The Band's light shone brightly for a few years but it had definitely dimmed by the time they recorded Moondog Matinee in 1973. For this album they returned to their bar band days and revisited some of their favourite songs. Reading the history of The Band the problem seemed to stem from Robbie Robertson's assertion to sole proprietorship of the songwriting credits. The others in the band claimed that the writing, like the collaboration that is clear in their playing, was much more organic. Post break-up analysis certainly seems to support the wider group's claims as Robertson only occasionally got anything anywhere near the early quality (check out Between Trains from the King of Comedy Soundtrack).
However The Band never really recorded a bad album - it's just that the standards set by those first three studio albums and the mighty Rock of Ages live album are just so stellar. So Moondog Matinee sees them playing some favourites - and bringing some fire to some of them. I particularly like the opening Ain't Got No Home but I always liked the original. Mystery Train also shines well. Perhaps my favourite is Holy Cow a remake of a great Allen Toussaint Song - with a superb lead vocal from Rick Danko.
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