Thursday, January 19, 2023

Legendary Singer/Songwriter/Musician David Crosby Has Died


David Crosby, one of the pioneering rock stars in both the Byrds and later with Crosby, Stills & Nash, has died at the age of 81 after a long illness.




Crosby joined the Byrds in 1964 as that groundbreaking group turned this Bob Dylan song into a #1 classic the following year.  





In 1966, the Byrds remade a Pete Seeger tune based on the Book of Eccliastes.  "Turn!  Turn Turn!" also went to #1 and is The #126 Song of the Rock Era, according to the book The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era.

Crosby left the Byrds in 1967. In 1968, after meeting Stephen Stills and Graham Nash at a party in Laurel Canyon in California, the three began harmonizing and instantly knew the combination of their voices was magic.  All three were established musicians with Stills coming from Buffalo Springfield ("For What It's Worth") and Nash a key part of the Hollies.  

Crosby, Stills & Nash signed a recording contract with Atlantic Records and released their self-titled landmark album in May.  "Marrakesh Express", with a peak of #28, is one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era.





 

The follow-up single is also a member of the underrated club, getting as far as #21.  Crosby, Stills & Nash blew the audience away at Woodstock in August, 1969 in only their second live performance.  Here is the epic performance of "Suite:  Judy Blue Eyes".


Those two great singles are just the tip of the iceberg.  So many Top Tracks* are found as well, including the song responsible for forming the group.  It is Stills' "You Don't Have To Cry" that the trio harmonized on at the 1968 party, to the delight of party guests that evening.





Another superb gem showcasing that amazing harmony is "Helplessly Hoping"




"Wooden Ships", a collaboration between the group and Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane, is a another standout track on the group's memorable debut.





 

The trio's debut has now sold over four million units.  We also want to feature "Long Time Gone", also the title of Crosby's 1988 autobiography.




 

Neil Young joined the group for the 1969 album Deja Vu.  The songs, except for the Joni Mitchell song "Woodstock" (the live version featured here), were recorded in individual sessions by each member.  Young appears on just half of the tracks and usually recorded his tracks alone in Los Angeles before bringing them to the recording studio to add voices.

During the sessions, Crosby would break down and cry at the recent death of his girlfriend Christine Hinton.  David told Crawdaddy in 1974, "I was not at my best as a functioning person...completely unable to deal with it all."

 

The trio released the single "Teach Your Children", which included Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead on pedal steel guitar.  This one too amazingly stopped just short of the Top 10 at #11!




Crosby, Stills & Nash also released "Our House" as a single.






 

Deja Vu has sold over seven million copies, the top seller of any recorded by any of the four members.  Crosby's "Almost Cut My Hair" is outstanding.





"Carry On", never released as a single, is one of The Top Album Tracks of the Rock Era*.


After their spring and summer tour in 1970, Crosby, Stills and Nash completed just one project together, a 1974 reunion tour of CSNY.  Meanwhile, Crosby and Nash recorded three albums together as a duo, with David releasing a solo album and Nash a pair.  Stills worked on other projects including the release of four solo albums, a brief career with Manassas that produced two albums, and a tour and album with Young.

 

In 1977, Crosby, Stills & Nash went back into the studio for the first time in eight years.  the album CSN was the result of those sessions, and yielded what in hindsight is unbelievably the group's first Top 10 single, "Just A Song Before I Go".




 

CSN has sold over four million copies in the U.S. alone and nearly eight million worldwide.  The legendary trio got together for one more album, 1982's Daylight Again, which yielded the smash hit "Wasted On The Way".




"Southern Cross" stopped at #18, the final hit for Crosby, Stills & Nash.  Timothy B. Schmidt of the Eagles sang backing vocals.




David Crosby, who gave the world incredible music and memories for six decades, will live on in the music featured above.  Rest in peace, David.

Monday, December 12, 2022

Checklist for Inside The Rock Era's Updated Top Christmas Songs of All-Time

 We presented our first Christmas special over a decade ago to great accolades.  We updated it last year to now include 200.  Here is the complete checklist!


December 1:

December 2:

December 3:

December 4:

December 5:

December 6:

December 7:

December 8:

December 9:

December 10:

December 11:

December 12:

December 13:

December 14:

December 15:

December 16:

December 17:

December18:

December 19:

December 20:

December 21:

December 22:

December 23:

December 24:

December 25:

Monday, August 8, 2022

Tributes to the Great Olivia Newton-John Pour In

 

John Travolta:


"My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better. Your impact was incredible. I love you so much. We will see you down the road and we will all be together again. Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever!
Your Danny, your John!"


Dionne Warwick:


"Another angelic voice has been added to the Heavenly Choir. Not only was Olivia a dear friend, but one of the nicest people I had the pleasure of recording and performing with. I will most definitely miss her. She now rests in the arms of the Heavenly Father 🥲🙏🏾♥️"



Richard Marx:


"My heart is broken. Rest now, sweet friend. You were as kind and loving a person as there’s ever been. I’ll miss you every day. 💔"


Julie Hough:


"Like so many, Olivia has always been my hero. Discovering her magnetic energy as an artist and actress came first but it was her heart that truly captured mine.
Forever an icon and legend!"



Rick Springfield:


"Sweet Olivia has gone home. She was a beautiful soul and I know of no one who didn't love her or know what a great humanitarian she was. The world is out of balance when we lose these magnificent people. God speed Livvy. We will all meet again."


Sarah Bareilles:

"Olivia Newton-John was one of my biggest influences and greatest musical loves. Rest In Peace you extraordinary sweet, kind, loving heart. You were and are a gift."


Randal Kleiser, director of Grease:


"I’m Heartbroken. She was one of a kind, and so very kind. For over four decades of our friendship she exuded nothing but love to everyone she met. Olivia was exactly the way you imagined her. I will miss her forever.”


Robin Roberts:


"Very sad news. Great admiration for how she bravely faced breast cancer. Condolences to her loving family and friends. 🙏🏾💕"



Antonio Banderas:


"Rest in peace, Olivia Newton-John. Deepest condolences to her family and loved ones."


Piers Morgan:


"So sad to hear the fabulously gutsy, warm & talented Olivia Newton-John has died. At an auction of her Grease memorabilia in LA three years ago, she told me her favourite song from the movie was Hopelessly Devoted To You. Great song, great film, great lady. RIP."



Viola Davis:


"Oh man!!! You were my childhood!! Your talent, poise, beauty!! Rest in glorious peace. God bless your family....and thank you for creating eternal memories. ❤️❤️❤️❤️"