by Linda Dodson, Lewisberry, PA

For years I was jealous of Judy Collins. After all, she had this awesome song written for her and sung by Stephen Stills. I remember listening to my Crosby Stills & Nash album, practically wearing the grooves off of it, wishing I could sit on that ratty couch depicted on the album cover, listening to them jam. My fantasy was to sit on the porch with Stephen Stills singing to me, just like he did with Judy Collins. When I was about 21 years old, I was at a party when I heard Stephen Stills’ distinctive, familiar voice, singing a song that wasn’t so familiar to me. It was “Rock and Roll Woman” by Buffalo Springfield. It was like I was hearing the song for the first time, which in a sense I was because I’d only heard it previously broadcast over an AM station, listening to my transistor radio. From the first words: “There’s a woman, that you ought to know…” I was hooked, and it became one of my most favorite songs. The guitar, the background vocals and harmonies, but most of all, Stephen Stills’ smoky sexy yet sincere vocals touched my heart. For years I could not listen to that song without wanting to cry. I’m older now, and not quite so emotional, but I still want to be that rock and roll woman Stephen is singing about.