Buffalo Springfield

Although the Byrds receive more credit (and perhaps rightfully so), Buffalo Springfield, in some respects, were just as responsible for the country-rock and singer/songwriter explosion that continued through the full flight of the Eagles and later mutated into '90s neo-country. This 1966 debut reveals the precocious songwriting talents of both Neil Young and Stephen Stills; check out Stills's Beatlesque "Sit Down, I Think I Love You" and Young's weird (for '66!) but classic "Burned." Their next album, Again, is widely considered their best effort, but this is an excellent debut, made even stronger with the addition of their hit, the single-only "For What It's Worth." The CD offers both stereo and mono versions of each track.