Released in 1988, Neneh Cherry’s hit song Buffalo Stance has become a timeless classic, still enjoyed by many to this day. The song’s unique sound set it apart from other music being played on the radio at the time, making it a standout hit.
Interestingly, Buffalo Stance actually began as the B-side to a single released in 1986 by the duo Morgan-McVey, which was comprised of Jamie Morgan and Cameron McVey, Cherry’s future husband. However, it wasn’t until the song was reworked and released as a single by Cherry herself that it truly took off.
Simenon had a specific groove in mind for “Buffalo Stance,” and Saunders quickly set to work programming it. He used a basic setup that included an Atari 1024 ST computer running Cubase, an Akai S900 sampler, and a Casio CZ101 as the main keyboard. Cherry recorded her vocal on Buffalo Stance using a Neumann U87.
Not much is known about the specific effects used on Buffalo Stance, it is said that some additions were made after hours in the studio. For example, engineer Mark Saunders flipped the multitrack tape over to record the 100 percent reverb signal from the studio’s Lexicon 480L, which provided the distinctive backwards effect that can be heard ahead of Cherry singing the “Who’s looking good today?” bridge.
The Lexicon 480L was a popular piece of equipment during the late 1980s and is likely to have been used elsewhere on the song. Despite this, the use of the Lexicon 480L and other effects were just small parts of a much larger hit single that has stood the test of time.