Original released on LP Capitol SKAO 2955
(US 1968, July 1)
None of the Band's previous work gave much of a clue about how they would sound when they released their first album in July 1968. As it was, "Music from Big Pink" came as a surprise. At first blush, the group seemed to affect the sound of a loose jam session, alternating emphasis on different instruments, while the lead and harmony vocals passed back and forth as if the singers were making up their blend on the spot. In retrospect, especially as the lyrics sank in, the arrangements seemed far more considered and crafted to support a group of songs that took family, faith, and rural life as their subjects and proceeded to imbue their values with uncertainty. Some songs took on the theme of declining institutions less clearly than others, but the points were made musically as much as lyrically. Tenor Richard Manuel's haunting, lonely voice gave the album much of its frightening aspect, while Rick Danko's and Levon Helm's rough-hewn styles reinforced the songs' rustic fervor. The dominant instrument was Garth Hudson's often icy and majestic organ, while Robbie Robertson's unusual guitar work further destabilized the sound. The result was an album that reflected the turmoil of the late '60s in a way that emphasized the tragedy inherent in the conflicts. "Music from Big Pink" came off as a shockingly divergent musical statement only a year after the ornate productions of Sgt. Pepper, and initially attracted attention because of the three songs Bob Dylan had either written or co-written. However, as soon as "The Weight" became a minor singles chart entry, the album and the group made their own impact, influencing a movement toward roots styles and country elements in rock. Over time, "Music from Big Pink" came to be regarded as a watershed work in the history of rock, one that introduced new tones and approaches to the constantly evolving genre. (William Ruhlmann in AllMusic)
DISCOGRAPHY
Formed 1967, Toronto,
Canada
Disbanded 1999
Rick Danko (born 1942 > died 1999): keyboards, organ,
piano, saxophone, horn, accordion
Levon Helm (born 1940 > died 2012): vocals, drums,
mandolin, guitar
Garth Hudson (born 1937): guitar, vocals, sitar, keyboards,
bass
Richard Manuel (born 1943 > died 1986): vocals, piano,
drums
Robbie Robertson (born 1943): guitar, vocals
Jim Weider (born 1951): guitar (1985-1999)
Randy Ciarlante: bass, drums, vocals (1990-1999)
Stan Szelest (born 1943 > died 1991): keyboards
(1990-1991)
Richard Bell (born 1946 > died 2007): keyboards
(1992-1999)
1965-10 Sg (CAN Atco 6383): A.
The Stones I Throw; B. He Don’t Love You (And He’ll Break Your Heart) (as Levon & the Hawks)
1968-07-01 LP MUSIC FROM BIG PINK (US Capitol
SKAO 2955): A1. Tears of Rage; A2. To Kingdom Come; A3. In a Station; A4.
Caledonia Mission; A5. The Weight; B1. We Can Talk; B2. Long Black Veil; B3.
Chest Fever; B4. Lonesome Suzie; B5. This Wheel’s on Fire; B6. I Shall Be
Released
1968-10 Sg (US Atco 6625): A.
Go Go Liza Jane; B. He Don’t Love You (And He’ll Break Your Heart) (as
Levon & the Hawks)
1969-09-22 LP THE BAND (US Capitol STAO 132):
A1. Across the Great Divide; A2. Rag Mama Rag; A3. The Night They Drove Old
Dixie Down; A4. When You Awake; A5. Up on Cripple Creek; A6. Whispering Pines;
B1. Jemima Surrender; B2. Rockin’ Chair; B3. Look Out Cleveland; B4. Jawbone;
B5. The Unfaithful Servent; B6. King Harvest (Has Surely Come)
1970-08-17 LP STAGE FRIGHT (US Capitol SW
425): A1. Strawberry Wine; A2. Sleeping; A3. Time to Kill; A4. Just Another Whistle
Stop; A5. All La Glory; B1. The Shape I’m In; B2. The W.S. Walcott Medicine
Show; B3. Daniel and the Sacred Harp; B4. Stage Fright; B5. The Rumor
1971-09-15 LP CAHOOTS (US Capitol ST 651): A1.
Life Is a Carnival; A2. When I Paint My Masterpiece; A3. Last of the
Blacksmiths; A4. Where Do You Go From Here?; A5. 4% Pantomime; A6. Shootout in
Chinatown; B1. The Moon Struck One; B2. Thinkin’ Out Loud; B3. Smoke Signal;
B4. Volcano; B5. The River Hymn
1972-08-15 LP ROCK OF AGES (LIVE) (US Capitol
SABB 11045): A1. Don’t Do It; A2. King Harvest (Has Surely Come); A3. Caledonia
Mission; A4. Get Up Jake; A5. The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show; B1. Stage Fright;
B2. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down; B3. Across the Great Divide; B4. This
Wheel’s on Fire; B5. Rag Mama Rag; C1. The Weight; C2. The Shape I’m In; C3.
Unfaithful Servant; C4. Life Is a Carnival; D1. The Genetic Method; D2. Chest
Fever; D3. (I Don’t Want To) Hang Up My Rock ‘n’ Roll Shoes
1973-10-15 LP MOONDOG MATINEE (US Capitol SW
11214): A1. Ain’t Got No Home; A2. Holy Cow; A3. Share Your Love; A4. Mystery
Train; Third Man Theme; B1. Promised Land; B2. The Great Pretender; B3. I’m
Ready; B4. Saved; B5. A Change Is Gonna Come
1975-11-01 LP NORTHERN LIGHTS – SOUTHERN CROSS (US
Capitol ST 11440): A1. Forbidden Fruit; A2. Hobo Jungle; A3. Ophelia; A4.
Acadian Driftwood; B1. Ring Your Bell; B2. It Makes No Difference; B3. Jupiter
Hollow; B4. Rags and Bones
1977-03-15 LP ISLANDS (US Capitol SO 11602):
A1. Right as Rain; A2. Street Walker; A3. Let the Night Fall; A4. Ain’t That a
Lot of Love; A5. Christmas Must Be Tonight; B1. Islands; B2. The Saga of Pepote
Rouge; B3. Georgia on My Mind; B4. Knockin’ Lost John; B5. Livin’ in a Dream
1993-11-02 CD JERICHO (US Pyramid R2 71564):
1. Remedy; 2. Blind Willie McTell; 3. The Caves of Jericho; 4. Atlantic City;
5. Too Soon Gone; 6. Country Boy; 7. Move to Japan; 8. Amazon (River of
Dreams); 9. Stuff You Gotta Watch; 10. Same Thing; 11. Shine a Light; 12. Blues
Stay Away From Me
1995-04 CD LIVE AT WATKINS GLEN (US Capitol
CDP 7243.8.31742..2.5): 1. Back to Memphis; 2. Endless Highway; 3. I Shall Be
Released; 4. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever; 5. Too Wet to Work; 6. Don’t Ya
Tell Henry; 7. The Rumor; 8. Time to Kill; 9. Jam; 10. Up on Cripple Creek
1996-02-27 LP HIGH ON THE HOG (US Pyramid R2
72404): 1. Stand Up; 2. Back to Memphis; 3. Where I Should Always Be; 4. Free
Your Mind; 5. Forever Young; 6. The High Price of Love; 7. Crazy Mama; 8. I
Must Love You Too Much; 9. She Knows; 10. Ramble Jungle
1998-09-15 LP JUBILATION (US River North
51416.1420.2): 1. Book Faded Brown; 2. Don’t Wait; 3. Last Train to Memphis; 4.
High Cotton; 5. Kentucky Downpour; 6. Bound by Love: 7. White Cadillac; 8. If I
Should Fail; 9. Spirit of the Dance; 10. You See Mee; 11. French Girls
2011 CD LIVE IN TOKYO 1983 (Netherlands Immortal IMA
104205): 1.1. Rag Mama Rag; 1.2. Long Black Veil; 1.3. Up on Cripple Creek;
1.4. The Shape I’m In; 1.5. It Makes No Difference; 1.6. Milkcow Boogie; 1.7.
Mystery Train; 1.8. King Harvest (Has Surely Come); 1.9. Voodoo Music; 1.10.
W.S. Walcott Medicine Show; 1.11. You Don’t Know Me; 1.12. Stage Fright; 2.1.
Caledonia; 2.2. Chest Fever; 2.3. Java Blues; 2.4. I Shall Be Released; 2.5.
Back to Memphis; 2.6. The Weight; 2.7. (I Don’t Want To) Hang Up MY Rock ‘n’
Roll Shoes; 2.8. Blaze of Glory; 2.9. Willie and the Hand Jive; 2.10. Ophelia
