Stage Fright [Import] [Limited Edition] [Original recording remastered]

Track Listings

1. Strawberry Wine

2. Sleeping

3. Time to Kill

4. Just Another Whistle Stop

5. All la Glory

6. Shape I'm In

7. W.S. Walcott Medicine Show

8. Daniel and the Sacred Harp

9. Stage Fright

10. Rumor

11. Daniel and the Sacred Harp [Alternate Take]

12. Time to Kill [Alternate Mix]

13. W.S. Walcott Medicine Show [Alternate Mix]

14. Radio Commercial

Editorial Reviews
Album Details
Digitally Remastered Japanese Limited Edition in an LP-STYLE Slipcase.

Tracks:

Strawberry Wine
Sleeping
Time To Kill
Just Another Whistle Stop
All La Glory
The Shape I'm In
The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show
Daniel And The Sacred Harp
Stage Fright
The Rumor
Daniel And The Sacred Harp (Alternate Take)
Time To Kill (Alternate Mix)
The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show (Alternate Mix)
Radio Commercial

Amazon.com essential recordings

The Band's third studio album is also their third-best studio album, and that isn't bad. It's not as synchronous as Music from Big Pink or as overpowering as The Band, but that's part of its appeal. The quintet's first two albums were such towering achievements that the group came to lean on those songs, turning the lion's share of them into concert staples. Stage Fright is littered with lesser-known Robbie Robertson compositions possessing more modest charms than the overplayed likes of "The Weight" and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down." The title track is uncommonly hard-eyed and modern; Richard Manual's vocal, like most of his turns at the mic, is sparkling. (Manual also shines on the reflective "Sleeping" and the uptempo "Just Another Whistle Stop"). "All La Glory" is a gorgeous lullaby, while "Time to Kill" sounds like the Band doing Creedence Clearwater Revival. This isn't the place to discover this great North American band, but it's definitely a stop worth taking before your exploration is completed. The 2000 remastered reissue isn't as generously fleshed out with bonus tracks as its predecessors, offering up only three alternate takes and a vintage radio commercial. --Steven Stolder

Amazon.com

The Band's third studio album is also their third-best studio album, and that isn't bad. It's not as synchronous as Music from Big Pink or as overpowering as The Band, but that's part of its appeal. The quintet's first two albums were such towering achievements that the group came to lean on its songs, turning the lion's share of them into concert staples. Stage Fright is littered with lesser-known Robbie Robertson compositions possessing more modest charms than the overplayed likes of "The Weight" and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down." The title track is uncommonly hard-eyed and modern; Richard Manuel's vocal, like most of his turns at the mic, is sparkling. (Manuel also shines on the reflective "Sleeping" and the uptempo "Just Another Whistle Stop"). "All La Glory" is a gorgeous lullaby, while "Time to Kill" sounds like the Band doing Creedence Clearwater Revival. This isn't the place to discover this great North American band, but it's definitely a stop worth taking before your exploration is completed. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

Great, underrated Band album.......2007-03-23

Almost every song on this album is a winner. A few of the best songs are only available on this album, having never been put in a Greatest Hits Collection or in The Last Waltz (movie of Band's last concert). The tune, "Ala Glory" is a subtle stunner. Regarding The Last Waltz, buy it and watch/listen to the greatest band in rock n' roll history--no hyperbole, The Band is the one musical entity or person that can truly be called GREAT.

The Best of the First 3 .......2007-02-28

The strain of being pressured into making another masterpiece like the first 2 records, constant touring and heavy partying was starting to make the group weary and this album is a beautiful masterpiece of struggle, it's a treat that we have it forever on record. The most underrated Band record and the best of the magical first 3.

Amazing, overlooked album--Gold CD has better mix than this one.......2006-11-30

Let me start by saying this: The material recorded on this CD merits a solid, worthy 5 stars. Fans of the first two Band albums should definitely buy this, since it's ever so close to being as classic as those two albums. The reason I rated this CD 4 stars is because the band sent the tapes to 2 different mixing engineers, resulting in two completely different mixes. This CD issue contains the (in my and most people's opinions) inferior of the two mixes. The mix on this album drowns out some instruments on some songs (piano, for example, on the high-energy romp "Time To Kill"), and is plagued by too much reverb that makes it production seem like the Band was going for a slick pop sound. The more expensive Gold CD release from 1994 (as well as some earlier, lower-quality CD issues) uses the alternate mix, which sounds much livelier, like you're in the room with 5 guys jamming on their instruments and singing in harmony--just like the first two albums! The bonus tracks don't really add anything much either (like bonus tracks usually don't). However, you can get this CD pretty cheap new from Amazon, and REALLY cheap used (something like $2), so it's certainly worth the minimal purchase to hear this great music for the first time.

Regarding the music on the album itself, I don't really completely buy into the mythology that the spotlight reviews are trying to perpetuate--Stage Fright isn't a concept album about "Manuel's life or death struggle with Robertson" anymore than The Band was a concept album about the finer points of having fun in the Wild West--why do we need to assign these kinds of categories to such category-defying music? Likewise, Robertson in the liner notes back-projects some sort of self-aggrandizing story about how he was trying to reach Richard Manuel with his songs. According to common sense and Levon Helm's autobiography, Robertson may have been encouraging Richard to write more and get everybody to participate, but Richard's real big problems didn't really surface until the late 70's and his eventual suicide, over 15 years after this album was created. It's pretty egotistical for Robbie and critics/reviewers to claim that this entire album was intended as an indictment/diagnosis of the problems the band was facing due to their stardom. Sure, those themes are (kind of) there in songs like "Stage Fright" and "The Shape I'm In," but to claim that Robbie was trying to "communicate with Richard through the music" is pretty absurd, not to mention pathetic (if he really wanted to reach him, there were probably better ways). Instead of completely backwardly misinterpreting songs like "Strawberry Wine," "Time To Kill," and "W.S. Walcott Medicine Show" to fit some romanticized legend about the band members' secret feelings, I propose to take the music (and what great music it is) at face value:

This album is chock full of rock and roll, upbeat jams, good times, great lyrics, and some wicked guitar. Despite his many ego-related shortcomings, Robbie Robertson still possessed quite a songwriting muse at the time of this album. It may have been because he was increasingly taking more creative control of the band, but there is also some increasingly gnarly, wicked guitar from Robertson on this album. Most of these songs are the same caliber as songs of the first two albums (some of them are better). At face value, "Strawberry Wine" is a party song about a guy who just loves his wine. It's funny and fun, with great organ from Garth Hudson. "Sleeping" is catchy as hell, and funny as well. "Just Another Whistle Stop" marks a milestone in the complexities of Robertson's composition, and some gritty guitar. "The Shape I'm In" and "Stage Fright" are often talked about classics. One of my personal favorites is "The Rumor," which closes the album with one of Richard Manuel's most soulful vocals ever.

Overall, Stage Fright clocks in shorter than The Band's first two albums, but it's packed with great moments. Garth Hudson's piano, organ and saxophone are ON, as usual. Levon Helm turns in some great vocals (despite his documented drug problems of the time), Rick Danko's got classical vocals as well as some fat fretless bass lines, and Richard Manuel is in fine vocal form and contributes some fine songwriting (his last on any Band albums). I don't agree with most of the romanticized interpretations of this album and prefer to take it as it is: a record full of good times and human feeling like the two albums before it. Once you get to know this record, you may notice that Robertson was consciously trying to emulate those good feelings and human moments, but they weren't coming quite as easily or naturally as on the first two albums. Stage Fright still hits hard as one of the Band's greatest and most overlooked records. It's worth owning both versions, so once you get to know and love this album, you may want to check out the Gold CD version from 1994--it's more expensive, but totally worth it. I hope you purchase and enjoy this excellent music!

A little Different - But Just as Strong!.......2006-06-05

Expectations were high when the Band released their third album in 1970. After two masterpieces, would they be able to do it again?

Guitarist and main song-writer has expressed a wish to do a more basic rock'n roll album - a more light-hearted good time record.

At the same time things were beginning to get more complicated for some members of the Band. Their commercial success meant money, and money meant temptations and easy access to drugs. At the time of the recordings of "Stage Fright" all three singers were taking heroin, and this obviously influenced the record and to some extent changed the sound of their vocals.

Though Robertson managed to write some lyrics that fit his original idea of a basic light-hearted rock album; other songs deal with darker sides of life.

Opening song, "Strawberry Wine", sung and co-written by Levon Helm is a blues fitting nicely into the original concept.

This is the last album where singer Richard Manuel contributes original material, and Robertson had to help him finish his two songs. "Sleeping" is a beatiful pianoballad with a rocking chorus; obviously sung by Manuel.

"Time to Kill" has a great catchy guitar intro and rocks on nicely with Danko and Manuel sharing the lead vocals.

The second Manuel song is "Just Another Whistle Stop", which features another fine intro, and it is also one of the few Band studi-recording with an extended guitar-solo from Robertson.

All four opening tracks bear the high quality mark of the Band, but the first really outstanding track is Robertson's beautiful lullaby/ballad "All La Glory". This is such a great song with Helm doing one of his best ever recorded vocals.

The dark theme is coming forward on the next rocker "The Shape I'm In" - sung by Manuel.

The slightly jazzy "W.S. Walcott Medicine Show" is quite amusing featuring different brass instruments, but lyrically the song show a serious side of Robertson's songwriting.

The original album was ended with 3 more outstanding Band songs; all personal favourites of mine.

"Daniel and the Sacred Harp" is a country/folky song telling a the story of Daniel in a similar way the Dylan told the story of "Frankie Lee and Judas Priest". It's always a thrill when the three singers share the verses and all join in on the chorus.

The title track sung by Rick Danko, was an immediate live-favourite and one Danko finest performances; which says a lot.

"The Rumor" is another outstanding ballad, again with all singers taking lead verses. A worthy final the a great album.

The album is often regarded as a step downhill for the Band; I don't see it that way - it's a little different, yes, but just a strong as its predecessors.

This new version of the album features some interesting alternate versions, but none ot them matches the original recordings.

It's all in the comparison.......2006-02-17

I've always thought the biggest problem for The Band was that their first two albums were almost too good. Because they were among the best ever released, everything after them was downgraded. Cahoots isn't as bad as a lot of people seem to think and Northern Lights is actually a very good album.

But back to Stage Fright. It isn't as original or groundbreaking as the first two. But compared to almost everything released by anyone in the 35 years since this was issued, it's still an A-plus.

Maybe it is, as one reviewer suggests, symbolic of Robertson's frustration with Manuel's (and Danko's) substance abuse problems. That makes it more personal and less roots-based than the first two, one reason it's been downgraded. Big Pink and The Band were groundbreaking albums. Stage Fright was similar (although much better) to a lot of albums in the early '70s.

In any case, I'm happy that The Band seems to be getting the respect in the 21st century that it got only sporadically during its peak years (68-72). Even though the music world ranked them with the Beatles (see Clapton's comments) I don't think any album sold more than 800,000 copies, a piddling number today. I suspect the reissues might have done close to that and I love the fact that people who weren't born during their heyday now love them.

One aside about this album: the title song isn't a reference to Richard or Rick. It was Robbie's problem: literally the stage fright he experienced just before The Band's debut (as The Band, not The Hawks) in San Francisco.

The Carl Stalling Project, Volume 2: More Music From Warner Bros. Cartoons 1939-1957

Average customer rating:

The Carl Stalling Project Vols 1 & 2
Better Stalling's CD
The Carl Stalling Project Volume 2
A nice follow up
Now, every time I watch cartoons, I listen to the music!

The Carl Stalling Project, Volume 2: More Music From Warner Bros. Cartoons 1939-1957

Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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The Carl Stalling Project: Music From Warner Bros. Cartoons, 1936-1958
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ASIN: B000002MN3
Release Date: 1995-02-28

Tracks:

Zoom And Bored
Stage Fright
The High And The Flighty
Bad Swiss Band
Marching Pink Elephants
The Slap Hoppy Mouse
Orchestra Gag
Variation On Grandfather's Clock
Variation On Chinatown My Chinatown
Variation On Lucky Day
Wind-Up Doll
Guided Muscle
Fall And Splat-SFX
Ghost Wanted (1940)
The Unexpected Pest
Drunk La Cucaracha
Flea-Ridden Sheep Dog
Golf Cue
Barbary Coast Bunny
Satan's Waitin' (Excerpt)
Rubber Dog
Pappy's Puppy
Variations On La Danza
Variations On Johann Strauss
Kangaroo-SFX
Mouse-taken Identity
Variations On Mexican Hat Dance
Frazzled Coyote

Amazon.com

The second volume of the master Warner Bros. cartoon composer's work downplays the head-spinning montage of the first in favor of just-as-head-spinning complete scores. They aren't from the studio's best-known cartoons but from some of Stalling's most impressive tempo-warping, all-systems-go pieces, augmented by a few mini-pieces that illustrate the way he could transform barely familiar show tunes and classical themes into wild, rubbery jokes. Even without images, Stalling could make an orchestra suggest a "Flea-Ridden Sheep Dog" in 24 seconds flat and run enough changes on Stephen Foster's "Camptown Races" to match every mood in a Foghorn Leghorn cartoon. The head-snapping reversals of his scores anticipate much later avant-garde music. --Douglas Wolk

Customer Reviews:

The Carl Stalling Project Vols 1 & 2.......2007-01-11

Are the names Mel Blanc, I. Freleng or Chuck Jones familiar to you? Then you will get a charge out of these albums as they remind you of Warner Brothers cartoons you saw. I even used these albums instead of "spooky music" for the trick-or-treaters at Halloween, and got appreciative comments from the parents who recognized the music. Definitely worth the price of admission.

Better Stalling's CD.......2006-05-09

As well as Stalling Project Part I, These recordings are more modern fidelity, less classic and more musical techniques. The improvisations appreciate me more than Part I. I like all tracks especially one from "Zoom and Bored" Salute Maestro!!!!
jlipipun

The Carl Stalling Project Volume 2.......2005-09-12

More music from Warner Brother Cartoons 1936 to 1958.
Carl Stalling was one of the foremost composers of music for cartoons and wrote virtually all of the scores for Warner Brothers cartoons from 1936 to 1958. This is a compilation of some complete soundtracks and other snippets. In my opinion, this disk is not quite as well done as "The Carl Stalling Project Volume I."

A nice follow up.......2003-03-09

I really did like the slice-and-dice format of the first disc : I think it helped keep that cartoon zaniness without the visuals. I would recommend both volumes - I listen to them alot while I'm programming!

Now, every time I watch cartoons, I listen to the music!.......2001-08-07

Carl Stalling. We all know who he is, but we don't know that we know. Who is he? The guy who did cartoon background music for Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies for more than 20 years, that's who. Maybe you're thinking, "Oh, come on! Cartoon background music??! How good could something so trivial be?!" The answer to that question is.. VERY. Very entertaining. I just love Carl Stalling's great "scores". When you take away the context of it's being CARTOON music and just sit and listen to the damn thing, it's WONDERFUL music in and of itself! He goes from violins and a piano playing "agitato" simultaneously to a single oboe note and back again in five seconds. Not only that. He does that and, as random as it may sound, he mannages to segue it together beautifully. Now, every time I watch cartoons, the thing I pay most attention to is what aural miracles Mr. Stalling sneaked in. Maybe, after listening to this, you will too. If anything will change after you listen to this, it would be that you'll never think of cartoon music as trivial again........That's a GOOD thing.

Average customer rating:

Great, underrated Band album
The Best of the First 3
Amazing, overlooked album--Gold CD has better mix than this one
A little Different - But Just as Strong!
It's all in the comparison

Stage Fright
The Band
Manufacturer: EMI Special Products
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Band
Northern Lights-Southern Cross
Music from Big Pink
Cahoots
Moondog Matinee

ASIN: B000006340
Release Date: 1998-10-20

Tracks:

Strawberry Wine
Sleeping
Time To Kill
Just Another Whistle Stop
All La Glory
The Shape I'm In
The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show
Daniel And The Sacred Heart
Stage Fright
The Rumor

Amazon.com essential recording

The Band's third studio album is also their third-best studio album, and that isn't bad. It's not as synchronous as Music from Big Pink or as overpowering as The Band, but that's part of its appeal. The quintet's first two albums were such towering achievements that the group come to lean on their songs, turning the lion's share of them into concert staples. Stage Fright is littered with lesser-known Robbie Robertson compositions possessing more modest charms than the overplayed likes of "The Weight" and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down." The title track is uncommonly hard-eyed and modern; Richard Manual's vocal, like most of his turns at the mic, is sparkling. (Manual also shines on the reflective "Sleeping" and the uptempo "Just Another Whistle Stop"). "All La Glory" is a gorgeous lullaby, while "Time to Kill" sounds like the Band doing Creedence Clearwater Revival. This isn't the place to discover this great North American band, but it's definitely a stop worth taking before your exploration is completed. --Steven Stolder

Amazon.com

The Band's third studio album is also their third-best studio album, and that isn't bad. It's not as synchronous as Music from Big Pink or as overpowering as The Band, but that's part of its appeal. The quintet's first two albums were such towering achievements that the group came to lean on its songs, turning the lion's share of them into concert staples. Stage Fright is littered with lesser-known Robbie Robertson compositions possessing more modest charms than the overplayed likes of "The Weight" and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down." The title track is uncommonly hard-eyed and modern; Richard Manuel's vocal, like most of his turns at the mic, is sparkling. (Manuel also shines on the reflective "Sleeping" and the uptempo "Just Another Whistle Stop"). "All La Glory" is a gorgeous lullaby, while "Time to Kill" sounds like the Band doing Creedence Clearwater Revival. This isn't the place to discover this great North American band, but it's definitely a stop worth taking before your exploration is completed. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

Great, underrated Band album.......2007-03-23

The Best of the First 3 .......2007-02-28

Amazing, overlooked album--Gold CD has better mix than this one.......2006-11-30

A little Different - But Just as Strong!.......2006-06-05

It's all in the comparison.......2006-02-17

Average customer rating:

Great, underrated Band album
The Best of the First 3
Amazing, overlooked album--Gold CD has better mix than this one
A little Different - But Just as Strong!
It's all in the comparison

Stage Fright
The Band
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Canada | North America | International | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Band
Northern Lights-Southern Cross
Music from Big Pink
Cahoots
Moondog Matinee

ASIN: B000002UW4
Release Date: 1990-09-25

Tracks:

Strawberry Wine
Sleeping
Time To Kill
Just Another Whistle Stop
All La Glory
The Shape I'm In
The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show
Daniel And The Sacred Harp
Stage Fright
The Rumor

Amazon.com essential recording

The Band's third studio album is also their third-best studio album, and that isn't bad. It's not as synchronous as Music from Big Pink or as overpowering as The Band, but that's part of its appeal. The quintet's first two albums were such towering achievements that the group come to lean on their songs, turning the lion's share of them into concert staples. Stage Fright is littered with lesser-known Robbie Robertson compositions possessing more modest charms than the overplayed likes of "The Weight" and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down." The title track is uncommonly hard-eyed and modern; Richard Manual's vocal, like most of his turns at the mic, is sparkling. (Manual also shines on the reflective "Sleeping" and the uptempo "Just Another Whistle Stop"). "All La Glory" is a gorgeous lullaby, while "Time to Kill" sounds like the Band doing Creedence Clearwater Revival. This isn't the place to discover this great North American band, but it's definitely a stop worth taking before your exploration is completed. --Steven Stolder

Amazon.com

The Band's third studio album is also their third-best studio album, and that isn't bad. It's not as synchronous as Music from Big Pink or as overpowering as The Band, but that's part of its appeal. The quintet's first two albums were such towering achievements that the group came to lean on its songs, turning the lion's share of them into concert staples. Stage Fright is littered with lesser-known Robbie Robertson compositions possessing more modest charms than the overplayed likes of "The Weight" and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down." The title track is uncommonly hard-eyed and modern; Richard Manuel's vocal, like most of his turns at the mic, is sparkling. (Manuel also shines on the reflective "Sleeping" and the uptempo "Just Another Whistle Stop"). "All La Glory" is a gorgeous lullaby, while "Time to Kill" sounds like the Band doing Creedence Clearwater Revival. This isn't the place to discover this great North American band, but it's definitely a stop worth taking before your exploration is completed. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

Great, underrated Band album.......2007-03-23

The Best of the First 3 .......2007-02-28

Amazing, overlooked album--Gold CD has better mix than this one.......2006-11-30

A little Different - But Just as Strong!.......2006-06-05

It's all in the comparison.......2006-02-17

Average customer rating:

Stage Fright
The Band
Manufacturer: Toshiba EMI Japan
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Canada | North America | International | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Classic Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

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ASIN: B0001GAW5Q
Release Date: 2004-06-22

Tracks:

Strawberry Wine
Sleeping
Time to Kill
Just Another Whistle Stop
All la Glory
Shape I'm In
W.S. Walcott Medicine Show
Daniel and the Sacred Harp
Stage Fright
Rumor
Daniel and the Sacred Harp [Alternate Take]
Time to Kill [Alternate Mix]
W.S. Walcott Medicine Show [Alternate Mix]
Radio Commercial

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Japanese Limited Edition in an LP-STYLE Slipcase.

Average customer rating:

This is the one--Best CD issue and mix of this classic album!
The Band's Best Work

Stage Fright
The Band
Manufacturer: Dcc Compact Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000017J
Release Date: 1994-07-29

Tracks:

Strawberry Wine
Sleeping
Time To Kill
Just Another Whistle Stop
All La Glory
The Shape I'm In
The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show
Daniel And The Sacred Harp
Stage Fright
The Rumor

Amazon.com

The Band's third studio album is also their third-best studio album, and that isn't bad. It's not as synchronous as Music from Big Pink or as overpowering as The Band, but that's part of its appeal. The quintet's first two albums were such towering achievements that the group came to lean on its songs, turning the lion's share of them into concert staples. Stage Fright is littered with lesser-known Robbie Robertson compositions possessing more modest charms than the overplayed likes of "The Weight" and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down." The title track is uncommonly hard-eyed and modern; Richard Manual's vocal, like most of his turns at the mic, is sparkling. (Manual also shines on the reflective "Sleeping" and the uptempo "Just Another Whistle Stop"). "All La Glory" is a gorgeous lullaby, while "Time to Kill" sounds like the Band doing Creedence Clearwater Revival. This isn't the place to discover this great North American band, but it's definitely a stop worth taking before your exploration is completed. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

This is the one--Best CD issue and mix of this classic album!.......2006-11-30

To start with, the music AND production on this album both deserve 5 stars. The Band gave the tapes to 2 different mixing engineers, resulting in 2 completely different mixes of the entire album. This Gold CD has the better of the two mixes--it sounds more natural, more like real-life, and more like the production on the first two albums. If you're familiar with this album, you know how great the writing and music is--the mix on this CD matches that artistic quality with production quality. I highly recommend getting this version of Stage Fright.

Regarding the music on the album itself, I don't really completely buy into the mythology that other reviews are trying to perpetuate--Stage Fright isn't a concept album about "Manuel's life or death struggle with Robertson" anymore than The Band was a concept album about the finer points of having fun in the Wild West--why do we need to assign these kinds of categories to such category-defying music? Likewise, Robertson in the liner notes back-projects some sort of self-aggrandizing story about how he was trying to reach Richard Manuel with his songs. According to common sense and Levon Helm's autobiography, Robertson may have been encouraging Richard to write more and get everybody to participate, but Richard's real big problems didn't really surface until the late 70's and his eventual suicide, over 15 years after this album was created. It's pretty egotistical for Robbie and critics/reviewers to claim that this entire album was intended as an indictment/diagnosis of the problems the band was facing due to their stardom. Sure, those themes are (kind of) there in songs like "Stage Fright" and "The Shape I'm In," but to claim that Robbie was trying to "communicate with Richard through the music" is pretty absurd, not to mention pathetic (if he really wanted to reach him, there were probably better ways). Instead of completely backwardly misinterpreting songs like "Strawberry Wine," "Time To Kill," and "W.S. Walcott Medicine Show" to fit some romanticized legend about the band members' secret feelings, I propose to take the music (and what great music it is) at face value:

This album is chock full of rock and roll, upbeat jams, good times, great lyrics, and some wicked guitar. Despite his many ego-related shortcomings, Robbie Robertson still possessed quite a songwriting muse at the time of this album. It may have been because he was increasingly taking more creative control of the band, but there is also some increasingly gnarly, wicked guitar from Robertson on this album. Most of these songs are the same caliber as songs of the first two albums (some of them are better). At face value, "Strawberry Wine" is a party song about a guy who just loves his wine. It's funny and fun, with great organ from Garth Hudson. "Sleeping" is catchy as hell, and funny as well. "Just Another Whistle Stop" marks a milestone in the complexities of Robertson's composition, and some gritty guitar. "The Shape I'm In" and "Stage Fright" are often talked about classics. One of my personal favorites is "The Rumor," which closes the album with one of Richard Manuel's most soulful vocals ever.

Overall, Stage Fright clocks in shorter than The Band's first two albums, but it's packed with great moments. Garth Hudson's piano, organ and saxophone are ON, as usual. Levon Helm turns in some great vocals (despite his documented drug problems of the time), Rick Danko's got classical vocals as well as some fat fretless bass lines, and Richard Manuel is in fine vocal form and contributes some fine songwriting (his last on any Band albums). I don't agree with most of the romanticized interpretations of this album and prefer to take it as it is: a record full of good times and human feeling like the two albums before it. Once you get to know this record, you may notice that Robertson was consciously trying to emulate those good feelings and human moments, but they weren't coming quite as easily or naturally as on the first two albums. Stage Fright still hits hard as one of the Band's greatest and most overlooked records. It's worth owning both versions, so once you get to know and love this album, you may want to check out the Gold CD version from 1994--it's more expensive, but totally worth it. I hope you purchase and enjoy this excellent music!

The Band's Best Work.......2000-02-04

The synergy of the Band working with legendary producer Todd Rundgren makes this the Band's best studio record. A charming, understated record, you will go back to this one far more than the overplayed, not-very-subtle "Band of the Big Pink" era.

Average customer rating:

Not Racebannon, but definitely decent indie rock

Stage Fright Stage Fright
Rapider Than Horsepower
Manufacturer: S.a. Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00009L52I
Release Date: 2003-06-03

Tracks:

Feed That Ego! Watch It Grow!
Rock Against Mapquest
No Boat No Burn
Are You as Come?
I Have Never Played the Monkey Part
My Baby's Boogie Is the Baddest
Ditties
Free the Human Race
Saddle Up!
Hey Fancy Pants
I Blame It on the System
Lick Me on the Face, It Feels Funny

Customer Reviews:

Not Racebannon, but definitely decent indie rock.......2005-06-29

Rapider Than Horsepower are an eccentric indie outfit featuring members of the band Racebannon. If you're into the quirkier elements of indie rock you may want to check this band out. Stage Fright Stage Fright is the first of two releases that apparently is one album on two discs, the next release being This is My Big Night. For fans of early Modest Mouse and U.S Maple.

Average customer rating:

Stage Fright
Band
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000009GS1

Tracks:

Strawberry Wine
Sleeping
Time To Kill
Just Another Whistle Stop
All La Glory
The Shape I'm In
The W.S. Walcott Medecine Show
Daniel And The Sacred Harp
Stage Fright
The Rumor

Album Description

1998 digitally remastered Japanese reissue of their thirdalbum in a miniaturized LP sleeve limited to the initialpressing only. Their highest charting record, 'Stage Fright'reached #5 when first released in 1970 and contains 10tracks, including the single

Music Review:

Music Review

Music Review

1. Strawberry Wine
2. Sleeping
3. Time to Kill
4. Just Another Whistle Stop
5. All la Glory
6. Shape I'm In
7. W.S. Walcott Medicine Show
8. Daniel and the Sacred Harp
9. Stage Fright
10. Rumor
11. Daniel and the Sacred Harp [Alternate Take]
12. Time to Kill [Alternate Mix]
13. W.S. Walcott Medicine Show [Alternate Mix]
14. Radio Commercial