Graham Nash - Songs For Beginners - 1971
Songs: Military Madness, Better Days, Wounded Bird, I used to be a King, Be Yourself, Simple Man, Man in the Mirror, There’s only one, Sleep Song, Chicago, We can change the world.
Type of Music: Early Seventies Folk/Country/Pop
Comments:
Next to ambitious Stephen Stills and druggie David Crosby, the famous trio was completed by Mr. nice guy Graham Nash. And funny enough you can recognise that clearly on all three debut solo-albums. Stills I (One) is rocking and rough, David’s " If Only I Could Remember My Name" is almost self-explanatory when you consider the title and Songs for Beginners is a nice pop/country Album that won’t offend anybody’s ears.
But those three albums do have something in common. They are pretty good!!
Graham got a lot of help from his friends here. You will enjoy Dave Mason’s guitar on the strong Anti-War Song Military Madness and the backing vocals from a.o. David Crosby and Rita Coolidge are pleasantly present. All up-tempo songs are good. Most people will recognise the aforementioned Military Madness and the other protest song Chicago. And in "I Used To Be a King", Graham reminds us in a friendly way that he did play an important part in not only the Hollies (Yes, he is King Midas in Reverse) but also in Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young where he was responsible for tunes like Marrakesh Express, Teach your Children and Our House.
The more intimate songs vary in quality though. Better Days, There’s Only One and Sleep Song don’t do much for me. But Wounded Bird and Man in the Mirror are better and Simple Man is my favourite song on the Album.
All in all a good though short debut album that clocks in at around 30 minutes.
Rating: ******** (8 out of 10)
Black = Good Songs
Green = Great Songs
Red = Could Be Better
Who should buy this Record: Anyone who likes the sound of Crosby, Stills & Nash in songs like Teach your Children or Our House should buy this one.
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