Search - Crosby Stills & Nash :: Crosby Stills & Nash

Almost everything that should be here is

M. Gilkey | 01/15/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Crosby, Stills, and Nash are one of the best-loved bands in the world. They've done some great stuff. Unfortunately, as a group and as solo artists, they've also done a lot of very mediocre work. Over time, each new album has typically had less and less music worth buying.



After you've bought their first 2 albums ("Crosby, Stills, and Nash", and "Deja Vu"), it gets pretty difficult to decide whether to buy anything else. I like about half of the album Daylight Again (released in 1982), and maybe half of CSN (1977). The rest of their albums just aren't worth buying, even though there are a few excellent songs sprinkled among them.



This 4-disc collection is superb. Assuming that you already own the first 2 albums, you can buy this collection and own almost everything they've done as a group (and most or all of what they've done as solo artists) that's worth owning.



Almost the only song missing that I'd REALLY like to see on here is one David Crosby song ("Compass", if I remember correctly) from the album American Dream (the rest of which is dispensable). This set is also missing a few other good songs from the album Daylight Again (e.g. "Might As Well Have A Good Time", which has superb vocals), but the best ones ("Southern Cross" and "Delta") from that album are here.



This album contains several fine songs from Crosby-Nash collaborations ("To The Last Whale"), and a few of Stephen Stills better solo works ("Change Partners", "So Begins The Task"). Among the David Crosby solo numbers are "All Along The Lee Shore" and a wordless vocal performance that is beautiful and haunting.



There are a few songs on here that I don't care for, but not many.



Graham Nash deserves great credit for putting this set together. He has done an excellent job of selecting the best material. Frankly, this set is so good, and much of their other material is so mediocre, that this set and and their first 2 albums are about all that even ardent fans need to own. Nash probably risked killing sales of other albums when he put together this set. He deserves applause and great thanks for choosing this collection.



The set also comes with a booklet that contains interesting short anecdotes and explanations of the songs. Fans will enjoy it a lot.



RECOMMENDATION: If you like this band, I'd buy the following albums: Crosby, Stills, and Nash (first album); Deja Vu (with Neil Young); and this 4-CD set. This will give you almost everything these musicians have done that's worth owning, and will give you very little stuff that isn't worth owning. Yes, you'll have paid twice for several songs from the first 2 albums, but even that's not a complete waste because some of the versions on this 4-disc set are alternative takes.



If I could take only 20-30 discs to a "desert island" with me, each of these 4 discs would be among them. Great stuff."

Not a substitute for a CSN&Y collection

Amy Hughes | United States | 10/19/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This set has most of must-have tracks. Unfortunately a number of them are alternate versions, and the alternates aren't as good as the familiar versions.Here's a list of the alternates...Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
Helplessly Hoping
You Don't Have To Cry
Guinnevere
Blackbird
Song With No Words
Almost Cut My Hair (okay, this one is more complete than the released version)
4+20
Woodstock
The Lee Shore
Man in the Mirror (Live)
Black Queen
Urge for Going
Simple Man
See the ChangesHomeward Through the haze
Taken at All
Dark Star (Live)
Wild Tales (Live)
Dear Mr. Fantasy
Got it Made (Live U.N. broadcast)
As I Come of Age
Drive My Car
Soldiers of PeaceSome of these I'm unfamiliar with and their inclusion is a plus. Some are interesting in the alternate version, but since I was counting on this being almost my entire CSN&Y collection I'm still missing these tracks. And some of these just don't cut it. For example, the vocals in Suite: Judy Blue Eyes are more laid back than the released version. Interesting, perhaps, but not as engaging."

The best box set...hands down!

tunestony | Dayton, OH | 12/11/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There's a box set out for just about every classic rock artist. But, many of them are simply not worth the money (the new Eagles set comes to mind). However, the CSN Box truly delivers the goods.There are basically 3 functions of a good box set: 1. To provide a career retrospective, gathering material from an artist's entire catalog of music 2. To offer the music in remastered form, in better quality sound 3. To unearth unreleased materialThe CSN box set matches all the criteria. This collection shows how good they were together and apart, offering solo material from all three members, plus side projects like Manassas (Stills band with Chris Hillman of the Byrds). Some box sets boast "unreleased material" that really should've been left UNRELEASED. Not true with this set, "Homeward Through the Haze" is far superior to the released Crosby-Nash version, "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" including drums is staggering, and the unearthed CSN&Y recordings show us what could've been, had they not bickered among themselves so much.The only unfortunate ommisions are from Neil Young, who is saving his goodies for his own box set, coming soon. Also, "War Games" from the now-deleted ALLIES album would've been nice. All in all a fine collection for a true fan or casual listener."