THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

559-Buffalo Springfield-For What It’s Worth (Stop, Hey What’s That Sound.)

1967-Has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 0.01.The name of the song came about when Stephen Stills presented the song to the record company executive, ‘I have this song here, for what it’s worth, if you want.’

Buffalo Springfield were formed in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1966 by the Canadian musicians Neil Young (see also best songs 602,) Bruce Palmer (1946-2004,) and Dewey Martin (1940-2009,) they were joined by the American musicians Stephen Stills, and Richie Furay. They were active through until 1968, releasing three studio Albums, and nine singles, of which this song provided them with their only Billboard top 10 single, when reaching Number 7 in 1968. Stills, Nash, and Furay reformed in 2010-2012 to tour, and have since been officially on indefinite hiatus.Buffalo Springfield are remembered as one of the originators in the development of the musical genre ‘Folk Rock,’ they also introduced ‘Psychedelic Rock’ in to their music on their second Album. The bands name was taken from a brand of steamroller made by the ‘Buffalo-Springfield Roller Company. After the band split Stephen Stills went on to form the ‘supergroup’ Crosby, Stills and Nash, with Neil Young joining them after a brief solo career (see also best songs 417.) Furay went on to form the Country Rock band ‘Poco,’ along with Jim Messina who had joined Buffalo Springfield in 1968.

‘For What It’s Worth (Stop, Hey What’s That Sound’) was written by Stephen Stills, who was born on January 3rd, 1945, in Dallas, Texas, United States. The part of the songs title in brackets is so that people can identify better which song it is. The song has been adopted as an anti war song, but in fact was written by Stills about youth gatherings, protesting anti-loitering laws, and the closing of the West Hollywood Nightclub,’Pandora’s Box’ in 1966.After the songs success it was added to the bands self titled re-issued debut Album in place of the track ‘Baby Don’t Scold Me,’ another Stephen Stills composition.

‘There’s something happening here, but what it is ain’t exactly clear.’