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The Band - Cahoots (1971)
The Band's fourth album has more in common with its previous release Stage Fright (especially lyrically) then its first two albums, but still sounds like the Band. Having departed from the story telling of the first two albums, the themes on Cahoots are more personal, echoing where the band was at the time. Robbie Robertson was taking over as the main songwriter, taking sole credit on 8 of the 11 songs and co writing two others.
The shared lead vocals of Richard Manuel, Levon Helm and Rick Danko are still there, as are the rich textures that Garth Hudson cons from his Lowrey and, as always, Robbie Robertson trying to find a way in with his guitar parts.
The lead track "Life Is A Carvinal" is the bands attack on the phony nature of show business. Helm and Danko get their only co-writing credits of the album here along side the Dixieland horn chart from Allen Toussaint. The highlight of the record, it would easily fit on The Band or Music From Big Pink.
The follow up track "When I Paint My Masterpiece" is a classic in its own right and one of my favorite Band songs. Written by Bob Dylan -the only song Robertson did not receive writing credits- tells a love story that hops around Europe. Led by Helm's rich tenor and tumbling drums, its real highlight is Hudson's accordion, which gives the song its European flair.
Side one ends with "4% Pantomime" a duet with Van Morrison, or Belfast Cowboy, as he's called in the song. Another song musing on fame, it makes you dream of a full album from Morrison and the Band.
Side two seems less inspired and not up to the same standard as the first two albums, but then again, few bands could have sustained that excellence.
One of the highlights of side 2 is "The Moon Struck One", a song a young Bruce Springsteen must have listened to over and over. Just check the lyrics.
"Smoke Signal" is a chugging Helm-sung honky-tonk, that harkens back to the days of the Hawks. Manuel gets to show off throughout the song and Robertson drops one of the more unique solos of his career.
The album closes with "River Hymn", a song sung by Helm that really needed to be stretched out to 7 or 8 minutes long instead of clocking in at 4:40. There's no shortage of ideas in this song, it's just they stuff them all on top of each other, instead of letting them flow and wind like the river in the song.
Overall it's a good album, not great. There are too many pedestrian tracks and it would be 4 years before the Band would record another album of originals.
Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds - Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds (1970)
I bought this for "Don't Pull Your Love Out", that's it.
"Nora" is out of place only because it belongs on Steely Dan's Can't Buy A Thrill 2 years later. "Goin' Down" and "Annabella" are both other good tracks, but this was a case of buying a record for one song.
The Band's fourth album has more in common with its previous release Stage Fright (especially lyrically) then its first two albums, but still sounds like the Band. Having departed from the story telling of the first two albums, the themes on Cahoots are more personal, echoing where the band was at the time. Robbie Robertson was taking over as the main songwriter, taking sole credit on 8 of the 11 songs and co writing two others.
The shared lead vocals of Richard Manuel, Levon Helm and Rick Danko are still there, as are the rich textures that Garth Hudson cons from his Lowrey and, as always, Robbie Robertson trying to find a way in with his guitar parts.
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| Cooler than the B-3? Maybe, the beard does help. |
The follow up track "When I Paint My Masterpiece" is a classic in its own right and one of my favorite Band songs. Written by Bob Dylan -the only song Robertson did not receive writing credits- tells a love story that hops around Europe. Led by Helm's rich tenor and tumbling drums, its real highlight is Hudson's accordion, which gives the song its European flair.
Side one ends with "4% Pantomime" a duet with Van Morrison, or Belfast Cowboy, as he's called in the song. Another song musing on fame, it makes you dream of a full album from Morrison and the Band.
Side two seems less inspired and not up to the same standard as the first two albums, but then again, few bands could have sustained that excellence.
One of the highlights of side 2 is "The Moon Struck One", a song a young Bruce Springsteen must have listened to over and over. Just check the lyrics.
Julie came runnin' through the pasture, she was screamin' at the skyand then...
She fell down to her knees and the tears did fly
Little John was stung by a snake over by the lake
And it looked like he's really, really hurt, he was lyin' in the dirt
Now, the night was bright and the stars threw lightThe former is Robertson, the latter is the Boss. Hey, if you're going to steal, steal from the best.
On Billy and Davy dancin' in the moonlight
They were down near the water in a stone mud fight
Killer Joe gone passed out on the lawn
He ran into the lake in just his socks and his shirt
Well now, Hazy Davy got really hurt
"Smoke Signal" is a chugging Helm-sung honky-tonk, that harkens back to the days of the Hawks. Manuel gets to show off throughout the song and Robertson drops one of the more unique solos of his career.
The album closes with "River Hymn", a song sung by Helm that really needed to be stretched out to 7 or 8 minutes long instead of clocking in at 4:40. There's no shortage of ideas in this song, it's just they stuff them all on top of each other, instead of letting them flow and wind like the river in the song.
Overall it's a good album, not great. There are too many pedestrian tracks and it would be 4 years before the Band would record another album of originals.
 |
| Two sentences? That's it? |
Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds - Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds (1970)
I bought this for "Don't Pull Your Love Out", that's it.
"Nora" is out of place only because it belongs on Steely Dan's Can't Buy A Thrill 2 years later. "Goin' Down" and "Annabella" are both other good tracks, but this was a case of buying a record for one song.
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