Great Moments in Vinyl plays Crosby, Stills & Nash

June 25, 2021 • Joliet Area Historical Museum • Joliet, IL

Featuring Scott Tipping, Ellie Kahn, Leslie Beukelman, Jonathan Reed, and William Lindsey Cochran. Sound mixed by Brian Frost.

David Crosby was known for crafting powerful vocal harmonies for The Byrds.  Stephen Stills made his reputation as one of Buffalo Springfield's singers and guitarists.  And Graham Nash had more than one hit single under his belt from his days with The Hollies.  But when the three of them sat down to blend their voices for the first time at Mama Cass Elliot's house (or maybe it was Joni Mitchell's...or possibly John Sebastian's—the memories have gotten a little fuzzy), the sound was so amazing they broke out laughing with delight.

But the music they created on their first album together was the right sound at the right time.  Blues based rock bands had been around for years.  Psychedelic rock had run its course.  As a group, Crosby, Stills & Nash stepped forward with lyrics that were deeply personal and music that owed more to folk than rock and roll.  With their debut in 1969, they ushered in the era of singer/songwriters.