Stop, children, what's that sound? On June 29, Rhino will revisit the catalogue of Buffalo Springfield in a new 5-CD or 5-LP box set. What's That Sound? The Complete Albums Collection includes the band's three albums as originally issued between 1966 and 1968 - Buffalo Springfield, Buffalo Springfield Again, and Last Time Around - as newly remastered from the original analog tapes under the supervision of Neil Young. This set is being released in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the band's final concert (pre-2010 and 2011 partial reunions).
The 1966 debut album of Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Richie Furay, Bruce Palmer, and Dewey Martin included the band's first single, Young's "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing" as well as other favorites like Stills' "Sit Down, I Think I Love You" and Young's "Flying on the Ground Is Wrong." When Stills' "For What It's Worth" became a hit single, it was added to the second pressing of the LP, replacing "Baby Don't Scold Me." (Both songs are included in this box set, though a stereo mix of "Baby Don't Scold Me" is absent.)
The Springfield spent the opening months of 1967 working on Buffalo Springfield Again. Whereas Stills and Young were the only writers on Buffalo Springfield, the band's sophomore album featured three songs penned by Furay including "A Child's Claim to Fame." Stills and Young contributed more future classics including the former's "Bluebird" and "Rock and Roll Woman," and the latter's "Mr. Soul" and "Expecting to Fly."
But by the time of Last Time Around's release in July 1968, the band members were already moving on. Jim Messina, with whom Richie Furay would form Poco, produced the album and played bass on a couple of tracks; Bruce Palmer only appeared on one song. Other guest musicians including Buddy Miles and Rusty Young (also soon to join Poco) appeared. Buffalo Springfield went out with a bang, however, thanks to songs like Young's "On the Way Home" and "I Am a Child," Furay's "Kind Woman," and Stills' "Uno Mundo."
The new collection boasts the original stereo mixes of all three albums, plus the mono mixes of Buffalo Springfield and Buffalo Springfield Again. Additionally, the new remasters will be available on digital download and streaming platforms, while high resolution streaming and downloads will be released through the Neil Young Archives. The vinyl edition, limited to 5,000 units, has the same contents as the CD version. Each album has been pressed on 180-gram vinyl and housed in sleeves and gatefolds recreating the original Atco releases. However, neither edition of What's That Sound? contains any bonus material, so fans are advised to hold onto Rhino's rarities-packed 2001 box set.
Rhino has quoted Neil Young about this release: "What's That Sound is the greatest BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD COLLECTION ever. Remastered from the original analog tapes, it's guaranteed to sound better than any earlier edition of this great and influential music. NYA was overseeing the remastering process. I have heard it and this is the best it can be! It sounds amazing! If you love Buffalo Springfield, this is the ultimate collection to have."
What's That Sound? The Complete Albums Collection is due from Rhino on June 29. You'll find pre-order links below!
Buffalo Springfield, What's That Sound? The Complete Albums Collection (Atco/Rhino, 2018) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
CD 1 & CD 2: Buffalo Springfield (Atco 33-200/SD 33-200, 1966) (Mono/Stereo)
- "Go And Say Goodbye"
- "Sit Down I Think I Love You"
- "Leave"
- "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing"
- "Hot Dusty Roads"
- "Everybody's Wrong"
- "Flying On The Ground Is Wrong"
- "Burned"
- "Do I Have To Come Right Out And Say It"
- "Baby Don't Scold Me" (only on mono mix)
- "Out Of My Mind"
- "Pay The Price"
- "For What It's Worth"
CD 3 & CD 4: Buffalo Springfield Again (Atco 33-226/SD 33-226, 1967) (Mono/Stereo)
- "Mr. Soul"
- "A Child's Claim To Fame"
- "Everydays"
- "Expecting To Fly"
- "Bluebird"
- "Hung Upside Down"
- "Sad Memory"
- "Good Time Boy"
- "Rock And Roll Woman"
- "Broken Arrow"
CD 5: Last Time Around (Atco SD 33-256, 1968)
- "On The Way Home"
- "It's So Hard To Wait"
- "Pretty Girl Why"
- "Four Days Gone"
- "Carefree Country Day"
- "Special Care"
- "The Hour Of Not Quite Rain"
- "Questions"
- "I Am A Child"
- "Merry-Go-Round"
Mike Pasqua says
Neil couldn't have included one of the live reunion shows as part of the package?
Christopher says
I'm sure that this will sound great, but what a missed opportunity in not including the extras from the previous boxed set (at a minimum). I'll hold out for either a more comprehensive collection or a set that supplements this set.
Zubb says
I will be picking up two CD sets. One for me and one for my older brother who turned me on to this group when I was just a tyke.
Shaun says
Let me guess... The long version of “Bluebird,” which (So far as I know)has been out of print for decades, and has never appeared on CD, will not be included here either.
Mike Pasqua says
Per Stephen Stills: "hated it then, hate it now!"
Earl Cambron says
I’m guessing the MONO “Again” will sound great.......
wem51 says
Unless I am mistaken, could not both the stereo and mono versions fit onto one disc? If not, why not? That might have lowered the cost slightly.
Andrea says
well at £ 22.99, I honestly wouldn't call it expensive
Steve Bruun says
A previous reissue of the first album DID have the stereo and mono on one disc, so, yes, they fit.
Of course, without the stereo "Baby Don't Scold Me," the first album isn't complete, so while this may be the "Complete Albums Collection," it's not a collection of complete albums. They don't seem to be saying why they omitted that mix, but it would be wise to spill it....
David Olstein says
Don’t forget about the mono mix of For What it’s Worth. That’s missing too.
Mark H. says
$40 from Amazon US, about $30 including shipping to USA from Amazon UK.
David Olstein says
Actually, I stand corrected. They added For What it’s Worth to the mono album, which makes the omission of the stereo Baby Don’t Scold Me all the more baffling.
Sean Anglum says
My box set arrived and I've opened carefully. Haven't dropped the needle yet, but a few reactions to the package. The cover is "silverized", printed on silver paper, so white space is silver. Cool. The back of the box (also silverized) has a removable sheet, with box details on it for retail purposes. Once removed, it reveals an awesome Nurit Wilde photo of the band playing live. Whiskey? Inside, the albums are nicely done, with small text differences to separate them from originals. Nice Atco Mono & Stereo labels. Really happy that the mono/45 version of FWIW is on end of mono album. Last Time Around even has a Shoreline style foldout cover, straight out of 1968. Those are all positives. Now a few negatives. I was anticipating a booklet full of photos, remembrances, etc. Instead you have a cardboard one sheet with shots of each album cover and comments from Neil next to each image. Instead of taking advantage of the other living band members for comments, Neil takes the lead here. Except the comments for the mono and stereo albums #1 & 2 ARE EXACTLY THE SAME. So disappointing. And the comments next to LTA are nearly the same as the others. After reading other text on package, it is obvious that this is a Neil Young product. Period. I'm so glad I made a copy of the recent Rolling Stone interview w Stephen. I'll stick that in here, too. So...I give it a B+, sofar. After the needle drops, I hope the grade goes up. Still, I'm really excited it is here!