This outstanding solo debut came at a particularly successful and creative time for Stephen Stills. In the first few years of the 1970s, he recorded two solo albums, released the superb Manassas double-album, and performed as part of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. No one would expect a musician spreading himself so thin to be able to make a record as focused, nuanced, and bursting with ideas as STEPHEN STILLS– yet that is exactly what Stills did. On this varied set Stills’s prodigious talent is laid bare, encompassing Memphis soul, folk, blues, gospel, rock, and good-time pop with a grace that equals anything in his discography. The best-known cut here is the ’70s radio staple “Love the One You’re With”, with its percolating percussion and free-love ethos. Equally arresting is “Black Queen”, an acoustic guitar showcase allegedly recorded after Stills had downed a bottle of tequila. The gorgeous, stirring “Do for the Others” is another highlight. Stills plays many of the instruments himself, but a star-studded guest list, including Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton (who plays lead on the bluesy “Go Back Home”), and Jimi Hendrix (who solos on the rocker “Old Times Good Times”). Yet this is Stills’s show all the way, showcasing his songwriting, singing, and musicianship to superb effect.