The Band Self Titled Album Songs Ranked

The Band is the second studio album by the Band, released on September 22, 1969. It is also known as The Brown Album. According to Rob Bowman’s liner notes for the 2000 reissue, The Band has been viewed as a concept album, with the songs focusing on people, places and traditions associated with an older version of Americana. Thus, the songs on this album draw on historic themes for “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”, “King Harvest (Has Surely Come)” and “Jawbone” (which was composed in the unusual 6/4 time signature). According to co-producer John Simon, Robbie Robertson took over most of the engineering for the record, “hungry for knowledge … I showed him how to make an album from a technical point of view.” Here are all of The Band Self Titled Album songs ranked.

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12. King Harvest (Has Surely Come)

“Manuel also takes lead on “King Harvest (Has Surely Come),” which as an individual composition probably stands as the Band’s finest. Helm’s drum work never sounded more brilliantly intuitive: his cymbals echo the “wind blow[ing] ‘cross the water” on the ethereal chorus, and then with one crack his snare snaps the song back into the harsh tale of a destitute farmer.”

11. Whispering Pines

“Whispering Pines” is possibly the most beautiful song I have ever heard, with no exaggeration. Everything is perfect in this song.”

10. The Unfaithful Servant

 “The Unfaithful Servant” has one of the coolest guitar solos Robbie ever did. He sounds like a mandolin but isn’t. Rick Danko, meanwhile, often gets overlooked behind the more showy talents of his bandmates, but his vocal efforts – especially on harmonies and as a lead on “The Unfaithful Servant” – deserve mention.”

9. Up on Cripple Creek

“Up On Cripple Creek” is another classic story song sung by Levon Helm. Garth Hudson’s clavinette is an ingenious touch to this hilarious tale embodied by The Band’s Arkansasan . “And I swore and I took another pull, my Bessie can’t be beat.”

See more: The Band Albums Ranked

8. Jawbone

“Jawbone” showcases the musical creativity of The Band better than any song. The weird time changes are extremely difficult to play and are even harder to sing. The Band members have a sort of telepathy of what the others are going to do that makes playing like them nearly impossible.”

7. When You Awake

“When You Awake” continues this with its amazing harmony in the chorus. Who knows what this song is about but Rick Danko sings it like he lives in a shack in the south in about 1906.”

6. Look Out Cleveland

“Look Out Cleveland” is another romp about a storm coming. This theme of nature is present in four songs: “Across the Great Divide”, “Whispering Pines”, “Look Out Cleveland” and “King Harvest (Has Surely Come).” For some reason, I just love that. Instead of singing about in a pretentious way as so many 60s bands did, The Band talk about nature like their all farmers and they know it better than anyone.”

See more: The Band Songs Ranked

5. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down

“I actually think “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” is better even than “The Weight”, and “The Weight” is great – hee-hee! For a simple reason, I’d say it was the brilliant arrangement that clinches it; it’s an arrangement that colors-up the sepia lyrics with all sorts of little things: banjo trills, that mournful, wordless chorus, the sweeping sighs of harmonica, the barely-audible horn line under the chorus, the way the drums tighten up for exactly one bar (in the third verse, appropriately on the word ‘Yankee,’ like blood boiling up at the thought of it)…I dunno how they all managed to avoid sounding histrionic, but somehow they got away clean.”

4. Rockin’ Chair

“Rockin’ Chair” is much like when you wake but with slightly less bizarre lyrics. Manuel does sound like he’s pushing age 73 but in a good way.”

3. Rag Mama Rag

 “Rag Mama Rag” are not only magnificently recorded (and/or mixed; a well-earned kudos to John Simon), but when the drums and bass come in…well, that sounds like a potential sample for an amazing rap song to me. Manuel sounds so damn happy in that one”

2. Jemima Surrender

“The way “Jemima Surrender” tricks you at first into thinking that it’s gonna repeat the same guitar line as a constant riff, but goes somewhere else instead. They groove on that plane of thought.”

1. Across the Great Divide

“Across the Great Divide” is a perfect starter. Like so many songs on this album, it’s somewhat of a romp with it’s wet bass line and wailing horns.”