University of Virginia Library

The Band Marches In
With Bold New Sound

By Carl Erickson

The Band has a new album out.
Once again they have sneaked up
on us without warning. Once again
they have created an astonishing
collection of music. All without a
full-page ad in Rolling Stone. Not
only that, but no one in the group
has played with Cream, or The
Blues Project, or Buffalo Springfield,
or even John Mayall.

In the days of the "super
groups" and the "super-hype"
which necessarily accompanies
them, The Band has remained aloof
but happy in its pink house in West
Saugerties, (Where?) New York.
They are a content group and they
insist on pleasing their listeners.

The songs are carefree, whimsical
tunes, mournful ballads, foot-stomping
rockers, and lazy back-beat
blues. The group has added an
effectively subdued brass section to
most of the songs and of course
there is the ever present sound of
Garth Hudson's driving piano and
organ. Long guitar and drum solos
are noticeably absent. Ego trips are
rejected by The Band. They play
together and have a lot of fun doing
so. The listener is the benefactor.

Sing Along

No song with the magnitude of
"The Weight" emerges from this
collection. You listen to the songs
and you find yourself singing along
or whistling or tapping your foot.
"Music From Big Pink" never
succeeded in this area. Take side
one, song two, "Rag Mama Rag."
Shades of the Big Bopper and a
"long-necked goose" emerge
backed by a rollicking honky tonk
piano.

"We could be relaxing in my
sleeping bag

But all you wanna do for me
mama is

Rag Mama Rag."

"The Night They Drove Old
Dixie Down" is about exactly what
the title says. A whining harmonica
sets the mood of longed for
happiness and tearful nostalgia.
"When You Awake" is a piece of
joyous sentimentality.

The music is carefree: the lyrics
evoke a feeling of childlike innocence.

"Oh, they told me, I'm a fool

So I walked on down the
road a mile

Went to the house that brings
a smile

Sat upon my grandpa's knee

And what do you think he
said to me"

"Up On Cripple Creek," a bayou
blues bit lauds the ever faithful
lover. The funky beat makes this
song a prime example of how a
tune can infect you until you are
continually humming or singing it.

Sincerity

"Rockin' Chair" is my personal
favorite a country folk tune that
smiles at the listener and dares him
to mutter the fatal word, romantic.
Somehow, only The Band can
successfully bring off a song that
dwells on a 73 year old man and his
desire to be back home in "old
Virginie." I have to believe it is The
Band's sincerity that does it. The
song is not embarrassing because
they really believe what they say.

"King Harvest," a hauntingly
mysterious song concludes the
album. Country, blues, and rock are
all combined to produce an intricate
pattern beautifully complemented
by a lazy yet driving vocal.

The more I listen to The Band
the more aware I become of the
intricacies, the subtleties of the
group. They are simple in a
complex way, but please pay no
attention to what I just wrote. Just
buy the album because it is
enjoyable and refreshing to listen
to. Become acquainted with a
group which plays to entertain. My
point is, the Mots have won the
pennant; The Band is playing; and
for a moment all's right in the
world.