Customer Reviews

Stephen Stills

5 star:		(64)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm astonished by the comments of the amazon.com reviewer. Stills is the most accomplished musician in CSNY: He played every instrument except the drums on the debut record and almost all on Deja Vu. While all the guys in CSNY have their strengths, Stills is the one with cache with serious players. Incidentally, it's Stills, not Clapton playing the solo in the middle of "Go Back Home." (Clapton plays the coda). Listen to Stills handle the Hammond B-3 on the jam with Hendrix. It's a shame this guy never lived up to his talent, but when this album was released he was at the top of his game.

It was the beginning of a new decade and, as Dickens wrote "it was best of times, it was the worst of times," CSN&Y has made it clear there would no more "Deja Vu"s and it was impossible not to be sad as having such stunning encounter of four songwriting talents stop their four-way magic at one single album.
And then there were four solo beauties -except for Young's "After the Gold Rush," first albums for Crosby, Nash and Stills- that returned a smile to many of our grieving faces.

Although if compared to his feuding amigos I would not rate Stephen Still first solo recording the best of all four, there's nothing here that could not be considered absolutely impeccable.
Furthermore, as musical breadth goes, this album show unequivocally Stills' capacity and deep understanding of what Rock was becoming and practically every well it drunk from.
And everything it's realized perfectly, the soaring chorus and sweeping organ of "Love The One You're With;" the Gospel beauty of "Church" and "To A Flame;" "Old Times Good Times," where Stills trades licks with Hendrix himself; the horns launching "Cherokee" into its own outer space, the sensuous cadence of "Sit Yourself Down;" the tequila-soaked blues of "Black Queen;" the quiet folk of wisdom of "We Are Not Helpless" ...
Well, you definitely get the picture. This is Stills' solo masterpiece, a work of such greatness that made his follow-up solo recordings -very good albums indeed- impossible to match it. Perhaps Manassas' debut is the only other album Stills put out -then as a band leader again- that can be compared to this one.
This is an album that belongs in any serious Rock worshipper's CD collection, not because of its possible historical significance nor any prior sentimental attachment to those times, but exclusively on the strength of its musical content, as relevant and soulful today as thirty-odd years ago.

Stephen Stills was (and still is) my favourite member of Crosby Stills Nash & Young. So like most of the other reviewers here I am shocked by the statements by the Amazon.com reviewer. Stills the least accomplished of CSN&Y? Thats not true, if it weren't for Stills there would be no CSN&Y. He wrote the majority of their best songs and was truly a talented musician on his own as he proved here.

Stephen Stills self titled debut is arguably his best album of his solo years (only Manassas can be considered better). Most music fans should already know the opening track LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH which was one of Stills biggest hits. It featured the vocal talents of David Crosby, Graham Nash, Rita Coolidge, Priscilla Jones and John Sebastian. DO FOR THE OTHERS is a wonderful acoustic song with some philosphical lyrics. CHURCH (PART OF SOMEONE) is somewhat of an anthem. OLD TIMES GOOD TIMES is an awesome rocker with Jimi Hendrix on the guitar and Stills playing impressively on the Hammond organ. GO BACK HOME is a wonderful blues rock tune with Stills and Eric Clapton trading awesome guitar riffs. SIT YOURSELF DOWN is another lesser known hit that featured the backing vocals of Rita Coolidge, Priscilla Jones, Claudia Lanier, John Sebastian, Cass Elliot, and David Crosby. TO A FLAME is a beautiful love ballad with a touch of jazz influence. BLACK QUEEN once again displays Stills amazing acoustic guitar talents. CHEROKEE is a riveting jazzy rocker with some amazing guitar, saxophone and organ. The closing track WE ARE NOT HELPLESS is a nice powerful closer featuring the backing vocal guests once again. The song starts off as a simple acoustic piece by Stills but turns into a powerful rocking anthem.

This album truly shows the musical variety and diversity Stills put into his work. Whether it was rock 'n roll, folk and country rock, jazz, or blues rock Stills would play it wonderfully. It is also a real treat to have many guest musicians here too such as Clapton, Hendrix, the other members of CSN&Y among others. However Stills proved on this album that he could easily work on his own without the help of others for he wrote all of these amazing songs as well as played the majority of instruments.

Overall Stephen Stills' self titled debut is a wonderful album that could very well equal the brilliance of CSN&Y's Deja Vu.
It is an album of musical diversity and seems to have aged quite well. This is one of my personal favourites from him. Highly recommended!

I have to agree with all the above comments being outraged by the comments Stills was the least accomplished of CS & N. If it were just between him and Young, i'd say it was strictly a matter of taste however, least accomplished compared to Nash and Crosby ?. Just for technical ability alone this would be dead wrong but if you consider Still's tunes even before CS and N with the Springfield compared to Crosby and Nash's output pre, during and post CSN, Cmon (Sweet Judy Blue Eyes compared to Almost Cut my Hair-I think not). This is a great album with great tunes, singing and playing. Hey i'll tell you how to judge whose the most accomplished. Put Crosby and Nash on stage and let them perform anything solo, then put on Black Queen from this album, that should stop this debate about, "least accomplished" right in its tracks.

A few thoughts about Stephen Stills and this CD:
(1) Stills plays all the instruments except when he's joined on a track by Booker T and the MGs, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, and, of course, Richie aka Richard Starkey.
(2) He was and is the driving force behind CSN and CSNY
(3) This CD went gold in November of 1970 (RIAA certified)
(4) It contains one of the greatest gatherings of rock-n-roll talent on one record.
(5) Stills is the only rock artist inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ON THE SAME DAY for his work with Buffalo Springfield and CSN.

Long may you run.

Who the hell is writing this review for Amazon.com?? What kind of moron would assert that Stills is the least accomplished and that his personality only comes through on his solo work? This "least accomplished" member of CS&N was actually the workaholic and control freak that dominated their albums, played most of the instruments, and probably drove the others off with his maniacal perfectionism. His "personality" is by far the strongest stamp on their albums. How far off can such commentary possibly be?

As for this album, it is by far his best solo album. I'm still waiting for a follow-up.

Stephen Stills never received the stripes he deserved, neither as an axeman or as a songwriter..He was the industrious pump-handle stoking successes with Buffalo Springfield, Manassas, CSN&Y, and of course himself..Chris Hillman the versatile mandolin player of Byrds fame, maintains Buffalo Springfield consistently upstaged the Byrds when they toured together..It's said by insiders, Buffalo Springfield never captured its bold sound on acetate, but were just phenomenal "live", especially according to Ahmet Ertegun at Atlantic Records, who ought to know..Hillman claims Buffalo Springfield intimidated the Byrds when they co-toured, and instead of inspiring the Byrds, frustrated Roger McGuinn, and Gene Clark, the Byrd co-founders..In Fact, Dave Crosby got booted out of the Byrds when he dared play an impromptu set with Buffalo Springfield at Monterrey Pop Festival, infuriating Roger McGuinn enough to "send Crosby's bootheels wandering"..The Byrds collectively told Dave we'll be better off without you..Dave Crosby says, he still appreciates that involuntary jail break..Anyway, buy Still's albums, but most especially this cut..You'll find a peppered up collage of country rock..Stills like Phil Spector created his own wall of sound, Latin American style, consistent thru Buffalo Springfield, CSN&Y, to Manassas..This CD was Still's first solo and its a breakthrough..David Geffen claims CSN&Y should have been America's response to the Beatles..Says it all about Still's abilities as singer/songwriter..Stills polished most of the music for the groups he captained, and was a demanding taskmaster..Crosby says, when everyone was stoning out on the bus, Stills was ginning up reams of new material..He was the editor-in-chief that held CSN&Y together, brief though it was..Another interesting tidbit, was how Graham Nash stole Rita Coolidge from Stills and broke his heart..Willy (Graham Nash) was a ladies' man, and typically got the prize..But Stills, the resilient troubador, invariably bounced back from his disappointments to focus on new and improved material..The stuffed animal (the purple giraffe) in the covershot is a valentine Stills advertised to an old flame that had jilted him..Buy this CD!..It's a classic..And know more about the legacy of Stills, and his on-stage shootouts with Neil Young.."Love the One Your With" is a perfect first strike to warm to the Stills fire..And there's a depth and range to lesser know tunes that merit further exploration..This CD is by far Stills best solo effort..There are jazzy, South American influences permeating it..Stills lived in Florida, Costa Rica, and New Orleans as a child, and those places became meaningful influences..Another interesting tidbit i.e. Stills, he scored a perfect 1600 on his College Boards..No dummy, obviously..I wish i knew the salient details behind the purple giraffe and who was the intended mystery girl?..

The Amazon reviewer is off his nut, plain and simple. Never before have I read nor heard such nonsense. Stills wrote or co-wrote CSNY's most enduring songs: "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes", "Wooden Ships", "Carry On", "Helplessly Hoping", "You Don't Have To Cry", "4+20", "Dark Star", "Southern Cross". He and Young were equally heart and soul of The Springfield, whose sole hit was a Stills tune, "For What It's Worth", and whose best song, "Bluebird", was also Stills-penned. As a musician, he leaves the others in the dust, as all three have often admitted. The band's sound was HIS sound..check out Crosby's meager contributions to The Byrds (aside from his great harmonizing): nothing there points to "Guinnevere". Similarly, Nash's output with The Hollies was pure pop, though his songwriting was crucial. Still, nothing from that band came close to challenging the earth-shaking innovations being set forth by Stills and Young across the Atlantic. Stephen Stills' awesome studio skills matched his musical abilities, setting the tone for what became the phenom known as Crosby, Stills and Nash. Neil Young gave 'em "Ohio", "Helpless", and "Country Girl", and not much else. Graham Nash's hippie songs are of their time and have dated pretty badly ("Marrakesh Express", "Pre-Road Downs", "Our House", "Chicago"), and David Crosby has often found himself being carried by Stills and Nash (the DAYLIGHT AGAIN album), while "Almost Cut My Hair" remains CSNY's dumbest and weakest song ever.

STEPHEN STILLS is a great album. Curiously, the biggest hit, "Love The One You're With", is the lamest song, but it's followed by one of Stills' finest moments, "Do For The Others", beautifully written, arranged and produced, exploding with his trademark acoustic guitar sound, which few have matched in any genre. The man really shows his stuff on this record..killer organ playing, wah-wahing through "Go Back Home" before cueing Clapton to take over, singing with abandon throughout. And the guest list: "Slowhand", Hendrix, Ringo, Mama Cass, Crosby and Nash et al! On "Old Times Good Times", Jimi sheds the pyro's and offers one of his best solos, understated (for him) yet brilliant. This album sounds as good now as it did 40 years ago. Can't say the same for "If Only..Name" or "Songs For Beginners". (Young's solo stuff doesn't count here; he's always saved his best material for himself.) My personal favorite tracks: "Do For The Others", "Sit Yourself Down", "Church (Part Of Someone)", "Old Times Good Times", "To A Flame" (Ringo on drums..yes!), "Go Back Home", in that order.

Hey Amazon: Fire that idiot writer of yours and hire ME!

Hey Amazon: Fire that idiot writer of yours and hire ME!

Amazon.com, shame on you, why did you feature Gavin McNett's misleading review? Stephen Stills is the most versatile and talented musician in CSN&Y. The others are great specialists in their styles, but Stills is the best all-around musician.

Who do you think is *playing* all the music (bass, most non-strumming guitar parts, organ . . .) on the CS&N records?

On this album, the title credit makes that clearer, and it's great to hear more of what he could do. (If you really want to know, go to his side of the Kooper-Bloomfield "Super Session" album.) At the same time, he's not too proud to bring on the guitar superstars (Hendrix, Clapton); now *that's* confidence.