David Crosby

Greatly Appreciated

DAVID CROSBY
 
 
David Crosby  (born August 14, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter.  In addition to his solo career, he was a founding member of both the Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash.  He is known for his use of alternate guitar tunings and jazz influences.  Crosby has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice:  once for his work in the Byrds and once for his work with CSN.  Five albums he contributed to are included in Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, three with the Byrds and two with CSN(Y).  He has been depicted as emblematic of the 1960s counterculture.  (More from Wikipedia)
 
 

Melissa Etheridge’s 2001 album Skin was written after the breakup of her longtime relationship with filmmaker Julie Cypher that included two children fathered by David Crosby via artificial insemination; writing for AllmusicKerry L. Smith says of this album:  “If ever there was a perfect breakup album, this is it.” 

 

(January 2014)

 

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I am a big fan of Eight Miles High; besides the original by the Byrds (the song was written by bandmembers Gene ClarkJim McGuinn and David Crosby), Golden Earring recorded a side-long extended treatment of “Eight Miles High” that I simply love, and past UARB Index covered “Eight Miles High” on their first album. 

 

According to Wikipedia:  “John Einarson has noted that the influence of [John Coltrane]’s saxophone playing and, in particular, his song ‘India’ from the Impressions album, can be clearly heard in ‘Eight Miles High — most noticeably in [Jim] McGuinn’s recurring twelve-string guitar solo.  In addition to this striking guitar motif, the song is also highlighted by Chris Hillman’s driving and hypnotic bass line, [David] Crosby’s chunky rhythm guitar playing, and the band’s ethereal harmonies.” 

 

(July 2015)

 

Last edited: March 22, 2021