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Crosby, Stills & Nash — Dark Star
Album: CSN
Avg rating:
7.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1539









Released: 1977
Length: 4:40
Plays (last 30 days): 1
Forgive me if my fantasies might seem a little shopworn
I'm sure you've heard it all before I wonder what's the right form
Love songs written for you it's been going down for years
But to sing what's in my heart seems more honest than the tears

I am curious
Don't want to hurry us
I'm intrigued with us
Ain't this song a bust
I don't care dark star

I met you several years ago
The times they were so strange but I had a feeling
You looked into my eyes just once
An instant flashing by that we were stealing

Another time you felt so bad
And I wasn't any help at all as I recall
We didn't know quite what to do so we left the wanting be
Still there for me and you

Dark star I see you in the morning
Dark star a' sleeping next to me
Dark star let the memory of the evening
Be the first thing that you think of
When you open up your smile and see me dark star

It's easy to be with you
Even with the storms that rage beneath your search for peace
We must make some time together
Take the kids and find a world that's ours to keep

Now you've got me dreaming girl
It's been so long that I thought that I'd forgotten how
My heart is once again my soul
We touched we did you know we did no more teasing now

Dark star I see you in the morning
Dark star a' sleeping next to me
Dark star let the memory of the evening
Be the first thing that you think of
When you open up your smile and see me dark star

Dark star I see you in the morning
Dark star a' sleeping next to me
Dark star let the memory of the evening
Be the first thing that you think of
When you open up your smile and see me dark star

Let the memory of the evening
Be the first thing that you think of
When you open up your smile and see me dark star
Comments (111)add comment
i remember when i heard this for the first time in the early 80s. i was blown away by both the lyrics, vocals and just everything about this - it spoke to me on a deeply personal level. as if Stills was singing directly to me.

everytime i hear it i stop what i'm doing and listen. and remember.
 LowPhreak wrote:

The drumming is "forced"? Joe Vitale's drumming here cooks along with the tune and keeps it swinging. Very good fills and accents, not overdone, and he's hitting the groove nicely. And Russ Kunkel's conga playing is right on with the Latin rhythms, not a forced or still feel at all.

If you don't like Steve's voice solo well that's personal taste which is OK but I've always enjoyed his vocals. As a drummer myself though, I can't find much here to critique the rhythm section on.

Sometimes I just don't know what some of you on RP are hearing.

there is an element of Jazz in it.
 cloudymcloudface wrote:
Just such a great band with and without Neil Young
 
Agreed. And all four have had awesome solo careers.
Just such a great band with and without Neil Young
WCOZ 94.5, WBCN 104.1 and now WAAF 107.3 all RIP,,,,
famous Boston rock stations gone,,,but we have Radio Paradise..
 sqqqrly wrote:
I can remember around 1980 calling the WCOZ (Boston) request line and asking for this.  They DJ who answered clearly did not like my request.  He did not play it.
 
Should have called 'BCN (RIP).
I can remember around 1980 calling the WCOZ (Boston) request line and asking for this.  They DJ who answered clearly did not like my request.  He did not play it.
 h8rhater wrote:
This needs to make its way up into 7 territory (at least).
 

And so it has!!!  Thank you RP listeners.
I think, for this song/album, the image accompanying it in Wikipedia should only show Crosby, Stills, and Nash. They should take a clue from RP. 
 bill-1956 wrote:

I agree. I've always thought of it as a 'let's make a top 40 pop song' effort. Like you, CSN are wonderful. And - not that he had anything to do with this song - Young is one of my music heros.
 
More like a 'let's make a song in 1977', if you ask me.
one of my ALL TIME FAVOURITE albums, prob in top 5 and that says a lot because I have impeccable taste in music
Another vote for Bart Starr from years ago
Long Live   Radio Paradise
My rating stays at  7   
Always liked this.  Like it still.

And beautiful lyrics.

Dark star a' sleeping next to me
Dark star let the memory of the evening
Be the first thing that you think of
When you open up your smile and see me dark star
Bart Starr sleeping next to me!?
Image result for bart starr
I "found" this album in 1981 or 1982, my first years of college.  Practically wore out the grooves...   Great Stuff.
 lily34 wrote:
this is one of my top 5 favorites of CSN. i love it and rarely hear it.

 
This is really an underrated album.  Solid from first to last.  Always a good listen.
My conception of bass guitar, Rhodes and vocals. And band spirit.
 funkyalfonso wrote:

Anyone remember the old sci-movie...'Dark Star? The poster read....'Bombed out in space with a spaced-out bomb.'

 
Yes I remember that movie - most notably for the femaie voice of the bomb who refused to comply with an order to return to the bomb bay.

Her voice was robotic, sexy at first but then turning menacing  - a memorable moment in the film and an idea that has been copied in quite a few Sci-Fi movies since.
 jackie0 wrote:

Crosby would come into the Trident, a watering hole in Sausalito at that time, with his beautiful entourage, and his signature fringe jacket.  Very intoxicating on multiple levels.  I later asked my instructor in a class I was taking on Gregorian Chant (!) what those harmonies were all about... Parallel Harmonies, he said with a wink....
david crosby 

  Urban Legend-
Mill Valley's 7-11 store across from the 2am club. Just before closing time couple guys pull up as a guy on a Harley pulls up next to them and proceeds to fall over right there. Couldn't get the kick-stand down. Dave Crosby it turns out.
Had to restock him self before the 2am cut-off?

them 70's in Marin. Good times good times


Agree that this is more pedestrian than their usual fare.  But the opening lick and verse chords are fun to play. {#Bananajam}
 fatcatjb wrote:
I really love CSN but this song is pretty tedious...the drumming is forced and I'm not crazy about Steve's voice all by himself. Just not a very memorable work. pretty cool keyboard work, though. I'm waffling and having a hard time saying anything negative about a band I have revered my whole life...

 
I agree. I've always thought of it as a 'let's make a top 40 pop song' effort. Like you, CSN are wonderful. And - not that he had anything to do with this song - Young is one of my music heros.
 LowPhreak wrote:

Is that Neil in the background? Bet he thought Crosby's bogartin' that joint...{#Grumpy}

 
Nope.  I bet he thought that Crosby was smoking too much, eating too much and sitting on his big fat ass too much.

How is that for a different take?    
 fatcatjb wrote:
I really love CSN but this song is pretty tedious...the drumming is forced and I'm not crazy about Steve's voice all by himself. Just not a very memorable work. pretty cool keyboard work, though. I'm waffling and having a hard time saying anything negative about a band I have revered my whole life...

 
The drumming is "forced"? Joe Vitale's drumming here cooks along with the tune and keeps it swinging. Very good fills and accents, not overdone, and he's hitting the groove nicely. And Russ Kunkel's conga playing is right on with the Latin rhythms, not a forced or still feel at all.

If you don't like Steve's voice solo well that's personal taste which is OK but I've always enjoyed his vocals. As a drummer myself though, I can't find much here to critique the rhythm section on.

Sometimes I just don't know what some of you on RP are hearing.
I really love CSN but this song is pretty tedious...the drumming is forced and I'm not crazy about Steve's voice all by himself. Just not a very memorable work. pretty cool keyboard work, though. I'm waffling and having a hard time saying anything negative about a band I have revered my whole life...
A pretty far cry from the Dead's "Dark Star..."
 LowPhreak wrote:

Is that Neil in the background? Bet he thought Crosby's bogartin' that joint...{#Grumpy}

 
yep...that's Neil waiting for the spliff to be passed his way...ha ha.
 jackie0 wrote:

david crosby 

 
Is that Neil in the background? Bet he thought Crosby's bogartin' that joint...{#Grumpy}
 lemmoth wrote:

From the RP list of "new" albums I submit:

7. Death Cab for Cutie - Kintsugi
9. Wilco - Star Wars
15. The Decemberists - Florasongs
16. Of Monsters and Men - Beneath The Skin
18. Mumford & Sons - Wilder Mind

and I will add the Shins, Calexico; War on Drugs; Tame Impala; Alt-J;..........I could go on

 
It's an excellent effort; unfortunately it's also almost certainly falling on deaf ears (appropriate metaphor, that).

Crosby would come into the Trident, a watering hole in Sausalito at that time, with his beautiful entourage, and his signature fringe jacket.  Very intoxicating on multiple levels.  I later asked my instructor in a class I was taking on Gregorian Chant (!) what those harmonies were all about... Parallel Harmonies, he said with a wink....
david crosby 
 idiot_wind wrote:
Geez, was there really a time when RnR bands focused on some kind of harmonies and melodies? And blended in a few different instruments to craft a song? 

Oh...I forget...the Foo Fighters, et al are doing a a heck of job at it.     

 
From the RP list of "new" albums I submit:

7. Death Cab for Cutie - Kintsugi
9. Wilco - Star Wars
15. The Decemberists - Florasongs
16. Of Monsters and Men - Beneath The Skin
18. Mumford & Sons - Wilder Mind

and I will add the Shins, Calexico; War on Drugs; Tame Impala; Alt-J;..........I could go on


Geez, was there really a time when RnR bands focused on some kind of harmonies and melodies? And blended in a few different instruments to craft a song? 

Oh...I forget...the Foo Fighters, et al are doing a a heck of job at it.     


so cool

wiki'ed this album to look up the personnel, keyboard was classy 
 TerryS wrote:

Well.......you could Make it So.

 
Thanks, Terry.
From this point forward I am Shufflin' Shuggie-O.  ; )
 On_The_Beach wrote:

I wish my name was Shuggie Otis.

 
Well.......you could Make it So.

Anyone remember the old sci-movie...'Dark Star? The poster read....'Bombed out in space with a spaced-out bomb.'
this is one of my top 5 favorites of CSN. i love it and rarely hear it.
 Dalebarely wrote:
This is one of those 'meh' songs, where I feel like It's a waste of five minutes out of the limited amount of time you have in your life to listen to music.

 
I agree.  Guess you had to be there to appreciate it, and I wasn't.
 john92 wrote:
...which was actually a song by Shuggie Otis, which the Brothers Johnson covered.
 
I wish my name was Shuggie Otis.
 Jelani wrote:
For some reason this song always reminds me of Strawberry Letter 23 by the Brothers Johnson.

 
...which was actually a song by Shuggie Otis, which the Brothers Johnson covered.

Ever hear of the Dogon people in Mali knowing of the dark star Sirius B orbiting Sirius A before it was discovered in the 60s....
Wonder if this song and the Greatful Dead - Dark Star was inspired by this discovery.
 Dalebarely wrote:
This is one of those 'meh' songs, where I feel like It's a waste of five minutes out of the limited amount of time you have in your life to listen to music.

 
Maybe you should try something other than music for your precious "life time".  We'd hate to see you lose another 5 minutes.  You might cure cancer or something.


This needs to make its way up into 7 territory (at least).
favorite song on this album!
Maybe I'm not of the generation of this band but I find this song truly excellent.
 Mick55 wrote:
I like that... :O)

 

I like that... :O) ?     Ok, me too....and is "only" of the best Bands and the best songs on "rotation" at Radio Paradise!

"... ain't this song a bust?"    Well, not completely, but definitely from an era when Mr. Stills had musical influences from outside of his main strengths.
 Dalebarely wrote:
This is one of those 'meh' songs, where I feel like It's a waste of five minutes out of the limited amount of time you have in your life to listen to music.
 
If sub-par had a sound track, this would be on it.


{#Clap}
For some reason this song always reminds me of Strawberry Letter 23 by the Brothers Johnson.
I was humming this over the weekend, and now I hear it. Neat!
Funky CSN :) Bob James (Theme from 'Taxi') could be playing the Electric piano on this one (he's not). I have this album on vinyl, a great track.
 Proclivities wrote:
  At least it's better than the dreadful "Just A Song Before I Go", which I believe is on the same album.

 
These guys were/are so much better with Neil Young along for the ride. When they miss, they miss it completely. 
I like that... :O)
This is one of those 'meh' songs, where I feel like It's a waste of five minutes out of the limited amount of time you have in your life to listen to music.
 eddief wrote:


This would be along the lines of "Excuse me while I kiss this guy".
 
Did Dick Buttkiss?

 thewiseking wrote:

oooh, badly, badly dated. neither grooves nor rocks nor jams nor swings....


 

True on many of the accounts. Except the groove part.

 

At first I thought you were describing techno-beat.


Nice!
 Proclivities wrote:
  At least it's better than the dreadful "Just A Song Before I Go", which I believe is on the same album.

 

Huh, I love both of these songs. Oh well, I guess I just don't get it.{#Stupid}
 Hannio wrote:
CSN was released in 1977.
 
Oops. I thought the original poster was abbreviating Crosby Stills & Nash. Of course Dark Star isn't on that one!
 Otomi wrote:

Forty next year, to be precise (the album release, anyway; I guess Meydele knows when he/she bought it).
 

CSN was released in 1977.
In my memory, this song is awesome, powerful and deeply moving. The technology and style of music has moved on. Still, however, this is a good song. it would be great to hear someone with a feel for depth of emotion and an ear for tastefully renditioned music do a cover of this.

 thewiseking wrote:

oooh, badly, badly dated. neither grooves nor rocks nor jams nor swings....


I agree - this sounds like perfunctory yacht-rock to me.   At least it's better than the dreadful "Just A Song Before I Go", which I believe is on the same album.

 hhartofelis wrote:
They were the best band, prior to Young being added. Dark Star...AWESOME. H
 
Well, not exactly prior - for this song at least.  Released in '77.  Mr. Young wanders in and out of their work.

 hhartofelis wrote:
They were the best band, prior to Young being added. Dark Star...AWESOME. H
 
The band formed in the spring of 1969.  Neil joined that summer and the first time the band toured, he was on board.

 thewiseking wrote:

oooh, badly, badly dated. neither grooves nor rocks nor jams nor swings....


 

Agree! I thought I was the only one!! phew...

oooh, badly, badly dated. neither grooves nor rocks nor jams nor swings....


They were the best band, prior to Young being added. Dark Star...AWESOME. H
 lily34 wrote:
one of my very favorite CSN songs. always have loved it. sigh...
 
Mee too! {#High-five}
Go Steve, go!!!!!  {#Guitarist}
LOVE IT ~ BRING IT
one of my very favorite CSN songs. always have loved it. sigh...
 KurtfromLaQuinta wrote:
Not my favorite from these three.
 
Mine either but still a mighty fine song. {#Music}
 crockydile wrote:

 
Dog Star Ranch
Not my favorite from these three.

cheez whiz
maybe not the caliber of earlier work but pleasant enough...7 
'ain't this song a bust'?? ha...don't know if they were poking fun at themselves or ran out of lyrics, anybody got the scoop?
 eddief wrote:


This would be along the lines of "Excuse me while I kiss this guy".
 
{#Lol}{#Lol}{#Lol}

 On_The_Beach wrote:
Loved the first 2 albums but then the magic was gone and they continued to churn out generic product like this. I don't hate it; it's just kinda flat, lying there like a wet blanket.
 
I agree


Mellow Sunday afternoons back in college....great album.
 trekhead wrote:
pic  ??

 
Classic!!!

Loved the first 2 albums but then the magic was gone and they continued to churn out generic product like this. I don't hate it; it's just kinda flat, lying there like a wet blanket.
 trekhead wrote:
pic  ??

 

This would be along the lines of "Excuse me while I kiss this guy".
Good, but from their descent into 70s smooth pop.
from the very first time i heard this song soooo many years ago, it struck me. always has been one of my favorites of csn. probably began my love affair with still's voice and guitar, too. god, i love this. really good to hear/see this on RP. thanks.
 countyman wrote:
Where in the world did THAT album cover come from?!?!?!? {#Think}
It's nowhere near the one on my album of the three of them on a sailboat
.

 
Thanks, I thought I was having another memory lapse

 countyman wrote:
Where in the world did THAT album cover come from?!?!?!? {#Think}
It's nowhere near the one on my album of the three of them on a sailboat
.

 
Atlantic UK

 trekhead

well played!

Where in the world did THAT album cover come from?!?!?!? {#Think}
It's nowhere near the one on my album of the three of them on a sailboat
.

 Alpine wrote:


MORE LIKE 30 YEARS AGO

 
Forty next year, to be precise (the album release, anyway; I guess Meydele knows when he/she bought it).
pic  ??

horstman wrote:
Listen more closely next time. Very smooth organs and very tight musically.
"Smooth Organs eh"!
LowPhreak wrote:
Steve Stills rocks.
He do indeed!
For some reason I always think of the movie Dark Star. It has nothing whatever to do with the movie but I still somehow associate them. I really like the movie and have it on VHS and found I can buy the DVD now. Maybe I will.
Steve Stills rocks.
Kerkhoff Coffee House, sophomore year, UCLA, 1977. This song always seemed to be playing when I stopped to get coffee while studying.
8.
oilydwarf wrote:
guess you had to be there - gets a 2 from me
Where Laurel Canyon?....This is a 9 by the way...stunning!
guess you had to be there - gets a 2 from me
Love the whole album. Great memories of driving through the Okanagan to the Bluegrass Festival outside of Kelowna in '78. My Woodstock.
Alpine wrote:
MORE LIKE 30 YEARS AGO
Maybe that's when it came out, but I bought it 25 years ago. Work with me here.
steeler wrote:
This one always sounded a bit hollow to me; lacking the depth of some of their other pieces.
Listen more closely next time. Very smooth organs and very tight musically.
meydele wrote:
Ooooh man, a blast from the way past - this was on the very first LP I ever bought, CSN by Crosby, Stills and Nash. That was 25 years ago. Loved it then, and I love it now.
MORE LIKE 30 YEARS AGO
steeler wrote:
This one always sounded a bit hollow to me; lacking the depth of some of their other pieces.
I agree. While I love CSN(&Y, latter), this song just does not have the quality harmonies that other works by them exhibit. I especially like Neil Young's work with the band. The four part harmonies are awsome!
This one always sounded a bit hollow to me; lacking the depth of some of their other pieces.
Wow, another Dark Star. Hadn't heard this one yet. Nice.
Ooooh man, a blast from the way past - this was on the very first LP I ever bought, CSN by Crosby, Stills and Nash. That was 25 years ago. Loved it then, and I love it now.
nice flashback, thanks
One of their best!!
??/