Neil Young 1966-1975

[CRAZY-HORSE]

CROSBY,STILLS,NASH & YOUNG "deja vu" 1969. #1 US, #5 UK, #1 AU

not long after the release of "everybody knows..." Young recieved a phonecall from Graeme Nash asking if he'd be available to tour the US with CSN, Young obliged but only as long as he recieved equal billing, could perform some of his own songs on stage and not be tied down in contracts to derail his own career, all parties agreed and the tour was a critical and commercial success. it was inevitable that with that success that an album would follow, again Young spelt out his requirements....able to record what he wanted for the album without interferance and to be able to leave without malice from other members afterwards. with the ground rules set in place what transpired was one of the all-time great folk/rock albums. NY contributed two of the ten tracks, the superb "helpless" and almost equally brilliant "country girl medley". not to discount the reat of the album as there are some brilliant tracks by others also.
what NY liked about CSNY was that he was free to come and go as he pleased over the following decades and CSN ok with him doing his own thing within the group. IMO CSN became more hard edged and three dimensional with Young on board rather than remain insipid and choirboy like without him.
the one song that was released as a single in 1969 by CSNY that wasnt on the album was "ohio", written by Young whilst on tour with CSN about the four students killed at Kent State University by law enforcement officers during protests/rallies. this incident struck a chord with the politically minded David Crosby and stephen Stills, enough so that Young picked up on their conversations and wrote about the incident.
it was this union with CSN that helped young become a well known name around the world.

I LOVE THIS ALBUM

tracks:

1. carry on***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ2hb45cRWk live
2. teach your children** #16 US, #11 AU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAVspIGKr-Y live
3. almost cut my hair***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY-4R8J6GGY live David Crosby solo
4. helpless***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBXhxZHictU live Neil Young vocals
5. woodstock*** #11 US, #19 AU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrWNTqbLFFE audio
6. deja vu**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-S6md3LNgs audio
7. our house*** #30 US, #51 AU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZtJWJe_K_w live
8. 4+20**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bliyct4_6o live
9. country girl-medley***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJcuETig9kE audio Neil young vocals
10.everybody i love you***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp1aAOdgops audio

non album single "ohio"***[B] #44 AU[/B]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI7-m919ynU audio Neil Young vocals

3s=7
2s=3
1s=0

rating: 2.7