Déjà Vu (CSN&Y) (LP 2252 - 2261)

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young   Déjà Vu (Vinyl, Atlantic Records, 1970) *****  

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young   Déjà Vu Alternates (Vinyl, Atlantic Records, 2021) * 

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young   4 Way Street  (Vinyl and CD, Atlantic Records, 2021) **** 

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young   CSN&Y 1974 (CD + DVD, Rhino Records, 2014) *****

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young   Roosevelt Raceway, Sept 1974 (CD, MCPS Records, 2014) ***

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young   American Dream (Vinyl, Atlantic Records, 1988) ***

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young   In Sync (Vinyl, Atlantic Records, 1988) *

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young   The Bill Graham Tribute Concert (San Francisco 1991) (CD, All Access Records, 2016) ***

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young   Looking Forward (CD, Reprise Records, 1999) ***

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young  Déjà Vu Live (CD, Atlantic Records, 2008) ****

Genre: pop rock 

Places I remember: Marbecks Records or JB Hi-Fi for a lot of these; My Music (Taupo) - Déjà Vu Alternates (part of Record Store Day releases). Déjà Vu Live is from the Virgin Megastore in Dubai.

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Carry On (first song on Déjà Vu - as soon as those harmonies start you know all will be well).

Gear costume: On The Beach (CSN&Y 1974). Good to hear all of the new songs introduced on this set. I do wonder what was going through the others' minds as Neil sang his solo songs, and he doesn't mince words: 

Think I'll get out of town
I head for the sticks with my bus and friends
I follow the road though I don't know where it ends 

Active compensatory factors: Was there ever a better corporate brand name than Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young? The first three were already a thing and Neil Young is definitely his own man, marching to his own beat. 

From time to time Young decided he needed the boost of the brand and so he joined in, on his own terms, of course.

Once the three agreed to Neil's presence (not a gimmie), then Déjà Vu gets CSN&Y off to a ripper of a start. Still, Neil's contributions are very much solo pieces given to the brand.

The Alternate version album is interesting but I'm so used to the proper versions I find it a bit awkward to listen to now.

The live albums came before the next studio effort. 4 Way Street was expanded for the CD age and it's one of those rare ones where it's better than the 4 sided vinyl original. I've deducted a star mainly because of Stephen Still's tiresome solo slot. The rest though is top notch guitar duels between Stills and Young and a judicious couple of solo songs each creates much needed variety.

Graham Nash was instrumental in organising the '74 tour tapes for release in 2012. It's a 3 CD, 1 DVD essential purchase. So many great versions of solo, duo, trio and the 4-some songs.

If you want more, and who doesn't? then try the radio broadcast from Roosvelt Raceway Sept 8, 1974. It's a beauty and is compiled from one concert (albeit truncated) rather than the cherry picked CSN&Y 1974 set.

By 1988 David Crosby was out of prison and he'd cleaned up, so CSN called in a promise made by Neil and the 4-some reconvened for a studio album (which turned out to be a big seller so Neil did okay out of the deal).

American Dream was the result of their reunion. Sadly 1988 wasn't a vintage year for the four and so the songs were a little lacklustre compared to Déjà Vu.

Highlights are Neil's Feel Your Love and Got It Made (Stills). 

Unfortunately there are some cringe moments as well with some weak Neil Young material, notably This Old House.

The In Sync record is a collection of individual interviews released to tie in with the release of American Dream.

It's made for radioland and so it's one for collectors only really. I picked it up for $10 from Real Groovy Records.

The Bill Graham Tribute Concert is a peak performance during this time. To their credit, they sure don't phone anything in during their performances.

It's a roughly democratic song selection - although Nash gets one, Crosby two, Stills two, Young three.

Highlights aplenty with this one, including an interesting, long version of that old chestnut in their concerts - Wooden Ships.

Their third studio record was Looking Forward, and like American Dream, is pretty even handed with the song selections. 

Again, like American Dream, it's a little underwhelming and Neil trots out another couple of average songs (for him). Stills has the best moment, for me, with Seen Enough. Maybe he gets inspired by Neil's presence but he seems to come out well ahead on these studio albums.

 

And so to their last effort together - the Neil Young led anti-war tour that is documented on Déjà Vu Live. For the most part it's freakin' awesome! This is one CSN&Y album that rewards being played REALLY LOUD!!!

The only mis-step being Let's Impeach The President. Free speech, Neil? Sure, but it doesn't make for a very good song.

Much better are brilliant versions of Military Madness, Déjà Vu, Shock And Awe, Wooden Ships. All featuring great guitaring by all concerned (and Neil's fiery approach is welcome).

It's notable that Stills is pretty anonymous on the album - just the one spotlight for him during the old Buffalo Springfield song For What It's Worth. Oh, and Find The Cost Of Freedom, but that was always a vehicle for all of CSN&Y.

Where do they all belong? That's it for Crosby, but there are still all the Nash, Stills, and Young solo albums to come when those letters come around.