The younger generation may not know Stephen Stills, but he must be regarded as one of modern music history's more important figures. Most people know his name from years in Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills & Nash (& Young), but he has made lots of albums as a solo artist, also.
This self-titled album is his debut as a solo artist. On the record, he has his buddies Nash and Crosby, but other big names are also contributing. How about Hendrix, Clapton and Ringo Starr? Bigger authorities are hard to find. In fact, this is the only album where both Clapton and Hendrix play, and the whole album is dedicated to Hendrix since he died some time before the album was released. Stills is a multi-instrumentalist, and plays a bunch of different instruments on the record.
Side A is wicked. It starts off with the hit Love the One Your're With, which makes you want to move your hips. Then a string of great songs are lined up. Church (Part of Someone) offers a powerful sweeping gospel chorus that makes me want to go to church, on Old Times Good Times Hendrix plays the guitar which of course can't be anything but great, and on the closing number Go Back Home Clapton plays so the strings glow. A fantastic first side that offers everything from quiet, nice moments to furious, hard rock n 'roll.
But when you turn the record over, it's not as fun anymore. I don't know what happens, but it's not nearly as good. Not even the hit Sit Yourself Down turns me on. And To A Flame just feels cheezy, the long acoustic blues Black Queen is OK, I guess, but not something I can really get carried away by. Sure, there are some half good numbers, but on the whole, the B-side is of considerably lower quality, so I'll probably stick to the first side. And since that side is so exceptionally good, the album is worth a purchase.
Tracklist
Side A
1. Love the One You're With 3:04
2. Do for the Others 2:52
3. Church (Part of Someone) 4:05
4. Old Times Good Times 3:39
5. Go Back Home 5:54
Side B
1. Sit Yourself Down 3:05
2. To A Flame 3:08
3. Black Queen 5:26
4. Cherokee 3:23
5. We Are Not Helpless 4:20
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