The Band began as The Hawks, the backing group to Canadian rocker Ronnie Hawkins in the early 1960s. Having struck out on their own most of the group backed Bob Dylan on his 1966 tour of the UK before all getting back together again up around Woodstock where Dylan was recovering from his motorcycle accident. One of the rented houses was christened Big Pink, from which the first Band LP - Music From Big Pink - was released in 1968. This itself was a landmark, but their second LP, the eponymous The Band (aka the brown album)was one which influenced so many other bands, including the Beatles. The songs on this album are stripped down and hark back to simpler times. The group swap instruments on some tracks or play something other than their main instrument, they make a ragged, but effective horn section, and keyboard player Richard Manuel has an unusual drumming style for example, but it all works so well with the vocal harmonies of Helm, Manuel and Danko blending beautifully. If you enjoy this one, try Music From Big Pink as well, or Moondog Matinee that followed in the early 1970s. (The legendary Bob Dylan Basement Tapes come from the Woodstock/Big Pink sessions as well).Read full review
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