The Band - Islands (1977)

"Islands" is the seventh studio album by the Canadian-American rock group The Band. It was recorded in the group's Shangri-La studios and released in 1977.

Theoretically, even though the Band had given up touring as of Thanksgiving 1976, they were going to keep making records, and "Islands" was the first album released in the new era. Only it wasn't; it was the album they scraped together to complete their ten-LP contract with Capitol Records and the last new full-length album the original five members ever made. The playing, as ever, was impeccable, and the record had its moments, notably a Richard Manuel vocal on the chestnut "Georgia on My Mind" that had been released as a single in 1976 to boost Georgia governor Jimmy Carter's successful run for the presidency. But the songwriting quality was mediocre, and the Band had set such a standard for itself in that department that Islands couldn't help suffering enormously in comparison.  The late Rick Danko's vocals on 'Street Walker' and the alluring gem 'The Saga Of Pepote Rouge' are highlights. Garth Hudson's keyboards are well-served, even if his saxophone--though perfected is somehow out of place on the album, but Levon Helm's drumming and vocals are unmistakable. Robbie Robertson's biazarre guitar work that he had perfected in the past seems to be absent. His lyrics however are recognizably brilliant most of the time, echoing a feeling of sadness, weariness, and melancholy, evident on another gem, 'Livin' In a Dream' and 'Knockin' Lost John.'

But those emotional lyrics are for some reason matched with disappointingly upbeat and bland music, and weak moments like 'Let the Night Fall' and a cover of the standard 'Ain't That A Lot of Love' drag the album down a bit. The title track, an instrumental, doesn't sound like a Band song at all, but rather an empty 70s-style take.

Tracklist

01.  Right as Rain   (Robbie Robertson)  - 3:52

02.  Street Walker   (Rick Danko, Robertson) -  3:16

03.  Let the Night Fall   (Robertson)  - 3:11

04.  Ain't That a Lot of Love   (Banks, Parker)  - 3:09

05.  Christmas Must Be Tonight   (Robertson)  - 3:38

06.  Islands   (Danko, Garth Hudson, Robertson)  - 3:54

07.  The Saga of Pepote Rouge   (Robertson)  - 4:14

08.  Georgia on My Mind   (Hoagy Carmichael, Stuart Gorrell)  - 3:09

09.  Knockin' Lost John   (Robertson)  - 3:50

10.  Livin' in a Dream   (Robertson)  - 2:52

Personnel

Rick Danko – bass guitar, vocals

Levon Helm – drums, vocals

Garth Hudson – organ, synthesizer, accordion, piccolo, tenor, alto, and baritone saxophones

Richard Manuel – acoustic and electric pianos, vocals

Robbie Robertson – guitars, vocals

James Gordon – flute

Tom Malone – trombone

John Simon – alto saxophone

Larry Packer – violin

Notes
Released:  March 15, 1977

Recorded at:  Shangri-la Studios; Village Recorders, Los Angeles, CA

Genre:  Country Rock

Length:  35:15

Label:  Capitol

Producer:  The Band