Search - David Crosby :: Voyage

Like Walt Whitman's Song of the Open Road

o dubhthaigh | north rustico, pei, canada | 11/30/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Make no mistake, the philosophical, poetic and political intelligence of CSNY is David Crosby. While not the most prolific, he makes up for quantity with quality, and as this intelligent overview demonstrates, from very early on there was something especially unique about his songwriting and his singing. Even more distinctive than Dylan, he was posing questions with a sophistication and imagination not known in American culture since Walt Whitman.

Each stage in his remarkable career is acurately and persuasively represented, with a separate disc of demos and alternative mixes and unissued live tracks making it just as vital as the balance of the rest. None of it is filler. None of it is less than compelling. Crosby dealt always with society's conventions, the duplicity of politics, the spectre of our own mortality and the safe harbour of our own loved ones, the redemptive power of true friendship. Aptly titled VOYAGE, this is in many ways, signposts along the way. Markers in the sky at night of his voyaging out across life, these are remarkable songs, every last one of them, for their chords, their melodies and their lyrics. These efforts celebrate a life led with eyes wide open and his mind fully aware, even in the depths of hid drug addictions, of the importance of Socrates' encomium. Who else but David Crosby could compose a song like "Delat" at such a devastating point in his life?

And his voice! Possessed of the finest set of pipes in music, Crosby is always what holds a song together. You need look no further than the DAYLIGHT AGAIN record - Mike Finnegan took most of Crosby's parts, and you can hear it plain as day. The Byrds were never quite the same, not worse, just not the same, without Crosby. Young was interested in joining CSN only if Cros had cleaned up. Why? well, listen......

I've always thought his rhythm guitar playing was underated, but the remastered production by Joel Bernstein and Graham Nash makes the case clear, that just like his harmonies, any song without his touch on guitar is something less. Nash and Jan Crosby are the major ties in David's life, and it is in the works produced that he pays most loving homage to his friend and his wife. Doesn't have to name them, they are carried in his heart, and that is the place from where David's art comes.

This set comes with a beautiful booklet. The whole concept is extraordinarily well done. But that's Cros, heart and soul.

The most incredible concert I have seen in my life was this year's Freedom Tour with CSNY. Sure, Young's LWW was the catalyst, but there at the center, the philosophical, poetical and musical glue stood David Crosby. In this marvellous retrospective, Cros closes out the first two discs with his take on "My Country Tis of Thee," a collaboration with Nash and Michael Hedges. And his notes on the song, like Walt Whitman's poetry, tell the story best:



"I am naively, staunchly, almost childishly loyal to this country, this democracy, and this system of government. It's not flawless, I'm not saying it's utopian - it isn't - but its' the best working blueprint for people to live with each other inside a set of rules, which we've got to have. And it's up to us to care enough to lay ourselves on the line for it. The people who are abusing this government should be thoroughly frightened of the people who love the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, because we're dead serious."



Amen."

Crosby's Brilliance Shown Crystal Clear

Steven L. Hirsch | Washingtonville, NY USA | 01/02/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Everyone else who has left a review has said much of what I feel but I need to say that this is a brilliant retrospective of one of our generation's most important songwriters, singers and musical revolutionaries. There are some very special demos and versions of some classics that I never heard before. (Finally, 'Kids & Dogs' is officially released; a truly phenomenal session with Jerry Garcia). These 3 CDs may never leave my turntable. I don't think there's any more doubt as to whose musical contribution made CSN and CSNY one of the central if not the core folk rock band of the last 40+ years. David Crosby is a special gift to the world (shh, don't tell HIM that!). Seriously, David, if you read this... man, you are something else. After I die I'm gonna come find you so I can enter heaven with you singing "Song with No Words" behind me. This is the only box set that has ever been released that I personally can honestly say is absolutely essential; a must have. LONG LIVE DAVID CROSBY!!!"

Very Nice Overview & Great Rarities Disc

G. Ratcheson | Washington | 12/01/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I just got the DC box today & thought I'd share a few thoughts. I'm a huge DC fan, & I own everything he's officially released other then CSN Live It Up & CSN After The Storm (I bought both of these when they came out, but other then the best Stills song in years, "Haven't We Lost Enough" on Live It Up they're both so bad that I sold them soon afterwards).



If I had to choose a favorite amongst CSNY it would definitely be DC, although I also own & enjoy tons of solo stuff from Stills & Young, + Nash's Songs For Beginners. With that said, I had 2 reasons to buy the box: the previously unreleased stuff on disc 3 & the remastering on 1 & 2.



I'm beyond happy with Disc 3. Highlights for me included the acoustic demos of Cut My Hair, Deja Vu & Triad (Triad sounds more like a finished master then a demo), & the alternate mix of the Perro track was also cool. I'll be listening to this several more times.



I also have very few complaints with Graham Nash's's track selection for disc 1. I was really happy that he caught Renaissance Fair (an almost forgotten but superb "Summer Of Love" track). Not sure if Naked In the Rain & Dancer are essential, but... I would personally have added The Byrds It Happens Each Day & probably the 3 missing tracks from IICORMN (but then no one would have bought the remaster!).



I do have some issues with disc 2's selection. In my opinion a few glaring omissions include For Free (either the live version from Allies or the version from The Byrds Reunion), Oh Yes I Can, It's All Coming Back To Me Now (probably one of the live versions) & Might As Well Have A Good Time. I also would have added one of the live versions of Deja Vu. The only tracks on Voyage disc 2 I consider essential are Delta, Compass, Tracks In The Dust, Hero, Yvette in English & Somehow She Knew; which in my opinion leaves 9 that could have potentially been replaced.



Mind you, this is all nitpicking, I highly recommend the set."