Rock of Ages (album)

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Rock of Ages
Live album by The Band
Released	August 15, 1972
Recorded	December 1971
Genre	Rock
Length	78:19
Label	Capitol
Producer	The Band
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Robert Christgau (B) link Rolling Stone (Not Rated) link
The Band chronology
Cahoots (1971) Rock of Ages (1972) Moondog Matinee (1973)

Rock of Ages: The Band in Concert is The Band's fifth album. A live disc chronicling their series of shows at New York City's Academy of Music from December 28-31, 1971, it combines several of their hits with enthusiastic covers of songs originally performed by the likes of Marvin Gaye and Chuck Willis and features a wild organ improvisation by organist Garth Hudson, recorded as 1971 turned to 1972. Rock of Ages is regarded by many fans and critics as being among the best live rock albums ever released.

Originally released in 1972 as a double album, it was reissued in 1980 as two separate LPs (titled Rock of Ages, Vol. 1 and Rock of Ages, Vol. 2). The first CD edition, in 1987, was widely panned for the editing of several tracks to fit the program onto a single disc; an unedited 2-CD version followed in 1990.

2001 saw the release of a substantially revised and expanded 2-CD edition of the album, including ten additional songs from the same concert series (four of which featured performances by surprise "guest star" Bob Dylan).

The 2005 retrospective Band box set A Musical History contains several Rock of Ages tracks newly remixed from the multitrack tapes, as well as a previously-unissued performance of the song "Smoke Signal" from the December 28 show.

Contents 1 Track listing 1.1 Original album 1.2 2001 reissue 1.2.1 Disc one 1.2.2 Disc two 2 Credits 3 Charts

[edit] Track listing

[edit] Original album

1. "Introduction" – 1:22
2. "Don't Do It" (Holland/Dozier/Holland) – 5:00
3. "King Harvest (Has Surely Come)" (Robertson) – 4:04
4. "Caledonia Mission" (Robertson) – 3:38
5. "Get Up Jake" (Robertson) – 3:33
6. "The W. S. Walcott Medicine Show" (Robertson) – 3:54
7. "Stage Fright" (Robertson) – 4:38
8. "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" (Robertson) – 4:34
9. "Across The Great Divide" (Robertson) – 3:59
10. "This Wheel's On Fire (Danko/Dylan) – 4:07
11. "Rag Mama Rag" (Robertson) – 4:33
12. "The Weight" (Robertson) – 5:32
13. "The Shape I'm In" (Robertson) – 4:14
14. "The Unfaithful Servant" (Robertson) – 4:48
15. "Life Is A Carnival" (Danko/Helm/Robertson) – 4:17
16. "The Genetic Method" (Hudson) – 7:48
17. "Chest Fever" (Robertson) – 5:24
18. "(I Don't Want To) Hang Up My Rock and Roll Shoes" (Willis) – 4:20

[edit] 2001 reissue

[edit] Disc one

1. "Introduction" – 1:22
2. "Don't Do It" (Holland/Dozier/Holland) – 5:00
3. "King Harvest (Has Surely Come)" (Robertson) – 4:04
4. "Caledonia Mission" (Robertson) – 3:38
5. "Get Up Jake" (Robertson) – 3:33
6. "The W. S. Walcott Medicine Show" (Robertson) – 3:54
7. "Stage Fright" (Robertson) – 4:38
8. "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" (Robertson) – 4:34
9. "Across The Great Divide" (Robertson) – 3:59
10. "This Wheel's On Fire (Danko/Dylan) – 4:07
11. "Rag Mama Rag" (Robertson) – 4:33
12. "The Weight" (Robertson) – 5:32
13. "The Shape I'm In" (Robertson) – 4:14
14. "The Unfaithful Servant" (Robertson) – 4:48
15. "Life Is A Carnival" (Danko/Helm/Robertson) – 4:17
16. "The Genetic Method" (Hudson) – 7:48
17. "Chest Fever" (Robertson) – 5:24
18. "(I Don't Want To) Hang Up My Rock and Roll Shoes" (Willis) – 4:20

[edit] Disc two

1. "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" (Wonder/Hunter) – 3:28
2. "I Shall Be Released" (Dylan) – 4:03
3. "Up On Cripple Creek" (Robertson) – 4:38
4. "The Rumor" (Robertson) – 5:02
5. "Rockin' Chair" (Robertson) – 4:06
6. "Time To Kill" (Robertson) – 4:07
7. "Down in the Flood (Dylan) – 5:25
8. "When I Paint My Masterpiece" (Dylan) – 4:17
9. "Don't Ya Tell Henry" (Dylan) – 4:38
10. "Like a Rolling Stone" (Dylan) – 5:24
    • Tracks 7-10 on Disc 2 feature Bob Dylan during 31 December 1971 performance

[edit] Credits

• Rick Danko - bass, violin, vocals
• Levon Helm - drums, mandolin, vocals
• Garth Hudson - organ, piano, accordion, tenor and soprano saxophones
• Richard Manuel - piano, organ, clavinet, drums, vocals
• Robbie Robertson - guitar, vocals, introduction
• Allen Toussaint - horn arrangements
• Howard Johnson - tuba, euphonium, baritone saxophone
• Snooky Young - trumpet, flugelhorn
• Joe Farrell - tenor and soprano saxophones, English horn
• Earl McIntyre - trombone
• J. D. Parron - alto saxophone and E-flat clarinet
• Bob Dylan - guitar, vocals (2001 Reissue, Disc 2, tracks 7-10 only)
• Phil Ramone - engineer
• Mark Harman - engineer

[edit] Charts

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1972	"Don't Do It"	Pop Singles	34

v • d • e The Band Original members Robbie Robertson • Rick Danko • Richard Manuel • Garth Hudson • Levon Helm Other members and related people Ronnie Hawkins • Bob Dylan • John Simon • Allen Toussaint • Jim Weider • Randy Ciarlante • Richard Bell • Stan Szelest Studio albums Music from Big Pink • The Band • Stage Fright • Cahoots • Moondog Matinee • Planet Waves • The Basement Tapes • Northern Lights - Southern Cross • Islands • Jericho • High On The Hog • Jubilation Live albums Rock of Ages • Before the Flood • The Last Waltz (album) • Live at Watkins Glen • The Last Waltz (box) Compilations The Best of The Band • Anthology • To Kingdom Come • Across The Great Divide • The Best of The Band, Vol. II • Greatest Hits • A Musical History • From Bacon Fat to Judgement Day Songs The Weight • This Wheel's on Fire • I Shall Be Released • Up on Cripple Creek • The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down • Don't Do It • Acadian Driftwood • Tears of Rage Related topics The Last Waltz • This Wheel's on Fire • Capitol Records • Americana • Summer Jam at Watkins Glen