Rock of Ages [Extra tracks, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

The Band | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 8, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Extra tracks, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B00005B4GB
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (68 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,337 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This 1972 live album is a watershed recording for the Band. Recorded the previous New Year's Eve, the two-disc concert recording presents the core quintet fortified by a five-man horn section overseen by New Orleans ace Allen Toussaint, and it is capped by a guest appearance by Bob Dylan. The brass and reed players incite the group to gut it out with more unrestrained fire than these road-hardened vets were accustomed to. The lion's share of the set selections are culled from the quintet's first four studio albums; only an ebullient cover of the Marvin Gaye hit "Don't Do It," the unremarkable original "Get Up Jake," Garth Hudson's mind-boggling organ improvisation "The Genetic Method," and an absolutely piercing version of Chuck Willis's "Hang Up My Rock and Roll Shoes" spice up the reliable album selections on disc one. But Levon Helm, Rick Danko, and Richard Manuel sound like they're having so much fun singing the likes of "King Harvest," "Stage Fright," "Caledonia Mission," and "Chest Fever" that it matters not that Robbie Robertson's writing muse had already pretty much dried up. The 2001 digitally remastered reissue includes an entire second disc of previously unreleased tracks, including four with Dylan at the mic. More than four years would pass before the Robertson version of the Band would call it a day following its star-studded Last Waltz, but, as a live entity, here is where they crested. --Steven Stolder

Product Description

Audio CD.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A GREAT Live Album July 9, 2004

By L. Lawhead

Format:Audio CD

Rock of Ages is a great live recording, capturing The Band during a New Year's Eve performance welcoming 1972. This has been a favorite live albums of mine since I discovered it in the mid 70's. This CD takes the original 2 album set and puts on a single CD. The re-mastered sound is great, and the performance is as vibrant now as it was then. One of the great parts of this set is the addition of a horn section on some of the songs. Both on upbeat songs such as "Don't Do It" and on quieter songs like "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down". I've always liked "Rock Of Ages" more than the farewell set "The Last Walz", probably because this is all The Band, as opposed to the guest appearances that define The Last Walz. As if the re-mastered original recording wasn't enough, this deluxe edition adds a whole additional CD of live material. This is a collection of songs the Band often played during this time frame, and includes some gems that weren't on the original recording ("Up On Cripple Creek" and "I Shall Be Released"). Plus 4 songs featuring Bob Dylan. The extra set is icing on the cake, and makes a great album even more essential. Highest recommendation!

34 of 38 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars "The Last Waltz" Was The Band's End--This Was Their Life January 1, 2004

By Bud Sturguess

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

The last four nights of 1971 witnessed a series of soulful performances by The Band at New York's Academy Of Music, the highlights of which were captured on "Rock Of Ages," an exceptionally unadulterated live recording. While many performers would come to rely on an entire orchestra in an attempt to make their live albums more appealing, The Band succeeded with only a modest horn section.
It sure isn't the sound quality that makes this album, but it's definitely the sincerity of every note. After that year's "Cahoots" was unjustly regarded as a disappointment, The Band reminded everyone why they could call themselves THE Band in the first place. They troop through their cannon of work with emotion and integrity. Though 'The Shape I'm In' may lack the grit of the studio version, and 'The Weight' may not be as well tuned as its counterpart, it is more than made up for by the loyally true feeling that is generated throughout "Rock Of Ages." The horns add a whole new musical layer to many songs; they give more sadness or emotion to the likes of 'The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,' and flavor on songs like 'Chest Fever;' the latter boasts keyboardist Garth Hudson's exciting, brilliant organ intro 'The Genetic Method,' which contains as many twists as there are crumbs in Hudson's beard. However, on some songs, the horns don't work so well and appear to overbearing. Meanwhile, 'Get Up Jake' is a fantastic track that was formerly only a B-side, while '(I Don't Want To) Hang Up My Rock 'n' Roll Shoes' preludes their next project, "Moondog Matinee."
Perfectly remastered, this 2001 edition of "Rock Of Ages" contains a bonus disc of unreleased cuts from the concert, including the essential hymnal 'I Shall Be Released' and four songs featuring a cameo by Bob Dylan.... It's a mystery why these tracks were not included on the original release, except for "Like A Rolling Stone" in which it appears Dylan forgets some of his lyrics, mumbling inaudibly through parts of the song (or is it just bad sound?). But despite its flaws, this is a potent and strong concert recording. "The Last Waltz" documented their end--"Rock Of Ages" is the essence of their musical spirit. Read more ›

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Band's Best November 27, 2001

By Gary Popovich VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

While other rock groups of the late `60's and `70's attempted to elevate their work through "rock operas" and live collaborations with various philharmonic orchestras, The Band understood the powerful subtlety of their American roots-based music. "Rock of Ages" showcases marvelous live performances of The Band's best material from their first four albums (including much of the essential "Music from Big Pink" and the self-titled second album), supercharged by an all-star horn section blowing arrangements penned by the great Allan Toussaint.

Disk One comprises the original release of "Rock of Ages," and is worth the price of the set on its own. The Band at its best was always about collaboration and teamwork (which, as drummer/vocalist Levon Helm recounts in his revealing autobiography, "This Wheel's on Fire," regrettably is missing from the groups later efforts), and each member contributes to the power of the performances, whether it's Richard Manuel's soulful vocals, Robbie Robertson's high-wire guitar solos, Garth Hudson's lunatic keyboard and woodwind genius, or the rock-solid rhythm and joyous singing of Helm and bassist Rick Danko. The Band & Co. maintain an admirable level of energy and control, drawing on history ("The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down "), vaudeville ("The W.S. Wallcott Medicine Show," "Rag Mama Rag") , pieces of Americana ("King Harvest," "Across the Great Divide"), and the human condition ("The Weight," "Unfaithful Servant," "The Shape I'm In") to convey their unique musical vision. By the time they shift into "Chest Fever" and "Rock and Roll Shoes," the performers and audience alike are dancing on winged feet....

Disk Two will probably be of more interest to hard-core fans of The Band and Bob Dylan - the inclusion of the Dylan tracks is more of historical interest, as he rarely performed live during the time of the recording. My favorite tracks here are "Time to Kill" and "Rockin' Chair", the latter featuring a trademark falsetto harmony shift by Manuel that is at once heartwarming and hair-raising.

For performance alone, "Rock of Ages" belongs in any serious rock and roll collection. Read more ›

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Skip "The Last Waltz"... THIS is the greatest live album!!! June 3, 2001

By Carlos R. Pastrana

Format:Audio CD

This is the greatest live album ever... These performances that are documented here find a band whose creative well had dried up (only one song from their then-recent release, "Cahoots"), yet at the same time, the great Allen Touissant's presence here rouses the great creative spirit that permeated The Band! I've always considered great live albums to be those in which the artists are able to effectively re-create or re-interpret themselves, and in "Rock of Ages", The Band's rootsy Civil War songcraft is given new Stax-soul life by the syncopathed call-and-response brass lyricism... "The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show", "Rag Mama Rag", and "Across The Great Divide" are standouts... "The Weight" is slowed down, underlining its sense of moral (pun-intended) weight... The only weakness is Dylan's New Year's Eve intervention, his voice sounds jagged, and The Band itself sounds tired and looking forward to the end of the tour... Nevertheless, Zimmy's mere presence IS monumental and historical, being removed from the legendary Basement Tapes by a mere few years.