MUSIC HISTORY: Crosby, Stills & Nash

MUSIC HISTORY:

JAZZ / ROCK / BLUES / ETC.

Reviews, News, Commentaries

and Music Biographies by Randy

INDEX

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Commentary

(March 1997)

CSN Leave Record Company After 28 Years

After a long and convoluted history together, Crosby, Stills & Nash and Atlantic Records have parted company this week after 28 years. As I've heard it, this is something CSN have been actively seeking for quite some time. In many respects David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash were very fortunate to have such a unique record contract to begin with. They were allowed the opportunity to work in different combinations, changing partners at will. This was always the concept of the initial union of Crosby, Stills & Nash (and later Young). But from a business standpoint, this idea has had mixed results.

From an artistic standpoint, it was always interesting to see what we were going to get next -- perhaps a Crosby & Nash record, something solo from Stills, a Stills-Young album? This kept it interesting for fans and interesting for them. As a business concept, Atlantic Records (like most companies) seems to have focused only on the money, and how much could be made.

Over the years, Atlantic pushed for only Crosby, Stills & Nash or Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young product. This was understandable, for these were the projects that brought in the most capital. But money's not all that was at stake here. These were some of the greatest artists working in rock 'n' roll, releasing some of the most important music the rock genre has ever seen. When it came time for "other" releases, such as Graham Nash's Wild Tales in 1973, Atlantic ignored the album and never pushed it, explaining its lackluster sales. Who suffers here? Firstly, Graham, the artist, seeing no support or consideration. Secondly, the fans, uninformed about a solid album. Thirdly, Atlantic, for not pushing a good record they certainly could have made a profit on.

The same could be said for the CSN album After The Storm (1994), a great and much overlooked recording (hailed in even the L.A. Times as a "welcomed return to relevance"). There was little press and the record was not properly serviced, at least not to the stations I called. Because of this, it sank like a stone (reaching only #194 in the Billboard Charts). This can't be solely attributed to the curtailing of the CSN tour (due to David Crosby's health) that supported the album, and there is little excuse for this, even if the group were apparently unhappy with that recording.

During the summer of 1974, CSN&Y hit the road with rock's first ever stadium tour, and Atlantic had no new product to push. Their solution was to pull tracks from the groups only two studio albums (at the time), add the two sides of their last single ("Ohio"/"Find The Cost Of Freedom") and release it as a "greatest hits" package entitled So Far, thereby managing to take advantage of both CSN&Y, and their audience.

In 1975, Stephen Stills released his great album, Stills on Columbia Records, due to Atlantic's lack of interest in his solo outings. Stills wriggled out of his Atlantic contract by allegedly conveying to the folks at Atlantic that he was out of it and without direction, while schmoozing Columbia and illustrating that he "had it together." The result was another top 20 record. Crosby & Nash released their brilliant Wind On The Water that same year on ABC Records, with Nash only saying, "We just wanted a clean slate."

In 1980, Stills and Nash began what became the CSN release, Daylight Again (released in 1982). They had planned this project without Crosby, due to his now-infamous overindulgence, and submitted it to Atlantic, only to have them refuse its release. They wanted CSN, or nothing at all. This gave the public a new CSN record, which they were more than happy to receive, but it may also have supported the illusion that Crosby could continue in his state of addiction indefinitely. Ahmet Ertegun of Atlantic Records has been described as the "spiritual guide" and "godfather" of CSN, and credit must be given to him for doing the many things he did for them. But as for the rest of Atlantic Records...

The up side of this event is that hopefully CSN can sign with a company that recognizes their importance and considerable talent, and will be willing to promote their new releases that are delivered to them with such care, thoughtfulness, and craftsmanship.

In 1970, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young were considered to be "America's Beatles." They were truly that big, and that popular. The four distinct personalities, varied musical flavors, and incredible artistic vision made them virtually untouchable. Who was bigger or better? Some say the Rolling Stones; maybe, maybe not. They had so much to offer then, and certainly still much to offer now. In the end, this can only be a good thing. Best of luck to them.

INDEX

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

All written works contained herein are under the exclusive ownership of Lark Publishing, Inc.

expressed written consent of Lark Publishing, Inc.



MUSIC HISTORY: JAZZ / ROCK / BLUES / ETC. Reviews, News, Commentaries and Music Biographies by *Randy* INDEX

	_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________



			Commentary (March 1997) CSN Leave Record Company After 28 Years After a long and convoluted history together, Crosby, Stills & Nash and Atlantic Records have parted company this week after 28 years. As I've heard it, this is something CSN have been actively seeking for quite some time. In many respects David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash were very fortunate to have such a unique record contract to begin with. They were allowed the opportunity to work in different combinations, changing partners at will. This was always the concept of the initial union of Crosby, Stills & Nash (and later Young). But from a business standpoint, this idea has had mixed results. From an artistic standpoint, it was always interesting to see what we were going to get next -- perhaps a Crosby & Nash record, something solo from Stills, a Stills-Young album? This kept it interesting for fans and interesting for them. As a business concept, Atlantic Records (like most companies) seems to have focused only on the money, and how much could be made. Over the years, Atlantic pushed for only Crosby, Stills & Nash or Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young product. This was understandable, for these were the projects that brought in the most capital. But money's not all that was at stake here. These were some of the greatest artists working in rock 'n' roll, releasing some of the most important music the rock genre has ever seen. When it came time for "other" releases, such as Graham Nash's Wild Tales in 1973, Atlantic ignored the album and never pushed it, explaining its lackluster sales. Who suffers here? Firstly, Graham, the artist, seeing no support or consideration. Secondly, the fans, uninformed about a solid album. Thirdly, Atlantic, for not pushing a good record they certainly could have made a profit on. The same could be said for the CSN album After The Storm (1994), a great and much overlooked recording (hailed in even the L.A. Times as a "welcomed return to relevance"). There was little press and the record was not properly serviced, at least not to the stations I called. Because of this, it sank like a stone (reaching only #194 in the Billboard Charts). This can't be solely attributed to the curtailing of the CSN tour (due to David Crosby's health) that supported the album, and there is little excuse for this, even if the group were apparently unhappy with that recording. During the summer of 1974, CSN&Y hit the road with rock's first ever stadium tour, and Atlantic had no new product to push. Their solution was to pull tracks from the groups only two studio albums (at the time), add the two sides of their last single ("Ohio"/"Find The Cost Of Freedom") and release it as a "greatest hits" package entitled So Far, thereby managing to take advantage of both CSN&Y, and their audience. In 1975, Stephen Stills released his great album, Stills on Columbia Records, due to Atlantic's lack of interest in his solo outings. Stills wriggled out of his Atlantic contract by allegedly conveying to the folks at Atlantic that he was out of it and without direction, while schmoozing Columbia and illustrating that he "had it together." The result was another top 20 record. Crosby & Nash released their brilliant Wind On The Water that same year on ABC Records, with Nash only saying, "We just wanted a clean slate." In 1980, Stills and Nash began what became the CSN release, Daylight Again (released in 1982). They had planned this project without Crosby, due to his now-infamous overindulgence, and submitted it to Atlantic, only to have them refuse its release. They wanted CSN, or nothing at all. This gave the public a new CSN record, which they were more than happy to receive, but it may also have supported the illusion that Crosby could continue in his state of addiction indefinitely. Ahmet Ertegun of Atlantic Records has been described as the "spiritual guide" and "godfather" of CSN, and credit must be given to him for doing the many things he did for them. But as for the rest of Atlantic Records... The up side of this event is that hopefully CSN can sign with a company that recognizes their importance and considerable talent, and will be willing to promote their new releases that are delivered to them with such care, thoughtfulness, and craftsmanship. In 1970, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young were considered to be "America's Beatles." They were truly that big, and that popular. The four distinct personalities, varied musical flavors, and incredible artistic vision made them virtually untouchable. Who was bigger or better? Some say the Rolling Stones; maybe, maybe not. They had so much to offer then, and certainly still much to offer now. In the end, this can only be a good thing. Best of luck to them. Copyright 1997 Lark Publishing Inc. (Randy). All rights reserved. Duplication prohibited. INDEX

		_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

			All written works contained herein are under the exclusive ownership of Lark Publishing, Inc. (Randy). All rights reserved. Duplication prohibited. No text may be used in whole or in part without expressed written consent of Lark Publishing, Inc.