# In 1969, Stephen Stills wrote a love song for Judy Collins, but even his best couldn’t win her back

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/in-1969-stephen-stills-wrote-a-love-song-for-judy-collins-but-even-his-best-couldnt-win-her-back/
- Published: 2026-10-27T20:30:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-27T21:26:55+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/in-1969-stephen-stills-wrote-a-love-song-for-judy-collins-but-even-his-best-couldnt-win-her-back/
- Topics: Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- A brief romance inspired songs on Crosby, Stills and Nash’s debut.
- Collins said the music did not win her back.
- The pair remained friends and later made an album together.

## Summary

Stephen Stills and folk singer Judy Collins had a brief romance after meeting during recording sessions for Collins’ 1968 album, *Who Knows Where the Time Goes*. The relationship soon became a friendship, but its ending inspired Stills to write songs that helped establish Crosby, Stills and Nash’s reputation.

The songs included “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes”, which named Collins, and “Helplessly Hoping”; both appeared on the group’s self-titled debut, which won the 1970 Grammy for Best New Artist. Collins said the songs were beautiful but did not win her back, and described “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” as flattering and heartbreaking. The pair remained friends and later recorded the 2017 album *Everybody Knows* and toured together.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.