Cahoots - Definition and Overview

Cahoots was the fourth long player by Canadian-American rock group The Band, and their last all-original studio album for four years. Generally regarded as one of the weaker albums in the group's canon, it hs been said that of the five members of the group, only Robbie Robertson and Rick Danko were truly inspired to work on the album, and listening to the album shows this. Outside of "Life Is A Carnival" (co-written with Danko and Levon Helm), no group members contribute to the music and lyrics other than Robertson. (Bob Dylan contributed one song, and Van Morrison co-wrote another with Robertson.)

There were signs of trouble with the album. Among these were Robertson, who once stated that one of the great things about The Band were the cryptic lyrics one had to really listen to to decipher, allowing his lyrics to be printed inside of a gatefold sleeve. Yet, with all of its flaws, Cahoots features five outstanding tracks out of eleven, and only one truly weak track.

The opening "Life Is A Carnival" and "When I Paint My Masterpiece" are two of the greatest tracks by the group, just as strong are "4% Pantomime" (with Morrison), "Volcano" and "Thinkin' Out Loud".

Track listing

1. Life Is A Carnival (Danko, Helm and Robertson; 3:55)
2. When I Paint My Masterpiece (Dylan; 4:21)
3. Last Of The Blacksmiths (Robertson; 3:41)
4. Where Do We Go From Here? (Robertson; 3:47)
5. 4% Pantomime (Robertson and Morrison; 4:32)
6. Shoot Out In Chinatown (Robertson; 2:51)
7. The Moon Struck One (Robertson; 4:09)
8. Thinkin' Out Loud (Robertson; 3:19)
9. Smoke Signal (Robertson; 5:11)
10. Volcano (Robertson; 3:05)
11. The River Hymn (Robertson; 4:40)

Group members and other participants

• The Band - producers
• Rick Danko - bass, vocals
• Levon Helm - drums, mandolin, upright bass, vocals
• Garth Hudson - organ, piano, tenor and baritone saxophones
• Richard Manuel - piano, drums, organ, slide guitar, vocals
• Robbie Robertson - guitars, piano
• Allen Toussaint - brass arrangements on "Life Is A Carnival"
• Van Morrison - vocals on "4% Pantomime"
• Mark Harman - engineer