Post Tagged with: "Across the Great Divide"

The Band, “In a Station” from ‘Music from Big Pink’ (1968): Across the Great Divide

The Band, “In a Station” from ‘Music from Big Pink’ (1968): Across the Great Divide

If the Band’s “Tears of Rage” showed how desperately lonesome he could be, “In a Station” finds Richard Manuel opening up his whole heart.

The Band, “To Kingdom Come” from ‘Music from Big Pink’ (1968): Across the Great Divide

The Band, “To Kingdom Come” from ‘Music from Big Pink’ (1968): Across the Great Divide

After reaching across generations on the solemn and startling “Tears of Rage,” the Band leapt into a rambling groove on “To Kingdom Come.”

The Band, “Tears of Rage” from ‘Music from Big Pink’ (1968): Across the Great Divide

The Band, “Tears of Rage” from ‘Music from Big Pink’ (1968): Across the Great Divide

“Tears of Rage” quickly established the Band as something entirely different, even before Richard Manuel’s devastating vocal began.

The Band, “Don’t Ya Tell Henry” from ‘The Basement Tapes’ (1967): Across the Great Divide

The Band, “Don’t Ya Tell Henry” from ‘The Basement Tapes’ (1967): Across the Great Divide

As with everything surrounding The Band’s ‘Basement Tapes,’ there remains a lasting discourse on when “Don’t Ya Tell Henry” was recorded.

The Band, “Bessie Smith” from ‘The Basement Tapes’ (1968): Across the Great Divide

The Band, “Bessie Smith” from ‘The Basement Tapes’ (1968): Across the Great Divide

Arriving in official form so many years later, the Band’s fabled late-1960s ‘Basement Tapes’ project was almost destined to disappoint.

The Band, “Katie’s Been Gone” from ‘The Basement Tapes’ (1967): Across the Great Divide

The Band, “Katie’s Been Gone” from ‘The Basement Tapes’ (1967): Across the Great Divide

“Katie’s Been Gone” was the first in what would become a series of forlorn triumphs from the Band’s Richard Manuel.

The Band, “Yazoo Street Scandal” from ‘The Basement Tapes’ (1968): Across the Great Divide

The Band, “Yazoo Street Scandal” from ‘The Basement Tapes’ (1968): Across the Great Divide

The carnal, harrowing “Yazoo Street Scandal” points directly to subsequent triumphs for Levon Helm and the Band like “The Weight” and “Ophelia.”

The Band, “Orange Juice Blues” from ‘The Basement Tapes’ (1968): Across the Great Divide

The Band, “Orange Juice Blues” from ‘The Basement Tapes’ (1968): Across the Great Divide

You hear the Band taking the first step in what would become an endlessly intriguing journey.