THIS WEEK

Various Artists: Love for Levon

New release (StarVista/Time Life)

Levon Helm, the only member of the Band who actually was born in America, died on April 19, 2012, following a long battle with cancer. Six months later, this tribute concert was held at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey (a.k.a. the Meadowlands). There were plenty of sympathetic musicians on hand — from contemporaries like Gregg Allman and Jorma Kaukonen to youngsters like John Mayer and Grace Potter — as can be seen from the list of artists on the cover of the two-CD set above. Sure makes sense to have My Morning Jacket here, and near the top of that list. On its own, the band tackles “Ophelia” and “It Makes No Difference.” But then MMJ is joined by Roger Waters for “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.”

Roger Waters? Is that the first name that comes to mind when you think of the land of Dixie? Waters was apparently “paying back” Helm for the (partial) Band’s appearance at the 1990 staging of The Wall in Berlin. But it has to be said: Waters’s vocals on “The Night” and “Wide River to Cross” are distinctly out of their element.

Other questions: Jakob Dylan is here, but where was Bob? (Answer: On a month-long tour break. Hmmmm.) Meanwhile, Garth Hudson is here, but where was the only other surviving Band-mate, Robbie Robertson? (Answer: Don’t answer that. Helm never reconciled with him.)

In addition to the double-CD set, Love for Levon is available on two DVDs or two Blu-ray Discs. (You can also get configurations of 2-DVD + 2-CD and 2-BD + 2-CD.) The video editions have 2 hours of bonus material, including rehearsal footage and artist interviews. Net proceeds go to the Barn — the recording studio and stage attached to Helm’s home — and its continuing Midnight Ramble jam sessions.

Duane Allman: Skydog: The Duane Allman Retrospective

Archival release (Rounder)

Duane Allman: An Anthology was released in 1972, a year after the guitarist’s death, and it immediately became the go-to place for delving into the musician’s artistry and history. This was supplemented in 1974 by An Anthology, Vol. II. Both are still available.

Now, however, comes Skydog: The Duane Allman Retrospective, and whereas the two old anthologies together have 40 tracks on four CDs, this box has 129 tracks on seven CDs. Included are rare singles, long-out-of-print album tracks, and several previously unreleased performances. There’s a full disc of groups that Duane and Gregg played in prior to forming the Allman Brothers Band in 1969: the Escorts, the Allman Joys, Hour Glass, 31st of February, and the Bleus. There’s a ton of Duane’s session work, from Aretha Franklin to Lulu, from Wilson Pickett to Herbie Mann. And of course, there’s a sizable helping of ABB material: 12 studio and 9 live tracks in all.

The set was overseen by veteran reissue producer Bill Levenson along with Duane’s daughter Galadrielle. A 72-page book includes track-by-track annotation by Scott Schindler, additional notes by Galadrielle, and rare photographs. Also inside the box: a Skydog sticker and a replica of Duane’s guitar pick.