Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Music Appreciation
Related: About this forumStephen Stills - Treetop Flyer
Stephen Stills-Treetop Flyer.
It was a tough decision between the studio and the live versions. Then I came across this one with the small aircraft view of some pretty low flying. Sounds a lot like it is just Mr. Stills and a nice acoustic guitar. Do not watch the video if you have motion sickness issues. It could make you queasy.
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
2 replies, 384 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (2)
ReplyReply to this post
2 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Stephen Stills - Treetop Flyer (Original Post)
Paha Sapa
Feb 2022
OP
highplainsdem
(48,957 posts)1. Article from American Songwriter about this song:
https://americansongwriter.com/treetop-flyer-stephen-stills-behind-the-song/
Stephen Stills is a great electric guitar soloist, a formidable multi-instrumentalist, and an instantly-recognizable singer who was lucky enough to run into a couple of guys named Crosby and Nash back in the 60s. But those in the know are also aware of what an outstanding writer and acoustic guitarist he is as well.
Treetop Flyer is the excellent classic track from his 1991 Stills Alone album, a recording of nearly all unaccompanied mostly-original acoustic songs. The album got mixed reviews, many from people who (understandably) took issue with the processed sound of Stills Martin guitar. But a great song is a great song, and Treetop Flyer is one of Stills finest. Its the story of a Vietnam vet who came home from the war with a marketable new skill: the ability to fly under the radar. When these pilots returned from combat to a public that often shunned them, and wouldnt give them a job or help them deal with what theyd been through, they found a way to make money with this skill in running drugs, guns, and whatever other contraband someone would pay them to deliver.
Stills sings in the first person for this songs six verses no chorus, no bridge and really sounds like he is the Treetop Flyer, or as if he definitely knows someone who was. This song has conflict, greed, danger, and a romantic relationship all the pieces that make a song important and memorable. At least one troubadour of the current generation was so influenced by this song that he decided to make music his career. Ray LaMontagne credits Stills song with prompting him to make the decision that his life would be music and nothing else. It was Treetop Flyer off a solo record that Stills had done, which really knocked me out, LaMontagne told National Public Radios Scott Simon in 2006.
Stills Alone is out of print, and itll cost you a pretty penny to find a copy. And dont look for it on Spotify either for some reason probably related to licensing issues, its not there. You can hear the original version of Treetop Flyer on YouTube, though. And you can find Just Roll Tape, an album of Stills demos that contains an early version of the song, on Spotify. On Just Roll Tape, Stills sings, Ill fly whiskey for you, Ill fly guns in the second verse, but he later changed that line to Ill fly any cargo that you can pay to run in what would become the definitive version. In a catalog filled with songs that defined the sound of a generation, Treetop Flyer stands out as one of Stills best pieces of work. He still sometimes performs this song live with his band The Rides, with guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd.
-snip-
Treetop Flyer is the excellent classic track from his 1991 Stills Alone album, a recording of nearly all unaccompanied mostly-original acoustic songs. The album got mixed reviews, many from people who (understandably) took issue with the processed sound of Stills Martin guitar. But a great song is a great song, and Treetop Flyer is one of Stills finest. Its the story of a Vietnam vet who came home from the war with a marketable new skill: the ability to fly under the radar. When these pilots returned from combat to a public that often shunned them, and wouldnt give them a job or help them deal with what theyd been through, they found a way to make money with this skill in running drugs, guns, and whatever other contraband someone would pay them to deliver.
Stills sings in the first person for this songs six verses no chorus, no bridge and really sounds like he is the Treetop Flyer, or as if he definitely knows someone who was. This song has conflict, greed, danger, and a romantic relationship all the pieces that make a song important and memorable. At least one troubadour of the current generation was so influenced by this song that he decided to make music his career. Ray LaMontagne credits Stills song with prompting him to make the decision that his life would be music and nothing else. It was Treetop Flyer off a solo record that Stills had done, which really knocked me out, LaMontagne told National Public Radios Scott Simon in 2006.
Stills Alone is out of print, and itll cost you a pretty penny to find a copy. And dont look for it on Spotify either for some reason probably related to licensing issues, its not there. You can hear the original version of Treetop Flyer on YouTube, though. And you can find Just Roll Tape, an album of Stills demos that contains an early version of the song, on Spotify. On Just Roll Tape, Stills sings, Ill fly whiskey for you, Ill fly guns in the second verse, but he later changed that line to Ill fly any cargo that you can pay to run in what would become the definitive version. In a catalog filled with songs that defined the sound of a generation, Treetop Flyer stands out as one of Stills best pieces of work. He still sometimes performs this song live with his band The Rides, with guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd.
-snip-
hippywife
(22,767 posts)2. One of my fav Stills songs. n/t