CSN&Y-Who released the best solo album?

The only time we're talking about a true competition is the specific time period of Deja Vu when all four members released excellent solo albums. Stills got the big hit single, Crosby got the stoner classic , Nash put out a terrific debut and created in "I Used to Be a King" perhaps the single best song of all four albums. But Neil Young's After the Goldrush was easily the best; it's diversity --split between acoustic and electric songs--becoming a template for most of the great albums of his long career.

 

Stephen Stills s/t

 

Whichever one I'm listening to at the moment:

If I Could Only Remember My Name
Songs For Beginners
Stephen Stills (first)
Manassas
After the Gold Rush
Harvest

Just reading this thread reminds me how exciting it was to discover all of these albums after I discovered Crosby Stills & Nash and Deja Vu. And of course, there's even more: Graham Nash/David Crosby, Stephen Stills 2, On The Beach, Zuma, Stills, Wind On The Water, Whistling Down The Wire, Wild Tales, Tonight's The Night, and Rust Never Sleeps, not to mention Buffalo Springfield, the Byrds, and the Hollies. The richest and most rewarding vein of music I've ever come across.

 

If we're talking just the 4 solo debut albums, this sounds like a great idea for a poll! I oughta know because I already did one

David was the winner.

Poll: The Best Solo Debut From CSNY

 

when my bank account has recovered from the last few months, i will do that

 

however, since 2000, i'll take anything by the other 3 over anything young has done. a case of quantity over quality for mr. young, and the quality is severely lacking.

 

please, at least get yourself a copy of "if i could only remember my name". it really and truly is a must-have album.

you can probably get it for less than $10 shipped.

 

Manasas is simply one of the greatest albums full stop, and for me is better then anything CSN or CSNY did collectively or solo

 

I really have no interest in any of the four in the 21st-century. Sorry…

 

For the foreseeable future my bank account is spoken for. But do check those albums out!

 

Neil & David...tops.

 

well, you are definitely missing some very good music.

crosby's last 3 albums have been nothing less than excellent.

nash's last 2 have also been very good.

stills has found new life with the rides and kenny wayne sheppard..

and the 2004 crsoby*nash album is as good as 'wind on the water' if not better.

young, on the other hand and as stated before, has been weak, very weak. and he released the single worst rock album of all time in 'a letter home'.

 

Neil- many of them.

followed by the Stills debut

 

IMHO, hands down, Neil Young is the winner but picking his best solo effort is tough but I'll have to do with "Everybody Knows this Is Nowhere". Lots of sounds on this LP and all are amazing ......

 

I dunno - you also like Earth and Sky, so there's that...

 

Graham Nash "Innocent Eyes"

Just kidding.

 

Out of C, S, and N? David’s If Only I Could Remember My Name, no question.

Adding Neil in there is simply unfair for everyone, haha.

 

You had me until the Stills-Young....

 

I actually liked that album before everyone pointed out it was a contract obligation and thumb-in-the-eye to David Geffen.
Neil does his favorite oldies ... what's not to like? "Rainin' in my heart, since we been apart, I know I was wrong, baby please come home."

 

Not to mention most of the Crosby Nash songs were individual efforts backed by studio musicians and supporting vocals by the non-songwriter.
They sang together great, but each song sounded distinctly like THAT person's vision, and the other guy just backed him up.
The musicianship was mostly left to other people, so you/I really get a good feel what either David or Graham is trying to get across. They are very distinct.
And some really good albums in there.

 

After the Gold Rush is not only the best from CSN&Y it is the masterpiece of the Laurel Canyon scene. Doors, Zappa, Joni, Ms&Ps, all come in close but Neil is the High Flying Bird with this one LP.

 

The same can be said about Crosby, Stills, & Nash, Deja Vu, or CSN.

 

It is between crosby's debut and Neil's After the Gold Rush for me. Since I discovered After the Gold Rush first I'm going with it.

 

I acquired this Crosby album on original Atlantic CD a few years ago after reading time and again how great it is on this forum. For some reason it just does nothing for me. I have forced myself to listen to the entire disc at least 3 or 4 times but think I have given up on it. My favorite is probably Neil Young "Tonight's the Night".

 

Neil wins this one IMO like Secretariat did in the Belmont.