Top 10 Graham Nash Songs

Photo: Marsha Miller (LBJ Foundation) [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]

Our Top 10 Graham Nash Songs list takes a look at the career of the legendary songwriter and singer Graham Nash. Like his bandmates David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Neil Young, he was a famous band member before he formed Crosby Stills & Nash in 1969. Graham Nash‘s first band In which he found fame was the legendary band The Hollies.

From 1964 to 1967, Graham Nash released eight studio albums as a member of The Hollies. The last album he recorded with The Hollies was released in 1967, entitled Butterfly. Over a thirty year period from 1969 to 1999, Graham Nash also released eight studio albums as a member of Crosby Stills & Nash and Crosby Stills Nash & Young. The group also released four live albums. During that same period and beyond, Graham Nash also released four albums with David Crosby under the group name Crosby & Nash. Between all his group work, Graham Nash has also released six solo albums.

This 10 essential Graham Nash songs list will follow the pattern we utilized in our separate David Crosby and Stephen Stills songs lists. Our essential Graham Nash songs list will look at the songs Graham Nash composed as a member of The Hollies, Crosby Stills and Nash, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Crosby & Nash, and his solo albums. It is not a definite list but rather an essential look at all aspects of Graham Nash‘s career. As with all our top 10 song lists, this article serves as an introduction for fans unfamiliar with the artist’s work. This Graham Nash songs list is in chronological order.

# 10 – On a Carousel

We open our Top 10 Graham Nash songs list with a song Graham Nash co-wrote with his Hollies bandmates Allan Clarke and Tony Hicks. The great song “On a Carousel” forecasted all the great music Graham Nash would compose over the next 50 years. It’s all there waiting in this great song. “On a Carousel” was released as a single by The Hollies in 1967.

# 9 – Dear Eloise

The song “Dear Eloise” was released on the Hollies album Butterfly. The album was released in 1966. The songwriting credit for this great track was attributed to Allan Clarke, Tony Hicks, and Graham Nash. We love how this song opens with a sparse instrumental track to accompany the vocals. After a pause and a countdown, the audience is introduced to the sweet-sounding harmonies of The Hollies. It’s just so wonderful to listen to,

# 8 – Marrakesh Express

There were so many great Hollies songs that Graham Nash co-wrote with his bandmates that we would have liked to have included on this list. However, we need to get to so many other songs Graham Nash wrote over the years. When Graham Nash left the Hollies to form Crosby Stills & Nash with David Crosby and Stephen Stills, the songwriting dynamic or at least the songwriting credits changed for Graham Nash. As a member of The Hollies, Graham Nash shared songwriting credits. In Crosby Stills & Nash, all members took individual songwriting credits for the most part.

The first single released from the phenomenal debut album Crosby Stills & Nash was the Graham Nash penned song “Marrakesh Express.” The song instantly introduced listeners to the incredible harmonies of David Crosby, Graham Nash, and Stephen Stills. These were not the sweet-sounding harmonies of bands like The Beach Boys or the street-sounding harmonies of groups like Jay and The Americans or Dion and The Belmonts. The harmonies of Crosby Stills & Nash had a folk rock sound that was both rugged and sweet. It was a sound that captivated the rock audiences immediately and forged a new sound that would inspire many.

# 7 – Teach Your Children

The legendary Graham Nash song “Teach Your Children” was released on the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young album entitled Déjà Vu. The album was released in 1970. The record served as the follow-up to the debut Crosby, Stills & Nash album, with Neil Young joining the band. “Teach Your Children” was released as the second single from the album. The song also featured the Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia playing the iconic pedal steel guitar part.

# 6 – Our House

The Graham Nash-penned song “Our House” was the first single released from the Déjà Vu album. The song hit number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970. In interviews, Graham Nash, the songwriter, claimed he wrote the song on Joni Mitchell’s piano in about an hour while living with her in Los Angeles.

# 5 – I Used To Be A King

One of the issues we had putting together this Graham Nash songs list was making room for songs from Graham Nash’s solo albums. The legendary artist had written so many great songs with The Hollies and all the different configurations of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; there was not much room for his solo albums. However, the one song we had to include was the excellent track “I Used To Be A King.” The song was released on Graham Nash’s first solo album, Songs For Beginners. The album was released in 1971. Interestingly, out of the four Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young members, Graham Nash released the least solo albums.

# 4 – Immigration Man

Outside of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, David Crosby and Graham Nash released four studio albums together under the name Crosby & Nash. The duo also released a series of live albums and issued eight singles from their three 1970s studio albums. “Immigration Man” was the first single released by the duo. Graham Nash wrote the song.

# 3 – To The Last Whale

The beautiful song “To The Last Whale” was released on the album Wind On The Water. The album was released in 1975. The song was the closing number on the album. “To The Last Whale” was written by David Crosby and Graham Nash. The first time I heard this song, I was just floored by its sheer beauty.

# 2 – Just A Song Before I Go

CSN was only the second album released by the lineup of Crosby, Stills & Nash over eight years. It has also been seven years since the group released Déjà Vu in 1970, featuring the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young lineup. “Just A Song Before I Go” was written by Graham Nash. The song did very well, reaching the Billboard Top 10 in 1977.

# 1 – Wasted On The Way

As we have reached the end of our Top 10 Graham Nash songs list, it is interesting to note that in so many of the Crosby, Stills & Nash albums, the first singles released from many of those records were usually written by Graham Nash. “Wasted Along The Way” was the first single released from the Crosby, Stills & Nash album Daylight Again. The song became a top-10 hit for CSN, peaking at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1982.