Crosby, Nash Eyeing First Album Since 1976

11/20/2003 8:11 PM, Reuters
Wes Orshoski

David Crosby and Graham Nash will enter the studio in January to record their first album together as a duo in almost 30 years.

"We are excited as hell because we have a terrific bunch of songs for it," Crosby told Billboard.com. The last Crosby & Nash studio album, "Whistling Down the Wire," their third as a duo, was issued in June 1976.

The pair is in discussions with several labels, including Sanctuary, says Crosby, adding that the set will be produced by drummer/producer Russ Kunkel (Jimmy Buffett , Carly Simon ).

Backing Crosby and Nash will be bassist Lee Sklar and guitarist Dean Parks, as well as Crosby's son, keyboardist James Raymond, and guitarist Jeff Pevar of Crosby's side project CPR. Conkel's son, Nathaniel, will engineer.

"We'll make it in January and hope to have it out in the summer, because I think, God willing, there's gonna be another CSN&Y tour next summer," Crosby said.

After 11 years between albums, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young returned in 1999 with "Looking Forward." Since then, the act has embarked on two major tours and a slew of one-off performances, such as Neil Young 's recent Bridge School benefit outside San Francisco.

The regularity with which the foursome has performed in recent years is somewhat of a surprise, considering the feuding its members have endured with one another. Though it may seem Young is getting more and more nostalgic, Crosby says that's not the case.

"He doesn't look at it as nostalgia," he says. "He looks at it as one more facet of the jewel, one more way that he can go out and work and have it be fresh. Because when he gets done with us, he'll take, like, three days off, and go out again with the Horse (long-time backing band Crazy Horse), or with 'Greendale,' or something, because, truthfully, man, that's all he does is work. He really loves to work and so do I."

In addition to potential CSN&Y dates, Crosby says that he and Nash will probably play some shows together next summer to promote the new disc.

In the meantime, both are promoting another matter entirely -- former Vermont governor Howard Dean 's presidential campaign. Both have appeared at fundraisers for the Democrat, and Crosby is to perform Dec. 15 at a benefit for Dean in Los Angeles. Stephen Stills , meanwhile, is backing Massachusetts Senator John Kerry , for whom he also has performed at fundraisers.

Reuters/Billboard