Rock of Ages Songs Ranked

Rock of Ages: The Band in Concert is a live album by The Band, released in 1972. It was compiled from recordings made during their series of shows at the Academy of Music in New York City, from December 28 through December 31, 1971. It peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart, and was certified a gold record by the RIAA. An expanded release of recordings taken from the same series of shows, called Live at the Academy of Music 1971, was released in 2013. In 2013, Capitol released Live at the Academy of Music 1971: The Rock of Ages Concerts, a box set consisting of four CDs and one DVD (mostly only audio), and containing all previously released material from the concerts as well as numerous unissued performances (including the December 31 show in its entirety) presented in a new stereo and 5.1 surround mixes. Here are all of Rock of Ages songs ranked.

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10. Rag Mama Rag

“One of the more popular off of The Band’s self titled album, “Rag Mama Rag” is a catchy little tune, though I wouldn’t say it is one of The Band’s better songs. Still, a merely ‘good’ song by The Band is better then most from loads of other bands.”

9. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down

“Some people say “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” hasn’t aged well, and I respectfully disagree. It certainly doesn’t glorify the South, which is portrayed as a burned-out ruin populated by starving soldiers and destitute farmers, and while Virgil Caine is a figure of poignant, weary humanity, the song (written from Caine’s point of view, after all) never tries to convince us that he’s right. “

8. Life Is a Carnival

“Any song quoting the word “carnival” in the title has to pretty much evoke everything you associate with a fairground, the lights, the noise, the smell of the place. This track from The Band, which led off the underrated “Cahoots” album, doesn’t quite nail the above but gets closest to doing so when the Allan Toussaint-arranged horns try to take you to Mardi Gras.”

See more: The Band Albums Ranked

7. (I Don’t Want To) Hang Up My Rock and Roll Shoes

“The Band sounds like they’re enjoying themselves to death while playing, and it’s hard not to get caught up in it. Robbie’s guitar is wicked–it cuts and lifts the energy of songs like an electric razor.

6. The Genetic Method

“Garth Hudson’s “Genetic Method” organ improvisation is one bonus of hearing their music live–he truly is a virtuoso, ad libbing some sweet keys and quoting recognizable snippets from several genres of music.”

5. Caledonia Mission

“If you’re getting stuck for a hit, then its probably a good idea to rework one of your past glories. This is so like “Across the Great Divide” that you’d be mistaken into thinking it is it!”

See more: The Band Songs Ranked

4. Don’t Do It

“Not this or the Who’s live cover from around the same time will ever beat Marvin’s sparkling H-D-H original but both are pretty worthy and obviously loving attempts. The Band take it slower and stretch the song out a bit, playing up the rhythm section and adding horns to the mix, taking the song to a different place, although like I said, I won’t be moved from the marvellous Motown original.”

3. The Weight

“This fine song saw the Band dramatically step out of the shadow of Bob Dylan, their erstwhile employer and paymaster, with a distinctive sound and voice of their own. The former might be described as country – gospel, while their main songwriter (and composer here) Robbie Robertson had his own way with unusual lyrical settings and memorable phrases, with which this particular song abounds – “haif past dead” stands out.”

2. Chest Fever

“You can almost forgive Garth Hudson’s bonkers doodling before they kick into a stratospheric version of Chest Fever. Superb.”

1. The Shape I’m In

“The Shape I’m In” is a ramshackle rocker which threatens to come off the rails at different juncture, like a slightly out of control train as befits the desultory lyric but the real gem here is “The Rumor”, a well-worded and well played and sung denunciation of the grapevine.”