"... a very decent human being. Invited me over to his house for dinner, that kind of thing. Hung out with us. Later on, he tells me that he’s gone to India and met this teacher, this guru. George is smitten by him. I listened to what he was saying and I wanted to say to George, 'That’s great, but take it with a grain of salt,' because usually when somebody comes on that strong that they’ve got the answer, it’s bulls—. I wanted to say, 'Have some skepticism.' But I was too chicken to do it, because I had too much respect for George. So I wrote him that song. 'I thought I met a man who knew a man who knew what was going on.' And I ended it by saying, listen, I don’t think he does know what’s going on. I don’t even know if George ever heard the song."
Said David Crosby, in an interview with the L.A. Times.
Here's the song, "Laughing":
That's from Crosby's 1971 solo album that the critics "just didn’t understand," as Crosby puts it. "They were looking for another record that was full of big, flashy lead guitar and blues licks and screaming lyrics. It was not where everything else was going, so they thought it was irrelevant."
Lester Bangs called it "a perfect aural aid to digestion when you’re having guests over for dinner." In 1971, that was a worse kick in the head than being told your music makes me want to vomit.
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45 comments:
Is there anyone who worked with Crosby over the years who can still stand him?
There's an interview with Graham Nash somewhere on YouTube where Nash just takes Crosby apart. Just how big of a lout do you have to be that Graham Nash publicly bad-mouths you?
We should all listen to a washed-up, drug addicted singer.
That song and "Orleans," incredibly beautiful sound.
He looks in the mirror, sees a fat guy on drugs, and thinks he's Brian Wilson.
He's no Brian Wilson.
Oops, the naysayers hit it first. Starting with Lester Bangs! But what rock-n-roll fans ever read critics or took them seriously even if they did catch a column at the back of Rolling Stone?
I used to love that album. Crosby is a mess, but he had one of the greatest voices in rock history, played with and/or influenced many others. And...he was a lot of fun to try to harmonize with.
David Crosby once gave my music a thumb's up on Twitter.
I was good for a week.
"I used to love that album. Crosby is a mess, but he had one of the greatest voices in rock history..."
His voice is great in CSNY where he can harmonize and blend in.
By itself, I find it a bit 'thin' for lack of a better word.
Birthday party, cheesecake, jelly bean, boom!
The documentary David Crosby: Remember My Name is very interesting. Watch it if you have an opportunity.
YoungHegelian said...
There's an interview with Graham Nash somewhere on YouTube where Nash just takes Crosby apart. Just how big of a lout do you have to be that Graham Nash publicly bad-mouths you?
Back about 2000 or so, there was an effort at a CSNY reunion. The final hurdle was supposed to be a lunch meeting between Crosby and Neil Young. Neil showed up with Daryl Hannah, who he'd just started dating. She made a comment about something and Crosby told her to shut up. Result: no CSNY reunion then or ever.
The Beatles were undoubtedly significant, but their influence was mostly pernicious. Nearly every social pathology that plagues this country today -- drug abuse, broken families, academic fascism, wokeness -- have their roots in the pop culture vanguarded by the Fab Four.
It is well past time to put aside the Beatles, their emulators, and confederates -- though it seems that this is impossible for people of a certain age who continue to long for their lost youth.
Good Album. Garcia on pedal steel is always nice. He had a unique self-taught approach to the instrument. It stands up well 50 years later.
I have been listening to "All Things Must Pass" recently, so a few random thoughts.
• It is a fantastic double album. As a triple album, the disc of jams lowers its cohesiveness dramatically: to be filed with The Clash's "Sandinista!" as triple albums that went one disc too many. I imagine, when talking of the success of the album, most people conveniently choose to forget disc three; I'm good with that.
• Phil Spector's production makes the album worth its reputation. Spector could have his excesses, but the monk-in-the-modern-world vibe is expertly polished by his work.
• The Harrison family had a remix of "My Sweet Lord" done without all the Spector flourishes and echo: it sucks. The relative weakness of Harrison's voice is exposed, and it sounds like some mid-level indie-band from the 90s. Listen again to the Spector version and the magic comes back.
• Ringo's drums achieve bliss on the tracks he plays on. That Spector "Instant Karma"-style thump really anchors those tracks.
• I absolutely love how Spector produces tambourine.
• As I've gotten older, my perceived feel of the albums preachiness has mellowed to an appreciation of yearning. Mortality and all that.
• The Dylan tracks are interesting in how Harrison sounds like a more-polished Bob -- but not by as much as might be expected.
• I don't think the songs would've had the same power if they had been parceled out on the last few Beatles albums: they share synchronicities that give them a stature they might not have had in small doses.
• the era demo of Harrison with "It Don't Come Easy" shows a great generosity in giving it to Ringo: it was obviously going to be a hit. And Ringo sings it better.
• I mentioned the relative weakness of Harrison's voice: many of his vocal melodies are quite simple in note range -- it is the chordal understructure that gives them movement. Brilliant in how he he wrote to his strengths and weaknesses.
• this is all pretty amazing for the fourth-most-talented Beatle.
I am Laslo.
I met Lester Bangs. My first concert was Roxy Music as a 15 year old in Detroit. I went with my best friend who had gotten to know major players in the Rock scene in the city. I can’t remember if Lester went up to my friend or vice visa, and I didn’t know who Lester Bangs was but my older brother later told me he was one of if not the top Rock critic in the country. He knew my friend by name. My friend later got an invitation for a farewell party for a DJ who was moving to Boston and asked me to go with him because Bob Seger was going to be there. I made the mistake of telling my Mom the true story instead of some lie, so no party for me! Of course the right decision from every perspective, and probably a better story than if I had gone.
Crosby is an idiot but that record is the best thing he ever did as a solo artist. I'm not even sure what's in 2nd place!
"Neil showed up with Daryl Hannah, who he'd just started dating."
Despite political differences, I've always respected Young as a musician, and now I respect him as a man.
Boy had game : )
That's Garcia playing pedal steel on "Laughing"? Didn't know that. Beautiful, and haunting. The whole song is beautiful and haunting.
"• this is all pretty amazing for the fourth-most-talented Beatle."
We could have the 'who is the most talented Beatle' debate all day and (hard day's) night, but Harrison is the one I would choose if I had to pick only one for their solo career.
He was very good until Peter Griffin fucked things up.
But what rock-n-roll fans ever read critics or took them seriously even if they did catch a column at the back of Rolling Stone?
I took seriously the views of Greil Marcus and Ben Fong-Torres. I wasted very little money on records due to them.
"Laughing" (which I thought was titled "I Was Mistaken") was the best off this album, along with the Neil Young backed "Music Is Love".
Were we all surprised that the best post-Beatles album came from George?
Thanks, Mike Sylwester, for the name of that Crosby doc. A fine and revealing film. Was a big Byrds fan, but Crosby was always 3rd wheel to me. Maybe tied with Hillman.
I knew both McGuinn and Hillman back in the day -- casually acquainted -- and they were both really nice guys. And, of course, immensely talented. Also knew, casually, Clark. He had a good heart but he was real messed up, sad and tragic.
Harrison took the Maharishi Crosby took drugs, lots of drugs. Also took another person's liver. Harrison has family, Crosby has enemies. I'll stick with Harrison. Not that it matters.
All the stories I’ve heard about things that happened to one of the Beatles fail by comparison to one about George Harrison. Never mind David Crosby and all his stories. George — the peaceful one — faced a man intent on killing him. Harrison had to kill this guy or be killed. Hand to hand with stuff found in the room. It happened in George’s living room. It’s a story too wild to imagine.
All the stories I’ve heard about things that happened to one of the Beatles fail by comparison to one about George Harrison.
Not to be morbid, but I would say John Lennon's story compares.
I wonder what ever happened to Icepick? He used to be a regular here and on the Amba constellation of blogs. Last I heard, he was living in an inherited house in FLA surrounded by people he despised. That couldn't have ended well.
Mike Sylwester said...The documentary David Crosby: "Remember My Name" is very interesting.. I stared watching that on a flight last fall but couldn't bear to finish it. Pure solipsism. Jakob Dylan's Echo In The Canyon was much more balanced.
A very nice cat. Hmm, did he wear a hat?
The Jakob Dylan movie was an aimless mess. It’s just not a documentary.
"George — the peaceful one — faced a man intent on killing him. Harrison had to kill this guy or be killed. Hand to hand with stuff found in the room. It happened in George’s living room. It’s a story too wild to imagine.”
Then there was the fight with Eric Clapton over his beautiful wife Layla, err I mean Patty Boyd.
There's a story about David Crosby handing over his automobile for drugs. Some time later, he needed more drugs, and went back to the dealer. The dealer was dead from an O/D, so Crosby took his automobile back.
Something like that.....
I'm with Temujin. I love Crosby's voice, I was listening to the Byrds box set today and his songs are highlights. And thanks to Alexa I've heard a couple of obscurities he put out this century that I think are really good. His voice has held up really well. I loved his interview with Jakob Dylan where they are discussing whether a particular song was the reason he was kicked out of the Byrds and he turns to the camera and says "They kicked me out of the band because I was an asshole"
One of my very favorite tracks from the pantheon of Crosby, Stills, etc. recordings. The Dead's Phil Lesh on bass, Jerry Garcia on pedal-steel guitar, Joni Mitchell on backup vocal.
---I took seriously the views of Greil Marcus and Ben Fong-Torres. I wasted very little money on records due to them.
More power to you, Eddie. I liked the unmediated nature of the music, though. It was an unusual art form that didn't need critics, it didn't need explanation, it thrived on creative energy and extremely appreciative audiences.
One of the comments made me look Crosby up in Wikipedia and I was surprised to learn his middle name is van Cortlandt and his father was a van Rensselaer. Prime names from old, old New York, super society. And something that could easily have come into play in his behavior, expectations, and assumptions.
I've been a CSN/Y fan since the 70's. Loved the harmonies; hard to figure where Neil Young fit in to the vocals, but it worked.
I read an anecdote about Crosby years ago. He was in prison and complaining to someone visiting (manager?) that he couldn't wait to get out and just go sailing. The companion had to tell him that the IRS had seized his sailboat.
BUMBLE BEE said...
Harrison took the Maharishi Crosby took drugs, lots of drugs. Also took another person's liver. Harrison has family, Crosby has enemies. I'll stick with Harrison. Not that it matters.
Everybody chooses a life of lies if it make them popular.
Few admit it.
Some years ago I saw a documentary on YouTube that I think was about Crosby, Stills, and Nash. It's mostly old (presumably) 16mm footage, a lot of it in black and white. There's a scene with Crosby in a hammock and some guy standing over him, chewing him a new a**hole. The gist of it seemed to be Crosby was unreliable. I'm surprised it didn't come to blows on film.
Ehh, found it. In color, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=143&v=KBNVmE3mvjg&feature=youtu.be
madAsHell said...
...The dealer was dead from an O/D, so Crosby took his automobile back.
Graham Nash tells that story. Crosby then sold the car again to a different dealer, for more drugs.
...and then Cosby promptly forgot his own advice and swallowed the entire Leftist liturgy hook, line and sinker.
COINTELPRO isn't any better now that Bill Ayers is running it, pal.
Don't go to England.
My main memory of Crosby is reading several headlines over the years like “Crosby arrested on drug charges” or “Musician crashes car” etc.
Finding out now that even *he* knew he was an asshole is the Least Surprising News Ever.
Also, wasn’t he big into every leftist photo op cause in the 70s and 80s, especially “no nukes”? As we now know, that was Soviet-funded propaganda. So thanks for that, useful idiot.
I used to be fan of CSNY in all their various forms but drifted away over the years — although I still like 60s and 70s Neil Young, in small doses.
Ann Althouse said...The Jakob Dylan movie was an aimless mess. It’s just not a documentary.
The song covers are very well done. And Jakob Dylan obviously reminds viewers of somebody.
”Also, wasn’t he big into every leftist photo op cause in the 70s and 80s, especially “no nukes”? As we now know, that was Soviet-funded propaganda. So thanks for that, useful idiot.”
Do we know that? It’s news to me. Where’s your documentation? Even if it were, it’s not wrong. The world needs to get rid of all nukes.
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