Q: I heard Marrakesh Express by Crosby, Stills and Nash on the radio recently. Is there really such a railroad and, if so, where is it?

A: There most certainly is a Marrakesh Express! It runs between the Moroccan cities of Casablanca and Marrakesh. The two cities lie roughly 155 miles apart in a north-south orientation, with Casablanca sitting on the Atlantic coast about 50 miles southwest of the Kingdoms capital, Rabat. Marrakesh Express was written by Graham Nash in August 1967 while he was still with the Hollies. During the mid-60s, Morocco had a reputation among the hippies as being a wildly exotic place full of interesting sights and experiences, including finding spiritual enlightenment. Nash decided to visit and boarded the Marrakesh Express in Casablanca.

He first started out in the first-class section, but he quickly found that boring and wandered back to where the third-class passengers rode.

There he found people sharing meals that were cooked on little wood-burning stoves. He found live farm animals, too. The whole experience resonated him, but it wasnt until the following year that he tried to write the song. The song did not fit well with the rest of his Hollies bandmates. So he put it aside until he teamed up with David Crosby and Stephen Stills in late 1968. He dusted it off and they recorded it for their debut album, Crosby, Stills & Nash. The song was also the first single from that album and peaked at No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 record chart. It also was the only Top 20 hit CS&N had in the UK. On a side note, history buffs might be interested to know that Morocco has the distinction of being the first country to recognize the new United States as a country in 1777. This recognition was formalized in 1786 when the Moroccan-United States Treaty of Peace and Friendship was signed by diplomats Thomas Barclay, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson and Moroccan sultan, Muhammad III. Congress formally ratified it on July 18, 1787. It is still in effect today, making it the longest, unbroken treaty in our nations history.

Q: Ive heard many different stories about the identity of Angie in the famous Rolling Stones song. Has she ever been positively identified?

A: Over the years, there have been many persistent rumors about the identity of Angie. Angela Bowie, David Bowies wife at the time and the alleged lover of Mick Jagger, is the most common person identified as Angie. Another common rumor identifies Angie as Anita Pallenberg, Keith Richards girlfriend at the time. However, the title actually refers to Keith and Anitas daughter, Dandelion Angela Richards, who was born in April 1972 and was a baby when Angie was recorded in late 1972. In 1993, Richards stated that he came up with the songs melody and title.

Explaining that Angela had recently been born, he said the title refers to her. Angelas early life was not normal. Both of her parents famously struggled with heroin addiction. In fact, she was given to Keiths mother, Doris, to raise. It really was not until she was in her 30s that she was able to reconcile with both of her parents.

Whats the name of that song? Where are they now? What does that lyric mean? Send your questions about songs, albums, and the musicians who make them to MusicOnTheRecord@gmail.com. Bradford Brady and John Maron are freelance music writers based in Raleigh.

Excerpt from:

On the Record: Where is the Marrakesh Express? - Sanford Herald (registration)