40 years ago today…
David Crosby’s girlfriend, Christine Hinton was killed in a car crash, when her cat wedged itself between the floorboard and her brake pedal. Her death deeply affected Crosby and those closest to he him claim he’s never been the same since. For many years after the accident, Crosby would dedicate “Guinnevere” to her in concert.
Happy Birthday — David Crosby
David Van Cortlandt Crosby turns 68(!) today. The legendary Byrd and CSN member has had his fair share of ups and downs in rock and roll, but remains a true legend and perhaps one of the very best vocal harmonizers. We are going to see them on Monday night in Atlanta and cannot wait! Here’s the birthday boy taking the reigns on “Long Time Gone”:
David & The Dorks — San Francisco, CA (12/15/1970)
Recorded at Marty Balin’s venue, The Matrix, the lineup consisted of David Crosby, Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh and Mickey Hart, billed as David & The Dorks. This show features several songs from Crosby’s 1970 release If I Could Only Remember My Name.
set 1
01 Alabama Bound
02 Eight Miles High
03 Cowboy Movie
04 Wall Song
05 Bertha
06 Bird Song
set 2
01 Drop Down Mama
02 Cowboy Movie
03 Triad
04 Wall Song
05 Bertha
06 Deep Elem Blues
07 Motherless Children
08 Laughing
Deja Vu — Neil Young’s Movie Documenting CSN&Y 2006 Tour
Neil Young’s tries his hat once again as film director (credited as Bernard Shakey), in the 2008 release, Deja Vu, which documents CSN&Y’s 2006 tour.
Review from the Sundance Film Festival: In 2006, rock ‘n roll icons Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young played a “Freedom of Speech” tour to protest the war in Iraq. The band that wrote Ohio, one of the most famous protest songs of the Vietnam era, decided that the country needed a wake-up call, some of the same spirit of protest and activism that once shook national policy and changed our nation forever. CSNY Déjà Vu is a documentary based on this tour.
Being a rock star must be the ideal profession because you get all the girls when you’re young and somehow you’re never too old. David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash and Neil Young were an average of 62 years of age on the tour, but still audiences gave them license to “get down” on the stage, and generally applauded wildly with love and admiration. But don’t expect the typical fawning fans of a concert movie. This is all about the tour, about why they hit the road, what they believe, and how fans, concertgoers and the American public reacted.
Writer and ringleader Neil Young deserves tremendous credit for being candid and revealing. He quotes the glowing press reports of course, but also the negative ones and even the stinging mockery. He also shows both sides of the audience reaction, with the most antagonistic occurring in the southern (red) states, where many fans walked out of the concerts in disgust, coming for the music without realizing they were in for incessant politicizing, including a song entitled “Let’s Impeach the President.” And he even shows Stephen Stills falling off the stage, looking every bit like the fat old man that he has become. (Only Graham Nash really looks good. David Crosby looks like your uncle. And Neil Young just looks a little craggy, until he takes his hat off. Then he looks like his age as well.) It is fun and nostalgic to see the old footage interspersed, and to follow the band as they meet people, and introduce those that affected or were affected by the experience. CSNY Deja Vu is not a great movie by any means. There’s not enough music to make it a concert film, and not enough action to pick up the slack. But there is nevertheless something admirable, even touching, about their breed of 60′s style activism, their belief that people are dying needlessly, and their genuine heartfelt desire to make a difference. As they repeatedly demonstrated, they have profound respect for the servicemen overseas, but don’t see continuing the war as the best answer. Agree or not, it strikes me as the sincerest form of patriotism.
Sundance Moment Someone in the Q&A said that he had lost a brother in Iraq, and told Neil Young that “you have no idea what you’re talking about.” It was a tense moment in the very liberal Sundance crowd. I’m guessing that Young has dealt with this kind of thing dozens of times on the tour, and he chose to handle it by, essentially, backing down. “I think you’re right,” he said. “We’re just trying to get people to talk about it.” Well, that might be an easy answer, but I’m not sure it’s honest. A song like “Let’s Impeach the President” is something more than an invitation for dialogue, it’s a political statement of the strongest kind. I respect the band’s sincerity, but was disappointed they were something less than forthright when challenged.
New CS&N
My favorite trio, Crosby, Stills & Nash, recently announced that they’re working on a new album of “well known” covers with producer Rick Rubin. This will be their first studio album since 1994.
I am so, so excited. I’m a fan of Johnny Cash’s American Recordings, which Rick produced (and yes, I’m on a first-name basis with good ole’ Rick), so I expect great things!
Graham Nash said, “Rick Rubin’s a brilliant man, and what he wants is an album with no CSN songs. He wants to do an album of all the songs we love, all the songs we wish we’ve written.”
