THE BAND Debut Album

Original released on LP Capitol SKAO 2955

(US 1968, July 1)

None of the Band's previous work gave much of a clue about how they would sound when they released their first album in July 1968. As it was, "Music from Big Pink" came as a surprise. At first blush, the group seemed to affect the sound of a loose jam session, alternating emphasis on different instruments, while the lead and harmony vocals passed back and forth as if the singers were making up their blend on the spot. In retrospect, especially as the lyrics sank in, the arrangements seemed far more considered and crafted to support a group of songs that took family, faith, and rural life as their subjects and proceeded to imbue their values with uncertainty. Some songs took on the theme of declining institutions less clearly than others, but the points were made musically as much as lyrically. Tenor Richard Manuel's haunting, lonely voice gave the album much of its frightening aspect, while Rick Danko's and Levon Helm's rough-hewn styles reinforced the songs' rustic fervor. The dominant instrument was Garth Hudson's often icy and majestic organ, while Robbie Robertson's unusual guitar work further destabilized the sound. The result was an album that reflected the turmoil of the late '60s in a way that emphasized the tragedy inherent in the conflicts. "Music from Big Pink" came off as a shockingly divergent musical statement only a year after the ornate productions of Sgt. Pepper, and initially attracted attention because of the three songs Bob Dylan had either written or co-written. However, as soon as "The Weight" became a minor singles chart entry, the album and the group made their own impact, influencing a movement toward roots styles and country elements in rock. Over time, "Music from Big Pink" came to be regarded as a watershed work in the history of rock, one that introduced new tones and approaches to the constantly evolving genre. (William Ruhlmann in AllMusic)

DISCOGRAPHY

Formed 1967, Toronto, Canada

Disbanded 1999

Rick Danko (born 1942 > died 1999): keyboards, organ, piano, saxophone, horn, accordion

Levon Helm (born 1940 > died 2012): vocals, drums, mandolin, guitar

Garth Hudson (born 1937): guitar, vocals, sitar, keyboards, bass

Richard Manuel (born 1943 > died 1986): vocals, piano, drums

Robbie Robertson (born 1943): guitar, vocals

Jim Weider (born 1951): guitar (1985-1999)

Randy Ciarlante: bass, drums, vocals (1990-1999)

Stan Szelest (born 1943 > died 1991): keyboards (1990-1991)

Richard Bell (born 1946 > died 2007): keyboards (1992-1999)

1965-10 Sg (CAN Atco 6383): A. The Stones I Throw; B. He Don’t Love You (And He’ll Break Your Heart) (as Levon & the Hawks)

1968-07-01 LP MUSIC FROM BIG PINK (US Capitol SKAO 2955): A1. Tears of Rage; A2. To Kingdom Come; A3. In a Station; A4. Caledonia Mission; A5. The Weight; B1. We Can Talk; B2. Long Black Veil; B3. Chest Fever; B4. Lonesome Suzie; B5. This Wheel’s on Fire; B6. I Shall Be Released

1968-10 Sg (US Atco 6625): A. Go Go Liza Jane; B. He Don’t Love You (And He’ll Break Your Heart) (as Levon & the Hawks)

1969-09-22 LP THE BAND (US Capitol STAO 132): A1. Across the Great Divide; A2. Rag Mama Rag; A3. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down; A4. When You Awake; A5. Up on Cripple Creek; A6. Whispering Pines; B1. Jemima Surrender; B2. Rockin’ Chair; B3. Look Out Cleveland; B4. Jawbone; B5. The Unfaithful Servent; B6. King Harvest (Has Surely Come)

1970-08-17 LP STAGE FRIGHT (US Capitol SW 425): A1. Strawberry Wine; A2. Sleeping; A3. Time to Kill; A4. Just Another Whistle Stop; A5. All La Glory; B1. The Shape I’m In; B2. The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show; B3. Daniel and the Sacred Harp; B4. Stage Fright; B5. The Rumor

1971-09-15 LP CAHOOTS (US Capitol ST 651): A1. Life Is a Carnival; A2. When I Paint My Masterpiece; A3. Last of the Blacksmiths; A4. Where Do You Go From Here?; A5. 4% Pantomime; A6. Shootout in Chinatown; B1. The Moon Struck One; B2. Thinkin’ Out Loud; B3. Smoke Signal; B4. Volcano; B5. The River Hymn

1972-08-15 LP ROCK OF AGES (LIVE) (US Capitol SABB 11045): A1. Don’t Do It; A2. King Harvest (Has Surely Come); A3. Caledonia Mission; A4. Get Up Jake; A5. The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show; B1. Stage Fright; B2. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down; B3. Across the Great Divide; B4. This Wheel’s on Fire; B5. Rag Mama Rag; C1. The Weight; C2. The Shape I’m In; C3. Unfaithful Servant; C4. Life Is a Carnival; D1. The Genetic Method; D2. Chest Fever; D3. (I Don’t Want To) Hang Up My Rock ‘n’ Roll Shoes

1973-10-15 LP MOONDOG MATINEE (US Capitol SW 11214): A1. Ain’t Got No Home; A2. Holy Cow; A3. Share Your Love; A4. Mystery Train; Third Man Theme; B1. Promised Land; B2. The Great Pretender; B3. I’m Ready; B4. Saved; B5. A Change Is Gonna Come

1975-11-01 LP NORTHERN LIGHTS – SOUTHERN CROSS (US Capitol ST 11440): A1. Forbidden Fruit; A2. Hobo Jungle; A3. Ophelia; A4. Acadian Driftwood; B1. Ring Your Bell; B2. It Makes No Difference; B3. Jupiter Hollow; B4. Rags and Bones

1977-03-15 LP ISLANDS (US Capitol SO 11602): A1. Right as Rain; A2. Street Walker; A3. Let the Night Fall; A4. Ain’t That a Lot of Love; A5. Christmas Must Be Tonight; B1. Islands; B2. The Saga of Pepote Rouge; B3. Georgia on My Mind; B4. Knockin’ Lost John; B5. Livin’ in a Dream

1993-11-02 CD JERICHO (US Pyramid R2 71564): 1. Remedy; 2. Blind Willie McTell; 3. The Caves of Jericho; 4. Atlantic City; 5. Too Soon Gone; 6. Country Boy; 7. Move to Japan; 8. Amazon (River of Dreams); 9. Stuff You Gotta Watch; 10. Same Thing; 11. Shine a Light; 12. Blues Stay Away From Me

1995-04 CD LIVE AT WATKINS GLEN (US Capitol CDP 7243.8.31742..2.5): 1. Back to Memphis; 2. Endless Highway; 3. I Shall Be Released; 4. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever; 5. Too Wet to Work; 6. Don’t Ya Tell Henry; 7. The Rumor; 8. Time to Kill; 9. Jam; 10. Up on Cripple Creek

1996-02-27 LP HIGH ON THE HOG (US Pyramid R2 72404): 1. Stand Up; 2. Back to Memphis; 3. Where I Should Always Be; 4. Free Your Mind; 5. Forever Young; 6. The High Price of Love; 7. Crazy Mama; 8. I Must Love You Too Much; 9. She Knows; 10. Ramble Jungle

1998-09-15 LP JUBILATION (US River North 51416.1420.2): 1. Book Faded Brown; 2. Don’t Wait; 3. Last Train to Memphis; 4. High Cotton; 5. Kentucky Downpour; 6. Bound by Love: 7. White Cadillac; 8. If I Should Fail; 9. Spirit of the Dance; 10. You See Mee; 11. French Girls

2011 CD LIVE IN TOKYO 1983 (Netherlands Immortal IMA 104205): 1.1. Rag Mama Rag; 1.2. Long Black Veil; 1.3. Up on Cripple Creek; 1.4. The Shape I’m In; 1.5. It Makes No Difference; 1.6. Milkcow Boogie; 1.7. Mystery Train; 1.8. King Harvest (Has Surely Come); 1.9. Voodoo Music; 1.10. W.S. Walcott Medicine Show; 1.11. You Don’t Know Me; 1.12. Stage Fright; 2.1. Caledonia; 2.2. Chest Fever; 2.3. Java Blues; 2.4. I Shall Be Released; 2.5. Back to Memphis; 2.6. The Weight; 2.7. (I Don’t Want To) Hang Up MY Rock ‘n’ Roll Shoes; 2.8. Blaze of Glory; 2.9. Willie and the Hand Jive; 2.10. Ophelia