7. Long Black Veil
EC(beastly in this picture, I know): Sorry, had to write a woman who wanted her letter removed from Sound Off
Listening to #7 now.
TJ: the rare occurence when a cover surpasses every other version
EC: Great version.
TJ: The Definitive Version
EC:You think?
TJ: better than Cash's
they breathed emotion into this song
Cash's is great, but it doesn't touch this
this version is on FIRE
EC: I can't disagree... Cash's version is sparse in comparison.
Like a personal confession...
TJ: yup, both great versions
i'm not downing Cash's at all, but this version is better in my opinion
Richard Manuel's electric piano makes this song
Danko's vocals are haunting
EC: Chest Fever kicks ass
TJ: hey wait, let's not get ahead of ourselves
EC: that organ opener crushes any other attempt
Sorry... I'm listening as we go. My bad.
8. Chest Fever
TJ: we have to make it official like that
oh yes chriz
the organ intro, holy shit
and the way everything comes in, the piano joins it and the hi-hats come in
SJ: oh man, okay, hold up speed demons geez, long black veil is my second favorite on this album b/c it is the definitive, such a cool cool song and story, and then they just rip it up
you can feel everything that is going on, the song comes to life!
and yes chest fever is my favorite song on this album
it makes you want to sway when the organ comes on, and then blasts you!
she receivess.....
TJ: yea weird lyrics too
but that ending refrain on every verse is fantastic
And as my mind unweaves, I feel the freeze down in my knees, but just before she leaves, she receives
i'm inclined to say it's about drugs
as my mind unweaves...
SJ: yes, very strange, and yeah drugs makes sense
9. Lonesome Suzie
TJ: A weeper of a track. Manuel's vocals are great. The lyrics are sad
too. Great organ by Hudson, too, really fits the song. That
saxophone really adds a lot to the track too. This is like lying in
bed music with a bloody mary and possibly a naked lady next to you.
Sunday morning music, if you will.

SJ: The comedown from Chest Fever is contemplative music. The searing yet sad organ just makes you wanna close your eyes and bob your head back and forth. Robertson's picking on the geetar is beautiful, and Manuel's moan is just too much, sniff!
10. This Wheel's On Fire
TJ: Ahhh, Rick Danko vocals. That backing keyboard is fantastic, really adds this kind of haunted house feel to the song. The lyrics really are what can make you tell this song was co-written by Bob Dylan.
The guitar tone is great, sounds like it's crying. Great track.

SJ: Yeah, the lyrics are really different from anything else on this album, but the boys pull it back in. I think the song takes about 30 seconds to get going, but Danko's hounddog vocals light this wheel. I also like the driving snaredrumbeat as they push the song into drive. Very solid track.
11. I Shall Be Released
TJ: AMAZING. Manuel's falsetto vocals on a Dylan classic. The piano is fantastic. I can't say anything more about this song than it's just a flat out great song. And what a closer to the album.

SJ: That's the thing about this track. I don't think it could've been placed anywhere else on the album. It has to be right here at the end, and since it is, perfecto. I play it over and over, and since Dylan sang it in his weird voice(right?) originally then Manuel can do his falsetto!!! So simple, and yet so so great, and yes, what a way to wrap it up! Everytime I go back to this album, I'm just struck by how cool of a group these guys were, and how much I still wanna go visit Big Pink itself.

Music From Big Pink by The Band, their first album and way ahead of
its time in 1968. An astonishing debut, followed by the equally
great self titled album. In my top 5 favorite albums ever, I listen
to it at least once a week.
EC: I honestly don't have much to contribute... its a new album to me. So make note of that and add "This is an album I plan on spending much more time getting to know. I can see why it's so highly regarded and it's classic status is well deserved."