Crosby and Nash - Wind On The Water (1975)

 (U.S  1970 - 2015)

By the time of the release of Wind On The Water by Crosby and Nash in September 1975 both musicians were what could reasonably be described as 'Rock Royalty'. David Crosby and Graham Nash had both enjoyed illustrious careers, both as solo artists and as members of highly influential bands starting in the sixties and right through the early seventies.

In the sixties Graham Nash had been a member of the British band The Hollies and also in the sixties David Crosby was a member of The Byrds. Along with Stephen Stills they formed 'Crosby Stills and Nash' in late 1968 and in 1969 released their debut album. Within months of releasing that album they had added Neil Young (from Buffalo Springfield)  to the group and became 'Crosby Stills Nash and Young' (CSNY). The band managed to make just one album in the seventies (Deja Vu) before splitting after touring caused friction between the members and they all headed off into solo projects. Both Crosby and Nash released critically acclaimed solo albums (Crosby's 'If Only I Could Remember My Name' and Nash's 'Songs for Beginners').

Following the solo albums in 1971 Crosby and Nash, who had a strong friendship decided to make their debut recording as a duo. This album, the self-titled David Crosby and Graham Nash album of 1972, was a massive success both critically and commercially where it broke into the Billboard top 5.

It was to be another three years however before the duo would reconvene to record a follow up. It was not that the duo was lazy or even that there wasn't a demand. There was however a bigger demand for CSNY and during late 1973 it was decided to reunite for a series of concerts throughout the world. Most of these concerts took place in stadiums such was the demand for the band.

Once the tour was over however it was decided to attempt to record another CSNY album, something that had already been attempted in 1973. Studio sessions were booked for December 1974 and all members had prepared material for the album. Tensions however once again got the better of the band with Neil Young being the first to bail out. It almost came to blows between Graham Nash and Stephen Stills following an argument where stills took a razor blade to the master of one of Graham's songs. Graham Nash threw him out of his house where the recording sessions were taking place and the sessions were abandoned.

Just two songs had been finished and both of those songs (Wind On The Water and Homeward Through The Haze) would be re-recorded for the forthcoming Crosby and Nash album. The album was recorded through out 1975 with four songs (Marguerita, Wind On The Water, Carry Me and Mama Lion) being recorded in just one afternoon at the Village Recorders studio in Westwood. Even Graham Nash was amazed !

"Four Masters in one day - in our world that's unheard of"

Three of the songs would make the cut for Wind On The Water and the fourth "Marguerita" would be held back for the follow up album 'Whistling Down The Wire', which was released in 1976.

Another song recorded on Wind On The Water was "Fieldworker", a Graham Nash song inspired by the struggle of fieldworkers trying to get decent working conditions. Crosby and Nash would play a benefit concert for the fieldworkers and ally that to a Save the Whale benefit in December 1974 where two songs from the album ("To The Last Whale" and "Fieldworker") would be featured.

Although the album took some nine months to finally pull together the end result was hugely successful, making number 6 in the Billboard chart following its release on the 15th of September 1975 and was the impetus for the duo to embark on a lengthy tour to promote the album in late 1975 with musicians in the band that played on the album including Russ Kunkel, Tim Drummond, David Lindley and Danny Kortchmar. There were other high profile musicians who also guested on Wind On The water including James Taylor, Carol King and Jackson Browne who supplied backup vocals throughout and at one particular concert at Anaheim in late November Carol King joined Crosby and Nash onstage to sing backing vocals to "Carry Me".

The tour was an extensive one taking in a series of concerts across America and also at the end of 1975 Japan where the duo were accompanied by David Lindley and Craig Doerge. Throughout the tour audiences were left in no doubt as to strength of Wind On The Water with no less than eight of the albums eleven tracks being featured in a set that included songs from Graham and David's solo albums and selected highlights from the CSN/CSNY catalogue.

Whilst continuing to work with each other during the seventies and beyond both with CSN and CSNY, not to mention solo works, it is the mid period seventies work from Crosby and Nash that still resonates for a large part of the fan base and Wind On The Water was the second of three excellent studio albums from the duo between 1972 and 1976 [Liner Notes by Jon Kirkman]

Wind on the Water Album Review 

(by Jason Elias. Allmusic.com)

As two of the most distinctive artists from the '60s and '70s given their work in CSNY, Crosby & Nash also did great work as a duo act. Wind on the Water was released in 1975 after the previous year's CSNY reunion tour and the dissolution of their contract at Atlantic. In many respects, this alliance made perfect sense. When it was just the two of them, they were often more likable. Crosby wasn't as much of a blowhard and Nash became more pragmatic. 

Wind on the Water's virtues are apparent with the first song, the warm and pensive single "Carry Me." "Homeward Through the Haze," "Low Down Payment," and "Naked in the Rain" are gems that all but sum up their complicated harmonic and melodic style. 

Besides Crosby & Nash being on their game, the studio players here are impeccable. Lovers of '70s pop/rock will love to hear players like Danny Kortchmar and David Lindley effortlessly doing their identifiable riffs. James Taylor, Carole King, and Jackson Browne also showed up for these sessions, but do not intrude or overshadow Crosby & Nash. 

Without a doubt, despite the strong production, the stars of the show here are Crosby & Nash. The album concludes with "To the Last Whale...: Critical Mass/Wind on the Water." The song is not only a testament to the album's skill at making the complex seem effortless, but it also gets its point across without being mushy. 

Wind on the Water has an instant classic, lived-in sound and is a definite must-have.

This post consists of FLACs ripped from my near new vinyl which I acquired sometime in the 80's. Of course full album artwork and label scans are included.  Note that liner notes were taken from the 2008 Troubadour CD release.

My favourite tracks on this album are the Nash tracks "Take The Money And Run" and "Love Work Out", while "Carry Me" is Crosby's stand out track in my opinion

Track Listing

01 Carry Me 3:34

02 Mama Lion 3:15

03 Bittersweet 2:37

04 Take The Money And Run    3:23

05 Naked In The Rain 2:25

06 Love Work Out 4:50

07 Low Down Payment 4:53

08 Cowboy Of Dreams 3:27

09 Homeward Through The Haze  4:04

10 Fieldworker 2:45

11 To The Last Whale... 5:30

   a. Critical Mass

   b. Wind On The Water

The Band:

Acoustic Guitar – James Taylor, Joel Bernstein

Bass – Leland Sklar, Tim Drummond

Drums – Russ Kunkel, Russell Kunkel

Electric Guitar – David Crosby, Graham Nash, Danny Kootch

Keyboards – Graham Nash, Craig Doerge, Carol King

Fiddle – David Lindley

Slide Guitar – David Lindley, Ben Keith

Vocals – David Crosby, Graham Nash

Backing Vocals - Carol King, Jackson Browne, James Taylor

Crosby and Nash Link (138Mb) New Link 06/09/2023