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"...Music Is Love..."
Although slammed by many
press types on its 1971 release – David Crosby’s debut solo album "If I
Could Only Remember My Name" has gone on to become almost mythical amongst
its many devotees – including me. Featuring an astonishing line up that
included Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Members of The Grateful
Dead, Santana and Jefferson Airplane - some have even suggested that in
hindsight it's the best solo effort to come out of the mighty Crosby, Stills,
Nash & Young camp. I'm not so sure about that but "...Remember..."
is certainly up there and somehow its trippy Rock seems to grow and
re-captivate new generations as the years pass.
This superb US-released
November 2006 2-disc reissue of "If I Could Only Remember My Name" by
DAVID CROSBY (a CD and DVD-Audio) on Rhino R2 73204 (Barcode 081227320423) goes
back to the original tapes once again and with spectacular effect (the last CD
version was in 1990). The new 2006 version gives us a genuine audio overhaul on
the CD with an Advanced Resolution Surround Sound Mix for the bonus DVD-A
(96K/24-Bit). It also adds on a lone but superlative lengthy outtake –
"Kids & Dogs". The 16-page booklet advises that a team of bodies
handled the Audio Remixes, Remasters, Surround Sound and DVD-Authoring – STEVE
HALL and STEPHAN BARNCARD principal among them.
The vinyl album of Crosby's
debut solo "If I Could Only Remember My Name" was originally released
February 1971 on both sides of the pond (Atlantic SD 7203 in the USA and 2401
005 in the UK) and peaked at 12 on the American Billboard Album charts. With DC
on Lead Vocals and Guitar – the album also features the aforementioned stellar
guest list on its 9 tracks. In order to get a grip on the sheer talent array
we're dealing with here's a track-by-track layout:
1. Music Is Love [written by
David Crosby, Graham Nash & Neil Young] – features Graham Nash on Guitar
and Vocals with Neil Young on Guitar, Bass, Vibraphone and Congas
2. Cowboy Movie [written by
David Crosby] – features Gerry Garcia on Guitar, Phil Lesh on Bass, Mickey Hart
on Drums and Bill Kreutzmann on Tambourine (all from The Grateful Dead)
3. Tamalpais High (At About
3) [written by David Crosby] – features Graham Nash on Guitar, Gerry Garcia on
Guitar, Phil Lesh on Bass and Bill Kreutzmann on Tambourine (all from The
Grateful Dead) with Jorma Kaukonen of Jefferson Airplane on Guitar
4. Laughing [written by
David Crosby] – features Gerry Garcia on Pedal-Steel Guitar, Phil Lesh on Bass,
Mickey Hart on Drums and Bill Kreutzmann on Tambourine (all from The Grateful
Dead) with Graham Nash and Joni Mitchell on Backing Vocals
5. What Are Their Names
[written by David Crosby. Gerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, Michael Shrieve and Neil
Young] – features Neil Young on Electric Guitar, Gerry Garcia and Phil Lesh of
The Grateful Dead on Guitar and Bass, Michael Shrieve of Santana on Drums with
Paul Kantner, Grace Slick and David Freiberg of Jefferson Airplane on Backing
Vocals as well as Graham Nash and Joni Mitchell
6. Traction In The Rain
[written by David Crosby] – features Laura Allan on Autoharp and Backing Vocals
with Graham Nash also on Backing Vocals
7. Song With No Words (Tree With No Leaves)
[written by David Crosby] – features Gregg Rolie and Michael Shrieve of Santana
on Keyboards and Drums, Jack Cassidy and Jorma Kaukonen of Jefferson Airplane
on Bass and Electric Guitar, Gerry Garcia of The Grateful Dead on Guitar with
Graham Nash on backing Vocals
8. Orleans [a Traditional
song adapted by David Crosby] – Vocals and Guitars by David Crosby only
9. I'd Swear There Was
Somebody Here [written by David Crosby] – All Vocals by DC
Housed in a gatefold card
sleeve the remaster is gorgeous and hasn't dampened any of the hiss that is so
evident on tracks like "Tamalpais" and "What Are Their
Names". It's not been ramped up for effect either – it's just right – full
of presence and that extraordinary build of instruments that fills so many of
the songs. Wonderful stuff.
Even now it's hard to
imagine who the two 45s taken off the record were aimed at – "Music Is
Love" b/w "Laughing" in April 1971 on Atlantic 2792 and
"Orleans" b/w "Traction In The Rain" in July 1971 on
Atlantic 2809. But all 4 tracks are magical to me now. And yet despite all the
starry names listed above – one of the biggest contributions to a song comes
from the lesser-known musician LAURA ALLAN who plays gorgeous licks on an
Autoharp on "Traction In The Rain" (she sadly passed away in 2006).
And there's the sublime harmony vocal Joni Mitchell puts in on
"Laughing" with Graham Nash (sends me every time). And of course -
the two stunning Acapella finishers "Orleans" and "I'd Swear
There Was Somebody Here" - with Crosby soloing to ethereal effect – both
clocking in at less than two minutes each but with the impact of ten.
The seven-minute outtake
"Kids & Dogs" is hissy for sure but what a nugget. Fabulous
stuff. I do however think its a damn shame that the live version of
"Traction In The Rain" on Disc 3 of the stunning David Crosby
"Voyage" Box Set of 2006 – is absent here. It was recorded in 1971
and sounds glorious. Still if that absence steers you towards that amazing
overhaul of his career then that's a job well done (the entirely unreleased
Disc 3 is unbelievably good).
"If I Could Only
Remember My Name" is the kind of album that you turn to – it's peaceful on
your brain – lifts your spirit up and evokes a warmth that never fades with
time (Carole King's "Tapestry" has the same kind of magic – and again
from 1971).
A wonderful album and a top
quality Rhino reissue then. Makes me mushy just looking at it…
