MOONDOG MATINEE

Original Released on LP Capitol 11214 (1973/10)

By 1973, the Band were at a crossroads. Having summed up the first phase of their recording career with the Rock of Ages concert recording, Robbie Robertson flirted with an ambitious project inspired by Polish composer Krzystof Penderecki. But instead of forging ahead into uncharted territory, the quintet opted to hearken back to their roadhouse days with an LP that renovated oldies associated with the likes of Clarence "Frogman" Henry, the Platters, and Fats Domino. Given that Robertson's originals were no longer coming as fast and true as in the late '60s, a covers collection was a wise move. After all, Levon Helm, Rick Danko, and Richard Manuel were all vocalists who could tackle classics from the canons of Chuck Berry ("The Promised Land"), Bobby "Blue" Bland ("Share Your Love"), and Sam Cooke ("A Change Is Gonna Come") without straining under the weight of the originals. The 2001 reissue of this unaffected delight is fleshed out with a half-dozen outtakes that fit in nicely with the 10 tracks from the original LP. (Steven Stolder in Amazon)

It's almost a time machine of a recording; the five members revisit their days when they were known as The Hawks, dishing out some stunning testaments to their incredible power when interpereting any song they got their hands on.

For a Band that made a name on such fantastic original material, a cover album isn't entirely disappointing. "Moondog Matinee" nonetheless is an essential piece of The Band's catalog, and also serves as a time capsule and document of their musical history, as seen by the group themselves. But more importantly, it still carried their venture into the purpose of going against the grain of the psychedelic movement, despite the fact that the material wasn't theirs. (in Amazon)