The Top 10 Greatest Ever Americana Artists: Number 4 – The Band

Back in 2021 AUK writers voted for their ‘Greatest Americana Albums Ever’ and The Band’s self-titled second album came out top of the pile. It’s arguable that despite some very noteworthy work thereafter, they never really hit the same dizzy heights again. That lack of consistency perhaps accounts for their slightly lower ranking in our ‘Greatest Ever Americana Artists’ feature. Nevertheless, they are our Number 4 with 42 points, a considerable jump from yesterday’s Number 5 on 34 points and an indicative nod to not only their genius, but also to their immeasurable influence on the genre.

Although none of our writers posted them at the top of their personal lists, they did receive many inclusions and three second places. Here are some extracts from those second-place citations.

“The Band are frequently cited as the creators of americana. That is not purely down to those sepia tinged photos depicting them as frontiersmen from the century before last. Their debut album ‘Music from Big Pink’ in 1968 was the antithesis of contemporary rock music. This idiosyncratic ensemble of four Canadians and one American emerged from a basement in upstate New York with a gentler blend of country, rock, classical, folk, blues, R&B and soul with sparkling purity, lyrics of deep honesty that drew deep from the well of traditional American music. At their peak there was no leader, this was a genuine co-operative. If writing was concentrated into few hands, performing was a group activity. Each member played several instruments, vocals were shared as harmonies abounded. Vocally diverse, Robbie Robertson’s intricate guitar, Garth Hudson’s classical organ forays complementing Richard Manuel’s keys all powered by Levon Helm’s syncopated, slightly behind the beat, drumming style alongside Rick Danko’s dependable bass lines define americana.“  Lyndon Bolton

“The Band could have just recorded their first three albums and their importance for americana music would have surely been sealed with these three all-time classics. Yet it is all that came before and after that, from playing with Dylan and recording all those ‘Basement Tapes’ to some incredible music to follow, and ‘The Last Waltz’ to boot. But what makes them so special? Well, let me tell you: it’s all about the chemistry. The Band was made up of five unique musicians with distinct personalities; each brought something different to the table and together created a sound like no other. Whether playing upbeat rockers or soulful ballads, there was always a sense of camaraderie between them that shined through in every performance. It truly felt like these five were meant for each other – as if fate had put them together just so we could hear this incredible music.” Ljubinko Zivkovic

If A.I were to assemble a perfect americana band you have to suspect that it would be remarkably similar to The Band, though without the human failings and high talent that made this unit so fascinating. That American Levon Helm along with Canadians Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson and Richard Manuel are known simply as The Band speaks volumes in itself… The Band are, simply, outstanding. As a group it is a near phenomenal combination of musical talent and, for me, their first three albums (‘Music from Big Pink’, ‘The Band’ and ‘Stage Fright’) are as close to americana perfection as it might be possible to get. Sadly, the descent into substance addiction by some members of the group meant that later albums become increasingly patchy but their swan song, the superb ‘Last Waltz’ is another gem that pulls so many great performances from so many people and, not least, from The Band themselves. Rick Bayles

Tomorrow we go Top 3 – You won’t want to miss it!