Ranking Records: The Band 

Love Rick Danko, such an endearing personality and his soulful voice on "It makes no difference", Stage Freight, and A long black Veil, can break your heart. Both Robbie and Rick were so good looking when they were young, and so much talent and charisma.

I am so glad that I found your channel my dear friend. The Band is one of my favorite groups!!

RIchard sang 'Saved', on Moondog Matinee. I've always loved this album: 'Mystery Train' is just terrific, so is Richard's 'Great Pretender' and 'Share Your Love With Me'. Thank you for reviewing The Band - I'm a passionate BandHead!

I got hooked on the Band's music after hearing "Acadian Driftwood". Truly a masterpiece track! Lots of Canadiana to enjoy with that song!

Great collection Mike. Their music just makes life better.

Great rundown of their albums! I’m a big Band fan who never got to see them live (saw Levon twice), so envy you for that. Now, that I know your channel, I hope to run into you at some shows here in Music City. Looking forward to checking out your other reviews and videos.

My Favorite Band of all time by far , pretty good rating , I would probably go that route myself, just fir the record I believe Levon , love them all , and I will keep there music out on the front burner as long as I’m living

Well ya got my sub Mike..great vid..on the Band..saw them with Dylan back in the early 70s..at the Gardens in Toronto

Perfect ranking. Rock of ages is great also.

Your ranking order is exactly what mine is....like you I saw them multiple times and met Rick and Richard briefly in 1977. My admiration for them is very deep. Great job , thank you.

Agree one hundred percent with your picks. Spot on!

Just found your channel and thanks. I’m a big fan of The Band and appreciate your insights.

I got locked into The Band's music after hearing The Weight when I bought the soundtrack to "The Big Chill" in the late 80s. Yeah I was late to the party, but I'm a Gen X-er so I was too young and simply missed it when it was happening in the late 60s/early 70s

Very good overview. I saw a Rick Danko solo concert in Austin, Tx in the spring of 1995; perhaps the best concert I've been to. Sadly, there were not very many in the audience. I don't know how many albums RD put out aside from The Band, but I listen to Times Like These occasionally. I also enjoy his collaboration with Eric Anderson and Jonas Fjeld; Rick's singing on Blue River is superb.

Yes, the Brown Album. Probably one of the three best albums since Bill Hayley rocked the clock. Raucous rock songs and sweet ballads. Every song a treasure. Before fame, public demand and drugs became a burden. Rest in peace Robbie, Levon, Rick and Richard.

Well done! This is my favorite group of all time, so I know a lot about them. I was impressed by your command of the facts and understanding of what made them so unique. Just to add a few comments, ranking their albums is very hard. I put Moondog Matinee aside as its not original material but is full of the covers they played coming up. But these songs show why the band may have been the best white R&B band ever assembled. Love that record! I agree with your rankings except for the top three, in the sense that while we agree on the top three, we rank them differently. I would have Big Pink at #3, even though it was the most consequenial, and influential of all their albums, Northern Lights, Southern Cross at two and The Band at #1. I think the writing and playing shows a deepening maturity on those two albums that set them apart. It Makes No Difference is my favorite band song of all time, while Acadian Driftwood as you rightly point out, shows Robbie the story teller at the peak of his craft. Ophelia is worthy of special mention but the one you dont talk about is Hobo Jungle which Is an all time fave. These four songs are way up on my Band playlist, but I think you're right that the brown album is one of the most consistently brilliant records that has ever been released. I'm not crazy about Jawbone, but its the only weaker track on the album. The rest of it is brilliant. Apart from the songs that get frequent praise, I find The Unfaithful Servant, Rockin' Chair, and Whispering Pines to be particularly deserving of attention. I'm also grateful that you didnt weigh in on the writing controversy. Its just not helpful and devalues the amazing legacy they left behind. Great review for anyone trying to learn more about this seminal musical group.

First saw The Band at Watkins Glen in 73. Saw them probably ten times as the originaals and once with Weider on guitar. Never saw a bad show. Btw Clapton never actually got the nerve to ask them because how could he ask guitarist JR Robertson if he could join The Band. The Band first found out about it when he mentioned it at his HOF induction

On The Band brown album ,there is not one dud note to be heard ...Anywhere ! The Band in their prime ,with no pomp or airs and graces . Just true honest -to-God brilliance on every single song ... There's not many albums out there in the same league !

The line from It makes no difference that get me every time is "and the dawn don't rescue me".

Eric Clapton did not ask to become a member of The Band. He went to visit them in Woodstock, wanted to ask them, but never had the nerve, it wasn't until later he told them what his intentions were.

my favourite album by The Band Is The Band Too :) so much so I bought the single disc version and then in a sale with 2 discs I got for £4.99

Yep! The correct ranking is: 1. The Band (1969) 2. Music from Big Pink (1968) 3. Stage Fright (1970) 4. Northern Lights - Southern Cross (1975) 5. Cahoots (1971) 6. Islands (1977) 7. Moondog Matinee (1973) 8. Jubilation (1998) 9. Jericho (1993) 10. High on the Hog (1996)

I thought the Barney Hoskyns book - Across The Great Divide: The Band and America was a better book than Levon's and Robbie's. I heard The Weight and Rag Mama Rag on the Radio when I was a teenager and have been addicted to all five guy's ever since.

Great reviews. Though I'd rank Moondog slightly higher than Cahoots - on some days anyway.

ZA HANDO

Part of me wants to love Islands, I really do. Richard shines on that album and so does Robbie on Knockin lost john. Unfortunately the rest of the album just feels less produced and lack luster.

Not to be offensive but The Band really never stood the test of time...!

The Band was nothing without Dylan. I think Van Morrison saved the last waltz from being a bit of a let down

A band who calls themselves The Band is only 2nd to a band named The The.