[dennisw]

<>The group's back-to-its-roots philosophy came at the height of late-'60s psychedelia and had an impact far beyond record sales. No less than Eric Clapton was inspired to walk away from his group Cream and follow a more homespun direction after hearing Pink, an album devoid of guitar solos. Other early admirers included George Harrison and Aretha Franklin, who later recorded a luminous version of "The Weight."

While the Band's self-titled sophomore release a year later, featuring "Up on Cripple Creek" and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," was a far greater commercial success, the impact of "Music from Big Pink" on other musicians establishes it as one of the most influential rock albums of all time. More importantly though, it still sounds as vital today as when it was first committed to tape.<>

[CobaltBlue]

The Band never affected me like Dylan did. Growing up in the deep South, I have always been very familiar with country music, and the Band just did not cut any new ground. They always seemed like a bunch of urban guys trying to play country.

To me, they sounded about as authentic as the Stones playing country (Girl With the Faraway Eyes, Country Honk)

Oddly, most of them were from Canada, so it was indeed odd for them to sound country.

My favorite Dylan album is John Wesley Harding. That really sounded country but I did not mind it because it sounded real.

Don't want to act like I am a purist. My favorite genre is British blues rock, e.g., Peter Green. Hearing the blues as interpreted by Brits appeals to me more than the raw blues, but I love my Robert Johnson straight, too.