Buffalo Springfield
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1966 in Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Founder | Neil Young, Bruce Palmer, Dewey Martin, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay |
| Defunct | 1968 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
Area served | United States, Canada |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Number of employees | 5 (original members) |
Buffalo Springfield was a rock group with Canadian-American roots, established in Los Angeles in 1966 by Canadians Neil Young, Bruce Palmer, Dewey Martin, alongside Americans Stephen Stills and Richie Furay. Famous for their track "For What It's Worth," they produced three albums and multiple singles between 1966 and 1968. Their sound combined elements of folk, country, British Invasion, and psychedelic rock, significantly influencing the early stages of folk rock. The band's name was inspired by a steamroller parked outside their residence.
The members were Stills (guitar, keyboards, vocals), Martin (drums, vocals), Palmer (bass), Furay (guitar, vocals), and Young (guitar, harmonica, piano, vocals). After signing with Atlantic Records in 1966, their first single "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing" achieved regional popularity. In January 1967, their protest song "For What It's Worth" became their sole US top 10 hit and an emblematic tune of the counterculture movement. Their sophomore album, Buffalo Springfield Again, marked a transition toward psychedelic and hard rock styles with songs such as "Bluebird" and "Mr. Soul."
Due to drug-related problems and changes in the lineup, the band dissolved in 1968. Their final album, Last Time Around, was released after the breakup. Stephen Stills went on to form the supergroup Crosby, Stills & Nash with David Crosby and Graham Nash; Neil Young embarked on a solo career before joining them in 1969. Richie Furay teamed up with Jim Messina to create the country-rock group Poco. Buffalo Springfield was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 and briefly reunited for a tour in 2011.
Origins
Neil Young encountered Stephen Stills in 1965 at the Fourth Dimension club in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Young was leading the Squires, a band from Winnipeg active since 1963, while Stills was touring with the Company, a spin-off from the Au Go Go Singers. After the dissolution of the Company, Stills relocated to the West Coast, where he worked as a session musician and auditioned for groups such as the Monkees. Producer Barry Friedman encouraged him to assemble a band, prompting Stills to invite Richie Furay and former Squires bassist Ken Koblun to California; however, Koblun soon departed for 3's a Crowd.
In early 1966 Toronto, Young connected with bassist Bruce Palmer from the Mynah Birds. Palmer invited Young to join as lead guitarist. The Mynah Birds had plans for an album with Motown Records, but these fell through when their vocalist Ricky James Matthews (later known as Rick James) was arrested for desertion.
Without a recording contract, Young and Palmer sold some gear and purchased a 1953 Pontiac hearse to travel to Los Angeles. After nearly a week of unsuccessful attempts to locate Stills, they headed north toward San Francisco. While caught in traffic on Sunset Boulevard, Stills and Furay spotted them driving in the opposite direction. The four reunited after Stills and Furay maneuvered behind their hearse.
Drummer Dewey Martin, who had experience in garage rock and country genres, joined upon recommendation from Jim Dickson, manager of the Byrds. The group derived its name from a steamroller manufactured by the Buffalo-Springfield Roller Company. Their first performance took place on April 11, 1966, at The Troubadour in West Hollywood—just five days after reuniting—and they subsequently toured California as opening acts for the Dillards and the Byrds.
Management and Initial Recordings
Chris Hillman of the Byrds arranged an audition for Buffalo Springfield at the Whisky a Go Go, where they secured a seven-week residency as the house band from May 2 to June 18, 1966. This engagement significantly boosted their live performance reputation and attracted attention from record labels. Friedman brought in Dickie Davis, previously the Byrds' lighting manager, to assist with management; Davis then consulted with Charlie Greene and Brian Stone, who managed Sonny & Cher. Greene and Stone forcefully assumed control of the band's management, replacing Friedman and naming Davis as tour manager. They successfully negotiated a four-album contract with Ahmet Ertegun of Atlantic Records, securing a $12,000 advance amid competing offers from Elektra Records and Warner Bros. Records, and organized recording sessions at Gold Star Studios in Hollywood.
The debut single, "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing", released in August, saw modest success limited primarily to Los Angeles, where it reached the top 25. Young and Stills preferred their own mono mix over the stereo version produced by Greene and Stone. Atlantic's subsidiary Atco issued the band's first album in October 1966 in both mono and stereo versions, followed by a revised edition in March 1967 featuring an altered track sequence.
In November 1966, Stills penned "For What It's Worth" inspired by violent demonstrations after the closure of the Pandora's Box on the Sunset Strip. The song premiered live at the Whisky a Go Go on Thanksgiving night, was recorded soon after, and rapidly gained airplay on Los Angeles station KHJ. By March 1967, it had climbed into the top ten charts. Leveraging this momentum, Atco replaced "Baby Don't Scold Me" with "For What It's Worth" on the album’s reissue. The single sold over one million copies and received gold disc certification.
Lineup Changes, Legal Issues, and Dissolution
In January 1967, Palmer faced deportation due to marijuana possession but rejoined the group in June during Young's temporary absence (guitarist Doug Hastings substituted). With David Crosby guesting, the band performed at the Monterey Pop Festival. Young returned in August; shortly thereafter, the band dismissed Greene and Stone as managers to concentrate on completing their second album, Buffalo Springfield Again, produced by Ertegun and released in November 1967. This album included notable tracks such as "Mr. Soul", "Rock & Roll Woman", "Bluebird", "Sad Memory", and "Broken Arrow". Early 1968 featured a supporting tour alongside the Beach Boys. In January, following Palmer’s second deportation for drug charges, Jim Messina—who had engineered their second album—was officially brought on as bassist. During this period, Young's appearances became sporadic, often leaving Stills to cover lead guitar duties during live shows. Recording sessions wrapped up by March with Messina frequently taking on production responsibilities.
In the Netflix documentary Echo in the Canyon, Stills recounted an incident at a 1968 rehearsal party involving law enforcement intervention. Despite maintaining moderate sound levels, police responded to a noise complaint; marijuana was discovered on site. Stills avoided arrest by fleeing through a bathroom window, while Young reportedly wanted to pursue officers but was held back. Eventually, Young, Furay, and Messina were arrested and detained at Los Angeles County Jail.
After performing at Long Beach Auditorium on May 5, the band met with Ertegun to negotiate their breakup. Stills and Furay continued their relationship with Atlantic Records; Young transitioned to Warner Bros. Furay and Messina later compiled recordings from mid-1967 through early 1968 into their third and final studio release, Last Time Around (1968).
New Buffalo Springfield and Reunion Efforts
In September 1968, Dewey Martin established New Buffalo Springfield, enlisting guitarists Dave Price, noted for his association with the Monkees, and Gary Rowles, who later played with Love. The lineup also featured bassist Bob Apperson, drummer Don Poncher—also a future member of Love—and horn player Jim Price, who went on to become a sought-after session musician for acts such as the Rolling Stones and Joe Cocker.
The group embarked on an extensive tour schedule, including an appearance at the Holiday Rock Festival in San Francisco in December 1968. Nevertheless, Stills and Young initiated legal proceedings to prevent Martin from using the Buffalo Springfield name. After relinquishing any future royalties from the band's catalog, Martin received permission to perform under the name New Buffalo. He sought to regain full rights in 1974; although the conflict was resolved privately, Martin felt unfairly treated during the process.
In February 1969, Martin and Price assembled a second incarnation of New Buffalo Springfield with guitarist Bob "BJ" Jones and bassist Randy Fuller. They recorded sessions under producer Tom Dowd that were ultimately discarded. Guitarist Joey Newman joined in June 1969, but Martin was dismissed two months afterward; the remaining musicians continued as Blue Mountain Eagle. Subsequently, Martin created Medicine Ball, which released one album in 1970 through Uni Records, alongside two solo singles issued by Uni and RCA. During the 1970s, he stepped away from music to pursue a career as an automobile mechanic.
In 1984, Bruce Palmer formed the Springfield Band featuring Frank Wilks, Stan Endersby, and Alan Prosser; Dewey Martin joined in 1985, prompting a name change to Buffalo Springfield Revisited. With consent from Neil Young and Stephen Stills, this ensemble toured for several years until Martin departed around 1987.
July 1986 saw Palmer, Martin, Furay, Young, Stills, and keyboardist Harlan Spector rehearsing for a reunion tour—marking the final occasion all five original members performed together. However, these plans were eventually abandoned.
By 1990, Palmer and Wilks had relocated to Topanga, California, where percussionist Dennis Knicely became part of the group. In 1991 they launched White Buffalo with Martin and others. That same year, Martin initiated Buffalo Springfield Again with Billy Darnell, Robin Lambe, and Michael Curtis. Nevertheless, Furay issued a cease-and-desist order in 1992 that led Martin to retire from performing once more in 1993.
2010–11 Reunion
Neil Young conveyed his wish to reunite Buffalo Springfield on his 2000 album Silver & Gold through the track "Buffalo Springfield Again". Unfortunately, the passing of Palmer in 2004 and Martin in 2009 made an original lineup reunion impossible.
Young reunited with Stills and Furay at the annual Bridge School Benefit concerts on October 23 and 24, 2010, held in Mountain View, California. The performance was described by Rolling Stone as "nostalgic, blissful, and moving".
The band performed six shows beginning June 1, 2011 in Oakland, followed by dates in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, concluding with an appearance at the 2011 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee. This ensemble included Furay, Stills, Young, Rick Rosas, and Joe Vitale. Plans for an extensive tour in 2012 were postponed due to Young’s commitment to recording two albums with Crazy Horse. On February 27, 2012, Furay announced that the band would enter an indefinite hiatus.
Legacy
In 1968, Stephen Stills established Crosby, Stills & Nash alongside David Crosby from the Byrds and Graham Nash of the Hollies. Meanwhile, Richie Furay and Jim Messina formed Poco, and Neil Young embarked on a solo path. The following year, Young rejoined Stills to create Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Subsequently, Stills teamed up with Chris Hillman and other musicians to launch Manassas (active from 1971 to 1973). Furay later collaborated with JD Souther and Hillman in the Souther-Hillman-Furay Band, whereas Messina partnered with Kenny Loggins to form Loggins & Messina.
Between 1982 and 1983, Bruce Palmer played bass on Young's Trans album and toured across the United States and Europe with him; this period was captured in the film Neil Young in Berlin.
Buffalo Springfield received induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. A comprehensive four-disc collection overseen by Young, titled Buffalo Springfield, was released in 2001. Rhino Records followed with another box set named What's That Sound? Complete Albums Collection in 2018.
Personnel
- Jim Fielder – bass guitar
- Richie Furay – guitar, vocals
- Bruce Palmer – bass guitar
- Stephen Stills – guitar, keyboards, vocals
- Neil Young – guitar, harmonica, piano, vocals
- Dewey Martin – drums, vocals
- Ken Forssi – bass guitar
- Ken Koblun – bass guitar
- Doug Hastings – guitar
- Jim Messina – bass guitar, vocals
Additional musicians
- Rick Rosas – bass guitar
- Joe Vitale – drums, vocals
- Rusty Young – steel guitar on "Last Time Around"
Studio albums
| Year | Album details | US | FRA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Buffalo Springfield
|
80 | 122 |
| 1967 | Buffalo Springfield Again
|
44 | — |
| 1968 | Last Time Around
|
42 | — |
Compilations
| Year | Album details | US | Certifications (sales thresholds) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Retrospective: The Best of Buffalo Springfield
|
42 | |
| 1973 | Buffalo Springfield
|
104 | |
| 2001 | Buffalo Springfield (box set)
|
194 | |
| 2018 | What's That Sound? Complete Albums Collection (box set)
|
— |
Singles
| Year | Title | Highest chart rankings | Certifications | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | CAN | NZ | ||||
| 1966 | "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing" b/w "Go and Say Goodbye" |
110Template:Efn-ua | 75 | — | Buffalo Springfield | |
| "Burned" b/w "Everybody's Wrong" |
— | — | — | |||
| 1967 | "For What It's Worth" b/w "Do I Have to Come Right Out and Say It" |
7 | 5 | 19 |
| |
| "Bluebird" b/w "Mr. Soul" |
58 | 38 | — | Buffalo Springfield Again | ||
| "Rock 'n' Roll Woman" b/w "A Child's Claim to Fame" |
44 | 37 | — | |||
| "Expecting to Fly" b/w "Everydays" |
"98" | "41" | "—" | |||
| "Uno Mundo" b/w "Merry-Go-Round" |
"105"Template:Efn-ua | "—" | "—" | |||
| "Special Care" b/w "Kind Woman" |
"107"Template:Efn-ua | "—" | "—" | |||
| "On the Way Home" b/w "Four Days Gone" |
"82" | "86" | "—" | |||
Sources
Further reading
- Einarson, J. and Furay, R. (2004). For What It's Worth: The Story of Buffalo Springfield Lanham: Cooper Square Press. .
- Long, P. (1996). Ghosts on the Road—Neil Young in Concert London: Old Homestead Press. .
External links
- Expecting To Fly – The Buffalo Springfield Story
- Chrome Oxide Buffalo Springfield Gigography – Recording Sessions and Performances
- Article on the band, RPM, Dec. 23, 1967 - page 4
- Articles with short description
- Buffalo Springfield
- Atco Records artists
- Folk rock groups from California
- Musical groups from Los Angeles
- Musical groups established in 1966
- 1966 establishments in California
- Musical groups disestablished in 1968
- 1968 disestablishments in California
- Musical groups reestablished in 2010
- Musical groups disestablished in 2012
- 2012 disestablishments in California
- Neil Young
- Stephen Stills