I was pleased to find this outstanding video. I was gonna give 'crossroads' a shot and thought I'd see if I could steal any licks from stephen... yeah, right, I'm gonna go crawl back in my hole now.
Fantastic clip, thanks for the post. I've seen Stephen several times and he is amazing talent. When he's in good voice, and in this clip he's in great blues voice, its a real special time! Hooaah Stephen Stills, keep rockin brother.
I have listened to Crosby, Stills, and Nash for many years, but until they started releasing music dvds I didn't know who was singing what, except for Mr. Nasal, Young. And, then I'm watching Woodstock for the first time and all this incredible singing, guitar playing, and writing is one man. Yeah, everybody else is very good, but Stills is some of everything, just unbelievable. I'm buying Woodstock for him and his Suite Judy Blue Eyes and Hendrix's Voodoo Child.
@birdwomn buy and listen with a good set of headphones to CSN's first album. Stills' 2nd super group. He is all over it thanks to Ahmet Ertegun, President of Atlantic records.
Per music critics, Stills was the "most talented" of CSNY. Not easy to be the most talented of that group, but that was his reputation. He was/is a Texas bluesman whom Jimi Hendrix admired and nearly hired away from CSNY. They were personal friends. Equally gifted on accoustic or electric guitar. Very original songwriter.
@bookkeeper57 I don't care what the critics say. There is no greater single talent than the voice of David Crosby. Stills is superb but don't underestimate Crosby as a guitarist either.
Stephen may not best the best at any one thing, however, there's nobody better at doing everything. Writing, singing, electric, acoustic, Hammond B-3, piano, percussion. .... Winwood is probably a second - oddly they were close friends when Stephen was living in London. I have been in awe if this man for decades (which is also the length of time I have spent trying to play a limp rendition of Black Queen.
he plays the "suite" tuning as u mentioned, but i think Stephen always played DDDDAD or EEEEBE rather than DADDAD or EBEEBE! glad everbody seem to like the clip.
I used to play a lot of Steven Stills stuff many years ago. Played around with his open tunings. This video makes me want to get back into it. What tuning is he using here? Anyone know? As I remember a lot of it was somewhere around DADDAD or different variations of this.
Thanks for a great post. Stills is truly one of the most underrated guitarists of the past 40 years. I've seen him perform this live at least 10 times and each one is better (and different) than the last. This one is tremendous!!! Such passion and soul, and his chops are so good that there is no need for Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker or any backing musicians (no offense to Mr. Clapton) to drive this song home. Bye bye New Jersey! Rock on Stephen!!!
damn, i didn't realize he could play like this! i always appreciated his contributions in CSN but their main focus was always the vocal harmonies, guitar was just an accompaniment. this is insane.
Thanks for posting this! Loooong time ago, I had a version of this on vinyl. Lost it while I was in the service. Ya know, as a kid playing guitar, the battle of guitar "gods" was between Blackmore, Page and Hendrix. (I always thought Richie was tops!) It was split among my friends. How funny that was! But when I heard this...on acoustic no less, just blew me away. Since it wasn't electric, it "didn't count." Those were the days! LOL
Hendrix was Hendrix, but truth be known, Stills was always a superior writer, singer, arranger & even acoustic player than Hedndrix, not to take anything away from the electric genius Hendrix. One things for sure, u had to be REALLY good to jam with Stills...
I don't think Stills was a better writer than Hendrix. Hendrix wrote hundreds of songs whilst during the same amount of time Stills wrote few in comparison. Let's just say they were different.
Yep, ask any of his musician friends, they all say he's got a seldom seen talent for timing & it has to do with him starting out a rythm player. Stephen's one of the greats.
Stills was one of the first to use the open tunings a lot. A lot of D A D D A D type stuff.
It is easy to get a big sound with that, but his real talent is what he can do with his right hand, driving the rhythm and percussion at the same time.
Agree with Blootch - except that Stills is too soulful to have made such a contract. If he did - he'd just cut heads with ol' Scratch and have that contract ripped up. Have been in love with his version of this medley since the Stephen Stills Live LP and then seeing him perform it live soon after all those years ago. WOW!!!
Amazing GuitaR Skills, seeing this makes me want too chuck my guitar in the rubbish, but i think Ill just keep practicing, anyone know where the crossroads is might go make me a deal, save myself years of practice :P
Stills plays "You Can't Catch Me" on a Sounding Out interview (Part 1) also posted. You can really hear his chameleon accent and cadences if you watch it all: he hits Florida, Louisiana, New York, something Midwestern (sounds like rural Iowa, then Southern Illinois??) depending on what music he's playing. The interviewer must be British. . .Stills mimics the interviewer's vowels 5 or 6 times. (Sorry, I like the music, but I'm a linguist and this guy's speech patterns are really unique.)
I know what you mean I was an English major and I loved the way he says caynt (can't) he really actually says it and pronounces his unique way whatever loved the whole series of videos I saved them all.
Never mind the guitar - it's a go-o-o-d one - but -
when he's "on," Stills could make a stick in a shoebox strung with some bubblegum & mechanic's wire smoke (it's in his contract with the devil, which he got his soul back out of just last year for singin' so many angelic harmonies w/ his buddies - but that's a 'nuther story...)
I've got three Takamines, a Guild F-50 custom , a Jeff Babicz and a Martin Dreadnought...but Stephen Still's Martin sounds better than all of them. Must be his extra fingers...heh! heh!
i didn't knock takamine, i meant get rel to the guy who was saying stephen never played anything other than martins. Takamine's great guitars, tust me i would never slag em off.
stills is a great guitar player tends to overrely on various guitar tunings which gives him his great albeit distinct sound. Don't knock takamines!!!!I have played takamines that would smoke most high priced and custom made guitars!!!! This comment comes from a guy who owns a classic martin d-28 with an ebony fretboard.
It is NOT a martin dear 54spiritedwill54, Stephen has played a bunch of acoustics over the years, Check out the acoustic consert from 1991 most of that show he plays a Takamine!! Get real....
Stephen Stills is one of the best acoustic guitar players I have ever heard. I saw Jimi Hendrix live back in the late 60's, but you cannot make a comparison, their styles are completely different. Just imagine Jimi and Stephen playing 'Black Queen' together, 'cos Jimi was a good blues player, he just played it Jimi style.
Stills has a raw and spontaneous talent. He got his unique tuning from Bruce palmer from Buffalo Springfield. If anyone ever heard his playing on woodstock 94...
I don't know the specifics of his tuning (you could probably find it out) but it sure does make for a unmistakable electric and acoustic sound everytime stills picks up a guitar! I think he was in his prime here!
Everybody knows Stephen is the master of the Martin guitars, & often prefers to play them, however on this clip it's not a Martin but a Takamine, wich is his 2:nd choice in acoustics.
Stephen has been called 15th best guitar players in the nation and 5th acoustic Birdpucky hes the best BEST in my world and thats everywhere no one now can touch him acoustically just listen to this song really listen
Heard somebody someplace sometime ago say somethin' like: 'Stephen Stills did for the Martin acoustic what Jimi Hendrix did for the Fender Strat.' All the players mentioned on this page are greats and it's no dis to be compared up or down with any one or all of 'em.
To me Stills is - more than everything else - certainly one of the hottest SINGERS in rock business. Top. His voice sounds a bit like folks like Johnny Winter or Richie Sambora to me. My big inspiration! And he wrote my all time fave song "Johnny's Garden"...
clapton smackton clapton is oranges and stephens is apples and they are not in competition one is electric and one is acoustic and there is no one that can touch stephen in any capacity stephen is a god
People can never watch a skilled guitarist without commenting that so-and-so is better. Comment on the video or go watch one you like better. Stop trying to pawn opinion off as some kind of truth and enjoy whats here. Or don't. Don't care.
yea u name all those greats but how about hughie tomlason of the outlaws and ricky medlocke of blackfoot those guys would walk over 90 percent of your so called great list, nice to see u added warren , dicky, and duane much respect there
It's a matter of taste i understand that, so everybody can have their own favourite player and so on..but Chuck Berry who is on your list..was never even a decent player you know, nowhere near Stills or Betts or any of those guys.
A lot of those names mentioned might be better electric huitar players, but acoustic, no way, michael hedges once said, people who thought Clapton was "GOD" hadn't heard Stills play the acoustics. Stills is one of the greatest & most important musicians of the acoustic art of playing.
Stills great player but the better player list includes, in no particular order: Hendrix,SRV,Clapton,Jimmy Page, Ry Cooder, Freddy King,Duane Allman,Chuck Berry,Mike Bloomfield,Roy Buchanan,Warren Haynes, Richard Thompson,Dickey Betts,Eddie Van Halen,Derek Trucks,David Gilmour,Tom Morello. To name a few.
Stills doesn't play electric or slide... so to compare him to Duane, Betts, or SRV wouldn't really make sense. He was a phenomenal acoustic guitar player.
Stills does play electric and slide....There's countless songs that he's played electric on just google some of his stuff. Rock and roll crazies when he played with Manassas is a good example. And for slide check out the slide version of treetop flyer some of the best slide playing ive ever heard...well worth a look.
well, when i said "play electric or slide", I was implying that his musical talent was not as a guitar player. whereas SRV, Duane, and Hendrix are known as guitar greats. Stills is a vocalist with some great songs, but he will never be known as a shredding guitarist in my opinion. if you find a clip where outplays Duane Allman, I'd like to see it.
I see what your saying about Stills not being maybe as popular as the more mainstream artists of the blues world. But Jimi certainly recognised his talent and they both jammed together on a regular basis. Im sure Jimi appreciated his talent regardless of whether Stills could "outplay" him or not. And besides its not just about the shredding, its the delivery of the music in both the words and tone/style....Im no expert but i think you'll find a lot of good blues players will tell you that.
Stills may not be SRV or Jimi, but to say he is not a great guitar player is crazy. This song, along with many more acoustic songs (Suite: Judy Blue Eyes) as well as his electric work is outstanding. He was voted the 24th best guitar player in Rolling Stone's top 100. Pretty impressive.
You want SHREDDING GET DAYLIGHT AGAIN DVD AND WATCH HIM SHREDDING A PLUG IN TAKAMINE WOW yes he isnt Stevie Ray God Bless him and I still miss him so much but they were neck and neck they just had different styles
Stephen Stills is not even in the same stratosphere as Stevie Ray Vaughan when it comes to the guitar. SRV is an all-time great, a god, and universally understood as a top 3 guitar player. Stills is not. Stills sits at 28 on Rolling Stones' list, for what that's worth, behind the likes of Warren Haynes and George Harrison. He's good, but he and SRV were not "neck and neck".
Stephen and Stevie ARE Neck and Neck watcH what you are saying You are not old enough to be saying what you are saying Dont say things YOU HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HE HAS BEEN GIVEN AN UPGRADE AND THEY ARE THE BEST WITH ERIC AND B.B
what the fuck does age have to do with it? like I can't listen to the same shit that you do... stupid argument out of you. you are an absolute moron if you think Stills is ANYWHERE near the guitar player that SRV was. Eric and BB aren't the best... Hendrix and SRV are. get your head out of Stephen Stills' ass and come back to reality.
I am glad you are there and said that. Do me a favor and play Stills Crossroadsa on you tube and you will have new respect. Nice talking to a guitar fan.
if you like slide stuff get Daylight again and watch him with the double neck that is so beautiful And I lifted one At Guitar Center in La. and its heavy no wonder Stephen has such powerfully built arms want those arms wrapped around me tee hee!
Love this song, great version. Stills one of the best players ever. Top 25-50 who have ever picked up and played the guitar.Sadly Stills was very sddidcted to hard drugs,such as cocaine. This performance was taped during the time he was still using. Almost every great player was addicted to drugs or alcohol at some point in their lives. I said almost every great player. No response needed.
right... so if almost every great player was addicted or used something, why even bring it up. it'd be like saying "they all breath air". if it doesn't change his stature or ability, what difference does it make?
live on Mr Stills. Even though here u are fucked up on coke, u will always be remembered as a great player, even though u no longer can play as good as u used too. Still good though..
Wait a minute I remember this performance, WHO told you Stephen was high on coke when he gave this performance? Stephen DOES like a good stiff drink, but to my knowledge he HASN'T done hard (like coke)drugs in YEARS, not since he started raising his HUGE brood of kids in the early '70's(he has something like 8 or more children by different wives).
first time that i ever heard him 1977 with my brother john moving him during a snow storm in lewisburg pa drinking peach schnapps and old grandad i was 14 wow what memories.thanks john
It seems a bit too righteous to quibble over what caused Stephen's voice to lose its sweetness. I always admired it both for its mellowness and its roughness. Considering how some of the premier musicians of his era died of overdoses, its amazing that he managed to produce some great songs, play guitar as if he were possessed, and survive. I say that deserrves applause and not criticism. Bravo, Stephen!
I agree with you momominnosh! Sometimes it seems like me & my sister are the only ones who really honestly like Stephens voice in all the decades he's been around, the rough voice of today is fine with me, cause i was there at the beginning & i don't miss the old voice of Stephen. To quote Robin Williams: "Stephen Stills was a bad mamajama he is"
You and your sister and me!!! I'm a Stills fan from way-back. It's so fantastic we can go on YouTube and get the young and old Stephen (and others too) Helps us see the story of the man, and of ourselves, too!
Add me Damaged Angel, I love his voice more now than before because I stood right in front of him looked up into those beautiful blues eyes last May and heard the change in his voice with my own ears. He had to mature and change it's what we do and I for only one it seems loves the way he talks now. He does wear aides in both ears that I did notice and we talked for at least 20 minutes and I understood him perfectly. He is so handsome and gracious in person. Bless Him.
From 1966-1973, Mr. Stills had the coolest voice in the business. Coke, whiskey, Marboros, and singing over hella loud music caused throat polyps that wore his voice down to a harsh growl.
That's okay, though, because his output during that time was prodigious. Even some of the songs he never released, like Ivory Tower, are stunningly good.
You´re right on the money!! However i might add a few more year than 73' I think ther's examples of great singing past 73' & with CSN there's no doubt there's some good singing also by Stephen. Take "See the changes" recorded 77 GOOOOOOOD singing, even by Stills alone in the verse. Also "Haven't we lost enough" Stephen holds his own at the opening verse..there's more examples..Do you totally disagree? I'm just curios.
Joel Cage is the best guitar player in the world. Stills is just better known. Google Joel Cage -- he has free downloads in the "Tunes" section of his website. Cage was an Asbury Juke in his younger days. Great voice and songwriting also.
Can anyone identify the make of guitar Stephen is playing here? Could be a Martin I guess - but it seems to sound great fully struck and individually hit, string-wise.
It's a Takamine. He briefly had an endorsement deal with them and played them on the road for a short time before switching back to Martins. He talked about in a 90's interview in Guitar World Acoustic magazine.
Rustedstevie - you must've had too much coke yourself. Trying playing something by Stills, then try one of Neil's puerile attemps at acoustic virtuosity. There's not comparison. Neil's idea of shred is tremolo picking the same note for 30 seconds, then bending before sliding up a step and tremolo picking THAT note for another 30 seconds. Neil can write songs, but he's an average guitar player at best.
It's sad what happened to his voice after all those drugs . . . I assume he was a big cokehead 'cause people were saying he was coked up a lot on other threads . . . that stuff'll kill your voice faster than almost anything
Coke is NOT the main reason for Stephens voice changing so vast! His impaired hearing is no1 reason. If you ever heard a deaf person talking you know, Stephen got zero hearing on right ear & 20% left on his left. That plus singing sick blowing his voice through his whole career. That's the two main reason.
His hearing was poor even in the Springfield days, & after that only got worse, it's true coke didn't help him, helps no one period. But a lot of musicians have used that and other substances as you know, but few lost their voice like he did, so listening to the man himself, hearing is main reason + not mending soar throats through the years & instead going on stage singing & screaming as always you know.
yeah . . . I realized that you were right today when I got "Go Back Home," from the "Stephen Stills" album, his voice has been pretty shitty in the past also
I'm sorry that I jumped to the conclusion of coke it is just that I am a bit obsessed with the drug because I used it twice and then had to quit cold turkey because I was developing a heart problem and though it is not yet serious I am a pussy and so I ran scared and basically I have a strange habit of talking about it when I
WOW !!
csgoldengirl1 1 week ago
I was pleased to find this outstanding video. I was gonna give 'crossroads' a shot and thought I'd see if I could steal any licks from stephen... yeah, right, I'm gonna go crawl back in my hole now.
Skelly8899 1 month ago
Fantastic clip, thanks for the post. I've seen Stephen several times and he is amazing talent. When he's in good voice, and in this clip he's in great blues voice, its a real special time! Hooaah Stephen Stills, keep rockin brother.
BIRISHPM 2 months ago
AWESOME!
althecatify 4 months ago
Stephen, yes you can catch me
jcps59 4 months ago
sweet sweet Jesus he beatin that 6 string like a RENTED DONKEY...I've been playin 50 yrs and it dont get much betta than that....... flat truth
rockncleve 4 months ago
Greatness. Stephen, you are so money.
screwingupawetdream 4 months ago
Never heard this. THANKS!!!! Stills guitar & the harmonies were what made CSN & Y
Bamaboompa 5 months ago
lot of trolls comparing the size of their guitar player here.
dig a ditch or be the ditch for 40 years then you can...
push her button and make her sing...
here comes old flat top...
you can't catch me
love the way he rolls the blues into rock
journey46 5 months ago
Wow! Stiils is not as appreciated as he should be.
studlyfive 5 months ago
I have listened to Crosby, Stills, and Nash for many years, but until they started releasing music dvds I didn't know who was singing what, except for Mr. Nasal, Young. And, then I'm watching Woodstock for the first time and all this incredible singing, guitar playing, and writing is one man. Yeah, everybody else is very good, but Stills is some of everything, just unbelievable. I'm buying Woodstock for him and his Suite Judy Blue Eyes and Hendrix's Voodoo Child.
birdwomn 9 months ago
@birdwomn buy and listen with a good set of headphones to CSN's first album. Stills' 2nd super group. He is all over it thanks to Ahmet Ertegun, President of Atlantic records.
journey46 5 months ago
Sorry Eric(Happy Birthday By the way, you are the same age after all) He is better than you. Truth is truth.
damagedangel08 10 months ago
That is the most aggressive playing I've ever seen/heard! Fabulous!
debbiesue52 10 months ago
Take that Eric Clapton !!
rockncleve 11 months ago
I think it was Michael Hedges who said, "those people who say 'Clapton is God' have never seen Stephen Stills play acoustic guitar".
vito336 1 year ago 2
I love this video as he so much better than Relic Eric(sorry Dear) He is so handsome here all sweaty. Wow do those fingers fly!!
damagedangel08 1 year ago
Per music critics, Stills was the "most talented" of CSNY. Not easy to be the most talented of that group, but that was his reputation. He was/is a Texas bluesman whom Jimi Hendrix admired and nearly hired away from CSNY. They were personal friends. Equally gifted on accoustic or electric guitar. Very original songwriter.
bookkeeper57 1 year ago
@bookkeeper57 I don't care what the critics say. There is no greater single talent than the voice of David Crosby. Stills is superb but don't underestimate Crosby as a guitarist either.
Inspector711 8 months ago
Superb!!!
Lukasiewycz 1 year ago
This is what a fallen Angel sounds like You go My Angel He was at his beautiful peak here.
damagedangel08 1 year ago
Yes Sir !
cosmo960 1 year ago
Holy crap! That was phenomenal!
martinaxman 1 year ago
My heart still quivers when I watch this......
gussie01 1 year ago
"One thing the Blues ain`t... is funny"
Obviously. Out of sight, man... out of sight..
Ishhkabibble 1 year ago
Stephen may not best the best at any one thing, however, there's nobody better at doing everything. Writing, singing, electric, acoustic, Hammond B-3, piano, percussion. .... Winwood is probably a second - oddly they were close friends when Stephen was living in London. I have been in awe if this man for decades (which is also the length of time I have spent trying to play a limp rendition of Black Queen.
hoodooyooluv 1 year ago
Jaw dropping.
mgssol90 1 year ago
That's how ya play a guitar! Another 30 years of 8 hour a day practice, and we'll get there.
ItsCabs 1 year ago 3
Genius, Genius, Genius - thats what Stephen Stills is! Stills is one of the best singer/ songwriter/ guitar players to ever walk the planet.
BostonBreeze 1 year ago 7
Simply hard to find something better! Stephen we all love you!!!
omnichord1 2 years ago 2
FANTASTIC !
yesmon4real 2 years ago 3
he plays the "suite" tuning as u mentioned, but i think Stephen always played DDDDAD or EEEEBE rather than DADDAD or EBEEBE! glad everbody seem to like the clip.
ollor 2 years ago
@ollor sick version ! BIG BIG THANKS !
bonnieaa 4 months ago in playlist YouTube Mix for Stephen Stills
I used to play a lot of Steven Stills stuff many years ago. Played around with his open tunings. This video makes me want to get back into it. What tuning is he using here? Anyone know? As I remember a lot of it was somewhere around DADDAD or different variations of this.
taylor8492 2 years ago
It doesn't get better than this
getarslim 2 years ago
Among the best live performances posted here. Stills equally good on accoustic or electric guitar.
bookkeeper57 2 years ago 2
Great posting - Stills is fantasic....please upload more, if you have any....thanks
EMiniDayTraderES 2 years ago
Thanks for a great post. Stills is truly one of the most underrated guitarists of the past 40 years. I've seen him perform this live at least 10 times and each one is better (and different) than the last. This one is tremendous!!! Such passion and soul, and his chops are so good that there is no need for Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker or any backing musicians (no offense to Mr. Clapton) to drive this song home. Bye bye New Jersey! Rock on Stephen!!!
intrepidsinger 2 years ago 12
Fantastic, Steve still has a' powerful mota'
getarslim 2 years ago 3
just bought me the record, too effing cool,
totovillefranche 2 years ago
great jam just love stephan rock on.
1human 2 years ago
Umm... weird song and nice country music.
cooldude9476 2 years ago
The cameraman could not have picked a worse angle to see the guitar work, but it is a great performance.
Alan62651 2 years ago
Breathtaking!
Ms531774 2 years ago
phenomenal!!!
janhn123 2 years ago
Awesome version, I am going to poach as many licks as I can from this video.
scaasi 2 years ago 3
Stephen at his best, and prime.
darbygrey 2 years ago 2
Simply terrific !
pyxaline 2 years ago 2
Very nice performance.
mgssol90 2 years ago 2
damn, i didn't realize he could play like this! i always appreciated his contributions in CSN but their main focus was always the vocal harmonies, guitar was just an accompaniment. this is insane.
foolintherain116 2 years ago 4
ollor,
Thanks for posting this! Loooong time ago, I had a version of this on vinyl. Lost it while I was in the service. Ya know, as a kid playing guitar, the battle of guitar "gods" was between Blackmore, Page and Hendrix. (I always thought Richie was tops!) It was split among my friends. How funny that was! But when I heard this...on acoustic no less, just blew me away. Since it wasn't electric, it "didn't count." Those were the days! LOL
TeleKeith 2 years ago
If I was as young and hot as I used to be, I would be stalking this man! He is amazing!
alexhogan 2 years ago 2
yeah & Stills was not pleased, to say the least...
ollor 2 years ago
Hendrix himself knew how good Stills was. He invited Stills to join his act, but CSN's agent saw the offer first, and diverted it.
bookkeeper57 2 years ago 2
Hendrix was Hendrix, but truth be known, Stills was always a superior writer, singer, arranger & even acoustic player than Hedndrix, not to take anything away from the electric genius Hendrix. One things for sure, u had to be REALLY good to jam with Stills...
ollor 2 years ago 8
so true so true! The most underrated guitar player of all time! I love his style!
ezalburez 2 years ago 3
I don't think Stills was a better writer than Hendrix. Hendrix wrote hundreds of songs whilst during the same amount of time Stills wrote few in comparison. Let's just say they were different.
YourMumGetsItAnally 2 years ago
@ollor
really bro? really?
daverlb 1 year ago
@daverlb really what??
ollor 1 year ago
yes really as a matter of fact hendix and stills jamed a few times.
bladeandbarrel 1 year ago
Anyone who regularly jammed with hendrix has gotta be good...lol
69pittman69 2 years ago
In the zone!! Top timing, even down to the c@ch @ the end. Enjoyed! Thanks ☺
ELGROOVER 2 years ago
Love his version....Brilliance at this Speed...Love it!!!
Nobody can catch him indeed:-)
Mariekesone 2 years ago
pleased to say I was there for this little concert..
wonderful.
ranchroper1974 2 years ago
awesome!
leibeldaniel 3 years ago
Yep, ask any of his musician friends, they all say he's got a seldom seen talent for timing & it has to do with him starting out a rythm player. Stephen's one of the greats.
ollor 3 years ago 4
Stills was one of the first to use the open tunings a lot. A lot of D A D D A D type stuff.
It is easy to get a big sound with that, but his real talent is what he can do with his right hand, driving the rhythm and percussion at the same time.
taylor8492 3 years ago
hot shit, makes me wish he had a banjo :P
klarmer 3 years ago
absolutely wild
itchyundies 3 years ago
Catch me if you can?..... Great version of The Crossroads....original Robert Johnson!
Mariekesone 3 years ago
god this is so hot, anyone willing to send me an mp3 of this?
biggy06605 3 years ago
Hey Biggy - you can get this on Stephen Stills Live. Great CD. Not only this gem, but killer versions of Wooden Ships, 4 Days Gone and more.
intrepidsinger 3 years ago
download limewire search mp3s'.
GremoryMusic 3 years ago
is 'crossroads' a cover?
biggy06605 3 years ago
Agree with Blootch - except that Stills is too soulful to have made such a contract. If he did - he'd just cut heads with ol' Scratch and have that contract ripped up. Have been in love with his version of this medley since the Stephen Stills Live LP and then seeing him perform it live soon after all those years ago. WOW!!!
intrepidsinger 3 years ago
Amazing GuitaR Skills, seeing this makes me want too chuck my guitar in the rubbish, but i think Ill just keep practicing, anyone know where the crossroads is might go make me a deal, save myself years of practice :P
Smolchy79 3 years ago
must have been some great blow LMAO
Deadfreeeak 3 years ago 3
master at work.
Deadfreeeak 3 years ago
SOLID!! fie stah, brah.
halley loo ya ass kickin' pickin.
DirectorSkinner 3 years ago
Stills plays "You Can't Catch Me" on a Sounding Out interview (Part 1) also posted. You can really hear his chameleon accent and cadences if you watch it all: he hits Florida, Louisiana, New York, something Midwestern (sounds like rural Iowa, then Southern Illinois??) depending on what music he's playing. The interviewer must be British. . .Stills mimics the interviewer's vowels 5 or 6 times. (Sorry, I like the music, but I'm a linguist and this guy's speech patterns are really unique.)
YetWeWillMakeHimRun 3 years ago 2
I know what you mean I was an English major and I loved the way he says caynt (can't) he really actually says it and pronounces his unique way whatever loved the whole series of videos I saved them all.
damagedangel08 3 years ago
Jesus.
Never mind the guitar - it's a go-o-o-d one - but -
when he's "on," Stills could make a stick in a shoebox strung with some bubblegum & mechanic's wire smoke (it's in his contract with the devil, which he got his soul back out of just last year for singin' so many angelic harmonies w/ his buddies - but that's a 'nuther story...)
I PASSIONATELY repeat:
Je-SUS!
I gotta hear me that one again! Fave & 5*****!
BlootchMcNoodleHair 3 years ago 12
nail on the head dude
troutvt 3 years ago
I've got three Takamines, a Guild F-50 custom , a Jeff Babicz and a Martin Dreadnought...but Stephen Still's Martin sounds better than all of them. Must be his extra fingers...heh! heh!
jimincairns 3 years ago
Saw him do this on "Midnight Special"....absolutely stunning performance.
ROCKSTARCRANE 3 years ago
i didn't knock takamine, i meant get rel to the guy who was saying stephen never played anything other than martins. Takamine's great guitars, tust me i would never slag em off.
ollor 3 years ago
stills is a great guitar player tends to overrely on various guitar tunings which gives him his great albeit distinct sound. Don't knock takamines!!!!I have played takamines that would smoke most high priced and custom made guitars!!!! This comment comes from a guy who owns a classic martin d-28 with an ebony fretboard.
jwheaney 3 years ago
amazing. imo stills is way underrated as a guitarist.
paowibird 3 years ago 2
It is NOT a martin dear 54spiritedwill54, Stephen has played a bunch of acoustics over the years, Check out the acoustic consert from 1991 most of that show he plays a Takamine!! Get real....
ollor 3 years ago
ita a Martin he wouldnt play anything else and thats because he knows what works and stays with it
54spiritedwill54 3 years ago
SRV did the unplugged, search for SRV unplugged & u find great versions of pride & joy among others.
ollor 3 years ago
awesome guitar picking but cant compare to SRV coz i never seen SRV play an acoustic.
boierfe 3 years ago
Stephen Stills is one of the best acoustic guitar players I have ever heard. I saw Jimi Hendrix live back in the late 60's, but you cannot make a comparison, their styles are completely different. Just imagine Jimi and Stephen playing 'Black Queen' together, 'cos Jimi was a good blues player, he just played it Jimi style.
getarslim 3 years ago
kids's have turets? 6 string relief educational tape right here. oh wait, they have turets. my bad.
doogan76 3 years ago
I can't say it enough. Simply Awesome!!!!!
bwteets 3 years ago
Stills has a raw and spontaneous talent. He got his unique tuning from Bruce palmer from Buffalo Springfield. If anyone ever heard his playing on woodstock 94...
mtown18 3 years ago
Interesting. I never heard that. I will say anyone who does not respect Stills' playing nad vocals, doesn't know music. This is the epitome of both.
bwteets 3 years ago 2
I don't know the specifics of his tuning (you could probably find it out) but it sure does make for a unmistakable electric and acoustic sound everytime stills picks up a guitar! I think he was in his prime here!
mtown18 3 years ago
That aint no Martin,might be a Takamine but no matter,when your that good it just happens.
Clapton ,keep trying,one day you might clean this guys shoes.
gorgio45 3 years ago
very very good.
nickw66 3 years ago
tuning is low to high:
DDDDAD or
EEEEBE
ollor 3 years ago
OK, Stephan, Which crazy tuning do you have on this one...?
imeminebeatles 3 years ago
Everybody knows Stephen is the master of the Martin guitars, & often prefers to play them, however on this clip it's not a Martin but a Takamine, wich is his 2:nd choice in acoustics.
ollor 3 years ago
ollor,
Thanks for clearing this up. I too wasn't aware until you shared this info!
Babyhowdy233 3 years ago
this is a Willie Dixon tribute that took place in 1983. Glad so many enjoy this!! Cheers!
ollor 3 years ago
Thanks for the post- And I whole heartedly agree- great performance!
bobmon54 3 years ago
Anybody know what year this is from?
franksinbeans 3 years ago
Stephen has been called 15th best guitar players in the nation and 5th acoustic Birdpucky hes the best BEST in my world and thats everywhere no one now can touch him acoustically just listen to this song really listen
damagedangel08 3 years ago
Try some Newton Faulkner live he's very imressive too, this is great, one of my faves is tree top flyer, but he wails here too!
princeman26 3 years ago
Heard somebody someplace sometime ago say somethin' like: 'Stephen Stills did for the Martin acoustic what Jimi Hendrix did for the Fender Strat.' All the players mentioned on this page are greats and it's no dis to be compared up or down with any one or all of 'em.
'Nuff said.
BlootchMcNoodleHair 3 years ago
To me Stills is - more than everything else - certainly one of the hottest SINGERS in rock business. Top. His voice sounds a bit like folks like Johnny Winter or Richie Sambora to me. My big inspiration! And he wrote my all time fave song "Johnny's Garden"...
johnnygonzales 3 years ago
He reminds me of Clapton's voice...
princeman26 3 years ago
sorry prince Clapton cant touch him Stephen is untouchable and a man unto himself you cant compare with anyone sorry love him so much
damagedangel08 3 years ago
clapton smackton clapton is oranges and stephens is apples and they are not in competition one is electric and one is acoustic and there is no one that can touch stephen in any capacity stephen is a god
damagedangel08 3 years ago
Wow. That must be the best performance by Stephen I've ever seen. Thanks for posting it.
expatlar 4 years ago 2
People can never watch a skilled guitarist without commenting that so-and-so is better. Comment on the video or go watch one you like better. Stop trying to pawn opinion off as some kind of truth and enjoy whats here. Or don't. Don't care.
Great video I love Stills. Such soul and rhythm!
moho456 4 years ago 5
when one guitar sounds like two you know the musician is awesome. Stills is one of the best of all time.
bwteets 4 years ago 3
yea u name all those greats but how about hughie tomlason of the outlaws and ricky medlocke of blackfoot those guys would walk over 90 percent of your so called great list, nice to see u added warren , dicky, and duane much respect there
jfots8620 4 years ago
It's a matter of taste i understand that, so everybody can have their own favourite player and so on..but Chuck Berry who is on your list..was never even a decent player you know, nowhere near Stills or Betts or any of those guys.
ollor 4 years ago
A lot of those names mentioned might be better electric huitar players, but acoustic, no way, michael hedges once said, people who thought Clapton was "GOD" hadn't heard Stills play the acoustics. Stills is one of the greatest & most important musicians of the acoustic art of playing.
ollor 4 years ago
Stills great player but the better player list includes, in no particular order: Hendrix,SRV,Clapton,Jimmy Page, Ry Cooder, Freddy King,Duane Allman,Chuck Berry,Mike Bloomfield,Roy Buchanan,Warren Haynes, Richard Thompson,Dickey Betts,Eddie Van Halen,Derek Trucks,David Gilmour,Tom Morello. To name a few.
nickw66 4 years ago
Stills doesn't play electric or slide... so to compare him to Duane, Betts, or SRV wouldn't really make sense. He was a phenomenal acoustic guitar player.
sbnewman 4 years ago
Stills does play electric and slide....There's countless songs that he's played electric on just google some of his stuff. Rock and roll crazies when he played with Manassas is a good example. And for slide check out the slide version of treetop flyer some of the best slide playing ive ever heard...well worth a look.
OrangeShade 4 years ago 2
well, when i said "play electric or slide", I was implying that his musical talent was not as a guitar player. whereas SRV, Duane, and Hendrix are known as guitar greats. Stills is a vocalist with some great songs, but he will never be known as a shredding guitarist in my opinion. if you find a clip where outplays Duane Allman, I'd like to see it.
sbnewman 4 years ago
I see what your saying about Stills not being maybe as popular as the more mainstream artists of the blues world. But Jimi certainly recognised his talent and they both jammed together on a regular basis. Im sure Jimi appreciated his talent regardless of whether Stills could "outplay" him or not. And besides its not just about the shredding, its the delivery of the music in both the words and tone/style....Im no expert but i think you'll find a lot of good blues players will tell you that.
OrangeShade 4 years ago
Stills may not be SRV or Jimi, but to say he is not a great guitar player is crazy. This song, along with many more acoustic songs (Suite: Judy Blue Eyes) as well as his electric work is outstanding. He was voted the 24th best guitar player in Rolling Stone's top 100. Pretty impressive.
bwteets 3 years ago
hi tweets he was upgraded to 15th best electric and 5th acoustic he is my angel and he is better than ever get man alive and youll see
damagedangel08 3 years ago
Right on!!!!
bwteets 3 years ago
Thanks for the update. I saw him Live 4 months ago. Even though a little older and "beaten' up" he bought it home. Stills stills rocks.
bwteets 3 years ago
You want SHREDDING GET DAYLIGHT AGAIN DVD AND WATCH HIM SHREDDING A PLUG IN TAKAMINE WOW yes he isnt Stevie Ray God Bless him and I still miss him so much but they were neck and neck they just had different styles
damagedangel08 3 years ago
Stephen Stills is not even in the same stratosphere as Stevie Ray Vaughan when it comes to the guitar. SRV is an all-time great, a god, and universally understood as a top 3 guitar player. Stills is not. Stills sits at 28 on Rolling Stones' list, for what that's worth, behind the likes of Warren Haynes and George Harrison. He's good, but he and SRV were not "neck and neck".
sbnewman 3 years ago
Stephen and Stevie ARE Neck and Neck watcH what you are saying You are not old enough to be saying what you are saying Dont say things YOU HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HE HAS BEEN GIVEN AN UPGRADE AND THEY ARE THE BEST WITH ERIC AND B.B
damagedangel08 3 years ago
what the fuck does age have to do with it? like I can't listen to the same shit that you do... stupid argument out of you. you are an absolute moron if you think Stills is ANYWHERE near the guitar player that SRV was. Eric and BB aren't the best... Hendrix and SRV are. get your head out of Stephen Stills' ass and come back to reality.
sbnewman 3 years ago
wHILE sTILLS May be not SRV he is an awesome guitatr player. This song proves it.
bwteets 3 years ago
Oh, I don't think he's bad... just not on SRV's level. I actually really like Stephen Stills by himself and with Crosby and Nash.
sbnewman 3 years ago
I am glad you are there and said that. Do me a favor and play Stills Crossroadsa on you tube and you will have new respect. Nice talking to a guitar fan.
bwteets 3 years ago
if you like slide stuff get Daylight again and watch him with the double neck that is so beautiful And I lifted one At Guitar Center in La. and its heavy no wonder Stephen has such powerfully built arms want those arms wrapped around me tee hee!
damagedangel08 3 years ago
Love this song, great version. Stills one of the best players ever. Top 25-50 who have ever picked up and played the guitar.Sadly Stills was very sddidcted to hard drugs,such as cocaine. This performance was taped during the time he was still using. Almost every great player was addicted to drugs or alcohol at some point in their lives. I said almost every great player. No response needed.
nickw66 4 years ago
right... so if almost every great player was addicted or used something, why even bring it up. it'd be like saying "they all breath air". if it doesn't change his stature or ability, what difference does it make?
sbnewman 4 years ago
Ole Chuck Berry at the end. Stills certainly taught me a lot.
JRLocke 4 years ago
What a guitar,great music and a great acoustic version of a great song! Thanks Stephen you are one of the top world's guitarist.
LOSQUALO94 4 years ago
Coke or no coke, the man can play as well as write top notch music. Just look at his discograpy.
jwheaney 4 years ago
live on Mr Stills. Even though here u are fucked up on coke, u will always be remembered as a great player, even though u no longer can play as good as u used too. Still good though..
nickw66 4 years ago
Wait a minute I remember this performance, WHO told you Stephen was high on coke when he gave this performance? Stephen DOES like a good stiff drink, but to my knowledge he HASN'T done hard (like coke)drugs in YEARS, not since he started raising his HUGE brood of kids in the early '70's(he has something like 8 or more children by different wives).
Babyhowdy233 4 years ago
does RJ proud
spring41686 4 years ago
This man is the king !! His voice !! His guitar!! Everything...incredible....
gussie01 4 years ago
first time that i ever heard him 1977 with my brother john moving him during a snow storm in lewisburg pa drinking peach schnapps and old grandad i was 14 wow what memories.thanks john
davebianca6707 4 years ago
An amazing performance! This is why we love Stephen! Five stars and favorited!
Ouroboros1013 4 years ago
saw him in then house of blues not to long ago, his voice is so bluesy now with old age, but damn , its amazing
warningdown 4 years ago 2
he is, was, and will FOREVER be amazing. i was so mad when i read the comments to the audio of hiim singing the nat'l anthem... the man is my hero.
jazzfolkrocker 4 years ago
It seems a bit too righteous to quibble over what caused Stephen's voice to lose its sweetness. I always admired it both for its mellowness and its roughness. Considering how some of the premier musicians of his era died of overdoses, its amazing that he managed to produce some great songs, play guitar as if he were possessed, and survive. I say that deserrves applause and not criticism. Bravo, Stephen!
momominnosh 4 years ago
I agree with you momominnosh! Sometimes it seems like me & my sister are the only ones who really honestly like Stephens voice in all the decades he's been around, the rough voice of today is fine with me, cause i was there at the beginning & i don't miss the old voice of Stephen. To quote Robin Williams: "Stephen Stills was a bad mamajama he is"
ollor 4 years ago
You and your sister and me!!! I'm a Stills fan from way-back. It's so fantastic we can go on YouTube and get the young and old Stephen (and others too) Helps us see the story of the man, and of ourselves, too!
momominnosh 4 years ago
Add me Damaged Angel, I love his voice more now than before because I stood right in front of him looked up into those beautiful blues eyes last May and heard the change in his voice with my own ears. He had to mature and change it's what we do and I for only one it seems loves the way he talks now. He does wear aides in both ears that I did notice and we talked for at least 20 minutes and I understood him perfectly. He is so handsome and gracious in person. Bless Him.
Babyhowdy233 3 years ago
@ollor I love him too have all of my life
damagedangel08 10 months ago
From 1966-1973, Mr. Stills had the coolest voice in the business. Coke, whiskey, Marboros, and singing over hella loud music caused throat polyps that wore his voice down to a harsh growl.
That's okay, though, because his output during that time was prodigious. Even some of the songs he never released, like Ivory Tower, are stunningly good.
Live on, Mr. Stills.
Daycron66 4 years ago
You´re right on the money!! However i might add a few more year than 73' I think ther's examples of great singing past 73' & with CSN there's no doubt there's some good singing also by Stephen. Take "See the changes" recorded 77 GOOOOOOOD singing, even by Stills alone in the verse. Also "Haven't we lost enough" Stephen holds his own at the opening verse..there's more examples..Do you totally disagree? I'm just curios.
ollor 4 years ago
yes the do, Tommy Emmanuel is just great, BUT they cant sing worth shit, thats where Stephen beat em up good..
ollor 4 years ago
Monte Montgomery plays this stuff with ease, Tommy Emmanuel too.
GibsonHummingbird 4 years ago
Eric who? Way better than Clapton's verson
interstategar 4 years ago
Just simply fantastic
gentleghostuk 4 years ago
Joel Cage is the best guitar player in the world. Stills is just better known. Google Joel Cage -- he has free downloads in the "Tunes" section of his website. Cage was an Asbury Juke in his younger days. Great voice and songwriting also.
JMBQuincy 4 years ago
C'mon guys, let's not quible over the genius of Mr. Stills, it's already a fact of life!
debelt 4 years ago 2
I LOVE Steve's voice....but I wouldn't call this one of his finest vocals.
Bhaktigirl 4 years ago
I agree but i didn't say that, i wrote that this take of this song was my favourite :-)
ollor 4 years ago
I was just commenting in general on the seeming debate on the quality of Steve's singing....
Bhaktigirl 4 years ago
wow amazing!
bubbleabubble 4 years ago
st. stephen
jcglyshaw 4 years ago
what?????
bubbleabubble 4 years ago
Can anyone identify the make of guitar Stephen is playing here? Could be a Martin I guess - but it seems to sound great fully struck and individually hit, string-wise.
FragCashJared 4 years ago
It's a Takamine. He briefly had an endorsement deal with them and played them on the road for a short time before switching back to Martins. He talked about in a 90's interview in Guitar World Acoustic magazine.
stratman351 4 years ago
ita a Martin he wouldnt play anything else and thats because he knows what works and stays with it
damagedangel08 3 years ago
Rustedstevie - you must've had too much coke yourself. Trying playing something by Stills, then try one of Neil's puerile attemps at acoustic virtuosity. There's not comparison. Neil's idea of shred is tremolo picking the same note for 30 seconds, then bending before sliding up a step and tremolo picking THAT note for another 30 seconds. Neil can write songs, but he's an average guitar player at best.
stratman351 4 years ago
It's sad what happened to his voice after all those drugs . . . I assume he was a big cokehead 'cause people were saying he was coked up a lot on other threads . . . that stuff'll kill your voice faster than almost anything
findingusernamesucks 4 years ago
Coke is NOT the main reason for Stephens voice changing so vast! His impaired hearing is no1 reason. If you ever heard a deaf person talking you know, Stephen got zero hearing on right ear & 20% left on his left. That plus singing sick blowing his voice through his whole career. That's the two main reason.
ollor 4 years ago
o ok, well w/e coke didn't really help him much . . . what happened to his hearing that made it so bad?
findingusernamesucks 4 years ago
His hearing was poor even in the Springfield days, & after that only got worse, it's true coke didn't help him, helps no one period. But a lot of musicians have used that and other substances as you know, but few lost their voice like he did, so listening to the man himself, hearing is main reason + not mending soar throats through the years & instead going on stage singing & screaming as always you know.
ollor 4 years ago
yeah . . . I realized that you were right today when I got "Go Back Home," from the "Stephen Stills" album, his voice has been pretty shitty in the past also
findingusernamesucks 4 years ago
I'm sorry that I jumped to the conclusion of coke it is just that I am a bit obsessed with the drug because I used it twice and then had to quit cold turkey because I was developing a heart problem and though it is not yet serious I am a pussy and so I ran scared and basically I have a strange habit of talking about it when I