Mr. Soul
| "Mr. Soul" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| SinglebyBuffalo Springfield | ||||
| from the albumBuffalo Springfield Again | ||||
| A-side | "Bluebird" | |||
| Released | June 15, 1967 | |||
| Recorded | January 9, 1967 | |||
| Studio | Atlantic,New York City | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:35 | |||
| Label | Atco | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Neil Young | |||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Buffalo Springfieldsingles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Mr. Soul"is a song recorded by the Canadian-AmericanrockbandBuffalo Springfieldin 1967.[1]It was released June 15, 1967, as the B-side to their fourth single "Bluebird"and later included on the group's second albumBuffalo Springfield Again.
Background
[edit]"Mr. Soul" is aboutNeil Young's personal problems with fame and disregard for rock stardom.[2]It was written by Young after he had an epilepsy attack after an early show with Buffalo Springfield in San Francisco. (Many in the audience wondered if the attack was part of the act.[3]) While a patient atUCLA Medical Center,he wrote the song once he was awake and recovering and told to return for further tests.[3]The lyrics reflected Young's experience, feeling as though he was about to die.[3]Thereupon, he was advised by his doctor to never takeLSDor any otherhallucinogenic drugs.[3]
Composed on an acoustictwelve-string guitar,the dark and moody song is indouble drop D tuning,which Young used in a number of other songs, such as "Ohio"and"Cinnamon Girl".[4]On the third track ofSugar Mountain – Live at Canterbury House 1968,Young stated that, "A lot of songs take a long time to write. Generally they take an hour and a half, two hours to write. But this one took only five minutes". The main riff of the song is based on a modified version of the riff used inthe Rolling Stones"Satisfaction"[5]Young subsequently recorded several other versions of the song, often with marked stylistic changes. The song has been described by music writers asfolk rock,[6]psychedelic rock,[7][8]hard rock,[9]andR&B.[10]
In a contemporary review of the song,Cash Boxcalled it "a rhythmic, funky-filled stanza".[11]
An excerpt of a live version of the song is heard in the song"Broken Arrow"(1967), with the sounds of cheering crowds, taken from the cheering forthe Beatles.
Cover versions and variations
[edit]Young has frequently performed the song both solo and with various backing bands. Live recordings appear onSugar Mountain – Live at Canterbury House 1968,1993'sUnpluggedand 1997'sYear of the HorsewithCrazy Horse.In addition, Young re-recorded the song in asynthrockstyle on his 1982 albumTrans,with vocals processed with avocoder;[12]a live performance of this version also appears in the filmSolo Trans.During the 2016Bridge School Benefitconcerts, Young guested withMetallicato perform an acoustic cover of the song.[13]
Cher recorded a cover of the song for her 1975 albumStars.In 1984,new wavebandWire Traincovered the song as a bonus track of their albumIn A Chamber.[14]In 2004,Rushcovered the song on their cover EP of songs from the 1960s,Feedback.[15]The song has also been recorded byThe Everly Brothersin December 1968, but was not released until 1984 on their studio albumNice Guys.[16]
Iron & Winecovered the song on his live albumIron & Wine Live Bonnaroo,released in 2005.[17]
The Icicle Workscovered the song on the 12-inch version of All the Daughters (Of Her Father's House).
Model Zero covered the song on their self titled album from 2019.
Personnel
[edit]- Stephen Stills– guitar, backing vocals
- Neil Young– guitar, lead vocals
- Richie Furay– guitar, backing vocals
- Dewey Martin– drums
- Bruce Palmer– bass guitar
References
[edit]- ^Priore, Domenic(2007).Riot on Sunset Strip: Rock 'n' Roll's Last Stand in Hollywood.London: Jawbone Press.ISBN978-1-906002-04-6.
- ^Greenwald, Matthew.Mr. Soul: Buffalo SpringfieldatAllMusic.Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^abcdRogan, Johnny(2001).Neil Young: Zero to Sixty – A Critical Biography.Music Sales Distributed. p. 109.ISBN978-0-9529540-4-0.
- ^McDonough, James (2003).Shakey: Neil Young's Biography.New York City: Anchor. p. 194.
- ^"Neil Young".sugarmtn.org.Retrieved2022-06-23.
- ^Luft, Eric v.d. (2009).Die at the Right Time!: A Subjective Cultural History of the American Sixties.Gegensatz Press. p. 246.ISBN978-1-933237-39-8.
- ^DeRogatis, Jim(2003).Turn on Your Mind: Four Decades of Great Psychedelic Rock.Hal Leonard.p. 94.ISBN978-0-634-05548-5.
- ^Moon, Tom(2008).1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die: A Listener's Life List.Workman.p. 130.ISBN978-0761149415.
- ^Joynson, Vernon (1984).The Acid Trip: A Complete Guide to Psychedelic Music.Babylon Books. p. 60.ISBN0907188249.
- ^Masley, Ed (May 30, 2017)."Sgt. Pepper and beyond: A look back at 20 great albums released in 1967".azcentral.RetrievedNovember 3,2023.
...on the psychedelic R&B of "Mr. Soul"...
- ^"CashBox Record Reviews"(PDF).Cash Box.July 1, 1967. p. 16.Retrieved2022-06-24.
- ^Ruhlmann, William."Neil Young:Trans– Review ".AllMusic.RetrievedJuly 9,2016.
- ^Kreps, Daniel."Metallica Perform with Neil Young Cover the Clash at Bridge School".rollingstone.com.RetrievedOctober 23,2018.
- ^https://www.45cat.com/record/c47019
- ^Jurek, Thom."Rush:Feedback– Album Review ".AllMusic.RetrievedJuly 9,2016.
- ^Bielen, Kenneth G. (2008).The Words and Music of Neil Young.Praeger Publishers. p. 3.ISBN978-0-275-99902-5.
- ^"Iron & Wine* – 11th June 2005 Bonnaroo Music Festival Manchester, TN".Discogs.RetrievedJuly 20,2024.
