David Crosby (Los Angeles, 14 agosto 1941) è, per molti versi, l'inventore dell'acid-rock, del raga-rock e dello space-rock, quando, spronato dal movimento hippie di San Francisco, spinge i Byrds ad abbandonare l'esuberante folk-rock degli esordi. Crosby, sempre meno in linea con l'ideologia di Roger McGuinn, viene scaricato dalla band nel 1968. Rifugiatosi per qualche tempo presso i Jefferson Airplane, raggiunge la fama dal 1969 con Crosby, Stills, Nash (& Young) contribuendo all'impresa con altre delizie psichedeliche ("Wooden Ships", "Almost Cut My Hair", "Deja Vù", "Triad"). Subito dopo i fasti del supergruppo, e in seguito alla morte della sua fidanzata, Crosby entra in una fase critica ed incide il primo album solista, If I Could Only Remember My Name (1971, "Laughing", "Cowboy Movie", "Song With No Words"). Esso si pone come uno dei tre dischi con cui si chiude la grande stagione californiana dell'utopia, un disco a cui partecipa spiritualmente e materialmente tutta la comunità musicale della Bay Area.
Dopo
il fortunato sodalizio con Nash, per tre dischi in studio splendidi
(1972-76, "Bittersweet", "Naked In The Rain") e
l'altrettanto splendido album CSN (1977, "Shadow Captain"),
la seconda metà dei '70 è per Crosby il periodo della discesa
definitiva nell'inferno delle droghe pesanti, scandita da arresti,
prolungate detenzioni in carcere e duri programmi di riabilitazione.
Il suo secondo album solista, Might As Well Have A Good Time (1980),
non viene pubblicato in quanto sopraggiungono altri problemi
personali e una disputa con la casa discografica. Una serie di
arresti legati a droga e detenzione illegale di armi gli aprono le
porte del carcere, nella prima metà del 1986, dove abbandona il
vizio. La sua carriera riprende dapprima con un nuovo album di
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (American Dream, 1988, che contiene
"Compass") e, in seguito, il suo secondo album solista, il
dignitoso Oh Yes I Can (1989, contenente "Tracks In The Dust",
"Lady Of The Harbor"). Crosby vede la luce in fondo al
tunnel, presentandosi in pubblico enormemente ingrassato ma
riabilitato nello spirito. Thousand Roads (1993), è perlopiù una
collezione di cover.
A
un'ulteriore sfida, il trapianto di fegato (novembre 1994), segue la
definitiva rinascita legata
soprattutto all'incontro con il figlio naturale James Raymond, dato
in adozione appena nato, nel 1962, e da allora mai più incontrato.
Con James (tastierista) e con il chitarrista Jeff Pevar, Crosby
inizia nel 1997 ad esibirsi in piccoli club sotto la sigla CPR,
alternando il nuovo progetto alle incursioni discografiche e live che
lo vedono di tanto in tanto riunirsi con i vecchi compagni. I CPR
pubblicano due doppi live e due apprezzati album di studio, CPR
(1998) e Just Like Gravity (2001). La band si spegne per difficoltà
economiche, ma i componenti diventano subito la backing-band di CSN e
di Crosby & Nash, i quali riprendono vita nel nuovo millennio,
freschi di ispirazione ritrovata. Persino CSNY tornano insieme nel
2000 (dopo il disco di reunion Looking Forward), poi nel 2002 e
infine nel 2006.
David
Crosby continua a comporre canzoni con regolarità, tanto che nel
2013, dopo diversi anni di lavoro, pubblica un nuovo album solista,
Croz, spalleggiato dal figlio James e da diversi musicisti ed ospiti. Tra
le canzoni migliori: “What's Broken”, “Radio”, “Slice Of
Time”. Nel
2014 Crosby promuove il nuovo disco dal vivo in un bellissimo tour solista con la band alle spalle; prima
dell’estate subisce un intervento chirurgico al cuore, ma torna
subito in pista. Il tour continua nella seconda parte dell'anno passando anche per l’Italia, dove ritira il premio Tenco. Tra il 2015 e il 2016 Crosby è ancora in tour con un repertorio acustico e alla fine del 2016 esce un nuovo album di inediti, Lighthouse, composti e incisi a due chitarre insieme a Michael League degli Snarky Puppy (tra i brani, "What Makes It So" e "Somebody Other Than You"). Instancabile, dà alle stampe nel 2017 un terzo album, questa volta più vicino a Croz come sonorità, intitolato Sky Trails e composto in collaborazione con altri musicisti (soprattutto James Raymond). Anche questo viene portato in tour dalla band ormai erede del progetto CPR. Nel 2018 esce Here If You Listen, album morbido e acustico arricchito da chitarre e armonie vocali, prodotto con i musicisti di Lighthouse.
Se fai acquisti tramite i link sottostanti ci aiuterai a sostenere Rockinfreeworld.
Discografia di David Crosby (solista)
STUDIO
1. "Music Is Love" (David Crosby, Graham Nash, Neil Young) – 3:16
2. "Cowboy Movie" – 8:02
3. "Tamalpais High (At About 3)" – 3:29
4. "Laughing" – 5:20
5. "What Are Their Names" (Crosby, Garcia, Lesh, Michael Shrieve, Young) – 4:09
6. "Traction in the Rain" – 3:40
7. "Song With No Words (Tree With No Leaves)" – 5:53
8. "Orleans" (traditional) – 1:56
9. "I'd Swear There Was Somebody Here" – 1:19
Special Edition 2006
10. "Kids And Dogs" - 7:01 (bonus track)
Backing band
Laura Allan - autoharp, vocal
Jack Casady - bass
David Freiberg - vocal
Jerry Garcia – guitars, pedal steel guitar, vocal
Mickey Hart – drums
Paul Kantner - vocal
Jorma Kaukonen - guitar
Bill Kreutzmann – drums, tambourine
Phil Lesh – bass, vocal
Joni Mitchell - vocals
Graham Nash – guitar, vocals
Gregg Rolie - piano
Michael Shrieve - drums
Grace Slick - vocal
Neil Young – guitars, bass, vibraphone, congas, vocals
Billboard chart peak: #12
1. "Drive My Car" (Crosby) – 3:34
2. "Melody" (Crosby, Doerge) – 4:07
3. "Monkey and the Underdog" (Crosby, Doerge) – 4:15
4. "In the Wide Ruin" (Doerge, Henske) – 4:47
5. "Tracks in the Dust" (Crosby) – 4:48
6. "Drop Down Mama" (Crosby) – 3:07
7. "Lady of the Harbor" (Crosby, Doerge) – 3:19
8. "Distances" (Crosby) – 3:36
9. "Flying Man" (Crosby, Doerge) – 3:25
10. "Oh Yes I Can" (Crosby) – 5:08
11. "My Country 'Tis of Thee" (Traditional, arr. Hedges) – 1:58
Backing band:
Joe Vitale - Drums (1,3,8), Organ (3), Synthesizer (10)
Leland Sklar - Bass (1,2,4,7,9,10,11)
Craig Doerge - Synthesizer (1), 816 Rhodes (2), Piano (3,6,10), Acoustic Piano (4), Rhodes (4), Keyboards (7,9)
David Lindley - Slide Guitar (1)
Danny Kortchmar - Guitar (1,3), Electric Guitar (8)
Russell Kunkel - Drums (2,4,7,9,10), Percussion (7)
Joe Lala - Percussion (2,8,9)
Steve Lukather - Guitar (2,4)
Kim Bullard - Synthesizer (2,4,10)
George "Chocolate" Perry - Bass (3,8)
Michael Finnigan - Additional Organ (3), Organ (6)
Jerry Hey - Horn (3)
Lawrence L. Williams - Horn (3)
Kim S. Hutchcroft - Horn (3)
Gary Grant - Horn (3)
Jackson Browne - Additional Vocal (4)
Michael Hedges - Guitar (5,11), Additional Vocal (5)
Graham Nash - Additional Vocals (5), Electric Piano (8)
Jim Keltner - Drums (6)
Tim Drummond - Bass (6)
Dan Dugmore - Slide Guitar (6)
Bonnie Raitt - Additional Vocal (7)
Michael Landau - Guitar (7)
Kenny Kirkland - Electric Piano (8)
Larry Carlton - Guitar (9)
James Taylor - Additional Vocal (10)
Billboard chart peak: #104
1. "Hero" (featuring Phil Collins) (Phil Collins, David Crosby) – 4:39
2. "Too Young to Die" (Jimmy Webb) – 5:45
3. "Old Soldier" (Marc Cohn) – 4:58
4. "Through Your Hands" (John Hiatt) – 4:33
5. "Yvette in English" (Joni Mitchell, David Crosby) – 5:53
6. "Thousand Roads" (David Crosby) – 4:31
7. "Columbus" (Noel Brazil) – 4:26
8. "Helpless Heart" (Paul Brady) – 4:18
9. "Coverage" (Bonnie Hayes) – 3:22
10. "Natalie" (Stephen Bishop) – 4:55
Backing band:
Pino Paladino - Bass (1)
Phil Collins - Drums (1), Percussion (1), Keyboards (1), Vocals (1)
Jeff Pevar - Guitar (1)
Leland Sklar - Bass (2,3,4,5,8,9,10)
Jim Keltner - Drums (2)
Benmont Tench - Keyboards (2)
Jimmy Webb - Acoustic Piano (2)
Michael Landau - Electric Guitar (2)
Bernie Leadon - Electric Guitar (2,9), Acoustic Guitar (2,4,6,7,8)
Graham Nash - Harmony (2,3), Harmonica (3)
Jackson Browne - Harmony (2)
Marc Cohn - Acoustic Piano (3)
John Leventhal - Guitars (3)
Jeff Porcaro - Drums (4,8)
Paulinho Da Costa - Percussion (4,8)
Craig Doerge - Keyboards (4,8,9), Arrangements (9)
C.J. Vanston - Keyboards (4,5,8,10)
Kipp Lennon - Harmony (4,8,9,10)
Luis Conte - Percussion (5)
Dean Parks - Guitars (5,10), Flute (5)
David Watkins Clarke - Bass (6,7)
Ethan Johns - Drums (6,7), Percussion (6,7), Additional Electric Guitar (6)
Andy Fairweather Low - Electric Guitar (6,7)
Paul (Wix) Wickens - Keyboards (7), Accordion (7)
David Campbell - Strings Arrangement (8)
Suzie Katayama - Contractor, Cello (8)
Armen Garabedian - Concert Master, Violin (8)
Dimitrie Levici - Violin (8)
Berj Garabedian - Violin (8)
Ruth Johnson - Violin (8)
Evan Wilson - Viola (8)
Scott Haupert - Viola (8)
Maria Newman - Viola (8)
Larry Corbett - Cello (8)
Daniel Smith - Cello (8)
David Young - Acoustic Bass (8)
Russell Kunkel - Drums (9,10)
Bonnie Hayes - Keyboards (9)
Stephen Bishop - Harmony (10)
Billboard chart peak: #133
1. What's Broken – 3:48 (Raymond)
2. Time I Have – 3:49 (Crosby)
3. Holding On to Nothing – 3:41 (Crosby, Price)
4. The Clearing – 4:00 (Raymond)
5. Radio – 3:45 (David Crosby, Raymond)
6. Slice of Time – 4:16 (Crosby, Eaton, Raymond)
7. Set That Baggage Down – 4:01 (Crosby, Fontayne)
8. If She Called – 4:59 (Crosby)
9. Dangerous Night – 5:57 (Crosby, Raymond)
10. Morning Falling – 3:41 (Crosby, Raymond)
11. Find a Heart – 5:06 (Crosby, Eaton, Raymond)
Backing band:
Marcus Eaton – chitarra acustica, chitarra a 12 corde, chitarra elettrica, sitar elettrico, cori
James Raymond – pianoforte, Fender Rhodes, sintetizzatore, campionatore, cori
Shane Fontayne – basso, chitarra elettrica, percussioni, cori
Steve DiStanislao – batteria, percussioni
Steve Tavaglione – sassofono soprano, sintetizzatore, strumenti a fiato
Kevin McCormick – basso
Leland Sklar – basso
Todd Caldwell – Organo Hammond
Billboard chart peak: #36
1. Things We Do for Love - 4:15 (David Crosby / Michael League)
2. The Us Below - 3:41 (Crosby, League)
3. Drive Out to the Desert - 4:13 (Crosby)
4. Look in Their Eyes - 4:37 (Crosby, League)
5. Somebody Other Than You - 4:23 (Crosby, League)
6. The City - 4:45 (Crosby, League)
7. Paint You a Picture - 4:23 (Crosby, Cohn)
8. What Makes It So - 4:00 (Crosby)
9. By the Light of Common Day - 6:14 (Crosby, Stevens)
Backing band:
David Crosby – vocals, acoustic guitar
Michael League – vocals, bass, acoustic guitar
Becca Stevens – vocals
Cory Henry – organ
Bill Laurence – piano
Michelle Willis – vocals
Billboard chart peak: #117
Sky Trails - 2017, BMG
1. "She's Gotta Be Somewhere" (Raymond) 4:47
2. "Sky Trails" (Crosby, Stevens) 4:51
3. "Sell Me a Diamond" (Crosby, Raymond) 5:29
4. "Before Tomorrow Falls on Love" (Crosby, McDonald) 3:52
5. "Here It's Almost Sunset" (Crosby, Agan) 3:54
6. "Capitol" (Crosby, Raymond) 6:58
7. "Amelia" (Mitchell) 5:39
8. "Somebody Home" (Crosby) 4:39
9. "Curved Air" (Crosby, Raymond) 4:45
10. "Home Free" (Crosby, Raymond) 5:41
Backing band:
Mai Agan - Bass & Vocals
Chris Bullock - Saxophone
Jeff Coffin - Flute, Saxophone
Jacob Collier - Vocals
Steve DiStanislao - Drums
Andrew Ford - Bass
Walt Fowler - Flugelhorn
Jay Jennings - Flugelhorn
Bob Lanzetti - Guitar
Bill Laurance - Piano
Michael League - Bass
Greg Leisz - Pedal Steel Guitar
Mark Lettieri - Guitar
Shaun Martin - Synthesizer
Chris McQueen - Guitar
Gary Novak - Drums
Dean Parks - Guitar
Jeff Pevar - Guitar
Steve Postell - Guitar
James Raymond - CDrum Programming, Horn Arrangements, Percussion, Piano, Synthesizer, Synthesizer Bass, Vocals & Vocoder
Justin Stanton - Piano
Becca Stevens - Guitar, Vocals
Steve Tavaglione - Flute, Saxophone
LIVE
It's All Coming Back to Me Now... - 1995, Atlantic
1. "In My Dreams" – 6:32
2. "Rusty and Blue" – 7:08
3. "Hero" (Collins, Crosby) – 4:57
4. "Till It Shines on You" – 5:39
5. "Thousand Roads" – 5:02
6. "Cowboy Movie" – 9:08
7. "Almost Cut My Hair" – 6:10
8. "Déjà Vu" – 10:18
9. "Long Time Gone" – 5:41
10. "Wooden Ships" (Crosby, Kantner, Stills) – 10:36
Backing band:
Jeff Pevar - Acoustic & Electric Guitars
James "Hutch" Hutchinson: Bass
Michael Finnigan: Keyboards, backing vocals
Jody Cortez: Drums
Kipp Lennon: backing vocals
Graham Nash: Acoustic Guitar, harmonica, & backing vocals (8-10)
Chris Robinson: Vocals (7)
King Biscuit Flower Hour - 1996, King Biscuit Records
1. "Tracks in the Dust" – 6:09
2. "Guinnevere" – 5:06
3. "Compass" – 4:22
4. "In My Dreams" – 4:42
5. "Drive My Car" – 3:50
6. "Lady of the Harbor" – 3:39
7. "Oh Yes I Can" – 5:44
8. "Monkey and the Underdog" – 4:22
9. "Delta" – 5:13
10. "Déjà Vu" – 7:48
11. "Night Time for the Generals" – 3:37
12. "Wooden Ships" – 8:03
13. "Almost Cut My Hair" – 5:16
14. "Long Time Gone" – 5:51
Backing band:
Michael Finnigan - Keyboards, Vocals
Dan Dugmore - Guitar
Jody Cortez - Drums
Davey Farragher - Bass, Vocals
[pubblicato anche come From The Front Row e come David Crosby Live con tracklist più breve]
BOX SET
Voyage - 2006, Rhino
Disc 1: Essential
Billboard chart peak: #117

1. "She's Gotta Be Somewhere" (Raymond) 4:47
2. "Sky Trails" (Crosby, Stevens) 4:51
3. "Sell Me a Diamond" (Crosby, Raymond) 5:29
4. "Before Tomorrow Falls on Love" (Crosby, McDonald) 3:52
5. "Here It's Almost Sunset" (Crosby, Agan) 3:54
6. "Capitol" (Crosby, Raymond) 6:58
7. "Amelia" (Mitchell) 5:39
8. "Somebody Home" (Crosby) 4:39
9. "Curved Air" (Crosby, Raymond) 4:45
10. "Home Free" (Crosby, Raymond) 5:41
Backing band:
Mai Agan - Bass & Vocals
Chris Bullock - Saxophone
Jeff Coffin - Flute, Saxophone
Jacob Collier - Vocals
Steve DiStanislao - Drums
Andrew Ford - Bass
Walt Fowler - Flugelhorn
Jay Jennings - Flugelhorn
Bob Lanzetti - Guitar
Bill Laurance - Piano
Michael League - Bass
Greg Leisz - Pedal Steel Guitar
Mark Lettieri - Guitar
Shaun Martin - Synthesizer
Chris McQueen - Guitar
Gary Novak - Drums
Dean Parks - Guitar
Jeff Pevar - Guitar
Steve Postell - Guitar
James Raymond - CDrum Programming, Horn Arrangements, Percussion, Piano, Synthesizer, Synthesizer Bass, Vocals & Vocoder
Justin Stanton - Piano
Becca Stevens - Guitar, Vocals
Steve Tavaglione - Flute, Saxophone
LIVE
1. "In My Dreams" – 6:32
2. "Rusty and Blue" – 7:08
3. "Hero" (Collins, Crosby) – 4:57
4. "Till It Shines on You" – 5:39
5. "Thousand Roads" – 5:02
6. "Cowboy Movie" – 9:08
7. "Almost Cut My Hair" – 6:10
8. "Déjà Vu" – 10:18
9. "Long Time Gone" – 5:41
10. "Wooden Ships" (Crosby, Kantner, Stills) – 10:36
Backing band:
Jeff Pevar - Acoustic & Electric Guitars
James "Hutch" Hutchinson: Bass
Michael Finnigan: Keyboards, backing vocals
Jody Cortez: Drums
Kipp Lennon: backing vocals
Graham Nash: Acoustic Guitar, harmonica, & backing vocals (8-10)
Chris Robinson: Vocals (7)
King Biscuit Flower Hour - 1996, King Biscuit Records
1. "Tracks in the Dust" – 6:09
2. "Guinnevere" – 5:06
3. "Compass" – 4:22
4. "In My Dreams" – 4:42
5. "Drive My Car" – 3:50
6. "Lady of the Harbor" – 3:39
7. "Oh Yes I Can" – 5:44
8. "Monkey and the Underdog" – 4:22
9. "Delta" – 5:13
10. "Déjà Vu" – 7:48
11. "Night Time for the Generals" – 3:37
12. "Wooden Ships" – 8:03
13. "Almost Cut My Hair" – 5:16
14. "Long Time Gone" – 5:51
Backing band:
Michael Finnigan - Keyboards, Vocals
Dan Dugmore - Guitar
Jody Cortez - Drums
Davey Farragher - Bass, Vocals
[pubblicato anche come From The Front Row e come David Crosby Live con tracklist più breve]
BOX SET
Disc 1: Essential
- "Eight Miles High" — The Byrds
- "Renaissance Fair" — The Byrds
- "Everybody's Been Burned" — The Byrds
- "Wooden Ships" — Crosby, Stills & Nash
- "Guinnevere" — Crosby, Stills & Nash
- "Long Time Gone" — Crosby, Stills & Nash
- "Déjà Vu" — Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
- "Almost Cut My Hair" — Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
- "Tamalpais High (At About 3)" — David Crosby
- "Laughing" — David Crosby
- "Music Is Love" — David Crosby
- "Song With No Words (Tree With No Leaves)" — David Crosby
- "What Are Their Names?" — David Crosby
- "I'd Swear There Was Somebody Here" — David Crosby
- "Where Will I Be" — Crosby & Nash
- "Page 43" — Crosby & Nash
- "Critical Mass" — Crosby & Nash
- "Carry Me" — Crosby & Nash
- "Bittersweet" — Crosby & Nash
- "Naked In The Rain" — Crosby & Nash
- "Dancer" - Crosby & Nash
- "Shadow Captain" — Crosby, Stills & Nash
- "In My Dreams" — Crosby, Stills & Nash
- "Delta" — Crosby, Stills & Nash
- "Compass" — Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
- "Tracks In The Dust" — David Crosby
- "Arrows" — Crosby, Stills & Nash
- "Hero" — David Crosby
- "Yvette in English" — David Crosby
- "Rusty and Blue" — CPR
- "Somehow She Knew" — CPR
- "Breathless" — CPR
- "Map to Buried Treasure" — CPR
- "At The Edge" — CPR
- "Through Here Quite Often" — Crosby & Nash
- "My Country 'Tis Of Thee" — David Crosby
- "Long Time Gone" (Demo) — Crosby & Stills
- "Guinnevere" (Alternate Mix) — David Crosby
- "Almost Cut My Hair" (Demo) — David Crosby
- "Games" (Demo) — David Crosby
- "Déjà Vu" (Demo) — Crosby & Nash
- "Triad" (Demo) — David Crosby
- "Cowboy Movie" (Studio Version) — David Crosby
- "Kids and Dogs" (Unissued Song) — David Crosby
- "Have You Seen The Stars Tonight?" (Alternate Mix) — Paul Kantner/Jefferson Starship
- "The Lee Shore" (Live) — Crosby & Nash
- "Traction in the Rain" (Live) — Crosby & Nash
- "King of the Mountain" (Demo) — David Crosby
- "Homeward Through The Haze" (Alternate Mix) — Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
- "Samurai" (Studio Version) — David Crosby
- "Climber" (Studio Version) — Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
- "Dream For Him" (Live) — Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Bibliografia di David Crosby