261: IF I COULD ONLY REMEMBER MY NAME | DAVID CROSBY

If I Could Only Remember My Name is a classic album by David Crosby, one of the founding members of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. The album was released in 1971, shortly after the success of Déjà Vu, and features contributions from many of Crosby’s friends and fellow musicians, such as Jerry Garcia, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, and Graham Nash. The album is a mix of psychedelic folk, freak folk, and folk rock, and showcases Crosby’s distinctive vocal harmonies and songwriting skills. The album is also a reflection of Crosby’s personal turmoil and grief following the death of his girlfriend Christine Hinton in a car accident.

The album consists of nine songs, ranging from the upbeat and catchy “Music Is Love” to the haunting and ethereal “I’d Swear There Was Somebody Here”. Some of the songs are based on improvisations and jams with other musicians, such as “What Are Their Names” and “Cowboy Movie”. Others are more personal and introspective, such as “Laughing” and “Traction In The Rain”. The album also includes a cover of the traditional French song “Orleans” and a bonus track called “Kids And Dogs”, which features Garcia on pedal steel guitar.

The album received mixed reviews from critics when it was first released, but has since gained a cult following and critical acclaim. It is considered one of Crosby’s best works and one of the most influential albums of the 1970s. It has been ranked among the greatest albums of all time by Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, Mojo, and Uncut. It has also been reissued several times, most recently in 2021 to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The reissue includes a remastered version of the original album and a second disc with demos, alternate versions, and previously unreleased tracks.