The Band Guestbook, May 2000

Posted on Wed May 31 23:51:22 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-148.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.148)

Peter Viney

Writings and Drawings 1st edition has "seems like a mirror" but listen to Live 66 and those who’ve noted "she seems like Vermeer" are surely right. I thought it was like "seems like veneer too, hence my interest. Note that "Visions of Johanna" was voted as his best song by the Dylan freaks. I agree. And ambiguous lyrics are what R&R is about. Come home, Chuck Berry, all is forgiven.

Front row tickets for Lakers games are what we need, then. All I need to know now is what sport these Lurkers play. Presumably not football (i.e. soccer).

Posted on Wed May 31 21:33:51 CEST 2000 from cic-proxy01.firstunion.com (169.200.25.140)

Bones

I saw Robbie on the front row of the Lakers game again last night. I read that Paul Allen and Spielberg are doing a web-only project together. I can't help but think Robbie is involved in that in some way. Unfortunately, all of his activities these days are behind the scenes. It's interesting that Robbie gets blamed in here for stealing the spotlight(most notably in The Last Waltz), when he has spent the majority of his career trying to hide from it. The Band always hid from publicity. Robbie turned down a million movie offers after The Last Waltz and Carny, took off ten years before starting a solo career. Now, he records about every 5 years. Not the work of someone desiring the spotlight as he is depicted here.

Posted on Wed May 31 20:55:28 CEST 2000 from crtntx1-ar2-074-173.dsl.gtei.net (4.35.74.173)

Kelly

Hi all, have not been by for a while, so reading back will take some time. Lil - love your take on where Rick learned to write!! Have a good day everyone.

Posted on Wed May 31 20:28:28 CEST 2000 from client-151-198-114-210.nnj.dialup.bellatlantic.net (151.198.114.210)

Bumbles

There have been “new Dylans” as long as there’s been a Dylan. The concept really took hold as a market niche, though, in the early to mid 70s, when a period of a few years saw the debuts of a class that included John Prine, Elliot Murphy, Loudon Wainwright III, Springsteen, Steve Forbert, and Willie Nile---none of whom was able to make a record that came within shouting distance of “Sunshine Superman,” although Murphy’s first lp, Aquashow, is high on my “why-isn’t-this-on-CD” list.

My favorite misheard lyric is from Herman’s Hermits 1965 hit “Must to Avoid,” which, five or six years before “Lola,” seemed remarkably open-minded when I thought the first words were “She’s a muscular boy.”

Posted on Wed May 31 20:22:13 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.251)

David Powell

"Big" Al Anderson played guitar & sang with NRBQ for 22 years before leaving the grind of the road to become a sucessful songwriter in Nashville. He has co-written songs that have been recorded by Carlene Carter (June's daughter), Deana Carter (Fred's daughter), The Mavericks, and many others. His collaboration with Raul Malo, "I Told You So", was recorded by The Mavericks on the "All The King's Men" album with Scotty Moore & D.J. Fontana. It is the second song on the album, following "Duece and A Quarter" with Keith Richards & The Band.

I've been a fan of NRBQ since their first record. I can't recall ever seeing them on the same bill as The Band, but back in '72 I saw them play at the old Richard's club in Atlanta and their opening act was this skinny kid from Jersey that nobody down South had ever heard of. His name was Mr. Bruce Springsteen.

Posted on Wed May 31 19:56:27 CEST 2000 from (206.224.31.2)

Little Brother

-- I took the word to be "veneer" too; I'm sure I've seen it written that way somewhere, though as the oft-cited Japanese import CD lyrics micro-sheets prove, that means nothing. I guess "Vermeer" goes with the museum imagery, but inserting artists' names into lyrics typically smacks of the show-offy and pretentious. Maybe that's why the "Botticelli" line from "When I Paint My Masterpiece" was changed to "a pretty little girl from Greece". "Cocteau, van Gogh, and Geronimo" is particularly heinous in this regard.

Not that any of these lyrics are so formal, rigid, or structured that one couldn't imagine several possible alternatives. I said "imagine", not "post".

The New [insert pheenom here]!! I guess that particular hype cliche will be with us always. I mean, you can sort of picture the archetypal B-movie scene: A gaggle of flaks, including wide-eyed proto-fans, family/friends, and various small-fry suckfish In the Biz are on the sidelines at a rehearsal or offstage in a tacky, entry-level venue. The Boy/Girl/Group explodes in a frenzy of talent! Flak One turns to Flak Two and says, "Hey! He/She/They are the NEXT [insert reigning King/Queen/Alpha Group]!" A nearby Reporter scribbles this down. "Can I USE that?" he/she asks...

The Bay City Rollers were the next Beatles, remember?

Personally, I never bothered with The Boss because of all the obviously pre-cooked megahype about his being the Next Dylan, in which he clearly cooperated. We both just have to live with that.

I find that hype, like bee stings, can sometimes be shrugged off and other times is fatal. It depends on both the bee and the stung, I spoze. Funny-- the Band's anti-hype, or Hypeless Hype, was OK with me. (pre-TLW, anyway) But come to think of it, I know people who reacted as if Hypeless Hype was the worst shuck of all, and turned their backs accordingly...

Posted on Wed May 31 18:46:33 CEST 2000 from 1cust205.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.136.205)

Crabgrass

Most notably, I forgot to mention Bruce as a "New Dylan." And I'd forgotten about Grossman's plans for Carly Simon too! I was reading Lou Adler's comments about "California Dreamin'" just the other day in Joe Smith's OFF THE RECORD book - thank goodness for multi-track recording!

I always heard "veneer" in "Visions of Johanna" but I think "mirror" is correct - have to check Bob's lyrics book. Vermeer does sound kind of pretentious to me but Dylan sometimes wasn't too fussy and went with anything that rhymed - check out some alternative take boots or just the crazy songs on The Basement Tapes. (Everybody knows this already, of course!)

Billy Bragg is a new Dylan too - I think he's really awful though. I think he's really awful though. (sic)

Posted on Wed May 31 18:12:49 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

NRBQ, of course, is still alive and kicking. They are constantly touring, and will be on the East Coast (mostly the South and Mid-Atlantic regions) in the US this summer with a brief stop in Japan. There is a NY show in Amaganset scheduled for July.

I had the privilege of meeting and playing with Terry Adams (informal jamming) when I lived in Brattleboro, VT a few years back, which is where Terry makes his home. Honestly, I'd list Terry and Garth as my two favorite "rock and roll" keyboardists (probably because neither fits easily into any categorization). Interesting guy, who also will do regional tours in New England (mostly) with jazz group when NRBQ is on break.

Incidentally, the "official" NRBQ site can be found at www.nrbq.com. There is also an "officially unofficial" site (not unlike Jan's relationship with the Band, though I think this site is far better) here.

Matt

Posted on Wed May 31 17:56:46 CEST 2000 from stk-pm1-36-164.dialup.slip.net (207.171.230.164)

Guenevere

Maybe that's what separates Bob's genius from Neil Diamond's -- that ability to keep reinventing himself.

A reference to Vermeer would not necessarily be (show off stuff) anyway, if Dylan and The Band were art lovers... and given the lyrics to ‘When I Paint My Masterpiece" and the reference to "a date with Botticelli's niece".... maybe they are. I dunno, and no offence Peter, but I always thought it was "she's delicate and seems like the mirror"... look on (http://orad.dent.kyushu-u.ac.jp/dylan/).

But for some reason I still like :

"When the jelly-faced women all sneeze. Hear the one with the mustache say, "Jeeze I can't find my knees"...

Posted on Wed May 31 16:23:50 CEST 2000 from gw.itac.ca (209.146.161.1)

Bill

On the subject of NRBQ/Band links, we talked here a couple of years ago about how the NRBQ horns (at least) appeared on some Bearsville recordings in the '70s. And that Joey Stampinado was bassist in the Keith Richards-led backup band for the Chuck Berry movie - which had guests with Band conections. More recently, the Band and Carl Perkins appeared together at the Ronnie Hawkins 60th birthday bash. Perkins, of course, was NRBQ's second LP (way back when Q stood for quintet).

Posted on Wed May 31 16:11:22 CEST 2000 from spider-tq083.proxy.aol.com (152.163.201.83)

Ben Pike

In the "Book Of Rock Lists" Greil Marcus did a list of all the "New Dylans"; and of course every tenth or so listing was "Bob Dylan." Also see Loudon Wainwright's "Talkin New Bob Dylan."

Posted on Wed May 31 15:36:04 CEST 2000 from polaris-fw1.nspco.com (206.10.243.20)

Dave Z

Anybody catch Millionaire last night? My wife said Regis had a BAND question and I was wondering what it was...

Looking forward to Levon's book update and Rick's CD...

Posted on Wed May 31 14:11:29 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.avnl1.nj.home.com (24.4.252.66)

Brien Sz

Peter V.-- A group called The New Dylans opened for The Band in Tarreytown NY a few years back during their HOTH Tour. We bought their cd. Not bad--not great--Interesting.

Rolling Stone has a shot of Levon by his Corvette in it's feature article about cars and rock stars--Buffy's on the cover.

Picked up the latest cd by Billy Bragg and Wilco, Mermaid Avenue Part II--The cd is all songs that Woody Guthrie wrote lyrics for but no music; They do that honor. This is a part II cd (hence the title). Thier first one, Mermaid Avenue, was brilliant(I thought anyway)--This cd is good but not quite as solid as the first in my opinion. But this new one has a little more of that front porch feel.

Posted on Wed May 31 12:57:18 CEST 2000 from 209-23-38-61.ip.termserv.net (209.23.38.61)

Lil Again

Oops.. almost forgot the biggest news of all. Rick's new (and last...still hard to comprehend that...) CD....watch for it!!!

Posted on Wed May 31 12:52:28 CEST 2000 from 209-23-38-61.ip.termserv.net (209.23.38.61)

Diamond Lil

Wow Hank...NRBQ...haven't heard about them in a long time! Alot of their stuff really used to make me laugh..good feeling music. Remember "Wacky Tobacky'..and that parody they did on the MTA song (I think they called it something like Charlie at the gas pumps..??) during the gasoline shortage here in the US. Heheh.. glad you mentioned them! And btw..I don't know if they ever shared the same bill with The Band..but they did share a bill with Rick at a little club called "My Father's Place" out on Long Island back in the early 80's.

Have actually had some nice weather here in crazyville lately for a change. Sunny, breezy, cool. Aah..my kind of weather. Just thought I'd mention that for our friend Crabgrass..as I know how much he loves weather reports. He may also be happy to know that I think of him daily these days, as I have my own patch of crabgrass right here on my front lawn :-)

Have a good day everyone. Huuuuug Jan :-)

Posted on Wed May 31 12:19:07 CEST 2000 from dialup-319.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.63)

HANK

Well, for years, I thought it was "I pulled into Nazareth, feeling 'bout HALF PAST TEN"!!!!!......until a friend of mine, very up on The Band, put me right....New Dylans...John Prine was considered a New Dylan when he surfaced back in the '70ies.......there's a story that Prine was playing a gig somewhere after his first few albums came out and Dylan showed up, got on stage and sang along with Prine, whose mind was blown by the fact that Dylan knew ALL the words of his songs.......that's pretty impressive, actually....... I wanna ask you folks out there in GB land.....NRBQ???? I know they were managed by Albert Grossman but beyond that is there any other Band connection to them?......did they ever play on the same bill?....recording??.... They were/are a great band....great songs and records......anyone else here dig 'em????.........

Posted on Wed May 31 11:43:32 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-131.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.131)

Peter Viney

New Dylans: I’m surprised that no one has called a band that, or have they? Donovan’s new Dylan career peaked with "Tangerine Eyes" which was Mr Tambourine Man with different words, "Hey darling tangerine eyes, play a song for me …"(or whatever it was). Springsteen was the most heavily advertised new Dylan – didn’t official Columbia publicity call him that? He even explored different areas of Dylan’s career at various times. Born to Run is the 66 tour Dylan, Nebraska is the earlier stuff, and so he was different new Dylans. And (as we discussed once) Carly Simon was going to be the Female Dylan according to Grossman. And Paul Simon was also the new Dylan for a year, which he was most annoyed by, having made records well before Bob, albeit as Tom & Jerry.

But "Eve of Destruction" was right up there in 65, and was written by P.F. Sloan but recorded by Barry McGuire. McGuire introduced the Mamas and Papas to Lou Adler. He used them as backing on "California Dreaming" which was to be his third single, but the Mamas and Papas asked if they could release it instead, and Barry said "Sure, John, it’s your song." And was never heard of again.

The eastern world, it is explodin’

violence flared, bullets loadin’,

You’re old enough to kill but not for votin’

They don’t write them like that anymore. Years ago a magazine ran a misheard lyrics contest, and though it didn’t win, I thought "violent flares" was the best one – heard by an 80s teenager with a cliched view of 60s fashion. One of the misheard lines that was particularly derided in the contest was from "Visions of Johanna"

She’s delicate and seems like veneer …

which is actually a better line than what Dylan wrote, "She’s delicate and seems like Vermeer …’ (which is show-off stuff). Anyway, we can’t have a misheard Band lyrics competition because Toshiba-EMI have already done all the best ones on official releases.

Posted on Wed May 31 08:15:15 CEST 2000 from 1cust93.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.136.93)

Crabgrass

P.F. "Eve of Destruction" Sloan was last authentic "New Dylan" though I haven't heard anything of him lately. (The Village Voice seemed to think Beck was the new Dylan about 2 years back - I didn't. He wasn't.) Of course, now that I think of it Leonard Cohen was also a "New Dylan" though most of his songs were and still are even more dreary than Bob's recent stuff. Jakob Dylan is probably the most recent credible "New Dylan" but he sounds like a more polished version of his father circa 1965. All so interesting! Maybe Sloan will resurface with a Band cover which seems to be in vogue these days. Hell, with all the covers we won't even need to listen to The Band anymore!!

I never had trouble hearing the words of "A Case of You" on Blue (unless I got distracted by the tears running down my face) and Joni NEVER sounded like Baez to me and thankfully never looked like her either!

One of my very first albums was Johnny Cash with his Hot & Blue Guitar on the Sun label - still have it 'cause the cover is so awful it's great! I recently re-listened to the Rick Danko in Concert CD from a couple of years back and had forgotten he sings a bit of Cash's "Train of Love" in the middle of "Long Black Veil."

Didn't mean to leave out Donovan in the infancy of his career and who was that young guy from Georgia or Alabama a few years back whose songs, guitar playing, and voice sounded exactly like very early Bob but who claimed he didn't know who Dylan was? And wasn't Woody Guthrie a "New Dylan" too?

Posted on Wed May 31 08:11:11 CEST 2000 from spider-wd043.proxy.aol.com (205.188.193.168)

Pac

Richard, good to see you back! The PBS program on the Beat Generation sounded great; unfortunately Ronnie Reagan was showing instead. Different schedule. BIG difference! You'll have to come here to North Beach and City Lights Bookstore sometime. And speaking of "on the road," have you been away? New Orleans? Anything to share with us??? ----- Quick note to G-Man: Thanks for the uplifting words. Gotta tell you though - Pac's a girl! I hope everyone had a great weekend.

Posted on Wed May 31 06:56:07 CEST 2000 from stcath-ppp73087.sympatico.ca (216.208.72.86)

Richard Patterson

Hi Bandfans,

Something that may be of interest: Tonight (May 31 9:30 pm - but check your local listings) will see the premier of the latest installent of PBS' American Masters series. It's called 'The Source: The Story of the Beats and the Beat Generation'. This Chuck Workman documentary will profile the obvious big beat three (Ginsberg, Kerouac and Burroughs - with readings by John Turturro, Johnny Depp, and Dennis Hopper respectively) but will also feature interviews conducted especially for 'The Source' with Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Michael McClure, Ken Kessy, Ed Sanders, Jerry Garcia, and many others...

The soundtrack includes Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Stan Getz, the Doors, Natalie Merchant and the Rolling Stones. The Highlights should be some of the last interviews conducted with Ginsberg, Burroughs and Timothy Leary; Jack Kerouac on the Steve Allen Show; and a rare film clip of Neal Cassady. This promises to be an outstanding presentation and may be able to explain to the younger Bandfans here why the heck those crazy poets were invited to the Last Waltz!!!

Enjoy!

Posted on Wed May 31 06:35:05 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-112-215.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.112.215)

BWNWITennessee

FYI, at the RiverStages festival here in Nashville a few weeks ago, Travis played "The Weight" on Saturday while Shannon Curfman played it on Sunday. Friday was a bust. I also saw the Wallflowers (remember them?) play it a few years ago.

Posted on Wed May 31 04:51:38 CEST 2000 from spider-we012.proxy.aol.com (205.188.195.22)

Bayou Sam

when I got Rick's autograph he drew his little face and under it he wrote the words,"live long". That was about 6 months before he died - and that is just so damn sad. I don't mean to bum anyone out......... I just picked up a cd of Ridin' On The Blinds and it's wonderful. It's got a sound that a Band /Danko fan would like - but it also has a sound all it's own. Very nice.

Posted on Wed May 31 04:16:15 CEST 2000 from spider-tp083.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.213)

Lizz

Ahrroo..... Thanks for The Joni Michell review. I've been listening to her for at least 20 years..only had the chance to see her live twice, I love the "Both Sides Now" CD, and problably wont get to see her on this tour( but I dont think she EVER sounded like Joan Baez..never, two entirely different voices)

Posted on Wed May 31 01:37:17 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.blfld1.ct.home.com (24.4.252.36)

AHROOO!!

Since we are allowed to talk about other musicians, and seeing as though there is a direct connection to The Band, I felt I might as well fill you in. Joni Mitchell played a rare show at the Oakdale Theater in Wallingford, CT., this past Saturday. I was highly impressed by the concert which featured a 44 piece orchestra. She sang most of the songs from her latest, "Both Sides Now" a collection of standards and a few of her own. She no longer has a sickly-sweet soprano-Joan Baez-style, and is instead graced with a deeper tone that goes better with this material. Even at her age, she still can sing strong without having throat problems like some of the pop female superstars who always postpone from straining their vocal chords.

I heard that some who attended the show were disappointed that she didn't sing much of her older songs as they obviously didn't know about her recent release. Sure enough they were the much younger crowd who longed to tell their friends that they got to see a cool singer from the Woodstock era who could be Jewel's mother and long for the late 60s and early 70s. Some people can never get out of the past I guess. She did a new version of "A Case of You," that was absolutely heartbreaking because you could actually hear the words loud and clear unlike the soprano voiced Mitchell of the early 70s. The title cut from "Hejira" was another highlight with her ex-hubby/producer/arranger Larry Klein who came out onstage to fill the basslines of the late Jaco Pastorius. Covers of "Your My Thrill" and "Stormy Weather" were highlights along with the Marvin Gaye penned, "Trouble Man."

This was the first time I've ever gotten to see Joni live, and I really enjoyed it. Nothing was disappointing. My advice is if she comes to a town nearby you, don't miss it. This is only a 13 city tour.

AHROOO!!

Posted on Tue May 30 22:02:45 CEST 2000 from gw3a60-1-d336.wind.it (212.141.123.82)

Emanuele , ITALY

CERCO FANS ITALIANI DI THE BAND PER SCAMBIO MATERIALE , ECC.

Posted on Tue May 30 21:13:33 CEST 2000 from pm3-perry1-025.arn.net (209.40.144.25)

Cam

Hmmm...my theories on Rick's little design. On the signature I have, the top looks to me like a face of some sort, and the bottom looks like a different symbol (not attached to the face). Perhaps this is the "live long and prosper" symbol Diamond Lil speaks of?? It looks like a long line with a hook at the top, another curly thing under the hook, and then two lines crossing the original line. My mom thinks it looks like a flower. I don't know...whatever it was I'm sure it had some special meaning from Rick's heart...and that's all that matters.

Posted on Tue May 30 20:52:58 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.251)

David Powell

Johnny Cash's excellent version of "Long Black Veil", which was recorded in 1964 for the album "Orange Blossom Special", appears on the just released compilation entitled "Murder" (Columbia/Legacy). This compilation is part of a 3-disc set of songs personally selected by the Man in Black himself and grouped by subject matter. The other two discs are entitled "God" and "Love". They are available separately or together in a 3-disc box.

Mr. Cash, along with his usual, strong vocal interpretation, does an interesting arrangement of "Long Black Veil." A harmonica (Charlie McCoy?) figures prominently in the mix and the drummer duplicates Cash's trademark tic-tac guitar basslines on the toms. Mother Maybelle, along with June, Anita & Helen, add the distinctive Carter family background vocals on the choruses.

The "Murder" compilation is filled with 15 other Cash classics from both his Columbia and American Recordings catalogs. As Mr. Cash writes in his liner notes: "Here is my personal selection of my recordings of songs of robbers, liars and murderers. These songs are just for listening and singing. Don't go out and do it."

Other notable selections on the disc include: the original mono single version of "Folsom Prison Blues", "Delia's Gone", the live at Folsom Prison version of "Cocaine Blues", "Don't Take Your Guns To Town" and Springsteen's "Highway Patrolman." His dramatically, intense version of this song by the Boss turns it into a signature Man in Black reading.

The album package also includes liner notes by film director, Quentin Tarantino, who comments: "...Johnny Cash's songs of hillbilly thug life go right to the heart of the American underclass." In light of Mr. Tarantino's involvement in this project, it's interesting to note that, following the civil War, pulp fiction in America first gained widespread popularity through the serialized, magazine accounts of wild west gunfighters.

Posted on Tue May 30 19:20:37 CEST 2000 from spider-tq084.proxy.aol.com (152.163.201.84)

Ben Pike

MAN OUTSIDE,1988 WITH LEVON HELM, RICHARD MANUEL, RICK DANKO, GARTH HUDSON, KATHLEEN QUINLIN, AND BRADFORD DILLMAN. This movie has a certain neither fish nor fowl feel to it. It is very, very low grade, but somehow not terrible enough to make it a compleatly contemptable explotation film. It's close to a "good old boy" drive-in film, but somehow lacks the required devil-make-care inneptness. You ask the obvious question "why" was the film made, but the answer is equaly obvious, someone got the money to do it. Richard Manuel gets off the easyest, playing a ready to kick butt redneck. Rick Danko plays the father of a boy who has been kiddnapped by a local weirdo. He's no Warren Oats, but the Band's acting in this film is far from the worst in the movie. Garth Hudson, as a backwoods survivalist, has the film's poniant moment of absurdity, he starts telling Vietnam war stories in a thick Canadian accent. Clearly his charactor(Channey) was one of those rock musicains who fled their country so they wouldn't have to miss fighting in the War. Levon, typecast, play a sherrif who swears too much. All in all, this film may well represent the low point in the Band's career, if not lives. But somehow it is saddest of all for Bradford Dillman. He has once been a respectable actor in A movies. Here he plays a child killer, and looks like Jim "Ernest" Varney doing a remake of "M."

Posted on Tue May 30 18:28:29 CEST 2000 from du6-3.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.3.6)

Ilkka

"Things have changed..." DAVID POWELL cited these words of BOB DYLAN for a few days ago. How right you are! - I read an interview - in the trade union magazine "Academicern" - of LEIF PAGROTSKY (Secretary of State for Trade in Sweden / Secretary of Commerce in Sweden...like you see, I have a new dictionary so from now on I can(?) write in Powell-English and Viney-English, both!) His answer to the question of favourite artist was Bob Dylan. The circle is closed, the men with the power have a former protest singer as their favourite. Has the world become better with that. Yes, a little bit...but where is the new Dylan...or the Band?

Posted on Tue May 30 18:27:32 CEST 2000 from netcachesyd1.ozemail.com.au (203.108.0.57)

Pericles

I understand Little Feat are covering Rag Mama Rag and Takes a Lot to Laugh, Takes a Train to Cry on their upcoming new release Chinese Work Songs due out towards end of June. Sure the Feat will do a great job on both.

Posted on Tue May 30 15:47:18 CEST 2000 from usr42-dialup61.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.76.125)

G-MAN

PAC MAN-keep the faith. I rerad an article in the library section about three people who followed the Band ('96) and went to Canada to see Richards grave. Was there and believe it was them sitting and talking to Rick. We got his autograph; flower like smile faces on the back of a Big Pink T-shirt. Priceless, and I'm afraid to wear it. Don't want to be a hanger(almost over my BAND complusion)but with Rick you always felt like a friend not a fan. That made the difference. Peace. John V-where is the article ???

Posted on Tue May 30 15:12:40 CEST 2000 from trt-on61-104.netcom.ca (216.123.103.104)

John Donabie

I finally bought a DVD machine. Reminds me of not having a microwave years ago. Why would I need that? You buy the microwave and you wonder how you did without it. Perhaps the DVD player isn't that quite that important; but watching The Band Live in New Orleans and the Classic Brown series is amazing.

I was watching Rick sing "It Makes No Difference" and I must admit I had some sadness when he approached the lyric (and by the way I believe one of the best lines ever written)......"and the dawwwwwwwwwn don't rescue me anymooooooore." Rick of course was not rescued by the dawn. The song never stops amazing me. I've told my wife that if I pass before her, I want that song played. It's is so sad and beautiful all at the same time.

Posted on Tue May 30 12:58:30 CEST 2000 from 209-23-55-32.ip.termserv.net (209.23.55.32)

Diamond Lil

The 'symbol' beneath Rick's more recent autographs? Why..that's his name! He started doing that when he became the artist formerly known as... :-)

Actually..there were a couple of little symbols that I've seen Rick use in autographs. He did smiley faces, and he did a symbol for 'live long and prosper'. Perhaps there were also others as well. Rick went to the doctor/pharmacist school of handwriting :-) so sometimes it's hard to tell _what_ he was writing, although he always wrote from his heart with love.

For all of you nice people who have e-mailed me about the chatroom problem, please be patient. The man with the magic touch is incommunicado today, but will hopefully be able to fix whatever's wrong sometime tomorrow.

Have a good day everyone.

Posted on Tue May 30 07:26:35 CEST 2000 from spider-wm043.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.168)

Bayou Sam

Cam - I got an autograph from Rick a year ago and I thought it looked like a face with a smile - perhaps a self portrait of Rick. What's your take?

Posted on Tue May 30 07:10:21 CEST 2000 from pm3-perry2-075.arn.net (209.40.144.75)

Cam

Hi all, I have a question that's been driving me nuts. To anyone who has seen a Rick Danko signature, what is the design he always draws right below his name??? My mom and I have our theories, but I can't seem to find anything about it. If anyone knows, please clue me in! Long live the Band!

Posted on Tue May 30 06:05:42 CEST 2000 from dialup-358.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.102)

Hank

Thank you PAC, for the story about seeing Janis and The Dead.....and yep, I know that Janis needed to move on and play with other bands but I just don't understand why, when you read about Big Brother these days, writers are sooo down on 'em........hey!!!! forget Travis!!!!!!.....they're good 'n'all, y'know, but tomorrow I'm rehearsing "King Harvest" with my band and we're a-gonna play it at gigs the week after next.......Then we're gonna get "Life is a Carnival" together after that......I'm telling ya....that Levon Helm Drums and Drumming instructional video thang is better than TLW!!!!!!.....Also, Thanks JAN, for the link to the Hubert Sumlin site......'mornin' all!!!!!........

Posted on Tue May 30 04:18:51 CEST 2000 from spider-tj044.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.194)

Bashful Bill

Thanks Sundog. I never knew Buddy Guy was part of that deal.

Posted on Tue May 30 03:34:42 CEST 2000 from proxy1.doit.wisc.edu (144.92.44.76)

Tim(SUNDOG)Corcoran

Hi folks, Click *Homepage* above. Rick Danko coments on the FESTIVAL EXPRESS. I just think all of you would enjoy it,,,if you haven't already. Well, thats all for now, be good!

Posted on Mon May 29 23:54:59 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-140.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.140)

Peter Viney

The point about Travis is that they’re (a) telling lots and lots of new listeners about the Band just ahead of the re-releases. Many will remember and try "Big pink" (b) They are going to give RR another hit single (A or B side is irrelevant if you’re the composer). They had the number one album here for a good time. Nothing harmful about that. Good luck to them, even though I find their MTV video about the egg mildly irritating.

Posted on Mon May 29 23:55:07 CEST 2000 from spider-wi012.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.22)

Bashful Bill

Got home from work today to find that the women of the house purchased a CD apiece at the mall today(I had to work on the holiday while they got to play). My 12 year old daughter, who forbids me to post her name, bought the new Britney Spears album. She proudly pointed out that she does a cover of Satisfaction. Her exact words, and she was serious:"Its a Rolling Stones song!Is that Mick Jagger guy still alive?" Mrs Bashful Bill, meanwhile, brought home Loud Guitars, Big Suspicions by Shannon Curfman. Many here are probably aware of this 14 year old singer/songwriter/guitarist as she belts out a not bad cover of The Weight. I can't say much about her yet, other than that. Have to give her a couple more listens.

Posted on Mon May 29 21:26:57 CEST 2000 from spider-wi042.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.37)

Pac

Hank, from what I've read and seen in the documentary, Janis was frustrated that Big Brother couldn't go along with her creative, spontaneous changes; she said Full Tilt Boogie was right there with her at all times. I saw Big Brother at the 1970 New Year's Eve show (Winterland?) and they certainly fell short, especially given the incredible lineup of SF bands to follow (Dead; Hot Tuna? New Riders? I forget for the right reasons!) Amanda, great, articulate post! Didn't know about the Leonard Cohen thing. BTW, we saw Janis out here right before her death. Went to a Dead show in some small place in Marin and while we danced away within feet of the band, Janis, or should I say Pearl, strutted onstage in full plumage. She and Pigpen sang "Turn on Your Lovelight" with all the playfulness of close friends, yet it all seemed surreal. I too would have loved to see her get past all the things she needed to work out. What a loss. God, was she talented. ----- G-Man, your post was heartfelt and appreciated. The Vietnam Vets were caught in the worst of circumstances, going through hell over there then being hissed at stateside. My brother was being drafted in '68 so he enlisted in the Navy to be safer. Wish I could visit his grave today. Am off to a music picnic; will sing a few and raise my glass to all the Vets, hoping that time has brought healing and dignity. Peace and love to all, and drive carefully!

Posted on Mon May 29 21:00:28 CEST 2000 from 1cust185.tnt14.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.142.185)

Crabgrass

Can't wait to hear the A side - it must be better! I hope Travis is not as fabulous as Wilco and U2 to mention a couple of other dreadful Bandophile bands. I'm still waiting for Robbie to re-record "The Weight." Maybe he'll do it as part of his "Unplugged" set on MTV which hasn't yet materialized to my knowledge. (Yes, I know he sang it at the HOF induction.) Incidentally, it occurred to me the other day that "Carry That Weight" on Abbey Road is probably a borrowing from the Band song - but maybe this was discussed here in depth 5 years ago.

Posted on Mon May 29 18:14:19 CEST 2000 from ric-wht-pxy-int02.wheatfirst.com (204.238.130.68)

Bones

Travis is the name of a hot young band that told Rolling Stone in a recent issue that Music From Big Pink is their favorite album. Now, they have recorded "The Weight". It is a B-side to their forthcoming U.K. single "Coming Around". It will be released on June 5th.

Posted on Mon May 29 15:26:45 CEST 2000 from usr51-dialup208.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.198.86)

G-MAN

HAPPY BIRTHDAY,again, LEVON. Happy Memorial Day,too. Can't believe it's been 30 some years since Uncle Sam and his braindeads screwed the brightest and best generation !! Thank God for the Band and others, and their music which enable us to survive. Oh, what could have been. Still trying to get to Joyous Lake. Can't be soon enough. Hope a doc come out about the Festival Train Tour, '70. What I wouldn't give to be on that TRIP !!! Long live the memories of the Band. Any word when Levon's new(reissued)book will be out ? Jan DON'T change the NET-it's the best of ALL music ones out there. Thanks, and a save holiday to all .

Posted on Mon May 29 06:47:46 CEST 2000 from spider-wi011.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.21)

Ben Pike

Amanda.... Lenord Cohen used to introduce "Chelsea Hotel #2" bluntly stating it was about Janis Joplin. Later, he expressed regret over having done so, feeling the song is to intimate to speak of in those terms(you should read Cohen's confessional novels!). Anyway, I guess no one else has seen "Eliza's Horroscope."

Posted on Mon May 29 04:43:31 CEST 2000 from spider-wc012.proxy.aol.com (205.188.193.22)

Tom Izzo

Another smoking show by Jim Weider and The Honkey Tonk Gurus last night at The Towne Crier. Jim doesn't just play that Tele, he works it. (was that Gary Burton's autograph I saw on the back?) Rando's vocals and drums were as good as I ever heard them. (nice solo intro into that funky closing number) . Malcom also did excellent vocals and a few lead guitar-like bass solos. Jeremy's a wiz on keyboards. (look out Garth). Excellent food, music and company. Even that guy who kept bumming Kools off me in the parking lot. For some reason I think several extra cocktails were added to my bill at the end of the night. Mmmmm....? Oh well , hope to see you all in Newtown. Peace: Tom PS: Remember all the brave souls who gave their lives for our country. Happy Memorial Day.

Posted on Mon May 29 04:27:39 CEST 2000 from dialup-325.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.69)

Hank

Can anyone tell me why Big Brother and The Holding Company get so much stick about being a lousy outta tune band?........alright, the guitar WAS way outta tune at Monterey but .......y'know,.... The Beatles on The Roof was'nt too in tune .......The Stones at Hyde Park or Altamont or ANYWHERE in '69 was wackingly outta tune, fer crying out loud!!!!!!!! I heard a live cut of King Harvest recently and RR was WAAAAAAAAY outta tune..... (Richard sounded great!!!!)........anywhat, I Think BBATHCo. ROCK AND ROLL!!!!!!! Wassa problem?????.......I'm glad Mojo gave Janis a cover 'cos I was having a hard time dealing with this emotinal hype that's being flung to us by The British Rock Press hype-masters about how important British Punk Rock was........The Clash and The Sex Pistols (with Glen Matlock) made Great Albums, no doubt.....but when I think of Janis Joplin and the first time I heard her.....I was about 12 in 1975.....she was already gone....and I feel British Punk was but a pale imitation of the vibe that Janis (and a few others.....) put out......y'know?........I totally understand that punk rock (NYC/London mid seventies) revitalised Rock'n'Roll but I object to the notion the bad behaviour of it's protaginists had was anything new or had NEVER been seen or heard of before.... in Britain or elswhere........it did what every popular music movement did before and will always do......rip off and sometimes destroy it's writers and creators......and leave the public at large with something much less than what it promised......like The New Romantics of 80'ies Britain........like Kurt Cobain wannabes and Jeff Buckley gonnabes......there, got it off my chest!!!!.....sorry, folks, if yer still reading this diatribe......Now........ahem,, back to what I wrote a few days ago.......The Band: One of the WORST behaved buncha fellas in the business but still can't get on VH-1 "bad boys" week!!!! Why?........I would have to say 'cos they were The Best North American Rock'n'Roll band!!!! ....ever!!!!! and there's folks in the modern music-media domain that just CANNOT deal with it.......these peoples ancestors used to boo at Bob Dylan and The Hawks in 1966.... OK folks......have a great week!!!!......see ya around.....here......probably.......All The Best.......

Posted on Mon May 29 01:39:43 CEST 2000 from www-cache.vuw.ac.nz (130.195.2.96)

Amanda

More on Janis… Pac- I also re-watched "Janis" yesterday and I found it quite draining also. She didn't hold anything back in her performances. They are really raw and emotional and it is hard not to be touched by her vulnerability. For anyone who hasn't seen the film it does actually show her back at her school reunion. It should have been a triumphal return as a celebrity to the place where she "was laughed out of class and out of the state" and never invited to the prom but instead it seemed to reopen all her old wounds.

I also found it rather poignant when she said that she hoped if she kept singing she would eventually develop the subtlety and mastery of other singers like Aretha. Sadly this was never to be realised. Personally I also think it's a shame she didn't live long enough to reach a place in her life where she could sing something like RESPECT with conviction.

I agree with the comments that have been made that there is a limit to the salacious detail ones really wants to know about Janis (or anyone!). But, at the same time, as Pac said/implied, it is difficult to separate Janis the singer from her tumultuous personal life. In the documentary she even says that singing to her is like making love because she loses herself in it completely.

I think Leonard Cohen's song "Chelsea Hotel" that he wrote about an encounter with Janis was kind of tacky. Did he really need to say "I don't mean to suggest that I loved you the best…I don't think of you that often"? Evidently she dented his pride somewhat "you told me again, you prefer handsome men but for me you would make an exception."

I don't feel like indulging Crabgrass with a graphic discourse on the plaster casters but I will say that I think Lydia Lunch could have been one if she'd been born a generation earlier. The plaster casters were thwarted performance artists oppressed by the sexist attitudes of their times.:P

Posted on Sun May 28 23:21:07 CEST 2000 from gw3a60-1-d235.wind.it (212.141.122.235)

Emanuele Marchiori , Italy , Venice

Cerco contatti con fans italiani di THE BAND , potete mandare un E-mail all' indirizzo : Theband@tiscalinet.it!!!!

Posted on Sun May 28 22:09:28 CEST 2000 from 1cust246.tnt9.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.128.246)

Crabgrass

Well, I haven't yet read the recently mentioned bio of Janis but I've heard that the SECOND half is the best part! Janis' best work was with Full Tilt Boogie which was one helluva band - recall seeing her with them on TV once - Dick Cavett Show, I believe. Richard Bell should join the Barn Burners and Garth should join the 'Rus (dig that nickname - they should use it in place of the original name which stinks). BTW Garth is wasting his time and talent with the Crowmatix - that's why Levon jumped ship.

I'm hoping another more detailed discussion of the Plaster Casters surfaces in the GB soon!!

Posted on Sun May 28 21:58:06 CEST 2000 from user-33qt8dm.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.161.182)

Pat Brennan

Fear not. people of the world. The long-rumored doc on the Festival Train is purported to be released by the end of the year. Saw Janis at Ravinia just outside of Chicago towards the end. Richard Bell and all smoked it. Janis was Janis, brilliant.

Posted on Sun May 28 20:50:22 CEST 2000 from 209-130-151-176.nas3.mon.gblx.net (209.130.151.176)

Lars

Another fine show was performed by the Jim Weider and the 'Ruse last night at the Towne Crier, Pawling, NY. I thought Malcolm (on bass) had a great night, including some nice vocals. Tom Izzo came up for a few songs and added some harp. I usually like to congratulate one member of a band for having an outstanding performance. This award is known as a "Levon," given to the best man on a given night. I was about to award it to Malcolm, but I noticed he never broke a sweat all night. Sorry Malcolm. The "Levon" is awarded to Phil the sound man (the owner of the Towne Crier and, to his credit, he DID break a sweat doing a great job on the sound board). And he forgot to charge me for my drinks (BTW, four more "Levons," Phil, and you get a Band baseball cap).

Posted on Sun May 28 19:46:37 CEST 2000 from spider-th051.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.66)

Bashful Bill

There is a new(99) Janis bio out- Scars of Sweet Paradise by Alice Echols. As I type it, I guess the title sounds somewhat lurid. I haven't read, it, yet, buy gave it to my wife for Mother's Day. She is a major Janis fan, and of course loves Richard Bell. I can't really recommend the book as I haven't read it, and my wife has barely cracked it. But I definitely can recommend her box set entitled Janis which came out a few years ago. Very heavy on the rarities, and a beautiful package. Sure would be nice to see some kind of release of the train footage. I recall on the VH1 Legends episode of Janis(narrated by Kris Kristofferson) they devote maybe a minute or so to the tour. If you look sharply, you will see a quick shot of none other than Rick Danko and Janis sitting together, and he either pours or drinks(memory doesn't serve me well) a small amount of mystery liquid.

Posted on Sun May 28 18:56:55 CEST 2000 from spider-tn074.proxy.aol.com (152.163.207.79)

Pac

Nancy and Lil, I agree with you and have no interest in reading the "trashy" bio. Myrna Friedman's book ("Buried Alive") was nominated for the National Book Award and is excellent! I wound up rereading much of it yesterday and watching the documentary "Janis" (Crawley Films,1974; Universal Pictures). Felt drained and depressed after a few hours. What an intense person! Janis herself seemed to have a need to draw public attention to her sexual exploits, as indicated even in her monologues preceding songs like "Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)." She was so sexual -- and intelligent, from what I've read, and her issues about relationships were always in the forefront. Given that period of time, and her only being in her 20s, she broke through sexist barriers like a wild horse in a corral. The same things spoken by a guy wouldn't have had half the shock value. Her defiance was her strength maybe. Her vulnerable side (shown in body language when interviewed at her high school reunion) was painful to witness. But that's what made her music and stage presence so powerful. By all accounts, the Canadian tour was one hell of a party, and seemed to lift her spirits at a very fragile transitional point in her life and career. BTW, On 8/31 SONY is releasing a 5-CD set called "Box of Pearls" including music from Toronto and Calgary, which they're advertising on the internet. Lil, it was so sad to read about the day Janis died. Richard Bell was with her in the studio and at a Chinese Restaurant that Oct. 3rd. He must have been devastated. Speaking of which...anyone catch the rerun of the Gram Parsons Tribute last night? The Emmylou/Beck duet was a gem! Life goes on.

Posted on Sun May 28 18:04:05 CEST 2000 from cfa1.execulink.net (199.166.6.10)

paul godfrey

Looking in the library and note that the words for COUNTRY BOY are there, but no chords. Really would like to be able to strum it on my old 12 string. Anyone familiar with the chords? Would much appreciate it if you could email them to me! Thank you and Shine On!

Posted on Sun May 28 13:03:32 CEST 2000 from 209-23-55-185.ip.termserv.net (209.23.55.185)

Diamond Lil

Nancy: I agree with what you said about some things just being private. I read about half of that same biography, and it didn't do anything for me. In fact, I found out waaaay more than I ever really wanted to know about Janis. I've never understood the fascination that the general public has with the sexual exploits of the rich and famous....and I guess I never will.

Thanks to everyone who posted about Levon's birthday at Piermont. I couldn't make it, but thought of him just the same.

Hope everyone's having a nice holiday weekend. Me? I'm off to work.....

Posted on Sun May 28 12:13:38 CEST 2000 from proxy01.syd.iprimus.net.au (203.134.67.3)

Nancy Birch

Apologies to Myra Freidman, as she wasn't the author of the 'trashy' Janis biography I have been talking about. Have just done a re-read and realized it was in fact Peggy Caserta. BTW, if anyone thinks I've been sanctimonious in shoving the issue of privacy down your throats, please post and tell me. I'll stand corrected (sit actually). :Þ

Posted on Sun May 28 12:01:55 CEST 2000 from proxy01.syd.iprimus.net.au (203.134.67.3)

Nancy Birch

Thanks to Pac and Bumbles for the information about Janis' biography. The name Myra Freidman doesn't ring bells in my mind, but that opening line from her book sure does. No wonder I kept reading. The copy I have dim recollections of reading was a bright yellow covered paperback that was extremely dog-eared as though the New Zealand girl who lent it to me had also lent it to many others also.

I suppose that there is voyerism in most of us, and reading of the outrageous experiences of famous, talented and ultimately human performers gives us a buzz at some level. This is what Levon refers to in the bit in "The Last Waltz", in relation to 'the women' they encountered in their musical career. Everyone has a pretty good idea of what goes on, but it is just plain tacky to talk about the intimate details, which should be as private as the private details of anyone's else's life. I guess that is what I found tacky about Janis' biography. The experiences she had with her lovers and associates should have been regarded as private information but instead they were being regurgitated for all to savour. If I had had any moral compunction at the time of reading, I should have stopped, but I found that the book hooked me in. Even though some of the lurid details shocked me at first and then bored me after repetition, I couldn't stop wanting to know how and why she ended up dead at such a young age.

Posted on Sun May 28 09:28:46 CEST 2000 from spider-ta011.proxy.aol.com (152.163.205.46)

Paul Briggs

Belated happy birthday greetings to Levon. Thank you for all the great music, and all the wonderful memories you have given us. I can't wait to see you and the Barn Burners next time you are out this way. Stay strong brother, and on the good! Fast Eddie and Alan send their best birthday wishes too. God bless you, Levon, and please say hi to Amy and the fellas.

Posted on Sun May 28 09:09:12 CEST 2000 from spider-wn033.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.163)

Ben Pike

ELIZA'S HORORSCOPE, 1970. STARRING RICHARD MANUEL AND TOMMY LEE JONES. The big moment for Band Fan's comes early, a strange girl is led into what seems to be a house for oddballs and squaters, through dark passageways, up to the door of a fortune teller. The door opens, and out walks a dapper and handsome Richard Manuel, like the poster/cover of Stagefright come to life. "Hello" he says, and moves on. "Elliza's Horoscope" is a terrible Head/Art film, a real chore to watch, yet as a cinematic oddity it is fairly hard to beat. It's the story of Eliza, a farmgirl who comes to the big city(Montreal, rather beautifuly photographed) has an affair with Jones(as a Canadian Indian(should that be "Native Canadian?)with a southern accent)) wonders around looking for a lover predicted by the Fortune Teller, then leaves. Just when it seems Richard will never come back, he reappears as a rich man who takes her to his estate in a Rolls Royce. There he precides over weird, perhaps satanic orgies, and you feel the movie makers are cashing in on Richards somewhat passing resemblance to Charles Manson. Richard's acting is casual in the style of the film. Interestingly, this was the same year "Love Story" came out, a huge hit whose lead charactor is based on Jones and Al Gore. But somehow Tommy Lee ended up in Canada acting in this bit of overheated weridness. According to the Internet Movie Data Base, this is the only film the writer director ever made. The female lead was only in this and "Corvette Summer" with Mark Hammil. Again, it's a terrible film, but a real surprise for Band fans like me, who, before a few months ago, never knew it even exsisted. If anyone knows the story of how Richard got involved with this film, I'd love to know.

Posted on Sun May 28 05:09:13 CEST 2000 from spider-wl064.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.49)

Joe

Great show, as usual, with Levon and The Barn Burners last night at the Turning Point. Levon gave me his sticks after the last set. Thanks to Levon,Pat,Frank,Chris and Amy.

Posted on Sun May 28 03:18:56 CEST 2000 from pm3-147.efn.org (206.163.180.147)

deb

Hi; everyone; glad the mood here is so UP these days!

I checked out some Band items on eBay. Of particular interest is one item; the seller did an especially great job of loading the pictures. It is item # 342870287. When you scroll down to see the pictures of the various disks you also get a changing show of various scenes from The Last Waltz. It is quite nice. Also of interest on this page is the seller's pithy comment regarding the exclusion of "Baby, Don't You Do It" on the CD; basically he says the person who decided not to put that song in is a "bonehead."

Glad to hear everyone had a nice birthday party with Levon. Rock on!

Posted on Sat May 27 23:42:22 CEST 2000 from spider-wq042.proxy.aol.com (205.188.200.164)

Ruby

Just got home from Piermont. What am honor to be at last nights show at the Turning Point for Levons 60th!!!!!! He is as beautiful and as powerful a drummer and as sweet as ever. We stayed for both sets and I wanna tell you all, I could have listened till dawn and then some. Great crowd and a fullfilling show.Thank you Levon for all the magic for the last 30 years.

Posted on Sat May 27 23:33:23 CEST 2000 from proxy.lfpress.com (204.101.153.10)

Mike Nomad

Whatever it is that Butch is on, can I have some?

Posted on Sat May 27 23:30:57 CEST 2000 from atmax-6-17.enter.net (207.16.154.27)

Little Brother

-- Re General Stoneman's photo: I'm not sure about the Levons and multiple Garths, but the Foreign Observer second from the left sure looks like John Lennon to me! I include a copy of the link for fellow procrastinators:

http://www.nara.gov/nara/nn/nns/civil030.jpg

Thanks, DP!

-- The reference to the name "Miss Brer Foxhole" vs. "Miss Brer Fox" made me think of the moment in TLW where the subject of "women on the road" was broached and Levon rolls his eyes and drawls something to the effect of, "I thought we weren't gonna go there..."

Posted on Sat May 27 22:44:23 CEST 2000 from spider-te073.proxy.aol.com (152.163.195.208)

Hip Hype

I see someone has the real (not the CD-R w/poster) "Complete Last Waltz" listed on eBay. Haven't seen one of those in a while.

Posted on Sat May 27 22:09:07 CEST 2000 from user-33qtaia.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.170.74)

Pat Brennan

The article on the Festival Train that Jan just posted is an edited version of the one in MOJO. Get the MOJO one, it's infinitely better. Bur if you can't, the one onsite will give you a good taste. MOJO also has a picture of a blues/R&B singer I've played with a bunch (p. 16-17), the fabulous Kid Dynamite.

Posted on Sat May 27 22:00:36 CEST 2000 from spider-wo062.proxy.aol.com (205.188.200.47)

butch

HUGE THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED MAKE LAST NIGHT'S BARN BURNER'S / LEVON'S 60th, A GREAT TIME !!!!! & A HUGE SUCCESS !!!!!! We had two SOLD-OUT shows @ The Turning Point,,, & those folks were so nice to Levon & all of us,,, Spontaneous HAPPY BIRTHDAY choruses,,,both shows, really touched the boss'heart,,, ive spent many birthdays w/him on the road,, & last night's,, ive never seen him happier,,, The Barn Burner's started slow, & built that fire to a roaring blaze,,,a great mix of standards & B.B.originals had the room rockin,,,cheering the harp/guitar duos,, the amy/frankie harmonies,,, & of course,,, THE MASTER'S DRUMMING,,,, 60 years YOUNG, I SAY,, he was HOT !!! right on the groove,, ( no surprise to us, eh ? ) in between shows,, we had a cake for him, ( not brownies, real cake ) & Hubert's sweet mgr Toni, brought him a blues photo book from Hubert,,, gonna be fun when they play in Central Park,, next month,,, our friends from St Paul MN, made the 2nd show,, WE LOVE YA,,,16 hours driving,, LOYAL,,,, Harry & Mim, from the GB & PA made it,, stu & so many others,,,, THANKS,,, JOHN SIMON,,, thank-you from all of us,, the guys were honored to have you,,, Mary Ellen & her drop-deadbeautiful daughter,, thanks for ALL the help,, ,,,,,& to you friends,, fans, family,,,,, THANK-YOU all for taking the music to your hearts,,, without you Levon & the guys are just playing for me,, we need ya, & are SO glad you come out,, DONT EVER STOP !!! butch

Posted on Sat May 27 21:55:53 CEST 2000 from 209-23-38-72.ip.termserv.net (209.23.38.72)

Diamond Lil

Speaking of Richard Bell and Full Tilt Boogie, I have Janis' "Pearl" here on vinyl...with a long-haired, shirt-open-to-almost-his-bellybutton Mr. Bell smiling that smile on the back. Aah Richard...your look today truly becomes you more :-)

Posted on Sat May 27 20:28:37 CEST 2000 from spider-to054.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.69)

Pac

Crabgrass -- yes, Richard Bell was, and is mentioned in the books I cited. In one of them it talked about how people were having trouble "hanging" with all the drinking and partying, but Bell thought everything was great. He must have so many stories to tell!

Posted on Sat May 27 19:42:28 CEST 2000 from 1cust235.tnt11.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.134.235)

Crabgrass

Wow!! This sure beats the Neil Diamond discussions!

Sorry to announce that my research regarding Paula Abdul covers of Band songs has thus far been unsuccessful. However, I discovered that King Curtis recorded an instrumental version of The Weight around 1970. Don't recall if this was mentioned a while back when the King was discussed here.

Now, back to Janis!! (Richard Bell was a member of Full Tilt Boogie btw, no?)

Posted on Sat May 27 19:06:32 CEST 2000 from spider-tl012.proxy.aol.com (152.163.207.177)

Bumbles

Nancy Birch: You're thinking of Peggy Caserta's delicious trash classic Going Down with Janis. I have a copy around somewhere, and, now that you mention it, I should check it for Band references. Hard to put down a book that opens with this sentence:

"I was stark naked, stoned out of my mind on heroin, and the girl lying between my legs giving me head was Janis Joplin."

Posted on Sat May 27 10:48:53 CEST 2000 from (202.86.135.12)

Supratik

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE ONE & ONLY LEVON HELM, ONE OF THE GREATEST TRAPSMAN OF ALL TIME. ROCK ON FOR A LONG LONG TIME.

Bashful Bill : Hope ya got my mail

Luv to all Band lovers,

Peace

Supratik

Posted on Sat May 27 09:50:11 CEST 2000 from spider-tf022.proxy.aol.com (152.163.197.182)

Pac

Nancy, Amanda, and whoever might be interested: I've been researching the Bobby McGee song and it turns out what I'd read the other day about Kristofferson writing some of it on the train seems to be false. He and Fred Foster already copyrighted it in 1969, at which time Roger Miller recorded it. Then it appeared on KK's debut LP in '70. In David Dalton's book "Piece of My Heart - a Portrait of Janis Joplin" he wrote about his memories of that transCanadian train ride: (pg. 221)-- [Someone hands Janis her Gibson Hummingbird. "I only know one song, honey, but I'm gonna sing it anyhow," she says, lurching into a "Bobby McGee" that no longer resembles Kristofferson's vaguely country folk song, now more like a gospel blues, while Jerry Garcia picks out sweet steel guitar licks that dance around Janis's raunchy voice. Everyone joins in on the chorus. "Bobby McGee" became the national anthem of the Festival Express and it must have been sung a hundred times on this trip, in bars, backstage, in compartments late at night, in hotel lobbies, and along the tracks. It seemed to sum up everything everyone went through on this journey.] --- In another book I have, "Janis Joplin Buried Alive, The Biography" by Myra Friedman, she quotes Bob Neuwirth (pg. 339) as saying: "I remember the first night Janis did 'Me and Bobby McGee.' I was with Michael Pollard and we went over to Chelsea...Janis had her guitar. I had just learned the song from Gordon Lightfoot. After I played it for Janis, she said she wanted to do it. She wrote down the words, and it wasn't as if the chords were hard. So she picked up the guitar and sang the shit out of it right on the spot." --- KK first recorded it in 1970. The infamous train tour was in June/July '70. By Nov.'70 the Dead were including it in their sets. Janis was down in L.A. listening to final tracks of the "Pearl" LP when on Oct. 4 '70 she was found dead. She had gotten very close to KK and had a romantic entanglement, which I'm going to read about tonight. Joel Selvin's book "Summer of Love" includes the info from Dalton's book and on pg. 270 gets into the Neuwirth/KK/Janis tequila partying and subsequent events. BTW, Dalton shares some endearing moments about Rick on the train ride. Wish he wrote more! Must get that MOJO article tomorrow!

Posted on Sat May 27 09:02:12 CEST 2000 from ts1-45.steveston.axion.net (207.34.146.45)

Cupid

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROTHER LEVON!!! Come up to Canada and see us sometime will ya. Peace to all Cupid

Posted on Sat May 27 06:39:58 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-125-43.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.125.43)

BWNWITennessee

David Powell, I think Peter's right about that Civil War picture. Wasn't it actually the alternate cover shot for the brown album? Look, there's Rick on the left, Robbie's next to him. Don't know who the guy with the cigar is. Richard Manuel is seated in the middle with the shifty eyes, doing his best Fidel Castro impersonation, and Levon is at the far right. The only mystery is why the three Garths?

Posted on Sat May 27 06:18:43 CEST 2000 from pool-209-138-12-153.ipls.grid.net (209.138.12.153)

Bobby Jones

Happy birthday to the best blues drummer in the land!

See ya soon Stormy Weathers!

Posted on Sat May 27 05:36:43 CEST 2000 from proxy.pth.iprimus.net.au (203.134.17.8)

Nancy Birch

The Mojo article on Janis Joplin sounds interesting reading to me. I'd like to know more about the source as I have never seen Mojo where I live. Are you referring to a muso magazine? Is there any possibility of posting some of the article here, or is that as I expect, an outright contravening of copyright law? Can anyone 'in the know' please give me some information on this?

I read a biography about Janis some long time ago. It was written by a woman who proclaimed to be her lover and her first name from dim memory may have been Ann. I have no information as to the validly of her as a source of information on Janis' experiences, but I can say that as a teenager, I was mostly shocked at what I read about the swinging sixties and how Janis herself lived. But that was me then, and I hope that the intervening years have given me more understanding of individual differences and the choices people make based on those differences.

Hearing about the Mojo article on the GB has renewed my curiosity about whether the story that she told was accurate. I feel sure that it was written after Janis had died and therefore in no way able to defend herself literally or just by her continuing mortal presence on mother earth. It would seem grossly unfair to have an unfair portrayal documented once one was dead and unable to respond in any way at all. This would have the result of people like me reading of one's adventures decades later and wondering about the type of person one was in reality, but of course never really knowing.

I would like the opportunity to re-read the book in question and look at the woman in a new light. I would be particularly interested in any references to The Band and the association that Janis had with them. Unfortunately the book was lent to me by a stranger in a youth hostel and the title or the author are almost completely lost by the veil of time. I remember having to read it very quickly as one of us was about to move on, and several concentrated days of 'Ann's' recollections were a culture shock, to put it mildly.

Posted on Sat May 27 05:17:45 CEST 2000 from ns1.schuster.com (199.105.252.66)

Charlie Young

The Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame site says that Levon just turned 58. Of course, what do you expect from people who inducted the Bee Gees a while ago but STILL haven't gotten around to Leon Russell?!?!

Posted on Sat May 27 04:47:01 CEST 2000 from dialup-303.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.47)

Hank

Since we're on the subject here, I thought I'd mention it.....but did y'all know that CHARLIE WATTS is a complete Civil War buff.........for some reason, that makes all the sense in the world to me.....considering he's English...but the music he plays so well has its deepest roots in the American Civil War......I've been reading The Mojo Janis article everyday whilst I wait for the 'ole GB to download.......what a Trip!....sounds like they all had a ball!!!.......where would ya get that today, folks?....actually, here's something......VH-1 in these parts is running a "Bad Boys Week" wherein the theme is famous rock bands and rockers who have been deemed by the media to be "Bad".....so, ho, hum... we get "Guns and Roses" The Sex Pistols etc. etc.........but d'y'know what?.....I think the Band were amonst the baddest of the bad........there's some wonderfully appallingly bad behaviour in the annals of Band history.....would y'all not agree?....seriously, one name for a start......Ronnie Hawkins.....just take it from there, y'know wot oi mean?.... Would The Band make the VH-1 "bad boys week"?......Nah!!! Meanwhile, we have to put up with the likes of Guns and Roses stomping all over "Knockin' on Heavens Door' like a constipated Dinosaur!!!!......I heard that today on some video they were showing and I thought..."if I saw a band mangle that song like the way they were.....I'd think it was the worst band I've ever seen".......gots to go to beddy-bye-bye now........let your weekend give you time to rest, reflect and see how you've grown so much!!or else just go out, do the Danko bop and go CRAZZZEEE!!.....All The Best, Folks!!!

Posted on Sat May 27 04:29:34 CEST 2000 from pega2pp65.alltel.net (166.102.107.66)

Martha Page

Dear Amanda from Australia: Might I remind you that it is Miss Brer FoxHOLE, not Miss Brer Fox. Sheds a little different light on things, doesn't it?

Posted on Sat May 27 03:53:58 CEST 2000 from 1cust69.tnt2.west-palm-beach.fl.da.uu.net (63.26.43.69)

Erik

Greetings to all BAND fans. This is the best BAND site (actually the only one I've looked at, but why go anywhere else!) Question does anyone have copies of any old vintage Band video? (for sale or trade) or know where I may be able locate any? There does'nt seem to much around. (maybe I'm just looking in the wrong place?!) Thanks.

Posted on Sat May 27 03:49:16 CEST 2000 from cf3k-3-2.paradise.net.nz (203.96.152.187)

Amanda

Pac- I was very interested in your post about the Band-Kris Kristofferson connection. I think Kris Kristofferson is great song-writer although, like RR, he is not a great singer.

One of my earliest musical memories is of ruining my parents' enjoyment of Janis Joplin's version of "Me and Bobby McGee" by crying every time they listened to it. As a 3-4 year old it sounded mostly like shrieking to me. Later as an older, rather literal minded child, I puzzled over the meaning of "freedoms just another word for nothing left to lose".

Anyway, now I'm even older I love Janis's version of the song. I am just listening to it now and wondering if one could say it has some vaguely Hudson-esque type bits in it?? The other thing I'm wondering about is at the end of one version of "Ball and Chain" Janis talks about "How come half the world is lonely...When the other half is lonely too etc."...And she ends up saying something like"...because as a matter of fact, as WE DISCOVERED ON THE TRAIN, tomorrow never comes...its all the same "freakin" day, man." So, what I'm wondering is, was she referring to that 70-s Toronto train tour?

Re. Thomas Pynchon/ "The Crying of Lot 49"- I can't think of a BAND connection but I've often thought it would be kind of funny to set up a free internet email service called W.A.S.T.E.

Posted on Sat May 27 03:09:47 CEST 2000 from proxy-661.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.61)

Bob

Hi all, The Diamond Teeth Mary story on this site I believe to be the one I had on my site about a month ago. It came from a friend of mine who had contact with Mary in the past as he was from Florida also. If anyone wishes to contact him, go to my site the find the "Mo Kauphy" link. The photo with the story I "borrowed" from the Chicago Blues Festival site which can be found in search engines. I know Mo (aka Gary) also has some photos of Mary performing but the quality isn't very good on the ones I have seen. Anyway I just thought I would give out a little credit where it is due. Mo also knows another Florida based bluesman called "Rock Bottom" that if you haven't heard of he is worth checking out! Thanks for this great site Jan and of course Best Wishes to Levon and his fans! Bob

Posted on Sat May 27 01:31:56 CEST 2000 from spider-tj043.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.193)

Lee

John, that Borderline album is well worth getting hold of even though as an import it will probably be pricey. Infact, I might chase up a copy myself, its getting to be rare occasions that vinyl gets played.

Posted on Sat May 27 00:37:10 CEST 2000 from dial47.gtn.net (209.167.110.212)

Serge

Wishing you many happy returns of the day Levon, and "stay on the good foot" :) Serge, Jack Wingate and the gang.

Posted on Sat May 27 00:12:02 CEST 2000 from flowbie2-outside.csc.com (192.251.173.34)

Luke

Happy Birthday Levon! According to Sidney Omarr, if May 26th is you birthday you are:IF TODAY IS YOUR BIRTHDAY: When pressure is on, you are up to it. You are responsible for many people, their lives and loves. Capricorn, Cancer individuals play important roles in your life--could have these letters, initials in names: H, Q, Z. You are passionate, creative, and you expect and deserve star treatment. Current cycle coincides with possible change of residence, marital status. September most memorable.

Posted on Fri May 26 23:26:57 CEST 2000 from spider-tn054.proxy.aol.com (152.163.207.69)

Pac

Warmest birthday wishes to Levon! Hope we get to see him at Joyous Lake sometime this summer. After what I heard from a friend at the Stanhope House in NJ, it'll be worth the cross-country trip! Speaking of which...Pat B., thanks for the info on the MOJO article. That's the train trip I was referring to in the last post. Can't wait to read the article. Have a safe, fun weekend everyone!

Posted on Fri May 26 22:17:31 CEST 2000 from (209.198.135.153)

Laura Holt

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEVON!!! I didn't realize that Bob and Levon's birthday were so close together! I wonder if they use to celebrate them together sometimes back in the day??? I'm trying to figure out if they are both Taurus or Gemini. Oh well...think I'm going to listen to some basement tapes for awhile and plan the memorial weekend. All you BAND FANS have a good weekend and Levon...take it easy and I hope you're day is a good one!!!

Posted on Fri May 26 22:04:03 CEST 2000 from jan-hoiberg.hiof.no (158.36.52.15)

jh

John D.,
The Borderline album was one of the first LPs I added to this site way-back-when. Tsk, tsk, tsk,

Posted on Fri May 26 21:56:01 CEST 2000 from 216-1-128-33.akorn.net (216.1.128.33)

Mike Carrico

Bill - thanks for the chuckle...you may well be right about JB's exact mangling of the lyric. I've rarely been able to muster the fortitude to listen closely to her version. Of course, it's also difficult to hear her clearly above the clippity-clop of "so much" calvary.

Posted on Fri May 26 21:54:04 CEST 2000 from spider-wl064.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.49)

jcf

Happpy 60th birthday Levon.

Posted on Fri May 26 21:51:26 CEST 2000 from spider-wl023.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.28)

Bayou Sam

Happy Birthday Levon, from one drummer to another. Keep on rockin' them drums - it's the best medicine for you.

Posted on Fri May 26 21:42:56 CEST 2000 from user-33qt93o.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.164.120)

Pat Brennan

I don't know if anyone mentioned this, but the latest MOJO has an article on Janis Joplin and the infamous Trans Continental Pop Festival. Included is a few mentions of The Band and a number of quotes from Rick Danko.

Posted on Fri May 26 21:03:42 CEST 2000 from 216-164-249-4.s258.tnt1.atn.pa.dialup.rcn.com (216.164.249.4)

Krispy

Just wanted to stop in and say Happy 60th Birthday (((Levon)))!!

Thanks for everything and I'll see ya on the mountain in a couple months :)

Posted on Fri May 26 21:01:13 CEST 2000 from trt-on66-92.netcom.ca (216.123.97.220)

John Donabie

According to Ice Magaine Toshiba-EMI of Japan has issued a 1973 debut album of the group "Borderline."

On keyboards: Richard Manuel, going under the name of Dick Handle and Garth Hudson under the name of Campo Malaqua. John Simon is there as well. Ben Keith on dobro and Vassar Clements on fiddle. Sounds good.

Posted on Fri May 26 20:58:17 CEST 2000 from user-33qt8dj.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.161.179)

Pat Brennan

Re: Dixie...although I didn't share the same worry over the "May the 10th" line as Peter did--in fact, I defended it for many of the same reasons that others have posted here--I doubt that its use can be attributed to a random choice by RR. Present in the song is a reference to George Stoneman's severing of the Richmond and Danville Railroad in a cavalry raid conducted during the waning days of the war. Even committed Civil War buffs would have a difficult time rattling off the facts of this raid, which is generally considered a very minor footnote to the war. It's obvious that RR picked this event out of a book of some sorts, but the possibility exists that he saw one of the Virginia or North Carolina Historical Highway signs, a couple of which describe the raid. They're pretty out of the way, but there's always that chance. The birthday boy Levon Helm has stated that he directed RR to a book in a library that described these events. Given that some kind of research went into this song, I don't think it's too much of a jump to say that the author got a bit of the history wrong. There was a discussion of Acadian Driftwood a few months ago that pointed out similiar historical problems--none of which blunt the incredible impact of either of these songs.

Posted on Fri May 26 20:56:04 CEST 2000 from trt-on66-92.netcom.ca (216.123.97.220)

John Donabie

Happy Birthday Lee!!!!!! May you stay Forever Young.
from
John, Ala, Samantha & James

Posted on Fri May 26 20:47:52 CEST 2000 from (198.173.6.246)

Tom

Happy Bithday Levon! It was a true privilge to meet you at Joyous Lake a while back. Thanks for all the years of music and for keepin the faith.

Tom

Posted on Fri May 26 20:43:28 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.251)

David Powell

More on Maj. Gen. George Stoneman:

In July of 1864, Union forces under the command of Maj. Gen. W.T. Sherman were on the outskirts of Atlanta. Daunted by the strong Confederate fortifications that defended the city, Sherman sent Stoneman's cavalry (2112 men) around to the southeast to cut the Central of Georgia Railroad that supplied the city.

Stoneman, in a bid for glory, also convinced Sherman to allow his troops to attempt to liberate Union prisoners held at camps in Macon and Andersonville. While in route to the officers prison camp in Macon, Stoneman, unfamiliar with the surrounding landscape was repulsed. On July 31st, at Sunshine Church (19 miles northeast of Macon), Confederate Brig. Gen. Alfred Iverson, Jr. and a force of only 1300 cavalry fooled Stoneman into thinking he was surrounded. After covering the escape of two of his brigades, Stoneman surrendered, along with about 600 men, his artillary and train. (Later that year Stoneman would be freed as part of a prisoner exchange.)

One of Stoneman's escaping brigades managed to reach Union lines safely near Athens. The other brigade, however, under the command of Capron, was surprised before dawn on August 3rd near Winder and captured by Confederate forces.

On the two days following Confederate Memorial Day, April 27th & 28th, 2000, Levon Helm and the Barn Burners played at Chips Roadhouse in Winder, not far from where Stoneman's brigade was captured. Levon's troops were reinforced by a sax player named Randall Bramblett from Jesup, Georgia.

Posted on Fri May 26 20:35:25 CEST 2000 from webcache16b.cache.pol.co.uk (195.92.194.105)

Martin Molloy

Happy birthday Levon! I took the day off work today, because it's my birthday too. It seemed appropriate to play some Band music in the car. I don't particularly care for all the in depth analysis into Band songs, for nothing seems to beat Levon's vocals on Up Cripple Creek! Keep singing Levon, keep playing, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Posted on Fri May 26 20:04:46 CEST 2000 from dialup-066.cork.iol.ie (194.125.43.66)

HANK

Happy Birthday Levon!!!!!!.....I dunno if you read this GB Levon, but best wishes from Cork City in Ireland!!! Tonight, my band Open Kitchen are playing in Fermoy, a town 20 miles north of Cork City......we do ALOT of Band songs......each one will be dedicated to you.....but hey, BRING THEM BARNBURNERS TO IRELAND!!!!!!!!!..........Hey, GBers...howsabout THIS????.......Was Bob Dylan taking a pot shot at RR when he wrote "Big Jim was no-ones fool, he owned the towns only DIAMOND mine.....he made his usual entrance....LOOKING SO DANDY AND SO FINE...."?....... Jamie=Jim?......was Bob making a veiled reference to RR?......Whatcha think?.......plausible?.....No?.....Aw, fergit it!!!!( Please folks, let's have NO jokes about pen-knives in the back)......Anyway, Hippity Happity Birthday, Levon!!!.......ain't NO-ONE lays it down like you......All The Best......HANK

Posted on Fri May 26 20:03:03 CEST 2000 from proxy-631.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.40)

CODY

I know i am a day early..and a dollar short but i wanted to say..HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR.LAVON HELM!!!!..the music made by ..all..of you gentlemen is forever..it is timeless.You have given me more than you will never know!I am a youngin to The Band family,having been to The Academy of music show in NYC in 1972.That was the first concert I saw.12 years old!! I have been with "the family" since! And yes the ups have been..timeless!...and the downs ..well..the downs have been painful.Lavon I thank you from the bottom of my heart..for the music..the fun..and the wisdom!!!!..again...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!.....oh Mr. Lee...did ya say Happy Birthday to Bobby on wednesday??..Ah he is still older!"It's Watermelon Time in Georgia!!!!" God bless you Levon in all..ways and for forever!!

Posted on Fri May 26 19:47:06 CEST 2000 from (206.224.31.9)

Little Brother

-- Happy Birthday, Levon! The South will rise again! You the MAN!

-- Re: Diamond Mary's tinfoil teeth. I hadn't thought about it, but even figuring that she didn't have many fillings in there, can you imagine keeping foil wadded up in your mouth? That'll keep the edge in your blues singing, even if you happen to be in a GOOD mood...

-- Mike from Oregon: Shouldn't the line be, "It isn't me, BABY?" "Babe" is so COLLOQUIAL.

-- Peter, not since John Lennon sang, "Remember, remember, the fifth of November" has a simple date precipitated such consternation and perplexity. Also, I don't know if Pynchon is/was a musician, but at Princeton (I'm told) he and the late Richard Farina were practically inseparable.

-- I haven't seen the Pennebaker Woodstock film, but it's par for the course that Richard is excluded from the shots. I guess that when it comes to filming any band, between the physical constraints like camera placement down to the editing, somebody's gonna be shorted. But I'd love to have seen more of Richard AND Garth. And I mean where you could see their fingers on the keyboards, not just flash cuts and head shots. By the way, it appears that the SNL rerun sequence veered away from the chronological weeks ago. If anyone gets advance notice that the Band's appearance will be rebroadcast, I trust you'll let us know.

-- Happy Memorial Day Weekend, mah fellow Americans!

Posted on Fri May 26 19:36:39 CEST 2000 from gw.itac.ca (209.146.161.1)

Bill

Mike from Georgia: I've always thought that Joan Baez was singing, "Took a train to Richmond, it fell", which makes sense - provided that there was a train at the time, and that they accepted cross-dressers.

Posted on Fri May 26 19:17:33 CEST 2000 from cfa1.execulink.net (199.166.6.10)

James Levon Godfrey

To Mark Levon Helm from James Levon Godfrey

Thanks for the message....you be "Strong" too

Best wishes for a very happy birthday from Levon, Shannon, Mom & Dad!

Posted on Fri May 26 19:06:43 CEST 2000 from (208.168.248.5)

*carmen*

the greatful dead is with out a questin the greatest band ever in music history i wish i would have been alive back then to have seen them play at woodstock or any where.....they kick ass.

Posted on Fri May 26 19:00:53 CEST 2000 from usr51-dialup365.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.198.247)

G-MAN

Everyone, have safe $ happy Memorial Day. Happy Bithday to Mr. Helm. Your music has to carry the Band connection, so stay healthy and keep kickin' ass on the drums. Also, keep your new music growin and growin.

Posted on Fri May 26 18:46:07 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-086.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.86)

Peter Viney

Pat B: at last the mystery of May 10th is solved and makes perfect sense. Thanks. I think I’d better revise the piece (so we don’t discuss it all again in a year’s time). I don’t think anyone was concerned about the grammar of "had fell" as I said. It’s just the date niggled away – for my part, not so much because Richmond didn’t fall then, but because I had this nagging feeling that there’d be a good reason for the date.

BWNWITennessee: Don Henley - The sum of $1000 for a TICKET never even crossed my mind! Now I see what you mean. I was thinking the most I ever paid for a ticket was for Marvin Gaye about 1976 – which was actually more in pounds than I’ve paid over the last few years for e.g. Dylan, Van, so multiply the figure by at least ten for inflation. It’d be over The Eagles $200 in 2000 money. I didn’t know "Workin’ It" was the Henley single. Bad choice. There are at least six better tracks. And the guitar part is such an obvious lift that you want to yell, "Move over … and let Jimi take over …" The lyrics are not its strongest point, and I don’t like being preached at anymore than the next person. Give him another chance with "Miss Ghost" (where at least he’s borrowing from his own work) if you’re near a listening station with the CD on, plus tracks 2, 3, 4 (can’t remember the titles).

The "Neil, Diamond" story is close to a British urban legend. A British MP was showing some American friends around the Houses of Parliament a few years ago. They were most impressed by the centuries of tradition, squalid little offices, wood panelling, peers snoring during the debate, ermine robes and so on. Suddenly the then leader of the Labour party, Mr Kinnock, walked past. "Neil!" shouted the MP, and every one of his party fell to their knees.

David Powell: Thanks for the reference to the Stoneman photograph, but how come Levon not only gets into this historic picture (second from the left) but is wearing a Union cap?

Wasn’t there a theory that Pynchon was a musician? I read something where they followed up lots of hints and suggested he was in fact a professional musician by trade, but I don’t think they said which one.

Posted on Fri May 26 18:31:59 CEST 2000 from x2-25.poughkeepsie.bestweb.net (216.179.14.199)

Gene

I like history. On April 4th, Lincoln toured Richmond. On April 15th, Lincoln died. John Wilkes Booth died on April 26th. Pat's explanation makes sense. I always thought "May the tenth" was just sloppy history.

Posted on Fri May 26 18:06:41 CEST 2000 from 216-1-128-33.akorn.net (216.1.128.33)

Mike Carrico

Happy Birthday Levon, and thanks for the music.

Re the "Dixie" lyrics, I have no problem with the May 10 line - Virgil is looking back over some span of years ("it's a time I remember oh so well"), and he may not remember it quite as well as he thinks. It's a conversational lyric, not a history lecture. Besides, "On April the 2nd, Richmond was evacuated" poses rhyme and meter problems.

On the other hand, "I drove the train to Richmond that fell" (thank you Joan B.)...now that's a problem!

Posted on Fri May 26 17:52:31 CEST 2000 from 216-164-226-49.s303.tnt5.nyw.ny.dialup.rcn.com (216.164.226.49)

John "Mayor of Wamboozy"

Not sure if my first correspondence got through. Once again, HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEVON! You're lookin great! Keep rockin, The Barnburners Rule!!!! Peace, John Molinari

Posted on Fri May 26 17:51:51 CEST 2000 from ric-wht-pxy-int02.wheatfirst.com (204.238.130.68)

Bones

Happy Birthday Levon!

Posted on Fri May 26 17:38:09 CEST 2000 from 209-122-228-113.s367.tnt2.nyw.ny.dialup.rcn.com (209.122.228.113)

John "Mayor of Wamboozy"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEVON!!!!!!!!!!! You're lookin great! Hope the day brings you lots of joy and plenty more days of jammin. The Barnburners ROCK!!! It was great hanging with ya backstage at the Vasser Clements birthday show. Have the rockinest birthday ever. Peace & Love, John Molinari P.S. Is "Rockinest" a real word? Ahh, whatever, you know what I mean.

Posted on Fri May 26 17:34:28 CEST 2000 from gateway.llgm.com (209.125.166.250)

medicine hat

happy birthday levon. coincidentally, on this date, in 1865, arrangements were made in new orleans for the surrender of all confederate troops west of the mississippi. oh yeah, and stevie nicks was born. yip, yip. have a wonderful holiday everyone.

Posted on Fri May 26 17:08:31 CEST 2000 from cobalt.nextlink.net (206.129.70.172)

Mike

On "Dixie" lyrics...We need to remember that the speaker, Virgil Caine, is a SOUTHERNER. People from the south do talk different and the song reflects that difference. (I know we are living in a "politically correct" society where we are all supposed to be the same...but we're NOT. We've almost lost the ability to recognize differences and lost our sense of humor along the way...What a shame.) Virgil would've said "Richmond had fell." Lyrics in general hardly ever are grammatically correct. They usually follow common speech and are written to match the beat and measure of the song. How stupid would the following lyrics sound if they were written in "proper" English?:

"I do not have a home"

"You are not anything but a hound dog, crying all the time...You have never caught a rabbit and you are not a friend of mine"

"It is not me, babe"

Happy Birthday to Levon...Thanks for the music. Have a safe and happy long weekend everyone.

Posted on Fri May 26 16:58:42 CEST 2000 from stk-pm1-46-174.dialup.slip.net (207.171.230.174)

Guenevere

Boy you guys are really coming up with a few "gems"!

And Hey!!! BTW: I think they really do "dig" Diamonds in Arkansas... and Levon Helm is one of em! Happy Birthday to the best drummer ever!!!

check out http://rockhoundingar.com/

Posted on Fri May 26 16:38:03 CEST 2000 from (199.88.112.211)

Molly Z.

I forgot to mention one thing in my last post. How about all gb'ers have a party in the chatroom, in celebration of Levon's birthday tonight? Hope it's convenient for you guys, or if it's a good idea or not. Let me know soon. Thanks.

Posted on Fri May 26 15:54:24 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.251)

David Powell

Happy birthday Levon! Thank you for all the years of heartfelt music.

While we're on the subject of the Civil War--Here's a link to a photograph of Maj. Gen. George Stoneman from the National Archives website. The photo shows Stoneman (the tall man at the right-center of the picture with the long beard) with a "group of foreign observers":

www.nara.gov/nara/nn/nns/civil030.jpg

Posted on Fri May 26 15:07:03 CEST 2000 from ip-151.dial.wans.com (64.7.64.151)

Molly Z.

Hi. Just wanna say Happy Birthday Levon!! Your music has touched me all my life, and it's changed my life. Thank you Levon for the music you put out, and stay healthy! :-) Keep up the good work!

Laura - I really enjoyed reading your posts in here, and welcome! Have a good day and Memorial weekend everyone.

Posted on Fri May 26 14:50:42 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

Hmmm, I think Robbie's known as a pretty well-read guy, Crabby, certainly enough that the Hawk has said they used to make fun of him an awful lot back in the day for always "having his nose in a book." Of course, since I took a correspondence course on lip-readign, I can tell you, in fact, Robbie was commenting to his friend at the Lakers game that you should spend less time on the internet and more time reading...either that, or he was ordering some nachos...

more diamond puns:

If Levon's dad and David Spade opened a strip joint, they could call it "The Diamond and Spade Club."

If Meg Ryan married, then divorced Paul Simon, but then began cavorting at poetry slams with Paul's former musical partner and Levon's dad and decided to purchase one of the Florida Keys, the tabloid headlines would read...

"Rhymin' Ryan-Simon, Diamond, and Garfunkel buyin' Island"

ouch

Posted on Fri May 26 14:38:56 CEST 2000 from gw.itac.ca (209.146.161.1)

Bill

Bashful Bill: How many of the girl's best friends did Diamond have?

Posted on Fri May 26 14:15:24 CEST 2000 from spider-tk053.proxy.aol.com (152.163.206.198)

bob wigo

Happy Birthday Levon. May you enjoy health and happiness surrounded by those you love. Thank you for the wonderful gift of your music. May it continue for a long, long time.

Posted on Fri May 26 14:01:45 CEST 2000 from sarc3b109.snip.net (209.204.89.109)

Chris Dougherty

Thank you Levon for keeping the real music alive! Meeting you earlier this year was a great pleasure and I hope you have a GREAT Birthday!! I know your gonna be banging those drums for along time so I'll thank you in advance for the great music to come! God Bless and Thanks again.

Posted on Fri May 26 13:44:25 CEST 2000 from gateway.tono.no (212.71.68.22)

Jens Magnus

Just thought you might be interested in Dylan's setlist in Oslo May, 19th. Luckily I get access to these things in my work.

Duncan and Brady
Times they are a changin'
That's alright Ma, I'm only bleeding
Love minus Zero No limit
Tangled up in blue
It's all over now. baby blue
Country pie
Can't wait
All along the watchtower
She belongs to me
Cold Iron bound
Leopard skin pill box hat
Love sick
Like a rolling stone
Forever young
Not fade away
Don't think twice, it's allright
Rainy day women
Blowin' in the wind

Posted on Fri May 26 12:46:39 CEST 2000 from cf3k-3-2.paradise.net.nz (203.96.152.187)

Amanda

I've just watched DA Pennebaker's "Woodstock Diary". Its been a few years since I saw the other Woodstock film so I can't really compare them. I know after I watched the first one I thought it looked like it would have been fun;all the drugs, sliding around in mud etc. Either this film didn't capture that or I've changed because the mud, drugs etc just looked squalid.

However, that is not really why I came here to discuss this. The main reason I watched the film tonight was to see the BAND perform "the weight"- which they did but, OUTRAGEOUSLY, there was not one single shot of Richard Manuel. The camera stayed on Levon, Rick and Robbie throughout with a couple of shots of Garth. In the credits it said Richard Manuel was there but you never saw him. I wonder why that was? something to do with where the cameras were? I don't think you can blame RR for this one.

Anyway, my thanks also to JH for the Diamond Mary info. I thought it was great (though probably sad also) that when she was forced to sell her diamond teeth at one point she carried on using tin foil substitutes! What an amazing woman!

Posted on Fri May 26 12:44:33 CEST 2000 from du38-250.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.250.38)

Ilkka

Inspired by the "May 10" disgussion: More of RR poetical errors(?)
CAHOOTS: SHOOT OUT IN CHINA TOWN
"For about five dollars / Or one thousand yen"
(1.) Yen is the Japanese currency - not Chinese, which is yuan.
(2.) The rate is not reasonable.
(Yes, yes..."Ilkka, go and get you a life." :-)

Posted on Fri May 26 12:12:36 CEST 2000 from spider-wn062.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.177)

lIZZZZZZZZ

GEMINI: HAPPY BIRTHDAY........BIG DAY TO SAY.....HEY -ITS ONE MORE GOOD DAY....HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEVON AND THANKS... GOOD JOB, GOOD WORK....CUDOS.....THANKS FOR PLAYING .....GOT A MINUTE? and may you stay forever young : )

Posted on Fri May 26 11:55:22 CEST 2000 from alb1-as5300-86-86.termserv.net (209.23.41.86)

Diamond Lil

Nancy: Hmm.. I suppose if your friend 'Lucy' flew away somewhere with 'Neil' and me...we'd be "Lucy in the sky with Diamonds" :-)

Sorry I haven't been posting much, but I have been reading..and laughing. Thanks for that. Music and laughter are surely 2 of the _best_ things in life, aren't they?

Have a good day everyone. Hug Jan.

Posted on Fri May 26 11:00:36 CEST 2000 from hoiberg.hiof.no (158.36.51.55)

Jan Høiberg

Happy 60th birthday, Levon Helm. Thanks for giving us all this great music over 5 decades. Keep on keepin' on!

Posted on Fri May 26 10:11:16 CEST 2000 from ac9fdee8.ipt.aol.com (172.159.222.232)

Lizz

Neil Diamond.........Im out of the Diamond closet......I confess.

My first exploration into African Music...its a great record.Compare it to " Graceland" Neil;Tap Root Manuscript.ya gotta give some credit for originality and recording here, check the date...........Play On !

Posted on Fri May 26 08:15:39 CEST 2000 from pm3-101.efn.org (206.163.180.101)

deb

Just read the very interesting article about Diamond Teeth Mary, link courtesy of Jan several posts back.

Reading about her life makes me think of the movie "Carny." It is a rather fascinating little movie about some people (played by Robbie Robertson, Gary Busey, Jodie Foster, and others) who travel with the tent shows in the south. RR co-wrote, acted in, produced, and did some of the music. A must for RR fans, and a pretty interesting movie for others.

Neil Diamond.

Posted on Fri May 26 07:13:11 CEST 2000 from 2cust42.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.137.42)

Crabgrass

Some interesting points regarding literature influencing songwriters. Maybe Robbie should read more and watch less basketball.

I stand corrected regarding "Wise Blood" being John Huston's last film though it was probably the last one he acted in - playing Hazel Motes' preacher grandfather in a brief flashback sequence.

Basketball, football, and Neil Diamond - what a great waste of time!!

Posted on Fri May 26 07:08:37 CEST 2000 from mat-8-36.enter.net (207.16.156.138)

Little Brother

-- Nothing is more certain to guarantee the opposite on this site than the phrase "Final Word". So I'll omit it from this: Neil! Die, man!

-- Jan, the piece about Diamond Teeth Mary was a REAL little sparkler of a gem itself. Thanks.

While reading it, I got more than one flash that despite superficial differences like gender and skin color, she reminded me of another Southern blues musician, viz. Levon. "Some said it was her temperament; Mary liked to work things on her own terms and burned her share of bridges along the way." And a reference to "occasional prickliness" also caught my eye. Maybe, to paraphrase Paul Simon's lyric, some people's lives aren't MEANT to roll easy.

-- Here's my .03 on "Dixie": Even though I'm also relatively fussy about lyrics, and find fast, loose, and sloppy phrases or even "facts" distasteful, I don't find "May 10" terribly disturbing. The line could have been shaped to accommodate ANY date, of course. But to stretch a point, Virgil's narrative is that of a rustic, embittered man who is presumably still "in defeat". The verse opens with glimpses of military devastation and the visitation of multiple ruination: the tracks torn up AGAIN, the hard winter of starvation and mortal weariness. Then the line in question, which brackets the timeline: By May the tenth, Richmond had fell... It's not so unthinkable to interpret "Richmond" in the sense of "the Confederate Cause", rather than in the usual narrower sense of the city-as-military-objective falling. As if one were to say, "By August 6th, Tokyo fell" by way of describing the fall of Japan after the A-bomb attack. One may object that hey, no one really SAYS stuff like that, but isn't that true of lots of stuff we forgive under the "poetic license" exception? (It's hardly as egregious as say, "stung by a snake", in any case.)

I mean, I just picture some grizzled old die-hard Johnny Reb (the very image of Levon, in recent years, in fact) saying in effect, "Shit, that winter was hell on earth, 'n by May tenth it was ALL blown away..." Poetic license, I admit, and possibly an undetected mistake, error, slip, or oversight. But again, I can imagine Virgil/Levon rebutting criticism with an explosive roar, and a shower of spit, "Hell, I ain't readin' off no damn CALENDAR, son!" The time he remembers oh, so well, isn't necessarily the DATES he remembers. Selah.

Posted on Fri May 26 06:08:13 CEST 2000 from term-014.wic.net (207.174.107.39)

Jesse Meade

I was wondering if anyone would want to trade me a tape with the songs included on the official release of "The Basement Tapes" but not on the(bootleg) "Genuine Basement Tapes 1-5": Orange Juice Blues, Yazoo Street Scandal, Katies Been Gone, Bessie Smith, Ain't No More Cane, Ruben Remus, Don't Ya Tell Henry, and Long Distance Operator. And the songs from "Greatest Hits Vol.2" that were originally released as singles or were recorded especially for that release with Happy Traum: Watching The River Flow, When I Paint My Masterpiece, You Ain't Goin' Nowhere, Crash On The Levee(Down In The Flood). The only Dylan stuff of any interest that I have to trade is "The Genuine Basement Tapes 1-5", "The Bootleg Series 1-3", and "Biograph 1-3" any of which I would be willing to tape part of in return. I have a bunch of other Dylan albums and most of The Band's(nothing special though) as well as a decent collection of other Rock, Folk, Blues and Soul musicians with which to trade.

Posted on Fri May 26 05:46:05 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-116-125.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.116.125)

BWNWITennessee

Well, okay, I'll 'fess up. The "N" in my name stands for "Neil's", as in Monsuier Diamond. Don't tell.

Posted on Fri May 26 05:32:06 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-116-125.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.116.125)

BWNWITennessee

Peter, I meant that the Eagles charged $1,000 per ticket (for some seats, anyway) at their last show. I think they did, anyway. It's not like I bought one. And didn't they charge about $200 per ticket on their Hell Freezes Over tour? It's not the promoters that decide that. Maybe it's Glenn Fry, but Don still went along with it. I actually used to be a bit of an Eagles fan a long time ago, and that really did turn me off the band completely. And I don't like Napster, either, but anything that can help save the economy by preventing all of America's money from flying into the pocket of Mr. Henley can't be all bad. I just get the impression that when he sings "Kiss my ass" on his new single, he's not being entirely facetious.

I'm afraid it wouldn't be in the best interests of my health to answer the other question posed to me at this particular point in time.

Don't forget about the word "by" in "Dixie." If Robbie just made an error with the dates, he should have said, "on May the 10th, Richmond it fell." I think that by picking a date sometime after the defeat, it just makes the finality seem more certain, like it has finally sunken in that it is all over. When Virgil says, "By May 10, Richmond had fell," it's like he's now come to realize that it was a significant event, something that might not have been apparent immediately afterwards. I should be an authority after all, right? Where's Robbie when we need him?

Have y'all heard that Levon's dad was originally cast to play Ned Beatty's role in "Deliverance"? He was cut, though, when the director thought it would be to disconcerting to audiences when they told him to "kneel, Diamond," just before informing him that he's got a "purty mouth." (sorry)

I must go now. I've fellen and I can't get up.

Posted on Fri May 26 04:54:35 CEST 2000 from 149.0102.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.149)

Nancy Birch

This name thread reminds me of a long-lost friend of mine with the surname "Lucy". He was a romantic soul who had fond ideas of meeting a great love, but lived constantly with the anxiety that when he met her, he would find out that her christian name was Lucy, so if they were to marry and share his surname, she would be known as Lucy Lucy. Perhaps that's why the Diamond Diamond thing sprang to mind for me.

I loved the "Kneel Diamond" thing for Diamond Lil. Could we perhaps make Diamond Lil a Dame on the GB? She clearly is a contributor of great merit and deserves recognition. You have been quiet of late Lil, and I have missed reading your posts, so I hope thing are OK for you.

Posted on Fri May 26 03:49:02 CEST 2000 from on-tor-blr-ahp-04-81.look.ca (209.161.225.209)

Elliott

S'pose, just s'pose for a minute that Ms. Diamond Lil were to be honored with a title by some royal highness somewhere. Maybe she'd be made a dame, the female equivalent of a knight. Perhaps she would be uncertain as to what to do at the ceremonial moment, and, upon inquiring what the proper protocol was, she might be told "Kneel Diamond!"

Posted on Fri May 26 03:20:14 CEST 2000 from dialup-082.cork.iol.ie (194.125.43.82)

Neil Diamond

Ha!!!!!.........my name's NOT Neil Diamond.......but d'y'know what?.......I betcha it's not HIS name, either!!!!......let's see who here on The GB knows his REAL name....BTW, I don't.......probably RR knows.......I must say thanks for The American Civil War lessons, folks.....really informative stuff.....another thing that's so great about this site!!!!......sweet dreams and happy days to you all!!!!....HANK

Posted on Fri May 26 03:18:13 CEST 2000 from spider-tr044.proxy.aol.com (152.163.201.194)

Bashful Bill

So was it Levon's Mom who coined the famous phrase: "Diamond's are a girl's best friend".

Posted on Fri May 26 02:46:21 CEST 2000 from 147.0102.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.147)

Nancy Birch

Interesting name for Levon's father - 'Diamond' - and it brings to mind yet another connection and a 'what if' he had met so and so.

IF Levon's father had been born a girl but was still named Diamond, and had travelled north to meet up with Neil Diamond's father, she/he could have become "Diamond Diamond". Their offspring could have the creative genious of both Levon and Neil, truly a megastar!

Apologies to anti-Diamondophiles for bringing Neil Diamond back to the GB. He really is hard to get rid of.

Posted on Fri May 26 02:24:11 CEST 2000 from 209-23-38-168.ip.termserv.net (209.23.38.168)

Diamond (nope...not as in Neil :-) Lil

Just want to wish everyone a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend. Hope to see some of you in Conneticut on the 8th. I miss you Rick...

Happy 60th Levon! Thanks for all the memories and music. Stay healthy..and happy.

Posted on Fri May 26 02:01:19 CEST 2000 from gw.itac.ca (209.146.161.1)

Bill

Peter: If memory serves, The Crying of Lot 49 contains a number of elements that Robbie Robertson would surely have worked into a song or two, had he read the book up to Cahoots time: Wells Fargo, stamp collecting, the little trumpet thing, auctions, etc. Maybe something like, "Little John was a trumpeter, and I was a stamp collector ...".

Posted on Fri May 26 01:26:10 CEST 2000 from port113.ts2.ulster.net (208.242.164.113)

Foamfoot

Bones - That Black Crowes "Jemima Surrender" can be found on cd, called "Foamfoot - Crowes from the Closet" a show from Troubadour in Los Angeles from 1993. It also features David Crosby. A 'grey market' cd, not an actual true bootleg of sort. Kind of, but not quite. Interesting thing is, it's a few of the Black Crowes calling themselves "Foamfoot" and did all cover songs that night, therefore, it's not really the "Black Crowes" and not really their material, so it's a tape of a band that was doing cover tunes. It's a find if you can find it. I know that it's in the trade circles. It's definatley worth tracking down. Peace- nate

Posted on Fri May 26 00:43:21 CEST 2000 from user-33qt8vp.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.163.249)

Pat Brennan

As Peter and I have discussed this May 10 thing before, I figure I can reveal the importance of the date to Civil War historians to the assembled here. Peter, as usual, was perspecacious, and the answer to the question goes a long way towards investigating the roots of these type of lyrics. On May 10, 1865, former Confederate President Jefferson Davis was captured near Irwinville, Georgia. On that same day, President Andrew Johnson announced that armed resistance in the South had come to an end. From the day Richmond had fell (Confederates abandoned the town on April 2 and Federals occupied it on the 3rd) up until May 10, the various organized Confederate forces continued to surrender. By May 10, most if not all had accepted their paroles. On a side note, William Quantrill was fatally wounded on the 10th and died on June 6. So something big did happen on the 10th. Unfortunately, it got confused in the telling, with the author confusing the fall of Richmond with the official end of the war. I do recall that Levon claimed to direct RR to a book in the library that explained these dates.

Posted on Fri May 26 00:15:15 CEST 2000 from cfa1.execulink.net (199.166.6.10)

paul godfrey

Bill Munson....

Robert Paul Godfrey & Paul Godfrey are one in the same.

Getting across the border to MC the gig with Mitch Ryder was an eye opener. Or maybe I should say ear-opener. Mitch & the boys served up some pretty funky stuff for the time. A lot of the kids were not ready for "Watermellon Man" by Mongo Santamaria. I went down ok by me. Felt bad for Mitch and the hard life of the road. Checked out his brand new 66 Pontiac and the back seat was crammed full of A&W and other burger wrappers. Truly not a healthy lifestyle. But then as Robbie said about the "'road" on TLW video.

Shine On! RPG

Posted on Thu May 25 23:28:35 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-095.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.95)

Peter Viney

Matt K. I’ve never seen a photo of RR and Thomas Pychon in the same room either (but I think even Robbie couldn’t have written "Catcher In The Rye" when he was ten, so discount Salinger) and "Mason Dixon" as a novel title confirms your link. So Robbie must be a mason, and he wrote Dixie. Wow. Can’t think of a link with "The Crying of Lot 49" but I’ll perservere. In 1970 I thought it was one of the greatest books of all time. I re-read it five years ago. If the book has a rosy glow in your memory, please leave it there. Something seriously disappointing goes with re-reading at this date.

Convoluted stuff - I wrote: " The lyric sheet on The Band’s Internet site has ‘By May the 10th Richmond had fell’… May 10th was a good month too late for the fall of Richmond, though gets a majority aural vote. And ‘Richmond - it fell’ is more grammatical than ‘had fell.’ On the VH1 Classic Albums programme Robbie sings it solo, and it’s more like ‘By May tenth Richmond it fell’ "

"had fell" assuming that it’s a colloquial version of "had fallen" is true. It’s past perfect or "past of the past" so means that the event, Richmond falling, happened prior to May 10th, which it did. It also happened prior to May 11th, June 24th and August 19th, but why mention it? "it fell" implies that the action of falling probably was completed on May 10th, which it wasn’t, which means that Robbie and Levon’s research in Woodstock library turned up a dud source. As everyone implies, good writers describe, not prescribe, language, so "had fell" is fair descriptive grammar ("had fallen" is prescriptive grammar). As was said at the time, literary and musical merit is what this is about, not historical accuracy. It still bugs me. It’s not a hard fact to check … just about "A Child’s Guide To The Civil War’ in difficulty. I still hang on to the idea that SOMETHING of significance must have happened to make RR choose May tenth – it’s not like it’s the rhyming word or that he plucks lines from nowhere (except on The Moon Struck One).

Hank: I’ll keep looking. Sting … RR … Don Henley. That’d be a good three piece band, overburdened with writing talent, expensive haircuts and exquisite taste in suits. For me, they’d have three great singers, though I understand that some will say two. I’ll think RR was at that Hollywood bash until I’m proved wrong, but this has often proved to be the case, and Q is likely. Anyway, I’d far rather share a cup of tea with Joni Mitchell than either Sting or Don Henley, but if the choice is Joni Mitchell or Robbie Robertson, sorry Ms Mitchell, but there’s a Starbucks across the street. Tell them I sent you. And if he orders Dom Perignon with the Earl Grey … thirty years listening pleasure would make it worthwhile.

Posted on Thu May 25 23:14:08 CEST 2000 from 216-59-39-237.usa.flashcom.net (216.59.39.237)

Steve L.

I am excited about this summer's re-releases. I am not sure whether to keep my old Cd's or donate them to the local library. I always think what good I may do for some unsuspecting kid who takes Big Pink out on loan just because of the cool cover. Anyway, I am looking to get a copy of the Crossing the Great Divide boot set to burn myself - willing to trade - please email if interested. Thanks again Jan for this site.

Posted on Thu May 25 21:35:13 CEST 2000 from 56k-la-01-10.dial.qnet.com (209.221.212.73)

Dave the Phone Guy

Bob and Charlie

The Subdudes opened two nights in a row for The Band at the Hollywood House of Blues on the HOTH tour.The band I'm playin' with does "I've Got All The Time In The World". Does Tiny Town have music out? The guy that sang and played electrified tambourine had the loudest tambourine anyone could imagine, but he really played that thing.

Posted on Thu May 25 21:33:12 CEST 2000 from gw.itac.ca (209.146.161.1)

Bill

BWNWITennessee: who is N, and why are you W his W?

mattk: "Everything that rises must converge" sounds like something from from TNTDODD rendered into gramatically correcter English. Doesn't fit the rhythm as well though.

Posted on Thu May 25 21:22:39 CEST 2000 from spider-tj073.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.208)

Bayou Sam

Hey, I just realized that Levon's fathers first name was DIAMOND. The same as you know who's last name. How about THAT connection.

Posted on Thu May 25 21:01:08 CEST 2000 from spider-tl072.proxy.aol.com (152.163.207.207)

bob wigo

When proper grammar equates to great literature we shall know hell hath frozen over.

Posted on Thu May 25 20:39:43 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

Actually, I think Levon actually wrote Everything That Rises Must Converge, along with the bulk of Eudora Welty's short stories and photographs.

Additionally, while there have been allegations concerning Sherwood Anderson not crediting Levon for his input on The Egg, my research has proven that Levon in fact wrote the screenplay to The Egg and I and was cheated out of the franchise rights to "Ma and Pa Kettle," who (of course) were first introduced in the film starring Fred MacMurray.

Robbie, for his part, denies any knowledge as to why we've never seen a photgraph of him, JD Salinger, Thomas Pynchon, or Bruce Wayne in the same room at the same time.

; - )

matt

Posted on Thu May 25 19:39:30 CEST 2000 from 216-1-128-26.akorn.net (216.1.128.26)

Mike Carrico

Crabgrass - I share your enthusiasm for Flannery O'Connor in general and for "Wise Blood" in particular. She was a true dead ringer for something like we a'int never seen.

However, John Huston's last movie was his adaptation of James Joyce's "The Dead" in 1987, which he directed from his wheelchair. "Wise Blood" was released around 1980 I think.

Posted on Thu May 25 19:28:47 CEST 2000 from x2-6.poughkeepsie.bestweb.net (216.179.14.180)

Gene

Sorry, Crabby, but I think Levon knows that Richmond had fell by 3 April.

Posted on Thu May 25 18:48:32 CEST 2000 from ric-wht-pxy-int02.wheatfirst.com (204.238.130.68)

Bones

BWNWITennessee: The Black Crows played "Jemima Surrender" during some of their live shows. Sadly, I never heard them do it or hear a recording of it, but there is a connection to the Band.

Bayou Sam: "If You Know What I Mean" is a great song........not that I'm a big fan or anything.

Posted on Thu May 25 18:44:15 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.251)

David Powell

"Whenever I'm asked why Southern writers particularly have a penchant for writing about freaks, I say it is because we are still able to recognize one." --Flannery O'Connor

"They'll be saints and sinners, you'll see losers and winners. All kinds of people you might want to know..." --Robbie Robertson (with help from Levon Helm)

Maybe Robertson was influenced by Flannery O'Connor's style of writing, but I don't think he ever got close to approaching the dark side of her subject matter. Bruce Springsteen has spoken about how much Ms. O'Connor influenced him, and perhaps no better example can be found than in the songs on "Nebraska." Recently, Lucinda Williams's "Car Wheels On A Gravel Road" has also shown a strong O'Connor influence. And who can forget the great Man In Black, Johnny Cash, who once sang, "I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die."

"She would of been a good woman," The Misfit said, "if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life." --Flannery O'Connor in "A Good Man Is Hard To Find"

Posted on Thu May 25 18:24:01 CEST 2000 from 1cust246.tnt6.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.11.190.246)

Crabgrass

I support the idea of nominating Dylan for the Nobel Prize in Literature but we'll have to brush up the grammar on a lot of his songs and have him re-record them or it could be embarrassing. I suggest we start with "It Ain't Me, Babe" which, of course, should have been "It's Not Me, Babe." Bob should have finished college and then started his writing career in my opinion. Check out his "novel" TARANTULA if you don't believe me.

(Mary) Flannery O'Connor - my favorite writer in the world. "Wise Blood" was John Huston's last movie - you can find it on video if you look hard enough. (Shot in Macon GA, I believe.) Harry Dean Stanton also has a major part in that movie - he narrates the authorized bio video of The Band.

The phrase "had fell" in Dixie proves that Levon co-wrote it as far as I'm concerned - or at least it proves he wrote those two words! (That should be submitted in court as Exhibit A.)

The Band filled a few very large halls here in NYC in the '90s several times - like Carnegie and the Beacon Theater.

Posted on Thu May 25 17:30:54 CEST 2000 from spider-to066.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.30)

Bayou Sam

it's good to see Neil Diamond's name continue to come up now and again. Not that I'm a big fan of his.

Posted on Thu May 25 17:14:38 CEST 2000 from du193-1.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.1.193)

Ilkka

Great to see all the Happy Birthday wishes for Dylan even in this gb. Because I was amongst the ones to yell "Happy Birthday, next week!", I won't do it here.
Next year it is time for The Big 6-0. To celebrate this, please support the Campaign Committee for Bob Dylan's nomination for the Nobel Prize in literature.
www.expectingrain.com/dok/art/nobel/index.html

Posted on Thu May 25 16:22:05 CEST 2000 from polaris-fw1.nspco.com (206.10.243.20)

Dave Z

Wouldn't it be neat if the Band reissues were enhanced CDs with rare video interviews... and a link back to Jan's site...

Posted on Thu May 25 15:34:11 CEST 2000 from usr53-dialup147.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.199.151)

G-MAN

Good morning BAND fans-hope we all have a great day. Rode to work this am and listened to Rick singing Book Faded Brown and (live) Long Black Veil. Felt good and sang along. It was good cause I woke up some road kill. Peter V-hey, how bout gettin the article finished- many of us waitng for it. Good luck.

Posted on Thu May 25 15:15:08 CEST 2000 from trt-on68-25.netcom.ca (216.123.107.153)

John Donabie

Could anyone give me a name to order New Band Vinyl. I don't mean OLD vinyl shops. The newly released vinyl such as the brown album etc. Thank you very much. Dusting off the turntable.

Posted on Thu May 25 13:08:27 CEST 2000 from dialup-123.cork.iol.ie (194.125.43.123)

Hank

Peter Viney!!!!! I SHOULD be rushing out the door right now, but no, here I am looking at the GB.......is there no hope for me????.....anyway....that story about Don Henley and Joni mitchell does NOT involve RR.......the story goes that Don Henley was saving a seat for STING at some Hollywood bash after a Sting gig and when Joni was there 'cos her drummer Vinnie Coluita (?) was drumming with Sting on this particular tour........Don got a bit nervous when Joni approached him before Sting arrived to take this seat.....I dunno......it's all kinda weird, really, isn't it?....sounds like the behaviour of American high-school kids in homeroom instead of wealthy, healthy, cossetted Rocks Stars, does'nt it?.......I remember reading this in Q magazine.........I gotta go.....see y'all later at The The Band song Theme party!!!!!!!........Hank PS What are YOU wearing to it, Peter?????

Posted on Thu May 25 09:52:20 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-064.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.64)

Peter Viney

Welcome to the Hotel California. This could be another Neil Diamond one. Don Henley is linked to Robbie in some perceptions. I’m trying to remember it, but there was a Joni Mitchell interview years ago where she talked about being at some record / film industry bash where Robbie Robertson and Don Henley were at a table with some record executives and were too big time to talk to her. I thought this odd at the time. Couldn’t have been David Geffen who was one of her greatest supporters. I can hardly see either RR or DH being "bigger" than Joni in anyone’s perception, let alone their own. I assumed she was being wildly over-sensitive and they were probably too stoned or whatever. (anyone else remember this?) Now what interests me is the possible combinations of Henley’s voice and Robertson’s writing. He does have a knack of doing perfect songs for singing drummers. I see that Henley co-writes everything, but there is a common style running through his songs.

As I believe relations between Henley and the Eagles were about the same as RR / Levon, they must have needed a LOT of money to play together on the Hell Freezes Over tour (but Glenn Frey appears on the new album, as do most of The Heartbreakers, Stevie Wonder and Randy Newman). BWNWITennessee has left off some zeros, I assume. If The Eagles are going out for a thousand dollars I’ll get some friends together and we’ll have a whip-round to raise the cash for my next birthday. I don’t know how many zeros are missing, as I don’t know this story. Any band is worth whatever they can get. The Band spent the 90s going out for very much less than they were worth, judging by the size of the halls. "The Very Best of The Eagles" passed "Thriller" as thebiggest selling album of all time last year. This astonished me, as I’ve never followed their career with much interest. I saw the Dolby 5.1 DTS "Hell Freezes Over" being used to demonstrate DVD last year and it was my first purchase of their material. Since then, I’ve begun to appreciate them. Henley does have one of THE great voices in rock.

The concept that Henley is a bad guy because a promoter is willing to pay a lot of cash for his services is touchingly late 60s. Tear down the walls. Make the festival free. Up against the wall, Don. Let’s rip off their instruments. Download all their stuff from Napster. In common with many people who love music, I won’t touch Napster and look forward to them being stopped. I hold to the quaint idea that musicians should be paid for their work. Napster (etc) won’t be stopped, because you can never get the genie back in the bottle. Hold on, that’s a lyric from the new Don Henley album …

Posted on Thu May 25 09:38:08 CEST 2000 from proxy1.dbsch1.nb.nl.home.com (212.120.80.4)

Thessa

Ver informative website. I learned about The Band through my father: his favorite music piece ever is "The Last Waltz". I am trying to find sheet music for that particular piece of music. Does anyone know where I can find it? Or has anyone written it down and wants to share it with me? Send me an e-mail! Thanks.

Posted on Thu May 25 09:34:43 CEST 2000 from pm3-pt29.pcnet.net (206.105.29.103)

Laura

Oh yes, another thing... (forgot to mention this in my previous post!). I also found Peter Viney's article on "When You Awake" very interesting (well, all right, I found all his song articles very interesting!). The first few times I listened to this song, my mind just absolutely *struggled* to wrap itself around the lyrics. I was just sort of playing the CD while doing other things (cleaning the bathroom, as a matter of fact), not concentrating closely on the words, but that song stood out for me. My first attempts at grasping it invoked the following initial thoughts/interpretations:

"Went to the house that brings a smile"--I immediately assumed this was a "house" of prostitution! Of course, the next line contradicted that ("Sat upon my grandpa's knee") and my brain really had to backpedal. It was a weird thing... songs don't usually do that to you.

Re: the chorus: Now this, instantly, and still, whenever I listen to it, makes me think of a hypnotist. "When you awake you will remember everything"--isn't that exactly the sort of thing a hypnotist says? And, of course, I'd been reading about The Band, so that made perfect sense--it's Robbie's experience with the anti-stage fright hypnotist! "You will be hanging on a string from your... "--that's sort of like what the hypnotist told him, to keep him from feeling weak in the knees, etc. I don't know how that fits into the rest of the song (it doesn't, really), but the chorus certainly sounds like Robbie's hypnotist to me.

The other thing that this song reminds me of is the book/movie "Wise Blood." I guess it's the "lye water" line. It's *lime* water in the book, but I'm pretty sure it's changed to *lye* in the movie (though I haven't watched it in a few years and I could be mistaken). The connection is that the main character in the movie, Hazel Motes, is played by Brad Dourif, who was a huge fan/friend of The Band and hung around with them doing nothing between the time when he came out in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and when he next appeared in a film. (He was also at The Last Waltz.) "Wise Blood" is a really strange Southern Gothic novel by Flannery O'Connor, full of bizarre Band-esque characters, and Dourif's portrayal of Hazel is fantastic. The tone and all the warnings in the song are quite "Wise Blood"-ish and Hazel also has an old car that constantly freezes up! So, I don't know--it's probably just coincidence--but "When You Awake" makes me think of "Wise Blood." Oh, and Brad Dourif was *also* in "Heaven's Gate"! (Along with The Hawk, that is.)

Posted on Thu May 25 08:59:02 CEST 2000 from pm3-pt29.pcnet.net (206.105.29.103)

Laura

Thanks for all the friendly welcomes, everyone. And yes, please, Peter Viney, do finish your "Acadian Driftwood" article!

Re: the footnotes in Peter's article on "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" (I know you probably wrote it ages ago, but it's new to me!), there is no question in my mind that the line is "By May the 10th Richmond had fell." The fact that "had fell" is less grammatical than "it fell" makes "had fell" seem *more* favourable to me, not less. After all, why would Virgil Caine use particularly good English? Also, the *tense* fits better. Virgil is talking in the past tense about a time he remembers oh so well--"We were hungry, just barely alive..." "It fell" is present tense. The line, to go with the rest of the narration, really should be "had fallen," but that's too hoity-toity for Virgil, so it's "had fell." It works for me. :-)

I love the idea of a get-together where attendees dress as Band song characters! Ha! There are so many great ones. I guess maybe I'd come as Lucy, and bring burned soup and a chicken (or burned chicken soup?). Speaking of that, is there any way I can get my hands on the non-cut version of "Ferdinand the Imposter"? I have all the Genuine Basement tapes, and "Ferdinand" is one of my very favourite songs, but isn't there supposed to be a non-cut version also?

Posted on Thu May 25 08:51:33 CEST 2000 from jan-hoiberg.hiof.no (158.36.52.15)

jh

Amanda,
Here's some tips for your costume party, from a real diamond-teeth lady that used to be a medicine-show singer. Guess it was her that Levon saw in his childhood.

Posted on Thu May 25 06:12:24 CEST 2000 from spider-wd012.proxy.aol.com (205.188.193.152)

Pac

Happy Birthday Mr. Bob Dylan! We were delighted to see his eternal smile and unexpected stage antics out here 2 years ago. May life get better and better with time. Same wishes for Levon. And thanks to the guestbook once again for your enlightening entries. I'd associated The Band with the east coast and Garcia with out here, never thinking much about how Workman's Dead and American Beauty came to be. You're absolutely right about The Band (and DYLAN!) influencing them. We moved here from the NY area in early '70 and acoustic guitars were everywhere. The acid went bad; the Haight turned ugly; politics were heavy; but the Dead, New Riders, acoustic Hot Tuna, etc. kept the sun out. By then The Band's brown LP was out, as were New Morning and Nashville Skyline I think. Country was becoming big -- even Johnny Cash had a TV show. And many of us were burning out on the psychedelic scene. I remember the joy of watering the garden ('71?) while listening to Janis' posthumous release of Bobby McGee. Today I read that Kris Kristofferson wrote it on the '70 Toronto train tour when partying day and night with The Band, Dead, Janis and others. Any more info on that?

Posted on Thu May 25 06:00:09 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-1-217.mia.bellsouth.net (209.214.1.217)

brian kaz

I hope Robbie Robertson is enjoying spending all those royalty checks he gets. He should share the songwriting wealth equally with all members who deserve it. Do you hear me, Mr. Hollywood?

Posted on Thu May 25 05:35:09 CEST 2000 from www-cache.vuw.ac.nz (130.195.2.96)

Amanda

If I am ever invited to a dress up as a Band character party I'll come as Miss Brer Fox with diamonds in my teeth... Even though I'm not a rock and roll singer.

Posted on Thu May 25 05:09:50 CEST 2000 from ns1.schuster.com (199.105.252.66)

Charlie Young

Bob Wigo: I saw the Subdudes on their farewell tour a couple of years ago and their kindred connection to The Band struck me--and it was more than just the accordian and New Orleans connection. They are missed.

About that "Yoko Ono Bono" line: I've used that for years but I didn't come up with it from smoking anything. I think that it more likely came from the kind of wordplay I learned from years of Dylan, Guthrie (Arlo and Woody) and Zappa records...

Posted on Thu May 25 04:22:15 CEST 2000 from spider-ta078.proxy.aol.com (152.163.205.11)

bob wigo

Listening to the Subdudes and hearing some Band influences. I know they are now defunct ( or maybe they were de-funked ) and the primary players are now the nucleus of a band called Tiny Town. I can't help but think that these guys could do justice to a Band cover or two. Anyone got anything that might tie in ?

Posted on Thu May 25 03:34:48 CEST 2000 from ip206.st-louis12.mo.pub-ip.psi.net (38.31.68.206)

Jon

I've always been a longtime Band fan, and had a few Dylan records, which eventually wore out. If I was to order me a few Dylan CD's, where would you'all start. It wouldn't have to be just Dylan AND the Band, just maybe a few that represent the best of Dylan. Does he have a box set to start out with? I'd also like to comment on that Yoko Ono Bono thing. I wish I was smoking what whoever thought that up! Here in ST. Louis, on the local public radio station, KDHX 88.1 they played Bob the entire day. No commercials to screw it up. Is the CD, I think, "Royal Albert" where he tells The Band to play #$%@ loud any good?

Posted on Thu May 25 03:08:54 CEST 2000 from dialup-359.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.103)

HANK THE RIVER BOAT GAMBLER

Hey There! Bob Dylan!!!! I Hope your feelin' fine @ 59, !!!! ...........9 years ago....we threw a Happy 50th Birthday party for Bob @ The Lobby Bar in Cork ( Yes, Yes....The same place we had Ricks Memorial back in January)......We ran this competition for folks to dress up as characters from some of his songs, so folks showed up as Motor-Cycle Black Madonna 3-wheeled Gypsy Queens, Ezra Pounds and TS Elliots, a guy completely Tangled up in Blue wool...but the winner was a guy who claimed he was Bobs alter ego which split from his body when he became born again......strange stuff, but alot of fun......and there were loadsa musicians and singers jammin' out Dylan songs.........the funny thing was someone told us afterwards he was actually in Ireland at the time!!!! Hmmmmmm, maybe we should do it next year for his 60th!!!....Hmmmmmm......Y'know what?.....it would'nt be a bad idea for Band fans to throw Band parties where people could show up as characters from BAND songs!!!(I dunno..... ...maybe some of you have already DONE this!!!!!) show up as Crazy Chester or Daniel and The Sacred Harp or The Vice President gone mad or A Pretty Little Girl from Greece...you could be a young man serving your country (wear a crisp military uniform)...or The MAMA in RAG MAMA RAG!!!!..........maybe all you GBers going to these Rick memorials could dress up as someone and post......"I'll be Bessie" (start tearing up all of your winnings and laugh out loud whilst doing it.....make sure it's monopoly money....you don't have to be TOO serious about it!!!) or "I'll be Jake", "I'll be The Unfaithful Servant" or "Look for us, we'll be the Big Dumb Blonde and Turtle that friend of hers and handing out forged checks".........."If I introduce myself as 'Virgil Cane is the name', I'll be such and such from..........".....OK OK OK.......you get the idea........ I'll go away now........the weekend kinda statrts tommorow night, right?.......If I ever get to one of these things I'll be The River Boat Gambler......take care y'all.......stay happy if ya can.......All The Best.......HANK

Posted on Thu May 25 01:20:18 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-119-160.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.119.160)

BWNWITennessee

Robbie's always had goofy stage moves. Not everyone can do the Danko Shuffle. Some of us just have to settle for the Funky Robertson.

Happy Birthday to Rich Robinson of the Black Crowes, too. Is there any Band connection there? (Other than having the initials RR)

Pete, don't even mention the name of Don Henley, a guy that can charge $1,000 for a New Year's perfomance of his washed-up band, then rant about the evils and greed of corporate America. I just hope you got his album off of Napster.

Posted on Thu May 25 00:06:17 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-086.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.86)

Peter Viney

So many nice comments today that I’ll have to get down and finish that two-thirds done article on "Acadian Driftwood".

John Donabie: A Hammond B3 is eminently transportable if you take a saw just below the keyboard, cut it in two, and reconnect it with multiple connectors – one wire per key. The B3 case unfortunately collapses when you take a saw to it and needs steel reinforcement. I’ve done it, years ago, as lowly assistant to a friend. He did the brains work, I still have scars from the solder dropped all over my hands while I held the wires for him. We started with an L100 and that was easy work. Then we foolishly agreed to cut a B3. Which reminds me of the Derek & Clive thread – what’s the worst job you ever had?

Had a long conversation about REAL singers, and the prevalence of brilliant writers who are not REAL singers, but want to perform their own stuff. The Band had three REAL singers. For those who want some new material from someone who can hit all the notes and do so recognisably and expressively, try Don Henley’s new "Inside Job." I had five hours in the car today and got through it four times. (And Ween "White Peppers" once – excellent poppy album recorded in Woodstock. Try "Bananas and Blow".) There are at least a couple of tracks on the Henley that will appeal to all us Danko fans. It garnered poor reviews, but even Uncut’s 2 star review said that he had "one of the most emotive voices in rock."

Neil Young’s "Silver & Gold" is also on DVD in Dolby 5.1. So he’s really trying the formats. I guess this version is a concert. Haven’t heard it.

Posted on Wed May 24 23:35:16 CEST 2000 from saturn.landshut.org (212.72.69.61)

Paul Vilser

G-MAN: thanks, it's as simple as that!

PV

Posted on Wed May 24 22:17:39 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.251)

David Powell

On Bob's birthday I just thought I'd mention a new album that's in the Basement Tapes vein-- It's called "The Covers Record" by Cat Power, a.k.a. Chan Marshall. Ms. Marshall, accompanying herself either on guitar or piano, does dramatic reinterpretations of 11 classic songs and one original. The covers include the Stones's "Satisfaction", Dylan's "Paths of Victory", Lou Reed's "I Found a Reason" and Nina Simone's "Wild Is the Wind." This album is a breath of fresh air from Harry Smith's Weird America, as Greil Marcus would say. Available from Matador on both CD and LP. If you own a turntable, do yourself a favor and go for the vinyl.

Speaking of analog--Neil Young's new album, "Silver & Gold", is available as an import LP. This vinyl version is all-analog (AAA), recorded, mixed & mastered, totally in the analog format. Guest musicians include Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Ben Keith, Jim Keltner and Dewey "Spooner" Oldham, with engineering by Tim Mulligan.

Posted on Wed May 24 22:00:35 CEST 2000 from usr53-dialup91.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.199.93)

G-MAN

BONES- Just throwed one out there to get some opions. I stated my view on RR and RR/LH feud; DON'T go there no more. The Band is the Band & RR is a great guitarist. Hey if he wants to go to a Laker game-good for him. However, at the RR(Rock & Roll-NOT to be confused with the other RR) he just seemed so unnatural in his moves while playing. Sort of awed by EC and trying to hard to be accepted. Man let the the music do the talkin. If the listeners don't pick up on it, DON'T crank and girate like AN EX-LAKER !!!! Seriously, I do respect the choices he made. He's living with the consequences. The other guys do there thing. I'm not a judge, well actually I am, but NOT in the case re. the Band. I guess BAND fans sort of get into conflict subconsciously cause it ain't goin to ever be the same. That is a darn shame, but that's life. Really-PISSED I'll never see Danko again, but was Rick the same as he was years ago ? Are the splinter groups the same ? We have to enjoy the memories and what the BAND signified. Can't be 1970 again. PEACE & KEEP ON ROCKIN'.

Posted on Wed May 24 21:05:09 CEST 2000 from gw.itac.ca (209.146.161.1)

Bill

David, when did Lewis Grizzard write? The same line was the centrepiece of Ronnie Hawkins' vocal on the b-side of his last 45 with the Band/Hawks - "There's A Screw Loose". Funnily enough, I met Bill Hawkins' co-author of that particular book a couple of years ago and asked him if there was a Ronnie Hawkins link (other than surnames). He didn't know of one, but did say that he and Bill had often gone to see Ronnie and the Band/Hawks on Yonge Street during their university days (which would have been a year or two before the book came out in '65 or '66).

Posted on Wed May 24 20:55:53 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.blfld1.ct.home.com (24.4.252.36)

AHROOO!!

Hey, Dave thanks for the tip-off. LOL!!! (I know basketball lingo). What are some of the others here complaining about? They're just as guilty watching that Lakers game as much as Robbie is sitting courtside. Just because he's a musician, does that mean he has to play guitar or write songs every single moment of his life? Oh wait, you rather see him sit on a front porch somewhere in Woodstock with yellow teeth.

You know, I heard that he was a major Toronto Blue Jays fan too, but I'm sure somebody will say, "They suck because Robbie likes them!" BWAAAAAHAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! Oh yeah, he probably likes hockey too, like a ton of Canadians but that doesn't count because he's ROBBIE!

doing her hockey chant....ROB-ERT-SON! ROB-ERT-SON!

AHROOO!!

Posted on Wed May 24 20:33:56 CEST 2000 from (204.120.54.1)

jcf

Welcome aboard Laura. I'm also addicted to the website and enjoy Peter's articles.

Posted on Wed May 24 20:30:34 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.251)

David Powell

"People are crazy and times are strange / I'm locked in tight, I'm out of range / I used to care but things have changed..." --Happy birthday Bob.

"Shoot Low Boys--They're Ridin' Shetland Ponies" was also the title of a book by the late, southern humorist Lewis Grizzard, a great Georgian. I seem to recall that during the War of 1812, an American commander at the Battle of New Orleans exhorted his troops to "Shoot low, boys! Rake them--rake them! They're comin' on all fours."

Martin: Levon & the Barn Burners recently did a short tour through the South. Let me just urge all of you lucky people up in the Northeast to go see them. The band is tight and Levon is playing like a man possessed! Amy is great--I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot more from her is the future. Remember, the blues is where the soul of man never dies.

Posted on Wed May 24 20:27:31 CEST 2000 from ric-wht-pxy-int02.wheatfirst.com (204.238.130.68)

Bones

G-MAN: I know you were just trying to be funny, but what was wrong with Robbie's so-called "moves" at the Hall of Fame? Did you actually think that he did not play well? Or are you one of the many here who think he had something to do with JFK's death as well as many other evil things?

Posted on Wed May 24 18:54:26 CEST 2000 from gw.itac.ca (209.146.161.1)

Bill

Today's reading is from the July 4, 1966 edition of RPM Music Weekly: "Whatever happend to Ronnie Hawkins? Too long off the scene, Ronnie is now beginning to make appearances throughout Upper Canada. His first stint was in Kinston where R. Paul Godfrey of CKWS notes that Ronnie was so well received that the week was declared "Ronnie Hawkins Week". He also appeared on Bryan Olney's TV "Dance Party", seen on Channel 11. Paul crossed the border to Waterdown, New York, to host a wild gig with Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels."

Would R. Paul Godfrey be our Paul Godfrey?

Hawkins had nothing on the charts at the RPM time, but the following groups with Hawkins/Band associations did: Robbie Lane and the Disciples, Ritchie Knight and the Midknights, Larry Lee and the Leesures and Little Caesar and the Consuls.

A bit off-topic, the same issue has what was certainly one of the first mentions of Bruce Cockburn in the national media. To the effect that he and Bill Hawkins (a well known poet whose first book was titled, "Shoot Low Sheriff, They're Riding Shetlands" - where DID he get that title?) were "working on a Rock Opera". This was 1966!

Posted on Wed May 24 18:33:36 CEST 2000 from usr53-dialup47.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.199.47)

G-MAN

WRONG !! If Rick Danko got with Yoko Ono- she have an Italian name: Yoko Ono Out on Her Assa. And he'd Keep on Rockin !! I would have liked to see that !!

Posted on Wed May 24 16:44:32 CEST 2000 from cust26.max12.seattle-k56.aa.net (206.125.86.26)

Martin Rudow

It seems that the only place that the Barn Burners, Crows, etc., play is in New England! Let's have them tour the West Coast before they hit the European circuit. How about it boys (and girls). I treasure the memories of the three Band concerts I saw in Seattle, thankfully one was with Richard, never saw them with Robbie.

Posted on Wed May 24 16:44:15 CEST 2000 from spider-th073.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.78)

butch

WELCOME TO THE COLONIES,, J.H. IT's WEDNESDAY !!!! LEVON HELM & THE BARN BURNERS TONIGHT,, WOODSTOCK, NY,,, 10 pm,,, Joyous Lake,,, see ya there,,, ,,,,,& FRIDAY ( LEVON'S 60th BIRTHDAY ) @ THE TURNING POINT,, PIERMONT NY ( ROCKLAND COUNTY ) 2 SHOWS,,, we have friends driving in from ST PAUL MN,,,for friday's gig,, folks we met in MEMPHIS,,, OUT & BACK,, FOR THE BARN BURNERS FRIDAY NIGHT,,,, SEE YA THERE,,,,, thanks,,,, butch SO WHAT IS YOUR EXCUSE ????? ,,,

Posted on Wed May 24 16:17:33 CEST 2000 from port117.syracusenet.net (209.2.141.60)

w price

Actually a question from a semi-fan but a musician. I need the title of the song including lyrics 'Take a load off Annie' so I can find the lyrics. if anyone knows the answer to this question which would be incredibly offensive to any REAL Band fan, I'd appreciate it. sevensundayswp@netscape.net

Posted on Wed May 24 15:56:54 CEST 2000 from (170.158.89.143)

Dr Pepper

Hey Bashful Bill, I see someone you know pretty well got her 15 minutes of fame. Tell Caron, nice job!

Posted on Wed May 24 15:50:55 CEST 2000 from (130.219.229.173)

BK

If anyone's interested, WFUV radio is playing Dylan all day today in honor of his birthday. They stream on the web, so if you're out of the NY area you can click on the Homepage link above, or go to www.wfuv.org I'm diggin it pretty heavily myself.- Happy b'day Bob- Peace all, BK

Posted on Wed May 24 15:13:00 CEST 2000 from spider-wd012.proxy.aol.com (205.188.193.152)

Bashful Bill

Hey, Laura. I assume you are lurking out there and will read this. This place is addicting. If there are any tickets left by all means you should be there. And if there are no tickets left, you should go check it out anyway if you are that close. You never know, a ticket may just materialize, strange things happen. There will be a lot of GB people wandering and stumbling around, I'm certain. I'm meeting a few friends there, and I hope to actually meet some of the virtual voices I've been reading and talking to for the last year or so. So go right now and see if any tickets are left. And...I agree. Peter Viney's posts and articles are one of the best things on this site.

Posted on Wed May 24 14:43:29 CEST 2000 from icache-3.doit.wisc.edu (144.92.44.76)

Tim(SUNDOG)Corcoran

Happy brithday to my brother Mickey, and one of the worlds greatest entertainer, BOB DYLAN! See you at Alpine Valley July 15th with Phil Lesh and friends :)

Posted on Wed May 24 13:53:14 CEST 2000 from trt-on59-37.netcom.ca (216.123.102.37)

John Donabie

If you see him.....say hello, HE might be in Tangiers. HAPPY 59TH BIRTHDAY BOB..........a little Queen Jane and Ballad of a Thin Man would go nice today; or a little Time Out Of Mind. Thanks again for the body of work Bobby.

If I had one request.....and I'm sure he would hate it. I would like to see a B3 organ in Bob's live ensemble. I guess it's harder to travel "light" with one of those. Maybe a Wurlitzer??

Posted on Wed May 24 13:03:17 CEST 2000 from gateway.tono.no (212.71.68.22)

Jens Magnus

Happy birthday, Bob!

Posted on Wed May 24 12:50:24 CEST 2000 from dialup-271.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.15)

Hank

First of all, thanks Mike and Gene for the nice things you wrote about my album........it means alot to me, especially when I know you guys are Band-heads.......we're working on a new one, which should be finished this summer and will let y'all know when it's ready........Last night, my wife and I went to see a performance of "Dr. Faustus" by Christopher Marlowe....and not once did I think of RR!!!!!.........why is it assumed that it's musicians and scientists that sell their souls to the devil?.......I mean, it's perfectly plausible that car mechanics, housewives, hippies, punks and insurance salespersons sell their souls, too........Now, lemme see if I got this straight.......God is DEAD.......does that mean that The Dead are GOD????!!!!!.....Do you really believe that CRABBY?......Bob Weir once said that Bob Dylan was the voice of God on earth today.......that's pretty heavy going.......it was around the time that Dylan was touring with The Dead, circa 1987......speaking of soul-selling and The Band and all that.......is that a slide guitar I hear on "Daniel and The Sacred Harp"?.......is it RR playing it?......Welcome to LAURA, whose last post is testimony to the power of The Bands music despite the fact that it's been 24 years since TLW, Rick and Richard gigging in the sky and the ongoing, so-called "feud"........speaking of which, the more I watch Levons drums and drumming video, the more I 'm convinced that Levon deserves a writing credit on almost everything The Band recorded.....Levon is NOT just providing Rythmn for those songs........he helped to shape 'em into classic pieces of music......Now Let's hear it for a TRIPLE headliner tour of Europe: The Barnburners, The HT Gurus AND The Crowmatix w/ Garth......c'mon you guys.....talk to y'all later...........HANK

Posted on Wed May 24 11:15:30 CEST 2000 from pm3-027.efn.org (206.163.180.27)

deb

RANDOM THOUGHTS:

Mike Nesmith is a brilliant musician and entertainer. For a sampling of his genius, check out the video "Elephant Parts" that he made in the 70s or 80s.

Today, I heard some very interesting covers on the radio. One was a kind of rap version of Neil Diamond's "Holly Holy" mixed with another song or two of his. The other was a rockin' version of "The Weight" by a Susan ?????????, didn't catch the whole name; but the DJ followed it with the original song by The Band.

Posted on Wed May 24 06:03:44 CEST 2000 from user-33qta88.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.169.8)

Pat Brennan

Attention, I need your help. If you own The Band at Watkins Glen CD (I'm assuming most of you do) could you please email me privately and tell me what you think of it. Any reaction at all would be appreciated. Thanks. Funny, when y'all start talking about the Dead, I start feeling like Crabby.

Posted on Wed May 24 04:07:38 CEST 2000 from pm3-pt38.pcnet.net (206.105.29.112)

Laura

Hi everyone... I've been lurking for about a week, so I guess it's time for me to introduce myself. This is a fantastic guest book (more like a mailing list than a guest book, really!), and I've been visiting this site multiple times daily for the past couple of weeks. I especially love Peter Viney's articles about songs.

I really only "discovered" The Band a few weeks ago, so this is all new to me and I'm pretty addicted right now. I've been a Dylan fan since I was a young teen (I'm 28 now), but I never really knew about The Band. About a year ago, I guess, I finally got The Basement Tapes--which I adore--and Live 1966. Even though my favourite parts, respectively, were "Reuben Remus" and Rick's "...behind!" vocals on "One Too Many Mornings," I still didn't get into The Band until now. I guess it was watching The Last Waltz that finally did me in. :-) I've bought Big Pink, the brown album, Stage Fright, and Rock of Ages in the past couple weeks, and I just finished making my own CD-R version of the Last Waltz music (recorded from the movie... I like that mix better, and I've only included The Band's songs [along with some quotes] plus a few selective guests, so it all fits on one disc).

The Rick memorial concert isn't that far away from me (about an hour, I guess) so I'm sort of wondering if I ought to go... it sounds like a lot of people from the guest book are going to! I don't know anyone, though, and I'm not really sure I'd be able to fully appreciate the music yet. Garth is the only performer I've ever heard of!

Anyway, I just wanted to say hi, and thank Jan for this marvellous site.

Posted on Wed May 24 03:44:19 CEST 2000 from ns1.schuster.com (199.105.252.66)

Charlie Young

Bayou Sam: I always liked the ring of Yoko Ono Bono myself (after all Gregg Allman was Mr. Cher for a few weeks back in the 1970s).

Posted on Wed May 24 01:27:04 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-124-167.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.124.167)

Back with no wife in Tennessee

For a lesson on how to conduct a proper Guestbook brawl, I suggest we all take a field trip to the Allman Brothers website, www.allmanbrothersband.com. Just watch out for the flying beer bottles. The quality of their insults is just putting us to shame, people. Levon vs. Robbie ain't got nothin' on Butch vs. Dickey.

Posted on Wed May 24 01:25:15 CEST 2000 from spider-ti032.proxy.aol.com (152.163.194.187)

Bayou Sam

imagine if Yoko had met Rick instead of John Lennon. She could have been Yoko Ono Danko. Say it out loud - it rolls off the tounge..........oh never mind - just a little levity.

Posted on Wed May 24 00:59:55 CEST 2000 from x2-9.poughkeepsie.bestweb.net (216.179.14.183)

Gene

Kalervo

The Native American band, Indigenous, appeared on Austin City Limits a week or two ago. The show will be re-broadcast the weekend of 2nd Sept.

Posted on Tue May 23 23:56:17 CEST 2000 from cobalt.nextlink.net (206.129.70.172)

Mike

Gene -- I most heartily concur. I, too, have been enjoying Hank's CD out here in Oregon. (I must admit, I was pleasantly surprized. The "sittin' in the bar" song is pretty funny). I plan on getting his other CD, the one where he does the cover songs. I'm sure it's a lot of fun.

Posted on Tue May 23 23:24:26 CEST 2000 from x2-12.poughkeepsie.bestweb.net (216.179.14.186)

Gene

Hank, I just got your band's CD, An Open Kitchen on Princes Street. You guys ROCK! Hope you don't mind if I pass along your advice to everybody else, "get a BAND together!!!!" I'm looking forward to your next CD!

Posted on Tue May 23 23:19:44 CEST 2000 from spider-to067.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.31)

Linda

Hey JH if I made it on PIA Czech air cannot be any worse happy trails to you Njoy

Posted on Tue May 23 23:05:27 CEST 2000 from 209-23-38-109.ip.termserv.net (209.23.38.109)

Diamond Lil

Yikes Jan! Don't forget to pack a flask..some vitamin v's..and a parachute! :-) Hug...

Posted on Tue May 23 22:49:33 CEST 2000 from jan-hoiberg.hiof.no (158.36.52.15)

jh

Ok, no new guestbook. I get the message.

See y'all at the Danko benefit memorial concert ... I hope ... wonder if Czech airlines still fly those Russian Tupolev aircrafts? ("civilized" former Soviet military cargo planes.) If you've ever been in one and experienced the smell of onboard cooking and the smoke/steam in the cabin during landing ... but at the prices Czech Air offers, who cares?

Posted on Tue May 23 21:48:07 CEST 2000 from usr50-dialup5.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.196.5)

G-MAN

I can't picture the Robster at basketball game ! I only watch the last 8-9 min., so I guess I missed him. More mythology of RR selling his soul. Oh boy ! Hope his basketball move are better than his moves at RR Hall . Maybe he is beingkind to ALL cameras ? Have a good day ! G-MAN !!

Posted on Tue May 23 21:45:39 CEST 2000 from cache-hki-5.inet.fi (194.197.68.45)

Kalervo

Oh yes Bill, Head was shown in our Museum of Modern Arts a week ago. It tells something. And Mike Neshmith' s solo albums are the best country rock there is... By the way I am listening to the fine Native bluesrock band Indigenous from their home page. Over 30 minutes of sheer power - live!

Posted on Tue May 23 21:14:41 CEST 2000 from gw.itac.ca (209.146.161.1)

Bill

... and Jack Nicholson was involved, with Bob Rafelson, in making the great Monkee movie, "Head". The fact that the illustrious Frank Zappa made an appearance in the movie makes this thread even more exciting, don't you think?

Posted on Tue May 23 20:37:24 CEST 2000 from gw.itac.ca (209.146.161.1)

Bill

Jan: scrolling backwards, I see that I agree with John, Jonathan and Lil (and others) - things are fine as they are.

Speaking of John (Donabie), I've been going through my old RPM magazines, and find a fair number of pictures of the man as he was around 1970. One showed him smiling along with the great David Amram (who was then touring to support his wonderful "No More Walls" - or something like that) and Amram's guitarist, Charlie Chin. As mentioned in previous posts, Chin was in Cat Mother with Larry Packer, and also banjoed on Buffalo Springfield's "Bluebird".

One more thing on the Monkees front: another of Mike Nesmith's songs (albeit one that leaned heavily on stuff already in the public domain) was "Mary Mary", as covered by the Butterfield Blues Band of all people.

Posted on Tue May 23 20:04:47 CEST 2000 from ip87-max7-lowell.ziplink.net (206.15.160.247)

Long Distance Operator

So y'all caught Robbie's mug at the Lakers game too? Now, didn't the man look unbelievably good for his age? I mean, his hair looked exactly like it did on the '66 tour with Dylan. Has the man aged? Oh, he was so much older then, he's younger than that now. Undeniable proof that Robbie, at some point in his brilliant career, sold his soul to the devil. I know Levon would agree.

Posted on Tue May 23 19:46:26 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.251)

David Powell

Of course, Jack Nicholson is at almost every Laker game. Movie fans might recall that memorable scene in "The Crossing Guard" where Nicholson smacks down Roger, the character portrayed by Robbie Robertson.

Posted on Tue May 23 19:18:18 CEST 2000 from 3cust137.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.138.137)

Crabgrass

Just realized that with Robbie's reported attendance at a Lakers' game there's now a Band / Paula Abdul connection since she started her fabulous multi-faceted career as a Laker Girl! (I've followed her career closely - that's how I know.) She's probably sold more records than The Band. I have to check to see if she's recorded any Band tunes. This could be even better than the Neil Diamond thread!!

Posted on Tue May 23 17:36:48 CEST 2000 from usr53-dialup113.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.199.115)

G-MAN

FRIDAY 05/26--LET'S HAVE A HAPPY/HEALTHY BIRTHDAY FOR ONE OF THE ALL TIME GREATS !! LEVON HELM !!

Posted on Tue May 23 17:21:16 CEST 2000 from 56k-la-00-39.dial.qnet.com (209.221.212.54)

Dave the Phone Guy

Phil Lesh does indeed sing lead on "Broken Arrow". He sang that song at one of the Vegas shows pretty well. (for Phil that is staying on melody)

Mr.Lesh is starting his summer tour co-headlining with Mr.Dylan real soon!

Ilkka cracks me up!!

Posted on Tue May 23 17:08:32 CEST 2000 from spider-tl072.proxy.aol.com (152.163.207.207)

bob wigo

While we're taking care of cake and candles-- let's not forget Levon on the 26th !

Posted on Tue May 23 17:04:06 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.251)

David Powell

Just thought I'd mention, tomorrow, May 24th, is Bob Dylan's 59th birthday. It's hard to imagine what a large shadow he's cast in the world of modern music. May he stay forever young.

Posted on Tue May 23 16:50:42 CEST 2000 from port24.ts2.ulster.net (208.242.164.24)

nate

Hi band-folks... Just a word. A friend of mine,Ann went to the "Seeds Of Peace" benefit at Carnegie Hall last night and the Essex House afterwards. She said that Garth, Professor Louie and The Crowmatix were the "house" band and played close to 2 hours straight! She also mentioned they were joined by Paul Schaeffer from the Letterman band for a very hot version of "The Weight" and also had (2) "Blues Brothers" in the band, Tom Malone (also from Letterman) and Blue "Lou" Marini. As well as a full horn section and Larry Packer, from the "Last Waltz" on fiddle. Annie also told me, looked like the Last Waltz with chandiliers over the stage. Anyone else go? Wish I was there... See you all on the 8th at Rick's Tribute Concert. Peace, Nate

Posted on Tue May 23 16:41:41 CEST 2000 from cache-2.lnh.md.webcache.rcn.net (207.172.11.148)

Krispy

OK, I see the Dead thread is still going, so I'll chime in a bit:

The Dead's breakout of the Weight was such a special treat!!! It was 3/28/90 at Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale NY. I made quite the fool of myself (What else is new, right - LOL!) I heard the opening riffs and I started jumping up and down, knowing it was a Band song, and I was yelling "It's 'The Night They Drove Ole Dixie Down'!!!" Oops! (At least you can't hear it on the tape ;) Even though I really enjoyed their version of Masterpiece and other Band/Dylan tunes, it was so special to be there for the first time they did The Weight.

As for Broken Arrow, BWNWITennessee is right, they did it @ 35 times in 93, 94 & 95. (First time was 2/23/93 Oakland CA, last time was 7/2/95 Noblesville IN). I have all the dates for the other shows, which I think may be better to take to e-mail Peter ;) I was also fortunate enough to hear (or have on tape) many of the other songs you mentioned. While they might not've always been played well, it was sure nice to hear them! I'd be happy to make tapes for anybody that is interested. Just e-mail me :)

Supratik Chaudhuri - I have recently acquired The Dead's soundcheck from Watkins Glen as well as their whole performance from 7/28/73. Unfortunately, I don't have The Band's whole set or ABB's sets from that day, but I'm on the lookout. If you'd like tapes of the Dead's Watkins Glen sets, e-mail me and we'll work out a trade or a b&p (you send me blanks and postage and I'll make you tapes :)

Mike - Are you aware of Blair Jackson's website - www.blairjackson.com - He's got lots of material that was left out of "Garcia" available on his site to read.

Have a grateful day y'all!

Posted on Tue May 23 16:23:07 CEST 2000 from spider-th072.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.77)

Don Pugatch

Some FYI, Some excellent covers by the Dead or by Jerry Garcia, which can be accessed from Napster, Whiskey in a Jar, WereWolves of London, The Weight, When I Paint My Masterpiece, The night they drove (Dixie), All Along the Watch Tower. Open up your mind to these covers. The new CD with Clapton and BB, note that the title song is a John Hiatt tune, Riding with the King. Ok, now we have another Band link, from Hiatt to BB King. Interesting how a master like John Hiatt, gets no radio play and how others have had major success on doing covers of his works, examples Bonnie Rait, Joe Cocker, Jeff Healy and now Clapton/BB, oh well, at least John is on TV every Saturday night doing "Sessions from West 54th street. Also look for Hiatt touring.

Posted on Tue May 23 16:02:54 CEST 2000 from user-33qt90f.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.164.15)

Pat Brennan

Crabgrass, you'd have to say Robbie is a little more than "semi-famous." Shucks, there's people who obsess about him every day....like you.

Posted on Tue May 23 15:46:09 CEST 2000 from xcdfdc7be.ip.ggn.net (205.253.199.190)

Gypsewoman

Diamond Lil - Thanks for the info. It looks like there will be a few memorial concerts for Rick, which, of course, is wonderful. Look forward to them all, as he so rightly deserves them.

Posted on Tue May 23 15:33:56 CEST 2000 from 209-23-38-183.ip.termserv.net (209.23.38.183)

Diamond Lil

Gypsewoman: The memorial show for Rick at the Stephen Talkhouse is on Saturday, August 19th at 8pm. Performers to be announced.

Posted on Tue May 23 15:05:44 CEST 2000 from xcdfdc7be.ip.ggn.net (205.253.199.190)

gypsewoman

I read in Newsday over the weekend that there will be a memorial concert for Rick at Stephen's Talk House in Amagansett. Does anyone know anything about this. Thanks.

Posted on Tue May 23 13:47:55 CEST 2000 from (202.86.135.12)

Supratik Chaudhuri

A few comments on the recent threads in the holy GB :

1. The most frustrating thing for all us Band fans who stay outside the US of A is coming to the guestbook and reading how hot the Barnburners and The Gurus are playing. Hey Hank, you're hoping of Levon's touring Europe, think about The Band fans like me, staying in the backwaters ( musically speaking ) who never get to see our heroes. Maybe the USIS Culture wing can do something, they had Herbie Hancock come down once to Cal ( anybody listening ? ). Well anyway best of luck to Levon and all the others, may they keep on keeping on.

2. How DARE the ABB kick out Dickey out ! This is one of the most crazed things I have ever heard. Its hard to believe that Dickey was playing badly, this guy is a guitar guru for all time !

3. Nice to hear of the Dead cropping up in the guestbook. My fav groups of all time are The Band ( leading the pack of course ), ABB, CCR and The Dead. Jerry, if I remember correctly, played with Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions and the Warlocks before the GD was formed. And there can be no doubt that The Band was a big influence on The GD. Just look at the covers of Workingman's Dead and American Beauty and you would know. Don't know of any other GD cover that is so unlike them ( and I don't think this is my imagination running wild :-). Even the songs are so different. I was listening to a Dead bootleg from '68 and a couple boots from '71 and no doubt the difference is there in their playing, and IMHO the Band had something to do with that. Europe 72 is a good example too as someone mentioned before. I was going through a book whch was named The Encyclopaedia of the Deadheads or something like that. There's an entry on The Band out there ( the first thing I do when I open a rockopaedia is lookin up The Band, the length of the entry plays a major part in my judgement on the book ). The book clearly mentions the Band's influence on WD and AB.

One of my ambitions in life is to get the complete Watkins Glen concert with all the 3 bands playing their sets and together. Mebbe someday, sometime, somewhere............( any kind soul listening )

Enough rambling for today, I have to be off to see the American Beauty at the theater here. So long everybody, keep well

peace, Supratik

Posted on Tue May 23 11:41:37 CEST 2000 from 209-23-55-6.ip.termserv.net (209.23.55.6)

Diamond Lil

Sea Shepard: E-mail from the address you posted is bouncing back here. Please mail me.

Posted on Tue May 23 08:20:21 CEST 2000 from 1cust66.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.136.66)

Crabgrass

"God is dead." - Nietzsche

"Clapton is dead." - Crabgrass

And of course I must add my all-time fave classic graffiti -

"To do is to be." - Sartre

"To be is to do." - DesCartes

"Do be do be do." - Sinatra

No wonder Robbie can't write good songs anymore - he's into basketball. Still, he has a perfect right to enjoy himself. Hope his wife wasn't watching tho. Maybe someone will report seeing him at the next game with a black eye. Then again - why the sunglasses? Maybe he's already got one! Gotta be careful when you're semi-famous.

Posted on Tue May 23 06:37:33 CEST 2000 from user-33qt96j.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.164.211)

Pat Brennan

Let's not forget that Jerry Garcia did a terrible version of Dixie on some JGB live album.

Posted on Tue May 23 06:10:16 CEST 2000 from 3cust80.tnt11.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.135.80)

Crabgrass

I saw The Dead once (that was enough) at Alexandra Palace in Muswell Hill, London around '73 - was less than impressed (and still am). What I remember mostly were idiots (aka Grateful Dead fans) shouting out "Jerreeeee...!!! Hey, Jerreeeee...!!!" and an hour of boring feedback posing as the middle of a 3 hour set which I don't think I stuck out 'til the end.

BTW I am not God as has been recently suggested - it must be the dope. And good for Jello Biafra for not selling out to Levi-Strauss. However, I think the makers of Jello should sue him for trademark infringement and tainting the name of a delicious All-American dessert treat with anarchistic overtones.

Posted on Tue May 23 05:39:17 CEST 2000 from spider-tk041.proxy.aol.com (152.163.206.191)

Long Distance Operator

Did anybody else notice Robbie Robertson at the Lakers/Blazers game in LA tonight, sitting next to former Microsoft honcho (and Blazers owner) Paul Allen? He had yellow-tinted Buddy Holly glasses on and was chatting up a pretty young lady to his right. I must say he looked very Hollywood, but nevertheless very cool. If it wasn't Robbie he either has a twin, or it was Jeff Goldblum. Sure as hell looked like Robbie, though. Anybody else see what I think I saw?

Posted on Tue May 23 05:30:46 CEST 2000 from spider-wb032.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.162)

Dave Z

Hey Tracy... watching the Lakers game?... I just spotted RR courtside on the tube...

Posted on Tue May 23 05:07:10 CEST 2000 from stk-pm1-9-137.dialup.slip.net (207.171.230.137)

Guenevere

Doesn't everyone know already that Eric Clapton is God????

Listening to the slide solo on "Love Comes Over Me" on EC's ‘Unplugged' CD... and I think I hear the influence of Robbie Robertson in the ‘choice of notes' that Clapton plays there... maybe...

BTW: there's a new EC/BB King CD coming out next month that's supposed to be pretty good, and even tho radio in California sounds like its about as lousy as it is in Florida, I did hear a song that I think was called "Now You're Ridin With the King", and it sounded great!

Posted on Tue May 23 04:09:16 CEST 2000 from dialup-333.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.77)

HANK

Well now, what a funky day it's been here on the 'ole GB...things were gittin' a bit quiet there.....but LO AND BEHOLD!! LO AND BEHOLD!!......way-hey!!!! here we are all fightin'n'writin' about THE GRATEFUL DEAD, The ABB, THE DEAD KENNEDYS'n JELLO BIAFRA 'n don't change the Site, Jan and GOD and all kindsa groovee things we were talking about on the Band GB there!!!!!!...make yer head spin..and, oh yeah.....is Crabgrass God?? Is THAT what we are to understand with quotes from The Bible?.......this is why I come here actually..........for this nuttiness.......I was getting to the point here where my wife is COMPLETELY pissed off with this constant one-fingered tapping that goes on at 3 in morning and I's thinking...well, ya know...maaaaaaybe I'll lay off for a while.....but no, this place blows my mind..........and I LOVED the post from the guy JAVA JOHN, who spoke directly to the guys in The Band!!!....and acted as if NONE OF WERE HERE....imagine that!!!!!!.......I was gonna write a short post tonight saying how I once sent a letter to myself from Amsterdam to Cork addressed to "Robbie Robertson".....make of THAT what you will.......now let's get back to this thing of ILLKA thinking CRABGRASS is GOD...Well, let's look at this carefully......suggesting Buddy Guy to open for The Barnburners WAS a pretty god-like thing to suggest.........a Buddy Guy gig in Dublin a few years back made me reaffirm my belief in God...he was just awesome.......rocked the center of Dublin City with some MIGHTY blues.......good call, actually, Crabby.......but hey!! Illka......your soooo right about letting Love flow.......Gob Bless you all!!!!........."You can Walk on the Water, if ANYBODY can!!!!!"........I gotta stop now, see ya tommrrow........G'NITE!!!!........HANK

Posted on Tue May 23 03:39:46 CEST 2000 from spider-to063.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.73)

Mike

Pac -- Yes, Garcia played in numerous bluegrass and roots/jug band/folk bands in the early '60s, but it was the Band's music (among others) that influenced him to expose the Dead's audience to roots types of music. The set lists from 1970 were vastly different than those from 1968/69, so much so that many hard core fans were deeply unhappy with the new direction the band had taken. (The Dead had recently been doing split shows with the New Riders of the Purple Sage, which allowed the band to play more traditional type "songs; they still explored space and jammed, but not as much as before. Compare Live Dead (1969) with Grateful Dead (1971) or Europe '72 -- completely different.)

Saying that the Band influenced Garcia is no different that saying they influenced Clapton. They did. He quit Cream shortly after hearing the Band. Peter already quoted Garcia. Here's a quote from the book I mentioned earlier, "Garcia' (by Blair Jackson, p. 163)...

"For Hunter, the epiphany that led him to pursue a new direction in his writing was hearing Music from Big Pink, the debut album by the Band. The onetime backup band for Bob Dylan had fashioned an extraordinary record that tapped into many of the same Southern roots the Dead originally drew upon, and in guitarist Robbie Robertson the Band had a songwriter capable of spinning the group's influences into something that was utterly new while still sounding familiar. And the Band's eponymous second album...was even more successful at depicting characters who inhabited some mythic dimension..."

[Hunter] "I was very much impressed with the area Robertson was working in," Hunter said. "I took it and moved it west, which is the area I'm familiar with, and thought, 'Okay, how about a modern ethnic?' Regional, but not the South, because everyone was going back to the South for inspiration at that time."

MHO of course, but I think the influence is certainly there.

Posted on Tue May 23 03:37:00 CEST 2000 from user-37kasq9.dialup.mindspring.com (207.69.115.73)

Dan

I'm really enjoying Contact From The Underworld of Red Boy as I have enjoyed Rick Danko, Danko, Fjeld & Anderson, and Levon Helm & the RCO All-Stars. A lot of great music emanated from these guys. MattK: I don't want to see a lawsuit or another debate. At this point we have to accept that beautiful music was made when the guys were a team and that forces, e.g. drugs,disco & running out of things to say during the seventies prevented the survival of The Band as such regardless of the infighting. A station down here plays nothing but disco rewriting the seventies to delete Jackson Browne, The Band, Springsteen, etc.

Posted on Tue May 23 01:36:13 CEST 2000 from spider-wn023.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.158)

Pac

Just read some of today's entries. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Garcia in a bluegrass band long before Big Pink? The folk scene was always strong out here, as were acoustic blues sessions. As much as I love The Band, I don't think they were the influence behind American Beauty and Workman's Dead. MHO To all on the east coast, wait till you feel the heat wave that's headed your way by next weekend! HOT HOT HOT!!!!

Posted on Tue May 23 01:25:17 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-116-46.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.116.46)

BWNWITennessee

The Grateful Dead played "Broken Arrow" numerous times in the final few years of their career, with Phil Lesh singing(?) lead. I think he still does it occasionally in his Phil and Friends shows. There's an MP3 of the Dead playing "The Weight" at www.nugs.net. Unfortunately, you have to download the entire second set of the show, which takes awhile. I think it's actually their premiere performance of the song.

Posted on Tue May 23 00:38:12 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

Me again. If you're interested in reading the details on the Biafra decision:

Click here

Posted on Tue May 23 00:36:41 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

No direct Band connection on this one, that I can think of, but relevant philosophically to past discussions regarding publishing rights...

Last week, the members of the seminal San Francisco punk band, "The Dead Kennedys" successfully sued former lead singer, bandleader, Jello Biafra for underpaying royalities on their "hits" Holiday in Cambodia and California Uber Alles,.

The band claimed, successfully, that Biafra and his record company, "Alternative Tentacles" owed them $76,000 in royalties (whenever I see the word "royalties," I'm reminded of Zappa's Billy the Mountain...go figure).

Interestingly, the group also successfully argued that Biafra was negligent in promoting the sale of their back catalog, specifically in denying Levi Strauss the rights to use Holiday in Cambodia in a jeans commercial. This may be the first time on record that someone has been sued for NOT selling out.

The court found in favor of the band and tacked on an additional $220,000 in damages, which Biafra is now on the hook for, pending appeal. Biafra, for his part, is claiming that his former bandmates are "punishing (biafra) for sticking to the principles of the band and underground, independent culture."

Personally, I'm torn on this as Biafra is one of the great voices (not VOCALIST, mind you) in rock, along with Zappa in taking a stand in defense of free expression (some may recall the Kennedy's successful defense against obsenity charges for the cover art and lyric content of their infamous "Frankenchrist" album."

In this day in age where free-expressionists are forced to go to the wall in defense of tripe like 2LiveCrew or Marilyn Manson, it's almost nostalgic to remember back to the halcyon days (pun intended) of Reagan's America when the likes of Edwin Meese posed a real threat to creative content. These days, while I still side against censorship in any form, I still can't help but be offended when the suits at Sony force the issue by peddling Gangsta Rap, which at one time had real value in expressing the violence of the inner city, but these days seems geared toward shock value in the basements of suburban America.

Anyway, off my soapbox. I still think the issue makes interesting fodder for discussions regarding the Band catalog and allegations of at best poor ethics, and at worst (according to Levon) outright fraud on the part of RR and his publishing rights. If Levon truly believes that RR is as guilty as he claims, I wonder if this decision will provide grist for his proverbial mill.

"Questions, questions, questions flooding into the minds of concerned young people today..."

Matt

Posted on Mon May 22 23:35:46 CEST 2000 from cobalt.nextlink.net (206.129.70.172)

Mike

Peter...Interesting quote from Garcia. I'm reading his biography now ("Garcia" -- the author's name escapes me right now --it has a dark cover)and there is a quote from Robert Hunter referring to Robbie/Band songs. (I'm at work right now, so I don't have access to the book for a quote. For those interested, it's in the section about 1969/1970). He cites both Big Pink and the Brown Album as major influences. He was really impressed with how well the songwriting/songs conveyed old-timey, Americana story telling. It goes without saying that the acoustic direction and success of Workingman's Dead and American Beauty, the Dead's best selling works, was a direct result of the Band's music. (Not to rule out Dylan, David Crosby, Doug Sahm and others). It always amazes me widespread their influence was/is.

Posted on Mon May 22 22:01:10 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-038.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.38)

Peter Viney

Grateful Dead connections always strike a chord here. I’ve been reading the excellent "What a Long Strange Trip: The stories behind every Grateful Dead song 1965-1995" by Stephen Peters.

"I’ll tell you what affected me. I was so impressed by the song-writing of Robbie Robertson. I just said, ‘Oh, yeah. This is the direction. This is the way for us, with all our folk roots, our country and bluegrass roots." (Jerry Garcia on "Workingman’s Dead").

As an appendix, Peters lists (in order) the 100 most-played cover versions by The Dead. Fascinating. Those with Band connections include:

3 Not Fade Away / 5 The Promised Land / 17 Little Red Rooster / 26 When I Paint My Masterpiece / 27 Walking Blues (Danko connection) / 39 The Next Time You See Me / 44 The Mighty Quinn / 48 Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues / 52 Let The Good Times Roll (RR cover) / 55 The Same Thing / 58 The Weight / 63 Broken Arrow (RR) / 97 Ballad of A Thin Man / 99 It Takes A Lot To laugh. Other interesting ones are Lucy In The sky With Diamonds, Louie Louie, Satisfaction, Rain, Gloria, Baba O’Riley and I Fought the Law. My Dead knowledge falls well short of any of these covers! Anyone know where they did "Broken Arrow"?

Posted on Mon May 22 19:59:44 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.251)

David Powell

And the road goes on forever...?

Over the years The Allman Brothers Band has somehow managed to survive the deaths of two key members, along with bouts of controversy and infighting. Out of the three bands that played before 600,000 at Watkins Glen in July 1973, ABB has in some form or another remained intact, except for a few brief spells--that is, maybe until now.

Last Thursday, the band notified founding member Richard Betts by fax that they were kicking him off the summer tour, which begins on June 16th. In a statement released to the press, the band cited "creative differences", adding that they hoped "that their good friend and brother will be back on the road with them in the fall."

On an ABB unofficial fan website, Betts expressed shock and added that the fax read as follows: "You have not been performing well and our shows have bee repeatedly disappointing to both us and our fans as a result." According to Betts, there had been no discussion among the group with him expressing their dissatisfaction with his performances. He denied that he was suffering from any health or drug problems and said that he had listened to tapes of recent shows, including those from their two-week stand at the Beacon, and felt that the quality of his music, particularly his guitar work, sounded good.

The band announced that Atlanta-based guitarist Jimmy Herring, a veteran from duty with Col. Bruce Hampton & the Aquarium Rescue Unit, Phil Lesh and others, would be filling the guitar position along with Derek Trucks this summer.

It's sad when brothers of the road draw apart.

Posted on Mon May 22 18:10:26 CEST 2000 from spider-mtc-td072.proxy.aol.com (64.12.104.182)

Funk ( of & Wagnall fame )

The phrase of the day is: Sturm und Drang Pronunciation: "shturm-unt-'drä[ng], "stur-, -&nt- Function: noun Etymology: German, literally, storm and stress, from Sturm und Drang (1776), drama by Friedrich von Klinger died 1831 German novelist and dramatist Date: 1845 1 : a late 18th century German literary movement characterized by works containing rousing action and high emotionalism that often deal with the individual's revolt against society 2 : TURMOIL

Posted on Mon May 22 17:48:09 CEST 2000 from du219-1.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.1.219)

Ilkka

"I don't worry if their families and kids get any royalties from the Capitol releases...They blew more money on dopes than a hundred people will spend in their whole lives."
CRABGRASS said something like that.

"I shall punish the sons and the daughters for the sins of their fathers."
THE GOD in the Old Testament said something like that.

"Where do you want this killing done? God said: Down on the Highway 61"
BOB DYLAN said that.

"Let the spirit of love fill up your soul."
ILKKA said that.

Posted on Mon May 22 17:37:57 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

Jan, I spend my days hammering out web functionality for the company (or companies) I am working for/with at the time. The concept of discussion groups is a hot one where I am right now. It's funny, many people advocate the threaded discussion model as it helps keep things on topic for folks. Given the sturm and drang that occurs here, there may be some value to breaking things down by topic, HOWEVER...

In those discussions, I often refer to this site as a great example of how NON-threaded discussions can engender more interactivity between users that otherwise may not put their heads together. Yes, sometimes it creates some pain, but I think the lifeblood of this guestbook is PRECISELY this kind of interaction. I would be concerned that a threaded discussion would result in a loss of dynamic discussion. For example, not how the Capitol Records site for RR never seems to get any steam.

While I doubt, given the passions of these users, that it would ever die, I would be very concerned that you'd end up with threads becoming "cliques" where audiophiles are in one thread, history buffs in another, levonistas in one group and robbie-ists in another...essentially losing the diversity of opinion and the cross-pollenation of discussion that makes this place so interesting.

My vote would be to keep it "as is" for awhile longer until it becomes a management/maintenance issue (if it's not already) where it would be less painful for you to keep this wonderful place up and running. If, operationally, maintaining a thread-based discussion would make your life far simpler, then I'd go for it, but probably expect that you'll still end up with a single "monster thread" that will dominate the others and pretty much look like what you have right here.

matt

Posted on Mon May 22 16:05:24 CEST 2000 from ppp20.usrtc1.carleton.ca (134.117.249.20)

The Shepard

Hello my friends. It's been awhile since we last spoke and I'm sorry it's been so long. My computer died and so I've been without for some time now(god help me,hehe). But I would love to reconnect with all of you. The only address I have is "SeekingAdventuresAndYou@Yahoo.com" and I also have the yahoo messenger service if any of you have that as well. If you are one who doesn't mind the old fashion way of doing things than please write me at: The Shepard(or my real name for those who know it),P.O.Box 602,Bearsville,NY 12409. My life has come around full circle and many wild and crazy things are going on. Here's a little update on my so called life. As you can all guess I'm sure, I'm back on the road driving again,thank god! I've been working at a local deli which has been nice since the people I work for and with are very nice but of course there's always something and that would be my "so called paycheck". Beyond that my grandmother has cancer and doesn't have much time left so at the moment I'm up in Ottowa,canada visiting with her and my aunt and sister who flew up from seattle. But because of this whole ordeal my mum might be leaving america behind and returning to canada to live and be with her mother. So that leaves me wondering "what shall I do?" Any suggestions? I would love to hear them! I've thought of just sticking around woodstock but hell, if it's just me down here maybe it's time to move on and try somewhere new. That's where you guys and gals come in. Tell me about your town and what its like to live there, is it warm all year or does it snow? I would love to go where it's warm but I'm just not sure where or if I could afford it. I guess that's pretty much it. Oh yeah, I also tried to join the army but because of my health situation I'm unacceptable to our U.S. government. That's alright, but when war time comes don't come knocking at my door for help! Hehehe. Anyway I miss you all and I hope to hear from you soon. Don't give up on me just because I can't always be hear, ok? Take care of yourselves and each other and I can't wait to see or hear from you again. With much love, a friend forever, The Shepard/Sea.

Posted on Mon May 22 14:54:29 CEST 2000 from dialup81.webengr.com (199.233.112.81)

"JAVA" JOHN

Hello Gents! First off, I've loved your work since the begining. Thank You All! Second, we were all deeply saddened by the loss of Rick recently, he'll remain in our hearts. JOHN HALL played our coffeehouse several months ago, as did AMY FRADON, and they both had very kind words to say and warm stories about him. The last time I saw you guys was in Miami, just before Richard passed. GREAT SHOW! I am glad to have had the opportunity to see them and shake hands with them both. We all love the more recent material, especially "Jubilation", top-notch as always. You may not wanna hear this, but my wife came across a few records at a garage sale recently. One of them is a mint-condition "THE BAND LIVE AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL 7/10/70". (Right about the time I started getting into your music-I was 10!). Excellent record! I wish I coulda been there. Anyway, great website. Hope to see ya'll again soon. If ya'll are ever in Cocoa, Florida - PLEASE come visit us at KOOL BEANZ "Brevard's Premeire Acoustic Coffehouse". Maybe we can book ya sometime! Peace & Love, "Java" John & Jen http://www.koolbeanz.com

Posted on Mon May 22 08:53:46 CEST 2000 from gateway.tono.no (212.71.68.22)

Jens Magnus

Bob was here on friday, and I wasn't. But it sounds like he made an outstanding show. The newspapers were very enthusiastic, and my friend (who was there) had a good time. The fast, electric numbers were the best ones in his opinion. Bob playing lead guitar is just another sweet gimmick from the old rocker.

I left for my cottage and thought to myself: maybe this is Dylan's last gig in Norway; I'll never get to see him. Anyway, Norwegian television made it a splendid evening by showing the brown album in the Classic Albums serie. Love it. :)

Keep on rolling!

Posted on Mon May 22 07:03:44 CEST 2000 from 216-164-199-96.s96.tnt4.atn.pa.dialup.rcn.com (216.164.199.96)

Krispy

Howdy folks! It's been a while since I've stopped on in to see what's happening on the ole GB. Haven't been here since Rick passed on...still so sad about losing him!! :(((( But, it's nice to see some of the familiar names still here and some new ones :)

I am INCREDIBLY bummed about missing Levon & The Barn Burners in Stanhope last night!!! Didn't know about it til I had made other plans :( Now, I'm VERY much looking forward to the Gathering On The Mountain!!!!! I'm also REALLY excited to read about the re-issues with new bonus tracks!! It's always nice to hear something new :)) Matter of fact, I JUST heard for the first time recently the version of Georgia on my Mind from TLW. Stunning!! Brought a tear to my eye! Also, recently came across a nice tape of Danko & Manuel from 85 and while it was GREAT to have it, it also made me so sad to realize that both were gone now. We miss you guys!! (((Richard))) & (((Rick)))

On the subject of who could cover Janis, while I think nobody really ever could do her justice, there is a girl from a NYC/CT band that could make you do a double take...her name is Jenny "Pipes" Durkin, from a band called Deep Banana Blackout. She's this tiny petite thing with a voice that BLOWS you away! Sadly, she'll be leaving Deep Banana in August (the touring is wearing her down), so she'll be free in case they wanna hire her ;)

How funny that again a Dead song thread comes up and I pop back in ;), but I'll leave that one alone this time. It's nice to see you folks talking about the music that has such a special place in my heart (((The Band!!))) Take care everybody!

Posted on Mon May 22 06:46:39 CEST 2000 from 2cust87.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.137.87)

Crabgrass

Hey, if Little Richard digs the Barn Burners they MUST be good!! As I said once before, any serious student of the blues knows that it ain't the vocalist, harp, ax, or keyboard players that makes a great blues band great - it's the man behind the skins! I have no doubt that Levon will someday join the ranks of blues drumming immortals like Eddie "Snakehands" Taylor and Luther "Whiplash" Watkins in the Blues Band Hall of Fame.

I think Buddy Guy would be a good opening act should the Barn Burners decide to do a world tour upon the release of their CD.

Posted on Mon May 22 04:39:21 CEST 2000 from spider-wg051.proxy.aol.com (205.188.196.41)

bob wigo

Thank you to Levon and the Barn Burners for one incredible night of music. It doesn't get any better than the blues they laid down at the Stanhope House last night. The band rocked the place right to the rafters and the crowd was fabulous. Lots of dancing and wide smiles.

I know you have all read it here before but you have to get to one of these shows soon. This is LIVE music at it's very finest. Levon was in the engine room all night long and the band was stoked.Marvelous musicianship across the board and if you love great blues harp,you won't hear any better.To quote Little Richard "this music makes your big toe stick straight up in your boot".

I look forward to seeing you all again at the "Gathering on the Mountain" in Blakeslee,Pa. in August.For those who haven't caught them yet this will be a great opportunity. Start planning now. You'll be damn glad you did.

Once again thanks to all. Levon,you are a true gentleman and the kindness you extended to all of us is greatly appreciated.Amidst all of the hootin' and hollerin' I tried to say thanks for the countless hours of beautiful music you have provided me. Please accept that thanks now and add three more.Sure hope you'll come on down to Philly.Butch, thanks for the warm welcome. You are one fortunate son to get to see that band perform every week. Judging by that big old grin you wore all night, I'm thinking you're well aware of that fact! Such a night.......

Posted on Mon May 22 04:09:32 CEST 2000 from dialup-322.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.66)

HANK

Alright, Let's have The Barnburners AND The Honky Tonk Gurus doing a double headliner in Europe, please.......c'mon, you guys......it's not fair on on us here.....I can't wait 'till they come so that WE can post......"saw The Barnburners and The HT Gurus in Dublin, Antwerp, Coopenhagen, Rome, Bally go backwards Co. Tipperary, Drumshnot Co. Antrim, The Pyrenees and The Blue Danube etc etc. last night and The German/Irish/Czeck etc crowd LOVED it!!!!!!!!.C'mon guys.....rock'roll yer asses over the Atlantic....and mind the icebergs on the way...... etc. ....." and all you folks in America have to haul out yer Last Waltses and SNL tapes and bootlegs for a fix!!!!!!........Make Monday FUNDAY!!!!!! g'nite.........HANK

Posted on Mon May 22 01:31:56 CEST 2000 from spider-wd063.proxy.aol.com (205.188.193.178)

tom izzo

Jim Weider and the Honkey Tonk Gurus rocked Black Eyed Sallys in Hartford Fri. night! Packed house and dance floor. Jim's Tele screamed,cried,wept and moaned. Randy's playing and vocals were outstanding! Malcolm (bass/vocals) laid down a heavy bottom keeping it all together allowing Jeremy (keyboards) and Jim ample room for stellar solos! Songs off Bigfoot (Note to guitar players: if you don't have it,get it!) several Band tunes and new material I assume is going on the next cd. A cool cover of Dylan's Subterrainean Homesick Blues. I want to thank the boys for having me play some harp on several numbers. It was a blast. Hope to see some of the regulars at The Towne Cryer next Sat. or at Rick's benefit in Newtown on 6/8. Till then... Peace, Tom and Marianne Izzo

Posted on Mon May 22 00:26:22 CEST 2000 from pm4-151.delrio.com (208.246.53.151)

Just Wonderin'

Jan: This is the BEST site on the internet and easy to read. IMHO "don't fix what ain't broke"! Thanks for the hard work!

Posted on Sun May 21 21:18:45 CEST 2000 from ns1.schuster.com (199.105.252.66)

Charlie Young

Emmylou Harris played the wonderful 500-seat Birchmere music club in Alexandria, Virginia last night (and is sold out for another show tonight) and I think that she looks and sounds even more amazing than she did in "The Last Waltz." The performance was pretty much a career retrospective--nearly two hours with no opening act. Buddy Miller astonished me with his guitar work on a variety of unusual instruments, and on the old folk-rolk standard Rickenbacker 12-string. Emmylou came out after the gig and posed for photos with fans and signed anything people shoved in front of her. What a class act!

Speaking of folk-rock: this year marks the 40th anniversary tour of another old Albert Grossman act, Peter, Paul & Mary. I notice on Jan's discography here that Peter Yarrow put out a solo record in the '70's with some involvement by The Band. Does anyone have a copy? It's not likely to come out on CD.

Posted on Sun May 21 20:09:12 CEST 2000 from dialup-358.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.102)

Hank

ALRIGHT WITH THE NEIL DIAMOND THING ALREADY!!!!!!!.....I said I was sorry for kicking it off!!!!.....Anyhow.......I play Ricks verse in "The Weight" reggae style when I play solo gigs.......it fits.....HANK

Posted on Sun May 21 19:13:22 CEST 2000 from spider-wc032.proxy.aol.com (205.188.193.32)

butch

HEY GANG !!!! Last night, @ The Stanhope House,, Levon & The Barn Burners lived up to their name,,,,,,,,, Two Packed sets,,, folks hangin from the rafters,,,, screaming, yelling, DANCING !!!! what a great bunch of fans came out to support our guys ( & amy ) Frankie Aheart, Big Rich, joe & his wife,, soooo many i cant remember everyone, oh yeah, the GB's own R WIGO !!! KEWL folks,, thanks for saying hello,, you guys made it so much fun !!! The Barn Burners were in high gear from the first note,,, smokin blues was the only thing onn the menu,,,,,,, early on , one misguided soul asked for OPHELIA,, ,, but he was a convert a few minutes later,,, Pat O'Shea's playing is so tasteful, clean, ,,many folks were commenting to me on his abilities,, & the fun he brings to his playing,,, Chris was inspired,,, His HARP was blistering all night,,,& his vocals,, well, he has become one of my favorite blues singers, ( he sings,, not screams,, nice ) ,,,, & when he takes out his guitar & plays that mean ol gut-bucket slide,, it hurts soooo GOOD !!! Frankie & Levon locked that rhythm early,, & rode it through both GREAT sets,,, as one,,,, Levon's drumming was like by a man possessed,,, OUCH !!!! ,,, but so right on the $$$$$, simple, sparse, but PERFECT,, & the smiles on that drummers face ,, tells it all,,, he REALLY is enjoying this go-round,, & his baby, AMY,,, her singing has gotten so strong,, i think she benefitted from our road trip more than any of the others,, her stage presence is stronger,, she is more ballsy in her singing,,,& just cuts loose & lets it ROLL,,, the real nice folks @ The Stanhope House helped make our visit easy, THANK-YOU !!! ,,, & to THE BEST FANS IN THE WORLD !!!!!! thank-you for your loyalty, your "excellent" taste in music, ,,, & for loving us as much as we LOVE ya'll,,, see @ the next one,,,, butch

Posted on Sun May 21 16:44:49 CEST 2000 from trt-on62-92.netcom.ca (216.123.103.220)

John Donabie

It was encouraging to read the comments of young 14 year old blues singer Shannon Curfman about her feelings about The Band and how much she likes them. Her cover version of The Weight has a lot of passion in it. One day I really want to hear Ray Charles sing Ophelia. I also want to thank Paul Godfrey for his recent e-mails to me. Shine On Bro!

Posted on Sun May 21 16:17:15 CEST 2000 from trt-on62-92.netcom.ca (216.123.103.220)

John Donabie

Just a little trivia about Mr. Dylan's financial worth. I have no idea what it is; but I thought some might be interested in how he accumulated it. Early on in his career, so the story goes, Albert Grossman began investing money for Bob in Manhattan Real Estate. They say there are large sections in the village and around Manhattan that are owned by Mr. D. Ok everybody together now......Dear Landlord.........

Posted on Sun May 21 12:56:28 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-090.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.90)

Peter Viney

Crabgrass: I doubt that Dylan is in Bill Gates’ league financially, but I do see the comparison. Blonde on Blonde and Word 5, Real Live and Word 6, Saved and Word 98. World Gone Wrong and Outlook Express. Parallel tales of creative decline.

Speaking of reggae & Jimmy Cliff, The Band as well as Jim Weider and the Gurus, did a fine live version of "Many Rivers To Cross." To say Jimmy Cliff was "better" than Bob Marley is an odd one. They were both amazing.

Anyone heard XTC’s "Stupidly Happy" yet? If it got promoted it would be the hit of the summer, but chances are that it won’t be. The new album is out tomorrow.

Posted on Sun May 21 11:55:20 CEST 2000 from 209-23-55-58.ip.termserv.net (209.23.55.58)

Diamond Lil

Scott: I miss Rick too, and there's no need to apologize for it. Not a day goes by that I don't think about him. Nearly 6 months now..and it's still hard...

Posted on Sun May 21 08:07:17 CEST 2000 from 2cust83.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.137.83)

Crabgrass

Maybe I'm in the minority here but I'm not so rich that I can sit around worrying if The Band members and their families are gonna get more royalty checks from the forthcoming refurbished Capitol releases for which I'll have to budget carefully to even be able to afford. What the Band members blew on dope and booze could've probably sustained several hundred average people very comfortably for their entire lives. And Dylan's probably richer than Bill Gates - I'm sure he could help out the needy if he was so inclined - and thought it a worthy cause.

Someone recently mentioned the Gurus' doing a reggae version of "The Weight" which reminded me that I always thought the instrumentation on Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry" to be very similar to the sound of The Band. And speaking of reggae, Jimmy Cliff was by far a much more talented song writer than Marley - though Marley was more photogenic.

Posted on Sun May 21 07:36:11 CEST 2000 from ch3smc.bellglobal.com (206.47.244.59)

Blind Willie McTell

I have been hanging around the GB for almost 6 years. Jan, please don't change a thing.

Posted on Sun May 21 04:50:11 CEST 2000 from cfa1.execulink.net (199.166.6.10)

paul godfrey

Jan....The Band site is unique in all the world. Let it stand!

Posted on Sun May 21 04:33:53 CEST 2000 from proxy-621.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.181)

Scott

I really miss seeing Rick live. Feeling blue, I guess this is the place to vent......Sorry.

Posted on Sun May 21 04:18:22 CEST 2000 from tsmia4-220.gate.net (207.36.234.93)

David Tobin

great site!

Posted on Sat May 20 22:22:12 CEST 2000 from spider-ti071.proxy.aol.com (152.163.194.206)

Ruby

Good afternoon people Just want to say The Gurus were superb last night at Black Eyed Sally's!!!! I agree with Lars that they do indeed just keep getting better and better. Randy was outstanding!!! I urge all of those who have not seen them as of yet to make an effort to get to one of their shows. They did a beautiful sort of Regge version of The Weight. it was really dynamite. And their stuff is fabulous. Great guys Everyone had a great time. See you all in June.

Posted on Sat May 20 22:00:44 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-084.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.84)

Peter Viney

Hank: IF George Harrison had made TLW, and IF they’d played "Something,’ who would have done the guitar solo? Three candidates. Harrison, Clapton (after all he was there) or Robbie? (or possibly Neil Diamond …)

Posted on Sat May 20 20:46:44 CEST 2000 from 1cust181.tnt9.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.128.181)

Crabgrass

Changing the GB format?

The old saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" comes to mind. I think the chronological order keeps people more interested in reading and posting - but maybe there's a possibility of having it BOTH ways? Certainly, special GB partitions for e-bay announcements, personal conversations, weather reports, house cleaning updates, directions to Big Pink, folks wondering when the next Band tour will hit their town, "The Band rules and rocks!" variety of posters, singalongs, and obituaries might be good!!

The Band doing a Monkees tribute album would've been great! ND should've done "I'm A Believer" at TLW - that composition being the high point of his career. Now, back to the Robbie/Levon feud...

Posted on Sat May 20 20:41:54 CEST 2000 from (216.152.32.138)

Tom Butler

Could someone please send me, or tell me where to get good, correct, first hand information on Rick Dankos' memorial service?!!! There was absolutely no coverage in any of our local publications. I heard from a friend in Chicago that Levon was a class act all the way d, but Robbie was pretty classless. Also, who sang and what did they sing; who played and what did they play; who spoke and what did they say; and finally, who attended? Please e-mail me at: tombutler1@juno.com Thanks a million!!!

Posted on Sat May 20 18:38:09 CEST 2000 from spider-tr054.proxy.aol.com (152.163.201.199)

butch

Dexy E-mail: scottrichardson@juno.com Jan,I concur w/Lil -- great Guestbook as is. Butch -- any news on the Danko Tribute CD? ,,,,,,,,,unfortunately, Scott,,, the powers that be, ( so to speak ) have decided NOT to include me on this project,, for whatever reason ??? so, even tho i convinced Rick to start doing ALL OUR PAST TIMES again,,,, for info on this cd, you will have to talk to them,,, @ woodstockrecords,,, sorry,,, butch see ya tonight @ the Levon & The Barn Burners gig,, in Stanhope n.j.,,,

Posted on Sat May 20 17:06:46 CEST 2000 from spider-wj041.proxy.aol.com (205.188.198.36)

Bayou Sam

there's a great song by The Monkees which Nesmith wrote and also recorded solo called "Listen To The Band" - it would have been cool to hear The Band do that tune. It would have fit nicely on Cahoots........ John Lennon would have written the intro to "Don't Let Me Down". He may have even played it on the recording.............. George Harrison at TLW would have been real nice. They could have done "Sail Away Raymond" from Ringos '73 album. (This is the song that the Band backed him on of course). George could have done "My Sweet Lord" with everyone backround singing. That would have been as good an ending as "I Shall Be Released" - OK, let me have it for that one................. I love this site the way it is. But I think everyone should end all their posts with the words - Neil Diamond.

Posted on Sat May 20 16:54:48 CEST 2000 from 209-130-151-138.nas3.mon.gblx.net (209.130.151.138)

Lars Pedersen

Last night in Hartford's Black Eyed Sally's pub the Honky Tonk Gurus put on a great show. This is a band that's getting better every time I see them. Jimmy Weider's guitar playing left me in awe. Randy Ciarlante's vocals were very strong and he plays the drums better than ever. My only criticism (and it's a small one) is that the mikes were so hot (especially Jim's) that there was a little distortion in there. I thought the music was spell-binding, but a bit loud. The sound man didn't do them justice.

That was Tommy Izzo who sat in with the Gurus last night, he played some blues harp. The boys in the band behind him watched as he wailed away; the crowd in front watched as he gave a great performance. Again, one small criticism, his fly was down. We were half expecting trouble from the fly, so we were prepared. I had my fly swatter and a perfectly good shot, but I passed up on it.

I'd love to see Tommy play with the Gurus in Newtown on June 8th, I think he fits right in. I think Newtown is going to be a great show. The Crowmatix and the Honky Tonk Gurus, with Garth and guests. Should be a fitting tribute to Rick Danko; a show not to be missed.

Posted on Sat May 20 15:43:34 CEST 2000 from 209-23-38-9.ip.termserv.net (209.23.38.9)

Diamond Lil

Sorry for this personal message..but e-mail in this case is not an option.

To my ex-best-friend: This is a last attempt to get your autographed shirt back to you. I threw out your address many months ago, and don't want to throw the shirt out since it's signed from Rick to you...and since he's gone...I thought it may mean something to you. Please contact me if you want it back. Thanks.

Posted on Sat May 20 15:06:18 CEST 2000 from cobalt.nextlink.net (206.129.70.172)

Mike

Guess I'll get in on the tail end of the "change" discussion...I vote to keep it as it is. John's right, as usual...

BTW, I found a used copy of the Dylan House of Blues Tribute w/ the Band doing "One Too Many Mornings" for $8.00, but I didn't buy it yet -- I might today at lunch time (I'm at work.) What's the general consensus -- good or bad?

Posted on Sat May 20 14:06:47 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-112.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.112)

Peter Viney

Jan: I love the chronological basis of the GB. The "threads" system is used on most other sites and I find it comparatively unwieldy. Here it’s like everyone sitting around a circular table and you see or acknowledge all thats going on. The threads system is more like walking into a cocktail party and making a beeline for this or that group of people. Overall, I find the chronological one more centralized and therefore more all-embracing. You notice how often posters here answer several threads in one post- this post could be in any one of three threads – the shape of the GB; "Young Blood" or "length of albums" (bonus tracks). In a threads system, the asides people make are really the start of new threads. If you go to a threads system, a good idea is a separate "This Week’s Messages" page. Wouldn’t it mean more admin to re-assign stuff to threads and pull out recent messages?

"Young Blood" was seemingly on every issue of High On The Hog except the US one. Japan insists on bonus tracks (a) to stop US imports into Japan (b) to profit by selling the longer Japanese imports back into the USA. RR did the same on his last one. As Lizz says, the Doc Pomus tribute is the most efficient way of obtaining"Young Blood" in the US.

I think Dan is wrong in saying "some of today’s albums are overlong." I’d say "most".

Posted on Sat May 20 12:57:13 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime

Jan: A CHANGE IS GONNA COME...

Posted on Sat May 20 12:45:37 CEST 2000 from alb1-as5300-148-148.termserv.net (209.23.41.148)

Diamond Lil

Hey Jan..looks like it's pretty unanimous so far. We like our little 'community' ( the way it's set up is what I think makes it feel like a community actually..), but I do agree with Dave Z...you certainly do have the touch...and whatever you decide to do will probably be ok. Just remember though..I have access to a potato launcher here :-) Hug...

Posted on Sat May 20 12:19:05 CEST 2000 from du174-1.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.1.174)

Ilkka

To Jan ( about the new "message board" format):

DON'T DO IT. DON'T YA BREAK MY HEART. DON'T-DON'T-DON'T, DON'T YA BREAK MY HEART.

Posted on Sat May 20 05:44:15 CEST 2000 from spider-ta027.proxy.aol.com (152.163.205.22)

Dave Z

I like the GB the way it is too... but you got the touch Jan... and could probably find a way for a new format to fit right in with everything else that's so great on this website...

Boy, it sure would be nice if Woodstock Radio and/or Bearsville Studios could broadcast the Danko tribute out into GB land somehow... and maybe make up for the missed Weidner show... then us poor souls who can't get to the real venue can maybe do a General Admission Chat Room seating and... get loud in our own way...

merryily, merryily, merryily... life is but a dream...

Also, are there going to be any T-shirts or golf caps sold related to this benefit?

Posted on Sat May 20 05:42:39 CEST 2000 from spider-th072.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.77)

Bashful Bill

Webmaster Jan, or .comJan as my downstate friend Rick S. calls you-I hope you make it to the Newton show, it would raise the whole vibe up another notch as far as I'm concerned just having you there. I think more than a few attendees will be GB regulars. As far as your inquiry re changes goes, I think John Donabie stated it perfectly a couple posts back. But of course this is your trip, you do what you think best and everyone will go along. And...I hope all those lucky folks at the Gurus show tonite are having a great time. Correction-I know they are!

Posted on Sat May 20 05:28:20 CEST 2000 from piggott-42.piggott.net (208.161.37.42)

Dan

Great site for one of America's best treasures! Want to talk Band? Contact me.

Posted on Sat May 20 05:01:46 CEST 2000 from 1cust202.tnt1.topeka.ks.da.uu.net (63.39.63.202)

Dexy

Jan,I concur w/Lil -- great Guestbook as is. Butch -- any news on the Danko Tribute CD?

Posted on Sat May 20 05:00:45 CEST 2000 from trt-on65-38.netcom.ca (216.123.97.38)

John Donabie

Here's my $0.02 worth Jan. Keep the guestbook the way it is. It forces you to read back to the beginning of a thread. Along the way you read things you might have missed.

Posted on Sat May 20 04:37:28 CEST 2000 from mat-4-37.enter.net (207.16.155.185)

Little Brother

If these gratuitous snipings and cheap shots at "Self-Portrait" don't stop, me and my Main Man Ilkka are going to have to come right in here and lay a few Dope Slaps and beatings on you mockers. Especially YOU, Crabgrass-- are you aware that 3-D imaging of the cover of "Self-Portrait" elicits an image IDENTICAL to the face on the Shroud of Turin? And that a precisely directed stream of air blown across the shroud produces a faint kazoo-like 7-note riff identical to the opening bars of "Take A Message to Mary"? Well, then.

Jan, I don't know if I qualify as a "regular"-- if word count is a criterion, I'm IN, baby!-- but I also prefer the current format despite the occasional tediousness of climbing up and down the busy ladder of postings! If you ever change, I hope you'll be able to include some kind of fancy Idiot's Tutorial that will walk the topologically challenged through any new format. I haven't found many arrangements in on-line forums that are intuitively meaningful. It's like walking around in one of our wonderful American shopping malls, which are DELIBERATELY engineered with weird, alien configurations to keep shoppers dazed and permanently disoriented. Because elevated anxiety correlates with elevated spending, damn those vultures. Which is why I'll wind up reeling into The Wall (a local CD chain) and reeling out with those minimally-enhanced new Band CDs...

Posted on Sat May 20 04:16:00 CEST 2000 from parachute3-156-40-62-25.net.nih.gov (156.40.62.25)

Jonathan Katz

Jan - My $.02 is against the "heavy artillery." I find the threaded formats to be slow and cumbersome [sp?]. Besides, I like the episodic nature of a backwards scroll through Geustbook time. I hope you get to the Danko memorial concert! Maybe I'll see you there.

Posted on Sat May 20 03:34:47 CEST 2000 from dialup-379.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.123)

HANK

OK OK OK OK.........I'm SORRY for starting that Neil D thread!! ( at least, I THINK I did.....) Sheeeeesh!!!!!.....you guys are SOOO sensitive!!...actually, if you think about it.....RR started it!!!!....not me!!!!.....oh well......it's just as well RR was'nt producing Barry Manilow.......imagine The Band backing Barry up on "Mandy" or "Cocacabana" at TLW? Ha!..........oh alright, I won't go there.......JESSE!!!.......George Harrisons guitar line intro in "Don't Let Me Down" does sounds ALOT like the intro of "The Weight".....HMMMMMNNnnn, If George DID make TLW........I wonder what he woulda played? "SOMETHING"?........woulda The Band done "Something" justice?.......I don't know!......I.... DON'T KNOW!!!!!!! OK OK......I'll go away now......Do The Danko Bop if yer cutting a rug this weekend!!!!!!......see y'all later.......HANK

Posted on Sat May 20 02:35:50 CEST 2000 from (207.54.68.190)

Stephen Verba

I first caught the Band backing Dylan when he went electric. I saw them in my town at the last concert before Richard Manuel passed. I missed Rick Danko in my town in his last concert before he passed. There simply are no replacements for the great heart and soul of these wonderful men. Whenever I hear them (or Dylan or their other peers) now I realize how precious the gifts they shared, they not only honored the root music they admired, they kept it alive and new. Simple men whose voices and music have such truth; I am humbled to have had the chance to hear them over these years. This website, in its own way, helps keep the faith in the truth of their music.

Posted on Sat May 20 00:51:41 CEST 2000 from unionppp3.union.edu (149.106.172.4)

Danny Lopez

Does anyone know if the Band reissues will be remastered? A sound enhanced brown album and cahoots ups the excitement level for me. The gold disc version of stage fright showed what could be done.

To jcf: I had a hard time finding Northern Lights-Southern Cross too, but eventually got lucky about a year ago by ordering it in Iowa through one of the big chains (Musicland I believe).

Posted on Sat May 20 00:19:56 CEST 2000 from alb1-as5300-151-151.termserv.net (209.23.41.151)

Diamond Lil

Hank: Best Band tune to slow dance to? Richard doing "Share your love" does it for me.

Jan: I kind of like the guestbook the way it is. Have gotten very comfortable with the way it's set up..and well..I vote to keep it this way. Besides, you know how easily frustrated I get when my computer illiteracy is challenged :-) Enjoy your well-stocked fridge..and have a cold one for me :-)

Have a good night everyone.

Posted on Sat May 20 00:08:31 CEST 2000 from tcnet25-049.austin.texas.net (209.99.97.238)

Laura Holt

Just curious about a few Band things. Why is it that Albert Grossman did NOT want The Band to be shown in the movie Woodstock? AND why did he not want The Band's version of "The Weight" in "Easy Rider"? I feel this was very poor judgement on Alberts part but maybe there is some sort of story behind it as to why this did not happen. If anyone has any answers to this I would love an "E-Mail" regarding it or just put you're comment here in the good ole GB. THANKS! PEACE everyone!

Posted on Fri May 19 23:53:30 CEST 2000 from jan-hoiberg.hiof.no (158.36.52.15)

jh

Forgot to mention: The producer of the reissues of the first four Band albums now confirms that the bonus tracks will be the ones described in the article posted here lately ... a long night ahead here in Norway, the "steam channel" (aka Norwegian state TV) show "Classic Albums - The Band" after midnight. Good thing the fridge is well stocked %-)

Posted on Fri May 19 23:46:28 CEST 2000 from jan-hoiberg.hiof.no (158.36.52.15)

jh

A question to the regulars here: The guestbook traffic is steadily increasing, and the "threads" that evolve may be difficult to follow when everything is posted in "flat" reversed chronological order like this.

Is it time to call in "the heavy artillery" and switch to some Java-based/ data-base-driven threaded format, like in the ordinary newsgroups?

Btw, it looks like yours truly may be there for the Danko memorial concert in early June, if my employer and Czech airlines (if you know any cheaper way of getting across the Atlantic...) cooperate.

Posted on Fri May 19 23:06:06 CEST 2000 from birddog02.bess.net (206.129.0.132)

Jesse

How about a thread re: the best tracks that may as well have been recorded by The Band? (i.e. the best songs by people who were trying to sound like The Band)

Here are my picks:

"Don't Let Me Down," "Get Back," and "Let It Be" by The Beatles

"Sweet Virginia" by the Rolling Stones

"Come On Baby Let's Go Downtown" by Neil Young

"My Fault" and "Glad And Sorry" by The Faces

"All Things Must Pass" by George Harrison

I hope this doesn't re-ignite the Neil Diamond debate...

Posted on Fri May 19 22:31:24 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.avnl1.nj.home.com (24.4.252.66)

Brien Sz

I second 'franko'. I would rather see a double CD of alternate takes and demo's - than reissues of cd's we already love. Didn't Dylan do a discography or whatever it was called--It's a collection i keep meaning to pick up but never think about when i'm at a cd shop.

Then at least everyone can debate about content instead of song order.

Posted on Fri May 19 22:02:15 CEST 2000 from spider-wm081.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.186)

Lizz

For those that were curious, " Youngblood" by The Band, is available on The CD Till The Night Is Gone - A Tribute to Doc Pomus this includes The Band's recording of " Youngblood" with Levon, Garth, Richard Bell, Jim Weider, Rick Danko and Randy Ciarlante. Recorded by Aaron Hurwitz at Levon's studio. The CD is on Rhino Records, released in 1995. It also includes Dr. John, Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson, Lou Reed,BBKing, John Hiatt and lots of our other faves. Enjoy!! ( a good way to have the Band's version of "YB" and have some other great tunes) Play on Keep Listening....

Posted on Fri May 19 21:59:25 CEST 2000 from max1-81.intellistar.net (206.105.68.81)

Dan

Jason makes a good point on sound quality & Crabgrass makes a good one about the sorry state of the Capital cassettes. I remember being disgusted with the tape of the Brown album, which delated King Harvest and When You Awake. I really don't trust Capital. And, Capital has never restored the original liner notes to the Brown Album. I'll bet that some of the songs, e.g. Bessie Smith, are the same as the Basement Tapes version. I am also sure that Capital will be misleading with the timing of the songs. If Don't Do It and Bessie Smith were truly recorded during the Cahoots period I can't believe that The Band would have left them off in favor of Where Do We go From Here. Maybe we should take up a collection plate to have someone from the Guestbook to go through the vaults to select the songs. Perhaps Clinton, as an Arkansa native, can call one of his campaign contributors at Hollywood & Vine & say that it is really important to have as a legacy the Complete Basement Tapes. Too bad we can't lock Robbie, Levon & Garth in a room until they pull what's worth pulling & give a degree of historical accuracy mediated by John Simon. Obviously, all this would never happen but I am expressing my frustration of having to shovel out $ to people who don't care enough about these treasures which, as Eric Clapton says, changed the course of American music. I still think the outtakes should be on a separate album except with regard to a live album such as Rock of Ages lengthening it with some good quality tracks would be appreciated. Studio classics are distinct units & some of today's studio albums are overlong.

Posted on Fri May 19 21:01:06 CEST 2000 from p3ee06e90.dip.t-dialin.net (62.224.110.144)

Wolle

Hi , The Band Tournee /Next Gigs-Germany ????????????????? New-Cd ????????????? Wolle.

Posted on Fri May 19 19:59:38 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.251)

David Powell

The Band's version of "Youngblood" does feature a "vocal" by Garth, albeit just a "looky there" on the chorus.

Posted on Fri May 19 19:37:25 CEST 2000 from (130.219.229.173)

BK

Heading to Stanhope tomorrow nite. Hope to meet some GB folks there.(?)

Posted on Fri May 19 19:03:51 CEST 2000 from 1cust37.tnt11.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.134.37)

Crabgrass

Well, I'm not gonna be played for a sucker by the big record companies anymore! I'm gonna hold out 'til the Platinum 300 bit Super Micro Discs (and SMD players) hit the market!!! I think the Coasters' version of "Young Blood" was pretty definitive - I hope The Band's version is almost equally good. (I'm gonna wait 'til the SMD is issued, however.)

RE SONG ORDER: It is what you know that you love - RUBBER SOUL is a case in point and an unusual occurence - millions and millions of Beatle fans on this side of the ocean have the shorter version in their heads from countless repeated listenings (enhanced with LSD and/or pot.) The American version was actually released by Capitol on cassette (with the correct song order) but then re-released on cassette as the UK version when the Beatle CDs were issued.

I'm glad the Neil Diamond thing is over too!!! Who the hell started that???? BTW I heard a rumor that SELF PORTRAIT is going to be re-released with the cover art digitally converted to a 3-D image!! And there'll be bonus tracks of the string sections in isolation too!

Posted on Fri May 19 17:46:18 CEST 2000 from user-2ini8ku.dialup.mindspring.com (165.121.34.158)

Jason Czeskleba

franko wrote:
"I am not at all excited about the re-issues. I just can't justify buying three or four CD's that I already own to get a handful of bonus tracks. Does the record company think the re-issues will appeal to non-fans, casual fans, or hardcore fans?"

The appeal of the reissues is not just the bonus tracks, but the improved sound quality. The current CDs are very poorly mastered, and sound awful. It will be nice to finally have a decent-sounding CD version of the second album, especially. These classic albums deserve better than the dull, flat-sounding CDs we currently have. I would buy them even if there were NO bonus tracks, just for the improved sound. (Of course, it would have been nice if they had done the job right back in 1987-88 when the CDs first came out... but that's a whole other discussion).

Posted on Fri May 19 17:37:30 CEST 2000 from user-2ini8ku.dialup.mindspring.com (165.121.34.158)

Jason Czeskleba

Peter Viney wrote:
"On integrity, The Rolling Stones have stuck with the US releases (giving them an extra two remasters to hawk). However, the way The Beatles and The Stones have done it reflects the characters of the people. McCartney & Harrison live in Britain, pay their taxes and are huge contributors to charities. Mick & Keith spend their time travelling around to avoid paying taxes anywhere and Mick has a mighty reputation for being tight with money. And they pass on their attitudes with thhe re-releases."

For the record: the Stones may indeed be cheap and greedy bastards, but they aren't responsible for the sorry state of the CDs of their 60's albums. The Stones do not own the rights to any of their albums prior to Sticky Fingers, and have absolutely no control over the contents of those CDs. All their work up to and including Let it Bleed is owned by former manager Allen Klein, and he is the one who has decided to inflict the inferior US versions of their albums upon the world. Morbid as it seems, Stones fans worldwide wait for Klein to die so the catalog can be fixed.

As far as comparing the Beatles to the Stones, reissue-wise... The albums the Stones DO control (post Sticky Fingers) have all been remastered recently and sound great. Whereas the Beatles albums were poorly mastered back in 1987 and the Beatles have shown no interest in improving the sound quality.

Posted on Fri May 19 16:46:01 CEST 2000 from dialup-270.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.14)

HANK

UMMMM, all this reissue stuff is making my head spin!!!!! I remember seeing Mick Jagger being interviewed around the time The Beatles Anthology was coming out and the interviewer asked "Will The Stones ever do an Anthology?" Micks reply was both curt and precise......"One dah, everahthing the Rawlling Sthones evah did will be on ONE disc!!".......An accurate prediction, I'd say.........so, in THAT light, in the year 2010 or so, we'll all be here on the GB discussing whether or not The BAND supermicro disc actually DOES The Band justice.........it'll be like "how can they call this The Band Super Micro Disc?!!!!....it does'nt have the alternate version of "Orange Juice Blues" discovered in 2004 by......" and so on.........get my drift?.....Thanks for all replies on "dancin' to The Band" thread.....The Band are like The Beatles in this respect......They don't really want make you shake it all the time, but they DO nail ya to the floor with a sense of......"OMIGOD....listen to how beautiful THAT song/groove/riff/harmony is ......of course, you can SLOW dance to those bands ANYTIME...... which is cool, too..... How about a "Which is the best Band song to SLOW dance to" Thread?...HMMMMMMM, lemme think......"It Makes No Difference".....would probably win any poll, I guess, but hey!!!! I'm into anyones suggestions..........Another thing, It's a gas to watch people trying to dance to "The Weight"!! Anytime I play it with a band where folks can dance or have been dancing, folks can't seem to figure whether it's a slow or fast song......I'd say it's a "sway/groove" song.....Hey! Let's all write a song called "Do The DANKO bop"!!!....we can make it part of the promotion for the new GB movie!!!!! Just to be modern we could loop some of Ricks funkiest thangs on to one Rythmn track and chant "Do The Danko bop" over it...... 1st Verse: "Pick up That Bass, bop up and down, make 'em wear a smile, not a frown.....Do The Danko bop, Do The Danko bop.............." We could cull video footage and images to make it all fit onto a cohesive promo video..... Any Takers?.........Weekends here folks!!!!!......Do The Danko Bop at yer local discotheque.......see y'all later.... Hank

Posted on Fri May 19 16:47:03 CEST 2000 from 1cust133.tnt1.topeka.ks.da.uu.net (63.39.63.133)

Dexy

Mr. Starkey mentions Mr. Helm in today's NY Daily News, when asked what was the most memorable experience of his many All-Starr Band tours. He's playing The Beacon next week, along with Jack Bruce, Gary Brooker and others. Here's the interview: http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/4241.htm

Posted on Fri May 19 16:09:23 CEST 2000 from polaris-fw1.nspco.com (206.10.243.20)

Dave Z

I like what was done combining Santana's 1st three albums and adding bonus tracks... specifically the Woodstock cuts... it has a historic postering feel to it... I'd like to see some of the Woodstock Band stuff included as bonus tracks... maybe that would tie Bid Pink more to Woodstock for the larger audience...

As for buying CDs over and over again... that's no problem for me... I got twin 2 year old boys... when I left for work this morning they were dancing to the drums of Soul Sacrifice... so I am not surprised by any colateral damage...

Posted on Fri May 19 16:02:13 CEST 2000 from 47.mercerville-28-29rs.nj.dial-access.att.net (12.78.151.47)

carmen

Thought I would make it easy for you:

From New York/Bergen County/Meadowlands Area: Take RT. 80 West to Exit 27B Netcong. Proceed off exit 7/10 mile to traffic circle. Proceed half way around circle and on extreme right follow down ramp to RT. 183/206 North. Proceed 1/2 mile to Hess Gas Station on right and then make left turn onto Main Street-Stanhope. The finest live music awaits you one block down on the right, 45 Main Street.

From PA/Hackettstown Area: Take RT. 80 East to Exit 25 Stanhope. Proceed off exit and travel about 3/4 mile till you bear right following signs for RT. 183 South- Stanhope. Proceed on RT. 183 for about 1 mile until you see Hess Gas Station on left. Make right turn onto Main Street Stanhope. The finest live music awaits you one block down on the right, 45 Main Street.

From Newton Area: Take RT. 206 South. Proceed through Byram bear left and follow signs for RT. 183 South Stanhope. Proceed on RT. 183 South for about 1 mile until you see Hess Gas Station on left. Make right turn onto Main Street Stanhope. The finest live music awaits you one block down on the right, 45 Main Street.

From Chester/Flanders Area: Take RT.206 North. At the junction of RT. 206/RT. 80 follow signs for RT. 183 North-Stanhope. Proceed about 1 mile to traffic circle. Proceed half way around circle and on extreme right follow down ramp to RT. 183/206 North. Proceed 1/2 mile to Hess Gas Station on right and then make left turn onto Main Street-Stanhope. The finest live music awaits you one block down on the right, 45 Main Street.

Parking is available in our lot located behind the Stanhope House, the Municipal Building located at 77 Main St. or on the street.

Posted on Fri May 19 15:57:50 CEST 2000 from 47.mercerville-28-29rs.nj.dial-access.att.net (12.78.151.47)

carmen

Information on the Stanhope House:

The phone number is 973-347-0458. If you select option # 2 you can get directions.

Their Web address is WWW.stanhopehouse.com. I hope to get there and see some of the GB'ers.

Posted on Fri May 19 15:40:41 CEST 2000 from spider-wo051.proxy.aol.com (205.188.200.41)

franko

First off, there better be open auditions for the upcoming Band flick ('The Return of the Fly'?), 'cause I want to play Rick.

I am not at all excited about the re-issues. I just can't justify buying three or four CD's that I already own to get a handful of bonus tracks (although I could sell my Rick Danko - The Band guitar pick that I got from Rick at a show in 1997 - one recently sold on e-bay for $81 - nah). Does the record company think the re-issues will appeal to non-fans, casual fans, or hardcore fans? Last time I looked, the first four CD's were still available in local record stores. If they're not selling well now, will a few additional tracks change that? I don't get it.

In 1996, Al Stewart put out "Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time", a collection of demos and outtakes. It was produced in limited qauntities and appealed to, well, to real Al Stewart fans. Sort of an authorized boot, I guess. A Band version seems like a good idea to me.

Boy, am I glad the Neil Diamond thread came to an end....

Posted on Fri May 19 14:49:32 CEST 2000 from unionppp6.union.edu (149.106.172.7)

Danny Lopez

Hey Mattk: Don't get too upset about Atlantic's packaging of the Heavyweight Champion. It was Atlantic that put the original albums together from various sessions. Witness "Village Blues" on "Coltrane Jazz," which was from an entirely different session with different musicians. Or "My Favorite Things" and "Coltrane's Sound," whose tunes were carved out of 3 sessions. Me thinks Atlantic did a pretty good job in creating "coherence." It seems that the "concept album" idea comes a bit later for Coltrane.

Let's just hope that Capitol does as good a job.

One more Jazz aside -- I could see Levon digging Mingus, but probably having an Arkansas reaction to Trane's later Impulse stuff. Robbie and Garth, on the other hand, must be Coltrane disciples.

Finally, thanks MattK for the directions eons of time ago. You definitely reduced the "mountain anxiety" of this flat-earther.

Posted on Fri May 19 13:59:22 CEST 2000 from (202.86.131.144)

Supratik

Hi everybody !

If there's a role in the pehr-guestbook movie for the Indian cousin of Robbie who taught him how to play the guitar, how 'bout me. No one here can have more Indian blood than I have, IMHO of course. LOL !

Band dance songs : I dance to every one of them ( well almost ).

Posted on Fri May 19 13:14:42 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime P.S.

Ilkka my friend, I suppose you like Self Portrait for the cover art?

Posted on Fri May 19 13:05:30 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime

Well, a big gap between the original album tracks and the bonuses would be wise (after Garth's voice-over calling Mind.The.Gap as in London tube stations :-) But I don't think they should add Hawks material to the Band albums. It has to be outtakes and alternate versions from the period the album was cut. I should buy them anyway, but still...

Crabgrass: YoungBlood is on some versions of HOTH too. On my copy it's not listed, but it's the 11th track: "looky there".

Posted on Fri May 19 12:29:24 CEST 2000 from 209-23-38-3.ip.termserv.net (209.23.38.3)

Diamond Lil

"LG 10"..please e-mail me. I have something I need to ask you. Thanks.

Have a good day everyone

Posted on Fri May 19 11:13:30 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-055.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.55)

Peter Viney

The only way to do bonus tracks is at the end, and I like the idea of a big gap of silence to mark it. The Beatles albums are something we discussed once. The CD releases are the original British albums, with the running order as originally chosen and conceived by the artists and producer. The US releases were so designed to get extra albums by adding in singles and shortening the running time, and were said at the time to be a travesty of the albums’ conception. On re-release, The Beatles have insisted on their original concept, which also gives more value for money. But it’s what you know and love, of course. On integrity, The Rolling Stones have stuck with the US releases (giving them an extra two remasters to hawk). Exactly the same process happened in the 60s with both bands with UK / US releases. I know if you have the lot (or the vinyl) you can burn a CDR in the desired running order. However, the way The Beatles and The Stones have done it reflects the characters of the people. McCartney & Harrison live in Britain, pay their taxes and are huge contributors to charities. Mick & Keith spend their time travelling around to avoid paying taxes anywhere and Mick has a mighty reputation for being tight with money. And they pass on their attitudes with thhe re-releases.

On The Band the vinyl remaster of Big Pink didn’t even have the crappy original British sleeve, but worse, the horribly over-printed 70s version. Let’s hope that like the beautiful Japanese remasters, these new ones go for the US sleeves, not the European ones.

Levon & the Hawks: just re-read Lee’s interview with John Simon, and in this mood of archive searhing, it occurs to me that enough material might just exist for a (short) Levon & the Hawks studio album. OK, there are the five tracks spread over the Canadian Squires / Levon & The Hawks singles: The Stones You Throw / He don’t love You / Uh Uh Uh / Leave Me Alone / Go LizaJane. Lee’s footnotes add these Toronto 64 sessions – Bacon Fat / Biscuits & Taters / Robbie’s Blues "and more". IF these still exist, and that’s a big IF. Then there are the odd tracks done without Ronnie Hawkins released on "The Roulette Years": What a Party / Further On Up The Road / She’s Nineteen Years Old. Add the widely circulated Barbarians "Moulty" (The Hawks + Moulty). Add Do The Honky Tonk from Across The Great Divide. You’re just about there without any unknown stuff and other live recordings (though the more the merrier). It needs a persistent entrepeneurial genius to bring those bits together.

Posted on Fri May 19 10:16:20 CEST 2000 from du62-1.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.1.62)

Ilkka

Kalervo, good to see you back. Just like you - earlier this week - I saw a smiling, energetic, fit and communicating Dylan last night. Because SELF PORTRAIT is my favorite album I enjoyed the style and the sound (for instance, 'Country Pie' from NASHVILLE SKYLINE). My wife says that he looked good in his light violet cowboy suit and black bow tie. Sorry, if this is not an internationally accepted musical term but this kind of music is called in these woods for "horse jazz from Texas". I like it. (No irony in this message!)
No numbers from THE BASEMENT WAVES or PLANET TAPES, though.

Posted on Fri May 19 08:54:11 CEST 2000 from spider-ta021.proxy.aol.com (152.163.205.51)

Lizz

hey Crabgrass, " Youngblood" is available on the Doc Pomus Tribute CD, with some other great Bands doing his songs. I love The Band's version....... " looky there.."

Posted on Fri May 19 08:22:23 CEST 2000 from 2cust95.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.137.95)

Crabgrass

The only way to get all the previously unreleased tracks and outtakes on a single CD is to hope the bootleggers do it - or burn it yourself on a recordable CD. Did most of you Band addicts run out and buy BEST OF THE BAND VOL. II just because it contains "Young Blood?" I don't have it yet and don't recall anyone reviewing here in the GB. (Might have missed it tho.) I bought a cassette copy of the Brown Album a while back and the song order was changed to make the playing time of each side approximately even and I couldn't listen to it. This was commonly done on cassettes.

My biggest gripe is that the American shorter thirty minute version of the Beatles' RUBBER SOUL was never released on CD. The UK version is jarring with several inferior tracks although it is longer. And the splendid opener "I've Just Seen A Face" is missing completely because it's on the UK version of the HELP CD. Sometimes LESS is MORE. A travesty!!! (Of course, both "Day Tripper" and "We Can Work It Out" belonged on the American version and were released simultaneously with it but Capitol decided to keep the latter songs back to back on the 45 in order to reap greater profits.)

Gotta run now - am taking acting lessons in preparation for my upcoming car chase scene with Levon!!

Posted on Fri May 19 04:52:56 CEST 2000 from adsl-64-217-155-165.dsl.eulstx.swbell.net (64.217.155.165)

Janice Edwards

I just wanted to say beautiful website.

Posted on Fri May 19 04:08:21 CEST 2000 from parachute1-156-40-64-164.net.nih.gov (156.40.64.164)

Jonathan Katz

Little Brother finally got to the point. Sprinkling a few "unreleased" tracks into "re-reissues" generates sales. The record companies made a lot of money from reissuing CDs of LPs - virtually no production costs so there was a high profit margin. And as we know, there was collusion and price fixing to keep CD prices artificially high. So now we get a few tracks of rarities spread out over four releases. Chances are, we will buy them all. But what are we buying? A pessimistic view is that there will be precious little that we haven't heard before. I'm sure that I'll cue up credit card in hand to buy for some of these my fourth copy on the day they are released. If Capitol released one disc of rarities they would not realize as much profit. Some of this is what should have been on that third disc of the box set instead of the live material from Watkins Glen that was released a bit later.

Posted on Fri May 19 03:30:19 CEST 2000 from spider-th013.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.48)

Bashful Bill

A poster over on altmusic.theband has a good suggestion for a Big Pink outake: a non-falsetto version of I Shall Be Released. That would definitely be interesting.

Posted on Fri May 19 02:10:57 CEST 2000 from firewall1.westpac.co.nz (210.55.236.18)

Rod

The extra tracks on the new releases look better than I first imagined - especially RM doing Endless Highway (this seems to be a song they played around with alot).

what are the promo bits mentioned?

Posted on Fri May 19 01:56:51 CEST 2000 from mat-5-9.enter.net (207.16.155.203)

Little Brother

I'm not smirking, MattK; I have too much respect for you to smirk. I am, however, relating to that dead deer again because I was listening the other way when the 'Trane blew down the tracks, ergo trying to follow your dense explication sort of wrapped me around the cowcatcher.

Don't mind me, though-- I'm a guy who just had to go into the next room in the Fortress of Solitude to turn down the damn TV because Todd Flanders' voice is cutting right through my soggy parietal lobes. By the bye, in the Questions Too Off-Topic To Dignify With A Response Department: Are simple, ordinary TVs, like the 12-year old Zenith I just adjusted, subject to "volume creep"? I swear that I experience it-- if I answer the phone or am distracted, it's like the thing demands attention and gradually gets LOUDER... David Powell, I bet you know; E-mail me if you don't want to sully this noble forum. "No, it's you-- you're freaking nuts." is obviously a possibility.

Back on topic: I tend to agree more with Dan on the issue of bonus tracks. David's pragmatic argument gives me pause, i.e. that it's sensible, therefore legitimate to add a bonus track or two to take advantage of the increased capacity of CDs. And though I couldn't appreciate Mattk's example fully, he persuades me that virtuoso improvisational music is not served adequately by standard recording protocols in the first place. Sure, ever since Edison croaked into the paraffin cylinder we've been conditioned to the paradigm that a given audio medium must needs contain an optimal number of pieces, presumably carefully edited, packaged and sold. But-- to bring it down to a concrete example we all recognize-- if, say, the Band had recorded a dozen versions, live or studio, of a nice, long "Genetic Method"/Chest Fever, it's certainly possible they'd ALL be worth releasing! But it don't work that way, 'cause unless a record company (and artist) wanted to release an entire album of "Genetic Variations", you'd be forced to compare and rate them for some arbitrary decision of what the "best" or "right" track is.

Well, now we're ALL feelin' like the deer. Whoops. Anyway, since these bonus tracks aren't GIFT horses (pardon shifting animal metaphors), it's fair to look 'em in they mouths. And it seems that we ARE talking about a nice "rarities" selection that might indeed have a few "near misses" or maybe not so near ones, recovered good stuff that just got shelved, and alternate versions. Just like the Beatles Anthologies, which work for me!

Someone said a few weeks (?) back that we seemed to be overlooking the possibility that classic LP presentations would be altered, but that we seemed willing to put up with that to hear the new Old stuff

And hey, I WILL. Just like I'd buy a second copy of Levon's book if a joint was tucked into the dust jacket! But I do wonder about spreading the goodies out onto the catalog. I'm still pissed that the track order on NLSC was changed on CD.

I trust that the folks on the "inside" here, or who are more deeply connected to the music industry, can find out just who's been involved in this process. And please, those in the know-- where do you see the marketing strategy here? Simply put, does Capitol think it'll get more sales by sprinkling unreleased tracks into the reissues rather than selling a tasty "Band Rarities"?

Posted on Fri May 19 01:20:51 CEST 2000 from ch3smc.bellglobal.com (206.47.244.59)

Blind Willie McTell

Reissue Rant and Rave ...

I agree with the postings below. Please do not mix the unreleased songs with the songs from the albums we know and love. Put them at the end of each album. Also, a separate cd containing all songs not on the original albums would really be appreciated.

Posted on Fri May 19 00:01:46 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

I agree with both David Powell and Dan regarding "outakes" and "additional tracks" on reissues. I think it's great to have the additional tracks, and they provide a more complete picture of the creative process that went into an album.

Jazz reissues are particularly big on this point, with seemingly every reissue now including multiple outakes or unreleased versions of songs that were not on the original release. In the jazz arena, this was often due to the rather long playtime for cuts that did not fit on vinyl.

In the past, if a particular session yielded good material that did not make the main album, very often they would be released as a second album (or multiples) from the same sessions. A prime example of this are the late 50s Charles Mingus recordings, which resulted in a full three albums being released (Mingus Dynasty, Ah Um, and ultimately an "Alternate Takes" album).

In jazz circles, this works well, because, as mentioned, songs would run very long due to solos that simply would not fit the initial release, but are of great artistic value due to the improvisational aspects of jazz. Like rock reissues, however, there is the added benefit of seeing how a song or songs evolved over time to become the more classic release.

A great example in jazz for this kind of release is the box set of complete Blue Note recordings by Thelonius Monk, which trace some incredible evolutions in song and feel as the group struggled to grasp Monk's ideas, and as Monk's ideas evolved to fit personnel.

It gets annoying, however, when they insist on mixing the "official" releases in the song order with the outakes. Miles Davis' Columbia reissues (particularly the 64-68 Quartet compilation) and Coltranes Impulse and Atlantic boxed sets are two of the bigger offenders on this point.

I'm overjoyed to have every recording Trane did while putting together A Love Supreme (I actually HAD every Trane studio track released in the US, but Columbia is a fly in my ointment as they are FINALLY releasing a complete boxed set of the Miles/Trane recordings from the Columbia vault). But I'm at a loss as to why Atlantic insisted on mixing the outakes together, sometimes even taking songs from other sessions as they fit better chronologically (if say Trane recorded half the album in March and the other half in June, they'll stick recordings in from May that were part of an entirely different album).

In the case of "A Love Supreme," it's particularly annoying as Trane was working out an album concept (as rock bands would begin doing shortly thereafter). You lose the original artistic concept and flow that the artist and producer crafted when this happens and I hate it. To me, that means I have to keep my copy of "A Love Supreme" as a single CD, though I have the entire CD on a boxed set, albiet spread over two CDs....grrrr).

To me, this is akin to taking Sgt. Peppers and sticking songs from "Past Masters" in the middle of the song order just because chronologically, that's when they were produced. The Beatles had a vision for the entire album that would be lost. Likewise, the power of "A Love Supreme" evaporates.

So, while I'm very excited to have "new" material from the old Band sessions, I do hope that Capitol respects, particularly Big Pink and "The Band," and tacks the new tracks on to the end. While my audiophile friends are likely smirking at my whining, I'm not so hardcore as to relish the idea of having two copies of every Band CD just so I can have both the outakes and the original album concept intact.

matt

Posted on Thu May 18 22:46:28 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.251)

David Powell

According to various sources, "Cahoots" (released in Oct. 1971) was the first album recorded in Albert Grossman's Bearsville studio.

I don't object to additional tracks added on reissues. The proper way to do this, to preserve artistic integrity, in my opinion, is to add them at the end of the disc so they don't interfere with the original running order. Many reissues add an additional minute or so of dead air between the original set of songs and the beginning of the additional tracks. For those who object to the extra material, they can always program their CD player to play just what they want to hear. The compact disc has the capacity to store over 70 minutes of music. Since most older single albums rarely exceeded over 50 or so minutes, why don't include out-takes & extra songs to give the consumer their money's worth.

Posted on Thu May 18 21:49:15 CEST 2000 from icache-3.doit.wisc.edu (144.92.44.76)

Ryan Stang

Regarding Bessie Smith as Cahoots material: In his book, Levon talks about Rick and Robbie writing Bessie Smith during the Basement Tapes, and Hoskyns talks about Artie and Happy recording it around the release of the Brown Album. For those reasons, as well as the overall feel and content of the song, doesn't it really seem like a Basement song? Besides, is there really THAT much great unreleased stuff from Cahoots? I think they started putting stuff with Cahoots because they ran out of room on the Big Pink and Brown Album bonus tracks. Do we really need a "Shootout..." or "Thinkin'..." that wasn't good enough to make Cahoots the first time?

Posted on Thu May 18 20:37:59 CEST 2000 from trt-on52-66.netcom.ca (216.123.98.194)

John Donabie

BONES: Not sure when Bearsville was built; but if you remember in the Cahoots packaging you see the guys standing; in what appears to be a studio in the progress of being built. The studio of course was Bearsville.

Posted on Thu May 18 20:04:23 CEST 2000 from cic-proxy02.firstunion.com (169.200.25.141)

Bones

Someone, I think it was Greil in Mystery Train, said that "Don't Do It" in the new Bearsville Studio was the missing link to Stage Fright. He claimed that if that record had opened with that song, then the record would have gone down as big a classic as the first two. Now I see it listed as a possible Cahoots track, which makes sense because of the Bearsville connection. When was Bearsville built?

Posted on Thu May 18 20:03:36 CEST 2000 from stk-pm1-47-175.dialup.slip.net (207.171.230.175)

Guenevere

OK... I have the story boards completed for the car chase and fight scenes...

Its going to include two miniature "clown-car/limousines", filled with all the musicians that have ever worked with The Band driving around in circles in the middle of the intersection at Hollywood and Vine, with the Capital Records Building in the background... (Sort of "Up In Smoke" meets "The Keystone Cops")...

It starts out with a closeup of Crabgrass at the wheel of one of the limos with Levon sitting shotgun, and smoke is billowing out of the windows... and they have Jemima Surrender blasting on the stereo ... Levon passes Crabby a huge Bong, and just as Crabby is about to take a gigantic hit, another tiny limousine crashes into them from behind, with Robbie Robertson driving and Neil Diamond sitting shotgun, and they have "Beautiful Noise" cranked on the stereo...

From here, the car chase ensues down the wrong side of Hollywood Blvd, (and onto the sidewalk) crashing through the Wallach's Music City plate glass window, and with both limos inside the store, all the musicians start perpetually piling out of the miniature limousines (each carrying all their equipment, of course)... and then the huge fight scene commences right there in the record store... (lots of Kung Fu action of course)... just as Neil Diamond throws a pie at Dylan and it misses and hits Crabby, and Levon is about to smashed a bass drum right over Robbie's head .... somebody yells "TIMEOUT!!!"... "what are we all fighting about????"... then the fight continues... (of course)...

Posted on Thu May 18 19:30:10 CEST 2000 from max2-132.intellistar.net (206.105.68.132)

Dan

Was psyched to hear "Remedy" playing at Albertson's when grocery shopping with my wife the other night. I have a mixed opinion regarding the additional track reissues. While I enjoy any opportunity to hear additional tracks which I may not have heard before, I don't like adding the songs to already completed albums. I would rather have a separate CD of these additional songs or outtakes. Music from Big Pink and the Brown Album are complete works with huge emotional impact. The additional tracks could muddy the waters & detract from the whole -- sort of like adding alternate paragraphs and chapters to A Tale of Two Cities or Of Mice And Men.

Posted on Thu May 18 19:08:12 CEST 2000 from gw.itac.ca (209.146.161.1)

Bill

I was sitting here listening to my Bengali Bauls CD when I decided to do an internet search on them. The top few hits referred to this site and somebody's Robertson discography, but then came this interesting entry

Posted on Thu May 18 18:40:50 CEST 2000 from spider-tj081.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.211)

Beth R.

Best Band song to dance to? IMO, it's got to be "Baby Don't Ya Do It". If you doubt it, check our Ricky dancing to it in TLW. I could watch him for hours (and have!) :)--Beth

Posted on Thu May 18 17:05:06 CEST 2000 from spider-tr014.proxy.aol.com (152.163.201.179)

butch

if i may interject for a moment,,, This Saturday,, 5/20/00 ,,, in Stanhope N.J. LEVON HELM & THE BARN BURNERS,,, w/ Amy Helm,,, The STANHOPE HOUSE !!!! 10 : 00 pm showtime,,, the fellas are hot,, playing cool, cool,,, BLUES,,, see ya there,,,,

thanks to our loyal friends who showed up last night in woodstock to welcome The Barn Burners back to our wednesday night shows,,, good to see ya all,,, next week,, wednesday,,, ???? SPECIAL GUEST ???? anyways,,, this saturday,,, be there,, i will be,,,
thanks,, butch

Posted on Thu May 18 16:41:32 CEST 2000 from dialin-203.poughkeepsie.bestweb.net (216.179.14.37)

Gene

Dexy -

With all due respect, Paul, George, and Ringo are the 'Three-dles', maybe, but The Beatles are gone (albeit, sonically preserved for eternity).

Posted on Thu May 18 16:27:26 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.251)

David Powell

Great news regarding the upcoming Band reissues. One would hope that, once they decide on what tracks to include, EMI/Capital will finally do a decent job in remastering the albums.

Lil: Here's a Band/Beatles/Disney link--On the compilation "Stay Awake / Various Interpretations of Music from Vintage Disney Films", Ringo performs a version of "When You Wish Upon A Star" from "Pinocchio." Included on that same album is Grath's version of the song "Feed the Birds" from "Mary Poppins."

Posted on Thu May 18 16:12:03 CEST 2000 from 1cust250.tnt1.topeka.ks.da.uu.net (63.39.63.250)

Dexy

Would be interesting to know who selected the alternate takes for the reissues. Have to think RR was involved, but also have to think Levon was consulted in some way (and I hope Garth too). Does The Band, as the performers, have veto rights, or any input at all? Paul, George and Ringo appeare to have as much control as they want over "new" Beatle projects, but then, they are The Beatles.

Posted on Thu May 18 09:59:07 CEST 2000 from the-musicman.demon.nl (212.238.116.254)

Harm van Sleen

Of course it's often happened that tracklistings have changed shortly before the release (usually deleting some of the tracks that everybody was hoping for) but the tracklisting of these bonus tracks are good enough to make me happy in anticipation and I can't wait for their release! These tracks may clear up a lot of mysteries, and maybe add a few enigmas of their own. For instance, why isn't Ferdinand included? Will Bessie Smith include the extra verse and coda that appeared in the official sheet music? If Long Distance Operator came from the Gold Star session, then maybe some other sessions that have been hard to identify (such as Bacon Fat and If I Lose) came from this session as well? Was Endless Highway indeed a Cahoots outtake and not, as Barney Hoskyns suggests, written specifically for Watkins Glen? If Bessie Smith and Endless Highway were recorded for Cahoots, why weren't they on the album? And so on. But to me the best news is that we can now be fairly certain that not every unused outtake and alternate version was erased, and personally I think these albums are so good, that every extra minute that I can get to hear from these sessions is worth it already!

Posted on Thu May 18 09:40:10 CEST 2000 from levon.hiof.no (158.36.51.54)

jh

Please note: The tracklisting for The Band reissues were not finalized when the article I included here yesterday was written. The producer of the reissue albums has asked me to inform you that the information is based on a preliminary list of bonus tracks, and may be somewhat incorrect. They have not yet made the final decision about what bonus tracks to include.

Posted on Thu May 18 08:56:30 CEST 2000 from 1cust96.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.136.96)

Crabgrass

Well, I'd say it's better to have no opinion on Neil Diamond rather than to admit you like him. For those who already did admit they like him - it's too late - sorry!!

I think Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Robbie should all do an album each of new songs accompanying themselves on piano only. That would be interesting. (Robbie's would be the worst, of course.) I like the piano tracks on New Morning and Joni hasn't done any songs with solo piano accompaniment since Blue.

Posted on Thu May 18 08:14:11 CEST 2000 from pm3-094.efn.org (206.163.180.94)

deb from Oregon

Hey, Lil; here's the whole verse:

When a star is born,
They possess a gift or two.
They have the power to make a wish come true.
When you wish upon a star,
Makes no difference who you are,
Anything your heart desires will come to you.
If your heart is in your dream,
No request is too extreme,
When you wish upon a star as dreamers do.

Melissa Etheridge as Janis Joplin. Enough said.

Danceable Band songs? This is tough, but I'd have to say: Ophelia (fast) and Evangeline (Waltz).

And, finally, I have no opinion on Neil Diamond.

Posted on Thu May 18 07:39:48 CEST 2000 from ac80b0bd.ipt.aol.com (172.128.176.189)

Brenda

Hi all!

I was wondering if you guys could give me a little help. I have a history of Rock and Roll class this semester and I chose to do my final presentation on The Band (duh!)

Anyways, I need some specific examples on how they changed Rock and Roll history. Things like influences on music style, people, etc. I'm doing research but any sites, books or info you could give me would be MUCH appreciated!

I'll try to check back here, but if you can, please email me!

Thanks again for your help!

Posted on Thu May 18 07:15:03 CEST 2000 from spider-wn084.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.189)

Pac

On second thought, there is no one who could ever do justice to the complexity, wildness, fragility, sweetness and raw lust for life and music that Janis seemed to have. Courtney Love is nowhere near her league. My favorite story about Rick was how he and Janis salvaged a failing tour of Canada by making the rails the ride. How I'd love to have been on that train, hearing them howl and harmonize to obscure folk songs in between swigs of whiskey. They both knew how to party. They lived life to the fullest in their 20s it seems. More power to 'em. I hope they're partying right now.

Posted on Thu May 18 05:45:17 CEST 2000 from user-33qt858.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.160.168)

Pat Brennan

Since he already covered it, wouldn't you have to have Brother Ray sing "Ophelia" on TLW2000?

Posted on Thu May 18 05:35:46 CEST 2000 from 98a7ce3d.ipt.aol.com (152.167.206.61)

usedtodance

Hank, I could dance to " Shape I'm in " actually I have seen lots a folks dance to that one........

Posted on Thu May 18 05:15:09 CEST 2000 from spider-ta061.proxy.aol.com (152.163.205.71)

Bayou Sam

It's funny to scroll through here and see so many people mention a Neil Diamond they like, and then add, "but I'm not a big fan". Come on - it's OK to like Neil isn't it? .........just an amusing observation. Sorry.

Posted on Thu May 18 04:40:08 CEST 2000 from spider-tq083.proxy.aol.com (152.163.201.83)

Pac

Re who could play Janis: Courtney Love? She has the same excessive need to vent, but perhaps is way too vain.

Posted on Thu May 18 03:12:06 CEST 2000 from pm1-56.delrio.com (208.246.52.76)

Just Wonderin'

Best Band dance tunes? Rock and Roll Shoes, Life is a Carnival, Rag Mamma Rag, Ophelia, Mystery Train, Out of The Blue for starters. How long is this dance supposed to last?

Posted on Thu May 18 02:49:23 CEST 2000 from dialup-367.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.111)

HANK

New Thread here possibly.....What's the best Band song to dance to? ......like, if you were getting down at a club and the DJ came up to ya and said "Yo! You!......I KNOW YOU'RE a BAND Fan.....I'm gonna put a BAND song on the decks just for for you, but it's gotta keep the folks on the floor!!!!"......Well, GBers, what would y'all pick?...here's openers from me: "King Harvest (will surely come)"......I'll explain my reasons later.......any takers on this?........Can anyone here confirm whether or not Dylan was gonna bring The Band (WITH RR!!) on the road in Japan sometime in the 90ies?..........It's a rumour I heard a few years back.... any truth in it?..........Ah, CARMEN...."Jemima Surrender" ROCKS!!!!.......It's GREAT to hear 'em boogie like that!!!!! ( Now, THERE'S one for The Dance floor, come to think of it!!).......MIKE from Oregon......The Band and the Dead? I would have to agree that The Band woulda done great justice to some Dead songs......."Rambling Rose' with Richard singing perhaps?........I asked this question before, I think: Is the Band ribbing the The Dead and The Allmans by doing that wacky jam thing on The Watkins Glen album?....certainly SOUNDS like it.........And did GARTH ever jam with The Dead at any of the shows they did together over the years?........See y'all down at The Cripple Creek Discotheque.........HANK

Posted on Thu May 18 02:20:36 CEST 2000 from spider-wj032.proxy.aol.com (205.188.198.32)

jcf

I am excited about the new releases. But couldn't they have done this last year, I just bought the first three albums over the course of the past six months. I'm looking for Northern Lights Southern cross, and have gone to all the big stores here, I even tried ordering it but it did not work. Can anyone please offer help on how to obtain this album??

Posted on Thu May 18 01:59:29 CEST 2000 from 132.mercerville-23-24rs.nj.dial-access.att.net (12.78.149.132)

carmen

Great news! It is nice to see is that the songs selected represent writing credits for Levon, Rick and Richard as well as RR. I guess this means a little more dough for everyone (which is a good thing!).

Jemima Surrender seems to be a strange selection. IMHO, I feel it is the weakest of songs from the Brown Album. Is this RR's way of throwing a bone to Levon.

I wonder if Whispering Pines is the version from the Clasics Video?

Question: In everyone's opinion, what new release becomes better then the original with the selections chosen? I guess this is a hard question since most of us are not familiar with the new stuff, however, give it your best shot!

Posted on Wed May 17 23:50:54 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-070.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.70)

Peter Viney

TLW2000: Of course the final encore, after "Fallen angel(s)" would be Chest Fever with Randy Ciarlante on lead vocal. Sorry I missed the most obvious one.

Posted on Wed May 17 23:45:19 CEST 2000 from ip199.st-louis7.mo.pub-ip.psi.net (38.31.131.199)

Jon

I saw Neil Diamond back sometime in the mid-80's and for the record he did play for over 3 hours. It was a great show, even though I'm not a big fan. Not many big-names play that long. It was at the St. Louis Checkerdome.

Posted on Wed May 17 23:44:49 CEST 2000 from spider-wj051.proxy.aol.com (205.188.198.41)

Lee

John, you're right. Barney Hoskyns is writing the liner notes. I heard about the track listing awhile back but thought there was an embargo on releasing the details.

I don't believe Capitol are waiting for any Hawks material from Garth or Levon. I hope some of those tracks listed, Yazoo/Katies Been Gone/Bessie Smith are different takes to those released on the Basement Tapes.

I didn't check all the details Jan has put on but if they're the same as mine a number of mistakes already occur regarding where some of the material was recorded and when.

Posted on Wed May 17 23:42:42 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-078.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.78)

Peter Viney

Bonus tracks: Key to the Highway is the best news of all, even though the news that they’d performed it at concerts surprises me. When? Where? The basement material comes from 1968 as well as 1967, and "Bessie Smith"’s position (and Robbie’s comment) vindicates those who say it wasn’t basement at all. More intriguingly, everyone’s talked about sweetening the basement material circa 1975. Looking at the case of Bessie, you wonder if the opposite was actually done – thinning the sound to make them seem less like later recordings? And they were ALL involved in keeping it quiet. The alternate takes are great news, and I can’t wait to get all of these. This will be my fifth version of Big Pink. I already have vinyl, remastered vinyl, original CD, remastered Japanese CD. BUT any new version of any one song from that era is worth it! I only wish they’d turned up a studio Little Birdies. "They Night they drove old Dixie down" has unused overdubs. Fascinating.

Much controversy in the UK about BBC Radio 2’s amended & updated "hot list" of artists (Radio 2 is MOR). Well. I turned on the radio this evening just as "The Shape I’m In" started. So no complaints here. And it wasn’t even a British hit. Others this week included "Bright side of the road", "Good vibrations" and "December 63". Sounds classic!

Posted on Wed May 17 23:35:28 CEST 2000 from sjiassoc16.erols.com (208.58.12.144)

Jon Lyness

Mr. Viney, great picks on "TLW 2000". To steal Levon's great phrase, I'd stay up all night drinking goddamn dirty water for a chance to see a show like that. Here's a few more thoughts:

slow blues instrumental -- James Cotton w/ Levon Helm & the Barn Burners
sax instrumental for Rick (title?) -- Garth Hudson
4% Pantomime -- Van Morrison & Ray Charles (preceding You Don't Know Me)
Lonesome Suzie -- Van Morrison
Ophelia -- Dr. John
Hills of Woodstock -- Tom Pacheco w/Jim Weider & the Honky Tonk Gurus
Blue River -- Eric Andersen & Garth Hudson
This Wheel's on Fire -- Bob Dylan & his band
Sign on the Cross -- Bob Dylan & his band with Garth Hudson (I could die a happy man after that one!)

Posted on Wed May 17 22:10:35 CEST 2000 from cic-proxy01.firstunion.com (169.200.25.140)

Bones

WOW! Great news about the new tracks coming this summer! It all sounds fantastic.

Enough Neil and Robbie bashing, and let's also get the facts straight. Yes, Neil did bring his own drummer(Dennis St. John) to the show, but to play with Levon NOT replace him, and Levon seemed to love it. Levon always has enjoyed playing with another drummer. Levon kept looking up to Dennis and smiling like he was having fun. Although not a huge Diamond fan, I admit to liking Beautiful Noise.

Posted on Wed May 17 21:42:44 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime

Donabie.. good to hear your voice again... Great news about bonus tracks! Richard singing "Endless Highway" would be a twin to "The Shape I'm In". Can't wait to hear all these alternative versions. Some tracks are a bit predictable though. The only tune that I've never heard so far is "Key to the Highway". Just hoping that the reissues will be released in Europe as well. If not, Jawbone Records will have to distribute them. How about that Lee?

Posted on Wed May 17 21:42:07 CEST 2000 from user-33qt9hp.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.166.57)

Pat Brennan

Although why no "We Can Talk"?

Posted on Wed May 17 21:39:05 CEST 2000 from user-33qt9hp.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.166.57)

Pat Brennan

Great news on the reissues, especially since Capitol's website gives no such information. Also great to see John Donabie back and typing. And hang in there, Bear.

Posted on Wed May 17 18:46:08 CEST 2000 from dsl-4-197-186-216.cust.dslnetworks.net (216.186.197.4)

Chris

Hey All. I just got the bootleg video of CSNY show 4/14/00. Friday night's show with to this date the only live version of Chicago I know of. Would love to trade for Band bootlegs. I have more Dylan, Garcia Band, and Clapton videos. Have the woodstock 94 Band set, and a New Orleans show from 6/94. Let me know if you wanna trade. For "The Film" I say Matt Damen as Levon, Dave Grohl as Rick, Ed Norton as Richard, Tom Cruise as The Hawk, Johnny Depp as Robbie, Harry Connick Jr as Garth, and Ben Stiller as Dylan. I say that the movie might take a turn when double R and Levon are brought in as advisors and forced to speak to each other. You could just run tape and release that. Don't let RR do any dubbing though it might turn out looking like the Waltons family reunion.

Posted on Wed May 17 18:40:57 CEST 2000 from 1cust75.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.136.75)

Crabgrass

That Dylan - so sarcastic!! I guess that's one of the things I always liked about him - but I'd rather listen to Neil Diamond than any of Bob's Christian albums which are worse than anything Neil ever did. Good thing TLW happened before Bob's temporary conversion!

I pick Britney Spears to play Janis but I know everyone else is gonna pick Amy Helm.

Posted on Wed May 17 18:23:23 CEST 2000 from spider-tl062.proxy.aol.com (152.163.207.202)

Long Distance Operator

Hank: Neil Diamond as Dylan's Mr. Jones is hilarious! You hit it on the screws once again, partner!

Posted on Wed May 17 18:18:44 CEST 2000 from (216.73.7.46)

Dave Hopkins

If you haven't already, check out the details of the bonus tracks on the CD reissues on this site at (thanks, Jan!). Some of the tracks are what many of us had expected (studio versions of "Get Up Jake," "Don't Do It" and "Key to the Highway," alternate takes and mixes, etc.). Some of it is unexpected (for example, a studio version of "Endless Highway" with Richard singing lead!) I'm looking forward to the reissues this summer...

Posted on Wed May 17 17:36:23 CEST 2000 from cobalt.nextlink.net (206.129.70.172)

Mike

I want to thank everyone for contributing to my initial thread about a Band movie. It's been great fun to see all the different picks...I figured it was time for a little levity...It was getting kind of heavy with the feud...

On another note, I was driving in the country here in Oregon the other day. (An unusually beautiful warm SUNNY day for here.) I was listening to The Dead's "Truckin'" (the live version from Europe '72, I think.) I started thinking about how The Band would've totally rocked on this song. The bass line has the type of groove that would've had Rick Happy Dancing all over the stage. The vocal trade-offs, the harmonies, everything...(The bridge would've been a killer!) Of course I then thought of other Dead songs the boys could have done and how they would've sounded. I heard Rick did a version of Ripple late last year...what about others? US Blues, Deep Elem Blues, BIODTL, Big Railroad Blues, stuff from Workingman's Dead and American Beauty, etc.

Also, I heard the guys were all set to do an Austin City Limits a few years back (Jericho or HoH tour?), but Levon somehow pulled the plug. Anyone know anything about this? They would have been GREAT on there! (The tribute to Doug Sahm was really good a few weeks ago.) What a shame a Band show didn't happen. Oh well...Any news on Rick's new CD and when it's due out? Have a great day everyone.

Posted on Wed May 17 17:05:06 CEST 2000 from trt-on51-39.netcom.ca (216.123.98.39)

John Donabie

Just talked with Paul Cantin and the new Band CD's will orginate from the U.S. and word has it, at this time, that Barney Hoskyns will write the liner notes. They are still waiting for a few more tracks of the Hawks period that may originate from Levon or Garth.

Posted on Wed May 17 16:36:31 CEST 2000 from m198214176061.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.176.61)

pehr

"Try and top that!"

"What do I have to do, breathe?"

Posted on Wed May 17 16:02:59 CEST 2000 from trt-on62-10.netcom.ca (216.123.103.138)

John Donabie

JAN....I really enjoyed the update on The Band Bonus Tracks. That's about the best news I've heard in awhile. I wrote Paul to find out if the CD's are going to originate out of here or the U.S. I'll post his answer.

Posted on Wed May 17 15:24:01 CEST 2000 from 175.0102.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.175)

Nancy Birch

I'm voting for Amanda to write the script for the GB film. I can tell from her last post that she has what it takes to instill an element of excitement into the film without sacrificing the truth in a cheap quest for box office success.

BTW someone mentioned several megabytes ago that an actor is needed for the part of Janis Joplin. I have given this some thought but I can't come up with anyone. Has anyone else had any ideas?

BTW #2 Wardrobe needs to borrow four large Canadian overcoats with pockets inside. Note: Due to budget constaints no payment will be made for same but you will see your coat on the big screen.

Posted on Wed May 17 14:48:44 CEST 2000 from icache-3.doit.wisc.edu (144.92.44.76)

Tim(SUNDOG)Corcoran

Hi Lizz, Hi 'Lil,,,hope everyone here is having a grate spring!

Posted on Wed May 17 13:28:06 CEST 2000 from 209-23-55-144.ip.termserv.net (209.23.55.144)

Diamond Lil

When you wish upon a star
Makes no difference who you are
Anything your heart desires
Will come to you...

Hey..Neil Diamond, The Monkees, Barry Manilow...why not Jiminy Cricket, hm? :-)

Band Link: Richard sang the first 2 lines of this during a sound check at a little club called "Key Largo" on Long Island in the early 80's.(And you guys didn't think I had a link, didja? :-)

Have a good day everyone. Hug Jan.

Posted on Wed May 17 12:30:51 CEST 2000 from cache-hki-5.inet.fi (194.197.68.45)

Kalervo

Glad to be back...writing...Real clever folks here, giving Neil Diamond and Monkees a chance to shine... I just read Mike Nesmith' s book Total Control - fine reading. Yes Ilkka, his Bobness was in Finland, too. Yesterday. I was fortunate to get to the concert with my hurting knee.I have never seen a man happier and so full of energy. And it was just a year (?)ago he was knocking the Heaven's door. A lovely, rocking concert. Material was maybe too familiar, but we all enjoyed....

Posted on Wed May 17 11:16:51 CEST 2000 from dialup-359.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.103)

HANK

Wow, Crabby.....you really have it in for 'ole Slowhand, doncha?........"Message to Love" IS a great movie, tho..... The story of Neil Diamond and Dylan, according to Ron Wood goes like, Diamond sez "Beat That"......to which Dylan replies...."What do I have to do? Go on stage and fall asleep?"..........Actually, Diamond is like the living incarnation of Dylans Mr. Jones at TLW.......he KNEW something was happening...but he did'nt KNOW what it was. AGAIN, WHY WASN'T GEORGE HARRISON AT TLW? .......hare krishna,......HANK

Posted on Wed May 17 09:03:13 CEST 2000 from 1cust215.tnt11.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.134.215)

Crabgrass

Tiny Tim appears in Murray Lerner's great film Message to Love a classic real rock documentary (unlike the staged Scorcese concert film that is mentioned here from time to time) of the last Isle of Wight Festival. It is available on video and Neil Diamond isn't in it though the almost equally horrible Mr. Kristofferson is and gets booed off the stage. Too bad Lerner hadn't also filmed it the previous year when Dylan and The Band appeared.

Dylan was probably inspired by Neil Diamond before that world tour with Tom Petty - that film of the concert in Australia is an abomination.

And before we get too distanced from the mention of MOR artists let's not forget EC. His sappy hit ballads really put me to sleep. I think I'd rather listen to Neil Diamond - don't have any of his records tho.

Posted on Wed May 17 07:58:10 CEST 2000 from spider-wc084.proxy.aol.com (205.188.193.59)

Henry

I remember Niel Diamond's song from TLW. He only did one song, Dry Your Eyes, and it sounded fine. I'm almost positive he brought his own piano player and drummer. I don't know who the piano player was and he's not on the album credits. I remember his comment when he took the stage. He smugly said "I'm only going to do one song but I'm gonna do it good". I always assumed he was refering to the fact that almost everyone else was on for at least 2 numbers. Thank you Jan, for allowing me to be your guest on the best site on the net. "Down deep in the heart of a lonely kid. Suffering so much for what he did". Long Live THE BAND

Posted on Wed May 17 07:11:26 CEST 2000 from cacheflow.tcg.sgi.net (209.166.160.51)

Mary (bear)

I would just like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all of you, who have so kindly posted condolences to me. Some of your names, I of course, recognize. Others I do not necessarily recognize, but may have spoken to you in the chatroom at some time or another under another name. I could not sleep last night, and I decided in the middle of the night to catch up on some guestbook reading. I was very surprised to see the heartfelt wishes, and it really helped to see that others care. I don't post here often, but I usually read the guestbook everyday. I really enjoy everyones' input, and have learned some very interesting things. I like to read the many different opinions, ideas, and information on where to purchase various items, and upcoming events, and of course the reviews of everything from cd's, to the shows I am unable to attend. I don't always agree with the opinions, but I enjoy the different views of others. I like it much better in here the past few days, unlike the fighting that occurs at various times. Please continue to love the band, each other, and respect others point of view. Life is too short to be angry. And again thank you for all your kind words. Mary

Posted on Wed May 17 05:52:40 CEST 2000 from user-33qt96d.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.164.205)

Pat Brennan

I recall seeing Neil Diamond at the Teenage World's Fair (quaint, eh?) at McCormick Place in Chicago circa 1966. He looked like a greaser but he did Cherry, Cherry which was allright by me. Since then, I just don't have the stomach for him. I can't revisit any of his old music because I don't own any of it. Dry Your Eyes might be his only appearance in my collection. And, I have a severe weakness for 60's pop (Turtles, Beau Brumells, Honeycombs ((heck, anything produced by Joe Meek)), Rascals, Lovin Spoonful, Petula Clark, Dusty) so I don't write the whole genre off. It might be Neil's smirk. Perhaps I'm repeating an apocryphal story here (shoot, I mighta heard it here) but Neil supposedly walked off the Last Waltz stage from his performance and passed Dylan in the wings. He proudly said to Bob, "Beat that." To which Dylan replied, "Yeah. I'll breathe." Last laugh though is that Dylan got the idea for his 1978 extravaganza after seeing Neil in Vegas.

Just realized, the McCormick Place show would have been just months after the Dylan/Hawks performance at the same venue.

Posted on Wed May 17 05:47:09 CEST 2000 from mat-6-32.enter.net (207.16.156.42)

Little Brother

-- In "The Film", aka "Don't Do It", "Livin' In A Dream", "Eat The Band", I got dibs on the part of the dead deer-- the one half-skinned by the whacked-out Band members. I'm very much a carnivore, but that was one gross-out vignette! But I see the deer as perhaps the ultimate metaphorical precursor of the Band's tragic demise, collectively and individually: sylvan grace and beauty mashed by the high-speed vehicle of Success; the lethal juggernaut of Business blindsiding esthetic spirit in mid-leap; the Free Spirit blitzed by the overpowering demons of the Thrill/Buzz for its own sake... Call me a Sick Pup, but it's the part I was born to play!

-- Neil Diamond kind of passed me by, so I can't comment intelligently on him as the others have. There was something too "pop" and dorky about him. Next we'll be finding Barry Manilow/Band linkages! Look, I said I didn't really know Neil's music, I'm just flashing on Stars That Didn't Make It For Me. I pray that John Denver won't be exhumed here any time soon, the beautiful "Country Roads" notwithstanding...

-- I enjoyed the amazingly prolific postings over the past few days, though. It brought back something I'd sort of forgotten, which is just how important, if nebulous, the distinction was between "pop" and "rock" in the late '60s-'70s. It may be that the pop camp had the preponderance of educated, trained, sophisticated musicians from the standpoint of technical knowledge and formal craftsmanship, but rock rocks! Which, to repeat the obvious, is why the Band was so superlative and magical; they were strong in both skill and spirit, and the survivors still are. Even that reptilian Robbie...

-- I don't know if this is as perilous as Elvis, but I was THERE when the Monkees were synthesized, I liked their show as a kid; I appreciate that a couple of the individuals had legitimate musical pedigrees; I know they were given some tasty pop tunes. I also like "I'm A Believer", even "Last Train to Clarkesville". But NO WAY I'm gonna buy into some revisionist hype that they were a legitimate band, or should be accorded genuine respect as a group entity. C'mon, they're practically the antithesis of the admirable authenticity personified by the Band! I'm not faulting the Monkee-boys for seeing a chance to advance their careers and ride a fat gig-wave, but they were obviously artificial-- Pinocchio meets Milli Vanilli! Even in America, the Land of Re-Invention, if you make that deal you foreclose the option of coming back later and being Serious and Real, after all. IMHO, of course.

-- Speaking of Serious and Real, the one major omission from TLW's glittering guest list? My vote goes to Tiny Tim!

Posted on Wed May 17 04:33:20 CEST 2000 from spider-we041.proxy.aol.com (205.188.195.36)

Bayou Sam

Wow......... Paul McCartney playing Yesterday on acoustic with Garth accompanying him - now THAT would be a beautiful thing to hear.

Posted on Wed May 17 04:26:33 CEST 2000 from spider-tf043.proxy.aol.com (152.163.197.193)

Pac

Chris, I feel the same way. Crabgrass, "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" still works on a hot summer's day with the windows wide open. But there's no doubt about it -- Gram Parsons is great ANY time, especially in duets with Emmylou. Bear, I'm really sorry about your father and hope you're surrounded by loving people at such a devastating time.

Posted on Wed May 17 04:18:46 CEST 2000 from 1cust132.tnt6.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.11.190.132)

Crabgrass

Whew! With so many Neil Diamond fans coming out of the GB closet I think it's obvious that a few Band website links to Neil Diamond sites are in order!! Liberace is often credited for turning Elvis on to flamboyant outfits by lending him a gold lame jacket or something along those lines during Elvis' early Vegas days. Elvis certainly had a beautiful and unique voice which could convey much emotion. On the other hand Dylan has an awful voice but can convey much emotion - I think that's the key. Someone hit the nail on the head - these days RR is much like a shlocky version of Neil Diamond except his singing is not as good. (Non-believers check out RR's "Going Home" video and tell me you're not embarrassed by what you see - and hear.) Gene Clark indeed wrote several great tunes for the Byrds first album although most of the instruments were played by session men 'cause the Byrds couldn't cut it. Pretty sure it was Al Kooper playing organ on Dylan's "Positively 4th Street" - first hit record without a musical bridge to my knowledge. And I think the Monkees would've been better if Charles Manson had passed the audition.

I think it's obvious to all that The Band should be added to the list of topics you should never discuss - but then we'd all have to go back to our shrinks twice a week. (Hey, once is enough for me!!)

Posted on Wed May 17 03:55:03 CEST 2000 from spider-wn054.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.174)

Lizz

Mary, just wanted to pass along My condolences

I just saw one of my favorite Zydeco Bands: Terrance Simeon and The Mallett Playboys. They were wonderful as usual, Terrance's voice is sounding really great. In the middle of a wonderfully mixed set of Zydeco ( and Ico Ico, Brother John is gone) and jazzy arrangements, Terrance stoped and dedicated a song in memory of Rick Danko. They did "Dixie Down" beautiful version with accordian and FULL harmonies!!! I was able to talk to Terrance after the show and he told me some good news. Last year he recorded Twilight with Rick. They harmonized and traded verses and.........he is going to release it on his new CD . It will be available in January. He said it was a thrill to sing Twilight with Rick. I cant wait to hear it ! {Terrance Simeon and the Mallet Playboys} Play on Keep Listening ..............

Posted on Wed May 17 01:30:58 CEST 2000 from ppp3336.on.bellglobal.com (206.172.221.72)

vic

that was quick, thank-you and merci beaucoup!!

Posted on Wed May 17 00:53:35 CEST 2000 from cf3k-3-2.paradise.net.nz (203.96.152.187)

Amanda

I am very much looking forward to the upcoming pehr-guestbook production.(costumes by Nancy, fight scenes by Guenevere.) I suggest that it should be titled "The Film" to mirror the simple descriptiveness of "The Band".

Some minor changes to the story line would, I believe, ensure box-office success. Perhaps after the initial car chase scene there could be a series of flash backs through the life of [...favourite BAND members name goes here]

Voice over intones: "It is not well known that [...favourite BAND members name goes here] was raised by wolves till the age of 12 when he was adopted by Shaolin monks who taught him martial arts. At 14 he joined the French Foreign Legion where he had many adventures until he tired of this and joined a travelling circus. Here he used his psychic powers for fun and profit and occasionally assisted the police in solving crimes. However, his life would never be the same again after the historic day on which he met THE HAWK!!" ...and so forth...

Posted on Wed May 17 00:13:59 CEST 2000 from spider-wb052.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.172)

Ben Turkel

I haven't posted here in a while, but I want to comment on a few recent posts. I agree with Crabgrass about the Burritos. I think they were on a parallel wavelength as the Band in the late 60's. 'Dark end of the street' and 'Hot burrito #2' are two of my favorites from their first album. The recent two disc collection that was mentioned here a few weeks ago is excellent. I'm also a big Elvis fan, particularly of the late 60's and 70's period. I prefer his version of 'Promised land' to the Band's. Elvis performed a lot of songs by contemporary songwriters in this period including 'Proud Mary' and 'Steamroller blues' so I don't think it would have been much of a stretch for him to do 'Cripple creek' or 'Rag mama rag' in concert, but as far as I know he never did.

Posted on Tue May 16 23:49:47 CEST 2000 from m198214176061.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.176.61)

pehr

Firstly, condolences to Mary. May the treasured memories comfort you always...

Nancy Birch- at the risk of bug rights activists anger we could feature the Fly and some extra flies in a breathtaking "Coke & Mirrors" scene... A drugged fly is found floating dead in a taster bowl of soup and a waiter is summoned backstage-

Guenevere you get the job with the fight scenes and stunt co-ordination. Let's turn the opening segment of TLW into a car chase. we can figure out what for later, in the editing/dubbing process

Speaking of fight scenes and Neil Diamond, Mr. Diamond is part of a Band connection to the equally great Bruce Lee. Diamond's road manager at one time was Fred Weintraub, who managed the "Bitter End" club in Greenwich Villiage in the early 60's. Weintraub went on to produce "Enter the Dragon" for Warner Bros., who put out TLW. Makes for one of my favorite video double features, BTW.

On Neil D, (interesting thread, Crabby) Did he start off as a coffeehouse singer before the Brill Building days? I love his later (IMHO) cheap, pretentious,& hokey stuff for its committed and realized work in that genre, e.g., "Longfellow Serenade", "They come to America", the aforementioned "I Am I Said". The work lacks a sense of humor except for the fact that it is so seriously artificial (to my way of looking) it's folly is alot of fun. An ensemble that plays here in Austin has an all Neil Diamond set list; they call themselves "The Diamond Smugglers"- alot of fun and all die hards for N.D.

John Donabie: RR's choice was ND, Levon's choice was Muddy, do you know who was chosen by Rick, Richard, and Garth? I'd be very interested in finding their selections. best to all.

Posted on Tue May 16 23:26:01 CEST 2000 from saturn.landshut.org (212.72.69.61)

Paul Vilser

ELVIS: He's still here! The music, no need for a ghost. For many years I thought: the 50's - great, the best! It took such a long time to find out: ELVIS is The Best of all times! In the 70's unbelievable bad songs, bad arrangements, but when he starts singing: the magic is there!!!

'One night of sin' (if you whish)

PV

Posted on Tue May 16 23:16:39 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-070.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.70)

Peter Viney

Listening to "Dry your eyes" (both versions) again. I’m still struck by how good Larry Knechtel was on the original and how Richard was even better playing it on TLW. Of course, if we’d been able to actually see Richard and pick up on what he was doing, we might have enjoyed Neil Diamond more, but it wasn’t to be.

John D. the one I heard was "Never discuss Elvis in any place where alcohol is being served." I guess it’s equally true on religion and politics.

Mike Nesmith single handed kept The Monkees retrospective cred alive. Anyone remember "The Prison" where you had a story to read while you were listening to the music? All I can remember about Micky Dolenz was a BBC childrens programme about a robot (Metal Micky?) that my kids used to enjoy.

It’s a few months since we made suggestions for "TLW 2000". This time around it would have to be a tribute rather than a collaboration, a bit like the 1992 Madison Square Gardens Dylan tribute. RR, LH, GH + Jim, Randy & Richard and a parade of singers, but doing their own stuff as in TLW. Someone amazing on bass. The ones who weren’t invited first time round (but should have been) come first – Jesse Winchester, John Hammond. How about these?

• "Twilight"- Shaun Colvin
• "Yankee Lady" – Jesse Winchester
• "Who Do You Love" – Ronnie Hawkins & Bo Diddley
• "You Can’t Judge a Book" – John Hammond & Bo Diddley
• "Back to Memphis" – Chuck Berry
• "Small Town talk" – Bobby Charles with Amos Garrett
• "Bacon Fat" – Taj Mahal
• "Queen Bee" – Taj Mahal
• "The Weight" – Travis
• "Gimmee A Stone" – The Hooters
• "Between Trains"- The Hooters
• "White Man’s Melody" – Cyndi Lauper
• "Don’t Wait" – Four Men & A Dog
• "It Makes No Difference" – Paul McCartney
• "Yesterday" - Paul McCartney & GH (no other accompaniment)
• "Many Rivers To Cross" – Jim Weider
• "Deuce & a Quarter"- Keith Richards
• "Long Black Veil" – Mick Jagger
• "Jemima Surrender" – Mick Jagger & Keith Richards
• "Soap Box Preacher" – Neil Young & RR
• "Powderfinger" – Neil Young
• "French Girls" (10 minute version" – GH
• "Louisiana 1927" – Aaron Neville
• "With God on Our Side" – Aaron Neville & Bob Dylan
• "One Too Many Mornings" – Bob Dylan
• "Like a Rolling Stone" – Bob Dylan & Mickey Jones (drums)
• "Crazy Love" – Van Morrison, Aaron Neville & Robbie Robertson
• "Caravan" – Van Morrison
• "You Don’t Know Me" – Van Morrison & Ray Charles
• "Ophelia" – Ray Charles & company
• "Fallen Angel(s)" – RR and Peter Gabriel (with Neil Young)

Posted on Tue May 16 23:05:06 CEST 2000 from spider-wa034.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.34)

Beth R.

:) Hi John Donabie. You're right. I've been slammed for both Elvis and religion; you think I'd learn!! Politics anyone? Let's see if I get the same knee-jerk reaction that some of my other posts have gotten!! Take care, Beth

Posted on Tue May 16 23:01:16 CEST 2000 from gw.itac.ca (209.146.161.1)

Bill

Have we talked about Monkees/Band links? Like via Neil Young recording with both groups? Or via First National Band's John Ware, later with Emmylou Harris? Or, stretching things even farther, the Easy Rider connection (the movie with the Band song having been financed by Monkee money)?

Posted on Tue May 16 22:39:17 CEST 2000 from dsl-4-197-186-216.cust.dslnetworks.net (216.186.197.4)

Chris

Great site Jan. Always great to here from other band fans. Hey I don't want this to be a continued topic anymore than the next guy but I can't seem to shake it recently. I guess since the memorial for Rick, and Robbie's choice of words during his "note to Rick", I've had trouble just forgetting about the who wrote what issue. I'm not obsessive but Rick was suge a wonderful person who tragically never received the full credit due him for his stunning body of work that I can't believe that Robbie would minimize him, or his legacy of beautiful,music by reducing him to only being the singer for songs that Robbie wrote. It was just such a poor choice of words and a vulgar comment to make at the memorial that it still shocks me. I've been a drummer for about 16 years and I think that Levon will remain my favorite Band member for all the reasons that are too long to list but that doesn't color the issue too much for me. I see it pretty straight forward. These men had a 17 year collaboration in which a tremendous amount of sharing of ideas is obvious. The songs that resulted from that were not products of one man's imagination but in '68 the product of 9 years of work together themselves or with Hawkins and Dylan. The fact that story lines in the songs come from real events in the lives of members other than Robbie is less of an issue but still important. I see the collaboration as the main issue. Furthermore, Robbie seems to be the one who was ostracized, not just by the Band, but also by Dylan. Which brings up the point of not just whether Robbie could claim credit for everything the Band ever did but rather whether you would want to turn on your friends as he did. 18 years of blood and sweat, tears of rage, tears of grief. Certainly with Grossman's support, incidentally someone who was known for not liking to represent groups and as a result breaking many bands up ie; Big Brother and the Holding Company and Janis, Robbie could get the suits to support him and hide behind the lawyers. Clearly from John Simon's interview that was the approach. All in all that would be water under the bridge, dirty water, but nonetheless forgivable. The suits always turn someone. They only need to turn one person. Pump his head up, make him think he did everything on his own, tell him that the rest of the band are holding him back, and then let him commit the treachery himself. Pretty standard stuff. Robbie is my favorite guitarist ever. I'm a long time deadhead with more shows under my belt than I can count so to give him the nod over Garcia takes something for me, but I'll tell you what the work that Robbie did with the Hawk and then with Dylan still floors me. I mean really blows me away. The Band material takes it to new heights and I certainly don't want to take anything away from his genius I am in complete awe of it. However, to turn on friends over something as small as money, when there was certainly plenty enough for everyone is disgusting. Now when I see Robbie he reminds more of shlocky Neil Diamond than Robbie Robertson. Money aside, the later public comments Robbie has made reducing Richard and Rick to sidemen, ignoring the Garth contribution, downright dismissing Levon make my stomach turn. How could something so right go so terribly wrong.

Posted on Tue May 16 22:25:09 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.251)

David Powell

Perhaps the reason why "Dry Your Eyes" was cho$en to be included in The Last Waltz was that it was co-written by Neil Diamond and Robbie Robertson.

Posted on Tue May 16 22:13:53 CEST 2000 from trt-on57-103.netcom.ca (216.123.101.103)

John Donabie

One mo time. Re: Neil Diamond being at The Last Waltz. Unlike my pal Paul Shine On; who was at The Last Waltz as well.....I didn't really enjoy the Diamond performance. I understood why he was there. It just didn't pull my crank. Let's remember one thing that is not often discussed when it came to The Last Waltz. The guys each got a say in who was going to perform. It wasn't like all these acts were thrust upon them. Levon got Muddy, for example, and Robbie got Neil. Personally I didn't think he fitted in and using his own drummer?......I felt was a little shot at Levon. Yeh, I know....his own drummer knew his music; but Levon wouldn't have had a problem. Point is, it was 24 years ago and I will admit his "live version" of Dry Your Eyes is better than the studio version. And before someone rips me apart it just comes down to personal taste. Anyone's opinion is as valid as mine (almost).

Posted on Tue May 16 22:12:01 CEST 2000 from spider-th014.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.49)

Don Pugatch

For all the lovers, of Mr. Diamond, I would recommend finding a copy of his Academy Award performance, in the remake of the "Jazz Singer". I am sure if you do not own a copy, the local BlockBuster Video has a special Neil Diamond section, and there are boxes in the back, if not available on the shelves. Another idea, would be to go to EBAY, I am sure there are many Neil Fans, who will gladly sell there copy. One last idea, post your name and address, I am sure someone on the guestbook will gladly send you a taped copy.

Posted on Tue May 16 22:00:44 CEST 2000 from trt-on57-103.netcom.ca (216.123.101.103)

John Donabie

My mom always taught me. Never discuss Religion, Politics or Elvis. You can't win.

Posted on Tue May 16 21:52:30 CEST 2000 from dialup-329.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.73)

HANK

I feel I may have started this Neil Diamond thread...although I know it's been discussed before here.....I want to say right away that I admire the man ALOT as a songwriter AND as a recording artist.....I like MANY of his songs and records but with regard to why it's easy to dump on him (in TLW, anyway) is because 1. he's in the movie, whereas Bobby Charles is not..... 2. They nearly dumped Muddy Waters off the show to accomadate the likes of Neil Diamond and 3. As good a song as "Dry yer Eyes" might be....it's not as good as "Beautiful Noise" which, it can be argued, is also about the sound of the street or Tin Pan Alley or whatever yer havin' yerself..........ANYWAY, what I wanna know is....did he SANG anything else that night or was it JUST "Dry yer Eyes"? C'mon everybody..y'all know about the running order.....I read it all the time in here.....I KNOW, for eg., that Neil Young, Joni et al sang "4 Strong Winds' etc. but what else did Diamond sing?.....just interested, that's all........Did y'all know that Neil Diamond employed Albert Collins "The Master of The Telecaster" "The Iceman" once?......as a housepainter..........CRABBY.......The Byrds?........All I can say is two words.....GENE CLARK....a man akin to Richard Manuel in The Band........Beautiful, Wounded, Wonderful and Gone.......BTW, the drummer in my band has just aqquired Levons Drums and Drumming instructional video.......a great show!!!!....it features The Band in 1992 and goes a very LONG way to show how essential Levon and the guys were for "getting the songs together"......See y'all later......HANK

Posted on Tue May 16 20:48:42 CEST 2000 from spider-wa043.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.38)

Beth R.

It always bothers me when people rip on Elvis. It's too easy. Yes, he had fire when he was younger, but who's career could he follow for a blue print? Doesn't everyone's tastes mellow when they get older? So to say that he turned into a performer that he would have hated when he was younger was unfair. Elvis loved music; all kinds. And quality is all that mattered (according to numerous accounts of his friends and family). So if you're thinking there's not quality in Elvis' later recordings, listen again.

His voice was unbelievably strong and the emotion is incredible! And for the jumpsuit comments, look at most rock stars from the 70's and you'll see everyone copying him. So they must have thought he was cool. Before anyone makes fun of him, pull out some photos of yourself from the 70's to make it fair.

Poor man, the worst decade to be frozen in for all time. The 70s. Ug. I won't even mention our gold couch, orange curtains and green rug, but I was just a kid, so I accept no blame.

But Elvis is great. --Beth

Posted on Tue May 16 20:36:38 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime

If my memory (and-so-on), Neil Diamond was included not only because of RR's involvement with his latest album, but also because he represented in RR's view the Tin Pan Alley kind of music, which was one of the many influences on The Band. Anyway, I never liked his sunglasses-hidden appearance on TLW. Actually I remember one song of his that I really liked when I was 16: "Girl - plong-plong-plong - you'll be a wóman - soon - plong-plong-plong".

Posted on Tue May 16 20:21:50 CEST 2000 from spider-tn034.proxy.aol.com (152.163.207.59)

Bayou Sam

The only thing I didn't like about Neil Diamond at TLW was his suit. In general he had some great songs. Solitary Man, I Am I Said, and if you were a certain age at the time, you can't help but enjoy Craclin' Rosie........................ The Monkees have a much more interesting story than most people realize. They (especially Nesmith) had to really fight to do their own stuff. Nesmith had such an argument with Don Kirshner that he suppossedly put his fist through Kirshners office wall. The original Monkee lineup did a great album only a couple of years ago called JUSTUS (meaning "just us", and "justice") in which they FINALLY had total control with songwriting and playing. It will surprise you to listen to it, I guarantee. Nesmith plays some great guitar and Dolenz still has a great voice. Check it out........ BTW Charles Manson also auditioned for the Monkees - can you imagine?

Posted on Tue May 16 20:21:36 CEST 2000 from stk-pm1-52-180.dialup.slip.net (207.171.230.180)

Guenevere

All that glitters...is not Elvis...

that analogy regarding the plural forms of the early and latter Elvi and Diamonds, and the never before revealed duel identity of Lenny Bruce and Buddy Hacket just about says it all...

Its hard to say why the muse seemed to abandon Neil after ‘Cherry Cherry and ‘I'm A Believer' , (which were good) and ‘Solitary Man' and ‘Cracklin Rose' (which were great) ... except that maybe whatever they were putting in the water in Brooklyn in the ‘60's was banned ... and funny thing about costume choices defining one's career forever too... (Nancy B. take note of this!!) By the way I'm applying for the choreographer position of the fight scenes ... and who's doing the car chase??

Posted on Tue May 16 19:53:54 CEST 2000 from cfa1.execulink.net (199.166.6.10)

paul godfrey

Neil Diamond. Consider that if you were in your late teens or early twenties and went into NY for a recording session in the first part of the 60's you may well have run into a young man trying to sell his songs or even record one and face total rejection.

Without rewriting Robbie or Neil's biography understand they have roots that border on religion and more...music and early 60's NYC. They were both struggling.

To many of us in the 60's Neil stood in the shadows but he cast a giant shadow in music and entertainment. We knew little of the man and that only added to the mystery.

So then, when I saw Neil Diamond walk on stage at TLW I considered his appearance a wonderful part of the "Celebration" that we know as The Last Waltz.

Yes it must seem weird to those who do not understand the history and the connection.....even bond if you will that exists between Robbie and Neil.

communication is the beginning of understanding! Shine On!

Posted on Tue May 16 19:02:52 CEST 2000 from gw1.mcgraw-hill.com (198.45.18.20)

Jeremy

Can someone please tell me if Garth Hudson played organ on Bob Dylan's "Positively 4th Street"?

Posted on Tue May 16 18:37:47 CEST 2000 from ppp3303.on.bellglobal.com (206.172.221.39)

vic

Have read the cover list and would like to have "Rag Mama Rag" as covered by Doug Kershaw on his Flip, Flop & Fly album, circa 1977, added to the list. It is a very energetic and interesting Cajun style cover. Also while I am here, does anyone else think The Band could have done an equally as powerfull a cover version of the Dolly Parton\Whitney Houston hit "I Will always Love You"? IMHO, a definite possibility that the Band could have produced, considering that notes not hit by voices, could be hit by instrumentation.

Posted on Tue May 16 18:35:07 CEST 2000 from 2cust108.tnt11.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.133.236)

Crabgrass

As most of you probably know Stephen Stills actually auditioned for The Monkees but was rejected - too talented, I would guess!! Lucky guy! (I know I'm offending some younger GB readers who think the Monkees were America's answer to the Beatles. Actually, it was the Byrd's - just ask Roger McGuinn.)

Incidentally, I was a big fan of the Byrds, had many albums and saw them many times - however, their music now seems very dated when I listen to it - including Sweetheart of the Rodeo while the early Band albums don't. (The Burrito's hold up better mainly due to Gram Parsons' soulful voice.) The Band sounded so out of place at the point in time they arrived on the recorded music scene - maybe that's why my mind doesn't shelve them in with the rest of the '60s stuff. Any other thoughts on this?

Posted on Tue May 16 18:12:26 CEST 2000 from ric-wht-pxy-int02.wheatfirst.com (204.238.130.68)

Bones

Butch: I'm glad the tour was a success! I saw the Charlotte, NC show and it was marvelous. Any word on the CD?

Posted on Tue May 16 16:46:38 CEST 2000 from gw.itac.ca (209.146.161.1)

Bill

Like John Donabie, I was a big fan of Neil Diamond in his earlier days - in my case everything up to, but not including, "Cracklin' Rosie". For some reason I remember rolling my eyes when I overheard a high school classmate (with an unusual name, Jeremy, and an unusual accent, English) extolling the virtues of "Hot August Night" to the chemistry teacher in 1973. Nevertheless, I thought "Dry Your Eyes" was really nice - though I also thought the rest of the album was a dog.

As for Diamond's appearance at TLW, I certainly understood that he was there because of his work with Robertson, but thought he had three strikes against him: he didn't fit historically (he was neither from the Band's past or Canadian); his song - even if lyrically appropriate as Peter Viney argues - had the wrong feel altogether; and he looked exceptionally oily and out of place (in the context - I'm sure I now look more like him than anyone else onstage at the time). Certainly other guests shared one or two of those strikes, but not all three.

Posted on Tue May 16 16:41:15 CEST 2000 from (205.186.49.117)

Joe Dubin

When/how can we obtain "The Last Waltz" on DVD... my VHS just won't cut it anymore!!!

Posted on Tue May 16 16:07:47 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.251)

David Powell

Thanks Paul Godfrey for the background on Ronnie Hawkins & "Heaven's Gate." I imagine a lot of great scenes from that movie ended up on the cutting room floor.

Kris Kristofferson of course also appeared in Steven Segal's "Fire Down Below" with Levon. In the '60s, while still a struggling songwriter in Nashville, Kristofferson worked as a janitor at Columbia studios when Dylan recorded "Blonde On Blonde" and several subsequent albums there. He also put his Army training to use as a helicopter pilot, ferrying personnel out to oil rigs in the Gulf. I wonder if he and Levon ever crossed paths down there?

Posted on Tue May 16 15:53:37 CEST 2000 from spider-wi071.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.51)

bob wigo

The "Gathering on the Mountain" in Blakeslee, Pa. on 8/5/00 will be a great opportunity for all of us nor'easters to get together. The link is posted above. If there is interest I can provide directions and some recommendations for a place to stay.

I'm in!

Posted on Tue May 16 15:21:15 CEST 2000 from trt-on65-66.netcom.ca (216.123.97.66)

John Donabie

Much like Elvis, I have two ways of looking at Neil Diamond. The "early" years and the "latter." I love early Elvis with his raw energy. Years later he would turn into the type of performer that I truly believe he would have loathed in his early years.

I remember starting my career the same year that "Solitary Man" came out. I played that song over and over and over again. To me it could have been lumped into the P. F. Sloan Sonny Bono era. These were good "folk-rock or pop songs." Pre-Band I have no shame in loving early Diamond or the Mamas & Papas or the Spoonful. Latter Diamond however turned into latter Elvis. Maybe it's a "growing older or more mature" phase. I just didn't care for it. Like Elvis, Diamond became a "Vegas" act to me. Kinda like if Lenny Bruce became Buddy Hackett? Neil Diamond however does remain a fine "pop" song writer as you look over his "body" of work. Brill Building type stuff.

Posted on Tue May 16 14:48:29 CEST 2000 from pm1-77.delrio.com (208.246.52.97)

Just Wonderin'

Though Neil Diamond was a very strange addition to TLW double R has said in more than one interview that Diamond's early writings are what impressed the storyteller in him. Little wonder that they eventually worked together.

Posted on Tue May 16 14:42:29 CEST 2000 from gateway.tono.no (212.71.68.22)

Jens Magnus

Nancy, we're not all asleep, you know. The gb is edited in Norway, and I am very much awake here.

On Neil Diamond, however, I particularly enjoyed Cracklin' Rosie. Dry your eyes was never my favourite.
This friday Bob Dylan is performing in Oslo. I won't get the chance to see him, but a friend of mine will be there. I hope to have some input from him next week. I'll let you know.

jens

Posted on Tue May 16 14:22:54 CEST 2000 from gateway.llgm.com (209.125.166.250)

medicine hat

"twenty five cents! ha! i wouldn't pay twenty five cents to go nowhere!" -- bessy smith. i just returned from nashville where levon and the barn burners were playing the gibson cafe -- for $58.95 per ticket!!! sixty bucks for a blues band? c'mon. that's unconscionable!! i'm not blaming levon (i doubt he set the ticket price), but geez, when you can here great blues for under $20 (alvin younglblood hart comes to mind) who in there right mind would wanna spend that much? i'll stay home and listen to muddy. peace.

Posted on Tue May 16 14:20:00 CEST 2000 from cache-2.lnh.md.webcache.rcn.net (207.172.11.148)

stephie stone

I've plugged in and out of this band site for the last 5 years...and remain a devoted friend and lover of the music. I just want to stay in touch with others who share my interest in these guys and their music. What's the latest news and possibilities of seeing some live music from the band guys in the dc area? stephie

Posted on Tue May 16 13:20:11 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-034.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.34)

Peter Viney

Excellent analysis of Neil Diamond by Guenevere. He never managed to achieve a hip image, ironically "Beautiful Noise" was probably his best shot at it. The association with The Monkees didn’t help him. But The Monkees have ended up being hipper than Neil Diamond. History treats them kindly. In 1969 Neil recorded ‘Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show" a year before "W.S. Walcott Medicine Show" but, notably, two years after "Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite." In 1973 he did Hot August Night, a double live CD where he dressed up like Elvis (perhaps a tad less tastefully) and had a long orchestral intro before the urgent strummed acoustic guitar announces his arrival (with Crunchy Granola Suite). Actually it works. I’ve quoted this before – I didn’t orginate it, but I don’t recall who did, probably a contemporary reviewer in the UK. Anyway, "Hot August Night" was described as Neil plays the Las Vegas Sheriff’s Convention immortalised by Hunter S. Thompson in ‘Fear & Loathing" and receives a rapturous reception from the sheriff’s wives. In 1974 he made the OST for Jonathan Livingston Seagull, perhaps his greatest sin until the truly horrible covers album done the other Christmas.

So why is his TLW performance regarded with such dislike? I’d say it’s partly hipper-than-thou snobbery. He made the error of bringing on his own drummer, Dennis St. John. But relistening now, Richard Manuel was on particularly good form on piano on "Dry your Eyes". Richard certainly sounds as if he was getting into the song and piano leads it. Neil was Robbie’s associate. That could be another problem, but people forget that as well as Robbie on guitars, Garth Hudson had played organ on the original version. Others on Beautiful Noise are Jesse Ed Davis, Dr John, Tom Scott who I’d guess Robbie brought in. The picture in the middle is highly reminiscent of Moondog Matinee. I posted this before, but given the subsequent feud, maybe the line "If you can’t recall the singer, you can still recall the tune," appealed to the songwriter in Robbie. Lyrically, "Dry your eyes" was highly suitable for the occasion. As the tune sounds pure Neil Diamond, and RR co-wrote it, I’d assume he had a lot to do with the lyrics which seem in his mood of retrospective leading to TLW. It’s the only song on ‘Beautiful Noise" they co-wrote, which is why it was chosen. Does this seem appropriate?

But we came to find the secret and we never let it go.

And it was more than being holy, oh, it was less than being free,

And if you can’t recall the reason, then you hear the people sing …

Went through the lightning and the thunder, to the dark side of the moon,

To that distant fallen angel, that descended much too soon.

Come, dry your eyes .

The range of styles they were showing needed something more Top Twenty. OK, Elvis would have been better, but not at that point in his career.

I agree with Guenevere that he’s under-rated as a songwriter, and as a singer too. The fairly recent "Tennessee Moon" album is pretty good.

Posted on Tue May 16 12:03:26 CEST 2000 from 140.0102.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.140)

Nancy Birch

Hi All

I don't usually send back-to-back messages but I was reminded of ?Guinevere's message about Neil Diamond as I was signing off from the last one I have just sent. And anyway, all of you are asleep so I may as well post.

My comment about Neil Diamond is that, like all performers, he has his admirers and his critics. In the present company of Band fans, he probably doesn't fit in amazingly well, even though his talent as a songwriter may be acknowledged by some. He certainly does have a different appeal to The Band, both musically and in image.

The first time I heard The Band was "The Last Waltz" when it originally showed here in 1978. I wasn't a particularly young girl but was a novice when it came to music, especially rock and roll. I was taken to the show by a most devastating cool man who had a great deal of musical knowledge. As it was the first time we had gone anywhere together and I was keen to impress him, I was trying really hard to disguise the fact that I was a musical ignoramus. The only thing that I was fairly sure of at the end of the concert and which I felt would be a reasonable comment to make was that "Neil Diamond was a strange choice" to have perform at the concert, as he didn't seem to fit in. So even a musical idiot could see that back in 1978.

There may be people on the GB who don't get turned on by Neil's performances, but there are several squillion dollars in his bank account that say that we are a minority population. Cheers all!

Posted on Tue May 16 11:18:56 CEST 2000 from 140.0102.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.140)

Nancy Birch

Pehr

I was so thrilled to get the job of costume designer on your movie about The Band, entitled "Don't Do It". I was also thrilled to get an indication that SOMEONE read my irrelevant message!

You will be pleased that you chose me, as you'll find that I will do the job for, well, peanuts really. All I want in payment is board and keep, and the opportunity to ogle any fabulous actors you manage to interest in the project. Any chance of any Band members coming on board to give historical direction?????

BTW, I have a few ideas on budget management, apart from employing someone as cheap as me. Would all GB members above the age of 40 please turn out their closets and attics for some truly authentic gear. I would be very surprised if your closets didn't contain quite a lot of bizarre 60's and 70's relics we could use. Look especially for hats as 'the guys' seemed particularly fond of unusual headwear - see "The Last Waltz" and several album covers and sleeves if you don't believe me. Incidently, I love their look!

On a final note, Pehr (producer I presume), are you going to include the scene in TLW in which Robbie casually catches a fly while talking to Martin Scorcese? If so, let me know as I can supply any number of flies from here. All I have to do is leave the back door open while I cook dinner tonight........ No extra charge.

Posted on Tue May 16 07:57:55 CEST 2000 from stk-pm1-53-181.dialup.slip.net (207.171.230.181)

Guenevere

Crabgrass: What made NEIL so easy to dump on?

Unfortunately, because he surfaced as a pop song writer, I think maybe Neil Diamond was seen as the male Britney Spears of his day, and never taken that seriously (if you know what I mean) ... that being said, the question remains: What made him so easy to dump on? His image is a conundrum. Was his an effigy predicated by ill timing that kept him from truly fitting in, in the ‘60's even tho he wrote some very memorable songs, and had several hit records? He surfaced early in the folk scene, yet his image was never that as such, and he eventually ended up appealing to the M.O.R., straight people, but in actuality he was more complex, and I have a feeling misunderstood and in some circles underrated as a songwriter. To me, he always seemed to fit into that "unbuttoned/gold-lame/ long sideburns" group of singers that were soaking up Elvis leftovers... yet Neil never really had a plastic charm of an Engelbert Humperdinck, nor any of the convincing sex appeal of a Tom Jones, so he was never truly of that ilk. On the one hand, he seems to fit in with a lot of classy folks, from The Band to Streisand, and since he wrote some great songs it seems that he also should have fit in more comfortably with the image of other singer/songwriters the day, yet he always lacked a certain funkiness, or something, which kept him alienated him from the folky/hippie set who labeled him as "tame" ... (but still, if Van could get away with that outfit in The Last Waltz then I gotta say "go figure" what happened with Neil) ... and... The Monkees took his ‘I'm A Believer' to #1, which is a great song, and I gotta say, that oddly enough, it still holds up beautifully... Neil Diamond's image remains a mystery, and for that alone, I'm gonna go out on a limb with Robbie, and say that he's great!!!

PS: nice to see some posts about The Hawks, Stan Szelest, Sandy Konikoff and others...

Posted on Tue May 16 07:43:31 CEST 2000 from spider-ti061.proxy.aol.com (152.163.194.201)

Pete G.

Does anyone need a still-sealed copy of the official Live at Watkins Glen CD? You can have it for what it cost me, US$20. E-mail me in private if interested.

Posted on Tue May 16 06:01:06 CEST 2000 from 1cust79.tnt1.cambridge.ma.da.uu.net (63.25.164.79)

Stephen Boursy

Excellent site--love the music.

Posted on Tue May 16 04:54:06 CEST 2000 from spider-th024.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.54)

jhwygirl

Bear, I am so sorry to hear about your fathers passing. My heartfelt sympathies are with you and your family at this time. God Bless. Dana

Posted on Tue May 16 04:49:02 CEST 2000 from user-33qt81p.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.160.57)

Pat Brennan

Well, that Capitol link pretty much answers the question. Stage Fright, Cahoots, and Big Pink all set for reissue. No extra tracks, no rarities, no alternate takes. Oh well.

Posted on Tue May 16 03:05:35 CEST 2000 from cfa1.execulink.net (199.166.6.10)

Paul Godfrey

David Powell. Ronnie had more than a small part in "Heaven's Gate" But then a lot of it ended up on the cutting room floor. The movie was supposed to take him from the "still in the hills" and put him in the big time.

But fate had taken still another turn in the Hawks saga. One of the stories he tells has to do with riding a horse and how it all but killed him.

I have taped interviews with Ronnie during that time and he relates to hangin out at night with folks singing and playing a few tunes. The filming of the movie in Montana just seemed to go on and on. I remember that Ron really missed being home and would call some evenings and just talk on forever. Shine On!

Posted on Tue May 16 01:23:24 CEST 2000 from raisinbran.wcco.com (199.199.119.29)

Mr Zero

http://www.hollywoodandvine.com/current/

Hi, follow the link above to Capitol's Web site and look to the lower right to see the reissues are on the coming soon list.

Second, does anyone have the guitar tab for the introduction to "The Weight"? I mean the Big Pink version. If someone could post it here or email it to me, I'd really appreciate it.

Posted on Tue May 16 01:09:55 CEST 2000 from bertone.mgmt.umb.edu (158.121.112.62)

Nick Gill

I'd love to hear a recording of some of the early classic ballads, rambles, and mysterious-sounding songs played on just an acoustic guitar and sung by Robbie Robertson, and /or maybe some by Levon Helm. No one can replace Richard Manuel's or Rick Danko's voices on the originals, but a short and different look back would be nice- Whispering Pines, To Kingdom Come, Daniel & The Sacred Harp, Forever Young, Tears of Rage, etc. and some newer songs like Unbound (with blues runs on the guitar breaks?), Broken Arrow, Crazy River. These are among my all-time favorite songs anyhow. So much music here. Just a simple album of good songs well played and sung- nothing fancy on the engineering. Thanks, guys.

Posted on Tue May 16 00:37:11 CEST 2000 from user-38lcj7a.dialup.mindspring.com (209.86.76.234)

Michael Ash-Sharbaugh

Artwork and music have a word-music tinge to it, which i found to contrast most cold-sites out there. Took 3 minutes to load page!! www.intro-ergo.com I, Michael Ash, am an Atlanta-based recordist/producer, and ASCAP-affiliated publisher who assists and hones visionary artists towards professional status, yet maintaining intregrity-of-aethetic. Numerous MP3 examples available on-site and CDs by phone/mail !! 404-320-7052

Posted on Mon May 15 22:35:56 CEST 2000 from ts1-14.steveston.axion.net (207.34.146.14)

Cupid

Just wanted to add my voice to those extending condolences to Bear.Hugs to you Mary and please know we're all thinking about you at this difficult time.Peace to all the brothers and sisters of the Band,Thanx for all you do Jan.Cupid

Posted on Mon May 15 22:17:46 CEST 2000 from saturn.landshut.org (212.72.69.61)

Paul Vilser

Hi everyone,

thanks for informations about Kris Kristofferson/The Band/Ronnie Hawkins. Sometimes I can hear Levon sing Kris' songs: Help me make it through the night, Loving you was easier...and a few more.

Hank: Waltzing again: Here's a cd called: The Band - Friends & Other Strangers. It has three Neil songs: Helpless, Four Strong Winds, Acadian Driftwood (with Joni Mitchell), It's "Unedited, Unabridged & Undubbed"

PV

Posted on Mon May 15 21:40:13 CEST 2000 from 209-23-55-136.ip.termserv.net (209.23.55.136)

Diamond Lil

Mary: I'm so very sorry about your Dad. I wish you and your family strength at this difficult time, If you need me, you know where I am.

Posted on Mon May 15 21:33:16 CEST 2000 from du227-1.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.1.227)

Ilkka

This is mainly for Dylan fans.

BOB DYLAN received The Polar Music Prize for a few hours ago in Stockholm from the hands of His Majesty Carl XIV Gustav, The King of Sweden. It is an international music prize endowed for the purpose of awarding persons who have created something of major importance within the musical field. The intention is to create The Nobel Prize of music. Nominations are handled by a committee with representatives of the organisations such as Royal Swedish Academy of Music and the Society of Swedish Composers. The previous winners who are often mentioned on this site: RAY CHARLES, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, RAVI SHANKAR, JONI MITCHELL, ELTON JOHN, PAUL McCARTNEY, STEVIE WONDER. - I have found the following lines from the Prize Committees citation which are related to Dylan's collaboration with THE BAND:
"...he set aside the rules of the day, appearing...in the company of a rock and roll band...a development that required both integrity and determination..."

My BIG plan how to get in to the following Prize Banquet at Grand Hotel failed, and the only BIG thing tonight for me is this BIG Mac I'm eating. The funniest thing is that Bob didn't show up in that Banquet either! So, Bob and dear gb community, please join me in 'Talking Bob Dylan's Polar Music Prize Banquet Blues' I just wrote (or stole):

Now, I don't care just what you do,
If you want to have a banquet, that's up to you.
But don't tell me about it, I don't want hear it,
'Cause, see, I just lost all my banquet spirit.
Stay home...
Have my own banquet...
In my own kitchen...
With the dog.

Ilkka

Posted on Mon May 15 21:29:44 CEST 2000 from (199.88.112.211)

Molly Z.

Mary: i'm extremely sorry for the loss of your father. I hope things get better for you soon! If you want to talk to me about your dad, I'll be there for you, and email me. I also want to wish you a late Happy mother's Day. Take care. :-)

Posted on Mon May 15 21:09:23 CEST 2000 from spider-wi054.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.44)

ruby

I would also like to send my deepest condolences to "Bear" at the passing of her dad. My thoughts are with you and if you feel the need to talk you know how to find me. May God Bless

Posted on Mon May 15 19:59:45 CEST 2000 from bess-proxy.ioa.com (208.131.128.11)

Jane Hyde

I've been wanting to find out more about the elusive but wonderful Jimmy Arnold, and I thank the (also wonderful) Band for providing this information on the website. Some years ago a friend gave me a tape of Southern Soul, and now I can't find anyone who's heard of him or what became of him. Now I have. Thanks so much, guys, and thanks for all your great music over the years, too.

Posted on Mon May 15 19:30:59 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.251)

David Powell

Another Kris Kristofferson / Ronnie Hawkins connection: Hawkins had a small part in the notorious 1980 Michael Cimino film, "Heaven's Gate", in which Kristofferson had a starring role. I'd love to hear some of The Hawk's stories about that adventure.

Posted on Mon May 15 19:02:41 CEST 2000 from pppa41-resaleclearwaterb1-3r7024.saturn.bbn.com (4.4.49.38)

calm

My sincere condolences to our Web site friend Mary-"bear", whose father died this morning. It was his birthday.

Mary, I'm so sorry. God bless you.

-calm

Posted on Mon May 15 17:56:25 CEST 2000 from 1cust124.tnt14.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.142.124)

Crabgrass

Hate to be such a stickler for detail but I noticed an error in the recently posted sleeve notes from the forthcoming Capitol remastered Big Pink album (Let's hope the final cover isn't printed in China or it might end up as Big Ping.) Track one is entitled "Take A Load Off Annie" not Fanny.

Actually, when I saw the Band's first NYC concert upon the release of Jericho at the Beacon Theater (I think '95 - absolutely great btw - although I was surprised they didn't do "Caves of Jericho") young John Wesley Harding (talk about embarrassingly phoney names!) opened for them and mentioned that the previous night they played a "warm up" show somewhere in Connecticut and the poster outside the venue announced The Band - "Take Load Off Annie" to remind potential attendees who they were. Oh, well...

I can't really put my finger on why it's so easy to dump on Neil Diamond. Anyone else have any thoughts on this before the Robbie/Levon Feud resurfaces? (Just to say he "sucks" is too easy an answer. I'm sure it's more complicated than that!)

Posted on Mon May 15 16:53:06 CEST 2000 from (198.214.176.61)

pehr

Hi Nancy Birch, you get the job as my costume Designer for My upcoming bio-pic about The Band tentatively titled "Dont Do It"... We will be filming in Hong Kong as soon as I recieve funding from everyone in the Guestbook. Neil Diamond insists on playing himself so we got The Hawk to play Dylan and Dylan to play the Hawk as in "Reynaldo & Clara. We might be able to get Joan Baez to do "Dixie" in a TLW showstopper (the more inaccuracies the better) as well as being involved in a bitter triangle between Hawkins and Dylan. Baez will double as Joni Mitchell, and Danny De Vito will do a rousing "Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard" to close TLW. We are planning to mime all the action so we can dub in the voices in Mandarin, cantonese, italian, Swedish , english, etc.

I am still looking for someone to choreograph the many fight scenes and a technical advisor for a backstage cocaine foodfight a room full of mirrors...

Posted on Mon May 15 15:52:47 CEST 2000 from sjiassoc16.erols.com (208.58.12.144)

Jon Lyness

Great one, Peter! Just think, we'll finally get to hear "Don't Do It" -- hope the 28-year wait was worth it. :) :)

Posted on Mon May 15 15:11:06 CEST 2000 from usr53-dialup96.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.199.98)

G-MAN

God morning Band fans. Band movie title, "It Makes No Difference; Any More", especially since Rick hung up his rockin' roll shoes. Does anyone know the exact dates(wed) that Levon is playing at Joyous Lake ? Yesterday was crossin the peace bridge to Canada. Saw a tour bus with Big Gawk logos--and guess who was walkin out of the Canadian customs office--- The King of Canada---Rockin Ronnie. Have a great week & keep on rockin'.

Posted on Mon May 15 15:09:59 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-061.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.61)

Sneak Preview

Sneak preview: As everyone is so worried about Capitols remastering let us be reassured by this sneak preview of the sleeve, with its usual high standard of proof -reading:

MUSIC OF BIG PINK BY THE BEND

Robbie "Jammy" Robinson: Lee Von Helm: Gareth Hudson: Robert Manual: Nick Denko

1 Take A Load Off Fanny (The Wait), Theme from Easy Rider

2 That Charity Concert Song (We Shall Be Released)BY BOB DYLAN!!!

3 Main Title Theme From Absolutely Fabulous (Wheel’s On Fire) BY BOB DYLAN!!!

4 Long Black Limousine

5 Chest Fever

6 Teaps of Rage – BY BOB DYLAN!!!

7 The Ticket To Kingdom Comes

8 Caledonia’s Missing

8 We Can Talk About A Cow

9 In The Station

10 Lonesome Susy

EXCLUSIVE BONUS TRACKS: TOTALLY UNRELEASED ANYWHERE! NEVER BEEN HEARD BEFORE!

11 Back To Memphis (Watkin’s Glen)

12 Don’t Do It (Rock of Ages)

13 Twilight

14 Lonesome Suzy (Rap remix by DJ17)

(There’s a sticker attached) "New radio friendly improved running order. You won’t have to press skip so often to isolate the important tracks! Remastered on Sony Twin Cassette Deck with Dolby B."

Plus the advertising copy:

Contains the original "Band" versions of great songs by Diana Ross (Take A Load Of Fanny), Blood, Sweat & Tears (Lonesome Susy), Three Dog Night (Chest Fever), Elvis Presley (I Shall Be Released), The Beatles (To Kingdom Come), Siouxsie & the Banshees (theme From Ab Fab), Mick Jagger & the Chieftains (Long Black Vale), Chuck Berry (Back to Memphis), Shaun Colvin (Twilight) and Marvin Gaye (Don’t Do It).

If it indeed follows Capitol & the Beach Boys schedule, the release date is June 20th 2000, or possibly December 13 th 2001 or then again 1 April 2002 looks possible, that is if they don’t hold it back for the Christmas 2004 slot.

JAN: In Explorer 5.). the back button of the browser does not allow me to edit the entry. I had to cancel and re-input.

Posted on Mon May 15 12:40:12 CEST 2000 from dialup-100.cork.iol.ie (194.125.43.100)

Hank

Why o why didn't Neil Diamond do "Beautiful Noise" at TLW?...........instead of "Dry yer Eyes"?....Garth woulda been brilliant jamming along on that.......he's probably on the original........hey wait a minute!!!.....All this talk about The COMPLETE LW......did Neil do MORE than one song at TLW? (gulp).........if so, what song did he do?.....and why was'nt THAT song in the Movie?........'cos "Dry yer eyes" just DOES NOT cut the cheese beside, say, "Helpless" "Coyote" or "Such a Night"..........Diamond L'il.......now it all started about 24 Thanksgivins ago....it was 24 years ago on Thanksgivin'..when The Band and their friends...........Yup, I like ole' Arlo....met him about two years ago.....really cool dude.........It's Monday, folks.....the weekends only 4 days away!!!!!......see 'yall later.......HANK

Posted on Mon May 15 08:43:45 CEST 2000 from 1cust98.tnt11.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.134.98)

Crabgrass

Looking forward to the rumored Robbie Robertson / Neil Diamond reunion tour. Hope they'll be covering a lot of classic Band tunes. Robbie and the Diamond rule!!

Posted on Mon May 15 02:30:17 CEST 2000 from spider-tk011.proxy.aol.com (152.163.206.176)

frank

hey levon,butch can't wait to see ya this week at stanhope house your {strother martin} partner frankie p.s. captain jack says hi.

Posted on Mon May 15 02:26:10 CEST 2000 from spider-wd023.proxy.aol.com (205.188.193.158)

jimmy

thanks you for your help,you know who you are. jimmy

Posted on Mon May 15 02:13:05 CEST 2000 from pool-209-138-15-95.ipls.grid.net (209.138.15.95)

Bobby Jones

The name of the movie should be "Living in a Dream"

I'm planning on catching both Barn burner shows this week. I'm bringing my camara, I can't wait.

In the immortal words of Ralph Kiner, " To all you Mothers out there, Happy Mothers Day"

Bobby Jones

Posted on Mon May 15 01:38:17 CEST 2000 from (129.237.210.121)

R. Pence

I was just looking through the tape archive on this website and noticed that the song list for the Watkins Glen show is quite different from the selections on the official CD, which I have. I'm sure other people have noticed this, too. What makes it even weirder is that in the To Kingdom Come CD, the liner notes say that the live songs "Memphis," "Loving You," and "Highway" aren't from the Watkins show, but they ARE presented on the Watkins Glen CD. My hunch is that some of the material on the Watkins CD is really from the show, and Capitol filled the rest with other performances, who knows from where? (I'm sure some folks on this guestbook have some ideas.) What it boils down to is that I don't really anticipate the rumored Capitol rereleases with much enthusiasm, given their previous record of ripoffs and shoddy, sloppy Band projects. But maybe they'll get the song lineup on Northern Lights right this time--what the hell was going on there? I don't know if I'm supposed to do this, but if anyone has ideas on how to get hold of some of those tapes on the archive, particularly from the last full Band lineup tour and the Last Waltz (a tape of the show in full is fine for me, I don't have to have the CD and definitely not if it's 400 bucks) you could shoot me an off-guestbook e-mail?

Posted on Mon May 15 00:19:56 CEST 2000 from c303.oit.duke.edu (152.3.93.203)

Mitch

It's real frustrating to see Capitol Records re-issue and remaster the Beach Boys catalog every few years while they've yet to release any audiophile quality masterings of the Band's recordings on CD. It's nice they've done some new vinyl masterings, but some of us don't have turntables, much less decent ones (I've got two, and anything they play sounds brittle). Does anyone know if there'd be any legal complications in buying CD-R's of the limited Japanese edition remasterings or the MSFL disc of "Big Pink"? All the stores I've gone to say they're out of print, and I don't think I have the resources to buy them now that they're collectable/ hard to find.

Posted on Sun May 14 23:58:42 CEST 2000 from spider-we011.proxy.aol.com (205.188.195.21)

jcf

I have not been a fan for too long but here are my thoughts on the feud between R.R. and Levon. First let me say that Levon is my favorite member but I won't take sides. Having said that I must say that Robertson strikes me as pretentious, just watch the last Waltz, while Levon seems far from that. In Robertson's defense I can point out that while there did seem to be some bad blood between Danko and him, judiging from Danko's last interview, it's not nearly as bad as the heat betweem Levon and Robbie. Garth Hudson, I think, has been silent on this matter. Why I don't know. But his silence probably bolsters Robertson's argument/ charges; at least against the claim that he took to mych credit in the songwriting department... Having said this I would love to see some reconcilliation, as I'm sure all Band fans would. But I would not like to see a hokey reunion movie from VH1 (ala Two of Us).

Posted on Sun May 14 22:01:14 CEST 2000 from 209-23-55-156.ip.termserv.net (209.23.55.156)

Jessica and Justin

We would like to wish a Happy mothers Day to the Bestest,Most kindess,Most Beatifulest Mom In the world.Welove you so much And Happy Mothers day to all the mothers out there.

Posted on Sun May 14 20:08:43 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-118-113.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.118.113)

BWNWITennessee

Now that the casting is done, what are we going to call this thing. If the focus is predominently on the latter days and the "feud," perhaps "Tears of Rage: The Story of The Band" would work well.

Posted on Sun May 14 19:18:51 CEST 2000 from spider-wi081.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.56)

jimmy

i was hoping someone could point out to me a place where i could buy some good bootlegs, of either, some of rick's or richard's music. i had to great fortune of meeting rick, i consider it a high point in my concert going.

Posted on Sun May 14 18:27:12 CEST 2000 from proxy-393.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.93)

CODY

"The sacred harp was handed down..from father unto son....".....this music..this BAND..will live forever.It is now all up to us.We MUST keep this music...this tradition alive.We MUST pass the gift of The Band to the younger ones.Our guys gave us all they had for so many years.NOW..WE MUST CARRY ...THE SACRED HARP......the gift that was given us will be passed along as a gift!Rick,Richard,Levon,Garth,and Robbie I thank you for....the gift!

Posted on Sun May 14 15:52:03 CEST 2000 from spider-wc061.proxy.aol.com (205.188.193.46)

Bashful Bill

Band/KK connection:On a documentery I once watched on KK(one of my hero's BTW) he said his very first professinal gig was opening for the Hawks, in Texas I think. Which of the many versions of the Hawks, I don't know. Maybe someone here does. Many a Sun. AM in the old days was started with Snday Mornin Comin Down. And I would like to repeat the beautiful Ruby's wishes for a Happy Mom's Day to all the mom's around here.

Posted on Sun May 14 15:36:38 CEST 2000 from spider-ti032.proxy.aol.com (152.163.194.187)

Ruby

"May your heart always be joyful, may your song always be sung, and may you stay forever young.... Happy Mothers Day!!!

Posted on Sun May 14 14:30:39 CEST 2000 from 209-23-55-75.ip.termserv.net (209.23.55.75)

Lil Again

Hey Hank..did I detect a bit of Arlo in your last post?

Walk right in it's around the back
Just a half a mile from the railroad track...

One of my favorite tunes. Thanks for the smile :-)

Posted on Sun May 14 13:44:40 CEST 2000 from 209-23-55-75.ip.termserv.net (209.23.55.75)

Diamond Lil

Anyone wanna come to crazyville for a big potato bake? Just picturing it makes me laugh. All of us here in my yard, Band tunes cranked up loud enough to calm the spud-launching neighbors, doing the happy shuffle, and eating the ammunition. Perhaps someone could even juggle a few for us :-)

Butch: Nice to hear that the tour went so well and you're all home safe and sound. Hope to see you all soon.

And just to add my thought to this Band movie discussion...DeNiro as Rick for sure.

Have a good day everyone.

Posted on Sun May 14 08:30:52 CEST 2000 from saturn.landshut.org (212.72.69.61)

Paul Vilser

On the cold, dark night on the Spanish Stairs...

To 'our man from Scandinavia': I'm eager to hear about the Polar Dylan! Are you going there? Or just watching tv? Tell everything about it! A Band gb should always be a place for some Dylan news"..."(quotated Hank!).

To start a Sunday with Kris Kristofferson isn't easy: Sunday Morning Coming Down, but I did - good to hear him again, after a while. Does anybody know about relationships between him and The Band? (except the 'Master of Ceremonies' at the at 30th Anniversary ... (Hank and Dylan again - I'll stop!)).

I got it: The Paragraphs! (important lesson, isn't it?: read the FAQs first)

Have a nice Sunday everyone. PV

Posted on Sun May 14 04:58:07 CEST 2000 from dialup-075.cork.iol.ie (194.125.43.75)

ARE FILLED WITH RUBBLE

You could almost think.........That yer SEEING Double......

Posted on Sun May 14 04:53:01 CEST 2000 from dialup-075.cork.iol.ie (194.125.43.75)

HANK

DIAMOND L'il......Nice one with the teenagers throwin' spuds at yer house!!!!!.........when my kids get loud and shouty around the house to the point of distraction, I put on Little Richard at MAX volume....works a treat!!......the neighbours love it too!!.......question.....alright, I know this ain't The Bob Dylan GB...but we're friends here, right?....Did Bob Dylan ever get anywhere NEAR joining Little Richards Band?? ........jes' wondering....as the fellow sez.....(Hey, wait a minute,.....there's a someone here in the GB called Just Wondering......isn't there?......I enjoy your posts).......CRABBY......So you consider EC to be RR's groupie, eh?......Be that as it may...and I THINK I know what you mean, I must say, EC selling off his guitars to set up a drug clinic was a very interesting move......I remember wondering did he have Rick and Levon in mind..... to help them out.....this was before Rick passed away.......yeah, yeah...it's idle speculation and I know that EC would probably have ALOT of people or situations in mind.......but it's weird.....I think this illustrates how much I think of and thought about The Band.....even before I found y'all here at The GB........OK, EURO GBers!!!!!!.....let's start the "Bring The Barnburners to Europe" campaign right here......and all ya gotta do is to sing a few bars of "When I Paint My Masterpiece" the next time it comes around on The GB.....with FEELIN'!!!!.....here goes....."Oh The Streets of Rome..........."........HANK

Posted on Sun May 14 04:46:39 CEST 2000 from spider-wa061.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.46)

Bayou Sam

I just want to thank - again - all who responded to my Band Authorized video question. I got alot of response through the GB and e-mail, and you all recommended it. I just won it on e-bay for a whopping $5.99. I can't wait to see it. Thanks again and have a great day.

Posted on Sun May 14 04:46:20 CEST 2000 from ns1.schuster.com (199.105.252.66)

Charlie Young

Little Brother: that parody of "Moon Struck One" did actually make me laugh out loud. I don't dislike the song as much as Peter, but I know it is not one of their best (even though Springsteen still "borrowed" from it). I think you should work up some more of those. We could use a few more laughs around here. Thanks!

Posted on Sun May 14 02:51:25 CEST 2000 from pm4-137.delrio.com (208.246.53.137)

Just Wonderin'

Bayou Sam: I found 2 copies of The Authorized Video of The Band at www.half.com. don't know how much it is at Ebay, but the lowest price at half.com is $9.00. It is definately worth getting! Hope this helps!

Posted on Sun May 14 00:30:56 CEST 2000 from 1cust152.tnt6.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.11.190.152)

Crabgrass

Amazingly somehow overlooked, the obvious choice to do Band covers is Neil Diamond. I'm gonna e-mail him thru his website and suggest a 3 CD Band Tribute Album and also that he throw in a few Stones tunes like "Brown Sugar" and maybe the Hawk's "40 Days" and "Marylou" as bonus tracks. I'm sure Robbie would be willing to produce it and even do a tour to support it recruiting, John Sebastion, David Sanborn, and RR groupie EC to round out the ensemble.

Posted on Sun May 14 00:15:56 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-080.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.80)

Peter Viney

Shouldn't be surprised. A switch from Explorer 4.5 to 5.0 means everything looks worse. Thanks Bill Gates for another horrible interface.

Delighted to see the lost lyrics from "The Moon struck one". I guess they're no worse than the ones we know and love.

Posted on Sat May 13 23:26:59 CEST 2000 from mat-1-45.enter.net (207.16.155.55)

Little Brother

-- I'd prefer to believe that "Rock of Ages" soothed and mesmerized the Spud Launchers, Lil, though my deeper cynical nature wonders if maybe they just ran out of spuds. You could always have put the title track of "Islands" on "repeat", then snuck over while they were fast asleep and removed spuds, launcher, and probably even mowed the lawn. The correlation between breastlessness and wanton rowdiness suggests another option, namely that if those hooligans had a more pleasant diversion, your tuber-flingee predicament would evaporate. I'm not making any lewd personal inferences here-- maybe you could host an Open House and include some girl neighbors. Then put on "Moondog Matinee" and let nature take its course.

-- There's an actor named Saul Rubinek who could play Bob Dylan approximately, but probably not as authentically as Bob Dylan plays Bob Dylan.

-- Finally for now, on another beastly hot Saturday afternoon (What happened to transitional seasons like Spring?), a tip of the Way Cool feathered hat to the Bored Silly-- can anyone confirm the existence of the following out-take lyrics to "The Moon Struck One", which may explain a bee that's been hovering in Viney's bonnet? Supposedly the original verse was:

Little John was stung by a bee/Playing up a tree.

Then he climbed down a little ways but fell/'Cause his head began to swell.

We rushed to the spot and watched Little John succumb:/Anaphylactic shock, while The Moon Struck One

The imagery sort of resonates with the willow thing in "Sleeping". Horrible and offensive though this discarded version may seem, those of us who find the actual one just too damn sentimental will enjoy this alternate if it appears on the new releases...

Posted on Sat May 13 22:03:15 CEST 2000 from (209.167.110.130)

I know!

TED from Minnesota, the theme from the "Last Waltz" was written by the same guy who wrote the theme from "Doctor Zhivago" ie: Somewhere my love...

Posted on Sat May 13 20:43:51 CEST 2000 from 1cust140.tnt11.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.134.140)

Crabgrass

Yeah, Ed Norton would make a good Richard! How about Ralph Kramden as the Hawk? Neil Diamond could easily switch over to the Robertson role - they both have a songwriter's sensibilty. Hopefully, it's all been settled. Let the cameras start rolling!

And now back to the only other interesting GB topic - The Feud. (I opted out of this a while back so please carry on without me.)

Posted on Sat May 13 18:34:48 CEST 2000 from proxy-333.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.33)

CODY

"Where....do we go from here...and I ask my woman...woman my woman....I sure do miss the silence when it's gone"...Rick and Richard...you were ours for a while.Now....you belong to the stars forever!...I will all....ways remember!

Posted on Sat May 13 18:17:04 CEST 2000 from user-33qte2g.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.184.80)

Tedd

Does anyone know who wrote, and where I can obtain sheet music to the Theme from the Last Waltz?

Posted on Sat May 13 18:10:29 CEST 2000 from spider-wg034.proxy.aol.com (205.188.196.34)

butch

WELL,,,, WE'RE HOME !!!! Good to be in yo'own bed,,,, WHAT A TOUR !!!! you folks/fans are the BEST !!! Los Alamos Kay, ( hope you are out of the fire's path ) a DEAR, A DELIGHT !!!! A LOVE,,,, the fellas, Levon & amy say thanks to you, babe,,, Donnie Pugatch,, you are a man amongst men,, thanks for the music, it made the miles go quicker,, & the picture of you, your son, Levon & RICK,,,was great,,, all our friends, new & old made this a very memorable tour for us all,,,,, the guest/friends included Bob Margolin in N. Carolina,,, RANDALL BRAMBLETT on sax, in Georgia, ( both nights, )what a player,, friends with Levon from the old days,,,he never comes out to play, they said,,, but for us, TWO DAYS !! we were honored,,, The crowd in Georgia was so great,, REAL BLUES Fans,,, & the club's owner & staff were wonderful ,,, David Hood from the Muscle Shoals section came with his wife in Huntsville Alabama,,,, a weird night,, but so good to see David,,, The CATE BROTHERS BAND met us in Arkansas & we played every night with them,,,,,, a finer bunch of musicians you wont find,, & better people dont exist, the CATE's are tops IMO,,, me, personally,, i loved West Helena the best,,, the DELTA,, home of the Blues,, & some fine fine folks,,, C.W. Gatlin, Possum, Bubba Sullivan, Sonny Payne, Anna Lee,( the real one )all of Levon & Amy's kin,, & the best food this side of Náwlins,,,, we re-opened the Delta Cultural Museum, in W.Helena,, if ya'll get thattaway, DO NOT MISS IT !!!! it is a labor of love to the way of THE BLUES & THE DELTA,,, then on to MEMPHIS,,,,us & the Cates,, 3 nights on Beale Street, OUCH !!!! almost killed us, ,,, great folks, all the hot waitresses from Little Rock came & "made "our stay a bit sweeter,, then Chris Noth showed to see us,,,he heard from Billy-Bob thornton ( in Little Rock ) how hot the Barn Burners were,, & he & tom hanks were shoooting in Memphis so,,,,,, then onto Nashville,,,,,the last night,,, unfortunately, Gibson Guitars had a free club opening the same night,,,( lobster, sushi, steak, & near naked-women,, tough to beat that,, ),, but we still kicked ass,,,, BOBBY KEYS ( from the Stones ) THE FABULOUS AMAZING WONDERFUL LEGENDARY BONNIE BRAMLETT & her daughter Bekka, sat in too & raised the roof & the temperature,,, A Great end to a fun tour,,, Levon grinning like a possum w/ a sweet potato,, Amy getting a front seat to the best soulgospelbluesymama-san anywhere,,, the Barn Burners getting their PROPS from the music world,, & me ,, just soaking it all in,, just happy to be there,, lucky me,,, so,, a triumphant tour, in my opinion,,, & now, WEDNESDAY,,, @ The Joyous Lake, WOODSTOCK,,, 10 PM,,,, see you there,,,, thank-you again to all who made this tour possible,,, especially our GREAT FRIENDS/FANS,,, KAY, Don,,everyone,,, lovin ya all,, butch,,,,,

Posted on Sat May 13 17:59:37 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.avnl1.nj.home.com (24.4.252.66)

Brien Sz

THE BAND/THE MOVIE

Starring:

Ray Liotta as RR

Peter DeLoise as Rick

Ed Norton as Richard

Jude Law as Levon

and Peter Ustinov as Garth

Posted on Sat May 13 17:26:45 CEST 2000 from port247.ts2.ulster.net (208.242.164.247)

nate

Guys/Gals : how's about instead of lining a bootlegger's pocket, just to have "that cd", write The Danko family a check or sending it to a charity of choice, it's their music and our music....which should be shared but, give the money where the money's due. My .02 - Nate

Posted on Sat May 13 06:48:22 CEST 2000 from spider-wb052.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.172)

Bayou Sam

.............thanks to those of you who responded to my question about the video. I'm gonna get it.

Posted on Sat May 13 05:31:31 CEST 2000 from 209-23-55-94.ip.termserv.net (209.23.55.94)

Diamond Lil

Ok..so I have these new neighbors..kids actually..about 19 or 20 or so. Pretty wild bunch. In fact, in their drunken stupor tonight, they built a "launcher"..and were launching potatoes (yes..potatoes!) into my backyard. I tried reasoning with them (yeah right) and then tried threatening them (they didn't blink)..and well..the taters kept coming. So I gave up, went in the house, and turned on "Rock of Ages" .. LOUD.. in an effort to soothe my frazzled nerves. And guess what? The potato brigade stopped launching..and when I looked out the window, they were sitting on the curb and listening to the music! Aah...music does indeed hath charm to soothe the savage beast. (And yes...I know it's "breast"..but the neighbors are a bunch of guys and they don't have any :-)

Just thought I'd share that. Have a good night everyone. Hug Jan :-)

Posted on Sat May 13 05:02:09 CEST 2000 from 209-6-124-37.c3-0.nwt-ubr1.sbo-nwt.ma.cable.rcn.com (209.6.124.37)

Daddy Mack

Yo yo yo Wassup, wassup, wassup? The Band kicks ass. Period. - Long Live The Band.

Posted on Sat May 13 04:53:20 CEST 2000 from ch3smc.bellglobal.com (206.47.244.59)

Blind Willie

Band members as sidemen survey ...

5 best songs with Ronnie Hawkins

5 best songs with Dylan - 1960's

5 best songs with Dylan - 1970's

Posted on Sat May 13 03:39:23 CEST 2000 from www-cache.vuw.ac.nz (130.195.2.96)

Amanda

I'm entering this discussion slightly late but oh well…

Joe Pesci would be good as Martin Scorsese partly because they are physically quite alike and also because they both do that fast talking New York thing.

I see John Goodman as Mac Rebenack. They both have kind of a generous, genial vibe about them.

I had the thought that maybe David Bowie could play Bob Dylan. Wait, its not as ridiculous as it sounds…I'm thinking of Bowies portrayal of Andy Warhol in Basquiat. I'm sure if he were to do the same thing with a brown wig instead of a white one it would quite close to Dylan's conversational style.

Oh yes, I thought maybe Madonna could play Janis Joplin. Just for the irony of it given she is the antithesis of Janis.

Hank and David Powell: Re. Marianne Faithful and the songwriting credits for Sister Morphine. I think, I recall reading in Marianne Faithful's very readable autobiography that the reason she was not initially credited for the song was because, if she had been, all the royalties would have gone to her manager(?). He had somehow managed to tie her up in a grossly unfair contract whereby he got everything and she got nothing. But, apparently Keith Richards and Mick Jagger unofficially paid royalties directly to her.

Posted on Sat May 13 02:10:11 CEST 2000 from spider-wg033.proxy.aol.com (205.188.196.33)

Charlie Young

Hmmm..."the Byrds" are playing the same festival as Levon's band in August? I wonder who they are. Probably not Roger McGuinn, David Crosby and Chris Hillman, the REAL surviving members of that band. In a bizarre turn of events, the late Michael Clarke's estate wound up with legal rights to that name. I wonder who has legal ownership of the name, "The Band." I hate the idea that some glorified tribute band could wind up touring with the name.

One other note: for the money someone paid for a CD-R copy of "Complete Last Waltz" they could have bought an excellent CD burner and started trading with ethical CD-R traders who don't charge for such items. As I've said before, eBay is a ship of fools...

Posted on Sat May 13 00:47:09 CEST 2000 from ch3smc.bellglobal.com (206.47.244.59)

Blind Willie McTell

Bayou Sam, I second what Neil from Simcoe says. Get it. I especially like the parts sitting at the mixing board where they de-constuct some of the songs.

Posted on Sat May 13 00:26:03 CEST 2000 from ct-8-sim-ppp1.kwic.com (209.205.36.155)

Neil

Bayou Sam, It is definitely worth getting, it is priceless. I watch it over and over again. You will be very impressed with all the credits the Band get from their comrads, much deserving I must say! Regards, Neil

Posted on Fri May 12 23:23:09 CEST 2000 from spider-ta057.proxy.aol.com (152.163.205.34)

Bayou Sam

hey folks. There is a Band video on e-bay called "The Authorized Video Biography". It always seems to be on there but without alot of bids, if any. Do you all have it already?, is it any good?. Please let me know if it's worth getting. Thanks

Posted on Fri May 12 21:55:32 CEST 2000 from client-151-198-146-71.bellatlantic.net (151.198.146.71)

Hip Hype

Probably not much if you were willing to pay $300 for "Crossing the Great Divide."

And the "Complete Last Waltz" that went for $450 is a fairly shabby CD-R available for under $100 from the seller's Web site.

Posted on Fri May 12 20:13:38 CEST 2000 from pool-209-138-8-53.ipls.grid.net (209.138.8.53)

Bobby Jones

The Complete Last Waltz just sold for $450.00 on E-bay.

Makes me wonder, "Whats my collection worth?"

Posted on Fri May 12 19:24:18 CEST 2000 from nyufrw60.ing-americas.com (208.248.188.5)

Rich Forbes

Hello All, Just saw the lineup for The 5th Annual Pocon's Musical Gathering On The Mountain, and Levon and the Barn Burners will be making an appearance on Saturday, August 5.... Other acts for this weekend festival include: Saturday August 5 - Tom Constantin - of the Grateful Dead It's A Beautiful Day The Byrds Levon Helm and The Barn Burners Blue Floyd Electric Hot Tuna Sunday August 6 - Zen Tricksters The David Nelson Band The Derek Trucks band The Radiators Merle Saunders and His Funky Friends String Cheese Incident For anyone who hasn't attended a previous `Gathering', it's held at Big Boulder Resort in Blakeslee Pa., about a half hour past the Delaware Water Gap. Further info can be had at `BIG2RESORTS.COM' It's really a happening weekend - The Band played at the 1st Gathering.... See ya there!!!

Posted on Fri May 12 18:50:56 CEST 2000 from pm1-56.delrio.com (208.246.52.76)

Just Wonderin'

Steven Baur or Steven Segal as RR. They're both tall and dark enough.

Tommy Lee Jones for Levon. Matthew M is good to!

Johnny Depp is definately Ricky!.

As for Garth there's only one person in the world who could play Garth and that's himself!

Think we'd need an angel for Richard.

Posted on Fri May 12 17:52:25 CEST 2000 from 1cust172.tnt9.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.128.172)

Crabgrass

Stage Fright was recorded at the Woodstock Playhouse and I believe it's in the CD liner notes where Levon mentions opening and closing the stage curtains to alter the acoustics so I think MOJO is wrong. The Rhino "Classic Albums - The Band" video also has a few glaring innacuracies - like half of the songs discussed are actually on Big Pink and not The Band (Brown Album). Typical shoddy fact gathering. Do they take us all for fools?

On second thought, maybe they did fly back to NYC and then take a limo up to Woodstock.

Posted on Fri May 12 11:16:27 CEST 2000 from 108.0101.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.108)

Nancy Birch

Ahoy there Pehr

If you're planning on low budget for this little TV show about The Band, I'll do Costume Design for a very reasonable price. Who do I send my resume to?

Posted on Fri May 12 11:08:04 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-059.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.59)

Peter Viney

The new Mojo (June 2000) centres around Janis Joplin, with a good article on the Festival Express, containing quotes from Rick Danko & Eric Andersen. Seems "most" of The Band "flew back to NYC to work on Stage fright after each show" - odd, as I thought it was recorded in Woodstock. Anyway, some nice quotes from Rick. He had to ask Levon to chaperone him when he went to a drive-in with Janis.

Posted on Fri May 12 10:06:49 CEST 2000 from ts1-25.steveston.axion.net (207.34.146.25)

Cupid

Hi All.John D. good to have you back Brother.Great pics of Levon and the Barnburners! boy Amy looks like the old man! particularly in the pic with her aft of the keyboard with that shoulder hunched up Levonlike.you can almost hear 'em playing. Peace y'all Cupie Doll

Posted on Fri May 12 09:34:01 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime

Rhea Perlman as RR, Bette Midler as RD, Roseanne-what's-her-last-name-again as GH, Cher as RM, Sissy Spacek as LH and co-starring Piper Laurie as RH and Angela Lansbury as BD... geez this bores me...

Posted on Fri May 12 06:38:30 CEST 2000 from 2cust89.tnt11.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.133.217)

Crabgrass

5 MUSIC COMPANIES SETTLE FEDERAL CASE ON CD PRICE FIXING - Washington, May 10 - The Federal Trade Commission announced a settlement of an anti-trust case against the nation's five largest music companies today that the commission said should result in significant price cuts for compact discs. Officials said the settlement completed a two year investigation that found the companies used illegal marketing agreements to end a price war, inflate the prices of compact discs, and sharply restrict the ability of retailers to offer discounts. The officials estimated that consumers were overcharged by $500 million over the last four years.

The above is an excerpt from an article on the front page of the New York Times. The record companies have been ripping us off right and left just like I said - so I wouldn't waste any mental energy worrying about how the bootleggers are ripping off the poor record companies!!

With at least one admitted screenwriter amongst the GB contributors I guess it won't be long before the wheels start turning and a tentative treatment appears on this website. The hell with Hollywood and TV - I think "The True Story of The Band" would be perfect as the first movie created exclusively for the World Wide Web. This is exciting!!! (ATTN: Levon - I suggest you cast Michael Jackson as Dylan - he's white enough now - and with a wig and another nose job I think he'd do justice to the part.)

Posted on Fri May 12 06:34:57 CEST 2000 from firewall1.westpac.co.nz (210.55.236.18)

rod

Harvey Kartel could play a latter day RR and DiNero a later day Danko. Maybe the guy who played Al in Home Improvements could do Garth.

Posted on Fri May 12 06:26:10 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.lndn1.on.home.com (24.112.158.228)

Kerrilyn

Michelle Shocked, who was talked about here recently, is playing the Ottawa Tulip Festival on Mother's Day. (That's this Sunday......just a reminder).

Playing the same festival later in the week is Danko Jones. Now there's a band name for you. I wonder where they came up with that.

Posted on Fri May 12 05:58:58 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-118-30.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.118.30)

BWNWITennessee

To go back to an old subject, I think that "Sleeping" is kind of a scary look into the mind of Richard Manuel. The song is about hiding from the world, avoiding the pain in the world and retreating into isolation rather than dealing with it. That's apparently what he did in life, and, ultimately, in death. I think that the term "sleeping" can be seen as a metaphor for just getting wasted and hiding from what hurts you. "When we go under/To a world of wonder/Why on earth would you want to come back at all," or however it goes. I think the part about "Cobwebs on my pillow/You'll find me in the willow" is about leaving behind the modern world and going to a more primitive, simpler place. I think that a lot of Richard's songs reflect who he was as a person, not that I would really know. I think in "Lonesome Suzie," he can be seen as both the narrator and the subject. At the end he says, "I can't watch you cry no longer/You can use me/Until you feel a little stronger." I guess that was the kind of person he was, and maybe he needed someone to say that to him in real life. Maybe someone did and it didn't matter.

Personally, "We Can Talk" gets my vote for the strangest Band song, lyrically. I have no idea what that's about. "Chest Fever" doesn't really count since Robbie has said they were "dummy lyrics" that they just got used to singing.

To go even further in the wayback machine, in the Robbie Robertson guitar book, the transcriptionist, Fred Sokolow, talks about "Unfaithful Servant" in the introduction. He says something like, "What other rock band could sing a song from the point of view of a master bidding farewell to a servant with whom he's had an affair? The Rolling Stones could do it, but it would be snide instead of wistful!"

I don't think anyone's cast Matthew McConnaghey(whatever) as Levon. He's even been practicing for the part on his bongos.

Posted on Fri May 12 05:40:44 CEST 2000 from spider-wb074.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.184)

Bayou Sam

I was browsing around inside of a huge new guitar store that just opened here, and I wandered over to the book and video section where there was a music video playing on two tv's. I wasn't paying too much attention until this kind of moody spacey part came along with some very cool, ear catching sax playing. Well I looked up and it was none other than our own Garth Hudson playing with Roger Waters. The salesman showed me the tape box and it's a 1990 show of Waters playing the entire Wall album live. The credits on the box also include Messrs. Helm, Danko- and the Band. Most of you have probably seen it, but I never knew of it. I was the salesmans own copy so they weren't even selling it. Now I want to find a copy. I never imagined The Band and Pink Floyd music crossing paths, but there you go. Garth did the Pink Floyd music justice. He IS the man.

Posted on Fri May 12 04:11:11 CEST 2000 from spider-te082.proxy.aol.com (152.163.195.212)

Dave Z

Been listening to the Wild Magnolias CD Life Is A Carnival for about 2 weeks now... Great driving music... The song Pocket Change has a real Band feel to it too... Also kinda interesting to hear a solo RR interpretation of a Band song... I recommend it...

Posted on Fri May 12 03:13:06 CEST 2000 from d67.la-tierra.com (208.164.120.67)

Kay

After 12 hours talking wildfire with the press of the world, it would give me great pleasure to tell about the Barnburners shows I saw last week before all this started.

Fortuitous circumstances allowed me to see three, count 'em, 3 shows in Tulsa, Fayetteville and Eureka Springs. Fayetteville was most special -- Miss Amy performing for her large and enthusiastic family and other Arkansas posse members. This show was WAY sold out.

I can only repeat what others who've seen the band have said: make every effort to see them NOW. They are so much fun to watch, and the music will get you on your feet and keep you there. Pat and Chris are wonderful musicians and wonderful PERFORMERS and there's always lots going on with them. Amy is a knockout. As cute as those new photos are, they don't do her justice. She's a beauty like mom, but with her dad's look, if that makes any sense. She has great dramatic flair and her voice will melt the paint off the wall. She played piano quite alot at the shows I saw and she does that with the same concentration that Levon gives to the drums. But when she comes up front, you watch her. She does interesting hand things, kind of like Patti Smith except different, and she loves to dance. And Levon truly leads from behind, with incredible technique, endless soul and, it appeared to me, the power of his MIND.

Watching this band do their show for three quite different audiences was a great way to spend 3 consecutive nights. And of course there was Leon. All of you New York, NJ and CT people -- there's a show in Piermont May 26 and the one at Tribeca Blues in NYC June 9. GO. You'll be glad you did.

I wish I was doing THAT right now instead of THIS. Hold a good thought for us, but rest assured that the nuclear materials are not on the fire line. Just lots of good people's homes and belongings, but I hear that people do survive being burned out. So do yourself a favor and go hear some live music.

Posted on Fri May 12 03:10:07 CEST 2000 from mat-10-30.enter.net (207.16.156.224)

Little Brother

Ray Liotta as Robbie-- say no more. Those sleepy eyes nail it, but can't you just see Ray in character squeezing that fly? He's got the face, he's got the moves. How about Gary Sinise as Richard?

I don't think I'd pay to see this turkey, but the CD soundtrack by "Smith" might be worth a root through the cutout bin. And of course Levon et al would again get screwed out of so much as a smell of coin, triggering another series of GB tsunami

The opening/closing credits would have to be in the form of postings in-- YES-- a facsimile of this very own Guestbook! Or the GB could be-- YES-- the NARRATIVE FRAMEWORK, the freaking chronosynclastic dramatic VORTEX...

I called it! Hollywood, here we come! OK, which of you gals has worked as a one-armed go-go dancer? YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE...

Posted on Fri May 12 02:23:28 CEST 2000 from spider-wg083.proxy.aol.com (205.188.196.58)

Bashful Bill

A small part which will need to be cast is that of Bill Graham who was involved in several pivotal concert events with The Band: their infamous "coming out" party at Winterland,Watkins Glen, Dylan's BTF tour, and of course the LW. And wasn't he involved with Woodstock in some capacity? BG also promoted CSNY,s mammoth(at that time) 74 comeback tour on which The Band opened for many of the shows. I heard somewhere recently that the actor Ron Silver is putting together a one-man play playing BG, but I don't know any details. BTW Kerrilyn, thanks again for making my day. I don't generally use that LOL abbreviation, but that would describe my wife for the last 2 hours since I showed her your post.

Posted on Fri May 12 02:01:58 CEST 2000 from spider-tp043.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.193)

Sheryl

My husband came home today with a new CD, one by a little girl named Shannon Curfman. He said that I would really like one of the songs on it. Imagine my suprise when he played her cover of "The Weight"! She really is very good and I like her cover. I really like the fact that someone so young is continuing to play The Band's music. Check it out!

Posted on Fri May 12 01:50:46 CEST 2000 from dialup-268.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.12)

HANK THE HAWK

KERRILYN!!!!! .....THANK YOU!!!! BIG TIME NOW, BIG TIME!!!!!.........Hey, Folks, HOWSABOUT a good TV Series instead of a movie???.....covering all the different periods........y'know folks, not meaning to scare y'all but, in this new Russell Crowe movie "The Gladiator", poor old Ollie Reed died before it was was finished....I read today they superimposed his face onto another actors for the bits he couldn't do...... 'cos he was dead......computer graphic wizardry, doncha know?.......in other words....very soon Hollywood won't NEED actors to play people that are older or, umm .....less alive......they'll just sample their faces and their voices and.... hey presto!!!.....Weird and scary stuff, eh?..........ah well, never mind.......I walk 47 miles of barb wire and I've got a cobra snake for a necktie....THAT'S kinda scary, too.........I must say, tho, Keanu Reeves would probably make an EXCELLENT RR......he was pretty good in that "Devils Advocate" Thang.......Sweet dreams y'all to the west and g'morning to all to the east .........HANK

Posted on Fri May 12 01:50:10 CEST 2000 from m198214176061.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.176.61)

pehr

Ray Liotta as Robbie. Paul Sorvino as Garth. Robert DeNiro as Grossman. Gary Bussey is a good call as the Hawk. Jakob Dylan good call for Dylan as is Johnny Depp for Rick. But there is the space of years and age differences alluded to to consider. Very interesting thread.

Pasolini made some great movies using people off the street just for their faces.

But what about a cheap made for t.v. version anyway, just for a laugh since no one's counting Monopoly money anyway?

Neil Diamond as Dylan. Chuck Norris as Levon with a real phony southern accent. John Saxon as Robbie. oh my. this is bad.

Posted on Fri May 12 01:05:30 CEST 2000 from firewall.katz-media.com (38.150.94.163)

Frank Dracman

Laura from KY - I agree with just about everything you said.

I was 10 at the time of the LW. My parents wernt/arent cool. I was weighing ounces but still my mom should have taken the subway to the forest hills show. there isnt A lot of footage and different stuff from the late 60s/early70s because of Albert and we all want something. Levon was there and he saw all there was and all there COULD HAVE BEEN. Its a lot of all there is so I dont think he minds that we watch it. In the last 6 years three huge things that I found (1) cd - hawks, the roulette years (especially what a party) and (2) the video at the big pink(?) of cripple creek and the (3) ed sullivan

Posted on Fri May 12 00:27:36 CEST 2000 from firewall.katz-media.com (38.150.94.163)

Frank Dracman

Johnny Boy as Rick made laugh - its good

at the beginning of northern exp. I wanted to do a movie with Rob Morrow as Robbie.

btw If you want to hear Travis, a scottish group that had the #1 cd in england last year, they are BAND fans and covered the weight on idiots delight. Its very different from the original and can be found at wnew.com. the week before vin played their cover of Britney Spears' "baby one more time" I really enjoyed that too.

Britney ... THE BAND, ________THE BAND ... Britney

Posted on Fri May 12 00:26:17 CEST 2000 from vdp194.ath05.cas.hol.gr (195.97.67.195)

pretty little girl

Shhhhh...... please keep this hollywood band movie discussion quiet. I'm worried that Dan Ackroyd and John Goodman might hear about it and want in. Keanu Reeves for Robbie (don't laugh, he is canadian and plays in a band) on second thoughts, go ahead.... laugh. Peace from Athens.

Posted on Fri May 12 00:08:48 CEST 2000 from port179.ts2.ulster.net (208.242.164.179)

nate

Nice Santana bootlegger story, there Bashful Bill..... Reminds me of this Grateful Dead taper in the early 90's who started video taping every Dead show on tour. He would sneak in video equipment through some pretty low means. He would get a wheelchair and hide the equipment and tripod in the wheelchair and security unknowingly would bring him in the handicapped entrance and sit him in the wheelchair section. The guy would video the entire show, and run a dat tape at the same time. Since he was in a wheel chair, he was overlooked by security.

He did this quite often and Dead management started to get informed about him, complaints from fans who would see the tapes and he was profiteering quite well with his work. He would then go to record conventions and Dead show parking lots to sell his "booty". Until one day, he was at a record convention in a hotel selling his wares and the Dead were in town at Nassau Coliseum. The bootlegger was selling at the same hotel that the Dead road crew were staying at, sure enough, they saw him and had him arrested. The Dead organization had a standing order of selling likeness/bootleg merchandise warrants in every city they played in. Since videos were considered a "likeness", he was instantly arrested. Little did the guy know, was the RIAA and FBI were also notified.The bootlegger had a 6:00 am raid on his home and the FBI confiscated ALL of his video collection/masters and all of his equipment. So, it can be tragic and funny how karma has it's ways.......N.

Posted on Thu May 11 23:11:54 CEST 2000 from ti13a63-0358.dialup.online.no (130.67.102.230)

Runar Boye

Hi, Bandfans We have this barband over here, and while rehearsing today we came up with this crazy idea of putting U2`s Still haven`t found... and SHAPE I`M IN together as a BLUEGRASSMEDLEY(!?)-with banjo and all. Pretty Weird,but a lot of fun,mind you it`s done with respect, Still,if you folks out there think it`s blasphemy,please let me know and I will ban it right away.Goodnight.

Posted on Thu May 11 22:27:22 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

Gee, I don't know which is more flattering, being cast as Robbie or being called the GB's "young guy." Though, at 33 (and barreling down on 34 here shortly), I think either of Lil's children have me beat by mile. I was carded for the first time in awhile at a bar recently...maybe I'm getting younger with age. Should I burst into a few verses of "Young at Heart" now? (doo bee doo bee dooooooooo).

; - )

Matt

Posted on Thu May 11 21:45:30 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.lndn1.on.home.com (24.112.158.228)

Kerrilyn

I'll make stars out of you guys yet.....just kidding. The reasoning behind my choices: Garth is of course the G-Man, not literally, but that's a perfect name so that was an obvious choice. Mattk seems like the young guy in this GB and Robbie has been pretty lucky at holding onto his youthful looks. Knockin' Lost John has a good sense of humour (the Muppets post comes to mind) so he'd be happy-go-lucky Rick. Levon has been known to be a little crabby (but we still love him) in interviews so Crabgrass fit there. I always thought Richard was the shy and quiet one so a name like Bashful Bill seemed appropriate. And of course Hank as Ronnie Hawkins is perfect, they are both friendly, out-going and down right entertaining/crazy (I mean that in a good way).

Just cast in the role of Dylan....that would be Jan (the mastermind of it all).

Posted on Thu May 11 21:28:44 CEST 2000 from usr53-dialup158.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.199.162)

G-MAN

You missed out on some GREAT music if haven't ever seen Stan (Szelest) and the Ravens-Sandy Konikoff, Ernis Corello(sp), et. al., . Anybody out there remember- Lu Lu Belles or the Hide-Away. Think Ronnie and the Hawks did some playin along with the Ravens; they'd knock the roof of where they were playin'. Have a great week.

Posted on Thu May 11 21:22:17 CEST 2000 from usr53-dialup158.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.199.162)

G-MAN

Kerilyn-Flattering will get you some place, but the Band deserves the best. My liver, what's left from the 60's, 70's, 80's, & a good part of the 90's could get some lines as Richard or Rick. HEY, LET'S PARTY TILL THE COWS COME HOME !!! I do know (now) about gettin' up when I used to be ready for sleep time years ago. We need some star appeal for the BAND. Thanks anyway.

Posted on Thu May 11 21:13:08 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-114.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.114)

Peter Viney

The Band Biopic: First thing, it’s not like The Beatles one, "Backbeat", where you really do need look-a-likes. No one would make a Hollywood film unless they thought it had enough interest value to go way, way beyond the Band constituency. So dismiss, physical resemblance. Do the actors have to age? Are you doing 1958 to 2000, or much more likely a restricted period - 1959-64? 1964-1969? 1959-76, 1964-76, 1967-76, 1969-76, 1964-86, … funny, you know I think any Hollywood producer’s going to end it with The Last Waltz! Other cut out points would be Rick or Richard’s passing. Richard’s probably, then the film becomes a tragedy. The whole story? It’d be near impossible to age five people that meticulously. When severe ageing is done they stick to one character, as in the ultimate example "Little Big Man." So if you’re doing the younge period, none of the guys could act it. So my first appointments would be RR as producer / musical director, GH as co-musical director, LH as casting advisor, due to the fact he’s a damn fine actor, except he wouldn’t be allowed to cast the young RR, as the actor chosen would need to be a (?) or the (?) hero.

OK, then you cast it. The rule is, don’t worry about appearance, worry about spirit conveyed. As a scriptwriter, I’ve found that actors at auditions can blow away all your physical preconceptions. The part you wrote for a five foot eight blonde woman ends up being done brilliantly by a five foot one brunette. It’s all in the spirit conveyed. So my first choice would be Ed Norton because (a) he can act anything (b) he could play either Levon or Richard. And (c) he can sing enough to mime well, probably enough to actually sing some things. He can also play guitar. Drums are hardest to fake in a film, but judging from past films he’d spent six months of intensive tuition to get it right. He can do accents, so Levon. I suspect that your main dramatic tension might be Levon, Robbie and The Hawk. You want an attractive male lead type for Robbie, plus as this will be largely a non-singing role, you go for an established young star actor. The Richard part had best be able to sing like a bird, and have that air of fragility. I’d cast a currently successful young rock singer, not an actor. You’ll need someone to sing well enough. Garth is easy to cast, because you don’t need singing, plus keyboards are the easiest to fake on film. Definitely an actor, then. Rick is going to need to sing, but when someone starts scripting they’re going to need to lighten up one role, and Rick will get the good funny lines and ebullient characterization. As a result he may be the hardest to cast. A great comic actor with a good voice, Matthew Perry for box office. With Ed Norton and Matthew Perry you could afford to cast unknowns / rock singers for the rest. The Hawk? Now I can see someone with a MASSIVE personality, Brian Blessed even if he could do the voice, or as suggested John Goodman – who can sing R&B himself, but this is as the current Hawk. Forget the references to "the old man" – The Hawk was mid twenties when it all started, with a group of teenagers. Plus it’s easier to age someone than make them much, much younger. An actor for Ronnie. Cast on ability rather than big name. Bob Dylan is easy. Give him the wig and the denim jacket and you’ve got a reasonable lookalike. And all he has to do is mumble and look enigmatic. A current rock star.

Posted on Thu May 11 21:11:19 CEST 2000 from (206.191.15.194)

Bill

I was impressed to discover the neat photo of the Ravens, a Buffalo NY group, in the Konikoff and Szelest sections of the Band member section of this site. It was news to me that Chuck McCormick had been in the group. Like Sandy and Stan, Chuck soon moved north of the border - in his case to join Big John Little and the Hot Toddies (or Toddys). That Niagara Falls, Ontario group was known at the time for their 1959 cross-border hit, "Rockin' Crickets" (one of a young Jimi Hendrix' favourite records, of all things!). When, in 1963, the producers of a defunct Buffalo group, the (Rockin', or Buffalo) Rebels, needed a follow up to their belated hit version of "Wild Weekend", they just repressed the Hot Toddies record, but mis-credited it to the Rockin' Rebels. And now, in 2000, Sandy Konikoff plays around Buffalo with the Kippler brothers, the leaders of the original Rockin' Rebels!

Posted on Thu May 11 20:45:02 CEST 2000 from (149.160.22.86)

Knockin' Lost John

HAH!!!!Thanks Kerrylin! But I doubt that I could fill the shoes of Rick Danko, and I feel sorry for any actor who would try to portray any of these fine musicians. For the most part, we all know musicians can't act and actors can't sing! John

Posted on Thu May 11 20:28:59 CEST 2000 from spider-tn014.proxy.aol.com (152.163.207.49)

Bashful Bill

Since being traumatized by that made for TV Beach boys movie afew months ago(I love the BB) and ditto just by the commercials for that Lennon/McCartney TV movie, just the thought of a movie about The Band gives me the shakes. Therefore I have avoided the current thread, but obviously haven't ignored it. Thanks, Kerrilynn, whoever and wherever you are. You made my day, but I look much more like a taller Levon, and I'm way too old and long in the tooth to play Richard. Though when a movie is someday made of my interesting and checkered life, my wife will accept noone else in the part than Harrison ford.

Posted on Thu May 11 20:13:43 CEST 2000 from (209.198.135.153)

Laura Holt

Gee..haven't said much in here in awhile. I suppose I wanted to comment on all the things about JRR and LH etc. etc. and the whole TLW thing. I am probably more upset that Martin S. cut out some of the best scenes that were shot during rehearsal and backstage (according to Levon). I'm not too thrilled that there was such LIMITED footage of Richard and Garth either...you hardly see them at all!!! I feel Levon is correct in saying in his book "Wheels on Fire" that it was basicaly a "RR show-off in front of the camera" Even the Hawk was reported to have made some comments after viewing the film that it was RR all over the place!! I think TLW is a great picture. I just wish Levon felt good about it and he hates to even discuss it. I can understand and in seeing the film I feel that Martin should have left more "behind the scenes footage" if that's the case. I would have loved to have seen clips of the rehearsals and just back stage goofing off! Oh well...enough bitchin on my part. I think I'm gonna go listen to "Rag Mama Rag" now...seems fitting since I feel I've done some raggin of my own. PEACE!

Posted on Thu May 11 19:44:56 CEST 2000 from phila-dialup092.nni.com (216.107.9.208)

Little Brother

So far all I can come up with is:

Christopher Lloyd as Garth, Sean Penn as Levon

Posted on Thu May 11 19:31:42 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.lndn1.on.home.com (24.112.158.228)

Kerrilyn

Sorry I just can't resist:

G-Man as Garth

mattk as Robbie

Knockin' Lost John as Rick

Crabgrass as Levon

Bashful Bill as Richard

and last but not least Hank as Rockin' Ronnie Hawkins

Posted on Thu May 11 18:48:43 CEST 2000 from du243-249.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.249.243)

Ilkka

(1) EUROVISION SONG CONTEST: The Swedish entry is written in co'operation with a Native-American, an Eskimo and a Samii from Northern Scandinavia. Anyone interested in Native-American music should struggle thru this "schlager" contest on Saturday night. It will be broadcasted from Stockholm, Sweden.
(2) THE POLAR MUSIC PRIZE: Dylan fever is rising in Sweden. On Monday night Bob Dylan will receive The Polar Music Prize from the hand of His Majesty The King Of Sweden. The Prize Banquet will be held at the Grand Hotel in Stockholm. I will report directly on Monday night (or Tuesday morning) CET. Remember, you'll hear it first in this fabulous guestbook. Stay tuned.

Posted on Thu May 11 17:17:21 CEST 2000 from usr51-dialup238.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.198.116)

G-MAN

Sorry, L .D.. Phillips as RR, Woody Harrelson as Rick, Tom Hanks as Garth. Have this VHI or regular movie wrapped up by Thanksgiving 2000. Make sure the lawyers and accountans are on the up/up. Give the guys their just due !! Keep Rockin' .

Posted on Thu May 11 16:36:53 CEST 2000 from mail.sevencounties.org (209.149.141.194)

KLJ again (sorry)

Kermit the Frog as Levon, Fozzy The Bear as Garth, Animal as Richard, Gonzo as Rick, and Miss Piggy as Robbie!!!!

Posted on Thu May 11 16:34:01 CEST 2000 from mail.sevencounties.org (209.149.141.194)

KLJ again

...or... Paul McCartney as Rick Danko, Ringo Starr as Levon, George Harrison as Robbie, Kieth Richards as Richard Manuel, and Wilfurd Brimley as Garth!!!!

Posted on Thu May 11 16:29:38 CEST 2000 from mail.sevencounties.org (209.149.141.194)

Knockin' Lost John

HMMMMM. Robert Duvall as Levon, Tommy Lee Jones as Garth, Wes Studi as Robbie Robertson, Eric Clapton as Richard Manuel, and Robbie Robertson as Rick Danko!!! John

Posted on Thu May 11 16:23:08 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

Ok, I understand everyone wants established, reputable actors to play their favorite Band members. However, wouldn't it make more sense to use younger actors and have them age? After all, the bulk of the story's gonna take place before the boys turned 35.

That said:

• Levon: Steve Zahn (he even taught himself to play drums for his role in the cheesy Tom Hanks' directed flick "That Thing You Do."
• Robbie: How about Vince Vaughn?
• Rick: Ed Norton Jr? He's certainly got the right look for young Rick.
• Richard: This one is tough, but the beard helps hide his features. How about Joaquin Phoenix? I think he'd be good at capturing the tortured aspects of Richard's soul that gave him that intense, emotive quality.
• Garth: This is the toughest of all. Probably not a big speaking part, given Garth's penchant (at least in public) for mumbling and keeping low key. Garth also has a very unique face and manner. I'm thinking, perhaps, Giovanni Ribisi.
• Albert Grossman: Gotta be Albert Finney...
• Bob Dylan: Well, since we need some "synergy" for a soundtrack, and since it would create "buzz" how about keeping it in the family with Jakob Dylan?
• Martin Scorcese: Give him a beard, and David Arquette might work
• John Simon: Hmmm, maybe Jude Law in a cameo.
• The Hawk: Well, it's gotta be a partier, slightly older, but still a bit of a charmer, even handsome as a young man...Johnny Depp? I thought he did a pretty good job as Hunter S. Thompson...

Matt

Posted on Thu May 11 15:59:12 CEST 2000 from 24-216-10-230.hsacorp.net (24.216.10.230)

Misty McKinney

THE TRUE STORY OF THE BAND STARRING: -Willie Nelson as Levon Helm -Kris Kristofferson as Richard Manuel -Waylon Jennings as Garth Hudson -Johnny Cash as Rick Danko -Robbie Robertson as Himself -Richard Dreyfus as Bob Dylan- and introducing Misty McKinney as THE #1 fan :)

Posted on Thu May 11 15:12:15 CEST 2000 from usr42-dialup8.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.76.72)

G-MAN

WHOA, just scannin'......Neal Diamond as the Hawk. God I can hear the Hawk roarin' all the way from Toronto !!! That's enough to make Niagara Falls stop !!! ARE YOU KIDDIN ME ???

Posted on Thu May 11 15:03:54 CEST 2000 from usr42-dialup8.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.76.72)

G-MAN

Good morning Band fans. Hey, can our Canadian brother DJ's help us out here and start playing Rick's new version of Sip the Wine ??? Jim Carey as Richard; Tom Hanks as RR; Gary Busey as Levon; R. DiNiro(younger)or Lou Diamond Phillips as Rick; Professor Louie as Garth !!!! How Patrick Swayze as the Hawk. John Goodman as A. Grossman. Neal Diamond in a Band Movie ??? WOW ! You trying kill ticket sales already !! Amy's perfect for the part . Who plays Janice Joplin ? Who plays John Simon ?

Posted on Thu May 11 11:46:01 CEST 2000 from 186.0102.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.186)

Nancy Birch

Following along the theme of the 'True Story of The Band', the name of Tom Hanks jumped unbidden into my mind for the role of Uncle Garth. I wonder whether this is mainly due to the affection this actor has for adding masses of facial and extra hair, a la 'Forrest Gump'. I recently saw a photograph of him as he appears in a recent or current production, sporting a glorious mane of fake hair yet again. Although he doesn't look much like Garth Hudson, (in fact not at all!), I'm sure he has the talent to play pretty much anyone he chooses.

Posted on Thu May 11 08:09:30 CEST 2000 from 1cust233.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.136.233)

Crabgrass

Who better to direct "The True Story of The Band" than Martin Scorcese the man who directed "The Last Waltz" with his trademark "grit and realism" cinema verite style? Robbie still looks great and could play himself and Neil Diamond is a natural to play the Hawk!! (I'd suggest John Goodman for the Albert Grossman role.)

Posted on Thu May 11 07:36:49 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-113-131.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.113.131)

BWNWITennessee

P.S. - Oh, come on. Robert DeNiro in "Mean Streets" IS Rick Danko.

Posted on Thu May 11 07:30:49 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-113-131.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.113.131)

BWNWITennessee

Just got back from seeing the Barnburners. They are a great band, and Levon was playing well. A big jeers to the Gibson Cafe Milano, though, for charging so much money for their dinner theater that a total of about 20 people in Music City turned out to see the show, probably 10 if you don't count the hangers-on of the celebrity guests. Said celebrity guests being, by the way, the great sax player Bobby Keys and Bonnie Bramlett and her daughter, Mini-Bonnie. Somehow it just didn't seem right to be drinking gin and tonics and munching roast shrimp on bruschetta with a bunch of lawyers and accountants while listening to Levon Helm play blues music. All told, the bill came to $50 for about a 50-minute set. Ever get the feeling you've been cheated? Ah, well, it all goes on the good ol' Mastercard, to get paid off when I declare Chapter 11. At least I got to stop at Krystal's on the way home. And I didn't even get to meet Levon, so I was unable to ask if he ever reads the GB. :(

It was great to see Amy Helm, Bonnie and Becca Bramlett all singing in a circle with Bobby Keys playing sax while Levon just grinned from ear to ear. And even though there was a semi-Stone playing with them, I'm sorry to report they did NOT play "Brown Sugar."

Posted on Thu May 11 06:26:17 CEST 2000 from pool-209-138-158-79-ipls.grid.net (209.138.158.79)

Bobby Jones

Lee - Great interview with John Simon.

On the film thing. Charlie Sheen as the "HAWK". If there was room for a few female parts I'd suggest Amy Helm to play Libby Titus.

On the boot thing. The Complete Last Waltz is on E-bay. The bid is in excess of $225.00. I suspect this is not a original bootleg but rather a copy made by Old Boot Records. Let the buyer beware!

By the way I'm planning to be back on the East coast next week. Hoping to take a trip up to the Joyous Lake and also catch the Stanhope show.(That's where I first saw Levon and the Cates Brothers play) - It's a great LITTLE club.

Any suggestions on Record / Cd shops to visit while in the Metro Area.( Haven't lived in the metro area for 10 years) Look foreward to hearing from those with suggestions.

Posted on Thu May 11 05:57:25 CEST 2000 from 1cust230.tnt6.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.11.190.230)

Crabgrass

I saw a free July 4th pre-Jericho Band afternoon show on a pier at NYC's South Street Seaport in '94, I believe, and a couple of young guys up front set up a fairly sophisticated looking compact cassette machine with a mini-boom stereo mic. The musicians apparently noticed it and sent the sound guy out who told them, "Nice equipment! But you guys could probably get a good enough recording to broadcast the concert on a college station. The Band won't play unless you dismantle it." So disappointedly they did. Obviously, despite their friendship with the Dead the Band did not see eye to eye with them on the taping issue. Too bad, I wish I had a bootleg of that show - they were really cooking!

Posted on Thu May 11 04:50:42 CEST 2000 from ch3smc.bellglobal.com (206.47.244.59)

Blind Willie McTell

Hank, I have import albums from Europe that have plastic-lined, paper record sleeves that say "Home taping is killing music".

Posted on Thu May 11 04:32:27 CEST 2000 from mat-12-8.enter.net (207.16.159.64)

Little Brother

-- Indeed, welcome back, John. Considerate bunch that we are, we've obligingly eased back to some light conversational patter for the nonce. You know, lowering our voices, staring down at the floor or our nails a lot, looking up at the sky, humming absent-mindedly. But don't worry, we'll be ramping back up to a full boil any posting now, and see if we can't get some color back into those cheeks!

-- Thanks, Lee, for the John Simon piece. (Note to self: Try getting your nose out of the GB and checking the other fine offerings on-site instead of always rushing to find out what the buzz is about.) I can't agree with those who found his wise and succinct comments on the songwriting credits as having "settled" the matter. He certainly iterated a clear perspective, but let's face it, this controversy may outlast Judgement Day.

I must say that the interview whetted the general positive vibe I've always gotten from the guy. To indulge in the perilous fantasy-experiment game of "What If", I for one can envision an alternate reality where John might have been fully included in the Band's lineup and thereby enhanced and prolonged their brief, shining moment. First of all, his general musical/esthetic/artistic sensibilities meshed with the other five; he had experience in the business/production end of the music/recording industry that complemented the others'. Had he been a "full partner", he might've been a conciliatory force. He certainly comes across as the type who is self-confident and assured enough to be strong, but not overbearing, temperamental, or egotistical in a destabilizing way. In fact, almost a synthesis of Garth and Rick with Robbie smarts! Sure, I'm just spitballing a cartoon here.

The more difficult, even radical aspect would be his performance role. Just extrapolating from what we know he did in the studio, I imagine the Band member John as the quintessential utility infielder! Not someone who'd be planted at a third keyboard array, which indeed feels out of kilter. Rather, a dynamic Musical Chair holder, in the best sense of the term. The vision of the five-man ensemble, which I obviously have burned into my heart and which I obviously revere, leaves room for the Rock of Ages horn section and a fair crop of "extras" including Byron Berline, Larry Packer, Billy Mundi, et al. It's a sweet might-have-been to plug in John Simon and envision him as an all-around stabilizing force, artistically and temperamentally.

Well, that's my pipe dream, fueled by Lee's tasty presentation. I'll let you be in my dream if I can be in yours!

Posted on Thu May 11 04:29:45 CEST 2000 from ip140.st-louis12.mo.pub-ip.psi.net (38.31.68.140)

Jon

Great, fantastic pictures. Pat yourself on the back. I reckon' that would have been a fine day to be in Helena. Highest quality pictures I've seen on this computer in a long time.

Posted on Thu May 11 03:52:17 CEST 2000 from dialup-069.cork.iol.ie (194.125.43.69)

HANK

I mentiomed this before in The GB........Home taping DIDN'T Kill Music................If all this technology is available and societies are encouraged to use it.....bootlegs are inevitable...people are gonna make 'em........artists generally LOVE hearing their work.....Bootlegs just make it harder for the money/legal/managerial people and therein is the problem....yup, sometimes boots can be a source of embarassment for an artist but the overriding factor is that artist enjoy the fact that someone thinks they're good enuff to be bootlegged......thank you PETER VINEY for the info on The BT's.....Welcome back, JOHN DONABIE........to me, you are a name in Cyber-space, but it blows my mind to see here everyday people wishing you a speedy recovery.....Despite the intense passions and difference of opinion that makes this GB, people rally round one another in a rare and wonderful way.......I hope to maybe meet you one day...outside The GB....hopefully, I'll be doing a gig and we'll play Band songs.......I hope to meet YOU ALL here in the GB that way............until tommorrow, take care of yerselves GET PLENTY........REST!!!!!!!!!!.....G'night!! .......HANK

Posted on Thu May 11 00:55:23 CEST 2000 from spider-tr034.proxy.aol.com (152.163.201.189)

Bashful Bill

Re the current bootleg thread:in 74 i saw CSNY in Oakland with none other than our beloved Band as one of the openers.Between acts they were playing Dead boots on the P.A. Granted, the Dead more or less paved the way for those acts who sanction taping of their shows. And though this was a couple years before taping Dead shows really took off and became an "industry", I doubt if anyone in the Dead organization would have had a problem with what occurred that day. I even saw a couple bootleggers joyfully booting the boots! On the other side of the coin, and country, i saw CSNY in Buffalo with Santana as one of the openers. Carlos and group came out, asked for 60 seconds of prayer, then started playing. During the 3rd song 5, no more no less, very large security guys descended on a would-be bootlegger near me, none too gently confiscated his tapes and literally broke his taping equipment. They were wearing shirts which indicated they worked for the Santana organization. They apolgised to bystanders and told them to enjoy the show. Through the remainder of Santana's set I saw them a # of times, weaving through the crowd with eagle eyes and an evergrowing box of tapes in their possesion and(I assume) a wake of broken equipment and somewhat traumatised people.

Posted on Wed May 10 23:33:34 CEST 2000 from spider-wb082.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.187)

Cousin Lori

I think that Al Pacino as Rick and Willem Dafoe as Levon would be a good choice.

John Donabie, welcome home! Don't be scaring us like that anymore.

Have a good evening everyone.

Posted on Wed May 10 21:31:16 CEST 2000 from gw.itac.ca (209.146.161.1)

Bill

On the Little Feat front, I will remind people of the wonderful 2B3: The Toronto Sessions CD that has Bill Payne and Ritchie Hayward playing on "Life Is A Carnival" and Hayward (with Richard Bell and Colin Linden) playing on "King Harvest".

Posted on Wed May 10 21:31:20 CEST 2000 from 209-23-38-102.ip.termserv.net (209.23.38.102)

Diamond Lil

Welcome back John. Am very glad you're ok :-)

Posted on Wed May 10 21:28:16 CEST 2000 from ric-wht-pxy-int02.wheatfirst.com (204.238.130.68)

Bones

Lee: Thanks for the interview, and thanks for your dedication to the Band.

John D: Welcome Back! Great to see your name in here again.

The Band still to this day benefits from the Last Waltz. When people see the movie on TV and then go out and buy some Band CDs....that helps. Rick admitted that the CD windfall in the 80s allowed for him to be "comfortable", so some of it does reach them. The people to really feel sorry for are the great old R&B singers who never received a dime.

Posted on Wed May 10 21:21:37 CEST 2000 from usr9-dialup16.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.68.16)

G-MAN

How bout Levon plays Levon & Frazier's Niles Crain plays RR. How bout Woody Harrelson as Rick ? He has that constant enery & movement and that down home style, plus a little "LET'S PARTY" !!

Posted on Wed May 10 19:50:52 CEST 2000 from polaris-fw1.nspco.com (206.10.243.20)

Dave Z

G-MAN: I thought the guy who played the quarterback in Dazed and Confused had a young Danko look kinda going on... and didn't almost everyone wear their hair and bell bottoms like that at one time?... I'd love to see photos of guilty GBers... and what about the cranky father on That 70's Show playing Garth after you put the right hair and fake beard on him?... I'm still trying to figure out who could play Levon...

Great interview Lee!!! and same goes for GWH's find on the L. Hill piece... This is such a great site that people can go to the sources for input to feed into the fan talk going on in a guestbook... I'm amazed...

Also thanks for the pics of the Barnburners... especially from us fans not so close that we can show... I look forward to the summer CDs...

Posted on Wed May 10 19:31:32 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.251)

David Powell

Welcome back John. Thanks for the interview Lee. Great photos Mr. Buroker. I can't think of a better group than Little Feat, with the exception of Los Lobos, who could possibly do justice with Band songs. Amanda: Marianne Faithful did finally receive co-writing credit with Jagger & Richards on "Sister Morphine."

One comment about The Last Waltz. We're always reading about no one receiving any money from the motion picture. That's nothing new in Hollywood, where only a few "major players" receive their share from the gross (off the top before deductions). I would guess that after the expenses for filming and re-recording the entire soundtrack, along with the fees for the director, producer and crew, were taken out, the studios books don't show much net to divying out. It's a common problem in the entertainment business that one has to spend a small fortune to hire lawyers & accountants in order to audit the books and demand compensation.

A good example of the Hollywood system at work: Several years ago the writer Art Buchwald went to court and was awarded a large amount of money for originating the basic concept that was used as the plot for the Eddie Murphy movie "Coming To America." The only problem was that when he first went to collect, the studio claimed that the movie, which was seemingly a box office success, didn't show any "net" profit.

Posted on Wed May 10 18:59:15 CEST 2000 from spider-tl021.proxy.aol.com (152.163.207.181)

Long Distance Operator

Levon certainly looks happy and healthy in those new photos. God bless 'em! "Levon.. Levon likes his money". I just read about the Dylan variety show on HBO. What a trip! Not for nothing, but Bob Dylan is the single coolest American to ever walk the planet. I think Johnny Depp would make a great Rick Danko. "The Kid". Welcome back, John D!

Posted on Wed May 10 18:53:41 CEST 2000 from 1cust196.tnt14.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.142.196)

Crabgrass

When I lived in London in the early to mid 70's the salesman in my local audio store told me that it was illegal to tape anything off the radio onto cassette even for personal use. I know through a friend that in England you're allowed to tape TV shows off the air but required by law to erase them after 2 months. Americans will be shocked by this I'm sure.

N'Sync should play The Band in the movie bio with the semi-coherent Michael Richards playing mentor Dylan and The Rock as a younger Ronnie Hawkins - he's got the mouth for it.

Posted on Wed May 10 18:55:05 CEST 2000 from spider-wo011.proxy.aol.com (205.188.200.21)

Kevin T.

I saw the posting regarding Lonesome Susie that John Simon had mentioned(great interview Lee!)and I recall that in Griel Marcus' Mystery Train that he mentioned a "mad Dixieland version" of LS that was not put on Big Pink-I think he also mentioned that Yazoo St. Scandal and Ferdinand were also being considered for the album. I come down on the side of bootleggers-who I think in a lot of cases are fans of the music(I know they make money on us fans but how else can you find the lost gems)and do a service to expose things that the artist had a hangup about. I just got Crossing The Great Divide and was delighted to finally here the Hawks first recordings-Levon doing Further On Up The Road is wonderful! Also to finally get to hear a full version of Rick doing Ferdinand is worth the cost of the whole set. As far as I'm concerned keep on digging! Maybe RR or Garth will be shook enough to find some lost stuff.

Posted on Wed May 10 18:40:06 CEST 2000 from spider-we012.proxy.aol.com (205.188.195.22)

Lee

I'm pleased folks have enjoyed the John Simon interview. In some cases it can be like a dog chasing his own tail with this kind of subject. Everyone remembers sessions a little differently. Of course, we are talking about 30 odd years ago.

John did perform Dixie with Robbie Robertson, I remember him telling me about that a few months after we first spoke. So, maybe that conversation did occur.

Brown-Eyed Johnny - there is an article on John Simons albums on this site.

Mr John Donabie. Welcome back, sir. Sorry we never made it to Kingston, ONT. Next time, man.

Just like to mention the wonderful photographs by Don Buroker. Some of the best shots I've seen of Miss Amy Helm. Would like to hear about the show.

Posted on Wed May 10 17:45:06 CEST 2000 from 56k-la-00-39.dial.qnet.com (209.221.212.54)

Dave The Phone Guy

Thanks for the photos Buroker.

That's one great looking band!

Posted on Wed May 10 17:32:47 CEST 2000 from spider-wo074.proxy.aol.com (205.188.200.54)

Rick

I'm a frequent visitor to this incredible web site and have enjoyed some of the threads suggesting ideas for Band covers by other groups. Well, it looks like we'll be able to hear what promises to be a great Band cover (two, in a sense) in the very near future. Little Feat's next album, due around June, will feature a version of Rag Mama Rag! Sounds like a great match to me! Not only that (and here's the other one), they're also covering Gimme a Stone from the Largo album (the original featured Levon on vocals). Pretty sure my sources on this are reliable--got the news while visiting with Paul Barrere, Bill Payne, and Richie Hayward after an incredible Feat show last night in Ft. Worth. By the way, if the Feats come near you, SEE THEM! Not only are they really nice, grounded people, but I swear, they just get better and better. And they have a real, tangible kinship among them, not unlike another group of musicians we've come to love . . .

Posted on Wed May 10 17:12:38 CEST 2000 from usr50-dialup156.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.196.160)

G-MAN

GOOD MORNING How about Gary Bussey playing the "HAWK" ? Who plays Rick ? Who plays Levon ? Who plays Richard ? Bruce Dern Who plays Garth ? Gene Hackman

Posted on Wed May 10 16:43:16 CEST 2000 from cobalt.nextlink.net (206.129.70.172)

Mike

Welcome back, John. Hope all is well with you now...You sure were missed...Hang in there. "Post often...and prosper!"

Posted on Wed May 10 16:40:06 CEST 2000 from (199.88.112.211)

Molly Z.

Hey John Donabie: Welcome back to the guestbook!! I'm glad you're home and doing better. I wish you well!

I also like the recent pictures of Levon, Amy, and the Barn Burners. Looks like Levon's doing great and well. I wish they could come to San Francisco to perform. I'd be able to see them, if it was possible. I also thought the interview with John Simon was really good. I enjoyed reading it a second time too.

Take care, and have a good day everyone.

Posted on Wed May 10 16:34:13 CEST 2000 from cobalt.nextlink.net (206.129.70.172)

Mike

Good Morning all...Here's a new thread (I think...I don't remember seeing it here before)...

If there was a movie made about The Band, who do you think would be good in the parts? Who would play The Hawk? Assuming the picture had merit and was done as true to life as possible (and NOT a quickly made, cheap bio-pic), who would be in it? Which band could do the best job covering the music for the "live" sections? Just wondering. I remember how awfully mis-cast Richard Thomas was as Hank Williams, Jr, as was George Hamilton as Hank, Sr. But I thought Kurt Russell did a pretty good job as Elvis back in '79...Anyway, what do you think?...

Thanks for the John Simon interview. I have always admired his talent and candor...I always figured he would be a great resource. Very enlightening...Old and new, huh? Sort of like the letter of the law and the spirit of the law...What is often technically "legal" isn't always ethical or right...Anyway, the thread...What do you think?

Posted on Wed May 10 15:57:58 CEST 2000 from trt-on53-103.netcom.ca (216.123.99.103)

John Donabie

Hello Everyone.

I would like to thank everyone for your prayers and good wishes after my heart attack. It's been a couple of weeks of "what should we do with him?" By-Pass or not to By-Pass. It makes everything else seem pretty trivial. You have no idea how many times I thought of Rick during this time. Instead I am home on medication....rest and a weight loss ahead. Again I would like to thank everyone for your kindness. You know who you are.

Posted on Wed May 10 15:06:40 CEST 2000 from revlukup.clr.com (164.57.254.206)

Brown-Eyed Johnny

I enjoyed the John Simon interview. But I wish the interviewer would have asked John to discuss his own albums, especially "John Simon's Album" and "Journey" ("I'm living in the land of sunshine..."), two of the finest rock/pop albums ever. Also, am I the only one who is beside himself over the news that Bob Dylan will have his own one-time, one-hour musical and comedy variety special on HBO? The project is the brainchild of producer Larry Charles ("Mad About You"), who approached Dylan with the idea.

Posted on Wed May 10 14:58:07 CEST 2000 from dhcp-42-189.mtvnodn.com (166.77.42.189)

EWH

Regarding who wrote what and what they deserve, there's an interesting article on Salon.com about the current Lauryn Hill lawsuit. The piece has opinions from Al Kooper and Daniel Lanois.

Posted on Wed May 10 14:21:55 CEST 2000 from dialin-211.poughkeepsie.bestweb.net (216.179.14.45)

Gene

Thanks, Peter, for a great analysis of the bootleg situation. I, for one, have bought the official catalogue several times over - vinyl, cassettes, cds, the compilations (always seem to have a 'previously unavailable' track) and still, I'll be first in line for the re-mix/ re-master reissues on cd.

Oddly, I believe, it is still legal to own bootlegs (NOT pirates) but illegal to sell, trade or even give them away. George Harrison is very much against boots, having tried to surpress the Hamburg tapes. He wants to have artistic control of the product released. John Lennon, however, was known to be a collector of bootlegs! Some recent bootlegs are of excellent quality (Beatles on Vigotone, for instance). Boots are not for everybody, however. When the Beatles released Anthology I, there were a huge amount of customer returns. Beware, also, unless you have 'money to burn'. These things are not cheap.

Posted on Wed May 10 12:05:14 CEST 2000 from dialup-380.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.124)

Hank

Song writing credits/royalties are one thing.......but I would reckon the thing that riles Levon is the way the rest of The Band (ie Levon, Rick, Richard and Garth) were treated AFTER TLW.........TLW generated millions of dollars....... where did THAT money go?......it STILL generates money with video rentals and TV rights, not to mention The Bands back catalogue.....where does THAT money go?.......when they got back on the road in 1983, the music industry did'nt really wanna know about 'em without RR........By THAT time they REALLY were just a buncha old guys with bad habits and the dubious honour of being Dylans backing band......which is what they were accused of by their detractors when they were young guys in the 60ies!!!!! In all fairness, RR gave the The Band a respectability by getting it all together the way he did and he deserves credit and praise for that....but if you sat there in a room with the guy and, with your heart and soul, helped generate the music that went on to make millions .....and all your left with is a coke habit and a buncha people asking you to sing "Take a Load off Fanny".....well, you'd be a BIT pissed off ........and RR SHOULD have addressed this......long before now......(D'yall ever hear of Noel Redding?.....Noel played with the Jimi Hendrix Experience from 1966-'69.....he ,too, was royally ripped off, even tho' it was HE, for the most part, who played bass on those amazing records and who played bass on stage when The JHE roared across The USA and Europe on tour....generating MILLIONS.......where'd the money go?........into the hands of people who could care less about the people who generated the music)........with regards to The Band feud......you take what you need and you leave the rest but they should have NEVER ripped off the very best.......but as I said yesterday, all's fair in love, war 'n' showbusiness........As MATTK pointed out, music industry lawyers have ALOT to answer for in these cases.....I must say thanks to LEE for providing that interview........ AMANDA!!!......if yer gonna mention The Stones and Marianne Faithful and songwriting....you GOTTA be aware that Ms. Faithful claims to have written "Sister Morphine" with Jagger-Richards.....but has never really received credit for that.......I think on her own albums when she's covered it, she credits herself....Well, it's another scorcher of a day here in Ireland and my two year old son is furiously attacking a guitar.......'cos I had to distract him from destroying his Moms knitting machine...meanwhile his Dad his has got to sign off from here now and get into the rest of the day....see y'all later ..........HANK

Posted on Wed May 10 11:02:18 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-017.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.17)

Peter Viney

Hank: the photo on "The Basement Tapes" was taken at the YMCA in Los Angeles, where Dylan used to go swimming. There was an article in the series "Looking up Dylan’s sleeves" in "The Telegraph" Summer 95. e-mail me a snail mail address and I’ll send you a copy.

Boots: Jonathan made the main point. First you get everything official THEN you start seeking boots. Attitudes vary. There are several levels.

Pirates: These are copies of official product, and can be bought freely over wide areas of Asia. These really do hurt the artist, but I guess Madonna, The Spice Girls and Ricky Martin are those who are badly hurt rather than the Band. Microsoft will have been hurt even more. A pirate is designed to imitate the real thing. This is outright theft. My educational books and tapes have been massively pirated and real money has been lost – one of my books was used for years and years in Vietnam in a horribly produced pirate version. When I asked my publisher what they’d done to stop it, they said "Well, if you want to go to Hanoi and argue it, we’ll pay your air fare!" Pirates sell against the official versions (sometimes they’re perfect copies and sell at the same price). Videotapes of feature films before video release are also pirates. I’ve seen racks of them, and I will not buy them. The solution is to persuade countries to sign copyright conventions and to enforce them. Korea used to be a centre. It’s not anymore. And if consumers want artists to keep producing, everyone should avoid pirates..

Pirate copies: In the same countries, shops charge cash to run off copies of official albums. Outright theft again.

Bootleg compilations: This has happened to artists like Dylan, where the "Hard to Find" series compiles say 20 tracks which are B sides, soundtracks, guest appearances etc. These would have been officially available somewhere once, but you’d have to buy 15 obscure albums and find five singles to assemble them. So it’s a copy of official material, as is some of "Crossing the Great Divide". The artist suffers a loss, but they have instant redress – just release the same compilation album officially.

Bootleg reissues of deleted albums: Neil Young has suffered most obviously with bootleg CDs of "On The Beach" and ‘Stars and Bars" circulating widely. These might appear to be close to pirates, but Neil could kill the problem tomorrow by issuing the albums (they’ve been listed often enough as due for release). The loss is straightforward, but repair not far away. I bought "On The Beach" (and felt guilty) but the secondhand vinyl copies I’ve seen have gone from £20 to £50 in five years.

Material the artist does not want released: The most exciting for the collector. The Basement Tapes, out-takes from albums, work in progress, alternate takes … totally irresistible. Of course the artist deserves control of their own releases, but if they’re careful enough they succeed. I mean, re-read the John Simon interview. To my knowledge, none of us have heard "Key to the Highway". So someone was careful. The Band have been with some stuff, not at all with other stuff. I heard a Robbie copy was the source of the "second batch" of basement tapes, but Robbie seems to have been incredibly careful on the whole. Morally this is a dilemma of being offered something you desperately want, but shouldn’t have. And I’m afraid I slip on this one.

Live bootlegs: These were not actually illegal in Italy and Luxemburg until fairly recently, when they came into line with European Community copyright laws. This is the Grateful Dead situation. Zappa and Springsteen are among those who have been suspected of sourcing their own boots, though Zappa famously bought a copy of a boot and reissued it officially. No artist can release every show. The best defence is what Rick did with "Live At Breeze Hill" – the annual live album with limited release. Some artists are doing this now with limited edition live recordings sold at concerts –Levon & the Crowmatix Souvenir is an example. The artist can tap some of this market for live material with a little trouble, without giving it the status of the new album. On the other hand, if there were twenty Band concerts from the same tour, I’d want to pick up all of them, and it would never be worth them releasing at this level. Hence the tapers section at concerts, and this is traded rather than sold. But as with "Dicks Picks", if the artist releases the official version from the soundboard, you can bet virtually all of the fanatic tapers will race to buy the official one. I don’t lose any sleep at all over this one. Having spoken to a few sellers of live shows at record fairs, the draconian penalties being exercised against them in the UK seem totally unjust. These are fans themselves. Why break a butterfly on a wheel? (Editorial in "The Times" on Mick Jagger’s 1967 bust). Some artists – including two of my favourites - allegedly have not bothered with copyright laws but sent some heavies to do the talking (and "confiscating").

Posted on Wed May 10 03:12:25 CEST 2000 from cf3k-3-2.paradise.net.nz (203.96.152.187)

Amanda

It *was* a good interview with John Simon....Some comments: I can understand why Levon (or anyone) might be upset to see their experiences used as raw material for lyrics. But at the same time being the inspiration of a work of art does not generally give you a property right in the work.

The song "it makes no difference" seems to be about the end of relationship with a particular person. "All La Glory" (which incidentally I think is a beautiful song) seems to be about a father's relationship with his child. Should the the "you" in "it makes no difference" or the child in "All La Glory" receive song writing credit? How about Lonesome Suzie or Crazy Chester?

Marianne Faithful inspired some Rolling Stones songs: Mick Jagger wrote "Wild Horses" for her. She turned Mick Jagger onto Faust (I think) and shortly after that he came up with "Sympathy with the Devil." She didn't get any song writing credit for her contributions. Should she have? I don't think so.

I could keep coming up with more examples but instead I'll finally get to the point: there is a world of difference between providing the spark that gets someone elses creative process going and the long, hard, lonely slog of actually creating something.

One other thing: I might be wrong about this but wouldn't more royalties for John Simon mean less for all the BAND members not just RR?

Posted on Wed May 10 02:53:53 CEST 2000 from dialup-373.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.117)

HANK

The John Simon interview is invaluable to the whole story of The Band.........in a nutshell.....RR wrote the songs and RR ripped 'em off.....all's fair in love, war'n'showbusiness!! The Late, Great Steve Marriot of The Small Faces KNEW that Don Arden ripped him and the other guys but shrugged it off. I suspect Levon is being goaded by folks who know it's easy to rile him up on the matter.....that's the sad thing about all this........the best thing about this GB lately is the wonderful, glowing reports of folks that have been to see The Barnburners....... and folks who speak of Ricks compassion and humanity as he slogged thru some real dives and bad health....you won't read much of that in Mojo, Q or Rolling Stone....but you WILL read it here, folks........let me add my vote of thanks to Jan for providing this GB.........Thanks Jan, long may you run with this......WE need it and The Band needs it.......so back to business, eh?......ummm...... anyone pick up on that thread of The Band covering "Brown Sugar" I put out there a coupla daze ago?........No?.................here'sa more down to earth thread........where can I find details about the photo of Dylan and The Band for the cover of "The Basement Tapes"? I'm asking because: 1 I figure it MUSTA been taken in 1975 in an effort to promote the Album and it SEEMS like they had alot of fun posing and planning those coupla photos, what with all the extras from the circus sideshows and 2 I'm interested to know if it was the ONLY publicity thing they did for the album.....I guess they all probably did interviews in the music press of the time.....but what's the story behind those photos?.......They really do look like to me that they had a bit of a laugh doing them......I must add, right here, I think they're wonderful and say much about the album they were putting out.......I STILL look at the cover The BT with admiration and wonder........Any comments?.......see y'all tommorrow.......Sweet dreams to the west and good mornin' to the east.....HANK

Posted on Tue May 9 22:58:37 CEST 2000 from (12.3.18.2)

Cheryl Gasper

Jeffery, Do you remember Cheryl and her daughter Alyssa from your shows in the Phila. area? She would love to talk to you, if possible. Please e-mail me and let me know if you would like to talk with her. I am a friend of hers that used to take her to your shows.I will send you her phone # if you are able to talk to her. I remember you got alot of static concerning her friendship with you when you were talking to her. Please let me know either way, if you can. I'll let her know I sent you this. Thank You!! Al Schmidt

Posted on Tue May 9 22:56:32 CEST 2000 from m198214176061.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.176.61)

pehr

thanks to Lee for sharing the John Simon interview with us... Also thanks for the new photos of Levon and Amy.

Stones songs: Rick singing "Shine a Light", Richard and Rick doing "Happy" Levon on "Hip Shake" voc & Harp w/ Richard on Drums, Simon on Piano. P.s., I'd like to hear, speaking of Band covering Brit rockers, Rick doing anything by Ian Hunter, Particularly "I wish I was your Mother" and "Irene Wild".

Posted on Tue May 9 22:42:10 CEST 2000 from pm4-44.delrio.com (208.246.53.44)

Just Wonderin'

To the person who emailed me re: Bob Dylan Approximately...I found several copies at Barnes and Noble.com under out of print and rare books. I think the lowest price is around $50.00.

Posted on Tue May 9 22:07:25 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

I'm thankful to John Simon for his input on the rights "feud." Very revealing, especially his point (as has been made in here before) that there was an "old school" and "new school" way of approaching songwriting credits. John states that RR was not in the wrong to go with the old school, and implies he was clear on that point and that all parties seemed, at the very least, tacit on that issue in the early days.

John also sheds light on the personal nature of the issue when he makes the point that Levon is, in part, upset by the fact that RR used Levon's own experiences to write lyrics.

It's quite clear, however, that while significant changes were made to songs in the studio, they were "complete" in the sense that they had lyrics and harmonic structure from RR going in. He's quite correct in pointing out that prior to the latter part of the 70s, this was a pretty standard way of handling song credits.

Regarding comments about money suddenly appearing for John when previously he was told there was none. He doesn't name who "they" are. It's important to remember that artists do not necessarily have full control of the publishing entities that control their songs, even when they initially belonged in part to the composer in the first place. For example...

When Mark Knopfler wrote "Money for Nothing" and had his friend Sting appear on the record (the famous "I want my MTV" line), Sting's Police era publishing company (as a solo act, he created a new entity) noticed that Sting was (obviously) singing the melody to "Don't Stand So Close to Me." Despite the fact that Sting and Knopfler were friends, and despite the fact that Sting asked to give Knopfler a break on paying for the use of the melody to "Don't Stand So Close to Me," Knopfler was forced, by Sting's old company, to pay licensing fees on every record sold with Sting singing "I want my MTV."

In short, as Levon himself points out, the music industry lawyers can pretty much take over the show. There's nothing in John's comments to suggest that Robbie himself was being goofy with the money. Indeed, assuming Levon's correct, many of the legal types around the Band in their heyday were rather...slimy (no offense to our own legal minds here in the GB), and it would not be surprising that they would cough up money to John at that late date to avoid any issues regarding John's work on TLW. Yes, it would indicate something funky regarding the way rights were assigned, legally, but it does NOT mean that RR himself played a direct role in the exchange--Capitol may have done this all by themselves.

On a final note, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by John's graciousness regarding this issue. In his book, Levon paints John as being very bitter with Robbie his ownself (telling us that John was thinking how RR had become an asshole as he listened to RR's eulogy at Albert's funeral). I'm left wondering, now, how much of Levon's book truly is accurate in terms of the feud and how it went down and it's implications to the Band family. Clearly it's quite accurate on Levon's feelings, but to the degree that it implies both John's and the Hawk's negative feelings about Robbie, it would appear to have, at least, been something of an exaggeration.

Thanks, Lee, again, for bringing this to us. That interview may be the most clear-headed assesment of The Band's early studio history and provides some pretty objective thoughts regarding the whole songwriting mess.

Matt

Posted on Tue May 9 21:34:34 CEST 2000 from spider-ti084.proxy.aol.com (152.163.194.214)

Ruby

Good afternoon good people. I am happy to see the feud has simmered. Very disturbing. Remember " Let's not try to hurt each other That could be a big mistake Let's just try to act like brothers One more time for old time sake" Keep in mind and soul what brought us all here in the first place. Also, I saw Michelle Shock open for Rick on May 14th 1988 in Cambridge Mass. at a place called Nightstage. What a glorious night!! She and Rick did a few for a grand finale. I have some pics of that night, but no scanner. I will try to do it at a friends house soon. A hello to Bashful Bill and Long Distance Operator. Such good brothers. Keep on the sunny side all!!

Posted on Tue May 9 20:53:36 CEST 2000 from ric-wht-pxy-int01.wheatfirst.com (204.238.130.67)

Bones

I hope everyone reads the John Simon article so we can quit talking about songwriting credits. John played with Robbie not too long ago on Good Morning America with David Sanborn and John Sebastian. They played "Dixie", and I thought it was great!

Posted on Tue May 9 20:48:59 CEST 2000 from (199.88.112.211)

Molly Z.

LDO and Superatik: These pictures of Levon and Amy were from last year, 1999. So those pictures weren't recent. I'm guessing those pictures were taken around November/December. But i could be wrong. That would be really cool if Levon COULD sing again. Has he lost his voice where he can only whisper to the most? i really hope he's got some of his voice back, so he can sing again.

Have a good, pleasant day today. :-) hi to Jan!

Posted on Tue May 9 20:01:38 CEST 2000 from usr51-dialup372.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.198.254)

G-MAN

Said I wouldn't mention the feud-I won't. However, John Simon gets told by aperson that there is NO CASH. Then gets some cash. Then gets asked to sign off so he gets no more of the cash that didn't exist ??? Now if a person tells me that and asks me to sign off, I think that person knows there was cas due me and that there'll be more cas due me. ( I think John's got a good case to get his just dew) Old math/new math. One part sure did act a little more in his own favor than towards the rest of his mates.

Posted on Tue May 9 19:43:24 CEST 2000 from ip87-max7-lowell.ziplink.net (206.15.160.247)

Long Distance Operator

I second Supratik's motion. Levon DOES appear to be singing in those new photos. Is it token, or is he belting out some vocals? I'd definitely be interested to hear something from those who have seen him lately. "Me and my mate were back at the shack, we had Spike Jones on the box..."

Posted on Tue May 9 17:50:31 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-174.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.174)

Peter Viney

Thanks to Lee for a superb and revealing interview with John Simon. This deserves to be in Mojo or Rolling Stone! A wealth of fascinating information, some of it for the first time in print. And John Simon seems to reckon that both books on The Band are "accuracy-challenged" here and there. So, "If You Lose" is later than thought, as is "Key to the Highway." Will this ever turn up? As to the horns-version of "Lonesome Suzie" let’s hope that the remasters reveal this, as well as the aborted 1985 sessions. It would seem that either Robbie has copies or no one has.

Nancy, fortunately Van keeps on touring. let’s hope he comes your way soon. Not to be missed.

Posted on Tue May 9 17:14:25 CEST 2000 from gw.itac.ca (209.146.161.1)

Bill

Well, isn't that an interesting interview with John Simon! Thanks to Lee for sharing it with us. Has anyone gone to the trouble of collating the Bobby Charles LP credits provided by Simon with those provided on the Hungry Chuck site?

It was nice to see the mention of Duff Roman and his Roman Records. Somebody once played me some of the Roman tapes over the phone and they were amazing. At home in a box somewhere I have a list of five or six songs that were published by Robbie Robertson around that time (including "Uh Uh Uh" and "Leave Me Alone") and I suspect it's for the same session. I wonder if the versions used for the Ware release of "Uh Uh Uh" and "Leave Me Alone" were from that tape rather than new recordings by Henry Glover in NY (as I used to assume). If so, no wonder Duff felt shafted.

Posted on Tue May 9 16:48:44 CEST 2000 from usr51-dialup323.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.198.205)

G-MAN

Good Morning 1. Thanks for the great John Simon article. He always appeared to be genuine and should've been addedto THE Band. (only my opion, it was there choice) 2. Where exactly is Big Pink Located ? 3. Where is Pawling NY, and where is the Town Crier? 4. Will Levon be performing at Joyous Lake every wed, or occassionaly on weds ? Have a great day and......KEEP ON ROCKIN'

Posted on Tue May 9 16:31:29 CEST 2000 from (202.86.128.184)

Supratik

Just saw the new photos of Levon and Amy from the Bluesville concert and it seems that Levon was singing. So has Levon got some of his voice back or am I dreaming.

Supratik

Posted on Tue May 9 13:11:39 CEST 2000 from port121.ts2.ulster.net (208.242.164.121)

Boots

Hi, Just my .02 about bootlegs.

Well, I own about 30 Grateful Dead official cd's and have about 500 shows on tape/dat/cdr. Considering the amount of boots versus official product, I think the Dead profited more indirectly on the popularity of their bootlegs than they did they own albums. They started their own "Dick's Pick's" label and released 15 popular selling titles, that would have sat overlooked in their vaults, directly responsible from bootlegging.

The Band/Dylan, spawned an entire underground record industry with "The Basement Tapes", "Hollywood Bowl" and "Royal Albert Hall boots". It's funny, that the underdog eventually ruled with the releases of some of them officially.

Many 90's groups started taping sections, Phish,The Black Crowes, Metallica, Dave Matthews,etc. and encourage the young kids to record the shows and share the music with fellow collectors.

As far as legality and morality, well, that's up to the person. I personally don't believe in put a price on a recording, dubbing it and selling it. As most loyal tapers/collectors know, most "underground released" boots are worse quality than the tapes floating around the trade circles. I have seen many at record collectors shows that have beautiful color covers and are presented well, except the recording is usually lacking. There are of course, exceptions to the rule, but most of it is profit driven vs quality.

I'm sure you all own Danko - "In Concert", which is a special release for me, I put my headphones on and you really think your sharing the same room with Rick/Randy and Aaron. Bare bones and stripped down, but it's intimate and real.

Here's a great website for collectors of underground music.
You can find many of your favorite artists without lining a bootlegger's profit pocket. Think twice before you bid on E-bay or buy something that can be had for little or none.

http://www.resourcesfortapers.com

Peace/N.

Posted on Tue May 9 12:37:04 CEST 2000 from alb1-as5300-186-186.termserv.net (209.23.41.186)

Diamond Lil

Lee: Thanks for the interview with John Simon. I've had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Simon, and found him to be both very gracious and very humble. Two very nice qualities. Enjoyed reading the interview.

Nancy: I think you said it best when you said that teaching children to appreciate music is a gift we can give them that will last forever. And hey..if in the process I can dissuade them from the "brainwashing" of things like gangsta rap (where it seems to be ok to degrade women and glorify violence), then they're learning something else as well.

Have a good day everyone

Posted on Tue May 9 10:30:23 CEST 2000 from 111.0101.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.111)

Nancy Birch

Hi there Crabgrass

Its true that my children have a fair bit of exposure to the music that I am annoyingly wont to play. Maybe that is brainwashing. However, I don't expect that they will remain so taken with 'my' music that they won't make personal choices when their musical tastebuds find new fruit.

I think that the outcome will be be that they will learn to enjoy listening to music and appreciate the pleasure that it can provide. Teaching them to find enjoyment in music will be a wonderful gift to pass onto them.

I have to concur with a comment by ????? (forgotten who, sorry) on the performance of Van the Man at TLW, as he is a favourite of mine. Now I have admitted this, does it mean that I have to find a new bunch of people to talk to? Please advise. I have only had one chance to see him locally, and at the time I decided that it was too hard to go along as I had a very young baby. I have always regretted that decision. Never, never put off seeing performance by someone you like because it may be the last chance you get!

Posted on Tue May 9 10:28:49 CEST 2000 from proxy-513.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.103)

Miss Alma

Thank you Rich,Sam and Lizz,hope you don't mind me mentioning your names.I can go to sleep now. You know,even when I was a kid,I never thought that that jewes harp thing on Cripple Creek was a jewes harp, It always sounded too machine-like to me,and about 25 years later I found out that I was right about that.....I was always kinda proud about that because even people like Don Was tought it was a "juice harp". that's what my mother always called them.They said in the chatroom that you all were a forgiving bunch....I really hope that is true,because I have a lot to say about music,and I have a lot to ask.

Posted on Tue May 9 09:56:47 CEST 2000 from proxy-701.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.101)

archivist 7

Website: VERY impressed! Can't say anything about The Band that we all Don't know already. Just hope & wish they and many other pioneers (like Gram Parsons ie.) get heard by the mainstream as they deserve. If not, as Rick Danko said: "It Makes No Difference" Band fan for life! Again, Awesome site! Thanx!

Posted on Tue May 9 07:25:07 CEST 2000 from parachute3-156-40-62-60.net.nih.gov (156.40.62.60)

Jonathan Katz

Cousin Lori: That's an impossible question to answer in any definitive way. I have mixed feelings about "bootlegging" which has to be distinguished from "tape trading" and "pirating". Tape trading is usually conducted in a cashless economy on a relatively small scale, and consists of individuals trading concert recordings (tape for tape). Pirating, of course, is strictly illegal and is selling copyrighted material.

There are many pro and con arguments. Some of these in support of bootlegging are:

1) Most individuals that buy bootlegs already have all or most of the official releases - so sales of official releases do not suffer.

2) Bootlegging makes available to fans [a word derived from fanatic] material that would not be otherwise available, therefore, there is no real lost revenue. This is because the sales for bootleg material are uniformly far lower than sales of official releases. As a result, there is not enough of a profit margin for a record company to "get behind" the bootleg material.

On the other hand there is artistic product out there in the market place from which the artist allegedly receives nothing.

Of course, there are suggestions/allegations that some artists [no names here] have cut the record companies out of the picture and profits by "releasing" material directly to bootleggers and received a flat fee.

Posted on Tue May 9 07:10:11 CEST 2000 from 2cust66.tnt14.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.140.194)

Crabgrass

I don't think bootlegging damages artists monetarily at all unless fans are buying only the bootleg items and not the officially released stuff. Fans buy bootlegs to supplement what the company is putting out. Without the Basement Tapes and Great White Wonder boots the Columbia issued Dylan box set and The Basement Tapes would have never emerged. So in the long run the artists reap great monetary rewards from a boot's popularity - and it's free publicity for them too. It sickens me to hear artists cry that they're being robbed by the bootleggers when they and their record companies are robbing us right and left with inflated CD prices and hyped goods. These starving artists should do an honest day's work once in a while just to see what it's like for the rest of us stiffs!!!

Posted on Tue May 9 06:42:24 CEST 2000 from firewall1.westpac.co.nz (210.55.236.18)

Rod

Thanks for posting the John Simon article - for me that finally settles the song writing credit argument.

It's interesting (and not suprising) how all the people involved in those early years now have hazy recollections of what actually happened. It all adds to the myth (did that really happen?)

The article left me wondering how different The Band's future may have been if John had joined the group. He is a talented writer ,arranger and musician who would have come in useful when the others were going through quiet patches.

Posted on Tue May 9 05:26:53 CEST 2000 from spider-wa011.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.21)

Cousin Lori

Does anyone have any idea what the monetary damages were to The Band as a result of all the bootlegging? I've often wondered.

'Scuse me!!! Spice Girls!!!??? Go figure! They aren't of the same ilk . . . or am I missing something? 'Nite, y'all.

Posted on Tue May 9 04:09:20 CEST 2000 from spider-wj033.proxy.aol.com (205.188.198.33)

Bayou Sam

........... one more thing I forgot to mention in my last post: we went into a coffee shop - for coffee of course - and on the walls were a display of Elloit Landy rock n roll photos, which had a little description and signature by Landy on the bottom of each one. Of course most of these were of the Band we all love. Again, cool.

Posted on Tue May 9 03:53:18 CEST 2000 from spider-ti054.proxy.aol.com (152.163.194.199)

Bayou Sam

........just got back from a trip upstate(NY). We drove up Saturday for the weekend to see a car show in Reinbeck on Sunday. We cruised through Reinbeck and then crossed the Hudson River so we could make our yearly pilgrimage to Big Pink. I don't know why it's so cool to drive down the same roads that Levon used to race Rick and Richard on - but it is. I can picture the scenes that he describes in his book. I also picture Dylan motoring along on his Triumph to go over and jam in the basement. The house jumps right out at you and you're looking at it from the same angle that Mr. Landy took the picture from. The house is still pink. The road kind of ends there so you actually have to pull up towards the garage to turn around. The feild that the guys were throwing the football around in had several deer walking through it. They weren't even frightened by the car. It looked like nobody was home. We just looked at the door leading from the outside into the garage , or basement and had Bessie Smith playing on the tape deck. Very cool. One day if I summon up the nerve, I'll knock on the door and ask if I could see the basement and visit the sacred ground(or sacred floor).............. Today - before we headed south - we went into Woodstock itself to walk around a bit. We passed all the Band roads. Glasco Turnpike, John Joy Rd.(where the Brown album pic. was taken, Zena Rd. All the names from the books. We walked up to Joyus Lake just to read the calendar of upcoming events in the window. Of course Levon had the nerve to go to Tenn. to play on the weekend we went to Woodstock.I guess I'll forgive him. So somebody opens the door and tells us that Levon will be back on Wednesdays starting this week and offers us to come in and see the place, so we did. It was empty, with a bare stage. There are two posters on the wall with some Band autographs on them. One fron the Fillmore and one for The Last Waltz - cool again. It looks like a very, very great place to see Levon, and we agreed that we must arrange our schedules to do so soon. So we headed south on the Thruway and I bet Levon was coming back north. We'll be back though because now I can see why you people who have seen Levon at Joyus Lake rave about it............So that's my story of my Band weekend. The car show was good too.

Posted on Tue May 9 03:27:32 CEST 2000 from dialup-324.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.68)

Hank

I figured out, just today, that the GB here is the closest thing I've ever kept to a diary in my life.......spooky stuff.......The Band ARE kinda spooky tho', sometimes... all that emotion they put out.............my daughter loves John Prines "The Sins of Memphisto".......but probably 'cos it mentions Esmerelda and The Hunchback of Notre Dame in the lyrics.......she sings "nothing can stop, nothing can stop, nothing can stop.....The Sins of Memphisto".... 'cept she can't say Memphisto all that well........she's five..... she also knows how to sing the chorus of "Alices Restaurant"....She LOVES "Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds".....'marshmallow pies' is the hook there, I figure.....I play this stuff in my car and at home.......my eldest daughter wonders about the autographed poster of Rick in her room......Rick asked my wife whose names he should write an autograph for ........my wife mentioned our eldest two kids names....this is 7 years ago, mind.......so these days, my eldest girl is kinda like, "why is THIS poster in my bedroom?".......but she's hip enough to know how her Ma and Pa dig Rick Danko alot.......We ALL like "The Spice Girls"......their movie was dynamite!!!!!!!.....they are definitely a cut above most of these pop-stable driven boy/girl/girl-boy groups we are subjected to by the worlds media.........MATTK...I went busking in NYC one night with Michelle Shocked in 1987.....just before she went to England and put out "The Texas Campfire Tapes"......we jammed in Washington Square Park......she was really good...and dedicated to the cause of the homeless in NYC........ I always thought her challenging her record company was pretty funky........... I gots to go to bed now........see y'all on the morrow.... G'Nite........HANK

Posted on Tue May 9 03:23:56 CEST 2000 from crtntx1-ar2-074-173.dsl.gtei.net (4.35.74.173)

Kelly

Lil - I wanted to give you some - o.k. ALOT of credit. In a time, when too many parents are too busy dealing with "careers" - and living "their own" lives, plopping their kids in front of a VCR as a babysitter (two of my in-laws view this as great parenting). I find it very refreshing and uplifting to hear about your kids accomplishments, both from you and their occasional posts. I seem to remember your son posting some time back about how good it made him feel to be playing his music and looking out into the audience to see his mom.

Posted on Tue May 9 03:16:15 CEST 2000 from ip242.st-louis12.mo.pub-ip.psi.net (38.31.68.242)

Jon

Thanks to Jan. Best website on the web. Thanks to Levon and Amy Helm and the Barnburners for the fine show Saturday night in Memphis. I still got a smile on my face! The opening band Cate Brothers were in top shape also. Thanks again for 4 decades of music that sound fresh still, I'll be waiting for the new Barnburners CD to take it into the new Millenium.

Posted on Tue May 9 03:03:48 CEST 2000 from spider-tj024.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.184)

Bashful Bill

One of the best contact highs I know is what I call a "good show buzz", that feeling a couple of you guys are talking about after seeing the Barnburners and Michelle Shocked(spelled correctly?). It's a good buzz while it lasts, then real life slowly edges it out and you have to wait for that next good show.

Posted on Tue May 9 01:34:51 CEST 2000 from svcr-adsl-216-37-220-133.epix.net (216.37.220.133)

Kevin Gilbertson

Lee - thanks for the great "innerview" of John Simon. I really enjoyed it.

Anyone know if the N.D. Smart mentioned in Lee's article is the same gut who played with Gram Parsons (Fallen Angels)? Gram's cd's credit N.D. Smart II. Same guy or offspring?

Also, thanks again to Jan for making this all happen.

Posted on Tue May 9 00:09:30 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

Saturday night I saw Michelle Shocked with her new band. Late last year, she went to Ireland and spent a month with Fiachna O'Braonain, formerly from Hothouse Flowers (they were on her Arkansas Traveler CD along with Levon).

During that month in Ireland, they wrote thirty songs in thirty days in preperation for a new years show in NYC. As some may know, Michelle had a acrimonious divorce from her major label a few years back, and has not released an album for general consumption since "Kind Hearted Woman" in 1996. She did however, sell and intervening CD at shows a couple years back. At this point, there is no CD featuring her new material (which dominates her current show), as they are using this tour to fine-tune things before hitting the studio later this summer.

It was an absolutely transcendent show, and as David Powell is still on cloud 9 from the Barnburners show in Georgia, Michelle Shocked still has me in the stratosphere. The venue here in Portland, ME was a small room in a brewpub that had maybe 300 people in it. She was clearly excited, moved and inspired during the show, which ranged from Gaelic funk to a searing punk-inspired mini-set about one quarter of the way in.

This is the best show I've seen in years. Very intimate with a band, that not unlike The Band, had everyone trading instruments, trading lead vocals, and playing very genuine and original music. Go see this if you get a chance. I guarantee you will not be disapponted.

Matt

Posted on Mon May 8 23:58:35 CEST 2000 from proxy-523.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.113)

Miss Alma

Ithink the line in "The Weight" about takin'the load off fanny, goes back to the old days when LH favorite song to do was " Short Fat Fanny" RR said it was a gospel song, and of course, It mentions a lot of folks they got to know when they were The Hawks...but probably everybody already knew that already.

Posted on Mon May 8 23:40:31 CEST 2000 from spider-ta023.proxy.aol.com (152.163.205.53)

Lee again

The poor little chauffeur, though, she was back in bed...

Posted on Mon May 8 22:59:24 CEST 2000 from spider-te082.proxy.aol.com (152.163.195.212)

Lee

When I was last in NYC, sitting in a bar discussing music with a complete stranger, he asked me if I thought the music that came out of the US and the UK evens up. Of course, I say, You gave us Rock n Roll, R&B, Blues, ecetera. We gave you second hand blues, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, and don't forget the Spice Girls. What more could you want.

When the Spice Girls first hit the US I remember a friend of The Band and I were talking on the phone, i was just about to say my goodbyes when... Hey, man, I just want to thank you for the Spice.

Posted on Mon May 8 22:58:46 CEST 2000 from ti13a63-0010.dialup.online.no (130.67.101.138)

Boye

TLW has to me the ultimate rock`n roll performance.I`m talkin bout The band and Van The Man and Caravan!Who can do it better? Remixed - overdubbed? Twice or ten times! -I don`t really care because everytime I watch the film and see this amazing ensemble and the little man with a far too tight dress of a 70`s figureskater(?) I have to laugh of joy and I want to be like him, kicking in the air near the end of the song-TURN IT UP!!!

Posted on Mon May 8 22:56:27 CEST 2000 from dialin-219.poughkeepsie.bestweb.net (216.179.14.53)

Gene

...The comic book and me, just us, we caught the bus...

Posted on Mon May 8 22:50:30 CEST 2000 from webcache16b.cache.pol.co.uk (195.92.194.105)

Mr. Kane

Y'know I had 'em five-to-one...

Posted on Mon May 8 22:09:06 CEST 2000 from spider-tn054.proxy.aol.com (152.163.207.69)

Bashful Bill

Just got caught up with the old GB after my usual weekend off. I loved reading Nancy Birch' observations about the LW attire. I too love Dylan's hat, although I probably couldn't get away with wearing anything that flamboyant. And also loved, as usual, Hankster's trying to start threads or stir the pot or whatever. The first time I listened to Storyville I thought What About Now(with the exception of Aaron Neville's falsetto which at that point, 91 I think, I was getting kind of sick of turning up everywhere) would have been a perfect song for a 90's version of the original 5( or 4 at that point, without Richard around). My tix for the Newton show came in Sat. mail, can't wait. Too bad Hank's band couldn't play there. Oh, and Hi Ruby.

Posted on Mon May 8 21:16:33 CEST 2000 from alb1-as5300-77-77.termserv.net (209.23.41.77)

Diamond Lil

Uncle Hangover: Nice time of year for a drive, hm? :-)

Serge: How's John? Would very much appreciate an update. Thanks.

Today's mom and dad's _50th_ anniversary. They don't read the guestbook, but I'd like to say I love them both alot.

Hope everyone's having a nice day. Raining here.

Posted on Mon May 8 20:58:32 CEST 2000 from sjiassoc16.erols.com (208.58.12.144)

Jon Lyness

From Woodstock Records site: Garth Hudson, Professor Louie and The Crowmatix @ Towne Crier Cafe, Pawling, NY, (914) 855-1300, Saturday, July 1st, 2000, 9:00pm.

Posted on Mon May 8 19:04:56 CEST 2000 from 1cust157.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.136.157)

Crabgrass

My kids hate the Band and are into the Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, The Spice Girls, Porno for Pyros, and Gangsta Rap. I encourage them to do their own thing and develop their own tastes in music even though I'm not into what they choose to listen to (except for The Spice Girls and Porno for Pyros). A young mind is a terrible thing to brainwash!

Posted on Mon May 8 18:37:01 CEST 2000 from du86-249.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.249.86)

Ilkka

Thank you Pac, Little Brother, Diamond Lil, Charlie Young and last but not least Ragtime for your comments on "The Band and the politics".

Posted on Mon May 8 17:00:59 CEST 2000 from spider-te054.proxy.aol.com (152.163.195.199)

sam

An addition to the thread of how kids hear the songs: at three or four, listening to Storyville, my boy thought RR was very cool indeed for writing songs about a "soapbox creature" and a "knight parade". And of course The Weight continues to inspire gales of laughter.

Posted on Mon May 8 16:22:54 CEST 2000 from usr53-dialup33.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.199.33)

G-MAN

GOOD MORNING & we're all here . Listened to Breeze Hill over the w/e. Glad to here Sip the Wine, good version that has special memories. However, I think Rick hit the top with his singing on Jubilation. Someone talked about a headstone for Rick and his son. That's a very noble idea. Maybe a fund could be set up. But it is very important not to override the wishes of the family. What may seem proper, and it is, may not be what Rick or his family wanted. I remeber talking to Rick's cousin at a Guru's show and mentioned the bass player didn't have the shuffle down. He said that Rick would/ve walked in and enjoyed the hell out of the kid's singing, playin, and new shuffle. So many he enjoys a position out of the "Twi-Lite". May he rest in peace, but KEEP ON ROCKIN.

Posted on Mon May 8 14:38:39 CEST 2000 from spider-tn054.proxy.aol.com (152.163.207.69)

Sheryl

Lil and Nancy, Yes, your daughter's peers will take over the influence on musical taste, but rest assured, they will come back to your music. My daughter is 16 and went through being a county music fan as well as New Kids on the Block. But she is back to listinging to my music every bit as often as she listens to current stuff. She even listens to the same radio station as I do. Great Kid!!!

Posted on Mon May 8 11:57:23 CEST 2000 from alb1-as5300-136-136.termserv.net (209.23.41.136)

Diamond Lil

Nancy: Really enjoyed your daughter's take on 'The Weight'. Made me laugh. It's funny how kids can misconstrue words at times.

I remember several years ago, I had taken the kids to a "Veterans Day" memorial, and as is traditional, veterans were walking around selling those plastic poppies. My daughter looked at my youngest son and asked why they were selling plastic flowers and my son replied "because it's _Veternarians_ Day". My daughter, just a bit older and wiser, gently corrected him by letting him know it was actually "Vegetarians" Day! Heheh..kids. You gotta love em.

To the person who asked if Rick had been scheduled to play a benefit for a battered woman's shelter in December..the answer is yes..and the benefit went on as planned...with some of his friends playing in his memory.

Hey little Lil: What are you doing in my room??? Get outta there!!! Love you :-)

Have a good day everyone.

Posted on Mon May 8 09:23:00 CEST 2000 from 096.0101.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.96)

Nancy Birch

Hi there Diamond Lil

Interesting to see that you have a ten year old daughter who enjoys listening to some of your favourite music, because so do I. I'm proud that my daughter likes The Band as well as Eric Clapton and a few others. Yesterday I overheard her humming along to a Creedence song. She's a groover! It won't last of course, as peer influence will probably interfere in a year or two.

The reason I am posting today regards a comment she made the other day when we had "The Weight" on in my car. She said that she thought that "the Man" was singing "take a long, long Fanny... and put it on right me" with a silly look on her face as if she was thinking, "Strange song, strange Man". So what is the relevance of this story to everyone else???? Absolutely nothing, except it is a child's view of the strange lyrics in the song......and further proof that The Band are still out there being listened to by all, even Grommets.

Posted on Mon May 8 07:32:13 CEST 2000 from 98afe123.ipt.aol.com (152.175.225.35)

Lizz

I just returned from seeing "Weird Al Yankovich".....very funnny show and believe it or not there is a BAND thread here......oh , my tummy hurts from laughing

He was incredible, at least 20 costume changes and a great band..........opened the show with a medley of the recent top 20 to make anyone that hears music today sandals come off! and then all the parody Rock star interviews and Muti- media stage presentations....WOW, I never expected this to be this entertaining ! so funny......but the best moment was the dramatic organ [Beyond Spinal Tap] intro, to his recent parody of " American Pie" the Band came out with Full Drama Gothic Cloaks and the Keyboard player actually started the whole spectacle with " Tocatta in D "!!!! which is my FAVE.. It is the intro to CHEST FEVER !! wow amazing, I think I broke a rib bone laughing.....or maybe strained a muscle......If you have kids, take them to see Al. Even If ya dont, this was an amazing night. I popped back stage for a sec and Al signed autographs for at least 100 fans, including every child. He must have done at least 40 songs. I love Rock and Roll........and Its good to laugh ! Play on Keep listening !

Posted on Mon May 8 06:52:15 CEST 2000 from spider-to052.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.67)

Pac

I seem to recall The Band chosing to be apolitical during all the madness of the late '60s and '70s; they grounded many of us by drawing us back to nature and sweet harmonies -- which gave me the balance to do much more politically at the time. Wasn't Rick going to play for a battered women's shelter benefit last December? BTW, again I praise David Crosby's new book. Give it a few chapters to draw you in. Peace!

Posted on Mon May 8 06:42:02 CEST 2000 from proxy-513.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.103)

charlotte

Boy,did that ever feel familiar.See, when you're stuck between two overbearing,loud mouth brothers you have to fight whether you know how or not!

Posted on Mon May 8 06:05:58 CEST 2000 from mat-4-1.enter.net (207.16.155.149)

Little Brother

A suddenly steamy, summery Sunday evening! Only last week it was raw and rainy. Changeable skies in the Big World and the Little. My eyeballs are doing that cherries-on-a-slot-machine-wheel spin from speed-scoping the GB since I last tuned in. So many entries that I had to open the basement door aka the Archives Cellar! Here goes another bullet-style, or blunderbuss-style response to a few points. (I've thought of actually taking notes, or figuring out a way to copy/cut/paste excerpts that inspire comments, but it's too much like homework. Besides, I always run long anyway-- God knows what I'd give birth to if I PREPPED!) So:

-- Stanley Landau, I enjoyed your posting very much. I'll repeat a phrase from American history I've used before to describe the essence of the Band: "A more perfect union". Painful, tedious, and regrettable though it be, I think much of the pain and bitterness that ricochets interminably in this venue is a reflection of a truth that seems almost miraculous to me: Those who tune into the Band and/or their music, whether thirty years or thirty days ago, bear witness (like Big Pink) to a sublime harmony, a real synergy, whose loss is intolerable.

Does this mean we should all carry on like lunatics and spit sackcloth and ashes at each other for the rest of OUR (un)natural lives? Weeel, um, hell no! I'm just saying that even though the Band was a mere blip in a very crowded radar screen of wonderful music emerging from a magical era, they connected with us (US us, at least) so deeply that our heart-space, our dream-space, our myth-space was invaded. I'm as cynical and iconoclastic as they come-- I actually enjoy Crabgrass' Gatling-gun blasphemies-- but I'm forced to admit, dammit, that Big Pink was a kind of Camelot. There! I've said it and I'm glad.

That kind of connection, even if it's only a glancing blow, can knock ya silly. The way the Civil War or JFK's assassination did to some-- but the Hanks will confirm it isn't particularly an American proclivity. That doesn't make it any easier to put up with, of course. Quite the contrary-- most days you want to get on with things and mellow out, and a bunch of zealots and fanatics shrieking and spewing factoids and conjuring up outrageous speculation, waving their invisible arms, and the occasional broken bottleneck, is just TOO MUCH...

-- Well, if I were truly given over to the pompous and overblown, I'd call Robbie's Tele "Excalibur". 'Cause I have that mystical reverence for the Telecaster. It occurs to me that this is a circular phenomenon, since Robbie is probably the guitarist who made me take notice of the special Tele sound. Not to take away from the Strat, which has certainly earned its reputation as maybe THE ubiquitous rock and roll axe, but the Tele's bite is just magical to me. But if Robbie was stranded on that desert island with a Pignose, I'd parachute down a Tele and a box of batteries. And a photo of Levon, just to capture the look on his face when he looked at it. And y'all would be the first to know what I saw!

-- Forget the cobwebs on the pillow, I've always wondered what it means to be "found in the willow". I do love "Sleeping", though the dreamy, romantic imagery and mood doesn't work nearly as well as the somber "Whispering Pines", which is haunting and perfect. Of course, I'm reminded of the Beatles "I'm Only Sleeping". Both Band and Beatles personnel went through a journeyman period on the road, then stardom. It's not too simpleminded, I hope, that after a million hours of staying up for reasons good, bad, and ugly, the notion of writing a hymn to good old, plain, endless, refreshing, sleep inspired itself on both sides of the water. By the way, I sure hope the Capitol re-issue uses the mix where Robbie's exquisite solo isn't so damped down. I never get tired of bitching about that, I know. It just pisses me off because I still suspect it was mixed away down to get the same understated effect as "King Harvest".

-- I doubt if the Band did any of those "Farm Aid"-type gigs; I'm sure I'll be corrected if I'm wrong. The Band was clearly apolitical by both temperament and policy, I think. I tend to think the Jimmy Carter affiliation, which was toward the end of their run, was a kind of cautious exception because Jimmy's whole act seemed to fit their Southern Outsider style. Maybe something that grew out spontaneously from the hospitality they enjoyed with Dylan in Atlanta, courtesy of Jimmy's son Chip. Even Levon's connection with Bill seems more of a personal one, i.e. one good ole boy from nearly the same neck of the woods rooting for another.

I DO recall seeing some kind of music video involving Garth on accordian, and either Rick or Levon, in some kind of human rights context. Playing, not speaking, of course, but whether it was an instrumental or backing a vocalist I just can't recall. This might have been five years ago or more. Sorry I can't remember what cause they were supporting! I just remember seeing it on some PBS weekly show about international sociopolitical issues and the media. Refresh my memory, folks!

Mark Twain once wrote that he loved children's letters best of all, because, "They tell all they know, then stop." I'm proud to say that I'm so grown up I insist on going way beyond what I know. But now I WILL stop!

Posted on Mon May 8 05:28:48 CEST 2000 from proxy-513.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.103)

sweet charlotte

RR was asked in an interview in mid 92 if he was going to the Dylan thing,he said "he didn't know" he was probably waiting for the other guys to ask him...they didn't.

Posted on Mon May 8 05:13:33 CEST 2000 from dialup-375.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.119)

HANK "Sticky Fingers" WEDEL

Here's a coupla thangs to ponder........1. All this 'ole guff about RR vs Levon blah blah woof woof (as Jimi used to say.....).... Consider this: RR and Levon have'nt really worked together since TLW..or thereabouts......right?...but what's the deal with RR and Dylan??........why was'nt RR at the Dylan bash in '92......I've asked this before.....I don't remember any real answer here in The GB.....What's the story with RR and Dylan?.......have they ever played any gigs or sessions since 1974????.......if not, that just MIGHT make it easier to understand RR's desire to distance himself from the past. ........move on.....get on with it.......still, I think most of his solo stuff SUCKS!!!!!.........HA! HA! oh hey!!!....sorry, I shouldnta said that.....forgive me.........I's just tryin' to make y'all think I had some sympathy for RR........nah!!!.......remember, I've said more than once on these pages, his solo album woulda been WAAAY better if he rounded up Levon, Rick and Garth to form a core studio group.......the thing he did with Lanois and U2 etc is just way too LOUD with mainly DUMB 80ies drum sounds.......but, then again, "Crazy River".......I LOVE.... 2 Imagine The Band covering "BROWN SUGAR"!!!!! Levon singing Mick's part, Rick singing Keith's, them ALL singing the chorus, Richard playing honky tonk piano, Garth playing Bobby Keys solo whilst playing the keyboards at the same time and RR paying regular tuned electric guitar ( as opposed to Keiths open G).........yup, I can hear that!!!.....I mean, just imagine Levon and Rick WAILING on "I bet your mama was a tent show queen...an' all her boyfriends were sweet 16"........am I crazy?....maybe......but hey, this GB is fun, right? HMMMMNNNN.........What OTHER Stones songs woulda The Band done justice to?.......any suggestions?.....Now, purists,... don't be all pissed off with me for even suggesting such a thing.....I mean, I got MY view of our precious little feud just like anyone else here.....but it DOES get a bit SILLY sometimes....I saw a thunder and lightning storm today.....pretty impressive stuff......I had'nt seen one in a while.........see y'all later...May your Monday be a Funday day!!!!!....HANK

Posted on Mon May 8 03:38:34 CEST 2000 from ns1.schuster.com (199.105.252.66)

Charlie Young

Ilkka: Levon performed at the "Arkansas Ball" during the first inaugural celebration for Bill Clinton. I just read David Crosby's new book, "Stand and Be Counted," which is about music and political and social activism. It goes back to people such as Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie and traces the history of Dylan's "protest" period and other '60's activists up through Farm Aid (which Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp were inspired to start thanks to a comment Dylan made at "Live Aid") and brings it on up to the present. I guess the guys in The Band were never that active in American politics because they were mostly Canadian. I know Rick was involved in environmental causes the last few years, though. Does anyone know if The Band ever performed at one of the Farm Aid concerts?

Posted on Mon May 8 02:02:58 CEST 2000 from alb1-as5300-178-178.termserv.net (209.23.41.178)

Little Lil

Hello Everybody. I am Dimond Lil's daughter.It is hot up in New York, So Im hanging out with the Air Conditioner.Hi Jan, can you put a picture of your puppy in the site?I bet She's cuter Than my brothers! I am 10 and I like The Backstreet Boys and the Band Too.Bye Y'all

Posted on Sun May 7 23:09:12 CEST 2000 from spider-tp082.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.212)

jcf

Sleeping sure gets my consideration for strangest Band song. Evidentley it's a paen to sleeping. The song deosn't seem to "acknowledge" it's strangeness. There is probably something deeper behind the sentiments in the song that I am not comprehending. Anyway I like it a lot. It's probably the best song on side one of Stagefright.

Posted on Sun May 7 23:00:33 CEST 2000 from proxy-523.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.113)

Patricia Redinger

Some of you have told me to go back to the GB archives, I have. There is only one thing out of many that I would like to comment on If you all don't mind? This person,I don't remember any name,but it is in the archives if anybody cares to look,I will just assume nobody cares enough to look.This person said that"RR didn't even go to his own biological fathers funeral! RRs real father,according to LH book and RR himself got killed while changing a tire on the Queen Elizabeth Highway between Toronto and Niagara Falls when Robbie was just a baby.I did not know that when I entered this GB that I was entering a courtroom.I have observed this whole thing with The band since LH book came out,and even many,many years before that.what I said all last week is what I saw,from a distance of course...kind of.The only thing I regret saying is that uncalled for rotten remark about Levons illness.Also,I would like to say that while searching the GB archives I didn't find one place where anyone said"please everybody,lets stop all this LH bashing!!! Thank you R and M Now Patty,please let it rest....OK I will.

Posted on Sun May 7 21:53:28 CEST 2000 from 1cust87.tnt14.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.142.87)

Crabgrass

I look forward to seeing the Barn Burners soon 'cause as any serious student of the blues knows it is not the lead guitarist, vocalist, harp player, or keyboard man that makes a great blues band great but rather it is the man behind the skins! I have no doubt that Levon will someday join the ranks of the legendary blues drummers like Eddie "Snakehands" Turner, Luther "Whiplash" Watkins, and of course "Boom Boom" Brown to mention only a few. As the saying goes "The blues ain't a treat if it ain't got that beat!"

Posted on Sun May 7 20:36:20 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime

Ilkka: yes they did. They played for Jimmy Carter, especially Georgia On My Mind.

Posted on Sun May 7 20:34:46 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-113-127.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.113.127)

Back with no wife in Tennessee

Since we were talking about the change in Robbie's guitars a few days ago, how about the change in his guitar playing? It seems that he came up with a whole new sound on Storyville that he has stuck with since then. It sounds nothing at all like his earlier Tele playing, it's like two completely different players. The first time I heard AN's "Crazy Love" on the radio, I just knew it was Robbie playing, even though I had heard nothing about the song before then. I do miss his old style, though. He always talks about maybe making a record with more guitar playing on it, but never does.

BTW, the Last Waltz Strat is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, along with some other Band-related items. Or it was a few months ago, anyway. Would it be, perhaps, the only reason one would want to go to Cleveland?

Posted on Sun May 7 19:21:41 CEST 2000 from user-33qtaib.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.170.75)

Pat Brennan

All of you who shun bootlegs should turn away...For the rest, Crossing The Great Divide just appeared on eBay.

Posted on Sun May 7 18:20:49 CEST 2000 from 24-216-10-145.hsacorp.net (24.216.10.145)

misty mckinney

"I'm in HIGH cotton, and I've forgotten that I had the blues"

Posted on Sun May 7 17:17:33 CEST 2000 from spider-te012.proxy.aol.com (152.163.195.177)

Lee

Noticed that Tom (Woodstock Records)has updated the site. You should take a look if you haven't visited for awhile.

I know Lil mentioned that tickets for Rick's benefit are nearly sold out, but wasn't it mentioned somewhere that if the venue sells out they may move it to another place? Tom has placed a few names on the site: Artie Traum, Amy Fradon, Scott Petito, Leslie Ritter. I hope other old friends of Rick's can turn up - Sredni Vollmer, Ed Kaercher, etc.

Posted on Sun May 7 16:14:07 CEST 2000 from du164-2.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.2.164)

Ilkka

It is amazing that EXACTLY same questions are disgussed here as in the first centuries at the ecumenical synods in Nikaia (325), Konstantinopol (381) and Khalkedon (451). This time by Grabgrass - please come to the 21st century or at least join me in the late sixties to beginn with :-)

From religion to the politics. Bob Dylan sang in Bill Clinton gala (Chimes Of Freedom). Has The Band done something like that in some political occasions?

Posted on Sun May 7 15:30:16 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime

Just came back after a short week in London & Cambridge UK and read the latest gb discussions. Well... "The feud goes on... the feud goes on... ladaladadee... ladadadadah..." Sorry I skipped quite a lot of entries.

But what I did read was a friendly advice to "brother Lil" (hi brother!! :-) and a suggestion that our Hank would be another alias for Catbalu. Mmmm... need to think about this :-)

Anyway: Donabie... Turn it up! Get well soon... you are a gentleman and can't be missed in here...

Posted on Sun May 7 12:57:00 CEST 2000 from 209-23-55-56.ip.termserv.net (209.23.55.56)

Diamond Lil

Patricia: I'm sorry to hear about your brother, and it saddens me to read your words 'he never liked me anyway'.

You know, when you go into any situation (yup..even The Band guestbook) thinking that 'noone's going to like me anyway'..the result is usually pretty much what you expected. Know how you can turn that around though? A little positivity! I know Hank has asked you before, but it would be nice to hear some of the good feelings you get from The Band and their music.

Posted on Sun May 7 07:52:12 CEST 2000 from proxy-523.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.113)

Patricia

That's alright Nancy, That was a long time ago and I really don't think he liked me anyway. No more hateful stuff, I promise.

Posted on Sun May 7 07:36:37 CEST 2000 from 109.0101.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.109)

Nancy Birch

Patricia, I really am sorry to learn that your brother was killed in Vietnam, and I shouldn't have elicited that information from you in the first place.

Posted on Sun May 7 06:53:43 CEST 2000 from proxy-523.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.113)

Patricia

my favorite Band songs are/ Whispering Pines Rockin' chair Ain't no more Cane The Weight Let the Night Fall Hobo Jungle unfaithful servent The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down Christmas Must be Tonight Rags and Bones Daniel and The Sacred Harp these are not listed from top to bottom, and there are others too. I discovered The Band on my own. And, no my brother was killed in Da Nang ,july 19th 1971.

Posted on Sun May 7 06:31:57 CEST 2000 from 2cust92.tnt11.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.133.220)

Crabgrass

My take on the water to wine "miracle" is that there was probably some wine left in those jugs and they just watered it down. The wedding guests were undoubtedly all stoned on hash which is endemic in the Middle East and gulped down the "wine" because the hash made them thirsty thereby failing to notice this fact. More logical. Harder to explain, however, is how a priest can actually turn a wafer made of bleached flour into the body and blood of Christ by simply waving his hand over it and mumbling some incantations. Amazing! (I may need to listen to some of Dylan's Jews for Jesus albums to get a handle on that one.) BTW does anyone actually enjoy the female backup singing on those albums or is it only me that finds it awful?

Posted on Sun May 7 06:19:48 CEST 2000 from 123.0101.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.123)

Nancy Birch

Its a pain in the butt being in a time warp where the rest of you sleep while I write, but I guess that is the price I pay for living in the best country the world has to offer!

A message to Patricia who appears to have turned everyone off with her mind-boggling comments of last week. Now I'm not interested in any more of that conspiracy theory stuff as you see it Patty, but I am curious about the end of your original tale which was appreciated by not a few people who read it. Firstly, did your brother really serve in Vietnam as you said or was that part of a good story? Secondly, if he did go, did he come back (hopefully so), and if he did, what was his choice of capital punishment for you, his little brat sister who raided his music? Didn't you say that you still have one of those tapes? Was he actually chuffed that someone else in his family shared his taste in music? As far as ballads go Patricia, you tell a good tale so I would be interested in hearing the end of this one.

Posted on Sun May 7 05:45:30 CEST 2000 from dialup-268.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.12)

HANK

Thanks for all the comments on TLW, folks......interesting to see another Hank from Ireland here in the GB......well, it's interesting to me, anyway!...C'mere to me, HANK FLYNN, if yer ever in Cork City, boy...I'll be playing "Charlies" on Union Quay every Monday night........I play LOADSA Band/Band-related songs in any gig I do (tonight, in Fermoy, we played "The Weight" and "A Duece and a Quarter") I have'nt met anyone from The GB in REAL life yet.....you could be the first!!....which reminds me.....FRANKO.....if yer coming thru Cork, instead of London, please lemme know.....The summer is here early in Ireland......absolutely beautiful for the past 3 days, .....hopefully The Summer is here for the next 3 months.....instead of just a week in July......which CAN happen here, folks......but, either way it'd be great to meet ya if you did come thru..AMANDA...I would have to agree that changing the water into wine WAS a very cool thing........we're getting close to raising folks from the dead......what with cloning and everything...but that water into wine trick was something else.....did anyone ever see the Dr. Katz cartoon where one of his patients, a famous comedian whose name escapes me, does an impression of a disciple trying to convince Jesus to turn "some sage into weed, dude, that'd be sooo awesome"?.....hilarious...a bit like Monty Python......which reminds me, CRABBY......would they be HASH joints or good WEED joints you'd be smokin' there?.....just wondering....I mean, I'm NOT fussy.....If you and I smoked all them joints, would you mind then, if after "Islands", I like put on some Dead, dude?......say "Mars Hotel" or "Workingmans"......or would I have to roll ya another five J's or what?......by the by........I always get a laugh about folks searchin' for the remains of Noahs Ark.......Noahs Ark was NOT a mini Zoo.....it was GENETIC STOREHOUSE!!!!........on a big boat........C'mon, folks.......What do ya think "The Genetic Method" and "Before The Flood" are all about?.......anyway...before I get too side-tracked here.....PAT BRENNAN.....yup, The SNL thing is outstanding.......PATRICIA, begob, girl, I'll have to be sending ole' St Patrick here to The GB to drive them snakes out.....actually there really are NO snakes in Ireland...... It's funny when ya think about it.......old Noah never gave the land-mulch that became Mother Ireland the 'ole DNA fer dem 'ole shnakes.......'tis going on Sunday morning here.......I will away to mine bed......mornin' all....see y'all later........HANK

Posted on Sun May 7 05:37:33 CEST 2000 from ac828708.ipt.aol.com (172.130.135.8)

Lizz

Neil Young Is on Saturday Night Live tonight ! " SILVER AND GOLD" is awesome !

Posted on Sun May 7 04:25:17 CEST 2000 from cf3k-3-2.paradise.net.nz (203.96.152.187)

Amanda

Nancy- I for one think this is as good a place as any to discuss BAND related fashion trivia.

I was very struck with one of the photos of Levon in "this wheels on fire"...and not just because of his, shall we say, manly charm (Oh No! there I go bringing the tone of the GB down even more)... I mean the photo where they were they are all playing football at Woodstock. I thought the Levon's boots somehow looked really right with the cut of his jeans.

I might have particularly noticed the boots because I recently read "the electric kool aid acid test" where I was very interested in Tom Wolfe's thoughts on the two sorts of people in the world: those who wear boots (the "heads" or cool people) and those who wear shoes (straight or not cool people).

Anyway, from the "electric kool aid acid test" it is but a short leap to the "fun with biblical studies motif". To loosely connect that with the Captain Straight Edge idea as all we BAND fans with some Catholic background probably know the first miracle was the changing of water to wine. And Crabgrass, if I may be so bold, you forgot to mention the psychedelia of Revelations.

How does this all connect to the BAND? Um...the party lifestyle?

Paul- I will reply to your email but not for a few days. I have a lot of deadlines coming up and shouldn't really be dallying here at all.

Posted on Sun May 7 03:57:05 CEST 2000 from proxy-523.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.113)

Patricia

Thank you..It's nice to know what kind of snakes really live in this room, thanks again for the www lesson!

Posted on Sun May 7 01:21:46 CEST 2000 from newcache2.indigo.ie (194.125.133.220)

Hank Flynn

Always been a fan.Was in the States last year and found a CD of Rock of Ages.Brought it home and hav'nt stopped playing it.In this age of computors and synthesiser, so called musicians,it's great to listen to a group of people who's music and versatility,will always stand the test of time.For the remaining members, any chance of a reunion?

Posted on Sun May 7 00:07:57 CEST 2000 from user-33qtagk.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.170.20)

Pat Brennan

If you compare the Last Waltz boot with the movie, you'll discover that a rather large chunk of the movie is overdubs. Search out the SNL performance two weeks before if you want to hear them really play. And the real roots of the intro to Chest Fever were probably in Garth's mother's belly a few months before he was born.

Posted on Sat May 6 23:50:41 CEST 2000 from spider-tp032.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.187)

jcf

I never knew, until know, that there was a Band- Martin Mull connection.

Posted on Sat May 6 22:15:04 CEST 2000 from gw3a60-1-d509.wind.it (212.141.121.1)

Emanuele

Vorrei mettermi in contatto con dei fans italiani della Band per scambio di materiale.

Posted on Sat May 6 21:37:16 CEST 2000 from 1cust104.tnt14.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.142.104)

Crabgrass

An embarrassing oversight on my part! The Bible itself contains a plethora of humorous anecdotes and characters from the fun-filled story of Job and the animal and bird sacrifices recommended in Leviticus right up to the crucifixion (or is that crucifiction?) and resurrection in the New Testament. That God sure has a great sense of humor! - imagine creating an eternal Hell for us poor little flawed underlings! And the Noah's Ark story is pretty funny too especially when filtered through a guy named Sam Clemens though he was admittedly a non-believer. I also highly recommend some of the outrageous Lord Buckley's comic routines like "Jonah and the Whale."

The key to controlling chemical and alcohol use is moderation. I now don't even have to roll one to enjoy Big Pink, The Brown Album, or Stage Fright. However, a listen of Islands requires 5 or 6 joints and a couple of six packs. I don't recommend this however since when the high wears off it has a backlash effect and you'll realize how truly dreadful the album is. Bummer!

Posted on Sat May 6 21:13:22 CEST 2000 from ti13a63-0173.dialup.online.no (130.67.102.45)

Boye

First of all,I`d like to tell y`all that I`m proud of Jan,because I`m not living very far from him, in the southern region of Norway.I love this site and it`s great to have such a source about the most interesting band in the history of rock`n roll(George Harrison will nod his head)The relationship between bandmembers is quite interesting,but focusing on the music they`ve created together is something I think of every day.Some of you went through what you think are the weirdest Bandsongs. A song that came into my mind was the lovely "Sleeping" from Stagefright, Richard sings;"Cobweb on my pillow" (!)-it may not be weird but it shure gives me some pictures in my head.Another one of my favourites on the same album is "All La Glory", Robbie`s guitaranswer to Levon`s singing on the chorus is not of this world, not mentioning Garth`s organsolo in the same song-it almost makes me cry.TLW is probably not played live all throughout he album, but I love it anyway -in "Evangeline" the producers haven`t even tried to hide this fact, we all see Rick playing the fiddle,hearing the bass at the same time and we can assume that the bassline was added in the studio later.One last thing,I was lucky enough to go and see Rick the first time he performed in Norway,winter of -91,with Andersen and Fjeld-great!Promoting his soloalbum, Roger McCuinn joined them on stage,singing "Knocking on heaven`s door",it was all happening on the outskirts of Europa some cold winternight and did I have a good time? happy weekend

Posted on Sat May 6 19:58:13 CEST 2000 from (209.226.13.34)

Band_olero

Regarding the origins of Garth's intro to Chest Fever : "The Genetic Method" roots go back to 1964. Check out the Tape Archive, The Hawks...Scroll to second one (Port Dover), see #19.

Posted on Sat May 6 19:53:05 CEST 2000 from m198214176061.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.176.61)

pehr

I appreciate the sentiments expressed for the memory of Rick and Eli in the guestbook, and look forward to giving contributions to the family for them to use as they see fit, the role that we can play as a family extension for helping the "neighborhood", in this case and others,the sky is the limit.

"The key to immortality is leading a live worth remembering".

The key to quitting smoking (and drinking) is in making a decision, I believe, though one must be patient with ones own process at arriving there. evntually, in my own case I decided on the basis that I had had my great times with that but that putting smoke in my body wasn't the thing to do; that pot was lovely but dulled my "edge" (which I decided was a new buzz in itself!) and that alcohol honestly doesn't taste very good. One day at a time one goes without too much oserving an "empirical self", but a flow. "hey this is a new day, an opportunity for new things, the old way is boring anyway" kind of thing. It's not sure fire, but if you can build up a head of steam like this I believe, alot of people can eventually walk on from a bullying adversity. Look forward to the good times, as Rick might say!

while I'm coming off as Captain Teetotaler, "Life of Brian" is the funniest thing I've ever seen, but I'm not hip to Peter Cook yet. thanks for the tip, y'all.

Posted on Sat May 6 19:21:09 CEST 2000 from dialup-319.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.63)

HANK

So TLW was on telly here last night.........I want to ask a few things here........w/ regards to whats real and what is not........."Evangeline" is not being PLAYED live...rather , they're all SINGING live to a backing track......Right? "The Weight" seems pretty live to me........Are The backing vocals on "Dixie" overdubbed?...........The bass on "Coyote"? and the bass at the end of "Further on up the Road"?.....yeah, yeah, folks, I know, I know Levons book claims that almost everything was re-recorded....but watching it last night ( over the past 22 years) I could only find a coupla obvious things....as I said in my last post...I'm NOT dissing anyone for this....(ya gotta be careful what you say or think around here!!) It IS kinda obvious, tho, that Robbies vocals are well mixed down..... having watched it last night and thinking about it vis-a-vis "The Feud"........RR really did have the right idea about splitting from them......I thought this whilst watching Levon sing "Ophelia"....what a performance!!!!......how could they Top TLW, folks?......overdubs 'n all......I know there were many folks who write here that were there....and they've emailed me privately to say it was an amazing night.......how could've they topped it?.......in any case...it was 1976....here comes Punk/Disco/Commercial Heavy Metal and the eighties..........I, for one, am GLAD The Band never had to really compete with all that over-the-top nothing-to-do-with-music more-to-do-with-image nonsense.......(The Stones competed with it.....and still do to this day....look at the critical price they've payed......not that they care......and not that I don't still love 'em........I do....they're GREAT.....) and although it broke everyones heart to know THE BAND would never play togerther with RR.....it was the right thing to do......The most important thing TLW did and still does to this day is to raise The Bands profile to those who might never have heard of 'em being drip fed a diet of MTV.....they'll be turning people onto The Band via TLW in 200 years time.....in time capsules.....I mean, ALL the criticisms about it are correct.......from Ronnie Hawkins sarcasm, saying "that movie'd be a better with more shots of Robbie in it!!!".....to Levon NOT wanting to do it.....to the fact they're wiping their noses with an obvious bowl of water in front of 'em.......overdubs......Satorial sense..or lack thereof......find what you will.....It's STILL great!!!!.......Gosh, did I ever mention I kinda enjoy TLW?????..........OKOKOKOKOK........I'll stop now and go away........enjoy yer Saturday night..........HANK

Posted on Sat May 6 18:59:48 CEST 2000 from crtntx1-ar2-074-173.dsl.gtei.net (4.35.74.173)

Kelly

SERGE: I believe Lil and I were probably typing at the same time. If you read my next post, you will see that I'm in full agreement with her, and understand and respect the Danko family requests.

Posted on Sat May 6 17:35:03 CEST 2000 from (209.167.110.176)

Serge

KELLY: With all due respect, it's all very well to be an avid fan of a musical group or an individual artist, but you are pushing the envelope a little too far. I understand your feelings, but if I may suggest, let private family matters remain private. Lil has explained the situation very clearly.

Posted on Sat May 6 17:10:05 CEST 2000 from spider-ta086.proxy.aol.com (152.163.205.13)

Beth Radtke

Hi Elliott from Toronto! Thanks for the info on the Peter Cook book -- I'll have to find it. And not to start the religious thing again, but you know Crabgrass, as I've mentioned before I'm Catholic and proud of it and still find the religious humor of Peter Cook/Dudley Moore and Monty Python hilarious. It's called a sense of humor. Something God gave me! :) --Beth

Posted on Sat May 6 16:22:01 CEST 2000 from port100.ts2.ulster.net (208.242.164.100)

Garth/Professor Louie & The Crowmatix

Hello All!

The GARTH HUDSON - PROF. LOUIE & THE CROWMATIX appearance at the "Seeds Of Peace" Benefit , May 22nd At Carnegie Hall, In New York City has been shuffled, due to a shift/rescheduling in the type of entertainment at the event. So, Garth, Louie and The Crowmatix are playing AFTER the Carnegie benefit at The Essex House, right near the Hall and all are welcome.

Apologies for any inconvenience or miscommunication on our part.

Regards - Tom/Woodstock Records

Posted on Sat May 6 16:03:57 CEST 2000 from crtntx1-ar2-074-173.dsl.gtei.net (4.35.74.173)

Kelly

Lil, thanks! You were the person I was going to check with before doing anything. Thank you for letting all of us know that.

Posted on Sat May 6 16:01:35 CEST 2000 from crtntx1-ar2-074-173.dsl.gtei.net (4.35.74.173)

Kelly

Kathy, how sad. You are right. What is the name of the cemetary where Rick is buried? Perhaps we could call, and find out if one is on order. If not, I challenge all of you Band fans out here to BAND together and have one made up not only for Rick but his son as well. Perhaps this is something we can all pool together for. HOWEVER, I firmly believe we must check with Mrs. Danko first, as she may want his grave unmarked so there is no chance of some sick person doing - we won't even mention it. What do you all think? This is something I would really like to do for a man who gave so much of himself. If any of you out there are interested, please let me know.

Posted on Sat May 6 15:51:53 CEST 2000 from 209-23-38-66.ip.termserv.net (209.23.38.66)

Diamond Lil

Kathy: The reason for no headstones is privacy. A decision Rick made when Eli was buried and a personal decision of the family. Rest assured that both Rick and Eli were loved, and remembered every second of every day. Thanks.

Posted on Sat May 6 15:49:25 CEST 2000 from crtntx1-ar2-074-173.dsl.gtei.net (4.35.74.173)

Kelly

O.K. I'm going to defend the sing along here. It seems that our little sing along FINALLY difused some of the tension that has been heating up our wonderful GB for the past few days. Remember, music soothes the savage beast. It also has the amazing ability to heal, and make us happy when things seem bleak. So on behalf of those of us, who are now feeling better coming back here, and happy to see another "discussion" going on instead of an arguement.... You know I had em' 5 to 1... Have a good day all!

Posted on Sat May 6 15:44:29 CEST 2000 from spider-tp032.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.187)

Kathy

Hi Everyone! I went to visit Rick's grave yesterday & found it very sad that this man who gave so much all of his life had no headstone, flowers or even grass on his grave. I wish we could get a collection together and get him a decent headstone. His son Eli who is buried right next to him doesn't have a stone either. I just can't stop thinking about how sad this is. I would think someone out there who knew & loved Rick could afford to buy him a headstone. Maybe I am wrong here & Elizabeth has one on order? I hope so.

Posted on Sat May 6 15:41:32 CEST 2000 from 209-23-38-66.ip.termserv.net (209.23.38.66)

Lil Again

Oops! I think it was "rain" that was blowing in Dylan's face when he wrote that tune. Perhaps it was wind blowing in Billy Joel's when he recorded it. And in my car..it was most definately smoke. Anyone know a sure-fire way to quit smoking?

Posted on Sat May 6 15:33:36 CEST 2000 from 209-23-38-66.ip.termserv.net (209.23.38.66)

Diamond Lil

Ghost Rider: Hi..and is that true? Racquel Welch was the inspiration behind Dylan's "To Make You Feel My Love"? I love Billy Joel's version of that tune myself.

When the wind is blowing in your face
And the whole world is on your case
I could offer you a warm embrace
To make you feel my love...

You know, my fondest memory of that tune is a worn-out cassette tape in my car, on the way to the memorial service for Rick last December, with someone very special to me behind the wheel. Tears in my eyes now. Thanks for mentioning the tune GR.

Have a good day everyone.

Posted on Sat May 6 15:10:13 CEST 2000 from spider-tr051.proxy.aol.com (152.163.201.196)

Ghost Rider

The Band-Bedazzled link that Peter Viney seeks may be this: Raquel Welch who appeared in the film, reportedly was involved in a romantic liaison with Bob Dylan a few years back, during the time that "Time Out of Mind" was in the works. Hard to believe, but Raquel was apparently the inspiration for Love Sick, Make You Feel My Love, and a few other recent Dylan recordings!

Posted on Sat May 6 14:48:43 CEST 2000 from icache-3.doit.wisc.edu (144.92.44.76)

Tim(SUNDOG)Corcoran

Ditto from me 'Lil :^) Hi John :)

Posted on Sat May 6 12:16:40 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-076.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.76)

Peter Viney

There has to be a connection between Bedazzled and the Band somehow, as so many here are fond of both. "Bedazzled" is irrevocably tied up in my mind with a film that was out at the same time in 1967, "I’ll Never Forget Whatsisname" (directed by the obnoxious Michael Winner). I’d now like to see both again. Will have to check if they’re currently available. In the early 70s, an essential segment of the evening’s listening was an LP by Derek & Clive (Pete & Dud) or by Monty Python. Because the Monty Python stuff repeated TV gags, Pete & Dud were more novel. At that point we’d never heard anyone using so much bad language in any recorded medium. Lines from Derek & Clive still run through my head. If someone’s complaining about a job, I find myself saying "What’s the worst job you ever had?" and at scenes of chaos and confusion, "Is this any way to run a f***ing ballroom?". Those, like Elliot, who had the same listening habits can fill in the stories. In later years, Pete and Dud had a rather Levon / Robbie relationship, in that Pete resented Dud’s later Hollywood success. Both were hugely talented, both were better together than apart.

Sorry for the second personal anecdote in two days. I was part of a small group detailed to meet Peter Cook before he spoke at my university, probably in 1968. I had to sign for a meagre sum from the student union which was to be used to buy him coffee, and perhaps a small cake before his talk. We were told that we might even pay for our own coffee from the same funds. He insisted on paying for us, and when we told him we’d been given money to pay, he gave us a hilarious lecture on how fiddling your expenses was a mainstay of capitalism, and that we could start learning now by pocketing the money for his coffee.

Posted on Sat May 6 10:23:33 CEST 2000 from 135.0102.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.135)

Nancy Birch

Crabgrass, I am enjoying the singalong so hands off!

I also enjoy all your comments, and I believe my favourite conspiracy theory originated in one of your messages - the one about Patricia being Robbie Robertson. Unlikely but amusing!!

I posted my message regarding unusual attire chosen by gentlemen performing at TLW and then wandered around my home listening to a Band CD. While doing this, it occurred to me that I had answered my own query as to why Richard's performance was so heavily cut in the final film. It was, in fact, THE SUIT that did it! Not the suits that Levon refers later on as being responsible for the eventual demise of The Band, but the orange/brown plaid suit that Richard wore at the concert!! Martin Scorcese couldn't stand it, so he just cut it out whenever it appeared on the screen in front of him!!

This, of course, doesn't explain why Van Morrison's suit escaped the same degree of heavy editing, but I guess he may have had more clout in the music industry than Richard did, so Mr Scorcese didn't feel as confident in editing his scenes. Damn that suit, it has a lot of explaining to do!!

Posted on Sat May 6 09:51:33 CEST 2000 from 1cust35.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.136.35)

Crabgrass

Now that the GB has degenerated into a singalong I may as well continue the Peter Cook/Dudley Moore thread. I just discovered there's a Peter Cook Appreciation Society website at www.scream.demon.co.uk/pcook - so all you "Bedazzled" fans should check it out. Of course, I should warn the Religious Right arm of the GB that much of Cook and Moore's humor was highly irreverant and mocking of religion just like the Python's "Holy Grail," "Life of Brian," and "The Meaning of Life." In short - you'll find it blasphemous and not funny in the least.

For those Band fans who don't take religion all that seriously as well as those who think it's a load of baloney and like a good laugh at God's expense once in a while I recommend the BBC video (released here on CBS I believe) "The Best of What's Left of - Not Only... But Also..." (a compilation of PC and DM's pre-Python '60s British TV sketch series entitled "Not Only... But Also..." Hard to find but not impossible - check the web or your local video store. (I once read an interview with George Harrison somewhere around the time of the Wilbury's album and he mentioned he was surprised to find out that the late Roy Orbison was a big Monty Python fan and had many of their skits memorized.) And yes, there is a Band/Peter Cook/Dudley Moore connection - Cook and Moore played the Bottom Line in NYC during their mid-seventies stint in "Good Evening" on Broadway - a venue where Rick appeared many times.

BTW it's_ good to_see that some of the younger_ GB posters have learned the_ value of using_ expletives to enhance their_ comments!!

Posted on Sat May 6 09:46:03 CEST 2000 from pm3-107.efn.org (206.163.180.107)

deb

To G.R.: I stand corrected. "Bedazzled" is not a black comedy; it is a dark comedy.

Also, some more trivia from the movie: Eleanor Bron, who played Stanley Moon's (Dudley Moore's character) love interest had a major role in The Beatles' movie "Help." She was also in a recent remake of the Shirley Temple movie, "The Little Princess."

Raquel Welch also played one of the seven deadly sins, Lillian Lust, the "Babe with the bust."

Peter Cook plays The Devil as a "misunderstood" angel who just wants to get back into Heaven while wreaking havoc and mischief on planet Earth. He does things like having a pidgeon drop its "doo-dahs" on the head of a priest walking below and raking a nail across records that are ready to be shipped out from a factory. He is, according to Stanley Moon, "Pathetic." But very funny.

Do not miss this movie! You won't regret it.

Posted on Sat May 6 09:37:14 CEST 2000 from ts1-47.steveston.axion.net (207.34.146.47)

cupid

The odds were in my favor..

Posted on Sat May 6 09:00:12 CEST 2000 from 135.0102.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.135)

Nancy Birch

Cat Stevens was mentioned in the GB earlier this week. The first concert I went to was Cat Stevens concert when I was about 14 years old. My parents didn't want me to go out at night with my girlfriend as they thought we were too young to go out alone, but they caved into our badgering in the end. As it turned out they were right. I WAS too young as I showed my immaturity by curling up in the seat and sleeping for most of the concert, only waking during the loud applause at the end. Not that this reflects in any way on the entertainment value of Cat Stevens............

I, too, am mystified about the small amount of exposure Richard Manuel gets in TLW. I have listened to Band music since I first saw the film in 1978, but did not know anything about the different band members. This was probably due to poor access to that type of information where I live. When I finally acquired and watched my own copy of the film several years ago, I concluded that Richard was an under-utilised singing resource. At first I thought that the other singers were generous to let the keyboardist have a crack at singing. But he sounded so good I wondered why the band didn't use him as a singer a bit more.

So why doesn't TLW contain more footage of Richard singing lead? Is it because some of those songs are unsuitable to use in the concert "arena", either too complex or too simple? Maybe some of the musicians who contribute to the GB can enlighten me? I guess I hope there is some plausible explanation that doesn't reflect badly on members of The Band in any way.

On a truly flippant note, I would like to add some observations about clothes worn at the concert!! Please don't touch those scroll bars, bear with me! Occaisonally I have read scornful comments about the orange/brown plaid suit Richard wore for the concert, and also some levelled at the glittering skin-tight affair that Van Morrison chose. I give both outfits a big thumbs up, loud, possibly tasteless, but "Why be boring???????"

The piece of clothing that I would kill for is the cream coloured hat with the feather in the side that Bob Dylan wears. Whenever I see it I wonder how much he paid for it and where he found it, because it looks like a truly classy hat to my eye. Before I go I guess I should apologize for bringing the discussion down to such a shallow level, but I can't promise that I won't do it again..........Thanks for the pleasure of reading all your messages. Cheers!

Posted on Sat May 6 08:04:07 CEST 2000 from crtntx1-ar2-074-173.dsl.gtei.net (4.35.74.173)

Kelly

And she bet on another to show....

Posted on Sat May 6 07:55:08 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-115-132.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.115.132)

BWNWITennessee

What the hell's going on here?

Posted on Sat May 6 06:56:37 CEST 2000 from ts1-47.steveston.axion.net (207.34.146.47)

Cupid

to the race track I did go

Posted on Sat May 6 06:31:12 CEST 2000 from spider-tf011.proxy.aol.com (152.163.197.176)

Mike Carrico

Thanks, BK & DP, for the Broadcaster/Telecaster info

Posted on Sat May 6 06:21:04 CEST 2000 from spider-tl053.proxy.aol.com (152.163.207.198)

Cousin Lori

A drunkard's dream if I ever did see one . . . ( .)(. )

Posted on Sat May 6 05:59:03 CEST 2000 from ns1.schuster.com (199.105.252.66)

Charlie Young

Levon plays drums on a just-released instructional video from Happy Traum's Homespun Tapes, "The Blues Guitar of Hubert Sumlin." There's more information at www.homespuntapes.com ["...a drunkard's dream if I ever did see one..."]

Posted on Sat May 6 05:40:40 CEST 2000 from dialup-263.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.7)

Hank

TLW is on downstairs...courtesy of CH 4 UK.....actually on the telly......(I watched it on video last weekend in some friends flat after a gig.....)Tonight, when I left downstairs to come up to where me computerer box is, they had just finished "Dixie" D'y'all ever notice how the camera pans away from Levon as he singhs "I swear by the blood below my feet........."??? How could they let that in a movie?????.......All the same I'm a gonna leave here now.........go back down stairs and watch it again.......I feel a whole lotta "Last Waltz" threads about to be spun...........Howsabout this.......which songs are the most overdubbed in TLW?....by the by.........by asking this I AM NOT dissing anyone.....many Great Live albums, so to speak, have over dubs........seriously!....stop laughing at the back there!!!....I've got a few ideas on this......but I'm a gonna have to go downstairs now and watch the end of it............WOW!!!!!The BAND are ALLOVER MY HOUSERIGHTNOW!!!!!! ON MY TELLYBOX ON MY COMPUTERER >>>>GOOD EVENIN'!!! HAPPY THANKSGIVING OVERLOAD>>>>>> AAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!....R>

Posted on Sat May 6 05:38:45 CEST 2000 from 24-216-10-213.hsacorp.net (24.216.10.213)

Lil Loopy Lou Lou

I don't have to speak, she defends me....

Posted on Sat May 6 05:22:49 CEST 2000 from dialup-263.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.7)

Hank

If I spring a leak, she mends me........

Posted on Sat May 6 04:34:14 CEST 2000 from ts1-37.steveston.axion.net (207.34.146.37)

cupid

Up on cripple creek she sends me...

Posted on Sat May 6 04:29:09 CEST 2000 from proxy-601.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.161)

Scott

Back from a vacation of romping, hiking, back roading it and finding some peace of mind in Otsego and Chenango Counties New York State. What beautiful country. I brought with me the recently aquired boot Rick Danko "Endless Highway". An acoustic delight from 02/93 (I think some of the song titles are incorrect, but not sure). Anyway, a friend of mine lectured me about boots, cd burners etc....It's fine to support an Artist purchasing official albums, - but this boot brings me back to all the live Rick shows I enjoyed and it's wonderful to have it as a document of the joy of seeing him live.... Put me in jail.....

Posted on Sat May 6 03:51:58 CEST 2000 from ip-150.dial.wans.com (64.7.64.150)

Molly Z.

She told me just to come on down, if there's anything she could do......

Posted on Sat May 6 02:53:04 CEST 2000 from crtntx1-ar2-074-173.dsl.gtei.net (4.35.74.173)

Kelly

to see a little Bessie girl I once knew....

Posted on Sat May 6 02:26:42 CEST 2000 from spider-tn034.proxy.aol.com (152.163.207.59)

G.R.

"...to Lake Charles, Louisiana..."

Deb from Oregon: Not very politically correct of you, calling "Bedazzled" a black comedy. : )

Posted on Sat May 6 02:25:10 CEST 2000 from alb1-as5300-117-117.termserv.net (209.23.41.117)

Diamond Lil

John Donabie: Geez...what some folks won't do just to get out of work! :-) Glad to hear you're coming along (thanks Serge) and hope to 'see' you back here soon. Thinking of you.

Posted on Sat May 6 02:14:41 CEST 2000 from proxy-513.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.103)

up the crazy river...

"To Lake Charles,Loosiana"!

Posted on Sat May 6 01:33:08 CEST 2000 from crtntx1-ar2-074-173.dsl.gtei.net (4.35.74.173)

Kelly

To the Gulf of Mexico

Posted on Sat May 6 01:06:01 CEST 2000 from webcache16b.cache.pol.co.uk (195.92.194.105)

PRETENTIOUS? MOI?

STRAIGHT DOWN TO MISSISSIPPI RIVER...

Posted on Sat May 6 01:04:30 CEST 2000 from (209.167.110.147)

Serge

John Donabie underwent a procedure at the hospital today. All went well. He'll be as good as new very soon, and after a rest he'll be back on the air at CFRB 1010 Toronto for all to enjoy.

Posted on Sat May 6 00:13:08 CEST 2000 from (12.6.146.218)

Jay Wardlaw

Stanley, Having recently seen Bruce and the band, I thought the same thing about the stage set-up and the instrumentation. Of course, Clarence Clemons plays yet another Garth role on the sax.

Steve Van Zandt even played some mandolin.

As for the organist, his name is Danny Federici. The pianist is Roy Bittan. An excellent ensemble to be sure.

As for the feud, I have nothing new to add to that discussion except my own wistful sadness that things went awry and thoughts of what might have been for all, including Richard.

Posted on Fri May 5 23:26:14 CEST 2000 from cache01.tor.pathcom.com (209.250.153.18)

Stanley Landau

I haven’t posted for a while and I thought I would add my two cents to some of the topics that have been discussed as of late.

First, and foremost, best wishes for a prompt and complete recovery to John Donabie and thanks to Serge for keeping us up to date

Regarding the feud, some know what it’s about, the rest of us speculate. One thing for sure is that the break up of the original Band as a performing and recording unit has cost us all a lot of wonderful music that might have been created over the past 25 years or so. (I know Richard died in 1986 but who knows what might have been?) I don’t want to offend those who love the work of the reconstituted Band or solo stuff put out by Robbie or any of the other guys. I know there are many who like post original Band music better than the original stuff, but I think those people are by and large in the minority. The real tragedy from my point of view is that Robbie, Rick, Richard, Levon and Garth were deprived of the joy of playing and creating music with each other during those 25 years, irrespective of whose fault the break up was and who did what to whom.

I think that this is what motivates the continuous speculation, commentary and heated emotions on this Guestbook about the feud. Speaking only for myself, somewhere down deep I guess I figure that it all must be some kind of big misunderstanding and if only Robbie and Levon could sit down and talk about it, they could work it out. Until December 10, 1999 I refused to lose hope that 4/5 of the original five might once again get together and make some great music. That hope died with Rick. Before his death, I always searched this site for any glimmer of news of a reconciliation. I still hope for one, but now all the voices seem to be gone. I still hoped that some good would come out of the tragedy of Rick’s death. Maybe two former friends and cohorts would be brought together by the death of a friend. The recent article in Rolling Stone certainly made it clear that that wasn’t going to happen.

A couple of nights ago, I had the good fortune to attend the performance of Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band at the Air Canada Center in Toronto. It was a great show, but not without its moments of melancholy for me. When I got to my seat, the first thing that struck me was the stage set up featuring piano and organ. I don’t attend rock concerts that often but even in the 60’s and 70’s piano and organ together were somewhat of a rarity. I can’t think of any band other than The Band and Procul Harem whose ensembles featured two keyboard players. As I looked out I couldn’t help but remember the many performances by the original five I attended and think of what might have been… if only Richard and Rick were still with us…if only the creativity of 1968 through 1970 had continued … if only the friendship had not died. Bruce and his guys played great and on several occasions showed the influence of the greatest rock and roll Band in history. My wife (bless her) is not a big Band fan but she is a Garth fan. As Bruce’s organist (I forget his name) picked up the accordion and began playing, we looked at each other, smiled with delight and mouthed the word "Garth" at the same time. The organist was clearly emulating Honey Boy. Then there was the eerie falsetto at the end of The River that made me think of Richard. All in all a great show, but I can never go to any concert without wishing it was the guys up there.

Posted on Fri May 5 22:54:49 CEST 2000 from on-tor-blr-ahp-12-101.look.ca (209.161.232.229)

Elliott

I'm not sure why Peter Cook gets to appear in this site but I'm not complaining. Beth Radtke, you are correct. The funniest man on earth, who left us too soon in January 1995. I recently found a book "Something Like Fire, Peter Cook Remembered" edited by his wife Lin Cook with contributions from many writers and performers including Cleese, Idle, and Palin from Monty Python, Dudley Moore, Alan Bennett from Beyond The Fringe, Joseph Heller (Catch-22), and many more. But let's not get carried away here or else we'll have Molly Dear listening to Derek and Clive and that'll be the end of the world! Lobsterisimus bummacissimis indeed!

Posted on Fri May 5 21:57:52 CEST 2000 from 209-23-38-45.ip.termserv.net (209.23.38.45)

Diamond Lil

If anyone cares, the tickets for the Danko benefit are nearly sold out...

Posted on Fri May 5 21:44:23 CEST 2000 from proxy-523.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.113)

patricia

TO MISTY MCKINNEY I WAS A "TRUE BAND FAN" TILL THEY NAILED ROBBIE ROBERTSON TO A CROSS, AND ARE NOW, AND HAVE BEEN "FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS" POKING HIM WITH STICKS JUST TO WATCH HIM SQUIRM!!

Posted on Fri May 5 20:45:53 CEST 2000 from spider-tk072.proxy.aol.com (152.163.206.207)

Long Distance Operator

When I get off of this mountain, you know where I want to go?

Posted on Fri May 5 20:34:03 CEST 2000 from (130.219.229.173)

BK

Mike: The only real way to tell if Robbie's playing a Broadcaster or a Telecaster is to see the name on the headstock. The two are actually the same guitar. About 1950, Fender had to change the name due to a copyright infringement.(or whatever law covers model names) After 1951 it became a Telecaster

Dave: His strat was (is) actually still a 3 pickup model, but he had the middle pickup moved to the back so it looks like it's part of the bridge pickup but it's still really its own entity. (got one of the greatest tones in R&R IMO)

Thanks to Jan and all for a great website & GB. I hope the "differences" can be resolved amicably, and everybody will get along and just enjoy some great music and lively banter. BK

Posted on Fri May 5 20:25:05 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.251)

David Powell

A brief history of the Fender Telecaster guitar:

Leo Fender introduced the forerunner of the Telecaster, which was named the Esquire, in 1950. The Esquire, featuring a single pickup and no truss rod, was produced in limited numbers. Mr. Fender soon realized that the Esquire needed a truss rod to reinforce the neck of the guitar and also decided to add a second pickup. This dual pickup version was originally produced & shipped under a new name, the Broadcaster, which was chosen by Fender's head of sales. In February 1951, Fender received a "cease & desist" telegram from the Fred Gretsch Co., informing them that the use of the Broadcaster name infringed upon Gretsch's registered trademark used on their "Broadkaster" model drums. The guitar was then renamed the "Telecaster."

Posted on Fri May 5 20:01:53 CEST 2000 from proxy-523.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.113)

Hatchet Man

I'm just a little girl,please don't pistol whip with all of your college eduaction or your worldly experience! I just can't bear it..............

Posted on Fri May 5 18:53:03 CEST 2000 from stk-pm1-34-162.dialup.slip.net (207.171.230.162)

Vladimir (Guen's Ferret)

Paiyirom: is that Russian??? Guenevere wanted me to explain her joke to you...but its a very long explantion, and I cn't tupe that will.... but, She says, "Ixnay on the sense ofya umorhay ...or anjay is going to utshay ownday the uestgay ookbay..Okay???

Pehr: Guen wants to fight with you about the Wurlitzer thing, but since we got kicked out of Stepford, we've been traveling a lot trying to avoid the POD people, and well, you can imagine...

Posted on Fri May 5 18:49:21 CEST 2000 from spider-wa022.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.27)

Beth Radtke

Ahhhh, Bedazzled. Peter Cook was the most brilliant comedian, in my opinion (uh-oh, did I start something?)

I just wanted to say that I am very happy because I found the Made in Japan laserdisc on Ebay for $20 (with s/h!). It's awesome. I liked it even better than the Band Reunion. They really seemed to be into it, and Richard's version of You Don't Know Me really gets my attention every time. The comments are interesting, but I hate to think of anything that would hurt Rick, or his memory. I never got the impression that Rick begrudged anyone, anything. And as always, we should learn from him and all try to smile that sweet smile. What a guy...... Take care, Beth

Posted on Fri May 5 18:45:17 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.251)

David Powell

In case anyone is wondering why I haven't responded to recent e-mails--my Outlook program is temporarily shut down due to the "killer from Manilla" virus. Hopefully I will be back online soon.

John--wishing you a speedy recovery. Your enthusiasm for and knowledge of music is amazing. Thank you Serge for your updates (BTW: there's a package headed your way).

Once again, I urge everyone to go see Levon and the Barn Burners if they come near your neighborhood. I'm still on a high from catching their two performances last week in Georgia. The last time a group from up North came through here and set things ablaze like this was when Gen. Sherman, accompanied by an inept cavalry officer named George Stoneman, marched to the sea. I wonder if it was a coincidence that the Barn Burners Southern tour began the week of Confederate memorial day?

The excitement of Levon's appearance was only heightened by Randall Bramblett joining the performances on tenor sax. Randall is no stranger to The Band. Some of you may recall that Randall, along with his longtime friend & collaborator, guitarist Davis Causey, contributed the song "Sawdust and G-Strings" to the soundtrack of "Carny". When I asked Randall last Thursday about his past work, he mentioned that he had previously toured with Levon on two occasions.

On his 1976 solo album, "Light of the Night", Randall also worked with Allen Toussaint, who added a wonderful Fatha Hines meets Professor Longhair piano part to the song "King Grand." More on Randall later.

For those of you in the Atlanta area, me & my partner in musical crime will be celebrating Cinco de Mayo by playing tonight at the U.S. Border Cantina in Alpharetta.

Posted on Fri May 5 18:17:10 CEST 2000 from 216-1-128-38.akorn.net (216.1.128.38)

Mike Carrico

John D - best wishes for a speedy recovery

Matt K - welcome back

On the subject of Robbie's guitar, I love the Telecaster too and always wondered why he switched; the Strat is more versatile and JR manages to approximate his old sound on it, but it doesn't have quite the bite the Tele. In the same Musician magazine article that was quoted at length here recently, Robbie talks about how he used to play a Broadcaster (forerunner of the Telecaster) - does anyone know if what he was playing in the early days of The Band was actually a Broadcaster rather than a Telecaster? - the two are very similar in appearance. He also talks about how he had his Strat bronzed to give it a "thicker" sound.

Posted on Fri May 5 18:16:48 CEST 2000 from 56k-la-00-18.dial.qnet.com (209.221.212.33)

Dave the Phone Guy

Thanks for mentioning Helm's drumming style BWNtennesee. His work on the ride cymbal always impressed me in the old days. He played off of that ride cybal a lot.

As for Robbie switching from a Tele to a Strat, didn't that copper colored Strat he used in later Band years only have 2 pickups instead of the normal 3 pickup configuration? I think that copper Strat has been discussed in the GB sometime in the past.

Check out the new Coco Montoya cd "Suspicion" for some great blues and R&B.

Posted on Fri May 5 17:53:38 CEST 2000 from m198214176061.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.176.61)

pehr

RE: Chest Fever Intro...Tocatta and fugue in d minor by J.S. Bach I believe,(Or some reasonable facsimile thereof.)

Who's ready to fight about Garth? I think he should switch to a Wurlitzer! any takers? I'll disconnect your bones for you and burn your computer like bbq chicken!!!!

have a good weekend folks. Best again to Mr. Donabie

Posted on Fri May 5 17:30:16 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

I have a fond memory of my brother and I staying up to 3 a.m. one Friday night in the early 70s to catch Bedazzled on the Late Late show. I don't think I was more than six-years-old at the time, and the film went over my head, mostly. Recently, when still living in DC, I rented it from a local art-film video store, and this time was far more enjoyable. It's Mod-era London ambiance plays a bit hackneyed these days, but the brilliance of the young Moore/Cooke team shines through - perhaps the most underrated comedy team of the 1960s, with both Moore and Cooke's careers (and Cooke's life) degenerating in later years.

I'd expect to see the original "Bedazzled" available in wider video release this summer. Later this summer, and updated version of the Moore/Cooke film will be released, with Brendan Fraser ("George of the Jungle," "The Mummy," "With Honors," etc) reprising Moore's hapless short order cook (now a low-level tech worker) and Elizabeth Hurley ("Austin Powers," also known as Hugh Grant's wife) playing Cooke's Lucifer.

Fraser, despite a spate of bad movies, is a rather accomplished comedic actor, though certainly not the equal of a young Dudley Moore). Like most remakes, I'm sure it will pale in comparison, especially the rather massive drop-off from Cooke to Hurley - Cooke's devil has a rather manic personality driven by his obsession to get back into Paradise).

The new version will likely suck, but, as I say, may make the original more accessible and available at your local Blockbuster.

On the new album front, has anyone heard the newest Jill Sobule release, "Pink Pearl?" Sobule's first release in the 1990 release, "Things Are Different Here," was a disappointment for me (Band connection? Todd Rundgren produced and engineered her first album, and like Stagefright, Sobule's album probably suffered for it - and I'm a Todd fan from his solo and Utopia efforts, as well as production work, particularly on XTC's "Skylarking").

I really loved her eponymous second effort (featuring the top 40 hits "Kissed a Girl" and "Supermodel," neither of which are the best representations of the music on the rest of the album). Her second effort, "Happytown" was an uneven effort. "Pink Pearl," however, is gaining a good deal of critical success. I'm curious if anyone's got an opinion, here, before I go plop down cash on the CD.

Matt

Posted on Fri May 5 17:05:41 CEST 2000 from pm3-032.efn.org (206.163.180.32)

deb's dog and kitty

Ricky and Blackie say: Hi Pogo and Hope. Nice meeting you. I hear there are other pets out there who want to talk. Could Ilkka's dog Jockey and Cupid's dog Newman please write to us here? Have good naps, everyone, and don't forget to do your happy dance today.

Posted on Fri May 5 16:56:35 CEST 2000 from pm3-032.efn.org (206.163.180.32)

deb

Hi all. I'm glad a few of you know about the film "Bedazzled." It is absolutely my favorite film of all time. Brilliant black comedy from the early years of Dudley Moore and Peter Cook. (P.S.; say a little prayer for Dudley Moore, also a brilliant concert pianist, and who is unfortunately having some pretty severe health problems now). Do not miss this movie! You can probably rent it at your alternative video stores. It is a retelling of the Faustian tale where a man sells his soul to the devil, with some very unusual twists. Cook and Moore pretty much thrash every social institution there is: the church, social mores, and other things.

Hank: good questions. I wonder if Garth's dog or Levon's pets (assuming they have some) read this guestbook, and what would they say about the feuding?

Can we hear from more pets on the matter?

Take care, everyone.

Posted on Fri May 5 16:40:03 CEST 2000 from crtntx1-ar2-074-173.dsl.gtei.net (4.35.74.173)

Kelly

Hi again from the wonderful world of Information Technology! Hopefully, you all read my previous post about the two viruses out there "I Love You" and "FWD: JOKE". Please be careful, and if you see anything remotely like this in your in mail box, even if it is from someone you know - DO NOT OPEN IT! One of the neat little tricks these viruses are doing in looking into history files, and sending it out to people you may have sent or rec'd e-mails to/from in the past. Thanks to Cousin Lori, also for pointing out about the FWD:JOKE, as in looking at my post, it kind of gets lost in the body. O.K. - now to the next point, a third one has popped up, and a name has not been assigned as of yet. I will keep you posted as I find this out. I have heard that it is now believed these viruses have orginated by an individual in Brazil, and steps are now being taken to shut him down. I don't know this as cold hard fact, this is just something that was communicated to my IT group early today. Please be careful folks. Kelly

Posted on Fri May 5 16:38:20 CEST 2000 from proxy-523.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.113)

Pat

And to think, you all told me to keep MY sense of humor! Thanks for telling me my correct e mail address, the people at the ISP store didn't know "crap from christmas"I went to the home page of AHROOO and it lead me directly to Robbie's Den,I was sincerley trying to help,and won't try to explain anything else about it here. I'm sorry

Posted on Fri May 5 14:47:20 CEST 2000 from hoiberg.hiof.no (158.36.51.55)

jh

To the kind people that have been sending me contributions and other Band/related things lately: I'll get back to y'all sooner or later, right now work and travelling is about all I have time for. Please be patient, this backlog of e-mails is the worst yet.

I understand the guestbook is a little heated again, but I haven't had time to read everything here either, not to mention edit out things. And I hope I won't have to.

Posted on Fri May 5 14:34:28 CEST 2000 from dialup-087.cork.iol.ie (194.125.43.87)

HANK

Well, I just wanna say that I think that Telecasters are the greatest guitars and yup, the sound that RR got from 'em was dynamite.......Jimmy Page played Teles in the early days of Led Zeppelin....and never sounded better IMHO......I wanna ask this question about the famous feud..........does anyone honestly know whether RR and Levon KNOW that we here debate about it so much?........I mean, if I ever meet either of 'em I DON'T wanna be in the awkward position of ....." yeah, that's right, I'm such a complete fan of your music that I contribute regularly to your web-sites GB and you'll never guess what ...." and then see them call for security and run a mile.......I suggested before that I thought the guys in The Band would get a kick outta this GB.....but when I think of all the nastiness and bitchery that I've read here I feel they would probably think we're all nutters and loopers......do they actually READ this GB?....does anybody know?......'cos if they DO.......the joke could be on US!!!!!....as opposed to it being about them.....any ideas? Did Rick read The GB?............Does Garth?........Does anyone know that they give rattling , flying Fig about what we talk about here......or indeed, is the joke on us? I'm Not getting cynical folks......I'm still interested in what everyone I've met here has to write......but I'm interested to know if ANYONE knows whether or not this GB means ANYTHING to The Band themselves.........I had a hard time waking this morning......I hadda lotta things on my mind.....here come the weekend , folks......see y'all later......HANK

Posted on Fri May 5 14:02:11 CEST 2000 from crtntx1-ar2-074-173.dsl.gtei.net (4.35.74.173)

Pogo & Hope

Hi to Deb's "Blackie" and "Ricky" - we want to thank you for writing in to help the humans understand that the most important things really are to eat, sleep, be happy all the time, and if you can do a little improvisation to some sort of a dance, the world will be a better place. We like it when Kelly puts on The Band music, it puts us in a downright playful mood, and we run around and act silly until everyone just laughs and laughs. We think that is what these great musicians wanted when they originally created the music in the first place. Well, we have to go now, after all it's time for Pogo to take another nap. Hi to Ilkka's dog too! Oh yes, by the way, thanks to all of you that sent us such nice e-mails after our other furry family member Boz passed away. We know that they all helped our mom, Kelly, and showed how much most of the humans here really are family - even if they are a bit grumpy at times. Love, Pogo and Hope

Posted on Fri May 5 13:44:20 CEST 2000 from spider-te052.proxy.aol.com (152.163.195.197)

Cousin Lori

Just got word that there is a new copycat virus today called "JOKE".

Patricia, your correct email address is Helena61@webtv.net. Hopefully now you can take it off line and we can all behave appropriately as guests of Jan. Thanks Jan.

Have a good weekend. I am too through!!!! I'm outta here...

Posted on Fri May 5 09:48:18 CEST 2000 from proxy-523.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.113)

Paiyirom

IT WAS A LITTLE JOKE....geez,even when i lighten up nobody likes me! That pisses me off......

Posted on Fri May 5 09:05:30 CEST 2000 from gateway.tono.no (212.71.68.22)

Jens Magnus

Yes! Suddenly someone brought up the question of RR's guitars. I did not know he had switched to a strat. Considering the magic he creates on ROA (esp. Unfaithful servant) with his telecaster, I can't understand why he gave that up. For me that is thee RR guitar sound, loaded with overtones.

Posted on Fri May 5 08:56:18 CEST 2000 from stk-pm1-26-154.dialup.slip.net (207.171.230.154)

Guenevere

Pariicia: someone should introduce you to Patricia... I think two would have a lot in common...

Posted on Fri May 5 08:46:51 CEST 2000 from proxy-513.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.103)

BUZZZ

I have a tomcat named Robbie,he purrs like a kitten when his "lead" pipe roars....you all kept telling me to loosin up, this is how I do it! Richard Patterson, you probably don't want to hear this from somebody like me but I completely agree with you...almost

Posted on Fri May 5 08:39:23 CEST 2000 from pm3-147.efn.org (206.163.180.147)

deb's kitty and dog

Blackie the dog: I have one more thing to say. Am I from Africa? I don't remember that far ago. I am 18 in people years; they tell me I am very old. Do you people think I should change my name so I don't insult anyone?

Ricky the cat: I like your name. Do we have to change it?

Posted on Fri May 5 08:31:29 CEST 2000 from pm3-147.efn.org (206.163.180.147)

deb's kitty and dog

Ricky the kitty: Oh, yeah, I forgot this: The best song for dancing is "Rag Mama Rag." I can't sit still when I hear that one.

Blackie the dog: And the best nap song is "Book Faded Brown." My eyelids get really heavy when I hear that one and I feel good.

Posted on Fri May 5 08:27:27 CEST 2000 from pm3-147.efn.org (206.163.180.147)

deb's kitty and dog