Marrakesh Express

"Marrakesh Express" is a song written by Graham Nash and performed by the band Crosby, Stills and Nash (CSN). It was first released in May 1969 on the self-titled album, Crosby, Stills and Nash, and released on a 45-RPM single in July of the same year, with another CSN song, "Helplessly Hoping",[2] as its backing side. The single reached No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 on August 23, 1969.[3] It reached the same position on the Easy Listening chart.[4] The song was best received in the UK and Canada, reaching No. 17 in both nations.[5][6]

Not to be confused with Marrakech Express.
This article is about the song by Crosby, Stills & Nash. For the album by Stan Getz, see Marrakesh Express (album).
"Marrakesh Express"
West German picture sleeve
Single by Crosby, Stills & Nash
from the album Crosby, Stills & Nash
B-side"Helplessly Hoping"
ReleasedJuly 1969
Recorded1969
GenrePop[1]
Length2:38
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)Graham Nash
Producer(s)David Crosby
Graham Nash
Stephen Stills
Crosby, Stills & Nash singles chronology
"Marrakesh Express"
(1969)		 "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes"
(1969)
Audio sample
"Marrakesh Express"
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Composition

"Marrakesh Express" was written and composed by Graham Nash during his final years as a member of the English rock band the Hollies, of which he was a member from its formation in 1962 till 1968. The band rejected the song as not commercial enough, but it found a home with Nash's new band Crosby, Stills and Nash.[7]

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 Jim Gordon's drumming, to resemble a train ride. Stephen Stills was responsible for much of the creative musicianship, adding a distinctive, unique sounding riff played on two overdubbed electric guitars.[7] He also added Hammond B3 organ, piano and bass. The song was rounded out by Nash's acoustic guitar, and the group's trademark three-part vocal harmony on the choruses.[9]

Marrakesh Express at Woodstock

The second public appearance[10] of "Marrakesh Express" was at the Woodstock Music Festival. Between 3 am and 4 am on August 18, 1969, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young came together as a band for the second time in public and performed a set that included what Graham Nash called "a medley of our hit," referring to this song, the first single from their debut album.[11]

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 Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, "Marrakesh Express" is the ninth most-played song by them, and has been performed over 450 times.[12]

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]

The song has also gained negative attention, most notably by the Stooges' singer, Iggy Pop. 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
UK Singles (OCC)[6] 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 The Gypsy Queens for their eponymous album The Gypsy Queens, featuring Nash himself and produced by Larry Klein. It was recorded at Jim Henson Studios in Los Angeles, (Jim Henson Company). The Album reached #46 in the English charts.

Personnel

See also

References
  1. Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian, eds. (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 201. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  2. "Crosby, Stills & Nash - Marrakesh Express". Discogs.com. 1969. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
  3. "Crosby, Stills & Nash | Crosby, Stills and Nash". Crosbystillsnash.com. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
  4. Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 61.
  5. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1969-08-30. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
  6. "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. 1969-08-16. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
  7. Zimmer, Dave. Crosby, Stills & Nash: The Authorized Biography. Da Capo Press, 2000.
  8. Greene, Andy (2008-08-18). "Track by Track: Crosby, Stills & Nash on Their Self-Titled Debut". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
  9. Lindsay Planer. "Marrakesh Express - Crosby, Stills & Nash | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
  10. Fricke, David. "David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash & Neil Young." Rolling Stone no. 838 (April 13, 2000): 92.
  11. "Crosby, Stills and Nash - Marakesh Express/Blackbird". YouTube. 2006-03-01. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
  12. "Marrakesh Express by Crosby, Stills & Nash Song Statistics". Setlist.fm. 1969-08-17. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
  13. "Marrakesh Express - a Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young Experience". Marrakesh Music. Archived from the original on 2016-10-03. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
  14. "Single Picks of the Week" (PDF). Record World. July 5, 1969. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-05-05.
  15. Devenish, Colin (2005-06-23). "Stooges reissue deluxe editions of 'The Stooges' and 'Fun House'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
  16. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1969-04-10. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
  17. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  18. Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 61.
  19. Cash Box Top 100 Singles, August 30, 1969
  20. "RECORD WORLD MAGAZINE: 1942 to 1982". worldradiohistory.com. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
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