Damn, and my copy is arriving today. I'm not nearly as excited now.
― Jazzbo, Friday, 31 August 2018 14:04 (six years ago) link
I'm sure that remaster thing is horrible if you all think so, but personally could never get into The Band's studio album, production is so muted and dry, clumsy (unlike that golden 70s dry style found on something like FM's "Dreams", one of the best sounding songs of all time) whereas I love The Last Waltz
I can't really enjoy the studio version of the amazing The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down (love it on Before the Flood though, hell I even like Joan Baez' cover, it's a great song)
― niels, Friday, 31 August 2018 14:10 (six years ago) link
studio albums* that's supposed to say
I did think the Sgt. Pepper remix was a revelation, however.
― Jazzbo, Friday, 31 August 2018 14:17 (six years ago) link
muted and dry
Isn't that a really good description of what The Band were all about, though?
― the word dog doesn't bark (anagram), Friday, 31 August 2018 14:18 (six years ago) link
that's entirely possible - I guess my introduction to them was the (relative) grandeur of TLW and so that's kinda what I go for
but I like the Basement Tapes, and they're understated, chaotic
― niels, Friday, 31 August 2018 14:29 (six years ago) link
(xp) I think that's exactly what blew everyone's minds back in the day.
― Scottish Country Twerking (Tom D.), Friday, 31 August 2018 14:42 (six years ago) link
I remember reading Joe Boyd saying Fairport drove him mad trying to get their drum sound as close to the Band s/t as humanly possible.
― Scottish Country Twerking (Tom D.), Friday, 31 August 2018 14:43 (six years ago) link
niels, rumors was made like 10 years after MFBP wtf dude, unfair studio wizardry fight
― brimstead, Friday, 31 August 2018 22:14 (six years ago) link
hehe, I would def enjoy a thread on studio wizardry through the ages, here's a 1960 cut that's unbelievably clear:
https://open.spotify.com/track/73m8WuJlhzVusTVzJCGaDZ
some 60s album with (to my taste) impeccable production off the top of my head: Abbey Road, Ziggy Stardust, The Doors, Everybody Knows This is Nowhere, In a Silent Way
but my taste is perhaps a bit weird, like the production on Forever Changes, for instance, does nothing for me
― niels, Saturday, 1 September 2018 07:49 (six years ago) link
Ziggy Stardust is 1972 and the rest are 1969 - apart from the Doors. Seems like you don't 60s production much.
― Scottish Country Twerking (Tom D.), Saturday, 1 September 2018 10:56 (six years ago) link
oops, I always get Ziggy date wronghmm I like a lot of 60s music
― niels, Saturday, 1 September 2018 12:16 (six years ago) link
Doing the Pepsi challenge with the remix against the original and it's ... not bad. The biggest thing is Levon's drums and Rick's bass given much more prominence. (Some may say too much in Levon's case — he sounds like a timpani on "The Weight.") Some of the instruments (like the piano and organ on "We Can Talk") are moved more to center in parts — stuff like that. It doesn't really sound much "brighter" to these ears. But I've never really had hi-fi ears. Anyway, I'm digging it so far. The a capella version of "I Shall Be Released" is gorgeous.
― Jazzbo, Saturday, 1 September 2018 12:50 (six years ago) link
It does have a little more "presence," like they're playing in the same room as you. But as others have pointed out, the fact that Big Pink souded so muted was part of the appeal.
― Jazzbo, Saturday, 1 September 2018 12:53 (six years ago) link
OK, "Wheels on Fire" sounds horrible in this version. And the studio chatter added to the start of a couple of tracks is pretty pointless.
― Jazzbo, Saturday, 1 September 2018 13:26 (six years ago) link
Is the remix an additional version on this new release? Or is it now the only version available?
― Duke, Saturday, 1 September 2018 15:00 (six years ago) link
Erlewine turns in a long review but only spends an paragraph discussing the “bright, discordant new remix”: https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/the-band-music-from-big-pink/
Music From Big Pink may be rooted in the earth but it exists entirely within the head. The way it makes roots music sound as impressionistic and idiosyncratic as any other kind of rock’n’roll is revolutionary. It casts a very distinct spell, which is why it’s so unsettling that the new Bob Clearmountain mix breaks this moody magic. Clearmountain takes pains to separate the elements that were previously inextricably intertwined, shattering the specific otherworldliness that has been retained in every reissue of the album over the past fifty years. Sometimes, certain parts are pushed to the forefront—the call and response on “We Can Talk” by Helm and Danko are isolated from each other—and sometimes, everything piles on to of each other, as on the cacophonic “This Wheel’s on Fire.” Worse, extraneous studio chatter has been added to “The Weight” and “Lonesome Suzie,” a move that punctures the illusion that Music From Big Pink materialized out of thin air from a cheap rental house in the woods of New York.
― stan in the place where you work (morrisp), Saturday, 1 September 2018 16:49 (six years ago) link
If you haven't heard Northern Lights Southern Cross give it a listen, its production is cleaner than the first two albums and it contains two of their finest songs in "Acadian Driftwood" and "It Makes No Difference".
― the word dog doesn't bark (anagram), Saturday, 1 September 2018 20:33 (six years ago) link
The latter song is sooooooo beautiful. I love the Mekons cover and its ridiculous video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42WnZxLYWrM
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 1 September 2018 20:40 (six years ago) link
And check out this vintage gem!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uUFMumwXkk
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 1 September 2018 20:42 (six years ago) link
xp thanks will do! It Makes No Difference is certainly one of the highlights of The Last Waltz, fantastic song (and some great shredding, too)
― niels, Sunday, 2 September 2018 09:48 (six years ago) link
wow had never heard Acadian Driftwood before but that is indeed very good songwriting
so weird how Robertson tapped into these themes
― niels, Sunday, 2 September 2018 09:51 (six years ago) link
wait a minute you guys never polled The Last Waltz???
― niels, Sunday, 2 September 2018 10:04 (six years ago) link
hmm to poll the original triple LP or the 2002 4-CD version...
― niels, Sunday, 2 September 2018 10:05 (six years ago) link
Two great songs in their last 6 or 7 seven years - they didn't exactly maintain their batting average tbh.
― Scottish Country Twerking (Tom D.), Sunday, 2 September 2018 10:17 (six years ago) link
Yeah the first two albums, NLSC and The Last Waltz are all you need really.
― the word dog doesn't bark (anagram), Sunday, 2 September 2018 18:30 (six years ago) link
What about Rock of Ages?
― The Great Atomic Power Ballad (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 2 September 2018 19:09 (six years ago) link
stage fright is really great
― The Desus & Mero Chain (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Sunday, 2 September 2018 19:34 (six years ago) link
way better than northern lights
"Stage Fright" is pretty good - but still a step down from the first two.
― Scottish Country Twerking (Tom D.), Sunday, 2 September 2018 19:49 (six years ago) link
What about /Rock of Ages/?
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Sunday, 2 September 2018 20:21 (six years ago) link
"It Makes No Difference" is one of the greatest recordings.
― The Silky Veils of Alfred (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 2 September 2018 20:27 (six years ago) link
The last waltz is kind of lame
― brimstead, Sunday, 2 September 2018 20:43 (six years ago) link
moondog matinee kinda rules. i mean, i'd take a whole album of levon helm disco rockabilly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQFE113iDx4
worst one is probably cahoots, but even that has some good stuff on it.
― tylerw, Sunday, 2 September 2018 21:58 (six years ago) link
Great example of what happens when a band that plays and stays together almost 24/7 get their own places and lives and can never quite capture what they once had, good and great as they often still were.
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 2 September 2018 22:09 (six years ago) link
Islands is probably worse than Cahoots, but then again it's an outtakes set and contractual obligation album (as pointed out by an extremely defensive Robertson in the reissue liners).
― Ubering With The King (C. Grisso/McCain), Sunday, 2 September 2018 22:18 (six years ago) link
I always thought "Northern Lights/Southern Cross" was a pretty good listen for the later LPs. The keyboards on the album are so lush, it's really well recorded.
― earlnash, Sunday, 2 September 2018 22:25 (six years ago) link
NL/SC also has Ophelia which has an awesome New Orleans groove and an A+ Helm vocal
― guardians of the gums: i am tooth (voodoo chili), Monday, 3 September 2018 21:13 (six years ago) link
Listening to this album for the first time in a while. I can't believe how good the drums sound. I'm on "Chest Fever" now--these drums sound so incredible.
― JRN, Thursday, 27 August 2020 05:57 (four years ago) link
I just learned you can stay in the house:
https://www.vrbo.com/3970069ha
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 27 August 2020 12:55 (four years ago) link
cool!
― Joey Corona (Euler), Thursday, 27 August 2020 13:01 (four years ago) link
Note: the Basement is not included in the rental
That's the only bit I want to see :(
― joni mitchell jarre (anagram), Thursday, 27 August 2020 13:23 (four years ago) link
Pssh, I'm there for the 4 bay toaster.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 27 August 2020 13:40 (four years ago) link
gonna have to go there and make some living room tapes, i guess
― whiney on the moon (voodoo chili), Thursday, 27 August 2020 14:13 (four years ago) link
Just found this, a documentary released on VHS from 1995:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQn0QoQsqB8
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 27 August 2020 14:37 (four years ago) link