere are my favourite tracks. Well worth a listen

Fan-fucking-tastisch album

Love it

When the last Boomer on this critics' list rages into that good night, half of the 1,001 will quietly drop off with them, and this will be one of the leavers. But is that fair? This has some great songs (Wooden Ships slides and rocks, You Don’t Have To Cry is a classic of the dead genre of pedagogic goodbyes, Long Time Gone is panther-like yacht rock), a bunch of middling ones, and a creepy one in Guinnevere (I hated it so much on first listen that I tip-toed up to it on subsequent play throughs, worried that it’d bite). More fundamentally, I don’t know what to do with all the harmonies. CSN advance on me like a tripled hippy terminator, earnest and la la la, the threat of a syrupy “milady” keeping me on edge. The harmonies don’t repel me as they once did, but they sound doubled, with a doll-like creepiness - “I’ve heard enough,” my wife declared in the car earlier. And these harmonies are why this band exist. When they turn down the harmonies, let them loosen up, they can be pleasant, extra oomph in the choruses. I wish they’d let them get ragged. I don’t need to hear Marrakech Express again, but it’s cute novelty, albeit one drummed by roots rock’s favourite murderer, Jim Gordon. The opener dares me to hate it, so by the end I’m its pet. I prefer Déjà Vu, and that’s not down to the added Y, fnar fnar.

By far the best thing about CSNY was Y. Without Y they are a one trick pony; they have the lovely harmonies but not a lot else. In particular, the songs on this LP written by C or N are weak.Some of Stills' songs are good and their harmonies make those songs very good. This is the case with Suite: Judy Blue Eyes. The four songs that follow can't be saved by the harmonies. I kind of like Wooden Ships, probably because it sounds like a Neil Young song, lol. I suppose Stills lays down the lead guitar on that track.  We must give credit where it's due. Helplessly Hoping is beautiful and the best song on the LP imo.  I just don't think a couple of good songs can get the LP north of 3.  PS I do like Teach Your Children but didn't let it influence my rating since it's a bolt on to the 2006 re-release and more appropriately considered a Deja Vu track.

Nice but lacking the magic of the previous CSN&Y album I've listened too. Not bad though.

if its maybe a lil lopsided its only because the highs are so ridiculous. could just survive on being great songs performed by the ever reliable band structure of Guys Who's Voices Sound Really Fucking Good Together but theres also tons of nice little instrumental/arrangement flourishes and details...more than anything, that plus the obvious clashing/melding personalities create a v distinct sound (earthy with a celestial tinge) yet i never once feel like its repeating itself. but i sure did think "oh theyre just casually throwing out the best song ive ever heard in my life" at least a couple times

No one does folk rock quite like CS&N, and they let you know that with their first swing up at bat. The vast majority of tracks here are timeless.

The debut album from the definitive vocal supergroup of the 60's and 70's. Crosby, Stills & Nash showcase their incredible songwriting and unworldly tight vocal harmonies, pulling flavors from their previous musical forays into a perfect blend of folk, blues, and rock. Obviously, lyrics and voices are front and center on this album, but there's also some subtly awesome instrumentation backing them, including iconic acoustic guitar, mesmerizing organ, and respectable bass and drums. A fantastic breakout album, and a taste of more great music to come. I'm very biased toward this album for personal reasons and familial history. It could have been 40 minutes of screeching brakes and just "Helplessly Hoping" at the end, and I still would give it five stars for that track alone. Stand out tracks include "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes", "Marrakesh Express", "Guinnevere", "Lady of the Island", and "Helplessly Hoping".

Impeccable vibes. This album caught me on a good day and made it even better.

I could imagine Neil Young collaborating well with these young upstarts

I was blissfully unaware that this album had been the backbone of every campfire guitar singalong. Songs like Everybody's Talking, Love the one you’re with and teach your children well are it seems the bread and butter of every acoustic guitarist.

Stellar, folksy harmonies with rock instrumentation. Makes you want to put on a shearling jacket and build a cabin.

I had never listened to CS&N before, but there is a warmth and feeling of familiarity that came with it anyway. Loved the album.

yeah

I usually just think of them as classic rock but I was really blown away listening to the whole album together

Each track is a classic. Such good harmony and guitar on show here. Fresh.

great album by them!

very good album

Another gem of classic rock. You probably heard all of these songs before - actually pretty timeless.

i like the first song a lot. nice sound

It's a pretty good listen, although I prefer them with Neil Young.

incredible debut; best bits on the Greatest Hits [edit: to explain, this is a 3* because it's so wussy. So much crying everywhere!]

It’s great if this is what you’re into. It won’t blow away any neutrals though.

This is the first album I listened to and rated as part of this project. I love this style of folk rock music and it provided for a very easy listening experience in which I didn't dislike any song. I felt that it started off a little boring with 'Suite: Judy Blue Eyes' but I could find that growing on me after a while. I did love 'Guinnevere' and 'Wooden Ships' was probably my favorite track.

I really enjoyed the sound. I would need to listen more for the lyrics when I'm not working sometime. But enjoyable album with a sound I like

I thought this album was good, but not great. I believe Young added a certain something to the mix that just made this band pure magic, and for me, that magic is clearly lacking on this album without him. The impact of this album however, is not to be undermined. This debut album popped up in 1969, just in time to inform and be an inspiration for many 70s soft rock, folk rock, and singer-songwriter acts. They naturally had a sound and a style here that many bands would go on to covet and seek. While Crosby, Stills & Nash was not the first supergroup, they're an incredibly significant one. Before them, any group formed of members from other bands was considered a "supergroup". But Crosby, Stills & Nash all came from already pretty successful bands and created an even more successful band than any of them came from individually. Crosby, Stills & Nash, along with this album, ultimately set a strong precedent for true supergroups going forward; it's a good introduction to that 70s folk rock sound and a good foundation for things to come with this band.

No Neil Young....but still lots of classics here. It reminds me of high school. It was old then, it sounds pretty dated now. There are just a couple songs that were fun to hear again, like Teach Your Children

Although I love Neil Young, these guys just rub me the wrong way. So without Neil, CSN is a chore. It's just excruciating for me to listen to their hillybilly harmonies and I couldn’t listen to the entire album

Difficult to analyze this one having heard most of these so many times. A lot to like here obviously, but the different "sounds" throughout I've maybe taken for granted. The lead guitar on Suite Judy, the combination of instruments that make that strange and awesome groove to start Long Time Gone, what ever the hell that instrument is on Marrakesh. Helplessly Hoping sounds incredibly clean to me, though I couldn't even get through it it's so heart wrenching. A lot of these I hadn't heard, at least in a while and were probably the low points (Song with No Words, Lady of the Island etc.) The best point of reference for this album is Deja Vu which is an unrealistic standard. Amazing debut, all time great songs, a few I don't need, not as good as Deja Vu but pretty damn good.

This was the first album I listened to after returning back from a week at a beautiful but faintly demonic destination wedding in Mallorca, Spain, a power union between two fantastically successful but dull-eyed finance vampires and house music enthusiasts who insisted on hiring some of Europe's (apparently) most in-demand house DJs to blast the most god-awful, soulless beep-boop bork- bork fuckslop computer music nonstop for two straight days while nearly all of the 250 avaricious ghouls in attendance numbed their brains and hearts with coke and ecstasy to distract themselves from the mist of hollowness and mortality that, by the end of the party, had begun to thicken to a choking fog. Hearing this album upon returning felt like going from black and white to color in my soul. Long live music. Long live CSN. Long live humanity. One measure of almost any song on this album contains more life than 100 hours of DJ nonsense. We're going to be alright.

Here I am confirming my bias for the late 60s/early 70s being the best era for music again 😂 The muted instrument sounds mixed with those crystal clear vocal harmonies is so stylish and beautiful, but creepy and weird when the song calls for it. Im in awe at some of these Lady Of The Island and Helplessly Hoping were my personal favorites this time. Easy to spend a full 24 hours on this. With that said, Suite: Judy Blue Eyes overshadows the genius of the rest of this. I wonder if they considered splitting that off as a single and keeping it off this album.

Between 4 and 5 on this, and I love the hits just enough to get up to a 5. What can you say about these harmonies? Simply lovely

So much of this is new to me - but feel like I’ve seen the album photo a bunch - guess I’m more familiar with csnY. Would still put the Young version of the band above this, but this album is still near perfect. I had never heard Marrakesh, Pre-Road Downs, or 49. Highlights for me this time through. Cass Elliot from Mamas and Papas is on Pre-Road Downs.

A tour de force of acoustic guitar and rich vocal harmony, or some such. Lots of big well known hits, a few gems I never heard. Solid top to bottom.

An all timer, no doubt. Easy 5 star rating.

Another classic album with memorable songs by men whose harmonies make you want to sing along. I will never tire listening to them.

A masterpiece. Beautiful voices and harmonies. A classic for a reason. 5/5

Now you’re talking!

helpless, country girl, Almost Cut my Hair

Beautiful album.

This is a lovely album. I have this, though I first listened to it in my late teens after hearing CSNY on the Woodstock album. I have played this album many times, but I have to be in a 'listening' mood. It has great songs, harmonies and melodies. Vocally superb. I listened to this again, trying not to take it for granted, as I'm familiar with it. It's a 5 star album (just). Would I listen again - Yes. I don't listen to this enough Would I buy it - Yes. I have it. Side one 1. "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" 7:25 - Wonderful. Great tune and harmonies. 5* 2. "Marrakesh Express" 2:39 Showing Simon and Garfunkel influences. Super song. Very catchy. 5* 3. "Guinnevere" 4:40 Nice song. It doesn't grab you quite as much as the previous two. A nice electric guitar forms the backbone of the song. 4* 4. "You Don't Have to Cry" 2:45 - A nice song, intricate vocal harmonies and lovely acoustic guitar. 3* 5. "Pre-Road Downs" 2:56. A nice pop song. Great guitar. 3* 20/25 4 stars Side 2 1. "Wooden Ships" 5:29 - This is classy. Great guitar. A very laid back tune. Could be a Neil Young song! Absolutely super. 5* 2. "Lady of the Island" 2:39 - Slow, mournful ballad. Beautiful vocals. 3* 3. "Helplessly Hoping" 2:41 - Nice finger picking introduction. This grabs the attention with the vocals. 5* 4. "Long Time Gone" 4:17 - ooh this is good. More of a rock song than folky. Great vocals. A nice bluesy feel. Great guitar. 5* 5. "49 Bye-Byes" 5:16 - A nice song. It has touches of everything from the previous 9 tracks. 4* 22/25 42/50 for the album. It just squeaks 5 stars

Not sure if I like CSN better or CSNY, but they are both great. Such deep lyrics, great harmonization, and intricate guitar work. Also, it seems that there's a song on this album to match any mood, though their more introspective songs seem to really snag me the most. I think Helplessly Hoping is one of my all time favorite songs ever.

So many good songs on this album! Judy Blue Eyes, Marrakesh Express, Guinnevere, Wooden Ships, Helplessly Hoping, Long Time Gone, Everybody's Talkin, and Teach Your Children! So good!

White boy music- in a good way. Shoutout CS&N, I was born 30+ years after this album came out but it still hits and feels timeless more than 50 years after its release.

Great find

Songwriting, harmonies, chef's kiss. Wooden Ships, Suite: Judy Blue Eyes, Guinnevere, Long Time Gone. These men made amazing music over a, thankfully, long career. Incredible to think this was just the start!

Fuck yeah man, love me some singin and geetarz.

Album that took time to grow on me, but can understand why was so successful at the time. It’s organic and it’s beautiful. 5 Star

excellent album

Why not

Loved this album since I first pulled it from my uncle's record collection. The songs are nearly all excellent ("Lady of the Island" can be a little tiring at times) - "Suite:Judy Blue Eyes", "Marrakesh Express", "Wooden Ships", "Helplessly Hoping" & "Long Time Gone" being the picks for me. The harmonies are incredibly tight with each vocalist bringing something special, even I find David Crosby's voice a little less distinctive than the other two. The production is bright and clear; the record sounds fantastic. But this listening brought new appreciation for Stephen Stills in particular. With the exception of drums (by Dallas Taylor) and a couple of additional rhythm guitars, Stills plays everything - acoustic and electric guitars, bass, organ, percussion - and is superb on all of them. His arrangements complement the vocals wonderfully.

Great folk-rock album. Very consistent vibe throughout, nice lyrics, warm guitar riffs, and sweet vocals. One of my favorite choruses ever with "They are one person, They are two alone, They are three together, They are for each other". Overall, a simple, concise, well put together project from the trio.

Some weeks a man will listen to Helplessly Hoping 400 times, ya know.

Some of the most recognizable harmonies in music, Crosby, Stills & Nash laid the groundwork for everything I love from the 70's like America and Yes. Thanks guys!

Extraordinary album that bridged the sixties and seventies

I mean, the songs on this album: Marrakesh Express, Guinnevere, Helplessly Hoping. If you ever listened to AM radio in the 1970s these songs are imprinted on your brain.

9 out of 10

A top 100 album!!

Suite Judy Blue Eyes is my favorite song so I knew I would love this. I didn’t know they had such a pure mellow album. It was lovely!

Great harmonies.

If someone tried to create the perfect vocal harmonies using modern AI or some type of enhanced autotune software, they could not do better than CSN on this album. It’s a pleasure to listen to this work of art. The first “supergroup” and their best album.

Fantastic album. Easy to listen to and appreciate.

If the Beatles and Queen had a Baby in the Late 60s

Love it

Proof positive that all the crap music came from Neil Young. CSN >>>>>>CSNY 4.5/5.0: Excellent

Enjoyable folk rock.

Lot of greats here but don't overlook "You Don't Have To Cry"

The self-titled debut album *Crosby, Stills & Nash*, released in 1969, is a landmark in rock history. It showcased the trio's exceptional vocal harmonies, innovative songwriting, and a seamless blend of folk, rock, and pop influences. Below is an in-depth review focusing on the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, along with its strengths and weaknesses. --- ## **Lyrics** The lyrics on *Crosby, Stills & Nash* are a mix of introspective reflections, social commentary, and poetic storytelling. Each member brought distinct lyrical perspectives: - **David Crosby** contributed socially conscious songs like "Long Time Gone," written in response to the assassination of Bobby Kennedy. Its lyrics channel a sense of urgency and disillusionment with the political climate of the late 1960s[1][4]. - **Stephen Stills** offered deeply personal narratives. "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes," a suite-like composition addressing his breakup with Judy Collins, is both intimate and universal in its emotional resonance[4]. - **Graham Nash** brought a lighter touch with songs like "Marrakesh Express," which captures the whimsicality of travel and cultural exploration. His "Lady of the Island" is a tender love song with minimalist yet evocative imagery[3][4]. The lyrical diversity reflects the trio's different backgrounds—Crosby's activism (from The Byrds), Stills' introspection (from Buffalo Springfield), and Nash's pop sensibilities (from The Hollies)[1][4]. --- ## **Music** Musically, *Crosby, Stills & Nash* is an intricate blend of folk-rock with elements of jazz and blues. The album's defining feature is its three-part harmonies, which elevate every track: - **"Suite: Judy Blue Eyes"** is a tour de force that combines classical music structures with pop sensibilities. Its multi-part arrangement showcases Stills' compositional brilliance[1][3]. - **"Guinevere"** is hauntingly sparse, featuring Crosby's unconventional guitar tunings and ethereal vocals that evoke an almost mystical atmosphere[3]. - **"Wooden Ships"**, co-written by Crosby and Stills with Jefferson Airplane’s Paul Kantner, is an apocalyptic vision set to a brooding melody. Its themes of survival and escape resonate deeply[4]. Instrumentally, Stephen Stills dominated the album's production. Dubbed "Captain Many Hands," he played most instruments except for rhythm guitar (handled by Crosby and Nash) and drums (played by Dallas Taylor). His contributions on bass, organ, and lead guitar are particularly noteworthy[2][4]. The acoustic arrangements are intricate yet accessible, making the album both musically rich and widely appealing. --- ## **Production** The production on *Crosby, Stills & Nash* is remarkably clean for its time. Recorded at Wally Heider Studios in Hollywood, the album avoids unnecessary embellishments, allowing the vocals and instrumentation to shine[2]. The mix emphasizes clarity—each harmony is distinct yet blends seamlessly into the overall soundscape. Stills' meticulous approach to layering instruments ensured that every track feels cohesive despite the trio's differing styles. The production choices have aged well; even decades later, the album sounds fresh and immediate[2][3]. --- ## **Themes** The album explores themes that were both timely in 1969 and timeless: - **Love and Relationships:** Songs like "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" and "Lady of the Island" delve into personal relationships with honesty and vulnerability. - **Social Commentary:** Tracks such as "Long Time Gone" and "Wooden Ships" address political unrest and existential concerns in a turbulent era. - **Escape and Exploration:** "Marrakesh Express" celebrates freedom through travel and cultural discovery. These themes encapsulate the countercultural ethos of the late 1960s while maintaining universal appeal. --- ## **Influence** *Crosby, Stills & Nash* was revolutionary in several ways: 1. **Redefining Vocal Harmonies:** The trio's harmonies set a new standard for rock music. Their influence can be heard in subsequent acts like Fleetwood Mac and America[1][2]. 2. **Shifting Rock Trends:** Released during an era dominated by heavy rock sounds like Led Zeppelin’s debut or Cream’s blues-rock explorations, this album helped usher in a softer, more melodic approach to rock music that would dominate much of the 1970s[2]. 3. **Singer-Songwriter Movement:** Alongside artists like James Taylor, CSN laid the groundwork for introspective singer-songwriter albums that became staples of 1970s rock. The album’s success also solidified CSN as one of rock’s first supergroups. It peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard charts and has been certified four times platinum[5]. --- ## **Pros** 1. **Exceptional Harmonies:** The intricate vocal arrangements remain unparalleled. 2. **Diverse Songwriting:** Each member brought unique strengths—Crosby’s social awareness, Stills’ musicality, Nash’s pop sensibilities. 3. **Timeless Production:** The clean mix ensures longevity. 4. **Musical Innovation:** Tracks like "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" broke conventional song structures. 5. **Cultural Impact:** The album captured the spirit of its era while influencing future generations. --- ## **Cons** 1. **Occasional Overpolish:** Some critics argue that the perfectionism in production sacrifices raw energy—a hallmark of great rock music[5]. 2. **Uneven Contributions:** While Stills’ dominance ensures cohesion, it sometimes overshadows Crosby’s and Nash’s input instrumentally[4]. 3. **Dated Themes:** Certain tracks feel tied to their time period (e.g., “Marrakesh Express”), potentially limiting their resonance for modern listeners[5]. 4. **Lack of Edge:** Compared to contemporaries like Neil Young or Bob Dylan, CSN’s debut lacks some of the grit associated with protest music. --- ## Conclusion *Crosby, Stills & Nash* is both a product of its time and a timeless masterpiece. Its lush harmonies, innovative compositions, and poignant themes make it one of rock’s most celebrated debuts. While it may lean toward perfectionism at times—arguably at the expense of spontaneity—it remains an essential listen for anyone interested in folk-rock or vocal-driven music. Despite its minor flaws, this album stands as a testament to what happens when three distinct voices come together in perfect harmony—a rare achievement that continues to inspire musicians today.

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A little corny around the edges, but all in all an excellent album. There’s a lot of stuff on here that hadn’t really been done before, even considering the way-paving done by the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, the Hollies, and others.

These guys may not have invented three-part harmony. But they definitely did it better than most.

The harmonies are beautiful; the songs are a product of the hippy movement.

только положительные эмоции от прослушанного, ну это реально круто

Pretty spectacular debut for CSN. They created a new sound with this one. Pretty mellow with some grittier stuff thrown in.

One of the best ever, been listening to this for years

These harmonies tho. Introducing themselves with "Judy Blue Eyes" and echoing it with "Helplessly Hoping" it's so sweet and tender to hear these boys so worried they're losing their loves.

Crosby, Stills and Nash! What more can I say?

amazing

Who could predict that we would be in such a mess in 2025? The science fiction writers...and the musicians of the 1960s. This is an important and timeless album.

This album is so of its time and yet so timeless. A bit of a miracle of songwriting

For someone who has a growing appreciation of the folk arts, what a freakin' classic. Heaters galore!!

I love this record. I started listening to C,S & N in High School when I really started exploring folk music. I didn't initially love it, because the harmonies and pop nature of it was so different from the raw Bob Dylan style of folk that drew me in. As I've gotten older and spent more time with this, I've really come to understand the genius here. Its a really cool combination of blues, folk and pop rock. Not every song lands, but the ones that do slap. And there are far more bangers than not. This is one that I often come back to.

A joy

Not a bad song on the album. Judy Blue Eyes alone puts this in 4 stars territory but the rest of the album is so solid