06-10-2009, 19:44
from my library
The Band - Greatest Hits - 2000
![[Image: e288218for2.jpg]](http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/dre200/e288/e288218for2.jpg)
Founded in 1959 by southerner Ronnie Hawkins as Ronnie & The Hawks, these Canadian rockers were popular on the Toronto club circuit. Ronnie left in 1963 at which time Levon Helm took over and they became Levon & The Hawks. Levon briefly left the band in 1966, but returned in time to begin recording their first album, Music From Big Pink. They eventually found fame as Bob Dylan's backing band. Would they have found it without Bob? I do know the rock press took a liking to the band long before the public did. Known as an album band, their entire career only netted 2 top 40 singles. This is an excellent overview of their best work.
I love this album.
Favorite Track - Up On Cripple Creek
When I get off of this mountain
You know where I want to go
Straight down the Mississippi river
To the Gulf of Mexico
To Lake George, Louisiana
Little Bessie, girl that I once knew
And she told me just to come on by
If there's anything she could do
{Refrain}
Up on Cripple Creek she sends me
If I spring a leak she mends me
I don't have to speak she defends me
A drunkard's dream if I ever did see one
Good luck had just stung me
To the race track I did go
She bet on one horse to win
And I bet on another to show
Odds were in my favor
I had him five to one
When that nag came around the track
Sure enough he had won
{Refrain}
I took up all of my winnings
And I gave my little Bessie half
And she tore it up and blew it in my face
Just for a lauge
Now there's one thing in the whole wide world
I sure would like to see
That's when that little love of mine
Dips her doughnut in my tea
{Refrain}
Now me and my mate were back at the shack
We had Spike Jones on the box
She said, "I can't take the way he sings
But I love to hear him talk"
Now that just gave my heart a fall
To the bottom of my feet
And I swore and I took another pull
My Bessie can't be beat
{Refrain}
Now, it's hot in California
And up north it's pretty cold
And this living off the road
Is getting pretty old
So I guess I'll call up my big mama
Tell her I'll be rolling in
Bet you know, deep down, I'm kinda tempted
To see my sweet Bessie again
{Refrain}
1) The Weight - *** - live
YouTube - The Band - The Weight
2) Tears Of Rage - *** - audio
YouTube - The Band Tears of Rage July 17, 1976 KBFH
3) Chest Fever - ** - audio
YouTube - The Band - Chest Fever
4) I Shall Be Released - ** - live
YouTube - The Band - I Shall be Released
5) Up On Cripple Creek - *** - live
YouTube - The Band - Up On Cripple Creek (Live-1970)
6) The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - *** - live
YouTube - The Band - The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
7) Rag Mama Rag - *** - live
YouTube - The THE BAND Band plays "Rag Mama Rag"
8) King Harvest (Has Surely Come) - ** - audio
YouTube - The Band - King Harvest (Has Surely Come)
9) The Shape I'm In - *** - live
YouTube - The Band - The Shape I'm In - Vancouver 1983
10) Stage Fright - *** - live
YouTube - The Band - Stage Fright
11) Time To Kill - *** - live
YouTube - The Band - Time To Kill (1970)
12) Life Is A Carnival - * - live
YouTube - The THE BAND Band "Life is a Carnival"
13) When I Paint My Masterpiece - ** - live
YouTube - The Band - When I Paint My Masterpiece
14) Ain't Got No Home - ** - audio
YouTube - Ain't Got No Home
15) It Makes No Difference - *** - live
YouTube - The Band - It Makes No Difference
16) Ophelia - *** - live
YouTube - The Band, Ophelia
17) Acadian Driftwood - ** - audio
YouTube - acadian driftwood, the band
18) The Saga Of Pepote Rouge - **
3's - 10
2's - 7
1's - 1
Rating - 2.5
The Band - Greatest Hits - 2000
![[Image: e288218for2.jpg]](http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/dre200/e288/e288218for2.jpg)
Founded in 1959 by southerner Ronnie Hawkins as Ronnie & The Hawks, these Canadian rockers were popular on the Toronto club circuit. Ronnie left in 1963 at which time Levon Helm took over and they became Levon & The Hawks. Levon briefly left the band in 1966, but returned in time to begin recording their first album, Music From Big Pink. They eventually found fame as Bob Dylan's backing band. Would they have found it without Bob? I do know the rock press took a liking to the band long before the public did. Known as an album band, their entire career only netted 2 top 40 singles. This is an excellent overview of their best work.
I love this album.
Favorite Track - Up On Cripple Creek
When I get off of this mountain
You know where I want to go
Straight down the Mississippi river
To the Gulf of Mexico
To Lake George, Louisiana
Little Bessie, girl that I once knew
And she told me just to come on by
If there's anything she could do
{Refrain}
Up on Cripple Creek she sends me
If I spring a leak she mends me
I don't have to speak she defends me
A drunkard's dream if I ever did see one
Good luck had just stung me
To the race track I did go
She bet on one horse to win
And I bet on another to show
Odds were in my favor
I had him five to one
When that nag came around the track
Sure enough he had won
{Refrain}
I took up all of my winnings
And I gave my little Bessie half
And she tore it up and blew it in my face
Just for a lauge
Now there's one thing in the whole wide world
I sure would like to see
That's when that little love of mine
Dips her doughnut in my tea
{Refrain}
Now me and my mate were back at the shack
We had Spike Jones on the box
She said, "I can't take the way he sings
But I love to hear him talk"
Now that just gave my heart a fall
To the bottom of my feet
And I swore and I took another pull
My Bessie can't be beat
{Refrain}
Now, it's hot in California
And up north it's pretty cold
And this living off the road
Is getting pretty old
So I guess I'll call up my big mama
Tell her I'll be rolling in
Bet you know, deep down, I'm kinda tempted
To see my sweet Bessie again
{Refrain}
1) The Weight - *** - live
YouTube - The Band - The Weight
2) Tears Of Rage - *** - audio
YouTube - The Band Tears of Rage July 17, 1976 KBFH
3) Chest Fever - ** - audio
YouTube - The Band - Chest Fever
4) I Shall Be Released - ** - live
YouTube - The Band - I Shall be Released
5) Up On Cripple Creek - *** - live
YouTube - The Band - Up On Cripple Creek (Live-1970)
6) The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - *** - live
YouTube - The Band - The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
7) Rag Mama Rag - *** - live
YouTube - The THE BAND Band plays "Rag Mama Rag"
8) King Harvest (Has Surely Come) - ** - audio
YouTube - The Band - King Harvest (Has Surely Come)
9) The Shape I'm In - *** - live
YouTube - The Band - The Shape I'm In - Vancouver 1983
10) Stage Fright - *** - live
YouTube - The Band - Stage Fright
11) Time To Kill - *** - live
YouTube - The Band - Time To Kill (1970)
12) Life Is A Carnival - * - live
YouTube - The THE BAND Band "Life is a Carnival"
13) When I Paint My Masterpiece - ** - live
YouTube - The Band - When I Paint My Masterpiece
14) Ain't Got No Home - ** - audio
YouTube - Ain't Got No Home
15) It Makes No Difference - *** - live
YouTube - The Band - It Makes No Difference
16) Ophelia - *** - live
YouTube - The Band, Ophelia
17) Acadian Driftwood - ** - audio
YouTube - acadian driftwood, the band
18) The Saga Of Pepote Rouge - **
3's - 10
2's - 7
1's - 1
Rating - 2.5