The Band - Music From Big Pink
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Free Music Notes for Music From Big Pink
Free Music Review: A Mighty and Amazing Record. One of the Best Rock Records
Hit: 5 Stars
"Music From Big Pink" is one of the handful of records that changed everything. The record is amazing by itself, but becomes even more awesome when seen as a two-record effort in tandem with the group's second effort, "The Band."
Normally I don't place reviews on Amazon regarding widely-recognized masterpieces of this sort, because I feel the better-known giants are already well documented. I want to write about this album because I want to stress the influence that it had over other people's music.
Among others, this record was supposedly the immediate progenitor of efforts as diverse as: "Layla and other Assorted Love Songs," "The Beatles" (a.k.a. "The White Album"), "Let It Be," "John Wesley Hardin," "All Things Must Pass," "Eat A Peach," and frankly most of the late 1960s/early 1970 music scene. This record was huge. It really changed what we listened to; and it's influences still can be heard.
A simple way to judge how important "Music From Big Pink" was is to simply examine the huge impact that the album's centerpiece, "The Weight" had. It's on cellular telephone commercials still, and it has been recorded by artists as diverse as: LeAnn Rimes, John Denver, Van Morrison, Matt Nathanson, Aretha Franklin, Duane Allman, Smith, The Staple Singers, George Martin, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Jackie DeShannon, (and many others).
This album never sold the way it should have (yeah, it's sold in the millions, though it should have outsold "Thriller" or "Saturday Night Fever"), but it has cast a shadow that we still see in the music industry.
Free Music Review: A Timeless Classic
Hit: 5 Stars
When I first heard the songs on this album, I thought The Band had covered a bunch of old American folk songs in a rock style. Then I bought the lp, scoured the credits, and realized that they had written all of the songs themselves (with the exception of "Long Black Veil"). These songs sound like they come from the heart of Appalachia, or the Mississippi delta. They tap into some some timeless American musical vein that will forever remain fresh. And the musicianship! Levon's drumming and singing throughout... Richard Manuel's achingly beautiful vocals on "Tears of Rage" ... the ragged but right harmonies of "The Weight"... Robbie Robertson's exquisite guitar solo on "To Kingdom Come"... Garth Hudson's manic organ intro to "Chest Fever". And how about a round of applause for the unsung sixth member, producer John Simon. He was obviously an integral part of their unique sound, and now he should get the credit he deserves.
On this album, each member of The Band subsumed his ego to serve the songs, and they never again hit the perfect combination of relaxed, good-timey vibes with incredible rock 'n' roll energy. This is a record I will enjoy as much when I am eighty years old as I did when I was in college.
The bonus tracks are a nice addition. They practically double the length of the original album, and while their quality is not up to the original songs, they definitely add a lot of value to the package. Kudos to Capitol Records for putting out an excellent reissue. The liner notes are outstanding, and the sound quality is top-notch.
Free Music Review: "Big Pink" Transcends The 1960's
Hit: 5 Stars
It's difficult to avoid hyberbole when describing "Music From Big Pink." It would be pointless-though probabaly true-to claim that "Big Pink" is the finest rock album recorded in the nineteen sixties. Suffice to say that it is not only great, but timeless. Many other rock miletones from the same era seem, if not neccessarily dated, then forever tied to the zeitgeist amidst which they were created. "Big Pink" seems as if it could have been recorded last week or, for that matter, a hundred years ago-had electric instruments and reliable phonographic equipment been around then. This timelessness also characterizes the Band's wonderful eponymous second album. However, while "The Brown Album" is usually considered the Band's definitive effort, "Big Pink" stands as their finest work. Though the instrumental and vocal arrangements on the the second release are arguably superior, "Big Pink" boasts a significant songwriting contribution from Richard Manuel. "Lonesome Suzie," "In a Station," and(co-written with Bob Dylan)"Tears of Grief," are songs of absolute directness and clarity which perfectly balance the more cryptic Robbie Robertson compositions. This contrast of songwriting perspectives serves to enhance the fraternal ethos that charaterizes the music of "Big Pink" and the best of the Band's subsequent work. Danko, Helm, Hudson, Manuel, and Robertson created in "Music From Big Pink" a record that has transcended themselves and their time.Free Music Review: Timeless
Hit: 5 Stars
The Band's "Music from Big Pink" is as timeless a classic as any album you will ever listen to. The music is still fresh and exciting even though the album is more then 30 years old. From the first track, the moving "Tears of Rage", the listener knows that this is not going to be an average listening experience. And why is "Music from Big Pink" so distinct? Well, there are a lot of contributing factors, but the sheer talent and range of The Band is what sets them apart. The voices of Levon Helm, Rich Danko and Richard Manuel are some of the best in rock and roll: they're filled with character, which allows the characters in their songs to come alive. Robbie Robertson's guitar playing is superb, though he plays no solos, choosing to rely on other instruments to help carry the songs, especially the organ playing of Garth Hudson, who really shines. Lastly, the song writing. Although Robbie Robertson doesn't come into his own until The Band's self-titled second album, the collected song writing talents of The Band, plus Bob Dylan, manage to create a unique and inspiring collection of songs.
Highlights of the album are "The Weight", a classic, "Chest Fever", a blast to listen to, the aforementioned "Tears of Rage" and "Long Black veil", a cover that tops any other version of the song.
"Music from Big Pink" is the type of album that can be listened to at any time and still feel like your first listen.
Free Music Review: Man, this is a good album.
Hit: 5 Stars
I was a little bit surprised by "Music From Big Pink" on my first listen, as were most listeners back in 1968, I imagine. I first heard it last year, being into rootsy, folksy rock, I thought it would be right up my alley. After reading many reviews, I was led to believe that this was a stripped down, roots-affair. I was expecting something much like The Byrds' "Sweetheart of the Rodeo". Yes, "Music From Big Pink" is pretty much unlike anything else released in 1968 ("Sweetheart" notwithstanding), but it's not entirely the earthen, fiddles and mandolins type of record I expected. The first sound we hear on the album is Robbie Robertson's guitar fed through a Leslie speaker box on Tears of Rage. Robertson's guitar is quite present on "Big Pink". No, there's no extended solos and guitar jamming, but the album is not entirely devoid of guitar solos. Robertson plays a brief solo on "To Kingdom Come". Garth Hudson's keyboards sometimes have a kind of funky, whacked-out sound. So, "Music From Big Pink" is not quite "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" as I was led to believe. Not that that's a bad thing. I'm not putting it down. I love this album. It's excellent from start to finish. The harmonies are beautiful, the music exquisite and the songwriting brilliant. It took me a few listens to get into, but now I love this album from beginning to end. Every song is great. I'm very glad I picked it up, even though it wasn't quite what I initially expected. Anyone who likes good music should definitely own this.