I just discovered The Band and I'm in love

[MsAnthropy]

Where have I been for the last 35 years and how could I have missed them? They're FANTASTIC!

[Arugula Latte]

1. Well, why don't you tell us which band you're talking about...

Kidding!

Yes. They're classics.

Now I'm going to go take a load off ...

[MsAnthropy]

6. Absolutely timeless music!

[johnnie]

2. Get "The Last Waltz"

You have to get the DVD. That concert will blow you away. Plus you get to see some other pretty good performances by a lot of other people. It is well worth the money.

[MsAnthropy]

7. I will! They sound like they play for the love of it

and this was back when music was fun before the corporations took over.

[tyedyeto]

3. I've loved them all these years...

Since you have discovered them, you'll need to watch 'The Last Waltz'. Good movie with The Band and other rockers of the day (sort of The Band's swan song)

[MsAnthropy]

9. They were just what I needed as an antidote to the angry,

whiny music today.

[madrchsod]

4. get the album "last waltz"

and spend the money for the dvd of the thier last concert. just got a "new" old vinyl of the album- ebay is great for finding vinyl. ya they are great....

[streblin]

8. really

i've got nothing but vinyls of the band, their originals and have been in protective cases since the 70's... just curious what are they going for??? all my records are in mint shape with original posters which came with the albums, are they really worth something???

[swag]

5. Levon Helm, Robbie Robertson, and Garth Hudson are all still alive,

I think. Levon has been pretty sick, but apparently did one of his surreal performances up in Woodstock about a month or two ago. Brother of a friend who went said it an amazing night.

Sad that Richard Manuel and Rick Danko are both dead.

[MsAnthropy]

10. It's a tragedy that they quit playing together so soon

I think they were one of those magical flukes in the music business that will never be duplicated.

[swag]

14. The history of the Band is most interesting.

I second or third the "Last Waltz" recommendation.

They're also quite prominent in the new-to-DVD (and not much to my liking, but might be to yours) "Festival Express".

[redqueen]

11. Oh yes, they are.

Check out Robbie Robertson's solo recording of Broken Arrow... one of my favoritest songs ever.

[MsAnthropy]

12. I will, thanks!

I have lots of new purchases to make! YAAAAY!

[On the Road]

13. As You Can Probably Tell from My Sig Line,

I couldn't agree more. I got the brown album when I was 16 and it became THE record of my high school years. You rarely hear their songs played on the radio. The range of instruments, the arrangements, and the images of history and Americana really floors me. I've never heard anything like them. And who else writes songs about the French and American Indian War (Acadian Driftwood)?

If you're considering buying more CDs, I hope you don't mind some unsolicited input: The Brown album ("The Band"), Music from Big Pink, and Stage Fright are all classics. Cahoots is disappointing (although some people like it). Northern Lights, Southern Cross and Islands are less well known but have some outstanding songs (including my favorite, Hobo Jungle, and a wonderful Christmas song).

As you may know, years after The Last Waltz, The Band eventually reformed without Robbie Robertson and Richard Manuel. Their first release, Jericho, is actually quite good, but their two others (High on the Hog and Jubilation) are not recommended.

If you like Dylan, "The Basement Tapes" and "Planet Waves" were recorded with The Band and have some outstanding material, some of it very unusual sounding ("Ain't No More Cane"). Robbie Robertson's first release (self-titled) is excellent, very moody and atmospheric. I bought a Rick Danko solo in Woodstock NY which is also quite good. Levon Helms is OK -- more on the country side. And the multitalented Garth Hudson -- he of the french horns and Hammond organ -- just released a solo piece which I haven't heard yet and is supposedly on tour.

I actually don't listen to the compilations that much. What are your favorite songs from The Last Waltz?

[MsAnthropy]

16. I just bought the Greatest Hits CD and have played it 20 times

so now I'm going to buy all the individual CDs to see what else they did. I love every single song on the Greatest Hits CD. There is so much unrestrained joy in their playing and singing and the musical innovations are incredible, like the Froggy voice in "Ain't Got a Home". All the little touches that each of them brought to it--how so many multi-talented people could come together at one moment in time is just amazing.

[On the Road]

19. It Must Have Been an Amazing Time

One of the problems over the last twenty years is that musicians all have to be cool. It really seems to rob the music of its spontaneity and joy.

Where are all the creative musicians today? The best ones seem to stay obscure.

BTW, if you like The Band, you might also like Leon Russell. One of my favorites now, but I didn't discover him until the mid-80s. Great songwriter and honky-tonk pianist.

[MsAnthropy]

23. Thanks, I'll look up Leon again-all I remember is the long blonde hair!

(They say if you remember the 60s you weren't there, that's probably half my problem!)

[On the Road]

26. I Never Cared for the Top Hat

but he is a funky genius on the keyboard. And his singing is very soulful -- songs like "Bluebird" are just absolutely bursting with longing. And he still tours sometimes -- I just missed him in Maryland.

Vocalists like Leon and The Band don't seem to get recorded any more. Janis Joplin or Tom Waits would never get a contract. I love the raspy and unusual voices.

[Zomby Woof]

15. One of my very favorites!

Start with "Music From Big Pink" (debut album, cover art by Dylan), then the second album "The Band" (brown cover), then the live album "Rock Of Ages", then the collaboration with Dylan (with lots of stand-alone Band material) "The Basement Tapes", and then "Stage Fright" and "Northern Lights, Southern Cross".

Oh, and "The Last Waltz" on CD and DVD (concert film)...

Robbie Robertson's 1987 solo debut is worth getting too. :thumbsup:

[Joe Power]

17. Welcome to the club!

Ask the record store clerk to show you the secret handshake. ;)

[DelawareValleyDem]

18. Welcome to the club!

once you're hooked you'll never go back.

You've already gotten several excellent recommendations on which material to purchase. I'd only add that once you've collected those check out the full 5 volume set The Genuine Basement Tapes. Much more material than the version initally released. If you can get past the poor recording quality, excellent material.

http://www.punkhart.com/dylan/reviews/basement_tapes.html

Edited to add link

[MsAnthropy]

21. Thanks! I feel I've been living in a cave for the last 3 decades

so I've got so much catching up to do.

[dbt]

20. Good on you, MsAnthropy!

Now let me be the 435th person to tell you that you MUST see "The Last Waltz!" A VERY young Emmylou Harris sings "Evangeline" with them. And when The Staple Singers join in "The Weight," it's ALL OVER.

I :loveya: The Band
Damn, but them boys could play!

[MN ChimpH8R]

22. It has always amazed me

that a group that was 4/5 Canadian (Levon was the only US native AFAIK; he was an Arkansan) captured so perfectly the feel and essence of Americana, especially the post-Civil War period. One of art's little ironies.:)

[MsAnthropy]

27. That's what I thought the first time I heard them!

I figured they had to be from the South. Amazing!

[dbt]

28. They probably absorbed a lot from Ronnie Hawkins.

When they worked as his backing band, there's no telling what stories they heard from that Crazed Arkie!

[driver8]

24. Very under rated band...Robbie Robertson has always been one

of my favorite guitar players.

[ernstbass]

25. It's never too late to become

a woman of good taste. I love The Band - very talented bunch of musicians.