The Band – Islands (1977/2014) [HDTracks FLAC 24bit/96kHz]

The Band – Islands (1977/2014)
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/96 kHz | Time – 34:58 minutes |  718 MB | Genre: Rock
Studio Master, Official Digital Download |  Source:HDTracks |  Front cover | © Capitol Records
Recorded: December 1972 – January 1977; Shangri-la Studios; Village Recorders, Los Angeles, CA

When The Band announced their retirement from touring, it was with the important addendum that they’d continue to record together. In actuality, the only album that subsequently emerged was „Island“, which also served to finish out the band’s contract with Capitol Records. At the time of its release in 1977, it was received with some dismay by fans anxious for a repeat of the powerful „Northern Lights Southern Cross“ of two years previous. With the passing of time having removed the pressures of those expectations, „Island“ can be heard as an album that, while fragmented, includes some fine gems. The musicianship throughout is never less than compelling. Richard Manuel’s vocal on “Georgia On My Mind” is alone worth the price of admission-he sings it as if the thousand other classic versions never existed.

Theoretically, even though the Band had given up touring as of Thanksgiving 1976, they were going to keep making records, and Islands was the first album released in the new era. Only it wasn’t; it was the album they scraped together to complete their ten-LP contract with Capitol Records and the last new full-length album the original five members ever made. The playing, as ever, was impeccable, and the record had its moments, notably a Richard Manuel vocal on the chestnut “Georgia on My Mind” that had been released as a single in 1976 to boost Georgia governor Jimmy Carter’s successful run for the presidency. But the songwriting quality was mediocre, and the Band had set such a standard for itself in that department that Islands couldn’t help suffering enormously in comparison. -William Ruhlmann

Tracklist:
1. Right As Rain 03:53
2. Street Walker 03:16
3. Let The Night Fall 03:10
4. Ain’t That A Lot Of Love 03:07
5. Christmas Must Be Tonight 03:37
6. Islands 03:54
7. The Saga Of Pepote Rouge 04:13
8. Georgia On My Mind 03:08
9. Knockin’ Lost John 03:48
10. Livin’ In A Dream 02:52

Personnel:
Rick Danko – bass guitar, vocals
Levon Helm – drums, vocals
Garth Hudson – organ, synthesizer, accordion, piccolo, tenor, alto, and baritone saxophones
Richard Manuel – acoustic and electric pianos, vocals
Robbie Robertson – guitars, vocals

Additional:
James Gordon – flute on “Islands”
Tom Malone – trombone on “Islands”
John Simon – alto saxophone on “Islands”
Larry Packer – violin on “Islands”

Download:

mqs.link_TheBandIslands19772014HDTracks2496.rar