Mr. Soul

Hey there, Zoo Freaks! Your favorite hippie DJs at THE ZOO are spinning the raw, gritty vibes of Buffalo Springfield's "Mr. Soul" from their 1967 album Buffalo Springfield Again. Written by Neil Young in just five minutes, this track was born out of a wild moment in his life. After suffering an epileptic seizure during a Buffalo Springfield gig in San Francisco, Young was rushed to UCLA Medical Center. While recovering, he penned "Mr. Soul," channeling his brush with mortality and his unease with fame. The song’s lyrics, like “Oh, hello Mr. Soul, I dropped by to pick up a reason,” reflect his existential musings about his own celebrity status and the strange devotion of fans. Fun fact: some folks in the audience thought his seizure was part of the act, adding to the surreal vibe that fueled the song’s creation.

Another cool tidbit about "Mr. Soul" is its musical DNA. The song’s iconic riff draws inspiration from The Rolling Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” but Young and co-frontmen Stephen Stills and Richie Furay twist it into something wilder, almost proto-grunge. The track’s raw energy comes from Young’s double drop D tuning on a twelve-string acoustic guitar, giving it that dark, moody edge. Neil Young has revisited "Mr. Soul" over the years, notably reworking it with a vocoder for his 1982 electronic album Trans, which hit No. 14 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart. The song also pops up in a live snippet to open “Broken Arrow” on Buffalo Springfield Again, but here’s a quirky twist: the cheering crowd you hear is actually lifted from a Beatles performance, not a Springfield show. Talk about a nod to Beatlemania!

The song’s lyrics also tell a story of fan obsession. Young references a letter from a fan who called him “strange” but begged him not to change, a sentiment that left him questioning his own identity. Lines like “In a while will the smile on my face turn to plaster?” capture his fear of becoming a hollow version of himself under fame’s pressure. This tension was real—Young was so disillusioned with the music biz that he bailed on Buffalo Springfield’s scheduled appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, calling it “belittling.” His absence also impacted their 1967 Monterey Pop Festival performance, where David Crosby and Doug Hastings filled in, but the set was so rough it got cut from the festival’s documentary. Over the years, "Mr. Soul" has been covered by artists like The Everly Brothers, Cher, and Rush, keeping its legacy alive.

Now, let’s rewind to how Buffalo Springfield got rolling. Formed in Los Angeles in 1966, this folk-rock powerhouse came together when Neil Young and Stephen Stills crossed paths in a traffic jam on Sunset Boulevard. Young, a Canadian songwriter with a penchant for introspective lyrics, had been kicking around in bands like The Squires back in Winnipeg. Stills, a Texas-born guitarist with a soulful voice, had been honing his chops in groups like The Au Go Go Singers. They teamed up with Richie Furay, another talented vocalist and guitarist, Canadian bassist Bruce Palmer, and drummer Dewey Martin. The band’s name? Inspired by a steamroller parked outside their producer’s house, branded “Buffalo Springfield.” Their blend of folk, rock, and country, paired with tight harmonies and fiery guitar work, made them a standout in the ’60s scene.

Despite their talent, Buffalo Springfield was a volatile crew. Creative tensions, especially between Young and Stills, led to Young’s on-again, off-again involvement. Their debut album, Buffalo Springfield, dropped in 1966, but it was their second record, Buffalo Springfield Again, that showcased their peak with tracks like “Mr. Soul” and Stills’ classic “For What It’s Worth.” The band split in 1968 after just three albums, but their influence was massive, paving the way for supergroups like Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. They briefly reunited in 2010 for a handful of shows, but by 2012, Richie Furay announced an indefinite hiatus. Still, their music lives on, a testament to their short but brilliant run.

For more on Buffalo Springfield, check out their official vibes at Neil Young Archives, which doubles as a hub for Young’s work and the band’s legacy. You can also follow Buffalo Springfield on Facebook, Neil Young Archives on Instagram, and Neil Young’s X account for updates. Fans gather at spots like the Buffalo Springfield Fan Group on Facebook, where Zoo Freaks can geek out over rare clips and stories. Another great fan spot is r/neilyoung on Reddit, where folks share everything from vintage Springfield footage to deep-cut trivia. So, crank up "Mr. Soul," let those guitars wail, and keep it freaky, Zoo Crew!