Crosby Stills Nash & Young - Deja Vu

Songs: Carry On, Teach Your Children, Almost Cut My Hair, Helpless, Woodstock, Déjà Vu, Our House, 4+20, Country Girl, Everybody I Love You.

Type of Music: (Country)Rock /Folk 

Comments: 

This Album changed my musical views when it was released in 1970. Until that time I was mostly a Soul - and Motown kind of guy. My favourites were Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Four Tops, Temptations etc.  Liked the Stones as well. But I can still clearly remember a rainy night in my hometown Rotterdam in the Netherlands  when a friend played Carry On for me. He drew my attention to the point in the song where the A Capella part of the chorus ends and the organ flows in. I thought then and still think now that it´s one of the great moments in Rock Music. And I was hooked forever. As a result , 42 years and thousands of records later, I´m writing a review of what must be one of my all time favourite Albums.

It´s different from the debut album. Neil Young joined CSN. This resulted in two things. Good songs and a lot of trouble. Captain Stills did not want to share his ship with Captain Young. Therefore most of the album was recorded in separate sessions. Strangely enough you don´t notice that at all when listening to the record. Especially Joni Mitchell´s Woodstock sounds as a great Group effort.

As a whole, Déjà Vu sounds more dark and serious than the flower (folk)rock of the debut album. They grew up very quick indeed.

Some songs like Graham´s Teach your Children and Our House and David's Almost cut my Hair sound a bit dated as well now. And most of the songs on the album have been overplayed by Classic Rock and MOR Radio Stations. Nevertheless these songs are among the best that Graham and David ever wrote, together with the dreamy Déjà Vu.

And the same goes for Stephen´s contributions. His acoustic 4+20 is simply a great little song and Carry On is in the Top 10 of my favourite Classic Rock Songs.

Neil´s songs are good but pale a bit in comparison to the rest. I thoroughly enjoy the first half of Country Girl but it deserves a better final part. But Helpless, although not bad really, and Everybody I love You are just a bit below par. Not by much though.

Déjà Vu is an essential Rock album and a musical statement of the Woodstock generation. What a pity that Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young  separated shortly afterwards. They would re-group from time to time but would never be able to reach the level they display on this here record.    

Rating: ********* ( out of 10)