A photoshopped cover, a “piece of shit”, and the worst record CSNY ever released
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s 1988 album *American Dream* is presented as a disappointing reunion after the success of *Déjà Vu*. Graham Nash later criticised the decision to include Neil Young’s song “Drivin’ Thunder”, calling it “a piece of shit”, and said it replaced David Crosby’s “Climber”.
Nash also said the album cover photograph originally showed him, Crosby and Stephen Stills, with Young added using Photoshop; two versions depicted Young wearing different coloured hats. Young had reportedly agreed to rejoin the group if Crosby overcame his drug problem, and Crosby was sober by the late 1980s. The article attributes the album’s uneven result partly to the band’s internal conflicts and efforts to balance each member’s songwriting contributions.
In short
- Nash called “Drivin’ Thunder” a poor choice.
- Young’s image was added to the cover.
- Internal tensions shaped the reunion album.