The Band - Stage Fright (1970) [Full Album]
Stage Fright is the third studio
album by Canadian-American group
The Band released in
1970.
Much more of a rock album than its predecessors, it was a departure from their previous two efforts in that its tone was darker and featured less of the harmony vocal blend that had been a centerpiece of those two albums. It also included the last two recordings by The Band of new songs credited to pianist
Richard Manuel; both were co-written with guitarist
Robbie Robertson, who would continue to be the group's dominant lyricist until the group disbanded in
1976. Nonetheless, the tradition of switching instruments that had begun on the previous album continued here, with each musician contributing instrumental parts on at least two different instruments. The booklet alludes to the fact that
Levon Helm was high on heroin while recording "
Strawberry Wine".
Engineered by an up-and-coming
Todd Rundgren, and produced by the group themselves for the first time, the album was recorded at the
Woodstock Playhouse in their homebase of
Woodstock, New York. The album featured an insert which became popular as a fold-out poster. The insert image was shot by photographer
Norman Seeff.
Two different mixes of the album were prepared, one in the US by
Rundgren and one in the UK by
Glyn Johns. The
Johns mix was selected for the original LP release and all subsequent reissues on
Capitol (included the expanded
2000 remaster), while Rundgren's mix was eventually released on a 24k gold CD reissue of the album by the
DCC Compact Classics label in 2004.
Tracklisting:
1. Strawberry Wine - 00:00
Levon Helm:
Lead Vocal &
Electric Guitar
Rick Danko: Ampeg
Fretless Bass
Richard Manuel: Drums
Robbie Robertson: Lead Electric Guitar
Garth Hudson:
Accordion &
Lowrey Organ
2.
Sleeping - 02:36
Richard Manuel: Lead Vocal &
Piano
Rick Danko:
Back Vocal &
Bass
Levon Helm: Drums
Robbie Robertson: Electric Guitar
Garth Hudson: Lowrey Organ & Accordion
3.
Time To Kill - 05:52
Rick Danko: 1st Lead Vocal & Bass
Richard Manuel: 2nd Lead Vocal & Drums
Levon Helm: Back Vocal &
Rhythm Electric Guitar
Robbie Robertson: Lead Electric Guitar
Garth Hudson:
Electric Piano
4. Just Another
Whistle Stop - 09:20
Richard Manuel: Lead Vocal & Piano
Levon Helm: Drums
Rick Danko: Bass
Robbie Robertson: Electric Guitar & Additional Electric Guitar
Garth Hudson: Lowrey Organ
5. All La
Glory - 13:15
Levon Helm: Lead Vocal & Drums
Rick Danko: Bass
Richard Manuel:
Hammond Organ
Robbie Robertson: Electric Guitar & Additional Electric Guitar
Garth Hudson: Accordion
6.
The Shape I'm In - 16:50
Richard Manuel: Lead Vocal & Clavinett
Levon Helm: Back Vocal & Drums
Rick Danko: Back Vocal & Bass
Robbie Robertson: Electric Guitar
Garth Hudson: Lowrey Organ
7.
The W.S.
Walcott Medicine Show - 20:50
Levon Helm: 1st Lead Vocal & Drums
Rick Danko: 2nd Lead Vocal & Bass
Richard Manuel: Piano
Robbie Robertson: Electric Guitar
Garth Hudson:
Tenor Sax (
Solo) & Bariton Sax
John Simon: Trombone
8.
Daniel And
The Sacred Harp - 24:04
Levon Helm: 1st Lead Vocal &
12 String Acoustic Guitar
Richard Manuel: 2nd Lead Vocal & Drums
Rick Danko: Accoustic
Bass & Violin
Robbie Robertson: Electric Guitar & Autoharp
Garth Hudson: Lowrey Organ
9. Stage Fright - 28:17
Rick Danko: Lead Vocal & Bass
Levon Helm: Drums
Richard Manuel: Piano
Robbie Robertson: Electric Guitar
Garth Hudson: Lowrey Organ
10.
The Rumor - 32:01
Rick Danko: 1st Lead Vocal & Ampeg Fretless Bass
Levon Helm: 2nd Lead Vocal & Drums
Richard Manuel: 3rd Lead Vocal & Piano
Robbie Robertson: Electric Guitar
Garth Hudson: Lowrey Organ