Classic Albums: The
Band – The Band (Eagle/Remaster)
Picture: C+
Sound: B- Extras: D Main Program: B-
In a world of The Beatles, Psychedelic Rock and social
unrest, The Band come together in Woodstock, New York in that most psychedelic
year of 1967, yet their music was from a more familiar world. Their debut album was Music from Big Pink,
a 1968 release actually available as a 5.1 DVD-Audio from EMI, making a
respectable impression. But it was
their self-titled sophomore effort that really put them on the map, covered
here in this nice reissue of the early Classic Albums series installment
about it.
Having worked with Bob Dylan, they became so synonymous
with him that they were initially thought of as his session singers and backing
band for some of his key projects, but Robbie Robertson (guitar), Rick Danko
(bass), Levon Helm (drums), Richard Manuel and Garth Hudson (both keyboards)
were so talented, they could have all had their own bands. Instead, they formed a special kind of
supergroup without trying. Classics
included Up On Cripple Creek, which remains their biggest national hit, The
Night They Drove Dixie Down, The Weight and Rockin’ Chair are
among the remarkable songs that filled this second album. Not only were they doing Rock, Country Rock
and with an emphasis on acoustics, but the filling of an Appalachian influence
and the distinctive talents of each member made it the kind of stunner the
record industry used to offer all the time.
My only complaint is that the 75 minutes is just not
enough to totally explore the album or this band, but what is here is a strong
and early installment in the remarkable Classic Albums series, so if it
is a bit rough, that is just par for the course in the early shows. It helped make the series possible and a
fine piece of music documentary just the same.
The full frame 1.33 X 1 image was produced on analog
videotape and is slightly better here than in the original cardboard snapper
DVD release by Rhino back in the late 1990s.
The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo replaces the PCM 2.0 Stereo from that disc,
and though that might have been richer in sound, this has enough Pro Logic
surrounds to make that matter less. The
only extra is a text discography, but that is all, though the interviews with
Bernie Taupin, Eric Clapton and the late, great George Harrison are a plus.
Of course, Martin Scorsese’s The Last Waltz (1978,
reviewed elsewhere on this site as part of the MGM Scorsese set) film of their
1976 break-up makes for an interesting comparison, getting more to the heart of
what made them great. Of course, it is
a concert film, but Scorsese goes beyond that convention to get into the heart
of The Band and its members. This Classic
Albums show is a great companion to it; pretty much covering what this later
show missed, or did not need to repeat.
Ironically, after watching this, one understands Scorsese’s love of
their music and why he still has Robertson work with him on his feature films. If you missed this before, catch it soon.
- Nicholas Sheffo
