Capitol Records/UMeThe Band‘s self-titled second album was released 50 years ago this month. To commemorate the milestone, the record — also known as “The Brown Album” — will be reissued in multiple formats and configurations on November 15.
The album features two Band classics — “Up on Cripple Creek” and “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” — which were released as a two-sided single that peaked at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album itself reached #9 on the Billboard chart, and has gone on to sell over a million copies in the U.S.
Among the versions of the 50th anniversary reissue is a Super Deluxe box set featuring two CDs, two 180-gram-vinyl LPs, a Blu-ray disc, a 7-inch vinyl single and a hardbound book.
The CDs feature a remastered version of the album; bonus alternate takes, outtakes and instrumental mixes, some of which are previously unreleased; and The Band’s full performance from the 1969 Woodstock festival.
The LPs feature the remastered original album. The Blu-ray contains high-res stereo and surround mixes of The Band and six unreleased bonus tracks, plus the Classic Albums: The Band making-of documentary. The seven-inch single features “Rag Mama Rag” backed with “The Unfaithful Servant.”
The reissue is also coming out as a single CD, as well as digitally, and as a two-LP set available on standard black vinyl and limited-edition tiger’s-eye vinyl. Band guitarist/songwriter Robbie Robertson oversaw the reissue project.
In advance of the reissue’s release, an alternate version of “Rag Mama Rag” has been released as a digital single and via streaming services. Fans who pre-order a digital version of the reissue also will receive an instant free download of the track.
Here’s the track list of the Super Deluxe reissue’s CDs:
CD 1
The Band:
“Across the Great Divide”
“Rag Mama Rag”
“The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”
“When You Awake”
“Up on Cripple Creek”
“Whispering Pines”
“Jemima Surrender”
“Rockin’ Chair”
“Look Out Cleveland”
“Jawbone”
“The Unfaithful Servant”
“King Harvest (Has Surely Come)”
Bonus Tracks:
“Up On Cripple Creek” (Earlier Take)*
“Rag Mama Rag” (Alternate Version)*
“The Unfaithful Servant” (Alternate Version)*
“Look Out Cleveland” (Instrumental Mix)*
“Rockin’ Chair” (A Cappella/Stripped Down)*
“Up on Cripple Creek (Instrumental Mix)*
CD 2
Live at Woodstock, 1969 (Original Rough Mixes):
“Chest Fever”
“Tears of Rage”
“We Can Talk”
“Don’t Ya Tell Henry”
“Baby Don’t You Do It”
“Ain’t No More Cane on the Brazos”
“Long Black Veil”
“This Wheel’s On Fire”
“I Shall Be Released”
“The Weight”
“Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever”
Additional Studio Bonus Tracks:
“Get Up Jake” (Outtake – Stereo Mix)
“Rag Mama Rag” (Alternate Vocal Take – Rough Mix)
“The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” (Alternate Mix)
“Up on Cripple Creek” (Alternate Take)
“Whispering Pines” (Alternate Take)
“Jemima Surrender” (Alternate Take)
“King Harvest (Has Surely Come)” (Alternate Performance)
* = previously unreleased.
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