The Band - Music from Big Pink
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Free Music Notes for Music from Big Pink
Free Music Review: Music From Big Pink
Hit: 5 Stars
Music from Big Pink
Great detail of music on this CD.
Free Music Review: EC said it best...
Hit: 5 Stars
Back in 1967 or 68 I had a record called "Music From Big Pink" and it changed my life...it changed the course Amderican Music...Please welcome...THE BANDFree Music Review: "The Weight" is over because the remastered CD gives you 9 bonus cuts!
Hit: 5 Stars
As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" and a former radio disc-jockey, I am often asked to write and or discuss various music supplies and recordings from the 60's and 70's.
Come holiday time 1968 how would you like to have been a Capitol Records executive knowing the incredible publicity the label had earned for the past year with the Beatles and the debut from the Band.
July 1, 1968 the Band would release their first record. It was more than a piece of vinyl. It would signify one of the most important recordings ever. The unique sounds, the haunting lyrics, and Robbie Robertson's amazing ability to come up with the most advantageous riff, solo, and chord pattern.
The opening track "Tears Of Rage" (One of three written or co-written by Dylan) would establish a sound of Mesmerization. The combination of the lyrics delivered with pain and the comradery of the keyboards and guitar is striking. "To Kingdom Come" penned by Robbie asked in an analytical style "When you look out the window what do you see?" Can you recall your first impression of "The Weight?" We were hypnotized following the story. It offered everything of a top selling book, the plot, the darkness, and some comic relief. "Long Black Vail" has been recorded as many times as the current national debt but wouldn't you be hard pressed to find a better or more believable version? The lyrical content is devastating- "If you were somewhere else you wouldn't have to die." There will never be words that properly pay homage to "Chest Fever." The final icing on the award winning cake was Robbie's open mindedness to let the organ shine as much as the guitar on the final mix. The instrumentation is flawless and once the tune is experienced, you can never forget the five plus minutes of musical genius. "This Wheels On Fire (Co-Written by Dylan) has left at least one line in our minds to this day- "If your memory serves you well." The original vinyl LP and CD ends with Dylan's "I Shall Be Released. A perfect way to put the 5 Star stamp of approval on the material.
The news gets better. If you pick up the remaster CD please look for the version with 9 bonus tracks. It makes the journey that much more breathtaking. Can you believe the version of "Key To The Highway" didn't make the album? As a bonus track it enhances the almost forty year old diamond.
Enjoy the music and be well,
Craig Fenton
Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"
Free Music Review: She's stoned said the Suede and the moon calf agreed!!
Hit: 5 Stars
Music from Big Pink was one of the first albums I bought as a teenager in the late 60s. It came at a time in my life when I was discovering the world around me, becoming conscious of social issues and discovering who I was.
The music touched my soul and gave life meaning and wonder at a time so much was uncertain. I still listen to the album on occasion and it remains astounding in it's simplicity, beauty and imagery. My favorite album of all time.
Free Music Review: Nice first effort
Hit: 4 Stars
Okay, so the self-titled second completely blows this away, but this is still one of The Band's better albums - I've only heard three, so I'm not much of a judge of it. Still, this is an enjoyably rootsy affair. Of course it's got The Weight, a landmark '60's tune with interesting, oft-analyzed lyrics, a well-known chorus, a cool descending bassline, AND great traded lead vocals between Levon Helm, Richard Manuel (whose voice gives me the chills) and Rick Danko. The perfect song. Same with Chest Fever, which is pretty funky - sorta reminds me of Up on Cripple Creek from the next record. And have you heard how many times that organ riff's been imitated? Seriously, it's almost become a cliche now.
Of course, The Band will always be linked to Dylan, and three of these songs were written or cowritten by him. I like - no, LOVE - Tears of Rage, prototypical enigmatic Dylan. Same with I Shall Be Released, which Dylan later recorded himself and admittedly did a better job on because he wisely got that stupid high-pitched synthesizer/organ/whatever-thing out of there. But I love Manuel's vocals on the song, so I can't complain too much. This Wheel's on Fire was Dylan's third contribution, and again it's funky, with a clavinet-sounding keyboard. Probably the weakest of his additions, but still, a good tune.
As I said, Manuel's vocals give me the chills, especially on Lonesome Suzie. Admittedly, the lyrics aren't among Robbie Robertson's best. But Manuel almost brings me to tears when he sings it. No joke. It's a hard song to listen to because of that, but I like it just the same.
Long Black Veil is the most fun you'll find here, an old folk song from BEYOND THE GRAAAAAAAVE with Ultimate Multi-Instrumentalist Garth Hudson adding what sounds like a tuba. A nice, uptempo, swinging song, one of the more underrated ones here.
So far it seems like it should be a five-star, but I can't get into some of this. Like To Kingdom Come, In a Station and Candelonia Mission. I just skip right over 'em. Really boring songs with weak lyrics. And while We Can Talk has fun traded vocals, I can't see much reason to listen to it outside of that. That's just me, though.
Though the next outing was an absolute five-star masterpiece that likely tops everything else The Band ever did (as I've said, I only know three of their albums: this, self-titled and Stage Fright, plus I've got that one-disc Best of the Band), this is an effecient warm-up to that album and recommended to fans of '60's rock, especially roots-rock. If you like this sound, I also recommend Creedence Clearwater Revival and the Stones' stuff from '68 to '72.
The bonus tracks are kind of wastes... I like Yazoo Street Scandal, it should've made the original album, and their version of Key to the Highway is good enough (partially because no-one can make that song bad, really), but most are poorly-written and recorded (Orange Juice Blues, Katie's Been Gone, Ferndidad the Imposter, etc).