Buffalo Springfield Again

Production

The recording of this album has been described by some as being tense and protracted, because Young was often absent and the bass guitarist, Bruce Palmer, spent much of the sessions detained on drug charges. A number of Los Angeles session players also make appearances.

Among the notable tracks are Young's minor hit, "Mr. Soul". The album also includes two orchestral experiments Young produced with Jack Nitzsche, a Phil Spector associate: "Expecting to Fly" and "Broken Arrow". Both tracks were intended for solo release, and feature Young only, backed by session players (though Furay overdubbed a harmony vocal on the latter).

Stephen Stills contributed four tunes, among them "Rock and Roll Woman", a song co-written by an uncredited David Crosby and allegedly featuring Crosby on backup vocals. This song is probably the first collaboration between Stills and Crosby. Simultaneous tension in Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds, and The Hollies would eventually result in the formation of Crosby, Stills & Nash.

Though he had contributed lead vocals on their first album, this record marked the first time that they recorded any of Richie Furay's songs.

Legacy

In 2003, the album was ranked number 188 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. The album was included in Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Track listing

1. "Mr. Soul" (Neil Young) – 2:48
2. Original recording January 9, 1967, Atlantic Studios, New York, New York. Additional recording April 4, 1967. Lead vocal: Neil Young. Backing vocal and guitar: Richie Furay, Steve Stills.
3. "A Child's Claim to Fame" (Richie Furay) – 2:09
4. Recorded June 21, 1967, Columbia Recording Studios, Los Angeles, California. Lead vocal: Richie Furay. Dobro: James Burton.
5. "Everydays" (Stephen Stills) – 2:38
6. Recorded March 15, Gold Star Studios, Los Angeles, California. Lead vocal: Stephen Stills. Bass: Jim Fielder. (Bruce Palmer absent).
7. "Expecting to Fly" (Young) – 3:39
8. Recorded May 6, 1967, Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, California. Lead vocal: Neil Young. Arrangement: Jack Nitzsche. (Rest of group absent).
9. "Bluebird" (Stills) – 4:28
10. Recorded starting April 4, 1967, Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, California. Lead vocal: Stephen Stills. Bass: Bobby West. Banjo: Charlie Chin. (Bruce Palmer absent).
11. "Hung Upside Down" (Stills) – 3:24
12. Recorded June 30 & September 1–5, 1967, Columbia Recording Studios & Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, California. Lead vocal: Richie Furay (verses), Stephen Stills (choruses).
13. "Sad Memory" (Furay) – 3:00
14. Recorded September 5, 1967, Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, California. Lead vocal: Richie Furay. Electric lead guitar: Neil Young. Acoustic guitar: Richie Furay. (Stills, Palmer, and drummer Dewey Martin absent).
15. "Good Time Boy" (Furay) – 2:11
16. Recorded August 1967, Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, California. Lead vocal: Dewey Martin. Reports differ on whether drummer Martin actually played drums on this track, or whether it was played entirely by session musicians, including the Memphis Horns.
17. "Rock & Roll Woman" (Stills) – 2:44
18. Recorded June 22-August 8, 1967, Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, California. Lead vocal: Stephen Stills. Background vocal: David Crosby (disputed; he is, however, an uncredited co-writer of the melody). Guitar: Doug Hastings.
19. "Broken Arrow" (Young) – 6:11
20. Recorded August 25 & September 5–18, 1967, Columbia Recording Studios & Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, California. Lead vocal: Neil Young. Piano, organ: Don Randi. Guitar: Chris Sarns.

Personnel

Buffalo Springfield

Additional personnel

Production