Stephen Stills (1975) To Mama from Christopher and the Old Man - LOST 70s GEMS

 Stephen Stills' third solo album Stills arrived in the mid 70s nadir where he couldn't do anything right and just before the disastrous reunion project with Neil Young. It's has a 60s approach to soft rock with its raw folk rock and sunny pop harmonies making for a more energetic yacht rock. While As I Come of Age is more CSN sounding wistful ode full of soaring supersonic solo full of exquisite sustains. But the best tracks are jam oriented like In the Way with its' curdling funk guitar, a malevolently slow build and electric piano and My Favorite Changes with its fluid melodies and a funky guitar riff that sounds so much like the Eagles' Life inthe Fast Lane of 1977 that it must be a case pending. First Things First has a funkilicious bass hook while Love Story is also a delight mixing some honky tonk and deep synthesizers into the gospel rock vibe of the album full of tension filled openings and stacked hooks.
 The best is To Mama from Christopher and the Old Man with it's fast paced acoustic strum, singsongy chorus, upfront percussion and downhome spirit. All choruses are draped in countrified soulful gospel harmonies and cowbells, with the album clearly displaying a vibrant Latin inflected Americana not a million miles away from Manassas's debut double album.