So following on from my 60's music listening group in August, September, October, & November where we discussed
Electric Music For The Mind And Body by Country Joe And The Fish
Sounds Of Silenece by Simon & Garfunkel
Revolver by The Beatles
In The Court Of The Crimson King by King Crimson
Buffalo Springfield were the poster children for dysfunction. They were never going to last very long, and it's a miracle that this album even got made. There was a third album, which was put together after they had already split up just a year later.
This band (and this album) are important because of what it led to. Stills and Young, who could never get along for more than minutes, joined up with Crosby and Nash to do their thing. Crosby is quite present here (uncredited). Richie Furay would form Poco along with Jim Messina, who joined Springfield after this was released.
The best moments are from Neil Young. "Mr. Soul", "Expecting To Fly" (which is Neil only) and "Broken Arrow" are classic Young, and they sound more like solo tracks than band songs. "Bluebird" from Stills is pretty good, and "Rock And Roll Woman" is the exact sound of CSN, which it basically is...just without Nash. Furay wrote a trio that didn't do much, although he does show some of what he would later do with Poco on "A Child's Claim To Fame". The band were not getting along, and so they weren't together in the studio a lot, and session musicians were utilized on many tracks. Bassist Bruce Campbell had legal issues, so he was hardly there at all.
There are highs here from Young and Stills, with half of the album being great, and the other half...not so much. Critics ate it up...this band was an up and coming thing at the time. This album is a band that was breaking up, but it's also a band that had powerful forces in Stills and Young (and Furay) who were soon to get out and spread their wings they way they needed to. Again is a picture of a band that was destined to break up...and of a band that NEEDED to break up. And they were already almost there. _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
Buffalo Springfield were the poster children for dysfunction. They were never going to last very long, and it's a miracle that this album even got made. There was a third album, which was put together after they had already split up just a year later.
This band (and this album) are important because of what it led to. Stills and Young, who could never get along for more than minutes, joined up with Crosby and Nash to do their thing. Crosby is quite present here (uncredited). Richie Furay would form Poco along with Jim Messina, who joined Springfield after this was released.
The best moments are from Neil Young. "Mr. Soul", "Expecting To Fly" (which is Neil only) and "Broken Arrow" are classic Young, and they sound more like solo tracks than band songs. "Bluebird" from Stills is pretty good, and "Rock And Roll Woman" is the exact sound of CSN, which it basically is...just without Nash. Furay wrote a trio that didn't do much, although he does show some of what he would later do with Poco on "A Child's Claim To Fame". The band were not getting along, and so they weren't together in the studio a lot, and session musicians were utilized on many tracks. Bassist Bruce Campbell had legal issues, so he was hardly there at all.
There are highs here from Young and Stills, with half of the album being great, and the other half...not so much. Critics ate it up...this band was an up and coming thing at the time. This album is a band that was breaking up, but it's also a band that had powerful forces in Stills and Young (and Furay) who were soon to get out and spread their wings they way they needed to. Again is a picture of a band that was destined to break up...and of a band that NEEDED to break up. And they were already almost there.
That's a pretty great summation Romanelli. Your point about the band being so dysfunctional that they needed to get in session musicians to help complete the album is born out by the fact that, in addition to the five members of the band, sixteen other musicians were used on the album, including such luminaries as Russ Titelman, James Burton & Jack Nitzsche.
As you say, an important and very talented band. Would the West Coast "sound" have developed in the way it did without them? Probably not. Too many important individuals here to believe otherwise I think.
Thanks for taking to time to contribute. As always, your thoughts are always well articulated.
Going to comment on a few tracks here. Not sure whether I'll get through the whole album but going to give it a try.
Mr Soul
Written by Neil Young
This song is about Neil Young's personal problems with fame and his disregard for rock stardom. It was written by Young after he had an epilepsy attack after a show with Buffalo Springfield. While recovering in hospital he wrote the song.
The lyrics reflected Young's experience, feeling as though he was about to die. Thereupon, he was advised by his doctor to never take LSD or any other hallucinogenic drugs. Not bad advice to be honest.
The song is an early example of a mix of many elements that Neil would weave into his work over the subsequent 60-year career. A mix of folk rock, psychedelic rock, hard rock, and R&B.
I also love the Byrds and you can here some Byrdsian influences here as well. Not too surprising given the proximity of bands to each other. Also, Neil’s guitar playing here is brilliantly understated. The odd burst of psychedelic brilliance. It’s one of the greatest opening tracks to any 60’s album and ground-breaking in it’s way
Richie Furay wrote this song. He was basically the George Harrison of Buffalo Springfield. Great musician and song writer, overshadowed by the towering presence of Stills and Young.
This track highlights his love of country music. I’d be amazed if Gram Parsons hadn’t listened to this track a lot especially with the use of a dobro. Furay went on to found the country-rock band Poco. If you don’t know Poco and you like the Eagles, check them out. Great country-rock without the sell out to corporate America.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
