Song of the Day 10/4: Buffalo Springfield, “On the Way Home”

Buffalo Springfield had broken up by the time their third and final album, “Last Time Around,” was released in 1968. The LP was assembled from previously recorded material to fulfill the band’s contract commitment. Neil Young’s “On the Way Home” was one of the earliest, recorded in late 1967, after the return of Young, who had left the group in June. Richie Furay, whose voice was the band’s strongest, took the lead vocal, as he did on a few of Young’s compositions. It was the only track on the album played by all five original members.

The song, given a slower and quieter arrangement, became a staple of Young’s solo acoustic shows. He also played it in concert with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

Most covers of the song, like those by America and Nils Lofgren, follow Young’s folk version, but Britpopsters Ocean Colour Scene used the Buffalo Springfield arrangement for a B-side in 1997.