In 1967, The Summer of Love, protest songs were a dime a dozen. But one of them has most definitely survived the test of time and is even now still much played and well known on classic rock channels across the country. The fact that it was a one-hit-wonder is somewhat of a surprise when you consider the talent of the musicians involved.
Of course, I'm talking about the song "For What It's Worth" by a band that took it's name from the manufacturer of a steamroller which had been parked in front of their producers' house, Buffalo Springfield. The band consisted of Steven Stills (later of Crosby, Stills & Nash (and Young)), Neil Young (also of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, as well as a solo artist of great renown afterwards), Jim Messina (who would go on to form Poco, then become half of Loggins & Messina), Richie Furay (also a member of Poco, then Souther Hillman Furay band), drummer Dewey Martin, and bassist Bruce Palmer. Due to many internal troubles and various legal issues, the band only made three albums between 1966 and 1968 before breaking up. However, "For What It's Worth", written by Stills, was the only Top 40 hit they would have, climbing to #7 in 1967.
The little trivia nugget I found most interesting about this particular song and group is that the entire thing hinged on a chance encounter and breaking the law. Stills and Young had met briefly in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada in 1965. They hit it off quickly and knew that they wanted to work together. But Steven's band split after that tour, and he went to Los Angeles. Young eventually also ended up there, and they were looking for each other without success. Stills was about to give up and head for San Francisco. Stills, their eventual producer Barry Friedman, and Furay were stuck in traffic on Sunset Boulevard, when they recognized Young's black 1953 Pontiac hearse going the opposite direction. After an illegal u-turn, they caught up...and history was made.
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