Buffalo Springfield Albums Ranked
Buffalo Springfield was a North American rock band active from 1966 to 1968 whose most prominent members were Stephen Stills, Neil Young, and Richie Furay. The group released three albums and several singles during its brief existence, including “For What It’s Worth”. The band combined elements of folk and country music with British invasion and psychedelic-rock influences, and, along with the Byrds, were part of the early development of folk-rock.
With a name taken from the manufacturer’s nameplate from a steamroller, Buffalo Springfield formed in Los Angeles in 1966 with Stills (guitar, keyboards, vocals), Dewey Martin (drums, vocals), Bruce Palmer (bass), Furay (guitar, vocals), and Young (guitar, harmonica, piano, vocals). The band signed to Atlantic Records in 1966 and released their debut single “Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing”, which became a hit in Los Angeles. The following January, the group released the protest song “For What It’s Worth”, for which they are now best known. Their second album, Buffalo Springfield Again, marked their progression to psychedelia and hard rock.
After various drug-related arrests and line-up changes, the group broke up in 1968. Stephen Stills went on to form the supergroup Crosby, Stills & Nash with David Crosby of the Byrds and Graham Nash of the Hollies. Neil Young launched his solo career and later joined Stills in Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young in 1969. Furay, along with Jim Messina, went on to form the country-rock band Poco. Buffalo Springfield was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. Here are all of Buffalo Springfield albums ranked.
Don’t miss out on the sound of Buffalo Springfield! Click and experience the music created when we combine members of The Byrds, The Hollies, and Poco!
10. Retrospective: The Best of Buffalo Springfield (2009)
“This is one of those groups that didn’t quite get all of the recognition that they deserved when they were actually a group. Most people remember Buffalo Springfield for one or two, maybe three hit songs. It wasn’t until years later that… people like me… realized how great their music was and still is. One of my favorites is “On the Way Home”. Another is “Rock And Roll Woman”. And of course there’s also “Bluebird”, “Mr. Soul”, “I Am A Child”, “For What It’s Worth”, and about six more that are great to listen to. You get rock, pop, and folk rock all in one place. I love every song on this CD.”
9. Last Time Around (1968)
“The only possible complaint is that there’s too little Neil on here, mostly the Stills/Furay show all the way through; not surprising, since Neil was arguably the first member to get sick of the band and the one who was most eager to start a solo career (note how he didn’t even bother forming a new band until he was recruited by CSN two years later), but still a bit disappointing. He does contribute one glorious song, though, maybe even the best song he wrote in his BS days, the boppy country rocker ‘I Am A Child‘, highlighted by his special harmonica playing style, catchy, melancholic, and in his usual mystical way, but without too much pretense. “
8. Buffalo Springfield Again (1967)
“Pretty solid psychadelic release. Good mix between ballads and more rocking tracks. I think the main issue here is that Neil Young’s songs are much better written than the ones by the other dudes, which creates a really uneven release. Anyway the others still do a decent song in writen good folky tunes, making this an enjoyable release. The melodies here are pretty catchy for the most part, and the lyrics are well done as well. Standout is “mr soul” and “expecting to fly”.”
See more: Buzzcocks Albums Ranked
7. Buffalo Springfield (1966)
“Buffalo Springfield’s debut album is, for the most part, fairly generic counter-culture folk-rock of its time, with Stephen Stills contributions and Neil Young’s songwriting bits sounding remarkably similar – neither singer-songwriter had yet developed the distinctive style they would show on later releases, for the most part. Out of My Mind is a particularly Neil Youngish piece, mind, and of course most editions lead off with Stephen Stills’ brilliant For What It’s Worth – far and away the best song in the set, and responsible for elevating it by a full half-star in my book. Still at points overly dependent on mimicking their influences.”
6. The Buffalo Springfield Box Set (disc 4) (2001)
“Disc Four you should know. This contains the remastered versions of Buffalo Springfield (in mono) and Buffalo Springfield Again (in stereo). After working your way chronologically through discs 1 – 3, with its mix of demos and studio produced, it’s good to hear the complete sets again. The restoration work has polished and buffed these diamonds. All your listening is rewarded. Hear those guitars and harmonies in glorious mono / stereo. These two great shiny classic 60’s albums sparkle.”
5. The Buffalo Springfield Box Set (disc 3) (2001)
“Disc three is surprisingly heavier on Neil Young material, as chronologically speaking, Young left the band (and re-joined) a few times in this period. The disc also includes some of the weaker material from the posthumous Last Time Around, and the disc tends to tail off, maybe reflecting the literal fragmentation of the band during this period. Young provides a classic in One More Sign (1967 demo), a simple and intimate acoustic song. Some of the other Young demos here later end up on his solo albums – Round & Round & Round and Old Laughing Lady. An unreleased mix of On The Way Home from 1967 (minus the strings that were on Last Time Around) will later become a CSN&Y staple. Disc three also contains the studio versions of I Am A Child, which was one of only two Young tracks buried on Last Time Around, and his greatest studio masterpiece, Broken Arrow, recorded separately with Jack Nitzsche.”
See more: The Cars Albums Ranked
4. The Buffalo Springfield Box Set (disc 2) (2001)
“Disc two gets off to a slow start and is thin on Neil Young tracks. There is evidence of a mellower Stephen Stills in 1967. The absolute classic album versions are here – For What It’s Worth (a true American moment), Mr. Soul, Bluebird (not the famed 9 minute version which featured on 1973’s double anthology LP, a version neither Young nor Stills ever wanted released), Rock & Roll Woman and Expecting to Fly. he legendary Stills-Young love/hate relationship was at the heart of the Springfield story. Their rivalry and cameradie can be heard and sensed throughout Box Set. On disc two, when Stills is at his best with For What it’s Worth, Young immediately follows with the monumental Mr. Soul, which guarantees fascinating listening.”
3. The Buffalo Springfield Box Set (disc 1) (2001)
“Disc one, from 1966, is the strongest and features some excellent demos from Young. There Goes My Baby (1966 demo) is a gorgeously sparkling acoustic number, originally recorded for Sonny & Cher. The quality of the sound is stunning. An awesome Out Of My Mind (1966 demo) features hallmark Springfield harmonies and marks the first hints of Young’s disaffection with the music business – a major lyrical theme throughout his work. Richie Furay contributes a soulful Sad Memory (1966 demo). His vocal on the studio version of the majestic Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing is outstanding. He lives and breathes a song that Young wrote, but Furay made his own.”
2. On the Way Home (1968)
“One of the many hit songs on the beast of the Buffalo Springfield. I bought this album back in 1970 and it stands the test of time today with great songs by Steven Stills who went on to greater fame with Neil Young to form a famous group with the letters CSN & Y. On My Way Home was released as a single in late 1968. Was not a big hit and I guess it was because everybody was buying the album to get it in stereo.”
1. Buffalo Springfield Box Set (2001)
“Some bands had one songwriter, some had two. Some bands had one lead guitar player, others had two. Buffalo Springfield had three very talented somgwriters , and three very talented guitar players. Such a richness of talent that meshed in new ways most of the time, but there was just too much to fit into just one band, so there were conflicts. There were three albums, the last two produced independently of other band members for some of them, but altogether an outpouring of riches that most bands would have given body parts to achieve. This is seminal music, some of the best ever produced. There is an optimistic freshness about these albums that lifts the soul and cheers the heart. These songs are part of our collective memory, and these albums are essential listening for any young person who wants to understand the Sixties. Of course you should buy these albums, whether in this expanded, newly mixed edition, or individually.”
