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Bob Dylan and The Band - The Basement Tapes; is the product of months of collaboration between an injured Bob Dylan and The Band recorded in the summer of 1967. After Dylan suffered a near catastrophic motorcycle crash he was unable to continue his tour and remained in his hometown of Woodstock New York to recover from his injuries. During this time Columbia Records contracted The Band to remain Dylan's backing band, but because he was unable to tour the members of The Band took up residence in Woodstock to be close to their manager Albert Grossman and to Dylan until he was able to tour. Rick Danko, Richard Manuel and Garth Hudson moved into a house in west Saugerties New York which was known as the Big Pink. In the basement of this house the members of The Band began to write and collaborate on music with each other and Dylan in the lieu of not being able to be on the road touring. The product of these homemade recordings is some of the most original and heartfelt music ever made. Dylan was going through what I see as his most creative and insightful point of his career, was writing songs about America and small town life, and love. The former members of the Hawks were use to backing up other musicians and covering many well known rock and roll songs of the day, however this was soon to change. The Band being afforded the luxury of time off the road began to create their own songs with a country rock folk vibe, a sound that would later define them throughout there long career. This period paved the way for The Band to begin writing their own material, and eventually lead to the recording the groundbreaking album “Music From Big Pink”: a rugged folk rock sound which sent shockwaves around the world and influenced many musicians from Clapton to George Harrison and countless others. Over one hundred recordings were made during this time, and some of the highlights of these sessions are “Tears Of rage”, “Nothing Was Delivered” , “Going To Acapulco” , “Yazoo Street Scandal” , “ I Shall Be Released”, “Don’t Ya Tel Henry” and "This Wheels On Fire". It also features two of my favourite songs by the late Richard Manuel; "Orange Juice Blues" and " Katie's Been Gone". A more complete version of the entire collection was later released and renamed “A Tree With Roots”. This album is a true romance between men so dedicated to music in encompassed their entire lives, and master musicians collaborating in an environment totally free of corporate BS. A musical masterpiece.Read full review