The Greatest Hits Tracks
1. Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
2. Shadow Captain
3. Helplessly Hoping
4. Long Time Gone
5. Our House
6. Southern Cross
7. Marrakesh Express
8. Guinnevere
9. See the Changes
10. Teach Your Children
11. Wooden Ships
12. Just A Song Before I Go
13. Delta
14. 49 Bye-Byes
15. Wasted on the Way
16. Carry On/Questions
17. In My Dreams
18. Cathedral
19. Daylight Again
The Greatest Hits Review
When David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash created this pop super trio in 1968 after their splits from the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and The Hollies, respectively, it would have been a pipedream that a hits package released 37 years later would sound as eternal and essential as this one. The 19 songs straddle the four-album, landscape-altered timeframe between 1969s post-Woodstock debut Crosby, Stills & Nash and 1982s Daylight Again, which helped inaugurate the MTV era. Unbalanced sequencing--which randomly bounces 12 years ahead and five years back--is rescued by the superb harmonies, unique songwriting and divergent personalities of the three members. With politics and culture always at the forefront, Stills bookends the bands trademark canon with "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" and "Southern Cross," Nash incorporates Eastern influences to "Marrakesh Express" and folk timber to "Just a Song Before I Go" and "Teach Your Children," and the ever-capricious Crosby leads the way lyrically with the lingering "Delta" to the Robert Kennedy tribute "Long Time Gone." Sure, the collection is missing any songs by ("Ohio") or contributions from ("Woodstock") the fourth name on the marquee (Neil Young). Heres hoping thats for another Greatest Hits. --Scott Holter
The Greatest Hits Review
One of the most enduring musical partnerships of our time, Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famers Crosby, Stills & Nash (CSN) are beloved worldwide for their peerless three-part harmonies, inspired songwriting, and brilliant musicianship. Rightfully claiming a singular place among the artistically and culturally influential acts of the original Woodstock era, CSN has been called "the voice of an entire generation."
I hear people complaining about the lack of any Neil Young songs on this CD, which would defeat the purpose in the first place. Even Neil admits that CSN and CSNY are like two different bands, and the funny thing is, I've always considered him to be like a fifth wheel when playing with CSN. His talents are wasted, for one thing. For another, with the (possible) exception of "Helpless", he hasn't really given CSNY any really worthy material..at least none to match the caliber of Stills' or Nash's. So you don't really miss him here.
My only big complaint is that the package ignores material post "Daylight Again", which insinuates that the trio has done nothing of worth since. Not so. The addition of tracks like "Only Waiting For You" or "Camera" (off of "After The Storm", which for me is right up there with the first album and "CSN" in my opinion) would not only make the compilation more comprehensive but an improvement. Keep in mind that Graham Nash assembled this package personally.
Bottom line, for those who want a CSN complilation of more substance than "So Far", yet not as vast as the box set (which had way too much Crosby and Nash and not enough Stills and Young, as far as I'm concerned) you not only want this CD, you NEED it. Also, as great as the original remastered albums sound, this sounds even better! On "Judy Blue Eyes", for example, they sound like they're playing the thing right there in front of you. However, the remastered sound also brings out some of the production deficiencies; i.e. the massively overdubbed "Carry On" sounds like it was massively overdubbed. Which it was, of course (Stills as 'Captain Manyhands') but the multitude of guitars and vocals sound more natural on "Deja Vu." But I'm just nitpicking, maybe (I'm also a musician and producer myself, so there you go.)
In short, I liked this better than Neil Young's own long-overdue greatest hits package.