Music From Big Pink [VINYL]

MFBP is much discussed in Testimony, Robbie's autobiography, and though I heard it ages ago, I never bought it. Of course, I know the big songs on it, but listening to it now reminds me of it's near greatness. This is what talent does - while everyone else is zigging, the Band zagged.Like Dylan, the Band seemed to eschew the 1960's British and Beach Boys idea of studio production albums - you know, constructed music, like we have today. Instead, they attempted to capture live performance in the studio without all the overdubs, slick fixes and instead, concentrate on the material and its emotional core. This album does not fully succeed -the material and performances are too patchy, the recording is too haphazard to be really great. For this, they would have to wait until Robbie stepped forward as principal writer, and the Band sound was fully formed. Now that's a masterpiece - the Brown album. But the revolution started here.The highlights are great - The Weight, I Shall Be Released, Long Black Veil - you know. But some of the rest of the album sounds muddled at times and a big dated - nearly Quasimodo (half made). The Dylan songs are important too, and there are a few stinkers which I won't name. Interestingly, I preferred some of the bonus tracks, demos and outtakes. I'm not sure the recording is as good as I remember it, re-mastering and all. There is overspill between the vocals and instruments, there is a lack of balance between the instruments, there are some weak vocals. All of these flaws were fixed on the Brown album, and from then on, the Band were the Band. I saw them at Woodstock and they were the best group there. I wish they were in the film, but there are plenty of live performances when they can show their chops.The greatest achievement of MFBP is the originality of their approach to recording - it is the opposite of slick. It feels authentic, musical and very American but not in a way we've ever heard it before. No wonder it hit so hard.

It really is 48 years since its release. The music is superlative. There has never been anyone quite like the Band and there brand of rural sounding rock and roll seeming to be rooted in a non specific past. The musicianship is wonderful.This, their first album contains three of Dylan's basement tape songs. All of them great. Otherwise the album mostly showcases the emerging songwriting talent of Robbie Robertson. The cover of Long Black Veil is perhaps the weakest song but like the rest of the album is beautifully performed .In the past I've owned this on vinyl and also have the non- remastered CD. I bought the download of the remastered album and I do think it worth the modest price even apart from the extra tracks which actually are pretty limited in what they add although do have curiosity value.If was advising anyone who is tuning in to the Band for the first time I would advise them not to buy any of the compilations but start here to collect all their albums ( which are precious few) . At the very least buy this, The Band, Stagefright and Cahoots and maybe The Last Waltz. But by then you'll want the rest which are more patchy but sill contain rewards.

I really like this album.I bought this after watching The Last Waltz,the final concert by the Band where they play with other musicians whose music has quite a diversity of style to one another.For example;Muddy Waters,Joni Mitchell to Van Morrison and many others.This shows how talented The Band were.I don't think there are many groups who could do this today,not with such proficiency anyway.From the excellent opening track:Tears of Rage with the unusual guitar sound and keyboard,the latter sounding like a brass section playing.This track is repeated later without as much accompaniment,the excellent The Weight and I Shall Be Released to name a few of the many tracks on the album.The sound on some of the tracks is quite original and ahead of its time.I recommend this album,it has quality and quantity.Very pleased I bought it.

When it came out this album was innovative, groundbreaking and like nothing else around. At a time when rock as we know it today was just starting to emerge, many bands were going down, or up, the progressive and psychedelic route. The band, however, went back to the roots to reintroduce the rhtmns tunes and instruments of an earlier american music. Their loose, rambling sound became a template for later bands and you can hear it in the music of, say, Little Feat and Wilco. They went on the become possibly the best American band ever, yet on this album the only really outstanding track is , perhaps their most famous, The Weight. Some of the others sound like hangovers from the earlier 60s, almost poppy, with some almost cring making falsetto singing. For those who want to hear what the Band wer to become, some of the compilation albums are a better bet. For Band addicts like me, you have to have this historic album despite its faults

If it did not have the extra tracks I would probably have given it 5 stars. I first bought this on vinyl when it came out and what I want is just the original album without the extra garbage. This just pisses me off because it obliges me to either pre-programme the player or leap up to turn it off before the out-takes play and spoil the listening experience. While we're on the subject I'm not crazy about all the remastering that's so popular these days, unless it is to make the CD version sound more like the original album. It is after all the original album that is so fondly remembered, not a "remastered" version of it that some prick thought might be in some way "better".

Rebought album on CDMA to commemorate the 50th anniversary of it's release.Still a very good listen

truly one of the most influential albums and bands, still influencing todays music.

it is okay for the price and excellent cover gatefold, but the pressing is made for back to black.the vinyl has irregular volume.