It's a tribute to a singer-songwriter's talent when you can cite gems from every era of his career. In honor of David Crosby, who passed away Wednesday at age 81, here are my favorite songs of his:
The Byrds
- Dolphin's Smile (The tune's airy feel, positive vibe, and lyrical appreciation of an intelligent animal make it an underrated Byrds track.)
- Everybody's Been Burned (Universally relatable lyrics about having one's heart broken.)
- Stranger In A Strange Land (Instrumental) (Rhythmically compelling interplay between the guitar and drums. Whenever I hear this, I imagine someone looking through a kaleidoscope.)
Crosby & Nash
- To The Last Whale... (Critical Mass/Wind On The Water) (To me, this is the most moving track on the list. Crosby's a cappella vocal number, "Critical Mass," is a captivating prelude to heart-rending lyrics about the inhumane slaughter of whales. If this doesn't hit you in the heart, you might be a droid.)
Crosby, Stills & Nash
- Guinnevere (The melancholy guitar accompaniment underscores the band's excellent harmony singing effectively.)
- Wooden Ships (The intro draws me in every time. Lyrically, this is a strong statement about the consequences of war.)
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
- Deja Vu (The impressive vocal precision between all members in the nearly Celtic opening section primes the listener for the subtler remainder of the tune.)
Solos and duets
- For Free (featuring Sarah Jarosz) (A strong cover of the Joni Mitchell tune from two singers who match well vocally across generations.)
- Hero (featuring Phil Collins) (I rarely hear this 1993 track today. That's a shame, as Collins and Crosby blend well vocally. Another plus: The tune's feel reminds me of Collins's song, "Everyday.")
- River Rise (featuring Michael McDonald) (Crosby recorded a lot of quality music late in his life, as this 2021 track shows. These mature lyrics acknowledge that much of life is out of our control.)
- What's Broken (From Crosby's strong 2014 release, "Croz." The lyrics ask poignantly if a situation is beyond repair.)
