#23 -- Crosby, Stills & Nash

One plus One plus One = More

First, yes, we will be getting to Neil Young, eventually, but for now let's limit ourselves to Crosby, Stills & Nash.

Second, now that I think of it, no other early '70s act inspired me as much as CSN--those being my high school years.  

Third, here are three songs, one for each band member, that I especially liked at the time and have always been with me:

Almost Cut My Hair.  The narrative and music unfold as one, with phrases like "...and I wonder why I feel like letting my freak flag fly..."; as classic as they get.

Carry On.  That jump-out-of-bed, innovative sound really was thrilling at the time.  And those fade out words with their twisting harmonies: "Love is coming to us all"; still fresh.

Marakesh Express.  Returning to the states from Asia, at the time, the idea of traveling by train through a foreign land, like the up-beat tempo, was both eerily familiar and welcome.

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Each band or performer is graded on four things:
  1.  Innovation
  2.  Influence in my life--as a typical American
  3.  Integrity: the band's approach to music (just making a buck or honing a craft?)  
  4.  Immortality--am I, a typical American--still eager to hear their music

10/9/6/6 = 31 out of a perfect 40

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The Troy McClure Weird Fact Award Goes To: the CSN logo was created by the late comedian Phil Hartmann.