The cover was designed by Gary Burden who is considered one of the pioneers of the concept of album cover art. According to the late Mr. Burden's website: "The inspiration for this artwork came from Stephen Stills' love of the elaborate old tintypes and family journals of the 1860s." The image is an actual tintype made by Mr. Burden having researched the process.
What the grouping of individuals represents has always been a point of curiosity. For me, this is a post-Civil War portrait of Southern Men. They left the South after the defeat in 1865 for the Frontier. Young and Nash were from wealthy families, Young the dandier of the two. Stills, remaining in his old uniform, is a true believer of the Cause. Crosby, wearing buckskins, along with Taylor (drums) are Frontiersmen, making money where they can and well-armed. Reeves (bass) is curious-his vest embroidery reminds me of Indigenous or Creole origin pointing to perhaps a mixed race heritage. Standing behind Nash, makes me wonder if Reeves worked for Nash's family and being trustworthy, went along when Nash moved West.
Is this a family portrait of four brothers? Perhaps a couple of brothers and their close cousins? There's not much of family resemblance so this points to them having ties to each other like brothers much like CSNY were in real life.
According to Mr. Burden "The record company was not amused… and they called Stephen (Stills) ranting and raving about the costs, he told them it was what he wanted and to get out of the way and let it happen. That they would make a lot of money on this album. He was right. It went platinum in weeks."
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