Rick Danko (album)

Rick Danko is the 1977 eponymous debut by the bassist and singer for the Band. Featuring ten tracks written by Danko, usually in conjunction with lyricists Bobby Charles and Emmett Grogan, it was the first solo album by any member of the group and was Danko's only full-length solo studio album; The other two albums he released in his lifetime were live recordings.

Rick Danko
Studio album by Rick Danko
Released	1977
Genre	Rock
Length	32:20
Label	Arista
Producer	Rick Danko, Rob Fraboni
Rick Danko chronology
Rick Danko (1977) Danko/Fjeld/Andersen (1991)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Christgau's Record Guide	B[2]

Rick Danko is the only solo album by a member of the Band to feature each member of the group, with Garth Hudson playing accordion on "New Mexico", Robbie Robertson playing lead guitar on "Java Blues", Richard Manuel playing electric piano on "Shake It" and Levon Helm singing harmony vocal on the closing track, "Once Upon a Time". Danko handled bass, rhythm and lead guitars and vocals. Other guests included Eric Clapton (guitar on "New Mexico"), Ronnie Wood (guitar on "What a Town"), Beach Boy and later Band member Blondie Chaplin (guitar and bass on various tracks) and Doug Sahm (guitar on various tracks).

Track listing

1. "What a Town" (Danko, Bobby Charles)
2. "Brainwash" (Danko, Emmett Grogan)
3. "New Mexicoe" (Danko, Charles)
4. "Tired of Waiting" (Danko, Jim Atkinson)
5. "Sip the Wine" (Danko)
6. "Java Blues" (Danko, Grogan)
7. "Sweet Romance" (Danko, Grogan)
8. "Small Town Talk" (Danko, Charles)
9. "Shake It" (Danko)
10. "Once Upon a Time" (Danko, Grogan)

Personnel

Main Players

• Produced by Rick Danko and Rob Fraboni
• Rick Danko - bass, rhythm and lead guitars and lead vocal
• Michael DeTemple, Doug Sahm and James Atkinson - guitars
• Walt Richmond - piano
• James Gordon - organ
• Denny Seiwell and Terry Danko - drums
• Gerry Beckley, Blondie Chaplin, Rob Fraboni and Wayne Neuendorf - backing vocals
• Lewis Bustos, Jim Gordon, Charles McBurney, Rocky Morales and Jim Price - horn section
  • Horns arranged by Rick Danko, Doug Sahm and Rob Fraboni

Guests

• Garth Hudson - accordion on "New Mexicoe"
• Robbie Robertson - lead guitar on "Java Blues"
• Richard Manuel - Fender Rhodes piano on "Shake It"
• Levon Helm - harmony vocal on "Once Upon a Time"
• Ronnie Wood - lead guitar on "What a Town"
• Blondie Chaplin - lead guitar on "Brainwash", bass on "Small Town Talk"
• Tim Drummond - bass on "Brainwash" and "Java Blues"
• Eric Clapton - guitar on "New Mexicoe"
• Rob Fraboni - percussion on "New Mexicoe" and "Shake It", vibraslap on "Tired of Waiting"
• Ken Lauber - piano on "Tired of Waiting", "Sweet Romance" and "Once Upon a Time"
• Joe Lala - percussion on "Tired of Waiting"
• George Weber - organ on "Sweet Romance" and "Once Upon a Time"
• Gerry Beckley - acoustic guitar on "Shake It"
• David Paich - Moog synthesizer on "Shake It"
• Frank Laffitte - cover photography

References

1. Ollio, J.P. "Rick Danko". Allmusic. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
2. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: D". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved February 24, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.