Dirty Linen

This is an excerpt from the print edition of Dirty Linen #128 (February/March 2007).
The full article is in the magazine, available on newsstands, by subscription, and at the Dirty Linen webstore.

David Crosby

Shaking Out the Sheets

Dirty Linen Classics

by Michael Parrish

David Crosby
Voyage
Atlantic/Rhino R2 77628 (2006), 3-CD

One of his generation's most brilliant songwriters, David Crosby has often stood in the shadow of bandmates such as Neil Young, Stephen Stills, and Roger McGuinn and may be better known in recent years for non-musical exploits, including his run-ins with the law and his serving as sperm donor for Melissa Ethridge's child. Crosby's use of the 12-string guitar and his employment of alternative tunings, exotic chords, and harmonics helped spawn a new genre of music that was unsatisfyingly lumped under the simplistic logo of folk-rock. The case for Crosby's genius is amply demonstrated in this fine three-CD set, compiled by Graham Nash and longtime CSNY associate Joel Bernstein and featuring material from his early days with the Byrds through his most recent work with CPR and CSNY. The first two discs are arranged chronologically, with the third disc consisting of previously unreleased (or, in two cases, newly remixed) material.

[cover #128]