PDF CSNY Crosby Stills Nash and Young Peter Doggett 9781501183027 Books
Download As PDF : CSNY Crosby Stills Nash and Young Peter Doggett 9781501183027 Books
“A must for CSNY fans.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
The first ever biography focused on the formative and highly influential early years of “rock’s first supergroup” (Rolling Stone) Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young—when they were the most successful, influential, and politically potent band in America—in honor of the fiftieth anniversary of Woodstock and the formation of the band itself.
1969 to 1974 were true golden years of rock n’ roll, bookmarking an era of arguably unparalleled musical power and innovation. But even more than any of their eminent peers, David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, and Neil Young channeled and broadcast all the radical anger, romantic idealism, and generational angst of their time. Each of the members had already made their marks in huge bands (The Hollies, Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds), but together, their harmonies were transcendent.
The vast emotional range of their music, from delicate acoustic confessionals to raucous counter-culture anthems, was mirrored in the turbulence of their personal lives. Their trademark may have been vocal harmony, but few—if any—of their contemporaries could match the recklessness of their hedonistic and often combative lifestyles, when the four tenacious, volatile, and prodigal songwriters pursued chemical and sexual pleasure to life-threatening extremes.
Including full color photographs, CSNY chronicles these four iconic musicians and the movement they came to represent, concentrating on their prime as a collective unit and a cultural force the years between 1969, when Woodstock telegraphed their arrival to the world, and 1974, when their arch-enemy Richard Nixon was driven from office, and the band (to quote Graham Nash himself) “lost it on the highway.”
Even fifty years later, there are plenty of stories left to be told about Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young—and music historian Peter Doggett is here to bring them to light in the meticulously researched CSNY, a quintessential and illuminative account of rock’s first supergroup in their golden hour for die-hard fans, nostalgic flower-children, and music history aficionados alike.
PDF CSNY Crosby Stills Nash and Young Peter Doggett 9781501183027 Books
"A fascinating account of how the band came together and ultimately kept falling apart. It delves into the turbulent relationships among the musicians as well as their backgrounds. Throughout it seemed like a love-hate relationship mix. Their egos and eccentricities kept getting in their way. All band members were strong-willed and each wanted things their own way. Stephen Stills seemed to be the one who pulled the music together and mixed it to perfection. All of them are songwriters and each wanted their lyrics front and center and they had to work out a way for sharing the limelight. It was good that in many of the concerts they would play together then each musician would have a solo spot that showcased their voice. Crosby, Stills and Nash were the core of the group since they were together before Neil Young entered the picture. Neil was a recluse and, though he contributed much to the band and their unique sound, would disappear whenever he wanted - often at inappropriate times leaving the rest of the band to pick up the pieces. Young is a creative genius though and much was forgiven to keep him with the band and to have his voice and his lyrics.
One of the things that amazes me is how the musicians in this group and many other musicians at the time (and probably still today) float in and out of each others lives and can even step onstage in someone else's band and play like they belong there. It also amazes me how many of the musicians know each other. It seems CSNY hung out with and knew Mama Cass (who introduced the group members it seems), Eric Clapton, James Taylor, Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, and the list goes on an on! Of course the CSNY band members had been part of The Byrds, ?The Hollies, and Buffalo Springfield before their group was ever formed. What talent!
The background of what influenced the lyrics was interesting. Many of the lyrics were written in anguish from various love affairs on the rocks. Some came from Crosby's sci-fi interest. Others were totally crafted into something that would appeal to the most people and sell the most. And still more came from the drug-infused atmosphere of the sixties. Then, of course, there are the political protest songs that were mainly against the Vietnam War.
I don't read much non-fiction, but since I love CSN's and CSNY's music I wanted to read this and I'm glad I did. The first of the book was a little rocky, but it smoothed out after awhile. It was only somewhat sequential in nature though - it kept going back and forth during a relatively short period of time (the band was only together officially for about two years). Reading this made me get out all my CSN and CSNY music and listen to it again and still love the feeling.
Thanks to Peter Doggett and Atria Books through Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review."
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CSNY Crosby Stills Nash and Young Peter Doggett 9781501183027 Books Reviews :
CSNY Crosby Stills Nash and Young Peter Doggett 9781501183027 Books Reviews
- The writing in this book is a cut above your run-of-the-mill rock 'n' roll books. The focus on the late '60s early '70s CSNY was most welcome. And, while Doggett is a fan, this isn't hagiography.
- fun to read. Thank you!
- Like so many music lovers, I was blown away by the breathtaking, soaring harmonies that flowed out of CSN's first album. What an incredible blend of voices not to mention Stills' musical virtuosity! I remember one reviewer saying the music was "too perfect" and wondered how it could be so. And then, like so many others, I was thrown for a loop when Neil Young was brought into the CSN mix. Whatever his contributions to Buffalo Springfield, Young's addition to CSN proved a mixed blessing as there were already enough giant egos at play. But, with the addition of Young, that first, joyous musical bubble was burst and CSN&Y was never the same. They were, however, off and running on a roller-coaster career that encompassed great songs, dud songs, endless feuds and fights, countless break-ups and get-togethers, mucho drugs, sparkling concerts and god-awful shows, Young bugging out whenever the mood struck, etc., etc. All of that is captured in Peter Doggett's incisive, entertaining book CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG. It's a great read on one of rock's legendary bands. Recommended.
- A fascinating account of how the band came together and ultimately kept falling apart. It delves into the turbulent relationships among the musicians as well as their backgrounds. Throughout it seemed like a love-hate relationship mix. Their egos and eccentricities kept getting in their way. All band members were strong-willed and each wanted things their own way. Stephen Stills seemed to be the one who pulled the music together and mixed it to perfection. All of them are songwriters and each wanted their lyrics front and center and they had to work out a way for sharing the limelight. It was good that in many of the concerts they would play together then each musician would have a solo spot that showcased their voice. Crosby, Stills and Nash were the core of the group since they were together before Neil Young entered the picture. Neil was a recluse and, though he contributed much to the band and their unique sound, would disappear whenever he wanted - often at inappropriate times leaving the rest of the band to pick up the pieces. Young is a creative genius though and much was forgiven to keep him with the band and to have his voice and his lyrics.
One of the things that amazes me is how the musicians in this group and many other musicians at the time (and probably still today) float in and out of each others lives and can even step onstage in someone else's band and play like they belong there. It also amazes me how many of the musicians know each other. It seems CSNY hung out with and knew Mama Cass (who introduced the group members it seems), Eric Clapton, James Taylor, Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, and the list goes on an on! Of course the CSNY band members had been part of The Byrds, ?The Hollies, and Buffalo Springfield before their group was ever formed. What talent!
The background of what influenced the lyrics was interesting. Many of the lyrics were written in anguish from various love affairs on the rocks. Some came from Crosby's sci-fi interest. Others were totally crafted into something that would appeal to the most people and sell the most. And still more came from the drug-infused atmosphere of the sixties. Then, of course, there are the political protest songs that were mainly against the Vietnam War.
I don't read much non-fiction, but since I love CSN's and CSNY's music I wanted to read this and I'm glad I did. The first of the book was a little rocky, but it smoothed out after awhile. It was only somewhat sequential in nature though - it kept going back and forth during a relatively short period of time (the band was only together officially for about two years). Reading this made me get out all my CSN and CSNY music and listen to it again and still love the feeling.
Thanks to Peter Doggett and Atria Books through Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. - What I look for in a biography is a very neutral viewpoint - mostly facts with leeway for some interpretation from a knowledgeable writer. But with CSNY, this felt very much a book written by a friend - someone who knew one or two of the band members and therefore, like a friend, not willing/wanting to hurt their feelings by giving a very honest depiction of events in the past. As well, those who were not deemed as helping the friend will get lambasted - so e.g., Crosby fares well here but Young and Nash do not. It's the nature of friendship but doesn't necessarily make a good book; the bias had to be compensated for by having inside information that a researcher just wouldn't be able to find. I don't know that this book really succeeded there - it is a VERY sympathetic look at especially Crosby and Stills but definitely not so for Nash and Young.
A reader will get this impression of the band after reading this book Crosby is a loveable little scamp with an incredible voice who adored women and became ensnared by drugs, Stills is a multi-instrumental genius who creates masterpieces, singls like an angel, and the leader of the band. Nash is wishy washy and a milquetoast who spent most of life bemused, and Young is the biggest jerk on the planet who is so selfish, he lives to ruin others lives and livelihoods. In reading the competing biography, Crosby comes off as a womanizer and damaged - needing drugs first to assuage and then to hide from life. Stills is demanding, difficult, and alcohol made it nearly impossible to work with him, Nash didn't like the drama and tried to tread the middle as much as possible to mitigate it, leading to bursts of anger and vicious words at bad times, and Young didn't want to deal with the drugs and personalities, had the complication of a disabled son requiring full time care, and shifting priorities that meant he was completely unpredictable and impossible for anyone to work with for any extended period of time.
Since this is focused on that two year period when CSNY got big, you'll find a lot more in here about their lifestyles and the people moving around them like satellites. The author gives many different accounts of the same situation (drugs/alcohol meant that most remember the time differently) but then he also gives a lot of opinions throughout, either making conclusions on what really happened or flat out guessing why someone did/said something they did. Some readers will appreciate the opinions/speculation but others may prefer a biographer to just stick either the facts or the statements, without trying to interpret them.
What the book did well is to really make Stills and Crosby personable and like your best buddy - you feel like you were one of their friends during this time period in their life. Life in Mulholland and Laurel Canyon in the 1970s/1960s is richly realized - and it was fascinating to read about all the people who floated in and out of the scene when the band got together (be it at Mama Cass' house or at one of the band's homes). And events of the time, such as the death of Crosby's girlfriend in an accident, are richly detailed rather than a passing comment. As such, it does feel like you are looking from the inside out or talking with someone who was touring with the band and knew them well. But I think it is important to be aware of the limitations of seeing things from the inside - it's hard to really gain a clear perspective on the subject. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
