Marrakesh Express
"Marrakesh Express" | ||||
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Crosby, Stills & Nash singles chronology | ||||
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"Marrakesh Express" |
"Marrakesh Express" is a song written by
Composition
"Marrakesh Express" was written and composed by
Nash recalled his inspiration for the song occurring during a Moroccan vacation he took in 1966. On the trip, Nash traveled by train from Casablanca to Marrakesh. He began the journey in First Class, surrounded by people he found to be uninteresting—as he described it, they were all "ladies with blue hair." He decided the compartment was "completely fucking boring," so left his seat to explore the other train carriages, and was fascinated by what he saw.
The song mentions "ducks and pigs and chickens," which he saw on the train, and recalled the ride by commenting: "It's literally the song as it is—what happened to me."[8]
Musical structure
The instrumentation of the song seeks to embody Nash's lyrics through an Eastern vibe and a "buoyant" flow carried by
Marrakesh Express at Woodstock
The second public appearance
Reception and current appeal
The song has gained attention throughout the years and has remained popular since its release in 1969. Throughout the decades of touring done by Crosby, Stills and Nash, and the sometimes
A Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young tribute band is named "Marrakesh Express: A Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young Experience."[13]
Record World said it was "one of the merriest sides from the album ."[14]
In a 2003 Rolling Stone article, Iggy Pop mentions the song in response to a discussion of the Stooges’ creation acting as a counter against the "hippie movement”. He exclaims, "I mean, 'Marrakesh Express?' It may be the worst song ever written."[15]
Chart history
Chart (1969) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[16] | 23 |
Canada RPM Top Singles[5] | 17 |
17 | |
US Billboard Hot 100[17] | 28 |
US Billboard Easy Listening[18] | 28 |
US Cash Box Top 100[19]
|
19 |
U.S. Record World Top 100[20] | 17 |
Cover versions
In 2012, the song was recorded by the band
See also
References
- ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- ^ "Crosby, Stills & Nash - Marrakesh Express". Discogs.com. 1969. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
- ^ "Crosby, Stills & Nash | Crosby, Stills and Nash". Crosbystillsnash.com. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 61.
- ^ a b "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1969-08-30. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
- ^ a b "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. 1969-08-16. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
- ^ a b Zimmer, Dave. Crosby, Stills & Nash: The Authorized Biography. Da Capo Press, 2000.
- ^ Greene, Andy (2008-08-18). "Track by Track: Crosby, Stills & Nash on Their Self-Titled Debut". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
- ^ Lindsay Planer. "Marrakesh Express - Crosby, Stills & Nash | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
- ^ Fricke, David. "David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash & Neil Young." Rolling Stone no. 838 (April 13, 2000): 92.
- ^ "Crosby, Stills and Nash - Marakesh Express/Blackbird". YouTube. 2006-03-01. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
- ^ "Marrakesh Express by Crosby, Stills & Nash Song Statistics". Setlist.fm. 1969-08-17. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
- ^ "Marrakesh Express - a Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young Experience". Marrakesh Music. Archived from the original on 2016-10-03. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
- ^ "Single Picks of the Week" (PDF). Record World. July 5, 1969. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-05-05.
- ^ Devenish, Colin (2005-06-23). "Stooges reissue deluxe editions of 'The Stooges' and 'Fun House'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1969-04-10. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
- ISBN 0-89820-089-X
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 61.
- ^ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, August 30, 1969
- ^ "RECORD WORLD MAGAZINE: 1942 to 1982". worldradiohistory.com. Retrieved 2020-12-28.