Discerning music fans everywhere are likely reminiscing about The Band even more than usual these days. The passing of Garth Hudson means there are no more living members of their classic lineup. Good thing we have the records to give us comfort and solace.

On that note, what songs The Band chose to close out their classic albums left the biggest impact? Here are our choices for the finest five album-enders from the group.

The Band reconfigured in the ’90s for a trio of albums without Robbie Robertson (who chose not to return) and Richard Manuel (who passed away in 1986). Levon Helm, Rick Danko, and Garth Hudson carried on with some new members. These records never quite received a fair shot from critics, even though the first one (Jericho) is quite fine, and there are excellent moments sprinkled throughout the remaining two. On the final song on the last of these albums, they let Hudson take center stage on an instrumental where he played everything, and the result is sad, dreamy magic.

The Band started to run out of gas on Cahoots. Several members were strung out and far from being in the best condition to contribute. And Robbie Robertson’s songwriting efforts seemed to strain for the first time. That said, there are at least four classic songs on the album, which is the kind of batting average most bands would love to have. One of those standouts is “The River Hymn,” which closes the album out on a lovely note. Levon Helm delivers one of his most heart-tugging lead vocals, while the gospel harmonies take the song to another level.

On The Band’s first two albums, even when things got a little downcast, the overall feeling was one of sedate uplift. By contrast, there’s an itchy energy coursing through Stage Fright, as if the idyllic world they originally conjured was being subtly invaded. “The Rumor” emphasizes this feeling, from the moody intro all the way through the final drum thumps. Robertson’s lyrics hint at the damage done by loose talk. Even as the song closes out and the voices of Rick Danko, Levon Helm, and Richard Manuel weave around each other and promise a brand new day, there’s tension in their voices that makes you doubt it.

These guys always seemed to go against the grain. The typical thing a rock band did was open with uptempo stuff, then flip it and close out albums with something slow. Their self-titled masterpiece of an album is filled with gentle reveries. But when we get to the end, we’re confronted by a exhilarating piece of intense funk. Every instrumentalist steps to the fore, including Levon Helm with his out-of-nowhere drum fills and Robbie Robertson and his angular guitar. They all leave space for Richard Manuel’s stellar lead vocal, playing the role of a down-on-his-luck farmer to the hilt.

The Band mostly moved on from their reliance on Bob Dylan’s songwriting excellence by the time their second album rolled around. But it’s undeniable that his presence is felt all over debut Music From Big Pink. Not only did he have a hand in writing three of the 11 songs, but he also painted the album cover. “I Shall Be Released” has been covered a million times over, with its somewhat opaque verses and cathartic chorus inviting interpreters of all stripes. But none of those folks can quite get to the angelic loneliness that Richard Manuel located when he sang it.

Photo by RB/Redferns