Customer Reviews

Whistling Down The Wire

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Originally released in 1976, this third album by David Crosby and Graham Nash was also their most immediate and homogeneous-sounding effort to date. The music has an urgent, almost raw feel, and it comes as no surprise to discover that most of the tracks were recorded "live" in the studio with very little overdubbing. Crosby may have been close to running on empty at the time, yet "Time After Time" and "Foolish Man" remain, almost 25 years later, two of the greatest moments in the man's vast body of work. As for Nash, his "Marguerita" has always been unfortunately overlooked, as has "Broken Bird," co-written with Crosby. Thanks to the CSN&Y box set, "Taken At All"--presented there in a previously unreleased version--has had the relatively higher profile it's always deserved. Although "Whistling Down the Wire" actually outsold "Long May You Run" by the Stills-Young Band (released a couple months later), it took this long for the compact disc version to be released. The cliche' "worth the wait" is unavoidable.

This was their third album together and, with it, Crosby and Nash proved that the wealth of excellent songwriting they showed in their first two albums was far from exhausted.
Although I couldn't say that the sound here is a departure from the brand of musical beauty they had listeners already accustomed to -although I can't imagine anyone not gasping in wonder at their harmonies, even if he or she were anxiously expecting them -and the core band remains close to prior albums, this is not quite the same than its predecessors.
The mood of "Whistling Down the Wire" is different, there's a certain melancholy to it which I did not think as present before and, particularly in Nash's tunes, a somber tone than in prior compositions. "Marguerita" and "Broken Bird" are gorgeous examples of Graham's depth of feeling, proving that his "sweet" or "tender" spirit does not mean that the man is a "light" composer.
Crosby, it's worth saying, sings two songs of his own fitting with the emotional urgency of Nash's offerings, and clearly belonging to the list of his most powerful compositions. "Time After Time" and, perhaps even more, "Foolish Man" will leave you speechless, and justifiably comparing them with some of his prior classics.
All in all, this album is a must and a testament to one of the most significant and long-lasting musical pairs in popular music, for the last thirty years.

This would be Crosby and Nash's last studio album (without Stills) for many years. While it was not quite as good as "Wind on the Water" it is still a solid effort. It was a modest hit in the US when it was released in 1976 (reaching number 26 on the Billboard album chart and being certified GOLD) and produced a minor hit, the inspiring "Out of the Darkness".

For me it is difficult to understand how great music can not seem to remain "in print." I purchased this in the 70's as an LP when it first appeared in stores, and when the industry reissued it as a CD, I bought it immediately. I noticed that the CD is no longer available.

It is a shame that creative material like this disappears so quickly. I heard David and Graham perform live, and their music has always been incredible. This album, if you can find it, is a "must have" for fans who appreciate their exceptional music.

Released in 1976, "Whistling Down The Wire" is the third proper album from the duo pairing of David Crosby and Graham Nash--it's very much of a piece with 1975's "Wind On The Water"--and you can't go wrong with it if you love these guys. The album-opening "Spotlight" is a wonderfully joyful song about playing live and sharing experiences through music. Nash contributes two of his all-time great solo compositions--the somewhat funky "Mutiny" is hauntingly powerful, ultra-melodic with great chorus hooks, and has blistering layers of electric guitars on the fade (incredible leads from David Lindley and Danny Kortchmar); and the strangely sorrowful, waltzing ballad "Marguerita" is gorgeously melodic and understated. Crosby gets in a spellbinding solo composition of his own with the dynamic, bluesy, supremely soulful confessional "Foolish Man"--it features dreamily wistful verses that work their way up to cathartic climaxes. Crosby also supplies "Dancer", a compelling wordless harmony-fest, matching peacefully innocent-sounding verses with amusingly frustrated-sounding grunting on the choruses; and the super-slow, sighing ballad "Time After Time" which is very pretty and touching--it really gets under your skin.

"Taken At All" is quite pretty also, although it's a little on the sugary-sweet side. The Crosby and Nash-penned "Broken Bird" is a soothing ballad that sounds like a cross between the aformentioned "Marguerita" and "Foolish Man".

A couple of the songs are forgettable. The reggae-fied "J.B.'s Blues" is pleasant enough, but dull. And the album-closing orchestrated ballad "Out Of The Darkness" is a bloated, overproduced attempt at a peace-and-love anthem.

Overall, "Whistling Down The Wire" is a fine album from these two legends, and if you're turntable-ready, I recommend being on the lookout for a vinyl copy. The 2000 CD release, which I believe is the first and only time the full album has ever been officially issued on CD, is hard to come by without forking over some serious money, which is curious since the similarly remastered/ reissued "Wind On The Water" remains in print; it's also regrettable since it's excellently remastered and has informative, if disappointingly brief, liner notes. Another possible choice is the in print 2002 "The ABC Years" CD--it does contain 7 of "Whistling Down The Wire"'s 10 tracks, but it unfortunately omits "Dancer" and "Marguerita".

Crosby-Nash / Whistling Down The Wire: "Out of the Darkness" is the great track from this album; the rest of it is very good but does not reach the level of greatness we had come to expect. However, it is well worth hearing and owning, as their harmonies are wonderful throughout. Four Stars