Buffalo Springfield – Last Time Around

Buffalo Springfield – Last Time Around

Released in July 1968, Last Time Around is the third and final studio album by Buffalo Springfield, the influential American band whose fusion of folk, rock, country and psychedelia helped shape the sound of the late 1960s. Featuring the songwriting talents of Neil Young, Stephen Stills and Richie Furay, the album captures a group in transition, bringing together distinctive musical personalities for a bittersweet farewell.

Although Buffalo Springfield had effectively disbanded by the time the album appeared, Last Time Around is far more than a contractual send-off. Its 12 tracks showcase the band's remarkable songwriting range, moving between melodic folk-rock, reflective ballads, country-tinged arrangements and more adventurous electric rock. The changing combinations of musicians give the record a varied character, while the individual contributions of its principal songwriters remain central to its appeal.

The album opens with Neil Young's “On The Way Home”, a memorable folk-rock song delivered with melodic warmth by Richie Furay. Elsewhere, Stephen Stills brings a more electric edge to tracks such as “Pretty Girl Why” and “Special Care”, while Jim Messina's “Carefree Country Day” introduces a relaxed country-rock flavour. This contrast between introspective songwriting and brighter, more driving arrangements is one of the album's defining qualities.

Young's “I Am A Child” is among the collection's most enduring songs, its understated delivery and thoughtful lyrics offering a more intimate side of his writing. Stills' “Questions” provides another highlight, demonstrating the melodic sophistication that would continue to develop throughout his subsequent career. The closing track, Furay's “Kind Woman”, is a particularly beautiful country-rock ballad, distinguished by its gentle atmosphere and pedal steel guitar. Its sound also points towards Furay's next musical chapter with Poco, the country-rock group he helped establish after Buffalo Springfield's breakup.

The band's legacy extends well beyond its relatively short existence. Buffalo Springfield brought together musicians who would go on to make major contributions to American rock, including Young and Stills, while helping establish the creative foundations for the country-rock movement. Last Time Around documents that moment of change, preserving the interplay between folk sensibility, rock experimentation and increasingly prominent country influences.

For fans of Neil Young, Stephen Stills, classic American folk-rock and the roots of country rock, Last Time Around is an essential chapter in the Buffalo Springfield story. It offers a compelling collection of songs from a band whose influence far outlasted its original run, making this 1968 album an appealing addition to any collection of vintage rock and singer-songwriter classics.

Tracklist

Side A

A1. On The Way Home – 2:25
A2. It's So Hard To Wait – 2:03
A3. Pretty Girl Why – 2:24
A4. Four Days Gone – 2:53
A5. Carefree Country Day – 2:35
A6. Special Care – 3:30

Side B

B1. The Hour Of Not Quite Rain – 3:45
B2. Questions – 2:52
B3. I Am A Child – 2:15
B4. Merry-Go-Round – 2:02
B5. Uno Mundo – 2:00
B6. Kind Woman – 4:10