The Stills-Young Band – Long May You Run

The Stills-Young Band – Long May You Run

Long May You Run is the only studio album credited to the Stills–Young Band, bringing together "Stephen Stills" and "Neil Young" for a brief but memorable collaboration in 1976. Originally released on Reprise Records in September 1976, the album combines the two singer-songwriters' contrasting styles with the polished country-rock and soft-rock sound of Stills' backing band.

The album was recorded at Criteria Studios in Miami during 1976, with the individual tracks laid down between February and April. The sessions featured Joe Vitale on drums, George "Chocolate" Perry on bass, Joe Lala on percussion and Jerry Aiello on keyboards, with Stills and Young sharing guitars and vocals. Production was handled by Stills, Young and Don Gehman, with Tom Dowd also associated with the sessions.

Neil Young contributes five songs, including the memorable title track "Long May You Run", "Midnight On The Bay", "Ocean Girl", "Let It Shine" and "Fontainebleau", while Stills contributes "Make Love To You", "Black Coral", "12/8 Blues (All The Same)" and "Guardian Angel". The album moves between melodic country rock, blues-influenced guitar work and the relaxed singer-songwriter sound associated with both musicians during the mid-1970s.

The collaboration came together in the aftermath of the hugely successful Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young period, and there were initially plans for further work involving the wider quartet. Those plans ultimately did not materialise, making Long May You Run a particularly interesting snapshot of Stills and Young working together outside the full CSNY line-up. The album reached No. 26 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold in the United States.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Long May You Run – 3:52
2. Make Love To You – 5:09
3. Midnight On The Bay – 4:00
4. Black Coral – 4:41
5. Ocean Girl – 3:18

Side B

1. Let It Shine – 4:41
2. 12/8 Blues (All The Same) – 3:43
3. Fontainebleau – 3:59
4. Guardian Angel – 5:47