Stephen Stills
Stills - Atlantic 1970 Comments:Stephen Stills’ first solo album was released while the hype around Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young was at its peak. Both David Crosby and Graham Nash appear on backing vocals, and on these tracks a great deal of kinship to their joint debut album and "Deja Vu", on which Neil Young had also joined the group.
Especially the big hit on the album, "Love the One You're With" could have fit in nicely on a CSN&Y album. IT is a fine upbeat and very catchy number with real hippie lyrics.
"Do for Others" is a very beautiful acoustic song, written for David Crosby, who had tragically lost his girlfriend in a car accident. Also a number in the CSN&Y vein.
On "Church" we are in the gospel / blues genre. A slightly heavy number with fine choir.
"Old Time, Good Times" is a fairly simple upbeat grooving track; most interesting for the fact that Jimi Hendrix participates - without this being immediately apparent.
"Go Back Home" is more blues - feels with its nearly six minutes somewhat long.
"Sit Yourself Down" was the album's second single. Again a gospel-like number with choir singing from besides Crosby and Nash also from John Sebastian, Rita Coolidge and Mama Cass. The number was only a modest hit with top spot as number 37.
"To a Flame" is a grandiose ballad. Heavy and strings accompanied arrangement. Not very appealing.
"Black Queen" is an acoustic blues with Stills alone on guitar and vocals.
"Cherokee" is another ambitious grandiose number - jazzy with i.a. flute. Not a genre Stills does best in.
On the final track "We are not Helpless", Crosby and Nash are back in chorus. It's a nice finale with a nice build-up and a gospel ending.
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