The Band Greatest Hits

this was a starter CD for me and I just received the music from big pink too. both are excellent!! it is so sad that all members of this band are no longer alive -- but they have left beautiful music for us to enjoy.

People tend to forget how great The Band was. Hell, alot of people don't realize that they've heard songs by them. One of the best Americana-Rock bands not to come from America.

never received it

For a group of musicians that started out as sidemen to become a musical institution in their own rite, The Band are difficult to pigeonhole. In the days of free-form FM radio, slow-jam workouts like "Tears of Rage" would have filled the airwaves as a sort of musical education; these days it sounds almost archaically hippiesque. Given that maybe "Up On Cripple Creek" even plays on classic rock (if any of The Band gets played at all), this best of serves as a profile to one of the world's most influential groups. The Band never really "rocked" in the sense that, say, a Deep Purple did, but they bent the musical talents that ventured around them to their peculiar gravity. When folks like Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell and even Neil Diamond are following your lead, you know you're wielding a pretty powerful force. The Band often pulled together strong elements of various styles (gospel, Memphis Soul, folk, rock) into the same song, like "I Shall Be Released" or the well known "The Weight" to synthesize these elements down to a sort of elemental beauty. They embraced American mythology even though they were primarily Canadian, maybe even more so than some of their US Counterparts. And when you added Garth Hudson's organ, you had a sound that no-one else was creating at the time. As one would expect, this single set leans heavily on the seminal first two albums, and on guitarist Robbie Robertson's writing. The best known songs are here ("The Weight," "Up On Cripple Creek," "The Night The Drove Old Dixie Down") as well as a few choice selections, like their cover of Dylan's "When I Paint My Masterpiece." I would guess that since "The Last Waltz" was on a label other than Capitol, that explains its exclusion from this set, but nothing from the live "Rock of Ages" seems a bit odd. Overall, a solid eighteen songs if all you want is a quick The Band fix.

This item was sipped quickly and delivered with care. The condition delivered was brand new!

I love this album and its ability to take me back in time.

I purchased this after watching "The Last Walt", and was reminded of how much I appreciated the music of the Band. This is American music at its finest--robust and bold, an enticing blend of rustic country, Delta blues, jug-band, Depression-era folk, and good-timey American pop (music that the Lovin' Spoonful only made in their dreams). I wouldn't be without it.

As a long time fan this remastered version of greatest hits is exceptional in both clarity and balance. I bought this primarily for Time to Kill, Ain't Got No Home, Ophelia and Acadian Driftwood as most of my collection is the Basement Tapes or live recordings. Now that Garth is gone it's hard to believe they're all playing at the top grossing venue forever! If you have a strong interest in The Band read Robbie's autobiography "Testimony". Just like his song writing he delivers the goods.

Well...what can you say about The Band? They were the absolute greatest ever. Yes, I'm biased, and I don't care who knows it. If you don't know them, you've got a treat in store. If you do, you probably already have this CD. Standout track (among many): Acadian Driftwood, possibly the most beautiful song I've ever heard. These five men are much missed in my household, I can tell you. Can't believe they've all gone to the big pink house in the sky...at least they left us these treasures.

'The Band' siempre fue a ojos del público y de la crítica un grupo de rock de perfil bajo. Sólo sus compañeros de profesión de la misna cuerda estilística valoraron la influencia que tuvo en sus respectivas carreras. Sobre todo Bob Dylan con quienes, bajo el nombre de 'The Hawks', realizó su primera gira americana de estilo rockero, aparcando un tanto sus raíces folk. No fue hasta después de la disolución del grupo en 1976 con el último concierto de 'The Band' rodado por Martín Scorsese bajo el título de 'El último vals', que la crítica comenzó a valorar, a elogiar y a significar su repercusión en otros músicos a través de los medios, influyendo en la inclusión del grupo en el Salón de la Fama de Música de Canadá en 1989 y en el Salón de la Fama de Rock & Roll en 1994. Quizá el origen de este desencuentro con público y crítica estaba en sus directos, poco cuidados y no demasiado profesionales, dejando más a la inspiración del momento que al rigor de una interpretación bien planificada y sincronizada que garantizase una ejecución de las canciones lo más parecido posible a lo que se oye en los álbumes editados. Y esto también se aprecia en la película de Scorsese. Fue por el film de Scorsese que tuve conocimiento del grupo 'The Band', pero entonces mi inclinación musical estaba en vías de transformación, del pop rock español de mi infancia con grupos como 'Fórmula V', 'Los Módulos' o 'Los Bravos' al pop rock británico de mi adolescencia con 'Los Beatles' y que en cuestión de meses pasó al rock progresivo, primero de 'Yes', con sus orígenes beat y luego al resto de grupos de ese movimiento. Del rock progresivo, del que nunca renunciaré, pasé a interesarme por otros movimientos musicales británicos durante un tiempo. Y no es sino desde unos años a esta parte que me vienen interesando los viejos grupos de rock en Estados Unidos. Y 'The Band' aunque son canadienses puede decirse que su carrera se forjó en Estados Unidos. 'The Band' ayudó o inspiró a que grupos como Crosby, Still, Nash & Young, o Dylan, pasaran del folk al folk rock, que Flying Burrito Brothers o Poco pasaran del country al rock country, o que Eric Clapton pasara del hard rock y el rythim & blues al rock sureño. De esta selección de 'The Band' se puede decir que es la mejor selección posible con el mejor sonido posible, remasterizado en 24 bits de resolución. No sé si faltará algún título, pero lo que sí sé es que no sobra ninguno. Hay auténticos himnos generacionales como 'The Weight' o 'Stage Fright' y otras joyas del rock country, del rock sureño, del rock & roll puro y duro... 'The Band' puede que no tenga en su discografía original un álbum redondo. Pero esta compilación les aseguro, os aseguro, que sí lo es. Una obra maestra. Sin desperdicio.

CD is great. Really enjoy it !!

Eine sehr gute Auswahl der Songs von The Band. Ich kenne seit vielen Jahren das Live-album "Before the floot" von Bob Dylan. Mir war bisher nicht bewusst, daß viele Songs darauf von The Band stammen. Eine absolute Bereicherung meiner Sammlung.

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