Band,The The Band/First Album US Original RL Cutting LP Edition

This exquisite transfer features the original US LP of The Band's masterpiece, "The Band," and a rare version cut by master Bob Ludwig, bearing the "RL stamp"—a rare feature among the few pressings of the original US LP! The richness of the master tapes, unmatched on current CDs, and the "RL stamp"—a testament to Bob Ludwig's cutting—deliver a vivid, full, and rich sound, delivering a compelling sound unlike anything else. Enjoy the ultimate version of The Band's masterpiece, which redefined the rock movement of its time! Following the release of the extremely rare mono version of The Band's historic first album, "Music from Big Pink: UK Original "Mono Mix" LP," this time, we present the stunning CD release of the rare original LP of The Band's acclaimed second album, "The Band." This time, the rare "RL stamp" version, a rare feature among the few pressings of the original US LP, is being released! Speaking of the RL stamp, the version featuring cutting by Bob Ludwig, a familiar name from Zep's second album, "LED ZEPPELIN II RL CUTTING EDITION," is a hugely popular choice! In fact, his work on "II" was even hailed as a "Hot Mix," but when it comes to The Band's second album, perhaps best described as "rich, raw sound." "THE BAND" was remastered in 2000, and a new remix version supervised by Robbie Robertson was released in 2019. While the latter's modern release, coupled with the deterioration of the master tapes, resulted in a more modern remix, it's best compared to the current 2000 remaster. Mastered in 2000, during the heyday of CDs, the sharpness of each instrument's contours is accentuated, yet without being overbearing. In that respect, even for a 2000 remaster, it's still quite impressive. However, even the 2000 remaster pales in comparison to the fresh 1969 master tapes and the special LP cut by Ludwig. The overwhelming difference in clarity and richness, as well as the natural sound of the "RL-stamped" version, is clear. The richness of the mid- and low-range sounds is particularly remarkable! The 2000 remaster, with its sharper definition, sounds so different that some songs sound almost like a different mix! As a rare pressing of the LP cut by Ludwig, it's already rare, and finding a copy in excellent condition is even more difficult. However, this CD release is based on a mint-condition copy of this rare mastered LP. We've achieved a clean transfer, completely free of scratch noise, without compromising the original sound quality. Even if you could obtain the rare "RL-stamped" version, it would be difficult to reproduce it with such a clean quality. Even more so than the highly acclaimed "MUSIC FROM BIG PINK: UK ORIGINAL "MONO MIX" LP," this release features many quiet sections and intros, even including tracks like "The Unfaithful Servant" recorded in an acoustic format. This means that even finding a clean copy, or even achieving a clean playback, is extremely difficult, even for the first album. This CD release will surely demonstrate the exceptional quality of this release. While the second album from Zeppelin was so loud, Ludwig's cutting perfectly captures the flavor of The Band's second album, which was described as "heavy and woody." Depending on the band, it can be loud or delicate. The charm of this rare LP, embodied by his unique skill at "reading the mood," has been captured on CD in its entirety! Even the 2000 remaster, so beloved, falls far short of the original, with Bob Ludwig's "RL" stamped cut. This CD release, once again, allows you to fully enjoy the original sound and feel of The Band's masterpiece without the distraction of scratch noise! Taken from US Original "RL Cutting" LP by Bob Ludwig (Capitol Records STAO-132) released in 1969 (44:14) Side 1 1. Across The Great Divide 2. Rag Mama Rag 3. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down 4. When You Awake 5. Up On Cripple Creek 6. Whispering Pines Side 2 7. Jemima Surrender 8. Rockin' Chair 9. Look Out Cleveland 10. Jawbone 11. The Unfaithful Servant 12. King Harvest (Has Surely Come)