Buffalo Springfield
[WM] When you first arrived in Los Angeles was a conscious decision to use the hollow performed our own songs while other groups
to join Stephen, what was the first guitar that body instruments, although they would have were using studio musicians like The Wrecking
you purchased to use in Buffalo Springfield? been a “closer fit” to the acoustic instruments Crew. An interesting aside; when we were
Did you bring any electric guitars with you we were used to. playing Ahmet songs for our 2 nd album, we had
all shared songs and were packing up when
from the east coast? Was there a conscious
decision within Buffalo Springfield to use those [WM] How did your connection with Ahmet Stephen said, “Oh, for what it’s worth, I have
big bodied Gretsch, Gibson, and Guild guitars, Ertegun, and signing with Atlantic Records, one more song”. Ahmet immediately got us in
when so many other bands were using solid take place? Had he seen you guys perform, or the studio, and it was released with that title,
body Gibson Les Paul and Fender guitars? did you demo songs for him? “For What’s It’s Worth”. It became the biggest
“hit” Buffalo Springfield ever had, topping the
[Richie] The only guitar I owned at the time [Richie] The Buffalo Springfield managers charts at #7. It was originally for the 2 nd Buffalo
was my Martin D-28, so that’s what I came also managed the group, Sonny and Cher. Springfield album, and I became a contributor
to California with. With electric instruments They were on Atlantic/Atco and Ahmet was the to the songwriting.
becoming the norm, The Byrds as our president of the company. He immediately liked “template”, and our “new” partners Neil Young us, having heard us at the Whisky A GoGo in [WM] With the exception of the Beatles
(who both Stephen and I had met previously), Los Angeles, and because of the connection covering Buck Owens’ “Act Naturally”, I
and Bruce Palmer joining us, we knew we had with our managers, Greene & Stone, he signed can’t think of any popular rock and roll group
to “go electric”. I didn’t want to copy Jim (Roger) us to his label. We never did demos for him. recording country music that precedes your
McGuinn with his “Beatle” Rickenbacker, so I It was all based on our live performance and song with the Springfield, “A Child’s Claim to
started playing the Gibson ES335-12. Neil and the songwriting of Stephen and Neil. We were Fame” in 1967. Your contribution in uniting
Bruce were already playing electric guitars, so actually one of the first groups at that time country music and its influences alongside rock
the transition was pretty easy. I don’t think there that was “self-contained” and recorded and and roll is unparalleled. You were an “outlaw”
We Were the Dreamers Buffalo Springfield A Child’s Claim to Fame
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January 2020
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