Buffalo Springfield - Box Set
Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2003 4:58 pm
So, after a few years, I *finally* got this one - Xmas gift. After complaining about it in the past, I'd say it's both more enjoyable and more frustrating at the same time.
The whole mono/stereo issue is as annoying as ever. Not only the fact that nearly all of the early tracks are in mono, but that the mono mixes from Again were totally ignored. Were all of those GoldStar demos recorded to mono? Even beyond that, what is the obsession about releasing the first album itself in mono? No, the stereo mix isn't great, but the mono really isn't much/any better. And when you're essentially including it twice, why not have one of each? Most absurd, though, would have to be Neighbor Don't You Worry. Here's a 4 (or more) track recording, *remixed* to mono. Yet the demo of Four Days Gone, which is nothing but vocal and piano, is stereo. Not to mention the band version of Down Down Down. Huh?
Then there's the issue of what's missing. No, it isn't as good as the album version, but the long version(s) of Bluebird is still interesting, and something fans have wanted for years. Then there's the issue of Last Time Around. It's been said that it was never a "real" Buffalo Springfield album, in that many cuts feature only one or two members, but they *included* Kind Woman, which only features Richie Furray, and Special Care, which only has Stills. Would it have been so terrible to include Carefree Country Day or The Hour Of Not Quite Rain? Or the album versions of On The Way Home (the mono mix on the box set seems like nothing more than an "in progress" demo mix), Pretty Girl Why, and Four Days Gone? Surely all of the above are more "worthwhile" than Kahuna Sunset and Buffalo Stomp. And where is the stereo mix of Baby Don't Scold Me (which sounds really nice, actually)?
I won't even get into live tracks, other than to say For What It's Worth was deserving enough to get on the Monterey Pop DVD box set.
Of course, the booklet is quite nice, and some of the demos and outtakes are quite interesting. But it seems like a lot of questionable stuff was included in place of some great songs.
I guess it comes down to I'm glad that I have it now, but "flawed" doesn't begin to describe things...
The whole mono/stereo issue is as annoying as ever. Not only the fact that nearly all of the early tracks are in mono, but that the mono mixes from Again were totally ignored. Were all of those GoldStar demos recorded to mono? Even beyond that, what is the obsession about releasing the first album itself in mono? No, the stereo mix isn't great, but the mono really isn't much/any better. And when you're essentially including it twice, why not have one of each? Most absurd, though, would have to be Neighbor Don't You Worry. Here's a 4 (or more) track recording, *remixed* to mono. Yet the demo of Four Days Gone, which is nothing but vocal and piano, is stereo. Not to mention the band version of Down Down Down. Huh?
Then there's the issue of what's missing. No, it isn't as good as the album version, but the long version(s) of Bluebird is still interesting, and something fans have wanted for years. Then there's the issue of Last Time Around. It's been said that it was never a "real" Buffalo Springfield album, in that many cuts feature only one or two members, but they *included* Kind Woman, which only features Richie Furray, and Special Care, which only has Stills. Would it have been so terrible to include Carefree Country Day or The Hour Of Not Quite Rain? Or the album versions of On The Way Home (the mono mix on the box set seems like nothing more than an "in progress" demo mix), Pretty Girl Why, and Four Days Gone? Surely all of the above are more "worthwhile" than Kahuna Sunset and Buffalo Stomp. And where is the stereo mix of Baby Don't Scold Me (which sounds really nice, actually)?
I won't even get into live tracks, other than to say For What It's Worth was deserving enough to get on the Monterey Pop DVD box set.
Of course, the booklet is quite nice, and some of the demos and outtakes are quite interesting. But it seems like a lot of questionable stuff was included in place of some great songs.
I guess it comes down to I'm glad that I have it now, but "flawed" doesn't begin to describe things...