million dollar basher

As my MB name implies, I am a long-time Band fan. "Music from Big Pink" was one of those albums that I grew up with and that I still listen to regularly. My appreciation for Bob Dylan's music borders on the sychophantic, yet I still feel that some of the renditions of "Basement Tape" songs that later appeared on "Big Pink" were nearly perfected by the Band themselves. "Tears of Rage" is possibly the best example I can muster. Helm's vocals are heartbreaking, and they harken back to the very beginnings of Soul Music. In fact, the Band as a cohesive group seem to summon an old, classic nobility, and I think this is where their music gathers much of its weight, pun intended. They may have been performing throughout the late 60's and early 70's, but their hearts seemed to feel at home in 1865.