David Crosby, Stephen Stills & Graham Nash – The Solo Albums – Rhino Entertainment Company – Exclusive Record Store Day (4/18/2026) 4-LP 140-gram vinyl set
There are supergroups and among the finest was Crosby Stills & Nash. Comprised of Stephen Stills (Buffalo Springfield), David Crosby (The Byrds) and Graham Nash (The Hollies), the trio became the symbol of the Laurel Canyon folk rock movement and released a hugely successful self-titled album. Neil Young joined the band at Woodstock, becoming part of the band and the release of Dèjá Vu made them the biggest act in the world. Rhino Entertainment Company has released a 4-LP vinyl box that features the three solo debut albums (of the original group members) for Atlantic and one vinyl of rarities.
Stephen Stills: Stephen Stills – Atlantic Records R1 728555/081227805739-1 (1970)/Rhino Entertainment Company (2026) 140-gram stereo vinyl, 38:56 ****1/2:
As with the Crosby, Stills & Nash album, Stills played a huge part on this solo project, songwriting, vocals and playing several instruments. He is joined by Crosby, Nash, John Sebastian, Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix among others. The lead single, “Love The One You’re With” was a staple on both AM and FM radio. It has a hard-rocking groove, lush background vocals and positive energy. Stills’ range is prevalent on this album. There’s the introspective reflection of “Do For The Others” with nimble acoustic guitar and emotive vocals. He offers a Sunday-morning testimonial (with soulful back up singing) on “Church (Do For Others)”. His rock essence permeates two tracks, “Old Times Good Times” (accompanied by Hendrix) and “Go Back Home” (with Clapton).
Stills continues to expand the landscape on the ebullient “Sit Yourself Down” (passionate vocals). Then he transitions to an ethereal “To A Flame”. “Black Queen” is Delta blues with scintillating guitar. The finale is a meticulously produced counterculture two-part suite (“We Are Not Helpless”) that is a rousing affirmation.
David Crosby – If I Could Only Remember My Name – Atlantic Records R1 728555/081227805734-2 (1971)/Rhino Entertainment Company (2026) 140-gram stereo vinyl, 37:04 ****1/2:
Crosby’s 1971 solo album was a “communal” experience with a variety of California-based rock stars, including The Grateful Dead, Quicksilver, Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Nash, Young and Joni Mitchell. The overall vibe on this album is a dream-like, melancholy vision with some jazzy influences. There are sone “basic” songs like the hippie-infused but pulsating “Music Is Love” (with Neil Young). Another highlight is the achingly beautiful “Laughing”, with shimmering vocals by Mitchell and pedal steel from Jerry Garcia. “Cowboy Movie” is a straight-ahead rocker with Crosby’s most animated vocals. Songs like “What Are Their Names” feel like a Dead or Airplane political jam.
But this album has atmospheric flowing melodies with ethereal vocals. “Tamalpais High (At About 3)” has a psychedelic spacey musical structure and vocalese. “Traction In The Rain” is a almost New-Age tale of loss with a nice touch of autoharp (Laura Allen). A certain highlight is the gentle swaying “Songs With No Words (Trees With No Leaves)”. Crosby’s vocal arrangement is complex and it is magnetic. The last two numbers (“Orleans” and “I’d Swear There Was Somebody There”) are quintessential solo Crosby, emoting with multi-tracked vocals.
Graham Nash – Songs For Beginners – Atlantic Records R1 728555/081227805739-03 (1971)/Rhino Entertainment Company 140-gram stereo vinyl, 32:13 ****1/2:
Graham Nash’s debut is a collection of mostly well-crafted political, social and relationship themed material. It features an all-star cadre of musicians (Dave Mason, Garcia, Rita Coolidge, Neil Young). His strong positions on politics is represented on the loping “Military Madness” (great Mason wah-wah guitar). A thumping gospel chorus on“Chicago” establishes momentum that leads right into “We Can Change The World”. He laments on his breakup with Joni Mitchell on “I Used To Be King” (interesting arrangement with some country accents and tempo upticks).
Nash demonstrates that he is on a songwriting par with his bandmates. “Better Days” has both pop sensibilities and moody resonance. His conversational style (“Man In The Mirror”, “Be Yourself”) is effective and his voice is incandescent.
David Crosby, Stephen Stills & Graham Nash: Solo Rarities – Atlantic Records/Rhino Entertainment Company R! 728555/081227805739-04 140-gram stereo vinyl ****:
There is a bonus LP with a variety of demos (“Be Yourself”, “Chicago”, “Sleep Song”) and previously unreleased material (“Everybody’s Been Burned”). Among these highlights
is a live performance of “Do For Others” and an early look at “The Treasure” (which would be recorded for the first Stephen Stills/ Manassas album). “Dancer” is another non-verbal acoustic reverie from Crosby.
David Crosby, Stephen Stills & Graham Nash – The Solo Albums is a valuable addition to Record Store Day and rock vinyl aficionados. Sourced from the original analog masters and re-mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Chris Bellman), it is a sonic upgrade. There is excellent detail of instruments and voices. Included is an incisive booklet of liner notes.
Highly recommended!
—Robbie Gerson
TrackLists:
Stephen Stills:Stephen Stills
Side One: Love The One You’re With; Do For Others; Church (Part Of Someone); Old Times Good Times; Go Back Home
Side Two: Sit Yourself Down; To A Flame; Black Queen; Cherokee; We Are Not Helpless
David Crosby: If I Could Only Remember My Name
Side One: Music Is Love; Cowboy Movie; Tamalpais High (At Around 3); Laughing
Side Two: What Are Their Names; Traction In The Rain; Song With No Words (Tree With No Leaves); Orleans; I’d Swear There Was Somebody There
Graham Nash: Songs For Beginners
Side One: Military Madness; Better Days; Wounded Bird; I Used To Be A King; Be Yourself
Side Two: Simple Man; Man In The Mirror; There’s Only One; Sleep Song; Chicago; We Can Change The World
David Crosby, Stephen Stills & Graham Nash: Solo Rarities
Side One: The Treasure (Stephen Stills); Dancer (David Crosby); Be Yourself (Demo/Graham Nash); Coast Road (David Crosby); Everybody’s Been Burned (Graham Nash)
Side Two: My Love Is A Gentle Thing (Stephen Stills); Kids And Dogs (David Crosby); Chicago (Demo/Graham Nash); Do For Others (Live/Stephen Stills & Steven Fromholz); Sleep Song (Demo/Graham Nash); Fugue (David Crosby).
