William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide

The Band's first album, Music From Big Pink, seemed to come out of nowhere, with its ramshackle musical blend and songs of rural tragedy. The Band, the group's second album, was a more deliberate and even more accomplished effort, partially because the players had become a more cohesive unit and partially because guitarist Robbie Robertson had taken over the songwriting, writing or co-writing all 12 songs. Though a Canadian, Robertson focused on a series of American archetypes from the union worker in "King Harvest (Has Surely Come)" and the retired sailor in "Rockin' Chair" to, most famously, the Confederate Civil War observer Virgil Cane in "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down." The album effectively mixed the kind of mournful songs that had dominated Music From Big Pink, here including "Whispering Pines" and "When You Awake" (both co-written and sung by haunting tenor Richard Manuel), with rollicking uptempo numbers like "Rag Mama Rag" and "Up on Cripple Creek" (both sung by Levon Helm and released as singles, with "Up on Cripple Creek" making the Top 40). As had been true of the first album, it was the Band's sound that stood out the most, from Helm's (and occasionally Manuel's) propulsive drumming to Robertson's distinctive guitar fills and the endlessly inventive keyboard textures of Garth Hudson, all topped by the rough, expressive singing of Manuel, Helm, and Rick Danko that mixed leads with harmonies. The arrangements were simultaneously loose and assured, giving the songs a timeless appeal, while the lyrics continued to paint portraits of 19th century rural life (especially Southern life, as references to Tennessee and Virginia made clear), its sometimes less savory aspects treated with warmth and humor. The 2000 CD reissue featured seven bonus tracks.

Steven Stolder, Amazon.com

Popularly known as the "Brown Album," this is the collection people first think of when this august outfit's name is mentioned. The four-parts Canadian, one-part Arkansan quintet's sophomore effort boasts more soon-to-be-staples than any other Band studio recording, what with the likes of the Joan Baez hit "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," "Across the Great Divide," and "Up on Cripple Creek" standing out among the dozen uniformly memorable tracks. Lesser-known group originals such as the achingly lovely "Whispering Pines" and the cryptic "Unfaithful Servant," however, play crucial roles in giving this 1969 classic its unique flavor. Given the high standard established by The Band and its better-still 1968 predecessor, Music from Big Pink, it's not surprising the Band peaked early as a recording group. As with all the 2000 Band reissues, this remastered reissue boasts a number of bonus tracks, though all but "Get Up Jake" are alternate takes of album selections.

Mick Fitzsimmons, BBC

The Band’s debut album, Music From Big Pink, was a defiant riposte to the prevailing mood for psychedelic excess. Its downhome charms where fairly ramshackle in places, though. It was on their second album that RobbieRobertson, Levon Helm, RichardManuel, RickDanko and Garth Hudson finally refined their sound into an American archetype and created one of the most influential albums of its day.

Showing the dazzling interplay and instrumental prowess honed by years on the road, The Band also boasted some of Robertson’s most stunning songs. Like fellow Canadian Neil Young, Robertson exhibited a fascination for American history, particularly the deep south. No doubt informed by their travels across the juke joints of the region as backing band for RonnieHawkins, Robertson created a semi mythic vision of faded grandeur on The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, which southern man Levon Helm brought vividly to life. The Band’s organic textures of sawing fiddles, tinkling mandolins and parping horns were also a far cry from the vogue for studio trickery.

The album was recorded in a house rented from SammyDaviesJr, the group setting up a recording studio in a pool room. While this should have meant the ambience was relaxed, the late delivery of the mixing desk meant the album had to be recorded quickly, helped along by a supply of artificial stimulants to keep the musicians going through the lengthy sessions. However, the band found time to fool around on Rag Mama Rag, swapping instruments playfully in the manner of BobDylan’s riotous sessions for Rainy Day Woman #12 and 35.

Released in the first month of the 1970s, The Band effectively closed the door on 60s excess and chimed perfectly with the back to basics approach of the nascent singer songwriter and country rock movements. It remains The Band’s finest moment.

The Band: Levon Helm (vocals, guitar, mandolin, drums); Robbie Robertson (vocals, guitar); Rick Danko (vocals, violin, trombone, bass); Richard Manuel (vocals, harmonica, baritone saxophone, piano, drums); Garth Hudson (accordion, soprano, tenor & baritone saxophones, trumpet, piano, organ, Clavinet). Additional personnel: John Simon (tuba, horns, electric piano). Producers: The Band, John Simon. Reissue producers: Cheryl Pawelski, Andrew Sandoval. Engineers include: Robbie Robertson, John Simon, Joe Zagarino. Recorded in Hollywood, California in 1969. Includes liner notes by Barney Hoskyns.

Initially renowned as Bob Dylan's backing group, the Band emerged from the singer's shadow to proclaim a distinctive talent. Drawing upon a musical canon embracing soul, country, folk, and rock 'n' roll, the quintet created a unique sound that was quintessentially American. Its rustic qualities were enhanced by principal songwriter Robbie Robertson, who created vistas suggestive of a pre-industrial age, and as such, captured the restlessness of the late '60s without the need for explicit manifestos. Expressive singing, sublime melodies and telepathic musicianship instils THE BAND with quality, but its adult themes and perspectives ensure an absolute timelessness. An all-time critics' favorite.

7 Bonus Tracks

Tony Sherman, Entertainment Weekly

Big Pink ('68) and The Band ('69) are two of the best albums in rock history. These remasterings sound incredibly rich, and each has an alternate take.

Mike Bell, Jam! Music

Thirty years after its initial release, Capitol Records has done music lovers a great service and re-issued -- digitally remastered with nine bonus tracks -- The Band's eponymous sophomore effort.

Considered by most fans and historians to be the pioneering country rock act's masterpiece, it's refreshing to hear that even today it's an unbelievably well-realized and stunning collection of songs.

This second outing -- Capitol is re-issuing four early studio discs which feature The Band's original lineup -- finds the sextet of Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, Levon Helm, Rick Danko, John Simon and Robbie Robertson at their tightest and most assured in songwriting (for the most part courtesy Robertson) and performance. As such, it sounds effortless in its charm.

For those hearing the album in its entirety for the first time, other than radio faves The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down and Up On Cripple Creek (The Band's only Top 30 hit), the album is riddled with brilliant rural rock tracks that undeniably helped pave the way for everyone from The Eagles to Wilco. There's the honky swagger of Across the Great Divide, the jug band swing of Rag Mama Rag, the weepy Neil Young-ian majesty of the piano-led Whispering Pines -- and on and on.

For those looking to update their collection, the remastered sound is gorgeous. While there's something to be said for the snap, crackle, pop of the old vinyl copy, to hear the music in its pristine state is a revelation. New sounds jump out of the mix and pull you deeper inside than ever before.

As for the bonus songs, they're just alternate takes and outtakes that act as little more than a curio for the diehard fan.

The same can't be said for this seminal record -- it's classic rock in the purest sense of the term.

David Fricke, Rolling Stone

Finally reissued with a touch of class, Big Pink and The Band are two of rock’s perfect albums, immaculate reflections of their time and master fictions told with the spit and color of a fur trapper’s memoirs.

Mike Lipton, Yahoo! Music

The classic Band record that crystallized its loose, arcane Americana country funk. If this had been the group's only release, the Band would still have remained one of rock's most influential groups.

© Frank Steven Groen