They'll All Know if we Just Play

Stephen Stills

I’m going to diverge from the real estate industry. You all have more than you can possibly read about the trade and how to manage a career in it.

So just for fun …

Stephen Stills, the guitarist originally from Buffalo Springfield, then solo, then Crosby, Stills, and Nash and sometimes Young, was playing on my iPod this morning. Someone told me recently they heard Stills playing and singing somewhere, and simply due to his age it seems his voice wasn’t what it used to be.

The first intense impression I had of Stephen Stills was Crosby, Stills and Nash together on the stage at Woodstock (I wasn’t there. I watched the movie 10,000 times). The group was just tuning up to play their first song, and Crosby said, off-mike (but could be heard anyway); “tell them who we are.” Nash said, “they’ll all know if just play …“  and so Stills began picking “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes.”

We knew who they were. Stills' guitar was all it took.

On Thanksgiving night probably 1970, Crosby, Stills and Nash played the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City. Santana opened the concert. The entire show was amazing. I was very late getting home and the parents were not happy with me. It didn’t matter. I was still floating on the most amazing music since the Beatles.

Stills sounded good that night. He always sounds good. On a televised show a few years later, Stills walked onto a stage with an acoustic guitar and began playing and singing … and for an hour; one guy with one guitar captivated an entire huge theatre. His music and voice filled every available space.  Stills touched all senses in his audience.

--

It had turned cold with a slight drizzle in the air at the base of a ski run on Big Mountain in Whitefish, Montana on an early-summer-June evening. Stills was playing. And he was in full stride. He played right through the cold and rocked on for a long time. He played loud for us and he didn’t miss a beat and he completely ignored the temperature.  Such a master.

The night after a few dirt bags stole our jets and crashed them into the World Trade towers, Crosby, Stills and Nash showed up on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno to sing for us…to find some common ground to somehow hold onto something meaningful. I needed that one. 

Stills and his buddies sounded great.

I’m not a singer…I always wished I could sing like these guys. I don’t understand vocal cords or how they change with age or why some of them stay the same.  Paul McCartney’s voice is not the same as his Beatle voice. Glen Campbell, in his mid-70’s, sounds nearly identical to his 20-year old voice.

Stills’ voice has changed. He sounds great.

--

Talk to me about Stills or music and what it puts in your soul.

Prof. Mike

Prof Mike • Class Star®

ClassStar offers two, 3-hour core courses and several live courses. www.ClassStar.com Your business and referrals are appreciated.

The Porch weblog and all contents herein are © 2009- 2012 Mike Ballif. All rights reserved.

Stephen Stills

I’m going to diverge from the real estate industry. You all have more than you can possibly read about the trade and how to manage a career in it.

So just for fun …

Stephen Stills, the guitarist originally from Buffalo Springfield, then solo, then Crosby, Stills, and Nash and sometimes Young, was playing on my iPod this morning.  Someone told me recently they heard Stills playing and singing somewhere, and simply due to his age it seems his voice wasn’t what it used to be.

--

The first sight I had of Stephen Stills was with Crosby, Stills and Nash together  on the stage at Woodstock (I wasn’t there.  I watched the movie some 10,000 times).  The group was just tuning up to play, and Crosby said off mike (but could be heard anyway); “tell them who we are.”  Nash said, “they’ll all know if just play …“ and Stills started playing “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes.”

We knew who they were.  Stills' guitar was all it took.

On Thanksgiving night probably 1970, Crosby, Stills and Nash played the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City.  Santana opened the concert. The entire show was amazing.  I was very late getting home and the parents were not happy with me.  It didn’t matter.  I was still floating on the most amazing music since the Beatles.

Stills sounded good that night.  He always sounds good.  On a televised show years ago, Stills walked onto a stage with an acoustic guitar and began playing and singing … and for an hour, one guy, one guitar captivated an entire huge theatre.  His music and voice filled every available space.

--

It had turned cold with a slight drizzle in the air at the base of a ski run on Big Mountain in Whitefish, Montana on an early summer June evening.  Stills was playing.  And he was in full stride.  He played right through the cold and rocked us for a long time.  He played loud for us and he didn’t miss a beat.

The night after a few dirt bags stole our jets  and crashed them into the World Trade towers, Crosby, Stills and Nash showed up on the Tonight Show to sing for us…to find some common ground to somehow hold onto.  I needed that one.

Stills sounded great.

I’m not a singer…I always wished I could sing like these guys.  I don’t understand vocal cords or how they change with age or why some of them stay the same.  Some singer’s voices change as they age.  Paul McCartney’s voice is not the same as his Beatle voice.  Glen Campbell, in his mid-70’s, sounds nearly identical to his 20-year old voice.

Stills’ voice has changed.  He sounds great.

--

Talk to me about Stills or music and what it put in your soul.

Prof. Mike

Prof Mike • Class Star®

ClassStar offers two, 3-hour core courses and several live courses. www.ClassStar.com

Your business and referrals are appreciated. The Porch weblog and all contents herein are © 2012 Mike Ballif. All rights reserved.