This European import is, in actuality, a pirated version of
David Crosby and
Graham Nash's 1975 release,
Wind on the Water -- which was out of print on compact disc throughout the late '90s. Legalities aside, those looking for this material should direct their attentions to the MCA reissue from 2000, as both the audio quality and packaging are infinitely better. This title was apparently copied from the mid-'80s budget CD -- as it contains many of the same audio anomalies as its predecessor. With regard to the contents,
Wind on the Water is definitely one of their best, second only to the duo's flawless debut collaborative effort,
Graham Nash/David Crosby (1971). The pair are backed by "the Mighty Jitters" -- a conglomerate of semi-regular studio heavyweights who include the likes of
Russell Kunkel (drums),
Leland Sklar (bass),
David Lindley (guitar),
Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar (guitar), and
Craig Doerge (keyboards). A few friends --
James Taylor (guitar/vocals),
Carole King (piano/vocals), and
Levon Helm (drums) -- also make sizable contributions to the proceedings. Some of
Crosby's finest compositions can be found here. Among them are the dark and brooding "Bittersweet" and "Homeward Through the Haze," which had initially been documented during the mid-'70s re-formation of
CSN&Y. The album also features the first
Crosby & Nash-written collaborations on both "Naked in the Rain" and the brilliant "To the Last Whale" suite.
Crosby's contributions include the classically influenced a cappella "Critical Mass," which is wed to
Nash's enormously emotive title track, "Wind on the Water." Despite the reappearance of
Wind on the Water,
Bittersweet has remained in print throughout the EEC and continues to demand the additional pricing that accompanies European imports. However, caveat emptor -- as the domestic version is significantly less expensive and offers more value for the money.