Considering their peerless reputation among rock aficionados, The Band released a relatively small amount of original music in their prime era together. Considering one of their albums was given over completely to cover songs only makes that catalog seem even narrower.
But when you hear that covers record, it’s hard to argue they shouldn’t have bothered. Moondog Matinee, released in 1973, features the quintet at their loosest and most rollicking, giving impassioned performances of songs they played back when they were a barnstorming band of ruffians. Here is the story of how The Band roused themselves out of a period of inactivity to deliver one of the best cover albums in rock history.
A Band Break
The Band first made an impact as the co-guinea pigs in Bob Dylan’s various musical experiments, first as electric hooligans on tour, then as roots-music pioneers in his upstate New York basement. Then came their debut album Music from Big Pink. The 1968 release floored critics and fellow musicians alike.
It also quickened the pace for the five members of the group, as they were expected to churn out more music while also becoming a touring act. They navigated those tasks very well, especially with their 1969 self-titled masterpiece LP. But it also took its toll on this quintet, who were never all that comfortable in the spotlight.
Their 1971 album Cahoots was the first to receive a somewhat cold shoulder from the critics. The Band then pretty much took all of 1972 off, save for releasing a live album from shows that were already in the can. Individual members took part in sessions for others, while chief songwriter Robbie Roberston dabbled in writing a massive project, entitled Works, he hoped would eventually be a good fit for The Band.
At some point, however, the men decided that they needed to jolt themselves out of their inertia by making some kind of music. But they didn’t want to hang too much meaning on it, instead simply getting together to play for the love of it once again. They convened at Bearsville Studios in Woodstock, New York, and worked up a list of cover songs they would tackle on the album they’d call Moondog Matinee.
A Standout Matinee Performance
The Band had always thrived in part because of their ability to deploy three equally skilled but utterly distinct lead singers in service of their original songs. On Moondog Matinee, those three men spread their talents over nine cover choices. (The album’s 10th song, a cover of the instrumental theme from the film The Third Man, allowed keyboardist extraordinaire Garth Hudson the spotlight to work his magic.)
Levon Helm took charge on the album’s barnburner tracks. He barrels through Chuck Berry’s “Promised Land” and does a little humorous croaking on “Ain’t Got No Home,” which starts the album out on an irreverent note. Rick Danko proved his versatility, slinking his way through the soulful “Holy Cow” while also diving deep into Sam Cooke’s touching lament “A Change Is Gonna Come.”
While it seems silly to say that anybody was a standout on the album, considering Moondog Matinee is all about the chemistry between the members of The Band, it’s hard not to single out the incredible vocal performances of Richard Manuel. It was doubly impressive considering Manuel was drinking excessively and in the roughest shape of any member of the group before the album was made.
Manuel’s gorgeous vocal on “Share Your Love with Me,” supported by Robertson’s aching guitar licks, is the emotional centerpiece of the record. His take on “The Great Pretender” delivers all the hidden pain of the lyrics, while Hudson’s organ swirls all around him. And his frenzied romp through the gospel track “Saved” showed he could do much more than the slow stuff.
Moondog Matinee displayed not only how adept The Band was at honoring their influences, but also how capable they were of transcending them. It might not have been original music, but its execution is the reason this album has stayed ever-fresh.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Photo by United Artists/THA/Shutterstock
Most Popular
Comments / 0