Triad (David Crosby song)
Encyclopedia
"Triad" is a song written by David Crosby
in 1967 about a ménage à trois
, a subject perfectly in keeping with the "free love
" hippie
philosophies of the day. The song was written while Crosby was a member of the rock
band
The Byrds
, who were at that time recording their fifth studio album
, The Notorious Byrd Brothers
. Although the band did record "Triad" and perform it live during a September 1967 engagement at the Whisky a Go Go
, it was not included on The Notorious Byrd Brothers album. According to Crosby, this was due to lead guitar
ist Roger McGuinn
and bass player
Chris Hillman
feeling that its subject-matter was too controversial, with McGuinn in particular allegedly deriding the song as a "freak-out orgy tune." However, this has since been denied by Hillman who has stated "I don't think it was a moral decision. The song just didn't work that well. David was drifting and bored and wanted to do something else, and that song just added fuel to the fire."
There had been growing animosity between Crosby and the rest of the band throughout 1967, with events finally coming to a head during the recording sessions
for The Notorious Byrd Brothers. These tensions had arisen as a result of several factors, including Crosby's displeasure over the band's wish to record the Goffin
—King
composition "Goin' Back
", his fraternization with fellow L.A. musicians, and his controversial remarks to the audience during The Byrds' performance at the Monterey Pop Festival
. Ultimately, these factors, along with the discord surrounding "Triad", contributed to McGuinn and Hillman's decision to fire Crosby from the band during October 1967. Crosby eventually gave the song to Jefferson Airplane
, who recorded it on their 1968 album, Crown of Creation
. A live recording
of "Triad" was later included on Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's 1971 album, 4 Way Street
.
The song's lyrics were largely inspired by the hedonism and sexual freedom that Crosby enjoyed at his home in Beverly Glen
in Los Angeles during 1967. However, the song also features allusions to author Robert A. Heinlein
's science fiction
novel Stranger in a Strange Land
, with references to "sister lovers" and "water brothers". "Triad", as recorded by The Byrds, remained unreleased for twenty years but was finally issued on the 1987 archival album, Never Before
. The song also appears on the The Byrds box set from 1990, as a bonus track
on the 1997 Columbia/Legacy
reissue of The Notorious Byrd Brothers, and on the 2006 There Is a Season
box set.
The Icicle Works recorded "Triad" as a medley
with another Byrds' song, "Chestnut Mare
", on the 1989 Byrds' tribute album
Time Between – A Tribute to The Byrds. The song was also covered by Danish singer-songwriter
Tina Dico
in 2008.
David Crosby
David Van Cortlandt Crosby is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. In addition to his solo career, he was a founding member of three bands: The Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash , and CPR...
in 1967 about a ménage à trois
Ménage à trois
Ménage à trois is a French term which originally described a domestic arrangement in which three people having sexual relations occupy the same household – the phrase literally translates as "household of three"...
, a subject perfectly in keeping with the "free love
Sexual revolution
The sexual revolution was a social movement that challenged traditional codes of behavior related to sexuality and interpersonal relationships throughout the Western world from the 1960s into the 1980s...
" hippie
Hippie
The hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The etymology of the term 'hippie' is from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's...
philosophies of the day. The song was written while Crosby was a member of the rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
The Byrds
The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...
, who were at that time recording their fifth studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
, The Notorious Byrd Brothers
The Notorious Byrd Brothers
The Notorious Byrd Brothers is the fifth album by the American rock band The Byrds and was released in January 1968 on Columbia Records . Musically, the album represents the pinnacle of The Byrds' psychedelic experimentation, with the band blending together elements of folk rock, psychedelic rock,...
. Although the band did record "Triad" and perform it live during a September 1967 engagement at the Whisky a Go Go
Whisky a Go Go
The Whisky a Go Go is a nightclub in West Hollywood, California, United States. It is located at 8901 Sunset Boulevard, on the Sunset Strip.-History:...
, it was not included on The Notorious Byrd Brothers album. According to Crosby, this was due to lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
ist Roger McGuinn
Roger McGuinn
James Roger McGuinn is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for being the lead singer and lead guitarist on many of The Byrds' records...
and bass player
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Chris Hillman
Chris Hillman
Christopher Hillman was one of the original members of The Byrds which in 1965 included Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, David Crosby, and Michael Clarke....
feeling that its subject-matter was too controversial, with McGuinn in particular allegedly deriding the song as a "freak-out orgy tune." However, this has since been denied by Hillman who has stated "I don't think it was a moral decision. The song just didn't work that well. David was drifting and bored and wanted to do something else, and that song just added fuel to the fire."
There had been growing animosity between Crosby and the rest of the band throughout 1967, with events finally coming to a head during the recording sessions
Studio recording
The term studio recording means any recording made in a studio, as opposed to a live recording, which is usually made in a concert venue or a theatre, with an audience attending the performance.-Studio cast recordings:...
for The Notorious Byrd Brothers. These tensions had arisen as a result of several factors, including Crosby's displeasure over the band's wish to record the Goffin
Gerry Goffin
Gerry Goffin is an American lyricist. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 with former songwriting partner and first wife, Carole King. he has co-written six Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers.-Career:Goffin enlisted with the Marine Corps Reserve after graduating from...
—King
Carole King
Carole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S...
composition "Goin' Back
Goin' Back
"Goin' Back" is a song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King in 1966. It describes the loss of innocence that comes with adulthood along with an attempt, on the part of the singer, to recapture that youthful innocence...
", his fraternization with fellow L.A. musicians, and his controversial remarks to the audience during The Byrds' performance at the Monterey Pop Festival
Monterey Pop Festival
The Monterey International Pop Music Festival was a three-day concert event held June 16 to June 18, 1967 at the Monterey County Fairgrounds in Monterey, California...
. Ultimately, these factors, along with the discord surrounding "Triad", contributed to McGuinn and Hillman's decision to fire Crosby from the band during October 1967. Crosby eventually gave the song to Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965. A pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement, Jefferson Airplane was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve mainstream commercial and critical success....
, who recorded it on their 1968 album, Crown of Creation
Crown of Creation
-Personnel:*Marty Balin – vocals, rhythm guitar*Grace Slick – vocals, piano, organ*Paul Kantner – rhythm guitar, vocals*Jorma Kaukonen – lead guitar, electric chicken, vocals*Spencer Dryden – drums, piano, organ, steel balls, vocals...
. A live recording
Recorded live track
A recorded live track is a song or audio sequence recorded from live performances .Live song tracks typically have concert hall noise . Though often less precise than practiced, studio recordings, live recordings may offer a more exciting feel...
of "Triad" was later included on Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's 1971 album, 4 Way Street
4 Way Street
4 Way Street is the third album by Crosby, Stills & Nash, their second as Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and their first live album. It was originally released as Atlantic Records SD-2-902, shipping as a gold record and peaking at #1 on the Billboard 200...
.
The song's lyrics were largely inspired by the hedonism and sexual freedom that Crosby enjoyed at his home in Beverly Glen
Beverly Glen, Los Angeles, California
Beverly Glen is a Beverly Crest neighborhood located around Beverly Glen Boulevard north of Sunset Boulevard and south of Mulholland Drive. A predominantly wealthy area, with residences ranging from large gated estates, to smaller one story family homes. Stone Canyon Reservoir lies in the...
in Los Angeles during 1967. However, the song also features allusions to author Robert A. Heinlein
Robert A. Heinlein
Robert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction writer. Often called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was one of the most influential and controversial authors of the genre. He set a standard for science and engineering plausibility and helped to raise the genre's standards of...
's science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
novel Stranger in a Strange Land
Stranger in a Strange Land
Stranger in a Strange Land is a 1961 science fiction novel by American author Robert A. Heinlein. It tells the story of Valentine Michael Smith, a human who comes to Earth in early adulthood after being born on the planet Mars and raised by Martians. The novel explores his interaction with—and...
, with references to "sister lovers" and "water brothers". "Triad", as recorded by The Byrds, remained unreleased for twenty years but was finally issued on the 1987 archival album, Never Before
Never Before (album)
Never Before is a compilation album by the American rock band The Byrds, consisting of previously unreleased outtakes, alternate versions, and rarities. It was initially released by Re-Flyte Records in December 1987 and was subsequently reissued on CD in 1989, with an additional seven bonus tracks...
. The song also appears on the The Byrds box set from 1990, as a bonus track
Bonus track
In terms of recorded music, a bonus track is a piece of music which has been included on specific releases or reissues of an album. This is most often done as a promotional device, either as an incentive to customers to purchase albums they might otherwise not, or to repurchase albums they already...
on the 1997 Columbia/Legacy
Legacy Recordings
Legacy Recordings is Sony Music Entertainment's catalog division. It was founded in 1990 by CBS Records under the leadership of Jerry Shulman, Richard Bauer, Gary Pacheco and Amy Herot to handle reissues of recordings from the vast catalogues of Columbia Records, Epic Records and associated...
reissue of The Notorious Byrd Brothers, and on the 2006 There Is a Season
There Is a Season
There Is a Season is a four-CD box set by the American rock band The Byrds that was released on September 26, 2006 by Columbia/Legacy. It comprises 99 tracks and includes material from every one of the band's twelve studio albums, presented in roughly chronological order...
box set.
The Icicle Works recorded "Triad" as a medley
Medley (music)
In music, a medley is a piece composed from parts of existing pieces, usually three, played one after another, sometimes overlapping. They are common in popular music, and most medleys are songs rather than instrumental. A medley which is a remixed series is called a megamix, often done with tracks...
with another Byrds' song, "Chestnut Mare
Chestnut Mare
"Chestnut Mare" is a song by the American rock band The Byrds, written by Roger McGuinn and Jacques Levy during 1969 for a planned country rock musical named Gene Tryp. The musical was never staged and the song was instead released in September 1970 as part of The Byrds' album...
", on the 1989 Byrds' tribute album
Tribute album
A tribute album is a recorded collection of cover versions of songs or instrumental compositions. Its concept may be either various artists making a tribute to a single artist, a single artist making a tribute to various artists, or a single artist making a tribute to another single artist.There...
Time Between – A Tribute to The Byrds. The song was also covered by Danish singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Tina Dico
Tina Dico
Tina Dico is a singer and songwriter inspired by artists such as Tracy Chapman, Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen.In Denmark she performs under her real name, Tina Dickow.- Beginnings :...
in 2008.
External links
- 1998 live recording of "Triad" by CPR. Recorded during the group's summer 1998 tour at a club called Mars, somewhere in Florida.