Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – American Dream (1988)
American Dream is the fifth studio album by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, released in November 1988. It marked the first full CSNY album in over a decade, reuniting the quartet after years of solo projects and side collaborations. The album blends rock, folk, and soft pop elements, maintaining the group’s signature harmonies while reflecting on political, social, and personal themes of the late 1980s.
Album Overview
Title: American Dream
Release Date: November 1, 1988
Label: Atlantic Records
Producer: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Russ Kunkel, Stephen Stills
Genre: Folk rock, rock, pop rock
Length: 48:01
Format: Vinyl, cassette, CD
Sales: Over 1 million copies, certified Platinum
The album balances introspective ballads, socially aware songs, and rock-oriented tracks, showing that even after years apart, CSNY could still craft music that resonated with both longtime fans and a contemporary audience.
Tracklist
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American Dream – 5:18
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Got It Made – 4:27
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This Old House – 3:55
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Nighttime for the Generals – 4:27
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War Games – 4:25
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I Know – 3:55
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Stranger’s Room – 4:31
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Don’t Say Goodbye – 4:20
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Clear Blue Skies – 4:01
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Find a Dream – 4:42
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Delta – 4:00
Mini Review
American Dream showcases CSNY’s ability to reunite and produce polished, harmony-rich songs after a long hiatus.
The title track, American Dream, opens the album with reflective lyrics and soaring harmonies, setting the tone for a politically and socially conscious record. Got It Made and Don’t Say Goodbye highlight the band’s knack for catchy, radio-friendly melodies, while War Games and Nighttime for the Generals tackle more serious themes. The album’s production is glossy but allows the signature CSNY harmonies to shine.
Album Credits
David Crosby: vocals, rhythm guitar
Stephen Stills: vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass
Graham Nash: vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards
Neil Young: vocals, guitars, piano
Guest Musicians:
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Russ Kunkel – drums
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Joe Vitale – percussion, keyboards
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Leland Sklar – bass
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Additional session musicians on keyboards and backing instruments
Engineering: Niko Bolas, Stephen Stills
Photography: Henry Diltz
Album Design: Gribbitt!
Fun Facts & Trivia
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American Dream marked the first CSNY studio album together in 10 years, following individual projects in the early and mid-1980s.
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Neil Young was heavily involved in writing and performing, contributing to the rockier edge of several tracks.
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The album includes a mix of political commentary (War Games) and reflective storytelling (Stranger’s Room), showing the band’s continued lyrical depth.
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Got It Made and Don’t Say Goodbye became minor radio hits, demonstrating CSNY’s ability to adapt to the late ’80s sound without losing their identity.
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The album was followed by the American Dream Tour, one of CSNY’s largest tours of the decade.
Did You Know?
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The title track American Dream reflects the band’s view on societal and political issues of the 1980s.
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The album was recorded in multiple studios across California to accommodate the members’ busy schedules.
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Despite mixed critical reception, the album’s polished harmonies and songwriting ensured its Platinum status in the U.S.
Cultural Impact
American Dream reestablished CSNY as a relevant supergroup in the late 1980s, bridging their classic folk-rock roots with contemporary production. The album introduced their music to a new generation while reaffirming their reputation as masterful vocalists and socially aware songwriters.
Conclusion
American Dream captures CSNY’s ability to reunite and deliver music that is both reflective and commercially accessible. From the political and melodic American Dream to the introspective Stranger’s Room, the album proves that the quartet’s harmonies and songwriting remained as compelling as ever. For fans of harmony-driven rock and folk, it remains a significant late-period entry in the CSNY catalog.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Full Discography