The Band From Big Pink

Album cover artwork for Music from Big Pink, by Bob Dylan

The Band outside of Big Pink, near Woodstock, NY

Music from Big Pink is the debut studio album by The Band.  Released July 1, 1968, it employs a distinctive blend of country, rock, folk, classical, R&B, and soul.  The music was composed partly at Big Pink, a house shared by Rick Danko, Richard Manuel and Garth Hudson in West Saugerties, New York.  The album itself was recorded in studios in New York and Los Angeles in 1968.  Music from Big Pink is featured in its entirety here. The initial critical reception to the album was positive, though sales were slim; Al Kooper's rave review of the LP in Rolling Stone helped to draw public attention to it.  The Rolling Stone review referred to them as The band from Big Pink instead of just The Band (hence the title of this page).  The fact that Bob Dylan co-wrote three songs on the album also attracted attention.  In 1968, The Weight peaked at #63 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart in the US.  The song was a bigger hit elsewhere, peaking at #35 in Canada, and #21 in the UK.  The Weight gained widespread popularity, from The Band's performance of it at the Woodstock Festival along with its inclusion in the film Easy Rider, though it was omitted from the soundtrack due to licensing issues.  A cover version by the band Smith was included on the soundtrack album instead.

Iconic photo of a rustic looking band from their second album

The Band's music fused many elements: primarily old country music and early rock and roll, though the rhythm section often was reminiscent of Stax or Motown-style rhythm and blues, and Robertson cites Curtis Mayfield and the Staple Singers as major influences, resulting in a synthesis of many musical genres.  Singers Manuel, Danko, and Helm each brought a distinctive voice to The Band: Helm's Southern voice had more than a hint of country, Danko sang in a tenor, and Manuel alternated between falsetto and baritone.  The singers regularly blended in harmonies.  Though the singing was more or less evenly shared among the three men, both Danko and Helm have stated that they saw Manuel as the Band's "lead" singer. The Band has influenced numerous bands, songwriters, and performers, from the Grateful Dead, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Eric Clapton.  The album Music from Big Pink, in particular, is credited with contributing to Eric Clapton's decision to leave the super group Cream.  In his introduction of The Band during the Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary Concert, Clapton announced that in 1968 he'd heard the album, and it changed my life.  With the band, it was not about the singer, drummer or guitar player.  Rather, with The Band, it was about the song.

Illustration by Dale Stephanos

Favorite lyric from The Weight I pulled into Nazareth, was feelin' about half past dead I just need some place where I can lay my head "Hey, mister, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?" He just grinned and shook my hand, "no" was all he said Take a load off, Fanny Take a load for free Take a load off, Fanny And (and) (and) you put the load right on me (You put the load right on me) I picked up my bag, I went lookin' for a place to hide When I saw Carmen and the Devil walkin' side by side I said, "Hey, Carmen, come on let's go downtown" She said, "I gotta go but my friend can stick around" Go down, Miss Moses, there's nothin' you can say It's just ol' Luke and Luke's waitin' on the Judgment Day "Well, Luke, my friend, what about young Anna Lee?" He said, "Do me a favor, son, won't you stay and keep Anna Lee company?" Crazy Chester followed me and he caught me in the fog He said, "I will fix your rack if you'll take Jack, my dog" I said, "Wait a minute, Chester, you know I'm a peaceful man" He said, "That's okay, boy, won't you feed him when you can" Catch a cannon ball now to take me down the line My bag is sinkin' low and I do believe it's time To get back to Miss Fanny, you know she's the only one Who sent me here with her regards for everyone Take a load off, Fanny Take a load for free Take a load off, Fanny And (and) (and) you put the load right on me (You put the load right on me)

Wanderin' Spirit
November, 2014
"The Band"

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