The Band - Moondog Matinee (1973)

The Band were an influential and highly acclaimed rock band formed in the 1960s.

The Band's output of quality songs had slowed somewhat as the 70s advanced, with 1971's Cahoots receiving mixed reviews and 1972's Rock Of Ages being a live album of mostly familiar tunes. However they were still occasionaly performing to great acclaim, and in 1973 performed at the legendary Summer Jam At Watkins Glen (along with The Grateful Dead and The Allman Brothers Band). But fans still wanting another Music From Big Pink or Stage Fright were left waiting, as their 1973 release, Moondog Matinee, was a covers album.
The idea behind it was to replicate the band's mid-60s club setlists, when they were performing as The Hawks. Therefore it featured mostly R&B covers, including Chuck Berry's "The Promised Land", Clarence Henry's "Ain't Got No Home", Allen Toussaint's "Holy Cow", Buck Ram's "The Great Pretender" and Junior Parker's "Mystery Train". However only one of theses songs they had actually performed in the 60s. The album ended with a heart-wrenching version of Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" sung by Rick Danko, and there was one conspiciously non-R&B song - the theme from the film The Third Man.
Though perhaps the fans would have preferred some new original material at the time, Moondog Matinee can be looked back on as a fine album, with some excellent interpretations of some great songs.

Rock Of Ages (1972) <|> Northern Lights - Southern Cross (1975)
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