The Band - The Band

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. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide

Name Credits Andrew Sandoval Compilation, Mixing, Producer, Mastering Bob Cato Design Caroline Ray Project Manager Cheryl Pawelski Producer, Compilation Dan Hersch Mastering Elliott Landy Photography Garth Hudson Accordion, Sax (Soprano), Keyboards, Sax (Baritone), Saxophone, Organ, Trumpet, Sax (Tenor), Piano, Clavinet, Slide Trumpet Jaime Robbie Robertson Guitar, Engineer Jimmy Edwards Project Manager Joe Zagarino Mixing, Engineer John Simon Peck Horn, Engineer, Tuba, Horn, Producer, Keyboards, Piano (Electric) Levon Helm Bass, Drums, Mandolin, Guitar, Vocals Peter Grant Art Direction, Design Richard Manuel Sax (Baritone), Piano, Drums, Harmonica, Harp, Vocals, Keyboards Rick Danko Bass, Trombone, Vocals, Violin Rob Bowman Liner Notes Robbie Robertson Keyboards, Vocals, Guitar, Engineer Sam Gay Creative Director The Band Producer Tony May Mixing, Engineer