Ticket 2 Ride

It’s been awhile since Graham Nash released new music, although we’ve seen a live recording and older material released with demos.

Now is pretty typical Nash. These songs could fit on his early 1970s discography: from the production, the easygoing songs, the vibe of love and political outrage, and Nash’s voice is still in great shape for an 81 year old.

The only song that feels “produced” is “Buddy’s Back,” Nash’s duet with former Hollies mate Allan Clarke. The song has that Buddy Holly shuffle-beat and the ringing guitars. The rest of the album has that uncomplicated, earthy sound of 50 years ago, not the slickness and synthetic varnish of today’s production. Even “Theme From Pastoral” an instrumental, written by Alan Price, the keyboardist for The Animals, feels right for this album.

The string arrangements are apt additions to several of the songs such as “I’ve Watched it All Come Down.” The song is about the peaks and valleys of CSN&Y. “So this is about the thrill of having made music with David, Stephen and Neil. I wish it could have continued,” Nash told Variety. So do a lot of us. Nash and Crosby were on the verge of working out their differences, Crosby wanted to talk to Nash to apologize, but Crosby died the very day they were supposed to FaceTime. There’s a lesson there.

“Stars and Stripes” is a commentary on what Donald Trump has done to the truth. “Speaking my mind,” he says. “Golden Idol” is about Trump attempting to rewrite history.

Nash surrounds himself with very accomplished players. What’s missing is any help from his contemporaries like Stills or Young. Co-producer, string arranger and keyboard player Todd Caldwell does a superb job helping Nash bring these songs to life.

Nash worked on Clarke’s album I’ll Never Forget, with Nash providing harmonies and also playing guitar and sharing lead vocals on “Buddy’s Back” which he co-wrote with Clarke. Nash and Clarke have known each other for 75 years, and as Clarke said, it was time they worked together again.

Nash says what’s on his mind; seems he hasn’t mellowed much if any. His songs still pack a punch, as much as they evoke the strength of his passion. In addition to severing his relationship with Crosby, seven years ago he divorced his wife of nearly 40 years, pulled up stakes and moved to New York. He is now married to Amy, his wife of four years. His divorce also created a riff with his sons, something he’s said has not healed. “They didn’t realize that I had divorced their mother, not them,” Nash told The Guardian newspaper. “So they don’t want me in their lives … My daughter is a little friendlier than my boys.”

Despite the things he cannot change, Nash is hopeful about the future. That comes out on his album. Too bad he didn’t bring his solo tour to my area, I would have been there.