For a man notorious for following his own muse wherever this may take him, Neil Young has been a part of at least two legendary bands. The lesser-discussed, and arguably better, of the two is Buffalo Springfield.

Buffalo Springfield sounded good, looked cool, and promised many great things. The likes of Robert Plant were supporters of it. But, partly because of fate intervening, and largely as a consequence of Neil Young’s desire to go solo, the band was short-lived.

I still firmly believe that Buffalo Springfield is one of the greatest rock bands of all time. Don’t believe me? Let me try to prove it to you by running down their 10 best songs.

Greatest 10 Songs by Buffalo Springfield

10. “Kind Woman”

Depending on who you care to ask, Buffalo Springfield was either a great band that did not overstay its welcome, or musicians naive to miss the gravy train before it pulled in.

Personally, I’d lean toward the former. The group had something magical about its sound. It never quite refined it. However, songs like “Kind Woman,” a gorgeous country ballad, not unlike, in my opinion, the material produced by The Byrds around the same period, show just what the world would miss once the band broke up.

9. “Sit Down I Think I Love You”

I suppose the truth is that Buffalo Springfield could do it. Their supporters thought so, and the band members certainly knew it. That didn’t exactly yield many hits, but it helped create an enviable legacy. Many of the band’s contemporaries, even ones that had more charting material, have long been forgotten by this point.

Released on the group’s 1966 debut, “Sit Down I Think I Love You” was meant to show that this Canadian-American quintet could, if needed, rival The Beatles. There’s plenty of pop charm here, but. I think that the band’s individuality also shines through.

8. “I Am a Child”

Buffalo Springfield only produced three albums. The group had been together for a little over two years. But the fact that the public got this much material from the musicians was, in itself, a near miracle.

The group’s masterpiece, “Buffalo Springfield Again,” was released while the band’s lineup was in flux. The third, and final record, “Last Time Around,” had the decency to use the title as a means to inform audiences not to expect any more.

With this in mind, the group brought out the best in its members. “I Am a Child” practically announced and previewed the folk-rock sound that would make solo Neil Young a superstar just years later.

7. “On the Way Home’

Young gave “One the Way Home” to Richie Furay to sing. The future guitarist and vocalist for country-rock band Poco does a wonderful job. But it’s hard not to interpret this as a bittersweet goodbye to the quintet’s dream of making their way through the music industry together.

“I saw myself as you knew me/When the change came/And you had a chance to see through me,” Furay sings Young’s words just as the ship’s inhabitants were about to jump overboard.

6. “Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing”

“Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing” was the band’s debut single. And, although I’d argue that the title and concept are better than the overall result, a glimpse of greatness is available here.

Neil Young’s songwriting is bizarre and compelling in only the way that the likes of Bob Dylan or John Lennon‘s could be at the time. Listening to this, it’s no wonder Young acquired the strange distinction as “Godfather of Grunge.”

5. “Expecting to Fly”

There are a few reasons why Neil Young’s career has lasted successfully for as long as it has. One of them, I’d wager, is a confidence in his songwriting voice that was clear from his very first recordings.

It’s this confidence and the willingness not to pander to the cliches of the era that help “Expecting to Fly” to remember a song for the ages.

4. “Broken Arrow”

There’s an old adage about Neil Young ruining groups, unwillingly, because of his singular brilliance. I think that there’s truth to this. However, his stubbornness is likely also a culprit in the breakups.

An incredibly sophisticated composition detailing Young’s own disillusionment with newfound fame, as well as the loss of innocence in the U.S.A., which was now the Canadian-born’s home, “Broken Arrow” is one of the great songs of the 1960s.

3. “Bluebird”

Stephen Still, unfairly, I think, is destined to be remembered as one of the great sidemen of folk-rock. Songs like “Bluebird,” however, prove that, in an unassuming way, he was one of the best songwriters of his era, not to mention a hell of a lead guitar player. This one’s a true gem!

2. “For What It’s Worth”

Yes, yes, “For What It’s Worth” is one of the most famous songs of the 1960s, one of the most celebrated anti-war anthems and, frankly, still a cracking song.

Stephen Stills did come up with once-in-a-lifetime magic for this. But focus a little too much on it, and you run the risk of believing that Buffalo Springfield was merely a one-hit wonder. That’s far from the truth, and this Stills composition is just the icing on the cake of what, to me, was a short but fantastic band run.

1. “Mr Soul”

Neil Young is an absolute hero to many. He’s also, at present, let’s face it, a cranky old man to some. But the cynics ought to know that, once, Neil Young was a cranky young man and that his songwriting was nearly always just as sharp as it’s been at the best of times.

I was absolutely struck by this song when I heard it. To me, it had the intensity of punk-rock and a kind of bitterness not easily found in 1960s songs.

And while the reworking of Keith Richards’ “Satisfaction” riff could easily make this feel dated, there’s something about the band’s drive that makes it a winner. It was Buffalo Springfield’s finest hour.