Though The Band remains a likely candidate for Group Least Likely to Reunite, Levon Helm hasn’t been resting on his laurels.  After a 25-year year hiatus from his career as a solo artist (during which time he participated in the recording of three Band albums sans Robbie Robertson and successfully underwent treatment for throat cancer) Helm returned to recording with 2007’s acclaimed Dirt Farmer.  Since then, he’s maintained a busy live schedule, and last month’s Ramble at the Ryman preserved a gig at the legendary Ryman Auditorium with special guests Sheryl Crow, Buddy Miller, John Hiatt and Billy Bob Thornton. 

Australia’s Raven Records, however, is now turning back the clock and compiling two original albums from Helm in one package entitled Take Me to the River, due July 12.  Though the singer/multi-instrumentalist didn’t evince much creativity in titling Levon Helm (1978) and Levon Helm (1982), the albums demonstrate his mastery of all forms of American music.

A previous Raven two-fer brought together Helm’s first and third solo albums, 1977’s Levon Helm and the RCO All-Stars (ABC) and 1980’s American Son (MCA), and this companion set features his second and fourth outings.   Hit the jump for the scoop on both albums including track listing and pre-order link!

The first of his two eponymous albums was produced by Donald “Duck” Dunn of Booker T. & the MG’s, so it was no surprise that it features the soulful, funky side of The Band’s drummer and multi-instrumentalist.  It was recorded at Cherokee Studios in Hollywood and at Muscle Shoals in Alabama.  Helm was free to interpret songs by some of his favorite songwriters and performers, hence the covers of Al Green’s “Take Me to the River,” Tony Joe White’s “I Came Here to Party” and Allen Toussaint’s “Brickyard Blues,” also known as “Play Something Sweet.”  The pairing of Gerry Goffin and Barry Goldberg is represented by “Audience For My Pain.”

After the demise of the ABC label, Helm signed with Capitol.  Levon Helm (1982) was produced by Jimmy Johnson and Barry Beckett of Muscle Shoals and primarily featured tracks by Southern writers peppered with some covers such as Johnny Otis’ “Willie and the Hand Jive.”  The first European pressing of the album featured one additional track, Eddie Cochran’s “Summertime Blues,” which was also released as a single in Holland.  Raven has included that track, as well. 

Raven’s two-on-one CD boasts 75 minutes of audio plus a full-color booklet containing new liner notes.  While both albums have been on CD before, this marks their first appearance on one disc.  The two Levon Helm albums drop on July 12.

Levon Helm, Take Me to the River: 1978-1982 (Raven RVCD-340, 2011)

1. Ain’t No Way To Forget You
2. Driving At Night
3. Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues)
4. Sweet Johanna
5. I Came Here To Party
6. Take Me To The River
7. Standing On A Mountain Top
8. Let’s Do It In Slow Motion
9. Audience For My Pain
10. You Can’t Win ‘Em All
11. Lucrecia
12. Even A Fool Would Let Go
13. I’ve Got A Bet With Myself
14. Money
15. Get Out Your Big Roll Daddy
16. Willie And The Hand Jive
17. The Got Song
18. Give A Little Bit
19. God Bless ‘Em All
20. Summertime Blues

Tracks 1-9 from Levon Helm, ABC AA-1089, 1978
Tracks 10-19 from Levon Helm, Capitol ST-12201, 1982
Track 20 from Capitol (Holland) single 006-86506, 1982