Friday 14 September 2018

Stephen Stills (1971) Marianne - LOST 70s GEMS


 Stephen Stills's second solo album was unimaginatively titled Stills 2 and was full of floaty folk rock paeans; Sugar Babe is a definite highlight with its grand piano intro complete with a long droning fuzz guitar note to a disappointing gospel chorus, but a pleasant bridge melody with spritely organ and beautiful link back to the sincere verses. While Change Partners is built on a whimsical melody resembling an old dance as Stills describes the dance of ending relationships as well as describing girls who grow up in private country clubs fitting the gentle, ornate romantic tone. Stills' cracked baritone couldn't sound more boyish then on this waltz based tune.

 Only Sugar Babe comes closest to matching the power of the opener to his last solo album; the hippie anthem/gospel rock of Love the One You're With. But I have chosen the single, Marianne as my pick for this albums gem with its bouncy glam rock Shuffle and ethereal croon from Stills reminding me of Mud' Tiger Feet. So cool and seductive a track vocal and simple.




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