Crosby, Stills & Nash(and Young)——按首字缩写为CSN,曾经是一个先锋摇滚乐队,乐队成员都是在其他地方开始自己音乐生涯的。他们的个性各不相同,但都关心当时政治和文化的动荡,CSN是少数几支在1960年代后期可以和Beatles抗衡的美国乐队之一。
David Crosby、Stephen Stills、Graham Nash三人原本分别来自洛杉磯团体The Byrds、Buffalo Springfield以及英国的The Hollies。由於音乐背景、歌路相似,於是1968年他们决定在加州共组乐团并以姓氏为团名就是Crosby, Stills & Nash,简称C.S.N.。因为这三位皆来自六○年代红极一时的民谣摇滚或流行摇滚团,於是他们的合作备受瞩目并誉为超级组合。1969年C.S.N. 出版首张同名专辑果不负眾望拿下该年度葛莱美最佳新进艺人奖。接下来他们为要在演唱时的民谣曲风更有摇滚节奏於是决定听从Stephen Stills建议,加入他在Buffalo Springfield时代的老队友尼尔.扬(Neil Young)成为四重唱,简称C.S.N.Y.。
by William Ruhlmann
The musical partnership of David Crosby (born August 14, 1941), Stephen Stills (born January 3, 1945), and Graham Nash (born February 2, 1942), with and without Neil Young (born November 12, 1945), was not only one of the most successful touring and recording acts of the late 60s, 70s, and early 80s — with the colorful, contrasting nature of the members characters and their connection to the political and cultural upheavals of the time — it was the only American-based band to approach the overall societal impact of the Beatles. The group was a second marriage for all the participants when it came together in 1968: Crosby had been a member of the Byrds, Nash was in the Hollies, and Stills had been part of Buffalo Springfield. The resulting trio, however, sounded like none of its predecessors and was characterized by a unique vocal blend and a musical approach that ranged from acoustic folk to melodic pop to hard rock. CSNs debut album, released in 1969, was perfectly in tune with the times, and the group was an instant hit. By the time of their first tour (which included the Woodstock festival), they had added Young, also a veteran of Buffalo Springfield, who maintained a solo career. The first CSNY album, Déjà Vu, was a chart-topping hit in 1970, but the group split acrimoniously after a summer tour. Four Way Street, a live double album issued after the breakup, was another number one hit. (When it was finally released on CD in 1992, it was lengthened with more live material.) In 1974, CSNY reformed for a summer stadium tour without releasing a new record. Nevertheless, the compilation So Far became their third straight number one. Crosby, Stills & Nash re-formed without Young in 1977 for the album CSN, another giant hit. They followed with Daylight Again in 1982, but by then Crosby was in the throes of drug addiction and increasing legal problems. He was in jail in 1985-1986, but cleaned up and returned to action, with the result that CSNY reunited for only their second studio album, American Dream, in 1988. CSN followed with Live It Up in 1990, and though that album was a commercial disappointment, the trio remained a popular live act; it embarked on a 25th anniversary tour in the summer of 1994 and released a new album, After the Storm. The trio again reunited with Young for 1999s Looking Forward, followed in 2000 by their CSNY2K tour.