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- This famous album cover photo is from Marin
This famous album cover photo is from Marin
Marin history and our Zillow listing of the week
Marin Buzz
July 21, 2025
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1969: What a year! We put a man on the moon. Woodstock. The Manson murders.
And an old-time photo was taken in a backyard in Novato, California.
The band Crosby, Stills, and Nash, fresh off their debut album, added another talented musician in Neil Young. CSNY started work on their first album, with David Crosby’s rented ranch-style house in Novato as the base of operations.
But it wasn’t a happy time for this new band. Crosby’s girlfriend was killed in a car accident and he was grief stricken. Everyone else was going through breakups. Neil Young and Stephen Stills argued constantly about the music. Yet it birthed something beautiful: the album Déjà Vu.
The backyard of the home had a unique oak tree. Stephen Stills had the idea for an 1860s Civil War-era photo for the album cover. They dressed in costume: buckskin and fringe, cowboy gunslinger attire, and even an actual Confederate army uniform.
They attempted to use a Civil War-era camera too, that required holding still for 2-3 minutes. However, a neighbor’s dog surprised everyone by walking into the frame. The photographer took a photo on a standard 35mm camera, which ended up being their favorite. In the darkroom they added sepia tone and other antiquing effects.
The album cover for Déjà Vu is memorable due to a textured dark-brown “leatherette” paper and hand-applied gold-foil lettering (the most expensive album cover ever at that point).
The album was released in early 1970 and would go on to sell over 8 million copies. I’m sure you’ll recognize the songs Our House, Teach Your Children, Carry On, Woodstock, Helpless, and more.
Fun fact: CSNY was recording the album in SF next door to the Grateful Dead. Jerry Garcia helped with a pedal steel guitar track in exchange for help with vocal harmonies on their albums Workingman’s Dead and American Beauty.
Muji is an 18 year old rescue from SPCA. He is an amazing companion who loves cuddles and has been with our family for over a decade.
If you’d like your pet to be considered for Pet of the Week, please fill this out!
 Private deck for $1.9M |
Imagine Florida, but without the humidity, alligators, and Florida people.
Bel Marin Keys in Novato feels like you’ve been transported to another place and time. The 702 houses are around a man-made lagoon with access to Novato Creek out to the Bay.
This is a 3 bed, 2 bath, 2050 sq ft home with a massive backyard deck. What do you think for $1,900,000?
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Thanks for reading. We will be back with the regular events and activities email Wednesday morning!
Middle school students, come learn about robotics, entrepreneurship, and CAD product design. July 28 week only at the San Rafael Northgate Mall and completely free.
There is also a math camp August 11 week. Email [email protected] or text 415-847-2534.