Music From Big Pink [Import]

The Band | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 11, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: EMI Import
• ASIN: B0000088EC
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,509,880 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Tears of Rage

2. To Kingdom Come

3. In a Station

4. Caledonia Mission

5. The Weight

6. We Can Talk

7. Long Black Veil

8. Chest Fever

9. Lonesome Suzie

10. This Wheel's on Fire

11. I Shall Be Released

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

Music from Big Pink stands as one of those rare albums that turned the rock world on its axis. On this record released at the height of the psychedelic revolution, the five members of the Band (along with producer-sideman John Simon) eschewed spacey diversions, opting for an earthier route. Soon enough, wah-wah pedals and tape loops were making way for fiddles and mandolins. The group's most democratic effort (Robbie Robertson would soon emerge as the ensemble's mouthpiece), the debut's 11 songs come from Robertson, bassist Rick Danko, and pianist Richard Manual, who contributes two songs and cowrote the doleful opener, "Tears of Rage," with Bob Dylan. Manual's role would diminish from this point hence and the balance he brought to the quintet would be missed. Many would argue that Big Pink's sequel, The Band, represents their crowing achievement. The truth is, Big Pink is the purest distillation of the Band, and their preeminent recording. --Steven Stolder --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

Limited edition mid-priced reissue of their debut album, atop 30 album when first released for Capitol in 1968. 11tracks, including the classic 'The Weight'. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars King of debut albums, October 15, 2000

By 

"redcraze" (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews

It's not hard to see why even giants like Eric Clapton and George Harrison freaked when they first heard the Big Pink acetate. (Jimi and Ringo were there, too, apparently.) Was the subsequent and exponential improvement in their own songwriting mere coincidence? Unlikely. Clapton has said it changed his attitude to music altogether, prompting him to kill off the supergroup thing and put out the magnificent Layla anonymously. And the bootlegs I've heard of George running through All Things Must Pass and Not Guilty at Abbey Road or Twickenham have 'The Band' stamped all over them.

Someone once said that Levon Helm was the only drummer who could make you cry, and you can hear just what he meant on the opening track, the Manuel/Dylan tune Tears of Rage, as moving a song as you'll ever hear. Richard could sing a bit.

Dylan's contribution also pays big dividends on This Wheel's On Fire, co-written with Danko. Both these tracks can be found on the Basement Tapes, with Dylan singing, and as good as those versions are, they are easily surpassed here.

Manuel's We Can Talk is a personal favourite - the wonky harmony vocals, Danko's weird bouncy bass line and Garth Hudson's inimitable keyboards are all typical and marvelous - but Robbie Robertson writes himself into rock history with the almost epic The Weight.

Big Pink was nothing like anything else that was being made in the late '60s - there's barely a guitar solo in sight - and though the follow-up eponymous album was probably even better, this remains the definitive debut album. (Not that I've heard every debut album there ever was, but what the hell.)

Essential.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Top Ten of All Time, December 8, 2002

By 

Tom Kimball (Vermont) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Music From Big Pink (Audio CD)

This is one of the greatest albums ever made! Eric Clapton left Cream after hearing this album because he was so disgusted with what he was doing in comparison to the band.
The Band captured a totally unique sound in this album combining roots music, with their funky genius and three skilled vocalists. And they put it together with a structured looseness that adds to the rootsy feel. If you don't own this album then you're missing out on the greatest american album ever recorded!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars anything less than 5 stars is unthinkable, April 29, 2000

By 

Tony - See all my reviews

This review is from: Music From Big Pink (Audio CD)

This album is best known for "The Weight". The organ intro to "Chest Fever" will floor you.Each song is like a little story.I don't have a life-changing-related story about this album, I just want to say that among everything else that came out of 1968,this is great music. I absolutely recommend.