David Crosby ‘If I Could Only…’ Deluxe Edition Announced
David Crosby is to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his debut album, If I Could Only Remember My Name, with a 2CD set that includes the album lovingly remastered from the original analogue tapes, accompanied by a bonus disc that features a dozen unreleased demos, outtakes, and alternative versions. The new remaster was overseen by original album engineer Stephen Barncard with restoration and speed correction using Plangent Processes. The deluxe edition will be available on 23 October. On the same day, the newly remastered version of the original album will be released on 180-gram vinyl. The music will also be available from digital and streaming services the same day.
A previously unreleased demo from the sessions titled “Riff 1” is available today on all digital download and streaming services. Click HERE to listen now.
If I Could Only Remember My Name was dismissed by critics when it came out in 1971. Over the years, however, appreciation has grown for the album’s adventurous aesthetic, stacked harmonies and haunting lyrics about loss and confusion. Billed as David Crosby’s solo debut, the album was anything but a one-man project. Instead, it was one of his most collaborative efforts, featuring an all-star cast of players that included members of the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, and Santana, along with Graham Nash, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, and others.
The second disc uncovers nearly an hour of unreleased recordings from the making of If I Could Only Remember My Name. That includes the album’s first seeds, which Crosby planted on March 28, 1968 at Hollywood Recorders in Los Angeles. Together with producer Paul Rothchild, he recorded nascent versions of songs like Tamalpais High (At About 3) and more. Those tracks are joined by several unreleased session recordings, including Coast Road, Dancer, and an alternate version of Cowboy Movie that features Neil Young soloing instead of Garcia.
DAVID CROSBY – IF I COULD ONLY REMEMBER MY NAME: 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION
CD Tracklisting
Disc One: Original Album
“Music Is Love”
“Cowboy Movie”
“Tamalpais High (At About 3)”
“Laughing”
“What Are Their Names”
“Traction In The Rain”
“Song With No Words (Tree With No Leaves)”
“Orleans”
“I’d Swear There Was Somebody Here”
Bonus Track
“Kids And Dogs”
Disc Two: Bonus Tracks
Demos
“Riff 1” – Demo *
“Tamalpais High (At About 3)” – Demo *
“Kids And Dogs” – Demo *
“The Wall Song” – Demo *
“Games” – Demo *
“Laughing” – Demo *
“Song With No Words (Tree With No Leaves)” – Demo
“Where Will I Be” – Demo *
Sessions
“Cowboy Movie” – Alternate Version *
“Bach Mode” – Pre-Critical Mass *
“Coast Road” *
“Dancer” *
“Fugue” *
LP Track Listing
“Music Is Love”
“Cowboy Movie”
“Tamalpais High (At About 3)”
“Laughing”
“What Are Their Names”
“Traction In The Rain”
“Song With No Words (Tree With No Leaves)”
“Orleans”
“I’d Swear There Was Somebody Here”
* previously unreleased