Whats That Sound Buffalo Springfield: Complete Albums Collection Review

What’s That Sound? Complete Albums Collection

Buffalo Springfield – 2018 – Rhino Records

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What Is What’s That Sound? Complete Albums Collection?

Whats That Sound Complete Albums Collection is a comprehensive five-disc box set that gathers all three Buffalo Springfield studio albums in one definitive package.

The collection takes its name from the opening line of Buffalo Springfield’s most famous song, “For What It’s Worth” – “Stop, children, what’s that sound?”

This box set includes Buffalo Springfield’s self-titled debut (1966), their masterwork Buffalo Springfield Again (1967), and their swan song Last Time Around (1968).

What makes this collection truly special is the inclusion of both mono and stereo mixes for the first two albums, offering listeners the rare opportunity to hear how the band originally intended their music to sound.

The mono mixes, which were supervised by the band themselves during the original recording sessions, provide a more focused and cohesive listening experience compared to the stereo versions that were mixed by record company executives without the band’s involvement.

Available in three formats – a limited edition 180-gram vinyl box set (only 5,000 copies pressed), a CD box set, and digital download/streaming – this collection represents decades of catalog work finally coming to fruition under Neil Young’s exacting standards.

Buffalo Springfield’s Journey to This Box Set

Buffalo Springfield formed in Los Angeles in 1966 when Stephen Stills spotted Neil Young driving a hearse on Sunset Boulevard.

The band’s lineup featured five supremely talented musicians: Stephen Stills (guitar, keyboards, vocals), Neil Young (guitar, harmonica, piano, vocals), Richie Furay (guitar, vocals), Bruce Palmer (bass), and Dewey Martin (drums, vocals).

Despite their immense talent and influence, Buffalo Springfield’s active career lasted just two years, from 1966 to 1968, marked by internal tensions, lineup changes, and management problems.

Yet in that brief window, they released three albums that would help define the sound of folk-rock, country-rock, and psychedelic music, influencing countless artists and bands in the decades that followed.

Why This Box Set Matters Now

For decades, Buffalo Springfield’s albums have been available in various forms, from original vinyl pressings to CD reissues, but the sound quality has been inconsistent at best.

Neil Young, who has long been an advocate for superior audio quality and proper catalog management, finally had the opportunity to oversee a complete remastering of Buffalo Springfield’s entire studio output.

The 2018 release timing was carefully chosen to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Buffalo Springfield’s final concert on May 5, 1968.

Young personally selected mastering engineer Chris Bellman, who has worked on numerous Neil Young reissues and is renowned for his ability to extract maximum detail from analog tapes without compromising the original character of the recordings.

The decision to include mono mixes was particularly significant, as these versions had long been out of print and were highly sought after by collectors who understood their superior sonic qualities.

Complete Track Listing

Disc 1: Buffalo Springfield (Mono Mix)

Disc 2: Buffalo Springfield (Stereo Mix – 1967 Track Order)

Same tracks as Disc 1, but in stereo mix with revised track order that places “For What It’s Worth” as the opening track and removes “Baby Don’t Scold Me.”

Disc 3: Buffalo Springfield Again (Mono Mix)

Disc 4: Buffalo Springfield Again (Stereo Mix)

Same tracks as Disc 3, but in stereo mix with enhanced spatial separation and different sonic characteristics.

Disc 5: Last Time Around (Stereo Only)

Buffalo Springfield (1966) – Mono & Stereo Analysis

The debut album captures Buffalo Springfield at their rawest and most energetic, though it suffered from inexperienced production.

As Neil Young notes in the box set’s liner notes, “Our managers were producing us. We did not know much about making records and neither did they. The recording has flaws, but the songs were good.”

The mono mix, which the band supervised themselves, presents a more focused and cohesive sound compared to the stereo version.

In mono, instruments blend naturally in the center channel rather than being artificially panned hard left and right, as was common practice in mid-1960s stereo recordings.

Chris Bellman’s remastering brings up the bass frequencies that were missing from original pressings, resulting in a fuller, more balanced sound that modern listeners expect.

The stereo mix follows the revised March 1967 track order that places “For What It’s Worth” – recorded after the album’s initial release – as the opening track, capitalizing on its success as a Top 10 single.

Standout tracks include “Burned,” Neil Young’s delicate acoustic showcase, and “Flying on the Ground Is Wrong,” which demonstrates his emerging songwriting talent.

Stephen Stills’ “Go and Say Goodbye” and “Sit Down I Think I Love You” reveal his melodic gift and ability to craft radio-friendly rock with substance.

Buffalo Springfield Again (1967) – Mono & Stereo Analysis

Widely regarded as Buffalo Springfield’s masterpiece, Whats That Sound demonstrates how Buffalo Springfield Again benefits most dramatically from this remastering.

The album was recorded during a tumultuous period marked by Bruce Palmer’s deportation, Neil Young’s temporary departure, and increasing creative tensions between band members.

Despite these challenges, or perhaps because of them, the album showcases each songwriter at the peak of their powers.

Neil Young’s contributions include “Mr. Soul,” a driving rocker with Stones-influenced guitar riffs, “Expecting to Fly,” a lush orchestral ballad arranged by Jack Nitzsche, and the experimental six-minute suite “Broken Arrow.”

Stephen Stills delivers “Bluebird,” a four-and-a-half-minute tour de force featuring extended guitar solos and Latin-influenced rhythms, along with “Rock & Roll Woman,” which previews his future work with Crosby, Stills & Nash.

Richie Furay contributed songs for the first time with “A Child’s Claim to Fame,” establishing himself as a talented songwriter who would later form Poco.

The mono mix of Buffalo Springfield Again offers superior focus and integration, particularly on complex arrangements like “Expecting to Fly” and “Bluebird.”

In the original stereo mix, guitar solos sometimes seem disconnected from the rest of the arrangement, but in mono they integrate seamlessly with improved texture and presence.

Chris Bellman’s mastering reveals instrumental details that were previously buried, including subtle percussion, backing vocals, and guitar interplay that enhance appreciation of the band’s musical sophistication.

Last Time Around (1968) – Stereo Analysis

Last Time Around was released after Buffalo Springfield had already disbanded, making it more a collection of solo efforts than a cohesive band album.

Jim Messina, who had engineered Buffalo Springfield Again, took over as producer and bassist (replacing the departed Bruce Palmer), giving the album a more polished but less spontaneous feel.

On the album’s cover, Neil Young looks away from the rest of the band, symbolically ready to move on to his solo career.

Despite its fractured origins, Last Time Around contains some of Buffalo Springfield’s finest individual songs.

Richie Furay’s “Kind Woman,” featuring pedal steel guitar and country-rock arrangements that would define Poco’s sound, stands as one of the album’s highlights and benefits tremendously from the improved mastering.

Neil Young’s “I Am a Child” showcases his gift for disarmingly simple yet profound songs, while “On the Way Home” demonstrates his growing confidence as a songwriter.

Stephen Stills contributes “Uno Mundo,” which incorporates Spanish influences and showcases his expanding musical palette, and “Questions,” a searching rocker that hints at his post-Springfield direction.

The remastering brings new life to Last Time Around, with pedal steel notes that now hang longer in the air, guitars that sound firmer and more textured, and piano that resonates with greater authority.

Is What’s That Sound Worth Listening To?

Absolutely, and the answer is emphatically yes for both longtime fans and newcomers discovering Buffalo Springfield for the first time.

Chris Bellman’s mastering work at Bernie Grundman Mastering represents a master class in how to enhance vintage recordings without sacrificing their essential character.

Bellman, who has worked extensively on Neil Young’s catalog reissues, understands exactly how to extract maximum detail from analog tapes while preserving the warmth and dynamics of the original performances.

The improvements are immediately audible across all aspects of the sonic spectrum.

Bass frequencies that were anemic or nearly absent in original pressings now provide proper foundation and depth without overwhelming the mix.

Midrange frequencies gain clarity and presence, making vocals and rhythm guitars more immediate and engaging.

High frequencies sparkle with detail, revealing cymbal work, acoustic guitar overtones, and harmonic richness that previous editions obscured.

The dynamic range increases significantly, allowing quiet passages to breathe and loud sections to hit with proper impact without distortion or compression.

Mono vs. Stereo: Which Version Should You Listen To?

The inclusion of mono mixes for the first two albums reveals a crucial truth about 1960s recording practices.

Bands typically supervised mono mixes because that’s how most people would hear their music on AM radio and portable record players.

Stereo mixes were often afterthoughts created by engineers without the band’s involvement, resulting in extreme left-right panning that sounds unnatural to modern ears.

On Buffalo Springfield and Buffalo Springfield Again, the mono mixes provide superior cohesion and focus.

Instruments blend naturally, vocal harmonies integrate seamlessly, and guitar solos sit properly in the mix rather than seeming to emanate from another room.

However, the stereo mixes have their own appeal, particularly for listeners who want a more spacious, airy sound or who want to hear individual instruments more distinctly.

The ideal approach is to experience both versions and decide based on personal preference and listening context.

Critical Reception and Audiophile Response

Whats That Sound Complete Albums Collection received universal acclaim from critics and audiophiles upon its 2018 release.

Audiophile publications praised the superior sound quality, with many reviewers noting it represents the best these albums have ever sounded in any format.

Music critics emphasized the historical importance of making the mono mixes widely available again after decades of unavailability.

The limited vinyl edition, restricted to just 5,000 copies, sold out quickly and now commands premium prices on the secondary market.

Packaging and Presentation

The vinyl box set features meticulous attention to detail in its physical presentation.

Each LP is pressed on 180-gram vinyl and housed in tip-on jackets that faithfully reproduce the original Atco album covers with heavy cardboard construction.

The box itself is constructed from sturdy materials with foil accents and includes a full-color insert with liner notes by Neil Young explaining the remastering process and his personal memories of Buffalo Springfield.

The CD version provides the same audio quality in a more compact and affordable format, making it accessible to fans who don’t have vinyl playback systems.

Legacy and Historical Significance

Buffalo Springfield’s influence on rock music far exceeds their brief two-year existence and modest commercial success.

The band served as a crucial bridge between folk, rock, country, and psychedelia, helping establish Los Angeles as a major center of rock innovation.

Their work directly influenced the development of country-rock through Richie Furay’s Poco and the Flying Burrito Brothers.

Stephen Stills would go on to form Crosby, Stills & Nash (later Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young), one of the most successful and influential supergroups of the 1970s.

Neil Young’s solo career became one of rock’s most enduring and critically acclaimed, spanning six decades and influencing generations of artists from grunge rockers to indie singer-songwriters.

“For What It’s Worth” transcended its original context as a song about the Sunset Strip riots to become a universal anthem of protest and social commentary, still relevant decades later.

Influence on Future Artists and Genres

Buffalo Springfield’s experimental approach to blending genres inspired countless artists who followed.

Tom Petty, the Eagles, Jackson Browne, and virtually every major country-rock artist of the 1970s drew inspiration from Buffalo Springfield’s pioneering fusion of styles.

Alternative country and Americana artists from Uncle Tupelo to Wilco to Fleet Foxes cite Buffalo Springfield as a formative influence.

The band’s willingness to embrace studio experimentation, particularly on songs like “Expecting to Fly” and “Broken Arrow,” helped legitimize the recording studio as a creative instrument rather than just a documentation tool.

Production Credits and Box Set Personnel

Original Buffalo Springfield Members:

Stephen Stills – Guitar, keyboards, vocals

Neil Young – Guitar, harmonica, piano, vocals

Richie Furay – Guitar, vocals

Bruce Palmer – Bass (replaced by Jim Messina on Last Time Around)

Dewey Martin – Drums, vocals

2018 Box Set Production Team:

Neil Young – Remastering supervision

John Hanlon – Remastering producer

Chris Bellman – Mastering engineer (Bernie Grundman Mastering)

Original Production Credits:

Charles Greene and Brian Stone – Producers (Buffalo Springfield debut)

Various (Buffalo Springfield Again)

Jim Messina – Producer (Last Time Around)

Box Set Details:

Released: June 29, 2018

Label: Rhino Records/Atlantic

Formats: 5-LP box set (limited to 5,000 copies), 5-CD box set, digital download/streaming

Mastering source: Original analog master tapes

Vinyl pressing: 180-gram vinyl

Catalog number: R1 566970 (vinyl), R2 566970 (CD)

Frequently Asked Questions About What’s That Sound Complete Albums Collection