David Crosby - Oh Yes I Can- Review

 David Crosby - Oh Yes I Can - 1989 

Songs: Drive my Car, Melody, Monkey and the Underdog, In the Wide Ruin, Tracks in the Dust, Drop Down Mama, Lady of the Harbor, Distances, Flying Man, Oh Yes I Can, My Country ´tis of Thee.

Type of Music:  Mostly Generic Rock and Ballads  

Comments:

David´s first Solo effort after finally having cured his Lebanese Flew. The mood of the album is very optimistic. David is letting us and his wife Jan (not a relative of mine) know that “ Oh Yes I Can still make music” and “Oh Yes I can still be the man you fell in love with”. And David invited a lot of friends to celebrate his return. The whole West Coast Scene took a train and went to the Studio. You will recognise Graham Nash, James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Steve Lukather and many others. And David´s band includes Russ Kunkel and Joe Vitale on Drums, Craig Doerge on Keyboards, Joe Lala and Danny Kortchmar on Guitars,  George Perry on Bass and Mike Finnegan on Organ. And, finally, David´s voice is back in full.

So everything and everybody is set to make a great record. Unfortunately that did not quite materialise because of two reasons. Firstly, the songs, mostly written by David alone or in association with Craig Doerge, are very mainstream and miss quality. And secondly, the production is very generic. Artists like Toto and Jackson Browne came to my mind when listening to Melody and In the Wide Ruin.       

There are some exceptions to the rule of course. There is quality in songs like Monkey and the Underdog and Tracks in the Dust. The first song is the story of David (The Underdog) in his battle against drugs (The Monkey). And in the second song we welcome Graham Nash´s harmony vocals. That probably explains why I consider this song to be the best on the album.

So yes, David is back and that´s great. But Oh Yes, You Can Do Better!!

Rating: ****** (6 out of 10)

Black = Good Songs

Green = Great Songs

Red = Could Be Better

Who should buy this Record: Only for the Ultimate David Crosby Fan. Not Relevant for the Rest of the Universe.

David Crosby - If I Could Only Remember My Name- Review

David Crosby - If I Could Only Remember My Name - 1971

Songs: Music is Love, Cowboy Movie, Tamalpais High (At about 3), Laughing, What are their Names, Traction in the Rain, Song with no Words, Orleans, I´d swear there was somebody there. 

Comments:

Listening to this album is like taking a trip. And you only have to listen. David already took his medicine when recording this album. And before it. And after it. And ….

This trip takes us out of the sixties and into the seventies. And we´re not travelling alone.

You will hear Graham Nash, Neil Young, Paul Kantner, Jerry Garcia,Jack Casady,Jorma Kaukonen, Grace Slick, Joni Mitchell and many others. All of those heroes of the sixties joint (LOL)  David on his personal trip that followed right after the recording sessions of Déjà Vu.

David is not a writer of songs like Neil Young. He creates an atmosphere and his excellent voice does the rest.

Take the opener Music is Love. It´s really a chant but it works just fine. And he doesn´t need words as well to create atmosphere. Just verify Song with no Words and his awakening from nightmare or bad trip in I´d swear there was somebody here. There are two slightly more up-tempo songs. Cowboy Movie is a bit overlong and barely manages to hold the attention. And Neil Young and Grateful Dead front man Jerry Garcia jam with David on What are their names, a rather strong protest song that hasn´t lost a lot of its power today.  

But the real highlights must be Laughing and Orleans, a song whose words are formed by naming famous French Cathedrals. Both songs are stunningly beautiful.

Tamalpais High (At about 3) is a nice instrumental. It has no words but tells the story of David´s life nevertheless. Finally, drug abuse would  destroy and almost kill him. He was saved just in time and is still touring  with Stills and Nash.

If I could only remember my name is not your average album and you´re not gonna listen to it every week. It´s an experience and a nice one for that. Just relax,pour yourself a GlenDronach Allardice 18 Years, turn out the light and let yourself be carried away from time to time. 

Rating: ******** (8 out of 10)

Black = Good Songs

Green = Great Songs

Red = Could Be Better

Who should buy this Record: Anyone who misses the sixties and finds Celine Dion somewhat boring!