Buffalo Springfield
Biography
Apart from the Byrds, no other American band had as great an impact on folk-rock and country-rock -- really, the entire Californian rock sound -- than Buffalo Springfield. The group's formation is the stuff of legend: driving on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, Stephen Stills and Richie Furay spotted a hearse that Stills was sure belonged to Neil Young, a Canadian he had crossed paths with earlier. Indeed it was, and with the addition of fellow hearse passenger and Canadian Bruce Palmer on bass and ex-Dillard Dewey Martin on drums, the cluster of ex-folkys determined, as the Byrds had just done, to become a rock & roll band.
Buffalo Springfield wasn't together long -- they were an active outfit for just over two years, between 1967 and 1968 --but every one of their three albums was noteworthy. Their debut, including their sole big hit (Stills' "For What It's Worth"), established them as the best folk-rock band in the land barring the Byrds, though Springfield was a bit more folk and country oriented. Again, their second album found the group expanding their folk-rock base into tough hard rock and psychedelic orchestration, resulting in their best record. The group was blessed with three idiosyncratic, talented songwriters in Stills, Young, and Furay (the last of whom didn't begin writing until the second LP) yet they also had strong and often conflicting egos, particularly Stills and Young. The group, who held almost infinite promise, rearranged their lineup several times, Young leaving the group for periods and Palmer fighting deportation, until disbanding in 1968. Their final album clearly shows the group fragmenting into solo directions.
Eventually, the inter-personal tensions and creative battles led to a perhaps inevitable split, starting with Young's departure for a solo career. He would later reunite with Stephen Stills in Crosby, Stills, & Nash, joining the trio once a decade for various projects. In addition to CSN, Stills released solo albums and worked with a nother band, Manassas. Initially, Jim Messina and Richie Furay stayed together, forming the country-rock group Poco, but Messina left after three albums to team up in a duo with Kenny Loggins. Furay himself left Poco and teamed with Chris Hillman and JD Souther in the Souther Hillman Furay Band before pursuing a solo career. Rumors of a Buffalo Springfield reunion circulated for years -- Young even hinted at it with the song "Buffalo Springfield Again" -- but it never materialized. ~ Richie Unterberger & Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Selected Discography
They had to kick Neil out for being a canuck and hating America, the place that made him riiiich!
I h8t u Neil |
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Ho are yuuuuuuuuuuu u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
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I'm band new on this---but not a sound is coming out---it worked yesterday, but I can't remember how I got it started....c a n anyone help?? Thanks Lynn
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This is just one of the best albums ever. Album...boy does that term date me!
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To CNK:
You're takin me back a few years, but as I recall Steven Stills did most of Buffalo's lead singing. On "For What it's Worth", he did for real. I'm sure some afficianado will correct me if I'm wrong. Though I've only been wrong once, and 46 years later I'm still married to her.....JC |
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I'm relatively young (33) but my family and friends all say I'm a 'old' soul and was born 2 decades too late. I hate most of the modern 'rock' of today. I'd have loved to be around during the mid '60~'70's. To me, that was and will be the BEST period of music ever released. Just incredible music!
PS: If you haven't gotten the Buff. Springfield box set try to get it! It is incredbly indepth. I listen to it almost daily. Peace! |
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luv these guys! they rock! i really like bluebird and for what its worth. who sang lead on their songs?-CNK
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peter tork played piano for them, back in the day. he was real good buddies with stephen stills and the lovin' spoonful as well.
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My father in law played bass for them at the very end when they went under the label new buffalo for a while in 69.
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..yes indeed pilar1951, "BUY THE BOX SET"! It has to be 1 of the top 5 box sets ever released. It has every album in mono and stereo and a TON of demo's, b sides, alt tracks, live stuff and a incredible book that details every single second of the Springfield. . . . i t ' s my favorite box set and I have about 40. I'm on 32 but god, I f'n love Springfield! ! My dad always said I was born in the wrong generation.
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i was about six feet away from neil one night in springfield, ohio (of all places) i tell people about that experience.. . i wasnt even a groupie. hey neil!
if you ever read this.....do you vaugely remember the night you sang for internationl harvester? Bless you |
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ITS AMAZING THE MUSIC OF THE ERA AS THESE ARTIST CAME TOGATHER WHEN TIMES WERE SO DIFFERENT. I AM A VINYL COLLECTOR ALWAYS ON THE HUNT BUT HAVE NEVER FOUND NON OF THE 3 ALBUMS!
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Love them. Not as much as The Doors but I love them! Long live Classic Rock and the birth of this Genre!
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The band that spawned Crosby, Stills & Nash (and sometimes Young), Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Poco, Loggins & Messina, Souther, Hillman & Furay Band,& The Richie Furay Band.
Only three albums before they emploded but three great albums. Buy the box set. |
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They gave us several good artists.some good tunes, just a little bit political.
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Another good 'ol messed-up hippy band from the decade of peace, love and whatnot.
We honestly tried to make this world a better place... too bad our excesses have only had the opposite effect. One can only get so far while hallucinatin g . We tried. |
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Reminds of riding on a bus through Berkley CA during the People's park revolt, National Guard, tanks
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just remembering 14 years old and not having a care in the world oh what a time love drugs and rock and roll.....
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