Rick Danko is the 1977 eponymous debut by the bassist and singer for the Band. Featuring ten tracks written by Danko, usually in conjunction with lyricists Bobby Charles and Emmett Grogan, it was the first solo album by any member of the group and was Danko's only full-length solo studio album; The other two albums he released in his lifetime were live recordings.
Rick Danko is the only solo album by a member of the Band to feature each member of the group, with Garth Hudson playing accordion on "New Mexico", Robbie Robertson playing lead guitar on "Java Blues", Richard Manuel playing electric piano on "Shake It" and Levon Helm singing harmony vocal on the closing track, "Once Upon a Time". Danko handled bass, rhythm and lead guitars and vocals. Other guests included Eric Clapton (guitar on "New Mexico"), Ronnie Wood (guitar on "What a Town"), Beach Boy and later Band member Blondie Chaplin (guitar and bass on various tracks) and Doug Sahm (guitar on various tracks).
