Folk-rock legend Stephen Stills celebrates his 80th birthday today (January 3, 2025). It goes without saying that Stills has had an incredible career that includes being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice—with the Buffalo Springfield in 1997 and with Crosby, Stills & Nash the same year.
Videos by American Songwriter
Stills also has had a successful solo career, in addition to playing in such other groups as Manassas (with The Byrds’ Chris Hillman) and The Rides (with Kenny Wayne Shepherd), not to mention Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
[RELATED: Stephen Stills Has Different Opinions About a CSNY Reunion Than Ex-Bandmate Graham Nash]
Stephen is a supremely talented singer, songwriter, and guitarist, who also can play bass and keyboards. On Crosby, Stills & Nash’s classic 1969 self-titled debut, he played the majority of the instruments, with exception of the drums and some rhythm guitar.
Among the many memorable songs Stills has written are “For What It’s Worth” and “Bluebird” (Buffalo Springfield); “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” and “Helplessly Hoping” (CSN); “Carry On” (CSNY); and “Love the One You’re With” (solo).
Stills also has lent his talents to recordings by an impressive list of other artists, including to some enduring hits. In honor of Stephen’s milestone birthday, here are four great songs you may not have known feature his singing or playing.
“Let It Rain” – Eric Clapton (1970)
“Let It Rain” is one of the best-known songs from Eric Clapton’s 1970 self-titled debut solo album. Stills played bass on the track, as well as a guitar solo featured in the middle of the tune. Eric co-wrote the tune with Bonnie Bramlett at the time he was touring with Delaney & Bonnie.
In an interview featured in the 2018 documentary Echoes in the Canyon, Clapton admitted that the music for “Let It Rain” was likely heavily influenced by “Questions,” a song Stills wrote for Buffalo Springfield. “Questions” later served as the inspiration for the CSNY tune “Carry On.”
Clapton released “Let It Rain” as a single in 1972, and it reached No. 48 on the Billboard Hot 100.
“Ain’t No Sunshine” – Bill Withers (1971)
“Ain’t No Sunshine” was pop-soul legend Bill Withers’ first hit, a melancholy ballad that remains an enduring classic. The song, which appeared on Withers’ 1971 debut album, Just as I Am, reached No. 3 on the Hot 100.
Just as I Am was produced by Booker T. Jones of Booker T. & the MG’s fame. Jones brought in Stills to play guitar on the album. He contributed some tastefully understated, jazzy licks to “Ain’t No Sunshine.”
“Carey” – Joni Mitchell (1971)
Stills has close ties with Joni Mitchell dating back to the late 1960s. He played or sang on at least one song on each of Mitchell’s first five albums.
Meanwhile, Stephen’s CSN bandmate Graham Nash was involved in a serious romantic relationship with Joni from 1968 to 1970. Also, CSNY’s cover of Mitchell’s song “Woodstock” became a big hit for the group in 1970.
Among the standout songs by Mitchell that featured Stills was “Carey,” from Joni’s acclaimed 1971 album Blue. Stephen played bass and acoustic guitar on the tune.
Mitchell wrote “Carey” about a gregarious American chef named Cary Raditz whom she met on the Greek island of Crete while vacationing there after breaking up with Nash.
The song became a minor chart hit for Mitchell, but remains a very popular tune from her catalog.
“You Should Be Dancing” – The Bee Gees (1976)
It seems like an unlikely collaboration, but Stills appears on The Bee Gees’ 1976 disco classic “You Should Be Dancing.” Stephen plays percussion on the track, which first appeared on the Bee Gees’ 14th studio album, Children of the World.
“You Should Be Dancing” topped the Hot 100 in September 1976, and then was included on the massively successful Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, which was released in November 1977.
The reason Stills wound up playing on the track was that he and Neil Young were recording their 1976 collaborative album Long May You Run at Criteria Studios in Miami Beach, Florida, at the same time The Bee Gees were working on Children of the World there.
Two members of Stills’ backing band, George Perry and Joe Lala, also played percussion on “You Should Be Dancing.”
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.