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Buffalo Springfield — Mr. Soul
Album: Buffalo Springfield Again
Avg rating:
7.7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1361









Released: 1967
Length: 2:43
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Oh, hello Mr. Soul, I dropped by to pick up a reason
For the thought that I caught that my head is the event of the season
Why in crowds just a trace of my face could seem so pleasin'
I'll cop out to the change, but a stranger is putting the tease on

I was down on a frown when the messenger brought me a letter
I was raised by the praise of a fan who said I upset her
Any girl in the world could have easily known me better
She said, "You're strange, but don't change", and I let her

In a while will the smile on my face turn to plaster?
Stick around while the clown who is sick does the trick of disaster
For the race of my head and my face is moving much faster
Is it strange I should change? I don't know, why don't you ask her?
Is it strange I should change? I don't know, why don't you ask her?
Is it strange I should change? I don't know, why don't you ask her?
Comments (88)add comment
One of the greatest songs ever. Play it loud!
Oh Neil, you're strange but don't change!
 ImaOldman wrote:

TURN IT UP!!!



Turn it WAY UP!!!!!!!
I have loved this since I was a kid
 Oldest_City_Dude wrote:

Sgt Pepper:  May 26, 1967.  Buffalo Springfield Again:  November 18, 1967 Duck Duck Go can be your friend.
 

Awwww. Don't be a kill joy.

Its only rock n roll, but I like it. 
TURN IT UP!!!
 kurtster wrote:

Somewhere in my mind I'm recalling a story about the two bands hanging out together in LA back then.  Blue Jay Way is a reference to one of those meetings, IIRC.  The whole story is very interesting.
 
Sgt Pepper:  May 26, 1967.  Buffalo Springfield Again:  November 18, 1967 Duck Duck Go can be your friend.
 idiot_wind wrote:
Does this album pre-date Sgt. Pepper? Some of these songs are trippier than the  Pepper album. 
 
Somewhere in my mind I'm recalling a story about the two bands hanging out together in LA back then.  Blue Jay Way is a reference to one of those meetings, IIRC.  The whole story is very interesting.
 jp33442 wrote:
Another song that got played too much
 

Too much? Not possible. F4(kin amazing song. 
Check out the film Echo in the Canyon.  A tribute to BS, CSNY, Mamas and Papas and the bands that grew out of LA in the early 60s.
Another song that got played too much
YES!
I know I sound like a broken record, but I think this band may have been one the most influenced in the 60s.

You can hear there music in later albums of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, maybe even Jimi Hendrix. 

They were country rock before the Byrds released Sweethearts of the Rodeo. 
   
 ziggytrix wrote:
Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.

 
wings wings wings wings wings
NY NY NY NY NY NY NY NY 


Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.
Now were talking..keep on rocking Neil...face turns to plaster
 thewiseking wrote:
A spastic take on Jumpin Jack Flash to be sure
 
 On_The_Beach wrote:
Mr. Soul: 1967
Jumpin' Jack Flash: 1968
(So, maybe the other way around.)

 kingart wrote:
Mr. Soul - 1967
Jumping Jack Flash - 1969 
Jumping Jack was spastic on Mr. Soul, it would rather seem
 
To me, that guitar riff bears much more resemblance to "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (1965) than it does to "Jumpin' Jack Flash", especially the chord progression.  All cool songs at any rate.
Does this album pre-date Sgt. Pepper? Some of these songs are trippier than the  Pepper album. 
 thewiseking wrote:
A spastic take on Jumpin Jack Flash to be sure

 
Mr. Soul - 1967

Jumping Jack Flash - 1969 

Jumping Jack was spastic on Mr. Soul, it would rather seem
 
 Typesbad wrote:

On the lead vocals?  Are you kidding?  That is totally Neil!

 
Yeah, that's surely Neil singing - he wrote it as well.
She said your strange but don't change, and so I left her.

They really listened closely to the Stones' satisfaction closely before this one - they have Keith to thank for the riff.
 bachbeet wrote:
Great song from a great album.  Always liked BS and thought they were better than CSN.

 
Agreed. Way more edgy and experimental than CSNY. Never get tired of Buffalo Springfield!
 linzbrock wrote:
I believe that is either Richard Furay or Steven Stills on the vocals, not Neil Young.

 
On the lead vocals?  Are you kidding?  That is totally Neil!
I believe that is either Richard Furay or Steven Stills on the vocals, not Neil Young.
Ah, the good old days. Sigh. Great!

Can't live with out Neil Young!!!  Such a CLASSIC!!!!  When I heard this as a kid I knew I wanted to be a hippie.  (Is seven years old too young to be a hippie?)  {#Cowboy}
 kurtster wrote:
This is just one of those songs that becomes part of your being and meaning lyrically from a time when innocence was beginning its end.

Loved it from first listen all those many years ago. 

 
{#Yes}
It just takes me to a place where I love to be.  Magic
 blkstd wrote:

love fringe and miss my fringe jacket.

 

Holy sideburns Batman! {#Cheesygrin}
 kcar wrote:
informal photo of Buffalo Springfield

 
love fringe and miss my fringe jacket.
"She said I upset her …
She said you're strange but don't change …"
{#Bananajumprope}

They don't do such songs anymore, the feeling's gone  {#Mrgreen}
 thewiseking wrote:
A spastic take on Jumpin Jack Flash to be sure
 
Mr. Soul: 1967
Jumpin' Jack Flash: 1968
(So, maybe the other way around.)
informal photo of Buffalo Springfield
I used to sing this to my daughter when she was a baby.  I love Patty and the Chieftains, so it is a treat to discover this version.  Thanks, RP!
A spastic take on Jumpin Jack Flash to be sure
This is just one of those songs that becomes part of your being and meaning lyrically from a time when innocence was beginning its end.

Loved it from first listen all those many years ago. 
How about playing "Bluebird"? The bajo at the end od the song is freaking cool. I tihnk it's Richie Furay.
 That was surprisingly good..
Great song from a great album.  Always liked BS and thought they were better than CSN.
Agreed.  Broken Arrow is way ahead of its time, and Richie Furay's Sad Memory is beautiful!! WonderLizard wrote:
This is from their second album, Buffalo Springfield Again, for my money one of the very best of that era.

 


 Xing wrote:
noise.
 
Of the best kind!
noise.
and "satisfaction", since it seems to use the guitar line.
 
olivertwist wrote:
Too cool. I'd love to hear this back-to-back with "8 Miles High," another wonderful tune with a similar guitar sound.
 


Too cool. I'd love to hear this back-to-back with "8 Miles High," another wonderful tune with a similar guitar sound.
This is from their second album, Buffalo Springfield Again, for my money one of the very best of that era.

I remember hearing a rather good cover of this done by a female vocalist once, but I can't remember who it was.

Neil Young by `contains-mild-peril
Adam  ©2009-2010 `contains-mild-peril

Neil Young, shot in a Brand New stylee...

One of the highlights of Glastonbury 2009 for me. I've got a day off tomorrow so I may go through all the band stuff I didn't send out over the festival weekend.


 crockydile wrote:
Bad Lyrics. Bad solo. Droning. Pretentious. {#Headache}
 
9 to 10.

The guitars just rip.
Can never hear this without thinking of the times I played this with my pal Barney. RIP, brother.
Bad Lyrics. Bad solo. Droning. Pretentious. {#Headache}
 kcar wrote:


Yes. The guitar lick in the middle still amazes. Is that Steven Stills? 

I always thought that Neil was singing at the end "Is it a strange acid change..." 

 
People who hate NY are afraid of NY......it's ok, just let it overtake you, you won't feel any pain


 gatorade wrote:
Come on! I can't believe this isn't a 10+, but I guess there are some NY haters out there. Oh well, their loss. I remember the first time I heard this song. It still captivates me.
 

Yes. The guitar lick in the middle still amazes. Is that Steven Stills? 

I always thought that Neil was singing at the end "Is it a strange acid change..." 

 laramieu wrote:
When did Buffalo Springfield put out the album Neil Young - Decade?
 
If you only can put one NY album in your collection, make it this one....
Or Live Rust. 
Come on! I can't believe this isn't a 10+, but I guess there are some NY haters out there. Oh well, their loss. I remember the first time I heard this song. It still captivates me.

I have always thought this is such a strange song, but I dig!{#Bananajam}


I bet Neil and Steven Stills must have reels of great tape with them jamming to some of these tunes

{#Bananajumprope}   like it when neil is more cheerful. so 60's I cant get no satisfaction.


"Retrospective" has always been one of my favorite albums. 


 laramieu wrote:
When did Buffalo Springfield put out the album Neil Young - Decade?

 
Neil Young released Decade in the late 70s I believe.  There were a couple Buffalo Springfield tunes on it.

Giving it a 9 because it was a pivotal song in my youth - and I've always liked it!

And in memory of my friend Barney, world's biggest Buffalo Springfield fan.
{#Guitarist}  {#Cheesygrin}  {#Music}
 Antigone wrote:
Mmmm, Neil's voice on this one is really fine, IMO.
  {#Meditate} Very strong.  Love it!

 Hannio wrote:
The guitar in this always sounded to me like it was played backwards after recording. Anybody know if this is the case?
 
If a guitar signal is highly compressed in the studio the typical peek of the note is "squashed down" so that the typical peek and decay of the note is changed giving the sound a bit of a backwards sound. I think that this was probably the case in 1967/68. The usual array of stomp boxes were not around at the time. Just a guess.


When did Buffalo Springfield put out the album Neil Young - Decade?

Neil's best work with the Buffalo Springfield.  Great tune!

Love this song. Always haunted by these words:

"She said you're strange, but don't change, and I let her"



In his Neil Young biography Shakey, Jimmy McDonough speculates that the lyrics below could refer to Neil's bouts of epilepsy. "Stick around while the clown who is sick does the trick of disaster For the race of my head and my face is moving much faster"
Hannio wrote:
The guitar in this always sounded to me like it was played backwards after recording. Anybody know if this is the case?
It sounds like the typical frenetic guitar stylings of Neil Young. I always thought his guitar work suited his subject matter very well.
Mmmm, Neil's voice on this one is really fine, IMO.
Maybe it does after a good dose.ScottishWillie wrote:
Your right it dose.
I had forgotten how much I like this one.
Johray63 wrote:
Sounds like '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' mixed with 'Eight Miles High'. Nice mix, though.
Second that.
Amazing that Neil can still bring it after all these years. Most of his peers are antique curios and nostalgia acts.
Johray63 wrote:
Sounds like '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' mixed with 'Eight Miles High'. Nice mix, though.
Your right it dose.
The guitar in this always sounded to me like it was played backwards after recording. Anybody know if this is the case?
Can't say this classic 10 is overplayed on RP.
lily33 wrote:
originally liked this tune for the lyrics. "any girl in the world could have easily known me better. she said 'you're strange but don't change'...and i left her." er something like that. just love that.
...it's actually "She said 'You're strange but don't change.' And I let her". Great song about groupies and fans in general.
Sounds like \'(I Can\'t Get No) Satisfaction\' mixed with \'Eight Miles High\'. Nice mix, though.
Well said Red. I suppose we are showing our age, but so what! Great music stands the test of time.
Buffalo Springfield still sounds good.