Nearly 50 years after their farewell concert, The Band’s legacy rolls on. Capitol Records/UMe will reissue The Best of The Band on December 9 in multiple formats — vinyl, CD, and Super High Material CD. Long out of print since the 1980s, the LP returns on standard-weight black vinyl, while the CD editions have been newly mastered for digital clarity, offering fans a pristine listening experience worthy of rock’s original storytellers.
Released in 1976 as the group prepared to say goodbye at their legendary Last Waltz concert, The Best of The Band captures the spirit of an era — “The Weight,” “Up On Cripple Creek,” “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” and more. It’s the sound of five musicians who redefined American music by fusing rock, blues, gospel, country, and soul into something timeless. By the time The Band bowed out, they had already shaped the DNA of modern roots rock and influenced generations of songwriters to come.
The reissue arrives as The Band’s story continues to inspire new chapters. Robbie Robertson’s posthumous memoir, Insomnia, lands November 11 through Penguin Random House, chronicling his decades-long creative partnership with Martin Scorsese — a collaboration born from The Last Waltz itself. Robertson’s words offer a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how music and film collided to create one of the greatest concert experiences ever captured.
And just in time for the holidays, Kate Hudson adds her voice to the canon with a heartfelt rendition of The Band’s seasonal classic “Christmas Must Be Tonight.” “When you speak of The Band, you are speaking directly to the heart, soul and backbone of rock’s roots,” she says. For old fans and new listeners alike, The Best of The Band is more than a collection of songs — it’s a reminder of the enduring power of authenticity, harmony, and the music that changed everything.
Vinyl Tracklist
Side A
1. Up On Cripple Creek
2. The Shape I’m In
3. The Weight
4. It Makes No Difference
5. Life Is A Carnival
Side B
1. Twilight
2. Don’t Do It
3. Tears Of Rage
4. Stage Fright
5. Ophelia
6 The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
CD Tracklist
1. Up On Cripple Creek
2. The Shape I’m In
3. The Weight
4. It Makes No Difference
5. Life Is A Carnival
6. Twilight
7. Don’t Do It
8. Tears Of Rage
9. Stage Fright
10. Ophelia
11. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down