Stephen Stills [Original recording remastered]

Amazon.com
He wasn't the most accomplished member of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young--or even of Crosby, Stills &Nash, for that matter. But his songs are certainly in a league with those of the other members, and it's chiefly on his solo albums that Stills's own personality comes through. Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth" belongs to Stills, which shows where his influences lie. The hits "Love the One You're With" and "Sit Yourself Down," both of which live here, show how they developed. Sensitive? Lyrical? Not exactly. Think rugged denim, an acoustic guitar, and a woman at home to sew on his appliqués and pick the seeds out of the pot. --Gavin McNett

Stephen Stills,Stephen Stills,Atlantic / Wea,Pop,Popular Music,Rock,Rock/Pop

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Stephen Stills [Original recording remastered]

Average customer rating: The best thing that could happen to a Stephen Stills fan! Stephen as he was meant to be... Heads-up on the sound quality.... Charming and unpretentious Good Album -- Worth Buying

Just Roll Tape: April 26th, 1968 Stephen Stills Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Country Rock | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Live at Massey Hall (CD/DVD) Sweeping Up the Spotlight: Jefferson Airplane Live at the Fillmore East 1969 Brothers of a Feather Time on Earth Sweet Warrior ASIN: B000R7I3KA Release Date: 2007-07-10

Tracks:

1. All I Know is What You Tell Me
2. So Begins the Task
3. Change Partners
4. Know You Got To Run
5. The Doctor Will See You Now
6. Black Queen
7. Bumblebee (Do You Need A Place to Hide?)
8. Judy
9. Dreaming of Snakes
10. Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
11. Helplessly Hoping
12. Wooden Ships
13. Treetop Flyer

Album Description

Stephen Stills found himself in a New York recording studio, laid down a few hundred dollars, told the engineer to roll tape, and this collection of songs is what came about. Finally remastered and released to the public, this album shows the beginnings of Crosby, Still, and Nash.

Customer Reviews:

The best thing that could happen to a Stephen Stills fan!.......2007-07-26

I have followed Stephen Stills' music since his days with Buffalo Springfield. I was first drawn to his voice and then to his abilities with acoustic guitar. This recording is everything the TRUE Stills fan could want. For the person who spoke of distortion in the sound, just remember this recording was made years before digital music came along -- just the man, his guitar and rolling tape -- who could ask for anything more? I am transported to 1968 as I listen.

Stephen as he was meant to be..........2007-07-20

As a long time fan of CSN and CSNY, etc, I agree with a previous reviewer that this man was meant to play the acoustic guitar. His acoustic music has long been my favorite at his, and CSN and CSNY shows. He is at his best here. Listening to these great songs, like Suite Judy Blue Eyes, Helplessly Hoping, and So Now Begins the Task, with his wonderfull soulfull voice and his just incredible guitar playing is such a treat. Like Joni, with her "Blue" album, these songs are among Stephen's finest, and this style I believe suits his talent the best. Although I'm sure artists need to branch out and always do the new and different, Stephen early acoustic songs are his classic best, and this cd is a chance to listen to them with Stephen's young voice!

Heads-up on the sound quality...........2007-07-16

Lots of good comments already written...
But heads up again on the tape hiss - it's thick - & heads up on the guitar distortion. Fine on the finger-picked songs like "Helplessly Hoping" - but noticably distorted on the strummed or flat-picked songs.

Obviously not recorded for official release - or meant for the mainstream music market - but still great that it's seeing the light of day!

Just be aware that it's not at all clean.

Charming and unpretentious.......2007-07-16

especially for Stills. Most of the material has appeared elsewhere, but there is an unpretentious charm to these quick takes by Stills. The unfamiliar pieces will have bits and pieces reshaped in later tunes, but it is an honest effort by Stills to preserve some moments of genuine inspiration before he awoke from their spell.
What amazes me as well is that listening to Stills sing on these and miss on more than once is that it is likely only Crosby who can hit a melody and keep it in tune on the first go and every go thereafter. Stills frequently misses by a country mile. Tha rawness of these efforts though compensates for the errors. That he can run through BLACK QUEEN so selflessly and with such a simplified honesty somehow makes it a different, if not stronger song than the version on his first solo record. The two songs for Judy Collins are touching. For all the bravado he too often succumbs to, Stills at this point must still have been smarting from the break-up. At this point in his career he was without a girlfriend, without a contract and without his compadre Young. This is a Stills with his tail between his legs. I believe this also represents the first recording of TREETOP FLYER, one of the truly great Stills workouts and great Stills lyrics that in 2006 would be seamlessly paired with Young's classic OVER AND OUT, GOOD BUDDY during the Freedom of Speech tour of last summer.
In most cases with demos, notably Elvis Costello, it's enough already - you get the sense it was a bloody miracle that a song happened. In the case of Stills, the raw material is compelling in its own right and knowing what you do of his golden period from CSN through the first Manassas record, you have to admire the level of inspiration and craftsmanship on display.
And then there is the guitar playing - Stills is actually more impressive when he is not showing off, and thus this record is a keeper for any Stills fan. The only negative elements of this release are that some of the songs are second tier, and the sound quality is very hissy. Very. Given that these takes exist at all, it is a small price to pay to catch a glimpse of someone on the cusp of incredible inspiration.

Good Album -- Worth Buying.......2007-07-13

I was lucky enough to be at the Stephen Stills concert in Santa Cruz on July 10 when the album came out. They had stacks of CDs on hand for the guests to purchase. I grabbed it and listened to it on the way home from the show.

Just beautiful. It's not as much of a discovery as Massey Hall (5+++ stars -- there should be a separate category for legendary material -- Abbey Road, Steel Wheels, Massey Hall), but "Just Roll Tape" is still worth buying. I just love the solo performances of Stills and Young. A man, a guitar and a mike. With the right artist behind the mike, nothing more is required to send chills down your spine.

Stephen might disagree, but this man was born to be an acoustic player. The moment he picks up an electric, forget it. This album is all acoustic and completely unmolested. Perfect natural sound. Very well worth your greenbacks, folks.

Average customer rating: QUEDATE EN LA ESTACION, STEPHEN!!!!! A True Classic Stephen Stills at his best an extremely satisfying album. Dare I say it?

Manassas Stephen Stills , and Manassas Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Stephen Stills Down the Road Stephen Stills 2 Man Alive! Songs for Beginners ASIN: B000002J6F Release Date: 1995-12-12

Tracks:

1. The Raven: Song Of Love
2. The Raven: (A) Rock & Roll Crazies (B) Cuban Bluegrass
3. The Raven: Jet Set (Sigh)
4. The Raven: Anyway
5. The Raven: Both Of Us (Bound To Lose)
6. The Wilderness: Fallen Eagle
7. The Wilderness: Jesus Gave Love away For Free
8. The Wilderness: Colorado
9. The Wilderness: So Begins The Task
10. The Wilderness: Hide It So Deep
11. The Wilderness: Don't Look At My Shadow
12. Consider: It Doesn't Matter
13. Consider: Johnny's Garden
14. Consider: Bound To Fall
15. Consider: How Far
16. Consider: Move Around
17. Consider: The Love Gangster
18. Rock & Roll Is Here To Stay: What To Do
19. Rock & Roll Is Here To Stay: Right Now
20. Rock & Roll Is Here To Stay: The Treasur (Take One)
21. Rock & Roll Is Here To Stay: Blues Man

Customer Reviews:

QUEDATE EN LA ESTACION, STEPHEN!!!!!.......2007-04-17

NO HAY PALABRAS SUFICIENTES PARA DESCRIBIR UNA OBRA AUTENTICA, CALIDA Y SINCERA COMO ESTA...DEJEMOS DE ESCRIBIR Y SIMPLEMENTE ..ESCUCHEMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A True Classic.......2007-04-16

This album is Stephen Stills at his best. It is a great mix of different styles, even to the point where the album seems somewhat fragemented. There is a hearty display of the blues, country, bluegrass, and a Latin American touch. The countryish elements are nicely blended with the Latin American slant that is so often present in Stills' music. His time in Panama truly had influence on his music. The album shows a great deal of emotion and is great musically. I think the best song on this album is "Jonny's Garden".

Stephen Stills at his best.......2007-03-05

This is one of the greatest albums that Stills ever did. The man is a musical genius. In my opinion this one of the best albums of the seventies.

an extremely satisfying album........2007-02-10

early 70's country/folk/rock is anathema to some, i understand. but i don't know why this is so. what's wrong with beautiful songwriting and song execution? this is an extremely satisfying album for the ears. a wide range of moods and textures are covered over the course of the recording without a false step along the way. i highly recommend this for all fans of country-rock.

Dare I say it?.......2006-12-27

This may be one of the top five greatest albums of all time. Granted, it did take me about 3 listens to arrive at this decision, just because I was used to the CSN(Y)sound. Great country flare with all the staple elements of legit rock. This album saw Stills at the peak of his voice, songwriting, and musical chops all at the same time. I will say this is more of a masculine album,though, so you may not find many female CSN fans liking it so much. Stills wah pedal solo in "The Treasure" was alone worth the price of admission.

Average customer rating: GREAT DEBUT ALBUM FROM ONE OF ROCK'S MOST LEGENDARY ACCOMPLISHED ARTISTS EVER. Not at all like CSN or Manassas- but not bad Truly great album, truly accomplished musician Fills a unique place in my collection Steve Stills and friends

Stephen Stills Stephen Stills Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Manassas Stephen Stills 2 If I Could Only Remember My Name Stills Live ASIN: B000002J6H Release Date: 1995-12-05

Tracks:

1. Love The One You're With
2. Do For The Others
3. Church (Part Of Someone)
4. Old Times Good Times
5. Go Back Home
6. Sit Yourself Down
7. To A Flame
8. Black Queen
9. Cherokee
10. We Are Not Helpless

Amazon.com

He wasn't the most accomplished member of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young--or even of Crosby, Stills &Nash, for that matter. But his songs are certainly in a league with those of the other members, and it's chiefly on his solo albums that Stills's own personality comes through. Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth" belongs to Stills, which shows where his influences lie. The hits "Love the One You're With" and "Sit Yourself Down," both of which live here, show how they developed. Sensitive? Lyrical? Not exactly. Think rugged denim, an acoustic guitar, and a woman at home to sew on his appliqués and pick the seeds out of the pot. --Gavin McNett

Customer Reviews:

GREAT DEBUT ALBUM FROM ONE OF ROCK'S MOST LEGENDARY ACCOMPLISHED ARTISTS EVER........2007-04-16

I will be writing a review on the legendary masterpiece self-titled debut album entitled "STEPHEN STILLS" by one of Rock's all-time greatest accomplished artists ever. I give you one of America's pride and joy's, MR. STEPHEN STILLS. The debut album "STEPHEN STILLS" was originally released in 1970 on Vinyl/LP and 8-Track on the Atlantic Records label which is a Time Warner Company. As always, if I hear any new additional information concerning this legendary masterpiece self-titled debut album or the artist, I will edit this review immediately so that you the consumer will get the overall best informative and most accurate review possible.

STEPHEN STILLS will forever go down in Rock n' Roll history and be remembered for not only having an extremely successful solo career as a fully completed accomplished artist, but performing as a member in two of Rock's all-time greatest bands ever. The band's in question are BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD AND CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG. STILLS would be one of the true masterminded genius' in contributing, writing and arranging songs that would stand out among some of Rock's greatest songs ever written. To add more, STILLS is an extremely talented and accomplished acoustic and electric guitarist that could very well handle his own while performing in the presense of some of Rock's all-time legendary premier guitarists ever. When STILLS recorded and released his self-titled debut album in 1970, little did he know that he would compose and record a Rock masterpiece anthem acoustic song that would contain a riff that you would forever remember when you hear the song again. The song I'm referring to is the legendary classic song "Love The One You're With." On STILLS' self-titled debut album, STILLS would also include a musical star studded extravaganza which would include musical guest appearances by fellow legendary contemporary artists such as RITA COOLIDGE, JOHN SEBASTIAN, DAVID CROSBY, GRAHAM NASH, the late great guitar legend JIMI HENDRIX, ERIC "SLOWHAND" CLAPTON and the late great MAMA CASS ELLIOT. In my opinion, the self-titled debut album "STEPHEN STILLS" is without a doubt, a real true testament of a sheer genius and his craftfully skilled musical creativity identifying him as an extremely well accomplished and talented masterminded individual. With that in mind, "STEPHEN STILLS" is definitely a fine fitting tribute to a great legendary accomplished artist, musician, arranger and producer that was really truly indeed, far ahead of his time.

It is now time to let the Rock n' Roll music of STEPHEN STILLS & company to speak for itself and back it up by doing all of the talking musically. The legendary masterpiece self-titled debut album "STEPHEN STILLS" begins with the forever powerful STEPHEN STILLS trademark acoustic Rocker which includes the background vocals of RITA COOLIDGE, JOHN SEBASTIAN, DAVID CROSBY and GRAHAM NASH, "Love The One You're With," the slow and soothing acoustic song "Do For The Others," the slow and beautifully arranged Gospel-like song "Church (Part Of Someone)," the incredible Rocker including the late great guitar legend JIMI HENDRIX, "Old Times Good Times," the slow breathtaking Blues song including the legendary guitar great ERIC "SLOWHAND" CLAPTON, "Go Back Home," the slow and beautifully uplifting orchestrated song " Sit Yourself Down," the slow and beautiful acoustic and piano sounding number "To A Flame," the unbelievable and fantastic acoustic song "Black Queen," the fast paced orchestrated Rocker "Cherokee" and the slow and beautifully orchestrated heartfelt song "We Are Not Helpless." May I also add that STILLS not only serves credit as composer, musician and arranger, but he sings his songs with such ease and grace that he actually takes his songs to another level. To add more, STILLS' legendary acoustic and electric guitar riffs and licks are the real true Rock stuff that is made of real legend. STILLS' incredible and legendary guitar arrangements were sizzlin' red hot and on fire while recording and laying down the tracks for this legendary debut album.

Overall, this is one great STILLS debut album worth seeking further research information into and checking out especially if you are a hardcore diehard BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD, CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG and STEPHEN STILLS fan or a devout music collector. As for all of the curious newcomers and new beginners that are not familiar with the rare unique sound and music of STEPHEN STILLS, I would definitely start my STILLS music collection with this first debut album. There are also many numerous STEPHEN STILLS greatest hits compilation albums that you might want to research further into before you make up your mind as to what STEPHEN STILLS album is right for you to purchase. You can research all of your information and make your purchases either through Amazon com or Borders Books and Music stores. Either way you choose, you'll be happy with the result.

I would like to highly recommend purchasing this legendary masterpiece self-titled debut album to own as a valuable and important part of his or her own personal music collection. This legendary debut album has definitely proven to stand the test of time and will always be around to be enjoyed, appreciated and cherished for many years to come, NOW AND FOREVER. This is one great legendary album that no hardcore music fan or devout music collector would want to be without.

In closing, STEPHEN STILLS has definitely enjoyed the fruits of his fame and fortune due to the extreme success of his storied career. STILLS has a great long Rock n' Roll history resume proving that he has earned, contributed and accomplished so much in Rock n' Roll history. With that in mind, STEPHEN STILLS has forever left his mark in Rock n' Roll history as a successful accomplished solo artist and as member of the great legendary band's BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD and CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG. STEPHEN STILLS will never be forgotten. So here's to you STEPHEN. Thanks for the great memories with hopefully more to come. Keep Persevering. Keep The Faith. And as the saying goes, "AND THE REST IS ROCK N' ROLL HISTORY," am I wrong? Thanks for reading my review and I truly hope that you have enjoyed reading it as much as I have truly enjoyed writing it for your reading pleasure. I also hope that all of you will read all of my other reviews in the near future when time permits. STEPHEN STILLS RULES. Long Live Rock n' Roll. Rock out always and take it easy. Forever In Rock, John L.

Not at all like CSN or Manassas- but not bad.......2007-04-05

The cover of the album shows Stephen Stills sitting outside in the snow alone with his accoustic guitar. One would think from that you may have accoustic numbers like 4+20 and Suite:Judy Blue Eyes - but it is not to be found on this album. Most of the tracks are hugely polished productions with loads of instruments and a large chorus of singers. Several songs start out with just accoustic but soon balloon into vast orchestrated and choral arranngements. The songs that work the best for Stills are the ones with less production and fewer players and singers. Black Queen is a solo accoustic Delta blues number and is very good. Clapton plays a fine lead guitar on one track and Hendrix a short but tastey lead in another. These three are the highlights of the cd.
There are plenty of good things to like on this album, but I have always had trouble with the highly produced, wall of sound on it. I think Stills is at his best in a smaller group setting like CSN&Y or Manassas. I think the first Mamassas is the place to start for those intersted in Stills solo type projects.

Truly great album, truly accomplished musician.......2007-02-02

I write this in the winter, with just a bit of snow on the ground. And when it gets like this outside, when the air is crisp and biting but the sun is shining, I can't help but hark back to one of my very favorite albums of all time, Stephen Stills's first solo effort. Back in 1970, Steve Stills was beautiful. And those sideburns! I was in love. And I played that album over and over again and I stared at the cover. And I dreamed of sitting by him in the snow, with the giraffe, and listening to him play. It wasn't until I got older and got the CD, and didn't have to flip the record over to hear the second side, that I truly appreciated the musicianship on this album. I think this is one of the finest rock-blues albums ever recorded. His pals who played on it with him were the stars of the time, and none of them had their names above the title. And while I don't think that Stills ever surpassed his effort on this album, I do think that muscially, he was the star of CSN&Y. I like Neil Young, but even listening to one of my favorites of his, After the Gold Rush, the differences in melody and musical skill are startling. "Stephen Stills" resonates strongest for those of us for whom this had meaning over 35 years ago (gulp!), but the music is still powerful today. It is a truly great album from a truly accomplished musician.

Fills a unique place in my collection.......2007-01-18

I, of course, worshiped the 1st CSN(&Y)album i.e. one of my Top 10 "desert island" (or Lost! hatch?) albums. Somehow, I rarely play their 2nd album, Deja Vu. It's in my collection, I guess I wouldn't be without it but ..that's how it works for me. I play this more than Deja Vu. I am a mid-boomer, once saw Stephen Stills in the late 70's(or was it early 80's?) touring with Flo & Eddie of all people (F & E were the openers). That was a phase where he was into a very heavy-duty stretchout/solo cajun tinged electric blues. Very loud concert - I mean ridiculously loud (It was a bit much even at the very back of the hall). For some reason Stephen wanted to peel paint that night with sheer chops. Had Joe Lala on latin percussion. His playing was awesome, I only wished he could turn down just a bit so I could appreciate it more. I appreciated it anyway though. : ) Stephen did do TreeTop Flyer and Black Queen on acoustic - quite good. The icing was the encore: he brought out Flo and Eddie to sing harmonies on Suite Judy Blue Eyes. To my amazement they(Kaylan and Volman) did a decent job of covering Crosby and Nash's harmonies!! A funny undercurrent of the Suite Judy performance was... Flo & Eddie were known for being joking goof-offs...and I got the sense that Stephen was giving them this look like: "If you goof off and blow this for me by doing some comic parody of MY song, I'll kill you!" They didn't blow it. : ) Anyway...I remember playing this album many many times over the years. I didn't like it when I first bought then it came to grow on me. It's a very intropective album for me, I will tend to play it late at night sometimes. Sit Yourself Down and Black Queen are the most memorable songs to me.

Steve Stills and friends.......2007-01-04

What a group of friends to have to put together a rock and roll album with. Appearing in no particular order are Mama Cass Eliot, Jimi Hendrix, Booker T Jones, John Sebastian, David Crosby, Rita Coolidge, Eric Clapton, and Graham Nash. Hokey smokes Rocky, and two of the songs are solo efforts by Stills. An amazing album that covers many corners of the rock and roll spectrum. A must have for guitar nuts as Eric, Jimi, and Steve all lay down some great licks. Enjoy this one for a long time :)

Average customer rating:

Stills/Illegal Stills/Thoroughfare Gap Stephen Stills Manufacturer: BGO ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Just Roll Tape: April 26th, 1968 Live at Massey Hall (CD/DVD) Stephen Stills 2 Down the Road Last Flight ASIN: B000MTOL72 Release Date: 2007-03-12

Tracks:

1. Turn Back the Pages
2. Buyin' Time
3. My Angel
4. In the Way
5. Love Story
6. To Mama from Christopher and the Old Man
7. Fisrt Things First
8. New Mama
9. As I Come of Age
10. Shuffle Just as Bad
11. Cold Cold World
12. Myth of Sisyphus
13. Buyin' Time
14. Midnight in Paris
15. Different Tongues
16. Soldier
17. Loner
18. Stateline Blues
19. Closer to You
20. No Me Niegas
21. Ring of Love
22. Circlin'

Tracks:

1. You Can't Dance Alone
2. Throughfare Gap
3. We Will Go On
4. Beaucoup Yumbo
5. What's the Game
6. Midnight Rider
7. Woman Lleva
8. Lowdown
9. Not Fade Away
10. I Can't Get No Booty

Album Description

2007 digitally remastered double CD featuring CSN' Stephen Stills' three mid-`70s studio albums recorded for CBS. Stills was released in 1975, followed one year later by Illegal Stills. Fans had to wait another two years until the release of Thoroughfare Gap (1978). This two disc set comes in a slimline double jewelbox housed in a slip case featuring extensive liner notes., BGO.

Album Details

2007 Digitally Remastered Issue of Stephen Stills' Three Mid-1970's Albums for Columbia Combined Together to Create this Special Double CD Collection!. The Albums were Recorded Intermittently around Crosby, Stills, Nash (And Sometimes Young's) Touring and Recording Schedule. Includes Extensive Sleeve Notes by John Tobler.

Average customer rating: "Four Days Gone" and you'll still be listening to Stephen live!! an outstanding showcase Great Set From Stills The Most Amazing Acoustic Guitar Work I Have Ever Heard DEFINITELY ONE OF THE BEST LIVE ALBUMS BE STEPHEN STILLS

Live Stephen Stills Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Live Albums | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Live Albums | Pop | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music Country Rock | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Stills Stephen Stills Manassas Stephen Stills 2 Down the Road ASIN: B000002I8U Release Date: 1992-04-21

Tracks:

1. Wooden Ships
2. Four Days Gone
3. Jet Set (Sigh)/Rocky Mountain Way/Jet Set (Sigh)
4. Special Care
5. Change Partners
6. Crossroads/You Can't Catch Me
7. Everybody's Talkin' At Me
8. 4 + 20
9. Word Game

Customer Reviews:

"Four Days Gone" and you'll still be listening to Stephen live!!.......2007-06-19

As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" and a former radio disc-jockey, I am often asked to write and or discuss various recordings from the 60's and 70's.

A great artist always seems to have one release if not more that has slipped through the cracks. Stephen Stills "Live" (March 8 and 9 of 1974) is missing from too many CSN and sometimes Y fans collections.

Maybe it is because the trademark Stills harmonies aren't the featured attribute of the recording. At the front of the line is the terrific guitar playing of Donnie Dacus (Chicago, Roger McGuinn, and Billy Joel) with the pure emotion of Still's stage energy and song content.

The album was split into an acoustic side and an electric. "Wooden Ships" is outstanding from the electric portion and representing the acoustic selections in fantastic fashion is "Everybody's Talkin At Me." Stills is superlative in the inclusion of the cover tunes "Rocky Mountain Way" (Put on the map by Joe Walsh, although he did not write it), "Crossroads" (From blues great Robert Johnson, made famous by the legendary Cream version), "You Can't Catch Me" (A Chuck Berry classic that John Lennon did a 5 star version on his "Rock & Roll" album), and "Everybody's Talkin At Me" (Although written by folk great Freddie Neil, the signature version is from Harry Nilsson).

Stills rendition of the Freddie Neil composition is one of the finest covers ever. The joy and heartfelt fondness for the song is evident in every word.

Yes, he did go back to the vaults and unlock Buffalo Springfield material for us!

In case this has been gathering dust in your vinyl collection, an upgrade to CD would do wonders. If you haven't experienced the pleasure of this effort, no time is better than now!

Enjoy the music and be well,
Craig Fenton
Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"

an outstanding showcase .......2006-07-16

If you are not a fan of Stephen Stills individually,this recording will not convert you.If you are,however,this compilation of electric and solo acoustic performances
will bring you many hours of enjoyment.
The highlights of this disk are the full band,electric tracks
(Wooden Ships,Four Days Gone,and a sort of odd choice to
cover Joe Walsh's Rocky Mountain Way)
We forget that in addition to being a very talented singer/songwriter that Mr Stills can really wail on that guitar!
Here he uses the opportunity that he does not get on the
CSN&Y studio recordings to do extended electric guitar solos,and they are a delight.
His singing and his overall performance are in fine form here,and his backup band is his usual crop of the best
studio musicians available at the time.
As previously stated--an excellent showcase for an excellent
musician doing what he does best.

Great Set From Stills.......2006-02-11

this is a nice collection of Stills playing live, a no-frills CD-packaging of the popular 70's album. the first half (Side 1) is electric, the second (side 2) is accoustic. Give SS kudos for an interesting set list, this isn't just a re-hash of hits. Well worth having.

The Most Amazing Acoustic Guitar Work I Have Ever Heard.......2005-01-27

I have been an SS fan since my old man turned me on to him,(late 80's). You cannot touch the guitar work on Crossroads/You Can't Catch Me. This is SS at his non-electrical best. No wonder he and Hendrix were collaborators/friends. This album is worth the price for this song only. Buy it and if you don't think so, send me nasty e-mails.

P.S.

Word Game is really good too.

DEFINITELY ONE OF THE BEST LIVE ALBUMS BE STEPHEN STILLS.......2004-12-25

The musicians from STEPHENS STILLS solo band in 1974 display excellent musical skills. The sound of JERRY AIELLO's HAMMOND organ sounds a whole lot like ELP's KEITH EMERSON, KENNY PASSARELLI plays excellent bass guitar, and the percussion lineup of JOE LALA (congos) from MANNASSAS and RUSS KUNKEL (drums) really rock and roll. Most importantly, the highlight of Stephen's solo band is the then unknown and probably now forgotten guitarist DONNIE DACUS (later of Chicago) who guitar riffs blow NEIL YOUNG off the stage. WOODEN SHIPS is a outstanding beginner for this album; furthermore, it outdoes the CSN's studio version, CSNY's live version from WOODSTOCK, and any other live version as well. I love DONNIE intro lead guitar at the beginning of this song, the middle of the song, and the dual lead guitar of STEPHEN and DONNIE at the end of the song. The arrangement of this version sounds a whole lot more balanced. The 2-part harmony vocals of STEPHEN and DONNIE give the song a better balance as well; there is also the occasional high-pitch harmony vocal of KENNY. FOUR DAYS GONE is a great ballad with STEPHEN on the piano, along with JERRY's organ riffs and definitely DONNIE's lead guitar. The melody of JET SET and JOE WALSH's ROCKY MOUNTAIN WAY is killer with STEPHEN's lead guitar and DONNIE'S slide guitar, SPECIAL CARE is a excellent rocker with trading lead guitars. CHANGE PARTNERS is a outstanding acoustic ballad, and STEPHEN plays some outstanding riffs on the melody CROSSROADS and YOU CAN'T CATCH ME. The other songs are great too. I was so amazed when I heard this cd. I can not and will not understand will DONNIE became so unpopular; additionally, STEPHEN should have brought him into the reformation of CSN in 1976 as the perfect replacement for NEIL YOUNG throughtout the remainder of the 70s, 80s, 90S to this day. It also would have save him from a lot of trouble with CHICAGO. Furthermore, when I listen to DONNIE's guitar riffs on this album, I hear the style of LED ZEPPELIN's JIMMY PAGE and the sound BAD COMPANY's MICK RALPHS at the same time.

Average customer rating: Not a great record, perhaps . . . Better Than His Self-Titled Debut A solid album The very best! Anybody Remeber Leopold's Berkeley Upstairs?

Stephen Stills 2 Stephen Stills Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Stephen Stills Stills Manassas Down the Road Live ASIN: B000002I6X Release Date: 1992-04-21

Tracks:

1. Change Partners
2. Nothin' To Do But Today
3. Fishes And Scorpions
4. Sugar Babe
5. Know You Got To Run
6. Open Secret
7. Relaxing Town
8. Singin' Call
9. Ecology Song
10. Word Game
11. Marianne
12. Bluebird Revisited

Customer Reviews:

Not a great record, perhaps . . . .......2007-07-19

. . . but a very good one nevertheless. "Change Partners" has proved to be a very durable song. "Fishes and Scorpions" is a nice acoustic number. The reason why I originally purchased the LP back in 1971, though, is the neglected single, "Marianne"--a highly enjoyeable, if somewhat slight, rocker, with Stills in the upper reaches of his vocal range. Despite the sometimes unwieldy arrangements, this is a very good set of Stills songs.

Better Than His Self-Titled Debut.......2007-05-20

STEPHEN STILLS 2 is better than Stephen Stills' self-titled debut, which contained the godawful (and overplayed) "Love The One You're With", which is so annoying that even B-vitamins and omega-3 oils won't make it any less so. This CD includes wonderful songs such as "Change Partners" and several others that are complex enough lyrically and musically that a diet rich in the above nutrients is necessary to truly appreciate this masterpiece, and even then, it still takes repeated listening to fully "get" what Stills was up to here. This one is far superior to sometime bandmate David Crosby's concurrent solo CD IF ONLY I COULD REMEMBER MY NAME, which is so inscrutable that you'd need lots of fish and whole grains in your diet to get the nutrients that would help you to even make sense of it. Stills' belief that the young Australian tourist jailed in Indonesia since 2005 for drug-smuggling was falsely convicted makes STEPHEN STILLS 2 an essential purchase for both your ears AND your conscience.

A solid album.......2007-04-09

While not his best effort, this is still a good album. It was a top 10 hit in the US and was certified GOLD. It produced two singles that just missed the Billboard Top 40, Change Partners (which peaked at 43) and Marianne (which hit 42). Stills departs from his accoustic folk-rock roots for a remake of his Buffalo Springfield classic Bluebird, which he probably would have been better off to leave off the album. He seems to try to redo it with a big band sound and it just does not work. But there is more than enough good material on the album to make-up for that miss.

The very best!.......2007-02-17

This was better to my ears than Stills 1st album when it came out and it still is. Does it make my heart dance and leap for joy? Yes, it does...and that is about all the critiquing elements I enlist for doing a review. An album either sounds simply horrible and dead (1 star), about half of the album is good (3 stars), almost there (4 stars), or it is there (5 stars). This one is there. The first was only 3 stars to me.

Anybody Remeber Leopold's Berkeley Upstairs?.......2006-10-08

They had a musical instrument store on the same floor as their record store for awhile up that impossible flight of stairs. I was in the hallway between 'em when I heard Bluebird Revisited for the first time and when the congas jumped out of the speakers right when Mr. Stills says "Oh, yeah"...well, I still find it hard to believe somebody didn't just start jammin' along with that record over in the music store. So I'll be the lone dissenting voice here on this site and say that I find Bluebird Revisited successful in every way, most especially sonically. From this corner, I give him credit for having the insight into his own composition and the cojones to use the considerable resources at his disposal to re-imagine a tune so many people hold sacred. How many musicians have to settle for releasing "product" that they're less than satisfied with because they don't have the recording budget to realize their vision? I can understand it when the other reviewers here characterize this album as banal or overblown and I don't think Stephen Stills is beyond criticism (God forgive me, but I have to leave the room when I see him on TV nowadays) but I find myself listening to this album more than many other "important" ones from different genres in my collection and just in terms of Bluebird REVISITED, he absolutely nailed it.
P.S. Who knows the story behind Marianne? I don't remember reading of their paths ever crossing but it sure seems like it could be written for Marianne Faithfull.

Average customer rating: Don't overlook . . . Excellent album! Further down the road but still worth owning ok maybe 3 and half stars Forget the Reviews -- This Rocks

Down the Road Stephen Stills & Manassas Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Manassas Illegal Stills Stephen Stills 2 Stills Stephen Stills ASIN: B000002I74 Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Isn't It About Time
2. Lies
3. Pensamiento
4. So Many Times
5. Business On The Street
6. Do You Remember The Americans
7. Down The Road
8. City Junkies
9. Guaguanco De Vero
10. Rollin' My Stone

Customer Reviews:

Don't overlook . . ........2007-07-19

. . . this terrific record just because its predecessor ("Manassas") is great. DTR may be "more of the same," but that's not necessarily a bad thing when "the same" means well-written songs played with energy and verve by skilled musicians. This album may not have the revelatory quality of the first one, but it's still a highly-rewarding listen and well worth hearing.

Excellent album!.......2007-04-09

This is an excellent album! It was a modest hit in the US when it was released in 1973 (reaching number 26 on the Billboard album chart) and produced a minor hit single "Isn't It About Time" (which peaked at 56 on the Billboard singles chart). Both the album and song should have been bigger hits!

Further down the road but still worth owning.......2006-12-30

Technology has moved down the road since the original analog tracks were recorded. Though some tracks on this CD suffer a bit from the conversion to digital format, the clarity and lack of LP pops are a joy! Well worth owning and a great update to a well worn LP.

ok maybe 3 and half stars.......2006-07-03

This poor record got unfairly lost in the shuffle of CSN, solo Stills releases....and unfairly compared with Manassas first brillant record.....this one is pretty damned good too......more of the same, and more songs from Hillman....Stills lets more of the band shine on this one......and who doesn't like Joe Walsh playin' slide on a track!

So if you like Stills, or Hillman (burrito/byrds sound) and you liked the first Manassas record........go for this one.....its better than Stills later 70's stuff like Illegal Stills and Stills and right by you. Enjoy it and don't think to hard just enjoy.

Dave

Forget the Reviews -- This Rocks.......2006-04-24

Like Jaws II, this follow-up Manassas album had the unenviable task of being preceded by an absolute classic. By comparison, I agree the first one is the superior product.

But really give this a listen and you will be rewarded -- "Pensamiento" is a joyous Cuban-inflected fusion track, "So Many Times" is classic harmonic Hillman, and "Down the Road" is an anthem, with Joe Walsh adding searing slide guitar. Indeed, Down the Road is one of my favorite Stills tracks.

"Do You Remember the Americans" is topical and well-meaning, and "Rollin' My Stone" brings the album to a close in hard-rocking fashion.

In sum, a great band working on Manassas leftovers is still a great band making great music. I'd give this one another chance.

Average customer rating: Stills' Best Solo Album Since The 70s Steve Stills - Still has IT Keep walking the trail ole man trouble Man Alive is it a great album!

Man Alive! Stephen Stills Manufacturer: Pyramid Media ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Prairie Wind Living With War Stephen Stills Manassas Back Home ASIN: B000A7Q1YW Release Date: 2005-08-09

Tracks:

1. Aint It Always (Stephen Stills)
2. Feed the People (Stephen Stills) Featuring Graham Nash
3. Hearts Gate (Stephen Stills)
4. Round the Bend (Stephen Stills) Featuring Neil Young
5. I Dont Get It (Stephen Stills)
6. Around Us (Stills / Vitale)
7. Ole Man Trouble (Booker T. Jones)
8. Different Man (Stephen Stills) Featuring Neil Young
9. Piece of Me (Stephen Stills)
10. Wounded World (Stills/Nash) Featuring Graham Nash
11. Drivin Thunder (Stills/Young)
12. Acadienne (Stephen Stills)
13. Spanish Suite (Stephen Stills) Featuring Herbie Hancock

Amazon.com

While Man Alive! may not be the quintessential Stephen Stills album, the venerable singer-songwriter nevertheless enters his sixth decade with passion and fire. Stills has always done his best, most convincing work on the acoustic guitar, and the wood-and-steel material here proves no exception. On "Different Man" (with Neil Young) and "Piece of Me," he draws on his southern roots and demonstrates his uncanny knack for soulful blues. That soulfulness carries over to much of the electric material, whether the danceable, B-3-driven "Around Us," the achingly good "Ole Man Trouble," or the Zydeco-inflected "Acadienne," on which Stills sounds positively loose and unusually comfortable. Some material doesn't work as well--"Drivin' Thunder" (cowritten with Young) suffers from production that's more in tune with 1985 than 2005, and neither "Round the Bend" nor "I Don't Get It" shines with the full-blown brilliance that the artist clearly remains capable of. Still, this sometimes-flawed endeavor is a more-than-welcome return from one of rock's great, underrepresented treasures. --Jedd Beaudoin

Customer Reviews:

Stills' Best Solo Album Since The 70s.......2007-06-28

MAN ALIVE! is Stephen Stills' best album as a solo artist since the 70s albums he did with Manassas. Unlike his interim releases, which were fairly restrained in tone, MAN ALIVE! features a hard-rocking sound that's reminiscent of prime-period material by the Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker, and the Outlaws, as well as Stills' own 70s work. Stills' advocacy of sanctions against Indonesia inretaliation for that country's trumped-up 2005 drug-smuggling conviction of a young Australian tourist makes MAN ALIVE! an essential purchase for both your ears AND your conscience.

Steve Stills - Still has IT.......2007-01-09

After seeing Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young play in concert in the Fall 0f 2006 it only seemed right to search for a new CD from each of them if THEY had one. Neil Young's CD was a simple choice. It was out there and easy to find for Christmas. Political, activist and what you would expect since 4 days in Ohio. After hearing the songs at the show whether you agreed with the politics or not it was worth getting. Then what about "Man Alive"? After a little Googling it was a definite choice to pick up. If you enjoy Steve Stills I really don't think you will be dissappointed. It is blusey and reminds me of Manassas and if you are a Steve Stills fan you should remember them and even "Super Session" with Season of the Witch! There are driving tunes like "Drivin Thunder" to listen to in your car in traffic and a few heartfelt tunes like "Wounded World" and I don't get it". All in all its a good CD and although you may hear a few threads and melodies that are familiar it does't hurt.

Keep walking the trail.......2006-11-26

Man Alive"show us Stephen Stills as always .Excelente musician, composer and interpreter and over all the consistent of a "trail" that counstancily he walks.If the next compact disc to delay more 14 years we hope at that time we are livings creature to receive it.

ole man trouble.......2006-10-17

After repeated listening, i've come to the conclusion that those of us who are giving this album four and five stars are doing so because of the sheer exuberance and good will that radiates out of it, rather than its purely musical merits - not that these are particularly lacking. But if you compare it with Stills' first solo effort, or with "Manassas," the difference will literally kick you in the head. This is not the work of the inventive, refined melodist whose complex harmonies variously swam in a Californian mist or echoed some post-modern country. Most songs are straight-out rockers, and several do not work all that well, but it's impossible to resist their energy. "Drivin' Thunder," a surprising Nascar-lovin' ol' boy song has a rhythmic pull that will take your breath away, whether you care to follow the lyrics or not; and I dare you to not find the accordion-driven "Acadienne" utterly infectious, even though in the back of your mind you know you've heard this tune a million times before, at least once by The Band, who did it better.
The whole is very nicely held together by Stills' stock-in-trade swamp-man mumblings, where his bluesy persona accompanied by acoustic guitars creates pockets of clean air in the general excitement: "Piece of Me" is downright mysterious, "Different Man" can't possibly not charm you, as it sounds like Stephen and Neil sat down back in the sixties and just dashed one off for fun; and "Ole Man Trouble" seems to epitomize what Stills tries to achieve on this album: an older soulful sound applied to rhythms and styles from all over the world.
Throughout, Stills sings and plays with admirable feeling and sincerity - the fact that he doesn't sound a bit different from thirty years ago may speak poorly of his ability to progress as an artist, but it will be a tremendous boost to the self-confidence of the people of his generation. The lyrics are pretty basic, except in the case of "Feed the People," which should become some sort of anthem. Finally, there is "Spanish Suite," a sprawling and beautifully put together work that embodies all the qualities and failings of this album and of Stills' creativity during his whole career: it begins with a too-standard four-chord loop which we've come to think of as "Spanish music" and maudlin lyrics Stills has sung many times before; it segues (a la "Judy Blue Eyes") into a lively song of its own, and ends with a terrific jazzy jam, where guest artists, in particular the superlative Herbie Hancock, do for Stills' music what Young, Crosby, and the rest of the sixties' clique did for it elsewhere: they open it up to new and original horizons and let it develop to its full potential. Wisely, Stills stays in the background and lets his friends do their best.

Man Alive is it a great album!.......2006-10-01

Its been nearly 14 years since the man from Buffalo Springfield and CSN&Y.This album is great for any blues fan.Songs like the first track "aint it always" and "feed the people" are splendid work.Joe Vitale lends a hand on several tracks playing keyboards,drums and vocals.Graham Nash and Neil Young also contribute.Where's DaviD Crosby? What too good to play on this album? Ahhhh I'm only kidding! lol.The one track Piece of Me was slow,but I didn'mind.It took me back to the Robert Johnson era.Herbie Hancock does a great job on keyboards on the last track Spanish Suite.He wrote this one and the previous spanish medley "Acadienne". Stephen Stills is the forgotten one in my book.Maybe its because he hasn't had a hit for so long.He keeps off the charts.If you're a blues fan like myself you won't be disapointed with this one.His guitar playing is fabulous and he's an under rated guitar player.ENJOY!

Average customer rating: Stills Alone - and Awesome an addictive, compulsively listenable collection from Stephen Stills Underrated Gem from Sixties Rock Icon So, What? emptying the vault

Stills Stephen Stills Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Pop Rock | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Pop Rock | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Oldies | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Classic Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Stephen Stills 2 Illegal Stills Stephen Stills Live Down the Road ASIN: B00000254P Release Date: 1993-01-26

Tracks:

1. Turn Back The Pages
2. My Favorite Changes
3. My Angel
4. In The Way
5. Love Story
6. To Mama From Christopher And The Old Man
7. First Things First
8. New Mama
9. As I Come Of Age
10. Shuffle Just As Bad
11. Cold Cold World
12. Myth Of Sisyphus

Customer Reviews:

Stills Alone - and Awesome.......2007-06-12

This is the 2nd time I've bought this CD, the first one wore out. I bought 2 to be on the safe side this time. If you love his voice like I do, this is a must have for your collection.

an addictive, compulsively listenable collection from Stephen Stills.......2006-04-27

As the terrific liner notes indicate, Stephen Stills' 1975 album "Stills" was recorded in something of a "whenever I get around to it" fashion (the recording of "As I Come Of Age" began in 1971, and the song features David Crosby, Graham Nash, and instantly recognizable drumming from Ringo Starr). However, don't let that get you thinking that this album is stuffed with second-rate leftovers. Perhaps amazingly, the album manages to have a unified feel and an excellent flow, capturing Stills at his best, with song after song being a gem.

Many of these songs definintely fall into the 'feel-good' category, yet beneath the surface lie some surprisingly confessional and incisive lyrics.

"Turn Back The Pages" (written by Stills and Donnie Dacus), with its slower verses and uptempo singalong choruses, is a great uplifting opener to the album. The deceptively laidback "My Favorite Changes" has tasty guitar licks and some great offhand humor including the wonderfully 'dumb' wordless background vocals. "My Angel" is a great little groove tune--the liner notes tell us it comes from a jam session (based on chord changes from drummer Dallas Taylor) and was ultimately edited into a song. "Love Story" is an epic Stills composition that pulls you in with a lush, dreamy, moody sound that recalls "To A Flame" (from Stephen's first solo album)--it's somewhat overwrought but still engaging. "To Mama From Christopher And The Old Man" is a country-rock-flavored gem along the lines of "Change Partners" (from "Stephen Stills 2"). "First Things First" is a toe-tappingly irresistible groover that reminds one of those Latin rhythms that the Texas-born Stills' is so fond of. The riffy Neil Young cover "New Mama", the 'just-plain-fun' "Shuffle Just As Bad", the poignant and soulful "In The Way", and the supremely haunting cautionary tale "Cold Cold World" (with incredibly tasty lead guitar work from Stills) are all gems as well.

If you're a fan of that so-called "laidback California sound" of the '70s and aren't that familiar with Stills' solo work, try "Stills" and become an instant fan. "Stills" is an extremely underrated, compulsively listenable album, a must-have for all serious listeners.

Underrated Gem from Sixties Rock Icon.......2005-07-19

On his first album for Columbia Records, Stephen Stills reached into his songwriting past, wrote a few new ditties, and borrowed a tune from an old friend. It was released at a time when Stills' addictive behaviour was toned down, after the break-up of the seminal Stills' band Manassas, and before either his misguided reunion with Neil Young (The Stills-Young Band) or excellent reunion with Crosby and Nash (CSN). The result is an engaging and ecclectic collection of songs from a man confident in his past accomplishments but uncertain of where his musical future might lay.

After marrying French chanteuse Veronique Sanson, moving almost full time to his ranch in Colorado and having his first son, Stills must have felt very grown up and settled down. This album reflects that mood as it presents a predominantly laid back collection of songs more reminiscent of his Buffalo Springfield period and the first CSN album.

This collection is rich with Stills' various music influences from the latin flavoured "First Things First" to the blues infused "Shuffle Just as Bad", and from the jazz intoned "My Favourite Changes" to the gospel foundation of "Myth of Sysyphus". Other highlights include Stills' electric version of Neil Young's "New Mama", the R & B reworking of "My Angel" (originally written for Buffalo Springfield), the folk-rock gem "To Mama from Christopher and the Old Man" and an excellent version of "As I come of Age" with Crosby and Nash and Ringo Starr. There really isn't a bad track on this disc but the ecclectic nature of the record requires a few listenings to get the overall feel.

Ask yourself the following questions:

Do I like Stephen Stills? Do I like Crosby, Stills and Nash? Do I like Buffalo Springfield?

If you answered yes to any of these - buy this record.

So, What?.......2004-03-12

There are albums that you hear, that you never forget. This is clearly not one of those. It is mediocre stoner rock, with the exception of the Opening Track "Turn Back The Pages", which is THE SHIZZLE and "Shuffle Just as Bad" which is passable, albeit certainly most retarded, but it's all scratched up. Stephen Stills brought his old CSNY buddies, Donnie Dacus and Dallas Taylor along for a ride, but instead they didn't ride anywhere... they just made a crappy album. My synopsis: So,What.

-Ben Bitter, President
Ben Bitter Music Express

emptying the vault.......2004-01-12

After his double-LP triumph with Manassas, Stephen Stills became a much less prolific songwriter. Perhaps he unconsciously perceived he had nothing else to prove, and this began to limit his output. It wasn't that he still didn't produce good work... you can't argue with songs like 'Dark Star' and 'Southern Cross'... it's just that there wasn't as much of it.

Most Stills aficionado's consider his second effort with Manassas to be a disappointment, though that conclusion is certainly relative to its predecessor. After Manassas dissolved as a band, Stills reprised an eclectic mix of his earlier collaborations with David Crosby and Graham Nash, Manassas, and Buffalo Springfield in an engaging 1974 live LP... so nothing new was coming out. The album being reviewed here followed, and is considered to be Stills' fourth 'solo' LP, but a review of the detailed liner notes reveal it to be a collection of songs gleaned from 1971 to 1975 that, for whatever reason, never made it to disc. Nearly every song involves a completely distinct cast of musicians. On 'As I Come of Age' for example, we have Crosby, Stills and Nash on vocals and Ringo Starr on drums. On the remainder of the CD, there are no less than 5 other drummers featured: Conrad Isadore, Jimmy Fox, Russ Kunkle, Dallas Taylor, and Tubby Ziegler, and much overdubbing is noted. There is an assortment of over a dozen vocalists credited, many contributing to only one song. This was hardly a band coming together in one studio to record a set of new compositions.

That being said, this is not a poor production. There are deficiencies, but it is the last of Stills' collectable solo efforts. The biggest problem with the album is the lack of any cutting edge rock numbers. By the time 'Cold Cold World' and 'Myth of Sisyphus' roll around, most people are definitely feeling the blues, or a bit drowsy. The strongest rock songs on the LP are the Stills-Donnie Dacus composition, 'Turn Back the Pages', which reached number 84 on the national charts in the summer of '75, and 'Shuffle Just As Bad', best described as... well, a shuffle. There are no 'Go Back Home's or 'The Treasure's to blow the lid off the pot. There are a couple upbeat numbers, such as 'To Mama From Christopher and the Old Man', 'First Things First' and 'New Mama' to help lighten the load, but otherwise the song selection is rather subdued, or blues oriented. Many Stills fans resent the presence of Dacus on this, and the subsequent 'Illegal Stills' album, but I find his intense leads provocative, especially on the 1974 live set. In a way, Dacus proved to be a much more compatible foil for Stills than Neil Young, or even Chris Hillman, who too readily stood in the shadows on rhythm guitar, supporting Stills' leads in Manassas. Further, Dacus' and Hillman's presence reveals Stills' willingness to share the spotlight, a trait critics often contend Stills is lacking.

There do seem to be two themes dominating the songs. One is changes. Stills hints at an awareness that his era of prolific songwriting is fading, hence his choice to 'Turn Back the Pages' in his songwriting catalog, raiding the vault for this disc. Consider these telling, autobiographical phrases from 'My Favorite Changes': "This is my favorite set of changes, already good for a couple of songs, thought I might play them one more time and over again", and "Makes me go back to the trouble I got into, trying to live up to what they said I lucked into at twenty-five", and "But here I stand tryin' so hard to find, one more clever line, for this song of mine, but I can't seem to find, anything that will rhyme, with my favorite changes". Sounds like an artist having a hard time keeping the pen to the songwriting grindstone, doesn't it? Ironically... aren't those some great lyrics?

The other theme is family life. At this point in his life Stills was nursing what would become a short-lived marriage, and enjoying the arrival of his son, Christopher. Songs such as Stills' cover of Neil Young's 'New Mama', 'To Mama From Christopher and the Old Man', and lyrics from songs such as 'My Favorite Changes' ("And this part reminds me of my lady, she loves me, she's waitin' at home, and the baby she's makin', I tell you it's frightnin' how she trusts me so...") clearly mark the point where this singer-songwriter's life was at. Such diversion probably isn't the most fertile soil for cutting edge rock and roll, so perhaps this accounts for the album's lack of an edge.

Nonetheless, this is an engaging CD. A number of these songs, such as 'Turn Back...', 'My Favorite Changes', 'In the Way', 'First Things First', 'As I Come of Age', and 'Myth of Sisyphus' could have easily claimed a spot on any of Stills' other solo productions. There are some weaker compositions, in particular 'Love Story' and 'Cold Cold World', but even those songs have their redeeming moments. This is certainly a 'must-own' for any avid collector of Stephen Stills. Oh, and one nice 'extra': lyrics are included!

Average customer rating: Underrated Album - Still sounds good should have been billed as "Stephen Stills & Donnie Dacus", but a real good album regardless Not Regal... Illegal Not his first album to start with but don't overlook Stills' Most Underrated Album

Illegal Stills Stephen Stills Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Pop Rock | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Pop Rock | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Oldies | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Classic Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Stills Down the Road Stephen Stills 2 Live Stephen Stills ASIN: B00000256S Release Date: 1990-08-20

Tracks:

1. Buyin' Time
2. Midnight In Paris
3. Different Tongues
4. Soldier
5. The Loner
6. Stateline Blues
7. Closer To You
8. No Me Niegas
9. Ring Of Love
10. Circlin'

Customer Reviews:

Underrated Album - Still sounds good.......2007-03-25

I'd forgotten all about this album and went about 30 years from when I first listened to it until I bought it on amazon. It still sounds great, good songs, excellent musicians and catchy arrangements. Features a great contribution from the unfairly maligned Donnie Dacus.

should have been billed as "Stephen Stills & Donnie Dacus", but a real good album regardless.......2007-02-08

Although credited as a Stephen Stills solo album, 1976's "Illegal Stills" probably should have been billed as a "Stephen Stills & Donnie Dacus" duo album. Dacus had a heavy hand on Stills' previous album (not including the "Live" album), 1975's "Stills", but he comes to the fore even more here--he contributes to the songwriting on a handful of tracks, plus he seems to handle a majority of the background vocals and even gets lead vocal spotlights on 3 songs.

Coming to this album today, knowing that Dacus later went on to join one of the '70s ultimate schlock-pop bands Chicago (following the death of Terry Kath), you might be baffled as to why the astonishingly-talented Stills would allow Dacus to contribute so much to what's billed as a Stephen Stills solo album. It could be because marriage troubles had begun to rear their head for Stills' during the making of it and that Stills wanted someone who was competent and reliable and yet didn't have an overarching ego and agenda of their own to push (e.g., Neil Young).

And it worked out really well. "Illegal Stills" is indeed very slick in a mid-'70s kind of way, and on the whole it has an uncharacteristically lightweight feel for Stephen, but it's a highly enjoyable listen. Latin rhythms crop up repeatedly, always to excellent effect. "Midnight In Paris" was written by Dacus and Stills' then-wife Veronique Sanson (Dacus had been a member of Sanson's backing band), and it's an irresistible feel-good tune with Dacus singing lead on the English-language verses and Stills giving it his best on the middle verse which--surprise, surprise--is sung in French. The all-out Latin-pop number "No Me Niegas" has a certain corniness to it, but it's smile-inducing and amusing as opposed to cringe-worthy. Dacus' slick blue-eyed-soul vocals prove to be an engaging foil for Stills' huskiness on the irresistible "Closer To You", again done up as a duet between the two; the Dacus-sung lyrics, which I presume he also wrote, are fairly laughable, but Dacus does a commendable job of masking their corniness with his slick, yet carefully-nuanced vocals. The excellent album-opener "Buyin' Time" is a surging, organ-soaked uptempo number with a super-cool instrumental mid-section. "Different Tongues" is a crafty ballad with a lush synthesizer background. The imaginative re-working of Neil Young's "The Loner" really cooks, toppling Neil's own original version. Dacus gets a lead vocal all to himself on a song that he primarily wrote (although Stills is co-credited in the booklet) called "Ring of Love" which is an excellent feel-good tune--it's catchy and has a great groove to it.

It'd be stretching it though to hail the album as a neglected masterpiece. "Stateline Blues" is quite brief, but still a fairly dull and overly-repetitive acoustic-based number. The album-closing "Circlin'" is energetically performed and has a pretty catchy chorus, but still feels underdeveloped.

Overall though, "Illegal Stills" is a damn good album. Don't be fooled by people who tell you Stephen was losing it by the point, or that the prominent role of Donnie Dacus signals Stills' artistic bankruptcy.

Not Regal... Illegal.......2004-04-18

This is the finest album Donnie Dacus ever made. Unfortunately
it's suppose to be a Stephen Stills album, and as such it is only
mediocre. So the value of the album lies somewhere between
those two standards.

Dacus' contributions to the work are extensive, and in some
respects exemplary. He collaborates with Stills in composing
four songs, and writes another with Stills' wife, Veronique
Sanson. It's to his credit that three of these numbers, `Midnight
In Paris', `Closer To You', and `Soldier', are some of the better
compositions on the disc. Dacus, formerly of the band Spirit,
also contrbutes lead and background vocals and fine guitar work.
He is a worthy protege and second guitar foil for Stills.

But one wonders why such a talented and accomplished artist
such as Stills even needed a protege. Part of the answer lies in Stephen's
declining output as a composer. In his biography `Shakey", Neil
Young notes that he resisted overtures from Stills, David Crosby

and Graham Nash during their 1974 tour to release a second
CSNY disc simply because the others were not generating any
new material. He states that he "couldn't believe they were
finished". While none of them were "finished", in retrospect it
is clear that Neil recognized their diminishing output, especially
in comparison to his own.

In addition, it seems Stephen lost his grip on the folk, country,
and blues based rock, as well as the wah-pedal trademark
guitar sound that he had parlayed into so much success.
"Illegal" is dominated by the power-pop sound more suited
to Dacus, who would go on to play in power-pop groups
such as Chicago and Badfinger in the late 1970's and early
1980's, while Stephen joined forces again with Crosby and
Nash for 2 successful albums and a couple even less
successful than `Illegal' attempts to resurrect his solo career.

`Illegal' only features one classic Stills tune, `Buyin' Time',
an indictment of the failed economic policies of Richard
Nixon and Gerald Ford. Stills began performing the song
in mid-1975 as an acoustic number, but this studio version
really rocks the Casbah. His cover of Young's `The Loner'
is also a hot tune, but was bound to pale in comparison to
Young's pristine version. The closer, `Circlin', was first
performed on the brief Stills-Young Band tour in the summer
of 1976, and is an upbeat, interesting number. `Soldier' is
a gutsy protest song in the aftermath of Vietnam. Stills
offers his requisite Latin-hued number in `No Me Neigas',
but it is only a shadow of other Latino songs from Stills
such as `Cuban Bluegrass'. `Stateline Blues' seems to
lack the grit, and as Stills himself said in `Bluesman', "the
blues is pain, the way men cry, like tired rain...", to be
considered a `true' blues song. It is a fun song about
gambling, though Stills did a better take on the same
topic with 1970's `Black Queen'. `Ring Of Love' is
filler, a song Stills himself describes in the liner notes as
one "Donnie pulled...out of his past". Shouldn't be part
of a Stills CD.

There are interesting comments included from Stills on
the makings and origins of each song, as well as lyrics.
While `Illegal' is certainly a departure from the formula
that made Stills one of the premier artists in rock from
1966 to 1976, it contains enough quality material to
be considered essential to Stills fans. For the more
casual listener, there are many Stephen Stills releases

that would be a more desirable purchase, especially
the first Manassas CD, his first solo album, and his
early collaborations with Crosby, Nash and Young.

Not his first album to start with but don't overlook.......2001-11-20

Start with his first debut, then Manassas (first one) and then #2 and then "Live" and his 1975 "Stills". This album reminds me of the band "Gentle Giant" who's many albums are mediocre/unmemorable at first listen but then get better and better with each repeated play. For those expecting early classic Stills', this album does not deliver. But this album shows Still's ability to adapt to arrangements with higher production and he gets a little help from his friends (a few songs were not written by him) including a redo of Neil Young's "The Longer". At times, this reminds me of what the Eagles were doing on their "Long Run" album but maybe not to the same success they experienced. My favorite would have to be the soley accoustic "Stateline Blues" and the latin-influenced "No Me Niegas" with it's catchy riffs. I agree that this album is not as strong as his previous works (the over instrumentation at times drowns out his guitar-work and the music/lyrics tend to be much lighter natured than on his previous works) but it's still better than most of the popular music by artists that were coming out in the 80's and 90's. If you really like Stills first few albums, you should get this but don't expect the same. If you found his first few albums so-so, then you're best to skip.

Stills' Most Underrated Album.......2001-11-06

As a big fan of Steve Stills, I've long felt that he never received his due as a solo artist from rock critics in general. In fact, the vitriol which some professional reviewers have used in deriding his solo efforts is perplexing to me. But of all Stills' albums, none has been as unfairly maligned as "Illegal Stills". This album should have been recognized for what it was: an unmistakable statement from a great artist that, contrary to popular opinion, his skills had not diminished one bit. "Ring of Love" and "Circlin'" would have sounded right at home on top 40 radio, while "Soldier" was haunting and "The Loner" blew Neil Young's version of the song out of the water. The band is hot, the songs are excellent, the arrangements are imaginative, and on the whole this compares very favorably with the two Stills albums that get all the accolades - the debut, and the first Manassas album.

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