After the release of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s chart-topping Déjà Vu in 1970, each member released notable solo albums. Stephen Stills followed with his self-titled debut that same year, and Graham Nash released his debut, Songs for Beginners, a year later.
In 1971, David Crosby’s debut solo album, If I Could Only Remember My Name, featured guest appearances by Joni Mitchell and Jerry Garcia, as well as Nash and Neil Young. , which reached number 12 on the Billboard 200. Nash also played guitar and sang backing vocals on the songs “Music Is Love,” “What Are Their Names,” “Traction in the Rain,” “Song with No Words,” “Tamalpais High,” and “Laughing.” I am.
“Everyone says music is love.”
“If I Could Only Remember My Name” opens with “Music is Love,” a simple ode to the universal power of music, which Crosby co-wrote with Nash and Neil Young and released as the lead single. Ta.
Everyone says music is love
Everyone says that, so do you, hmm.
Everyone, yes, everyone
Everyone says music is love
Everyone says music is love (music is love)
Everyone says it’s love (Everyone says it’s love)
Everyone says music is love
Please wear your colors and come see me.Everyone says music is freeTake off your clothes and lie in the sunEveryone says music is meant to be enjoyed.
David Crosby performs with Neil Young and his band The Stray Gators’ Tim Drummond (bass) and Johnny Barbata (drums) at the Forum in Inglewood, California, on April 1, 1973. (Photo courtesy of Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images)
(Related: Top 10 Songs Written by David Crosby)
Crosby’s love of music
Crosby’s parents played classical and folk music from an early age, expanding his musical range to include the Beatles, the Everly Brothers, and Chet Baker. “I had heard the Brandenburg Concerto probably 289 times by the age of six,” Crosby recalled in a 2013 interview. “But I had some of the first 33 10-inch LPs, the Weavers, Josh White, and a South African couple called Marais and Miranda. And soon after that, Pete Seeger went out on his own. And then Odetta. That’s what my mother bought. That’s how I was raised.”
Crosby’s older brother then introduced him to 1950s jazz. “I never lived through the Elvis era,” Crosby said. “My brother got me interested in Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, Dave Brubeck, etc. There was one artist that really stood out to me on the radio and that was the Everly Brothers.” He added, “The Everly Brothers were a huge influence. They just rang a bell for me. I loved their stuff. It was so awesome. I loved harmony from the beginning. .”
The Everly Brothers helped Crosby establish himself in folk music. “I loved it. It influenced the way I listened to folk music. That’s when I started listening to folk music and groups and even corny stuff like the Limelighters.” said Crosby. “I loved their harmonies. And Peter, Paul and Mary were great. They weren’t corny, they were great. And then you start hearing the words that people were communicating.”
Photo: David Crosby performs during rehearsal for the premiere episode of the television show “The Music Scene” on September 22, 1969 in Los Angeles, California. (Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images)