Stephen Stills Forever

By the time I bought Stephen Stills' first solo LP at Licorice Pizza in Azusa, CA in 1974, it had been in release for over 3 years, had a Billboard Top 100 hit with the opening track 'Love the One You're With' in December 1970, and the album peaked at #3 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart in January 1971.

By the way... I still have that original vinyl, think I paid $2.99 for it.

I was late to the listening party but read reviews in CREEM and ROLLING STONE about some of the amazing artists he drafted for this initial solo foray. It reads like a musical Who's Who: Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Booker T. Jones, Ringo Starr, Dallas Taylor, Rita Coolidge, David Crosby, John Sebastian, Cass Elliott, Graham Nash, among many others.

AYFKM?!?!

In fact, this LP was the only one to ever feature both Hendrix and Clapton on guitar, and it was dedicated to 'James Marshall Hendrix' who died in September 1970, only two months before the LP arrived in record stores.

R.I.P., Jimi and Cass.

Stephen Stills... founding member of both Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young... also played the memorable guitar on Bill Withers' Grammy-winning monster hit 'Ain't No Sunshine'. 

Wait... WHAT?!

This LP has been a part of my musical lexicon ever since I first spun it, and not just because it contains Superstar DNA. When I played it last year on our new turntable, it proved once again why it has such staying power. Here's a selection of tracks from one of my all-time favorite releases.

"Love The One You're With"

His biggest solo hit, Stephen got the idea for this song from Billy Preston. When Billy said goodbye to someone, he'd add "Well if you can't be with the one you love, just love the one you're with!" Stephen said to him "Hey Billy... do you mind if I use that phrase in a song?" Billy said 'Sure, go ahead!" BOOM... HIT.

Along with Stills, musicians on this excellent pop tune include David Crosby, Graham Nash, Calvin 'Fuzzy' Samuel, Rita Coolidge and John Sebastian.



"Do For The Others"

Written by Stephen for David Crosby about the death of his girlfriend Christine Hinton, this tune spins a melancholy tale of life, death, loss and longing. Sad as the subject matter is, the music is uplifting and beautiful, the harmonies soar and the musicianship is warm and enveloping.

Based on the Personnel breakdown, it seems Stephen played almost all the instruments on this cut. His tool kit includes vocals, guitars, bass, piano, organ, steel drum and percussion. WHEW!



"Old Times Good Times'

There's no mistaking Jimi on guitar as he soars through this cut, with Stephen playing mad keyboards all over the place. The tune drives forward with a speed and style that makes it seem like we're listening in on a private jam session. Knowing Jimi would be gone before the record was released makes it even more heartbreaking to hear him playing so beautifully free.

R.I.P., James Marshall Hendrix.



"Sit Yourself Down"

Based on a gospel-type melody, this tune is about his relationship with Rita Coolidge, who sang back-up on much of this LP. Along with Rita, other back-up singers here include Graham Nash, David Crosby, John Sebastian and Cass Elliott. 



"Go Back Home"

Like Jimi's playing on the previous track, Eric Clapton's signature style on this cut oozes and shreds and cries like no one else. The slow-rolling rhythm of bass and drums propels us towards a crescendo that reverberates long after the tune has ended. Stunning.



"Black Queen"

What can I say? This is simply an amazing display of solo bluesmanship, supposedly recorded while he was 'drunk as a skunk'. Listening to Stephen singing and playing with such abandon, I can totally believe he was blotto but managed to lay down a memorable track anyways.

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The Artist and I have a nice collection of combined vinyl, and the fact there are more than a few duplicates means that we were listening to some of the same music at the same time in our lives before we met.

For those of us of a certain age, we can connect ourselves to times and places via the records we bought, took to parties or to friend's houses, or played during make-out sessions.

I recall taking my copy of Santana's 'Abraxas' (1970) all over the place when I first got it, the cover art causing much grief to many of my friend's Moms, some of whom banned it from their homes. Of course they did.

'Frampton Comes Alive' was absolutely required at every party I ever went to in the 1976, even though nobody really knew who the hell he was.

It all went sideways for me the first time I heard The Ramones' debut LP (1976), and I've been going sideways ever since.  HEY, HO... LET'S GO!!!!

Through it all, these slices of licorice pizza have stayed with me through the years, sometimes languishing un-played in boxes in the garage for decades until a wild hair makes me race out there to root out a record and spin it incessantly until The Artist starts rolling her eyes.

'Stephen Stills' is a singular gem of an LP. The lyrics and musicianship are first-rate, that Superstar DNA is undeniable, and the collaborative result is as accessible and contemporary as anyone could want. You know that new turntable I mentioned earlier? It can record vinyl and transfer it into an MP3 or direct to disc.

'Nuff said.

Added Bonus Track, because awesome:



"Ain't No Sunshine" -- Bill Withers

His monster 1971 hit, with Stephen on guitar. Still a benchmark of pop music. He says 'I know' 26 times.

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Lead image, Gracias de Google Images; all videos, Gracias de YouTube; Stephen Stills biographical info, Muchismas Gracias de Wikipedia; Long Live Stephen Stills!