2013 Bridge School Benefit Concert
In a recent interview in Uncut Magazine, Graham Nash revealed that he had collected handwritten lyric sheets by Neil Young over the years and gifted them to Neil for a Canadian university archive.
From Uncut Magazine interview "GRAHAM NASH on ONLY LOVE CAN BREAK YOUR HEART (After The Goldrush; 1970):
That song means a lot to me because Neil wrote it about me and Joni.
It’s such a beautiful song. I knew it was about me the day Neil played it for me at Stephen’s house in Laurel Canyon. It’s a beautiful song and it was incredibly important for me to hear what Neil had said because he was dead right, it is only love that can break your heart. We are strong, mankind, but these love things can really trip you up. He was only 24 when he wrote that. It’s incredible how prolific he was.
At this time, Neil would come to rehearsals with us as CSNY and then at the end of the day we’d go about our business and we didn’t know he was going into the studio to record a solo album. It’s been amazing to watch Neil become this great artist.
When we were first together as CSNY we all realised how talented he was. I personally feel that Crosby, Stills & Nash and Crosby, Nash, Stills & Young are two completely different bands because of his talent and the difference that it makes.
Over the years, I accumulated 28 handwritten documents by Neil containing original lyrics they had had left behind at studios or given to me. A year or so ago, he decided to sell his archive to a university in Canada and he asked me if I still had those lyrics. I said I did. I’d valued them at $800,000 but I realised that Neil wanted them, I realised how much money I had made because of his talent, and I gave them to Neil with a good heart.
If Neil wanted his stuff back, he could have it.
More on Uncut's Neil Young cover issue and excerpts from Billy Talbot and Spooner Oldham.
Also, see our encounter with Graham Nash at his book signing for Wild Tales at the Library of Congress, in Washington, DC in September 2013.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGraham has mined his Joni story for what's worth.
ReplyDeleteHes a good man. Thanks Graham for being the good person you are.
ReplyDeleteGraham Nash has been a collector all his life.
ReplyDeleteIt’s a good thing too, as so much handwritten rock music history has been lost forever to the refuse bin.
I’m thankful he was around Neil to salvage this stuff.
☮️
'He's a good man. Thanks Graham for being the good person you are' - not sure Susan would agree with that. Nash has a view of his career and relevance that is not supported by his recorded output by maybe supported by his own ego.
ReplyDeletegood thing it wasn't Crosby who had the song sheets, he probably would have smoked them or changed some lyrics and claimed them as his own.
ReplyDeleteSammy Hagar posted a video of him & Eddie Van Halen performing 'Love Comes Walking In' at the BSB in 1993 (I think) recently...would love to know what EVH thought of Neil & his music
ReplyDelete* don't care about Graham Nash - his harmonies were great on a few songs *