Stage Fright - THE BAND****

Strawberry Wine/Sleeping/Time To Kill/Just Another Whistle Stop/All La Glory/The Shape I'm In/The W S Walcott Medicine Show/Daniel & The Sacred Harp/Stage Fright/The Rumor

Some pundits detected a slight drop in standard on The Band's third album Stage Fright. Whether or not this is true it still includes a fine collection of classic songs. (US:5 UK:15)

"There's no justice, really. If Stage Fright had come from anyone else, it would garner its fair share of five-star ratings, but seeing as how it will forever exist in the shadows of The Band's first two albums, this one is doomed to suffer by comparison."

"Not as inferior to the preceding two albums as some people would have you believe. Songs are mostly top-notch and The Band is tight as ever."

"This album has undergone some revisionism by critics in recent years. Whereas it was once considered a second tier Band album, it now seems to be held in nearly the same high esteem as Big Pink and The Band. There isn't any weak material here - there are a couple of average tracks, maybe - but their third album is an entertaining listen through and through."

"Stage Fright was The Band’s third studio album. It featured darker lyrics and textures and fewer harmonies as Robbie Robertson moved his guitar out front on many of the tracks. He would write or co-write all ten songs and provide the musical vision for the album. The reviews for Stage Fright were less positive than for Music From Big Pink and The Band yet the album has held up well over the years. It contains very personal music, rather than the American based myths and legends that graced their first two releases."

"This album has the hits The Shape I'm In and Stage Fright. The rest have the feeling of a band sharing the personal favourites that they enjoy performing more than the hits they have to do on stage. It is a more intimate album than their previous releases, but it is also less compelling."

"This release did not fare as well as the first two outings by The Band. That being said, when one looks back in time, with today's ears, aware of the history of not only The Band, but of the social events of the day, this is a knock out album to say the least. The song Stage Fright has to be the all time best song regarding live performing, and The Shape I’m In is relentless in its style and grace."