Innocent Eyes
	Produced by Craig Doerge, Stanley Johnston, Graham Nash
	Released on April 1986
	US CHART POSITION #136
	Find it at GEMM
81633-1 cover [high resolution photo]

W hile the CS&N reunions spoke to a bygone era, Nash reached out to a new generation (theoretically) with the studio synth-rock of Innocent Eyes. Graham’s voice has always been a little underwhelming on its own, and these mechanical arrangements tend to absorb his vocals rather than support them. Which wouldn’t be awful if the melodies were clever, but they’re not. Nash writes about half the material, the other half coming from professional songwriters like Richie Zito. It’s not a recipe for disaster, since David Crosby has had good success with outside collaborators (Thousand Roads), but it does support the suspicion that Nash didn’t really have an album in him. His lyrics lack the pointed social criticism of Crosby, his melodies are forgettable, his vocal performance sounds like Sting’s bored, tone-deaf brother (notably on “Newday”). I know that sounds harsh, but Innocent Eyes is guilty of being a bad album, and I wouldn’t want anyone to buy this thinking it’s representative of Graham Nash’s abilities. Even longtime fans will be hard-pressed to find a ray of sunshine here; “Sad Eyes” and “I Got A Rock” are as good as it gets. The supporting musicians are solid, as always, but studio music like this doesn’t place much value in musicianship. Most interesting contribution: Ian Wallace (of King Crimson ages past) adds drum overdubs on two tracks. If I had to pick the lamest CS&N solo album I’ve heard so far (and actually, I don’t have to, so I suppose I’m just being a jerk), I’d pick Innocent Eyes. Blindfolded, every time.

81633-1 back cover w. promo stamp	81633-1 lyric sleeve

TRACK LISTING

1. SEE YOU IN PRAGUE    (Davitt Siegerson/Richie Zito)    3:44
2. KEEP AWAY FROM ME    (Graham Nash)    3:34
3. INNOCENT EYES    (Paul Bliss)    3:10
4. CHIPPIN' AWAY    (Tom Fedora)    3:55
5. OVER THE WALL    (Graham Nash)    3:27
6. DON'T LISTEN TO THE RUMORS    (John Palermo)    3:05
7. SAD EYES    (Graham Nash)    3:22
8. NEWDAY    (Craig Doerge/Graham Nash)    3:19
9. GLASS AND STEEL    (Graham Nash)    3:17
10. I GOT A ROCK    (Graham Nash)    3:17

CREDITS

GRAHAM NASH -- vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards, guitars
BILL BOYDSTON -- linn drum programming, keyboards
CRAIG DOERGE -- keyboards
MIKE FISHER -- percussion
MICHAEL LANDAU -- guitars
MARK WILLIAMS -- drums, drum over-dubs
Paul Bliss -- bass, keyboards & drum programming (3)
Tim Drummond -- bass
Joe Lala -- percussion (7)
David Lindley -- lead guitar (2)
Kenny Loggins -- additional vocal (3)
Alan Pasqua -- keyboards (10)
George Perry -- bass
David Plantshon -- drums (9)
Leland Sklar -- bass (9)
Jeff Southworth -- guitars
James Taylor -- additional vocal (7)
Waddy Wachtel -- guitars (5)
Ian Wallace -- drum over-dubs
Kate Yester -- additional vocal (6)
Stanley Johnston -- engineer
Jay Parti -- engineer
Greg Ladanyi -- mixing
Reed Fenton -- photography
Digital Art, Los Angeles -- computer illustration
Jimmy Wachtel/Dawn Patrol -- art direction/design

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