The Band - Cahoots (1971)

The Band - Cahoots (1971)

Their 1971 release, featuring a pre- Basement Tapes take of Bessie Smith and a pre- Rock of Ages take of Don't Do It ; an alternate take of When I Paint My Masterpiece; an early studio demo of Endless Highway , and another radio spot!

Here's where the Band stumbled. This 1971 lapse followed two consensus classics (Music from Big Pink and The Band) and the dicier but still worthy Stage Fright. Consequently, expectations were high. But, despite moments of excellence ("Life Is a Carnival," "When I Paint My Masterpiece," their first Dylan cover since their debut), primary songwriter Robbie Robertson repeatedly comes up short. "Last of the Blacksmiths," "Where Do We Go from Here," and "River Hymn" are overwrought attempts to recapture the unaffected longing for the past that marked the first two albums, while the likes of "Smoke Signal" and "Volcano" are merely forgettable. Still, Van Morrison's rambunctious duet with Richard Manuel on "4% Pantomime" and the weird "Moon Struck One" help make Cahoots a worthwhile curio for those interested in digging deep into the Band songbook. The remastered reissue includes four quality bonus songs as well as a vintage radio spot. --Steven Stolder

Tracklist:

1. Life Is A Carnival
2. When I Paint My Masterpiece
3. Last Of The Blacksmiths
4. Where Do We Go From Here?
5. 4% Pantomime
6. Shoot Out In Chinatown
7. The Moon Struck One
8. Thinkin' Out Loud
9. Smoke Signal
10. Volcano
11. The River Hymn
12. Endless Highway
13. When I Paint My Masterpiece (Alternate Version)
14. Bessie Smith
15. Don't Do It
16. Radio Commercial (2000 Digital Remaster)