The Band: Levon Helm (vocals, acoustic guitar, mandolin, harmonica, drums, percussion); Rick Danko (vocals, guitar, bass); Randy Ciarlante (vocals, drums, percussion); Jim Weider (acoustic & electric guitars, dobro, mandolin); Garth Hudson (accordion, saxophone, piano, organ, synthesizer, percussion); Richard Bell (accordion, piano, keyboards).
Includes liner notes by David Spero.
Digitally remastered by Kurt Wipfli (Wiptrax Studios, Miami, Florida).
Personnel: Rick Danko (vocals, guitar); Levon Helm (vocals, acoustic guitar, mandolin, drums, percussion); Randy Ciarlante (vocals, drums, percussion); Jim Weider (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, dobro, mandolin); Garth Hudson (accordion, saxophone, piano, organ, synthesizer, percussion); Richard Bell (accordion, piano, keyboards).
Audio Remasterer: Kurt Wipfil.
The Band's 1976 concert extravaganza dubbed "The Last Waltz" was supposed to signal the end of one of rock's most durable outfits. Except some members of the group weren't ready to hang up their rock and roll shoes. Lead guitarist/chief songwriter Robbie Robertson went off in his own direction, scoring movies and releasing the occasional solo album while his four bandmates spent much of the following decade performing in various duet and trio configurations. Finally--perhaps taking a cue from Little Feat, which reformed despite the passing of leader Lowell George--The Band regrouped, albeit two members shy of its original lineup (Robertson demurred, keyboardist Richard Manuel had committed suicide). Over the next ten years, The Band released three albums. THE BEST OF, VOLUME 2 collects ten of the finest tracks from these records.
It would be unfair to compare these tracks to The Band's previous work, especially their first two albums (MUSIC FROM BIG PINK and THE BAND) which stand among the best in rock history. Taken on its own terms, though, VOLUME 2 is as enjoyable as a visit from a long-lost friend.
Professional Reviews
Dirty Linen (4-5/00, p.88) - "...Songs by Dylan and Springsteen and an unreleased version of the Coasters' classic 'Youngblood' fit comfortably with our memories of what The Band has always done well....one of the better comeback stories of the 90s."
