The Band Albums Ranked From Worst to Best

[@edgustafson]

That "High on the Hog" cover is also vaguely reminiscent of Motley Crue's "Generation Swine" and Primus' "Pork Soda". There must of been some graphic designer in the 90s who walked into every pitch meeting and was like, "Imagine a creepy, cartoon pig and a font that will look really dated in about 5 years."

[@AbbeyRoadkill1]

1. The Band (Brown Album) - 1969 (5/5) 2. Music From Big Pink - 1968 (5/5) 3. Stage Fright - 1970 (4/5) 4. Northern Lights-Southern Cross - 1975 (4/5) 5. Jubilation - 1998 (3/5) 6. Cahoots - 1971 (3/5) 7. Jericho - 1993 (3/5) 8. Moondog Matinee - 1973 (3/5) 9. Islands - 1977 (2.5/5) 10. High On The Hog - 1996 (1.5/5) If I could give the Brown Album six stars, I would. It's an all-time top 40 album for me. These guys just ooze authenticity. Five of the best musicians to ever do it.

[@179rich]

Listening to High on the Hog again and it doesn't sound so offensive to me. As always, I dislike the songs that have those same old tired Blues chord progressions. But I think Free Your Mind is great. I agree with Jason, three stars.

[@hamburgerdan101]

Moondog mantinee is above your pay-grade that albums amazing

[@curly_wyn]

@@179rich the cover tho is still awful lol

[@AbbeyRoadkill1]

I ended up on team Jason this time. I love Big Pink, but to me not every song on it is an all-timer in quite the same way as the Brown Album.

[@kevinmcardle4087]

1. The Band 2. Songs from Big Pink 3. Stage Fright 4. Northern Lights/Southern Cross 5. Cahoots 6. Islands 7. Moondog Matinee 8. Jericho 9. Jubilation 10. High on the Hog - This may be a hot take, but my favorite singer in the group was always Richard Manuel. His soulful tone still breaks my heart, but in a good way. Levon once even famously referred to him as their "lead singer". His voice was gradually ravaged by alcohol abuse, which led to his premature death. R.I.P. - BTW, there's no way I could give every album I listen to a star-ranking, so good luck with that...

[@darrellwhitman2484]

My list : 10. High On The Hog 9. Jubilation 8. Islands 7. Jericho 6. Moondog Matinee 5. Cahoots 4. Stage Fright 3. Northern Lights - Southern Cross 2. Music From Big Pink 1. The Band

[@davidfinch652]

the day after i got fired in 2015 I got stoned first thing in the morning and watched The Last Waltz. It changed my life.

[@arto2533]

Interesting review. The best thing about the internet is that you're always gonna find people who love even the crappiest albums...with a gazillion 'underrated'-comments somehow involved. This past week alone I've seen loads of love for albums like 'High On The Hog', 'Knocked Out Loaded', 'Dylan', 'Everybody's Rocking', 'Metal Machine Music', 'Pretties For You', and probably a few other atrocities I've already forgotten. More power to 'em, for sure.

[@manalive256]

The Band's greatness for me is centred on their first 2 albums (especially the brown album). Also, great innovation having the star system!

[@HaFannyHa]

My top five: 5. Stagefright 4. Northern Lights, Southern Cross 3. Music From Big Pink 2. Moondog Matinee 1. The Band (1969)

[@plank577]

1. The Band 2. Music From Big Pink 3. Northern Lights Southern Cross 4. Cahoots 5. Jericho 6. Stage Fright 7. Islands

[@realCaptainSanta]

10 - HIgh on the Hog 9 - Islands 8 - Moondog Matinee 7 - Cahoots 6 - Jericho 5- Jubilation 4 - Northern Lights/ Southern Cross 3 - Stage Fright 2 - Music From Big Pink 1 - The Band

[@AbbeyRoadkill1]

You and I have almost exactly the same rankings.

[@classyminx2161]

The Brown album is definitely their masterpiece. Every single song is just so awesome and I never can understand how people can neglect the 2nd side when it has songs like Rockin Chair, Unfaithful Servant, and King's Harvest. I really think drugs and inn fighting hurt this band more than anything else. If they had the same team work and synergy of the first two records, they could easily be a top 50 band of all time. They have great stand out songs outside those first two albums mainly "It Makes No Difference", but their later albums are a little too uneven for me. I fucking love this show and hope it continues on till you've covered every artist and made every list possible haha. Hopefully a Billy Joel episode will come out soon as he is one of my favs that hasn't been done yet. Cheers !

[@TastesLikeMusic]

I’ve got some good news for you on the Joel front... - Joe

[@classyminx2161]

@@TastesLikeMusic Fuck yeah ! Unless ya'll don't like the albums very much then I'll be a little sad lol (Also Joel front sounds like Storm Front and THAT is funny)

[@lewistyler462]

Great list guys. It's too tough to choose between the debut and the sophomore as they're both perfect albums. I like how you point out just how weird and trippy Big Pink is at times.

[@tomklenskjr.2491]

I’m very happy to hear your thoughts in this video Jason, about The Band .. their self titled 2nd (the brown) album is far and away my favorite, which you also articulated why very well .. each individual contributor to this combination of musicians is very special, indeed. Nothing else, quite like them

[@MegaDave8520]

I was just wondering what to watch, and then I see new video from you guys :D

[@MikeVernonProd]

I’m on Jason’s wavelength with The Band. I love all of their original lineup albums, especially the first three which are just perfect. And as much as I love Music From Big Pink and the entire mystique around it, their second album, the brown album, is their very best. How can you not love Up On Cripple Creek, King Harvest, and Night They Drove Old Dixie Down? There isn’t a single weak track on it. One of my favourite albums ever from one of my favourite bands,

[@curly_wyn]

Yeah, The Band (1969) literally invented americana!

[@1rwjwith]

Ps: I forgot to do my list....only doing the classic lineup albums. THE BAND (sepia toned brown album) , STAGE FRIGHT, BIG PINK- the masterpieces - NORTHERN /SOUTHERN, CAHOOTS, MOONDOG MATINEE, ISLANDS, ROCK OF AGES, LAST WALTZ....

[@IrishFootyVlogs]

Much enjoyed as usual guys. I flip between my 2 favs. (The Band and Big Pink). Haven't heard the 90's stuff, not mad about the rest tbh even 'Southern Cross'

[@lightningstrikes7314]

Great discussion, Big Pink for me, accompanied me on many long dark nights of the soul often on repeat. They are a Top 10 band for me. Little Feat albums would make a great episode.

[@pauldaniels2019]

I enjoyed this video. When The Band was together, I didn’t care for them much. I saw The Last Waltz at a movie theater when it came out, and that totally changed my mind about them. I went out and got all their albums, but (besides TLW soundtrack) I only really liked two of them a lot. The Brown album is my favorite by a lot. I’ve read so much about Big Pink over the years, but I think their sophomore effort is much better. If all 8 Band songs from The Basement Tapes were an album, it would be rank number 3 for me. The rest of them I would probably rank in the order they came out.

[@lionelraoul]

Really looking forward to this one. One of my all-time favorite artists.

[@billkeon880]

agree with Jason. Band '69 is monumental songwriting and playing, but close second to Big Pink...... The Band '69 is their Abbey Rd. whereas Big Pink is their White Album. Both in my top 25 of all time. It's also all about their vocal interplay - the best ever between 3 vocals

[@RandyforRoyals]

I like Kramzer's description of the High On The Hog album cover. My list. I'm not that familiar with their reunion albums. 1. The Band 2. Music From Big Pink 3. Stage Fright 4. Northern Lights, Southern Cross 5. Cahoots 6. Islands 7. Moondog Matinee

[@johnw706]

I'm a big Band fan . They are a group ( like Little Feat , for example ) where the individual members listened to what each other were playing , and fit their individual parts together perfectly . They meshed beautifully as.a unit , which , obviously , didn't escape Mr. Dylan's attention . Here is how I would rank the albums in order of preference : Music From Big Pink The Band Northern Lights , Southern Cross ( the twin greatness of Acadian Driftwood and Ophelia , almost moves this up to number 2 ) Stage Fright Cahoots Islands Jericho Jubilation High on the Hog Thanks !

[@JohannesYtterstrom]

Another thing about The Band is that, for me, their live-albums and work with Bob Dylan can be more essential than about half the catalog discussed here! "The Last Waltz" is the famous one. Great versions and a great evening. I have the whole version on CD's which is LONG. I would recommend getting the movie before which is some selected songs with other things around. A good introduction to their catalog also I'd say. "Rock of Ages" is an earlier live-show that is a bit more ordinary than The Last Waltz but also very good. A bit more raw and rocking. "Planet Waves" is Bob Dylan singing for The Band basically... A quite light album and more The Band in sound than Bob Dylan. Would have been cool with more vocals from The Band members though! "Before the Flood" is a live-album with both Bob Dylan and The Band. A bit more for Bob Dylan fans or bigger fans of The Band. I would get The Last Waltz or Rock of Ages before this one. Then comes "The Basement Tapes" which is lots of shorter sort of demo-versions of Bob Dylan and The Band. I quite like this.. But this is nerdy stuff. Don't bother with this before getting most of the other stuff first. In my book the essential things with The Band is: Music From Big Pink The Band Stage Fright Northern Lights-Southern Cross Rock of Ages The Last Waltz Planet Waves If you are a huge fan like Jason seems to be you'd probably get the rest. If you are more like Kramzer or Joe.. This should do the trick!

[@Twotontessie]

Agree with Joe. Such incredible and unique skills in that group. Seems hard to believe they couldn’t get a bit more out of it. First song, first album just astonishing. One of the great vocal performances of all time. You think ok I’ll get a bunch of these for years from this one guy - and they have three mind blowing lead singers! And it just kind of never happened.

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Thanks for this, guys. I'd never really checked out The Band beyond the first three albums, but I got hold of Northern Lights Southern Cross on the back of watching your video. Great album (despite that pesky string synth!).

[@paulh6673]

Loved the band for many years, but haven't explored anything past the original run. The Last Waltz is a truly great film, and I urge anyone to watch the recent-ish Eureka blu-ray. "Danko/Manuel" is a classic song by the Drive-By Truckers, written by Jason Isbell. 1. The Band 2. Music From Big Pink 3. Stage Fright 4. Northern Lights Southern Cross 5. Cahoots 6. Islands 7. Moondog Matinee I'd like to see some love/coverage at some point for Nick Cave, Fugazi, Richard Thompson, Husker Du, Replacements, Ramones, Can, Sly and the Family Stone, Parliament/Funkadelic, Tom Waits, Townes Van Zandt, Alice Cooper...

[@roxannewalsh]

Great you mention the Drive-By Truckers (not because they were my 2004 Listography winners with the album that had this song but) because it shows that they influenced even bands whose members were not yet born when they recorded their great albums. And when we talk of influence, we just talk of the first two albums after all.

[@stevemcgill355]

Legendary pioneers of Americana, Country Rock, Alt Country, etc. Probably an influence on John Fogerty & CCR and countless other bands. Their collaborations with Dylan were amazing. #1 The Band. #2 Music from Big Pink. #3 Northern Lights-Southern Cross. If I could only have 1 Band album it would be the live Rock of Ages.

[@walterevans5837]

As usual, I enjoyed this ranking. Suggestions for future album rankings: The Byrds (you would be surprised by their depth and diversity if you have not explored them), King Crimson and The Kinks.

[@TastesLikeMusic]

We will be hitting all of those eventually. Can't say when though. - Jason

[@kevtruth]

I'm digging the star ratings and that you're showing the release year - maybe you've implemented that in past videos and I hadn't noticed

[@JohannesYtterstrom]

I started with "Stage Fright" and still think it is a good place to start IF you know very little about The Band. My other recommendation for a start would be "Northern Lights-Southern Cross". While maybe not their best records they are easy to get into and have a slighty more commerical sound which the common listener might understand. Both are very fluent and enjoyable for me. I can agree with all three on "Islands". I think it is surprisingly solid for what it is. I listen more to it than several other records by The Band. Also, that album cover is really nice. I love the simple and almost cocky name... THE BAND but it is also sort of anonymous now later on... _ You heard The Band? What Band? THE Band? Huh...? - Not sure if Music From Big PInk or The Band would be my #1. Could change over and over again. What I find most interesting is that so many bands at the time was headed forward musically.. Jimi Hendrix, Cream, The Doors, The Beatles, Jeff Beck Group, Led Zeppelin... The Band went sort of backwards but not in a bad way. Not sure where I'd rank them in a "Top 100 band list" but they like some others did rise quite quickly above others when I started to understand them. Thanks for the show!

[@johncopeland3826]

Regarding the ' Stagefright ' album ..for me the 2 tracks which are criminally overlooked and underrated are ; 'The Rumor 'and 'Sleeping ' ! Absolutely magnificent performances all round ...

[@walterevans5837]

I generally agree with your sentiments. The first two Band records are absolutely brilliant and stunners (both are in my personal Top 100), but it gets a little choppier from there. I love The Last Waltz and Rock of Ages as well, but both are live.

[@FredVanAllenRealtor]

Love your lists and enjoy your insights. Yes, to me The Last Waltz was something very, very special.

[@janpoelkamp4229]

I got the Greatest Hits compilation and this video really helps in getting me interested in the albums. 👍 Btw the cover for the self-titled abum seemed to have inspired the one for The Black Crowes’ The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion.

[@nickcook8535]

not heard much of this band, will have to check their albums out.

[@toquecentralmusic9212]

The first two LPs are stone cold classics. The next two on the list below (plus the live albums) should be in every Americana fan's library. With the exception of a handful of select tracks, the rest of the catalogue is inessential, IMHO. 1. The Band 2. Music from Big Pink 3. Stage Fright 4. Northern Lights - Southern Cross 5. Cahoots 6. Jericho 7. Jubilation 8. Moondog Matinee 9. Islands 10. High on the Hog

[@prockrog5219]

Only have their first two albums. But after this I'll be checking out their 70s catalog for sure.

[@matthaverstock5226]

Jason hit the nail on the head about 'High on the Hog' looking like the album cover to 'Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich' by Warrant. I was literally thinking that before he said it, too. I feel like the Warrant cover fits a lot better for their music though. It definitely reminds me of Swackhammer from Space Jam as well.

[@ComeOnIsSuchAJoy]

Yes, very much a product of its time.

[@billclarke3773]

Very good show - thank you. One small critique: Joe's List; Kramzer's List; Jason's List. Grammar rocks!

[@ThePhysicalillusion]

My top 5 is easy with the self titled and Big Pink probably at 4-1/2 stars, Stage Fright and Northern Lights at 4 and Cahoots at 3-1/2, but I gotta relisten to Moondog Matinee, Jericho and Jubilation again to figure out my 6 to 8 order (all probably at 3 stars). Islands and High on the Hog are likely my bottom two at 2-1/2 stars. Hopefully on my channel I’ll get a ranking video on them sometime this year to elaborate more on my thoughts. Definitely curious about the resequencing of Stage Fright.

[@johnjackson3735]

Maybe this is cheating but by far my favorite album by the band is the Basement Tapes with Bob Dylan not only for their playing on songs that Bob Dylan sang but for the songs they themselves sang filled with emotional resonance and authenticity like Bessy Smith, Don't Ya Tell Henry, Long Distance Operator, Orange Juice Blues, Yazoo Street Scandal, Katy's Been Gone, Ain't no More Cain, and I love the way they sing the chorus on Too Much of Nothing, and they harmonize with Bob Dylan on almost all the songs. Manuel's backing on Tears of Rage is hauntingly beautiful. They also contribute heavily to blending backing vocals on This Wheel's on Fire and You Ain't Going Nowhere. The guitar licks are raw and have a kind of psychedelic blues countrified flavor and the organ and piano have this bittersweet ring and backwoods bounce like doing a gig at a mountain hodown. The sense of family you addressed in the review to me is also most prevalent on this album with the huge addition of Dylan and them sharing camaraderie and laughing together at the tongue and cheek humor which pervades many of the lyrics mixed with deadly seriousness. It is clear that the influences between Bob Dylan and the Band were symbiotic. To me this set the precedent for another classic album Exile on Main Street. Messy Masterpiece. with the muddy unmastered recording. . My second favorite is Music from Big Pink. I like it a lot especially The Weight, In the Station and Caledonia Mission.

[@chrisblair3819]

They got the Steely Dan t-shirt

[@plank577]

side bar: To Kingdom Come is one of my favorite compilation albums of all-time

[@DeutschesFolkArchiv]

Great idea! Can you do also a Listography-Analysis for such lesser known bands like: Stereolab, Amon Duul II, Gorky´s zygotic mynci, Jethro Tull, Dr. John, Belle & Sebastian, & The Dubliners? Would interests me - and maybe some others too!

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Someday, yes!

[@edwardspearing5148]

As a Dubliner I hope these 3 Pittsburgh fellas give the Dubliners a very wide berth. As a big on folk listener.. Eh.. Nada.. No hope n Bob Hope. Kudos to the late Luke Kelly.. But Ronser.. NoTa.

[@roxannewalsh]

Lesser known bands? Jethro Tull and Dr John? That qualifies you to be on the board for that notorious Hall of Fame...

[@AbbeyRoadkill1]

I'd have to check the numbers but I think Jethro Tull is still one of the top 50 best-selling artists in music history. I totally agree with your list, btw, I would love to see every one of those artists covered.

[@roxannewalsh]

Amon Duul II - I come from the other end of the planet and this is a household name, just like Can, Kraan, Faust, Tangerine Dream or Kraftwerk. Krautrock invented nearly everything for the 40 years to follow...

[@Freakster1970]

Everything went pear shaped after the first two albums and nothing came close to those two albums. The Band still came out with some great songs on other albums- I just don't think anything came close to Big Pink or Brown as a full album.

[@1rwjwith]

I was glad to see you guys do this particular list! I was a BAND fanatic when I was a kid, and I was a kid back in the original era of the BAND , I saw then live first in 1970 when I was a junior in high school just to date myself! To tell you the truth I did not like any album after NOTHERN LIGHTS/SOUTHERN CROSS which came out in 1975. For any one that buys the ROBBIE STOLE ALL THE CREDIT for songwriting myth, name one song on the albums after he left that stands up to their classic songs?! Really it just did not work for me after 1977 and ISLANDS and Robbie dropping out for good personal reasons. Anyway I loved these guys and once actually met MANUEL and DANKO at a gig at The Roxy in L.A. In 1977. The end was not pretty. THANKS.

[@chrispoole2438]

On Moondog Matinee Levon played either bass or rhythm guitar more than drums, which may explain why it sounds unlike much that went before (I love it though!)

[@BazStrickland]

Another band that passed me by. Tried to get into them. My dad was a big fan and I lurve Bob Dylan and Americana so I’ll have to go back in. Have you heard the new Nick Cave/Warren Ellis album. Oh my god

[@mattymac1399]

I dig Stage Fright and Northern Lights quite a bit but Big Pink and The Band are clear masterpieces. The drop in the blending of vocals from album 3 onwards is a shame, as that's a huge part of the magic of the first 2...

[@drdavid1963]

I would agree with Joe and Kramzer. Although the 'brown' album is in 4-4.5 territory and Northern Lights Southern Cross too, the magic of Music from Big Pink was never repeated consistently in one album. I have it in my top 50 of all time. I would disagree with Joe though because I still think all three of these are essential albums. And three great albums make them a serious artist but perhaps B-list rather than A-list, like Jefferson Airplane.

[@Nate_Higgins]

The Band has one of the best live ever. Not talking about The Last Waltz. I prefer Rock of Ages to most of the studio versions of the songs on it. So good.

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Agreed. -Jason

[@afermata949]

I'm curious about how you guys feel about The Stones. I love them more and more every year. Would love to see them ranked as well as Van Morrison, The Kinks, Sonic Youth, and The Cure. As far as The Band, first two albums are classics and I love The Basement Tapes.

[@AbbeyRoadkill1]

When I was young I thought there was a cavernous gap between The Beatles and The Stones. These days I still think The Beatles are tops but I don't think the gap is nearly as big. The Stones have as many great songs as The Beatles they just don't have as many songs that have transcended rock 'n roll to become all-time music classics.

[@roxannewalsh]

The interesting thing about the Basement Tapes are all the great cover versions that were done by other artists from what they heard from the bootlegs long before the tapes were released in 1975. Great White Wonder may have spawned more hits than most other official albums. (Yes, it contained also some other Dylan material not with the Band...)

[@ComeOnIsSuchAJoy]

@@AbbeyRoadkill1 Yep. The Beatles were in a league of their own, with The Stones, Who, Kinks, and the criminally overlooked Pretty Things all being all being on the same island together in terms of the other 'British Invasion' acts. The Zombies, Yardbirds, Animals, Small Faces, and Donovan were on the next tier below them, and Manfred Mann, The Hollies, Spencer Davis Group, Dave Clark Five, and Them being just below that. *I'd also include The Moody Blues in this list, but given they radically reinvented themselves in mid-'67 (when the British Invasion was really no longer a thing), they were almost an entirely different band at that point.

[@danielgoodaker3773]

I've always loved ''Stage Fright''. It seems things kind of went downhill after that (with the exception of their ''live'' recordings). Truly original music...something you don't hear anymore. Next to the Beatles they were my fave.

[@hannejeppesen1809]

Things did go downhill. 3 members, Richard, Levon and Rick were doing heroin, and god knows what else. They all did drugs, but Garth and Robbie stayed away from heroin. With Robbie the music always came first.

[@Ianmackable]

All I would add is a little shout-out to the Procol Harum influence. People forget what a big deal they were at the time. The organ & piano meld definitely migrated from their first two albums to the Band's.

[@frodofraggins]

I've only listened to Music From Big Pink and liked it decently enough. I didn't give it a star score and will revisit it. I'm not sure why they escaped my listening back in the day, my only guess is that I was never struck by any songs of theirs played on the radio. When Robbie Robertson did solo stuff I knew nothing of his previous work.

[@grahamgreene779]

Kram what's with the hats? - You know half the viewers are just here to gaze at your luscious hair :)

[@J0hnC0ltrane]

No Rock of Ages? Like the Allman Brothers live was the heart of their music.

[@terryblankenshipmusic1322]

As great as The Band was and as great as all the lp’s were , their absolute greatness really came to fruition on stage in their live shows , especially when they were accompanied by a horn section. But my lp list would be 1. The Band , 2. Stage Fright , 3. Cahoots 4. Music From Big Pink, 5. Jericho, 6. Northern Lights Southern Cross 7. Moondog Matinee 8. Islands 9. Jubilation 10. High On The Hog

[@TastesLikeMusic]

I don’t know about that ranking. I’m upset that you have Stage Fright above big Pink much less cahoots. - Joe

[@zackamania6534]

Bowie does a decent job using the “Eastern Asia” mode as the lick in China Girl.

[@billhobbs7077]

Look at the clothing that The Beatles were wearing on that last photo session at Johns house Try and tell me they weren't influenced by those first 2 albums

[@ferrallc1]

Everyone was trying to cop the Band at that time

[@tommay631]

Good stuff from you guys. Also- must've been tough to be 'The' band. I suppose it beats 'Chocolate Subway'.

[@brianbieker9321]

Loved The Band. I always thought that the album The Band had it slightly above Big Pink. But I loved them both and their other albums too. I guess I agreed with Crambler the most. (sorry if I mispronounced your name) Cheers guys.👍👍

[@JohannesYtterstrom]

This is a general recommendation but I also think JASON would really like this ranking of The Band: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6CWdaFoht57idE

[@douglasthomson4550]

If it wasn't for The Band (when pop music grew up) It would be all Charlie Mingus and Shostakovitch for me.

[@edhart8583]

Great video guys. Would you be interested in doing a bonus episode talking, rating and top 3 songs to The Basement Tapes.

[@TastesLikeMusic]

That would be a fun convo. Maybe someday. - Joe

[@ThePhysicalillusion]

I was driving when Kramzer’s “Rundgren just fucked it all up!” part came on, so I just had to rewatch it in 43 inch HDTV. 😂 Also really love the Northern Lights - Southern Cross album cover. When I first started playing open mics at The Fire in Philly, they had album covers on the wall in the stage area that all featured fire in the artwork, and that was one of them. I think Songs From The Wood from Jethro Tull and Sunburst Finish from Be-Bop Deluxe were a couple others.

[@shaynewest8757]

1. The Band (easily one of the greatest albums ever recorded) 2. Stage Fright 3. Northern Lights Southern Cross ( if only for Acadian Driftwood alone) 4. Music From Big Pink (slightly overrated but the intro to Chest Fever is incredible) the rest of their studio work falls way off.

[@josemanuel5699]

I love the Band.Top 5 of all time.

[@aldheniserrato6405]

I would have loved to know what they think about "Rock of ages" and "The last Waltz" and the work of Allen Toussaint. Also, where they would rank those albums on the chart.

[@roxannewalsh]

Some time ago there was a Listography about burn out vs fade away...the Band are probably a stunning example how low a group can fall down that definitely wrote music history as well. 10. High on the Hog - Even the "High" in the album title is a lie. 9. Jubilation - Had it not "Band" on the cover probably nobody would even talk about this album. 8. Moondog Matinee - They started their career as somebody's band playing somebody's songs... 7. Islands - I had to look up the track list and still could not remember most of the songs. This is sadly the case for everything Robertson wrote after 1975. 6. Jericho - Atlantic City and Blind Willie McTell beat the originals. They were not written by a band member, nor was any of the other acceptable tracks. This is their dilemma at that stage. 5. Cahoots - The highlights are less high and the rest is just competent. 4. Stage Fright - This is where "great" ends and "solid" begins. There are a few top songs (The Shape I'm In, Stage Fright, The Rumour) and the rest is perfectly performed, but as a whole it is uneven and at times uninspired. 3. Northern Lights, Southern Cross - Five years in the 70s was a very long time and probably most people did not expect the group to ever come up with a good album again. It was different from anything they had done before as they were putting more emphasis on the music than on the songs - in a way this is Garth Hudson's masterpiece more than the others. 2. The Band - Sure, they invented Americana with this one although it took decades until they had a name for it. Until then it was simply "The Brown Album" and everybody knew what you were talking about. Robbie Robertson's masterwork with a band that shared and illustrated his vision. 1. Music From Big Pink - This was 1968 when they released an album like nothing ever recorded before or after. Had they never recorded another one they would still have written history. None of the topics were "rock topics", none of the band members was the star or the lead singer or the virtuoso, none of the songs was a hit. Then you listen a second and third time and you realise, each song is a classic and each band member is a genius and this is one of the greatest albums ever made. And when it is re-evaluated anew each decade you find it has again grown stronger. There are perfect albums in music history and this is one. Not to forget that they released one classic Live Double Album, the fantastic Rock of Ages - forget about the drunken all star overblown party they pumped out later. PS - I ask myself where Kramzer found the 1 point he gives to the Hog, I would give minus if that were possible.

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Haha I considered a half star... But I think 1 is as low as I go - kramzer

[@roxannewalsh]

Since you talk about stars a lot - Big Pink + The Brown Album are 5 star albums (Big Pink is one of those rare 6 to 10 stars on a scale of 5). Northern Lights is 4 stars. Rock of Ages is 4,5 stars. Big Pink only was my #3 in 1968 but if you look at #1 or #2 then you know why...

[@AbbeyRoadkill1]

I think you're being a little hard on Jubilee. Maybe I overrated it because by that point in their discography I was just craving for The Band to be The Band again... and here they were writing their own songs (finally), some of which are good. I enjoyed it.

[@AbbeyRoadkill1]

I couldn't bring myself to give Islands 3 stars. My position on albums that have a consistently slow pace where the songwriting is not memorable is well known. That's a no-no for me.

[@roxannewalsh]

@@AbbeyRoadkill1 I think this is the big dilemma that the boys also addressed in the video when they asked about how to overall rate the Band among other artists. It is almost like you cannot do it. In the same way that their sound and approach to music was so different, their almost grotesque discography gives you a headache. You always wish there should be some more on the stellar side than just two albums, you want to love them more but in the end you need to be honest to yourself. Crap from The Band is not any better than crap from someone else. Many great artists made bad albums but if your discography is just 10 albums in 30 years there is little to compensate the bad ones.

[@RPS67]

Sorry, this is so long but a really fascinating discussion. Everything that keeps me watching your videos is here even if I don't always agree with you. The Band's trajectory of greatness to averageness is not unique but have another act done it so dramatically? The commentary on Richard Manuel is really reflective of the group as a whole. An amazing vocal & writing talent, but the demons that drove his genius he quelled with alcohol drowning his musical ability in the process. The Band's whole standing exists because of those first two LPs and I believe they were great enough to make them a landmark act regardless of what followed. Why did they slide so dramatically after the second LP? The move to Shangri-La symbolized their loss of camaraderie, John Simon was the right producer for them and had a greatly diminished role after the 2nd LP and success opened the door to too many temptations. The reasons 2 of 3 of you rate Big Pink over the 2nd LP, its psychedelic overtones, sounded like Traffic, Clapton-like guitar, etc are the very reasons I think the 2nd LP is superior. It stands apart from other late 60s artists. Nothing else sounded like it, musically and lyrically. It is as bold a statement against the excesses of the 1960s rock world as has ever been recorded. Both are 5-star masterpieces but only one is transcendent. 1. The Band 2. Music From Big Pink 3. Stage Fright 4. Moonlight Matinee 5. Stage Fright 6. Northern Lights - Southern Cross 7. Cahoots 8. Islands

[@TastesLikeMusic]

I think I put Music from big Pink first just because I like the style more. The Americana vibe of the Band album is not my favorite genre in the world even though I do respect it and them. - Joe

[@curly_wyn]

@@TastesLikeMusic There ya go, Joe lol. The vast majority of our comments rate The Band self-titled second album as the best haha!

[@stantonthezag1109]

Don’t know if there’s a more appropriate place to put in requests but would love to hear the whole panel go over the discography of two of my all-time favorite bands: Roxy Music and XTC.

[@simonpiacente3989]

It's hard to make a Band list without The Last Waltz.....But even MUCh more so without The Basement Tapes, which shows their true greatness, and along with Exile On Main St. and London Calling, etc. is one of the top greatest albums ever. The Basement Tapes people; please listen to it.

[@179rich]

Strangely enough, although I never got into The Band too much, I am a big fan of Robbie Robertson's solo album Contact from the Underworld of Red Boy.

[@roxannewalsh]

I have this masochistic loyalty to artists that once have won me, so I have Robertson's solo stuff as well but I hardly could ever force myself to a third listening of his albums. He went from songwriter to ambient/movie soundtrack but not to the interesting side of it. I wonder if the Listograhers even consider the band member's solo albums for a topic but I think it is not worth it.

[@179rich]

@@roxannewalsh even Levon Helm? Wow you are dismissing quite a few albums including some I think are good, so I gotta disagree with you there.

[@roxannewalsh]

@@179rich Most of Helm's albums have some good tracks on them and a lot of filler as well. American Son may be his best, the problem is it is never enough to carry a complete album, he is a craftsman who knows his craft but neither a good writer nor a genius. A candidate for a compilation that may be a great one. The main problem is that The Band created an approach to music (call it a genre?) and legions have followed it. Now Helm had to compete with them all and since he needed other people's material for it, it was a losing battle.

[@179rich]

@@roxannewalsh Are you referring to "Americana?"

[@roxannewalsh]

@@179rich You have to be patient with me on this, since I am not American this is something not part of my background, I am just a distant observer. As for The Band, the term itself did not even exist when they started. For me, they stand more for authenticity vs stardom/glamour - camaraderie vs ego - simplicity vs virtuosity. All for the sake of the song etc. Their British counterpart was Fairport Convention. They were not "really" returning to a past because the roots they claimed were in fact some own invention. Like the folk in Britain was not the purist's folk music but some ever changing thing from people's life.

[@12spanku]

The Band no doubt started to emulate Van Morrison in the mid 70's, but to me they connected on some spiritual level already in 68. Big Pink and Astral Weeks aren't musically similar but the way they make me feel is the same. No other album really does the trick

[@roxannewalsh]

Astral Weeks was my #1 album in 1968, and Big Pink my #3 (Hendrix sandwiched between them). Those albums for me are nearly "otherwordly". I listen to them for over 50 years now and they always take me to some different place and I always hear them "new". They are beyond a 5 star scale even. This makes it so incredible hard to evaluate an artist like The Band because they produced something like that (and then even the self titled follow up) and afterwards they became "mortal" again.

[@curly_wyn]

Don’t know why they would want to emulate such a terrible singer lmao

[@179rich]

10) Jubilation (1998) 2.5/5 09) High on the Hog (1996) 2.75/5 08) Moondog Matinee (1973) 3.5/5 07) Islands (1977) 3.5/5 06) Jericho (1993) 3.75/5 05) Northern Lights - Southern Cross (1975) 4.25/5 04) Cahoots (1971) 4.25/5 03) Stage Fright (1970) 4.25/5 02) Music from Big Pink (1968) 5/5 01) The Band (1969) 5/5 Ratings Scale: 0 stars - irredeemably terrible/insultingly bad/the worst .5 stars - terrible 1 star - bad 1.5 stars - pretty bad 2 stars - weak/mediocre 2.5 stars - meh 2.75 stars - "It's OK, but quit playing it." 3 stars - OK/decent 3.25 stars - pretty good 3.5 stars - good 3.75 stars - really good 4 stars - very good 4.25 stars - very, very good 4.5 stars - excellent 5 stars - a drunkard's dream Chronological Order: 1968 - 5.00 - Music from Big Pink 1969 - 5.00 - The Band 1970 - 4.25 - Stage Fright 1971 - 4.25 - Cahoots 1973 - 3.50 - Moondog Matinee 1975 - 4.25 - Northern Lights - Southern Cross 1977 - 3.50 - Islands 1993 - 3.75 - Jericho 1996 - 2.75 - High on the Hog 1998 - 2.50 - Jubilation

[@roalziroalzi]

the true band of bob dylan ..... the band ¡¡¡¡¡

[@SpaceCattttt]

The Band is a tricky band to rate. I don't think any of their albums are truly great all the way through, even though their first 2 albums are, by far, the best of the bunch. If you'd combine the best tracks from those first two and then add the best of the rest, you'd end up with a monumentally good album. As it is, I prefer to just put on the Last Waltz box set. It features all the essential songs they did in much better versions than their album incarnations. I'm not sure if the Last Waltz counts, though? It's like a live greatest hits package, so it feels like cheating to choose that for the top spot. Hmm...I'm gonna cheat, anyway, and say that my top spot goes to Dylan & The Band's "Before the Flood", which is a SUPERB live album.

[@TastesLikeMusic]

To me their best live stuff is on Rock of Ages. -Jason

[@SpaceCattttt]

@@TastesLikeMusic Mmm. It's not bad. I just think all the guest stars on the Last Waltz gave the Band a new lease of life. At least on stage.

[@kevingibson3881]

Yes! I can't see High on the Hog w/o thinking of Warrant. The Warrant art's from Mark Ryden (MJ's Dangerous, RHCP's One Hot Minute), while the Band's is Hugh Syme (every Rush album since '75 including their Starman logo, Bon Jovi's New Jersey, and sooo many more).

[@TastesLikeMusic]

That’s Hugh Syme?!? Damn...I love his covers for Rush. He really botched this one though. -Jason

[@kevingibson3881]

@@TastesLikeMusic Agreed! Between that and Aerosmith's Get a Grip, the mid-90s were a strange time for Hugh.

[@TomandAmyinthePI]

Did You guys rank the Allman Brothers Albums yet?

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Not yet.

[@TomandAmyinthePI]

@@TastesLikeMusic Ah okay- You could probably do their top 10 Songs also?

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Yeah. Every week is a different band. Tuesday we rank the albums, Wednesday is top 10 songs, and Thursday is a discussion inspired by the band. So, when we get to them you’ll get all 3. -Jason

[@TomandAmyinthePI]

@@TastesLikeMusic Thanks Dude!

[@grantness6678]

Hey, I was just wondering if someday you guys could a Prince or Sonic Youth ranking

[@TastesLikeMusic]

We’re doing one of those very soon.

[@paint1955]

Cahoots The Band Big Pink North Lts/ Islands The rest I never listen to Rock of Ages is the one I play the most Oops! left out Stage Fright .. which I love!

[@pete3105]

10. High on the Hog (1996) ★½ 9. Jericho (1993) ★★½ 8. Jubilation (1998) ★★½ 7. Moondog Matinee (1973) ★★½ 6. Islands (1977) ★★½ 5. Cahoots (1971) ★★★ 4. Stage Fright (1970) ★★★½ 3. Northern Lights, Southern Cross (1975) ★★★½ 2. Music From Big Pink (1968) ★★★★½ 1. The Band (1969) ★★★★★ ★★★★★ - Masterpiece ★★★★½ - Really great ★★★★ - Great ★★★½ - Really good ★★★ - Good ★★½ - OK ★★ - Bad ★½ - Really bad ★ - Awful ½ - The worst

[@scottanthonyweidner8692]

I have to say, I felt rather sorry for Jason as I watched his face while Kramzer and Joe were (in a relative sense) ripping their 6-2 choices. In terms of Band studio albums, I've only heard the first three. I love Rock of Ages and the Last Waltz. Stage Fright number three, Big Pink (whose influence on music at the time I really hate, being more of a fan of psychedelia and loud, distorted rock, but I like the album itself quite a bit, and like its influence with the self-titled on Americana long-term) two, and the Brown Album number one.

[@Sir_Eyeball]

Before I made my list, I never heard of The Band before. Maybe they were not well known in Germany where I come from or I am just too young. I didn’t have any idea what to expect with this band. This is also my first time doing a list in a week, so really a first time for me in every way. I did like a good bit of the albums. I was not blown away, but I think they were a decent band. The 90s albums were unnecessary though. Bad Albums (1 Star): 10. High on the Hog (The least fitting Album Cover I have ever seen. The album is not good either. Please don’t make me listen to it again.) 9. Jericho (The 90s albums show the significance of Robbie Robertson as a songwriter for The Band. Mostly covers on this album. Too many for me. The originals are not good either. Maybe 10 albums were too much for me. After ‘Islands’ I felt like everything had been said.) Not so good Albums (2 Stars): 8. Jubilation (Their last album at least contains a significant amount of original songs. Better songs than on the two albums prior, but not good. 'Last Train to Memphis' was the only 90s Song I genuinely liked. Just missed my Top 10.) 7. Moondog Matinee (The vocal solo on ‘Ain’t got no home’ definetly is one of the most annoying things I have ever heard. Apart from that, nothing really special here; but not terrible.) 6. Islands (While listening to ‚Right as Rain’ I thought this would be as good as the album before that, but the quality of the songs dropped significantly after that. It felt a bit like B-material-collection from ‘Northern Lights - Southern Cross’. Disappointing in contrast to the predecessor, but not horrible compared to the other albums.) 5. Cahoots (There is only a small bunch of song I like on this one. ‘The River Hymn’ is their worst song up to this point in their career. They needed to bring in some new ideas. Maybe that’s why they took a break in releasing original material. It was a good idea. I love 'When I Paint my Masterpiece' though.) Good Albums (3 Stars): 4. The Band (The first half of this album probably contains their best bunch of songs. They will appear a lot in my Top 10. The second half unfortunately thins out.) 3. Stage Fright (They still have great song ideas on this one and it is more consistent then Self-titled. I wished they evolved a bit more on this one, but the good song writing made me forget that. On 'Cahoots' it would hit me.) Really Good Albums (4 Stars): 2. Music From Big Pink (Strong album through and through. Lots of good songs on here. Will come back to listen to it from time to time. At first listen, I thought that 'Tears of Rage' was sung overexaggerated, on second listen I found it very fitting and a great song.) 1. Nothern Lights - Southern Cross (I couldn’t have made it through another record sounding the same as the previous ones. But this album surprised me in a very pleasant way. It is their best sounding record. The also wrote longer songs which I like; it gives the songs time and space to develop. Also like the idea of bringing the synths in, especially on 'Jupiter Hollow'. Loved the album. No weak moments on this one.)

[@TastesLikeMusic]

I think it’s awesome you’re listening to the same artists as we do. Interesting perspective from someone not familiar with the Band. - Joe

[@Sir_Eyeball]

@@TastesLikeMusic I got to know a lot of good songs by doing this list (thx to you guys). Will try to keep doing this lists, especially to get me into bands I never listened to before.

[@marksantucci4230]

Nice to see all 3 of you together . Friday I will check out the video. did they play Woodstock?

[@hannejeppesen1809]

Yes, they did play at Woodstock. They were the only band that actually lived in Woodstock.

[@kylelooper2156]

I think that The Band's first two albums were amazing, but there's a big drop for me to Stage Fright. I can't accept anybody's cover of "The Night They Drive Old Dixie Down" over the original, neither The Allman Brothers nor, and especially not, the Joan Baez version. I don't think that 2/3 of you guys do that song justice. To me, the careful way it's written, the authenticity of Helm's vocal, and the instrumentation is just perfection. Picking between The Band and Music from Big Pink is very difficult. I view then as equally good and both five star albums. Stage Fright is 3.5 stars for me, a significant drop.

[@ChesterCopperpott02]

So I'm starting with my Sonic Youth list, does the selftitled E.P count as an album? Does the Whitey Album count as an album? ?

[@Twotontessie]

BTW does anybody think the alternate take of “Tears of Rage” on the remastered CD is just jaw dropping? The phrasing - oh my god. “I was among the ones who THOUGHT ... “

[@joshuawilliams124]

Never really understood “The Band”. This should be an interesting watch.

[@zackamania6534]

I got into the band from the use of “The Weight” in a beer commercial back in 92 at 13. I really got into them around 97. Love listening to the band in late summer through winter...

[@tcanders123]

You're pretty well on track here, but in what universe is Islands, an album the Band didn't like, better than Cahoots??

[@ferrallc1]

The Brown Album on top. Correct opinion.

[@AbbeyRoadkill1]

I think The Band probably would sneak into my top 100 artists. I consider their first 3 albums to be pretty darn great. I'm having trouble thinking of another band whose first 3 albums are better... maybe Zeppelin... maybe.

[@kevtruth]

Depends how open you are to popular music. I can think of many bands/artists whose first 3 albums are dynamite

[@AbbeyRoadkill1]

@@kevtruth Sure, but to come up with 3 that are better than The Band's first 3 is a tall order. I'd love to hear a name if you have one.

[@kevtruth]

@@AbbeyRoadkill1 I could do that but we'd have to come to a consensus because its all subjective. Right? But I'll give it a shot. Listography just did a show on Black Sabbath. Those first 3 albums to me qualify. On the poppier side, I think Elvis Costello's first 3 are damn good.

[@AbbeyRoadkill1]

@@kevtruth Might be slightly stretching the definition of "band" to include Elvis Costello. Black Sabbath is a good choice. I'm not *quite* as high on their debut album as some people, but it is good.

[@12spanku]

​@@AbbeyRoadkill1 The Velvet Underground is a definite for me. I don't know how many would agree with me as I'm a bigger fan than most. Sabbath is a good shout, as is Costello if you're not only looking for just bands. Hendrix, Cream, Pearl Jam, The Smiths off the top of my head would be bands I'd consider. I'm with Kramzer and Joe on Stage Fright, I don't rate it that highly so that makes it a little easier to come up with names. Now if we are talking first two albums only. That's a different kettle of fish. They might very well be nr 1.

[@rooty_rootz]

Saying "Saved" does not suit Richard Manuel is probably the most absurd thing I've ever heard

[@TimothyJBerry]

It’s too bad they could not keep it together. The boys’ - and especially Manuel’s - substance abuse problems and then Robertson’s arrogance destroyed the musical camaraderie that made The Band’s music iconic.

[@davidnelson6874]

The Band is a band I “should” like. But, I guess it just doesn’t click at all. I do think that The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down is a masterpiece. It Makes No Difference and Cripple Creek are perfect as well.

[@stitchgrimly6167]

I just want to know the meaning behind the elephant.

[@wesleyorser4451]

While it is common knowledge that Bob Dylan painted the cover for Music from Big Pink, he actually did the artwork for High on the Hog as well! No, I'm just joking.

[@aweekback1]

Thank you!!!!