Customer Reviews

Northern Lights Southern Cross

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

How I wish this had been the Band's last studio release, as it would have been a triumphant end to their tenure. Also, this album sounds more late 70's due to Garth's experimentation rather than the bland -Islands- that marked their departure (yes, it does have some good songs). Let's cut through the pork, firstly, as it must be recognized that It Makes No Difference is one of the finest love songs ever recorded. Ever. Period. Brings a tear to the eye every time, as it has struck a personal chord as it reminds me of an up-and-down relationship I stuggled to maintain control of, moslty due to my own mistakes. Danko's heartfelt vocals accompanied by Robertson's twangy, tearing-at-your-heartstrings solo make this an epic. This and Acadian Driftwood, a bittersweet and historic offering about the the boys native Canadaian land, represent the Band's most poignant songwriting. Not to say that other previously released material such as The Weight and Stage Fright don't penetrate deep into one's consciousness, but those two songs are fantastic. The rest of the album is pretty good too. Ophelia will occasionally get play from the local classic rock station, its a funky classic. I also enjoy Hobo Jungle and Jupiter Hollow. I have this album on vinal, but bought the re-release on disc a few years ago. The two added tracks, Twilight, and Christmas Must Be Tonight are excellent, especially Twilight. I cannot be pushed to say that this effort matches that of Big Pink or Stage Fright, but it is on the same plateau. A collective masterpiece that showcases the unique brand of folk-rock only the Band could bring.

"Northern Light, Southern Cross" was the last Band album that I really got into. Their first 3 albums were immediate favourites, but "Cahoots" was a disappointment and I did not like "Moondog Matinee" ( all old covers ) at all, when it was released in 1973; later I have come to appreciate that album too. I actually thought it was over with the Band. So I guess I never really gave "Northern Light, Southern Cross" the chance it needed and deserved, when I was first introduced to it around 1978. The songs somehow did not appeal to me at the time.

Luckily with the re-releases of all the Band`s original albums ( with bonus-tracks and great informative booklets ) I chose to give this album a new chance. Now I realize that this album is really among the Band`s finest; which says a lot!!

The original album consisted of only 8 tracks, which was due to the relatively long playing time of the songs. They recorded 9 songs for the album, but the great track "Twilight" never made it to the album, but was released as a 1976 single instead. The version included here is not the finished version, but an early take of it. "Christmas Must Be Tonight" is also an early version of the song; to get these 2 great songs in their finished shape, go for the re-release of
"Islands".

The opener "Forbidden Fruit" is a typical Band-rocker sung by Levon Helm, in his best "Stage Fright" style; this is one of the longest tracks and it features some of Robertson`s rare guitar-solo work. Sadly some Band members did not take the warning in the song seriously enough.

The ballad "Hobo Jungle" is beautifully sung by Richard Manuel; a song that is somehow often overlooked. One of my favourites on the album.

"Ophelia" was also released as a single and was actually a minor hit (#73) - it`s a song written in 1920-30`s style.

"Acadian Driftwood" is one the standouts. Great melody and the blend of the three great Band voices is a thrill. On their early albums this was one of their trademarks. The song tells the story of the Acadians, a native people, who was removed from their home to another place in America. A moving story told over many verses.

"Ring Your Bell" is sung by Manuel with Danko and Helm helping on the chorus.

"It Makes No Difference" is another standout. Danke delivers one his best vocal performances on a Band record. Again all three great voices join in the chorus.

"Jupiter Hollow" is the one track that I never really got. It`s a kind of funky tune sung by Helm.

"Rags and Bones" again, sung by Manuel, features another original Robertson guitar-solo.

Both bonus-tracks are good, though especially "Christmas Must Be Tonight" is not as good as the finished version that can be found on the "Islands" re-issue.

A great album, where all three great vocalists show to their best advantage, both individually and collectively

This great album is a prime example of The Band doing what they did at their best. There's not a dud song throughout; in fact, "Acadian Driftwood" is a prime contender for the best song Robbie Robertson ever wrote and it's given a moving, vivid performance here. "Ophelia," "Ring Your Bell" and "Forbidden Fruit" have those funky rhythms and backbeats burning to perfection, while "It Makes No Difference" contains Rick Danko's most heartfelt singing ever and great soloing from Robbie and Garth Hudson. Hudson continues to be the glue that holds everybody together, whether on horns, organ or synthesiser, but everyone is aces here. The two extra tracks included on this recent CD re-release don't add or detract from the original contents. In sum, a damn fine album, well worth your money and ears.

Robbie Robertson may have tricked everyone into believing that his writing muse had dried up, but the fact is that it just hadn't approved itself for public consumption up until this recording. This album covers everything and shows why Robertson may well be the greatest songwriter ever. Depth, meaning, and characterization? They are here in excess--and that's a good thing. "Forbidden Fruit" is a smart opening song that really grabs you with a rock and roll feel. "Hobo Jungle" is a magical tear-jerker that won't let you be. "OPHELIA" is a lot of fun. "ACADIAN DRIFTWOOD" is a history piece, the very best ever of its type. "RING YOUR BELL" is hilarious and smoky. "IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE" is breathtakingly beautiful, saddening and tearful, but equally relatable. "JUPITER HOLLOW" is one of the most brilliant songs I have ever heard, a science fictional fantasy piece that puts other electronic music to shame. "RAGS AND BONES" is probably the weakest, but even it is terrific as it tells of days gone by. This album has everything about life in it, from the fantasies to the heartbreaking realities, to the trials and the joys, and while it may be depressing and a little darker than THE BAND, it is so compelling that none of that really matters. The Band was the greatest band in history, so I suggest you get this album as soon as possible and give it a CLOSE LISTEN. YOU NEED IT!!!!

It is well known that by 1975 when this album was recorded, The Band was much less a band than they used to be, not due to loss of talent, but loss of the easygoing friendships that had fueled the first two albums. What a showing they still make.

To me Richard Manuel sang some of the greatest performances of his life on this album, for instance check out: Hobo Jungle, Rags & Bones, Acadian Driftwood. Levon and Rick also hand in some fine performances, Levon particularly on Forbidden Fruit, Rick's Swan Song is most definately It Makes No Difference. Robbie provides some very good lyrics for the whole album. Garth is brilliant of course, "ain't it easy when you know how" .

My only complaint is it is just not long enough, 8 songs on the original, 10 on the remastered edition. I grew up in a house full of Classic Rock "N Roll. When I heard The Band, I was mesmerized by how each song can sound so different from each other but they never lose that tight ensemble sound. To me Richard Manuel is the greatest singer in the History of Popular Music.

A must purchase for any fan of The Band, or any fan of Truly Soulful, meaningful Roots Music.

While I think that The Band's final album, "Islands", is a good album, I have trouble classifying it as one of their own because they were under terrible time constraints and contractual obligations (not to mention that Last Waltz debacle) that prevented them from delving deep into their musical and vocal talents. "Northern Lights-Southern Cross" is by far their best studio album since "The Band". Each track has a distinct and sweet flavor to it. "Forbidden Fruit" features some of Levon Helm's best vocals, "Hobo Jungle" is one of Richard Manuel's finest vehicles, both vocally and musically, "Ophelia" is another great bluesy song from The Band, "Acadian Driftwood" is the groups greatest song from any album...enough cannot be said about it, "Ring Your Bell" is a cool song with a great beat, "It Makes No Difference" nearly makes me cry each time I hear it, "Jupiter Hollow" has great vocals from each of their singers, and "Rags and Bones" has another great vocal performance from Manuel. If you're a fan of this great group, this is a can't miss. If you've never heard The Band, I suggest "Rock of Ages", "Last Waltz", or either of their first two studio albums before this priceless piece of music. R.I.P. Rick and Richard

I disagree with the reviewers who find this album too "70s" -- yes, the production and Garth's use of the Moog and other synths peg the recording date of the record -- but why is that presumed to be a bad thing?

I love the way these songs flow seamlessly from one to another -- the songs all deal with loss, upheaval, movement, endurance, cycles of joy and sadness, all beautifully pieced together. The liner notes on the reissue really add to the significance and enjoyment of these songs; I love the way Robbie wrote "Ophelia" and "Forbidden Fruit" using older, discarded chord progressions. Danko knocks one of the park with his tortured, sensitive reading of "It Makes No Difference," and personally I enjoy Garth's enveloping and intricate synth work on "Jupiter Hollow." Of course Acadian Driftwood is a classic story of uprooting, perseverance, and survival, and even the unadorned and simple Christmas song tacked on to the end works for me.

One of the Band's best and a great way to go out (I prefer to ignore Islands....).

The strongest Band album since "Stage Fright", "Northern Lights, Southern Cross" was The Band's first studio album in four years. Better than "Cahoots" and "Moondog Matinee", it is really The Band's last hurrah, although the mediocre "Islands" did come out in 1977, after the Canadian-American outfit had stopped touring for good. (Robbie Robertson says about "Islands": "It wasn't even an album, we were just trying to get out of a contract!")

"Northern Lights, Southern Cross" features the same dense, muscular arrangements as previous albums, anchored by Levon Helm's supple, versatile drumming, and the role of lead vocalist is still passed around between Helm, Danko, and Manuel. The only notable difference is that Garth Hudson had partially abandoned his Lowrey organ in favour of synthesizers (that may sound ominous, but it really isn't).

Robbie Robertson is credited as the sole composer on all eight tracks on the original LP, as well as the newly added bonus cuts, and the many highlights include the rollicking "Ophelia", Rick Danko's excellent performance of the mournful ballad "It Makes No Difference", and the lyrical, acoustic folk-rock of "Hobo Jungle".
But the album's centrepiece has to be the epic "Acadian Driftwood", a nearly seven minute folkish narrative which chronicles the story of the Acadians, a people exiled from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in the 1750s. It is a superbly evocative masterpiece, one of Robbie Robertson's very best songs.

Not as highly touted as "Music From Big Pink" or "The Band", "Northern Lights, Southern Cross" is nevertheless one of The Band's classic albums. Being the Band's fourth best record really isn't half bad, you know.

I bought this album right after it was originally released in 1975 (that is, a vinyl) and have been knocked out for 25 years. It changed my world of music completely and forever. Although largely underrated, this is one of the best works by The Band and surely my favorite, and perhaps the best place to start if you have unfortunately never heard their music before. Stand-out tracks are It Makes No Difference, which is the best recording by late Rick Danko, Hobo's Jungle, which features a gorgeous reading by late Richard Manuel, and Acadian Driftwood that showcases the best of this great band. There is not a single song that is under per. A Definite Buy.

After spending most of 1973 and 1974 recording and touring with Bob Dylan, The Band headed back into the studio for their follow-up to Moondog Matinee and their first album of original material since 1971's Cahoots. The resulting album, Northern Lights - Southern Cross is a solid, workman like effort that has some great songs. "Ophelia" is an excellent song as the stirring "Forbidden Fruit". "Arcadian Driftwood" and "Hobo Jungle" are good as well, but the standout track is the gorgeous "It Makes No Difference". Rick Danko provides the best vocals of his career on the track and it is a gem. Robbie Robertson is back on his writing game after some down time and Garth Hudson adds a Moog synthesizer to his repertoire and it adds an airy sound to the album.