Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

This band was made up of four already established musicians: David Crosby from the Byrds, Stephen Stills from Buffalo Springfield, Graham Nash from the Hollies and Neil Young who was also a part of Buffalo Springfield. This band existed in several broken forms at different points in time including the original lineup of just Crosby, Still and Nash as well as just Crosby and Nash together and Stills and Young together. However, my favorite form is when all four were together as each member brought out something great in the other members. 
The sound of CNSY can best be described as folk rock filled with slightly flawed harmonies. While that is not the most flattering description the slight imperfections in the band’s sound are part of what made them so great. Their sound is so unique to only them and their songs were full of power. Each member of CSNY contributed to the band’s discography and often their songs reflected events of the time. It was no secret that Crosby wrote songs in protest of the Vietnam War and the Nixon administration. Young wrote several songs that were meant to open people’s eyes to what was going on around them from the increasing mortality rate due to heroin overdoses to the massacre that occurred at Kent State. Stills developed some very interesting instrumental sounds and Nash further expanded the creativity of the entire group. 
For a group that relied so much on their spectacular harmonies the relationships between the members were not always so beautiful. The name of the band came about because each member wanted to assure that there would always be equal power between them. Even so, power struggles still arose. Creative differences also came about. One large one being the use of studio musicians as a backup band. Stills allegedly wanted to use professional studio musicians for the recording of their albums but Young demanded the use of his backup band, Crazy Horse. These differences especially between Young and the rest of the band caused many rifts over time and lead to their various formations.  Even with these problems and more, including their initial inability to obtain a contract with Apple Records and the funding of some of their own records by the musicians themselves, the music they created together is so exceptional that everyone should have a chance to hear it. 
Listening Recommendations:
• Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
• Ohio
• Marrakesh Express