Top 10 Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Songs

When putting this list together we were faced with the question do we write a top 10 Crosby Stills & Nash songs list, or do we actually compose a Top 10 Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young list? The debate was formed by the fact that Crosby Stills & Nash recorded eight studio albums as a trio and only three as a quartet with Mr. Neil Young. However, its NEIL YOUNG! So in the end it became quite clear, we must compose two separate articles looking at both groups separately because in essence when Neil Young was added to the equation, there was a big difference in the sound of the band.

The first Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young album was entitled Déjà Vu. The album was released in 1970. The quartet would not record again in the studio for another eighteen years. In 1988,the band released the American Dream LP. Once again the four would go their separate ways until they released their final album as a quartet in 1999 entitled Looking Forward.

While their studio albums may have been limited to only three records, the group did release multiple compilation albums and a series of live records. Their most famous live album was released a year after Déjà Vu  entitled Four Way Street. One can also not neglect to mention their Woodstock appearance.

# 10  – Driving Thunder

Opening up our Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Songs list is the little known track “Driving Thunder.” The song appeared on their 1988 album American Dream. The song was written by Stephen Stills and Neil Young. The song featured Stephen Stills on lead vocals.

# 9  – Slowpoke

This great Neil Young song was released on the last Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young album in 1999. The song was originally intended to be released on Neil Young’s upcoming solo album. Nonetheless, as much as it sounds like a solo Neil Young song, the harmonies on the chorus are vintage Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

# 8  – Looking Forward

“Looking Forward,” was easily the best Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song the band recorded since their Deja Vu album in 1970. Another great track written by Neil Young, the song featured the band harmonizing throughout the entire song.

# 7  – Almost Cut My Hair

The great track “Almost Cut My Hair,” was a symbol of the peace and love movement of the 1960’s. The great track was written and sung by David Crosby.

# 6  – Carry On

The song “Carry On,” was the opening track of the Deja Vu album. The song was written by Stephen Stills. The legendary Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young vocal harmonies are present from the moment Stephen Stills slick guitar line opens the track up.

# 5  – Deja Vu

The album Deja Vu was like a greatest hits record. Every track could have landed in this top 10 Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young songs list. However, we wanted to pay some respect to the later albums the band released. The song “Deja Vu,” was written by David Crosby who also performs the lead vocals on the track.

# 4  – Our House

Following up Deja Vu on side two of the record was the brilliant Graham Nash song “Our House.”  The song was released as a single. “Our House,” reached the Billboard Top 40 peaking at the number 30. The song was covered by Helen Reddy later in the decade as well as pop singer Sheena Easton.

# 3  – Helpless

The great track “Helpless,” that appeared as the fourth song on Deja Vu’s side A was written and sung by Neil Young. Once again the band’s harmonies on the song’s chorus were completely mesmerizing. There were few bands that could harmonize like Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. The Beach Boys, The Four Seasons and many of the 50’s Do Wop groups were all fantastic. However, no one ever sounded like Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

# 2  – Teach Your Children

Deja Vu was the only studio album that Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young recorded in the 1970’s However, the band’s record company jumped on the bandwagon and released a greatest hits record that featured songs from the Crosby Stills and Nash record, combined with Deja Vu. It led to confusion among man fans as to who was on what track. It also was a very successful selling record and as a fan, I played that album all the time….still do. The song “Teach Your Children,” was written by Graham Nash. “Teach Your Children,” was released as a single and reached the Billboard Top 20.

# 1 – Woodstock

The great Joni Mitchell song was a perfect fit for Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. While Joni Mitchell’s version was real special,Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s version hit it out of Yasgurs Farm almost quite literally. This is one of those tracks that define the meaning of classic rock.