Product Description

Crosby, Still, and Nash topped their enormously popular self-titled 1969 debut by adding Neil Young to their ranks and expanding their stylistic and sonic range. The result, released in 1970, was an artistic and commercial success, representing the talents of the four primary players to excellent effect. More ambitious and incisive than its CSN predecessor,DEJA VU brings together folk, psychedelia, jazz, African, and Middle Eastern flavours, Tin Pan Alley, and hard rock in a manner that captures the tenor of the era's counterculturewithout sounding dated.
The group's distinctively lush harmonies are spread across the album, notably on the record's two centrepieces--"Carry On", which segues into a chugging, percussion-fueled groove halfway through, and "Woodstock",the band's hard rock re-working of the Joni Mitchell tune. Elsewhere, the songs are stamped by individual personalities, as on David Crosby's driving "Almost Cut My Hair", Graham Nash's quaint "Our House", and Stephen Stills dark, folky "4+20". Young's aching, plaintive "Helpless" is one of the highlights here, as is Crosby's complex title cut (with its intricate rhythms and vocal arrangements). Though their time together was tumultuous and short-lived, CSNY were one of the most successful acts of the era, and DEJA VU finds them at their peak.

Track Listing

1. Carry On
2. Teach Your Children
3. Almost Cut My Hair
4. Helpless
5. Woodstock
6. Déjà Vu
7. Our House
8. 4 + 20
9. Country Girl: Whiskey Boot Hill/Down, Down, Down/Country Girl
10. Everybody I Love You

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1773 in Music
• Released on: 1994-09-19
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered

Amazon.co.uk Review
Crosby, Stills and Nash were already a "supergroup" before Neil Young, previously of Buffalo Springfield, joined them for this album. Indisputably one of the key albums of the immediate post-Woodstock era, Déjà vu does at times however sound a bit of a period piece. Ranging in emotion from the almost cutesy "Teach Your Children" and "Our House" to the moody, dark guitar sounds of "Almost Cut My Hair" and their version of Joni Mitchell's "Woodstock", it is nevertheless an important document of the time. Young, who would go on to release the excellent After The Gold Rush later in the same year, provides the best moments with "Helpless" and the "Country Girl" medley. --Tim Perry

Customer Reviews

An almost perfect album
I listen to an expansive range of musical styles and ages, from "The Classics" right through to Metal. Now I'm not calling myself an expert in the field by any means, but you can usually get a gut feeling pretty quickly about the effort, imagination and skill put into any work - and this album, from the first listen - give you audio pleasure at every turn. It just oozes skillfull musicianship and beautifully crafted harmonies. The type of work that will always be considered a classic and will always be replayed by the listener over and over again. As for the opinions about Young's involvement etc - it really doesn't matter - CSN were already fantastic - adding in Y was simply a case of adding an extra ingredient of a similar style - and for me - on this album - his presence is only just as good as everybody else - i.e. 'almost perfect'. Everybody should own this.

Twee is ok by me.
Many of the other reviews of this album refer to songs like "Our House" and "Teach You Children Well" as 'twee', while praising Neil Young's "Helpless" as magnificent.

I'd like to give the other side of the coin... I find "Our House" *never* fails to cheer me up, no matter how big the problem is, and I also love "Teach". Conversely, I consider "Helpless" typical of Neil Young's morose style - not to be listened to if you're feeling down!

Not a bad song on it...
Like one of the other reviewers, I too grew up listening to my fathers copy as a kid. The first songs to make an impression on me, were "Almost Cut My Hair" & "Carry On" (the latter reminding me of glorious days during the school summer holidays!). "4+20" is brilliant, as are "Deja vu", "Helpless"... in fact all of the songs are. Normally an album has at least one song that does not shine through, not this one. It shows great song writing and musical talents. Even the gatefold sleeve is uplifting with some lovely photos from that time. Well worth buying...go on give it a listen!
Thanks to David, Stephen, Graham & Neil for this great album and for helping me through the highs and lows of life with some wonderful songs.