Classic Albums-the Band by the Band

This week's classic album segment is the second album by the legendary Canadian rock group the Band. The Band who had started out as the Hawks backing rockabilly singer Ronnie HAwkins from 1958-63, becoming the LEvon Helm Sextet, Levon and the Hawks and the Canadian Squires and eventually working with Bob Dylan when he went electric in 1965-66 which they backed up on the world tour including Australia. After Dylan's motorcycle accident in 1966 the Hawks went to Woodstock,New York where they recorded demos for what was to become the Basement Tapes. the group who were to become the Band were then writing their own material in a house called the Big Pink in West Saugerties near Woodstock which they began recording the album that was to become Music From Big Pink that was released in 1968 which went to number 30 in the USA and recieved postiive reviews as well as impressing musicians like GEorge Harrison and Eric Clapton. the group began recording the second album that was to become The Band album in Los Angeles,California at an house that was owned in the Hollywood Hills by Sammy Davis Jr in early 1969 and lasted til june 1969 when they recorded the last 3 songs Up On Cripple Creek, Whispering Pines and Jemima Surrender were recorded at the Hit Factory in New York. The album was released on September 22nd 1969 which went to number 9 in the USA and received getting more praise by the music press like Rolling Stone which this is one of the great albums ever made. the album was produced john Simon who had produced the Music From Big Pink Album who also plays on this album as well and the songs were written by Robbie Robertson as well co writing with Levon Helm & Richard Manuel. The songs has an real AMericana feeling on this album and it focuses on rural America with songs like The Night they Drove old Dixie Down whch was an hit for Joan Baez(US folk Singer) in 1971, Up on Cripple Creek which Garth Hudson does the claverinet wah wah sound on the organ which it's brilliant as well as going to Number 25 in the USA, Rag Mama Rag which went to number 57 in the USA with Levon Helm playing madolin, and Richard Manuael playing drums, King Harvest Has Surely Come, Whispering Pines and many others. It's an BRILLIANT album and sounds as great today as it was back in 1969 as the songs sounding go good too and it's folksy,blues,rock,hillbilly and country. The musicians are just brilliant on this albums as well as brilliant singing by LEvon, Rick Danko and Richard MAnuel who are now sadly passed away but the music still endures today and it will live on forever. Elliot Landy does the photography on the album which the front cover looks great and with the sad passing of Levon helm last Thursday from cancer i thought it would be appropiate to do this album for the classic album segement which I would like to dedicate this to one of the best singer,songwriter and drummers.