REVIEW -- CROSBY, STILLS AND NASH: DEMOS

CROSBY, STILLS & NASH

Demos

(Atlantic/Rhino)

This cobbled-together collection of mostly solo demos recorded between 1968 and 1971 includes stripped-down and acoustic versions of songs that ended up on CSN’s (and sometimes Y’s) first two albums. Since those records weren’t exactly plugged-in and electric, the dozen tracks on Demos don’t reveal much. In fact, they reveal nothing at all (except that David Crosby is as annoying a scatter as he is a human being). Only “Marrakesh Express” features all three singer-songwriters; a couple other tunes (“Music Is Love,” “Long Time Gone”) include some variation on the trio (plus a Neil Young cameo). And only Stephen Stills’ “Love the One You’re With” is as good as the version you already know. --Michael Gallucci