Ahhhh who doesn't love an old classics classic! The Band sounds like some kinda back woods white man's gospel music, I kept thinking, "this is like a loose jammy Percy Sledge," but at the same time I wish that their vocals were more controlled. Side one closes with super hit
The Weight. I love songs like these, totally overplayed, very popular and great every time. It's one of those tunes that makes you appreciate the trees, hug your dog, love your cat, kiss your lady ... etc (you catch my drift). The flipside comes off way stronger than the first, especially with country classic cover
Long Black Veil. But there are two things that erked me on the B-side, the first was the drunken Manzarekesque organ solo on the otherwise great number,
Chest Fever, the second was
This Wheel's on Fire, if this tune were a real wheel I would set it ablaze, and watch it BURN BABY BURN, to unlistenable cinders! The album closes with
I Shall be Released, featuring the
I can't sing but it sounds cool lead vocals, accompanied with the Stonesy style backups. The Band are definitely premonitions of things to come, a Canadian infused blend of Americana, influencing the 70's hippies who wanted to try keeping the dream alive, so let's all "take a load off," light up our jazz cigarettes and make a pilgrimage to
Big Pink!
