Buffalo Springfield - Buffalo Springfield Box Set (88 tracks) +Album Reviews

High on Quality, Low on Value

E. Seifert | New Milford, NJ USA | 07/22/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This seems to be the type of box set where the audience is predetermined. If you're not a Buffalo Springfield fan by now, surely no major radio stations are playing much else besides For What It's Worth to win you over. But if you are someone who's unsure of whether to buy this or not, be forewarned: it's not a real great value. For the full price of a four-disc set, you get about 22 demos, six remixes, and most (but not quite all) of the material on the Springfield's three albums. As for me, I'm a huge Neil fan, so I had to have it regardless, but I was a little annoyed at several things, from the way the sticker on the box describes the fourth disc as a "bonus" disc (I'm paying for it, aren't I?) in which 21 tracks are repeated from the first three discs, to the chintzy single-ply paper inserts in the individual jewel boxes, to the lack of commentary from Neil or anyone else in the band about the tracks in the booklet. You could probably purchase the three Springfield albums for ten or fifteen dollars less than the cost of this box. If you don't need the demos, or if you have one or two of the original albums on disc already, that might be a better way to go.Some of the demos are interesting, and you can hear what later became Country Girl on CSNY's Deja Vu here as Down, Down, Down. But Rhino usually gives you much more bang for your buck. Let the buyer beware."

Is this a record company rip-off project...?

Larry L. Looney | Austin, Texas USA | 10/13/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"That's the only explanation I can think of that's plausible. I have no idea if any of the former band members were involved in this release -- I can only hope they would have more integrity than to be a part of this.

First of all, I'll state that Buffalo Springfield was one of my very favorite bands from the 60s -- in a time of rich musical expansion and experimentation, they showcased some of the most imaginative, poetic AND melodic songwriting around. They combined intelligence with well-written pop tunes, incorporating influences from folk, country, blues and just plain rock-n-roll into their music. I gave this 3 stars for the sheer integrity and lasting qualities that make their music so special -- if some thought had gone into the compiling and packaging of this set, it could have easily rated more than the 5 start limit.

When I saw the release of this set some time ago, I mentally put it on my 'to buy' list -- I was certain that it would be an indespensable part of my collection. I couldn't have been more mistaken.

Some of the reviews below have cited some of the same factors that disappointed me so much -- mainly, why in the world would over half of their final studio album be left out? Why would the 4th disc in the set be made up of tracks that had already been included on discs 1 - 3? The tracks from the first album that are repeated are labeled 'mono version' -- but even on headphones, I can't tell any difference between them and the tracks that are unlabeled (which I would assume are supposed to be stereo). There are quite a few demo tracks included here (most of which are of dubious quality at best) -- but no live tracks. The live shows this band did were legendary -- surely somewhere there exist re-workable tapes of some of these performances...? Even without any live tracks, the set should have at least included all the tracks from their three studio albums -- the fourth disc could have been made up of the demo tracks, if the producers felt the need to include them.

For the price the releasing company (it's credited to Rhino/Elektra) is asking for this, even a readable booklet filled with good information would have made it a bit more palpable -- but at $60, you'd be better off buying the individual single-album CDs. You can get them right here, from Amazon, for $9.98 each, plus shipping -- and you'd wind up with all the studio tracks for half the price of this set, with none of the excess baggage. This set is only for the ultra-completionist collector."

Huh?!?

Richard B. Luhrs | Jackson Heights, NY United States | 09/01/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Two years. Three albums. A four-disc retrospective. It wouldn't seem possible to get a more comprehensive treatment of a band's career than that promised by Buffalo Springfield's unimaginitively titled BOX SET. But in fact the producers of this gorgeously packaged, extensively annotated and beautifully remastered misfire have achieved the impossible by crafting an anthology at once bloated and incomplete.

Far more legendary as the incubator of the careers of Stephen Stills, Neil Young and Richie Furay than for its own output - which included exactly one hit ("For What It's Worth") and a lot of highly influential but woefully underappreciated material besides - Buffalo Springfield could and should have had the mother of all box sets, one containing every note the band ever released as well as plenty of alternates, outtakes and demos. Instead, BOX SET gives us, in the course of its first three discs, all but FOUR of the group's released numbers (these being the original, seven-minute version of Stills' "Bluebird" as well as three tracks from the 1968 LAST TIME AROUND LP). Since none of the CDs runs much over an hour, this is absolutely inexcusable. Alternates and outtakes are fine; but when a band's entire catalogue could easily be fit on three discs, to have a handful of songs left out of a four-CD anthology is just...well, choose your favorite adjective.

Padding things out instead is a wealth of previously unreleased material, including arguably too many solo demos by Young and transitional recordings which document the Springfield's disintegration into its various member's subsequent careers. Much of this is great stuff, though some of it is rather difficult to call Buffalo Springfield.

The crowning irony, however, is disc four, whereon the first two Buffalo Springfield albums are presented in release order - even though every single one of these tracks with the sole exception (no pun intended) of "Mr. Soul" appears somewhere on the first three discs. This blatant bit of price-gouging, absurd enough in itself, is doubly awful in light of the tracks left missing from this "definitive" compilation.

Given that fully half the material on BOX SET consists of rarities, and that all three Springfield albums are easily and cheaply available on CD, this box is clearly aimed at hardcore fans - which is to say, people who want to hear everything. That we don't is, alas, a tragic blight on a potentially (and largely)wonderful collection of music.

"

WARNING!!!! Amazing Music, but a bit of a ripoff of sorts

majoyenrac | USA | 03/20/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Having always been very curious about Buffalo Springfield, mainly from the few teaser songs included on Neil Young's Decade, and from of course hearing ("For What It's Worth"), I had pinpointed them a band that I needed to investigate more for about 5 years. I also was aware of the backlog of unreleased material that they had recorded as an act, and was primed for a box set release (or at least a lengthy double album) release of their material for years).Then just before Christmas, this Box Set hits the market. So I figured I would give it a try, I mean I knew I would like the majority of the music--being a considerable fan of both Steven Stills and Neil Young's post Buffalo work.I put each of the cd's in, and was amazed at first. This band was perhaps one of the strongest and most experimental (in the folk/country/rock genre) that has ever been assembled. I mean the music on all 4 of the cd's is spell-binding. It may take a few listens to get into, but once you do you are hooked.The first cd, features a bulk of well executed and superb demos. Mostly consisting of unreleased songs or early versions of songs that will turn up drastically different in their later versions. It's hard to surpass any of the material on the first disc. All of the demos are superb, my favorites being "Come On", "We'll See" and surprisingly to myself at least, a plaintive "Baby Don't Scold Me". After the first 10 songs of demos are finished, we reach the actual versions of what would become their debut, Buffalo Springfield. And this disc, as well as the set itself will prove, that from the get-go this band was amazing. The first disc is chock-full of classics, including "For What It's Worth", "Sit Down I Think I Love You", "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing" and my personal favorite Buff Springfield song, and Neil Young song in general "Flying on the Ground is Wrong".Disc Two continues on the pace with disc one. The album opens mostly with demos again, although here we can hear how strong musically this band was in a few superb instrumentals: "Kahuna Sunset" and "Buffalo Stomp". Neil's superb demo, "Down Down Down" actually outshines the two songs it would later become (it seems to be a mix of "Down to the Wire" and "Broken Arrow"), and what a song it is, almost warrants the set in this one song alone. Disc 2 carries on with mostly alternate versions of songs found on disc one, and is perhaps the most enjoyable of the 4 discs.Disc 3 is also a real stunner. Stills' "Hung Upside Down" is a brilliant mix of soul, folk and country. Furray's soulified "Good Time Boy" will convert even the strongest critic to this band's merit. Neil's demos are the highlights here, "The Rent is Always Due" and the "Old Laughing Lady" are brilliant. We also have the majority of the songs from Their 3rd and final release, released when the band was all but split up. "Undo-Mundo", "Questions" and "I AM A CHILD" being the biggest standouts.So now that you've read about three stellar, easy five star reviews, you might be wondering what the problem with the set is to warrant the 3 star rating (or you read some shorter reviews listed here already and are waiting for me to get to my point). Ultimately while the music on here clearly rivals that of the Byrds' brilliant boxed set (simply a must-have). THe fourth disc is a complete ripoff. Here we have a disc of material that is entirely (besides I believe Mr. Soul) a complete rehash of the songs from discs one, two and three). They are presenting the band's first two albums together on one cd. Now I would forgive this if the price of this set had been closer to a three cd set, but at $55 dollars and up for this set, I felt completely ripped-off. Especially considering that this set doesn't include all of the band's released material.To add to my anger towards this ripoff set of some of the most brilliant music ever released is that the fine and thorough booklet that accompanies the set continually discusses how strong a live act Buff Springfield were. I can understand that they might not have an entire show or performance, but as earlier releases not available on cd atest, there were some released live performances. This wouldn't be a big issue with me had the book not mentioned almost every other paragraph about how strong this band was live.Ultimately, this set was really promising. THe first 3 cd's were brilliantly compiled. The rip-off and hence the low rating is given because of disc 4. Approach with caution. Ordinarily I would rate a set with this blatant a rip off a 1 star review, but being that the music on this set is still endlessly enjoyable, I feel it can't be lower than a 3 star rating. It's a shame too, because this set has me hooked on them, and I am a new convert. If you like folk, country, folk rock, Americana, or just good ol rock and roll, buy a Buffalo Sprinfield album with confidence, just be forewarned about this set before you do."

Rhino--What Were You Thinking?

Robert J. Conway | Illinois USA | 08/21/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"OK--You've already plodded through 30 "reviews" to get to mine. I'll be brief with my comments. Over 30 years ago Neil Young bragged about the great music that was still in the can, hoping it someday it would be issued. Were you talking about these demos Neil? They range from mediocre to good. Interesting of course, but there is nothing that can compare to the group's first two LPs. PACKAGING/ARTWORK/LINER NOTES: Very disappointing for the price. The individual CD cover inserts are very cheap indeed. The booklet, filled with faux newspaper clippings, is dark, tedius, and disconcerting. Is it copy (six point or smaller in some cases) to be read or is it bleed artwork? My point? It could have been much better. Editorial content, of course, is subjective but I was not impressed--certainly not relevatory, must-read material. Track sequence, as discussed and criticized earlier by other reviewers, is unexplainable. Options that could have been: Chrono-sequence of the first three LPs followed by demos; or chrono-sequence of each LP followed by or preceded by related demos. MUSIC: How can you issue a 4-CD box set and not include all of the group's third LP? Sometimes my goal in buying a box set is to condense my collection of individual CDs. I almost didn't buy this box for that very reason. However, I eventually succumbed to my fetish for box sets, deciding to buy yet another imperfect box collection. I dumped the group's first two LPs/CDs knowing that I would be saddled with their third, in addition to the box set. I tried to squeeze the CD into the box to make a 5-CD set but was unable to pull it off. Quality of the recordings, obviously, is excellent. CLOSING COMMENTS: If you are a fan, you already have the group's three LPs/CDs. Is the high price worth it, especially if you've already popped for the group's expensive, remastered/HDCD first LP/CD, "Buffalo Springfield"? For what's it's worth (sorry but it is way past time to entertain myself), the answer is no...unless you don't mind overpaying."

Search - Buffalo Springfield :: Buffalo Springfield Box Set

CD Details

Synopsis

Similarly Requested CDs

CD Reviews