Change Partners (Stephen Stills song)

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"Change Partners"
Single by Stephen Stills
from the album Stephen Stills 2
B-side"Relaxing Town"
Released1971
GenreFolk Rock
Length3:13
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)Stephen Stills
Producer(s)Stephen Stills
Bill Halverson
Stephen Stills singles chronology
"Sit Yourself Down"
(1971)
"Change Partners"
(1971)
"Marianne"
(1971)

"Change Partners" is a song written by Stephen Stills that was released on his 1971 album Stephen Stills 2. It was also released as the debut single from the album, just missing the Top 40, and peaking at number 43 on the Billboard Charts, during the week of July 24, 1971 and spending 9 weeks on the chart.[1]

Music and Lyrics[edit]

Stills said "it was about growing up in the south, attending the debutante balls, but Graham likes to refer to it as the Crosby, Stills & Nash theme song, which I suppose it is". Graham Nash has said he feels it's about the constantly changing relationships in CSNY.[2] Jerry Garcia performs the pedal steel guitar played throughout the song.[3] One version was recorded at Olympic Studios in London for the recording of his debut solo album, Stephen Stills.[3] This version was released on Stills 2013 box set Carry On. The version released on Stephen Stills 2 was recorded in early 1971 at Criteria Studios, Miami, and featured Graham Nash, David Crosby, photographer Henry Diltz, and Fred Neil on backing vocals.

Reception[edit]

Paste Magazine called it a "catchy pop hit". Cash Box described the song as being "a production showcase, rather than a top forty-rhythm outing" and more of "an FM preview teaser than a teen sales effort."[4]

Chart history[edit]

Chart (1971) Peak
position
Canada 100 (RPM)[5] 42
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[6] 9
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[7] 24
US Hot 100 (Billboard)[8] 43
US Singles (Cash Box) [9] 38
US Singles (Record World)[10] 40

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Stephen Stills". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
  2. ^ Roberts, David (2016). Stephen Stills: Change Partners.
  3. ^ a b Change Partners - Stephen Stills | Song Info | AllMusic, retrieved 2020-04-18
  4. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. May 29, 1971. p. 16. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  5. ^ "RPM Top Singles Chart" (PDF). RPM. RPM archives. Ottawa: Library and Archives Canada. January 30, 1971. OCLC 352936026. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  6. ^ "Stephen Stills – Love the One You're With" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  7. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Stephen Stills" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  8. ^ "Stephen Stills Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  9. ^ "CASH BOX MAGAZINE: Music and coin machine magazine 1942 to 1996". worldradiohistory.com. Retrieved 2020-10-25.
  10. ^ "RECORD WORLD MAGAZINE: 1942 to 1982". worldradiohistory.com. Retrieved 2020-10-25.