Graham Nash regards his career as a whole, including its failures, but says Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s 1988 album *American Dream* was difficult to defend. Although the reunited group had good intentions and enjoyed making the record, Nash believed it ultimately failed because its songs and performances lacked cohesion.

The album followed David Crosby’s recovery from drug addiction and featured contributions from Crosby, Nash, Stephen Stills and Neil Young. Nash said the group may have overused harmonies, while Crosby’s diminished abilities and the contrasting, dated songs made the record feel like three separate 1980s albums; even its cover reportedly used a photograph with Young digitally added.