Damn. Another tough loss. Loved The Band. I'm celebrating 50 years ago's 7/31, 8/1 Roosevelt Stadium shows with them and The Grateful Dead by doing a road trip with my concert buddy from that era to see Billy and the Kids next week in Baltimore & NYC. Will have to break out those shows for the ride. RIP Robbie.
The Band were as good as it gets. Robbie's autobiograpy is a great read, and gave some balance to the story of the Band after Levon's vitriolic, yet also still great, take in his autobiography.
Garth Hudson, the oldest of the group, is the last one standing.
Don't do it is a Holland Dizier Holland written song..
im gonna do some solo RR. It's funny how some band stuff sounds like it could've been written 150 years ago and than you put on Somewhere Down That Crazy River and it could've been released this week and wouldn't be out of place
Damn. Guy added many classic tunes to the great Canadian-American songbook. RIP
Who else is gonna bring you a broken arrow
Who else is gonna bring you a bottle of rain
There he goes, moving across the water
There he goes, turning my whole world around,
Thanks, Mike. Playing for Change videos are always so special, this was no exception. I especially enjoyed Almed Al Harmi from the Kingdom of Bahrain, and Robbie Robertson's smile at the end.
It was that smile that made me know I had to post the link, judit. (Well that, plus Ringo's quip at the start about the key of the song being F Demented.)
A sad loss, as they all are, and the outpouring of condolences has once again brought to mind a thought I've often had over the years; how different would the legacy of Robertson and The Band have been if The Last Waltz concert and excellent film (despite what Bill Graham thought) had never happened?
The Band was a great band and at the time what they did in eight years had a profound and lasting effect on rock music, but I think the movie taken from that one legendary concert that happened 47 years ago has kept The Band in the consciousness of music fans and historians in a way that never would have happened if Robertson had just said I'm done and they broke up quietly like most every other band does.
Their hits would still be played and people would still talk about them, but IMO the profound impact that one movie from that one concert has had for almost 50 years can't be underestimated.
That was one HELL of a good concert, and whoever thought up the idea and whoever hired Scorsese to make the movie had a REALLY good idea.
In his 1993 memoir This Wheel’s On Fire, Helm details his dissatisfaction with The Last Waltz: Scorsese, he claims, focused on and exalted Robbie Robertson, the Band’s songwriter and frequent frontman, to the near exclusion of everyone else in the group. Helm goes on to mock Scorsese’s “long, loving close-ups” of Robertson’s “heavily made-up face” and “expensive haircut.” “Today people tell me all the time they love The Last Waltz,” Helm writes. “I try to thank them politely and usually refrain from mentioning that for me it was a real scandal.”
Regardless of Levon's dissatisfaction (Bill Graham was livid too), Van Morrison high kicking it out of Caravan has to be one of the very best things ever caught on camera.
Levon had an axe to grind demeanor and despite my complete fandom for anything he touched, Robbie did his best for them all while they were all on their paths toward self destruction.
The Last Waltz forever ruined special guests for every other concerts after it. I don't think there has every been a line up like that.
Also Bob Dylan decided during the show that he didn't want to be part of the movie and refused to be filmed - They sent Bill Graham in to talk him down and he agreed to two songs. Was Graham pissed after?
Bill Graham was all pissed that Scorsese basically ignored the elaborate Thanksgiving dinner that he had carefully planned and prepared for the attendees, which helps explain the relatively steep ticket price.
They do a production of the "Next Waltz" every year here featuring a virtual who's who of local musical talent filling in the various roles. I liked it better than Warren Haynes' version (which was solid).
I'm bored with the recreating The Last Waltz concept. Would prefer to see a recreation of the Rock Of Ages album from the New Year's 1971 shows at The Academy Of Music, complete with the horn section.
>>>>Rock Of Ages album from the New Year's 1971 shows at The Academy Of Music, complete with the horn section.
Will have to check that out. Never heard of it but just read that Robbie had the late great Allen Toussaint prepare the horn section, but the arrangement was lost in travel and they had to come up with new stuff on the fly.
>>I'm bored with the recreating The Last Waltz concept.
Agreed. As a Band fan since I was a kid in the early 70s, The Last Waltz, especially the movie, was always a mixed bag for me. Robbie's coke-fueled oozing ego. The overdubs (e.g. Rick's backing vocals on the last lines of verses in Up on Cripple Creek, sad to say). Richard's shot voice. The coked up "stars" blocking the camera while Richard sings a verse of I Shall Be Released. The relatively few songs, many with verses edited out of them, from the set they performed without the guests. The complete inattention to the live audience's experience. The comparatively few interviews with the non-Robbie members.
Robbie was one of the greatest songwriters of our time, and by all accounts he held the group together as the others flamed out. But I've never thought of The Last Waltz as his most shining moment.
It's probably the best live document we have of The Band. It's also one of only four Bob Dylan live appearances between his 1966 and 1974 tours (along with the Carnegie Hall Woody Guthrie Tribute, the 1969 Isle Of Wight Festival, and The Concert For Bangladesh).
Wonder who now controls The Band's archive, and if we might start to see more official releases? The 1974 co-billed tour with Dylan must exist somewhere in high quality, as they were recording all of those shows for the Before The Flood album. With next year being the 50th anniversary of those shows, an official release to extend the copyright would make sense.
Wow $25. My boss back in the 90's told she and her husband talked about going but bailed because they thought it was too expensive. I retold that story to my wife last night and said the tickets were $40 because that seemed like a reasonable price for someone to bail on a concert in 76 and my mind has been warped by 2023 prices.
Saw Robbie play at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2002 Olympics.
In 1994, he did a soundtrack called "Music For Native Americans" and he performed during the section of the program that featured Native Americans and various southwest tribes.
I did a custie move and hollered out "Robbie!" when they introduced him and the applause died down a little.
Also got to boo George Bush quite loudly from the front row when they introduced him, pissing off the conservative mormons in the area. Fun times!
>>>>my mind has been warped by 2023 prices.
Yep. Targhee Bluegrass is this weekend. I'm missing my first one in decades. Was always a wonderful rejuvenating pilgrimage for me in the forest, a highlight of the year with so many good friends and lots of picking. Plus I videoed many of the acts. Here's the You Tube link https://www.youtube.com/@theslickrockstranger3585/videos $400 now for a 3 day /13 act festival. And I got shut out on camping - sold out. It's a giant freaking meadow in the forest! Really? Now they have reserved spots. Heard they cut a bunch of trees and built some buildings. Looking to hear the reports of friends who went, somewhat reluctantly, saying this is their "swan song" for Targhee. Glad they're getting good weather. Maybe I'm just getting old. I have hope I can figure a way to resume the joyful experience of a Targhee Bluegrass weekend.
WTF? https://www.youtube.com/@theslickrockstranger3585/videos Not sure why the whole link doesn't copy. Goddamned Biden! Must be his fault, right? I'll try a different way, see if it works.
One more thing I meant to say the other day. Music from Big Pink and The Band (aka the brown album) were highly influential and inspirational to a wide range of artists, not least of which was a certain West Coast band and their lyricist, as they transitioned from Anthem of the Sun and Aoxomoxoa to Workingman's, American Beauty, Garcia (the gears album cover, and the tunes first officially released on Europe 72.
The songs in which the singer animates a certain kind of character: Candyman, Loser, Jack Straw, Brown-Eyed Women, Tennessee Jed, and the like. These may never have happened in quite the same way absent The Band's influence. Same with the suddenly much sparser and economical arrangements and playing on Workingman's.
Robbie and the Band (with the possible exception of Garth Hudson) were never as kaleidoscopically varied, nor as lysergically inspired, as Jerry and the Dead, but a close listen to both I think reveals how the Dead incorporated the Band's sensibilities into their much larger bag of tricks.
Oh, he was an egotistical prick at times, maybe most of the time, but he composed great music and wrote great lyrics. And the entire group came uo with stellar arrangements. But, yeah, if you read Levon's book, for example, you'll see the negatives.
For a while I was in the anti Robbie boat. Mostly due to understanding only one side of a story by an outspoken band mate. I've long since come to the conclusion that he was absolutely fair to everyone involved, even more than he had to be as a songwriter and was the only one with any real good sense to protect their legacy. If left alone, what they had would certainly have been squandered away before the end of the decade
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Mike Dalton
That's sad. RIP. Passed on
That's sad. RIP. Passed on same date as Jerry. Respect
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Bob
Damn. Another tough loss.
Damn. Another tough loss. Loved The Band. I'm celebrating 50 years ago's 7/31, 8/1 Roosevelt Stadium shows with them and The Grateful Dead by doing a road trip with my concert buddy from that era to see Billy and the Kids next week in Baltimore & NYC. Will have to break out those shows for the ride. RIP Robbie.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: MikePA
I said, "Hey Carmen
I said, "Hey Carmen
Come on, let's go downtown"
She said, "I gotta go
But my
friendmusic can stick around"Peace
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: joy
somewhere down the lazy river
somewhere down the lazy river
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Philzone Refugee
Damn. R.I.P. Robbie.
Damn. R.I.P. Robbie.
The Band were as good as it gets. Robbie's autobiograpy is a great read, and gave some balance to the story of the Band after Levon's vitriolic, yet also still great, take in his autobiography.
Garth Hudson, the oldest of the group, is the last one standing.
Put on Rock Of Ages. Another fallen angel.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: surjade
Please don't do it, don'tcha
Please don't do it, don'tcha break my heart.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: nevermind
Such a talent. Such a loss. I
Such a talent. Such a loss. I'm grateful and saddened.
RIP Robbie Robertson.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: fishcane
Don't do it is a Holland
Don't do it is a Holland Dizier Holland written song..
im gonna do some solo RR. It's funny how some band stuff sounds like it could've been written 150 years ago and than you put on Somewhere Down That Crazy River and it could've been released this week and wouldn't be out of place
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D.
Damn. Guy added many classic
Damn. Guy added many classic tunes to the great Canadian-American songbook. RIP
Who else is gonna bring you a broken arrow
Who else is gonna bring you a bottle of rain
There he goes, moving across the water
There he goes, turning my whole world around,
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: doctor
https://www.youtube.com/watch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBACxgvrCGo
RIP!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Druba
RIP
RIP
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: fishcane
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt1DAMecaWA&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A...
that moment of reckless abandon as they take it back to beginning, one last time at 4:33....Such joy and performance....
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: donster
See the man with the
See the man with the stagefright ....
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Andy
So long R.R. What a great
So long R.R. What a great player, writer. On Jerry's Day no less. R I P
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: nevermind
Playing for Change version of
Playing for Change version of The Weight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph1GU1qQ1zQ
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: treat island
Thanks, Mike. Playing for
Thanks, Mike. Playing for Change videos are always so special, this was no exception. I especially enjoyed Almed Al Harmi from the Kingdom of Bahrain, and Robbie Robertson's smile at the end.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: nevermind
It was that smile that made
It was that smile that made me know I had to post the link, judit. (Well that, plus Ringo's quip at the start about the key of the song being F Demented.)
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: nevermind
GD 02/23/1993
GD 02/23/1993
Broken Arrow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0cUFm6cias&t=2096s
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Lance minimum goad Newberry
A sad loss, as they all are,
A sad loss, as they all are, and the outpouring of condolences has once again brought to mind a thought I've often had over the years; how different would the legacy of Robertson and The Band have been if The Last Waltz concert and excellent film (despite what Bill Graham thought) had never happened?
The Band was a great band and at the time what they did in eight years had a profound and lasting effect on rock music, but I think the movie taken from that one legendary concert that happened 47 years ago has kept The Band in the consciousness of music fans and historians in a way that never would have happened if Robertson had just said I'm done and they broke up quietly like most every other band does.
Their hits would still be played and people would still talk about them, but IMO the profound impact that one movie from that one concert has had for almost 50 years can't be underestimated.
That was one HELL of a good concert, and whoever thought up the idea and whoever hired Scorsese to make the movie had a REALLY good idea.
On it goes.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Dave
In his 1993 memoir This Wheel
In his 1993 memoir This Wheel’s On Fire, Helm details his dissatisfaction with The Last Waltz: Scorsese, he claims, focused on and exalted Robbie Robertson, the Band’s songwriter and frequent frontman, to the near exclusion of everyone else in the group. Helm goes on to mock Scorsese’s “long, loving close-ups” of Robertson’s “heavily made-up face” and “expensive haircut.” “Today people tell me all the time they love The Last Waltz,” Helm writes. “I try to thank them politely and usually refrain from mentioning that for me it was a real scandal.”
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D.
Regardless of Levon's
Regardless of Levon's dissatisfaction (Bill Graham was livid too), Van Morrison high kicking it out of Caravan has to be one of the very best things ever caught on camera.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: fishcane
Levon had an axe to grind
Levon had an axe to grind demeanor and despite my complete fandom for anything he touched, Robbie did his best for them all while they were all on their paths toward self destruction.
The high road from Amy
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: doctor
AMEN
AMEN
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: El Nino
The Last Waltz forever ruined
The Last Waltz forever ruined special guests for every other concerts after it. I don't think there has every been a line up like that.
Also Bob Dylan decided during the show that he didn't want to be part of the movie and refused to be filmed - They sent Bill Graham in to talk him down and he agreed to two songs. Was Graham pissed after?
Paul Butterfield – harmonica, vocals
Bobby Charles – vocals
Eric Clapton – guitar, vocals
Neil Diamond – guitar, vocals
Dr. John – piano, guitar, congas, vocals
Bob Dylan – guitar, vocals
Bill Graham – master of ceremonies
Emmylou Harris – acoustic guitar, vocals
Ronnie Hawkins – vocals
Michael McClure – poet
Joni Mitchell – acoustic guitar, vocals
Van Morrison – vocals
Pinetop Perkins – piano, vocals
Carl Radle – bass
Cleotha Staples – backing vocals
Mavis Staples – vocals
Roebuck "Pops" Staples – guitar, vocals
Yvonne Staples – backing vocals
Ringo Starr – drums
Stephen Stills – guitar
Muddy Waters – vocals
Ronnie Wood – guitar
Neil Young – guitars, harmonica, vocals
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Def. High
Neil Young – guitars,
Neil Young – guitars, harmonica, vocals, and coke mustache.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Localcountyline
$25 was of course a very high
$25 was of course a very high ticket price for a show in SF in '76, but Bill knew people would figure at that price,
they WERE going to get something special and out of the ordinary....And they did.
RIP Robbie
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D.
Bill Graham was all pissed
Bill Graham was all pissed that Scorsese basically ignored the elaborate Thanksgiving dinner that he had carefully planned and prepared for the attendees, which helps explain the relatively steep ticket price.
They do a production of the "Next Waltz" every year here featuring a virtual who's who of local musical talent filling in the various roles. I liked it better than Warren Haynes' version (which was solid).
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Philzone Refugee
I'm bored with the recreating
I'm bored with the recreating The Last Waltz concept. Would prefer to see a recreation of the Rock Of Ages album from the New Year's 1971 shows at The Academy Of Music, complete with the horn section.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D.
>>>>Rock Of Ages album from
>>>>Rock Of Ages album from the New Year's 1971 shows at The Academy Of Music, complete with the horn section.
Will have to check that out. Never heard of it but just read that Robbie had the late great Allen Toussaint prepare the horn section, but the arrangement was lost in travel and they had to come up with new stuff on the fly.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Essephreak
>>I'm bored with the
>>I'm bored with the recreating The Last Waltz concept.
Agreed. As a Band fan since I was a kid in the early 70s, The Last Waltz, especially the movie, was always a mixed bag for me. Robbie's coke-fueled oozing ego. The overdubs (e.g. Rick's backing vocals on the last lines of verses in Up on Cripple Creek, sad to say). Richard's shot voice. The coked up "stars" blocking the camera while Richard sings a verse of I Shall Be Released. The relatively few songs, many with verses edited out of them, from the set they performed without the guests. The complete inattention to the live audience's experience. The comparatively few interviews with the non-Robbie members.
Robbie was one of the greatest songwriters of our time, and by all accounts he held the group together as the others flamed out. But I've never thought of The Last Waltz as his most shining moment.
Rock of Ages does come a lot closer.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Philzone Refugee
It's probably the best live
It's probably the best live document we have of The Band. It's also one of only four Bob Dylan live appearances between his 1966 and 1974 tours (along with the Carnegie Hall Woody Guthrie Tribute, the 1969 Isle Of Wight Festival, and The Concert For Bangladesh).
Wonder who now controls The Band's archive, and if we might start to see more official releases? The 1974 co-billed tour with Dylan must exist somewhere in high quality, as they were recording all of those shows for the Before The Flood album. With next year being the 50th anniversary of those shows, an official release to extend the copyright would make sense.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: joy
Highly recommend this book
Highly recommend this book cds+bonus dvd
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Musical_History
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: fishcane
Yea that's a good one,
Yea that's a good one, complete Academy of Music set is the best collection of Band music there is
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: El Nino
Wow $25. My boss back in the
Wow $25. My boss back in the 90's told she and her husband talked about going but bailed because they thought it was too expensive. I retold that story to my wife last night and said the tickets were $40 because that seemed like a reasonable price for someone to bail on a concert in 76 and my mind has been warped by 2023 prices.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Strangha
Saw Robbie play at the
Saw Robbie play at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2002 Olympics.
In 1994, he did a soundtrack called "Music For Native Americans" and he performed during the section of the program that featured Native Americans and various southwest tribes.
I did a custie move and hollered out "Robbie!" when they introduced him and the applause died down a little.
Also got to boo George Bush quite loudly from the front row when they introduced him, pissing off the conservative mormons in the area. Fun times!
>>>>my mind has been warped by 2023 prices.
Yep. Targhee Bluegrass is this weekend. I'm missing my first one in decades. Was always a wonderful rejuvenating pilgrimage for me in the forest, a highlight of the year with so many good friends and lots of picking. Plus I videoed many of the acts. Here's the You Tube link https://www.youtube.com/@theslickrockstranger3585/videos $400 now for a 3 day /13 act festival. And I got shut out on camping - sold out. It's a giant freaking meadow in the forest! Really? Now they have reserved spots. Heard they cut a bunch of trees and built some buildings. Looking to hear the reports of friends who went, somewhat reluctantly, saying this is their "swan song" for Targhee. Glad they're getting good weather. Maybe I'm just getting old. I have hope I can figure a way to resume the joyful experience of a Targhee Bluegrass weekend.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Strangha
WTF? https://www.youtube.com
WTF? https://www.youtube.com/@theslickrockstranger3585/videos Not sure why the whole link doesn't copy. Goddamned Biden! Must be his fault, right? I'll try a different way, see if it works.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: fishcane
https://quillette.com/2023/08
https://quillette.com/2023/08/11/rock-of-ages/
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: nevermind
Slick, that @ sign is messing
Slick, that @ sign is messing with Viva's html engine. Here's the link another way.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: treat island
Thanks, Mike, for making the
Thanks, Mike, for making the connection. Thanks, Slickrock.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Strangha
Yeah, Mike. Thought that was
Yeah, Mike. Thought that was weird. First time for that, to my knowledge. Thanks for figuring that out and fixing it. Hey Judit.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: genXrated
yesterday on sirius 21 was a
yesterday on sirius 21 was a whole morning of an interview from 2011(?) and a bunch of great tunes
so much sucks
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Essephreak
One more thing I meant to say
One more thing I meant to say the other day. Music from Big Pink and The Band (aka the brown album) were highly influential and inspirational to a wide range of artists, not least of which was a certain West Coast band and their lyricist, as they transitioned from Anthem of the Sun and Aoxomoxoa to Workingman's, American Beauty, Garcia (the gears album cover, and the tunes first officially released on Europe 72.
The songs in which the singer animates a certain kind of character: Candyman, Loser, Jack Straw, Brown-Eyed Women, Tennessee Jed, and the like. These may never have happened in quite the same way absent The Band's influence. Same with the suddenly much sparser and economical arrangements and playing on Workingman's.
Robbie and the Band (with the possible exception of Garth Hudson) were never as kaleidoscopically varied, nor as lysergically inspired, as Jerry and the Dead, but a close listen to both I think reveals how the Dead incorporated the Band's sensibilities into their much larger bag of tricks.
And for that we should be Grateful.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: 2 Room Shack
wait, i thought nobody liked
wait, i thought nobody liked the dude...?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Essephreak
Oh, he was an egotistical
Oh, he was an egotistical prick at times, maybe most of the time, but he composed great music and wrote great lyrics. And the entire group came uo with stellar arrangements. But, yeah, if you read Levon's book, for example, you'll see the negatives.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: fishcane
For a while I was in the anti
For a while I was in the anti Robbie boat. Mostly due to understanding only one side of a story by an outspoken band mate. I've long since come to the conclusion that he was absolutely fair to everyone involved, even more than he had to be as a songwriter and was the only one with any real good sense to protect their legacy. If left alone, what they had would certainly have been squandered away before the end of the decade
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: nevermind
New interview with Eric
New interview with Eric Clapton about Robbie and The Band.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KZpLsXJ1R8