Music from Big Pink

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Music from Big Pink
Studio album by The Band
Released	July 1, 1968
Recorded	Early 1968
Genre	Rock
Length	42:22
Label	Capitol
Producer	John Simon
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Rolling Stone link
The Band chronology
Music from Big Pink (1968) The Band (1969)

Music from Big Pink is the 1968 debut album by rock band The Band. It features one of their best-known songs, "The Weight."

Contents 1 Reception 2 Inspiration for the title 3 Track listing 3.1 Side one 3.2 Side two 4 Personnel 5 Charts 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Reception

With a rough sound, seemingly chaotic arrangements, and a distinctive blend of country, rock, folk, classical, R&B, and soul, Music From Big Pink is generally considered one of the best albums by the Band, along with their 1969 second album The Band. The album follows the band's backing of Bob Dylan on his 1966 tour (as The Hawks) and time spent at a shared house in upstate New York recording what would become The Basement Tapes, also with Dylan.

The initial critical reception of the album was generally positive, though sales were slim; Al Kooper's rave review of the LP in Rolling Stone helped draw public attention to it. The fact that Bob Dylan had composed three of the songs also helped to increase sales.

At the time, "The Weight" peaked at #63 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart (North America). The album peaked at #30 on Billboard's Pop Albums chart in 1968, and then recharted as a #8 hit on the Top Internet Albums chart in 2000 (see 2000 in music). The song "The Weight" has gained widespread popularity, in spite of its dismal chart ranking, due partially to its inclusion in the cult favorite film Easy Rider, though it was left off of the soundtrack due to a licensing issue (a cover version by the band Smith was included on the soundtrack album instead).

In 2003, the album was ranked number 34 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

The laid-back feel of the album drew the attention of many other artists. For example, Eric Clapton cites the album's roots rock style as what convinced him to quit Cream, and pursue the styles of Blind Faith, Delaney and Bonnie and his debut album. George Harrison also took note of this style as well as the down-home camaraderie as he was becoming more disgruntled with the constant rifts between The Beatles at the time.

[edit] Inspiration for the title

"Big Pink" is a pink house in West Saugerties, New York located at 56 Parnassus Lane (formerly 2188 Stoll Road). In 1967, the house was purchased by Rick Danko of The Band. Danko, along with bandmates, Richard Manuel and Garth Hudson, moved into the house and dubbed it Big Pink. The house became the site of the rehearsing of the album. The actual recording of the album took place in New York and Los Angeles^[1]. The house was also the headquarters of Parnassus Records a label specializing in classical music. According to the official Big Pink website ^[2] it is currently a private residence.

[edit] Track listing

[edit] Side one

1. "Tears of Rage" (Bob Dylan, Richard Manuel) – 5:23
2. "To Kingdom Come" (Robbie Robertson) – 3:22
3. "In a Station" (Manuel) – 3:34
4. "Caledonia Mission" (Robertson) – 2:59
5. "The Weight" (Robertson) – 4:38

[edit] Side two

1. "We Can Talk" (Manuel) – 3:06
2. "Long Black Veil" (Marijohn Wilkin, Danny Dill) – 3:06
3. "Chest Fever" (Robertson) – 5:18
4. "Lonesome Suzie" (Manuel) – 4:04
5. "This Wheel's on Fire" (Dylan, Rick Danko) – 3:14
6. "I Shall Be Released" (Dylan) – 3:19

A remastered version of this album was released in 2000 and in addition to the above, the following alternative and outtakes appeared:

12. "Yazoo Street Scandal" (Robertson) – 4:01
13. "Tears of Rage" (Dylan, Manuel) – 5:32
14. "Katie's Been Gone" (Manuel, Robertson) – 2:46
15. "If I Lose" (Ralph Stanley) – 2:29
16. "Long Distance Operator" (Dylan) – 3:58
17. "Lonesome Suzie" (Manuel) – 3:00
18. "Orange Juice Blues (Blues for Breakfast)" (Manuel) – 3:40
19. "Key to the Highway" (Big Bill Broonzy) – 2:28
20. "Ferdinand the Imposter" (Robertson) – 3:59

[edit] Personnel

• Rick Danko – bass, fiddle, Vocals
• Levon Helm – drums, acoustic guitar, percussion, Vocals
• Garth Hudson – organ, piano, clavinet, soprano and tenor saxophones
• Richard Manuel – piano, organ, drums, Vocals
• Jaime Robbie Robertson – guitars, Vocals
• John Simon – producer, baritone horn, tenor saxophone, piano
• Don Hahn – engineer
• Tony May – engineer
• Shelly Yakus – engineer
• Bob Dylan – cover painting
• Elliott Landy – photography

[edit] Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Year	Chart	Position
1968	Pop Albums	30
2000	Top Internet Albums	8

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1968	"The Weight"	Pop Singles	63

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Sheet music

v • d • e The Band Rick Danko • Levon Helm • Garth Hudson • Richard Manuel • Robbie Robertson Ronnie Hawkins • Bob Dylan • John Simon • Allen Toussaint • Jim Weider • Randy Ciarlante • Richard Bell • Stan Szelest Studio albums Music from Big Pink • The Band • Stage Fright • Cahoots • Moondog Matinee • Planet Waves • The Basement Tapes • Northern Lights - Southern Cross • Islands • Jericho • High On The Hog • Jubilation Live albums Rock of Ages • Before the Flood • The Last Waltz (album) • Live at Watkins Glen • The Last Waltz (box) Compilations The Best of The Band • Anthology • To Kingdom Come • Across The Great Divide • The Best of The Band, Vol. II • Greatest Hits • A Musical History • From Bacon Fat to Judgement Day Songs The Weight • This Wheel's on Fire • I Shall Be Released • Up on Cripple Creek • The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down • King Harvest (Has Surely Come) • Stage Fright • Life Is a Carnival • Don't Do It • Acadian Driftwood • Tears of Rage Related topics Discography • Bob Dylan and The Band 1974 Tour • The Last Waltz • Festival Express • This Wheel's on Fire • Summer Jam at Watkins Glen