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Crosby, Stills and Nash See the Changes
What happened with the formation of the world’s first industry-labeled “super group” and what label passed on them after they performed a private live audition? It was a twist of fate, and here is the story…
June, 1967. The world of music has been turned upside down with The Monterey Pop Festival. It would be the first time the world would be introduced to the power-drenched blues of Janis Joplin with Big Brother & the Holding Company; the destructive fury of the Who; and the amazing artistry and showmanship of the Jimi Hendrix Experience.
The period of Monterey would also be one of the last times an audience would see the original Byrds with David Crosby; and the Buffalo Springfield with Stephen Stills (and Neil Young). Both bands were going through turmoil, as was the British pop band, the Hollies, whose main writer and musician was Graham Nash.
It was little more than a fluke that David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash (along with Neil Young), would all end up at a party in early 1968, at the L.A. home of the late Mama Cass Elliott, the rotund vocalist from the Mamas & the Papas. The forthcoming commentary is taken directly from an interview I conducted with Crosby, Stills and Nash in 1996.
“I was looking around to see what to do next. Stills and I have always had a musical attraction towards each other’s work. I’ve always loved his music and he’s always loved my music; it was a natural falling together. Graham came about because of Cass Elliott of the Mamas & the Papas. She introduced him to us, and we sang at a party she had.
“Then, we realized he was the guy who sang the high part on the Hollies song, ‘King Midas In Reverse’ and he said, ‘Hmmm…’ And so, he sang with us, and when that happened, that was all we needed to hear.”
But the formation of Crosby, Stills and Nash, while a fluke get together at a Hollywood party, would be an exercise in legal maneuvering like none ever seen in the music industry at that time.
Up to that point, there had never been anything like a super group in rock ‘n’ roll where three established music dignitaries had consciously tried to form a group together. Getting the music together that they all could agree on was not the problem; it was getting the three artists (all signed to different labels at the time), out of their existing contracts so they could work together.
In 1968, David Crosby was signed to Columbia Records as a member of the Byrds. Nash was signed to Epic Records, a CBS subsidiary label, as a member of the Hollies. At the time, both labels were overseen by Clive Davis, who would later launch Arista Records.
Over at Atlantic Records, the late Ahmet Ertegun was reluctant to say goodbye to the successful Buffalo Springfield (which included Stills and Young), but was determined to get the new band, which he labeled a “super group.”
When CSN first began rehearsing, the other driving force from the Buffalo Springfield, Richie Furray, had formed a new country rock band called Poco. In order to release Crosby so he could join the new super group, Ertegun had to release Furray and let Davis sign his new band, Poco.
“That’s exactly right,” says Nash. “I was on CBS Records, via my contract with the Hollies, who were on Epic, a subsidiary of Columbia. David had been on Columbia as well and had asked Clive Davis because he had left the Byrds and he was going to go sailing. Clive released him.
“Stephen was already on Atlantic, on the ATCO label because of his contract with the Buffalo Springfield. So, the only part of the chess game that had to be worked out was to get me off of Columbia and on to Atlantic, which they did by swapping me for Poco. As a matter of fact, in the Poco contract, written on the bottom on a small piece of paper and attached to the document is a statement: ‘Columbia Records gives up its rights for Graham Nash through his contract with the Hollies, in exchange for Richie Furray and Poco.’ Isn’t that wild? Deals like that happen all the time in this business, but probably not so profoundly as it did with us. If that hadn’t have happened, what would have happened?”
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16 Comments
geez, never really thought about the logistics behind collaborations. i love me some CSN (and Y) – thank god they worked it out!
Young did not perform at Monterrey Pop Festival w/ Springfield
I don’t think he was saying that Young performed with Springfield at Monterey as he refers to that time as the “period of Monterey”.
thanks to Mama Cass,40 plus years of my life has been blessed by the music of CSN
I had a a mindblowing experience in 2003 at neil young’s bridge school benefit when they all performed live together again, acoustic, for The kids…a great cause indeed…and at one point a cappella… all those songwriters are the S#!t, thanks mama cass, sorry I didn’t make it to your parties…
the author of this story shld do some minimal research … james taylor didn’t ‘flounder’ after apple folded and as another reader pointed out, neil young didn’t play with buffalo springfield at monterey … david crosby sat in for him
Apple would soon fold under the neglect that came from the Beatles break up, and CSN, as with most acts that did ultimately sign with Apple, such as James Taylor and Billy Preston, would have likely floundered when the label folded.
Emphasis on the word “likely”
And it was the “period of Monterey” not “Monterey”
Sheesh.
yeah, thanks Cass for unleashing 40 years of boredom upon all us discerning music lover — super group or sleeper group?
Nice article.Crosby Stills are three of the greatest artists of their (MY) generation,too often underappreciated.Their debut album still gives me goose bumps after nearly 40 years.
Yeah, James Taylor certainly did not flounder after apple folded!
Hello
Very interesting information! Thanks!
G’night
Taylor founder after Apple dropped him. Took him awhile to get back his footing. Apple hurt a lot of people.
Peter Asher took James Taylor to Warner/Reprise and they jumped at the chance to sign him. Sweet Baby James became gis first album for that label. Doesn’t sound like “foundering” to me at all.
I think the James Taylor Reference leaves out some key details. Like how Taylor was hooked on smack and had to dusapeer to for the first of many times to dry out.
Peter Asher was Paul McCartney’s Girlfriend’s brother and saved James Taylor’s life.
Fire and Rain
CSN have been crying and complaining since before their first album came out. They were Rock Stars in their minds. That’s why the Beatles said thanks but no thanks.
CSN and sometimes Y … one of the best musician groups ever in my 40 years of listening – Thx to Mama Cass for her early input. Thanks CSN(
just a brief correction: Neil Young did NOT perform with the Buffalo Springfield at Monterey Pop. It was during one of the many times he left the band. He rejoined in ‘68 to play a few shows until the group split for good. Neil’s replacement for this concert was Doug Hastings.