but noted a "relationship of music to message [that] is noticeably off." According to author Neil Minturn, Greil Marcus's take in Mystery Train (1975) became pivotal and permeated subsequent assessments. Marcus called it "an album of doubt, guilt, disenchantment and false optimism. The past no longer served them—the songs seemed trapped in the present, a jumble of desperation that was at once personal and social. The music was still special, but in every sense, the kind of unity that had given force... was missing. Now instead of hearing music that could not be really be broken down, one picked at parts for satisfaction." Later reviewers, however, questioned whether some mid-1970s criticism was colored by a perceived decline in the group's output, post-Stage Fright. In Q, rock critic John Bauldie hailed the trademark vocal interplay on "The Rumor" and "Daniel and the Sacred Harp", the ballads "All La Glory" and "Sleeping", and "The Shape I'm In" as career highlights. He suggested Stage Fright "may well be the greatest of their records." Allmusic critic William Ruhlmann applauded the album's dense arrangements and instrumental work, and noting its "nakedly confessional" quality, wrote, "It was certainly different from their previous work... but it was hardly less compelling for that." Writer Paul Casey described Stage Fright as "heartfelt," "sublime," and the "most personal, and least enamored with the fictional history aesthetic" of the band's albums. He concluded that it was "in some important ways above the two previous records," and that while "a commentary on the problems that were beginning to become apparent, [...] it is not compromised." Track listing Side one Side two 2000 reissue bonus tracks 2021 50th anniversary deluxe edition Disc 1 Original album 2020 remix Bonus tracks Calgary Hotel Room Recordings, 1970 Disc 2 Live At Royal Albert Hall, June 1971 Personnel The Band Rick Danko – bass guitar, fiddle, double bass, vocals Levon Helm – drums, guitar, percussion, vocals Garth Hudson – organ, electric piano, accordion, tenor saxophone Richard Manuel – piano, organ, drums, clavinet, vocals Robbie Robertson – guitar, autoharp Additional personnel Todd Rundgren – mixing and recording engineer Glyn Johns – mixing engineer John Simon – baritone saxophone on "The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show" Charts Album Singles References 1970 albums The Band albums Capitol Records albums Albums produced by Garth Hudson Albums produced by Levon Helm Albums produced by Richard Manuel Albums produced by Rick Danko Albums produced