"Fair Game" is a song by the American folk rock supergroup Crosby, Stills & Nash, released as the second single from their third studio album CSN (1977) in October 1977 on Atlantic Records.
Background Fair Game was written by Stephen Stills and tells a story of women looking for love in singles bars, as Bill Siddons said; "Stephen was the groove and rhythm and sex of the band, and Graham and David were the ephemeral ones." The track features Ray Barretto on congas.
Release and reception Record World called the single a "mid-tempo [track] with samba touches, with [Crosby, Stills & Nash]'s trademark vocal harmonies again standing out." Billboard said the track has "Clean acoustic guitar picking[ which] highlights this moody, highly rhythmic light rocker." noting the harmonies to be "tight" while "the overall effect is hypnotic." Cashbox stated the track "combines a snappy Latin rhythm, neatly interlocking harmonies, and layers of Stephen Stills' thoughtful acoustical guitar work." The Lexington Herald-Leader states the song "perfectly profiles the plain woman who has decided to use rather than be used; the song is a little sociological pearl."
Charts +Weekly chart performance for "Fair Game" Chart (1977) PeakpositionCanadian Top Singles (RPM) 10
Personnel Source:
Crosby, Stills & Nash Stephen Stills – acoustic lead guitar, timbales, vocals David Crosby – acoustic rhythm guitar, vocals Graham Nash – vocals Additional musicians Joe Vitale – drums, organ Ray Barretto – congas George "Chocolate" Perry – bass
References