The Band’s eponymous second album was released September 22, 1969. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/em>, 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<\/em> and Wild Flowers<\/em> 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n