Buffalo Albums Ranked

Buffalo was an Australian rock band formed in August 1971 by founding mainstay Dave Tice on lead vocals (ex-Head). Fellow founders, also from Head, were Paul Balbi on drums, John Baxter on guitar, and Peter Wells on bass guitar; together with Alan Milano on lead vocals (ex-Mandala). Milano left after their debut album, Dead Forever… (June 1972), and Balbi was replaced on drums by Jimmy Economou. Their next two albums, Volcanic Rock (July 1973) and Only Want You For Your Body (June 1974), were also issued by Vertigo Records. After 1975 line-up changes resulted in a more commercial sound and the group disbanded in March 1977. Australian musicologist Ian McFarlane noted that there was “nothing subtle about Buffalo’s primal, heavyweight sound, but it was delivered with a great deal of conviction … combining the dense, occult riffing … with the progressive blues chops … the band certainly captured the arrogant disposition of the times in a bold and thunderous fashion”. Alongside Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs and Blackfeather, Buffalo pioneered Australia’s heavy metal, pub rock, and psychedelic rock movements. Peter Wells died on 27 March 2006, aged 58. Here are all of Buffalo albums ranked.

Don’t miss out on the TIMELESS Buffalo music below! Click to experience the power of raw hard rock!

3. Only Want You For Your Body (1974)

“Not as slow and heavy as Volcanic Rock, this is more cohesive and up tempo. Disc smokes start to finish. Tough raspy vocals/great guitar. Lots of reverb. Killer cover of Ten Years After “I’m Coming On”. I also love the way Dune Messiah connects with Stay With Me. Bass player Peter Wells would later go on to play guitar in Rose Tattoo. Buffalo is one of Australia’s all time best hard rock bands! Another absolute must have, for 70s hard rock collectors. Rock On!”

2. Average Rock ‘N’ Roller (1977)

“Baxter’s guitar is long gone too. It sounds like the lads were desperate for some Top 40 action and even though Hotel Ladies is up there in the Top 5 Buffalo tunes of all time, this is a lame, buffalo-by-numbers affair. I think Dave was more interested in joining the Count Bishop band than getting too enthusiastic about this mess.”

1. Volcanic Rock (1973)

“Buffalo invented the volume control on your stereo, it’s there for this album, for the riffs that come out of the distance and slam you like a freight train into a melon wagon, for the searing sounds of Baxter’s guitar, and the power of that rhythm section that puts fear into pig iron, ( Wells and Jimmy E ),all that sound to protect the earth from the weight of the vocals from Dave Tice, buy this album, you will not be disappointed, I don’t go anywhere without it and I’m going there now.”