The Band’s eponymous second album was released September 22, 1969.

Ed Sullivan introduces The Band in this clip as “the new recording sensation for you youngsters,” probably because they were all youngsters to Sullivan. In reality, these guys were already road-hardened veterans, touring with Ronnie Hawkins for years, when they released their debut album, Music From Big Pink, in July of 1968. This clip is from November 2, 1969, just a few weeks after the second album came out. That album is about as perfect as an album gets. It’s an inspiration to me as a songwriter, and I had this and Tom Petty’s Damn the Torpedoes and Wild Flowers in heavy-to-near-exclusive rotation when I was making my first album. “Rag Mama Rag,” “Unfaithful Servant,” “Look Out Cleveland,” “King Harvest” – it’s an album of classics. Even “GEt Up Jake,” a bonus track from later reissues, is fine.

“Up On Cripple Creek” only made it to 25 on the singles charts, but it’s one of the most-played songs associated with The Band. As it should be. It’s deep-fried southern funk, from the opening bass riff to Levon’s twangy vocal and fluid fills to Gath Hudson’s throbbing clavinet line delivered through a wah pedal. Man, would I like to know what’s going through Hudson’s mind in this clip.