Rock of Ages: the Band in Concert
Rock of Ages: the Band in Concert
Rock of Ages is a gift from the group long celebrated as one of rock’s best concert attractions… and on New Year’s Eve 1971 the Band were at the top of their game. Their show that night was hailed as one of the greatest-ever live sets–and a hint of that magic came through on 1972’s truncated Rock Of Ages. Now radically expanded, the new double CD only enhances the original’s reputation. Praise from Bob Dylan, George Harrison and Eric Clapton has established the Band as musicians’ musicians–and their instrumental dexterity, musical fluency and lyrical intrigue are to the fore here, notably on “Stage Fright” and “The Weight”. There is also the bonus of an entire disc of previously unreleased tracks–including a blistering cover of “Loving You is Sweeter than Ever”. But the real gold is mined on the four tracks featuring special guest Bob Dylan, then in the midst of his mysterious withdrawal. Rock of Ages was always great. This restoration makes it greater still. –Patrick Humphries
Customer Review: Live Albums 101 – This is how to do it.
Right folks, if you’re starting a band this is how to play a concert. Before you assemble in the hall, get a CD player and put this album on. Listen and listen good. Right, now see if you are up to the task… The Band always were; this album displays them in their finest form.
Great singing, great playing and – most importantly, and unforgettably – great songs.
Pure quality. The greatest live album ever.
Customer Review: Superb
This is one of THE great Rock N Roll bands captured live on New Years Eve 1971/72. With tracks from “Music from the Big pink” and “The Band” as well as “Stage Fright” this has most of The Bands best material on it. To add a bit of spice the The Band are supported by a top notch horn section (all Jazz and session men) who are arranged by Allen Toussaint the noted New Orleans producer/singer/pianist.
Its all superb, but my favourite non-Band track is “(I Don’t Want To) Hang Up My Rock and Roll Shoes”. This is superb super-charged straight ahead Rock N Roll. Of their original material Rick Danko’s tremendous reading of “Unfaithful Servant” with that subtle but devastating guitar solo by Robbie Robertson takes some beating. The extra tracks, which were never on the original CD release are just as good if not better. These include four tracks with Bob Dylan, including “Like a Rolling Stone”. This is without doubt up there with the best live albums ever recorded and should be in everybodies collection.
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