The song was released as a single and was included on The Band’s debut LP, “Music from Big Pink.” Although it only peaked at #63 on the charts, it’s listed as #41 on Rolling Stone‘s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and was designated by The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the 500 songs that shaped rock and roll. The Scottish band Nazareth supposedly took its name from this song.
But wait…there’s more! I’m throwing in this piece of trivia at no extra charge: two months after The Band released “Music from Big Pink,” The Beatles filmed a promo of “Hey Jude,” with Paul singing Take a load off Fanny/ Put it back on me in the song’s famous fade-out.
Here’s The Band, with the late, great Levon Helm on drums and vocals:
© Dana Spiardi, Feb 12, 2014
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