Graham Nash Interview

Westerly Wood

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Always my least favorite of the 3 (of the 4 if you include Young).

:)

But he is a great story teller of those days.
 

Rocky

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Always my least favorite of the 3 (of the 4 if you include Young).
Always very musical, and a great singer, but I would agree that his compositions, for the most part, are the least interesting. Except, maybe Chicago.

On the other hand, he was the one that kept Crosby and Stills from self-destructing a few decades ago.
A little thread veer - a song about David in the 80's.
 

Teleguy61

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He is a brilliant harmony singer, and the Hollies and their material were terrific.
 

Bernie

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I think CSN was an outstanding group, better than anybody else in their own field. I've never heard anything I liked as much when it comes to vocals and instruments together. Not even Bach, Beethoven and Mozart could do just as good, - as they didn't manage to live at the same time maybe - ;) 😊 . Neil Young has too much ego to do just as well as a band member I believe, and I'm not interested in knowing which one I like most.., - or least -, although I'm fond of Steve Stills 'Mannassas' double LP...🎸 🇬🇧 🏉🎾⚽ (love that following song especially) www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvhNDc0wlks
 
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walrus

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I always liked Nash better when he was with someone else - CSN, Crosby/Nash, etc. Solo, not so much. Like many artists, just not the same alone. Compared to the other three his songs are clearly much "simpler", but of course, that can work quite well.

I read his book, and this interview is more of the same. Great stories, but man, what an ego. A very interesting take on life. He says his "sex life is great" being married to a much younger woman, but when he talks about his estranged kids he says he'd rather not connect with them ever again. Wow.

walrus
 
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Westerly Wood

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I always liked Nash better when he was with someone else - CSN, Crosby/Nash, etc. Solo, not so much. Like many artists, just not the same alone. Compared to the other three his songs are clearly much "simpler", but of course, that can work quite well.

I read his book, and this interview is more of the same. Great stories, but man, what an ego. A very interesting take on life. He says his "sex life is great" being married to a much younger woman, but when he talks about his estranged kids he says he'd rather not connect with them ever again. Wow.

walrus
I should mention I saw him solo in late 80s in Providence RI with my best friend at the time, who got me totally into CSN and Y. I as a staunch Who fan and at this time in my life, needed some calmer tones lol. Anyway, the show was excellent, Graham played a lot of piano and acoustic and had a full band with him. Played a lot of the hits and his own material. I knew a lot of Songs for Beginners so the show as great. After we waited outside to meet him in alley outside of venue and sign autographs. It was me Jesse and I standing there. When he came out, he was super disappointed there were no hot chicks. It was hysterical. He said a few words, signed autograph and then went back inside. Nice guy. Just not that happy to see us. lol

Veer: Providence RI gets some great bands, from all over. It's more chill vs Boston too. I saw a lot of good music live as a younger man. My fave was the Cowboy Junkies, think the show was at Lupos, perfect venue size for this band.

Jonathan Richman was also great, just him with an old Fender and a tiny amp and his buddy on stand up drum set.

REM at Brown Univ

Lots of regional bands too, that never made it but had a blast trying.

Oh, and Warren Zevon solo on acoustic. That dude was intense. Now that show I went up to the stage to say thanks for the show, he just leaned down to me, looked me straight in the eye and shook my hand and thanked me for coming out. It was a blizzard that night so a lot of people bailed but he still showed up. Maybe 200 people tops there. He had just learned how to play an Em9 chord like earlier that day or week, and he played it constantly. It was hilarious.
 
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7GuildsandanSG

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I should mention I saw him solo in late 80s in Providence RI with my best friend at the time, who got me totally into CSN and Y. I as a staunch Who fan and at this time in my life, needed some calmer tones lol. Anyway, the show was excellent, Graham played a lot of piano and acoustic and had a full band with him. Played a lot of the hits and his own material. I knew a lot of Songs for Beginners so the show as great. After we waited outside to meet him in alley outside of venue and sign autographs. It was me Jesse and I standing there. When he came out, he was super disappointed there were no hot chicks. It was hysterical. He said a few words, signed autograph and then went back inside. Nice guy. Just not that happy to see us. lol

Veer: Providence RI gets some great bands, from all over. It's more chill vs Boston too. I saw a lot of good music live as a younger man. My fave was the Cowboy Junkies, think the show was at Lupos, perfect venue size for this band.

Jonathan Richman was also great, just him with an old Fender and a tiny amp and his buddy on stand up drum set.

REM at Brown Univ

Lots of regional bands too, that never made it but had a blast trying.

Oh, and Warren Zevon solo on acoustic. That dude was intense. Now that show I went up to the stage to say thanks for the show, he just leaned down to me, looked me straight in the eye and shook my hand and thanked me for coming out. It was a blizzard that night so a lot of people bailed but he still showed up. Maybe 200 people tops there. He had just learned how to play an Em9 chord like earlier that day or week, and he played it constantly. It was hilarious.
My first big show was Rush at the Providence Civic Center a million years ago. Saw more shows at Lupo's, Met Cafe, Club Baby Head, and AS220 than anywhere in Boston. My band did an open mic once at AS220. Love that city!
 

twocorgis

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I've always thought that Graham was probably the fourth best writer in CSNY too, but the other three are so monumentally good that that's not necessarily a disparaging thing to say. And his most recent release "This Path Tonight" (can it really be six years ago?) is maybe the best stuff he's ever done to date. Here's probably my favorite track on the album, just brilliant.

 

Westerly Wood

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I've always thought that Graham was probably the fourth best writer in CSNY too, but the other three are so monumentally good that that's not necessarily a disparaging thing to say. And his most recent release "This Path Tonight" (can it really be six years ago?) is maybe the best stuff he's ever done to date. Here's probably my favorite track on the album, just brilliant.


It's great Sandy. You can really hear the pain he has from the memories, how much he misses it all.
 

walrus

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I agree it's not fair to compare him to the other three. Although he should get credit for supplying them with their biggest "sing along" hits - "Teach your Children" and "Wasted on the Way".

One of my favorite albums is Crosby/Nash "Wind on the Water", but mainly because of the Crosby songs (which Nash adds to greatly with his harmonies).

But Nash is one of those artists that to me, seems to write the same song over and over again. With exceptions of course. The two hits mentioned above remind me of this. I'm not saying I don't like the music, just making an observation after owning most of his solo stuff, and all of CSN (Y) stuff and Crosby/Nash albums. He has forged a long career using cowboy chords - like many artists we all know and love!

I always felt, and he seems to agree in the interview above, that his greatest legacy was his uncanny ability to find a perfect harmony for all the songs in the CSNY catalog, with any "version" of C,S,N or Y.

walrus
 
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twocorgis

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I agree it's not fair to compare him to the other three. Although he should get credit for supplying them with their biggest "sing along" hits - "Teach your Children" and "Wasted on the Way".

One of my favorite albums is Crosby/Nash "Homeward Through the Haze", but mainly because of the Crosby songs (which Nash adds to greatly with his harmonies).

But Nash is one of those artists that to me, seems to write the same song over and over again. With exceptions of course. The two hits mentioned above remind me of this. I'm not saying I don't like the music, just making an observation after owning most of his solo stuff, and all of CSN (Y) stuff and Crosby/Nash albums. He has forged a long career using cowboy chords - like many artists we all know and love!

I always felt, and he seems to agree in the interview above, that his greatest legacy was his uncanny ability to find a perfect harmony for all the songs in the CSNY catalog, with any "version" of C,S,N or Y.

walrus
Ha! "Teach Your Children" might be my least favorite CSNY song, and "Our House" isn't far behind. Jerry Garcia's pedal steel might be its only redeeming feature.

And as far as songs sounding the same from artists that you're not particularly fond of, that happens to me all the time. There are plenty of artists like John Mayer and Dave Matthews that have huge chops, but their music just doesn't appeal to me, causing their songs to all sound the same. And as far as forging a career using cowboy chords, there's a list of artists that is far too long to get into here, Neil Young being amongst them. In fact Neil is a fine example of how you don't need to be either a great singer or guitarist to write great songs, and there's a pretty long list of them, too!
 

Westerly Wood

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After reading his book, it's patently obvious that he never got over Joni Mitchell.
and I am sure he is super discouraged too with the modern day music, politics, commotion, etc. All those songs, the ideals of them never really came to fruition and the world has just gotten louder vs the late 60's early 70s days with him and his friends in Laurel Canyon.
 

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We saw Graham earlier this year at The Scottish Rite Auditorium in Collingswood and he was in fine voice and with an excellent band. I appreciate the fact that he covers every part of his career: Hollies, CN, CSN, CSN+Y, and his solo work:


He announced that he was getting together with Allan Clarke (co-founder of The Hollies with Graham) for a new project.
 
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Bernie

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Thought some of you might enjoy to see that : it's a live version of 'Encore' on a French radio ('Les Nocturnes' by George Lang for RTL)...Nash sings with the help of his guitar player (probably the one he shares credits with on 'Golden Days', Shane Fontayne) this song from 'This Path Tonight'... www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrTXk2b5ltw . Sorry no Guild guitar involved (unless it would be some Orpheum), but a Gibson J-45 most likely I think...
 

Westerly Wood

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I forgot about this song by Graham. So great...

 

Bernie

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At first ear it's a bit as if quite a good song could end up being a masterpiece with those 3 guys (CSN) singing harmonies along it... Save your money - I wonder how much this trio's agent would ask for booking them when you're not friends with them yet 😎... My best shirt, my best pair of boots, and my electric bicycle could do you'd think 😊 ?
 

Westerly Wood

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I just remember wearing out 4 Way Street back when I was 17 and 18. :)
 
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