I've played in blues and rock bands since 1968, and have spent thousands and thousands of hours listening to music. "The Band" (brown album) is my all-time favorite album ever. In 1969, most people were listening to Hendrix, Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, The Who, etc. I had a few extra bucks and bought "The Band" mainly because of the cool album cover. It was one of the most important days of my life. I had never heard anything like it before (or since). There were no blaring leads, the harmonies were like none I had ever heard, the lyrics addressed historical facts and rural life, yet the music made you feel good and even want to dance. They were truly a band-- it was nearly impossible to figure out who was singing what (especially since Robertson was wisely told to sing into a dead mike). This is the only album I have ever heard where EVERY song is great. My particular favorites are Across the Great Divide, Rockin' Chair, King Harvest, and Rag Mama Rag. Levon Helm , Richard Manuel, Garth Hudson, Rick Danko, and Robbie Robertson (masters of 27 different instruments among them) were a once in a century combination that managed to create a unique style of music that is genuine American. Who else could incorporate guitars, fiddles, church organ, mandolins, horns, piano, and three exceptional vocalists into a groundbreaking rock and roll band? Voted the Band of the Decade (70's) by Rolling Stone magazine, their combined talents provided some of the finest music of this century.You will never hear anyone who can cover their songs even remotely, a testament to their collective musical genius. And "The Band" is the best of the best.

I've said elsewhere that the Stones' 'Let It Bleed' was the album of 1969, but I forgot about this. I can't decide whether or not it's better than The Band's remarkable debut, 'Music From Big Pink', but in any case it's probably best to follow Levon Helm's lead and treat them as the one work and forget about rating them.

The 'brown album' is full of tremendous cuts, notably Robertson's magnificent 'The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,' sounding starker and drier here than the live versions I've heard, 'The Unfaithful Servant,' with its stupendous Danko vocal and weepy horn outro from Hudson and John Simon, and 'King Harvest (Has Surely Come),' graced with perhaps Robbie's best solo as well as a very funky rhythm section.

While the album owes its greatness to top-shelf songs more than anything else, The Band's ensemble playing is enough to make a person cry (Garth's piano on 'Rag Mama Rag' is, well, indescribable). More than that, you can't help but marvel at the fact that one band could have so many great singers. Put all that together and you have one of the very best albums anyone is likely to make.

If you could only own one Band album (which I hope never happens to you), this is probably the one. Actually, if you could only own one album by anybody, this one is pretty much up there too. For a band with three other essential albums (Music from Big Pink, Stage Fright, and Northern Lights - Southern Cross), The Band had to work pretty hard to earn it's place as the group's top recording. If you don't own this record, all I can say is "buy it as fast as you can." It's a classic, influential work of songwriting, playing, singing, and production genius as well as a portal from mainstream rock to the rockabilly, country, gospel, folk and blues that it synthesizes.

There's not one weak cut on this album--from the soulful, uptempo openers to the classic anthem "The Night they Drove Old Dixie Down," the back-porch "Rockin' Chair" and the heavenly funky "King Harvest," the album flows seamlessly from start to finish like some sort of time travel experiment in which somebody took a time machine to 1865 and brought rock and roll along with them. Guitarist Robbie Robertson's songwriting was never as consistently good--the songs range from narrative stories like "Dixie," and "Rockin' Chair," to more humorous stream-of-consciousness lyrics like "Across the Great Divide" and "Rag Mama Rag," as well as more oblique numbers like "Unfaithful Servant." Drummer Levon Helm and pianist Richard Manuel contribute as well on several numbers, notably "Jemima Surrender" (Helm) and the heartwrenching, soulful, "Whispering Pines" (Manuel).

What makes this album so classic is the combination of great songwriting with an unmatched blend of musical virtuosity and variety. Robbie Robertson's guitar is biting and original, full of between-vocal fills and pinched harmonics as well as some really resonant acoustic work. He's a master at understatement, usually eschewing solos for lead that supports the song as well as the vocalist while at the same time remaining oh-so wicked ("King Harvest" anybody?). Levon Helm's drumming is so fat it sounds like he's in the room with you, and his combination of heavy funk with the mostly folky music accounts for a large portion of this album's unique sound. Rick Danko has always been an underrated bassist, backing up Helm's funky drums with an equally funky bass bottom that grooves and gets deep at all the right moments. Richard Manuel's piano is solid, though he's easily outshone when Garth Hudson tears across the keys on songs like "Rag Mama Rag" and "Jemima Surrender." Hudson represents a one man musical army, unmatched in virtuosity--his unmistakable, agile Lowrey organ lines typified the Band's sound for their entire career, but he was also adept at playing pretty much any instrument he got his hands on, including melodica, clavinette, some of the raunchiest saxophone ever laid down on a rock record, trumpet and accordion. Most bands would have killed to get a musician like Hudson into their group, and his talents aren't wasted here, bringing class and jaw-dropping keyboard lines to the aforementioned tunes as well as "Look Out Cleveland."

The final ingredient to the other-worldly magic that makes up this album is the fact that The Band had three of the best vocalists of the early rock era, using them each as lead vocalists as well as backing singers in gorgeous harmony combinations that showcase each singer's unique vocal timbre. Levon Helm (lead on "Up On Cripple Creek"), the group's only American member, contributes the Southern flavor, soulfully croaking out lead vocals that evoke good times, the anguish of Confederate soldiers and some irreverent debauchery. Rick Danko's country-inflected vocals (lead on "Unfaithful Servant") crack with palpable emotion and provide the sugar-sweet, high-range harmonies on many of the tracks. Last and most impressively, Richard Manuel (lead on "Whispering Pines") possessed a truly priceless set of vocal chords, capable of deep, resonant power ("Jawbone"), unbelievable texture ("King Harvest") and a heavenly, bellowing falsetto that still makes my hair stand on end ("Whispering Pines"). These voices are the stuff dreams are made of, and they rotate back and forth, showcasing each singer's talents and deftly matching each singer with the song he sings.

I also have to mention John Simon's production--this record feels and sounds so organic, like everything is happening live in a small room. The texture is so clear and rich, and the record's woody, thick low-end still rocks and grooves just as hard as the Band wanted it to when they originally recorded this gem.

The bonus tracks on this album aren't truly essential, except maybe the studio take of "Get Up Jake," a live favorite. Instead, they mostly help prolong the magic, providing slightly different alternate takes that reveal different vocal nuances and less polished products along with a window into the Band's creative process.

This record is so good I can't recommend it enough, truth be told. It influenced so many other artists and still sounds so fresh and unique today that it really is a must-own album that belongs in your collection to be heard, reheard, and treasured for years and years to come.

As the other reviews explain, this is a great recording. But the news is the remastering (the inspiration has been long attested). To my ears there's a lot more bass which makes for a richer listening experience. As in most remastering jobs, the acoustic guitar brightens considerably. Otherwise the sound remains the same because Robertson and Simon saw fit to limit it in the original recording. The liner notes explain that the drum set was a $130 thing purchased in a pawn shop. The extra tracks are more interesting than the other recent re-releases because The Band worked harder at the actual recording of this record than they worked on other recordings. So there are more takes to choose from. The alternative 'King Harvest' has a charm all its own and 'Jemima Surrender' really emphasizes the big contribution Richard Manuel's drumming made to the released best take (I also learned that it's Manuel who does that tremendous drumming at the end of 'When you Awake'). So I highly recommend purchasing this release.

Well..i've never written a review on AMZN before. I am an absolute music afficianado and am a Grateful Dead fanatic. I would say that I have in my collection every single important 60's and 70's albums created (from Zep, Beatles, Floyd, all Dylan, Stones, Who, Allmans, Neil, Hendrix, Dead, and the zillion other important contributions worldwide).

THIS ALBUM BLOWS THEM ALL AWAY!

It is without question the most impressive studio album ever recorded and should be a part of any and all music fans collection. Most people know very little about the members of this group and their importance to the music industry. While R.Robertson gets the credit for most of their work.....this band MORE SO THAN ANY OTHER is truly A BAND effort. Levon Helm is simply put one of the finest southern singers ever. R.Manuel's voice is the most hauntingly beautiful male vocal ever heard. Period. Bar none. The musical genius of G.Hudson and Danko's sick bass lines are legendary.

I cannot say enuf good things here. From start to finish, this album will blow you away. Obviously, the timeless classics we all know, like "Dixie" and "Cripple Creek" deserve their Hall of Fame mention.

But the remaining tracks are what make this album the king of all albums.

"King Harvest" is basically the beginning of funk country americana rock and just blisters your ears off. I LOVE the added "Get Up Jake" bonus track (my vote for best bonus track on any remastered album ever). It's really a waste of time to comment on individual songs as I really believe this album is the most consistent, start-to-finish 'rock' album of all time. Period.

It's kind of amusing that Crosby, Stills and Nash and/or Simon/garfunkel are always regarded as the best male harmonies put on vinyl. Try getting LEVON HELM, RICHARD MANUEL and RICK DANKO in their prime!! The beautiful 3 vocalists stack their throaty sound on this album like nothing ever heard before.

AGAIN....THIS ALBUM SHOULD BE #1 on anyone's list. Period. When might you ask was this album made? Could be 1850, could be 1920, could be 1970. It is truly a timeless classic. It is the Wuthering Heights or To Kill a Mockingbird of the music industry.

BUY NOW without hesitation and listen to this album over and over. It takes months if not years to really HERE what this amazing group of musicians has created.

Once you have mastered this one, add Music From Big Pink for an earlier, more 60's sounding masterpiece as well. Chest Fever will blow a hole right thru you.