CS&N make their first important statement of the new decade with this platinum-selling reunion.
Kronomyth 6.0: A daylightfull comeback.
The re-reunion with the re-relapsing David Crosby should have been a disaster, but Stephen Stills and Graham Nash kept the boat afloat and sailed into the new decade with a platinum album and a pair of their biggest hits: “Wasted On The Way” and “Southern Cross.” The baffling album cover aside, Daylight Again is a throwback to classic CSN: the warm and ingratiating songs from Nash, the kickin’ country and rock contributions from Stills and even an airy vocal track from Crosby (“Delta”).
Financial motivation aside, the trio are truly greater as a whole than the sum of their parts. Yet this is a reunion in name only, as Crosby’s harmonies are handled mostly by backing vocalists Michael Finnigan and Timothy Schmit. Stills even goes outside of the band to recruit Art Garfunkel for the closing “Daylight Again.” So, while the harmonies may be a little different than you remember, the quality remains nearly the same.
With Stills writing the bulk of the material (getting assistance from Michael Stergis, Gerry Tolman and others), Daylight Again is not devoid of filler. More often than not, the songs resonate: “You Are Alive,” “Song for Susan,” “Into the Darkness,” “Too Much Love to Hide.” They’re a cut above what you’d usually encounter on a solo Stills or Nash album from this time. Closing with a reprise of the classic “Find the Cost of Freedom” and finding that it doesn’t feel out of place here shows that not so much has changed with CS&N since the 60s.
I keep going into these reunions expecting tarnished memories and instead end up leaving with my faith renewed. In fact, a good portion of this album provides what would today constitute classic CSN. Although the trio stuck together for a live album, Allies, they came unstuck again soon after, only to re-re-reunite in 88. Set your wayback machines for American Dream and I’ll see you there.
Original LP Version
A1. Turn Your Back On Love (Stephen Stills/Graham Nash/Michael Stergis) (4:47)
A2. Wasted On The Way (Graham Nash) (2:51)
A3. Southern Cross (Stephen Stills/Richard Curtis/Michael Curtis) (4:40)
A4. Into The Darkness (Graham Nash) (3:21)
A5. Delta (David Crosby) (4:12)
B1. Since I Met You (Stephen Stills/Michael Stergis) (3:10)
B2. Too Much Love To Hide (Stephen Stills/Gerry Tolman) (3:57)
B3. Song For Susan (Graham Nash) (3:07)
B4. You Are Alive (Stephen Stills/Michael Stergis) (3:02)
B5. Might As Well Have A Good Time (lyrics by Judy Henske, music by Craig Doerge) (4:25)
B6. Daylight Again: a. Daylight Again b.Find The Cost of Freedom (Stephen Stills) (2:28)
CD reissue bonus tracks
12. Raise A Voice
13. Feel Your Love
14. Tomorrow Is Another Day
15. Might As Well Have A Good Time (demo)
The Players
David Crosby (vocals), Graham Nash (vocals, electric guitar, organ, percussion, harmonica), Stephen Stills (vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, Rhodes, CP-30, percussion, banjo), Craig Doerge (keyboards, synthesizer, Rhodes, piano), Michael Finnigan (organ, CP-30, electric piano, keyboards, vocals), Joe Lala (percussion), George “Chocolate” Perry (bass), Timothy B. Schmit (vocals, bass), Michael Stergis (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals), Joe Vitale (drums) with Roberleigh Barnhart (cello on B3), Richard T. Bear (piano & synthesizer on A3), Joel Bernstein (acoustic guitar on A2/B3), Ernie Ehrhardt (cello on B3), Jay Ferguson (organ on B3), Arthur Garfunkel (vocal on B6), Bob Glaub (bass on A2), Wayne Goodwin (fiddle on A2, cello arrangement on B3), Russell Kunkel (drums on A2/A5), Miguel Martinez (cello on B3), Dean Parks (electric guitar on A5), Jeff Porcaro (drums on B1), Leland Sklar (bass on A5), Gerry Tolman (electric guitar on B1). Produced by Crosby, Stills & Nash with Stanley Johnston, Steve Gursky and Craig Doerge; engineered by Steve Gursky, Stanley Johnston; additional engineering by Steve Barncard.
The Pictures
Front cover painting by Gilbert Williams. Front cover photography by Mark Hanauer, assisted by Eric Waltershied. Back cover photography by Henry Diltz. Logo design by Mac James. Art direction by Jimmy Wachtel (for Dawn Patrol).
The Plastic
Released on elpee and cassette on June 21, 1982 in the US (Atlantic, SD/CS 19360), the UK (Atlantic, K50896), Canada (Atlantic, XSD 19360), Germany (Atlantic, ATL 50 896) and Japan (Atlantic, P-11088) with lyrics innersleeve. Reached #8 on the US charts (RIAA-certified platinum record).
- Re-issued on compact disc in c.1984 in the US (Atlantic, 19360-2).
- Re-issued on compact disc and cassette on September 20, 1994 in the US (Atlantic, 82672-2/4).
- Re-released on expanded, remastered compact disc on January 24, 2006 in the US and the UK (Rhino, 73295) with 4 bonus tracks.
- Re-issued on expanded, remastered compact disc in 2008 in Japan (Warner, WPCR-75339) with 4 bonus tracks.
- Re-issued on expanded, remastered compact disc in 2016 in Japan (Warner, WPCR-80360) with 4 bonus tracks.
