  the band is the eponymous second studio album by the band, released on september 22, 1969. it is also known as the brown album. according to rob bowman's liner notes for the 2000 reissue, the band has been viewed as a concept album, with the songs focusing on people, places and traditions associated with an older version of americana.bowman, rob. (liner notes) the band, (remastered edition), 2000 thus, the songs on this album draw from historic themes for "the night they drove old dixie down", "king harvest (has surely come)" and richard manuel's "jawbone" (which was composed in the unusual 6/4 time signature.) ==release== the album was originally released as an lp on september 22, 1969. after a number of reissues on vinyl, cassette tape, and compact disc, it was remastered and rereleased, with bonus tracks, in 2000, in a process overseen by robbie robertson. (the 2000 re-release has also been packaged as a double cd with the band's debut album music from big pink.) the album was also reissued in 2009 by audio fidelity as a limited edition gold cd. remastered from a 1980s cd pressing, the album also included a single b-side "get up jake" as a bonus track. "get up jake", which also appears on the 2000 reissue, was slated for inclusion in the original album, but was dropped from the line-up at the last minute, either because the band felt it was too similar to another track on the album, or because there physically wasn't enough room on the album.bowman, rob (liner notes)capitol expanded edition of "the band", 2000john simon, quoted in this wheel's on fire: levon helm and the story of the band, p. 195
1969_albums Albums_certified_platinum_by_the_Recording_Industry_Association_of_America Albums_produced_by_John_Simon_(record_producer) Capitol_Records_albums Concept_albums English-language_albums Grammy_Hall_of_Fame_Award_recipients Mobile_Fidelity_Sound_Lab_albums The_Band_albums United_States_National_Recording_Registry_recordings