STEPHEN STILLS SINGER SONGWRITER for Podcast VV_027

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TODAY’S PROGRAM……

M1 For What It’s Worth (Stephen Stills), Buffalo Springfield, Buffalo Springfield, Released ATCO, LP 1969 (3:00)…

M2 Bluebird  (Stephen Stills) Buffalo Springfield Again, Released ATCO, LP 1967, (4:28)…

M3 Suite: Judy Blue Eyes (Stephen Stills), Just Roll Tape, Recorded 1968, Released Eyewall, LP 2007 (6:33)….

M4 Wooden Ships (Stills, Kantner, Crosby) Just Roll Tape, Recorded 1968, Released Eyewall, LP 2007 (2:26)…

M5 Carry On (Stephen Stills) Déjà Vu, Crosby Stills Nash & Young Taylor & Reeves, Atlantic LP 1970 (4:25)…

M6 4+20  (Stephen Stills), Déjà Vu, Crosby Stills Nash & Young Taylor & Reeves, Atlantic LP 1970 (1:55)…

M7 Sugar Babe (Stephen Stills), Stephen Stills 2, Atlantic Records LP, 1971 (4:04).

M8 Change Partners, (Stephen Stills), Stephen Stills 2, Atlantic Records LP, 1971 (3:14)…

Stephen Stills is an American musician, singer, and songwriter best known for his work with

  • Buffalo Springfield
  • Crosby, Stills & Nash
  • Manassas …
  • and as a SOLO ARTIST.

He was born in 1945 in DALLAS TEXAS. He is 78 at the time of this podcast’s production. He is still active. He plays guitar, bass guitar, keyboards… he’s not only a singer and songwriter… also an arranger and producer.

Stills has had a long and prosperous career. Starting out in 1963, he has given us some 60 years of songwriting and musical performance.

Today I FEATURE original compositions by singer songwriter Stephen Stills. From my collection we will hear 5 albums:

  1. Buffalo Springfield album and For What It’s Worth,
  2. Buffalo Springfield Again album with Bluebird
  3. Stephen Stills’ demo tape album JUST ROLL TAPE with Suite: Judy Blue Eyes, and Wooden Ships
  4. Crosby Stills Nash and Young’s DÉJÀ VU album with 4+20 and Carry On
  5. And finally, the STEPHEN STILLS 2 solo album with Sugar Babe and Change Partners.

 

We are now listening to ROCK AND ROLL WOMAN from BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD AGAIN.

 

These selections were each recorded between 1966 and 1971. Just a small time slice of this singer/songwriter’s career.

 

Stills was between the ages of 21 and 26. These works are important because these songs are each hand crafted by Stills. I also wanted to showcase his array of talents like multi-instrumental musician, arranger, and producer. In addition to being a successful singer/songwriter, who work has had a large musical impact.

 

Much more for future podcasts.

 

M1 For What It’s Worth (Stephen Stills), Buffalo Springfield, Buffalo Springfield, Released ATCO, LP 1969 (3:00)

 

Stephen Stills’ first HIT recording was FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH (or “Stop, Hey, What’s That Sound”). It was 1966. Stills was just 21 years old. This was his first big break. He had written several songs, by now.. Not only did he have an inventory of original songs, he had helped to form a new band. Along with two other singer-songwriters, Richie Furay and Neil Young… they formed Buffalo Springfield out in Los Angeles. Neil Young came from Winnipeg Alberta, and Furay and Stills left a New York City gig with the Au Go-Go Singers, a 9-member group performing at the Café Au Go-Go. Two other Canadians — bassist Bruce Palmer and rock drummer Dewey Martin were added — 5 band members in all. 2 Americans, 3 Canadians.

 

“For What It’s Worth” became one of the most recognizable songs of the 1960s. It was first released as a 45 RPM single in late 1966. In t1967, For What It’s Worth featured on the first Buffalo Springfield LP.

 

The lyrics in FOR WHAT ITS WORTH are all about a confrontation Stills had with LAPD Riot Police in Los Angeles’ earlier that year. There had been many summer nights of rowdy crowds of kids causing late-night traffic issues in the Sunset Strip neighborhood. LA responded by announcing a curfew of 10PM. As a result, there were reported to have been over 1,000 persons out on the Strip protesting and trouble broke out. There were clashes between police and young people. Peter Fonda was handcuffed by police. Jack Nicholson was also on the scene. Whisky a Go-Go was a nightclub on the Sunset Strip, where many great bands have performed. At that time, in 1966, their house band was Buffalo Springfield. Because of continuing issues of unrest, some clubs on the Sunset Strip were forced to close their doors for weeks. It was because of these civil disturbances on Sunset Strip that Stills recorded “For What It’s Worth”.

 

And now, For What It’s Worth (Stephen Stills)

 

Play M1

Don’t Touch That Dial

That was M1  FOR WHAT ITS WORTH – STOP HEY WHATS THAT SOUND

Credits

  • Stephen Stills – Guitar and Vocals and songwriter
  • Richie Furay – Guitar and vocals
  • Dewey Martin – Drums
  • Bruce Palmer – Bass
  • Record Company ATCO, a division of Atlantic Records

 

 

“For What It’s Worth” became a top ten hit, reaching No. 7 on the US Billboard 100 in Spring of 1967.

 

BIT BUCKET

I was a very impressionable age 14 at the time of this song’s release… the song chorus lyrics were very impactful on me…

I think it’s time we stop.

Hey, what’s that sound?

Everybody look, what’s going down?

 

 

 

M2 Bluebird  (Stephen Stills) Buffalo Springfield Again, Released ATCO, LP 1967, (4:28)

 

The Buffalo Springfield band was really about their two biggest egos, those of STEPHEN STILLS and NEIL YOUNG. Buffalo Springfield was still a young band, only 9 months old at this point in late 1966. After their hit “For What It’s Worth”, they were eager to have a repeat success. For a SINGLE, two songs, “Bluebird” Mr. Soul were available for a single. Stills writing Bluebird, Young writing Mr. Soul. These were recorded and released by ATCO Records as a single. The version I will play today is from the LP, titled Buffalo Springfield Again, released later that year 1967. This LP version is much improved with lots more guitar work by Stills and Young. BLUEBIRD features the trading off of guitar solos between Neil Young and Stephen Stills. Stills plays the acoustic guitars, some is finger-picking. Young the rocker plays the distorted lead guitar part, on Les Paul guitar. In this song, Stills is ALL ACOUSTIC, Young is ALL ELECTRIC.

PAUSE EXAMPLE GUITARS

About that acoustic guitar we hear –  Stills had just purchased a fine old guitar, a 29-year old acoustic Martin D-28. It was first used in the recording of Bluebird. On this song, Stills uses D-modal tuning … he tuned his guitar DOWN a full note to DADGAD, tuning DOWN 3 of the guitar’s 6 strings.

EXAMPLE: Record yourself d-tuning an acoustic guitar to DADGAD.

It’s a full rich sound used in Celtic music, Folk and Rock. The acoustic guitar work and this recording is sharp and clear because of some early recording expertise in SOUND PROCESSING, the use of compression and equalizers to highlight the picking and full dynamic range of that acoustic guitar. This is an ultra clear recording of Stills on that Martin D-28.  AND there is also a BANJO PART.

PLAY BANJO BACKGROUND   The banjo part is played by Charlie Chin, bluegrass style, from Greenwich Village – Stills’ worked earlier there. This LP VERSION with the added guitar and banjo parts, lengthens this 2-minute single to 4:28.

 

And now here is Bluebird … complete with dueling guitars and banjo.

PLAY M2

Don’t Touch That Dial

that was M2    BLUEBIRD (Stephen Stills) Buffalo Springfield Again, Released ATCO, LP 1967, (4:28)

Song credits M2 go to

  • Neil Young electric lead guitar
  • Bobby West Bass
  • Rich Furay vocal
  • Dewey Martin drums
  • Charlie Chin – Banjo
  • Stephen Stills – singer, songwriter, producer along with Atlantic Records, acoustic rhythm and lead guitars

 

The single reached number 58 on the Billboard chart, some critics see the song as their most accomplished piece.  It spent 7 weeks on the HOT 100 chart. Buffalo Springfield did not last / could not last, with 3 egos as large as a house, all of this talent had dismantled by 1968 and  each artist went on to their own individual successes…Neil Young departed to form Crazy Horse, Richie Furay departed to form Poco, and Stephen Stills went on to form Crosby Stills Nash and Young. BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD is a foundation of ROCK AND ROLL.

 

BIT BUCKET On the lyrical side, lyrics are usually lost on me. I am identifying much more with the guitar, drum, and bass parts on these songs. Some say the lyrics in this song Bluebird have to do with Stills’ musings about Judy Collins. He would soon be writing a tong he titled Suite Judy Blue Eyes. More on that later.  The closing verse in the SINGLE is:

DO YOU THINK SHE LOVES YOU? 

DO YOU THINK AT ALL?

M3 Suite: Judy Blue Eyes (Stephen Stills), Just Roll Tape, Recorded 1968, Released Eyewall, LP 2007 (6:33)

 

The next piece is titled Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” and is written by Stephen Stills and performed by Crosby, Stills & Nash (CSN). It appeared on the group’s self-titled debut album in 1969 and was released as a single.

 

The song is indeed a SUITE…. it imitates a classical music suite with a set of THREE musical pieces, in this case.

 

The inspiration for this Crosby, Stills & Nash classic “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” is Stills’ romantic relationship with Judy Collins They were both singer songwriters and had a romantic relationship that lasted only two years, but numerous songs written by Stills down the road, would muse about Judy Collins.

 

The recording features a UNIQUE version of the Suite. This recording is from a DEMO tape made in April of 1968. It was done at a recording studio where Judy Collins had just finished a recording session and there was remaining studio time. Stills evidently paid the recording engineer privately to help him record the demos. He asked the engineer to “JUST ROLL TAPE” and Stills proceeded to perform 13 of his originals – – solo. The tape is available in LP form (very expensive) and on CD.

PAUSE AND PLAY EXAMPLE   OF THE EEEEBE tuning at beginning of song.

The guitar is tuned to modal tuning EEEEBE and was used on later songs from the Déjà vu album— Carry On and 4+20. We will hear each of those later in this podcast

The Suite has 3 pieces on the demo tape:

  • Segment one – You Make It Hard
  • Segment two – What Have You Got To Lose
  • Segment three – Be My Lady

 

And now

… here is Suite: Judy Blue Eyes played solo by STEPHEN STILLS in 1968

Play M3

DON’T TOUCH THAT DIAL

That Was M3 Suite: Judy Blue Eyes (Stephen Stills), Just Roll Tape, Recorded 1968

Credits M3

Credits

  • Stephen Stills solo Guitar and Vocals

 

Listening to this demo ROLLL THE TAPE I can understand the high street value. There are in all 13 songs recorded solo, on one tape, and one take, and there are few gaffs, if any. CLEARLY, Stills not only had inventory but he had great command of the song ideas. Great vocals and use of innovative guitar tunings.  These demo songs are solid prototypes!

 

In 1970, this song appeared on the group’s self-titled debut album – “Crosby Stills & Nash”

  • Suite: Judy Blue Eyes reached number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart.
  • In Canada, “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” peaked at number 11.

 

 

M4 Wooden Ships (Stills, Kantner, Crosby) Just Roll Tape, Recorded 1968, Released Eyewall, LP 2007 (2:26)

 

Next, we go to Fort Lauderdale Florida. It is 1968, and there is a large sailboat named MAYAN. The ship MAYAN was owned and operated by David Crosby for 45 years. The WOODEN SHIPS story goes like this. Crosby composed the music to WOODEN SHIPS and the lyrics were written by Stephen Stills and Paul Kantner, founder of JEFFERSON AIRPLANE. Crosby said that he composed numerous songs aboard MAYAN, which he considered to be his sanctuary. MAYAN is a 59-foot Alden centerboard schooner-rig, built in1947. It’s actually 66-feet overall, including the bowsprit, and with the centerboard up, can sail in water as shallow as 5 feet.

WOODEN SHIPS is thought to be a look at the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust. The 60’s was the cold war and a time of nuclear threat between the USA and USSR.  For example the CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS in 1962 was perhaps the closest the US has come to a nuclear disaster.

PAUSE

WOODEN SHIPS was inspired by nuclear holocaust and also real life – as David Crosby said about sailing aboard the MAYAN:

“The world has gone to hell … The idea was that we were sort of sailing away from that madness.”.

 

This rendition of WOODEN SHIPS is from Stephen Stills demo tape, the album is JUST ROLL TAPE.

plays a de-tuned guitar and delivers the vocals.. This demo is a shorter version of Wooden Ships, 2:26. Later the song will evolve out to 5:29.

 

And now M4 Wooden Ships  recorded in 1968

Play M4

DON’T TOUCH THAT DIAL

That was M4  WOODEN SHIPS from JUST ROLL TAPE recorded in 1968 and released in 2007 as an LP and CD with compelling lyrics…..

PAUSE insert lyrics.

Wooden Ships on the water

Very free and easy peasy. You know,

The way it’s supposed to be.  

 

So how is it this demo tape remained unreleased for so long –2007 was 25 years after  the original recording. Somehow, Stills left the demo session without taking his demo tape. Years later, the studio closed down, and many tapes, including this one, were given to another musician ….who finally succeeded in returning the demo tape to Stills, who then produced and released this album (CD and LP versions) in 2007. A great find.

Credits

  • Stephen Stills solo Guitar and Vocals
  • Stephen Stills and Paul Kantner lyrics
  • David Crosby song composer

PROPER VERSIONS of these last two DEMO tracks, Suite Judy Blue Eyes and Wooden Ships, appeared on the debut album of Crosby Stills and Nash a year later — 1969. That debut CSN album sold over four million copies and CSN went on to win a Grammy Award for Best New Artist.

 

BIT BUCKET

The theme of WOODEN SHIPS reminds me of Canadian folk singer BONNIE DOBSON’s song released that same year, (WALK ME OUT IN THE) MORNING DEW, a dialogue between the last man and woman left alive after some apocalyptic catastrophe.

The version recorded and released on the 1969 CSN album is 5:29.

 

 M5 Carry On (Stephen Stills) Déjà Vu, Crosby Stills Nash & Young Taylor & Reeves, Atlantic LP 1970 (4:25)

 

In 1968, following the breakup of Buffalo Springfield, Stills worked with American singer-songwriter David Crosby from The Byrds, and with English singer songwriter Graham Nash from The Hollies. They worked as a TRIO called Crosby, Stills & Nash or CSN. Some months later they added a familiar name from up north, Canadian singer-songwriter, Neil Young, and became Crosby Stills Nash and Young. Imagine that, Four singer songwriters in one band. With all of that ego and creativity, will CSNY have a chance of a long future ? We go to the second studio album titled DEJA VU, which was the first time Neil Young was included in recordings. Released in early 1970 by Atlantic. On SIDE ONE / TRACK ONE – – the song is CARRY ON. A title that seems to continue on Stephen Still’s persistent theme . “that romantic breakup with Judy Collins”.

SHORT PAUSE

Interesting fact about Carry On is that there is a familiar tune BUNDLED within, making Carry On a musical Suite. That bundled song is QUESTIONS. According to Stills, “Carry On” was completed in about eight hours from conception to finished master.

And Now:

….Carry On (by Stephen Stills) from Déjà Vu, Crosby Stills Nash & Young Taylor & Reeves, released in 1970

 

PLAY M5 Carry On (Stephen Stills) Déjà Vu,

Don’t Touch That Dial

that was M5

Carry On (Stephen Stills) Déjà Vu, Crosby Stills Nash & Young Taylor & Reeves, released in 1970

Credits:

Song credits go to

  • David Crosby – vocals
  • Stephen Stills – vocals, guitars, bass, organ, and percussion and song composer
  • Graham Nash – vocals,percussion
  • Neil Young – does not appear on this song….
  • Dallas Taylor – drums

 

 

 

 

BIT BUCKET

Not only was Stills songwriter on many of CSN’s songs, Stills really showcased his versatility and talent by playing bass, guitar, and keyboards on their DEBUT, self-titled album released in 1969.

The album sold over four million copies and at that point had outsold anything from the three members’ prior bands: the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, and the Hollies.

The album won the trio a Grammy Award for Best New Artist.

 

 

M6 4+20  (Stephen Stills), Déjà Vu, Crosby Stills Nash & Young Taylor & Reeves, Atlantic LP 1970 (1:55)

 

Next we go to Side 2, Track 3,,,,,,,, the song is 4 + 20

4 and 20 years ago I come into this life ….

the son of a woman and a man who lived in strife

he was tired of being poor

and he wasn’t into selling door to door…

 

It’s a sad song, depressing actually. Stills sings solo and plays a D-tuned guitar, a common tuning of his.

 

So let’s listen to a very heavy, a troubled side, of Stephen Stills.

 

… and now….

.

 

Play M6 FOUR AND TWENTY by Stephen Stills, the Déjà Vu album,

DON’T TOUCH THAT DIAL

That was M6 4+20  (Stephen Stills), Déjà Vu, Atlantic Records 1970, clocking in at a short …..1:55.

 

Credits:

  • Stephen Stills solo vocal and guitar, and the song composer.
  • NOTE:
    • Graham Nash, David Crosby, Neil Young do not appear on this track.

 

Some Stats about the Déjà vu album

 

  • In March 1970, Déjà vu was certified Gold in the US, JUST 14 days after release!
  • The album spent 88 weeks in the Billboard 200 charts
  • Certified 7× platinum by RIAA, the album’s sales currently sit at over 8 million copies.
  • Deja Vu remains the highest-selling album of each member’s career ,,,,to-date.

 

 

BIT BUCKET

RIAA Recording Industry Association of America

 

 

 

 

 

M7 Sugar Babe (Stephen Stills), Stephen Stills 2, Atlantic Records LP, 1971 (4:04)

 

After the breakup of CSNY in 1970, Stills went through another prolific songwriting stage, composing over 20 songs for his 2nd SOLO album – – Stephen Stills 2.     That was fast work because the album was released by Atlantic in 1971…….just a year after Déjà vu was released. Fast and Prolific indeed.

 

Our next song from Stephen Stills 2 is SUGAR BABE. I believe this song is about Stills relationship with Rita Coolidge – with the lyrics……..

Come on sweet Rita
You’re my sugar baby

And now, another Stills creation, SUGAR BABE

 

PLAY M7

DON’T TOUCH THAT DIAL

That was M7  Sugar Babe (Stephen Stills), from the Stephen Stills 2 SOLO album,

Credits M7

I love that gnarly Hammond organ grinding away on the right hand track.

On the Stephen Stills 2 album there are only general credits, not song-specific.

Even upon further research I have:

  • Stephen Stills – vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass guitar, composer, arranger, conductor and producer
  • Calvin Samuels – bass
  • Conrad Isidore, Dallas Taylor – drums
  • Unknown keyboards
  • Unknown harmony vocals

 

 

BIT BUCKET

In this song, one of the best things is the muffled organ on the right side and Still’s distorted guitar on the left side. I’ve seen him perform this song solo on a big grand piano. It’s pretty cool, Stills is a self-taught basic piano player, but what a talented composer arranger and songwriter. Great sound.

 

M8 Change Partners, (Stephen Stills), Stephen Stills 2, Atlantic Records LP, 1971 (3:14)

Last on today’s Stephen Stills Singer Songwriter podcast is CHANGE PARTNERS, also from that 2nd SOLO album.

 

Stills said “it was about growing up in Texas. Going to debutante balls, dancing and changing partners.”

 

You will hear a lovely pedal steel guitar. That is none other than Jerry Garcia  on pedal steel guitar played throughout this song. This version released on Stephen Stills 2 was recorded in early ‘ 71 in Miami.

 

PLAY M8

And now, CHANGE PARTNERS

Don’t Touch That Dial

That was M8 

 

Change Partners, (Stephen Stills), Stephen Stills 2, Atlantic Records LP, 1971

Song credits M8

As far as song credits, again there are only general album credits,

Upon further research, here is what I found on CHANGE PARTNERS::

 

  • Stephen Stills – vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass guitar, composer, arranger, conductor and producer•
  • Calvin Samuels – bass
  • Dallas Taylor – drums
  • Jerry Garcia – pedal steel guitar on “Change Partners”
  • Graham Nash, David Crosby, Henry Diltz, and Fred Neil on backing vocals.

 

 

STATS

  • Stephen Stills 2 album peaked at number eight on the Billboard 200 and was certified as a gold record.
  • Two singles were released from the album,
  • “Change Partners” peaked at number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONCLUSION

 

This podcast on Stephen Stills EARLY YEARS -1966-1971 included 8 of his original compositions from 5 albums and singles.

 

OF COURSE this ONLY SCRATCHES the surface of his great talent. There will be a subsequent podcast on STEPHEN STILLS.

 

Stills has combined record sales of over 35 million albums. He is a Hall of Fame inductee, in fact he was the first person to be inducted twice on the same night into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – that was 1997.

 

Stephen Stills is 78 at the time of this podcast’s production.  Neil Young is 77. Graham Nash is 81.

 

Sadly, we lost David Crosby earlier this year, at the age of 81.

 

On a lighter note, Judy Collins is 84. And Rita Coolidge is 78.

 

That’s it for today’s show “STEPHEN STILLS SINGER SONGWRITER”, on VINYL VIBRATIONS.

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THAT’S   TODAY’S SHOW    ” STEPHEN STILLS SINGER SONGWRITER ”

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