The Band | Discography, Interviews, Reviews

An in-depth look at the Band discography, with interviews and both album and song reviews.

Included are seven albums from the legendary original lineup featuring Robbie Robertson, among them Music from Big Pink and The Last Waltz; a trio of reunion-era recordings from the core remaining trio of Rick Danko, Levon Helm and Garth Hudson after Richard Manuel‘s tragic death; as well as key solo moments from the individual members like the terrific self-titled debuts by Danko and Robertson, and Helm’s rollicking valedictory Ramble at the Ryman, among others.

Click through for expanded information on the Band discography …

THE BAND, ‘MUSIC FROM BIG PINK’ (1968)

Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel and Robbie Robertson

The Band discography begins on July 1, 1968 with an album that grew out of loose collaborations with Bob Dylan, many of which were later explored more fully in ‘The Basement Tapes.’

Song reviews:
“Caledonia Mission”
“Chest Fever”
“In a Station”
“I Shall Be Released”
“Long Black Veil”
“Lonesome Suzie”
“Tears of Rage”
“The Weight”
“This Wheel’s On Fire”
“To Kingdom Come”
“We Can Talk”

Album review: Exploring Deep Cuts From the Band’s ‘Music From Big Pink’

THE BAND, ‘THE BAND’ (1969)

Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel and Robbie Robertson

The Band’s self-titled platinum-selling follow up, released on September 22, 1969, is considered their masterpiece. “Up on Cripple Creek” reached the Top 30 as a single.

Song reviews:
“Across the Great Divide”
“Jawbone”
“Jemima Surrender”
“King Harvest”
“Look Out Cleveland”
“Rag Mama Rag”
“Rockin’ Chair”
“The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”
“The Unfaithful Servant”
“Up On Cripple Creek”
“When You Awake”
“Whispering Pines”

Album review: Deep Cuts from the Band’s Self-Titled 1969 Masterpiece

THE BAND, ‘STAGE FRIGHT’ (1970)

Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel and Robbie Robertson

The Band discography continues with the often-overlooked ‘Stage Fright,’ which became their second – and last –
gold-selling original album after its release on August 17, 1970.

Song reviews:
“All La Glory”
“Daniel and the Sacred Harp”
“Just Another Whistle Stop”
“Stage Fright”
“The Rumor”
“Time to Kill”
“Sleeping”
“Strawberry Wine”
“W.S. Walcott Medicine Show”

Album review: Exploring Deep Cuts from the Band’s Underrated ‘Stage Fright’

THE BAND, ‘CAHOOTS’ (1971)

Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel and Robbie Robertson

Issued on September 15, 1971 to mixed reviews, ‘Cahoots’ failed to crack the Top 20 in the U.S., becoming the Band’s last album of original material for four years. In the meantime, the Band discography continues with live sets, a covers album and collaborations.

Song reviews:
“4% Pantomime”
“The River Hymn”
“Thinking Out Loud”
“When I Paint My Masterpiece”

Album review: The Band’s Overlooked, Imperfect ‘Cahoots’ Held a Few Musical Treasures

THE BAND, ‘ROCK OF AGES’ (1972)

Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel and Robbie Robertson

The Band returned with a muscular No. 6 hit live recording on August 15, 1972. The shows, recorded from December 28 through December 31, 1971, were later reissued as ‘Live at the Academy of Music 1971.’

Song reviews:
“Don’t Do It”
“Get Up Jake”
“(I Don’t Want To) Hang Up My Rock ‘n’ Roll Shoes”
“Loving You is Sweeter Than Ever”

Interviews on The Band’s ‘Rock of Ages’:
Robbie Robertson on a thrilling, unrehearsed New Year’s Eve set with Bob Dylan

Album review: The Band – Live at the Academy of Music 1971

THE BAND, ‘MOONDOG MATINEE’ (1973)

Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel and Robbie Robertson

The Band discography’s lone all-covers album, this October 15, 1973 release continued their chart slide, only reaching No. 28. They’d return to work with early collaborator Bob Dylan thereafter.

Song reviews:
“Back to Memphis”
“Mystery Train”
“Saved”
“Share Your Love (With Me)”
“The Great Pretender”

Album review: Five Key Tracks from ‘Moondog Matinee’

BOB DYLAN AND THE BAND, ‘PLANET WAVES’ (1974)

Rick Danko, Bob Dylan, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel and Robbie Robertson

A No. 1 smash upon arrival on January 17, 1974, this next item in the Band discography was delayed for a couple of weeks when Dylan decided to change its original title, ‘Ceremonies of the Horsemen.’

Song reviews:
“Forever Young”
“Going Going Gone”
“On a Night Like This”
“Something There Is About You”

BOB DYLAN AND THE BAND, ‘BEFORE THE FLOOD’ (1974)

Rick Danko, Bob Dylan, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel and Robbie Robertson

A document of the roaring reunion tour that actually began before ‘Planet Waves’ even arrived. This Band discography item, released on June 20, 1974, represents the first-ever live release by Dylan.

Song reviews:
“Endless Highway”

Interviews on Bob Dylan and the Band:
‘Down in the Flood’ Explores the Relationship Between Bob Dylan and the Band
Rick Danko Remembers Seeing a Sea of Bic Lighters for the First Time

THE BAND, ‘NORTHERN LIGHTS-SOUTHERN CROSS’ (1975)

Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel and Robbie Robertson

A deeply-underrated effort, this marks the last great original-lineup album in the Band discography – though ‘Northern Lights-Southern Cross’ somehow only reached No. 26 upon release on November 1, 1975.

Song reviews:
“Acadian Driftwood”
“Forbidden Fruit”
“Hobo Jungle”
“It Makes No Difference”
“Jupiter Hollow”
“Ophelia”
“Rags and Bones”
“Ring Your Bell”

Interviews on The Band’s ‘Northern Lights-Southern Cross’:
Robbie Robertson Offers a Track-by-Track Analysis of ‘Northern Lights-Southern Cross’

BOB DYLAN AND THE BAND, ‘THE BASEMENT TAPES’ (1975)

Rick Danko, Bob Dylan, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel and Robbie Robertson

Questions remained over the timeline for some of these tapes, but fans apparently couldn’t have cared less. Another Bob Dylan collaboration, released June 16, 1975, sent the Band back to the Top 10.

Song reviews:
“Ain’t No More Cane”
“Bessie Smith”
“Clothes Line Saga”
“Don’t Ya Tell Henry”
“Dress It Up, Better Have It All”
“Katie’s Been Gone”
“Lo and Behold”
“Odds and Ends”
“Orange Juice Blues”
“Yazoo Street Scandal”

Interviews on The Band’s ‘The Basement Tapes’:
Garth Hudson on the Band’s Influences, ‘Basement Tapes,’ Tragic Losses
The Band’s Garth Hudson on Why ‘The Basement Tapes’ Are Still ‘Special and Treasured’

Album reviews: Bob Dylan and the Band – The Basement Tapes Complete: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 11
Bob Dylan Found Refuge, Artistic Rebirth with the Band on ‘The Basement Tapes’

THE BAND, ‘ISLANDS’ (1977)

Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel and Robbie Robertson

The final release from the five-man edition of the Band arrived on March 15, 1977 as a collection of odds and ends – then promptly slumped to No. 64. Still, there were a few moments worth celebrating.

Song reviews:
“Ain’t That a Lot of Love”
“Christmas Must Be Tonight”
“Let the Night Fall”
“Livin’ In a Dream”

RICK DANKO, ‘RICK DANKO’ (1977)

Rick Danko, with Eric Clapton, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, Robbie Robertson, Ronnie Wood and others

The first solo album in the Band discography was also Rick Danko’s only full-length, non-collaborative studio effort. He released two other non-group albums in his lifetime, both of them live recordings.

Song reviews:
“New Mexicoe”
“Once Upon a Time”
“Tired of Waiting”
“What a Town”

LEVON HELM, ‘LEVON HELM AND THE RCO ALL-STARS’ (1977)

Levon Helm, with members of Booker T. and the MGs, Dr. John, Paul Butterfield and others

Levon Helm adds a solo project to the Band discography. It’s an guest-packed affair featuring Donald “Duck” Dunn, Steve Cropper, Booker T. Jones and Fred Carter Jr., among others, recorded at Helm’s RCO Studios in Woodstock.

Song reviews:
“Blues So Bad”
“A Mood I Was In”

THE BAND, ‘THE LAST WALTZ’ (1978)

Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel and Robbie Robertson, with Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, the Staple Singers and others

A long-percolating live document from shows recorded on Thanksgiving 1976, this Top 20 smash didn’t finally arrive until April 7, 1978. Filled with a slew of great guests, it was worth the wait.

Song reviews:
“Evangeline”
“The Well”

Interviews on The Band’s ‘Last Waltz’:
Producer John Simon on the Band, Fixing ‘The Last Waltz’ and Taking Credit
Mavis Staples goes behind the scenes at the Band’s ‘Last Waltz’
The Band’s ‘Last Waltz’ was nearly derailed, time and again
The Band’s Robbie Robertson discusses the conflict on Thanksgiving for native peoples

LEVON HELM, ‘AMERICAN SON’ (1980)

Levon Helm, with Buddy Emmons, Jerry Carrigan, Hargus “Pig” Robbins and others

A typically forgotten project in the Band discography that grew out of soundtrack work for the Loretta Lynn biopic ‘Coal Miner’s Daughter,’ in which Helm played the country star’s father.

Song reviews:
“Dance Me Down Easy”
“Hurricane”

LEVON HELM, ‘LEVON HELM’ (1982)

Levon Helm, Donald “Duck” Dunn and Steve Cropper of Booker T. and the MGs, among others

When this second all-star, self-titled studio release failed to hit, Levon Helm began to focus more intently on movie work. He didn’t have add another item to the Band discography until 2007’s ‘Dirt Farmer.’

Song review:
“Even a Fool Would Let Go”

ROBBIE ROBERTSON, ‘ROBBIE ROBERTSON’ (1987)

Robbie Robertson, with Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, Peter Gabriel, U2, Terry Bozzio, Tony Levin, Manu Katche and others

A Top 40 comeback released on October 27, 1987, Robbie Robertson’s long-awaited solo debut was produced by Daniel Lanois, who was also working with guest stars U2 and Peter Gabriel on ‘Joshua Tree’ and ‘So,’ respectively.

Song reviews:
“Broken Arrow”
“Fallen Angel”
“Sonny Got Caught in the Moonlight”

RICK DANKO, ‘RINGO STARR AND HIS ALL-STARR BAND’ (1990)

Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Ringo Starr, Dr. John, Joe Walsh, Billy Preston, others

Ringo Starr’s first official live album was also the first recorded under his then-new All-Starr Band banner. Two members of the Band were featured on the project, which arrived on October 8, 1990.

Song reviews:
“Raining in My Heart”

RICK DANKO, ‘DANKO / FJELD / ANDERSEN’ (1991)

Rick Danko, Jonas Fjeld, Eric Andersen

Released on April 21, 1991, this album melded the voices – and musical styles – of Canada (Rick Danko), Norway (Jonas Fjeld) and the U.S. (Eric Andersen). Later paired with a live disc and retitled ‘One More Shot’ in 2002.

Song reviews:
“Blue River”
“Drifting Away”

ROBBIE ROBERTSON, ‘STORYVILLE’ (1991)

Robbie Robertson, with Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, Neil Young and the Neville Brothers, among others

The next item in the Band discography focuses on the dark mythos of New Orleans, as Robbie Robertson releases his second solo album on September 30, 1991. Highlights include a pair of intersections with former bandmates.

Song reviews:
“Hold Back the Dawn”
“Night Parade”
“Soap Box Preacher”

Album review: Robbie Robertson was again sparked by America, old friends on ‘Storyville’

THE BAND, ‘JERICHO’ (1993)

Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, with Randy Ciarlante, Jim Weider, Richard Bell and Stan Szelest

By the time the Band discography resumed on November 2, 1993, Robbie Roberton and Richard Manuel were gone but – with the right material – Helm and Danko could still spark alongside Hudson’s reliably thrilling asides.

Song reviews:
“Blind Willie McTell”
“Country Boy”
“Remedy”
“Stuff You Gotta Watch”

Interviews on The Band’s ‘Jericho’:
Band Guitarist Jim Weider Goes In Depth on ‘Remedy’ from ‘Jericho’

ROBBIE ROBERTSON, ‘MUSIC FOR THE NATIVE AMERICANS’ (1994)

Released on October 4, 1994, this score for PBS’ ‘The Native Americans’ was recorded with a revolving group of collaborators called the Red Road Ensemble. Robertson’s son Sebastian handled drums on four songs, including “It Is a Good Day to Die.”

Song reviews:
“Ghost Dance”
“It Is a Good Day to Die”

Inside Robbie Robertson Tribute by Son Sebastian:
Sebastian Robertson crafted a labor of love in honor of his father

THE BAND, ‘HIGH ON THE HOG’ (1996)

Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, with Randy Ciarlante, Jim Weider and Richard Bell

As with ‘Jericho,’ this February 27, 1996 release includes an archival recording from the late Richard Manuel – the last we’d hear – but elsewhere the material wasn’t quite as consistently strong, even as health issues began creep in.

Song reviews:
“She Knows”
“Where I Should Always Be”

ROBBIE ROBERTSON, ‘CONTACT FROM THE UNDERWORLD OF REDBOY’ (1998)

Robbie Robertson, Marius de Vries, Rita Coolidge, Bill Dillon, others

Released on March 10, 1998, ‘Underworld of Redboy’ dug into age-old aboriginal themes, but this time with a distinctly modern electronica-influenced sound. Not many albums include credits for both the Six Nations Women Singers and DJ Premier.

Song reviews:
“The Lights”

GARTH HUDSON, ‘LARGO’ (1998)

Song reviews:
“Garth Largo”

THE BAND, ‘JUBILATION’ (1998)

Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, with Randy Ciarlante, Jim Weider and Richard Bell

This 10th and final album in the Band discography arrived on September 15, 1998 with only one song – “If I Should Fail” – that features all six members at the same time. Danko died the next year.

Song reviews:
“Book Faded Brown”
“Don’t Wait”
“You See Me”

RICK DANKO, ‘TIMES LIKE THESE’ (2000)

Rick Danko, with Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Randy Ciarlante, Jim Weider, Aaron “Louie” Hurwitz, Richard Bell and others

A posthumous compilation of songs, some as old as an aborted 1993 solo project. Others were as recent as Rick Danko’s final live date at Ann Arbor, Michigan, performed just days before his 1999 death.

Song reviews:
“Times Like These”

GARTH HUDSON, ‘THE SEA TO THE NORTH’ (2001)

Song reviews:
“Little Island”

LEVON HELM, ‘DIRT FARMER’ (2007)

Levon Helm, with Larry Campbell, Buddy Miller, Amy Helm, Byron Isaacs and others

When the late Levon Helm decided to return to the Americana roots that had for so long nourished his career, he did it his way – with a thrillingly raw-boned release on October 30, 2007 that won a well-deserved Grammy.

Song reviews:
“False Hearted Lover Blues”
“Feelin’ Good”

Album review: Levon Helm made a rootsy, thrilling comeback with ‘Dirt Farmer’

LEVON HELM, ‘ELECTRIC DIRT’ (2009)

Levon Helm, with Larry Campbell, Buddy Miller, Amy Helm, Byron Isaacs and others

Levon Helm added a final studio effort to the Band discography on June 30, 2009. ‘Electric Dirt’ earned the first-ever Americana Grammy award, while reuniting Levon with Allen Toussaint.

Song reviews:
“Kingfish”
“Tennessee Jed”

Interviews on Levon Helm:
Garth Hudson, Amy Helm, Steve Berlin and Jimmy Vivino Remember Levon Helm
The Band’s Robbie Robertson on his emotional last meeting with Levon Helm

ROBBIE ROBERTSON, ‘HOW TO BECOME CLAIRVOYANT’ (2011)

Robbie Robertson, with Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Trent Reznor, Tom Morello and others

A No. 13 U.S. hit upon release in April 5, 2011, Robbie Robertson’s fifth solo release featured a number of special guests – including long-time acolyte Eric Clapton who is featured on seven tracks and co-wrote three.

Song review:
“He Don’t Live Here No More”

Album review: Robbie Robertson – ‘How to Become Clairvoyant’

LEVON HELM, ‘RAMBLE AT THE RYMAN’ (2011)

Levon Helm, with Larry Campbell, Buddy Miller, Amy Helm, Byron Isaacs and others

Album review: Levon Helm’s ‘Ramble at the Ryman’ underscored a sweeping importance

GARTH HUDSON, ‘A CANADIAN CELEBRATION OF THE BAND’ (2012)

Garth Hudson, with Neil Young, the Sadies, the Trews and others

Song review:
“This Wheel’s On Fire”

Interviews on Garth Hudson’s ‘A Canadian Celebration of the Band’:
Garth Hudson Goes In-Depth on the Trews’ Brilliant Take on ‘Move to Japan.’

LEVON HELM BAND, ‘THE MIDNIGHT RAMBLE SESSIONS, VOL. 3’ (2014)

Levon Helm, with Larry Campbell, Buddy Miller, Amy Helm, Byron Isaacs and others

These archival live recordings from Levon Helm, hand-selected with guitarist Larry Campbell from five years of Midnight Ramble concert recordings between 2006-10, were added to the Band discography on July 1, 2014.

Song review:
“The Same Old Thing”

Album Review: The Levon Helm Band – ‘The Midnight Ramble Sessions, Volume 3’