The Band – The Last Waltz (1978) [MFSL 2015] SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

The Band – The Last Waltz (1978) [MFSL 2015]
PS3 Rip | 2x SACD ISO | DSD64 2.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 129:50 minutes | Scans included | 5,23 GB
or FLAC(converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Full Scans included | 2,34 GB
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab # 2-2139

As a film, The Last Waltz was a triumph — one of the first (and still one of the few) rock concert documentaries that was directed by a filmmaker who understood both the look and the sound of rock & roll, and executed with enough technical craft to capture all the nooks and crannies of a great live show. But as an album, The Last Waltz soundtrack had to compete with the Band’s earlier live album, Rock of Ages, with which it bears a certain superficial resemblance — both found the group trying to create something grander than the standard-issue live double, and both featured the group beefed up by additional musicians. While Rock of Ages found the Band swinging along with the help of a horn section arranged by Allen Toussaint, The Last Waltz boasts a horn section (using Toussaint’s earlier arrangements on a few cuts) and more than a baker’s dozen guest stars, ranging from old cohorts Ronnie Hawkins and Bob Dylan to contemporaries Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, and Van Morrison. the Band are in fine if not exceptional form here; on most cuts, they don’t sound quite as fiery as they did on Rock of Ages, though their performances are never less than expert, and the high points are dazzling, especially an impassioned version of “It Makes No Difference” and blazing readings of “Up on Cripple Creek” and “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” (Levon Helm has made no secret that he felt breaking up the Band was a bad idea, and here it sounds if he was determined to prove how much they still had to offer). Ultimately, it’s the Band’s “special guests” who really make this set stand out — Muddy Waters’ ferocious version of “Mannish Boy” would have been a wonder from a man half his age, Van Morrison sounds positively joyous on “Caravan,” Neil Young and Joni Mitchell do well for their Canadian brethren, and Bob Dylan’s closing set finds him in admirably loose and rollicking form. (One question remains — what exactly is Neil Diamond doing here?) And while the closing studio-recorded “Last Waltz Suite” sounds like padding, the contributions from Emmylou Harris and the Staple Singers are beautiful indeed.

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The Band – The Band (1969) [MFSL 2013] SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

The Band – The Band (1969) [MFSL 2013]
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DSD64 2.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 44:00 minutes | Scans included | 1,78 GB
or FLAC(converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Scans included | 904 MB
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab # UDSACD 2129

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 by 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.

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The Band – The Band (1969) [Japanese Limited SHM-SACD 2014] SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

The Band – The Band (1969) [Japanese Limited SHM-SACD 2014]
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DSD64 2.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 44:03 minutes | Scans included | 1,78 GB
or FLAC(converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Full Scans included | 845 MB

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 by 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.

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The Band – Rock Of Ages (1972) [Japanese Limited SHM-SACD 2014] SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

The Band – Rock Of Ages (1972) [Japanese Limited SHM-SACD 2014]
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DSD64 2.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 79:41 minutes | Scans included | 3,21 GB
or FLAC(converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Full Scans included | 1,45 GB

Released on the heels of the stilted, static Cahoots, the double-album Rock of Ages occupies a curious yet important place in Band history. Recorded at a spectacular New Years Eve 1971 gig, the show and album were intended to be a farewell of sorts before the Band took an extended break in 1972, but it turned out to be a last hurrah in many different ways, closing the chapter on the first stage of their career, when they were among the biggest and most important rock & roll bands. That sense of importance had started to creep into their music, turning their studio albums after The Band into self-conscious affairs, and even the wildly acclaimed first two albums seemed to float out of time, existing in a sphere of their own and never having the kick of a rock & roll band. Rock of Ages has that kick in spades, and it captures that road warrior side of the band that was yet unheard on record. Since this band — or more accurately its leader, Robbie Robertson — was acutely aware of image and myth, this record didn’t merely capture an everyday gig, it captured a spectacular, in retrospect almost a dry run for the legendary Last Waltz. New Orleans R&B legend Allen Toussaint was hired to write horn charts and conduct them, helping to open up the familiar tunes, which in turn helped turn this music into a warm, loose, big-hearted party. And that’s what’s so splendid about Rock of Ages: sure, the tightness of the Band as a performing unit is on display, but there’s also a wild, rowdy heart pumping away in the backbeat of this music, something that the otherwise superb studio albums do not have. Simply put, this is a joy to hear, which may have been especially true after the dour, messy Cahoots, but even stripped of that context Rock of Ages has a spirit quite unlike any other Band album. Indeed, it could be argued that it captured the spirit of the Band at the time in a way none of their other albums do.

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The Band – Music From Big Pink (1968) [Japanese Limited SHM-SACD 2014] SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

The Band – Music From Big Pink (1968) [Japanese Limited SHM-SACD 2014]
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DSD64 2.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 42:02 minutes | Scans included | 1,70 GB
or FLAC(converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Full Scans included | 817 MB

None of the Band’s previous work gave much of a clue about how they would sound when they released their first album in July 1968. As it was, Music from Big Pink came as a surprise. At first blush, the group seemed to affect the sound of a loose jam session, alternating emphasis on different instruments, while the lead and harmony vocals passed back and forth as if the singers were making up their blend on the spot. In retrospect, especially as the lyrics sank in, the arrangements seemed far more considered and crafted to support a group of songs that took family, faith, and rural life as their subjects and proceeded to imbue their values with uncertainty. Some songs took on the theme of declining institutions less clearly than others, but the points were made musically as much as lyrically. Tenor Richard Manuel’s haunting, lonely voice gave the album much of its frightening aspect, while Rick Danko’s and Levon Helm’s rough-hewn styles reinforced the songs’ rustic fervor. The dominant instrument was Garth Hudson’s often icy and majestic organ, while Robbie Robertson’s unusual guitar work further destabilized the sound. The result was an album that reflected the turmoil of the late ’60s in a way that emphasized the tragedy inherent in the conflicts. Music from Big Pink came off as a shockingly divergent musical statement only a year after the ornate productions of Sgt. Pepper, and initially attracted attention because of the three songs Bob Dylan had either written or co-written. However, as soon as “The Weight” became a minor singles chart entry, the album and the group made their own impact, influencing a movement toward roots styles and country elements in rock. Over time, Music from Big Pink came to be regarded as a watershed work in the history of rock, one that introduced new tones and approaches to the constantly evolving genre.

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The Band – Moondog Matinee (1973) [Japanese Limited SHM-SACD 2014] SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

The Band – Moondog Matinee (1973) [Japanese Limited SHM-SACD 2014]
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DSD64 2.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 35:58 minutes | Scans included | 1,45 GB
or FLAC(converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Full Scans included | 674 MB

The Band essentially went back to being the Hawks of the late ’50s and early ’60s on this album of cover tunes. They demonstrated considerable expertise on their versions of rock & roll and R&B standards like Clarence “Frogman” Henry’s “Ain’t Got No Home,” Chuck Berry’s “The Promised Land,” and Fats Domino’s “I’m Ready,” but of course that didn’t do much to satisfy the audience they had established with their original material and that, two years after the disappointing Cahoots, was waiting for something in the same league with their first three albums.

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The Band – Islands (1977) [Japanese Limited SHM-SACD 2014] SACD ISO + DSF DSD64 + Hi-Res FLAC

The Band – Islands (1977) [Japanese Limited SHM-SACD 2014]
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DSD64 2.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 35:14 minutes | Scans included | 1,42 GB
or DSD64 2.0 (from SACD-ISO to Tracks.dsf) > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | Full Scans included | 1,4 GB
or FLAC(converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Full Scans included | 655 MB

Theoretically, even though the Band had given up touring as of Thanksgiving 1976, they were going to keep making records, and Islands was the first album released in the new era. Only it wasn’t; it was the album they scraped together to complete their ten-LP contract with Capitol Records and the last new full-length album the original five members ever made. The playing, as ever, was impeccable, and the record had its moments, notably a Richard Manuel vocal on the chestnut “Georgia on My Mind” that had been released as a single in 1976 to boost Georgia governor Jimmy Carter’s successful run for the presidency. But the songwriting quality was mediocre, and the Band had set such a standard for itself in that department that Islands couldn’t help suffering enormously in comparison.

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The Band – The Band (Remastered Expanded Edition/Remixed 2019) (1969/2019) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

The Band – The Band (Remastered Expanded Edition/Remixed 2019) (1969/2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 01:08:14 minutes | 2,78 GB | Genre: Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Capitol Records

The Band is the second studio album by the Band, released on September 22, 1969. It is also known as The Brown Album. The Band has been viewed as a concept album, with the songs focusing on people, places and traditions associated with an older version of Americana. Thus, the songs on this album draw on historic themes for “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”, “King Harvest (Has Surely Come)” and “Jawbone” (which was composed in the unusual 6/4 time signature).

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The Band – The Band (1969/2014) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

The Band – The Band (1969/2014)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 43:36 minutes | 1,58 GB | Genre: Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Capitol Records

The Band’s self-titled album was their second studio album, originally release in 1969. The Bandreached #9 on Billboard’s Pop Albums chart in 1970, and it’s single “Up on Cripple Creek” peaked at #25 on Billboard’s Pop Singles chart in 1970. The album spotlights people, places, and historical folklore within the United States.

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The Band – Stage Fright (50th Anniversary Remastered Deluxe / Remix 2020) (1970/2021) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

The Band – Stage Fright (50th Anniversary Remastered Deluxe / Remix 2020) (1970/2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 02:02:13 minutes | 4,73 GB | Genre: Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © CAPITOL CATALOG MKT (C92)

Stage Fright is the third studio album by Canadian American group the Band, released on August 17, 1970. Engineered by Todd Rundgren and Glyn Johns, it features two of the group’s best-known songs, “The Shape I’m In” and “Stage Fright”, both of which showcased inspired lead vocal performances (by Richard Manuel and Rick Danko, respectively) and became staples in the group’s live shows. Newly remixed and remastered album + bonus tracks + Live at Royal Albert Hall performance

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The Band – Stage Fright (1970/2014) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

The Band – Stage Fright (1970/2014)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 35:46 minutes | 1,33 GB | Genre: Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Capitol Records

Stage Fright is The Band’s third studio album, originally released in 1970 by Capitol Records. All of the tracks on the album were written and composed by Robbie Robertson, only a few co-written with Richard Manuel and Levon Helm. The Band departed slightly from their earlier sounds, creating a darker rock album that didn’t focus on vocal harmonies as much as they had in the previous two albums.

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The Band – Rock Of Ages (1972/2015) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

The Band – Rock Of Ages (1972/2015)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 01:19:44 minutes | 3,04 GB | Genre: Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Capitol Records

Released on the heels of the stilted, static Cahoots, the double-album Rock of Ages occupies a curious yet important place in Band history. Recorded at a spectacular New Years Eve 1971 gig, the show and album were intended to be a farewell of sorts before the Band took an extended break in 1972, but it turned out to be a last hurrah in many different ways, closing the chapter on the first stage of their career, when they were among the biggest and most important rock & roll bands. That sense of importance had started to creep into their music, turning their studio albums after The Band into self-conscious affairs, and even the wildly acclaimed first two albums seemed to float out of time, existing in a sphere of their own and never having the kick of a rock & roll band. Rock of Ages has that kick in spades, and it captures that road warrior side of the band that was yet unheard on record. Since this band — or more accurately its leader, Robbie Robertson — was acutely aware of image and myth, this record didn’t merely capture an everyday gig, it captured a spectacular, in retrospect almost a dry run for the legendary Last Waltz. New Orleans R&B legend Allen Toussaint was hired to write horn charts and conduct them, helping to open up the familiar tunes, which in turn helped turn this music into a warm, loose, big-hearted party. And that’s what’s so splendid about Rock of Ages: sure, the tightness of the Band as a performing unit is on display, but there’s also a wild, rowdy heart pumping away in the backbeat of this music, something that the otherwise superb studio albums do not have. Simply put, this is a joy to hear, which may have been especially true after the dour, messy Cahoots, but even stripped of that context Rock of Ages has a spirit quite unlike any other Band album. Indeed, it could be argued that it captured the spirit of the Band at the time in a way none of their other albums do. –Stephen Thomas Erlewine

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The Band – Northern Lights – Southern Cross (1975/2013) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

The Band – Northern Lights – Southern Cross (1975/2013)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 40:35 minutes | 1,42 GB | Genre: Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Capitol Records

Northern Lights – Southern Cross is the sixth studio album by Canadian-American rock group the Band, released in 1975. It was the first album to be recorded at their new California studio, Shangri-La, and the first album of all new material since 1971’s Cahoots. All eight songs are credited as compositions of guitarist Robbie Robertson.

Northern Lights – Southern Cross was recorded using a 24-track tape recorder, which allowed Garth Hudson to include multiple layers of keyboards on several tracks.

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The Band – Music From Big Pink (Deluxe Edition / Remixed 2018) (1968/2018) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

The Band – Music From Big Pink (Deluxe Edition / Remixed 2018) (1968/2018)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:05:44 minutes | 1,37 GB | Genre: Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Capitol Records

The songs on this superb album include The Weight, This Wheel’s On Fire, Tears of Rage and To Kingdom Come and the cover art was painted by Bob Dylan (the ‘Big Pink’ being the upstate New York house where The Band wrote the songs.

Bob Clearmountain has created the new stereo mix (which features on the CD and double vinyl) from the original four-track analog masters. The CD features six outtakes/alternates (including an unreleased A Cappella version of I Shall Be Released) and the seven-inch included is a recreation the original 1968 single for The Weight and I Shall Be Released.

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The Band – Music From Big Pink (1968/2013) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

The Band – Music From Big Pink (1968/2013)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 41:18 minutes | 1,72 GB | Genre: Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Capitol Records

Chart History/Awards
– Ranked #34 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
– Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.

Music from Big Pink is the debut studio album by legendary group The Band. It was released in 1968, and the title refers to “Big Pink”, a house shared by Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, and Garth Hudson where some of the music for the album was composed. Al Kooper of Rolling Stone gave the album a rave review, and the album also gained attention due to the fact that Bob Dylan co-wrote three songs (as well as illustrating the cover art himself). In the years since its release, Music from Big Pink has been praised by many; Roger Waters has called it the second “most influential record in the history of rock and roll” after Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and that it “affected Pink Floyd deeply, deeply, deeply.”

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