The Band's classic Self-Titled album is up for review today, and we give our reactions to The Band classic in a track by track format! This is the first time we have listened to The Band in full, and are looking forward to listening to even more from their discography in the future! Our thanks to Patreon supporter Jimmy who suggested this album to us, be sure to send him some love in the comments below if you enjoyed this review!
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Quick Facts:
• 2nd Studio Album released in September 1969. Also known as The Brown Album. Peaked at #9.
• #45 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time
• Has been viewed as a concept album, with the songs focusing on people, places and traditions associated with an older version of Americana and the South even though they were 4/5 Canadian.
• Robbie Robertson did most of the engineering.
After unsuccessfully attempting sessions at a studio in NY, they set up shop in the pool house of a home rented by the group in the Hollywood Hills. According to Robbie, the location was chosen to give the songs a Basement Tapes–like feel, all but 3 songs were recorded there.
Robertson Wrote every track -
1. Across The Great Divide (Manuel) – Lyrics begin with the singer asking his wife Molly to put down the gun she is waving at him. The singer then recalls his earlier struggles when all he wanted was a home, and thinks that if Molly does not put the gun down he will have to leave that home.
2. Rag Mama Rag (Helm) – Single #16 in UK, highest of any single by the group, #57 in US. The song has an improvised feel. They attempted to record the song in a straightforward manner, but it didn't sound right to Robertson. So drummer Levon Helm moved to play mandolin, pianist Richard Manuel played drums, bassist Rick Danko played fiddle and producer John Simon played tuba, while organist Garth Hudson played upright acoustic piano in a ragtime fashion.
3. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down (Helm) – The song is a first-person narrative relating the economic and social distress experienced by the protagonist, a poor white Southerner, during the last year of the Civil War, when George Stoneman was raiding southwest Virginia. # 249 on Rolling Stone 500 greatest songs of all time.
4. When You Awake (Danko) – Co-written by Manuel, is a ballad. The lyrics concern a young boy who received advice from "Ollie," who may be a friend or relative. Ollie tells the boy how difficult life can be; that the boy is a fool, that "it's a mean old world," to "Be careful where you step and watch what you eat." The boy turns to his grandfather for comfort, His grandfather's words comfort the boy by assuring him of his love, but do not contradict the harsh words from Ollie.
5. Up On Cripple Creek (Helm) – single #25, Sung from the point of view of a truck driver who goes to Lake Charles, Louisiana, to stay with a local girl, Bessie, with whom he has a history. In the song, he gambles, drinks, listens to music, and spends time with "little Bessie,"
6. Whispering Pines (Manuel, Helm) – Co-written by Manuel, Ballad on the theme of loneliness.
7. Jemima Surrender (Helm) – Co-written by Helm, Starts B Side, The song's lyrics express the singer's sexual desire for the Jemima of the title.
8. Rockin’ Chair (Manuel) – Out at sea and wants to get home and retire.
9. Look Out Cleveland (Danko) – Begins with a boogie-woogie blues riff by pianist Manuel followed by Danko warning -- "Look out Cleveland, storm is coming through, And it’s runnin’ right up on you". However the Cleveland referenced in the song is not Cleveland, Ohio but likely Cleveland, Texas, a suburb of Houston which is also mentioned in the chorus .
10. Jawbone (Manuel) – Co-written by Manuel, About a criminal who is wanting to do more crime.
11. The Unfaithful Servant (Danko) – Lyrics concern a servant who offended the mistress of the house and is being sent away. The singer offers sympathy to the servant. The released version of the song uses the vocal Danko recorded on the first take. He recalls recording the vocal 30 or 40 more times before they decided to just use the first.
12. King Harvest (Has Surely Come) (Manuel) - Sung in the 1st person from the point of view of a poverty-stricken farmer *sharecropper” who, with increasing desperation, details the misfortune he has had: there was no rain and his crops died, his barn burned down, he has ended up on skid row.
Favorite Tracks – Up On Cripple Creek, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, The Unfaithful Servant
Overall Score – Trey & Shawn – 8.25/10
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