“Without any question”: David Crosby on the greatest songwriter of our time
The late David Crosby was, without a doubt, one of his generation’s finest musical minds. He not only crafted transcendental folk music that tapped into the genre’s spiritual roots and appealed to the metaphysical essence of the hippie movement, but he also had a keen eye for recognising great songwriting talent. Working alongside other remarkable artists in The Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash (CSN), Crosby’s collaborations extended beyond his bands, allowing him to connect with the era’s most creative forces and further solidify his influential role in the music world.
While the impish Crosby might have threatened to overshadow his musical legacy on several occasions with his polarising opinons and seemingly unexpected personal attacks on his former bandmates, most of the time he spent reminiscing about the past was positive.
Sure, Crosby might not have been a fan of Neil Young’s wife, Daryl Hannah, and he famously believed that The Rolling Stones killed the dream of the 1960s with the disastrous Altamont concert, which he described as a “grotesque” ego-trip. However, when Crosby admired an artist, he was quick to use his platform to champion them, shouting their praises from the rafters and ensuring they received the recognition he felt they deserved.
One musician whom Crosby played a significant role in supporting and helping transition from the underground to superstardom was Joni Mitchell. He first met her in 1967, shortly after being ousted from The Byrds, when she was still an unknown songwriter aiming for success. Mitchell was performing at a club in Coconut Grove, Florida, and Crosby quickly became enamoured with both her talent and her persona. They soon embarked on a turbulent and fleeting relationship, but his admiration for her artistry remained strong throughout their lives.
The relationship might have fallen apart as soon as it coalesced, but Crosby and Mitchell remained close friends for the rest of his life. He even produced her 1968 debut album, Song to a Seagull. While she might have also split up with him in a brutal way at a house party by singing him the new composition ‘The Song About the Midway’, not once but twice in front of their friends, Crosby would never change his opinion that she was the greatest songwriter of our time.
Crosby repeatedly claimed that Mitchell is the greatest songwriter alive, even going so far as to suggest that her musicianship surpasses that of Bob Dylan—a bold and controversial statement, given Dylan’s status as the voice of their generation. However, Crosby stood firm in his conviction, having witnessed the talents of both Mitchell and Dylan firsthand. His insight carried more weight than a casual opinion from a local record store enthusiast, as Crosby was deeply immersed in the intricacies of both artists’ work, giving his declaration an undeniable authority.
In a 2022 interview with Songfacts, Crosby was informed that his CSN bandmate and fellow former Mitchell lover, Graham Nash, had chosen ‘A Case of You’ as her finest song. When asked for his own pick, Crosby admitted that he simply couldn’t choose—she had written too many masterpieces. He once again reiterated the Dylan comparison, emphasising her unparalleled songwriting prowess and his belief that Mitchell’s body of work stands alongside, if not above, the greatest musicians of their era.
Crosby expressed: “Can’t do it. There’s just too many. Joni Mitchell is, as far as I’m concerned, the best singer-songwriter of our times. Without any question to me. She’s way better than I am, she’s way better than everybody I know. She’s as good a poet as Bob – if not better – and 10 times the musician he is, and singer. I think she’s unquestionably the best singer-songwriter alive. Pick a song? The whole record of Blue. Everything on it.”
It’s safe to say that David Crosby really did think Joni Mitchell was the best songwriter alive. I don’t think anyone can truly comprehend just how exciting their early days were together when they were writing freely and infusing their music with the folkish optimism of the counterculture. He also saw her achieve things that were unimaginable in that Florida club.
