The Band – Unreleased 1967 Demo Tape

A 5 song reel-to-reel Demo tape sent by The Band to music critic and Rolling Stone magazine co-founder Ralph J. Gleason. Gleason was a friend of Bob Dylan, and knew the band from their work backing him. This tape contains alternate, unreleased versions of songs later issued on the Basement Tapes and Big Pink albums and the box set. Cheryl Pawelski, co-producer (with Robbie Robertson) of the box-set 'The Band: A Musical History' has reviewed the tape for us and dates it from the end of the 'Basement 
Tapes' sessions, in and around Saugerties, New York in fall 1967, and the beginning of the 'Music From Big Pink' sessions in New York City in January, 1968 (just as Levon Helm was rejoining the lineup.) 'Reuben Remus' is the only song identical to the official 'Basement Tapes' release. 'Ferdinand The Impostor' is an unreleased version, likely recorded 9/67 in NYC, and is shorter and rougher than the released version. 'Katie's Been Gone' is as well an unreleased version, likely from a fall '67 session in NYC. 'Orange Juice Blues' is an '67 alternate session take, with an intro the official version lacks and a fuller instrumental arrangement. And 'Yazoo Street Scandal' is another alternate version from late '67, with a Levon vocal and Richard Manuel on drums. Pawelski, one of the foremost experts on The Band and 'The Basement Tapes' thinks this was probably sent to Gleason while The Band was still in New York (prior to moving to Los Angeles,) and guesses that the transfer was done outside a studio, as the fidelity is a step or two down from the master tape. A professional CD transfer of the tape is included. An extremely rare Band artifact, with superb provenance.

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