Crosby, Stills, and Nash's eponymous debut was one of the most auspicious and omnipresent records of 1969, a remarkable and harmony-rich affair featuring such era-defining material as "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes," "Marrakesh Express," "Guinnevere," "Wooden Ships," "Long Time Gone," and "Helplessly Hoping." CSN blended folk, country, jazz, rock, and a dash of pop into an often-imitated but never-duplicated sound. In the U.S. alone, the album reached No. 6 on the Billboard Top LPs chart and the top 20 of the year's best-selling records. Both "Marrakesh Express" and "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" reached the top 30 of the Hot 100 and became FM radio perennials. But rather than follow the LP up in an expected manner, the trio of David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash made their supergroup even more super, and more unpredictable, with the addition of Neil Young. Roughly ten months after the release of CSN came Déjà Vu: the debut of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. Now, on May 14, Rhino and Atlantic Records are delivering fans a long-awaited expanded edition of this seminal rock classic as a 4CD/1LP set featuring 28 previously unreleased tracks.
The March 1970 release built on the success of its predecessor, reaching the zenith of the Top LPs chart and yielding three top 40 singles. But the creative process was arduous and the atmosphere much changed since the first album was recorded. Stills even compared the sessions to "pulling teeth." Nash had split with Joni Mitchell, the inspiration for "Our House." Stills and Judy Collins had also broken up, and David Crosby's girlfriend Christine Hinton was tragically killed in a car accident. New recruit (and Stills' old Buffalo Springfield sparring partner) Young brought his own baggage. But from all this strife, some of the foursome's most beautiful and deeply-felt music emerged.
The bandmates, as ever dealing with interpersonal tensions, initially recorded most of the material solo, with the others adding their contributions later. One of the significant exceptions to that rule was their searing rendition of Mitchell's "Woodstock," recorded at a full-band session. Drummer Dallas Taylor and bassist Greg Reeves appeared on most of the album (and received billing on its front cover) while Jerry Garcia lent his talents to Nash's "Teach Your Children." John Sebastian appeared on the title track. Ultimately, Déjà Vu boasted two songs each from Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, plus one Stills/Young co-write and "Woodstock."
"Woodstock" was the biggest hit on the Hot 100, reaching No. 11. "Teach Your Children" wasn't far behind, at No. 16, and "Our House" peaked at No. 30. Déjà Vu was the 11th best-selling LP of 1970 and attained a Gold certification just two weeks after its release. It remained in the Billboard chart for 88 weeks, and paved the way for the success of the four solo albums released by CSNY in its wake (Young's After the Gold Rush, the self-titled Stephen Stills, Crosby's If I Could Only Remember My Name, and Nash's Songs for Beginners). With this Deluxe Edition, the road to Déjà Vu can be explored via demos, outtakes, and alternates.
The remastered original album is featured in the new box on both CD and 180-gram LP. The second CD boasts eighteen demos, eleven of which are previously unissued. It's bookended by two demos of "Our House," one from Nash solo and one from Nash and Joni Mitchell. In between, listeners will discover songs that didn't make the album as well as embryonic versions of those that did. Many of these songs would be completed for solo or other projects including Crosby's If I Could Only Remember My Name; Young's After the Gold Rush; Stills' Manassas and Stephen Stills 2; and Nash's Songs for Beginners. The third CD has eleven outtakes (nine previously unissued) including Crosby's "Laughing;" Stills' "Everyday We Live," "Ivory Tower," "I'll Be There," and "Bluebird Revisited;" and more. Finally, CD Four offers an alternate version of the original album in sequence sans "Country Girl" and "Everybody I Love You" and plus "Know You Got to Run." Only the "Helpless (Harmonica Version)" has been released before. It all adds up to a deep dive into this period of prolific writing from all four members of the group.
Fresh off his work on the first volume of Joni Mitchell's first volume of Archives, filmmaker-author Cameron Crowe has penned the new liner notes for the Déjà Vu: Deluxe Edition. In addition to the 4CD/1LP set, the box will be released in super-deluxe 5LP format exclusively from the new CSNY50.com and Rhino.com. Additionally, the audio will be released to download and streaming services as well as to high-resolution via Neil Young Archives. Customers who purchase any version from CSNY50.com or Rhino.com will receive a high-resolution download. Young and Nash's demo of "Birds" is streaming now and can be viewed at YouTube.
Déjà Vu: Deluxe Edition arrives from Atlantic and Rhino on May 14. You'll find the track listing and pre-order links below!
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Déjà Vu: Deluxe Edition (Atlantic/Rhino, 2021)
4CD/1LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
5LP: CSNY50.com / Rhino.com
Disc 1: Original album (released as Atlantic SD 7200, 1970)
- Carry On
- Teach Your Children
- Almost Cut My Hair
- Helpless
- Woodstock
- Déjà Vu
- Our House
- 4 + 20
- Country Girl: Whiskey Boot Hill/Down, Down, Down/"Country Girl" (I Think You're Pretty)
- Everybody I Love You
Disc 2: Demos (* previously unreleased)
- Our House - Graham Nash *
- 4 + 20 - Stephen Stills *
- Song with No Words (Tree with No Leaves) - David Crosby & Graham Nash
- Birds - Neil Young & Graham Nash *
- So Begins the Task/Hold On Tight - Stephen Stills *
- Right Between the Eyes - Graham Nash
- Almost Cut My Hair - David Crosby *
- Teach Your Children - Graham Nash & David Crosby
- How Have You Been - Crosby, Stills & Nash
- Triad - David Crosby
- Horses Through a Rainstorm - Graham Nash
- Know You Got to Run - Stephen Stills *
- Question Why - Graham Nash *
- Laughing - David Crosby *
- She Can't Handle It - Stephen Stills *
- Sleep Song - Graham Nash
- Déjà Vu - David Crosby & Graham Nash *
- Our House - Graham Nash & Joni Mitchell *
Disc 3: Outtakes (* previously unreleased)
- Everyday We Live *
- The Lee Shore (1969 Vocal) *
- I'll Be There *
- Bluebird Revisited *
- Horses Through a Rainstorm
- 30 Dollar Fine *
- Ivory Tower *
- Same Old Song *
- Hold On Tight/Change Partners *
- Laughing *
- Right On Rock 'N' Roll
Disc 4: Alternates (* previously unreleased)
- Carry On (Early Alternate Mix) *
- Teach Your Children (Early Version) *
- Almost Cut My Hair (Early Version) *
- Helpless (Harmonica Version)
- Woodstock (Alternate Vocals) *
- Déjà Vu (Early Alternate Mix) *
- Our House (Early Version) *
- 4 + 20 (Alternate Take 2) *
- Know You Got to Run *
Mark says
I would have been thrilled with a 4-CD version, but they lost me with the LP and oversized packaging.
Art Carey says
totally agree!
Bill says
Me 2!
Amy says
Absolutely!
David B says
Looks good, but with no surround sound mix, I'm wondering if there Wil be a one or two CD version? Or is this set the only CD issue?
Bill says
I certainly hope there is a "smaller" version.
Rob66 says
So now another classic album from 1970 gets it 50th anniversary release a year late. (still waiting for "Let It Be" and "All Things Must Pass") I understand tours being pushed back a year or more but why must we wait a year for these anniversary re-issues. What about the great albums of 1971 ? Do we have to wait until next year for these ? It would be great to celebrate these titles on their real anniversaries since these titles mean a lot to us reminiscing fans.
ggsquare says
Perhaps the people involved in making these physical packages did not want to expose themselves to Covid?
ed says
Once again, Rhino shoves combined CD and LP packages at consumers who want only one media. I know, I know. Their crunched numbers indicate its more profitable for Rhino do it this way. Good for Rhino and everyone else who feeds off these sets. But I'll say it anyway - I'm one of those folks who doesn't need the vinyl. So... no sale. Back to the Garden? I wish Rhino would go back to the drawing board.
Greg says
No offense to anyone who enjoys demos or outtakes but personally I have no use for them, out of all the remastered or repackaged sets I have bought I have never listened to them
AndyF says
This is one on my favourite albums so I’m very happy with the 4 CD/Vinyl/Book package at a reasonable price but it seems hard to please some of you guys out there.
David B says
Glad you like it .. but most of us don't want the mixed media. Why would you want vinyl if you only collect cds?? And if you only collect vinyl, why would you want the cd version .. great if you do collect both ...
But i don't have a vinyl player, and have no intention of getting one, so the price seems high for what i can actually play.
I'd be happy with a single cd remaster - which most artists put out alongside their boxset re-issue. So why is this the only way you can get the album??? If i had to pay £65 for every album on reissue, i'd be broke very quickly indeed.
Guy Smiley says
Why, if I want the CDs and have no use for vinyl, is that the only option?
Ditch the vinyl and oversized packaging (Which inflates the price), and I’d likely buy this. That’s what people object to.
Bill says
Exactly.
ISH says
I also hate the inclusion of the vinyl but the real question is the price point; Amazon US doesn't actually have it up yet. I'll buy it unless the vinyl has jacked that up.
Michael Pasqua says
And, once again, the studio versions by CSNY of Cinnamon Girl and Sea of Madness are excluded (thanks, Neil)
Paul says
Will the downloads be for the whole package, or just the original album?
And are the files just flac?
John F says
A favorite album. Glad to see demos, etc., always a thrill. Disappointed there is no 5.1 mix. I subscribe to Amazon Music so will get to listen to it there.
Joe says
You must have just missed it. It is up on Amazon today.....March 17.
Stephen Bruun says
Based on the title and its placement on the "Alternates" disc, I'm guessing "Know You Got To Run" is an embryonic version of "Everybody I Love You." Like many other people, I'm not thrilled about having to buy a vinyl record I have no intention of playing, but I'll deal with it because I want the rest of this set. I'm glad it's coming out!
Phil Cohen says
As Graham Nash has stated, at the last minute, Neil Young vetoed the inclusion of "2 or 3" of his songs amongst the previously unreleased tracks. In all likelyhood, those 3 are the studio version of "Sea of Madness", a version of "Everybody's Alone" and the jam which provided most of the backing track for "Everybody, I Love You". But fortunately, all three recordings have been offered with full fidelity on an unofficial CD, "Crosby,Stills,Nash & Young-Studio Archive 1969". While the CD is long out of print, you can find it as a download(As I did). That collection makes a fine supplement to the forthcoming "Deja Vu" box,
With this unofficial collection, fans can make a "corrected" CD (with the Neil Young tracks) for their "Deja Vu" box....as I certainly will.
Some people are saying that the inclusion of the vinyl L.P. is a deal breaker for them. Not for me,since the set offers 3 CD's of vault material. On the other hand, the "Fleetwood Mac-Live" box is a poor value:$100 for barely over an hour of unreleased material. That set is padded with 2 vinyl L.P.'s and a 7" single, and the vinyl fans get almost none of the previously unreleased tracks. That box is less than satisfying for both CD and vinyl fans.
For the time being,upcoming boxed sets by C,S,N & Y, John Lennon and The Who will give me plenty of classic rock archival material to listen to, regardless of whether archival products by The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney,George Harrison, The Beach Boys or Queen are ever released. These projects are known tp have been worked on, perhaps completed, but they are stalled in limbo.
david bellflower says
Very disappointed with no 5.1 version......Do not think it is worth the money for a bunch of out takes. The Beatles versions all had 5.1 mixes for around the same price.
Phil Cohen says
I'm disappointed too. The group has all of the multitracks. Some are 8-track, and some are 4-track (but with multiple "Stages" that could be re-synchronized). A suuround mix was indeed possible.
Phil Cohen says
Please delete my post above. I was refering to another artist and . album, NOT "Deja Vu".
"Deja VU' was 16-track. It is not known how many of those tapes exist. All of this anticipation (and worry about_ upcoming or rumored upcoming boxed sets is making my head spin, hence an incorrect post above
Brian Stanley says
Anyone know when the previously released bonus tracks were previously released ? Specifically the harmonica version of “Helpless”?
Christopher says
I created this list on another forum, Brian... enjoy!
Disc Two: Demos
3. Song with No Words (Tree with No Leaves) - Crosby & Nash; 3:18 11/17/1969; CSN: Crosby, Stills & Nash expanded [2006]
5. So Begins the Task/Hold On Tight 7/1969 - Stephen Stills*; edited version (without Hold On Tight) on Stills: Carry On [2013]
6. Right Between the Eyes - Graham Nash; 2:06 11/17/1969 Nash: Reflections [2009], Over The Years [2018]
8. Teach Your Children 3:14 10/24/1969 - Graham Nash & David Crosby; CSN: Crosby, Stills & Nash expanded [2006]
9. How Have You Been (John Sebastian) 3:48 11/17/1969 - Crosby, Stills & Nash; VA: Nintendo (White Knuckle Scorin') [1991]
10. Triad 5:26 11/17/1969 - David Crosby; Crosby: Voyage [2006]
11. Horses Through a Rainstorm (Nash/Terry Reid) 3:37 fall 1968 - Nash; Nash: Over The Years [2018]
16. Sleep Song 11/17/1969 - Graham Nash; 3:01 CSN: Demos [2009], Nash: Over The Years [2018]
Disc Three: Outtakes
5. Horses Through a Rainstorm (Nash/Terry Reid) 3:40 12/28/1969; CSN: CSN boxed set [1991]
Disc Four: Alternates
4. Helpless (harmonica version) 3:45 11/7/1969; Neil Young: Archives Vol. 1: 1963–1972 [2009]
Brian Stanley says
Thanks, Chris.
Unfortunately this time for Rhino, I already have most of this and am underwhelmed by the remaining material. It looks like a nice package but there’s not enough here that I need to justify the cost.
whitney aldridge says
Gentlemen, Squires, Hangers-on & let's not forget the Ladies. This isn't juz any old album. Say you don't want the vinyl? Didn't bother you in '69-'70 did it? An a hundred bucks is too much?.... for five discs, a remastered LP & a little write up on the band. Well look what old Neil is giving you for a hundred -- juz an LP & some crumbs. So maybe the music's not as important to you now...after all it has been half a century. Most rock really does not age well but this was a statement, a defining moment. Yes even moments pass but some of you are really whining & I hate to hear it 'cause you all must be fans or were at one time. Juz buy it if you need it or want it. I certainly do. It 's not going to change your life 'cause it was juz a moment in time but oh boy what a moment.
Earl Cambron says
If you are a fan..... you need this!