The Band
The Band (The brown album)

THE REVIEW

There are albums that arrive and leave no trace. There are albums that are hailed as masterpieces, only to be forgotten as the years go by. There are albums that are born immortal, marking history and influencing entire generations. These are the records that are a pleasure to own. Those records you proudly show to your friends, flaunting your original version found at the local market for a few bucks.

The Band, better known to Robertson's fans as “The Brown Album”, is one of these. It’s a tumultuous history for the Canadian-American band, born from the ribs of a band formed by Ronnie Hawkins back in 1958, and evolved to reach the formation assumed in this album just ten years later, the year they gave birth to their first studio work: “Music from Big Pink.”

An album of great depth, a smashing debut by these 5 versatile musicians, yet imperfect and raw enough not to be elevated to a “cornerstone” of music. The following year they tried again and it was a masterpiece. 12 tracks (which can become 19 if you have the super-mega-deluxe-extra version from 2000) that illuminate an hour of your life with the most classic rock-blues you can find. 12 tracks etched into vinyl with guitar and violin that will become a “must” for every “American rock” enthusiast.

Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel alternate with infinite mastery on an equally infinite series of instruments, from trumpet to piano, passing through organs, bass, violins. Yet always preserving that folk-rock air that is the fundamental soul of “The Band.” Robbie Robertson's voice does the rest, warm, American, damn American. The blues and rock'n'roll influences are felt in many of their pieces, from “Rag Mama Rag”, anthology country blues (country piano, trombone, violins, all seasoned with a catchy rhythm that makes you snap your fingers in time without meaning to) to “Up on Cripple Creek”, “Jemima Surrender”, “Look Out Cleveland”. The five also allow themselves poignant moments of melancholy in “Whispering Pines”, a refined ballad in the arrangements that for four minutes cradles the ears and gently caresses them, warming them with its warm and humid breath.
The listening ends with the rhythm & blues of “King Harvest [Has Surely Come]”. Accordion in the background, guitar barely plucked in pure “old” R&B style and rhythmic alternations in abundance.

In short, a piece of history and culture to own. Naturally, this too should be on vinyl; at least if you want to fully enjoy the warmth of Robertson's vocal cords and the simple and sophisticated soundscape that “The Band” has woven for us in these 60 minutes of musical passion.

[I’m listing the tracklist due to access issues with the freedb page]

1. Across the Great Divide
2. Rag Mama Rag
3. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
4. When You Awake
5. Up On Cripple Creek
6. Whispering Pines
7. Jemima Surrender
8. Rockin' Chair
9. Look Out, Cleveland
10. Jawbone
11. The Unfaithful Servant
12. King Harvest [Has Surely Come]