Lot of valid comments on Still’s “treatments” of acoustic guitars over his career, both recordings and in live performance. Maybe worth considering- even earlier in his career, he used a ton of compression and a topping of judicious EQ on his acoustics. In search of a sound. Listen to “Change Partners” for instance. That’s a great song played by a great player. But that’s not what an acoustic guitar actually sounds like in any room on this planet. So maybe his later excursions into more “chorus” type processing is just his next thoughts on this. Not going to pass up on a chance to say I think the guy is a genius and one of my favorites since I’m posting anyway
Stephen has always been a slow writer; absorbing influences in order to make his songs unique; there were few bursts; the period 68-72 incorporating the Bruce Palmer tuning; mid-ish 70s. The 'late 68 solo album' you are hoping for became CSN DejaVu SS 1 &2. Of course, Manassas another songwriting flood. Stockpiling & Parsing thereafter!
I like the hyper compressed/EQ acoustic sound Stephen was using. “Colorado” from Manassas is crazy! The chorus-y sound was way less interesting and immediately dates the sound. The acoustic on Bluebird is one of the best sounding acoustics ever put to tape.
I came to Stills in the early 90s. Was a huge NY fan, nearly swallowed the hype that CSN were only worth bothering with when he was with them but bought the 1991 CSN box. I think the constant comparison of Stills and Young does them both a huge disservice - they exist as 2 totally separate entities in my mind, who just happen to have collaborated over the years. Taken as a while, Stills' 1970s work is up there with the very best. There aren't many artists who could contribute so much to 'group' albums and leave so much good stuff available for their solo works. Yes, he tailed off in the 80s with a severe slowing down of his work rate but ALL of his albums have something to recommend. Even Thoroughfare Gap is enjoyable in a disco Dead kind of way. Anyone dismissing Stills, CSN, Crosby or Nash as Neil's less talented, hippy dippy buddies is denying themselves some truly great albums from 1969 through to at least 1983, with some highlights contained on plenty of albums thereafter. Surely there's more than enough room to appreciate the collective talents of CSNY without pitting the members against each other- God knows they're bad enough at doing that themselves. Plus I live in hope of a properly expanded Couch album, and a live Manassas set. On a final note, I've only seen Stills live once on the tour that resulted on the Shepherds Bush live set. He was truly brilliant that night, spending the interval in the bar of the Manchester Apollo, chatting amiably with his fans - no sign of his apparent ego that night at all!!
I was at that Manchester Apollo concert. The connection between Stephen and those of us in the audience was extraordinary. One of the most magical gigs I've attended.
Great show in Dublin on that tour too. After the gig a couple of friends and I took a chance on waiting outside a particular hotel in the city centre. We chose the correct one. Mr. Stills turned up a short time after our arrival and signed some albums for us. Happy days!
His first album is a classic but I think 2 is a letdown after it. I personally think Manassas may be the best thing he ever put out and the sheer amount of great material on it is staggering. That being said, Down the Road is a real stinker IMO, with the exception of Isn't It About Time.
A Steve Stills connection: An artist that I have loved since the 60's and whose album releases are among my favorites is Electric Ladyland/Steve Stills alum, legendary Mike Finnigan RIP. My first big introduction to Mike was through his collaboration with Jerry Hahn...The Jerry Hahn Brotherhood. A killer 1969 blues/jazz/rock fusion LP from Columbia. Then there was... Crazed Hipsters/Finnigan & Wood 1972, Blue Thumb "Unblievable Rock 'n' Roll. A Rare and Highly Collectible Album featuring Vocals and Keyboards from Mike Finnigan. Does not get any better". Mike Finnigan with Stephen Stills - Part Time Love - Concord Pavilion 1980 Wow vocals! Crazed Hipsters cover of "Down In The Food"...OMG...smokin'!! A knock your socks off reading of Dylan's classic rocker. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bru6amZcj8Q The full album if you want a taste of more Crazed Hipsters... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCBIcXBdc3c Mike Finnigan, best known for his B3 chops, selected discography: 1969: The Serfs – The Early Bird Cafe, Capitol Records[11] 1968: Jimi Hendrix – Electric Ladyland 1970: Jerry Hahn – The Jerry Hahn Brotherhood 1971: Tommy Bolin – Whirlwind[12][13] 1971: Big Brother and the Holding Company – How Hard It Is 1972: Finnigan and Wood – Crazed Hipsters[14] 1974: Dave Mason – Dave Mason 1976: Mike Finnigan – Mike Finnigan, Warner Bros. Records 1977: Peter Frampton – I'm in You 1977: Dave Mason – Let It Flow 1978: Ben Sidran – A Little Kiss in the Night 1978: Les Dudek – Ghost Town Parade 1978: Mike Finnigan – Black & White, Columbia Records 1978: Jim Krueger – Sweet Salvation 1979: The Dudek Finnigan Krueger Band – Special Tour Sampler[15][16] 1980: Cher – Black Rose[17] 1982: Crosby, Stills & Nash – Daylight Again 1983: Crosby, Stills & Nash – Allies 1984: Stephen Stills – Right By You 1988: Crosby, Stills & Nash & Young – American Dream 1993: I Mother Earth – Dig 1993: Buddy Guy – Feels Like Rain 1994: Crosby, Stills & Nash – After the Storm 2000: Tracy Chapman – Telling Stories 2000: David Coverdale – Into the Light 2004: The Mooney Suzuki – Alive & Amplified[18][19] 2005: Taj Mahal – Taj Mahal & the Phantom Blues Band: Live in St. Lucia 2006: The Phantom Blues Band – Out of the Shadows 2006: Keb' Mo' – Suitcase 2007: Zen Blues Quartet – Again and Yet Again 2007: Joe Cocker – Hymn for My Soul 2007: The Phantom Blues Band – Footprints 2008: The Eclectic Beast Band – Living the Music 2010: Various Artists: The Imus Ranch Record II – "Part Time Love" (with the Phantom Blues Band) 2010: Mike Finnigan – Mike Finnigan [reissue], Wounded Bird Records[20][21] 2010: Willie Basse – Break Away 2011: Finnigan and Wood – It's Only a Rock and Roll Show (recorded 1971, previously unreleased) 2011: Trampled Under Foot – Wrong Side of the Blues[22] 2011: The Phantom Blues Band – Inside Out 2012: Bonnie Raitt – Slipstream 2013: Eric Burdon – 'Til Your River Runs Dry 2013: Kara Grainger – Shiver & Sigh 2014: Trampled Under Foot – Badlands[23] 2014: Dave Mason – Future's Past[24][25] 2014: Hilary Scott – Freight Train Love[26] 2016: Annika Chambers – Wild & Free[27] 2017: Danielle Nicole – Cry No More, Concord Records[28] 2018: Jay-Bee & the Ultratone Allstars – Life Ain't Got No Shortcuts 2020: The Phantom Blues Band – Still Cookin'
So I have finally gotten the Laurel Canyon thread going, so Buffalo Springfield, Stills..please visit and join in! Laurel Canyon Music/Scene: circa1965+
I remember seeing this when it aired. I love the horns. He should have toured with that horn section.
is it it considered in poor taste if one waits for 23 pages here to say that Still is hands down one of the most prolific and gifted musical artists from a bygone era and that I hope he is still well. i think not. i worshiped that guy as a kid. black ferrari killer songs voice and songs hanging on ridpath drive. but for powder.
Its never too late! Stephen Stills made so much of my favorite music. What an amazing dozen years he had.
I think that’s why we’re all here. Between 1966-73 (or 77 if feeling generous), he was at the top with any of them - Stones, McCartney, Stevie, Dylan, etc…
Wow, this is new - 1971 tour video snippet... Hopefully, a sign of things to come! From Madison Square Garden, 1971. | By StephenStills | Facebook
Love this. It’s kind of the peak of Stills’ playing prior to getting into the wah-wah pedal. Dallas, Paul Harris and Fuzzy Samuels back there. It’s the proto-Manassas band that would combine with Hillman’s version of the Burritos
well put. for me that Stills trying to compete with Sly Stone for best frozen vocals I prefer his efforts that required less vocal push. but live is. well, live and that clip was "of the time" for sure.
stills was one funky cat. nice clip. ive long said. stills is my favorite player/singer/writer of the era. he nailed that falsetto. wild.
