Thoroughfare Gap

This article is about the album. For the mountain pass, see Thoroughfare Gap (Bull Run Mountain).

1978 studio album by Stephen Stills

Thoroughfare Gap

Studio album by

Stephen Stills

Released| October 31, 1978
Recorded| June 1978
Studio| Criteria Studios (Miami, FL); The Record Plant (Los Angeles, CA); The Record Plant (Sausalito, CA).
Genre| Rock, disco
Length| 35:32
Label| Columbia
Producer| Stephen Stills, The Albert Brothers
Stephen Stills chronology
| Still Stills: The Best of Stephen Stills
(1976)  | Thoroughfare Gap
(1978)  | Right by You
(1984)

|
|

Singles from  Thoroughfare Gap

1. "Can't Get No Booty / Lowdown"
Released: September 9, 1978
2. "Thoroughfare Gap / Lowdown"
Released: December 30, 1978

Thoroughfare Gap is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Stephen Stills, released in 1978. It was a critical and commercial disappointment that only charted at number 84 in the US. This album is now available as a three-album set on two CDs with Stills & Illegal Stills, having never been released on its own on CD.

## Content[edit]

In a radio interview at the time, Stills said he worked extremely hard on the album, and there were 12-inch mixes of "Can't Get No Booty" ready to be released.[1] He recorded some disco tracks after playing percussion on the Bee Gees' "You Should Be Dancing", and subsequently hired their arranger Mike Lewis and used the group members' younger brother Andy Gibb on backing vocals.

Stephen Stills described the record as "disco and swamp rock". Stills said the song "Thoroughfare Gap" was him drawing upon his history, and

> the title of the album was named after an escape route used during the Civil War. Mosby's guerrillas used to run through Thoroughfare Gap when they felt harassed. They'd just disappear into the Blue Ridge Mountains. For me, the record represents a little gap between one part of my career and the other, a cut in the pass.[2]

George Terry is quoted as saying he thinks it's about Neil Young's Lionel Trains.[2]

Stills said about the perceived negative reception of going disco that "there are elements of disco I like - the percussion and the guitar. I have played on so many Bee Gees songs: I don't know which ones I played on and which ones I didn't. 'Cause Barry (Gibb) is an old friend of mine and I just sat in and played a chickum-chit, chickum-chit, a little wacka-wacka guitar, then said, 'Use 'em or don't use 'em, I had a great time. You don't even have to use my name.'"[2]

He continued on Thoroughfare Gap: "Maybe some of the tunes weren't as good as others I've written but I am just messing around trying to find something new. I can't do the same thing for eight years. That's called artistic suicide."[2]

Stills said he recorded "Not Fade Away" after seeing The Buddy Holly Story and went into the studio the next night to record it - "Kind of a combination of the Stones version and the original version".[2]

The song "Thoroughfare Gap", dates back to 1972, with Chris Hillman remembering Manassas attempting to record it, but not being able to get the right take.

## Reception[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [3]

Critical reception was mixed, but generally negative. In a contemporary review, People wrote that "Stills succeeds handsomely in soldering his Southern Cal rock (scorching guitar, lavish harmonies, introspective lyrics) to an ultraswayed disco feel (thudding drums, Caribbean cowbells, congas, high-volume strings and horns). Against great odds, it adds up to a fresh sound, thanks to stalwart studio work by drummer Joe Vitale, percussionist Joe Lala, bassist George "Chocolate" Perry and Eric Clapton's guitarist George Terry. Their efforts are particularly noteworthy on You Can't Dance Alone, What's the Game and Can't Get No Booty. Especially reassuring is the title track, an acoustic ballad with a haunting fiddle solo by Al Gould. It harks back to Stills' finest work over the years, songs like Helplessly Hoping, 4 and 20 and As I Come of Age."[4] Trouser Press, in a largely negative review, called the songwriting "monotonous" and said he was enthusiastically "trying to renovate his sound for today's scene". They did have praise for "Thoroughfare Gap", but still noted that it was six years old, saying it was the only song that had "the folksy funk style that once made him worthwhile".[5] Record World said Stills was experimenting, and "You Can't Dance Alone" was geared for the Top 40.[6]

In support of this album Stills formed the California Blues Band and toured throughout most of 1979.

## Track listing[edit]

All tracks are written by Stephen Stills except where indicated

Side oneNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

1.| "You Can't Dance Alone"|  | 4:14
2.| "Thoroughfare Gap"|  | 3:31
3.| "We Will Go On"|  | 2:41
4.| "Beaucoup Yumbo"| Stills, Joe Vitale| 3:33
5.| "What's the Game"|  | 3:32

Side twoNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

6.| "Midnight Rider"| Gregg Allman| 3:39
7.| "Woman Lleva"|  | 3:13
8.| "Lowdown"|  | 3:46
9.| "Not Fade Away"| Buddy Holly, Norman Petty| 3:26
10.| "Can't Get No Booty"| Danny Kortchmar, Stills| 3:44
Total length:| 35:32

## Personnel[edit]

* Stephen Stills – vocals, guitars (1, 3-10), percussion (1), horn and string arrangements (1, 4-8), acoustic guitar (2), bass (2, 10), synthesizers (3), Moog synthesizer (7), organ (9), acoustic piano (10)
* Mike Finnigan – acoustic piano (1, 3, 6, 8), organ (7), backing vocals (8)
* Paul Harris – acoustic piano (2)
* Kenny Kirkland – acoustic piano (5)
* Albhy Galuten – acoustic piano (7)
* Joey Murcia – guitars (1)
* George Terry – guitars (3, 5, 7)
* Gerry Tolman – guitars (6)
* Danny Kortchmar – guitars (10), percussion (10), backing vocals (10)
* George Perry – bass (1, 3-6, 8, 9), backing vocals (8, 9)
* Gerald Johnson – bass (7)
* Joe Vitale –drums (1, 3-6, 8, 9, 10), backing vocals (9)
* Paul Lee – drums (2)
* Richard O'Connell – drums (7)
* Joe Lala – percussion (1, 3, 6, 10)
* Al Gould – fiddle (2)
* Whit Sidener – flutes (3)
* Mike Lewis – horn and string arrangements (1, 4-8), flute arrangements (3)
* Andy Gibb – backing vocals (1, 5)
* Dave Mason – backing vocals (1, 5, 6)
* John Sambataro – backing vocals (1, 3, 5)
* Brooks Hunnicutt – backing vocals (8)
* Kitty Pritikin (aka Kitty Woodson Terry) – backing vocals (name misprint) (8)
* Verna Richardson – backing vocals (8)
* Lisa Roberts – backing vocals (8)

## Production[edit]

* Stephen Stills – producer, album design
* Howard Albert – producer, engineer
* Ron Albert – producer, engineer
* Michael Braunstein – engineer, recording (4, 6-9)
* Steve Gursky – engineer
* Mike Fuller – mastering at Criteria Studios
* John Berg – album design
* Jim McCrary – photography

Special thanks to Guillerma Giachetti, Gerry Tolman, Armando Hurley, Harper Dance, Home At Last

## Charts[edit]

Chart performance for Thoroughfare Gap Chart (1978)  | Peak

position

|

US Billboard Top LPs & Tape[7] | 83
Canadian RPM 100 Albums[8] | 82
US Cash Box Top 100 Albums[9] | 135
US Record World Album Chart[10] | 140

## Tour[edit]

California Blues Band 1979 TourTour by Stephen Stills

Start date| January 25, 1979
End date| December, 1979
Legs| 3
Stephen Stills concert chronology

*   * 1976 Tour
*   * California Blues Band 1979 Tour
*   * 1980 Tour

Stephen Stills California Blues Band Tour 1979 was a concert tour by American musician Stephen Stills. It was in support of his 1978 album Thoroughfare Gap. During the tour he also recorded another album that was rejected by his record label, many songs from this projected album were played on this tour. On this tour Stills was backed by his group the California Blues Band. The 1979 run at The Roxy, Los Angeles, was professionally recorded.[11]

Date  | City  | Country  | Venue  | Attendance  | Gross  | Notes

|
|
|
|
|
|

4 September 1978  | Los Angeles  | United States  | Greek Theatre  |  |  | Bread and Roses Festival
1979 California Blues Band Tour[12]
Date  | City  | Country  | Venue  | Attendance  | Gross  | Notes
25 January 1979  | Los Angeles  | United States  | The Roxy[13] |  | Sold Out  |
26 January 1979  |  |
27 January 1979  |  |
28 January 1979  |  |
Leg 1
3 March 1979  | Havana  | Cuba  | Havana Jam |  |  |
7 March 1979  | Cincinnati  | United States  | Cincinnati Music Hall |  |  | 2 Shows
9 March 1979  | Chicago  | Auditorium Theatre |  |  |
10 March 1979  | Ohio  | Kent State University |  |  |
11 March 1979  | Louisville  | Louisville Gardens |  |  |
13 March 1979  | Indianapolis  | Indiana Convention Centre |  |  |
14 March 1979  | Michigan  | Centre Stage | 1,628  | $22,228[14] |
16 March 1979  | Chicago  | Auditorium Theatre |  |  |
17 March 1979  | Upper Derby  | Tower Theatre |  |  |
18 March 1979  | New York City  | The Palladium | 3,300  | $27,000[14] |
19 March 1979  | Ohio  | Columbus Veterans Memorial Auditorium |  |  |
22 March 1979  | Boston  | Boston College |  |  |
23 March 1979  | Passaic  | Capitol Theatre | 3.456  | $28,172[15] |
24 March 1979  | Pittsburgh  | Stanley Theatre | 7,442  | $71,545[15] | 2 Shows
26 March 1979  | Maryland  | DAR Constitution Center |  |  |
27 March 1979  | Middletown  | Wesleyen University  | 3,010  | $22,116[16] |
29 March 1979  | Reading  | Bollman Center |  |  |
30 March 1979  | Atlanta  | Fox Theatre |  |  |
1 April 1979  | Blacksburg  | Cassell Coliseum |  |  |
3 April 1979  | Atlanta  | Fox Theatre |  |  |
4 April 1979  | Nashville  | The Grand Ole Opry House |  |  |
7 April 1979  | Kansas City  | Memorial Hall | 2,880  | $23,040[17] |
8 April 1979  | St. Louis  | Kiel Opera House | 2,607  | $21,997[17] |
Leg 2
4 June 1979  | Irvine  | United States  | Crawford Hall |  |  |
6 June 1979  | San Diego  | San Diego Sports Arena |  |  |
8 June 1979  | Santa Barbara  | Santa Barbara Bowl | 4,888  | $32,633[18] |
9 June 1979  | San Francisco  | Fox Warfield Theatre | 2,248  | $44,960[18] |
10 June 1979  | Los Angeles  | Greek Theatre |  |  |
11 June 1979  |  |  |
12 June 1979  |  |  |
15 June 1979  | Ohio  | Blossom Music Center |  |  |
16 June 1979  | Hara Arena |  |  |
17 June 1979  | Pine Knob Music Theatre |  |  |
19 June 1979  | Edwardsville  | Mississippi River Festival  |  |  |
20 June 1979  | East Troy  | Alpine Valley Music Theatre |  |  |
23 June 1979  | Holmdel  | Garden State Arts Centre |  |  |
24 June 1979  | New York  | Belmont Park | 15,000  |  |
26 June 1979  | Broome  | Broome County Arena |  |  |
27 June 1979  | Buffalo  | Kleinhans Music Hall |  |  |
28 June 1979  | New York  | Saratoga Performing Arts Centre |  |  |
30 June 1979  | Norfolk Scope |  |  |
1 July 1979  | Columbia  | Merriweather Post Pavilion |  |  |
2 July 1979  | New York  | Wollman Skating Ring |  |  |
7 July 1979  | New Jersey  | Garden States Arts Centre |  |  |
Leg 3
7 September 1979  | New York  | United States  | Woodstock '79  |  |  |
8 September 1979  | New York  | Parr Meadows Racetrack  |  |  |
16 November 1979  | San Diego  | Casino Theatre |  |  |
17 November 1979  | Sacramento  | Freeborn Hall |  |  |
18 November 1979  | Stanford Uni  | Memorial Hall |  |  |
9 December 1979  | Northridge  | Cal State University  |  |  |
15 December 1979  | Costa Mesa  | LeBard Stadium |  |  |
16 December 1979  | Santa Barbara  | Allen Hancock College Sports Pavilion  |  |  |
31 December 1979  | Riverside  | Ben H. Lewis Hall  |  |  |
1980 Tour
5 April 1980  | Laguna Beach  | United States  | Irvine Bowl |  |  |
1 June 1980  | Concord  | Concord Pavilion |  |  |
2 June 1980  | Los Angeles  | Greek Theatre |  |  |
3 June 1980  |  |  |
1980 European Tour
4 July 1980  |  |  |  |  |  |
14 July 1980  | Milano  | Italy  | Stadio San Siro  |  |  | Supported Angelo Branduardi
15 July 1980  | Turin  | Stadio Comunale  |  |
17 July 1980  | Nyon  | Switzerland  | Parc Du Lac  |  |  | Nyon Folk Festival
18 July 1980  | Turin  | Italy  | Turin Municipal Stadium  |  |  | Supported Angelo Branduardi
21 July 1980  | Rimini  |  |  |
22 July 1980  | Nyon  | Switzerland  | La Prairie De Colovray  |  |
23 July 1980  |  | Italy  | Bolzano Stadium  |  |
24 July 1980  | Munich  | Germany  | Olympiahalle  |  |
26 July 1980  | St. Goarshausen  | Freilichtbuhne Loreley  |  |
27 July 1980  |  | Stadium Wurzburg  |  |
29 July 1980  | Naples  | Italy  | Stadio San Paolo  |  |
4 August 1980  |  |  |  |  |  |
1980 United States
16 August 1980  | Illinois  | United States  | Ravinia Fest De Kalb  |  |  |
19 August 1980  |  | Meadow Brook Music Festival  |  |  |
23 August 1980  | Indianapolis  | Hilton U. Brown Theatre  |  |  |
27 August 1980  | Passaic  | Paramount Theatre  |  |  |
29 August 1980  | New York  | Central Park  |  |  |

Stephen Stills and the California Blues Band[11]

* Stephen Stills – guitar, percussion, vocals
* Dallas Taylor – drums (Roxy Theater 1979 only)
* Mike Finnigan – keyboards, Vocals
* Joe Lala – percussion, vocals
* Billy Meeker – drums
* Michael Sturgis – guitar
* Trey Thompson – bass
* Bonnie Bramlett – vocals
* Graham Nash – appeared during some dates of the European 1980 tour

Typical setlist

All songs written by Stephen Stills, except where noted.

1. "Precious Love"
2. "For What It's Worth"
3. "You Can't Dance Alone"
4. "Cuba Al Fin"
5. "Go Back Home"
6. "How Wrong Can You Be" (Mike Finnigan)
7. "Love The One You're With"
8. "Make Love To You"
9. "Cherokee"
10. "Rock And Roll Crazies/Cuban Bluegrass" (Stills, Dallas Taylor / Stills, Joe Lala)
11. "Jet Set (Sigh)"
12. "Thoroughfare Gap"
13. Come On In My Kitchen (Robert Johnson)

## References[edit]

1. ^ Stephen Stills 1978 Radio Interview, archived from the original on December 17, 2021, retrieved January 18, 2020
2. ^ a b c d e Roberts, David; Gedge, David (October 28, 2016). Stephen Stills: Change Partners. This Day In Music Books. ISBN 978-1-78759-101-1.
3. ^ Chrispell, J. "Thoroughfare Gap – Stephen Stills". allmusic.com. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
4. ^ "Picks and Pans Review: Thoroughfare Gap Gap". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
5. ^ "Trouser Press Magazine Archive". Trouser Press. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
6. ^ "Record World 21 October 1978" (PDF).
7. ^ "Stephen Stills". Billboard. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
8. ^ Canada, Library and Archives (April 16, 2013). "The RPM story". www.bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
9. ^ "CASH BOX MAGAZINE: Music and coin machine magazine 1942 to 1996". worldradiohistory.com. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
10. ^ "RECORD WORLD MAGAZINE: 1942 to 1982". worldradiohistory.com. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
11. ^ a b Zimmer, Dave (2000). Crosby Stills and Nash: The Biography. Da Capo Press. ISBN 978-0306809743.
12. ^ Roberts, David (2016). Stephen Stills: Change Partners.
13. ^ "Billboard Concert Review" (PDF).
14. ^ a b "Billboard Magazine" (PDF).
15. ^ a b "Billboard Box Office" (PDF).
16. ^ "Billboard Box Office" (PDF).
17. ^ a b "Billboard Box Office" (PDF).
18. ^ a b "Billboard Box Office" (PDF).

* v
* t
* e

Stephen Stills

Studio albums|

* Super Session (with Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper)
* Stephen Stills
* Stephen Stills 2
* Manassas (with Manassas)
* Down the Road (with Manassas)
* Stills
* Illegal Stills
* Long May You Run (with Neil Young)
* Thoroughfare Gap
* Right by You
* Stills Alone
* Man Alive!
* Just Roll Tape
* Can't Get Enough (with The Rides)
* Pierced Arrow (with The Rides)
* Everybody Knows (with Judy Collins)

Compilations|

* Still Stills: The Best of Stephen Stills
* Turnin' Back the Pages
* Pieces (with Manassas)
* Carry On

Live albums|

* Stephen Stills Live
* Live at Shepherd's Bush

Singles|

* "Love the One You're With"
* "Sit Yourself Down"
* "Change Partners"

Tours|

* Memphis Horns Tour 1971
* Manassas World Tour 1972
* Manassas North American Tour 1973
* 1974 Theater Tour
* 1975 Tour
* The Stills-Young Band Tour
* 1976 Tour
* 1979 California Blues Band Tour

Related articles|

* Buffalo Springfield
* Manassas
* Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
* The Rides
* Chris Stills
* Véronique Sanson
* Judy Collins
* The Au Go Go Singers

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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