Happy Anniversary: Crosby, Stills & Nash, REPLAY

38 years ago this week, David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash released the second retrospective of their career, one which was decidedly not as successful as their first retrospective, Déjà vu, but still contained a heck of a lot of classic tunes.

Produced by Crosby, Stills and Nash, along with Bill Halverson, REPLAY came about as a result of Stills and Nash touring Europe together and, after completing their jaunt, deciding that they wanted to record some new material together. Atlantic Records, however, wanted CSN material, so the label instead decided to release this compilation, one which features some decidedly unique song choices, including a four-pack of tracks from the various members’ non-CSN endeavors.

After kicking off with “Carry On,” “Marrakesh Express,” and “Just a Song Before I Go,” the first of the solo efforts appears – Stephen Stills’ “First Things First,” appropriately enough – and after throwing in another CSN song (“Shadow Captain”), it’s time for the Crosby & Nash track “To the Last Whale…” That’s it for side one, if you’re a purist, but side two offers Stills’ iconic single “Love the One You’re Welcome,” then delivers CSN’s “Pre-Road Downs,” and Stills’ solo song “Change Partners” before closing with the one-two CSN punch “I Give You Give Blind” and “Cathedral.”

Those looking for a solid entry point into the group’s back catalog are probably better served by picking up Déjà vu, but REPLAY unquestionably delivers a good listen for CSN fans.