10 Overshadowed Albums By Famous Musicians

Proving themselves to be far more than mere musicians that constituted Bob Dylan's backing group, The Band have since became among the most celebrated acts in history for not only their consummate playing but their incredible songwriting.

Releasing their debut album 'Music From Big Pink' in 1968, the band became every musician's favourite band and received almost universal praise. Everyone from Eric Clapton to George Harrison, Roger Waters and many more would go on record to declare their spectacular 11 track introduction (featuring wonderful compositions including 'Tears Of Rage', 'The Weight', 'Lonesome Suzie', 'Chest Fever' and many more) to be one of the most groundbreaking records that they'd ever had the privilege of listening to.

Alongside the lauded Martin Scorsese-directed concert film 'The Last Waltz' and its all-star cast of collaborators which captured the band's glorious departure from the stage , these two work are commonly cited as the essentials for anyone wishing to familarise themselves with the rootsy magic of Rick Danko, Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson and Richard Manuel. Even though both releases are of inalienable quality, the travesty of this approach is that it discounts their sophomore self-titled album and the many wonders which it provided us with.

A less cagey and more self-assured affair that loses none of the magic that made 'Music From The Big Pink' an almost sacred work upon its release, a great deal of the band's finest work can be found within its confines. The country-based jive of 'Rag Mama Rag' through the sordid tales of lust that can be found in 'Up On Cripple Creek' and the blues fusion of 'Jemima Surrender and 'King Harvest (Has Surely Come), it's the sound of a restlessly forward-thinking band that are truly basking in the joy of playing music together.

The heartwarming sincerity and unfeigned vocal performances that were one of the biggest revelations of their debut remain intact in the form of 'When You Awake' 'Rockin' Chair' and of course its focal point; the aching civil war opus that is 'The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.' It may be clichéd to infer that there's albums which can change your life but listening to The Band's self-titled will enrich yours tenfold.