AllMovie

This 1997 documentary examines the making of the critically acclaimed, eponymous 1969 album by the Band. Televised initially on VH1 as part of their Classic Albums series, and later on PBS, the Rhino Home Video release of this program contains additional footage not seen on the TV version. Featured are interviews with the principal creators of the albums -- the artists as well as the producers, engineers, and others involved in the recording sessions. The video includes conversations with Garth Hudson, Levon Helm, Robbie Robertson, and Rick Danko, who reveal inside information about all aspects of the album's creation at in a makeshift studio set up in a Hollywood Hills home formerly owned by Sammy Davis Jr. Bandmembers explain how they conceived and achieved their sound, with the musicians frequently switching instruments. They explain the layering of vocals and instrumentation on songs such as "Rockin' Chair." Levon Helm explains his drum technique. Highlights include performances of some of the band's most influential songs with such notable stars as Eric Clapton, George Harrison, and Don Was.