The Band - Live At Loreley

Starring: The Band Original UK Premiere: 1996 Dvd Release: 6th August, 2001 Number Of Discs: 1 Format: PAL, Special Edition, Region 0 Encoding

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The Band is the eponymous sophomore album by folk-rock band The Band, released on September 22, 1969. The Band, along with their debut, Music from Big Pink, are widely esteemed as among the best folk-rock fusions, with The Band specializing in a more country -influenced directions than their peers. The Band peaked at #9 on Billboard s Pop Albums chart. In 2000, it recharted on Billboards Internet Albums chart, peaking at #10. The singles Rag Mama Rag & Up on Cripple Creek peaked on the Pop Singles chart at #57 & #25 respectively. In 1998 Q magazine readers voted The Band the 76th greatest album of all time. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - 3,33. Robbie Robertson - Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Engineer. Rick Danko - Bass, Trombone, Violin, Vocals. John Simon - Tuba, Horn, Keyboards, Piano, Producer, Engineer, Peck Horn. Levon Helm - Bass, Guitar, Mandolin, Drums, Vocals. Garth Hudson - Organ, Piano, Trumpet, Accordion, Keyboards, Saxophone, Sax, Sax, Sax, Clavinet, Slide Trumpet. Richard Manuel - Harmonica, Piano, Drums, Harp, Keyboards, Sax, Vocals.

Originally shown on German TVs Rockpalaste series, Live at Loreley captures The Bands outdoor festival performance from June 1996.

After the untimely death of Richard Manuel, & the later departure of Robbie Robertson, The Band had been pretty dormant since their fabulous farewell gig/party The Last Waltz.

The late 90s saw original members Levon Helm, Rick Danko & Garth Hudson touring once again with the addition of Jim Weider, Richard Bell & Randy Ciarlante, & its this line-up that gives the superb performance recorded here.

The musicianship is faultless with Jim Weider reproducing Robertsons classic guitar lines whilst still injecting his own trademark style. Richard Bells superb piano style aptly complements Garth Hudsons off-the-wall swirling fairground organ work, & second drummer Randy Ciarlante locks perfectly in sync with Levon Helms rock-solid foundation. Founder bassist Rick Danko, who was sadly to pass away within the next couple of years, gives a memorable performance with some typical heart-rending vocal lines which only confirm what an original & innovative outfit The Band are.

The photography is well-executed & manages to brighten up what was in fact a rather grey, rainy day. The sound quality is perfect, no doubt aided by the professional backline sound & balance plus excellent PA mixing.

From the start of Back to Memphis through to the closing bars of Chest Fever all fifteen tracks provide a brilliant anthology of The Bands 30 year career including classic favourites along with some great new material. Dont miss it!

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