When it was first released 50 years ago, The Band’s “Cahoots” received lukewarm reviews. Maybe it suffered by comparison with the group’s first three albums, two whose standards it was impossible to live up to. The energy level of the album does dip a little on side two, but you have the brilliance of, say, "Life Is A Carnival", in which brass soul, electric rock and bluegrass are all pulled together into a fully rocking, fully funky weave. Also "When I Paint My Masterpiece", which brings flesh, blood and flavour to the Bob Dylan song, or "4% Pantomime , featuring a dazzling, practically impromptu intervention from Van Morrison, whose diamond voice is a reminder of how imperishable his talent is.

A1. Life Is A Carnival
A2. When I Paint My Masterpiece
A3. Last Of The Blacksmiths
A4. Where Do We Go From Here?
A5. 4% Pantomime
B1. Shoot Out In Chinatown
B2. The Moon Struck One
B3. Thinkin' Out Loud
B4. Smoke Signal
B5. Volcano
B6. The River Hymn