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Just a Song Before I Go

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"Just a Song Before I Go" is a song by Crosby, Stills & Nash that appeared on the 1977 album CSN. It was also released as a single and reached number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 for two consecutive weeks ending August 27 and September 3, 1977,[1] becoming the band's highest-charting hit. It is also one of the band's shortest songs, with a running time of only 2:14. In Canada, it peaked at number 10.[2]

"Just a Song Before I Go"
Single by Crosby, Stills & Nash
from the album CSN
B-side"Dark Star"
ReleasedJune 17, 1977
Genre
Length2:14
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)Graham Nash
Producer(s)David Crosby
Stephen Stills
Graham Nash
The Albert Brothers
Crosby, Stills & Nash singles chronology
"Our House"
(1970) 		"Just a Song Before I Go"
(1977) 		"Fair Game"
(1977)

Background

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The song was written by Graham Nash about leaving loved ones behind before going on a concert tour. It was written in Hawaii in about 20 minutes at the piano while Nash and Leslie Morris were staying with a friend, later revealed to be a rather "low-level drug dealer". Nash had a little while to get to the airport to head back to his home in Los Angeles. The dealer queried Nash something along the lines of "You're a big shot song writer, I bet you can't write a song just before you go." After Nash asking how much the dealer was betting, he responded $500.[3] In a February 25, 2016, interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Nash stated that he still has that $500. This song came in the nick of time, because an upcoming hurricane was about to wreak havoc on the island.

Billboard praised the "hypnotically soothing orchestration" and the vocal harmonies.[4] Cash Box said that "an unmistakable vocal blend and Stephen Stills' smooth electric guitar licks are here" and called the melody "gentle."[5] Record World called it "a quiet, melodic song with a dreamy air."[6]

Crosby, Stills and Nash arranged "Just a Song Before I Go" as a straight ballad, with mostly acoustic textures anchored by two electric guitar solos from Stephen Stills.

Personnel

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Additional musicians

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Charts

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Weekly charts

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Chart (1977) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] 59
Canadian Top Singles (RPM)[2] 10
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[8] 23
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 7
U.S. Cash Box Top 100[9] 8
United States (Record World Singles)[10] 12

Year-end charts

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Chart (1977) Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[11] 47

Cover versions

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  • In 2008, drummer Russ Kunkel and the group Chateau Beach covered the song on their album "Rivage."[12]

References

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  1. ^ The Hot 100, Week of September 3, 1977 – Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2021
  2. ^ a b RPM Top 100 Singles: September 3, 1977
  3. ^ Zimmer, Dave and Diltz, Henry, Crosby, Stills & Nash: The Authorized Biography, Da Capo Press, 2000 ISBN 978-0-306-80974-3 p 190
  4. ^ "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. May 28, 1977. p. 80. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
  5. ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. May 21, 1977. p. 26. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
  6. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. May 21, 1977. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  7. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 77. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  8. ^ "Crosby, Stills & Nash – Just A Song Before I Go" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  9. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 10/31/70". Archived from the original on 2016-10-09. Retrieved 2016-09-28.
  10. ^ "RECORD WORLD MAGAZINE: 1942 to 1982". worldradiohistory.com. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  11. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1977/Top 100 Songs of 1977". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Rivage overview". Allmusic.com.

Other sources

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  • Liner notes from the 1991 box set Crosby, Stills and Nash: CSN. The commentary on the songs's genesis is from David Crosby.
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