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·The Ba~d· issues retrospective reflecting music-making history

MARK SULLIVAN concert featuring Eric Clapton, Neil was released in 1968. They broke up they were called_ The Band by the The Band was a musical rebel­ Aquinas Features Staff Young, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison on Thanksgiving Day 1976 with an locals-- and it stuck. lion against the counter-culture of and many others was captured by 14 hour all star concert. The Band's style is a cross be­ the late '60s. _Their music-spoke for The Band's new anthology , To Director Martin Scorcese. It is criti­ Their name, criticized forits lack tween the Grateful Dead and Cre­ itself. ThemembersofTheBanddid Kingdom Come has gone unnoticed cally considered one of the best of creativity, was originally The dence Clearwater Revival. Their notlivelikerockstars. Theylived"in even though it defmes one of the 'concert movies ever made. Hawks, after their original lead music is more heart felt than The the same house and made the music most important groups in North The five members of The Band: singer Ronnie Hawkins. In the late Dead's psychedelia. They differ they loved. That idealism is still America. drummer Levon Helm, guitarist '60s, 'a hawk' began to mean a per­ from. Credence in that their songs welcomed today. This writer discovered The Band Robbie Robertson, bassist Rick son who supported the Vietnam War are more complicated than Cre­ To KingdomCome contains 31 flipping through the channels one Danko, keyboard/saxophonist Garth so the band dropped the name. In the dence's simple arrangements. What tracks across two long playing tapes night and stumbling upon "The Last Hudson, and pianist/drummer Rich­ small town ofWestSaugerties, New they do have fucommon is the down­ or CD's (it's unavailable on record). Waltz;" themoviedocumentingThe ard Manuel began playing together York, where the members were liv­ home sound that does not sound There is not a weak song in the set. Band's fmal concert. This all-star in 1960. However, their first album ing at the time of their frrst album, country. The songs span The Band's eight yearrecording career and their many styles. The Band's only single hit, "The Weight," heard in the '60s cinema classic "Easy Rider" and in · the '80s movie "The Big Chill "is their only song that is familiar to the casual listener. Robbie Robertson is one of the most underrated song writers of his generation. Songs like ''The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,-'' a fictional first pers01:1 account pf the Civil War and the reconstruction of the South show Robertson's creative subject matter. This song is a must for anyone who has taken History­ One: The personal tone of the song is similar to Stephen Crime's "Red Badge of Courage." Another historical . song, and maybe the best in the set is ''Acadian Driftwood." It is about the Acadi­ ans who were forced to leave Nova Scotia after the French and British signed the Treaty of Paris (1763) ending the French and Indian War. What adds toThe Band's diver­ sity is their three lead singers. Rick Danko takes lead vocals on the bal­ lad "It Makes No Difference," "Stagefright," and "Endless High­ way." The alternating guitar and sax solos at the end of' 'It Makes No Difference" is beautiful. There are also the upbeat songs such as the bass h~avy ••up on Cripple Creek," the funky ..Life is a Carnival," and the playful "Ophe­ lia.'' Levon Helm sings these songs with his soulful southern accented voice. 1broughout their career The Band collaborated with Bob Dy1ari. The Band backed Dylan on his frrst electric tour in 1965 and also on his .... 1974 album Planet Waves. Includ­ ing on this set are cover versions of Dylan's "I Shall Be Released," and \bu'd like your roommates ''When I Paint My Masterpiece.'' "Tears of Rage" a song co-writ­ ten by Dylan and Richard Manuel is a whole lot better if they didn't one of the most unique songs ever written. The song's slow pace is disturb­ show up on your phone bill. ing at frrst, but after a few listens Manuel's voice is irresistible. John called Chicago. Andy called LA. Or was that Pete? Another song of special interest Don't sweat it. Sorting out roommates is easy when you get A1&J' Call Manager Service. is ''4 Percent Pantomime,'' co-writ­ Because with it, you can all get your long distance charges listed separately, even though ten by Robbie Robertson and Van you share the same phone number. And it costs you nothing. Morrison. The song is a one take duet by To find out more al:xmt the free A1&J" Call Manager Service, dial1800 222-0300, ext. 600. Morrison and Manuel. If there is Jt11 make both your bills and your roommates much easier to liVe with. anyone to match Morrison's soulful Irish voice it is Manuel. The Band did not draw the most attention when they were together, but this anthology proves that they ATs.T made the most important music most people have never heard. ©1990AT&T The right choice.