Name: Stage Fright
Brand: The Band

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

CAPITOL/BLUESONVINYL95

Colour

Black

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2023-04-28

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Lasgo

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

9700000420921

Total Cap

Black LP

Artist

The Band

Genre GB

Classic

Label GB

Capitol

The Canadian-American roots rock group that rose to prominence in the late 1960s. Comprised of vocalists and multi-instrumentalists Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, and Robbie Robertson, The Band's soulful and authentic sound captivated listeners worldwide. They were cherished for their seamless blend of rock, folk, country, and blues, showcased in hits such as "The Weight" and "Up on Cripple Creek." Their contributions to popular music also included collaborations with Bob Dylan. The Band's enduring influence is characterized by their timeless harmonies, storytelling prowess, and lasting impact on the Americana genre.

Capitol Records, founded in 1942 as Liberty Records, is a renowned music label based in Hollywood, California. With a rich history and impressive sales of 42 million records by 1946, Capitol quickly became one of the Big Six studios. In 1955, it was acquired by British company EMI for $8.5 million and later became part of the Universal Music Group's Worldwide division in 1979. The merger with Priority Records in 2001 further solidified Capitol's position in the industry.

EMI began releasing Capitol products in the UK, Europe, and Australasia from January 1956 onwards after licenses with other record companies expired. Over the years, Capitol has seen various changes in ownership and management. In September 2012, it was purchased by Vivendi S.A., owner of Universal Music Group.

Capitol Records is known for its distinctive album prefix codes that provide valuable information about each release. These codes include letters indicating stereo or mono recordings, price codes denoting different list prices, indicators for multiple discs or special packaging.

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,&nbsp;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.

Stage Fright

Music GB