Song of the Week – Blackbird, Crosby, Stills & Nash

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Graham Nash has recently released his autobiography titled Wild Tales: A Rock & Roll Life. This has caused him to go on an extensive promotional tour, conducting numerous, in-depth interviews. I’ve heard two of them – one with Howard Stern and the other with Terry Gross. Here is the Stern interview if you’re interested in listening to it:

Nash reveals some very interesting and insightful stories in these interviews (and probably even more in the book). Like how Crosby, Stills & Nash tired to get a record deal by demoing the whole first album live, to many label chiefs and recording stars that were unimpressed and turned them down. Like the cool, dreary morning in LA when he was inspired to write “Our House” after having breakfast with Joni Mitchell. And the unique way Neil Young previewed his then unreleased album Harvest to Nash.

He also tells an interesting story of how C,S & N came to record Paul McCartney’s civil rights inspired “Blackbird.” There is a bootleg recording of them working out the harmony parts and that is today’s SotW.

If you listen closely, you can hear the improvement with each take. It is quite fascinating. I also find it interesting that the Beatles’ “Blackbird” was released in November 1968 and only 3 months later C, S & N were already working on their version. Only the Beatles could generate that level of respect and inspiration.

Enjoy… until next week.

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