Love the One You're With

Stephen Stills delivers some musical zen in this song: "If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with." It seems to be directed at one who has been dumped ("turn your heartache right into joy"), letting him know that he's better off getting with the girl right next to him than pining for his ex. It could also be seen as a message of free love. Stills called it "a good times song, just a bit of fun."

According to Stills (as stated in the liner notes to the CSN boxed set), he got the title from Billy Preston, who said it at a party. Stills asked his permission to use it, and Preston agreed.

Crosby, Stills & Nash wowed the fans at Woodstock in 1969 soon after releasing their debut album. Adding Neil Young, they released the landmark album Déjà Vu in March 1970, then put the band aside to work on solo albums. Neil Young issued After The Gold Rush in September 1970 (Graham Nash believes he was working on it while they were making Déjà Vu), and Stills followed with his self-titled debut in November. "Love The One You're With" went to #14 in the US in January 1971, getting his solo career off to a good start. Crosby and Nash released their solo albums in 1971, but neither landed a big hit. It was clear that Crosby, Stills & Nash had a lot more appeal as a unit than as separate parts, but personal and musical differences got in the way. They returned with Young for a tour in 1974, but the planned album was aborted soon after they started recording. They finally released another album (without Young) in 1977: CSN.