For those of you that are unfamiliar with The Band, they started out as a session band playing on studio albums and, under the name 'The Hawks' were Bob Dylan's touring band for a few years in the mid - late 60s. In fact they were the band backing Dylan during the infamous 1966 Royal Albert Hall gig when Dylan first toured through Europe with an electric band and was booed and heckled throughout. So these guys had some experience with playing an electrified folk rock kinda thing.
This was The Band's first album and it was recorded in their home (Big Pink) in Woodstock NY while Dylan was recovering from his motorcycle accident. Dylan wrote one of the tracks and cowrote two others. He had offered to play on it, but The Band wanted to make something on their own that would either fly or crash on it's own merrit. As a side note, this was the time that Dylan was jamning with them and the Dylan album "Basement Tapes' was recorded. In fact there are a few tracks, This Wheels on Fire and Tears of Rage were on both of these albums.
It's interesting to me how different of an approach there is between Dylan's folk/rock and The Band's. The Band sound a bit more southern and a bit more americana. They have some bluegrass elements and of course are masters of harmonies. What you end up with is an album that was made by Dylan's band, with some tracks written by Dylan and coming from similar musical background and sensabilities, yet they sound nothing alike.
The thing about The Band is that they are all amazingly accomplished musicians, but you have to listen pretty carefully to tell. They don't show off or grandstand in anyway. They are very based in roots music and yet very unique with each member bring their own musical personality into the equation.
Even though I have been a huge Dylan fan for years and have been familar with several of The Band's best known tracks, I have not really been a fan and have not sought out their music. This album takes a few listens before it sinks in and you can start to digest it's greatness. Your time and effort will be rewarded. There are many layers here. The music keeps on giving. Then you put it down for a while and come back to it and it hooks you again.
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