Buffy Sainte-Marie Discography
Buffy Sainte-Marie’s recording career stretches across more than four decades, from her folk debut in 1964 to her continued work in the 2000s and beyond. She has never been content to repeat herself: across her catalog you will find folk, country, electronic, Indigenous, and pop — sometimes within a single album. The following lists all major releases in the United States.
US Studio Albums and Major Releases
| Year | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | It's My Way! | Vanguard | Debut album; introduced "Universal Soldier"; mouthbow features prominently |
| 1965 | Many A Mile | Vanguard | Includes mouthbow songs; title track written by Patrick Sky |
| 1966 | Little Wheel Spin and Spin | Vanguard | Expansive folk range; mouthbow on two tracks |
| 1967 | Fire & Fleet & Candlelight | Vanguard | Traditional ballads; mouthbow prominent; "Reynardine" a standout |
| 1968 | I'm Gonna Be A Country Girl Again | Vanguard | Country-influenced; two mouthbow tracks |
| 1969 | Illuminations | Vanguard | First-ever electronic vocal album in quadraphonic surround-sound — a landmark record |
| 1970 | The Best of Buffy Sainte-Marie | Vanguard | First major compilation; mouthbow classics included |
| 1971 | The Best of Buffy Sainte-Marie, Vol. 2 | Vanguard | Second volume; expanded mouthbow repertoire |
| 1971 | She Used To Wanna Be A Ballerina | Vanguard | Rock-influenced; includes covers of Joni Mitchell and Neil Young |
| 1972 | Moonshot | Vanguard | Political themes; electric experimentation continues |
| 1973 | Quiet Places | Vanguard | More introspective, acoustic-leaning work |
| 1974 | Native North American Child: An Odyssey | Vanguard | Focus on Indigenous children’s music and oral tradition |
| 1974 | Buffy | MCA | Label move; mainstream production sheen |
| 1975 | Changing Woman | MCA | Themes of transformation and Indigenous identity |
| 1976 | Sweet America | ABC | Americana themes; transitional period before long recording hiatus |
| 1992 | Coincidence And Likely Stories | Chrysalis | Comeback album after 16-year recording gap; fully contemporary production |
| 1996 | Up Where We Belong | EMI | Career retrospective and new material; Academy Award–winning title track; won Juno Award |
| 2003 | The Best Of The Vanguard Years | Vanguard | Definitive early-career compilation |
| 2004 | Live At Carnegie Hall | Vanguard | Historic live recording |
Songs Covered by Other Artists
Buffy Sainte-Marie’s songwriting has attracted an extraordinary range of interpreters. "Until It's Time for You to Go" alone has been recorded by more than 200 artists, including Elvis Presley, Barbra Streisand, Neil Diamond, and Cher. "Universal Soldier" became an anthem recorded by Donovan, Glen Campbell, and many others. "Up Where We Belong," co-written with Jack Nitzsche and Will Jennings, won the Academy Award for Best Original Song (from An Officer and a Gentleman, 1982).
UK Releases and International Catalog
Several of Buffy’s Vanguard albums received separate UK releases with different track sequencing or bonus material. The British folk revival audience embraced her traditional ballad work — particularly albums like Fire & Fleet & Candlelight — with particular enthusiasm. The UK market helped establish her reputation as a serious interpreter of the folk canon.
A Note on Illuminations (1969)
No survey of this discography can pass over Illuminations without stopping. Released in 1969, it was the first album ever recorded using only electronic vocal processing — and it was done in quadraphonic surround sound. This was 1969. Most artists were still working out how to use a basic reverb effect. Buffy Sainte-Marie built an entire album around synthesized voice layering and spatial audio before either technology was widely understood. The AllMusic Guide has described Illuminations as one of the most forward-looking records of its era. It remains that today.