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

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.

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.

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?!

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

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

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

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.

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 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.

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

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

i like the first song a lot. nice sound

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

Beautiful record. Great songs and some of the best harmonies ever committed to vinyl. Classic

This is a really special album. The songs are great and the harmonies are top tier. There's not a bad song on here. This album will stay in my rotation.

I knew way more tracks from this one than I realized. This one was a treat. Fantastic lyricism and vocals. I did not anticipate the guitar work being so impactful. Adding this to my regular rotation for sure.

Didn’t get to listen to the entire thing

Great Album. some well known song and some excellent music.

Beautiful album. Almost all the songs here are classics that worked their way into my mind. Their vocal harmonies are beautiful and there's lovely guitar playing throughout. The acoustic and sparse songs mixed with more conventional 60's folk rock also really adds to the variety of the album. Certified classic.

All of 'em

Perfect album! Masterpiece! Guinnevere is one of the best songs I heard!

All timer

Very warm and cozy low tempo rock, such a chill album

They sound like a mix of Simon & Garfunkel and Neil Young. So much so that Neil himself joined them later, right? A great debut album. I loved it! 5 stars!

elite

A total favourite of mine, got a few absolutely timeless gems on here.

A couple misses, but overall a garfunkeleske work of art

It's gorgeous.

Classic. 5

Loved it! Though folk rock isn't what I normally turn to, their songs are wonderfully harmonic, with diverse melodies and interesting lyrics. It was a perfect Saturday listen, just what the doctor ordered.

Crosby, Stills & Nash was the self-titled debut from the folk rock supergroup; Crosby was in the Byrds, Nash in the Hollies, and Stills in Buffalo Springfield. The trio's sound was different that their respective predecessors, but their established notoriety contributed to CS&N's success. During their tour to support the album, they added Neil Young to their ranks, another Buffalo Springfield alum and an addition to the group's star power. The album includes "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes," and "Marrakesh Express." two of the band's early hits. The trio employed layered harmonies in their melodies, creating songs with a compelling, earnest sound. Their songs resonated with the social movements of the era, making CS&N's songs somehow essentially related to the time period.

Uhhh pretty, pretty, pretty good

So many classics on one album!!!!

After I got done listening to this album, I had to go back and replay DÉJÀ VU, 'coz about halfway through the first side, this question suddenly popped into my head: "Do I actually like this better than DÉJÀ VU?" Now, normally when I get albums from The Randomizer I don't like to stray over to other ones. While I may reference other albums in my discussion, I want to have the work assigned to me be the only music in my head as I enter a discussion. Sometimes I cheat and get an outer-album song or two in there, but I never do full albums. But listening to this album, I couldn't help but think back to what I said about DÉJÀ VU and how, that time around, I ultimately wasn't as impressed as I was the first time around. I still acknowledge it as a classic album, but I supposed that the years in-between listens did a number on my opinion. In contrast, I'd never heard this album before, but, gosh darn, I was quick to groove with as easily as I had DÉJÀ VU that first time. And I just had to wonder, what was so different about that follow-up that I can click with this album that I hadn't heard as much about versus the other one that I had? And I didn't wanna say it was just Neil Young and call it a day. After RUST NEVER SLEEPS, I've been doin' pretty well with every other album of his that's been thrown my way (and there's still a **lot** left), so I don't wanna take the easy way out. What I ended up coming back to is this: consider "folk rock." Split it down the middle — "folk" and "rock." Neither album fully, completely one or the other, but I feel DÉJÀ VU is more on the "folk" side, whereas this album is closer to "rock." DÉJÀ VU clearly has way more refinement and polish than this one has, and maybe that's Young's influence, maybe it is... Whoever's influence it is, this album, meanwhile, just comes across to me as a bit rougher; a little more open to having electric guitars jam along with the acoustic ones. And, y'know, of course DÉJÀ VU has "Woodstock", "Cut My Hair" and even a little in "Carry On", but still, it doesn't feel like it has rock guitar to the extent that this one does. And, yeah, on a relisten, where I'm not tryna fight off falling asleep 'coz it turns out that's all my "listen on my back with my eyes closed" strategy does for me, I actually do like DÉJÀ VU as much as I used to. But as it turns out, I like this album more. Like, goodness, "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" alone is a masterwork. Just an incredible journey. Plus, as amazing as the harmonies on DÉJÀ VU are, hearing them over the kind of songs that're on here are even better. I even dig the folkier acoustic songs that're here a bit more, to not focus on the rockers entirely. Jus', top to bottom, it's great. All that pre-"we've completely figured this group out" refinement, I'm tellin' yah... Goodness. So I guess Young's presence is really missed after all. Hm, well. Either way and anyway, y'know, I didn't think I'd spend as much of this review talking about DÉJÀ VU as the one I was actually supposed to discuss, but there yah go, I guess. And if I could go back and re-rate it, I'd give it the same 5 I'm giving this. Like, regardless of which one I prefer, they're both spectacular pieces of folk. Certainly, of all of the albums that sparked off the "California sound," between this, SWEETHEART OF THE RODEO and MUSIC FROM THE BIG PINK... Well, you can probably guess my pick. (And once again, if you ain't never heard Weird Al's "Mission Statement"... Like, besides an acoustic line lifted from "Carry On", it's basically just "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes". It's so good.)

I’m at a 5. Thankfully, C, S, & N are still pretty damn good without Y. I don’t think I have much to wax poetic about here – this is just a great album. Sure, a good chunk of it is mired in relationship issues, and the variety of styles on each track isn’t as strong as what was on Deja Vu (lots of acoustic tracks here, little less pure rock than I was expecting), but the quality of the songwriting, and the emotion their voices are able to pull out of those lyrics, especially in the harmonizations, is really, really strong, and really enjoyable to listen to. Even though some of the more personal context of each track is kind of lost to time (I don’t think anyone’s really itching to read about Judy Collins & Stephen Stills anymore), the imagery in the lyricism is so good that it really can apply to any kind of relationship. I truly don’t think there’s a single bad track here, and even its weakest one (You Don’t Have to Cry, just for the repeated lyrics) is still pretty good. It’s not a flawless album by any means, but for 3 people to come together, each members of their own bands, and drop an album with this much cohesion & quality, on a first try, is pretty damn remarkable. It’s the type of chemistry you can’t really teach, and arguably the blueprint for other “supergroups” that followed throughout the 70s. While I imagine Neil Young’s inclusion muddled that chemistry for a bit for years afterward, this album is a great showcase of why Neil Young wanted to join these 3 in the first place. I think it’s no less than a 4, and for my tastes, a very easy 5.

you know wat is crazy i have never listened to this band till now

Americana bliss. The simplistic acoustic nature of the songs with unrelenting harmonization sends the endorphins through the roof. Getting absolutely lost in the lyrics and relishing in the joyous nature of the melody is not only welcomed, it is expected when playing this album. The jangly guitars, the falsetto accoutrement, and the dynamic range of music ensures this a delightful experience. Neil was not necessary, he was just a cherry (maybe maple syrup?) on top of the Sunday.

Love this album more than anything

The harmonies on this classic Folk Rock album from 1969 are awesome. Some great tracks including "Marrakesh Express", "Wooden Ships", and the 7 minute "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes". The only downside is their version of "Everybody's Talkin'", (a 2006 bonus track), which is nowhere near as good as the version by Harry Nilsson and which featured in the film Midnight Cowboy.

"Helplessly Hoping" is probably in my top 10 favorite songs of all time, and I could wax positively about many of the other songs on here. I've been served several albums in the last few weeks featuring these three skilled musicians (+ Young), but nowhere do they shine like they do when they are together. Five stars.

Such lovely harmonies.

always been a sucker for this type of folk rock

completely masterpiece

Love it! Harmonies were tight. Album progressed thematically.

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