The Band

After producing one of the most magical debut albums of the rock era, it seemed the Band had nowhere to go but down. However, this 1969 sophomore effort somehow exceeded its predecessor, a second consecutive masterpiece from a ragtag bunch of talented, road-weary rockers. With Robbie Robertson emerging as the principal songwriter, the "Brown Album" was strung together with a loose yet pronounced concept: the culture and mythology of Americana. This concept was borne out both lyrically and musically as the Band borrowed heavily from blues, country, gospel, and ragtime traditions to vividly evoke the American south--especially on cuts like "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," "Up on Cripple Creek," and "Across the Great Divide." The versatility of the musicians greatly expanded the instrumental possibilities, resulting in a unified yet tumbledown sound that had room for rowdy roadhouse rockers and hushed folk-based laments.