#1941462 - 05/13/08 06:08 AM
Stephen Stills fans?
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Bill@Welcome Home Studios
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The Stephenstills dot com website has a demo from 1968, pretty much a full albums worth of songs. It streams, so you can listen tot he whole thing. Not super, not great, but interesting to anyone who likes the CSN sound and wants to hear some early renditions of some classic tracks, as well as hear some that were better left on the cutting room floor.
Bill
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#1941480 - 05/13/08 06:35 AM
Re: Stephen Stills fans?
[Re: Bill@Welcome Home Studios]
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rickygclef
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I've checked this out before, pretty cool.
Like you said some good, some not so good, also interesting demo versions of classics.
I personally love it. He's always been one of my favorites, especially on acoustic.
Stills is headed back out on tour this Summer with CSN.
Glad that he is healthy and doing well. 
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#1941495 - 05/13/08 07:04 AM
Re: Stephen Stills fans?
[Re: Rampdog]
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Bluesape
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Thx, Bill!
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#1941885 - 05/13/08 10:43 PM
Re: Stephen Stills fans?
[Re: Bluesape]
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Part-timer
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Stills is a great artist. Not the best lead player but he was a lot better that Young.
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#1941992 - 05/14/08 06:09 AM
Re: Stephen Stills fans?
[Re: Part-timer]
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miroslav
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Stills is a great artist. Not the best lead player but he was a lot better that Young.
Mmmmmm.....aaaaaah...a lot better at what...???
Hey, I really like Stills...loved his Manassas album, but I don't see that he's really better than Neil on any level.
Of course...YMMV.....
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#1941998 - 05/14/08 06:19 AM
Re: Stephen Stills fans?
[Re: miroslav]
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Bill@Welcome Home Studios
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Mmmmmm.....aaaaaah...a lot better at what...???
Hey, I really like Stills...loved his Manassas album, but I don't see that he's really better than Neil on any level.
Of course...YMMV.....
Oh yeah, Stills is a -very- good guitar player. You may find Neil Young's passionate playing style to be attractive. Personally, I don't, and though I appreciate his wonderful song writing, as a lead player, he just isn't. (though some may say that since he -does- he -is-.)
Bill
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"...it's easier than hitting the kids, and almost as much fun..."
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#1941999 - 05/14/08 06:23 AM
Re: Stephen Stills fans?
[Re: Bill@Welcome Home Studios]
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A String
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Yeah, I enjoy Young's rhythm playing, but his solos can be embarrassing.
I saw CSN at Woodstock 94' and Stills' playing has greatly improved IMO. He may never be considered an amazing lead player, but he was raw and full of energy. It was a fun show and I did enjoy his playing.
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#1942018 - 05/14/08 06:50 AM
Re: Stephen Stills fans?
[Re: A String]
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miroslav
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Well...I don't think Neil ever tried or wanted to be a technically proficient lead player...no argument there.
But IMO there is more to lead than technical proficiency, and Neil always manages to make a fitting emotional statement with his lead work.
I think if you brought in an EVH or Satriani to do the leads for Neil Young's songs...it would actually ruin the songs, and that's not saying anything bad about EVH or Satriani.
But who’s *better* at playing lead…Stills or Neil…?
Mmmm...I think that’s only relative to the music each is doing.
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#1942061 - 05/14/08 07:38 AM
Re: Stephen Stills fans?
[Re: miroslav]
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Bill@Welcome Home Studios
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I think that the word we seek here is 'appropriate' rather than 'better', in the context that you state above. Like putting John Bonham with the Beatles... or Page, fot that matter. People have often trashed Ringo as a drummer, but I felt that he played the most appropriate parts in the material in which he was asked to work. Someone 'better' would not have added any musical value.
In terms of Neil's own personal music, he plays what is right... hell, he wrote it, who knows better? But strictly from a standpoint of sitting in a room jamming with two guys, Stephen has more to offer, and would be more satisfying to jam with, because he can hold his own, yet he also leaves room for you.
I also think that Stills must be pretty insecure... look at the web page and check out all the ego dripping from the site... it's like... "listen, ya'll, I really AM good... honest... no seriously.... but... mama...." It is a shame, but there it is.
If you have listened to any of the comments made by Crosby or Nash, who carefully tiptoe around anything that they say about Neil or Stephen, there is a lot to infer.
One thing is certain... Neil has captured the national attention, and is the real sales force among the four. CSN tour and do 5,000 seat rooms. CSN&Y do 20,000 seat rooms.
Personally, I am a fan of Crosby.... but I've always admired Still's playing, writing and singing. Neil's songs are cool, and his work with Springfield and first few solo albums are classics. But when working with bands he generally chooses to surround himself with lesser lights... makes him look better and
allows him to be the complete boss.. which is a diffreent kind of insecurity, but no less insecure.
Bill
Edited by Bill@Welcome Home Studios (05/14/08 07:41 AM)
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#1942087 - 05/14/08 08:17 AM
Re: Stephen Stills fans?
[Re: Bill@Welcome Home Studios]
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Dr. Ellwood
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Great writers, singers, passable guitar players.
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#1942094 - 05/14/08 08:27 AM
Re: Stephen Stills fans?
[Re: Dr. Ellwood]
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Bill@Welcome Home Studios
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Great writers, singers, passable guitar players.
In the overall world of guitar payers, a very fair statement.
Bill
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#1942112 - 05/14/08 09:07 AM
Re: Stephen Stills fans?
[Re: Mudcat]
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miroslav
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I've always liked Stills' acoustic playing. Never much cared for his electric lead playing. It always struck me as generic. This is obviously just a matter of personal taste on my part.
Yes...I think that says it very well for me too. 
Neil's guitar playing is anything by generic...IMO...and it's usually dripping with originality, tone and emotion.
Can either Neil or Stills get smoked by dozens of other guitarists...?
They sure can…but only some are able to make as bold an emotional statement as Neil does with his "quirky" guitar leads...IMO.
And often...lots of other *lead* guitar players also end up sounding rather generic....though they may be exceptionally technical and awe inspiring to watch.
But I think you have to first like Neil Young's music before you can begin to enjoy his guitar work or even his quirky singing style. I’ve been a fan since the late ‘60s.
And he's also been on stage with some other VERY big names...and always managed to hold his own, and interestingly enough, always gotten some of the biggest cheers from the crowds when he walks out into those big-name gatherings.
I guess you can tell I'm a Neil Young fan! 
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miroslav - miroslavmusic.com"Just because it happened to you, it doesn't mean it's important."
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#1942113 - 05/14/08 09:10 AM
Re: Stephen Stills fans?
[Re: miroslav]
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miroslav
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*double post*
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#1942296 - 05/14/08 07:38 PM
Re: Stephen Stills fans?
[Re: Strategery]
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Fumblyfingers
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I hate to get involved in discussions of who sucks on guitar......Neil Young is a great songwriter...I do not fancy his voice all that much and I fancy his stage antics and lead guitar work even less than that.
Now.......Stephen Stills, does he use open tunings? It sure sounds like it .....
I like Manassas. Stephen Stills has a killer voice.
Oh, I loved the demo's, thanks for the heads up!
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#1942300 - 05/14/08 07:51 PM
Re: Stephen Stills fans?
[Re: Fumblyfingers]
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mdrs
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I can't believe we're having a, er, discussion about who's better at lead, Neil Young or Steven Stills!! LOL...well, I guess I can believe it.
Steve and Neil both have a tone and style and sound, both vocal and lead guitar, that is immediately identifiable, and unique. They've both successfully carved out their own significant spot in classic rock history.
Personally, I adore the passion and intensity that each puts into THE SONG and their music.
And, they are both really really good. 
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#1942307 - 05/14/08 08:46 PM
Re: Stephen Stills fans?
[Re: miroslav]
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Fumblyfingers
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Yeah, he'd be better off playing just one note LOL.....no seriously, I don't mind his guitar lead work until he starts going off...then he often just gets sloppy for the sake of it...what I have heard anyway....I always thought he would just be better off letting someone else handle that side of it and him just being the singer songwriter and front guy...get a killer lead guy for the icing on top.
BTW....anyone want to answer my question of if he uses open tuning?
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#1942320 - 05/14/08 09:21 PM
Re: Stephen Stills fans?
[Re: Fumblyfingers]
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mdrs
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I'm no expert, but I bet he does...a lot of those old folkies used dropped D on their D-28's, long before it became a metal music tool.
I've seen CSNY several times live. Neil is one of the most amazing live performers I've seen. NOT polished, not clean, not classically a great player.
His intensity, passion, and uniqueness puts him in my top performer category. He's just special, in his very own, quirky way.
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#1942335 - 05/14/08 10:12 PM
Re: Stephen Stills fans?
[Re: mdrs]
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TomStone
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the 68 solo demos are great and i think sound better than some of the full productions that turn ed up on later albums - you can really hear the quality of Stephen's voice.
On the issue of guitar - well, I'm always going to fall in the Neil Young camp when faced off against Stills. Stills has too many cliches in his playing for me.
young on the other hand is just such and original giant - his songwriting approach finds fullfillment in his guitar approach.
And the long almost modal solo jams that he gets into with Crazy Horse can leave weak at the knees.
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#1942527 - 05/15/08 10:42 AM
Re: Stephen Stills fans?
[Re: rickygclef]
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Rampdog
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Rampdog, I know you are a fan of Crosby too, he uses open tunings almost exclusively as far as I know.
Yea...CSN&Y all used some pretty 'out there' tunings... Took me years to figure out why I couldn't play the songs the way they were... I would find my self scruntchin' up my fingers or stretching them beyond what they could do... God I was stupid...
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