The Band's first album, Music from Big Pink, seemed to come out of nowhere, with its ramshackle musical blend and songs of rural tragedy. The Band, the group's second album, was a more deliberate and even more accomplished effort, partially because the players had become a more cohesive unit, and partially because guitarist Robbie Robertson had taken over the songwriting, writing or co-writing all 12 songs. Though a Canadian, Robertson focused on a series of American archetypes from the union worker in "King Harvest (Has Surely Come)" and the retired sailor in "Rockin' Chair" to, most famously, the Confederate Civil War observer Virgil Cane in "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down." The album effectively mixed the kind of mournful songs that had dominated Music from Big Pink, here including "Whispering Pines" and "When You Awake" (both co-written by Richard Manuel), with rollicking uptempo numbers like "Rag Mama Rag" and "Up on Cripple Creek" (both sung by Levon Helm and released as singles, with "Up on Cripple Creek" making the Top 40). As had been true of the first album, it was the Band's sound that stood out the most, from Helm's (and occasionally Manuel's) propulsive drumming to Robertson's distinctive guitar fills and the endlessly inventive keyboard textures of Garth Hudson, all topped by the rough, expressive singing of Manuel, Helm, and Rick Danko that mixed leads with harmonies. The arrangements were simultaneously loose and assured, giving the songs a timeless appeal, while the lyrics continued to paint portraits of 19th century rural life (especially Southern life, as references to Tennessee and Virginia made clear), its sometimes less savory aspects treated with warmth and humor.
Other than the unoriginality of the bandname, I love this cd. I'd seen parts of The Last Waltz a couple times and decided to check these guys out. Got there second album because it had the highest rating on allmusic.com (I defer to that sometimes when deciding if I should buy something or not), and it is great and solid all the way around. It sounds like it's from the 70s, 'cause it is, but it ...
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Each of us, I'm sure, has a list of songs that we feel just cannot be surpassed as far as performance is concerned. I know, by nature such lists are very subjective but come on, after Ray Charles' America The Beautiful, why would anyone bother to record another? I feel the same way about a dozen or two songs. Don't bother. I don't think anyone should bother with Mystery Train, after The ...
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Live from the Greyfox Bluegrass Festival in New York, Pat Flynn and some friends jam out to Up on Cripple Creek. And thus my bluegrass trilogy is concluded.
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Ever had a song pop into your head that made you think "Where the &!@& did that come from?"A few minutes ago the lyrics "A _____ dream if I ever did see one." started running through my head. I was thinking of this song:Where the #@!& did that come from?
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The way the stars aligned, it turned out that the group wouldn't tour behind Music From Big Pink. Helm had a motorcycle accident that had left his leg in bad shape and Manuel had grilled the top of his foot. Just as they were recovering, Danko had a car accident, breaking his neck rather severely and requiring him to stay in traction for three and a half months. The longer The Band made the peo...
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I could wake up in the morning dead.What more does anyone need to know. Love this song. There's a certain sweetness about The Band.
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I watched Martin Scorsese's film The Last Waltz last night and fell in love with him and with The Band all over again. The 4 CD box set of music from the film is on the way. In the meantime I'm listening to The Band, the one with the bonus tracks and thought I'd post this gorgeous gorgeous song. If you find me in a gloom, or catch me in a dreamInside my lonely room, there is no in betweenWhispe...
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Other than the unoriginality of the bandname, I love this cd. I'd seen parts of The Last Waltz a couple times and decided to check these guys out. Got there second album because it had the highest rating on allmusic.com (I defer to that sometimes when deciding if I should buy something or not), and it is great and solid all the way around. It sounds like it's from the 70s, 'cause it is, but it ...
More >
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 "The Band")
