Customer Reviews

Buffalo Springfield

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Those who have an original vinyl copy of this album will remember the "liner notes," i.e. a collection of the various band members' favourite colours, favourite places, their zodiac signs and random thoughts (the comment about Stephen Stills showing up in his "profile"). When I began to delve into classic rock of the '60s in my teens (20 years too late, I have often lamented), this was one of the albums I picked up...yes, an actual LP. I used to have quite a collection of those, although it might not rival some...

In 1997, when the new remaster was released with the mono and stereo versions of the album put together on one CD, I rediscovered this album in all its glory. It's not perfect--what debut album is?--but it was pretty damned good for a first record (can't say that for all of them). The remaster featured the mono version Atco originally released in December of '66, which featured a different running order--"Leave" was track 3, side 1, and "Baby Don't Scold Me" appeared as track 5, side 2. The latter was a nice little song with Steve and Richie Furay sharing lead vocals, including an instrumental quote from the Beatles' "Day Tripper" (the familiar riff). And as the notes on the remaster indicate, mono was how the band intended this album: "We never had a chance at the stereo," they say, indicating that their producers (Charles Stone & Brian Green, IIRC) snapped up that chance for themselves; they proceeded to remix the album, removing "Baby Don't Scold Me" and replacing it with the band's big hit, "For What It's Worth," which became track 1, side 1, and "Leave" relegated to the position of track 5, side 2. That version, released as Atco SD33-200A in April of '67, is the one I bought some 20 years later on vinyl, and makes up the second half of the remastered CD.

The sound on both versions is much improved; the remaster is an HDCD (High Definition CD), with warmer sound than had been possible before in digital. Unfortunately, this CD is now out of print; the Buffalo Springfield Box Set, which Rhino released in 2001, rectified that by putting remastered versions of this album and Again, the band's more famous sophomore effort (and the one the critics like the best), together on the 4th disc in that set. That version of the first album includes the original mono running order, with "For What It's Worth" sandwiched in between the 2 albums as a bonus track.

What Rhino ought, IMO, to do this year, this being the 40th anniversary of Buffalo Springfield's forming, signing to Atlantic and recording/releasing their debut album, is remaster all 3 of the band's original studio albums, complete with bonus tracks from each LP's original studio sessions, especially since this is how classic albums are now being presented (Yes' Atlantic catalogue, Donovan's studio albums, still others too numerous to mention here). And maybe we can consider SACD remasters?

Buffalo Springfield is the debut, self-titled album of a sixties band consisting of Neil Young (lead guitar-vocals), Stephen Stills (2nd lead guitar- vocals), Richie Furay (rhythm guitar-vocals), Dewey Martin (drums), and Bruce Palmer (Bass Guitar), later replaced by Jim Messina. This record was made in 1966 and debuted in mono with "Baby Don't Scold Me", which was replaced by "For What It's Worth" in the stereo version.
This record is a great introduction to what the group had to come. Their first production portrayed, more than any other album, the folk-rock style of music that Buffalo Springfield was accustomed to (and excellent at making). It is full of easy to listen vocals and guitar playing. During this first phase of the band, Richie Furay was the lead singer in most of the songs. This was at a time when Neil Young was unsure about his voice, so of Young's four songs on the album, ("Burned", "Out of My Mind", "Flying on the ground is Wrong", and "Do I Have to Come Right Out and Say It") Richie Furay sang the latter two of them. Stephen Stills' "For What It's Worth" is no doubt the group's most popular song, rated the 63rd greatest song of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine. There are also a few other great songs by Stills on this record. Since this album was their first, it was an ambitious piece. It was also made during a time when the group was going strong; this is not the case in the group's last album. This piece of work is full of awesome guitar playing, as one would think from a band with four guitar players. Four songs from this album were included in the greatest hits album, but a few others could have been added without question. Many people compare Buffalo Springfield with the more popular Byrds. These two groups were both very successful pioneers of folk-rock music. Buffalo Springfield succumbed to internal conflicts when they broke up in 1968. The group made only three LP's and later a greatest hits album. If you haven't heard of Buffalo Springfield, you have probably heard of a branch of them. Richie Furay went on to be the lead singer in the folk-rock group Poco and later in the Souther, Hillman, and Furay Band and The Richie Furay Band. Steven Stills joined Graham Nash and David Crosby in Crosby, Stills, and Nash. He also had a successful solo career. Neil Young joined Crosby, Stills and Nash to form Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, and had probably the most successful solo career of all the members. Dewey Martin and Bruce Palmer were not heard of much afterwards, and did nothing really significant after Buffalo Springfield. When mentioning folk-rock music, Buffalo Springfield cannot be excluded, as they were one of the most talented of their time. This album surely will not let you down if you are a true classic rock fan.

Stephen Stills, Niel Young, Richie Furay, Jim Messina, this band had all of these talented musicians playing because they loved the music. Of course, you know that Stills, and Young went on to comprise 1/2 of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. But did you know that Richie Furay went on to form the fine country rock group POCO, or that Jim Messina is the Jim Messina from Loggins and Messina? Man this group was loaded and could craft great POP songs. If only they had stayed together.... In fact on Neil's latest album "Silver and Gold" he wrote a song called Buffal Springfield Again. He certainly sounds like he would like to get the boys back together for another musical romp!

This is an excellent collection to have. "For What it's Worth" is one of the Anthems of the 1960s. The natural expression, the great vocals and guitar playing make this pre-CSN collection a real treat to have. Stephen Stills and Neil Young will not disappoint. This is truly a worthwhile collection to have. It also just plain sounds good. I love it!

This debut Buffalo Springfield album is a fine start. While I wouldn't claim that it is among the truly great debut recordings, it is a fine disc. Stills and Young were already demonstrating their formidable potential, and Richie Furay's vocals have got to be among the most underrated in all of rock music at that particular point in time. My favorite tracks are probably Young's haunting "Out of my Mind" and "Burned", but there is nothing embarassing here. Strongly recommended.

The various members of Buffalo Springfield, in most cases (but not all), went on to bigger and better things - this is where they started. The album is dominated by the songwriting of Stephen Stills and Neil Young: Stills contributing 7 songs to Young's 5. "For What It's Worth", is not only the best Stills' song on the album, but the best song overall, immaculately played and sung - unfortunately Stills' other songs aren't as good, the best being the country-rockish "Hot Dusty Roads" and the striking "Everybody's Wrong", the nadir is the tedious rocker "Leave". Young's songwriting ("For What It's Worth") seems more mature, especially on "Flying On the Ground Is Wrong" and "Do I Have to Come Right Out and Say It", which are good and distinctive enough to have come from any part of Young's career. "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing" is another excellent song, despite some rather awkwardly Dylanesque lyrics - curiously, the two weakest Young tracks are the ones he sings himself (Richie Furay sings the other Young compositions), "Burned" and "Out of My Mind" are rather more sopohomoric (the former sounds like a demo). Given that a much better Young sung song (how poetic!), "Down to the Wire" was recorded around the same time, it's odd it wasn't included on the album. Vocally, Richie Furay takes most of the leads, and his clear and attractive voice is always very easy on the ears, Stills is also an excellent singer but at times seems to be overdoing it on this album, Young's two vocals are pretty good. The band took something of a quantum leap with their next album but this is a fine if, at times, tentative debut.

Originally saw the blessed light of day in 1967, some oldie fans may not realize that Buffalo Springfield actual had several full length albums out. Can't believe these guys had JUST one hit. Anyway,this twelve track self-titled CD reissue has several should - have / could - have - been hits as far as I'm concerned. Cuts like "Go And Say Goodbye", the Beatles - like "Sit Down I Think I Love You", "Everybody's Wrong", "Burned", the jamming bluesy "Leave" and "Pay The Price" (with it's catchy riffs) along with their sole hit "For What It's Worth" all make this disc a keeper. It's obvious this band was a heavy influence on later artists such as the Eagles, Gram Parsons, BoDeans and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Recommended.

Several years ago I read reviews of Buffalo Springfield's tiny catalogue in the Rolling Stone Record Guide. The writer gave this debut 3 1/2 stars and the five-star mark to their more ambitious follow-up, "Buffalo Springfield Again." It wasn't until late last year that I actually got this record, and a few months thereafter purchased the group's sophomore effort.

This one takes the cake, no contest. Perhaps people come to this record looking for epic sweep and grand vision, and after "For What It's Worth" and Neil Young's solo work that's probably to be expected. While "Buffalo Springfield" may apparently be lacking in grandeur, however, it's a remarkably consistent and often beautiful folk-rock record. "For What It's Worth" itself is of course a highlight, but Stills' "Go And Say Goodbye" and "Everybody's Wrong" work up a confident stomp, and Young's "Flying on the Ground is Wrong" and - particularly - "Out of My Mind" are wondrous, impressionistic snatches of a great rock and roller in first bloom. If these songs aren't visionary enough for you, by all means, proceed to the erratic, bloated, rather pretentious second record, on which the band's dissolution is already apparent (still some really good songs, though, no mistake). By the way, I think this beats the Byrds' first two albums, both rock touchstones (get Greatest Hits, though - now). First rumblings of the California myth, Beach Boys barely behind and Jimbo just ahead. The s**tstorm nearly upon us, not to mention the likes of Don Henley.

I saw Buffalo Springfield in Saucelito (just north across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco) in '66 on a date, in a little night club on the Bay called "The Ark". I was so impressed, that the next day after work I ran around to several Berkeley record stores (if you couldn't find it in Berkeley, it probably didn't exist) trying to find the album, and got quizzical replies to my inquiries like, "You mean, Dusty Springfield?".

I finally did get a copy a couple weeks later, which I still have. And while the relationship with the young lady really didn't last beyond that evening, the relationship with the music is an entirely different story.

There are lots of fairly extensive reviews here, so I'm not going to add much except this: I find in listening to much music from those days that it almost requires a different frame of mind: While it was often great for its time, and may still be valid musically, it also can sound dated, and you have to make allowance for the fact that it's close to 50 years old. Not so with Springfield's first album. Like great jazz, it's as good today as the day it was recorded.

Buffalo Springfield...what can I say? I have searched record stores throughout Australia with no luck. I strike Amazon...and low and behold - I've got access to music I haven't seen since I was a school boy. Tremendous!!
For those that love the folk-rock - buy it. For those looking to experience the early days of this embryonic genre - listen to it. You will be an instant convert.