Graham Nash – Now
Graham Nash - Acoustic Guitar (A3-5, B3), Vocals (A1-5, A7, B6), Handclaps (B3), Harmonica (A5, B2, B4) [click here to see more vinyl featuring Graham Nash]
Vocals – Allan Clarke (B3)
Acoustic Guitar - Thad DeBrock (A1, A3, B2-3, B6)
Baritone Guitar – Thad DeBrock (A 4, B6)
Bass – Adam Minkoff (A1-4, A7 to B2, B6), Michael Olatuja (A6-7, B5), Thad DeBrock (B4)
Bass – Brett Bass (B3)
Celesta – Todd Caldwell (B3)
Cello – Alon Bisk (A6-7, B5)
Drums – Adam Minkoff (A1-4, A7 to B2, B6), Toby Caldwell (B3)
Electric Guitar – Shane Fontayne (A1, A4, B1, B3), Thad DeBrock (A1-3, B6)
Electric Organ – Todd Caldwell (A1-4, B1, B6)
Electric Piano – Todd Caldwell (A2-5, B1-2, B4)
Guitar –Thad DeBrock (B4)
Handclaps – Beth Callen (B3), Todd Caldwell (B3)
Harmonium – Thad DeBrock (A1, B2, B4)
Lap Steel Guitar – Shane Fontayne (A1, A3)
Mandolin – Shane Fontayne (A4), Thad DeBrock (A2, B2)
Electric Mandolin – Thad DeBrock (A3)
Pedal Steel Guitar – Thad DeBrock (A1-2, A4, B2)
Percussion – Adam Minkoff (A1, A3, A5, B1)
Piano – Todd Caldwell (A1, A3, A7, B6)
Slide Guitar – Shane Fontayne (A4)
Viola – Jocelin Pan (A6-7, B6)
Violin – Hiroko Taguchi (A6-7, B6), Whitney La Grange (A6-7, B6)
Arranged by Todd Caldwell (A6)
Written by Graham Nash (A1-5, A7 to B6), Alan Price (A6-7), George Merrill (A2), Joe Vitale (B2), Todd Caldwell (B6)
1 LP, gatefold cover, 16-page booklet of lyrics & photographs
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : black
Speed : 33RPM
Size : 12”
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : unspecified
Label : BMG
Original Label : BMG
Engineered by Andy Taub, Francis Haines, Michael Nunn, Sam Wahl
Mixed by Kevin Killen
Mastered by Bob Ludwig
Art Direction and design by Norman Moore
Photography by Amy Grantham
Originally released in May 2023
Tracks:
Side A:
- Right Now
- A Better Life
- Golden Idols
- Stars & Stripes
- Love of Mine
- Theme from Pastoral
- In a Dream
Side B:
- Stand Up
- It Feels Like Home
- Buddy's Back
- Follow Your Heart
- I Watched It All Come Down
- When It Comes to You
Reviews :
"
Graham Nash has no problem acknowledging his past, most notably in his revealing, and detailed 2013 memoir, “Wild Tales: A Rock & Roll Life.” And on his eighth solo album, Now, he makes several references to what he’s done, sung and seen.
“What a life I’ve had,” Nash says in “Right Now,” the opening track of his first album since 2016’s This Path Tonight.
While two songs update Nash’s ongoing political concerns in the mold of “Military Madness” and “Chicago,” most of his new album’s 13 tracks either ruminate on mature love and domestic bliss or stake a claim either to an amazing life in general, or to having been present for the creation of some of history’s more popular rock music.
On “Buddy’s Back,” it’s clear to whom the title refers, as the guitar line from “Peggy Sue” opens things up and Nash sings about starting a band “just to have some fun … and we created a sound as we sang as one.” He’s talking about the Hollies, the British merseybeat group named after Buddy Holly with which Nash first gained fame. And to drive the point home, his onetime co-conspirator in that band, lead singer Allan Clarke, joins him on vocals.
Clarke, who has his own new album out (I’ll Never Forget, which also contains “Buddy’s Back”), is the only famous guest on Now. The album maintains an intimate feel throughout, even on the political songs. A small group of musicians – guitarists Shane Fontayne and Thad DeBrock, pianist Todd Caldwell and bassist/drummer Adam Minkoff – surround Nash on most songs here.
Except for “Stand Up,” a general call to get involved with your own life, the world or both—which features two sharp electric solos from Fontayne—the players here function largely as mood setters. There’s some pedal steel flavoring here, a little mandolin and harmonium somewhere else. Two songs, “In a Dream” and “I Watched It All Come Down,” are dominated by string arrangements that sound like a string quartet joining in with a group of friends playing guitars in someone’s den.
While “I Watched It All Come Down” is one reference to his past – “Making music, laying it down for all those years” – other songs focus on the here and now. Some of them swim in emotions and domestic bliss. “It Feels Like Home,” co-written by Nash and Joe Vitale, revels in coming back home from time spent on the road.
“Everything I love is here waiting for me/ You’re everything I ever wanted, the answer to a prayer,” Nash says.
There are two songs on Now on which Graham Nash maintains his connection to the kinds of protest and socio-environmental topical songs, most notably “Chicago,” which he’s been singing solo and as part of Crosby, Stills and Nash (and sometimes Young). “Golden Idols” takes direct aim at the “MAGA tourists” that ransacked the Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021, and those who support their ex-president leader.
“They’re just like children who can’t stand losing/ And the truth is getting in their way,” Nash sings.
In a less specific way, “Stars and Stripes” hits just as hard: “Stars and stripes are out there waving goodbye to all that’s true.” And while neither of these songs has the memorable melody of “Military Madness” and its loping piano figure, or the catchy singalong chant of “Chicago” (“We can change the world!”), it’s good to hear Nash remains engaged on the major political matters of the day, with a clear head and a clear voice.
Graham Nash may be spending more time nowadays singing about love and home than about political strife (remember “No Nukes?”). That’s OK. As he said, he’s already led quite a life.” Riff Magazine review by Sam Richards
Ratings :
Discogs : 4,29 / 5