| "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 US single label | ||||
| Single by Buffalo Springfield | ||||
| from the album Buffalo Springfield | ||||
| B-side | "Go and Say Goodbye" | |||
| Released | August 1966 | |||
| Recorded | July 18, 1966 | |||
| Studio | Gold Star, Hollywood | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:28 | |||
| Label | Atco | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Neil Young | |||
| Producer(s) |
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| Buffalo Springfield singles chronology | ||||
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"Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing" is a song by the Canadian-American folk rock band Buffalo Springfield, released as the group's debut single in August 1966.[1] Neil Young wrote the song in Yorkville in 1965 shortly after returning from a series of performances in Toronto, during a period when his bid at a solo career had been met with little positive response. The lyrics reflect metaphorically on Young's frustration toward his stalled career in music, and was inspired by Ross "Clancy" Smith, an aberrant classmate who incited awe in his school. Commentators recognize "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing" as one of Buffalo Springfield's signature songs, as well as a milestone in Young's progression as a songwriter.
The song was the lead single to Buffalo Springfield's self-titled debut album, bubbling under the Billboard Hot 100 at number 110, and peaking at number 75 on the Canadian RPM 100 singles chart. Buffalo Springfield played "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing" at many concerts during their stay in Los Angeles where it found regional success.
Young's original demo recording for Elektra Records was included on the compilation album The Archives Vol. 1 1963–1972 (2009), and a live version, from his 1968 solo tour, appears on Sugar Mountain – Live at Canterbury House 1968 (2008). The band's rendition appears on Retrospective: The Best of Buffalo Springfield (1969) and Buffalo Springfield (1973). In 1968, Fever Tree arguably was the earliest artist to cover a Young song with their orchestrated pop interpretation of "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing"; another version was recorded by the Carpenters.
- ^ Alexander 1967, quoted in Lizie 2021, chap. 1.