The Band Guestbook, February '99

Sun Feb 28 23:40:29 MET 1999

Ragtime

Listen to Robbie's voice in, say Out Of The Blue or Broken Arrow or It Is A Good Day To Die & you all will agree how effective, even impressive his voice can be in a very limited selection of songs. But his problem after quitting The Band is that he had to sing his solo stuff himself now. You can't make an album full of Broken Arrows...

Sun Feb 28 23:10:04 MET 1999

Mitt Stampler

Knocked off work and went fishing, which is a real delight here in Massachsusetts where it's rainy and cold and presently smalley-less. What I've done to get away from "The Stomp Dance!" Still, both "Redboy" and the Teletubbies survived the afternoon intact. Seriously, it seems to me that what made Robbie's work with the Band so phenomenal can still be heard in his some of his solo work--I'm thinking of "Robbie Robertson" in particular, but even on "Redboy" and "Music for Native Americans," it's there. Some would say in a diluted form, others might use the term "bastardized." I often wonder, myself, how to go about "appreciating" it. Do we forget that he was in the Band and try to listen to it on its own terms, or....? Obviously, he's going to come up short if we're looking for the Band Redux, if only because Robbie is just one talented guy rather than a talented guy with the energies of 4 other very talented guys to draw on. I remember a debate a while back about the relative stupidity of the song "Making a Noise," but if there was ever a song where Mr. Robertson could have benefitted from his former brothers' input, try "Making a Noise" or even "Hell's Half Acre." It's not that the music is bad--I suspect that there's a limit to how badly he could write if he tried--but that it's slick without that sort of heartfelt substance that Danko, Helm, and Manuel seemed to bring to everything they sang. I wouldn't say that Robertson's voice is bad, exactly, but it is pretty nondescript. I suspect that's the reason that my six-year-old goddaughter can listen to "Robbie Robertson" over and over again but she cries if I put on Dylan's "Blood on the Tracks." Of course, I've been known to cry during "Blood on the Tracks" myself, depending on the number of mimosas I've consumed... I'm still trying to work out the glitch in my webpage, but all of it but the email should be working, so stop in and visit!

Sun Feb 28 23:03:33 MET 1999

Stanley Landau

Dave Z: First, I loved your post a few weeks back about your Levon/Robbie/new last waltz movie, but I just have to disagree with you on Robbie's singing. Obviously it's all a matter of opinion, but the thought of Robbie singing more in the original Band and Levon, Rick and (God help me) Richard singing less to fit in more Robbie singing, is a very disconcerting thought for me.

Sun Feb 28 22:45:19 MET 1999

Serge

If any of you wonder which one Jack Nance is on the Conway Twitty pix. He's on the left in pic#7 and on the right in pic#8. Read about him in Levon's book, p.78 and 79.

P.Godfrey: Ronnie was given a copy of the photo years ago. It's on a wall in his home.

Sun Feb 28 22:26:14 MET 1999

Dave Z

Wow Stanley, I strongly disagree. I love Robbie's voice. Over on the Contact site, I've also read a lot of entries from particulary women, who also like it. I've also seen a lot of TV ads where the speaker seems to me to be copying Robbie's charismatic voice. Of course I could be imagining. But, could it be that there was a potential for an alternate Band reality that incorporated Robbie's voice a little more, and we just missed it?

Sun Feb 28 22:17:15 MET 1999

Paul Godfrey

Serge. Do you have any photos in the Quarry Press Music Books "The Hawk..The Story of Ronnie Hawkins & the Hawks?" It was written by Ian Wallis. Strange but some of those photos seem very familiar after viewing yours on this site. Ingersoll's Nick Panaseiko gets a photo credit at the end of the book. Just curious!

Sun Feb 28 22:11:29 MET 1999

Dave Z

I heard a VH1 ad that said Curtis Mayfield and the Staple Singers are going to be inducted into the R&R Hall of Fame, with a VH1 showing date of 3/17/99. I was wondering if maybe Robbie was going to be the one doing the honors?

Sun Feb 28 22:10:35 MET 1999

Spike Jones

I can't stand to hear him sing, but I love the way he talks

Sun Feb 28 22:01:04 MET 1999

Stanley Landau

Mitt: I don't mind some of Robbie's stuff, particularly his first album. I just think it would sound a whole lot better if Levon and Rick were singing it and Robbie was playing guitar. Let's face it, the man is one of the best guitarists in the history of rock, but he can't sing. So why is he singing?

Sun Feb 28 21:23:30 MET 1999

Peter Viney

Did a quick look at Amazon.com.

They give two “Amazon.com.” rankings (whatever that means) for Hoskyns. One is 400,000 odd, the other 166,000 odd. Is this their ratings in Amazon.com’s “Top Million”? The Amazon.Com. ranking for Helm is 72,000 which I assume is better. Unless it’s sales which is worse. I doubt seriously that it’s sales. I don’t think they could access the information. And both titles are out of print, which is sad. Levon’s new “Best of” gives both as “further reading.” Every Band fan should have both.

Sun Feb 28 20:47:48 MET 1999

Diamond Lil

Ragtime: The first time I had the pleasure of talking to Garth was about 20 years ago, and even in a room full of people, I thought he was just an incredible prescence. Very soft spoken, very intelligent, and my first impression of him was that he was a real gentleman. I remember that he didn't say much, but kind of listened and took in everything that was going on around him. I guess I'd have to admit that out of all the Band members, he was the one I was truly in awe of.

Since that first time, I've had the pleasure to talk with him on several occassions, and even got to play his accordion once! Probably a highlight for me. So I guess in my opinion, he's just a really nice man..and he has a great smile :-)

Jan: Please have a safe trip tomorrow, and have fun..but not too much. You know what happens when you have too much fun:-)

And btw...I promise not to try and italicize anything during your absence. I do wonder though, how all the entries would look in say...purple. Hmmmm.. :-) I'll miss you!

Sun Feb 28 20:17:19 MET 1999

Ben Pike

Don John, like most neo cons, you fudge the issues. "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" was, unlike Clinton, not defending himself, but assaulting with false accusations. Not meaning to hurt, perhaps, as in "The Rumor." So, the rape accusation of Clinton comes after false accusations of Drug running, Murder, and fathering a black child out of wedlock. So America, at least those not hooked up to five hours a day of CNBC, Yawns. So it is Clinton's attackers, like you, who are the boy in the story......

Sun Feb 28 20:16:25 MET 1999

mattk

RE: HTML

Ok, for those who asked, you figured out the trick: most guestbooks will accept HTML and allow you to format stuff as you go along in your message...

Jan, I'm sorry to have opened a pandora's box with the HTML. I was honestly just doing it in order to help make my points via layout (ordered and un-ordered lists, etc). I did not mean to create any extra work for you indirectly, and I apologize for having to de-bug this page. As someone who makes his living with HTML, I appreciate the hassle and level of effort that can take.

Everyone, Please Note:
HTML formatting is a neat "trick." But beyond what the FAQ says, you can render this whole page unreadable by inputting HTML in incorrectly. For Jan's sake, please don't try this at home unless you do it ALOT and you know exactly what you are doing.

I'm even going to lay off myself, and I spend most of my working day hours writing HTML.

One final note, Jan, how would feel about a little roll-over script so I can imbed links and make them dance a bit...

JUST KIDDING

; - )

MattK

Sun Feb 28 19:50:28 MET 1999

Mitt Stampler

I'm not sure how many copies of Hoskyns' book versus Helm's got sold, though Amazon.com does print some sales figures. (I believe Jan includes links to both on this website, and I've also got them on mine). I don't really have an opinion on which is "better"--I think even trying to discuss them in those terms is ridiculous. They were both a pleasure to read, for different reasons...I probably liked Helm's better, if only because of his delightful style, but to me Hoskyns' book filled in some gaps that either didn't occur to Levon or that he didn't want to mention. Has anyone else read other books of Mr. Hoskyns'? Waiting for the Sun and Under the Diamond Sky are both delightful reading, though they, too, tend to suffer from a heavy reliance on already-published material (and a bit of what one reviewer called "fetish politics.") I took issue with his assessment of the Beach Boys for a rather odd reason: My mom is a Yacqui Indian, born in Guadalajara and raised in Brownsville, Texas. She was politically active, threatened to disown me when I voted for George Bush (or, at least, when I said I was going to vote for George Bush, as I recall there was a new Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie out that I wanted to see and I never made it to the polls), and her favorite group was...yeah, you guessed it. The Beach Boys. She hated to cook, and even now I hear the song "Sloop John B" whenever I heat up a frozen pizza and pour a glass of bourbon. Though the Guestbook is one of the better trips I've ever been on.... Speaking of my mom, this is off-topic but it's a mystery that's been bugging me for almost 28 years. As soon as I was old enough to ask, my mother told me that the name "Mitt" was a perfectly good "Scandinavian" name and I should just tell that to anyone who asked where the &*$#! I got my monicker. I have never been able to locate "Mitt" in any baby name books, nor have I ever met another person with that first name. (There's the American politician Mitt Roney, but it's a nickname for George.) My dad and I came up with the theory that she might have heard a similar name and got it lost in the translation, as it happened. Are there any posters out there who could shed some light on this? Must run--my beloved six-year-old goddaughter and my beloved spouse are in the living room playing "Contact from the Underworld of Redboy" on a continous loop while they work on her Teletubbies sticker collection. With deference to Mr. Landau, I rather like some of Robertson's solo stuff, but if I hear "Making a Noise" one more time, that CD is going in the trash and they'll be lucky if the Teletubbies don't go along with it. Just kidding, at least partly--I would never trash the Teletubbies!

Sun Feb 28 19:49:08 MET 1999

rodney k.

can't we all just get allong?

Sun Feb 28 18:40:57 MET 1999

Tim(SUNDOG)Corcoran

"DRIVIN THAT TRAIN, HIGH ON COCAIN, CASEY JONES YOU BETTER WATCH YOUR SPEED... TROUBLE AHEAD TROUBLE BEHIND, AND YOU KNOW THAT NOTION, JUST CROSSED MY MIND...

Sun Feb 28 18:18:27 MET 1999

Ilkka

After all this argument there is one thing this Community needs:

ILKKA'S BANDCAKES!

What happens when corn flour from Arkansas meets Canadian maple syrup? - Check out my recipe:

//members.tripod.com/woodlark/mycookbook/goodmorning_1.html

Sun Feb 28 16:18:50 MET 1999

Winston Churchill

Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to such a turkey.

Sun Feb 28 16:14:03 MET 1999

Ragtime

Sorry for the mess Jan, but my daughter demands me to emphasize that she knew what she was doing... :-)

Wow... a real feud between the two most eloquent guestbook visitors... great reading for all of us, every time. This guestbook cooks! :-)

And now for something completely different. Diamond Lil: you told us about your encounters with Richard, Levon & Rick, but you owe us your story about how you met Garth. Please tell us about it :-}

Sun Feb 28 16:02:45 MET 1999

Karen Ross alias tarris

the pictures are nice , I will come back tomorrow and look at the lot

Sun Feb 28 15:26:48 MET 1999

Peter Viney

Serge: It might be mildly entertaining if we lined up and chose which one had the net & trident, and which one the sword and shield, but the only Forum on my mind is the one in London and the question of whether I'll be able to get a ticket from the touts. I'll leave it at that.

Sun Feb 28 14:39:52 MET 1999

Serge

Viney: stop tap-dancing around the issue. Contribute something substantial here. Something original, which I don't think you can. Something never before seen. Stop regurgitating and rearranging old material because you love typing. And most of all stay out of my affairs when you don't know all the issues. I don't need your advice. No one can get driven from this site unless they want to. Stop projecting, nothing's gone to my head.

Sun Feb 28 13:57:30 MET 1999

Don Pugatch

On a much lighter note, a group of us have been trading cassettes and I have built up a pretty good collection on The Band, Van Morrison, Eric Anderson, John Hiatt, and Blues Compilations. Still looking for Crossing the Great Divide. Anyone interested in making a swap. On this southern fried weekend here, a warm hello to all you Band fans, and for some, here is an idea pistols at 12:00 AM at the back alley, 6 steps,turn and fire.

Sun Feb 28 13:21:44 MET 1999

Peter Viney

You can like or dislike my articles, but I do include footnotes for every traceable quote, and I separate them from running text by putting the name of the person quoted in bold, and the quote in italics. You can’t get clearer than that. After my article was posted, I had an e-mail from the producer of the radio show that the Forno quote came from. Hoskyns had repeated the quote without credit (BTW, he has no legal obligation to do so). In the footnote I had pointed out that it was originally from the radio show. He wanted to know about the Hoskyns book. I then e-mailed Serge mentioning this, as the photo business was under discussion, and I assumed they would have common cause and could at least share their views on plagiarism. I did not get a reply, and hadn’t expected one.

As the business of this photo copyright has been in general discussion on the site, I posted my comments yesterday, as someone who deals with heavily illustrated books on a daily basis. I felt we were beginning to get the image of Viking as a band of corporate bandits, which is not true. I think it’s also very hasty to assume that Hoskyns knowingly miscredited rather than took a photo offered to him at face value. Whoever offered the photo might be the culprit. It’s also true that when photographs are bought in, the contributing photographer is not given the right to veto accompanying text.

Like most of us, I was delighted to see the OCR scans that Serge has contributed. I wonder if he carefully sought the permission of all the copyright holders and authors before submitting them? If not, he is no position to go overboard about Hoskyns. Copyright law in most countries permits quotation without the need to seek permission as long as the quote is not “substantial”, i.e. a large percentage of the original. A whole article is “substantial”. In his defence, these articles have long been unavailable to the public, so the writers suffered no loss by the competition. If I’d been one of them, I’d’ve given permission. If I’d had the same articles, I’d’ve done the OCR myself. BUT was their right respected any more than his was?

I’m afraid that recent support and praise for Serge’s significant photographic and OCR contributions, which I value as much as anyone, has gone to his head. We are now seeing a resurgence of the aggressive and bullying side which has forced so many people away from this Guestbook. Women are a favourite target (if we include the pseudonymous contributions). My friends, Chris and Gail Bell, who founded the Band Appreciation Society were another. They had a great deal of knowledge and enthusiasm to offer. We had a baiting, crowing call from Serge for them to revisit a couple of days ago. Their alleged “crime” was simply to be acknowledged in Hoskyns book.

Hoskyns used some of the CIUT radio show interviews as if he’d been the one who was going around Stratford talking to Richard’s old band-mates. Of course we can’t prove that he didn’t do so and get very similar quotes from the same people. But I doubt it. Hoskyns is also one of the very best rock writers around. His regular pieces for “Mojo” are always required reading. His other books are also excellent. Some plagiarism? Yes. Nothing illegal though. Nothing like copying an entire article. Excellent and original in other places? Undoubtedly.

So, he sounds like he’s a bit of a bastard with something useful to contribute. Sounds a bit like Serge. Sounds a bit like a lot of us. Me, included.

Sun Feb 28 13:05:13 MET 1999

Just Wonderin'

Rod (and so many others):With all the debate over Hoskyns vs Helm/Davis, regarding which book is better, more accurate, etc, etc...; does anyone out there in Band land know how many copies each of the books has sold?

Sun Feb 28 10:59:26 MET 1999

Diamond Lil

Hey Jan...if I told you that I knew exactly what I was doing and just wanted to see if you knew how to correct it....would you believe me? :-)

Sorry for the mess you had to clean up, but isn't it nice to be needed? :-)

Sun Feb 28 09:11:07 MET 1999

Jan H.

I had to correct some HTML codes in the guestbook this morning. No big deal (we'll get to the punishment for this later, Lil), but please do not use this guestbook as a testing ground for developing your web skills. To quote the guestbook FAQ:

Some times people post HTML formatting codes, animated images, and such things that can make the guestbook page look very chaotic. It'll be corrected as soon as it is detected, but this may take a while because this site is in Europe, and most of you visitors are from the US. The site is not monitored every day, either. Be patient. We are thinking about installing a little "filter" that will remove HTML and other possible "nasties" from guestbook entries .... please do not insert any other HTML codes in the guestbook unless you are 100 percent sure of what you are doing.

Sun Feb 28 08:08:58 MET 1999

Rod (again)

now, I've put every thing in bold - sorry Jan.

Corrected. --JH

Sun Feb 28 08:06:32 MET 1999

Rod

Whoops, Lil, it should have read: less than sign, forward slash, I ,greater than sign.
don't you just love HTML.

Sun Feb 28 08:03:21 MET 1999

Rod

Diamond Lil, you forgot the .

Serge, your pictures are appreciated. I'm sure Barney Hoskyns didn't intentionally set out to rip you off. I prefer his book to Levon's as it is probably the more accurate of the two - even if it does borrow heavily from other sources. Given that no one in The Band seemed that interested in talking to him thats understandable.

Sun Feb 28 06:12:48 MET 1999

Zimmy

Time will tell- who has fell and who's been left behind...

Sun Feb 28 05:16:44 MET 1999

Tim(SUNDOG)Corcoran

Shoot out in China town, they got'm up against the wall...

Sun Feb 28 03:57:20 MET 1999

Charlie Jonas

First show I saw was Winterland, a hypnotist on stage with the Band 'cause Robbie (?) had the flu. All well the next night. And tonight, 30 years later. Who among you were there? What do you remember? Charlie J.

Sun Feb 28 03:39:54 MET 1999

Fun Fun

Serge and Viney going at it! It does'nt get any better than this.

Sun Feb 28 02:57:00 MET 1999

Bun bun

There's a riot going on at Footprints

Sun Feb 28 01:27:31 MET 1999

paulg

Robin Hawkins...Ronnie's second son is appearing at JR's in London, Ontario tonight. Down with the flu and will have to miss this one. Anyone know where the Chords for "Broken Arrow" and "Country Boy" can be found? Lyrics in Library but no chords.

Sun Feb 28 00:08:48 MET 1999

Serge (again)

Post Scriptum: Viney: Stop covering your ass out of guilt...repent publicly, or I'll blow the whistle. Let's see what you're made of.

Sun Feb 28 00:01:17 MET 1999

petropoulos kostas

Hi to all. There is only 20 min that the live of M.R ,here in athens is finished. I hoped that we could celebrate and dancing with them all night. THE RESIDENTS THE FALL PERE UBU SPIRITUALIZED DEUS And now MERCURY REV. I was not a so called - a fan- but i am now. Thanks to guys from the desert. I sure you, we drink all the juices from cactus they offer us. I know a lot of words in greek to express my HAPPINESS. But my english are poor........ Thanks again ,hope to see you very very soon.

Sun Feb 28 00:01:15 MET 1999

Serge

Viney: It is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS! You should know and realize what you did on your Whispering Pines thing. Don't blame it on " Not meticulous crediting sources". Quit pontificating. I don't need "you" to deal with your compatriot. Your type have always been good at capitalizing on other peoples efforts and trailblazing.

Sat Feb 27 23:48:23 MET 1999

Peter Viney

Serge: It’s NOMB (none of my business), but everyone sympathizes about the unauthorized use of your photos. The question you have to ask yourself, is what redress do you want? If you simply want to be paid as is your right, why not just invoice Viking with proof? They’re a highly reputable publisher and would probably pay up. But if your beef is that you do not want your work associated with something you disapprove of, it gets difficult. If they had asked for reproduction rights for the book in advance of publication, they wouldn’t have given you text approval anyway. They can’t do anything about existing copies. If they’re reprinting you could ask them to delete the photo (and paying your invoice would be cheaper than this). If the real question is that you feel your subjects’ trust has been betrayed, I should think that they all know just what happened.

I can see examples of other uncredited things in the book as well (particularly the CIUT radio show The Music of Richard Manuel). In all fairness, the book has not been meticulous about crediting sources, but the guy does write with love and conviction about the music. The subjects may have a problem with inaccuracies, but at least he didn’t do an Albert Goldman on them. Your photo is a great contribution to the picture section of the book. And in spite of all the comments, it is a good read.

Sat Feb 27 23:20:08 MET 1999

Lil (one more time)

Hmmmm..now how come _every_ entry in this book is suddenly italicized? Jan...is that you...or do I have some kind of magical powers that I didn't know about?

Corrected your little mistake. Please see my comment further up here. --JH

Sat Feb 27 23:15:48 MET 1999

Lil

Cool!

Sat Feb 27 23:14:24 MET 1999

Diamond Lil

Ok Ragtime...giving this a shot. Guess I won't know till I hit the old "send" button, eh? Well....in case it works.....thanks Ragtime's daughter. Funny, but if we knew all the stuff our kids know, we'd be....smart :-) Ok..here goes.....sending....

Sat Feb 27 23:08:29 MET 1999

Mike Nomad

Whew! The Daniloff pix, espy the '63 Brass Rail shots, took me back into time. I almost thought I recognized myself (and my wife) among the bar patrons in photos 1 & 2, but No. 3 indicated otherwise. Nevertheless, thanx a lot.

Sat Feb 27 23:00:07 MET 1999

Railroad Man

Serge :Sorry to hear that your contributions to this site have been taken advantage of by opportunists with no talent and even less scuples. I would be prepared to contribute some money towards legal action, I dont know how many people regularly read this book but I'd say most of them would be prepared to do the same, we could call it the "JUSTICE FOR SERGE FIGHTING FUND ",Seriously, my offer is genuine.

Sat Feb 27 22:57:29 MET 1999

Tim(SUNDOG)Corcoran

NOW WHEN THE "RUMOUR", COMES TO YOUR TOWN, IT GROWS AND GROWS, WHERE IT STARTED NO ONE KNOWS...

Sat Feb 27 22:49:17 MET 1999

Ragtime

Lil:As my younger daughter told me: arrow to the left, than i, than arrow to the right.When closing: the same but with /i between the arrows.Like this. You'll love it :-)

Sat Feb 27 21:56:25 MET 1999

Serge

catbalu: Email me anytime. In English:) There's no bravery involved. I am not worried about the air-brush bloodsuckers, if they want to go to those lengths. I can always prove where the pix come from. As I said before, photos are to share and for people to look at. Some prefer to peddle them as art. Some like to steal and peddle them. Some like to take credit from the labours and research of others. We all know who they are, don't we ?

Sat Feb 27 21:22:16 MET 1999

Donald Joseph

MattK: Get a grip, Buds.

Sat Feb 27 21:19:08 MET 1999

Diamond Lil

Matt and Ragtime: Ok..now _I_ want to know how you did that.

Sat Feb 27 20:45:15 MET 1999

catbalu

Serge, from what i've seen so far on the net, you are a brave soul to share your wondrous work at all, even with the copyright on them (somebody could always "feather away" the copyright in photoshop). I am in the process of checking into that very thing with my "large" attorney ---- retain a small, medium, and large one (and am less one tax attorney right now, although i did let him live). my "large" one is also a city judge/Band Daddy/old friend, therefore i trust him most..... and the abuse of copywrited work is a serious concern; therefore, i go large toward trust. If you are interested i'll tell you what he has to say..........

This Internet is too loose, more scary - and intimidating - than the armidillo that keeps storming my basement. I've already seen enough of my work copied - downright to the "letter" at times - to fill an ocean - well, maybe a Great Lake - and it's about to be out HERE now????? i'd gladly help you - if i were an attorney - and wish you luck. (BTW - been listening to music without words this past week, letting the Andean and Gaelic take me back to whaling ships and brown-skinned tribes, things that i love to keep the cup half full and the blood pressure down.... "what i love best - go to it", as most recent stomping holes through the floor only gave me shin splints. wasn't worth it, as Diamond Lil says)............ You should and could do a book. I dare you.

Diamond Lil, said a little prayer. take care.

Sat Feb 27 20:36:35 MET 1999

Ragtime

As I said before: it's good to have daughters who can tell you how pathetic you are not knowing how html works...

Sat Feb 27 20:30:30 MET 1999

Ragtime figuratively

Charlie Young: LAST NIGHT did it for me on "No Reason To Cry". (& Sign Language of course: great Double R guitar playing overruling Clapton's).

MATTK: I certainly won't help the thread live longer, but "there's one more thing I must ask." Your entry is graced by beautiful italics. How do you do that? I didn't find this in the FAQ & don't want to disturb Jan who must be packing his bags right now.

Re "Testimony": whose did you refer to? Robertson's? Or Volkov's?

Sat Feb 27 18:40:55 MET 1999

mattk

Donald Joseph, I said nothing regarding Clinton except to indicate that your logic appears more in keeping with recursive, insultingly narrow defense familiar from the Clinton affair than your figuratively fat finger points to in "Testimony."

Please refrain from mis-stating and mis-characterizing my comments. I assumed you were interested in a constructive discussion regarding the events that inspired a piece of music. Clearly this is about deeper, more disturbed issues than anything we should be discussing here.

I'm moving on, I suggest you do to.

This is really my fault. I should have known from your past comments that this is part of your pattern and you have predisposition for painting things you don't understand with an overlarge brush.

My apologies to all for helping this thread live longer than the two seconds it took to read Donald Joseph's original post.

Thank You

MattK

Sat Feb 27 17:42:45 MET 1999

Charlie Young

I'm listening Richard Manuel with Eric Clapton on the bonus track "Last Night" from the "No Reason to Cry" CD for the first time and it's great. It would be nice if someone could compile a collection of similar songs, such as John Simon's "Out On the Street" (featuring Levon and Rick on vocals) and John Sebasian's duet with Levon on his "Tar Beach" album. Something along the lines of the "Duets" collection by Emmylou Harris could become the great lost album by The Band. By the way: I spoke to a friend who is in New Orleans fot the weekend and commented that Levon's club was "nice." With names like Marcia Ball and Irma Thomas on the calendar, it seems like the talent is top-notch, too. No comment about the song-title menu selections...

Sat Feb 27 15:27:09 MET 1999

Tim(SUNDOG)Corcoran

"Well it's a marvelous night for a moon dance", What memories, 'ol VAN THE MAN!!! My favorite song has got to be "GLORIA", by THEM, just about midnight, she made me feel so good!

Sat Feb 27 15:05:05 MET 1999

Serge

Wonder where Hoskyns' buddies the "Bells" from England disappeared to ? Haven't heard from them in ages around here. I miss them. Come out, come out wherever you are...!

Sat Feb 27 14:15:20 MET 1999

Ben Dover

Van The Man is back! New year, new label, but a whole load of existential discontent. No change there, then. To the younger end of the market, Van Morrison must resemble one of those rugged, ancient stones that still dot the landscape of his beloved Celtic West. But what the hell does he stand for now? Back on Top will satisfy fans who've stuck with Van's low key efforts of recent years. The longer term disciples will bask in its pleasurable echoes of old songs: the mansions on the hillsides, the obscure allusions to Geneva, William Blake and 'backstreet jelly roll'. Even so, there are developments in evidence. And they're not jolly. The record has just two tracks with an upbeat feel, and they're both profoundly bleak at heart. The opener 'Goin' Down Geneva' is a rollockin' pub-rock boogie, but it describes a travelling musician "my heart was filled with pain" playing dead end gigs in Europe. Then there is 'Precious Time', jaunty with a blue-beat bounce but veined with pessimism. The loneliness of the long distance artist is the album's recurring theme. In 'The Philosopher's Stone he sings "My job is turning lead into gold". 'New Biography' is a swipe at writers who presume to know him, and the fans who run websites in his honour (!) . There is also romance in the beautiful utterances of 'When the Leaves Come Falling Down' and downright strangeness in 'Golden Autumn Day', wherin a man attacked by two muggers tries to overcome his depression and fantasises about flogging his assailants. But most of all there is gloom. 'Reminds Me of You' is the great love song here, and it's a song of love lost. "Sometimes it seems I'm going to Hell", he concludes. Restless, disappointed, heartbroken. We can only hope the real-life Van is not in the place he's singing about. For Back on Top sounds anything but.

Sat Feb 27 13:17:13 MET 1999

SN

Jan: I have some very interesting clips here that I'd like to put into your hands. Interested?

Sat Feb 27 12:41:19 MET 1999

Diamond Lil

Serge: No need to apologize for the copyright banners. Think we all understand you're doing what you have to do. The photos are priceless, and I think in this case I can speak for almost everyone when I say your contributions to this site are much appreciated.

Thank You Jonathan Katz and Ragtime. Got through a very tough day yesterday and was rewarded by some very good news. Maybe there's something to be said for the power of positive thinking.

Sat Feb 27 10:09:56 MET 1999

Ragtime

Donnie: not that again, please...

Serge: Great pix & another great asset to the site from you. Now I'm beginning to understand all this bitterness of yours. Let all the lawyers of the world nail the guy (when they're finished with Clinton, that is).

Stanley Landau :-) it's good to have daughters who show us how pathetic we are, typing at length in the middel of the night.

Lil :-) thinking of you.

Please mr. Music, will you play...

Sat Feb 27 09:16:41 MET 1999

Donald Joseph

MattK/Ben Pike: Cheeses! I sense some...hostility, perhaps? Clinton has nothing to do with this site and very little to do with my last post; I raised him by example only to explain Lenny's peculiar non-denial, which still none of you has been able to explain. I naievely thought my Clinton reference was non-controversial. You guys can admire Clinton all you want; no one is asking you to defend his bedroom romps of 20 years ago. But get a grip on reality, guys. Great statesman or not, the man is randy and less than truthful. Can you spell "I did not have a relationship with that woman, Miss Lewinsky"? And even if Juanita is full of it, can you spell "the president who cried wolf"? We already showed you two guys one sperm-stained dress, & the DNA checks out. What more is it going to take for you to concede the prez is a man of gargantuan appetites -- a sloshin', steamin' bucket of the stuff?

Stanley Landau: I shudder even to contemplate the tremors sure to shake Manhattan when your letter hits town. Give us some advance notice --will ya?-- so we can be sure to stay clear of the Big Apple that day.

By the way, Landau, you've now told us you're a still-practicing lawyer -- but that you've sworn off the foppery of Rosen rags. Whaddaya wear to the office, Rags & Bones? I hope your law partners just don't judge you by your shoes, eh?

Jonathan Katz: I await your Hirth report, & any news on how we mere mortals might acquire the disc. In the meantime, speaking of John Simon projects, is anyone else deeply into the 1st A.J.Croce l.p., co-produced by Simon & T Bone Burnett? (No need to respond if you're fed up with me by now.)

Sat Feb 27 04:26:38 MET 1999

Jonathan Katz

To John Donabie: Your investment inspired me to re-listen to the Toshiba remasters of Big Pink and The Brown album. I played them in the car [next best thing to head phones] for the last two days on my way to and from work. Each leg of the trip is about the length of one side of an lp. When you are married and have a couple of kids you don't get much time to listen to music at whatever volume you like - the care is my last refuge. The one thing that stands out for me on these more than on the original CD releases [I've not played the lps in years] is the drums. On "Across The Great Divide" they hit you in the face - fantastic! On "The Weight" that bass drum comes in after the acoustic guitar intro and smacks [sorry Rick] you right between the eyes. The contrast between the delicacy of the acoustic guitar intro and the bass drum sets off the entire journey of the song. I had forgotten how sublime is that acoustic intro after hearing it done via electricity in all of those live recordings. These things cost an arm and a leg. Worth it? To me yes [unqualified]. I bought the first two and just ordered NLSC via CDNow [with a $10 discount - such a deal!]

Arriving home after a commute made sublime via Toshiba - what do I find? A copy of the new Hirth Martinez CD from my friend Kohji Takada! [And its autographed to me from Hirth! Way to go, Kohji.] In the liner notes Hirth says: "Also this project offered yet another opportunity to play with my longtime friend, the great Garth Hudson. Thank you Garth for giving your creative energy & genius to these recordings." I'll post more on this John Simon produced item after a chance to digest it.

Thinking of you Diamond Lil.

Sat Feb 27 04:11:15 MET 1999

paulg

Dr Ugg....check out the "library" section on this site and you will be strummin' for months

Sat Feb 27 02:40:20 MET 1999

Dr.Ugg

I'm a camp fire guitar player. I am looking for any cords from The Band's latest C.D. I would be very happy to get these cords. gd thng PEACE FROM US Dr.Ugg

Sat Feb 27 02:28:18 MET 1999

Just Wonderin'

Serge: You really should do a book. I'm sure many of us would by it! Thanks for sharing.

Sat Feb 27 02:23:44 MET 1999

Just Wonderin'

Bill Munson: You mentioned in your post the Aboriginal Achievement Awards. You don't happen to know when they are this year do you? Thanks!

Sat Feb 27 01:38:56 MET 1999

Tim(SUNDOG)Corcoran

RE: "Dancing Bear", and make sure to leave the DOOR OPEN!!!

Fri Feb 26 23:54:01 MET 1999

Stanley Landau

Serge: I am a lawyer, and although my practice doesn’t include entertainment law, I would be happy to write a letter for you to that fancy New York law firm on my fancy Toronto law firm letterhead at no charge. I can’t promise to do much more than that. For one thing I’m not qualified to practice in the U.S. and for another there are only so many hours in the day, but I would glad to try and help out a fellow Band fan, particularly one who has contributed so much to this site. If you’re interest e-mail me at landau@bsllaw.com.

Fri Feb 26 23:43:33 MET 1999

Pat Brennan

An Andy Kauffman article in the Chicago Tribune revealed an interesting tidbit. He had a large record collection, and among the artists listed as represented was one Ronnie Hawkins.

Fri Feb 26 23:36:08 MET 1999

Serge

Greg D. That's a six string bass that Danko's playing. That is how he started with the Hawks (if my memory serve), having been a guitar player primarily I guess. A local musician here in London still has that particular 6 string wonder.

Young: guess I was partially right about N. Felts being from Missouri. I have a pic. of him from those Brass Rail days I think. If I find it I'll send it in. When Jan returns from his English visit there will be more oldies/goodies to look at.

I'd like everyone to take a hard look at my 4 "Hawks 1963" pics from the Brass Rail that were posted today, as well as others in the Hawks section of this site.. Look at the guy with the army "white-wall" haircut sitting ringside... Now go look at the Hawks pic. in Hoskyns book, next to page 152. The guy never attempted to trace the origin of the photo, just helped himself and credited some dude who had laid his hands on a copy and was dumb enough to just hand it over. Read the recent OCR's from different mags., then look at Hoskyn's effort. Why can't people practise honesty ? The recent TV special on Robbie used a copy of a 1959 photo from this site that I contributed, after I repeatedly refused to cooperate with them. They just went ahead and helped themselves..When I complained, they just steered me to some fancy New York law firm if I thaught I had a beef. Money hungry, dishonest leeches. The story ain't over.

HOSKYNS: if you read this and you're such a great Band fan that it drove you to write a book, get on this site and tell us all about it. Don't hide.

I apologize again about the copyright banners on the pix...Sorry, I am pissed off. Wish I had the means to go after these bloodsuckers.

Fri Feb 26 22:29:02 MET 1999

Paul g

Of course meant...Beak..Richard M.

Fri Feb 26 22:27:09 MET 1999

Paul Godfrey

Bill M. Thanks for the update on KBB. Last time I caught up with him was at a Kitchener version of the "Hawks Nest". Actually it was outside of Kitchener in Breslau. My contribution were the photos for the posters they put on the walls of the club. Richard Newell, and as Ronnie called him "cocaine" Carl Mathers sat in on some of those evenings and it was a treat to be in such fine musical company. At that point in time both KBB and Carl were having a hard time of it. Glad to hear Richard is still at it. I have a hundred year old violin that Carl played one evening he was over for supper. It is placed on the wall in my family room in his memory. As with Stanley S, Richard R. and Carl...."Done Too Soon!"

Fri Feb 26 22:23:23 MET 1999

Greg D.

Bill M. of Toronto: I forgot to add another Band/Red Green Connection to my previous post: Ian Thomas and Bill Dillon, both members of The Boomers, with Bill of course guesting on solo albums by Robbie.

Fri Feb 26 22:00:14 MET 1999

Greg D.

Bill M.: Thanks for the other Band/Red Green links. I'd forgotten about Richard's participation in Tears are Not Enough. He did not seem to get as much publicity as some of the other participants; would've been nice to hear him sing a solo line or two. Thanks, Serge, for the additional interesting photos. Anybody know if that is a guitar or early 6-string bass that Rick is playing in the pictures? Cheers.

Fri Feb 26 21:00:42 MET 1999

Diamond Lil

Thanks Serge (and Jan) for the latest group of photos. Kind os blows me away though to look at those pictures and realize they were taken the year I was born :-)

Lee Gabites and Peter Viney: Take good care of Jan next week, ok?

On a seperate note, I'm right now awaiting word on a dear friend who's having some very serious surgery today. Been in the OR for 7 hours now. Asking for good thoughts from everyone please. Thank You.

Fri Feb 26 19:09:57 MET 1999

Bill Munson

Tom Izzo: Richard Newell plays harp on the Hawkins records. Are you aware of his '95 (?) Stony Plain CD, "Urban Blues Renewell" (this'd be a pun)?

Greg D.: there are other Red Green / Band links. Two of the regular characters on Red's show are Ian Thomas and Graham Greene. Ian Thomas sang on "Tears Are Not Enough", along with Richard Manuel. Graham Greene, who hails from Six Nations, hosted last year's (and most other years') Aboriginal Achievement Awards, which Robbie Robertson appeared on.

Fri Feb 26 18:42:46 MET 1999

tom izzo

Bill Munson: Thanks for ithe info. Deeply appriciated. One question: is Richard N. playing guitar or harp on the aformentioned Ronny Hawkins disks? He is excellent at both. Also: Amos Garrett is probably one of the finest electric fingerpickers I ever saw. Listen to his solo on Midnight At The Oasis or any of his stuff with Paul Butterfield. He's also an excellent trombone player.Again thanks Bill and keep me posted if you hear of KBB and/or Crowbar gigging in the New England area. Peace: Tom

Fri Feb 26 17:33:37 MET 1999

mattk

Donald Joseph, Not really gonna belabor the Leonard Peltier issue with you. I sense a predisposition based on your feelings about the president, RR, and god knows what else...

Regarding a judges right to deny a defense. A judge can ABSOLUTELY deny a defendant's ability to use certain defenses--happens all the time. The judge essentially tells councel that he/she will not allow questions to be asked of witness that go to the core of the argument. They can also order the defense to not bring up the concept during arguments.

Comparing your use of Lenny to "Dirty Rotten Bastard" is hooey and you know it. I'm not even gonna dignify it. You are using the contraction to denigrate. You can spin it any way you want, but at least show enough courage to admit your motives--talk about Clinton-esque behavior! Cheers matt

Fri Feb 26 17:01:01 MET 1999

Ilkka

Music and literature are too different kinds of art but I can't help hearing The Band playing in catbalu's writing. - The rhytm is always there, in the background, soft and powerful at the same time; like Levon's drums. The words are jumpin' like Rick's bass. Some words are right, others not - but who cares; we love Richard's piano and the wandering notes. Like Garth's organ, catbalu's text is a never ending pastoral symphony. And like RR, ... well he knows he's good at it.

The literature of the sixties might have been written in the subway walls but today's literature is here, online.

And - consequent - the literature criticism should be found here, too.

Fri Feb 26 16:54:41 MET 1999

Greg D.

Serge and Paul Godfrey: Thanks for setting me straight on the Brass Rail and the Golden Rail. Who would have thought there would be a connection between Red Green and The Band (albeit indirect) by means of playing at the same venue? Regarding Powder Blues and Crowbar, I also believe that the former are defunct, and I haven't heard anything about Crowbar. The last I recall, Kelly Jay was doing solo shows and moved to Alberta in the early/mid eighties. Oh what a feeling!

Fri Feb 26 16:42:53 MET 1999

Dave Z

I saw a TV ad for a new sitcom starring John Larroquette (spelling?) that is called "Payne", and is located at a hotel called "Whispering Pines". Is this just a coincidence, or is there a Band connection? Maybe John's a fan? Probably just reachin' here.

Fri Feb 26 16:32:41 MET 1999

Bill Munson

Tom Izzo, Richard Newell is still around in Hamilton, still appearing occasionally. I saw him at the Silver Dollar in Toronto about two years ago, sharing lead duties with Kelly Jay (from Crowbar). Kelly lives near Calgary and is still very active. Some might find it interesting that he's been known to tour Western Canada - and also Western Europe - with guitarist Amos Garrett, who is also Calgary based. Most of the rest of Crowbar (i.e., without Kelly or Richard) did try a reunion around that time, but it must have petered out by now. If you ever see the magazine, "Real Blues", you might leaf through it. They usually seem to run something on Richard Newell's activities.

As for Powder Blues, I'm pretty sure that the name belongs to Tom Lavin. So he can call whoever he's playing with the Powder Blues Band, despite the fact that the original lineup is long gone. I saw pianist Will MacCalder playing solo (and very well) at the Victoria Blues Festival in '97. I was told that drummer Duris Maxwell is now a lawyer. I imagine the rest are still around somewhere.

I think you also asked about Newell/Hawkins recordings. Newell has always sid he's on the LP version of Hawkins' '68 (?) hit, "Home From The Forest". He's for sure on Hawkins' first Cotillion LP, with Duane Allman. And he's done some recordings with Hawkins' group (though without Hawkins). One's a rarish LP that was stuck out without permission in the mid-70s; the others are budget blues compilations that are probably available cheap at Wal-Mart or K-Mart of Zellers. Usually have a couple of green, brown and bluehorizonal stripes across the front.

Fri Feb 26 16:13:51 MET 1999

Ben Pike

Don Joe: I had to do some serious butt whipping some months back of you Clinton hating weasals and I won't mind doing it again, if you want to make the Band room the place for this stuff. Since Broadrick never uses the word "rape" or takes her charge to court(the right thing to do when charging someone with a wreached crime on national TV) and has singed an affadavid calling herself a liar, AND is surrounded by the usual gang of Clinton hating losers, it's hard to say just what he should deny. Should he throw in a denial of Vince Foster's Murder, the drug running, and the out of wedlock black child? Take your right wing rubbish to the Lee Hazelwood room, and stuff it.

Fri Feb 26 15:57:03 MET 1999

David Powell

Peter Viney once again amazed me with his analysis of "Whispering Pines." One thing that has always intrigued me about that song is the play on the dual meaning of the word "pine." The needles of the tree make a soft rustling sound when the wind blows. The forlorn mood of the song also reminds us that the character in the song is perhaps grieving over loss or longing for the unattainable. So as the wind is rustling through the pines, the singer also pines quietly alone , stirred by the rustling of memories.

I think Donald Joseph's debate over Robertson's "Sacrifice" points out an underlying problem that occurs when politics is mixed with art. An artist's vision is not necessarily shaped by facts or so-called truth, but rather by his vision, his impressions & gut reactions. Robertson's _...Underworld of Red Boy_ is an album that presents songs from the perspective of Native Americans, a view that is rarely portrayed in the "official" history books. In "Sacrifice", it was not Robertson's intention to present the events from the perspective of "the authorities" like some court reporter, but rather through the eyes of the accused.

Derek Trucks is the nephew of Butch Trucks. Like his uncle's band, young Derek performs frequently in Atlanta, often jamming with various members of the Allman Brothers & friends. I recall that Narvel Felts had quite a few songs out on the country radio stations in the '70s.

Fri Feb 26 15:39:00 MET 1999

TOM IZZO

Serge/John Donabie: Thanks for the info on King Biscuit Boy and The Powder Blues Band. My band back in the 80's did songs by both bands and always got a good response. (Buzzard Luck,Hoy Hoy Hoy,Boom Boom Out Go The Lights) Seems fellow band mates absconded with my vinals. Is Crowbar still gigging? How about KBB? Does Powder Blues have more than one album out? I seem to remember The Hawk saying KBB was the best harp player he ever heard. Any recordings with them playing together available? Peace: Tom

Fri Feb 26 15:10:08 MET 1999

Railroad Man

In attemping to add some diversity to these pages because it does get repetitious and much too serious at times I'll ask this question...Have any of the guestbooker's ever made love to the Bands music ?.I have often but I would recommend to anyone experiencing premature ejaculation to avoid Volcano !!.

Fri Feb 26 12:13:03 MET 1999

tim

danny lopez: you can see (well, sort of) richard and lee playing drums on "mystery train" in TLW.

Fri Feb 26 10:45:25 MET 1999

Lee

BONES: I was told the label is House of Blues but haven't followed that up yet. A guy called Derek Trucks guests with The Band, I think on slide guitar. He's the son of Butch Trucks drummer for the Allman Bros.

Fri Feb 26 07:29:24 MET 1999

catbalu

"At that instant he saw, in one blaze of light, an image of unutterable conviction, the reason why the artist works and lives and has his being -- the reward he seeks -- the only reward he really cares about, without which there is nothing. It is to snare the spirits of mankind in nets of magic, to make his life prevail through his creation, to wreak the vision of his life, the rude and painful substance of his own experience, into the congruence of blazing and enchanted images that are themselves the core of life, the essential pattern whence all other things proceed, the kernel of eternity." hope this makes sense to you, as it has everything to do with the music. (from a nice little site but not as nice as The Band's.) SYLA

Fri Feb 26 06:14:36 MET 1999

Bumbles

DONALD JOSEPH: Who do you expect to answer your question about the editing of "Sacrifice": Robbie Robertson, catbalu, or SUNDOG?

Fri Feb 26 05:21:09 MET 1999

Donald Joseph

MattK: You answered my Lenny question by telling me he denies murder. But you & someone else seem to have misinterpreted my question: I was less interested in the facts of Lenny's case than in why RR edited "Sacrifice" so that Lenny makes only a Clintonesque non-denial. My question stands.

Did you notice that re the new Clinton bimbo eruption, Juanita/"Jane Doe #5," Clinton denies only that he "ASSAULTED" her--but he does NOT deny having sex with her?? If you listen to "Sacrifice," Lenny does the same. He mentions his co-defendants' self-defense theories, and he mentions the prosecutor denigrating the prosection's own case, but Lenny NEVER denies murder!

Now that you tell me Lenny has denied the murder elsewhere, I ask again why RR edited Lenny's words on the song so as to make him, Clintonesquely, not deny anything? Surely "Sacrifice" is meant to be heard by an audience who (like me) knows none of the facts of Lenny's story going into it -- even MattK says Lenny's story has been suppressed. Or does Robbie think the only people who buy his albums are Lenny cultists & he's preaching to the choir?

My question goes to "Sacrifice," not to Lenny's cause celebre: Why no denial in the song?

BTW, I don't believe the judge didn't let Lenny put on a self-defense theory. I could be wrong because I admit I know little about criminal law, but I can't see how a judge could exclude evidence going to a self-defense theory without committing reversible error. Again, I could be wrong & I apologize for not researching this the way you all have, but I have other projects on my to-do list ahead of freelance, pro bono [unpaid] Lenny-research. If I sound like I'm talking without knowing the facts, that's exactly the point: "Sacrifice" doesn't give an accurate snapshot of what it purports to portray. Before you flame me, tell yourself 3 times: "Donnie Joseph is talking about the deficiencies of 'Sacrifice,' not about the underlying facts."

Also BTW: If you guys think Lenny's personal ordeal elevates him to a level where it's disrespectful simply to call him "Lenny," what would you think of a guy taping a phone call with him, Linda Tripp-like, and then making a rap song out of it? So LAY OFF! (If your response is that Lenny cooperated in the making of "Sacrifice" & it was not a Trippian situation, then why can't I use a personal form of address with a professional rapper? Last time I checked, rappers were giving themselves names like "Ol' Dirty Bastard." What's wrong with a simple "Lenny"?) (If you deny "Sacrifice" is a rap song, pls. supply a workable definition of "rap music" which excludes it.)

P.S. Whoever said I'm no Tom Wolfe made me cry.

Fri Feb 26 03:47:19 MET 1999

Charlie Young

Paul: thanks for the Narvel Felts info. I may have to check out the Hillbilly Funk All-Stars when they play DC. I saw Catfish Hodge solo acoustic last year and he was outstanding. Like Geoff Muldaur, he has a voice which has improved with age. Meanwhile, I'm saving up for those Toshiba CD reissues of the early albums by The Band. I think I'm gonna move to Japan...

Fri Feb 26 03:35:56 MET 1999

Paul Godfrey

Greg D. Ronnie Hawkins appeared in a club called the "Golden Rail" in Hamilton, Ontario Canada. He followed other rockabilly greats like Billy Riley, Gene Simmons, Harold Jenkins and believe it or not Narvel Felts. They were booked by legendary Canadian agent Harold Kudlets. Ronnie and Levon always referred to him as "The Colonel." Ronnie held court at the Golden Rail thru the 60's and early 70's when it became known as Diamond Jim's. Another popular group of the 70's that appeared there ..."Jason" is of interest to Red Green Fans. Steve and Morag Smith were members of Jason. Shine On!

Fri Feb 26 02:51:03 MET 1999

Tha Dancing Bear

The Hillbilly Funk All Stars will tour the last week of February and the first week of March. The players are T Lavitz on keyboards from Jazz is Dead, Kenny Gradney and Richie Hayward on bass and drums from Little Feat, Vassar Clements on Fiddle who is the father of hillbilly jazz, and Catfish Hodge on vocals and acoustic guitar who has co-founded such great musical aggregations as the The Bluesbusters, Chicken Legs, Cheek to Cheek All Stars, and is has been called an "American Folk Blues hero." What kind of music will they play? If you know the musical history of these wonderful musicians you already know the answer to this question. If you don't know the answer, it's about time you came through the door and experienced it for yourself!

Fri Feb 26 02:28:09 MET 1999

Danny Lopez

Just wonderin' if Richard and Levon ever simultaneously played drums onstage. Seems they did this on a few occasions in the studio -- Smoke Signal comes immediately to mind. But did they ever jam it out together on stage? Particularly interesting would have been some sort of drum solo duel -- I can imagine them having lots of fun.

Fri Feb 26 01:35:16 MET 1999

John Donabie

I would just like to mention that Ronnie Hawkins is in the official Rockabilly Hall of Fame. there site is

http://www.rockabillyhall.com/

Go to INDUCTEE LISTINGS... and there you go. Paul "Shine On" Godfrey get goin'. You'll see many of your old friends there with links to their web sites

Fri Feb 26 01:26:32 MET 1999

john donabie

TOM IZZO: When you say information. Do you mean bio stuff or what they are doing now??? Serge is correct when he says that the Powder Blues Band are no longer together; although I received last year a live concert they did in Europe. I believe that Tom Lavin (founder) is the only one left. Richard, I believe is still living in Hamilton Ontario. I would have to check on that through The Hawk....the father of them all.

Fri Feb 26 01:13:01 MET 1999

Paul Godfrey

Charlie Young...Serge. NARVEL FELTS...Narvel the Marvel was born November 11, 1938 in Keiser, Arkansas and raised in Bernie, Missouri. If you wish check out the Hall of Fame section of www.blackcat@rockabilly.nl Noticed Ronnie Hawkins is not in the Hall of Fame on that site. A shame.. if ever there was a rockabilly cat that should be there....it's the Hawk.

Thu Feb 25 23:49:20 MET 1999

Bones

To Lee: What House Of Blues recording? That sounds wonderful! It is my favorite song on Dylan Live 1966. Robbie Robertson always said that his two favorite Dylan tunes were "One Too Many Mornings" and "Just Like A Woman".

Thu Feb 25 22:22:09 MET 1999

Lee

Canadian's, I mean. Sorry.

Hey, The Band guys recorded Dylan's One Too Many Mornings for a release by House of Blues.

Thu Feb 25 21:48:32 MET 1999

Lee

Jan, I'm really pleased you are feeling better and looking forward to meeting you in the flesh, finally.

Doherty sent me a copy of Strange Weather last week and its excellent, sounds a lot more American than the Four Men & A Dog albums that were recorded at Levon's also. He should be at the Garth concert with the other guys from Dog.

Any Canadains out there that have heard the great CD by The Fossils? Is it getting any airplay on the radio there? The Partland Brothers and The Hawks have written some great songs with wonderful harmonies, including a great version of the cajun romp, Down South In New Orleans. Also features a cover of Lonnie Mack's Dixie and some fine songs by Terry Danko and Marty Grebb.

Thu Feb 25 21:41:28 MET 1999

Serge

Greg D. of Stratford: There never was a Brass Rail in Hamilton. It's an error in Levon's book. That pic.in his book originates with me.

Viney: You seem to love typing. Bet you could type out the articles you mention in no time.

Charlie Young of Virginny: Narvel Felts was not Canadian, I inquired... some old timers think he was from the Missouri area, the Ozarks I guess.

Tom Izzo: I'll make some calls, see if I can get the latest about "Biscuit" and "Crowbar". Maybe the Toronto connection knows..Donabie or Munson. I believe Powder Blues is no more.

Thu Feb 25 17:58:32 MET 1999

Greg Duns

Serge: Thanks for the info. and interesting historical bits on the Brass Rail. Sounds like it was a popular venue in its' time. I'm not aware that there was a Brass Rail in Hamilton as well, even though the caption to one of the pictures of the Hawks in Levon's book lists the picture as originating from the Brass Rail in Hamilton.

Thu Feb 25 14:23:15 MET 1999

Peter Viney

Tim: I've posted twice before asking if anyone had a clean copy of the March 1985 Woodstock Times articles they could do an OCR job on. My photocopies have dark bands all over them and won't work. I got photocopies from the Woodstock Library. Isn't there someone around the area who could do this? They are important interviews. There are four of them.

Just got "The Ties That Bind" album. It gives Hoskyns as further reading in the notes which would imply that the artist was not involved!

Thu Feb 25 13:48:36 MET 1999

tim

calling mr. viney! calling mr. daniloff! calling anybody who can post the ruth spencer interview with the band (1983?) from the woodstock times (star ledger? picayune?). like most of you, i've often seen it referenced, but have never had the opportunity to read it in its entirety. in addition, if anyone has the article "the moving shadow of richard manuel" (see hoskins/marcus) that would be worth a read as well. lastly -- attention woodstock records -- let's gget busy with the richard manuel "solo" album. pleeeeeeeaaaaaassssse!

Thu Feb 25 09:09:21 MET 1999

Railroad Man

MIKE : I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours.." north bound train on a south bound track" Rock Island Line Johnny Cash[ among others].." noisy railroad station all alone" Last Train To Clarksville ..Monkees...did Micky sing or was it Davy ??..NO NO Not going thru that twice !![ does kinda sound like Peter you think?]

Thu Feb 25 03:59:26 MET 1999

Jonathan Katz

I was going to post on Robbie vs. Levon, but stopped myself. Remember this: we don't know what really went on. We should focus on the fact that they are both talented musicians that have contributed a lot of music that we all enjoy, analyze, over-analyze, and enjoy again. Focus on that! Not the fact that they are both human beings with virtues and flaws, they were once "brothers" and sadly lost what they had. Only they can regain that, and only if they want to.

Thu Feb 25 03:32:54 MET 1999

Scott

New Rick Danko Concert Date: 3/6/99 - The Bottom Line, West 4th and Mercer St. NYC. See you all there

Thu Feb 25 02:38:47 MET 1999

tom izzo

To our Canadian friends: Any info on the following bands from the great white north would be deeply appreciated: King Biscuit Boy (Richard Newell) who Rick Bell played piano with on at least one album (Goodens), Crowbar, or The Powder Blues Band. JAN : Glad to hear you're doing better! We expect a full report.(Fear and Loathing in Great Britain) Peace: Tom and Marianne

Thu Feb 25 02:20:42 MET 1999

jules

Amen to MattK and Scott Tribble! Reading the guestbook has been like following the Clinton trainwreck -- I get irritated and exasperated, but I keep coming back to see what everyone's saying today. It's much more fun to talk about the music.

Thu Feb 25 01:59:58 MET 1999

Potsy

If you haven't already done so, listen closely to Richard's backing vocals on Caledonia Mission. He sure was a beauty. This place is stuffed with interesting facts, opinions and crazy characters. Great posts MattK.

Thu Feb 25 00:38:37 MET 1999

John Donabie

Today I drove downtown, palms sweating and feeling a little guilty. Maybe a whole lot guilty. I was about to spend $115.00 Canadian on the Japanese Re-Issue CD's of Music From Big Pink and The Band.

I spoke with my musical medical advisor; prior to my trip, the right honourable Dr. David Powell and he advised me that the sounds that I would hear would heal me of any misgivings. He was right!!

I sat in my living room with the curtains drawn and the phone off the hook and listened..first to Big Pink and later to The Band. Remember when you first got your first set of headphones and were listening to Sgt. Pepper for the umpteenth time and you told your friends..."Wow man..I'm hearin' things I never heard before man!

That pretty much sums it up. From high hats to organ swirls to remembering how very very important Richard was to The Band. A time where 5 brothers made magic music in a community that gave us Rip Van Winkle. It has been a pleasant day. Memories flooded back and I realized I had made the right decision.

When I opened the drapes and the world came back in...I pondered why one has to spend that much money to get such a great sound. Shame shame shame on record companies who don't give their sonic all. Thank you Band. Thank you Toshiba. Thank you Dr. Powell. The prescription worked.

Wed Feb 24 23:51:04 MET 1999

Ragtime

Re Classic albums video: both Levon & Robbie share an immense pleasure remembering how the album was made. Besides: we don't know how the documentary was edited.

Wed Feb 24 23:41:04 MET 1999

Bones

Good luck to Robbie Robertson and his two Grammy nominations tonight. Mattk, you are right about that video on the making of The Band record. Robbie seems to be enjoying looking back at how great Levon and the rest of the guys were on those songs, where Levon did not even acknowledge that Robbie was part of the group.

Wed Feb 24 23:02:52 MET 1999

Mike

Railroad Man- I got lucky on the first two.Since then- I'm stumped. "Gonna lay my head on that lonesome railroad iron-Let the 219 train ease my troubled mind." Figuratively speaking.

Wed Feb 24 22:50:50 MET 1999

Railroad Man

I always thought Twilight was a much under-rated Band song, I love it, seems to exemplify all the Band were and are.Kind of mystical in a sense ..memories, the wildwood...the girl ...nice imagery , and wonderfully sung by Rick[ first choice] \ Richard\ Levon\ Robert\ Garth..all names credited ..I'd hate to be responsble for another infuriating bout of "Holy Smoke" discussion.

Wed Feb 24 21:41:24 MET 1999

Bill Munson

Serge, Good of you to remember and mention Frank Motley, who died just a few months ago. Do you have photos of them too? While Motley retired back to the US in '85, a couple of the others lived here until their own deaths, and singer/pianist Curley Bridges is still active in Barrie. In fact he just released a CD, his first recording in 25 years.

Wed Feb 24 20:44:49 MET 1999

mattk

re: Levon vs. Robbie

I hate this thread as it really never resolves anything, but I did notice an interesting thing recently.

I purchased the video "The Band" about the making of the Brown Album. I really like the video, particularly scenes with Robbie dissecting the tracks and pointing out the odd little things that The Band did in creating this great album.

One thing that has always bugged me, vis-a-vis Levon, is that RR, for all that people want to ascribe evil to him, is very generous in pointing out the great things that each member brought to the group, the albums and the songs. RR won't hesistate to say the Levon is a terrific drummer and singer. In the '91 Musician article (which I have and would like to provide to the site, assuming there are not copyright issues with Musician), RR also takes great pains to talk about how Levon was THE key individual in his early musical education. That Ronnie taught him about sex and life on the road, but that Levon awakened RR's musical horizons.

Levon never ever ever ever (at least of late) gives RR credit for ANYTHING. To listen to Levon, RR was a guy with a nice haircut that carpet-bagged the band, but provided little in the way of musical revelency. Not once in "The Band" video does Levon mention Robbie by name or say anything about his playing, except a side remark about intonation on one lick.

RR, on the other hand, goes on at length about how groovy Levon's playing style was, and how that style really drove the half-time feel that permeats much of their material.

I guess if he was consistent (Levon), I'd understand it, but much of his ranting comes off like someone with a huge need for validation and recognition. For all of the RR bashing here, I'm not sure that I can say that a guy so willing to share credit, who left the Rock and Roll idolatry behind at TLW (and all but disappeared, except for soundtrack work) is a spotlight hog. Seems to me RR has been trying to get out of the musical spotlight, from a performer's point of view, and that he wants to focus on composition, and less the personality-driven cancer that grows when you're in a very popular rock band.

just a thought/observation. Going back to my hole now...

Wed Feb 24 20:28:04 MET 1999

MattK

RE: Stop Making Sense

I'll take a hack as a former early 80s teenager.

"Stop Making Sense" was the name of a FILM by Jonathan Demme ("Wild Thing," "Philadelphia," "Silence of the Lambs." It's tied with TLW in my mind as best Rock and Roll "concert album." It's purely performance, though, no interviews (but no fawning audience shots, either, which was something TLW revolutionized).

The soundtrack functions as a "best of" compilation of the Heads first 2/3rds of life. Great stuff, with P-Funk guitarist Bernie Worrel and uber-backups Janis Pendarvis and Dolette McDonald (Sting's "Dream of the Blue Turtles," Laurie Anderson's "Home of the Brave").

The TITLE "Stop Making Sense" comes from the Heads song "My Girlfriend Is Better." The line goes something like:

As we get older, and stop making sense, we'll do whatever we like.

The overall song is about (at least at a basic level, and it's just my interpretation) a teen talking about his girlfriend with the usual glandular machinations. Additionally, there appears to be a call to the usual teen angst that "adults don't understand what it's like to be me" and what the narrator would/will do once he gets older and no longer makes any sense--just like mom and dad.

Like RR, however, David Byrne is pretty cerebral, and there are certainly much deeper things at work in the song.

Cheers

matt

Wed Feb 24 19:57:36 MET 1999

john donabie

JAN...I was just reading a story in the Toronto Sun newspaper taken from a newspaper in Norway. There's a doctor there that says drinking everyday and having sex on a consistent basis (at least twice a week) keeps you healthy. Your sounding very healthy today!

Wed Feb 24 19:51:48 MET 1999

Dave Z

While I get tired of negativity too, don't you think that the Band is unfortunately about Levon versus Robbie to some extent? And will continue in fans' minds until they publically shake hands?

I had intended to continue on here with lot's of reasons why... but I just read "the tearing off of the nubile girls clothing", and now I've lost my energy. I may need translations from Viney or Catbalu to help move past this.

Wed Feb 24 19:44:09 MET 1999

Jan H.

Plane tix ordered. Hotels booked. Feeling better. I'm psyched, gonna see Garth an the Crows and Mercury Rev in London in a few days. And hook up with Lee and Peter and other assorted Band-heads for the first time. Wish y'all could've been there. Diamond Lil. your mail service seems to be up s**t creek again. Anyone heard the new Kevin Doherty CD?

Wed Feb 24 19:30:02 MET 1999

MattK

Wed Feb 24 19:16:32 MET 1999

Scott Tribble

"Levon VS Robbie...YAWN...ZZZZZZ...... Leave the dead horse be..."

And that'll last, oh, say, another two weeks before some freak comes in here and thinks they saw Robbie and Marty snipping Clapton's guitar strap and leaning out of a Texas Book Depository window in 1963. Then, the tired anti-Robbie chorus will return, I'm sure, and the holy name of Levon will again be sanctified.

Wed Feb 24 18:48:40 MET 1999

MattK

Donald Joseph and Bumbles...

Tom Wolfe calling Leonard Bernstein "Lenny" in radical chic is stylistics and attacking pretense. Donald, you're calling Peltier "Lenny" either out of some jockular notion of writing "tone," or because (guessing by your comments) you wish to diminish his stature either as a public figure or as a subject in the RR composition. Either way, it's not real cool, especially, based on your questions, you're not very familiar with the case.

Besides, you're not Tom Wolfe

Anyway, if you WANT to learn more about this thing, I might suggest two books:

1. "In the Spirit of Crazyhorse" by Peter Mathhiessen.
2. "Agents of Repression : The Fbi's Secret Wars Against the Black Panther Party and the American Indian Movement" by by Ward Churchill, James Vanderwall, and James Vander Wall

"Agents" is a more general account of the FBI's Cointelpro activities in the 1960s and 1970s. Outcry against these activities led to major overhauls in the FBI's domestic charter in the late 70s. This book goes farther to describe the tactics, brutality, and even murder committed against the Black Panthers and members of the AIM group, of which Peltier was a leader.

Couple of points to keep in mind regarding Peltier:

• There were a number of trials in the aftermath of the jury. Like WACO, all defendants were cleared. Peltier was singled out. The judge at his trial even admits that there is no compelling evidence that Peltier killed these men--but someone need to take the blame (Peltier denies doing it; the people there deny Peltier doing it; subsequent leads have been ignored by the courts and the FBI).
• Peltier is listed by Amnesty International as a "political prisoner." AI has advocated his release since day one.
• Like WACO, the FBI stormed in shooting, unannounced and firing. Other juries found that other defendants were not guilty by reason of self-defense. Peltier's judge denied his right to use the same defense.
• There has been a number of attempts on Peltier's life in prison. Keep in mind, he has spent most of his time in solitary (they put him there initially, it's not for discipline), in a prison that was under lock down for at least 10 YEARS--no one get's to him without cooperation from the authorities.

You are right, the US Gov did screw the natives, but they're still doing it, and went to obscene lengths to undermine the political Native American Movement, not out of some hackneyed fear of communism, but because it endangered economic interests on the part of corporations with an eye on the natural resources now on Native American land.

AIM was trying to create a democratic/tribal system for selecting reservation leaders. The FBI was helping to back up brutal regimes, where native "leaders" were on the take and tribal police were killing entire families of people who complained about conditions and asked where the money was going.

If RR helps get that message out. More power to him.

BTW, another, more bite-sized breakdown of the Peltier story is available at many video stores in a documentary entitled "Incident at Ogala"

cheers

matt

Wed Feb 24 18:45:26 MET 1999

Tim(SUNDOG)Corcoran

DONALD JOESPH: E-MAIL ME RE:MERL SAUNDERS!!!

Wed Feb 24 16:19:06 MET 1999

Dexy

This page never ceases to amaze me. The interviews w/Danko, Jim W. and Randy C. are amazing -- right on the mark about so many topics that are discussed here regularly. Particularly interesting comments about how the current lineup addresses songwriting, and how Rick and Levon are involved. Certainly sounds clear that these guys are planning to record again (with their own stuff), and I was glad to hear Rick's positive take on River North. Coupled with the terrific vintage stuff via Serge, it's the best of the old and new. Thanks.

Wed Feb 24 16:13:02 MET 1999

David Powell

Donald Joseph: I've seen Marcia Ball perform several times in Atlanta, and she puts on one hell of a show. Sitting at her electric piano, with legs crossed, she plays those Professor Longhair style licks while her band lays down that second line rhythm; you just can't resist the urge to get up & dance. By the way, the _Dreams Come True_ album features horn charts by the legendary Wardell Quezergue from New Orleans, who did the same on Robbie Robertson's _Storyville_.

Wed Feb 24 13:56:32 MET 1999

Leilanie The Gypsy Princess

Greetings from the camp-fire as my lover stares across at me with those flashing eyes, he knows as well as I that time is fleeting..things wont always be this way, another town on the horizon..will this be the place I find peace and contentment ?..No such thing you say?..illusions, delusions, manifestations of a mind crying out for..fulfillment..yes! but, that is satisfaction by another name isnt it?..and when your thirst is quenched you dont search for what youve just had do you?..drugs. sex, artistry, knowledge,power, human cravings indeed, in the end the search is the thing..the quest, the conquest of what is elusive ..the tearing off of the nubile girls clothing..the last stroke of the brush on a water-colour...the magic chord progression ...the toss of the perfect curve-ball ....perfection in an imperfect world.

Wed Feb 24 13:23:11 MET 1999

Katleen

Hey there, I don't know if you (Jonathan) still remember me, probably you won't because with all the people you meet every day... I was at the concert in Toulouse, in the disco named Bikini. I am the Belgian student who is studying in Toulouse. You gave me a badge and later on you gave me and my friend a beer. That's why I want to thank you for that. My friend and I were a bit astonished but it was very nice of you. I am very happy that i went to the concert. I didn't know the band at all, but I was pleasantly surprised by the music. I would like to buy a record, but therefore I would like to ask you a question: from which album were the songs at the concert? Or was it a mix from different albums? Good luck with your concerts! Katleen

Wed Feb 24 12:56:51 MET 1999

Diamond Lil

Agree with those Zzzzzz's. Robbie vs Levon has been done. To death. Surprised there's not a t-shirt.

Serge: Loved the pictures! Thanks for sharing.

Jan : Expecting a full report on Garth (including his socks) after your trip. Feel better, will ya? :-)

Wed Feb 24 12:06:07 MET 1999

kirsty

The greatest band ever! Thanks.......

Wed Feb 24 11:12:44 MET 1999

Railroad Man

Levon VS Robbie...YAWN...ZZZZZZ...... Leave the dead horse be...

Wed Feb 24 11:04:57 MET 1999

Ragtime

ROD: most of Cooder's repertoire seems to be tailor-made for Levon The Leader: "Smag Dab In The Middle", "Tattler", "The Very Thing That Makes Me Rich (Makes Me Poor)", "Money Honey"... shall I go on?

Wed Feb 24 10:58:36 MET 1999

Ragtime

... and Scott's second entry... sorry...

Wed Feb 24 10:56:17 MET 1999

Ragtime

Well, I overlooked Donald's reaction...

Wed Feb 24 10:36:19 MET 1999

Ragtime

SCOTT TRIBBLE: I just saw your remark & it's significant that no-one reacted, apart from one side-remark. Yes you're damn right that it's strange from someone who 1. always claimed that The Band had no leader & 2. avoided the ceremony in the Hall Of Fame.

Wed Feb 24 09:23:06 MET 1999

Rod

Listening to Ry Cooder singing Little Sister I could almost swear it was Levon - especially on the last verse.
Another suggestion for Levon's cafe - this time a beer - Levon Helm Extra Smooth Bitter.

Wed Feb 24 08:27:44 MET 1999

Donald Joseph

Re Levon calling himself leader of The Band: Perhaps he's saying he's leader of THIS Band, not THAT Band. The 1970 Time mag. article quotes Robbie as saying THAT Band had no leader, because "no one wants the job." Surely no one disputes that Levon was leader of the precursor to THAT Band -- Levon & The Hawks. I'll bet Ricky, Garth, & the rest would say Levon is indeed leader of THIS Band.

Any other Chicagoans going to see Marcia Ball with Bill Kirchen at Fitzgerald's on Sat.? If you'll indulge some Kevin Bacon, these are both Band-related acts: Band/Dr. John/Marcia Ball (Dr. produced "Dreams Come True"); Bill Kirchen/Commander Cody/Jerry Garcia/The Band (Bill was the Airmen's guitar whiz; Cody played with Papa Jerry on NRPS & other stuff; Band + Dead = Watkins Glen).

How about seeing Marc Ribot at the Note a week from Sat.? I'll be there. Here's the Kevin Bacon analysis: Band/Zimmy/T Bone Burnett/Elvis Costello/Marc Ribot (Marc & T Bone play on some Elvis l.p.'s).

Wed Feb 24 08:01:24 MET 1999

Scott Tribble

OK, since no one seems willing to criticize Saint Levon, I'll take the chance to do so myself.

So, as I gather from guestbook discussions, essentially, people's beef with Robbie is that, in claiming to be the sole songwriter, he ignored the democratic nature of group contributions.

Levon, in claiming to be the leader of The Band as he does on his cafe page, commits exactly the same crime. One could even argue that, since he is using the designation to promote the cafe, he's getting money from his efforts, just as Robbie did from his.

I'm not saying Levon is a bad man. I just want people to recognize he is just as much a man with failings as Robbie and everyone else on this planet is. Sometimes this fact seems ignored in discussions here.

Wed Feb 24 06:32:27 MET 1999

Donald Joseph

Bumbles: To answer your two questions in order:

1. "'Lenny'?": Tom Wolfe, in "Radical Chic," consistently refers to Leonard Bernstein as "Lenny." It's good enough for Tom, so you can bet it's good enough for Donald Joseph.

2. "'Zimmy'?": Bob Dylan, in his classic song "You Gotta Serve Somebody" from Slow Train Coming, sings the immortal line "You can call me Zimmy." I have Mr. Dylan's own permission. I therefore refer to him exclusively by this self-santioned sobriquet.

Catbalou: The Talking Heads once did an album called "Stop Making Sense." I'm not a Heads head, so I don't know what that title refers to. I am confident, however, that they could not possibly have been addressing you.

Wed Feb 24 05:46:53 MET 1999

Serge

Brennan, I don't have your Email ad. Your old one is obsolete.

Wed Feb 24 04:50:45 MET 1999

Pat Brennan

Serge, could you email me? Thanks.

Wed Feb 24 03:49:06 MET 1999

Little John Tyler

Complain if you want about the song title-inspired food and drink offerings at Levon's Cafe. My biggest concern about the place (besides the fact that those Band dates cancelled in January, with a promise that they'd be rescheduled in February STILL haven't materialized--and why hasn't anybody else picked up on that or posted here about it?) is that they've got five martinis on the menu, and not a drop of gin in any of em!!!

Anybody tried the "Stuffed Peppers You Gotta Watch" yet? Maybe with some "Book Faded Brown Gravy" on the side.

Priceless photos Serge. Thanks for sharing.

Wed Feb 24 03:22:29 MET 1999

Charlie Young

Serge: the pictures are a great glimpse of the early days. You mentioned Narvel Felts; was he a rockabilly act back then, or what? I have relatives named Felts and was wondering if he was from down here on the south (where's it's freezin' this week) or one of those burnin' Canadians. Speaking of that Southern-Canadian dialectic, does anyone know what has become of Jesse Winchester? His last studio album came out in 1988 and he seems to have disappeared. Last I heard he was still living in Canada. Has he retired?

Wed Feb 24 02:59:48 MET 1999

Railroad Man

MIKE:Ok, To smart by half !!, If this continues I'm buying myself a book of obscure Yugoslavian hobo lullabies..then just try !!.

SERGE: Must have been wonderful to live in the area where the Band grew up and did a lot of their playing, I would have paid big to see Richard with the Rockin' Revols.

Wed Feb 24 02:53:20 MET 1999

Freddy The Funk

OLD SALT & : Whats the word on Carnagie Hall? If it isn't going to happen then Ima goin fishin!

Wed Feb 24 02:13:54 MET 1999

Diamond Lil

Freddy Fishstick: What can I say? Thank you for a great night in Margaritaville and the pleasure of your company. You are the best at making me realize that although some of it's magic, and some of it's tragic...it's still a good life anyway :-)

Peter Viney: Thank you for the wonderful article on Whispering Pines. The lost, indeed, are found.

Wed Feb 24 01:50:49 MET 1999

Paul Godfrey

Does anyone have a copy of TLW poster used to promote the show in SF and sold at the show? Would make a great addition to WHAT'S NEW.

Wed Feb 24 01:26:57 MET 1999

Freddy Fishstick

Brown Eyed Johnny

A great show my a great live entertainer. I got a few bucks left if the boys decide to visit Carnegie Hall anytime soon. Might just see Rick again soon too.

Peter Viney, I'm too tired to read your monograph now, but I am looking forward too. Appreciate the effort. We are lucky to have you. To the lady who requested the article, was great to share your company. :-)

BTW when was the last time 18,000 people stood/sang and rocked to "Southern Cross"? Thanks again to the Man from Margaritaville. Just disappointed that The Band didn't open for you. :-)

Wed Feb 24 01:25:22 MET 1999

Freddy Fishstick

Brown Eyed Johnny

A great show my a great live entertainer. I got a few bucks left if the boys decide to visit Carnegie Hall anytime soon. Might just see Rick again soon too.

Peter Viney, I'm too tired to read your monograph now, but I am looking forward too. Appreciate the effort. We are lucky to have you. To the lady who requested the article, was great to share your company. :-)

BTW when was the last time 18,00 people stood/sang and rocked to "Southern Cross"? Thanks again to the Man from Margaritaville. Just disappointed that The Band didn't open for you. :-)

Wed Feb 24 00:57:34 MET 1999

Tim(SUNDOG)Corcoran

SERGE, fantastic pics, they're sort of (kinda funny) timeless, and they gave me the goosebumps!!! DONALD JOSEPH, E-MAIL ME! It's OFFICIAL, *MERL SAUNDERS* buddy of the LATE, GRATE, *JEROME GARCIA* is going to be showcased, LIVE ON "Tim's SUNDOG show. APRIL 11TH. 1999, with The Rainforest. Check out the tour date at *www.merlsaunders.com* we're so stoked!!! Everyone on The Band Site is invited!!!

Wed Feb 24 00:14:48 MET 1999

Kevin Gilbertson

Serge: Thanks for the pictures and the recent articles. Great stuff.

A few days ago I posted that the Big Pink album was available on 180 gram vinyl. I found another source that is cheaper and also still has access to the Brown album on 180 gram vinyl.

The Band is 24.99 while Big Pink is 22.99. These are both part of EMI/UK LP CENTENARY LP series.

The Web site is: http://www.qvinyl.com/index.html

Tue Feb 23 23:58:54 MET 1999

Pete Rivard

I'll have the "Nothin' Was DeLiver and Onions" with a side of "Stage Fries" and keep them cold bottles of "Daniels Sacred Harp" comin'.

Tue Feb 23 23:15:29 MET 1999

John Donabie

I finally found "The Band and Big Pink" Cd's from Japan today. Wow! $49.95 each. Oh Canada our home and.......

Tue Feb 23 22:22:15 MET 1999

Serge

David Powell: thanks, glad you enjoyed the pix.

Donabie, I promised Levon a hundred years ago that I would never attempt to make a buck off photos or tape recordings that I have of the guys. I am not about to peddle anything. I am willing to show the stuff ( well protected now ). I learned my lesson the hard way. It's a little silly having that stuff rotting in a box. Knowing Jan as well as I do, I thought I'd share... finally.

Greg D. of Stratford: the Brass Rail Tavern used to be on the south side of Dundas Street East, three doors or so west of Elizabeth street. It was owned by Winco, a chain of steak houses. It was the place to go for rock back in 59 and early 60's. You could catch Conway Twitty, Johnny and the Hurricanes, Narvel Felts, Bill Haley and the Comets, The 4 Fables, Frank Motley and the Crew..on and on.. and of course The Hawks, as every other group, entertained in the basement lounge, six night a week, 9pm to 1 am. On weekends, after finishing downstairs, eating steaks and baked potatoes, they hussled part of their gear upstairs to entertain late night diners for an hour. It was a rock and roll sweat shop. Got to the point that Levon would just take his snare, hi-hat and a cymbal to do that portion of the evening. That part of town is now pretty much desolate. That's where the Hawks got started in Canada in 59, in the Brass Rail and in a bar in Hamilton Ontario. The Grange I think.

Tue Feb 23 22:02:49 MET 1999

Brown-Eyed Johnny

Siren Disc (sirencd.com) says it will have available beginning March 29 for $26.99 "Music From Big Pink" in LP format (180-gram vinyl) with original gatefold artwork in thick laminate slipcover. I've seen Dylan LPs and others in this series at Virgin in Union Square, NYC, and they are well worth the price. I hope F. Fishstick didn't blow his music budget at MSG Monday.

Tue Feb 23 21:56:55 MET 1999

Mike

There have been some posts scattered about recently that show some inner hurt or sorrow from people in our little community. I think it's no coinsidence that people express these feelings on the Band pages. Music can be a powerful force for healing. Garth Hudson speaks very eloquently on this in the Last Waltz. The music of the Band taps into deep wells of emotion for many and I hope the support of all of us is with those who need some from time to time. Take time to listen-take time to heal.

Tue Feb 23 21:31:57 MET 1999

Bones

To Peter Viney: I really enjoyed your recent last two articles. Thank you. An extra note on the Band/Blues essay: you forgot to mention "Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do" by B.B. King for the King Of Comedy soundtrack produced by Robbie Robertson. In fact, I think Robbie produced the actual track also.

To Serge: Thanks for your hard work. The pictures and articles are wonderful.

Tue Feb 23 21:19:02 MET 1999

Bud

"Garcon, I'd like the 'Long Blackened Veal' please."

I could carry the leftovers in my KISS lunchbox.

Tue Feb 23 20:23:46 MET 1999

richard

saw dylan play last night at RPI in Troy. Great show!! His star is once again definitely on the rise!!He played the acoustic portion accompanied by musicians reminiscent of THE BAND (Stand up bass mandolin, slide). He even played Tears of Rage and I shall be Released. Gave me chills, warm thoughts of RICHARD MANUEL and great memories of Dylan in his heyday when he was backed by the best group ever to play back-up for anyone. It's too bad they can't work together again, but I'm sure the LH - RR animus is the fundamental impediment. That problem seems to be the Band's Achille's heal. Anybody have a remedy?? (no pun intended)

Tue Feb 23 19:53:19 MET 1999

David Powell

Bob Dylan often performs the song "Across The Borderline" in concert. This song was written by Ry Cooder, John Hiatt & Jim Dickinson. The original version of the song was sung by Freddie Fender, as part of Cooder's soundtrack for Jack Nicholson's 1982 movie, _The Border_. Cooder and Hiatt, as well as Willie Nelson, Flaco Jimenez and Rueben Blades have also recorded the song.

Tue Feb 23 19:41:00 MET 1999

E.Mussak

Does anyone who signs this guestbook regularly have any Band bootlegs? I'd be happy to send blanks and postage. I'm sure you have some, Uncle Serge[thanks for havin' my back:)]. I couldn't find my way around that site linked from the Tape Archive.

Tue Feb 23 19:26:30 MET 1999

Just Wonderin'

Donald Joseph: If you are really interested in the Leonard Peltier issue I suggest you check out the website. Go throught the link from here to RR's Hollywood and Vine site and click on songs. The story of Sacrifice is there and I believe there is a link to the Leonard Peltier site. "In the Spirit of Crazy Horse" is also and excellent recommendation.

Tue Feb 23 18:55:42 MET 1999

Peter Viney

I enjoyed Levon’s mouthwatering café menu. Why shouldn’t he have a mild joke or two at the expense of what is after all his own history? Having read Donald and Uncle Hangover’s proposals, inevitably more possibilities come to mind: Cripple Creek mineral water, Sweet Peach Georgia Wine cooler, a happy hour offer of One More Shot, All La Glory sundae (Knickerbocker Glory), Holy Cow 16 oz steak, Shoot Out in Chinatown chop suey, Watermelon (time in Georgia), Christmas Must Be Tonight turkey platter, Get Out your Big Roll Daddy selection of bread rolls, Virgil Caine’s grits and biscuits, Miss Fanny’s rump steak.

They could print “Money - Change Is Gonna Come (eventually)” on the checks. The only question is whether the leader of the Band would have to pay Robbie a royalty on some of these titles. And what about the Somewhere Down The Crazy River gumbo? Probably not a wise suggestion.

Tue Feb 23 18:41:18 MET 1999

Dave Hopkins

Peter Viney: thanks so much for your article on Whispering Pines, a truly perfect song and performance. The third verse, especially, is as good as music gets. I'd just like to add that there are two additional Manuel/Robertson collaborations on the Basement Tapes album ("Katie's Been Gone" and "Ruben Remus"), plus Manuel's own "Orange Juice Blues." Though I'm an admirer of Robertson's work, The Band certainly lost something when Manuel dried up as a composer.

Tue Feb 23 17:31:38 MET 1999

Bumbles

DONALD JOSEPH: 'Lenny' Peltier? 'Zimmy'?

Tue Feb 23 16:34:54 MET 1999

Mike

I just read Peter Viney's article on Whispering Pines. This has always been a favorite of mine-even more so after reading Lil's great quote from Richard about listening and hearing it. Sometimes we all seem to try too hard to read into the songs when we might better let them speak for themselves. Many of us have experienced the loss that more than one blues and R&B tune tune decsribes as "You don't miss your water 'til the well runs dry." Richard and Robbie put it to words and music in a real and touching way. I feel that often with art as with love, spliting up the pieces fail to show what is most important. You can't find a soul by cutting up a body.

Tue Feb 23 16:28:26 MET 1999

Dave Z

Donald J: If you are serious in your question about Leonard, then I would recommend you read "In The Spirit of Crazy Horse" by Peter Matthiessen.

I love the haunting sounds in Sacrifice.

Tue Feb 23 16:15:03 MET 1999

donabie

That of course would be "SITE" not sight.

Tue Feb 23 16:11:08 MET 1999

John Donabie

SERGE...Thanks for those great photographs. Historically wonderful. I'm surprised more book people haven't come after you for these photos. Have you considered selling prints of these pictures or others that you have sent to the sight?

Tue Feb 23 16:09:40 MET 1999

David Powell

Thanks Serge for sharing your photographs. They capture more of the spirit of those times than any thousand words from Hoskyns could ever convey.

Tue Feb 23 15:37:14 MET 1999

Martin

Is anyone else holding their breath waiting to see whether or not the band's complete set from Woodstock will finally see the light of day in time for it's 30th anniversary? The few tracks I've heard from it sound really good, and there are probably no other live recordings of comparable sound quality of a few of the songs they performed on the day. 'We can talk', 'Ain't no more Cane' and 'Long Black Veil' immediately spring to mind, an early live version of 'chest fever' without any overbearing horn sections would also be a treat. So come on Warner brothers(or whoever owns the rights)dig out those precious 8-track master tapes and get them released posthaste!

Tue Feb 23 15:19:42 MET 1999

Greg D.

Serge: thanks for sharing the great photos of the Hawk and very young Levon, Robbie and the others. I am interested in knowing the location of the Brass Rail in present-day London.

Tue Feb 23 14:54:08 MET 1999

Serge

John from Penna.:Thanks, there's more to come soon.

E.Mussak is a relative and a third generation Band fan, so "Take it easy Joseph, don't you give him no lip!" :)

So nice to see a whole new generation discovering the Band's timeless recordings, and not having to wait a year or two for the next album.

Tue Feb 23 14:46:45 MET 1999

Mike

I"m not surprized to see how many Band fans are into Ry Cooder. Good music is good music. Ry has worked with Jim Keltner on drums for 20 years. Jim saw some of the Calif. sessions the Band had at Shangra La and has said that seeing Levon work changed his life. Levon has called Jim one of his favorite drummers. An album of the Band working with Ry and his friends is a great idea. Jim Keltner on drums, Flaco Jimanez on button accordian,Bobby Keys and the other singers, what a sound that would be. Maybe someday.

Tue Feb 23 14:37:30 MET 1999

Mike

Railroad Man- Does the "Green River" still run past the "Big Rock Candy Mountain"? Keep 'em coming.

Tue Feb 23 13:58:13 MET 1999

Charlie Young

John Hiatt will appear on the Grammy awards tomorrow night, thanks to a couple of well-deserved nominations. Hiatt is a highlight of JUBILATION and I hope that there will be another album by The Band with similar guests. Maybe John's bandmate from Little Village, Ry Cooder, could lay down some tracks. Another Van Morrison visit would be nice. Chuck Berry hasn't put out any new studio tracks in 20 years. He'd be a good one to invite...and, yes, Emmylou, too (her boxed set is spectacular). Any other ideas?

Tue Feb 23 10:33:32 MET 1999

Lee

Serge, Many thanks for contributing the photos. It was fantastic to see such great quality pics of Ronnie and Levon.

Tue Feb 23 09:31:56 MET 1999

Railroad Man

JAN:Sorry to hear of your health problems,if the cognac doesnt work get yourself a good hookah [ thats ending with ah not er ] , stoke it up with generic opium and you'll be the star of the show !!.

Tue Feb 23 09:14:27 MET 1999

Railroad Man

D.Joseph, Sorry to have upset you, that wasnt my intention, put it down to an over-exuberant correction, and youre right, no-one is infallible. Charlie Young : Good point about Morrison and Hendrix out-takes that are still turning up everywhere !!, I also bought No Reason To Cry just for the Manuel contribution, the one I got had a large photo inside of Clapton and Richard playing pool. Interesting to speculate what would have happened if after the Last Waltz Richard had got himself a shrewd manager and a good producer and gone into the studio free from the constraints of being in the Band ,maybe he could have created a niche for himself and got away from being labeled "former pianist with legendary group the Band". His talent was enormous and the right producer[ maybe Motown based?] could have created some wonderful things with that voice.

Tue Feb 23 08:34:52 MET 1999

E.Mussak

Joseph... I never got into the Dead to get an extra contact high from smoking weed or for the good times on the road. It has always been Hunter and Barlow's lyrics and Jerry's relaxed voice. One thing about Hunter... he never lost his creativity. I know this might piss some people off, but I just picked up "Northern Lights- Southern Cross" and Robbie seemed to be a little cliché with his lyrics in some of the songs(not all). I could predict what the next line was going to be in a lot of places. I'm a new "Bandhead," but does anyone agree?

Tue Feb 23 08:05:57 MET 1999

Donald Joseph

Levon's Cafe menu item suggestions: The Aunt Jemima Won't Surrender All-You-Can Eat Pancake Breakfast; the Forbidden Fruit Salad; The River Mmmm Catch-of-the-Day; the Strawberry Wine Cooler; Java Blues Gourmet Coffees; the Ain't That a Lot of Food All-You-Can-Eat Buffet.

D.Powell/Brin/B.Munson: Viney's direct Band/Ry connections, although ingenious, were indeed too tenuous to be satisfying. Your Kevin Bacon Degrees-of-Separation analysis is good, but the only sound ones you kicked out were Hiatt & Emmylou. Here're some more, first with just one link:

Band/Pops Staples/Ry (Pops is in TLW; his Pointblank albums including "Peace to the Neighborhood" feature Ry)

Band/Clapton/Ry (The Band guest on EC's "No Reason to Cry"; Ry guests on EC's "Money & Cigarettes")

With 1 additional degree of separation, you can have:

Band/Zimmy/T Bone Burnett/Ry (T Bone is big-time Zimmy sideman on whose "Proof Through the Night" l.p. Ry appears)

Band/Ron Wood/Stones/Ry (Ry claims he wrote the "Jumping Jack Flash" lick as he jammed with Mick/Keef)

Band/Van Morrison/John Lee Hooker/Ry (both Ry & Van appear on John Lee's Pointblank albums)

Query re "Sacrifice," track #5 on RR's "Redboy": All the publicity I read for this song said Lenny Peltier claimed to be innocent of killing the FBI agents. But nowhere in his song monologue does he claim to be anything like innocent: Lenny only says his co-defendants got off on a self-defense theory, and Lenny claims the prosecutor essentially admitted he had no good case. But the OJ prosecutor didn't have a good enough case to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, either -- that's not the same as saying OJ didn't commit murder (as the civil jury told us).

Does Lenny Peltier even claim to be not guilty? If so, why does he artfully avoid claiming this on the Robbie song? (Editing problem?)

And if Lenny doesn't unambiguously claim to be not guilty, why should we feel sorry for him?

I'm the 1st to admit the US federal govm't screwed the Indians. But this doesn't excuse Lenny if he's indeed guilty of murder. I know absolutely nothing about Lenny's case except for what's on the Robbie tune. Does Lenny elsewhere claim to be not guilty? If not, what's Robbie's point? And if Lenny does indeed claim to be not guilty, why'd Robbie edit Lenny's words to make him spew out a Clintonesque non-denial?

E.Mussak/Charlie Young: The Band is my favorite group, so by definition I admit that means if pushed I technically prefer them to the Dead. But the Dead boys are brilliant. In his own way, Rbt.Hunter is every bit as great a lyricist as Robbie (maybe better -- Hunter's just as deep while being totally non-pretentious). Mussak, I disagree the Dead are "more counterculture" than the Band. I never much liked the counterculture Deadhead scene, but you can't equate that scene with the Grateful Dead. The Heads cooked up the scene on their own, & the musicians just tolerated it. Garcia has been quoted as saying the Heads invented themselves. Their faux '60's throwback crap didn't even come along till 2nd-generation baby-Heads reintroduced tie-dye in the '80's.

The Head scene did marginalize the music. I can remember the day in college I decided to align myself as a Band freak & not a Deadhead: Freshman year I was wearing a Dead T-shirt & some upperclassman scoffed at me. I realized he was right: Being a DeadHead is an instant cliche, it pigeon-holes you. No one will hear you out if you insist: "I'm no tour-Head druggie! I'm just into the musicianship & lyrics!" On the other hand, when you tell someone you're a Band freak, he has to figure you out from scratch.

For your homework, Mussak, I assign you to listen to "Europe '72" but forgetting about the counterculture '80's-'90's TourHead babies who just wanted an excuse to smoke a doobie, piss off their parents, and sell inedible fried tofu in a parking lot without any chance of scoring a "miracle." Focus instead, Mussak, on the musicianship and the lyrics.

(Not to worry. That "homework assignment" was just a bit of contrived pretention to annoy Serge.)

Tue Feb 23 07:11:18 MET 1999

Scott Tribble

From the cafe web page:

'Levon Helm, the leader of the legendary Hall of Fame Rock Group "THE BAND".'

Now we all know what you folks would say if Robbie had claimed this. Can we have some equal opportunity criticism for once, please?

Tue Feb 23 05:51:33 MET 1999

Bobby Knight

Hey mama, Who's your daddy? And what is the deal with the bandage on the guy's nose? Was that a shootout I heard?

Tue Feb 23 05:27:45 MET 1999

Tim(SUNDOG)Corcoran

THANKS FOR THE POSTS CHARLIE YOUNG AND PETER VINEY, SORRY SERGE, I GUESS YOUR YOU HAVE A SKIP IN YOUR RECORD, BUT I'LL STILL LISTEN TO IT!

Tue Feb 23 05:11:45 MET 1999

Pat Brennan

Serge, many thanks for the pictures. You need to publish a book.

Tue Feb 23 05:04:22 MET 1999

Phil

Uncle Hangover : Crazy Chester Burger!?! That is the most hilarious thing I have ever read in this GB. I'll take two with cheese.

Tue Feb 23 04:54:58 MET 1999

tim

mama and uncle. didn't mean to strike a nerve! i've loved this group for thirty years, and it pains me to see a substantive past traded for a couple of burgers. i've got an idea. let's submit new menu ideas. how's about "tears of rage" spicy buffalo wings! hold on now mama, put that bbq drumstick down!

Tue Feb 23 03:52:38 MET 1999

Mama

And now...let's play band trivia. All those Canada folks who had the pleasure of spending time with Levon & The Band,which one of you??? can name their all time favorite front man from the good ole daze??

Tue Feb 23 03:36:33 MET 1999

Mama

Thanks Uncle hangover, Mama agrees with ya.This is about the music, not the menu. As for Bud & Tim, lighten up or go choke on one of Levon's Barbecued Drumsticks, which mama would love to personally shove down your throats for your obnoxious comments.They were totally out of line. GET A LIFE...Stop reading into everything.

Tue Feb 23 03:31:06 MET 1999

John

Much obliged Serge for capturing the moment back in 59',60' and sharing the photos. As usual your contributions are substantial and irresistibly interesting as they enliven this site. In photo #4 Ronnie looks like he has "got a screw loose"! I rarely visit the guestbook anymore because frankly it is overrun with "bores", so this was a nice surprise. Thanks again.

Tue Feb 23 02:05:52 MET 1999

Paul Godfrey

Serge...you do have a great collection of photos. Thanks for sharing them. Robin sure takes after his father....and how bout that fair haired boy from Arkansas? Thanks much Serge.

Tue Feb 23 01:52:54 MET 1999

Jerry

Great Photos Serge! You are very lucky to be the owner of such a fine collection. Thanks for sharing them. Are you willing to share the "rest" of the story on Gallagher & Hoskyns? Would like to hear it.

Tue Feb 23 01:14:01 MET 1999

Serge

I aplogize for the unsightely see-thru banner on the Hawks and Levon pix. It is necessary. I am NOT about to get screwed again by leeches like Gallagher or Hoskyns. The former calls himself a TV producer who does NOT understand what "NO" means, the latter is an opportunist.. Hope you enjoy the photos as they are.

Tue Feb 23 00:25:57 MET 1999

Bones

I spent last weekend listening to Emmylou's Portraits. A CD box set of incredible material. The page for this release on this site is thorough, but I would also like to add that Levon sings background on "Heaven Ain't Ready For You Yet" from the Jesse James album.

An interesting part in the liner notes to Portraits is when Emmylou said that Robbie had asked her to perform on the show because they needed a country element. She said she could not because she was touring abroad, but that he should ask Dolly Parton instead. Robbie said that he wanted her, and came up with the idea of using her on the MGM soundstage when her schedule freed up.

Tue Feb 23 00:21:35 MET 1999

Jan H.

This sucks big green monkey d**ks (to quote a gay friend of mine). Just ordered plane tix and arranged hotel rooms in London for Monday ... and then the flu of the century hits. Sick as a dog, drinkin' old cognac, see if that help.

Tue Feb 23 00:18:55 MET 1999

Bud

tim from Pittsburgh:

I too am more than a little disgusted by the menu at Levon's place; however, you missed the most offensive item of them all - the fact that the desserts are listed under the heading "The Last Waltz." Maybe my reading comprehension isn't as stellar as I've been known to give myself credit for, but last time I read Lee's book, I was pretty sure that Mr. Helm had a pretty low opinion of almost everything associated with The Last Waltz (to the point of commenting that "he tried to be polite" when complemented about the movie and/or album). Apparently the promise of a little cash helps Lee swallow his bile (and hasn't there been an abundance of bile lately), and his pride, for that matter. tim's right, it's sad.

Maybe we could all pitch in a couple of bucks and buy back Levon's dignity. The fact that he's willing to trade on the name of TLW makes me think that it's probably for sale - cheap.

Tue Feb 23 00:18:14 MET 1999

Uncle Hangover

Tim, get rid of that "holier-than-thou-attitude" and sink your teeth into a "Crazy Chester Burger" or whatever. We're talking about music and show biz here, not religion. Jeez.

Tue Feb 23 00:12:32 MET 1999

Joe

Viney, all this time I thought RR. wrote When You Awake.

Mon Feb 22 23:39:33 MET 1999

PETE RIVARD

I heard a story that Taj Majal once opened for Supertramp at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis. Apparently, Supertramp was off that night, in terms of stage energy and general musical tightness, and I heard that the piano player/vocalist told the band afterwards, "Boys, we just got our asses kicked by one man with a banjo." Anybody else ever hear this particular tale? If I cared enough about Supertramp I could probably come up with their piano man's name, but...

Mon Feb 22 23:34:26 MET 1999

Peter Viney

Blues artists article: two I missed (at least) are the long-lost Big Pink rejects Danko mentioned somewhere - Big Bill Broonzy’s “Key to the Highway” and “Sitting A Thousand Miles From Nowhere” which I assume is Mose Allison’s “One Room Country Shack” (as it is the first line). There must be A LOT of others. Let me know. That’s the point.

Workingman's Dead? American Beauty? The Band were the way more accomplished vocalists, but The Dead appealed to this Band fan with both these albums.Still play them both. "Dark Star" may be apples & oranges, but "Casey Jones" is Granny Smiths and Oregon Newtowns.

Mon Feb 22 23:27:33 MET 1999

tim

"king harvest" salads? "w.s. wolcott" pork chops? "life is a carnival" punch? (and probably most offensive of all) "i shall be released" martinis? say it ain't so! is there anyone besides me who finds all this even a little disgusting? hopefully lee didn't have too much of a hand in all this. then again, given his present frame of mind, maybe he did. it's kind of sad, really.

Mon Feb 22 23:10:10 MET 1999

Me ( with PS )

My comments were re: YOUR "Blues influences on the Band.) piece.

Mon Feb 22 23:00:16 MET 1999

Serge

The Dead and the Band: Apples and oranges. Stop it please.

Viney, you really can build a mountain out of a molehill, can't you. You just have NOT heard All there is. Stop typing drivel for the sake of typing.

Mon Feb 22 19:55:09 MET 1999

Reinhard

To Jonathan Katz. You asked about The Bottle Rockets. You are probably aware that they recently released an 8-track CD called "Leftovers" on Doolittle Records out of Texas. That´s stuff that was recorded during their major label years. They are just finishing a new album produced by Eric Roscoe Ambel, again being released on Doolittle in the next few months.

Mon Feb 22 19:35:10 MET 1999

brin

...and Ry Cooder played on the first Trio album, with Emmylou Harris.

Mon Feb 22 19:26:47 MET 1999

Bill Munson

Ry Cooder played on the Stones' "Let It Bleed" LP, as did Al Kooper, who is known to have played with the Band.

Mon Feb 22 19:19:29 MET 1999

Bill Munson

Also in Rhinoceros (for all three albums) was Michael Fonfara, who joined from the very original Electric Flag, with Band associates / competitors Harvey Brooks and Mike Bloomfield. One of the guitarists on the third Rhinoceros album was Larry Leishman. Bassist on the second and third albums was Peter Hodgson. All four of these guys were from Toronto, and had played together for years in Jon and Lee and the Checkmates, whose exceptionally powerful organ / guitar sound was one of the closest approximations to the Hudson / Robertson sound on the local scene. Their one record, "Bring It Down Front" (as by the Jon-Lee Group) certainly bears this out.

Mon Feb 22 19:16:01 MET 1999

David Powell

Here's some Ry Cooder / Band connections: Both have recorded with John Hiatt. Then there's the Cooder soundtrack connections with director Wim Wenders & producer Jonathan Taplin.

Also, the Cooder / Duane Allman / Blind Willie McTell connection. Duane Allman acknowledged that hearing Ry Cooder inspired him to learn how to play bottleneck slide. One of the songs that Cooder used to perform with Taj Mahal, early in his career with the Rising Suns, was Blind Willie's "Statesboro Blues." Although countless others have performed this song, it became a signature of Duane & the Allman Brothers, and in turn, helped to popularize the legacy of Blind Willie McTell. In addition to his work with the Allman Brothers, Duane was also noted for his session work with Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, John Hammond, Eric Clapton's Derek & the Dominoes, and others. His distinctive bottleneck slide work figured prominently in Aretha's cover version of "The Weight" and Ronnie Hawkins' "Down In The Alley."

Mon Feb 22 19:07:37 MET 1999

John Donabie

RE: Billy Mundi. Billy also played with one of my favorite cult bands....Rhinoceros, featuring John Finley of Toronto on vocals.

Mon Feb 22 17:55:07 MET 1999

Charlie Young

E. Mussak: The Dead and The Band had their connections over the years, but one thing Garcia and pals never had was great voices comparable to Danko, Helm and Manuel. The Dead had their "brown album" (WORKINGMAN'S DEAD) which was undoubtedly influenced by The Band. I recently received an out-of-the-blue e-mail from an old high school friend who told me a funny story about his Deadhead stepson. My friend was sick of the steady stream of Grating Dull music coming from the stepson's room, so one day he stuck his head in the door and tossed the kid a copy of The Band's brown album, saying "this is what The Dead might have sounded like if they had know how to sing and play." That's unfair, but the bottom line is that my friend had to buy another copy of the CD. One of the great legacies of The Dead,though, was their willingness to let fans tape and trade shows. It certainly never hurt THEIR bottom line. Some of my favorite artists (such as Bruce Hornsby) carry on this tradition, and it is an admirable one in an industry where big stars are sometimes as greedy and heartless as most pro athletes.

Mon Feb 22 16:05:41 MET 1999

Serge

E.MUSSAK from Madison Wi.- I agree with you, you are right on. Good to see you here. Long time no see. Get in touch by Email.

Mon Feb 22 15:49:38 MET 1999

David Powell

Billy Mundi, who played drums on "Mystery Train" with The Band on _Moondog Matinee_, also recorded with Frank Zappa. Mundi joined Jimmy Carl Black on drums for the excellent second & third albums of the Mothers Of Invention, _Absolutely Free_ and _We're Only In It For The Money_.

Mon Feb 22 13:34:01 MET 1999

tom izzo

Speaking of Ry Cooder: If John Hammond and Ry Cooder put out an album together, they could call it Hammond-Ry. Sorry..couldn't resist. Tom.

Mon Feb 22 10:45:07 MET 1999

John Purcell

Hey! Its good to see such a thorough site on one of the greatest bands in the history of rock. I'm a fairly new fan , and I can't believe I haven't been one all my life. Keep up the good work! feel free to contact, John

Mon Feb 22 10:12:41 MET 1999

Ragtime

differende? Did I type that? Could be Spanish or something...

Mon Feb 22 10:09:49 MET 1999

Ragtime

JONATHAN: I was stuck at the Jesse Winchester album a few months ago. I love all the songs, but especially "Quiet About It". A tongue-in-cheek peace of reli-pop IMHO.

CATBALU:-) did I?

PETER: Mojo! I won't be quiet about it, but e-mail you privately.

Re RY COODER: one minor differende is that he's more tongue-in-cheek than our guys.

Mon Feb 22 08:44:49 MET 1999

Diamond Lil

Catbalou: Dark and windy middle of the night here, passing the time reading the newest guestbook entries and came across yours. A few things I'd like to say.

Money is money, it comes and it goes, and in the big picture, it's not worth the worry or aggravation that it brings. Be grateful that you can't take it with you. Who'd want to be stuck with money problems for all eternity anyway? It's a viscious circle. You break those dishes, then you're gonna need money to buy new ones. Solves nothing. Use some money to soothe your soul. Music. It matters...and lasts..even after the money's gone.

A little disturbed by your "girl with the 2 black eyes" comment. Hoping that was only a made up visual to make your point, and not anything more.

Sorry folks. Know this post was not Band related, but at 3am it really Makes No Difference.....

Mon Feb 22 08:04:53 MET 1999

E. Mussak

I think The Band is getting me off the Grateful Dead FINALLY. How has this incredibly soulful group passed me up for so long? I love the back-woods, Ozark Mountain, romanticized Old West kinda sound. Whenever the Dead did songs like BIODTL or Brown-Eyed Women, they pale in comparison to these guys. Less counterculture-->more talent and art.

Mon Feb 22 04:52:44 MET 1999

Jonathan Katz

Charlie: There is a Richard tape [or two] of solo material in circulation. catbalu: Welcome back [but shouldn't you be mad at the IRS?] Serge: Thanks for the Oui article! Everybody else: keep on posting - I learn a lot. Anybody: Any info on the Bottle Rockets? For what its worth: I've gotten stuck on the 1st Jesse Winchester album. Great Robbie guitar and some great songs: esp. "The Nudge," "Quiet About It," and of course "The Brand New Tennesse Waltz."

Mon Feb 22 03:59:50 MET 1999

Ken Davies

I love The Band! Got all the albums. Seen The Last Waltz at least six times. The new album is a revelation! Great sound! Great and good material! I didn't expect to hear one like that again. Thanks for keepin' at it.

Mon Feb 22 02:52:38 MET 1999

catbalu

Serge, i apologize for overreacting. (apologies all around for loss of temper) shouldn't have said anything --- not the place for it. you're right. if i'm going to contribute, i need to make sense to you - especially if you are actually reading what i wrote. was just wrong day for a "reprimand".... ragtime, quit makin fun of me (kidding!) Twas a "Levonesque"-on-a-tear bad week compliments of my tax attorney - and a few other aggravating people. nearly over the urge to break dishes. but - no more "why me"; will feel MUCH better once i run over that bean counter with my car (i'm in shock - cried all day Thurs - and I'm with Levon on the $ thing: it's enough to make a person sick & curse REAL LOUD; did that, too)............... dave z - gave you the wrong impression (would i do a thing like that....): our co. HANDLES lots of money (makes me too nervous - partner's job). no, my profit, as i was told Thurs. - is "paper profit." that mural is on hold - creative self is at low tide....... Mitt, little darlin, you saved my dishes. soon as health allows, will take you up on a shot of homebrew. make that 2! you and yours are welcome anytime. you're not a lurker! you're polite. Bet you'd like "Une Mere Formality" (w/R. Polanski & G. Depardeaux -sp?.) like my posts, you might have to go thru it twice. added Thin Red Line to my "To Do and To Get" list - soon as i can afford to! blasted IRS - not enough beans left for a bowl of chili.... Thank you for the empathy mr. viney. i am truly overwhelmed and running on empty...... now, i typed, i EDITED - did i make sense? (Ya'll, let mike be the judge this time, ok? he's less likely to scare away the women) .......Sundog, - not you, too!........ once again, sorry Serge, for jumpin back. oh me...."Gonna write a letter, send it away, put all the trouble in it [I] had today....."

Mon Feb 22 01:10:46 MET 1999

P Godfrey

Bob C and Charlie Young re: The Band and Beak having a good or bad night. Can't ever remember Richard having a bad night...on stage. However, there were a few nights when he may have had a bigger grin than others. Shine On!

Sun Feb 21 23:37:22 MET 1999

Charlie Young

Mr. Viney: did you find all the Ry Cooder info from a web source or just from your own recollection? Either way I'm impressed. Speaking of Ry and Taj Mahal, the Rising Sons stuff was recently issued on CD for the first time, and there's an excellent new 3-CD Taj Mahal retrospective just out. It's called IN PROGRESS AND IN MOTION, 1965-1998. I saw Taj open for The Band, circa 1972, and even though he played solo and acoustic, he was just fine.

Sun Feb 21 23:35:26 MET 1999

Pat Brennan

And Taj opened for the 1971 Band tour.

Sun Feb 21 22:29:06 MET 1999

Peter Viney

Ragtime: surprising how little connection there is between Ry and The Band, considering how much we both like both!

“Tribute To Woodie Guthrie” - The Band back 1968 Dylan. Other electric backings on the album are by a Ry Cooder led group from a 1970 further tribute.

Ry Cooder & Taj Mahal were in The Rising Sons. Taj went solo and cut “Bacon Fat”.

The only instance where Ry & a Band member played together as far as I know was on Judy Collins “Living” in 1972 - Ry on guitar, Richard Bell on piano.

Sun Feb 21 21:23:23 MET 1999

Ragtime (not so smart)

My musical "bagage" is limited as far as rock & pop music's concerned. When Big Pink came out in '68 I turned my back to a lot of stuff that didn't convince me any more. Since then there are many lapses in my musical knowledge apart from the classical repertoire. But Ry Cooder is one of those that I've always liked & I was just listening to him when I read Mike's post. Ry certainly has much in common with our guys (listen to "Why Don't You Try Me" & imagine what The Band would make of it). Has there ever been any direct connection?

Sun Feb 21 20:09:19 MET 1999

ellarbee

With Rick's continuing solo shows and Garth's too, what are the prospects for a tour by the whole Band this year? Anybody heard anything? From the posts and the pictures seen lately, I assume that Levon's well enough, if everyone else is so inclined.

Sun Feb 21 18:45:39 MET 1999

Bumbles

SUNDOG: JEANNIE C. RILEY SANG 'HARPER VALLEY P.T.A.' TOM T. HALL CLAIMS TO HAVE WRITTEN IT, BUT I THINK HE JUST RIPPED OFF LEVON.

Sun Feb 21 17:51:32 MET 1999

Pat Brennan

Sundog, Jeannie C. Riley.

Sun Feb 21 17:45:52 MET 1999

Lisa Lambert

I'm hoping to get to New Orleans soon to check out Levon's new restaurant.....heard it was marvelous!!! Hope to see Levon again soon......haven't seen him since his last gig in Marvell, AR when he played with my Uncle, Ben Story.....He was awesome!!I got some great video of him....wish he could see it....it's rather candid, but I cherish it. Hope this finds Levon feeling AOK...heard he was much better...that's great. Tell him Hazel Hindsley sends her love and so do all of the other friends and relatives in good ole Phillips County, AR! Loved the web-site!!!!!!!! God bless, Lisa Storey Lambert JLKKK@aol.com

Sun Feb 21 17:37:35 MET 1999

Charlie Young

Railroad Man: you're so right about the great void left by never having a Richard Manuel solo album. I'd settle for a bunch of cover songs Richard sang in the early days. That might make a worthwhile project for someone. I keep hoping a tape of unreleased Manuel sessions will turn up, but this seems very unlikely unless he did any recording with Hendrix or Jim Morrison. Hell, I just ordered Clapton's "No Reason to Cry" CD just because of Richard's cameo contributions.

Sun Feb 21 17:34:03 MET 1999

Pat Brennan

Donald Joseph, nobody is as smart as they think they are (not even me, egads!!), but you're pretty smart. RE: Basement Tapes, why didn't RR add some instruments to Dylan's tracks if the "Columbia suits" had such overriding power? Simple answer: the suits couldn't tell Dylan anything. He'd give them an album and they'd release it--except, of course, during the heated renegotions that resulted in the infamous "Dylan" album. Yes, it seems the BT was primarily a RR vehicle and that Dylan had little imput.The reason RR added stuff was because the tapes simply didn't sound like The Band. And, re-recording songs in 75 would be fine, if they were identified as such. Let me ask you all something. Some group comes out with a CD of material that was supposedly recorded in a basement in Montana in 1967 and it's extrordinary. Great songs, interesting performances, except you find out later that it was only partially recorded in 67 with extensive overdubs pasted on thirty years later. You'd understand? Be that as it may, the Band's basement material is still compelling on its own and didn't need-IMHO-the overdubs.

Sun Feb 21 17:33:40 MET 1999

Peter Viney

Donald & Railroad Man:

Donald’s nearly right but the word order is still astray.

When you’re lost in the rain in Juarez

when it’s Eastertime too

The official lyrics have “and it’s Eastertime too” which is what Dylan sings on “Live 66” but listen to “Highway 61 Revisited”. Or don’t. The “Live 66” version is the definitive one.

Sun Feb 21 17:14:53 MET 1999

Tim(SUNDOG)Corcoran

Reading some of these post opened up a song I would from a long time ago, do you remember it?, THE DAY MY MAMA SOCKED IT TO, THE HARPER VALLEY P.T.A... WHO SANG IT??????? AH, YOU ALL WERE TO YOUNG!

Sun Feb 21 15:40:52 MET 1999

Donald Joseph

Railroad Man: While Serge might tell you I'm not as smart as I think I am, I'm surely not as DUMB as YOU think I am. I know perfectly well what the "How Can You Get to Sleep" line MEANS -- I remember I once, decades ago, quoted it to my grandmother when she lived by a train station & was complaining about the train noise. But I think, as poetry/art, it's a clunker of a line. Sorry I got the auxilliary verb ('do" vs. "can") wrong -- but who are you to take me to task for a slight slip on lyrics when YOU bobble song words big time? Try: "When you're lost in Juarez IN THE RAIN/And it's Easertime too." "And you're worried" my ass.

Sun Feb 21 14:31:44 MET 1999

Moses

Some writer on the internet who said he interviewed Levon Helm said that he may be ill. I hope this is not true. His write up of the interview was disgusting. Too negative and disrespectful of Levon who has brought much love and joy to his fans . That person who wrote the interview should be horse whipped. I hope that Levon is in good health and can continue his legendary gift of music.

Sun Feb 21 10:29:37 MET 1999

Railroad Man

What a great pity that Richard Manuel never released a solo album.Some of the other Band members have done so with varying success, I did like RR's self-titled effort, it was worth the money just to hear him absolutely explode out the opening chords to Hell's Half Acre.

Richard could have chosen any style of music at all and have succeeded, although I would have loved to hear him do songs along the lines of The Great Pretender...he could wring every ounce of emotion out of songs that by others sounded bland and lifeless.Out of all the Band members I thought he was the one most likely to have a successful solo career.

Sun Feb 21 10:04:46 MET 1999

Ilkka

NetBus
I have had visitors in my computer via Internet. If anyone has noticed any unwanted activity from "my" side, please let me know. Thank you.

Sun Feb 21 08:03:20 MET 1999

Jonathan Katz

For the Official release of the Basement tapes Robbie had to clean them up - it would not have been "acceptable" to the suits at Columbia or the public. However, I think that the case can be made that he went too far. My opinion is that it should have been a 2-lp set with the Band material all on one side. But that would not have served to advance the myth that they were trading songs on a more-or-less equal basis.

Sun Feb 21 07:47:53 MET 1999

Jonathan Katz

Heylin has the following lineup for 1/21/66:

Dylan, Robbie, Garth, Rick, Richard, Bobby Gregg.

The book for Bootleg 1-3 has been highly criticized as inaccurate. Jeff Rosen is credited for production and compilation, and he has been severely criticized by Heylin [who has himself been critiqued by others]. The Bootleg booklet puts the 1/21/66 sessions in Nashville; Heylin has them in NY on that date. BTW: Konikoff is not listed by Heylin as contributing at all to any of the takes (whether used or not).

Sun Feb 21 07:32:33 MET 1999

Ragtime

BEN PIKE: in order to avoid your harsh punishment - I wouldn't miss these tunes for the world... - I hasten to tell you that you're damn right, of course :-) I personally would have been delighted if they had recorded a whole new Band album out of this old material around '75 (there were at least 12 songs available). The only thing is (& that's what annoyed some of us) that they pretended that all recordings were genuinely from the basement. Which was a tiny little bit economical with the truth.

Re Blonde on Blonde outtake: thanks for the info on Bobbie Neuwirth, but the discrepancies on the Bob Dylan Bootleg Series Vol. 2 are still confusing. A reminder of my query:

"She's Your Lover Now", recorded New York 1/21/66.

Booklet p. 29: Bob Dylan, Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Robbie Robertson, Al Kooper, Paul Griffin.

Same booklet p. 51: Bob Dylan, Robbie Robertson, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, Rick Danko, Sandy Konikoff.

Members of the jury: what say you?

Sun Feb 21 05:53:28 MET 1999

Ben Pike

Just drove up to Reno and brought along the five CD complete "Basement Tapes" bootleg. Bottom Line: Robbie Robertson took a brillent if rambling improvisational session and cut and pasted it into one of the great albums in Rock History. His unobtrusive sweetening of certain songs in no way interfears with the tone of the sessions. And I don't know when the Band songs were added, but they A) are among the very best stuff the boys ever did, and more importantly B) fit perfectly supurbly with Dylan's songs, his greatest ever. Instead of being kicked around by prissy critics, Robertson should get a medal from The President for the creation of "The Basement Tapes" album. He should oversee an expanded three CD edition, and if he has any more songs that he can fit in, Garth, Rick, AND Levon should join him in the studio to help him. And anyone who gives him any more CRAP about it, should be sentenced to never getting to hear "Bessie Smith" "Katie's Been Gone" "Yazoo Street Scandel" etc. for the rest of their lives. A harsh punishment, but deserved.

Sun Feb 21 04:08:43 MET 1999

Dave Z

I enjoy your rambling catbalu, and would love to see a pic of the mural when done, assuming its not one of the murals that's never done and always changing. Also, good to hear someone's got money. Hope you check back in later.

I keep turning up Like A Rolling Stone hoping I will hear something, but I bet I'm just programming my imagination and hurting my ears. I similarly convinced myself that I hear someone taking a hit during Van's Caravan.

I also like Neil Young, especially a midnight movie I saw called Journey Through The Past, which is probably not a politically correct movie these days. I like the scene where he stops his old car on a bridge, gets out and throws a rock into the creek like a kid. I almost feel asleep in such a creek when I was a kid in Maryland, and a lot more relaxed. Another good scene from the movie was Neil playing piano outside by a big fire - I think it was Soldier, but I could be imagining.

I know this question has probably been asked alot, but does anyone know where I can get a good copy of the Complete Last Waltz? I've been doing searches for bootleg records sites but it's getting to be too much work on my slow computer.

Sun Feb 21 03:28:11 MET 1999

Pat Brennan

This talk of "Play fucking loud" is interesting, but no one said "Play fucking loud" before Like A Rolling Stone. Serge, peace. I look forward to the delivery.

Sun Feb 21 03:02:27 MET 1999

Mike

Just heard the great Ry Cooder doing "He'll Have to Go". Man if that's not a tune I'd love to hear Rick sing. "Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone-We'll pretend we're together all alone-I'll tell the man to turn the juke-box way down low- And you can tell your friend there with you...he'll have to go."

Sun Feb 21 00:53:06 MET 1999

Jason Vaughn

I love "The Band". WOOOooo The night they drove old dixie down!!! My favorite!!! The band is the greatest..Nothing like chillin w/a cold one and enjoying "The Band".

Sun Feb 21 00:42:50 MET 1999

John Donabie

Odessa......You are correct.

Sat Feb 20 23:12:33 MET 1999

Valdemar Gudjonsson

I have been a fan for 20 some years and I just love visiting TheBand on the net.

Sat Feb 20 22:30:05 MET 1999

Mitt Stampler

Catbalu--pleeeeeaaaaase don't quit posting, or at least let me know where you are posting because I love listening to you--wish I could come visit your place in the mountains and listen to your old stories about poetry and professors, listen to music, maybe shoot some pool or play some poker, and I'd bring a bottle of my brother's home-brewed absinthe (the major ingredient is Robitussin cough syrup, but you won't care what it tastes like after a shot or two) because my mom told me that when you go over to someone's house you ALWAYS bring booze or flowers. I usually bring both...but then, I love to hear stories. So please, keep tellin' them.... I'm one of the younger lurkers around here, born in '71, though these days I lie and say '73 because I'm fearing 30, and I don't have stories of shooting pool with Rick or hearing Richard talk about Whispering Pines, but there are some gifted writers around here who make me feel almost as if I was....I was watching a movie recently in which a romantic young gentleman was talking about his housemates and said, "We're just like a family," and a young lady (I gather something of a cynic) said "Yeah, in that we all drink and hurt each other." Forget the movie, but the line was good-- :) I just got back from seeing "The Thin Red Line"--now that's stream of consciousness. I overheard someone in the theatre saying, "You know, this movie really could've used a script." My beloved spouse, always a tart critic, said "You know, Terence Malick was just making that up as he went along." Me, though :)

Sat Feb 20 22:18:02 MET 1999

ODESSA

Hey, uh, didn't Le Coq D'Or turn into HMV in Toronto? I really want to know. "Book Faded Brown," is a really good song. Reminds me of the Big Pink days. sounds like the old Band. I have Jim Weider's phone number. I stole an Ulster Co. phone book from a West Saugerties motel. I haven't got the guts to call him and tell him he's a good handler of a Fender Tele though. Peace and Love, Odessa

Sat Feb 20 21:59:06 MET 1999

Don Gee

I'm a cousin to the great Rick Danko,in a little local band called Northern Kross,playing with another former Hawk,Jim Atkinson,and his family,wish we had an email for Rick.I would also like to know,when Rick is playing in Ontario next!thanx Don!

Sat Feb 20 20:46:28 MET 1999

Charlie Young

Bob C: Please re-read my post and you'll see that you're confusing my remarks regarding RICK DANKO at a relatively recent show in Richmond, Virginia, USA with a show in New York in the 1980s in which The Band--including the late RICHARD MANUEL--opened for Crosby, Stills and Nash. I never saw Richard Manuel have an "off night" personally.

Sat Feb 20 20:10:22 MET 1999

Ragtime

catbalu: baby please don't go (in your own words: SYLA)

Sat Feb 20 20:09:26 MET 1999

Mike

Catbalu- please don't let one off-hand comment from one poster get you down. Stick with us here. I'm sure I'm not alone in saying that I enjoy reading your stuff and puzzling some of it out. Like good song lyrics, somethings are clearly felt but hard to fathom.

Sat Feb 20 18:01:40 MET 1999

Bumbles

CATBALU: cat, we hardly knew ye.

Sat Feb 20 17:17:30 MET 1999

Peter Viney

Catbalu: I like getting a bit of stream of consciousness stuff on the site. Don't go! There's room for us all here. I'm sitting here listening to Stage Fright. Wish I could think of a Band limerick :-)

Sat Feb 20 17:03:36 MET 1999

catbalu

Serge - sorry to offend thee. i know my thoughts are fragmented. my brain is tired. i'm a very small person in this world that alot has come to be expected of. spend my days feeling quite intimidated by accountants and attorneys and the rich and famous - get tired of having to be responsible with someone handing me $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ (that much, yes) at a time to perform miracles when i'd rather be finishing the mural in my basement (the border consists of favorite song lyrics). in here i learn from the serious, enjoy other's trips thru the past, buy new music ya'll talk about and try to carry the humor i run across on this and other websites with me so as not to fold like a card when i gotta make a silk purse from a sow's ear under EXTREME deadlines. Perhaps you could handle this better (hell, anybody could! i hate money and struggle with the greed of others. how much stuff does a person require...... give it a rest. go away. get). having lots of mula probably sounds just peachy. but, man, by last night, all i wanted to do was start walkin' straight to the gulf of mexico. please don't expect anything serious out of me in here. By 6 p.m. there is no blood left to bleed for thee. i come home to hide and get people off of me, not on me. so, no, i don't blame The Band for sighing out loud if they have to perform when they don't feel like it. those who can't always expect too much from those who can. (the right honorable Rev. Moon is one of my clients as of Thursday. for all i know, you could be - could have been - one of my clients. we're all over the world now. feels like i've created a monster). so, boys and girls, i'll just go to a "more appropriate website" where stream of conscousness is a given. finally found one i like. got what i came for here, anyway, if all goes well. (BTW, most songwriters are not leaders. they have no business doing business) peace be with ye. bye, ya'll, have a good life. Let that ego roll..... (oh yea, mr. viney, in Englishman shares my office space. he turned me on to faulty towers. i have truly enjoyed your sense of humor - and your poetry. take care)

Sat Feb 20 14:58:47 MET 1999

Railroad Man[Again]

Donald Joseph[Again] . I wouldnt be a true Railroad Man if I didnt call you to task over your comments on the line from Where Do We Go From Here. You not only got the lyric wrong.,it's "how CAN you get to sleep when the whistle dont moan " whats worse is you didnt seem to understand what RR was trying to say. If youve lived near a railroad for any time the train whistle is a familar, comforting and for some, a very romantic and adventurous sound.

Sat Feb 20 14:54:53 MET 1999

Serge

I get a kick out of D. Joseph's entries. Addressing people one by one, dispensing absolutions and excommunications like a pope. Omnipotent and omniscient. Think I'll try his approach:

Catbalu: I wish I could figure out your incoherent delivery, and understand what in hell you're talking about half the time.

Donabie, the OUI piece is coming real soon ( sans les photos ).

Jan: Great news about the London trip. Take some Glenfiddich for Garth, and have a couple of snorts with him... to Wingate's health.

Brennan: You are absolved. There's something you've been wanting in the mail.

Joseph: Are you willing to hear confessions via Email??

Sat Feb 20 14:21:20 MET 1999

Railroad Man

Donald Joseph ::Regarding Bobby Neuwirth, Yes, an interesting character too , Plenty of people thought that Dylan got a lot of his stage presence and persona off of Neuwirth. He always insisted that he wrote the first line to Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues, " when your lost in Jaurez and worried, and it's Easter time too". He thought that line made the song.

Sat Feb 20 12:41:10 MET 1999

bob c

to charlie young: i have to disagree with you about richard.every band has good nights and bad.i caught the guys at the palace theatre in stamford ct. in the early 80's.the place holds about 2,000 people,real intamite setting.these guys were on that night.you could feel the energy in the room.the poeple in the first row were dancing on the stage and rick was dancing with them,everbody eas cool about it.richard sang tears of rage and i shall be released.he just put so much feeling in it.the highlight of the evening was long black veil, i got goosebumps listening to them stack their voices and harmonize.i've been to hundreds of shows over the years,but that show i will always remember as the best.

Sat Feb 20 11:57:46 MET 1999

Peter Viney

Donald: I’ll try to answer your grammatical concern about “Play fucking loud.” But it might be way, way more than anyone else ever wanted to know, so others should SKIP NOW rather than post a complaint that they were bored later.

The perceived grammatical error that you mention is “loud” instead of “loudly.” Regular adverbs of manner end in -ly (quickly, badly); irregular ones don’t (fast, well, hard, late).

‘slow’ and ‘loud’ are used as adverbs in both the regular form (slowly, loudly) and in an irregular form (slow, loud). Traditional prescriptive grammar held that the -ly form was ‘correct’. A common example of ‘slow’ used as an adverb is the British road sign, “Go slow.” Modern grammar books are descriptive and note that ‘drive slow’ and ‘go slow’ are informal but frequent. They note that ‘loud’ is often used informally as an adverb, e.g. ‘Don’t talk so loud.’ The examples given in the grammars are all in imperative sentences (Go slow / Don’t talk so loud) + Play fucking loud. Though the grammars don’t note this, it’s no coincidence. You use imperatives when you’re in a hurry / giving a command. The extra syllable (-ly) is time-wasting. As James Brown said, ‘Say it loud!’. Play loud is now a formulaic use, like Go slow, and has often appeared on rock 45s. Can’t remember who was the first to use it. Therefore it got onto the TLW film pre-title card. It wouldn’t jar on my grammar nerve at all, but “She was talking loud during the meeting” would jar horribly. In this example, which is not an imperative, “loudly” would be considered the only suitable possibility. Whether it was Bob or Rob, the grammar was fine. The rules on the use of the intensifier ‘fucking’ are more complex and would take several paragraphs to describe.

Sat Feb 20 08:49:36 MET 1999

Donald Joseph

Re Bobby Neuwirth: I've got his 2 solo lp's & he's a genius. In the liner notes T Bone Burnett says Bobby can sit around & sing great new songs -- only later do you realize he's been making them up as he sings! However, the Neuwirth/John Cale concept album makes RR at his most pretentious (Redboy) look like Johnny Paycheck. Still, surely Zimmie recognized Bobby's enormous talents & let him play on B.O.B. -- even if Bobby's talents aren't as a performer.

Re Neil Young: At 10:00 Sat. a.m. Ticketmaster starts selling tix for 2 Neil Young solo acoustic shows in Chi. at Rosemont, per today's Sun-Times..

Donabie: Are we to assume you never read the Oui piece -- because you've been too busy looking at the pictures?

Potsy: "Garden of Earthly Delights" (instrumental) is RR's greatest hot-rock guitar solo ever recorded; there's no competition. It's the 1st cut on the "Carney" soundtrack. It sounds like stripper music -- I always though it'd be the ideal tune for a stripper actually to strip to! (If you had to be a stripper....)

Viney, re Lee Dorsey: I, along with over 10,000 other maniacs, caught Lee's last-ever public performance, at the N.O. Jazz Fest. The great thing about Jazz Fest crowds is they know all the songs. We all sang along -- "Workin' in the Coalmine," etc. Lee's day job, up to the end, was as a body & fender man. Once a year the Jazz Fest organizers arranged a day off for him from his body shop. He became Mick Jagger for the afternoon.

David Powell: I second your opinion on Jimmy Rogers's "Blues,Blues,Blues": I have the record & I consider it a classic. But can I make long-winded recommendations of all the l.p.'s I consider great -- even sans any Band connection? If so, I proffer for your consideration the new Lazy Lester album "All Over You." Lazy is a blues legend who -- unlike Jimmy -- can make a great album in 1999 even without Mick, Eric, Taj, Stills, et al. (In the interest of full disclosure: Lester is a friend of mine, I talked to him this week, he played my wedding, & I negotiated the "All Over You" contract for him with Antone's/Sire records.) Re the Charlie McCoy discussion: On two cuts on Lester's new album you hear Lester put down his harp & play a hot guitar. You'll also hear some percussion on these 2 guitar tracks. The l.p. liner notes don't credit the percussion to anyone, but Lester told me he's playing the percussion himself -- live, simultaneously with the guitar, using -- HIS FEET! True story. Lester does this trick live; he said it's a crowd-pleaser, & they especially went nuts for it in Brazil -- they adore percussion down there.

Viney, re "Play Fuckin' Loud": Pls. do an article connecting the pre-title card on TLW ("THIS FILM SHOULD BE PLAYED LOUD") with the legendary '66 tour interjection. In your analysis, pls. comment on the eerie consistency of the grammatical error.

$: I join you at the altar of Bob Cato worship. As I remember, hommages to The Band in the '70's frequently mentioned Bob's kick-ass covers. But I agree that on this guestbook Bob's been relegated to a footnote. I don't know why. I've always questioned, though, Bob's elaborate packaging for Stage Fright & Moondog (i.e., the posters): The album covers without the posters lose a hell of a lot, and history/posterity has lost the posters -- leaving us with 2 Cato albums without great covers (spine-analysis aside).Maybe Bob didn't forsee how long these records would remain in print! [Let me add I own 1 copy of each l.p. with poster still sealed in its original shrink-wrap!]

Charlie Young, Little Bro., Ellarbee: Nice, if widely divergent, analyses of Cahoots. The album bounces around in my estimation from a classic (if difficult) work to a flawed (if impressive) one. I'm intrigued by your song-order hypothesis, but I agree Cahoots doesn't add up to more than the sum of its parts. I want to, and often do, like Cahoots's songwriting/lyrics. But can we pardon a line like "How do you get to sleep/When the whistle don't moan?"?

Sat Feb 20 05:47:48 MET 1999

Blind Willie

Jan

Have fun with Garth in London !!

Sat Feb 20 04:44:46 MET 1999

catbalu

And i promise not to post it in here! (at least not all at once) So glad some of ya'll like Neil Young as much as i do. Harvest Moon is a real love song from a good man and i play it each year come harvest moon night (the basement mural features the lyrics "nothing could be stranger than the unknown danger of life on the ocean floor" along the ceiling.) Makes me glad Neil has gentle children - and a tractor. He's just getting started ..... Speaking of gentle souls, hate to have missed the chat, Mike. Got there too late; i did however, BYOB. Tried to enter anyway and couldn't (this internet STUFF is kicking my butt and i don't know WHY. mental block - quit laughin). Yall'd REALLY laugh if you knew what i did for a living. You'd fall right out of your chair.................. Just to say truly glad you all are here; yeah this is a garden party with 20 million monkeys in attendance. Can't call it Woodstock. Let's see, what would we call this festival, this cacaphony of sound...... THERE'S a job for the guestbook band.... P. Viney, i was kind of hoping for a limerick (sp?) from you (to faulty towers!) o shit try again and keep that British tie LOOSE! Looks good! Ragtime, i "TBYP'd'" this time. better or boring? And — am i regular or am i new; hard to tell. Really like to have Beth's opinion on that..... Have a good day and SYLA (my own creation - dedicated to The Band Guestbook) Stanley, was getting ready to post this and saw your entry. How many songwriters out there, ya'll. What's your sign. Were you born to lead. To write. To lead and write. Just how ambidextrous (sp?) are you. Sorry, ragtime. been a long day and i just lost it. The Rev.Sun Young (whatever) MOON just entered my office today and i am tired of WEALTH and arrogance. rather think about Neil Young and his train sets. BYE (so what do you expect of Aries - hear we are like red fire engines down main street this month. Can't help myself it's much bigger than me.)

Sat Feb 20 03:38:16 MET 1999

Stanley Landau

On a less controversial note, as I mentioned earlier during the chat room fest, I was looking for a video casette that I could tape over a few nights ago when, to my surprise, I found a tape of the 1989 Juno awards. For those of you who don’t know, the Junos are Canada’s equivalent of the Grammys and 1989 was the year that The Band was inducted into the Juno Hall of Fame. Robbie, Rick and Garth were there to accept the award and were introduced by Ronnie Hawkins. While he was talking, there was a nice little video with clips of this and that. One of the clips was the tail end of Rockin’ Chair. Although it was just a little snippet, the sound quality was excellent. Richard was the only one on camera, and my guess is it was filmed circa 1970 or 1971. Anyone know where this was from and if there is more footage buried somewhere?

Robbie, Garth and Rick performed The Weight with the help of a Canadian Band called Blue Rodeo. Everything was quite friendly. None of this "We’ve given him enough publicity stuff from Rick."

When they accepted the award, Robbie did the talking. He didn’t really have much to say, and he actually looked like a deer caught in the headlights. At a certain point he regained his composure and then introduced Paula and Josh Manuel, Richard’s kids, to accept the award for Richard. They looked to be in or about their late teens at the time, and Paula spoke quite eloquently about her father and said that he would live on through the music of The Band.

All of this must have been very difficult for Rick to take, because it was only about one month following his own son’s tragic death. In any event, it was nice to see the boys finally get some well deserved recognition in the land of snow.

Sat Feb 20 03:23:23 MET 1999

Serge D.

Donabie, I'm with you, this Wabb guy obviously knows diddley. Some "Band" fan...took him four years to discover this site. Blabbing about events he saw on TV and that we have all been aware of for years. What "respect" and what "Canadian music scene" is he yapping about?? He's not even sure when the Hall of Fame awards took place. I lost "respect" for RR when he caught the flu the day they buried Beak.

Sat Feb 20 02:16:22 MET 1999

greg

freddie: yes, you missed a great show. can't comment directly on jimmy's performance, since i didn't hang. but, of course, the band was great. even though they played a way-too-short 50 minute set. a CSN moment: summer of '90. capital music center, columbus, oh. my radio station was sponsoring the CSN show. as promotion director, i arrived early in the afternoon to assist or morning talent with her live broadcast from the venue. as we were ready to go on the air, we heard them begin soundcheck. equipment in hand, we snuck in and made ourselves comfortable in the second row, center. what a memory...CSN playing for jsut the two of us. stills couldn't keep his eyes off my collegue. as soon as the soundcheck was over, he makes a beeline to her. starts with the small talk. i ask if we can put him on the air. much to my surprise, he agrees. my collegue, still a bit wet behind the ears, was somewhat intimidated and not as knowledgeable about the band as she should have been. she's interviewing stephen stills, for christ's sake! so i'm feeding questions to her while they're live on the air. i tell her to ask "how derek taylor's doing?" his reply: "dunno. haven't seen derek taylor in 20 years." to my horror i realize i meant for her to ask him about _dallas_ taylor, a critically ill band mate of still's (deja vu, etc.) and not the beatles' publicist! after a memorable show we take some contest winners backstage. i have the opportunity to thank crosby for writing a song for the soundtrack of my youth (deja vu), and for performing it that night. he replyed with a vacant stare and barely audible grunt. an obviously ripped stills appears, spots the object of his earlier affection, and takes up where he left off. "since i granted you that great interview, etc., etc., etc." my collegue, still intimidated and growing more so by the minute, rebuffs his advances. he boards the bus alone. graham was great. shook hands, autographed guitars, carried on conversations, stood patiently for pictures. great guy. a memorable night, but i digress...

Sat Feb 20 01:43:01 MET 1999

John Donabie

I'm happy to see a new member to the sight...Bill Wabb. I have to disagree with his line and I quote "His obvious hatred for Robbie Robertson cost him much respect in the Canadian music scene." I would say that many were disappointed that he was not there; but I don't believe that he lost any respect by anyone other than Bill Wabb and some of his friends.

Sat Feb 20 01:11:54 MET 1999

Mike

Thanks for a cool session at the chat room today. Fun and informative. Feel a bit more connected to those who showed. This is a fine group of people to stumble onto- Thanks friends.

Sat Feb 20 00:53:56 MET 1999

Diamond Lil

Mike, Ragtime, Mitt, llkka ..... It was a pleasure ..... Thanks!

Sat Feb 20 00:06:27 MET 1999

Tim(SUNDOG)Corcoran.

Re: ZAPPA-"LONG LIVE FLO AND EDDIE"!!!!!!!

Fri Feb 19 22:30:20 MET 1999

Luke

With all this CSNY talk, it might be interesting to hear Graham Nash's view. I saw a TV show a few years ago with Nash (can't remember the program). Anyway, The Band came up, to which Nash replied, "The Band, I mean, they're the greatest group ever. Better than The Beatles." Gotta say i like Graham's taste!

Fri Feb 19 22:23:30 MET 1999

GARTH HUDSON IN THE U.K.

Just recieved a telephone call from Aaron Hurwitz to confirm that he and Garth, Marie & Randy will be performing a special show opening for Mercury Rev at The Forum, Kentish Town, London on March 1.

The bad news... the show is already sold out. Mercury Rev's album, Deserter's Songs, has been a big seller in the UK. Garth was specially invited to open the show by Mercury Rev and Aaron said, "Garth wants to do something special. Something electronic."

Try and buy a ticket from touts outside the venue if possible, this is not to be missed.

Fri Feb 19 21:37:57 MET 1999

Mike

LAST CALL!! Guestbook posters head to the Chat room at 10:00 pm MET. That's about 10 minutes away. Log on and share the experience.

Fri Feb 19 21:21:34 MET 1999

Bill Wabb

First of all, l let me say thank you for the fabulous site! Having grown up in Toronto during the 50s and 60s, you can imagine my delight at seeing the BEST BAND IN THE WORLD given the treatment and attention they deserve.

The detailed history of the group is absolutely fantastic. With all due respect, there is one minor error that I noticed.

Robbie Robertson did play with Garth Hudson and Rick Danko when The Band was inducted into the Canadian Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I believe it was in 1987 or 1988. They actually played in a couple of the top Toronto clubs several days before the presentation. Robbie appeared overwhelmed by the responses in the clubs. [He was interviewed on TV. ] Sadly, Levon Helm refused to attend, sending a taped message of thanks instead. Even more sadly, he showed up two days later to play a few dates with Rick Danko and Garth Hudson. His obvious hatred for Robbie Robertson cost him much respect in the Canadian music scene.

I hope you will use this information to update this great site.

Respectfully,
W. J. Wabb

Fri Feb 19 21:17:48 MET 1999

Dave Lane

I'm a fairly big NY fan, but CSNY (or more specifically any combinations of C, S and N) I find boring and too middle of the road. I heard that Y is working on another album with CSN--WHY? --Dave

Fri Feb 19 21:11:06 MET 1999

Charlie Young

I saw The Band open for CS&N at Jones Beach, Long Island back in the mid-80's, shortly before Richard died. I remember being a bit depressed by The Band as an opening act, but they still had some great moments. Frankly, though, I remember being blown away by Stills' guitar that night. I think he was always under-rated as a lead player, while Young was over-rated. Stills, by the way, turns up on a remarkable new collection by Chicago bluesman Jimmy Rogers called BLUES BLUES BLUES (Eric Clapton, Taj Mahal, Lowell Fulson, Jimmy Page, Keith Richards and Mick Jagger are there, too). Finally, I must say that David Crosby could be a good role model for our man Rick. I saw Crosby play a few months back here in a Virginia club (with his new band, CPR) and he was absolutely amazing. He signed old Byrds albums and stuff for fans after the show and he was sober, articulate, friendly and funny. The last time I saw Rick with The Band, he was falling asleep on stage during the show and staggered, mumbling afterwards. That was sad. Crosby is inspiring. It's never too late to grow up.

Fri Feb 19 19:29:52 MET 1999

David Powell

Dave Z: I don't know what CS&N's deal with Atlantic was but I do recall that Ahmet Ertgum did some maneuvering to get them signed. Stills had left Springfield (who were signed to Atlantic), Crosby departed the Byrds (who were on Columbia), and Nash left the Hollies (who were signed in the U.S. on Epic, a Columbia subsidiary). Atlantic supposedly worked out a deal to give Epic ex-Springfield member Richie Furay & his new group Poco, in return for CSN.

Fri Feb 19 19:27:12 MET 1999

Ragtime

Ragman & Lil (hi!) & others:

Didn't want to knock CSNY, but when listening to Déjà Vu today it struck me that this music brought back (dear) memories of the early 70s (when I, yes!, almost cut my hair...) and that was all it did to me, while The Band's music stayed with me all my life & is as vivid as ever to the present day, now that I'm, er, bold... BTW Ragman, I admit:

The line you quote

Seized me by the throat.

Ilkka, dear rabbit man: I'm a bit confused about the time. Are you really asleep at 10.00 MET?

Fri Feb 19 18:58:06 MET 1999

Peter Viney

Snippets: heard today that EMI are doing more remastered vinyl albums in March, and “Big Pink” is among them. This follows “The Band” vinyl reissue a year ago.

Want another group to talk about? I just found a CD of The Turtles Presents The Battle of The Bands. I’ve been looking for it for years and had missed it because the reissue is German with bonus tracks, and carries the original German title “Elenore”. The connection with Zappa is taken as read!

Fri Feb 19 18:47:35 MET 1999

Joe

I was one who left Wembley after The Band and before CSNY. Reason: they were just so wishy washy. since then I've got into Neil Young who together with Van the man is IMHO the only artist from that era who still cuts it. Check out Harvest Moon: there are some great songs. I seem to remember that Neil wasn't too keen on CSN: not only did he split from them at various times, but did'nt he refuse to travel with the rest when he toured?

Other connection with the Band is thru Emmylou (both on TLW)and NY appears on Wrecking Ball. If you've not heard it out there, it's a must. Neil sings harmony on a couple of songs that will melt your soul. Emmylou also does "can't remember if we said goodbye" by Steve Earle which is inspiring. peace and hey to those who said hey

I'm goin down town to shoot my old lady(cos she's been messin around....)

Fri Feb 19 18:20:10 MET 1999

Dave Z

It's really wierd to me that you guys are talking about CSNY because I have recently taken a break from listening to the Band, and went back to CSNY too. Was CSNY originally saddled with a 10 record deal like the Band? I often wonder if things would have been better for us listeners if the Band maybe got a two record deal instead? Then all five guys would have maybe been at the table for other deals? To me, Buffalo Springfield was the best group related to CSNY, as stated in an earlier post. I just love the extended version of Bluebird, and the live version of Carry On. Both the Band and CSNY could jam!

Fri Feb 19 18:19:15 MET 1999

Mike

I have to post some positive comments about CSN&Y. I saw them together, separately, and in varios combinations thru the 70's and never saw a bad show. IMO Stills was a great guitarist. Cuban stylings mixed with solid blues and rock playing made him a wonderful, unique stylist. His acoustic work alone would make him reguried listening. Chech out "black Queen" on his first solo album. I've heard it live too and he's the real deal. CSN&Y tried to match Beach Boy vocal quality with rock music and did it. Listen to the mix of electric/ acoustic guitars in their best work. I also recomend Stills albums with "Manassas". Lighten up- open up- don't be so snobby - there is room for more than one band in the world. I'm surprised to see so many posts that seem to try to build up the Band by knocking down others. Remember- it's the music.

Fri Feb 19 18:08:03 MET 1999

Ilkka

David Powell - I'm glad You mentioned my favorite musician: Charlie McCoy. He has combined even electric bass and harmonica playing, well in only(?) one instrument. His bass harmonica playing sounds somewhat comic but I LOVE IT!

Mike - The good guys like me are already sleeping at the Chat Time, but who knows what's happening tonight.

Fri Feb 19 16:44:33 MET 1999

The Ragman

To Ragtime: "it increases my paranoia, like looking in my mirror and seeing a police car"

Fri Feb 19 16:12:22 MET 1999

Peter Viney

You got me listening to CSNY. Their history is instructive compared to The Band. You need someone with the final vote, and The Band managed in their classic era to avoid the public clashes of ego. In retrospect these existed beneath the surface. CSNY relied on Graham Nash as the communicator and peace maker. The others found it hard to accept that Stills had the most appealing lead singing voice, Young was the best lyricist by a good margin, Crosby had a potential for beautiful one off songs. They had four songwriters, and their albums were brought down because they were democratic. Fair shares. You wonder if more even distribution of songwriting would have benefitted The Band, or (as I think) reduced their impact.

All of CSNY had huge egos, but then so do most successful rock & film stars. Stills was less adept at hiding it, that's all!

Fri Feb 19 16:10:55 MET 1999

David Powell

P.S. Mr. Fishstick--what is it that Levon & Buffett have in common on Decatur St. in New Orleans?

Fri Feb 19 15:32:02 MET 1999

David Powell

A little bit of this & that.

Jonathan: The Bobby Charles story could be true. The story I heard was that Charles signed with Chess after auditioning over the telephone. Charles had a regional hit with his recording of "See You Later Alligator." Bill Haley & the Comets covered it and had a huge international hit with it. Artists such as Fats Domino and Clarence "Frogman" Henry also recorded songs written by Charles.

As I mentioned yesterday, Tom Wilson produced Zimmeran and Zappa. Wilson can be heard on Dylan's _Bringing It All Back Home_. After the false start on "Bob Dylan's 115th Dream," that's Wilson laughing along with Dylan before calling out for take two. When Wilson left Columbia and went to Verve, he procduced sessions for the Mothers as well as the Velvet Underground.

When Bob Johnston set up the sessions for _Blonde On Blonde_, one of the Nashville cats he recruited was multi-instrumentalist Charlie McCoy. Although known primarily for his harmonica work, McCoy was adept on many instruments. He first played with Dylan on _Highway 61 Revisited_. That's McCoy who plays the acoustic Spanish guitar fills on "Desolation Row," sounding like Grady Martin on the Marty Robbins classic "El Paso."

During the B.O.B. sessions, Dylan wanted to add a Salvation Army horn sound to "Rainy Day Women No. 12 & 35." Since the sessions were recorded on a 3-track machine and Dylan prefered recording live with no over-dubs, McCoy stepped forward. A trombone player was quickly brought in and McCoy played the trumpet with one hand while simultaneously playing the electric bass with the other. This, he later told an interviewer, was a trick he used to perform as a novelty in his night club act; using his right hand to play the trumpet, he'd thump the open bass strings with the left. It truly must have been a sight to see, as Dylan sang "every body must get stoned!"

Regarding Neuwirth's participation, Bob Spitz seems to disagree with everyone else who's written about the B.O.B. sessions, including Kooper himself. A colorful character ( a songwriter, painter, picker & a problem when he's stoned), he's primarily known as Dylan's aide de camp while on tour. Neuwirth can be seen in action quite extensively in the _Don't Look Back_ documentary, as he & Dylan verbally attack one hapless victim after another, including Ms. Baez. Although Neuwirth may have been present during the B.O.B. sessions, I doubt seriously that participated in any musical way.

Speaking of Steve Stills & Manassas, I saw them in concert years ago at the University of Georgia coliseum. They sounded fine, although I have to admit I went to see his sidemen Chris Hillman on electric guitar & vocals and Al Perkins on pedal steel. The great band helped compensate & over-power Stills' otherwise huge ego.

Fri Feb 19 15:16:41 MET 1999

Serge B.

Come listen to some good R&R tonight at the Tin Angel. Our group Marah might even play a Band tune or two. Shows are at 8 and 11 at 8 bucks a pop. Me and Dave, Ronnie and Dan are ready to rip it up! Thanks to Uncle "John" the guitar man!

Fri Feb 19 15:13:17 MET 1999

The Ragman

Popped in Back to Memphis offa Watkins Glen today on my way to work, and man, what The Band can do with a simple rock and roll song is amazing. So, dig this scenario: Dylan hires Robbie to play guitar for him, and Robbie says "I don't like your drummer." Dylan fires him and Robbie brings in his own guy. And then, that guy Robbie brought in, quits coz he don't like gettin booed. "drawin circles up and down the block..."

Fri Feb 19 14:27:49 MET 1999

Martin

The problem with CSNY is that the(admittedly perfect) 3 part harmonies often served to mask the fact that a lot of the material was at best rather uninspired. Their first 2 albums are their best but even they contain a couple of absolute turkeys-the appaling 'our house' by Nash is a prime example. 'Judy blue eyes', 'Cut my hair' 'Carry On' are my favs from the first 2 albums but I reckon the creative juices were flowing much more freely when Crosby was with the byrds, Stills with Buffalo Springfield and Young With Crazy Horse. The least said about Nash and the Hollies, the better.

Fri Feb 19 13:02:17 MET 1999

Peter Viney

CSN(Y): Southern Cross is a great song where Stills’ voice is at its best and the backing vocals are perfect. It’s on loads of in-car compilations I’ve done over the years and I always want to hear it twice. Stills Manassass project also has some good stuff.

I suspect any antipathy towards CSNY dates back to the brown album. That is CSNY’s brown album, Deja Vu, which took its concept from The Band’s earlier brown album right down to the stippled card. Then Elton John ripped that off again with his brown album, Tumblweed Connection. (BTW, one of the only good moments in that critically over-rated but dreadful film ‘The Ice Storm’ is the appearance of Elton’s song “Levon” on the Soundtrack).

The Band supported a reformed CSNY at Wembley in 1974, playing third on the bill behind CSNY and Joni Mitchell. I lasted most of CSNY’s set, but there were so many sub-sets in various combinations that I skipped before the encores so as to escape the car park (you’d have to know Wembley). After the Band, the knock out set of the day was Tom Scott’s LA Express doing their own thing before backing Joni (brilliantly). CSNY seemed very ragged in comparison.

Fri Feb 19 12:19:05 MET 1999

Diamond Lil

Talk about irony. Am sitting here listening to CSN cd, and I look in the guestbook to find a bit of discussion about them. Not one of my all time favorite bands, but some of their stuff is right up there with some of my favorite tunes. "Teach your children" (although incredibly played out) is a good tune. So is "Suite:Judy Blue Eyes". My favorite CSN tune is "Southern Cross" though. Now _that's_ a great tune.

BTW..I saw Stephen Stills in concert several years ago and thought it was the _worst_ show I've ever heard.

Fri Feb 19 09:03:00 MET 1999

Railroad Man

LITTLE BROTHER &RAGTIME :Regarding the Band members playing on Blonde on Blonde.. Bob Spitz's much panned biography DYLAN has a long section devoted to those sessions and from memory only Robbie & Dylans friend Bobby Neuwirth accompanied him .

Fri Feb 19 08:53:23 MET 1999

Ragtime

The Band = timeless. CSNY = timebound. "Almost cut my hair" = juvenile. Thus spoke Ragtime.

Fri Feb 19 08:35:48 MET 1999

Railroad Man

Being a former chronic insomniac I tried all manner of remedies for my condition, herbal concoctions, eastern meditation, hand fulls of valium, nothing seemed to work..then I found it.. CSNY !!.

Fri Feb 19 06:13:10 MET 1999

Phil

The stink on CSN & CSNY is they stink. Na, I just could'nt resist. They did some good stuff on their first two albums BUT I can understand why someone would walk out on them after seeing The Band first. I have never seen CSNY live but have heard their live recordings and have seen some live video and IMHO,for a group so famous for their tight harmonies they sure sound off key more often than not live (over dubbed or not). My guess would be that Band fans would call it as follows Young-cool-Crosby(with Byrds)-cool(exception "Mind Gardens")-Stills-ehh? Nash ehh! But what do I know? I like Cahoots.

Fri Feb 19 05:25:58 MET 1999

Pat Brennan

Re:CSN&Y; Robbie quote concerning the Woodstock movie and album and why The Band didn't participate in either: "Our tapes were the best of any of the groups but we didn't like the set-up, and the album seemed pretty shoddy. CSN&Y had to go back into the studio to dub over their voices." I detect some disdain there. Kind of ironic. Anyway, CSN seems a bit antiseptic and, perhaps, a touch too mannered and thought-out. Personally, I'd take Buffalo Springfield over CSN&Y anyday.

Fri Feb 19 05:04:07 MET 1999

Jonathan Katz

A few things:

David Powell: I recall that Bobby Charles recorded for Chess, and once saw a compliation with a song of his. Story was that the Chess bros. heard something of his and brought him to Chicago. They thought that he was black. One of them met him with a welcoming gift [a white hooker]. Don't know if that was a standard welcoming gift for all Chess artists.

Does anyone know on which tracks Levon drums for the "Jesse Winchester" album?

In C.P. Lee's book he lists two versions of "Guitars Kissing..." One is called the soundcheck version. Does anyone have details?

Fri Feb 19 04:48:51 MET 1999

Danny Lopez

Awhile back some were talking about a Band concert at which Crosby, Stills and Nash (and Young?) were headlining but nobody admitted staying for the latter. On some levels this confounds me because there seems to be a natural musical affinity between these groups. Even the Times article (probably not the greatest authoritative source) that Serge posted cites CSNY as another "country rock" group in the same genre as the Band. Personally, I think Stephen Stills is excellent -- Johnny's Garden, Change Partners, Turn Back the Pages: some superb stuff folks. So what's the stink on CSN for Bandheads?

Fri Feb 19 03:41:58 MET 1999

Paul Godfrey

Re Zappa. Did an interview with him one time while at CFTR in Toronto. Will review it when I finally get to unloading the moving boxes hopefully before the new millenium. Essentially he felt that he should be played on mainstream radio. At some point in the interview our General Manager walked in and sat in. Chuck Camroux challenged him to give us a playlist that could be played on our kind of radio. He did. We did and it made for a great exchange. Shine On!

Fri Feb 19 03:21:56 MET 1999

Freddy Fishstick

Friends & Neighbors- Greg & co.

It's been a long time coming, I apologize. I have hit this site for a year or so poking some fun and irking some regarding the Buffett/ Band connection. Yes, I thought it were a fig newton of my imagination. So when old Greg tell us that my two favorites "played" together, naturally I was dubious.

I am upset to think that the boys didn't jam with Jimmy. In view of that seen in TLW when Richard describes the scruuflin days at the Mini Mart I think that the boys & Jimmy shoulda done "Peanut Butter Conspiracy" from A White Sportcoat & A Pink Crustacean. In any event I will take a John Hiatus from these parts shortly. Can't swear I won't post a setlist from the show Come Monday. Once again Greg thanks for the poster and son you missed a helluva Buffett show that 8/5/95. I here that over 4o,ooo were at the show.

BTW, just for the record, in their prime, Jimmy would have opened for The Band. These days its vice versa, I hope some of those Parrotheads became Bandheads that nite.

Fri Feb 19 01:53:36 MET 1999

J. Croce

Pollstar reporting of Rick show @ The Brokerage is in error. Should be Wednesday 5/12 not Saturday 5/15.

Thu Feb 18 22:43:46 MET 1999

David Powell

Yes I know it's Bob Johnston, not Johnson. Although there seems to be some disagreement, the version of "One Of Us Must Know" recorded with the Hawks in New York made it onto _B.O.B._

Thu Feb 18 22:29:56 MET 1999

David Powell

A week or so ago there was some discussion in the guestbook about Frank Zappa. I'd forgotten until now, but there is an indirect connection between Zappa & The Band through Dylan. Tom Wilson was Dylan's producer on _The Times They Are A-Changin'_, _Another Side Of Bob Dylan_ and _Bringing It All Back Home_ albums. After working on "Like A Rolling Stone," Wilson was replaced by Bob Johnson. Wilson went on to work for Verve, where he produced the early Mothers of Invention albums with Zappa.

Bob Johnson, after producing the rest of the _Highway 61 Revisited_ sessions, went on to produce several subsequent albums for Dylan, including _Blonde On Blonde_.

Dylan tried recording several songs with the Hawks while on tour, reportedly in L.A. and New York, but was dissatisfied with the results. These are the session tapes that would later show up on the Bootleg Series. It was then decided to record _Blonde On Blonde_ in Nashville using the cream of Music City's session players, with whom Johnson was familiar. Al Kooper & Robbie Robertson were also brought down to play on the sessions. Kooper supposedly would quickly go over the songs first with Dylan, and then would go over the chord changes with the session players in the studio to help work out the arrangements.

Thu Feb 18 22:11:14 MET 1999

Scuzzy Boots

He's very talented but Thackery is just a little to slick for my tastes. He is an artist I would describe as, SLICKENING. Band music is far from slick. In a recent interview, Beck (and not Jeff, dinasaur rockers) said, that on one of his tracks he made the musicians play with their eyes closed, hoping for a more realistic feel. Although, I'm sure if blindfolded, Thackery would still sound flawless. You might consider him a virtuoso or whatever, but to me he's just another guitar sheriff. Try listening to Mutations and to the future of music.

Thu Feb 18 22:02:40 MET 1999

Ragtime p.s.

Just want to add that this "She's Your Lover Now" is a great song of "Stuck Inside Of Mobile" quality. Could have been one of the highlights of "Blonde On Blonde". Great organ playing, whoever it is, Garth or Al Kooper.

Thu Feb 18 21:41:14 MET 1999

Ragtime

Little Brother:

As far as I know Jaime R. is the only Hawk playing on "Blonde on Blonde", but more Hawks must have been involved since there is an outtake "She's Your Lover Now" (or "Just A Glass Of Water"), recorded on January 21, 1966. It's on The Bootleg Series (official Columbia release) Vol. 2, breaking down just at the beginning of the last verse. Unfortunately the booklet gives two different line-ups for the same recording. On p. 29 it says Bob with Rick, Levon, Robbie, Al Kooper (organ) & Paul Griffin (piano). On p. 51 it's Bob, Robbie, Garth, Richard, Rick & Sandy Konikoff (drums).

Which is correct?

Thu Feb 18 20:49:09 MET 1999

Little Brother

Speaking of vintage Robbie, does anyone know if he ever recorded anything using that funky Stella Harmony with a pickup you often see in photos with Bob Dylan? I know great musicians can get miraculous sounds from mediocre instruments, but Sears' Finest is a stretch!

Also, I checked the site discography to see just which Band personnel played what on "Blonde on Blonde". It only mentions "the Hawks" playing on one track. I get a definite Band (minus Levon) sound on "Visions of Johanna" , "Leopardskin Pill-Box Hat", and "Most Likely You'll Go Your Way...". Is Robbie the only Band member involved?

I think the 1966 (non)Albert Hall CD is right up there, but doesn't beat "Before the Flood". Despite the generally fried vocals and the performers' public dumping on the overall quality of that tour, they definitely took it to another level. Garth and Robbie are incredibly in synch, the rhythm kicks, and the overall ROAR is sublime.

Thu Feb 18 18:05:33 MET 1999

Mike

CHATROOM HAPPENING!! You are all invited to a chat room get-together on Friday at 10:00 MET 4:00 EST to have a real time dialogue. Hope all the regulars as well as new-comers will chime in for whatever happens. See you there.

Thu Feb 18 16:39:24 MET 1999

Peter Viney

David P: you can give us “tecno b.s.” anytime you want. Don’t stop!

“You Can’t Judge a Book By Its Cover” is (a) my favourite Bo Diddley track (b) surely the origin of “Turn your radio up” in “Caravan”. You cain’t change right by looking at the wrong.

Thu Feb 18 15:16:45 MET 1999

David Powell

Walkin' from New Orleans to Woodstock.

In between his early recording career, begining in New Orleans in the mid-'50s, and the release of his debut Bearsville album, Bobby Charles worked as a promotional man at Chess Records for a spell. It was in that capacity that he helped break Bo Diddley's recording of "You Can't Judge A Book By It's Cover" from a B-side into a national hit.

John Hammond would later record that song on his Vanguard album _So Many Roads_, backed by Robbie, Levon & Garth, along with Charlie Musselwhite (harp), Mike Bloomfield (piano) and Jimmy Lewis (bass). That album, along with Hammond's _I Can Tell_ on Atlantic and _The Muddy Waters Woodstock Album_ on Chess, are some of the finest recorded examples of the individual Band members' expertise in playing the blues.

No more techno b.s., I promise. I've been listening to too many LPs lately and the fumes from the vinyl have an hallucinogenic effect.

Thu Feb 18 12:46:20 MET 1999

Railroad Man

If 20 million monkeys were given 20 million typewriters [ you'd have the Band guestbook] just jesting] eventually one of them would come up with War and Peace but no way would one pen The Moon Struck One.

:CATBULU , I loved your "nowhere in particular address, I think I was there once.

Thu Feb 18 10:16:53 MET 1999

Peter Viney

The suggestion that I’m obsessed with “The Moon Struck One” stung me like a snake. I felt like I was really, really hurt. I was lying in the dirt. The tears did fly. I guess I was vacant, sitting there typing with one hand, a bit like a bird with a broken wing. Anyway, one of my cohorts, who lives in the house next door did drop by to tell me things were happening over by the lake and I did type it by mistake, give me a break, I wasn’t awake. Maybe I’ll forget it with a change of face and possibly pace or even grace. (race? mace? Shit, these rhymes aren’t coming today) Think I’ll go for a swim in the noonday sun to forget it.

Thu Feb 18 08:10:45 MET 1999

Ragtime

MIKE: Great idea! I visited the chatroom a few times just to see nothing else than: "I just entered the chatroom" "Anybody there?" "Hello?" "Anybody there?" "I just left the chatroom". Never felt tempted to join in. I suggest that you open the debate/discussion/conversation by choosing a subject to start with. Then we'll see where it ends. I'll be there.

catbalu: I sometimes have to tell myself TBYP, Ragtime.

Re Levon & Robbie acting abilities: pity that they didn't make more movies. Levon did a fine job in Coal Miner's Daughter. He had a very strong presence, just by his intuitive self. Robbie made Carny into "his" movie & it was a continuation of what he wanted to say in his Band-lyrics (Ruben Remus, W.S. Walcott). But Patch is a more-or-less "outside" character, not necessary for the plot, but as the carrier of an idea. I may be right & I might be wrong?

Thu Feb 18 05:29:28 MET 1999

catbalu

Ragtime - YKYATP when you can't TBYP. BTW, TYFAME.

Thu Feb 18 04:33:34 MET 1999

Paul Godfrey

Mitt...you use words wonderfully well. Ragtime...Levon was never a coal-miner. However he may be able to relate a little to share-cropping. After the Coal Miners Daughter I had need to be in touch with him. I called his folks in Arkansas and congratulated Mrs. Helm on her son's great acting ability especially in his portrayal of a "poor" coal miner. She replied: "Oh Levon wasn't acting...we really were that poor!"

Thu Feb 18 02:40:09 MET 1999

catbalu

MITT, thank you thank you - I knew it started with an "R." I'll look for that movie. The New Teenager is starting to become curious - much like you probably were (still rolling eyes over some things, but mistaking "Master P" for "Pink Floyd" was a GOOD thing after all (he's drilling me about Jethro Tull now, and the car fell silent when the instrumental on Neil Young's "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" CD started.) Sappy love songs....romantic poetry.....oh me. Actually, The Band's love songs have never been my favorites of theirs, not compared to Van Morrison's or Neil Young's - or Bob Dylan's. I prefer their story songs - the way they sound together (building that bridge - was it Mike? - mentioned a while back.) And I like the way they sound together now, most especially the sound of age. Robbie just doesn't fit anymore — why wonder (anybody ever seen his music video for "somewhere down the lazy (crazy?) river" whatever? Imagine that being done by Garth and Rick and Levon right now. Too hollywood and vine for me and i can talk my own self to death.) My first memory of The Band came from an English professor - back in my college days - who read a lot of ROETHKE (and Rilke) to me. oh me. Gave me my first Bob Dylan album; told him - literally - "i don't like the way he sings" and had given it away. He laughed and laughed and gave me The Band. "They sing a little better"..... I kept it. He broke through. My journey began. Even started to like the Roethke and Rilke and Rumi and Sarte and Kerouac and....... Every time somebody mentions Jimmy Buffett i drift back to then as he taught at the university Buffett went to in pre rich-and-famous days. Was a great story teller - knew William Faulkner, played in a blues band long ago, funded many a young musician's demos (some even had a hit or two) He's gone now. Wish I'd been an older soul. would have recorded his deep, aging voice reading and singing the blues that echoed in that great room. Mitt, it would not have mattered if the voice were only a whisper, or that he spoke through a bitter pain, he knew things worth carrying on and it was an honor to be thought worthy to be told. Tape recorders are wonderful things. ...... yeah, "You'll remember me"

Thu Feb 18 02:10:08 MET 1999

Stanley Landau

I just finished reading Jon Landau's review of Cahoots. I think it is probably the best piece of writing about The Band I have seen. (No offence to the many prolific posters on this site).

I remember reading it when it came out and in re-reading it today I realize that it mirrors quite closely my own feelings about the first four albums, possibly because of the strong influence it had on my thinking back in '71. Landau assumes, of course, that Robbie wrote all of the lyrics even on songs such as Life is a Carnival where Rick and Levon received co-credit. I'm not sure that the thematic unity Landau observes in each of The Band, Stage Fright and Cahoots was as purposeful as he implies. But when you think of these albums in that light and contrast them with Robbie's post Band work on the one hand, and Levon's and Rick's post original Band work on the other, it makes me feel more than ever that Robbie wrote the lyrics on these albums with little or no input from the others.

Thu Feb 18 01:03:37 MET 1999

Bones

To Potsy: I agree with your comments about Robbie as a blues guitar player and I also love that scene in Eat The Document. It is too bad that we do not have more of Robbie's blues recordings. Two records that you have to have are the John Hammond albums.

To Peter Viney: You need to see somebody about your antipathy with regards to "The Moon Struck One". You are starting to mention it in all of your posts.

Thu Feb 18 00:28:55 MET 1999

Railroad Man

Ragman ::, I havent yet heard London "66 but if it's better than Before The Flood I'll buy you and I tickets to the next Spice Girls/ Tony Bennett double concert ands we' ll go together !!.

Thu Feb 18 00:09:16 MET 1999

Tim(SUNDOG)Corcoran.

RAILROAD MAN: I LOVED YOUR LAST POST, I ALWAYS ( IN MY HEART) THOUGHT THAT BOB DYLAN WAS MORE TO *THE BAND* THAN GOOD 'OL RONNIE HAWKINS, I THINK THAT 'OL RONNIE TAUGHT THE BOYS ABOUT THE IN AND OUTS ON THE ROAD, AND MADE THEM A STRONGER POWER, WHERE BOB DYLAN SURELY MELLOWED THEIR SOUND, BUT RONNIE AND BOB BOTH "SHARED" TO *THE BAND*... Peace, Tim(SUNDOG)Corcoran.

Wed Feb 17 23:54:25 MET 1999

Mike

The format of the guestbook allows for a slow unfolding of ideas and debate. A good system. However,I think it would be interesting to have a chatroom happening. Say, this Friday at 4:00 pm EST. That's 10:00 pm chatroom clock. Let's get together and pick up the pace. All are invited. An unintended but useful side benefit might be to cut down on the length of some folks' entries.(just kidding?) Anyway, you're all invited- be there or...

Wed Feb 17 23:14:58 MET 1999

Peter Viney

CK: your thoughts on “Carny” are illuminating. This gives me an excellent excuse to watch it again. As I understand it, Robbie was responsible for the story. A new writer would certainly use a professional screen writer to prepare the treatment and assemble a script, hence the co-credits. So the speculation can be applied to the story rather than actual dialogue. Most writers (psychotherapists would say “all”) incorporate real experiences with imagination. RR while telling a story about relationships between male co-members of a team would draw upon what he knew about two friends working in a team, whether consciously or not. I don’t believe Bozo is Levon, that’d be too simple, and RR is a subtle writer (well, except “The Moon Struck One) but I’d bet he’d draw upon aspects of Levon - and possibly on aspects of the other three, and other people outside The Band.

Potsy: The “Carny” track listing is in the discography on this site, under Robbie Robertson solo. It’s not on CD yet as far as I know.

Wed Feb 17 23:08:20 MET 1999

mattk

CORRECTION!!!

Jimmy Thackery is a guitar player. Gotta stop smokin' crack this early in the day...

Wed Feb 17 23:02:25 MET 1999

mattk

Charlie Young and Mike,

I'm actually a blues musician in the Balt/DC area. Your call on the Nighthawks is right on. Excellent band with years and years of road work behind them. Jimmy Thackery is easily one of the better harmonica players you'll here.

Folks in mid-Atlantic US should not miss an opportunity to check these boys out. I was not aware of a connection to The Band, however...cool!

Dave Z - If I recall the end of the film, Robbie offers to enter the cage, but Bozo tells him he can't handle it...and they walk off laughing. Also, Bozo offers to take over the biz side of the Act so RR can take over the whole carnival (Bozo's sentiment is that he's taking on too much of a burden and melting down).

Thinking about JCK's comments, it's interesting to imagine how this might have been RR's take on leaving the Band. Doing all the dirty business work was leaving him jaded.

I think the end is inconclusive, however, whether they actually split up or not.

Interesting thread, though

Matt

Wed Feb 17 22:52:45 MET 1999

greg

just noticed ringo is putting out a boxed set featuring material from his "all-starr" tours. it'll contain selections from the first "all-starr" tour with levon and rick.

Wed Feb 17 22:35:34 MET 1999

Little Brother

Wow! Thanks for the seminar, Mr. Powell. I'm tempted to push my luck and ask, "Why is there air? Why was man put on earth to suffer & die?" and so forth-- but I don't think I could handle the answers on top of what you've already shared. Thanks again.

P.S. Are you Pepote Rouge?

Wed Feb 17 22:25:07 MET 1999

Mike

Charlie Young- I saw the Nighthawks in Philly about 18 years ago at the Bijou Cafe ( a wonderful and sorely missed venue). I remember how exciting they were. I'd never seen beer bottle slide playing before. Great tunes and lots of energy. I'm glad to hear that they're still cooking.

Wed Feb 17 22:21:25 MET 1999

David Powell

In my earlier post I neglected to mention that the producer, usually with the help of the recording artist(s), works out the mix of the session tapes. The result is then sent to the mastering engineer, who combines the last step of the creative process with the first step of the commercial production process. The mastering engineer, often with input from the producer and artist(s), makes any needed adjustments to the tape in order to obtain the best possible sound fidelity. The master is then turned over to the recording label for use in the mass production of the album.

When an earlier recorded recorded album is remastered for reissue, the process of recording & mixing of course has long since been completed. In that case, the first step is to find a suitable master to use as a source for the reissue release. With all these variables, it's easy to see why CDs sound different than LPs, and why some CDs sound better. When the original recording artists & producers are not involved in a reissue project, a certain amount of the creative process is missing from the resulting product.

Wed Feb 17 22:13:17 MET 1999

Charlie Young

Anyone else here know a great blues band out of Washington, DC, called The Nighthawks? They've been together (with three original members in the current lineup) for over 25 years and have recorded some great music, including some with friends of The Band ranging from John Hammond, Jr. to the Muddy Waters Band. If you get a chance, go see 'em. I did the other night, and they were as good as they were 20 years ago. For their full schedule, check: http://www.pollstar.com

Wed Feb 17 22:06:53 MET 1999

Dave Z

JCK & mattk: Doesn't Robbie go into the cage at the end, and let Gary handle the money? What's your take on that? And, maybe Jodie is an unfaithful servant?

Wed Feb 17 21:31:05 MET 1999

mattk

Incidentally, for those that care, the URL for the Movie Database info on Carny is:

http://us.imdb.com/Title?Carny+(1980) (opens in new window)

Wed Feb 17 21:26:38 MET 1999

mattk

Ragtime,

To be fair to JCK, it's obviously speculation. However, I think it's an interesting point in so much as Carny was WRITTEN by RR--Coal Miner's Daughter, obviously was written by and about someone else entirely...same argument can be made about "the Right Stuff."

Insofar as Carny is written by RR and contains, admittedly, a large dose of autobiographical influences, speculating on how much RR drew from his interpersonal relationships and applied them to Patch's relationships is an interesting concept.

I don't think JCK is making the case that this is MORE than speculation. However, if we take for granted that RR is drawing from life experience in writing the screenplay, how much of his life with The Band found its way on-screen, and how much of the composite characters can we learn from in decrypting RR's thoughts about personal life in The Band--especially since he's been not very forthcoming in any obvious sense via inteviews, etc since he split.

cheers

matt

Wed Feb 17 20:43:20 MET 1999

Ragtime

Re CARNY:

JCK: this thought of yours is interesting but speculative. Please don't confuse movie characters to real persons. Was Levon ever a coal miner? Was he ever a coal miner's daughter's father? Was his daughter ever a coal miner's daughter's father's daugher? Was Lev... I'd better stop now.

Wed Feb 17 20:25:37 MET 1999

David Powell

To briefly address Little Brother's question, we must first of all distinguish the difference between the terms "mix" and "master." The recording process begins with the multi-track session tapes. In the old days, these were recorded using analog tape machines. Digital recorders are used nowadays, however many albums are still recorded on analog out of preference for the "warmth" of its sound properties.

Once the sessions are completed, the multi-tracks are mixed down using either on a digital or analog board (again depending on preference). This step is necessary in order to balance the sound & adjust the volume from all the tracks, make any needed adjustments in the frequency range (equalization) or compensate for any noise anomolies.

After the mix is done, what is known as a first-generation master is made. Most of the major recording companies, especially during the age of LPs, then made what is known as production masters which were copies made from the first-generation master. These production masters used equalization & compression to limit the dynamic & frequency ranges to match the inherent limitations of the cutting heads of the machines used to cut records.

What does all this mean as far as the sound is concerned? Every time a copy is made & transfered from a master, the noise level is increased and a certain amount of detail is lost from the recording. Ideally, you want to digitally master a CD or cut a record lacquer from a first-generation master that contains the full dynamic & frequency range as recorded. However, many major recording labels use later generation production masters or safety copies out of convenience to produce their mass- marketed CDs. This explains why many CDs sound so bad when compared to LPs.

Many recording companies have "caught on" and are taking more care & using better equipment when making CDs. More & more are no longer cutting corners and are actually going to the trouble to use first-generation masters. The problem with many older recordings is that the original masters have been misplaced, lost, or the tapes have badly deteriorated due to neglect.

Audiophile labels such as Mobile Fidelity and DCC, specializing in gold CD & heavy-gram vinyl reissues, obtain the licensing rights from the original recording labels. These companies insist on using early generation masters for their reissues and use custom made & restored vintage equipment in their mastering chain to squeeze out as much detail as they can. This explains the added cost that is passed on to the consumer for these releases.

Wed Feb 17 20:04:36 MET 1999

JCK

P.S. Fans of Levon's mandolin playing should check out the (outstanding) Michelle Shocked album Arkansas Traveler. Levon plays mandolin and provides backing vocals on Secret to a Long Life (sounds great, in both cases), and Garth plays accordion and keyboards on the same song.

Wed Feb 17 20:02:45 MET 1999

Charlie Young

JCK: I've never seen CARNY, but I am curious about your theory. It's not likely Robbie had a major hand in the writing, since he was one of four people with writing credit for the film. Back to "W.S. Walcott" and before, it's clear Robbie had some interest in the subject of carnival/sideshow life, though (I think there's even a medicine show song on that Neil Diamond record Robbie produced). For more info on the film, there's a great website called the Internet Movie Database at: http://us.imdb.com/search.html

Wed Feb 17 19:23:43 MET 1999

JCK

This idea may be ridiculous, plausible or both; you decide... Finally got around to watching Carny recently, and about 2/3 of the way through I wondered if RR's character might be talking about something other than carnival life. So I watched it again, with that in mind. And I started to wonder if Carny might be a metaphor for why RR left the band (using his Carny background as cover), and, if so, whether someone like, say, Levon, wouldn't have recognized that, maybe even recognized pieces of actual conversations, and gotten mad as all get out. Because if RR is Patch (cool get-it-doner), then who is Bozo, the angry/homely/slow dunk-a-clown? I don't mean to discount other theories/truths of the fued's origins, but this seemed to me at least in the netherworld of possibility: a) because most people agree Levon got (publicly) mad between '78 and the mid-eighties (Carny came out in '80, I think), and b) reading Levon's current tirades, there seems to be a strong and very personal OVERcurrent of anger about RR's looks and musical "acting". And it seemed consistent with the way RR would both tell a story and maintain plausible denial. Certainly there are eleventy-billions ifs re. this, but, as a group, y'all don't strike me as shy about going out on a limb... (please have mercy; I'm new)

Wed Feb 17 18:54:45 MET 1999

Little Brother

Thanks to all who took the time & trouble to respond to my "Stagefright" CD consternation! I, for one, don't mind technical info as long as it's conceptual and doesn't veer into languages I can't speak: formal math, physics, engineering. I feel, as therapists say, "validated" to find that there are real, actual differences in the sound quality. Until today, I thought CD/digital sound was by definition superior to analog. Maybe I need to invest in a new LP or return to my neglected collection. (I wrote "LP CONNECTION" last time-- hmm, talk about your Freudian slips...)

I also became seduced by the convenience of CDs, especially the repeat and program track capabilities. Which leads me to a question-- perhaps David Powell, obviously a guru audiophile, can oblige: Who MAKES the decisions in which mix is used for a given CD release? The record (CD) company? The artists? Or some ghastly expediency or compromise of the above?

When mulling over the excellent comments about the order of tracks in "Cahoots", and whether they could have been arranged better to form a higher order or arc to the LP, I remembered that my CD of "Northern Lights" has a different order than the LP. Naturally, this bothers me some...

Whoops, I'm getting bumped. Finally (for now), does anyone feel that use of the CD "shuffle" feature is a generational thing? My sister and her in-laws, all fortyish, mentioned recently that their kids seem to enjoy listening to all their CDs in shuffle mode. We, the oldsters, all found to our surprise that we barely used it at all. Gotta run...

Wed Feb 17 18:37:38 MET 1999

Ragtime

Re STAGE FRIGHT CD remix: I got my copy of the 24 Karat Gold version a few weeks ago & concluded that it was not worth the extra money, although it certainly sounds better. The regular Capitol cd costs fl. 19.90 & I had to pay fl. 75.- for this one! But it brought back the stereo effect from the lp that Phil missed. BTW this site contains a review of this Gold cd. It's not a remix but an alternative mix.

catbalu: TBYP

Wed Feb 17 17:22:43 MET 1999

Mitt Stampler

Catbalu! "I measure time by how a body sways" is from a poem by Theodore Roethke called "I Knew A Woman": "I knew a woman, lovely in her bones--/Of her choice virtues only gods should speak/Or English poets who grew up on Greek/I'd have them sing in chorus, cheek to cheek." Etc--you can probably find it a volume of Mr. Roethke's collected works. It was a favorite of mine back when I was a young and romantic college student...then I got the stuffing knocked out of me "more ways than one" to continue Mr. Roethke's poem. Speaking of young and romantic, my thoughts on "It Makes No Difference"--I don't agree with whoever said that if you need personal experience to understand lyrics than they aren't any good. The first time I heard the song I thought, "Jeez, sometime tell that poor guy to come down off the ledge." Then, a little while later, I got to understanding--and now I think, "Jeez, someone tell that poor guy to come down off the ledge." Still, it never ceases to amaze me that Mr. Danko's voice can make even the lyrics that would be ridiculous coming from anyone else into something quite touching, even profound--I'm thinking of "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever," from the Watkins Glen album. Right now one of my colleagues is blaring the soundtrack to the movie "Disturbing Behavior"--which wasn't a bad film all told, playing as it did into the secret fear that we all have that nobody really loves us "for us"--but you know, there's a limit to how many times I can listen to a song entitled "Psycho Clogs" by Jack Drag. Help...thank God I brought my Discman. Right now I'd listen to "Sweet Fire of Love." (Incidentally, both that song and "Fallen Angel" appear in a '89 road movie called "Powwow Highway," which I highly recommend--especially if you've got teenagers in the house, I think they'd get a lot out of it.) What do you know--I talked so long it's time for lunch. Always a pleasure--! Little Bro--haven't forgotten you! Will write soon, and let me know if they ever find a use for 3535 Market--yet one more place I'll never go again. Being that I barely remember a time when record stores actually sold LPs, I haven't figured out the difference--Can anyone enlighten me?

Wed Feb 17 16:26:08 MET 1999

The Ragman

have been really listening to Dylan 1966, and I have to say, The Band and Dylan never sounded better. They really created a sound for themselves. And this for Railroad Man, Before the Flood doesn't even come close! Yes, it too is great, but this Live 1966 record is incredible!

Wed Feb 17 16:05:40 MET 1999

David Powell

Some musical thoughts for today.

From veteran session keyboard man & producer Jim Dickinson:

"The recording process is about freeze-framing the soul."

Legendary Sun Records producer Sam Phillips remarked, when he first heard Howlin' Wolf:

"This is where the soul of man never dies."

What is it about the music of The Band, especially that of their earlier albums, that is so appealing & distinctive, even after all these years? In one word: soul. They succeeded in capturing the essence & spirit of different times & places, and conveyed it in story-like form in their songs.

Wed Feb 17 12:16:52 MET 1999

Railroad Man

Curious that Dylan rarely gets a mention on this guestbook. Taking into account that his career closely paralleled the Band's for many years. I always thought Before The Flood was the best live rock I've ever heard and with Dylan the front man they were a real force of nature.

Dylan has come back strongly with a critically acclaimed CD Time Out Of Mind, the Band picked the right guy to learn the trade off.

Wed Feb 17 05:50:26 MET 1999

Phil

Re: Stagefright mix: Most notable to me is the missing reverb on some of the vocals on the CD version. On "Stagefright" and particularly "The Rumor" where a voice was panned extreme right and the reverb was panned left on the vinyl version for a neat stereo effect. I kind of miss that on my Cd version.

Wed Feb 17 05:47:27 MET 1999

catbalu

Good God A'mighty! Got Hit By Lightnin Again - name of my contribution to the GB Band. (Jan your sights are like soft butter. KEYWORDs: "clear image" – you are Pat's now…email from work my a.m.) This is one of the few places i can get to without getting crashed, etc, etc. etc. zzzz. Respect the BACK button...........................Keep in mind my stories are true. This is the second time I've been hit (by lightning) this hard. out of the blue. Everything turns the most peculiar colors up here during storms. Must have something to do with the brow being so close. Magenta on the green. Then yellow-green sometimes. Afterwards, fog moves thick around your hands. Like holding clouds. I got to hold an ancient stone pipe once. Was delving into my Cherokee colors. Met some of the ones dedicated to returning possessions back to their respective burial grounds. Jerry let me hold the pipe for a moment. There was no time in that moment………Just like the first time we were hit by lightning – went thru my 2nd son — 1st through the kitchen window, then through his elbow, out his little finger, to the den, into the television, out the window and down to the driveway below in SECONDS. no time to move. then more storms, then the snakes…the Native American's biggest problem is not getting along with each other - not embracing compromise. Don't get me started. {Misty, most NA gain gray slowly and age well unless left out in the elements for too long. Like most any People}……………………………Felt like making a few comments to Donald joseph about Hazel and good stuff and gotta have it under the Golden Arches, but felt like ya'll handled it better (DJ you are such an attorney - and hey, i Gotta Have My Attorney…) Now, i've only skimmed thru here. been concentrated on my pursuit of Rilke since i found him. And can get there and back - tho the site could stand a shot of "real butter in homemade pies" (sorry, just a thought – Mitt is gaining that ground and Ragtime will be a great grandfather one day)..... remember {Great}Grandmother churning and lettng me have my turn....................Well, at least the aquarium is clear now, Garth - attribute it to the storm and the properties of water. If the GB wrote a book nobody'd believe it…The best thing about "60's the movie" was the music and the girls' costumes. I personally don't remember the guys looking anything but like young superstars in the making shaggy hair and all. So there you go… Hey Freddie tell your friend Catbalu of Troy says hello. I remember it well. OH YEAH, researchers, i truly wish you could help me. please, politely and with respect: who wrote these two separate verses, "I measure time in how a body sways. " … and "what a child you are underneath it all.....you'll remember me.…" Rilke and Steve Goodman? ya'll remember if you gotta get hit by lightning do it during the warranty, and if you gotta be a bear, be a grizzly. Have a good evening.……The best of Makes no difference is "Makes no difference …yadda (cause i know you hate that word)…and the fire still burns." Always going to post more than once sometimes. take good care.…lets see what happens here....thanks just in case, jan.

Wed Feb 17 04:24:12 MET 1999

Charlie Young

Little Brother: I think "Stagefright" on CD sounds like a VERY different mix from my old LP copies. It's impossible to make that album sound bad to me, though. I have both the regular US CD release and the Mobile Fidelity CD and can't tell that much difference between the two--but can tell a good bit of difference in both compared with the sound of my old LPs. I agree with Pat Brennan's assessment of CD sound, but since I listen to a lot of music in my car and even on my laptop computer disc drive in hotel rooms, I must admit that CDs are damn convenient.

Wed Feb 17 03:51:35 MET 1999

Pat Brennan

CD's suffer from one telling limitation. You'd think taking 44,100 snapshots a second of a sound would be plenty. It's not, for a very simple reason. Say a sound has a frequency of 1000 hz; that is, it oscillates up and down 1000 times a second. Since you are taking 44,100 snapshots of it every second, you would be sampling each frequency about 44 times a second. Thus, those frequencies would be well defined. However, if the sound has a frequency of 8000 hz, you would only be able to sample each oscillation about 5 times. That's why people talk about the harsh high end; the higher the frequency, the less defined the sound is. There is some processing in CD players that attempt to rectify this, but it still sounds weird.

Wed Feb 17 01:35:57 MET 1999

Donabie

Thanks Serge for the feedback and the articles. I have never read the Oui piece.

Wed Feb 17 01:30:35 MET 1999

Freddy Fishstick

Greg and Co.

From a Buffett website setlist posting. No mention of The Band, interesting. Notice the final encore cover of The Stones tune.

August 5 1995
Saturday, 7:00pm
Section A: Row 26, Seat 24. $44.00
Buckeye Lake, OH
Domino College - 
Primo Parrothead Party 3

    Domino College
    Making Music for Money
    Volcano
    Don't Chu Know
    Mañana
    Cheeseburger in Paradise
    Diamond as Big as the Ritz
    Changes in Latitudes, Changes
    in Attitudes
    Growing Older But Not Up
    Come Monday
    Why Don't We Get Drunk
    One Particular Harbour
    Fins
    Banana Rebublics /
    A Pirate Looks at Forty
    Woman Going Crazy on Caroline St.
    Gypsies in the Palace
    Brown Eyed Girl
    We are the People Our Parents
    Warned Us About

    Encore:
    Fruitcakes
    Margaritaville

    Second Encore:
    You Can't Always Get What You Want -- 
    Now available as a RealAudio file! 

Wed Feb 17 00:28:16 MET 1999

Serge

John Donabie: I use an IBM "Idea Scan" scanner. The new 1999 model. It's the " Idiot's scanner" (don't all of you smart asses throw what I just said back at me). The model # is : m/t 0275-011 . It does everything but fry your breakfast eggs. Colour coded buttons that will scan a document or a photo, do OCR, Email or Fax it all with just a click of a button. Check it out. Got mine at a Future Shop. Reasonable price. Understand of course that by the time Jan H. gets it and performs HIS magic on the piece, it turns out very nicely on the site.

I am about to do the August, 1970 LOOK Mag. piece on the Band, also the OUI mag. article as soon as I find the damned thing. I'm up to my armpits in "Band" paraphanelia. Glad I kept the stuff. Seems like a whole new generation is interested. :)

Wed Feb 17 00:07:02 MET 1999

Bones

To IIKKA: I'm sorry. I misunderstood and thought you were referring to the photo shoot done for the second record. As for the Cahoots cover, I don't think we ought to read anything in it with regards to how the Band members are lined up. I always kind of liked Richard Avedon's picture on the back cover. How did Robbie get talked into putting the lyrics in the liner notes when he had not done it on the "classic" previous records?

Tue Feb 16 23:53:52 MET 1999

Potsy

In Eat the Document there is a clip of Robbie sitting alone playing slow blues with the confidence of a God. Although I am glad that he showed restraint with Band tunes I have always loved his raunchy blues. I am always on the lookout for more solos from Robbie. My latest find is some blistering work on Like a Rolling Stone from London 66, this is the one that clocks in over 10 minutes. There is no mistaking who's guitar this is. Someone here mentioned a song from the Carny soundtrack. How about a little feedback on that ? Thanks for the Jimmy Rogers tip, David. Your knowledge of the music world is like a well that never runs dry, an analogy that Clapton used when asked to describe Stevie Ray's guitar work.

Tue Feb 16 22:24:36 MET 1999

John Donabie

For Toronto Band fans. The moment I heard months and months ago that there was a Classic Video of "The Band" plus the CD bundled with it...I ordered it. I eventually bought the video. Today HMV called and said it was in. That's how long it takes Rhino to move things past that invisible 49th parallel. Sometimes I feel I'm half way across the world. No I take that back...Peter Viney in England gets things faster than we do in Canada.

Tue Feb 16 22:17:55 MET 1999

john donabie

I'm reading between the lines from Diamond Lil to Jan re: having trouble getting on this site..if I interpret correctly. The only problems I have is some days or nights I can log on to every site I want to go to; except this site. It will just hang forever and ever. I usually chalk this up to being in Norway or too many people logging on at the same time. You might have to re-install your browser Lil; but you seem to be getting on ok.

Tue Feb 16 21:29:29 MET 1999

Rod

Mike, I've never found any magazine articles on Levon's mandolin which is a shame. Probably because he was not a "full time" mandolin player. I always liked his Gibson with the scroll and round sound hole - it looks a bit like the old Gibson O series guitar Robbie plays on "old time reiligion". Why Robbie changed from teles to strats I don't know - maybe he found the body shape more comfortable. I remember Rick saying in Guitar player, I think, that Robbie decided to put the humbucker on his strats after Rick put one onto a tele he had.

Over the years I've bought heaps of musical instruments - mostly ones that look a bit like ones various Band members have played. The closest I've got is a Gibson Ripper like Rick played in TLW.

Tue Feb 16 20:49:05 MET 1999

David Powell

Little Brother: Although the DCC gold CD version of _Stage Fright_ does use a different mix as source, the differences you notice are due to missing detail rather than different mixes. Without getting too technical, CDs convert the voltage of the audio signal into binary bits or digits, each either a zero or a one. This is done by sampling the signal at a fixed rate, which is 44,100 digital "words" per second. Each word length is fixed at 16 bits or digits of storage space. The bottom line with this method is that frequency and dynamic range of the resulting CD is limited in how much detail from the original session tapes can be reproduced digitally. The differences you hear between LPs and CDs are not in the mix, but rather in detail that is missing from the digital recreation or approximation of the sound.

Tue Feb 16 20:01:01 MET 1999

Little Brother

-- It took me a long time to try CDs; I swore I wouldn't go nuts replacing my existing LP connections but I did. I still can't figure out why some CD versions of LPs (not just Band) sound about like the LP, some different. I'm not talking about EQ stuff, like the alleged extra-bright (some say harsh) edge some listeners report; I mean the actual mix. Since no one has cared to comment about whether "Stagefright" sounds different-- I've asked a couple of times in previous postings-- I'll leave it alone.

I do, however, find it sad & depressing that the technical "progress" in CDs necessitated "jewel cases", obviously engineered by the same sadists who designed "child-proof caps" on (American) medicine bottles. It's almost a relief when they crack or shatter-- Ralph Nader, when will you rise again to question how a $20 item can be encased in a piece-of-shit plastic box with .5mm plastic hinges born to snap off? And there's just no way they can uphold the grand traditions of album art cover, lyrics sheets, and other goodies available in a larger format. When they bother to include booklets, us old heads can't but think "nice try". Most of mine are scattered about, with little rips where the paper caught in one of those stupid plastic tabs when I tried to pry it out.

Oh, yeah-- The Band. I pretty much agree with Ellarbee & The Ragman about "Cahoots". I mentioned last week that I vividly recall getting flayed by the Opposition on my high school scene when it came out in 1973. For what it's worth, some opinions seem to remain valid across time-- I recall getting my nose rubbed in songs like "Last of the Blacksmiths" and "Thinkin' Out Loud". Full-bore fans can ALWAYS find something to tickle the ears in every track, but I'd leave these out of the Time Capsule. I also agree that "Cahoots" lacks an overall cohesion.

It's hard to correlate the appeal of a song with the quality of its lyrics. For instance, I admit that I find parts of "River Hymn", especially the bridge, doggerelish, forced, even insipid. But, dammit, the overall mood and Levon and Garth's performances override the cringing. (It took me years before I realized that there were women background singers for the first time in Band recorded history.)

I also have problems with "It Makes No Difference" for the same reasons. The very phrases that make the Ragman gag have made me at least swallow hard. By the way, I used to find "Like an empty hall/It's a lonely fall" absurd-- they should at least sing, "In this empty hall", I thought, it makes more sense. Then one day I realized that to a musician, an "empty hall" sure is a powerful image of a Major Bummer. Duh.

For what it's worth, I used to play acoustic guitar and sing-- strictly amateur; apart from my doubtless inadequate talents, "It Makes No Difference" seemed to be one of those tunes people either loved or hated. Regardless of whether people knew the "real" Band version or not, they either thought it was hopelessly corny and melodramatic, or asked to hear it again. The moral is: Go Figure!

Tue Feb 16 19:30:59 MET 1999

Richard

I just got my copy of the new Levon compilation "The Ties That Bind." It makes for some good laid-back listening, with a solid if not always insightfully-chosen retrospective look at his career since the mid-seventies. The live "Don't Ya Tell Henry" is just the Watkins Glen version (yet again, but it is a great version), and the version of "the Weight" is the Last Waltz collaboration with the Staples, which I have always been very fond of. So it's a straightforward best-of, with no real undiscovered treasures, unless you've never heard a Levon solo album, in which case, I'd say go for it. I ordered the c.d. from amazon.com and got it in about four days.

Tue Feb 16 19:24:24 MET 1999

greg

lil, you're most welcome. my search for the ad turned into an enjoyable mini-tutorial for my sons on how to use the library's microfilm system. thanks to jan for posting the ad on this great site.

Tue Feb 16 18:22:11 MET 1999

Diamond Lil

Jan: Just in case you don't know, _no_ addresses seem to be working. Hope the problem is fixed soon.

Tue Feb 16 18:07:56 MET 1999

SCOTT

MIKE re: Mandolins. For a good picture of Levon's Gibson electric check in photo section under Levon, it's the last photo ,taken 1998. Looks like an A-5 style. From other photos it looks like levon has owned quite a few different mandos over the years.

Tue Feb 16 17:32:31 MET 1999

donabie

Sorry Serge. Hit the caps key by mistake in previous post.

Tue Feb 16 17:30:59 MET 1999

John Donabie

***SERGE*** Thanks for the Time piece. I was just wondering what OCR software you use. Everytime I try to scan text I have a hell of a time. i KNOW SOME SOFTWARE IS BETTER THAN OTHERS. Just wondering. Thanks Serge

Tue Feb 16 17:25:16 MET 1999

Karen

The Band is one of my favorites of all time, vright up there with the Beatles and Joni Mitchell. I want to thank "john" of pa for turning me on to all of the Band music I hadn't heard before. DFA and Muddy's Woodstock album have brought me many hours of enjoyment. To know about music such as this is to be truly wealthy! For a very special guy who I spent my best V-day with ever, of all time! An ode to you.

You brought me love and you taught me how to care, you showed me heaven then you took me there. ooooxxxxoooxxx

Tue Feb 16 16:21:39 MET 1999

David Powell

Thanks $ for your tribute to Bob Cato. We shouldn't overlook his contributions in designing the Band's album covers & assembling all the talented photographers who took those distinctive photos. As Peter Viney mentioned, the miniature CD format does not do justice to album artwork. In addition to a reduction in sound, the digital age has shrunk the accompanying artwork as well. One almost needs a magnifying glass to look at those little CD booklets.

This is one of the reasons that I still purchase LP versions of new music, rather than CDs, when available. In addition to that warmer analog sound, you can enjoy all those album covers in proper perspective and read the lyrics without straining your eyes as well as your ears. Last week I was finally able to find the LP version of Billy Bragg & Wilco's _Mermaid Avenue_; what a great cover to go along with a wonderful sounding recording, presented on new vinyl with no surface noise. Same is true with last year's EMI Centenary LP reissue of _The Band_.

Speaking of LPs, I finally picked up a copy of Aretha Franklin's 1970 album _This Girl's In Love With You_ at a used record store for only $3. Listening to Duane Allman's bottleneck guitar on her version of "The Weight" brought back memories of all those free Allman Brothers concerts I was lucky to attend back then in Atlanta's Piedmont Park.

Aretha does a nice soulful versions of the song but leaves out the "crazy Chester" verse. Other highlights of the album for me is her versions of "Son Of A Preacher Man" and the Chips Moman / Dan Penn classic "Dark End Of The Street." She also does covers of both "Let It Be" and "Eleanor Rigby" by Lennon / McCartney. On the latter, she gives it a first person narrative approach.

To give equal time to CDs, I finally got a copy of the Toshiba / EMI Japanese import reissue of _The Band_. For those of you that may be interested it whether it's worth the higher price, I'll try to post a comparison to other versions when I get a chance.

Tue Feb 16 16:06:16 MET 1999

Diamond Lil

Thank you Greg (and Jan) for posting the Buffett/Band poster. I never woulda believed it. Thanks again..and sorry for not believing you :-)

Tue Feb 16 11:43:52 MET 1999

Patric

As I logged into the guestbook tonight a thought occurred to me. What was it about the Band that had inspired me to nearly 30 years of loyalty ?.Judging by this web-site I'm certainly not alone in this regard.

From the time I listened to The Band[ Big Pink appeared here after !!] I have followed their career through to the Last Waltz right up to the present, and in -between bought all of their solo efforts.

Certainly the music and the mystique that was created around the group was one obvious reason, but theres something more than that I'm trying to articulate.It sure wasnt the camaraderie of fellow Band freaks, they were largely unknown here. ..

No, the answer is just as enigmatic and elusive as the Band themselves have been and are,maybe it's their longevity ?, they seem [solo or together] to have been on my playlist permanently, not exclusively though, maybe thats the answer !!, they have given me a discernment to sort the chaff from the hay in music.

I'm still not sure....any other theories more than welcome.

RE,RICH, Couldnt agree more with your comments about Richard, Rick and Levon are wonderful singers but Richard , he was magic alright !!, "Share Your Love", "Great Pretender " , We Can Talk " , Rags &Bones " , Theres only 2 singers who can make shivers run up my spine, Levi Stubbs from the Four Tops and Richard...Soul-mates ?.. You bet !!!.

Tue Feb 16 09:01:05 MET 1999

Patti Jo King

God bless you. You all are the BEST!

Tue Feb 16 08:47:33 MET 1999

Ilkka

Re: BONES - about who's turning his back to whom. Are we talking about the same picture? This is what I mean:
It is obvious that Gilbert Stone had the Brown Album cover when he painted the members in this mystical landscape (the cover of Cahoots) In this painting Robbie has taken Richards place and Robbie and Levon are standing back to back. - Have I became conspiracy minded after too much of Guestbook reading?! The simple answer is maybe that this arrangement gives balance and symmetry to the painting.

Re: RAGMAN - That cracking "Son!" in THE RIVER HYMN is the greatest moment in the whole Cahoots, it is like the first cold dutch beer in your throat after a hard day!

Tue Feb 16 02:38:02 MET 1999

Mike

Scott-re Levon's mandolin. I was surprised to hear that Levon uses a solidbody mandolin these days. I saw him several years ago at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia and he tried to play mandolin but the sound system couldn't bring it up into the mix. He handed it off to a roadie with a look that could have killed. A solidbody would eliminate that kind of problem. In the old photos from the '60s and on the cover of the Basement Tapes an old Martin A style is shown.In the '70s I saw him several times with a Gibson F-style. Either way he has a sinular sound and style. I guess that to folks who don't play- a point like this can seem kind of insignificant, but Martin/Gibson mandolins for Levon or why Robbie switched after 10 years from a Tele to a Strat makes for interesting conjectures for some of us. Any thoughts?

Tue Feb 16 01:58:06 MET 1999

rich

I've been big Band fan for thirty years. I've seen the more than fifty times. (approx 8 with RR, 25 with Richard M. and approx 20 with new line up and everyone from Schredni Vollmer to Paul Butterfield.) While I miss RR's incredible writing talent, I truly miss the soul and harmony that Richard represented. Why is the quality of the sound system, that The Band has used since re-grouping circa 1983, so poor. It really has detracted from their concerts. In particular, it is unfortunate that one can never seem to hear Garth's horns, organ or synthesizer. Have they been operating on a low budget?? Also, I find it very troublesome, that a group with their talent can't seem to make a comeback. It's been embarrassing to see the greatest ensemble of all time appear as an opening act. One of their problems obviously is that they lack a writer of RR's talent and are accordingly relegated to recording covers. If the Allman's, Little Feat, etc. can do it, why can't the Band. Is it poor management, drugs, I wish I knew. The last three Album all have merit, but none can hold a candle to those recorded before the break-up. I'd really like to see

Tue Feb 16 01:26:06 MET 1999

J. Croce

Lars

Agree with you 100% about Rick's live performances of It Makes No Difference etc. Let's face it we are all trying to hang on to a group that peaked over 20 years ago. I was too young & foolish to appreciate them then. I'll take just about whatever I can get of them or their members live, now. No, Jubilation, Jericho & HOTH don't match against the early albums, but there are still flashes of greatness. Same about the live performances. I suggest you attend every live show they do.

Tue Feb 16 01:12:48 MET 1999

SCOTT

To: Mike from N.J. Re:Levon's mandolin style. I'd hazard a guess that Levon's style is derived from folks he listened to as a boy in Arkansas. He doesn't approach his playing Bluegrass style.He has a more subtle,old timey feel and doesn't tend to play melody lines all that much.The mandolin does add a great deal to the texture of the songs and it's a treat every time he plays it. The Gibson solid body mandolin he currently uses looks like the same one hanging on the wall in TLW.I wonder how long He's owned it?

Tue Feb 16 00:27:25 MET 1999

Beau Contraire

I think HOTH & Jubilation are The Band's best albums. Actually think that Big Pink & The Band are highly overrated. Got a great idea. Let's shut the Guestbook down for 30 days. Give everybody a chance to take a break, catsup on other artists, then come back to the group that is the best.

Tue Feb 16 00:13:05 MET 1999

Lars

RAGMAN: I respect your right to dislike "It Makes No Difference." I happen to like it, always have. However, it should be noted that in the past ten years I've seen more standing ovations for that song than any other. I think Rick's singing that song kind of sums up the Band's history: they're up there on stage and not as young as they used to be, can't hit the high notes anymore, but they are telling a story for us to hear (again). And we all hear listen (again). Even when Rick has to talk his way through the last couple of verses, it's still Rick Danko up there, the guy who's given us so much pleasure. And the standing ovation is given not just for his performance or the lyrics, but (speaking for myself) as a way to say "thank you."

Mon Feb 15 23:21:24 MET 1999

Mike

Still curious about mandolin players who influenced Levon. Harry B. suggested Bill Monroe but I don't hear much Bluegrass in Levon's stuff, and certainly not the flash and fire of Monroe. Perhaps Harry is right with his idea that Levon's father is the source. Whatever or where ever it springs from it is honest and fits so well in the tunes. I remember reading that Levon said that when he rejoined the guys in Woodstock and heard Richard playing drums so powerfully, he knew he had to work of his mandolin playing so he'd have something to do. Guess he did.

Mon Feb 15 23:12:44 MET 1999

Mike

I'd have to agree with Lil that Cahoots ranks low- same with HOTH. Too much forgetable filler. Now having said that I say that I love Masterpiece and 4%. Jerico grows on me every time I hear it. I truly think it's one of the top four all-time Band albums. In unrelated items- I've never been near a stampede-but I always found that line from "It Makes No Difference" very affecting. To be honest I think part of it's power is that it a strong and precise image that is not part of an extended metaphor. It seems like the singer is reaching anywhere for words to describe how much he's feeling. I think it's songwriting at it's best. Respectfully to all- Mike

Mon Feb 15 22:46:07 MET 1999

Ellarbee

Correcting a typo in my 2/15 post: meant to type "doesn't" hold together, not "does" hold together. I'll endeavor to better hold it all together next post.

Mon Feb 15 22:39:49 MET 1999

Bones

To IIKKA: I have the photo that you mentioned during the shoot for the Brown Album cover, but it is not Robbie who turns his back on the group- it is Levon. Having said that, no hidden meaning should be taken from it. My feeling is that Levon was getting a little tired of being out in the rain, and decided to be a little difficult.

Mon Feb 15 22:09:06 MET 1999

Diamond Lil

Your opinion Ragman and you're entitled to it. Very much disagree however. Sometimes the _best_ lyrics are the ones you can feel.

Jan - sorry, that address not working either I don't think.

Mon Feb 15 22:06:28 MET 1999

Ellarbee

Hello all! Lots of comments about "Cahoots" these days. I remember when I first bought my copy. I listened to it day after day after day, but not year after year (as I have with other Band albums). Recently, I returned to give my old friend "Cahoots" another listen. You know, there's not a song on there that I don't really like, but I must say that, unlike a number of Band efforts, the sum of the music does not exceed its parts. I wonder if any other frequent visitors to the site or listeners to "Cahoots" have been affected in the same way. From Richard's vocal work, to Van's special appearance, to Rick's "Volcano" delivery, to Levon's nearly perfect "When I Paint My Masterpiece", the album is chocked full of absolutely wonderful performances. Yet, as an album, it does hold together -- doesn't progress -- as most of the others. Instead, it just sort of slinks away at the end. Maybe all of this is another way of saying that, if the songs on "Cahoots" would have been arranged in a different sequence (perhaps kicked off with "Volcano" and concluded with "Life is a Carnival"),the album would have left more of a lasting impression as a fine piece of work. How about it, folks? Might anyone else share this view? My best to all.

Mon Feb 15 22:00:12 MET 1999

The Ragman

If the listener has to know FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE what a lyric means in order to feel it, THEN IT IS NOT A GOOD LYRIC.

Mon Feb 15 21:44:07 MET 1999

Evangeline

Hello everyone. I really like this site and I am going to order some Band albums. Anyone who sings a song called "Evangeline" has got to be good! It's my name, so they must have good taste! :-) Have a nice day everyone!

Mon Feb 15 21:10:43 MET 1999

Diamond Lil

Ragman: Unless you've actually lived to tell the tale of how it feels when stampedin cattle rattle walls, you have _no_ idea of the impact that line has.

Fixed your little error. Btw, we're having e-mail trouble here, but it looks like the address band@theband.hiof.no still works. --JH

Mon Feb 15 20:52:41 MET 1999

The Ragman

One other thing, I can't stand the song "It Makes No Difference." It is so OBVIOUS!!! Rick does a great job with it, but PLEASE! "just like the gambler says, read 'em and weep" Stop whining!!! And how about "stampeding cattle rattle the walls" What was he thinking??? If there was every any proof of Levon's contention that Robbie is insincere, THIS SONG IS IT!!!

Mon Feb 15 20:45:30 MET 1999

hank

This website is great . I just got online so this is one of the first sites I explored . The Band is and always has been my favorite musical group . There is something special about their music and their voices .Everything seems to fit perfectly . They don't have any bad songs or bad albums , although I definately have my favorites . I have all their commercially released recordings and a few bootlegs . Every time I listen to something of theirs I hear something new which lets me enjoy their music even more . I would love to hear some of the bootlegs or tapes described in this site . Ihave seen The Band 8 times and seen Levon and Ricks solo act about the same amount . I've heard the current group , the original group and 3 or 4 times in between . Their music is always great and they put on a fantastic show . I miss Richard Manuel . I hope The Band comes back to sonoma county or the San Francisco area to play again . It's been a couple of years since I've seen them live and I,m going through withdrawal . Long Live THE BAND !!!

Mon Feb 15 20:40:00 MET 1999

Rod

I'm afraid I have to rate Jubilation as my least favourite Band album. Every other Band album I've bought I've listen to non stop for weeks. But not Jubilation. The only tracks I really like are You See Me and French Girls. HOH and Watkins Glenn are next.Jericho is somewhere between Stage Fright and Moondog Matinee. Atlantic City and Blind Willie McTell are up there with the classic Band songs.

David P. mentioned Don't Start Me to Talking before. Levon has sung this both on The Authhorised Biography and The Band is Back. I'd love to hear him do the whole song some time. Ah Sonny Boy! Does any one know what the other song he does at the end of The Band is Back is called ? - something about an undertaker

Mon Feb 15 19:27:16 MET 1999

Tom L

Hey fellow band fans. Did you know that Bill Avis, former road manager for The band, had a link to the Maple Leaf Gardens saga on Saturday night. Bill's sister Sally married former NHL'er Brit Selby back when he was a rookie for the Leafs. Just a little insightfull info.

Mon Feb 15 19:26:04 MET 1999

The Ragman

I also love Cahoots. Some of the songs are not as good lyrically as other Band tunes. "Where Do We Go From Here?" Come on. And "Volcano." Gee, what does he mean by that? I love "Shootout in Chinatown" (original and fun with some great work by Garth), "Smoke Signal" (great song!), "Carnival" (really kicks) and of course "Masterpiece." Don't really like the lyrics of 4% Pantomine, but I love the performances. The great vocals by Richard and Van and the swirling of Garth's organ, that makes the song sound as if they're drunk and the room is spinning, which it probably was. On "The River Hymn", Levon's voice actually cracks. I find it hard to believe that they decided to leave that in! "Son!" By and large, Cahoots is a wonderful record. I'd rate it ahead of NLSC, but behind Stage Fright. Also, the quality of the material has gone down since Robbie left, and I think it's unfair to judge This Band with That Band. Though, Jericho's, Atlantic City and Blind Willie McTell harken back to the old days, I think, even more than Jubilation.

Mon Feb 15 19:13:13 MET 1999

The

Mon Feb 15 18:38:47 MET 1999

Peter Viney

Diamond Lil puts it perfectly. I also like everything the Band has ever done - but there are quality & inspiration levels within their total body of work."I like everything they've done" (well, not 'The Moon Struck One") is the context within which the criticism operates. Lil's "bottom two" Band albums - Cahoots & High on the Hog would be mine too in the same order.

In the latest Jawbone there are several 1971 news cuttings, including one where Levon says "We figured we could play Lee Dorsey better than anyone except Lee Dorsey". Perhaps he should have included Dorsey's producer and songwriter, Allan Toussaint, but if you listen back to "He Don't Love you" the Dorsey / Toussaint influence is very strong, and when thinking of that side of their music, Dorsey's name came first to Levon. So a question for the Canadian 60s supporters: what Dorsey tracks do you remember them playing?

Mon Feb 15 16:38:12 MET 1999

David Powell

BLUES BLUES BLUES

Bluesman Jimmy Rogers, not to be confused with the Singing Brakeman or the Honeycomb pop star of the same name, was born in Mississippi in 1924. Down south as a teenager, he began playing the guitar with some of the great bluesmen of the era. After migrating north in search of opportunity, Rogers helped introduce the electric guitar to the Chicago blues scene after World War II. Along with Little Walter on harmonica, Rogers became part of the premiere, historic Muddy Waters Band. The up-front, cutting edge guitar style of Jimmy Rogers would influence generations of blues & rock guitarists that followed.

Just before his death in December of 1997, Rogers was joined by several younger musicians to perform & celebrate his great legacy. The resulting album, entitled _The Jimmy Rogers All-Stars: Blues Blues Blues_, was released last month by the Atlantic label. A true collaborative effort, with the guest musicians trading vocals with Rogers as well as lending instrumental support, this is a stellar blues album; lovingly performed, produced, recorded & mastered. Rogers' own rhythm section of Ted Harvey on drums, Freddie Crawford on bass & Jimmy D. Lane on guitar, augmented with Johnnie Johnson on piano and Kim Wilson & Carey Bell on harmonicas, formed the core group on each selection.

The album opens with Rogers & Jeff Healey performing a fiery version of Muddy's "Blow Wind Blow." Eric Clapton joins in on two Rogers' originals, "Blues All Day Long" and "That's all Right." Taj Mahal performs a duet version with Rogers of the Jimmy Reed classic "Bright Lights Big City." Taj also lends his vocals & harmonica on another Rogers original, "Ludella." Steve Stills joins Rogers on "Sweet Home Chicago" and "Worried Life Bues." Fellow bluesman Lowell Folsom helps out on the Memphis Slim classic "Ev'ry Day I Have The Blues." Mick Jagger & Keith Richards join Rogers on Muddy's "Trouble No More," Sonny Boy's "Don't Start Me To Talkin' " and another Rogers original, "Goin' Away Baby." Last, but not least, Jimmy Page & Robert Plant close the album with Rogers in a rousing version of a variation of John Lee Hooker's "Gonna Shoot You Down (Boom Boom)." With Rogers & Plant swapping vocals and Page trading licks with Carey Bell's haunting, hound dog harmonica howls a la Little Walter, this song smokes!

This album is not only a fitting tribute to a great bluesman, but a primer in how the form of modern blues evolved as well. This should be required listening for everyone who loves rock & roll and blues music. The guest musicians, especially Clapton, Stills, Jagger, Richards, Plant & Page, turn in unassuming yet enthusiastic performances; the best they've sounded in years. It's as if playing with the older bluesman reignited their juices, and in turn, they rejuvenated Rogers as well. It's a shame Rogers passed away just before the album's completion, but fortunate that he lives on in the great music he made right up until his death.

Mon Feb 15 16:20:14 MET 1999

Harry B

Re: Levon Helm's mandolin influences - maybe his father and almost certainly the "Father" of Bluegrass Music Bill Monroe of Tennessee. I believe he pretty much "legitimized" this music and made it universally available. Also, I believe one of the Stanley Brothers was a mandolin player... What do you folks think?

Mon Feb 15 16:09:28 MET 1999

Bill Munson

More on hockey: Last week we forgot to mention (or at least I think we did) the most obvious Band / hockey connection: Robbie Robertson's solo on Joni Mitchell's "Raised on Robbery". Apparently, Joni had "a little money riding on the Maple Leafs".

On other matters: Simon Kirke drummed for Free and Bad Company, not Spirit; Ed Cassidy drummed for Spirit. Aso for where to put Debbie Harry generation-wise, don't forget that she goes back to the late '60s, long before Blondie, when she recorded an arty folk-rock LP as vocalist with Wind in the Willows.

Mon Feb 15 14:51:37 MET 1999

greg

i believe that was the brian setzer orch. which opened for dylan's columbus show.

Mon Feb 15 13:49:12 MET 1999

Diamond Lil

Ok..one woman's point of view. "Cahoots" just happens to be my second _least_ favorite Band album (the first one being HOTH). That's not to say I don't like the album..I like everything the Band has ever done....but in comparison to their other work, these 2 , in my opinion, are just not as good.

Railroad Man: In complete agreement with you. For a lost "classic", Jericho beats Cahoots without question.

Ragtime: Heelllloooo to you "hi atop those dutch mountains"..and thanks:-)

Uncle Hangover: Someone cares. Alot. Guess who? :-)

Mon Feb 15 12:38:04 MET 1999

Tanja Flåan

Cahoots is very good i cant understand why the Band didnt/doesnt like it! The River Hymn is great Shoot Out In Chinatown too Stage Fright is one of my favourite after The Band of course...

Mon Feb 15 12:35:20 MET 1999

Tanja Flåan

Jubilation is a great record! I have just bought it realy cool!!! Keep going on Band!!!!

Mon Feb 15 11:16:31 MET 1999

Railroad Man

Please, enough of this fawning misplaced idolatry thats attempting to resurrect Cahoots as the "lost" Band classic.Greil Marcus was on the money when he said " The best thing about it is the title".

If your looking for a "lost " classic try Jericho , and that was done without the not inconsiderable talents of RR &RM[ although an old Richard song was included] . Which makes me think the newer members of the Band have talent to burn also.

Mon Feb 15 08:16:14 MET 1999

Ilkka

Sorry 'bout that - my turn to be clumsy.

Tim(SUNDOG) - about Cahoots.
TURN IT UP LOUD like You said. For sure, but let me get my relief by THE RIVER after all the suffering. This peaceful mature hymn has a given place in my trans-atlantic flight survival cassette ...sailing round the world in a dirty condola...

MIKE EARDLEY; tell us about it!

Mon Feb 15 08:10:00 MET 1999

Ilkka

Mon Feb 15 05:35:12 MET 1999

%

Speaking of "Girls," let's hear from you ladies. There's been a conspicuous absence of the feminine touch in here lately. C'mon, lay it on us, ladies. We need you!

Mon Feb 15 05:19:37 MET 1999

%

Don't you just wish that "French Girls" was about 9 minutes longer? How about one for "Asian Girls?" "Latin Girls?" "British Girls?" "African Girls?" etc. Garth...you're the greatest. Don't keep us waiting too long, PLEASE.

Mon Feb 15 02:47:50 MET 1999

Mike

Does anyone know if Levon ever discussed who influenced him in his mandolin style. He has a great real old-time feel and is I never hear any common cliches in his playing. I smile whenever I notice it in a Band tune. The guy from the Hooters that played on "Atlantic City" had a similar feel- intentionally I'm sure- but I don't hear any others before Levon or since that have that sound.

Mon Feb 15 02:22:53 MET 1999

Freddy Fishstick

The Dancing Bear

Sorry can't resist. By any chance did Jimmy Buffett open for Bob at the Ohio show? Maybe they did a duet on A Pirate Looks at Forty as Dylan has covered it previously.

Mon Feb 15 02:19:17 MET 1999

Freddy Fishstick

Greg

Send your stuff right to this website/guestbook and to Jan as well. After I know you are for real I'll be honored to give you my email etc.

Mon Feb 15 00:39:40 MET 1999

greg

FREDDIE/LIL: got a copy of the aforementioned advertisement promoting that band/buffett gig, summer of '95. i should have it converted to a file sometime monday, so if you mail me your addresses i'll send it to you. IIKKA: thanks for the allowing the HP Bros. and me admission into THE GUESTBOOK BAND! do we have/need any vocalists?

Mon Feb 15 00:01:14 MET 1999

John Donabie

$...Thanks for the piece on Bob Cato...a true genius at his craft. What a soul!

Sun Feb 14 22:05:20 MET 1999

Rod

It's to The Band's credit that their so called worst album, Cahoots, can sport some of their best songs (Carnival + Masterpiece). None of the other songs are bad, it's just as Peter says that there is too much filler. Songs such as Blacksmith and Thinking out Loud would have fitted quite comfortably into Stage Fright or NSLC. Cahoots did see a different style of lyric from Robbie - much more into mysticism than the earlier more down to earth style of the first 3 albums. Carnival is perhaps their most ambitious and complex arrangement. Levon explains the drum part in his drum video.

. I agree with what someone said earlier about Robbie giving Jan an interview. Considering RR and the rest have probably sold a few albums through this site it would be nice to see them put something back into it.

Sun Feb 14 22:03:28 MET 1999

Alun Jones

I was at the IOW too Mike.The red coats made them look like a showband but the music was spine tingling! Also heard the soundcheck - well Garth at least, his style is unique - instantly recognisable.

Sun Feb 14 17:54:32 MET 1999

Michael Eardley

Saw them at Isle of Wight 31/8/69 - coming up on 30 years makes me nostalgic. I was 18, and still feel it. The concert still haunts me.

Sun Feb 14 16:20:55 MET 1999

The dancing Bear

Bob Dylan Columbus, OH 2/10/98;

Gotta Serve Somebody
Million Miles
Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
Simple Twist Of Fate
Silvio
Mr. Tambourine Man
Friend Of The Devil
Girl Of The North Country
Tangled Up In Blue
Honkey Tonk Blues
Can't Wait
Highway 61 Revisited
Love Sick
Maggies Farm
My Back Pages

 

Sun Feb 14 14:29:07 MET 1999

Peter Viney

Cahoots: I’ve had my say in “Jawbone #6” at my customary length. Judging by the recent praise in the Guestbook, I don’t think some of you are going to like what I had to say there at all! By the standards of a 60s Motown album it was great (i.e. two or three excellent tracks + filler).

Sun Feb 14 09:20:12 MET 1999

Patric

Most people who read this guestbbook would no doubt have been to many concerts and music events over the years and I think it would be interesting and fun to here some of their stories about chance meetings with famous musicians and singers.

My favourite recollection was during a tour by Dylan & The Rolling Thunder Revue.It was April 1st 1978, myself and a friend were sitting in a bar across the road from an up-market hotel called the Boulevard having a beer and watching the passing parade when who should stroll out of the lobby but Mr Zimmerman accompanied by a girl I later recognised as a backing singer for his show.

Being freed of inhibitions by beer and pot we charged out the door and across the road yelling "BOB !!, BOB !! HEY BOB!! " Bob took one look at us and accelerated straight down the road with us in hot pursuit.

Believe me, that little fella' could run!! We were closing in on him though when suddenly he side-stepped into a CHURCH !!

Well, that was the end of the chase, we couldnt violate the asylum he had taken. Soon after Bob released Slow Train Coming and we were bummed cuz we wernt mentioned on the jacket credits with leading him to the Lord.

Sun Feb 14 07:13:50 MET 1999

Phil

Cahoots is the Bands loudest, rowdiest, most rambuncious studio album they ever made. I love it. The sax and guitar in Last Of The Blacksmiths is worth the price of the album alone. It's "In your face" Band. Mike from NJ- can you tell me if Gary Brooker did anything other than AWSOP at the Ringo show ? They will be in No. Ca. in March and I am curious.

Sun Feb 14 06:22:01 MET 1999

Kevin Corrigan

Great site..Great music..And God love Bryanston

Sun Feb 14 05:44:22 MET 1999

Dave Z

You know what, I don't know if any of the Band members have ever contacted Jan, but they should because this is really a great site. With all Robbie's interest in underworlds and undergrounds, you'd think he at least would be willing, if his hands aren't tied by business restrictions, to approach Jan for an interview? I am assuming Jan is not a suit for the record companies, so this is kind of a fan underground in a sense, right? I bet Jan could develop ten or so thought provoking questions related to issues brought up in the Guestbook archives, and it would be cool if Band members responded to candid questions and connected with this underground in some kind of exclusive. I know this is just dreaming, but who knows what the culture of websites will be like in ten years or so.

When I watched the Last Waltz again this past weekend with my twin boys, I didn't see a Robertson trying to pull one over on the audience by faking to sing into his mic which may or may have not been on. I saw Robbie turn around during Ophelia, and look like he thoroughly enjoyed Levon's singing, and then when it came to the part where everyone sings, I saw him singing too -- and maybe not out of duty or designated role, but just because he was wrapped up in the music. I bet if they had panned to the audience, you would have seen them singing too. I know I was singing as I watched by my fireplace. Here's to hoping that maybe Robbie can crossover again and side with his fan base in this underground and all it's characters.

Sun Feb 14 05:09:31 MET 1999

Dave Z

I've been listening to my newly bought Jubilation CD all week -- and I really love it. Especially the songs Danko sings. I think some of them could have fit in with the old stuff.

I really like Garth's work too, both organ and sax, and it makes me wonder if he is the real reason I've been hooked on this band so long. Boy, could you imagine what kinda basement tapes you coulda got if someone woulda only locked Garth in a room with Jimi Hendrix and a tape recorder.

I don't care for the rockabilly stuff that much because it doesn't interest me -- but I like Levon on "Don't Wait". Kinda reminds me of Gord's "In My Fashion."

The guitar player sounds just fine to me too, especially on "Spirit of the Dance" -- like a surfer riding inside a big ol' wave of sounds.

Maybe the voices are a little older, but who cares. I hope more albums follow.

Sun Feb 14 02:36:47 MET 1999

Chris D.

Her face I've forgotten,but never the song/ she swayed in the moonlight all the night long. Wild nights,chasing dreams/the world in my hand. the music then/the music now,always The Band. Always "The Band".

Sun Feb 14 00:13:27 MET 1999

Serge

P. : That's cuz you're walking upside down. It does have an effect on your system.

Sun Feb 14 00:10:47 MET 1999

Patric

I'd like to comment on the recent praise and adulation for Cahoots. At the time of release and after listening to it constantly for some time I found it the most vapid and dull album the Band had done to that time, the passing of many years has done nothing to change that opinion. The only remotely memorable song on it would be...hang on..I think I've forgotten them all !!.

Sat Feb 13 19:08:40 MET 1999

Serge

Bumbles: You must mean the Band article in OUI magazine, which was a Playboy mag. publication at the time. I have that, but I don't recall a "Playboy' article. Could be wrong. I have the LOOK mag. piece also among others. If Jan wants it, and since I'm into OCR'ing , I'll crank those out. Unless we have other volunteers.

Sat Feb 13 18:52:22 MET 1999

Pat Brennan

Garth's accordian on "Masterpiece" and organ on "Where Do We Go From Here?", the horns on "Carnival" and "Volcano", Van Morrison, "Smoke Signal", Richard on "Moon Struck One" (Sorry, Peter V.)...Wore it out when I bought it. Plus the lyrics printed inside the gatefold. Tied for third with NLSC.

Sat Feb 13 18:40:38 MET 1999

Avalon Archives Rock & Roll Museum

The summer of '99 will bring us two great rock & roll events. 'A Day in The Garden' festivities throughout the summer and 'Woodstock Ventures' 30th anniversary concert in Rome, NY, July 23-25. Remember the Band was the headline act at the original Woodstock. (See Ain't no cane on the brazo from across the great divide for a taste). Let us hope the Band also headlines both of these great comming shows. We hope to see you at these great events! Your friends at the Avalon Archives.

Sat Feb 13 18:35:29 MET 1999

Tim(SUNDOG)Corcoran

MISTER C. YOUNG, *CAHOOTS* IS THE GREATEST, I LOVED,(AND STILL DO,) IT THEN AS I DO NOW, "TURN IT UP LOUD"....... Peace, Tim(SUNDOG)Corcoran. P.S. WHAT A TRANSITION PERIOD THAT WAS!!! HERE, HERE !

Sat Feb 13 18:31:55 MET 1999

Mike

Just a quick note on a great show in Atlantic City last night.Ringo and his All Starr Band. I took my daughter, a confirmed '60s retro type. Besides Ringo the band featured Jack Bruce of Cream- Gary Booker of Procol Harem-Simon Kirk of Spirit and the great Todd Rudgren of the Nazz and producer of Stage Fright. He was inexplicably in a dress and played so truly hot guitar. He stole the show with "I don't want to work- I just want to bang on the drum all day". After the show I bought my daughter a souvenir of the concert- Ringo's first All Starr Band CD with Levon and Rick. These guys this month and seeing Danko solo last month makes '99 off to a pretty good start.

Sat Feb 13 18:29:20 MET 1999

Ilkka

About THE CAHOOTS. - The members have been rearranged in the painting - after the Landy photo in the Brown album. RR have turned his back to the others. Is there a special story behind that?

Sat Feb 13 18:19:33 MET 1999

Charlie Young

Serge: thanks for the tip on the article. Hey, who is this mysterious $? Is Albert Grossman sending cyber messages from the grave, or has Jaime Robbie paid us a visit?

Sat Feb 13 15:01:21 MET 1999

Peter Viney

$: Another powerful Bob Cato album cover is “Jesse Winchester.” It echoes the brown album, but repeats the same stark image four times on soft, thick board. Impossible to do justice to this on CD. The Toshiba-EMI remaster of the brown album gets close. A designer once gave me a long talk on Cato’s genius, adding “Stage Fright” as an example. “Stage Fright” has “spine appeal” a concept that most designers forget. It goes like this. You have friends round. You want to put an album on and you’re confronted by 50 or 100 or 1000 spines. What are you going to play …? Then “Stage Fright” leaps out at you, so you put it on. They hear it for the first time, go and buy it and put it in their collection. They have friends round … It’s common enough now. There weren’t many spines that bold then.

This month’s Mojo has a letter on the “Play fucking Loud” (I’ll follow the Globe & Mail and delete asterisks too) controversy, which quotes from the rec.music.dylan site. Someone there said if it were Robbie Robertson rather than Dylan it would have been “Play fucking loud, eh” and got the response from a Canadian post that it would have been “PLEASE play fucking loud, eh.”

Listening to British radio recently shows that musicians of The Band’s generation can still cut the chart action. First there was Cher at number one, followed by Blondie at number one and Ronnie Spector is getting a lot of airplay. Though Debbie Harry didn’t make it big until 1978, she was already in her 30s. Three great ladies setting a good example.

Sat Feb 13 14:23:26 MET 1999

Serge

C. Young and "$" : If you haven't already, read the article on "Cahoots" by Jill Howland written back in 1995. It's in the Library section under articles. I love it too. Personally, I place it third, behind Big Pink and the The Band albums.

Sat Feb 13 07:43:48 MET 1999

$

Yup, Bob Cato is the man who hired photographers Elliot Landy, Norman Seeff and Reid Miles, and painters Ed Kasper and Gilbert Stone. BUT, the Islands front cover was a composite of Bob's own photographic profiles of The Band members. I also forgot to mention that one of Bob Cato's Grammy awards for Best Album Cover of the Year was for Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Volume 1 (front cover photo by Roland Sherman.)

Sat Feb 13 06:42:49 MET 1999

$

Yes, Charlie, Cahoots still has the magic for me too. You might be interested to know that the man responsible for that eyes-closed photo was named Bob Cato, one of the most creative, intelligent and inspiring people you could ever hope to know. He found a balance in his own life between art and business, and I will always be in his debt. He designed all The Band's album covers except Big Pink and The Last Waltz and was a father confessor to The Band members, especially Richard Manuel. He grew up in New Orleans and was a friend to Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis, among many others. He was one of the most prolific album cover designers of all time, when the art really meant something. Bob Cato was also a great painter, father, husband and friend. I guess this is my way of paying tribute to him.

Sat Feb 13 05:51:28 MET 1999

Charlie Young

Listening to the CAHOOTS CD in my car for the first time this week was a real revelation; it was as though I was hearing it again for the first time. At the end, I realized that this was Robbie's first multi-cultural concept album, years and maybe even decades ahead of fashion. Two lines haunted me after listening: "your neighborhood ain't even there no more" and "where do we go from here?" I remember back when the record originally came out, I was a bit disappointed. The first three albums were sort of a trilogy, each with songs somehow connected and a unified, warm and rich sound. I saw The Band the second time as they toured to support CAHOOTS. We sat on seats on plywood dropped on top of the ice of a hockey stadium, so perhaps that led to my intitial "cold" reaction to the new songs. The playing was so precise, so tight on the album that it seemed almost mechanical at points. Somehow, all these years later, listening on a medium perhaps more compatible with the sound of CAHOOTS, the music came across much better. "Masterpiece" is still my favorite track by far, but others were more appealing. Even "Moon Struck One" made me understand why Bruce Springsteen stole a section of it for his song of that period, "Spirit in the Night." It remains an enigmatic collection of songs and even the package--with the symbolist painting and the Avedon photo with everyone's eyes closed--still mystifies me, but I think it holds up better than I ever expected. Give it another listen. Or two. I'm curious if anyone else feels the same way.

Sat Feb 13 05:04:23 MET 1999

Paul Godfrey

There is a line from the PBS TV special with Robbie returning to the 6 nations reserve and meets up with an old friend from his childhood. The conversation goes something like: Robbie: ..."great to be back here." Friend: (tongue in cheek).."Yeh Robbie..good to see you..its only been 30 years." Understand..in no way do I wish to be judgemental...it is just a piece of conversation that refuses to leave my mind. As Robbie is closer to the end of his career, than its beginning I wander if he finally wanted to ackowlege his roots and give more meaning his aboriginal heritage?

Sat Feb 13 04:59:29 MET 1999

!

Let's all go listen to Brother Garth bare his incredible soul: Feed the Birds (Stay Awake), Garth Largo (Largo), French Girls (Jubilation). May we be blessed with more sweet water from the same well... Hallelujah.

Sat Feb 13 03:36:13 MET 1999

Stanley Landau

Lighten up Lil. It was a joke.

Sat Feb 13 03:05:33 MET 1999

Diamond Lil

What was I thinking? Hadn't realized that being an esteemed member of the bar gave one the right to become judge and jury about the personal lives of people one knows nothing about. Go figure. Guess you told me!

Sat Feb 13 02:05:19 MET 1999

Sir John Franklin

Can someone tell me when the Crowmatix are going to play some gigs again? I need to hear some good music that will help me forget about this LONG winter. Thanks.

Sat Feb 13 01:29:05 MET 1999

Freddy Fishstick

Hey friends and neighbors

Never say this parrothead never did a solid to all my Bandhead friends. Courtesy of my main website :

February 12 I came across a cool travel service: TravelNow. They offer airline and hotel reservations and more. Now you can cheaply travel to see Jimmy's shows! CD Now is offering $10 off any order of $19.99 or more. Now's a chance to expand your Buffett discography or venture into new territory.

Sat Feb 13 01:13:12 MET 1999

Stanley Landau

Matt, thank you for the excellent post. To me it goes without saying that my opinions are absolutely, one hundred per cent subjective. Perhaps my reference to "finger painting" was inappropriate - I certainly did not mean to criticize anyone who likes Robbie's solo work.

For me the issue is mainly the singing as opposed to the quality of the work as a whole. When your music has been sung by Richard Manuel, Rick Danko and Levon Helm, how can you ... well, you can finish the thought yourself. (And by the way, without any inside knowledge whatsoever, and based solely on my subjective view of what I've read and heard, I come down on the side of those who think it's more likely than not that Robbie, for the most part, deserved the songwriting credit he got.)

Truth be told, personally I'm frustrated by both the work of the current Band and by Robbie's solo work, not because either is bad, but because I think Robbie and The Band would be a whole lot better musically together then apart. Imagine if you will Robbie's first solo album re-recorded by the Band with Rick and Levon doing the singing. It would be right up there with the great ones. That's just my opinion. I understand that interests diverge, bad blood happens and Richard is gone forever. I fully respect the opinions of those who love and enjoy either or both of the current Band and Robbie's solo work. To me though, nothing will ever match the original five.

Sat Feb 13 00:48:48 MET 1999

Ragtime (unstoppable)

That is (I admit): like Stanley Landau I sometimes wonder how Broken Arrow & Sonny Got Caught & Go Back To Your Woods would have sounded if played & sung by the other 4 band members (imagine Levon & Rick shouting: "If the women don't get ya, the music will..."), but that's not the way to judge this music.

Sat Feb 13 00:23:09 MET 1999

Ragtime

That is, mattk, I am a bit older than you & among the crowd that was struck by lightning in '68.

Sat Feb 13 00:12:16 MET 1999

Tom Rakewell

Wow! I second every word mattk said. If I weren't so lazy, mattk, I could have said this myself.

Fri Feb 12 23:54:38 MET 1999

mattk

DOH! Dagnabbit IE Enter actions.

Anyway, Stanley Landau, thanks for the reply (and the positive comments that proceeded it).

One thing, Stanley, where I think you kinda dodge the issue is on subjectivity. YOUR decision, opinion regarding RR solo work and equating it to Monet finger painting isn't really fair.

A fairer comparison would be to be with Stravinsky. Certainly his youthful work (Rites of Spring, Petruschka) are far more energized, and probably break more new ground than what followed. However, by the time he ventured into neo-classicism, Stravinsky, while perhaps not as "in your face" and more cerebral, managed to refine and hone new concepts even though they were based on ground already broken 20 years earlier by Schoenberg.

Is the "Rakes Progress" fingerpainting? I don't think so. Does it lack the passion of the Paris ballets? Absolutely. Is it still brilliant music? Certainly. Is it everyone's cup of tea? No way.

RR could continue to do his Rite of Spring inspired work, but if the man's ears began taking him in new directions then so be it. It's not fair to say that he's slumming, it's just different. If it's not your cup of tea, that's fine. But if RR's solo projects help introduce listeners to The Band's canon, then I'd hope you'd see that as positive. But also understand that those of us too young to really remember The Band with RR as an existing force come to this with a different perspective.

While MFBP is brilliant and awe inspiring, it's a bit different when you hear it 20 years later after untold imitators have bastardized, even refined the execution of the style. Now, if I drop the needle on the vinyl in 1968, my brain goes numb and my eyes roll to the back of my head as it's a whole new univers being revealed to me.

It's just a different perspective.

I really don't want to wade into the shark infested waters of which is better, The Band in it's current form or RR. I don't even want to debate what these guys do now vs. what they did until 1976.

BUT, I do want to be understood on this point. Love or hate the newer RR material, you really have to respect his desire to move on. This is a guy who has struggled mightly to avoid being defined purely in terms of his work with the band.

I find it ironic that so many people beat on RR as a power monger. Seems to me that it would have been far more disrespectful to try to push The Band in directions it did not want to go than to say "I'm outta here." Frankly, the much publicized anxiety that precipitated the later studio recordings and Levon's description of RR as a traitor may very well have been due tension raised as RR began thinking differently about the music.

Basically, I think from RR's perspective, it was time to move on. From Levon's perspective, he sees RR as a carpet-bagger (understandable from the southern psyche)who used up the group and discarded it. To that end, RR's steadfast refusal to discuss The Band in any real specific terms in subsequent years must be infuriating proof of RR's "defection" and "back stabbing."

Regardless, I'll continue to listen to and love the first RR album, Storyville, MFNA and Red Boy and I'll hear the old Band deep in its crevices. Likewise, when I listen to The Band, I'll appreciate the brilliant early career of the older man's music. It's like looking at photos and tracing lines on faces and comparing them to the same face in it's youth. Tracing the lines you see the way a life moves and changes, perspectives altered...

It's a pretty groovy experience for me, and maybe it's the objectivity one gets as a trade off for not getting to be their at ground zero.

matt

Fri Feb 12 23:21:55 MET 1999

mattk

Fri Feb 12 23:18:29 MET 1999

Stanley Landau

Many things to comment on. First of all, Donald Joseph, no doubt you have an incisive legal mind, a veritable steel trap, but there is a flaw in your logic. I am not now into Rosen rags. I was into Rosen rags in 1992, but no more. So I am a former dapper f*ck. (Of course this may depend on whether "am not now" means "am not now and never was".)

Secondly, Donald, I most certainly agree with your views on junk food. And who better, Diamond Lil, than an esteemed member of the Ohio bar to be appointed judge and jury on matters such as this?

Thirdly, I too like Robbie I think more than post of the people who post here, but it is, frankly astounding to me that anyone could enjoy his solo work very much on its own. The only enjoyment I ever got out of it was imagining how it would have sounded with Rick and Levon singing and performing and with Garth playing keyboards. Mitt, with all due respect, in Robbie’s case, the music world would be a lot better off he was the same at 55 as he was when he was 25. (Maybe if we ever connect on the Chat line we can talk about it.) And Peter V if you’re Robbie Robertson, the stuff you did 30 years ago is the best stuff anyone ever did so why not want to be known by it?

Matt K., I feel about half the same way you do and you can tell from my last comments which half. If you’re Monet, why give up painting for finger painting?

Little Bro, I got my copy of The Band the day after you did, December 26, 1969 at the Sam the Record Man annual Boxing Day sale. It cost $3.79 Canadian and I still have it, plastic wrap, scratches and all.

John Donabie and other Leaf fans, Richard Manuel too wore a Leaf sweater at one of The Dylan/Band performances at the Gardens in 1974. You remember?

Fri Feb 12 23:06:27 MET 1999

Trix

bill munson

don't know about detroit, boston, or chicago (or about hockey, for that matter), but the band has only played the current, fourth, madison square garden. the old, "original" garden on eighth ave. was razed in 1968.

Fri Feb 12 22:38:34 MET 1999

?

I saw them play Boston Garden in'74 with Dylan.

Fri Feb 12 21:59:37 MET 1999

Bill Munson

To ?, yes that's right, although real men prefer the word 'sweater' to 'jersey' (or at least they/we used to).

To John, yes, too bad. I'd've been happy to oblige. And I'd have added the cute "A Leaf Fan's Dream" by Doug Moore - a "Hot Rod Lincoln" knockoff about the Big M scoring his 50th goal. (He wound up the year with 49 that year.)

I wonder how many of the big 6 arenas the Band got to play in. The Gardens certainly, almost certainly the Forum. Anybody out there know about Boston (Gardens), New York (the first Madison SG), Chicago or Detroit (Olympia?)?

Fri Feb 12 20:41:15 MET 1999

?

Wasn't Robbie wearing a Maple Leafs jersey on the Islands back cover photo?

Fri Feb 12 20:39:26 MET 1999

donabie

mattk.......Great piece of writing. Good thoughts. Refreshing. Doesn't matter which door you came through.

Fri Feb 12 20:31:29 MET 1999

John Donabie

BILL MUNSON: I should have tried to reach you earlier to get a cassette of "Clear The Track Here Comes Shack and Honky The Xmas Goose" for tomorrow's last Leaf game at Maple Leaf Gardens. Ah Hindsight.

Sorry Band fans for that Toronto Maple Leaf Moment. Maple Leaf Gardens the home of the Toronto Maple Leafs and home to Dylan & The Band on a few occasions closes it's doors tomorrow night. The last of the original 6 arenas in the National Hockey League.

Fri Feb 12 20:24:25 MET 1999

Little Brother

I wish I'd eaten first, then tuned in to catch MattK's comments. Amen again on most counts. On Christmas Day, 1969, my dad and older brother in collaboration with Lafayette Electronics added a little gray box to the back of our Magnavox stereo console-- the only record player in the house. The gray box was a headphone pre-amp with a pair of Sennheiser headphones. Probably my parents were sick of the raucous Dylan or Beatles or even Steppenwolf incessantly roaring forth.

There was a new LP to go with the 'phones: a brown-jacketed album called "The Band". This was a couple of years prior to my discovery of herbal/chemical enhancements, but I still remember the other-wordly crystal clarity of having The Band in Surround Sound inside my head. Terminal nostalgia? So be it.

Somehow I "got it" right away; my brother, home from college, had gotten it first. It's impossible to separate the concept from the performance, however that goes-- THOSE FIVE, a perfect union, a natural imperishable ideal form, a pentangle or star! All the done to death words like "synergy" or "transcendental" apply.

I don't know about the rest of the world, but apart from a handful of aficionados, the high school masses were largely unimpressed. I still get pissed off when I think of the stupid crap I had to listen to: None of them can "really" sing (compared to, say, Rod Stewart or Greg Lake); they can't "really" ROCK rock, etc. When "Cahoots" emerged, there were people WAITING to snipe to me about its weaker tracks. My Be-All-And-End-All Band, finally showing their core mediocrity! Here, come and listen to some King Crimson, or a REAL keyboard wizard like Keith Emerson...

All this by way of describing a passionate attachment strengthened and tempered by adversity-- a tinny echo of The Band's own history and cohesion! And it's a bitch, because it that attachment can get brittle or stagnant, I guess. Yet I agree with MattK about not being quite as enthusiastic about the current Band as I'd like to be, and not being able (not wanting to) shake the spell the original output cast upon me.

No, I don't count the number of "I"s-- nor calories in my cheese steak, for that matter. Living in the past, dying in the present...

Fri Feb 12 19:49:20 MET 1999

Ragtime

"Hey, look at this! Did you know Paul McCartney was once in another group?"

I was shocked when I overheard three girls talking to each other while browsing in a record store (not in the thorough Viney-way, that's for sure - well, the girls and I were looking under "B" of course). You just hit the nail, mattk from Maryland. Imagine that The Band split up 23 years ago, almost a quarter of a century. And it's true (& said many times in this guestbook before) that RR had every right to call it a day & move forward to what HE wanted. If the chemistry is over, it's over... It was...

LIL :-)Thanks a lot. Delicious! You'll be hearing from me.

Fri Feb 12 19:44:33 MET 1999

Little Brother

As I scrolled through the McFast Food Fight with one hand, I scarfed down something called a "mini cheese-steak hoagie" with the other. My right hand didn't know what my left hand was doing, and my head is satiated with mmm-mmm goodness.

Does anyone recall a "Look" Magazine article, c. 1970? I've got it somewhere; nice photos and a caption "$20,000 a night-- if they feel like it". Whether Demiurge Impresario Albert Grossman engineered it or not, The Band's low profile strategy had a powerful undertow. I brought my tattered copy of "The Band" songbook to the library to make low-grade Xeroxes of the Landy "road" group shot just to have something to put up on the wall.

Who cares? Indeed.

All I wanted to say was that I can't get the phrase "Flying Baby Asparagus" out of my head; didn't they later become the Chocolate Overcoats?

P.S. Twain has LOTS of nice, acerbic commentaries about the health zealots of his day who lectured and pestered about giving up tobacco. These are just the kind of people who seem determined to string themselves out to a lean, withered, miserable old age. No thanks! I agree with Mr. Clemens. The goo that may kill us seems ta keep the mojo workin'...

Fri Feb 12 19:38:51 MET 1999

Bill Munson

There was an interesting article in yesterday's Globe and Mail titled, "Notoriety catches up with irked Dylan fan 33 years later". All about Keith Butler, said to be the guy who called out,"Judas" at the Manchester Free Trade Hall. According to the article, "Butler is now 53, a father of two, and since 1975 has been living in Canda, most recently in Toronto." He now claims, "There was nothing premeditated, or religious, about what I said. It was straight from the heart, a spontaneous reaction. It probably wasn't the best choice of words, but that's just what came out."

For what it's worth, the guy who wrote the article, James Adams, hears Dylan say, "Play fucking loud". (If the respectable Globe is now mature enough to spell the word without asterisks, I figure I can be too.)

Fri Feb 12 19:14:26 MET 1999

mattk

Mitt, Peter Viney, amen on the comments regarding RR's current work in perspective vs. work with the band. That's actually my theory on why so many Band fans seem to find it easy to beat on Robbie, regardless of what we know or don't know vis-a-vis pub rights, etc.

My feeling is that there are a number of people who loved, and still love the band as concept as much as for it's execution. In other words, the STYLE created by the band beginning in the late '60s which redefined pop music. While it's cool for members to go off and explore (like Garth or Rick going into entirely different areas in their solo work), GOD FORBID they would PREFER the other projects.

RR committed the ultimate heresy in declaring he was done with this period of his musical existence back in 1976. I think some people (Levon) as well as many fans have difficulty forgiving Robbie for that. Many folks seem to be able only to build up their validation of the current lineup by tearing down RR's subsequent work.

I'm the first to admit that as I was born in 1966 that I really came at the band through RR's solo work. I LIKED his first album, and I bought it BECAUSE of the production values of Daniel Lanois and collaborations with U2 and Peter Gabriel. In traditional Band terms, I guess I'm a heretic, or not a "true" fan...whatever.

I like to think that I came to this great music (and make no mistake, I'm a BIG fan of this group) because I like RR's solo work. Minus his solo albums, maybe I would not have come to love this group so much, or would perceive it differently.

I'll also admit that I'm NOT a big fan of the re-formed ensemble. Not that it's bad, it just is lacking that deep connection I get from the earlier material. Is this BECAUSE of Robbie's writing. Maybe, in part, certainly. However, I believe that great ensemble music, comes from tension and inter-personal dynamics. I suspect that RR and The Band lost that in 1976.

For me, then, the very thing that I like about RR, is push to explore, change, evolve, is EXACTLY what I like about even his more recent work. Does he go overboard sometimes? Certainly. Is it perfect? No. Is it better or worse than The Band? Moot point, it's different. I just like that he's got some momentum, and I sense a certain degree of inertia in the current lineup.

On a side note, in 1976, at the age of 10, I came home and said to my mom "did you know Paul Mcartney was a Beatle?"

Many rivers, one sea. Go figure.

Fri Feb 12 16:41:36 MET 1999

Peter Viney

RR fans who've never heard of The Band: yes, indeed they exist, just as there are Paul McCartney / Wings fans who never heard of The Beatles. Look at the RR site. He does get us old Band fans, but also a lot of younger enthusiasts. I played "Sacrifice" to some 20-somethings who were discussing Peltier. All were knocked out by it and had heard of RR but not The Band. He has created a distinct identity, and good luck to him. All of us can look back and think "do we really want to be known only by stuff we did more than 20 years ago?' To RR, all the people he's worked with / is working with since then must be important.

Fri Feb 12 15:25:49 MET 1999

Mitt Stampler

Arrrgghh! McSquabbling! Enough about junk food--as I write this, I'm sitting here with my colleagues, my sixth cup of coffee since 7 am, and a Dunkin' Donuts Dozen that has mysteriously disappeared despite the fact that all three of us only had "one apiece." I've got enough creaky joints, extra pounds, badly dyed hairs, and bills of my own to worry about anyone else's :) Mr. Viney: Strawberry milk dispensers??? Who needs illegal substances when you've got that??? I'm thinking of a line I heard in a movie (don't remember the title, sorry) where someone says: "Before adulthood, when booze becomes a staple, sugar is the next best substitute for parental love." Mr. Joseph: With regard to Robbie-fans, my beloved spouse is both a Band and Robbie fan. I confess "Sweet Fire of Love" doesn't do all that much for me, but I can appreciate Robertson's music for what it tries to be, which I think is very different from what he was trrying to do with the Band. Which is a good thing...it'd be a hell of a world if we were the same at fifty-five as twenty-five.

Fri Feb 12 15:12:10 MET 1999

Peter Viney

Donald: Two quotes for you:

“One man’s meat is another man’s poison.” (Proverb)

“Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside you.” (Mark Twain)

One of the perils of life on the road is junk food. When musicians are driving back from a gig at 2 a.m. in freezing fog, sushi and salads are in short supply. In Britain musicians used to know where there were 24 hour machines selling ice cold milk. For some bizarre reason someone installed a chain of machines dispensing sweet strawberry flavoured milk in the 60s. There was one near Bristol, another near Southampton and you’d find three or four group Transit vans pulled up at them around 2 a.m. There were chocolate bar machines there too. Lives were saved by a large bar of Cadbury’s chocolate and half a pint of sweetened milk - to stay awake. On the motorway at that time of night, all you could buy was the loosely labelled “meat pie”, known by my acquaintances as “afterbirth pie”. When McDonalds came, it was a great improvement. Some musicians started taking their own macrobiotic chefs with them in the 70s, but I don’t imagine Rick is currently at that income level.

Personally I wouldn’t comment on other people’s addictions to food, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes or trousers. Some smartass 60s writer pointed out that for most males, trousers have many characteristics of an addiction. But Donald, you have every right to your opinion and to state it.

I don’t disagree with your opinion of junk food in 1999. I come from the land of BSE and haven’t touched beef in Britain for 10 years, and still don’t trust those farmers who decided dead cow brains were ideal cattle feed. I see the USA has warnings about underdone burgers on menus now. The corporation you so dislike, stung by allegations of Central American deforestation in order to create more burgers, started advertising 100% British beef on their product just as BSE became known (well, the government and farmers had known about it for many years). Starving hungry at the airport a few months ago I bought an Egg & Bacon McMuffin, took the top off to look and consigned it straight to the bin. But genetically engineered tomatoes and the economics of flying baby asparagus from Thailand and Peru to Britain is worse than junk food. By “nuggets” from the trial, do you mean chicken McNuggets were served to the jurors for lunch?

Donald (2): you will have missed the fact that the main songs are reserved for the credits in recent films. BTW, I managed to find a Universal 1975 “second reel” can the other day. As I’m sure you know, you can tell because the capital letter on “Universal” was dropped between February 1975 and November 1975 : universal. Not sure whether it was the 15th or 16th November :-)

Thanks to Serge for the long overdue inclusion of the Time piece you all mention - but how do you access it? I see all the comments but not the piece under “What’s New”. I have my original copy anyway and it’s always attributed to William Bender. Reading the “Letter from the Publisher” I see that the equally unfortunately-named Jay Cocks also contributed, as Bumbles says. I can hear the scene in The Time office, “Bender and Cocks, come to the office …” (Or is that just British? The name “Cox” is common here, but no one ever spells it “cocks”). The boxed section “The Band talk about Music” was inserted on a card into British copies of “Stage Fright.”

More importantly, a repeat, has anyone got good “Woodstock Times” 1985 copies for OCR? I have these as bad photocopies, but they’re a must for the library section.

Fri Feb 12 14:10:48 MET 1999

Harry

Re: gossip on personal lives, rivalrys, claims to song credits, etc. Gets boring after a while, folks. The Frank Zappa/Band connection - FZ and RR are IMHO in the top 10 R&R, R&B, etc., etc. guitar players of the "classic rock" era. Also, both groups lived in NYC at approximately the same time and, per the MM credits, Billy Mundi did play drums on "Mystery Train". In addition, both bands musical output was simultaneously original, sometimes humorous, and rooted in many existing 19th and 20th century musical stylings. Nobody knows whether RR is a "bad guy" or not, except his bandmates...See ya later, alligators...

Fri Feb 12 14:09:14 MET 1999

Mike

I just read the Time Cover story from '70. Thanks guys. In light of our recent go round about how some prefer to talk about personalities rather than focus on the music I found this line in the article interesting."groupies and would-be groupies, are now and always will be less interested in music than in the male personalities of the performers." Hmmmm.

Fri Feb 12 12:03:56 MET 1999

Ragtime

ILKKA: it's your old Latin teacher again haunting your northern mind? Levon = genitive, so this means "of peace"? Or "from peace"? And it ain't no joke hey hey hey?

LIL: I won't make jokes about "McLIL" because I'm a serious & politically correct person - as Donald told you - but please, mail me a cigarette & a cuppa coffee.

Fri Feb 12 11:12:27 MET 1999

Diamond Lil

Having a cigarette and a cup of caffeine here after my McBreakfast, and would like to make a comment.

Donald Joseph:Who appointed you judge and jury anyhow? One fast food bag in the hand does not a junk food junkie make. Any idea as to what was in that bag? You sure it wasn't salad and decaf coffee? Things are not always what they appear my friend. Not all health problems come out of a fast food bag. If you really care about Rick being around for awhile and providing for his family (which he has done very well btw), then I suggest you check your Mcfacts before you Mcpost.

Fri Feb 12 09:21:20 MET 1999

Ragtime

Hey Lee-von!

LEVON Chilingirian is a British violinist originating from CYPRUS. BTW I always thought the actual name was Mark LAVON Helm.

Re Richard Manuel album: who owns the credits? You Say You Love Me. BTW2 Clinton Heylins claims that You Say You Love Me & Ferdinand the Imposter & Beautiful Thing were omitted in 1975 because Double R didn't want too many Manuel compositions on the BT album. This can't be true since he wrote Ferdinand himself.

Fri Feb 12 09:09:53 MET 1999

Ilkka

The old folks ih these woods say:
- Don't wake up the bear who is asleep!
I'm doing this in a great hurry - before Wolfgang awakes.
'Levon' is substantive - singular - genetive, meaning 'rest', 'quiet', 'peace'. (And this is not a joke.)

Fri Feb 12 09:03:38 MET 1999

Donald Joseph

Here's an interesting exercise: Go to amazon.com, search "music," type in "Robbie Robertson," & look at "Redboy." It contains 13 reviews posted by real people (amazon.com users, not critics). All but 1 are 4 or 5 star worshipful reviews; the 1 is a Band freak like lots of us. Only 1 or 2 of the positive reviews mentions the Band.

The point of this exercise -- a point that truly surprised me -- is that there are real Robbie-heads out there who seem not even to know about the Band. And they love the guy!

I'm not editorializing -- I probably like Robbie more than many of you, but that's not my point in this post. My point is that it is very strange to read the amazon.com posts & see Robbie through the eyes of a fan of Robbie's solo music who is not listening to the music with Band-infected ears.

The other interesting thing is the uniformity of the positive response to "Redboy" by these non-Band-influenced people.

Who are these guys? Where do they come from?

Fri Feb 12 08:14:05 MET 1999

Ilkka

JOHN DONABIE - about the name Levon. It is actually finnish(!), it means 'rest'. It was the first word in the prayer my mother taught for me. So I was saying 'levon' every night in the early fifties. Anyone who can beat that?

MIKE - about Rick's independent bass. He can do it other way, too. Listen to Nobody 'Cept You; when Dylan's voice goes to the higher notes Rick's bass follows it - not the first time but the second time.That's a skill!

Fri Feb 12 07:34:51 MET 1999

Donald Joseph

Stanley Landau: Your statement that in '70 you weren't into Rosen's rags leads to the inescapable conclusion that in '99 you are. Oh you dapper f*ck.

Viney: Who are you kidding, blaming your habit of sitting through film credits on an archaic Brit custom? You're a trivia junkie to make Dr. Johnson look like Pamela Anderson Lee. Blow me over if you don't end up in the projectionist's booth reading the labels on the reel cans.

I respectfully disagree with those of you who insist we need to lay off bloating rock stars' McDonald's habits. In fact, I posit you critics of this practice are all hypocrites, & I'll prove it: Admit it -- you junk-burger-defenders have all, at one time or another, criticized Cher & Michael Jackson for abusing plastic surgery, & have lamented Hendrix & Joplin & Pigpen & Keef Richards (and/or others) for abusing drugs & booze. Hell, you probably have even criticize smokers.

Well, abusing junk food is exactly the same! I agree no one should knock anyone for getting bald, wrinkled, or gray. And no one IS knocking, say, Garth or LeVon (note spelling) for not looking like they did in the original Landy photos.

But big-time chow-downs at McDonald's are a self-inflicted abuse of the same character as drugs, booze, plastic surgery or smoking. In fact, smoking & heroin are far more addictive than junk food, and to this extent are easier to excuse. (And junk food is every bit as lethal: Remember, for all his drug abuse, Garcia died of clogged arteries. China White didn't help Lowell George, but neither did Colonel Sanders. And need I remind you of Mama Cass's ignoble end?)

Viney, back me up here with some nuggets from the Dave Morris/Helen Steel McLibel trial.

Enablers: Quit silencing those of us who really care about our heroes' health. Did it ever occur to you that, rather than lobbing snide comments, some of us have a concern for these guys a hell of a lot stronger than your sniveling excuse-making? Some of want these guys to keep playing music & providing for their families for years to come. You, apparantly, don't.

Fri Feb 12 06:08:18 MET 1999

ILBT

Bingo, Hangover!! I couldn't have said it better myself... In the chat-room, Dog referred to Levon's throat treatments. Anyone have any info about this?? Long live The Band!!!

Fri Feb 12 05:25:49 MET 1999

Pat Brennan

There was an interview done with Dylan around the time the Basement Tapes were happening--summer of 67--and the interviewer referred to Robbie Robertson as the leader of the Hawks. Given RR's prominence in Eat The Document, that's not surprising. Interesting however is a quick listen the all the BT material that the boys recorded. Most of the original material is Richard's--keyboard based and very soulful--and the rest is somewhat weak, bordering on simple druggy fun. Clinton Heylin, who does little to hide his contempt for the BT doctoring, made the point that RR may have been trying to bolster his own perceived position in the group by eliminating genuine BT material that featured Richard at the expense of doctored material of his own. BTW, I've heard a board tape of the boys opening for the Dead's last shows and it's not one of the better boots. The Time article is quite good--it's also the first time many of us saw what Levon & The Hawks looked like. The explication of Garth's influences sent many of my friends out to find sheet music for Bach. One last thing: a great Chicago band that unfortunately barely dented the national scene is mentioned in the article. The Flock. Alumnus Jerry Goodman went on to become an integral part of the Mahavishnu Orchestra with John McLaughlin. Who jammed with Zappa.

Fri Feb 12 04:59:07 MET 1999

Bumbles

Conspiracy theorists and Levonistas might note that the much-discussed TIME piece was written by Jay Cocks, who, after reviewing 'The Last Waltz' warmly and wetly, went on to write screenplays for...Martin Scorsese.

SERGE: Since you're being such a (generous) prince about the TIME cover story, maybe you could scan the Playboy piece from 1973 if you have it. The younger visitors in particular might benefit from a less starstruck view.

Fri Feb 12 03:35:13 MET 1999

Misty

Say what you want about Robbie and Aerosmith being posers, but I did have the opportunity to shake Robbie's hand after the NAMA awards last year, and he looks fabulous; he's hardly aged at all, and he didn't look like he was wearing makeup. Better than in pictures in my opinion. If he colors his hair, it looks like a good dye job :-}. I know this isn't the most important thing to discuss, but I had to throw this in!

Fri Feb 12 03:24:31 MET 1999

Rustic Boy

Play me a song, son, lay it down, bring it forth then stand your ground.

LOVE Jubilation. It proves there is still GREAT music out there waiting to be performed. THANK YOU. In "High Cotton" I always think I hear Rick sing : "Old Garth's comin' th'safternoon for a good time Rock n Roll barbecue, I'm in High Cotton I've forgotten that I had the blues." I know that's not the words according to the jacket, but I'm not sure, and besides, I like the Garth line.

I could spend days expressing my love for The Band,but I know you all share the appreciation so I'll just say Goodnight. May a good light ride with ya.

Fri Feb 12 03:14:50 MET 1999

Mike

The other day I heard a tape of a live broadcast by the Band on NPR Mountain Stage. It was a great loose performance featuring new versions of classic tunes that were fresh and well played. A smoking version of "Blind Willie McTell" and a very heart-felt "It Makes No Difference" were the two tunes that really stood out.Jim Wieder played very well and as always had a killer tone. He really seems to have that side of it down. I've seen him with the Band several times and sometimes he's on and sometimes he's a bit obvious with his playing-but he always has "that tone". The vocal trading was strong and Levon and Rick were in fine form. Everytime I hear them play I hear something I didn't hear before. I was really struck this time at how independant Rick's bass is from his voice. That's an incredible skill. As always the music spoke to me. The recent post about Woodstock Records putting out unissued material in small batches is a great idea. I'd support that and would much rather see the money go to the Band and Richards family than some unknown and semi-shady bootleg company. If it ever happens I hope that a collection of solo Richard (without sweetening overdubs) is first on their list. As always- thanks for the music guys.

Fri Feb 12 02:37:38 MET 1999

Donabie

To Paul and Stanley

I'm with Stanley; but for a different reason. I could never afford Harry Rosen's clothing so I never looked in the window. Look what I missed.

Fri Feb 12 02:32:37 MET 1999

Tim(SUNDOG)Corcoran

This is the part of ZAPPA'S drummer; Jimmy Carl Black song "An American National Anthem" that was at the end of his song, that radio stations didn't aire, and its Jimmy singing as a white man,,,Hey you lousey redskin, show me one of them blankets baby, you got a $2.98 going?,baby your get'n a good deal... you se I'm going to take it back from my beautiful vacation, back to Demote Iowa, to my $400,000 track home, my 1972 Chevolet car, to my $30,000 a year job that I go to every Monday morning and I hate the F**K out of it baby, but I know why that mans out on that reservation is... You know why? I'll tell you why, cuz I'm a white man, Hey baby, I want you to tell me who, ARE THE SAVAGES...

Fri Feb 12 02:31:37 MET 1999

Donabie

I went to amazon.com and ordered the Brown album CD from Japan. I've tried other sites and it never comes. Cross my fingers this time. Great of Serge to scan Time. I've kept my copy all these years. There was a poster shop in Toronto years ago that made a giant poster of the cover in a kind of blue-purple colour. I used to own it but now it's long gone.

Fri Feb 12 02:27:52 MET 1999

Stanley Landau

A very, (very) small bit of trivia. I believe that the subheading on the Canadian version of that Time issue was "Canada's contribution to country rock". In those days there was a Canadian version of Time with some mandatory Canadian content. I assumed that The Band was only on the cover of the Canadian issue. It was only much later that I realized they had made a much bigger splash.

Paul, I for one have no recollection of the Time cover being in Harry Rosen's window. Not that I would have been looking in his window in 1970...

Fri Feb 12 02:15:44 MET 1999

Charlie Young

I admit I still have my copy of that issue of TIME from 1970 with the laughable caption on the cover caricature of our guys: "The New Sound of Country Rock." The article was much better than the cover, but much of the hype (as usual) may have been hard to live up to on the road. It was a defining moment, coming at around the same time I'd been lured in by the AM airplay of "Up On Cripple Creek." I went out and bought the brown album and I've been hooked on the music ever since. My best friend and I even used "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" as part of the soundtrack for an 8mm movie project for a Civil War documentary we did (using similar technique to what Ken Burns did years later). The school was Stonewall Jackson High in Manassas, Virginia and that song hit home. It still does...

Fri Feb 12 01:56:58 MET 1999

Paul Godfrey

One more shot just for old time...Serge mentions the Band Time Cover. Noted this week the 45th Anniversary of Harry Rosen Toronto clothier. Does my memory serve me correctly that in 70 his store front windows were filled top to bottom with the Band Time Cover? shine on

Fri Feb 12 01:51:47 MET 1999

Paul Godfrey

Hi John....Mitt re: how you say Levon. When in Arkansas sometimes its Laaaavon! In fact many of Levon's kin commented on how charmingly we said Levon's name especially with our Canadian accent? Shine On

Thu Feb 11 23:36:51 MET 1999

MattK

Hmmmm, comparing Robbie to Aerosmith? This bashing thing is outta control, man--that's just plain silly.

Thu Feb 11 22:48:15 MET 1999

Serge

Donald J: Just fot YOU, I am about to do an OCR scan of the January 12, 1970 TIME Magazine article on the Band. I feel generous today. Look for it soon.

Thu Feb 11 22:45:08 MET 1999

Peter Viney

Little Brother: I enjoy your posts. Hidecki Watanebe’s site on The Band (accessible from here) has a “Who plays what?” section for the official tracks. I don’t always agree with Hidecki’s decisions, but he has researched it carefully. I listed what I could on my “Moondog Matinee” article here and in some of the song articles, though there was some controversy and discussion about what Rick and Richard sang. Like the lyrics to the first three albums, even the most avid listeners are apt to disagree on some details, but Hidecki’s list is at least an excellent starting point for discussion. Both Helm and Hoskyns give the odd piece of information. In the end, the choices aren’t as clear-cut as some suggest. As RR says “this is slippery”. Jan has kept us well up to date on bootlegs (a section is on the site). As long as people keep posting what they find, this site will remain the ultimate source.

The ethics of bootlegs are discussed at length in Clinton Heylin’s “Great White Wonder” book. In the end, no one is likely to buy a bootleg until they own every official release by the artist. Zappa found bootlegs he liked and simply copied them and issued them as official albums. McCartney rushed out official albums of live stuff in advance of the bootleggers. I think The Band could use Woodstock Records to make stuff available and profit by doing so. They could do short one-off runs, and a lot of us would get everything they cared to issue. Talking of bootlegs (and the spelling / sound of Levon’s given name), “Live in Washinton DC” (sic) which is the King Biscuit broadcast (or rather one of them) lists “Le Von Helm” on “vocals, guitars” and Richard Manuel on “Durms (sic); keyboards; vocals”. One of the tracks is “Teaps (sic) Of Rage”. Worse has happened on official laser disc releases though.

Thu Feb 11 22:28:23 MET 1999

Mitt Stampler

Well said, Uncle: Older and wiser.

Thu Feb 11 22:23:26 MET 1999

Diamond Lil

Hey Uncle Hangover...I'll drink to that!

Thu Feb 11 22:14:54 MET 1999

Uncle Hangover

Donabie is right. Our "boys" are approaching 60, and still "fans" are disappointed because _Jubilation_ does not sound like MFBP and they don't look like they did in TLW. I'd be more worried if they did. Let Aerosmith and Robbie and those posers do their no-grey-hair heavy-make-up overdubbed-to-death i-am-so-cool-and-techno airbrushed-photos thing. The Band is about something else. Look at the photo of the three original members on Jubilation. Listen to Levon on "Don't Wait". Hear Garth's soul on "French Girls". Or how Danko blends with John Hiatt in _honest_ heartfelt music. Music, godammit! That's what it's about.

Thu Feb 11 21:22:00 MET 1999

JD

That would be neighbor. Jan let's get a spell check going. Only kidding.

Thu Feb 11 21:20:34 MET 1999

DONABIE

ONE LAST POST TODAY...Love the new Fleming pieces. Ed Bickert is my neightbor. I'll have to tell him about this.

Thu Feb 11 21:13:12 MET 1999

John Donabie

Ya know...I'm really getting tired of the politically correct folks in here taking shots. If I read one more comment about how tall Levon is or isn't or how heavy Rick is....

If Rick Danko wants a Big Mac thats his business. If someone else wants to smoke or drink..that's their business. David Powell put it best in an earlier post about seperating the music from the artist. For some that seems impossible. Even the Beach Boys couldn't keep that Endless Summer going forever. People change and get older..and yes put on weight and develop health problems. It's called the "real world."

It has nothing to do with what brings people here..."THE MUSIC."

Thu Feb 11 21:04:46 MET 1999

Mitt Stampler

Mr. Donabie: Arggh! Thanks for pointing that out. My brain was spelling phonetically, I guess. The entire contingent of zombies here suffers from bad headaches which can only be avoided by constantly drinking coffee or soda--I'm on my 18th cup since 7 am. Which has its consequences...but go figure.

Thu Feb 11 21:00:28 MET 1999

John Donabie

MITT...

You should know that the spelling of Levon's name is Levon...not LeVon. For most of his life it was pronounced Levon. It has only been the last few years he has verbally called himself Le-von. Don't know why.

Thu Feb 11 19:55:39 MET 1999

Little Brother

What a difference a couple of weeks make-- odd how the first few times you scope this site it seems like there's a close-knit circle of folks who just want to talk to each other-- then you keep on putting in two (thousand) cents and suddenly you mystically feel like you're not just an outsider scuffling to be heard! Nice...

Speaking of the music: Is there anywhere a reliable track-by-track breakdown of who plays what? It's easy enough to loftily say: Yeah, dummy, they're called YOUR EARS! But even though I'm generally not stupid, have some demonstrable musical talent, and have tried hard, I can't quite figure it all out with 100% reliability. I'm even more curious about albums like "Moondog Matinee", where guest performers were involved. There are scattered references to tracks with Billy Mundi on drums, but no systematic breakdown I've ever seen

Are there others like me who drool over those who have access to master tapes, etc? I'm thinking of Hoskyns and even John Simon and the boys on that "Making of 'The Band'" video. Not to veer back into the "accountant" issues, but I for one would grab up any "Anthology"-style out-takes or extras the Band would put out. Even the unreleased "Basement Tapes" are tantalizing. Not to mention the unreleased live tracks from Watkins Glen, and the incredible "Rock of Ages" encores-- featuring Bob Dylan, if my memory serves me well. Are bootlegs of all of the above available? Is that another endless highway of ethical perils? The questions are NOT rhetorical...

Thu Feb 11 19:25:04 MET 1999

Mitt Stampler

Donald Joseph: leaving aside the "knuckledhead" comments, I think you and the gentleman from Aberdeen were correct in saying (more or less) that you can't separate the men from the music. While I'm not too interested in some aspects (as I read in another posting, I just couldn't bear to bring Rick down in my kids' eyes by telling them he eats at McD's, and I don't care how many Beanie Baby promotions they have), I think an important thing to remember about the whole LeVon/Robbie split is that the Band--or mostly LeVon Helm--started it and continues to press it, which I'd say makes it perfectly appropriate for public discussion. It does have ramifications for discussing the music. I forget who it was (Elvis Costello? but the memory's going)but someone in Barney Hoskyns' book remarked that considering what the members produced solo, it makes you wonder just how much of their truly great material was a collaborative effort. My own two kopeks: I work in software, where much of the product design is team-oriented and collaborative. I can say this with a certain amount of authority: in any collaborative situation, even if one person takes the lead in design, writing, marketing, etc., he still draws on the energy and ideas of the others in the group. He has to: the final product has to be acceptable to everyone or it doesn't go past R&D. And, of course, there have been many nasty disputes among folks who felt they weren't given enough, or any, credit for the products they helped design. It's true, as Little Bro says, that not having been there we can't know the truth, but I have a sneaking suspicion that there are posters who just might have a pretty good idea. I know there are folks who don't think gossip/speculattion belongs here, but I think everything I hear about the members, the fights, the group dynamics, etc, makes me appreciate and "understand" the music more, not less. (I'm thinking how much I'd have missed if I didn't know that Dylan's "Landlord" was Albert Grossman.)

One thing I have to say I love are the stories--I posted this once before in reference to a post of Catbalu's, but I really enjoy "the telling of the tale." I'm not sure how many other folks in here were 5 at the time of the Last Waltz, but I'd love to hear more from the people who were there, the folks who ran the t-shirt concessions at Woodstock, the people who, when they read books set in the 60s and 70s, nod their heads instead of having to call home and ask their parents what the hell patchouli oil was. I'm thinking of the recent post from the fellow who was driving late at night and listening to the brown album--I thought as I read it: "I've listened to that before, but never like that." Mostly I love hearing from the ones who were there because, as I've mentioned before, my dad was one of your fellow-travelers. I spent most of my teenage years pretending to be Republican, rolling my eyes whenever he mentioned Bob Dylan, saying things like "Hark! I think I hear the flower children calling!" whenever he broke out with some tale about Vietnam bull sessions in the dorms, and listening to music that could have been the soundtrack to a Keanu Reeves movie (so, Mr. Landau, there's hope for your kids.) You probably know the rest of the story: I married a folk musician from Illinois, gained an appreciation for all the music my dad loved (except for Melanie--some scars just don't heal.) Sadly, my dad got cancer and is now only rarely in the mood to tell me to sit right back and hear a tale--but I've come to love hanging out at this guestbook. Not only does it fill in for me all the stories I only half-listened to, but it gives me something to chat about whenever I call home. So y'all keep posting and telling the tales, I don't care what they're about, or how irrelevant they seem.

PS--My dad is pretty stable these days and checks in here every now and again to read the articles, though he did express some concern about "the guy whose kids left him on New Years--I mean, I don't know who the Fish are, are they any relation to Country Joe?"

Thu Feb 11 18:47:34 MET 1999

Danny Lopez

Just got the rarity 5 cd set the Genuine Basement Tapes. If you're interested, the site below has two more copies. This is a credible business -- real people on the phone (although the woman I spoke to was a bit surly, but that could be the Great Divide between Iowa and NYC).

http://www.midnightrecords.com/

One note of interest for the experts, this is a Wild Wolf production, whereas everything on this and Hewells' Bringing It All Back Home site indicates it's Scorpio. But they're real cds, i.e., silver with printed labels.

Thu Feb 11 18:15:37 MET 1999

Mike

I realy had to laugh when I read Donald Joseph's post today. Who else could start off with "genuine respect for...I respect your right to your opinion..." and end up chacterizing those same people with words like "knucklehead...repititive blathering...thought police"? Sounds like it's getting a little crowded up there Don. Take a walk, listen to some good music, love your fellow posters. Remember-it's about the music.

Thu Feb 11 17:41:37 MET 1999

David Powell

The public man, in his music, creates works of art worthy of our admiration. The private man, in his behavior, reminds us that he's only human, like the rest of us, deserving of our sympathy & understanding. Knowing the difference is the key to awareness.

Thu Feb 11 16:28:27 MET 1999

Martin

Dredging up the (non) basement tracks by the band issue once again, it seems to be the consenesus from various articles/sources that it was 'Robertson' who was responsible for the slight of hand regarding overdubbing of certain tracks and inclusion of non basement demos. However the fact remains that unless he overdubbed all the parts himself(not likely) then he must have had the cooperation of at least one of his fellow band members. Take for instance Orange Juice Blues, the original demo of which is identical to the Official Album version save for the presence of drums saxophone and guitar. The saxophone was undoubtedly overdubbed by Garth, and to me it sounds to me like none other than Levon on drums. Of the Dylan tracks, Odds and ends has a piano overdub, by Richard or Garth presumably, and the drums on Too much of nothing sound rather like Levon's too. In all fairness the tracks sound all the better for the overdubs which greatly enhance the original versions on the Genuine Basements, but the point is that Robbie must have had the cooperation of the others while doctoring the supposedly unaltered 1967 tracks. With all the conflicting evidence as to the origin of these tracks it is still unclear where or when each was recorded, and it seems that only the emergence of further unreleased material from the era and/or a Robbie Robertson biography revealing all, will ever settle the issue.

Thu Feb 11 09:43:55 MET 1999

Peter Viney

Postscript: One result of playing "God Save the Queen" was an unseemly rush in the cinema as soon as it became obvious that a film had got towards the end of its last scene. You had to get to the exit before the end, because once the tune started everyone would be expected to freeze where they were. I remember being hit round the ear by a stranger for continuing to move at this point when I was a teenager. Even today, I have to make a conscious effort to sit and watch the credits.

Thu Feb 11 09:38:34 MET 1999

Peter Viney:

Jonathan Katz on Live 66: In 1966 every cinema and theatrical performance in Britain ended with "God Save the Queen" played over the house PA. In the late 50s the whole audience stood up and stood still for this. Bu the mid 1960s there was conflict as some people walked out while others stood still and the practice was abandoned. As British reviews noted, that is the Free Trade Hall PA system playing the tune after "Rolling Stone".

Thu Feb 11 07:18:33 MET 1999

Donald Joseph

Little Bro. & MattK -- your insightful additions to this page are fantastic! Keep on Loggin'

I was especially intrigued by the comment (Little Bro's -- ?) noting that Levon's history as temper-tantrum-man links from the '66 tour links to his contemporary opinionated position against Robbie.

I'd always believed the line that Levon quit the '66 tour because he'd been the original Band leader, as the longest-tenured Hawk -- he came to Toronto w/Ronnie, making him an eminence gris as compared to the 4 Canucks. The line I'd heard was Helm resented Zimmie stepping in & calling the shots, so he took his drumsticks & went home (or at least to an oil rig or to a New Orleans restaurant, depending on the version you believe).

Now if we accept that Levon fancied himself the Band's frontman since their break with Ronnie, this leads to a conclusion that young-buck Robbie's quick rise to prominence never sat well our lead-singing percussionist. I've heard that after Brown, when the Boys ascended the mountain & started giving interviews, RR elbowed his way into most contacts with the press. The way I heard it, ultimately The Band more-or-less formally appointed RR as the spokesman, & the others stopped talking to the press -- & they say by that time the press had no interest in talking to anyone besides Robbie!

Mustn't this have frosted Levon's cookies? But did he contemporaneously bitch?

I've never read the Time mag. cover story (circa '70, no?). Why doesn't one of you send it to Jan & see if he'll post it? That might tell us a lot, if we read between the lines, on how Robbie was being held out at the time. A Time cover is a PR milestone: Did Grossman hold our Robbie as the leader, or do the boys come off relatively equally?

I wonder why Levon sat by quietly during the '70's & let RR be adored as the Band's brains & leader? If Levon's thirst for leadership motivated both his '66 walk-out & his current anti-Robbie feelings, why'd he sublimate this side of himself during the period of the Band's greatest popularity, the early '70's?

New topic: With genuine respect for the recent post imploring us to stick to the music & not gossip/speculation: Pls. understand that some of us (myself included) actually PREFER posts on gossip/speculation over posts on the music. Seriously. (I know it's politically incorrect to admit this.)

I, for one, would rather listen to the Boys off-line on my CD player using my ears than read one of you guys tell me how much you like listening to them. The gossip/speculation shared here, at least, can NOT be gleaned from the albums. What do I learn from some knucklehead telling me "The Weight" is a great song, Levon's drums make him cry (duh!), or that Joan Baez's cover of "Dixie" is flawed? (I except critical analyses of the music, a la Viney's articles.)

I respect your right to your opinion, but you why can't you respect my right to mine? This guestbook is big enough both for substantive rock criticism (what I prefer) AND for what you prefer: Repetitive blathering hommages to songs we already know by heart.

So pls. lay off, Thought Police!

Thu Feb 11 06:03:51 MET 1999

KEVIN

I HOPE EVERYBODY IS WELL AND THE NEWYEAR IS GOOD TO US ALL. I WAS AT THE LAST GRATEFUL DEAD SHOW AT SOLDIER FIELD .THE LAST SHOW FOR GARCIA...THE BAND OPENED UP THE SHOW...IT WAS WONDERFUL!!!!! I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ON STAGE DURING THE BANDS SET . I HAVE PHOTOS OF BOTH BANDS AND WOULD LOVE TO TRADE FOR TAPE OF THE MUSIC (I THINK IT WAS SUNDAY,1995 ????) P.S. WHEN ARE THE BOYS COMING BACK TO VISIT THE WINDY CITY??????????

Thu Feb 11 03:48:48 MET 1999

Kevin Gilbertson

Big Pink on 180 Gram Vinyl!

In the latest Goldmine (Feb 26th issue) on page 2, a company called 'Music Machine' is taking orders for a new 180 Gram Vinyl pressing of Big Pink.

Claims to be available on 03/29. Price is 27.00 (US)

I'm sure other vendors will have it also. Here's the website & Email address from the ad:

www.musicmachine.com

musicmac@aol.com

I don't know anything about the company.

Goldmine is a collectors record/cd publication.

Thu Feb 11 02:02:11 MET 1999

ed gambacini

Lovve the band, especially the new material on Jubilation. No current band comes close to maintaining their musical legacy and it is important for them to continue their musical tradition.

Thu Feb 11 01:52:15 MET 1999

Tim(SUNDOG)Corcoran.

Jan, now thats a nice pic of you on your home page! ZAPPA FANS, Jimmy Carl Black did an album called "GERONIMO BLACK" now on ONE WAY RECORDS 1 PROSPECT AV. ALBANY NY 12206-0429 (MCAD-22114) Theres a song on the CD called "An American National Anthem". Its a song about the Native American Indians, and its song and wrote by Jimmy and Philip Moreno, I highly think you should order a copy... Heres how it goes, and the bare truth of it... Let me touch you with a smile my friends, Won't you listen to my music, Set in a certain smile, Does it put you in a phase? Of certain turning thoughts... Of happiness in such, That ain't asking for to much, On our reservation. Wind blowing in my face, Me thinking of a people's pace, ya, Set in a rule of thought, Somehow bought in a country store. Bought by the colored white man, Of Indian stolen land, Set aside in a desert land, ya,ya,ya... On a reservation. Indian land is stolen, 52 MILLION dead, Each one's head is scalped by a trick taught by white man hunters, Coming over (our)the land, Indian truth set aside, it was hid in a history book, never read by a white mans child... Who wore a smile, at the sight of the calvery, coming over the hill, To our reservation, On our our reservation...(J.C.B.)1972.

Thu Feb 11 00:50:34 MET 1999

Richard

I'm sending this on behalf of my son Richard, who is eight. He is a big fan of the music of The Band. I'm sure he would like to hear from people who feel the same. He has a big interest in the group members individually, so I'm sure he'd appreciate anything about what they do, where they live etc...thanks.

Thu Feb 11 00:05:19 MET 1999

JACK BUGS MORAN

NEED INFORMATION ON DAVID BROOMBERG BANDCONCERT DATES BUGS MORAN

Wed Feb 10 23:38:22 MET 1999

Jonathan Katz

Just listened to BD "Live 1966." Does anyone else hear on their copy after LARS a few bars of "God Save The Queen" [or "My Country Tis of Thee" for those of us in the States]? What's that all about???

Wed Feb 10 23:32:22 MET 1999

Jonathan Katz

I have to chime in with my 2 cents on Zappa. "Hot Rats" is a great album, and "Peaches" is not the only song that makes it so. And his orchestral music is really worth listening to [though I'm not sure its in the league with those that inspired him]. But - have any of you listened to what was done to it for the reissue of "Hot Rats?" FZ took great liberties with what was a fantastic album. He did that with other albums too. They just don't do for me as reissues what they originally did.

Wed Feb 10 22:49:58 MET 1999

Steve

Just got the Dixie Chicks album "Wide Open Spaces." Obligatory Band content: Is the Bobby Charles, Jr. who plays bass on one song on this album the son of the Bobby Charles? Also, just ordered the Classic Albums videotape and Jesse Winchester's first album. Looking forward to them.

Wed Feb 10 22:46:23 MET 1999

Mike

I've recently been struck by the strange confluence of the posts here about Robbie vs Levon and the nonsense in the Senate. In both cases it is so clear how much easier it is to talk about people and their relationships than to think about ideas that matter. The Band was about music. Five, now six people coming together to create music that was always meaningful, lasting and fun. Many of the recent posts would perhaps be of more interest to accountants than to music lovers. Cat and Illka and Lil and Sundog and a few others- thanks for continuing to focus on the music. I'd rather hear about how the Band affects, disturbs, or lifts up people than to talk about the ramifications of Niel Diamond's eyebrow motions. I love the Band as much as the next fanatic here- and I thank all who share their love and experiences with the music. Music! Maestros, Please!

Wed Feb 10 21:48:00 MET 1999

Little Brother

I think Robbie's comments about trying to keep Richard's songwriting pump primed are in Hoskyn's "Across The Great Divide"; the pure sorrow of Richard's decline and end is the Band tragedy that overpowers the angry keloid-scar issues of sharing the artistic/financial harvest. Maybe it's just the bias of a once-and-future cannabis devotee, but alcohol seems to belong with PCP and crack as a true soul-solvent. I'm not sure if that was the controlling demon when he decided to check out, but I remember at least one of the precious few live shows I attended where he needed help with lyrics.

[Insert deity here] rest his noble soul!

Anyway, I agree that it seems perfectly likely that Robbie worked harder than we'll know at keeping the pilot lights lit; that's why one should demonize with care. It's still possible to wonder if he was less than charitable once he'd come to feel that the synergy that brought the group through the past decade was dissipated beyond recharging.

This endless "dwelling" doubtless drives those who aren't obsessed crazy! Sorry about that. It made me wonder why, as a Beatle fan, I somehow outgrew or lost interest in frenzied agonies about Why the Fab Four Broke Up. And you know, I think knowing that the Fab Three are AT LEAST filthy rich sort of quiets the worry. Which is a backhanded way of saying what others here have: That indications of ex-Band members suffering or sinking or generally LACKING in material/financial comforts keep the old scars itching. To paraphrase Krusty the Klown: We obsess! We obsess because we CARE!

Wed Feb 10 21:01:37 MET 1999

Martin Molloy

Having never heard any Band music 12 months ago, I have now bought virtually the lot. 'Souvenir' landed on my doorstep this morning - brilliant! Just for the record, 'Dixie' and 'The Weight' off The Last Waltz are the two greatest performances of any songs I have ever heard.

Wed Feb 10 20:23:20 MET 1999

Swizzler

Little Brother: There is certainly nothing flat or pretentious about our man Garth! We can all be inspired by his soul, so generously shared in his finely crafted accompaniment and ingenious improvisations. Let's all hope he does us the honor of releasing a solo CD. A-men!

Wed Feb 10 19:57:16 MET 1999

Danny Lopez

We go round and round on the composition-royalties. One thing I've never seen anyone mention is Robertson's comments to the effect that he worked and worked with Richard but couldn't get him to put pen to paper after the 2nd album. Robbie opined that some people have a plethora of songs in them, and others have only a few. Apparently, he concluded Richard belonged to the latter category. I'm trying to recall where I read or heard this -- I'm thinking on the Classic Albums video, but my headcold has temporarily impaired my memory. Nonetheless, if Robbie is telling the truth, this would seem to be a partial vindication of his monopoly on songwriting credits. Since I wasn't there, I don't know about the veracity of his claim. But knowing several substance abusers in my life does indicate it's hard to get someone off their duff when they're in the throes of their addiction.

Wed Feb 10 19:53:15 MET 1999

David Powell

The Grammy Awards presentations will be televised on Feb. 24th; several Band cohorts have been nominated.

John Hiatt's "Have A Little Faith In Me" received nominations for Best Rock Song and Best Male Rock Performance. A re-worked version of this song was included in _The Best of John Hiatt_, released last year.

A version of Bob Dylan's "To Make You Feel My Love", recorded by Garth Brooks, received two nominations, Best Male Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song (a songwriter's award). The song was included on both _The Limited Series_ Garth Brooks box set and the soundtrack for the motion picture _Hope Floats_.

John Hammond's _Long As I Have You_ was nominated in the Best Traditional Blues Album category.

The Van Morrison & the Chieftans version of "Shenandoah", a track from the album _Long Journey Home_, was nominated for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.

Eric Capton's _Pilgrim_ was nominated for Best Pop Album, and the track "My Father's Eyes" from that album received a nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.

Robbie Robertson's _Contact From The Underworld of Red Boy_ received a nomination for Best World Music Album. It was also nominated in the Best Engineered Album (non classical) category, an award presumably shared among the thirteen (!) engineers who worked on the album with Robertson.

Wed Feb 10 18:56:46 MET 1999

Little Brother

Royalties, Diamond Lil? Have you learned nothing? If you check the fine print, it'll probably turn out that that nefarious Robertson owns all the content of this site!

Maryland Matt K, your 2/9 comments on the Band's "family dysfunction" are right on target! Regardless of whether veteran Band fans can get past the disintegrations for which "The Last Waltz" was cause and effect, it jes' ain't likely we'll ever really know. People seem to be grasshoppers or ants by nature; to echo Matt, Levon's own stories suggest he preferred to hop as the spirit took him. It may well be that Robbie's seemingly-sinister machinations were the methodical step-by-step chores of an ant programmed to worry about winter. Again, it's unlikely some Bland Inquisitor will emerge with Sweeping Investigatory Powers to bring The Truth forth.

Speaking of Garth, that man has ALWAYS been a true enigma-- as a newbie to this site, I haven't come across any tasty Insider nuggets about him. The books suggest he's truly far-out, and not beyond partying hearty-- yet somehow more centered and stable than his mates. I have an abiding curiosity about how he personally made out through all of the sturm & drang. But with Garth, what you hear is what you get. I'm just sorry the one "solo" musical work attributed to him isn't available. Unlike Robbie, who's post-Band work has been disappointingly flat or pretentious, ol' Garth seems to project a gravitas that's really appealing. But how I do go on...

Wed Feb 10 18:28:43 MET 1999

MattK

Yes, Frank was my first case of blind, worshipful loyalty in the rock and roll genre. Actually, the thing I loved about Frank is (in a way) the same thing I love about the band--a willingness to pull influences from an insane breadth of musical styles as well as other art forms. Frank wears his sociology and politics on his sleeve in a way The Band never did (The Band seemed to be digging at a deeper, more archetypal connection).

Obviously, the BIG difference is The Band was a true band with a functional composer (at least until 1976) who needed to go through the machinations of a more inclusive ensemble. Frank was an out-and-out composer who simply surrounded himself with the best musicians to get the job done--a far more mercenary endeavor.

I guarantee you that few serious Zappa-heads debate whether the Mothers was Frank's band or not. It was his band and he hired and fired as he saw fit. I doubt Frank ever went to anyone (Aynsley Dunbar to Vinnie Caliuta) on personell decisions.

cheers

matt

Wed Feb 10 16:45:00 MET 1999

Stephen Novik

Aarrghh! What a nightmare! Steve Thomas, Norm Abrahm, and the whole "This Old House" crew snooping about in West Saugerties!!!

Wed Feb 10 15:47:59 MET 1999

Richard

Rod from New Zealand: If you're still looking for the article in which Rick mentions the CD reissues as a financial windfall, I remember him saying as much in an interview in Musician magazine right around the time "Jericho" came out.

Wed Feb 10 13:20:58 MET 1999

Jan H.

Zappa was (and still is) one of my heroes, too. Saw him several times here in Norway from 1973 and up until his last European tour. Always absolutely brilliant on stage, funny, a fantastic guitarist, a good singer, and with an incredible control over his various bands, packed with talented musicians. Deeply missed.

Wed Feb 10 13:09:09 MET 1999

Ragtime

HBOGAEV ?) & PETER:

Thanks for reminding me of Peaches En Regalia. Still wondering what a Garth Hudson would have made of that one. This is the only Mothers-Band relation I can think of. No need to knock Zappa: one of the greatest IMHO. Even worked with Boulez who is very very choosy... Only thing: I'm hearing little voices again singing Tears Began To Fall Wha-Wha-Wha-Wha-Wha...:-)

Who wrote You Say You Love Me? Richard?

Wed Feb 10 12:38:44 MET 1999

Diamond Lil (again)

To my favorite wine drinking soccer fan: Love you..and thanks :-)

Wed Feb 10 11:18:02 MET 1999

Diamond Lil

llkka: Wow...I love it! Thanks for the morning smile :-) I feel honored to be mentioned in the Guestbook Blues. Does this mean I get some kind of royalties? :-)

Wed Feb 10 10:23:39 MET 1999

Ragtime

Woke up this mornin'

Feelin'the blues

A hangover, no warnin'.

I put on my shoes

Didn't wait long

To check the guestbook

Can't be wrong

To find a new song

From stepping boots

Walkin' Norwegian woods

Guess who's the poet

The Rabbit Man, you know it

CHORUS:

Ring ring

I've gotta sing

Ring my bell

Ilkka son, you're doing very well

Wed Feb 10 10:07:13 MET 1999

Call me Muddy Waters

Wow. This site is the best. Long live The Band.

Wed Feb 10 09:26:29 MET 1999

Ilkka

Ladies and gentlemen...want to sing this blues I wrote the other night.
I was stuck in a huge long queue in 7eleven ...my baby wasn't around ...I was feelin' kind-a rough ...the ol' lady behind me dropped a frozen chicken onto my toes and the young vegan girl took my hot dog ...made it to a sailor's knot ...yeah man, the blues can hit you hard sometimes.
Anyway the song is called THE GUESTBOOK BLUES ...gonna do it for you now ...gonna blow some tunes from my harmonica too...
Ladies and gentlemen ...it goes something like this...

Woke up this morning (chucka-choochoo-chuh-chuh)
Got logged in to that host (chucka-choochoo-chuh-chuh)
And while eatin' my toast (chucka-choochoo-chuh-chuh)
I was checkin' some post (chucka-choochoo-chuh-chuh)
From that warm-hearted Lil (chucka-wee-o-we-ee)
Who takes away all the chill (chucka-wee-o-we-ee)
From that Madison boy (chucka-choochoo-chuh-chuh)
Who gives me a great joy (chucka-choochoo-chuh-chuh)
And I ain't a-gonna lose (wee-o-we-ee)
This GUESTBOOK BLUES (chucka-choochoo-chuh-chuh)

Thanks to that man (chucka-choochoo-chuh-chuh)
Called Webmaster Jan (chucka-choochoo-chuh-chuh)
Keep your computers a-hummin'! (chucka-choochoo-chuh-chuh)
Keep this whole mess a-runnin'!
'Cause I must send that post (chucka-wee-o-wee-ee)
Via Norwegian coast (chucka-wee-o-we-ee)
To Ragtime on his bike (chucka-choochoo-chuh-chuh)
To Georgia Dave and to Mike (chucka-choochoo-chuh-chuh)
And I ain't a-gonna lose (wee-o-wee-ee)
This GUESTBOOK BLUES (chucka-choochoo-oo-oohhh)

Thank you ladies and gentlemen ...thank you ...than you

Wed Feb 10 05:38:03 MET 1999

D Pepper

Turkey Point Productions has been replaced by Woodstock Records! You can purchase the same CD's through Woodstock Records (probably at a better price too). All is well! Isn't that right, Louie! Just keep spreading the music!

Wed Feb 10 05:07:46 MET 1999

In The Know

Truman Capote was about 5 foot 1 or 2. Tops.

Wed Feb 10 04:07:53 MET 1999

Bumbles

PETER VINEY: Levon's height was the subject of spirited discussion here a month or two ago. Informed estimates placed it between 5'6" and 6'2". I can only add that he towered--towered--over Truman Capote.

Wed Feb 10 03:25:44 MET 1999

Jack

Wed Feb 10 02:01:39 MET 1999

Paul Godfrey

Well Folks its great to be back here at the Garden Party. Could have been Lil mentioned something about the Bargain Bins. Before Christmas I noticed a section of CD's at the local HMV with the Band, Joni Mitchell, Jimmy Buffett, Robbie Robertson and Neil Diamond all selling for $8.99. Best bargain I ever saw. Great to hear "The Weight" in the 60's TV mini-series and of course the same song was heard not all that long ago on Party of 5. (two parts Canadian Content that night) Lee Gabites...really enjoyed the two issues of JAWBONE. Ronnie Hawkins was right when he said: "There's this cat in England that knows more about Ronnie Hawkins and the Band...then Ronnie Hawkins and the Band. Shine On!

Tue Feb 9 23:41:16 MET 1999

Twilight

As I was listening to Big Pink last night, I opened up the CD booklet and looked at what might be the first picture the general public ever saw of The Band. Rick, the voice, the heart, a pretty hard party waiting to happen. Levon - tough, no nonsense, looking for a place to play. Garth - the finest musician to ever catch the rock & roll bug. Robbie - creativity, company man, direction in mind. And finally - there's Richard. The soul, the writer, the conduit. With all that's been said - these five are "The Band". Robbie makes it clear in the Last Waltz that he was done. (Goodnight.....Goodbye,It's the Last Waltz, the last waltz we're through. Most of all - the party is not over. It's all still there, just as it always was and always will be. These guys gave us an incredible, insightful body of work that has the depth and sincerity of the world's greatest art. We really only know a fraction of what went on. I just smile when i hear "We Can Talk". That song says it all. Every time I hit this page - I take a deep breath and look at those paintings. There's Richard, beautiful Richard, right in the middle, looking to the sky. With Levon and Robbie flanking him - I see that he's the bridge. As long as Richard's in the middle, those five men will always be their wonderful, individual selves, and together, they will be "The Band".

Carrie

Tue Feb 9 22:33:59 MET 1999

Matt K

Regarding the Robbie as city slicker ripping off the poor, unsuspecting Band members...

I find it fascinating that fans of The Band are so hell bent on riding the differences that have erupted in the band over the last 30 years. Seems to me that this is a whole lot of speculation with little to back it up, save the vitriole of one member (Levon, whose behavior over the course of The Band's history could be described as often emotional to the point of self-denial--like quitting the Dylan band 'cause he didn't like getting booed).

Personally, my sense is that we really don't know much of anything, and Levon's rants should be taken with great caution. There seems to be little in the way of corroborating testimony or evidence (Danko seems to hint broadly at some things, but isn't his memory of the 1970s a bit suspect given his heroin problem?).

Really, the only other people who could clarify this would be Garth, who has said nothing, Richard, who never did, and RR himself. MY gut reaction (and I emphasize gut as I'm guessing like everyone else) is to give RR some sympathy as he's been very consistent in his refusal to comment on any of this--which could be interepreted I suppose as a sign of "he knows he's guilty," but I prefer to see it as a noble refusal to sully things further.

Bottom line, for me at least, is we get peeks into a family's (The Band) disfunction. And like our neighbors or even friends, we can generally only guess at their motivations. What we don't see, or interpret based on incomplete testimony is highly dubious, and ultimately unproductive.

This is a group of people who loved/love each other. And whether or not subsequent work (by the Band, RR or other solo projects) measures up to the original ensemble is kinda moot. Music is, by it's nature, an ephemeral beast. The anger and resentment shared in subsequent years really lends or takes away anything from what we get out of The Band prior 1976. It's fascinating theater, but I think for fans to base their musical opinions, one way or the other, on the inter-personal dramas enfolding in relationships we'll never understand, is a bit silly. Also, regarding the Zappa correllary. Another, possible parallel is Zappa's own decision to stop touring in 1988 and devote himself to composition. After 35 years on the road, FZ was sick of the personal toll and frustration of keeping a band together, reherearsing new material, and maintaining artistic relevance. To me, this echos exactly RR's statements in TLW and subsequent interviews. He got sick of the non-musical crap, he felt like performing was interfering with the group's artistic statement, and he wanted to go home and be a dad and husband. Financial rumors not withstanding, I for one, can very much see his point. Cheers matt

Tue Feb 9 21:33:59 MET 1999

Little Brother

Levon's height? Feels so tall, like a prison wall.

Tue Feb 9 21:24:52 MET 1999

Peter Viney

Postscript: Anyone inclined to knock Zappa should listen to (1) Peaches en Regalia (2) Joe's Garage (single version) and (3) Flakes (from Sheikh Yerbouti). But can anyone think of stronger links to The Band than the recent Jimmy Buffett ones?

Tue Feb 9 21:16:33 MET 1999

Peter Viney

Hbogaev: I posted the original Uncle Meat transcript. I think what we were comparing was the conflict of interest in a band between the players and the main composer. The main composer benefits more from royalties, and will have less direct interest in touring. The guys in the band make a higher percentage of their income from concerts. In the section I transcribed, Zappa seemed to want 3 or 4 weeks off for studio work, which kept the other guys from earning. The parallel with TLW is clear enough to me- the residuals and back catalogue royalties would cushion RR for a lot longer than it would the others. He would have been wealthier without having to rip the others off. Otherwise I can’t think of too many Band-Mothers of Invention parallels. No doubt others will.

Bumbles: Levon’s height. Metric or Imperial?

Tue Feb 9 20:45:50 MET 1999

Bumbles

LITTLE BROTHER: You're right--I think Robbie ripped off the other guys, too. How tall do you think Levon is?

Tue Feb 9 20:29:27 MET 1999

Cousin Lori

While on the subject of eyebrows, I'd like to get ahold of Marty S. with a good pair of tweezers!!!

Tue Feb 9 19:38:08 MET 1999

Little Brother

After racing through a cluster of notes referencing the Wilonsky article/interview about Levon, I had to check it out. I found it predictably sad & disturbing, BUT:

My word for the day is E-pis-tem-o-LOG-i-cal, as in hopeless circular knots of. There are the ancient ones, like becoming particularly attached to The Band during one's teens, and buying into the inevitable fantasy that somehow you really KNOW these guys in a personal, familiar way. I mean, you remind yourself that "knowing" them through their music, and goddamn PICTURES, and seeing them as microscopic figures from far away on the floor of the Spectrum, and much later in "The Last Waltz", isn't really knowing them at all.

But it is, it is-- when I read Levon's folksy intro in "This Wheel's On Fire", I was THERE-- "there" being sitting with him by his stone hearth, smoking that joint. (I don't care for beer, thanks.) Some fans experience AWE, as in these - guys - are - beyond - human - if - I - met - them - I'd - grovel - or - pass - out - they're - gods -- but to me The Band were like the Big Kids hanging on the corner, or maybe working on a car in someone's garage, with me as a Little Kid Big Kid wantabe sticking as close as I dared, soaking up and grooving on every nuance I could notice.

The question of who or what I think I "know" is compounded when I read an article like Wilonsky's. Can "Uncle" Lee be the Virgil Caine From Hell, splintered, smoldering, gnarled branch of Acadian Driftwood stylishly sketched by this writer? It seemed a little too pat-- Uncle Lee is by ALL accounts an authentic Son of the South, but this was a Faulknerian caricature.

It sort of meshes with the complementary "Robbie as slick urban urchin grown up to become carpetbagger" identity we've read about. And, again, it sort of resonates with those problematic notions one forms. Robbie DOES seem a bit of a slickster-- part genius-class guitarist/musician, part self-serving opportunist. But is this akin to "John's the Funny One, George is the Serious One, etc?" I started to poke around in this site library to see if Uncles Rick and Garth might have weighed in, but I didn't strike pay dirt after a few digs. Rick seems to be too friendly and fun and loose to "testify", and the only words I EVER find from Garth are either mystical utterances or modest comments on musical sources and interests. It's like they're telling us that they either really don't know the score, or it's none of our damn business. Which we must respect-- what choice have we got, we can't issue subpoenas.

Tell me, Insiders or Scavengers-- if you've gotten this far-- is there ANY reliable "testimony" on whether Robbie really made out like a bandit and/or whether the survivors were diddled out of any future earnings by sinister businessmen?

I was touched by someone's suggestion that a "benefit" be organized. It was way better than my hyper-fantasy of convening a bevy of lawyers and accountants, either impartial Band fans or hired guns-- a joint venture of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and, say, Dylan/Harrison/Clapton Megabucks-- to investigate and devise a plan to ensure secure wealth for all the "Uncles" and their kin...

Tue Feb 9 18:34:35 MET 1999

David Powell

Emmylou Harris' long-delayed, second collaboration with Linda Ronstadt & Dolly Parton, aptly titled _TRIO II_, is set for release today. Included on the album is a cover of Neil Young's "After The Goldrush." Steel guitarist Ben Keith, who was a guest musician on _Moondog Matinee_, plays on _TRIO II_. Emmylou, Linda & Dolly will appear on NBC's Tonight Show with Jay Leno tonight to promote the CD.

Also set for release is a DVD version of Eric Clapton's _24 Nights_ concert video (scheduled for a 3/9 release date).

Tue Feb 9 16:50:39 MET 1999

Freddy the Funk

To: "Don't Blow my Cover" As someone once told me "BOB!" I almost didn't kill you, YOU, almost killed you!" Ohhh those fast cars and dangerous curves.

Tue Feb 9 15:54:32 MET 1999

HBOGAEV

Tangential comments "sort of" related to the Band and comments by other folks in this guestbook: (1) Great Dr. John concert last Friday night - 2 1/2 hours of music with a 15 minute break - looks like the good doctor may have even lost a few pounds while on tour (2) To Charlie from Ole Virginny - I have a hard time comparing Frank Zappa's EXCESSIVE control over his band's musical output (down to writing out all the sheet music and to telling EVERY MEMBER OF THE GROUP exactly what SPECIFIC NOTES to play and sing at exactly what moment) to the long running controversy over who in The Band contributed to the words and music of the first four or five albums. (3) Rick Danko's show in January at Atomic Productions (Clinton, New Jersey, USA) was quite enjoyable, with musical contributions by Aaron, Randy, and Marie.

Tue Feb 9 09:10:44 MET 1999

Ragtime

Re "Beautiful Thing":

Richard cut two almost identical, simple & short versions, maybe not in the basement itself, but in the basement era anyway. Probably Rick worked it out into something more elaborate when they recorded "No Reason To Cry".

Tue Feb 9 08:55:56 MET 1999

Paul

Another special brown album moment: Driving home at 2:30 this morning. A clear night with a beautiful half moon. Car starts, unfaithful servant, get home...king harvest fades out. another beautiful moment. great page thank you, paul

Tue Feb 9 07:59:00 MET 1999

Rod

The new Levon compilation looks interesting. Some good songs, though I would have chosen Ophelia over Living in a Dream. I don't normally buy those sorts of compilations ( The Weight, The Shape I'm In etc) but will may an exception for this one.

The only Band CDs I've ever seen in a bargain bin are The Best of The Band and Storyville. I'm hoping Red Boy might show up one day.

I have just dug out a copy of 20th Century Guitar which has a cover article on Rick - an also an interview with Jim W. A few selected quotes:

(on It Makes No Difference)"Well Robbie kind of wrote those lyrics for me. And we worked on the music and phrasing together. I actually experimented with that one alot. I think I wound up singing it in the bathroom. It's one of those good songs that will be with me for the rest of my life".
(on Beautiful Thing, which he implies was written about the time of No Reason to Cry) "Richard was writing a song called Beautiful Thing and it was kind of negative and I came in and took half of it and wrote another very positive half and we put the two sides together and it worked out well"

what I was looking for, but couldn't find, was an article with Rick in which he claims that the CD re-release of their albums was a real bonus for them financially. So maybe they did get some money out of the first two albums.

Tue Feb 9 06:42:47 MET 1999

Somerset 96

Great Job On the Website.

Tue Feb 9 06:01:10 MET 1999

catbalu

Well, came in here just to see who all didn't know what to think.....Straight talk for those who gotta have it: i'm in here because i'm after jan...and i stayed because i like the diversity. you guys aren't boring and you can't make me angry..................................

P.Brennen - question was how to live with snakes and not kill them (not to get too cryptic - but kind of like the situation most artists deal with because they aren't bean counters - but who did they hand those beans to - and which way did they go.... i'm gonna kill em......) Just, y'know, came home to find another big snake hanging over my front door AGAIN and a pushy armidillo in the basement is all. I'm sure i'll figure it out (sticky boards: used inside the home to catch stray snakes - will crawl onto board, get stuck. just figured you'd know that) Imagine (and this all depends upon the power of a person's imagination) how it'd look to have a yard surrounded by these sticky boards and come home to find snakes eating the squirrels (or the weird lookin armidillo) that got stuck instead. Could get ugly. (Mothballs or sulfur along the fenceline were suggested as peaceable alternatives.)

WOLF, of course i'm on medication, i'm raising young hot-headed handsome southern sons of the next generation and we're also part cherokee. quite common makeup of people around Turkeytown (where the trail of tears began???...) also like putting a lasso on wildfire. and i tend to fall into the local REAL dialect because i can and you can't. (when a southern man talks i know exactly what he's saying and when he's really pissed, i know where he's going and when it's more than he can stand, just how far not to push him.) much easier than dealing with snakes. unfortunately, this medication doesn't provide a buzz, therefore entirely too much detail would be required to explain me to you further and i try to hurry through in here. so just ignore me, and know my vagueness is intentional.

Bumbles - multiple postings have made me the queen of the internet illiterati. ya'll aren't the only ones falling victim to my learning curve. very sorry for that. I'm tryin!

Beth and Diamond, thank you again, Ladies. Hope i haven't been too long-winded on the unnecessary snake issue. subject closed. just, y'know, when i smell a sad rumble brewing, want to change the direction, whatever it takes - felt jan might be getting indigestion. he, Ragtime, ikka and mike strike me as gentlemen (plain language!) and i enjoy their posts when they don't sound worried. you gals got the voice of reason handled very well......writers in here, my biz partner is a master of research and aristotelean (sp?) thought. i stay out of her way, she stays out of mine, together we do very well with the common ground being intolerance of greed & mutual respect as sisters of a generation. always enjoy good journalism, but man ya'll can be meaner than attorneys (favorite quote of a new intern years ago "Why did you stick me in the middle of this bitch sandwich???!!!!" she didn't last long.)............darkness in every corner of this world, never going to change. try to make a day good and back to the Band. i'm done rambling at you and close in peace. okay, with finger on the submit button, Bumbles, here we go.....

Tue Feb 9 05:42:58 MET 1999

boots hill

when are u guys on tour agin?? south?east?

Tue Feb 9 04:55:00 MET 1999

Pat Brennan

beth and catbalu, yeah, uh, right, look out for me--I'm really dangerous.

Tue Feb 9 04:41:12 MET 1999

Charlie Young

Zal Yanovsky lives! Bumbles, I thank you for that amazing adventure of Truman Capote and the boys. I'm surprised you didn't tell of of T.C. seducing Robbie, like Brian Epstein and John Lennon, but I'm glad you didn't. Anyway, thanks, too, for the mention of Canada's second greatest lead guitarist, the inimitable Zally of the Lovin' Spoonful. Now there's a guy who opened a restaurant (called Chez Piggies, outside Toronto) some 20 years ago and never looked back at the music biz. I'd still like to see Zanovsky, Sebastian, Boone and Butler inducted into the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame. This year they're putting Dusty Springfield and Curtis Mayfield in the Hall, and I think the Lovin' Spoonful are certainly in their league. I hope the Spoonful will make it while they're all still around.

Tue Feb 9 04:12:24 MET 1999

Texas Ben

Just been watching "The 60's" on NBC. Movie is week , but I damn proud to say they played "The Weight" during a key section of the Woodstock portion of the film tonite. Man that is a good song!

Tue Feb 9 02:25:10 MET 1999

Bumbles

People are often surprised to hear that Truman Capote was once among The Band’s closest cohorts and confidants. The Hall of Fame rock dynamos and the impish man of letters may seem a strange combination, but those of us who were there only wish that these two legends had crossed paths sooner. Like so many of the dusty side roads branching off The Band’s endless highway, this one winds back to Woodstock, where Capote (dubbed, immediately and enduringly, ‘Little T’ by Levon) was spending the summer in one of the guest houses at Grossman’s place, drying out and trying to make some sense of the jumbled mess his latest project had become.

The Band was up to something similar, and given the Grossman connection, they were bound to hook up. When they finally did, at one of the midnight suppers ‘Uncle Albert’ used to have on Fridays, I thought we’d have to peel Robbie off T. Robbie was already bored with what he called ‘the little-boy guitar-drum shit,’ and he saw T as an entry to everything he craved: intellectual credibility, movie & TV connections, and gorgeous hand-tailored silk shirts made by a man on 39th Street. Robbie’s idea in those pre-‘Last Waltz’ days was to make a movie with everyone in the group in dramatic roles (similar to ‘The Man Outside’), and soon enough T was on salary and working up a script. More important, he was always around, and the guys loved him. (Rick, though, was a little reticent. Events in Japan notwithstanding, Rick will always have the simple traditional values of a humble farmer. More than once that summer, Rick said to me, thoughtfully, ‘I can’t quite put my finger on it, but he’s got a funny way about him.’)

Funny thing was, T thought Robbie was kind of silly. He flattered him, sure, telling him he loved the classical piece Robbie was working on and encouraging him to write poetry, but Capote didn’t have to leave the Upper East Side if he wanted to hang out with poseurs and wannabes. No, T was more interested in shaking down and cutting loose, and he’d found just the crew for it. T was a Mississippi boy, and Levon is always most comfortable around people who grew up with delta mud beneath their feet. The two of them became inseparable, barrel-assing around the Catskills in Lee’s pickup with a couple of cases of beer, a hash pipe, and a few of T’s ‘prescriptions,’ the 8-track blasting John Lee Hooker or Bobby Short. Whatever the action, Little T was always ready.

I remember a game he and Richard used to play. They’d sit at a table with two or three bottles, and for every drink Richard took, T had two. Richard was a 2-quart-a-day man since he was 12, but T would always walk a straight line away from that table while poor Richard was just a puddle on the floor. Beak never could get enough, though; he was always ready to go again the next day. Little T wasn’t just there for the high times, though; the little man loved his blues and rock and roll and once told me if he had to choose, he’d take Professor Longhair over Proust. He played a fair barrelhouse piano with a strong left hand, and he and Garth spent many late nights playing duets on the two grand pianos in Albert’s studio. Sometimes Dr. John would take over on one Steinway, and T would sit on a stool, eyes closed, just singing. Talk about some special magic! I still have the tape of a song called ‘Skin Pop Parade’---T and Bobby Charles wrote the verses and share the vocals and Garth came up with the tune; Jack Elliot beat out the rhythm on a cardboard box and Zal Yanovsky, in town for a Spoonful reunion that didn’t happen, played guitar. Maybe it’ll come out on Woodstock Records© some day.

Everybody eventually had to take care of their own business, but the reunions were always something else. For a week or two, on tour or in Malibu, everybody would pick up where they left off---the all-night sessions, the 24/7 parties, T in his ‘I’m With The Band’ t-shirt. I was surprised to hear one day from a mutual friend (Leonard Cohen or Suzanne Sommers, I think, but it may have been Jerry Wexler) that Truman was bitter and felt burned by the whole experience. It will always hurt to know he went to his grave that way. How he came to feel so misused remains a mystery---even Levon can’t imagine why T expected to be paid for ‘The Last Waltz.’

Tue Feb 9 01:49:18 MET 1999

Mitt Stampler

D: Everyone grives differently. I'm sure I'd like you just fine--Peace

Tue Feb 9 01:27:14 MET 1999

Tim(SUNDOG)Corcoran

< ? ? ? > Donald Joesph, or anyone;;;; I'm looking for someone who taped the show of SUNDAY JULY O9TH 1995-THE GRATEFUL DEAD, and THE BAND, I would like to get a copy of THE BAND if anyone has it!!! Peace, Tim(SUNDOG)Corcoran

Tue Feb 9 01:10:44 MET 1999

Diamond Lil

PETER VINEY: Laughed when I read your last post, mentioning Neil Diamond's eyebrow thing. Had to check that out for myself...and damned if you're not right (certainly not that I doubted you). Thanks for that very perceptive and very amusing tidbit.

RAGTIME: Hi Back :-)

Mon Feb 8 22:54:56 MET 1999

Ragtime

LIL:-)

Hi!

Mon Feb 8 21:49:51 MET 1999

Peter Viney

A few cross references from Helm & Hoskyns for you:

Helm p259 John Simon: “Being the credulous type I signed away all future royalties from the first two Band albums - and of course never saw a penny from TLW. I don’t think many have because Warners eventually charged the cost of the film against the album. A lot of people got conned.”

Helm p261: “I was in a mood. I snarled.”

Hoskyns p210: “I liked the Band because they had beards,” says Elvis Costello.

All three chosen at random. Just let the pages drop open. Also, note the point in TLW where Neil Diamond’s right eyebrow moves slightly up and to the left on the third line. This shows dismay.

Mon Feb 8 21:16:51 MET 1999

Diamond Lil

CATBALU: Seems like we all have different ways of saying what we want to say in here. Some of us are on the long winded side, Others are short and precise. Some are funny, some are more serious. Some are factual, others are opinions. Some are treasures, others are even downright annoying. But you know what? We all have something to say. Keep posting :-)

Mon Feb 8 20:26:44 MET 1999

Hannon Krivisky

I am a serious collector of live tapes and hve only recently begun collecting Band shows. I am a Huge fan of the Band and think their music is the roots of Americana. Please help me, I NEED BAND LIVE CONCERT TAPES (cassettes)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have live tapes of many other bands ranging from blues to psycedelic rock. Please email me with information about trading or copying Band tapes.

Mon Feb 8 20:12:36 MET 1999

Bumbles

EVANGELINE: Good questions.

Mon Feb 8 20:11:57 MET 1999

David Powell

Trikywu: I believe the show you're refering to was a segment televised on the CBS Sunday Morning program. Robertson visited Big Pink as you described with Cassandra Wilson, who also acted as interviewer & narrator for the segment.

Mon Feb 8 19:47:44 MET 1999

Trikywu

I need someone's help 'cause my mind is going. Does anyone here remember or has seen some kind of special - either on VH1 or MTV - either a Band documentary - or perhaps the 20th anniversary of The Last Waltz - when Robbie Robertson visited Big Pink? I seem to remember a clip of Robbie visiting the house and signing something for the owner - who kept a mail order service down in the basement. He also told RR that he was the only one in The Band who hadn't signed this album - or whatever it was. (I told you, m'mind is going!) I'd appreciate your help, and apologize if this has been discussed 1000 times before. Thanks, y'all,.

Mon Feb 8 19:45:00 MET 1999

Evangeline Whitlock

Hi...my name is Evangeline, and i love the song Evangeline. Didn't a groups called Evangeline record the same one? How can i obtain CD's of the Band?

Mon Feb 8 19:22:31 MET 1999

Mitt Stampler

To follow up on Dexy's point: I've been replacing my old Band cassettes lately (quit laughing!) and I agree: Even their old stuff isn't in the bargain bins. Granted, this is Boston, but at a Tower Records in Burlington, Mass. I found Jubilation and HIOT at regular prices, as well as most of the old Band albums (NLSC, Stagefright, Best of, etc). I even found the Danko/Anderson album. And of course, all JRR's solo stuff is there...I figure someone must be buying it if they bother to keep it in stock.

Mon Feb 8 19:00:13 MET 1999

Dexy

Just to be sure, I went to Hastings yesterday to see whether the Dallas reporter was right about the '90s records being in the discount bins. Here in a mid-sized town in the middle of the US, they had JERICHO, HIOTH and JUBILATION, along w/various compilations and BIG PINK (I think) -- all for full price. Doesn't that mean someone (even beyond us) is still buying the new stuff?

Mon Feb 8 17:48:37 MET 1999

David Powell

Mention of the late Frank Zappa reminded me that he achieved what only a few recording artists, like Buck Owens & Ray Charles, have gained; that is ownership of the master recordings of their material. After years of legal battles, the heirs of Jimi Hendrix also finally gained control of the Hendrix masters. What this means is that the recording companies must negotiate terms with these artists or their heirs in order to obtain the licensing rights to release the music. This is a leverage that only a very few have ever gained.

The music & the movie industry are famous for "cooking the books" when it comes to paying the artists. After the accountants get through deducting all the over-head & expenses from the gross, very few get paid much. Power in these industries is judged by who can get a big percentage of "the net."

Mon Feb 8 17:31:37 MET 1999

J.W. Esteemed Member of Congress

To: "Don't Blow My Cover" "Sammmm Philllllllippppps" "Sammmmmmm Phhhhhhiillppps" "Heees the Mannnn"

Mon Feb 8 17:05:04 MET 1999

Bill Munson

Stanley, thanks very much for taking the trouble to sort out the who-opened-for-whom business. I don't remember the violinist either, unless the reviewer meant Rick Danko on the occasional song. But then, I don't remember the horns at all!

Mon Feb 8 17:02:41 MET 1999

Beth

Cat- watch out for P.brennen-the dude looks like a lady! Bumbles your wrong. Levon most definately has an equity position with the club in New Orleans. Don't be stupid.

Mon Feb 8 16:53:02 MET 1999

Bumbles

Catbalu: Ignore the negative comments and keep posting. Unlike most of what I see here, your stuff has a style—not always easy to decipher (like that matters), but personal and distinctive. And, amazingly, you seem like you might have experiences that go beyond cross-referencing Hoskyns’ book and Levon’s autobiography and watching ‘The Last Waltz’ one more time to interpret the body language. Watch those multiple posts, though.

Ben Pike: Levon has no equity position in the club. He is fronting for the Terranova family, who are using it to launder cash from their Pokerino machines and sales of bootleg pressings of the Jersey City show.

Mon Feb 8 16:35:30 MET 1999

Mike

Guestbook Band Booked into Pop Ivy's. A club always seems more fun to play than a venue like Winterland.Anyway, I was afraid that someone might develope a bad case of you know what and I don't know any hypnotists. Start practicing!(Or we could keep it more authentic by not practicing at all-your call)

Mon Feb 8 13:32:29 MET 1999

Wolfgang

It's hard to figure out anything Catbalu says. Is that person on medication??

Mon Feb 8 08:39:12 MET 1999

Reinhard

Some of you e-mailed me about directions for Big Pink. They´ve been posted before, but this is short`n´sweet: From Woodstock you take Route 212 towards Saugerties. Look for a large restaurant on your right called New World Home Cooking. About half a mile further, just past a 40 mile per hour curve sign, take a left turn onto Pine Lane. Go one mile to a left turn on Stoll Road. Go O.9 miles to a left turn onto Parnassus Lane (named for the mailorder that used to be in the basement), and follow the driveway to the second house. You'll recognize it. Well, I can only recommend the trip. It is just an old house, not particularly beautiful either, but I guarantee you, if you are a Band fan and have a little imagination, you will not forget this. I thought about them taking these curves at 60 mph... I will stay in contact with the new owners and as soon as they really want to rent it out I will post it. However, it can take a while...

Mon Feb 8 08:08:15 MET 1999

Ben Pike

Did I miss somethang? How can Levon be really strapped and opening restarants at the same time?

Mon Feb 8 06:42:57 MET 1999

Donald Joseph

Reinhard: Great report! If they rent Big Pink by the week, I'm going to have to call for one...If Walls Could Talk!

The current owner is rehabing the place? I know a guy with experience repairing the screen door....

Mon Feb 8 06:21:40 MET 1999

Pat Brennan

catbalu, sorry, I just can't figure out your request.

Mon Feb 8 05:44:30 MET 1999

Stephanie

I just want to say that I'm a big fan of the band, and that their music will rock on in my mind forever............

Mon Feb 8 05:01:14 MET 1999

Stanley Landau

Mitt: I already feel old. My kids claim to hate The Band and any other music I like - I think by definition it can't be cool if I like it.

Mon Feb 8 04:27:55 MET 1999

Hirt

Down here on Rampart street we always thought of the Band as a bunch of fellas that sang about women who walked the hils in long black veils, of whispering pines, and trains. They was real. Hell they even took a stab at some jazz with Ophelia. Thats a real pretty tune. Well time to stroll down to that lazy river. Stay loose and C'est Si Bon!

Mon Feb 8 03:28:16 MET 1999

Charlie Young

Hey Joe (from London): the quote you asked about was reprised by the man himself in THE REAL FRANK ZAPPA book as follows: "people who can't write doing interviews with people who can't think, in order to prepare articles for people who can't read." Frank also pointed out that a movie called RICH AND FAMOUS stole the line without giving him due credit.

Mon Feb 8 02:46:01 MET 1999

Mitt Stampler

Skinny Kid: Sorry I missed you! Try the email address above, it ought to work :) Errors are never fatal, only not learning from them is, but I'm not always much good at that either. Stanley Landau: Sorry I missed you too! With all due respect to your daughter's opinion, your life sounds fine to me :) One of my first memories (and this will make you feel old) is of my dad singing me "Rocking Chair" to get me to sleep at night. (He also liked "The Weight," but as a toddler for some reason I cried every time I heard the verse about Crazy Chester. Guess I'm too sensitive. He also liked to sing the Dead's "Uncle John's Band" but that's another story.) Anyway, he'd always say "How you see the show depends on where you sit"--one of those lines, much like "well I gotta go, but my friend can stick around" that I thought was kind of stupid when I first heard it at the age of four or five, but that around the time I hit twenty-seven, realized what Dad (and JRR) had meant. TTYS, Mitt

Mon Feb 8 02:02:39 MET 1999

catbalu

Hey Joe (I've always wanted to say that). Donald Joseph's the mobster (i mean monster...) He knows how far is far. Those lawyers, journalists and creative entities - get them together and you never know what a day'll bring...Pet Brennen, after finding you on the net, i've really been wanting to ask you for some advice. How do you cohabitate with snakes. The hawks, bluebirds, occasional armadillo or baby black bear, fine. but the only thing the Extension Services Office offers is "use sticky boards" and i can see me out there giving crewcuts to black squirrels, or WORSE! wasn't a very good answer. moth balls? sulfur? concrete yard? OH YEAH, yall, i heard Warren Zevon was supposed to play "Send Lawyers Guns and Money" at Jesse Ventura's inaugaration (special request of "The Guv") anybody know for sure? Good nite

Mon Feb 8 00:40:35 MET 1999

Paul Godfrey

Thank you Stanley...a much appreciated look back. And someday your daughter will understand. Shine on!

Sun Feb 7 22:49:59 MET 1999

Roger Colavita

Does anyone know who runs the Turkey Point Productions page or why their order form doesn't work? I ended up ordering the Rick Danko live cd through Woodstock records, but I was curious about the Turkey Point site since it's mentioned on the album's cover.

Sun Feb 7 22:09:28 MET 1999

Stanley Landau

Bill Munson, John Donabie, Paul Godfrey, Serge and any other Southern Ontarians who were Band fans in the 70’s: I’ve just returned from the public library, where I spent about 45 minutes listening to my thirteen year old daughter tell me how sad and pathetic I was to be looking at back issues of the Toronto Globe and Mail trying to prove some obscure, inconsequential fact about The Band. I agree with her and also with her assessment that I need to get a life. Nevertheless, I succeeded in finding in the September 1, 1976 issue a review by one Sam Charters of the Linda Ronstadt/Band concert of the previous evening at Exhibition Stadium. It was headed with a picture of Ronstadt and the headline "Ronstadt, The Band cook up a storm". The first half of the article was devoted to Ronstadt’s performance. I will quote from the last third of the article with some editorializing: "

A big problem with a split bill like the one last night was the waiting while The Band’s equipment was assembled. [For me and my friends it was delicious anticipation watching the trade mark set up of the drums over to the right, the piano on the left and garthboards in the middle.]From the time Ronstadt left the stage until The Band came on a full three quarters of an hour passed. [So what, who had something better to do?] This time, contrary to its last appearance at Varsity Stadium with Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, The Band was excellent. [They were excellent at Varsity Stadium too.] Announced as "Toronto’s own" the group sauntered on to the stage waving to the crowd and looking anxious to get into their performance.

Rick Danko and Robbie Robertson bounced around [bounced around?] as the old Arkansas cotton picker, [excuse me] Levon Helm displayed his perfect sense of timing on the drums. He has simply got to be one of the best in the business even though his singing while it never failed to come across, seemed strained. [No recollection of this.]

What did seem excessive was the four horn players they brought with them. On many of the tunes, they drowned out the vocals and the violist was never heard clearly. [Do you guys remember a violinist? I don’t.]

Garth Hudson and Richard Manuel’s keyboard playing worked very well, always does, and the wall of sound [?] they provided was the perfect counterpoint to Robertson’s piercing guitar.

They played some of the old favorites like The Shape I’m In, The Weight, and Stage Fright. They have the knack of dropping the music on the audience like a lead weight. The sound came at the crowd full force and last night they proved they aren’t simply a Bob Dylan backup band. More shows like last night’s are a must for future CNE Grandstand performances."

Sun Feb 7 22:07:40 MET 1999

Peter Viney

Joe: Food for thought. Rick Danko is definitely the voice for "Long Black Limousine" and I couldn't have chosen a better song.

Sun Feb 7 22:03:28 MET 1999

Joe

I think we have to take any article by a rock journalist with a fair pinch of salt (what did Zappa call it: something about people who can't write for people that can't read about pepole that can't play..help me someone?). However it is very hurtful if Levon really is bitter. I find it really sad that great artists, ball players, boxers often die in bitter poverty and then they're eulogised post funeral by the great and the good. I know this is a crazy idea, but if say Levon, Rick and Garth were genuinely struggling, couldn't this web site organise some sort of Benefit: I don't know: maybe that album of Richard songs or (even a web site collection of covers the Band could do: Donald Joseph and Peter V producing??!) which could be sold on the Web. Put our money where our mouth is?Even if they're not down to their last thin dime, at least it would show them they're loved and respected. How many hits from different IP addresses does this site get Jan?

maybe it's a dumb idea...

we can't get Elvis back for Stagefright but The Band for Long Black Limousine....

Sun Feb 7 13:23:34 MET 1999

Reinhard

It´s been a week since I am back home from my Band-pilgrimage. I took a 5 day roundtrip from Germany that was entirely devoted to The Band. Went to New Orleans Wednesday the 27th of January and saw Irma Thomas at Levon´s Club. Wanted to see The Band on Thursday, but you know they cancelled. Was at the House Of Blues instead, well, that place has a little more atmosphere than Levon´s place, which like a good shoe has still to be broken in I guess. Went up to New York on Friday, saw the second Rick Danko show at the Turning Point. Thorougly enjoyed it, the man still has a great voice. We told him we´re going up to Big Pink the next day, so he got all excited and gave us his phone number with the immortal words: "Call me! Something great might happen!" Saturday we drove up to Big Pink. Started in New Jersey on a cold but sunny morning. It started to snow heavily when got up north. Was my first time in Woodstock and I still think it is funny that they sell all these shirts and posters of a festival they sent upstate at the last minute. Anyway, thanks to great directions we found Stoll Road easily. Due to heavy snow we left the 68 Malibu on the road and walked the last mile. There it was to the right. Still pink. The new owners were around and they gave us a tour of the house. We stood in the hallowed basement, by the fireplace, in the kitchen. The spirit is still there. Especially if you suffer from severe Band-itis. There´s stilll a lot of work to do to bring it up to livable conditions, but they think of renting it out on a weekly basis once it is done. We blasted I Shall Be Released on the way back. I went home on Sunday. It was a great trip! Uh yeah, we called Rick, but he wasn´t in the best of conditions. Something great happened, but without him. I sympathize with Levon, because I truly think that most of the Band songs were shaped by all 5 members. Even if Robbie brought the skeleton of the songs the others fleshed it out. In my opinion royalties should have been divided in a certain ratio, not especially 5 ways, but still in some way. If Levon nowadays gets a royalty cheque for the few co-credits he had it might still be worth some money. If he multiplies that by Robbie´s credits he can certainly imagine how big the Roberston cheque might be. Tears of rage ... especially when the pockets are empty.

Sun Feb 7 13:14:31 MET 1999

Patric Mulcahy

Just got through reading Robert Wilonsky's "interview " with Levon , creative journalism at it's best !!, or worst. Ask a few thorny questions [by telephone ??] , get the predicted reaction, gather some facts , mix them together so a lot of people can't see the lies and exaggerations that have been nestled amid the truth. Now when the rumour....

Sun Feb 7 07:24:14 MET 1999

Phil

So he did get paid something for the performance, though royalties from the film & recordings are a different story.

Sun Feb 7 07:20:15 MET 1999

Donald Joseph

Viney (re Tower Records):

Touche.

Sun Feb 7 06:44:43 MET 1999

Phil

Stanley Landau, never read any RR coments on anything financial about the band but I did read in Bill Graham's biography that he gave each band member a $1,000 cash bonus on top of what they got paid for the gig (TLW).

Sun Feb 7 06:34:26 MET 1999

Correct me if I am wrong BUT

I think it the FILM that Levon never received any dinero but he did get money from the LP and CD sales. Thats what I heard, anyways. I wonder how much The Film actually netted anyways - bet not that much before the VCR days came along!

Sun Feb 7 04:23:03 MET 1999

Ben Pike

Brin, thanks for your info on Harmonica Frank. I encourage people to seek out "swamproot."

Sun Feb 7 02:41:09 MET 1999

Uncle Meat

Uh, that's "200 Motels," the movie, not "Uncle Meat." That Scorziti guy had nothing to do with it...

Sun Feb 7 02:32:53 MET 1999

Charlie Young

Jimmy Carl Black was "the Indian of the group" long before Robbie discovered his roots. I watched the video version of Zappa's "Uncle Meat" recently, and Black was one of the comic highlights of a pretty disjointed flick. You have to give the late Mr. Zappa credit, though, for escaping the grips of the big record companies and creating his own little empire (one that his widow was able to sell to Rykodisc for over $40,000,000 a couple years back). But I guess guys like Jimmy Carl Black and Ray Collins feel about Zappa much the same as Levon does about Robbie...

Sun Feb 7 01:29:13 MET 1999

Tim(SUNDOG)Corcoran

Peter Viney: If you were here, I'd hug ya!!! Thanks for that Jimmy Carl Black post, being in any GREAT band, is tough, on everything, and everyone...

Sun Feb 7 00:59:43 MET 1999

Paul Godfrey

Stanley...can't speculate on who did or did not get a pay cheque after appearing at/in the Last Waltz. However, Robbie did have quite a bit of difficulty in getting a number of the performers to come back and re-do voiceovers. Shine On!

Sat Feb 6 23:53:30 MET 1999

Stanley Landau

Has Robbie ever commented publicly about why Levon et. al. did not get paid for The Last Waltz? Maybe someone should confront him once and for all. Don't ask me who or how.

Sat Feb 6 23:21:34 MET 1999

Bumbles

OVERHEARD AT ‘THE LAST WALTZ’

“The piano player forgot the words again.”

Announcement from stage: “Ladies and Gentlemen, we’re here tonight to celebrate The Band, and you, of course, are free to celebrate any way you choose. I have to announce, however, that several people who ate the smoked salmon are having some very weird experiences. Bill Graham and The Band want you to do your own thing, take your own trip, and have a beautiful evening, but please, please be careful with the smoked salmon.”

“If that little freak with the sunglasses and the movie camera pushes in front of me again, I’ll rip that beard off his face.”

“I thought the old guy who kept stomping his foot would never stop playing.”

“My friend found a cigarette butt in his mashed potatoes.”

“Yeah, The Band used to back up Neil Diamond in real lowdown, redneck hillbilly bars down South. Before they met Dylan.”

“There’s like a million people on line, and I have to p**s so bad.”

“One of the lighting guys told me before Levon went on he made Graham give him five ten-dollar bills; then he rolled them up and stuck ‘em in his sock.”

“Pete Townshend and Garcia are backstage getting high with Danko. They’re gonna close the show with ‘Magic Bus,’ ‘Not Fade Away,’ and ‘My Generation.’”

“I smoked a bowl of hash with that fat chick with the red hair. I think she’ll b**w me after the show.”

“What’s really cool is that I got tickets to see Ted Nugent tomorrow night, too.”

Sat Feb 6 21:52:40 MET 1999

Daniel Milewski

This web site is the best. I was looking for guitar cords and I got em. I have just recently gotten into The Band. I love their music and the are fantastic musicians. Robbie is GOD.

Sat Feb 6 20:14:03 MET 1999

brin

HARMONICA FRANK

Harmonica Frank’s other Sun recording, ‘Rockin’ Chair Daddy,’ which Griel Marcus went on about at some length, was available on the 1992 compilation ‘Defrost Your Heart: Sun Country Vol. I.’ Unfortunately, the label, AVI, seems to be out of business. There was also a 1976 lp on Adelphi (recordings from 72-74), which Marcus seems to dismiss, but I treasure if only for the liner notes, written by Frank himself, who seemed to be very much a Levonesque character. Levon may well have heard him, in person or on the radio, since Frank writes of working on stations in Blytherville and Hot Springs, Arkansas, and Union City, Dyersburg, and Memphis, Tennessee. I can easily imagine hearing the following, from ‘The Harmonica Frank Story: In His Own Words,’ in Levon’s voice:

“I was born to family of farmers in the state of Mississippi. I first started out on the road at around 14 years old, working with carnivals, later medicine shows and vaudevilles. Played as a comedian, was fair at jokes. I have been coast to coast traveling the USA. I traveled most everywhere in the USA and in old Mexico once, at Juarez across the Rio Grand from El Paso, Texas near 1932. I was called the champion French harp player of the world by many in the old days who knew me as a young man. I learned two styles of music, blues, country or western acts, because I love both styles, but didn’t like grand opera at all. I have wrote several comedy songs and I play my harp in my mouth, in-wise, like a cigar, sang, pick the guitar at the same time. Also, I do lots of imitations with my mouth, chickens, dog, mule, crow, goose, duck.”

He even seemed to have Levonesque problems. Writing about his experiences recording for Sam Phillips and others: “He never did give me one penny for my Sun release. Chess send me one check one time for one hundred dollars, was all…so folks, I’ve been treated dirty.” That last sounds like it could have come straight from ‘The Dallas Observer.’

Sat Feb 6 19:21:00 MET 1999

Pat Brennan

Donnie Joe, Peter V. is correct--"Dixie" at TLW was Levon's last performance of said tune. I was in a Chicago band that opened for Levon/Rick and, before we ent on, I asked Levon if they were gonna do the song. Levon quickly repled, "No way." I didn't give it too much notice then. I do now.

Sat Feb 6 18:29:43 MET 1999

catbalu

Charlie - just a pleasant note on Mr. McCain...Our Big BDaddy Dave dropped in on him last week to here a preview of his new release (is it out yet? don't remember Dave saying). He has finally gotten over his old bitterness (yes he was for a while, can't blame him) and the sadness of losing his wife of many years. And is VERY happy that this time he's actually going to get some $$$ out of the deal. So buy his new CD! BTW - Dave said the whole time he was there, Boogie sat with a magnum in his lap guarding Dave's care from his neighbors. Hope is a wonderful thing and getting past the greed and need of people who hang on your leg because they can't and you can - takes a lot of - - - - getting outside and bird watching. ("Won't you hand me down my big coat, hand me down my big coat, think I'll go walkin....") Maybe Levon should give Mr. Morrison a visit.

Sat Feb 6 18:27:21 MET 1999

Peter Viney

Sundog: The album “Uncle Meat” is fixed in my memory. Jimmy Carl Black is listed on the cover as “drums, droll humor and poverty” and you can hear the troubles of the working musician on “If We’d All Been Living in California” (and great drummer versus great lead guitarist too). Extracts follow:

JCB: What is all this shit in the newspaper? If we got such a big name, how come we … we’re starving man. This f***ing band is starving! And we been starving for three years …

Zappa(in weary but manipulative voice): There’s some months when you’re not going to work as much as other months and some months when you’re going to make a lot of money. If you average it out you do make more than $200 a month …

JCB: We worked one gig this month Frank! What’s wrong with getting two months in a row of this good money? Or three months in a row, then we can afford to take three or four months off and everybody can …After the first month I can get just enough ahead, but if I had two months I’d GET ahead. Cause I’m not living very extravagantly, that’s for sure …

Sat Feb 6 17:57:34 MET 1999

Tim(SUNDOG)Corcoran

LEVON HELM'S ARTICAL: I totally understand why Levon is pissed off, and I agree with him 100% cuz in my 45 years on this earth, I've seen it happen, example: Jimmy Carl Black, I lived with him (drummer for Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention) and the record company tore his band up, I won't get into detail, but I've seen it first hand. EVERY THING HE SAID WAS FROM THE HEART, THERES NO WAY TO SAY IT IN A *NICE* WAY, SO DON'T BE KNOCK'N THE MAN, NONE OF YOU WERE THERE!!! Peace, Tim(SUNDOG)Corcoran. P.S. Levon and the other members of The Band have gone through more of life experences than any of us could ever, do you agree, Levon has smiled for many years, sometimes it feels good not to...

Sat Feb 6 17:13:32 MET 1999

Little John Tyler

Al Vacado:

Am I who you think I am? Although I've been to many Towne Crier shows in recent years, meeting and talking with many Rick/Levon/Band fans, I don't recall exchanging E-Mail addresses with any of them. I suggest that if you've got some "straight poop" to share with me, as you claim here earlier today, you can do so right here in the Guestbook for all our friends to see. I hope you do. Peace.

Sat Feb 6 17:10:46 MET 1999

Tony LoBue

Just a few words about the interview between Levon and Robert Wilonsky. I am sure Mr. Wilonsky is a very good journalist, however his interpretation of Levon is a bit harsh. Any normal man who has the things he loves taken away from him will go through live somewhat upset. It may be hard to understand if it never happened to you. Levon’s story is deep rooted and probably justified. Sometimes when an old wound is opened it hurts like hell and you just have to let out a scream now and then. I an not on a personal level with Levon but I have talked with him many times and he is not an angry old man as portrayed is this interview. When we see him performing the smile on his face is not the expression of a man with something to prove. I see a man doing what he loves to do and making people happy at the same time. I see his eyes beaming when the crowd is dancing and singing along. I see the proud look on his face when is glances at Maria or Randy while they are performing. When I see Lveon I don’t see a an angry old man I see an aging musician with nothing to prove.

Sat Feb 6 14:40:00 MET 1999

Jerry

that new levon interview is disturbing. levon, I love your voice but, sorry, you sound like a bitter old drunk. Grab hold and move on, talk like that won't help get you those royalty cheques, even if you say you "don't give a shit". I think you really do.

Sat Feb 6 14:26:28 MET 1999

Peter Viney

Didn’t the All-Starr Band tour have three drummers? Ringo, Levon and Jim Keltner? Levon is listed on the sleeve as “percussion”- this was the original invitation, but there’s an interview where he says he responded much as he did to Wilonsky. I remember a line about “I don’t play (multiple expletives deleted) tambourine.” So they had three.

Donald: I think the last performance of “Dixie” was TLW. I remember when I was doing the article on the song I tried to find any others without success. Someone told me and I didn’t believe it until I looked.

Someone mentioned a Japanese release called “The Tie That Binds” by Levon. I see it listed as a US release for late February. Is this the RCO All Stars album under a new name? Or is it something else? Anyone know?

Re/ my previous post. If you want to reproduce Richard’s range and power you could just about get there by combining the very different but equally awesome talents of Van Morrison and Aaron Neville.

Sat Feb 6 13:26:43 MET 1999

The Ragman

Levon's interview really upset me. Firstly, he's way out of control, screaming at the voice on the telephone. Secondly, the interviewer seemed to take a "pathetic tone" towards This Band and all their efforts; those references to the Bargain Bin, etc. We all know that time has passed, music has changed and that it can't be as it was. Those of us who love the Band and their music know that. Poor Levon. If his reason to make music is to prove something to "Robertson" and those "mfers", he is doomed to failure.

Sat Feb 6 12:40:11 MET 1999

Peter Viney

Saturday mornings here in the UK are enlivened by the richness of Friday evening contribtions from the USA. Wish I had dreams like Dave Z. I enjoyed the thought of the revived Last Waltz - totally impossible stuff makes the best dreams. Sorry that Van was unavailable. I think “Wonderful Remark” and “You Don’t Know Me” would have been appropriate. Peter Gabriel should follow straight after singing “Fallen Angel” with Robbie and Rick. Kate Bush strolls on to join him for “Don’t Give Up” - OK, she’s got no Band connection, but dreams need an erotic element. Daniel Lanois would have helped out on “Somewhere Down The Crazy River” (plenty of choices for the female voice) then they could back him for “Jolie Louise”. No US citizens so far. The Hooters for “Gimmee A Stone” with Levon and “500 Miles” on their own. Jimmy McCracklin for “I Finally Got You”. Chuck and Bo for “Promised Land” and “Who Do You Love?” The Neville Brothers? “Louisiana 1927” shared by Aaron and Levon? Then they could stay on and do “With God On Our Side” with Dylan. Mickey Jones as third drummer comes on for the final “Like A Rolling Stone” introduced by Bob with “Play f***ing loud” - whether he said it in 66 or not, it’s the legend that counts. Levon could shout “Judas” at Robbie just before. Oh, no. The dream’s turning into reality.

Donald: sorry I gave the impression I rushed right through Tower Records in London during the space of one CD. That was just the 50s and 60s section. I don’t get up to the big city more than once a month.

Sat Feb 6 12:23:29 MET 1999

Ilkka

OK, THAT'S IT. After Levon interview there is only one thing to do. Mike, David, Dexy, Rod, Ragtime, Jens Magnus, Greg with The Highpoint Brothers, catbalu (collecting tips), Jan (sharing royalties); I'll book Winterland Ballroom for THE GUESTBOOK BAND 'FIRST WALTZ' WORLD TOUR opening. - And it's really sad.

Sat Feb 6 10:36:41 MET 1999

Diamond Lil

Donald Joseph : Guess you missed the discussion on Rick's baseball glory days that we had in here about 6 months ago. My recollection of this little known bit of Rick trivia is not listed anywhere on this site (I asked Jan and he had no information about it) but I saw the animated video in question in the early 80's on tv. My memory ( although only semi reliable at times) tells me the title was "The Glory of Baseball". Rick did a tune from it at live shows for about a year or two after.

We're all in this together, we're gonna turn this game around. You can hit a double, you can hit a triple, you can hit a homerun - but what good is it if you don't have any fun? Cheaters never prosper, and losers never win".

Am still interested in obtaining this video if anyone knows how or where to find it.Thanks.

Sat Feb 6 10:08:26 MET 1999

Ben Pike

Thanks Vinney. They don't say much about Harmonia Frank on the Sun box either, dispite the rather amazing "Swamp Root", that sounds like all of Dylan's "I Shall Be Free" songs on acid. Anyone else heard any more of Harmonica Frank?

Sat Feb 6 08:15:42 MET 1999

Donald Joseph

David Z, you're a monster. Same to you, Bumbles. And Bumbles: If your tale is true, pls. provide a date. It Makes a Difference.

Charlie Young: Your comparison of Levon to Fogerty is a good one. Unfortunately, I disagree with your opinion that Fogerty's anger is behind him. The anger has just morphed into a new phase -- an excuse for him now to play his Creedence tunes & draw bigger crowds to shows. I very recently saw him on Leno -- Fogerty claims to have put his anger behind him, but then he just goes on referncing his decades-old beefs. Admit it: Fogerty wouldn't shake Saul Z's hand today. I fear your comparison is accurate, & Levon will stay in the same (I must say I saw Fogerty live this summer: Great show.)

Related point: Levon claims he won't sing "Dixie Down" as protest against Robbie (although he sings all the other Robbie-credited songs). I could swear the boys were doing "Dixie" when they reformed in '83. When did they stop?

Ellarbee: I second that "Raining in my Heart" is one of the great unsung solo songs. I saw it done live on that tour -- those shows also showcased Levon/Ringo in a 2-drum duet on a couple of tunes, I believe. Starr let each guest do a tune, & I respected Rick for being the only guest to opt for a fresh song not part of his warhorse repetoire.

Viney: You listened to a "whole" album while "browsing" in a record store? Right. It's called "loitering" & it's illegal. Get a life.

Regarding Ricky's tune on "American Children": I heard that years ago Ricky did the soundtrack to an ABC Afterschool Special called "Take Me out to the Ballgame." I've always looked for the soundtrack album but never found it; it was never released. Anyone know more? Is this mentioned on Jan's otherwise-comprehensive site?

Stu Hrska's "How I Spent My New Year's Vacation" article on Jan's site is informative. However, Stu: If you're tight with The Band, why'd your kids ditch you for a Phish show? Didn't you raise 'em up better than to opt for Phish over The Band?

Now for something politically incorrect (stop reading here if you're hyper-sensitive):

Undeniably, Ricky of late is a tad, how you say it?...LARGE. Stu reports he caught our hero sneaking into his hotel room with "a bag of McDonald's." This is DISGUSTING! He's eating dog food! (I was going to tell my kids about this as a cautionary tale, but I couldn't bring myself to bring down Ricky in their eyes by revealing that he puts that corporate poison into his body.) Rick's Mickie-D's habit & his weight problem are not coincidental. WE NEED AN INTERVENTION HERE: Take a load off Fanny!

Sat Feb 6 04:40:43 MET 1999

Stanley Landau

Dave Z: Wow.

Sat Feb 6 04:14:46 MET 1999

Charlie Young

catbalu: I saw Jerry McCain perform 20 years ago or so. He was great. I even have a couple of his 45s somewhere. A great r&b voice in the vein of Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, I think, McCain actually had a couple of hits. He didn't make any money, of course, but didn't seem bitter. I know John Fogerty just came out of a twenty year long tunnel of anger over the rip-off he received at the hands of revered movie mogul Saul Zaentz. I hope Levon can do the same. And despite what that bush league writer said in Texas, I haven't seen any CDs by The Band in bargain bins.

Sat Feb 6 03:24:46 MET 1999

catbalu

ok, ok, what the hell am i doing wrong on this posting thing. driving me (and jan) crazy. starting to feel like a journalist/postal employee. and i was just beginning to get into the natural thing again...

Sat Feb 6 03:15:43 MET 1999

catbalu

about journalists (and yes, we're surrounded in here, i can tell) worked in newspapers for 20 yrs. (NYT, NEWHOUSE, SCRIPPS-HOWARD...). got out 3 yrs. ago and never looked back except to remember, when they're being vicious and cruel (meaning, they're feeling insecure and human and too intelligent to admit it) and going in for the kill....pull out an old copy of the national enquirer and read it and WEEP in front of them. drives them wild. my publishers loved me for it.

Sat Feb 6 03:13:05 MET 1999

Bumbles Mother

Bumbles Mom---Bumbles? Why did you write that story on that Band page?

Bumbles---I'm jest gettin' so mad readin' about how some of these people know those guys!

Bumbles Mom---I don't understand son

Bumbles---Well for starters you got that Serge guy whose been takin' pitchers since the 50's and you got that Donabie guy who says he knows 'em and that new kid Paul Godfrey whose known em since before they had pubic hair!!!!

Bumbles Mom-But Bumbles..

Bumbles-Dammit. I never met any of em. An if I caint meet him, nobody can! Richards gone. Robbie left. Theirs only three left and I caint get ma truck started to head to N'awlins or Woodystock or anywhere. Dang it!!!

Bumbles Mom- But Bumbles you've toured with The Cowsills. You met that Myron fella that use to play with Larry Welk

Bumbles-Shut up Mama! I'm cranky!!!!!

Sat Feb 6 02:56:10 MET 1999

Oh Bumbles ---Ha Ha -Tee Hee-Ho Ho Ho-Yuk Yuk

OH BUMBLES! You are so funny and pathetic at the same time. Reading between the lines, it sounds like you are bothered by all sorts of things. Maybe you could write another piece on your tour with The Cowsills.

Sat Feb 6 02:34:04 MET 1999

catbalu

Bumbles, so there you go. the very thing that brought me into this place - the photo of Levon in the NO parade, looking over his shoulder, without a smile, without....trust. Not normal for a NO parade. (...so why're you there, Levon, stompin down that carnival street mad at somethin the bible already told you about, world of man. the less you covet money the more you make...) Hindsight, ain't it a kicker, the heaviest cross to bear.......IMO (give me 2 points, freddie, jan, i'm learning this internet STUFF "IMO", one post at a time!..) the #1 entry to date is - Garth's a dowser! Love those that understand the true properties of water and how much it's in us. My Man!!!! Got a glass jar ready for tips for the Guestbook Band. percentage goes to jan, y'know. One round of drinks on Cat. anybody ever heard of Jerry "Boogie" McCain? Hear he fares well in Europe. Not at home, tho. Not at home. So where's the moon tonight, full, quarter or half....anybody feel the pull? Ya'll have a nice day.

Sat Feb 6 02:12:03 MET 1999

Rod

Just read the latest Levon interview. Oh dear! His comments on Capitol remind me of Crowded House's book. While that book doesn't slag Capitol off to the same degree, it does give the impression that Capitol weren't that interested in promoting the group who IMHO made a couple of records that are up there with some of The Band's best.

I always liked the original Band's use of two drummers. (why did they use Billy Mundi on MM?). However I don't think the approach worked so well with the early 80's version of the group. In fact the 8 man Band didn't really do it for me. The boy's sound gets lost amongst the Cate Bros forgettable contributions. Earl Cate doesn't match ut to Robbie or Jim Weider. I am thinking in particular of Chest Fever where on the Band is Back video he plays the riff where as Robbie would do a more syncopated rythem over the top. Ron Eoff ruins It makes No Difference by playing the root note when Rick sings "how far Ieee go". There are some good moments though - i like the version of King Harvest and Back to Memphis.

Between Trains. I always think of that as a Band song - as it has the core number 3/5. I wonder if Rick and Levon were also asked to play on it?

Sat Feb 6 01:58:58 MET 1999

Al Vacado

David Bromberg appears at The Bottom Line tonite 2/5-Friday 2/7/99. The show is sold out and SRO. My loss. Pollstar, that old worthless rocker-tracker lists the opening act and has no mention of David Bromberg. The tab is $50. I have never seen the man life but am familiar with one of his albums and am aware of his affiliation with Dylan & Jerry Jeff Walker.

Little John Tyler if you is who I think you might be then email the guy you met at the Towne Crier and get the straight poop.

Sat Feb 6 01:05:37 MET 1999

Paul Godfrey

Serge...re the Cates and Levon touring. What you said is exactly the way I remember it. On the Band having two drummers. It was once suggested that playing drums night after night can take its tole. The drummer is the one who has to constantly keep the beat. There are no coffee breaks. Two could more easily share the load. And speaking of two drummers...another highlight of TLW. Just Levon and Ringo all alone on stage marking time. God it was wonderful. Like two young kids playing happily together in a sand box on a warm summers day. Shine On!

Sat Feb 6 00:23:24 MET 1999

Bumbles

Reading the ‘Dallas Observer’ piece, I couldn’t help but think back on one late night long ago, relaxing at the Inn on the Park as Levon’s guest after a sold-out show at the Botanic Gardens with Rita Coolidge. The partygoers were the usual vibrantly eclectic mix—the Hawk (‘rockabilly legend’/sideshow attraction Ronnie Hawkins, a dear, dear friend), of course, as well as Allen Ginsberg, Chad Mitchell, Lee Radziwell, Mordecai Richler, Cathy Smith, and some of the ‘just plain folks’ our boys never became too big to enjoy being around in limited doses—and as the hours rolled on and the mood got mellow, I found myself sitting next to Mr. Helm himself. ‘Lee,’ I said (having known Lee for years, I call him Lee), ‘how have things been?’ The man who’s given us so many incomparable moments of pure pleasure over the years started as if brushed by a high-voltage wire, swiped his arm across the tabletop—-sending the narcotics paraphernalia, the half-eaten hors d’oeuvres (thank you, Capitol!), and my Molson flying—-turned his head, fixed me with a squint-eyed glare, and said: “I have been high, and I have been low; cock of the walk and as dirty a mud dog as ever bit your ass. But just you remember: I wrote the damn songs. I made the sumbitchin’ records. Garth hepped me, and Richard sung some, okay, but I have yet to see my first thin dime. Hell, there’s times I’d settle for a wooden nickel, but the damn college boy, fancy pants big-timers who run this world won’t even ante up that much to the so-called common people these days. And don’t you forget you heard it from me, son.’ With that he bolted, and stalked out of the elegant hospitality suite (did I mention I was his guest?), gone to wherever such rough-hewn, elemental sons of the South go at such moments. My evening ended with an impromptu curling match in the lobby with Truman Capote, Tom Paxton, Farrah Fawcett, and Sky Saxon, but I’ve always remembered that conversation. It seemed so typical. Of Lee. Of those wonderful times. Of the way people so often answer my questions. Given the way things turned out, though, I wonder if I could have made a difference. Should I have noticed the rage, the bitterness? Ah well, hindsight is always 20/20, as we say up here. I next saw Lee at an invitation-only after-hours show the boys put on the next year at La Plume de Ma Tante in the old ‘whore’s britches’ district we all knew so well, but that’s another story for another time, one I’m sure you’ll find as interesting as I find myself.

Sat Feb 6 00:21:27 MET 1999

Ragtime

Sat Feb 6 00:21:09 MET 1999

Ragtime

Stanley Landau: what they had together & in common HAD evolved already into something that we all love & cherish. When it was at a dead end, it was inevitable that they should part. The solo albums by Robbie & Levon clearly show into what different directions their intentions have diverted. We all sometimes dream about what music a Band-including-Robbie would have made today (The Well is tantalizing!), but let's face facts: apart from their financial dispute they went on doing what they liked best.

Gerard pointed at the Mercury Rev interviews in two Dutch newspapers. The one I read in today's "Volkskrant" mentioned Garth's habit of waking up everybody in Woodstock at three in the night, playing great solos.

Fri Feb 5 23:43:46 MET 1999

Stanley Landau

Peter Viney: If the remaining members were together my guess is that something completely different from what they have done individually would have evolved so there would not be an issue of Crazy Mama every night or Levon playing along with the Native American stuff.

Fri Feb 5 23:43:36 MET 1999

Dave Z

God, I love the BAND.

I had this daydream last night. I was on my 2nd Killian's Red at Rudolph's in downtown Mpls. When I looked out the window, and thought I saw Richard in a car. I then saw on the pavement a peacepipe with the stem separated from the bowl. The stem had two turtles on it and four feathers tied way up by the mouth hole. It disappeared then reappeared. So I went out into the night. When I picked it up, and put it together, that's when I heard the dixieland band. I went back in, paid my tab, and on the way out noticed Bill Clinton talking on the muted TV, except it wasn't muted. It was that damn dixieland band playing again. Cool.

So I left for home, and after about 45 minutes in route to Chaska, I pass the big white building with purple lights and an Xmas tree on top with a neon peace sign on top of it just outside Chanhassen. Paisley Park. I then thought of that damn Dallas article, and Prince's and then Van's problems with Recca Compknees. Damn I'm beat. It's way after midnight and I'm ready for sleep. Upstairs, my 8 month old twin boys are asleep with their mom, even though the TV is on and the Gov is talking about Garrison Kiellor and others cheating him out of due money for his story. No room for me on that bed. So I head down to my den, and look at my latest painting - a work in progress. That's when I remember the pipe. I pull it out, and head to the garage for a smoke. Not weed. Natural teabackie it is. Then things get fuzzy, I fall asleep and the cold musta done something to me. Because that's when it starts again. My shivering turns into guitar sounds and then that dixieland band. Soon, I'm not cold. Now I am a watcher. My story is done. And someone else's fantasy begins.

Robbie reads that damn Dallas article and he's pissed. Not at Levon but at this whole stuff. Now he's at Levon's Bar. Now they are in the basement again when a fight breaks out. There's knees to the crotch and bloody lips and noses. I hear "sons a bitch" intermingled with "Hold on Levon" and much later a couple of laughs. Robbie says "Well hello to you Levon. Sorry if I gave the impression I was a suit on a mission to extinquish the last bit of life in the BAND". Levon responds "Not bad for a conquered people, Chief." It's then they notice the papers all strewn about. Now, I'm thinking, cool, Purple Rain. Where's Link? Upstairs a dixieland band is playing.

Obviously the papers are songs. By Richard. The songs are all about Storyville. The dixieland band upstairs is jammin so loud I start to get mixed up again. I'm on my back looking up at a lightbulb, I think I'm lying on my depleted firewood stack. My head hurts. Now I am confused again. Maybe I'm in Levon's basement having just been beat up by one of them.

Just then Scorsese and a Dallas reporter walk down the steps. Robbie decks the reporter with one slug, even though it was a little whimpish. He turns around and Levon has Scorsese in the corner wailing away. Somewhere else out in dreamland Ronnie Hawkins decks a guy named Starr. Robbie says "Lee, wait." And pulls him back. Now I finally have a view. In perfect un-unison, the 3 of us look at Scorsese, and say "Ed? Ed? Ed?". "You allright." Just then Jesse the Gov pokes his head in the door, and says "You boys coming up?" "Richard is just killin em up here." "Besides, I want you to meet my agriculture head, he's an ex-Navy Seal." Robbie and Levon just look at each other. Ed Chigliak of NX is gone now. Nowhere to be seen. Hey, wait a minute, he's beside me watching too, and says "Have you seen Marty?" Then it gets fuzzy again. My nose is sniffly, so I reach down and grab this Dallas article, and wipe some stuff on it.

Then I hear the arguing, ok maybe it's discussion or scheming between Robbie and Levon with a dixieland band in the background. "It's my movie Lee." "Like hell it is." "Those are Richard's songs, and The Party's Not Over." "You want another beating, Skin!?!" "OK Lee." "What are we gonna do?" "There's no we!" "And I just beat the stuffing out of Scorsese." "No. That was just Ed, and besides, the suits you thought sent me killed that show anyway." "Hey, wait a minute, I got it." "I'll do the movie." "But I won't sing, write or play guitar, ok." "You got Weidner, he's great!" "I'm istening, and I still got a money problem." "OK. How about no Marty this time?" "We'll get Michael Apted instead." "Fine by me, but we still got a problem." "No Richard." The dixieland band plays on.

That's when they hear it, and decide to head upstairs. It's brother Ray jammin away. He's possessed, and sounds like Richard. Just like Richard. "You know what I'm thinking, Lee." "Hell, Robbie, I was thinking it would be hard to get Van anyway."

Later on, the stage enjoys Daniel Lanois, the Neville Brothers, John Trudell and Bonnie Raitt. Oh yes, and Buddy Guy. Then things get fuzzy for me again. I got visions of Bill Clinton on TV in my head but he keeps turning into George Clinton on and on. Then George Clinton is on stage, and I overhear Levon say "We still got money problems, son." Then Robbie hears a guitar maybe as good as his. And Levon sees the Man Who Don't Do Contracts, buts got money. Up north we can him Symbol Guy, and now he's jammin with Robbie. "OK" says Levon. "Maybe a little guitar." Oh yeh, there's three drummers playing. Then things get fuzzy again. The drumming is pounding in my head. On my head. I see a book "Primal Mind" hitting me upside the head. No, it's "Angela's Ashes". And my wife is yelling "feekin eejit." Then "David!" "David!" "What are you doing in the garage!?!" "Wake up." "The boys are up." "And I need your help."

And this Dream ends. I love the BAND. God bless both Robbie and Levon.

Fri Feb 5 23:39:13 MET 1999

Peter Viney

Wilonsky on Helm: Levon makes a powerful case that record labels “turn one individual” in every band, with solid examples. My question: does the label / management seek one or two individuals out, or does it happen because one will feel they have had greater creative input and will want to go solo? Columbia tried to dissuade Paul Simon from splitting Simon & Garfunkel, but he wanted to go. Stevie Nicks wanted to do her own records. McCartney and Lennon also. Jagger too (unsuccessfully). It is incredibly hard to keep a group of talented individuals on a joint path. I suspect that fragmentation is inevitable, even though in many cases it is financially disadvantageous to all concerned. If the original line-up were together now, would Levon really want to play along on Robbie’s Native American material? Would Robbie be happy going through “Caldonia” and “Crazy Mama” nightly?

Fri Feb 5 23:09:53 MET 1999

Ellarbee

To Brin: Thanks for the clarification. You can't get much better than Felice and Boudleaux Bryant. Just ask the Everly's. Come to think of it, wouldn't Rick's voice sound interesting were he ever to mix it in with Don and Phil's?

Fri Feb 5 22:00:32 MET 1999

Gotta Love Levon

Lee, I'm sure you'd just as soon have the dough, but you should take heart that you never were very good at the big suck-up so essential to success in business and politics. You should also probably not talk to a reporter who has pissed you off. Excuse yourself, call him back, better yet have him call you back. He's getting paid for it. You can't let some of these guys hear that tone or they'll hurt you. And don't forget who's buying ink by the barrel. Maybe you need a really good spin doctor. I know one who'd do it for free.

Fri Feb 5 21:53:24 MET 1999

Stanley Landau

Re: Two drummers. As early as the 1974 Before the Flood tour (by the way why was it called "Before the Flood"?) the Band had two drum kits set up on stage. Richard and Levon played drums together on "When You Awake" and also on "Mr. Jones" when Dylan moved to the piano. I always kind of felt that they did this to give Richard something to do on these songs, although it did create a nice solid back beat.

I saw The Band with the Cate Brothers twice, and I really felt that it was just too too much. Particularly the first time I saw them, I remember a lot of what sounded like wrong notes on the lead guitar parts. Jim Weider on the other hand is a much cleaner player in my opinion. He often replicates the original guitar parts precisely, and plays wonderful solos that are his own but at the same time reminiscent of the Robbie originals.

Donald Joseph: I have the Complete Last Waltz. The song starts off as Evangeline with superb vocals by Rick and Levon. It then changes into the Last Waltz song that is on the album, but Richard forgets the words, and gets messed up even more when the song changes key and then it all breaks down completely. I can't remember if there was an orchestra on it or not. I usually assume that any sound I don't immediately recognize is Garth doing his magic. One of the reviewers comments adversely on the performance of Acadian Driftwood. I disagree. I thought it was very well done, although as was the case with most of his singing that night, Richard's voice was strained and hoarse.

On another topic, I'm one of the guys who always figured that one day Robbie and Levon would patch things up and that a way would be found for Robbie to collaterate with the others without actually rejoining The Band and displacing Weider. (I actually kind of think that Weider and Robbie would be a great combo right up there with Richards and Woods but that's another subject). I always figured if Jagger and Richards patched it up and Lennon and McCartney patched it up, surely these two guys with their history and the possibility of re-creating some of the incredible music that they made together would eventually patch it up too. But after reading that article it's clear to me that I was dreaming and that it's never going to happen. I was really stunned by the level of animosity that Levon seems to have for Robbie. I remember seeing Levon interviewed with Richard Bell on Canadian TV around the time his book came out and he really downplayed the anti-Robbie sentiment in the book, and suggested that it was instigated by the publisher. He said that The Band travelled in different circles those days than Robbie and that they wished him well. As far as the royalties are concerned, who knows who was right and who was wrong, but brothers and friends don't screw each other financially and if Levon's allegations are true, then I don't blame him one bit. If there has been some misunderstanding, then maybe... ah but there I go again.

Fri Feb 5 21:33:03 MET 1999

donabie

Just found out that Peter Guralnick is arriving here on Sunday for three days to do press on new Elvis book

Fri Feb 5 20:15:06 MET 1999

john donabie

I met Peter Guralnick a few years ago in Memphis after the first book came out. He told me that researching for that first book was a joy. He had already began his second volume on Elvis, _Careless Love / The Unmaking of Elvis Presley. He told me that this was rather depressing, taking into account the latter years of Elvis' life. I believe that Peter is one of the finest authors on the subject of music....from Stax to Elvis & beyond.

Fri Feb 5 19:48:33 MET 1999

David Powell

To put things in perspective: When Elvis began his two year Army stint in 1958 his manager, Colonel Parker, forbade him from performing or recording, although the Army would have accomodated this. By limiting the product to what was already in the can, the Colonel sought to strengthen Elvis' position with RCA and keep the young public hungry for more.

The rock & roll craze that Elvis helped start had created a hugh following by this time. Elvis was temporarily on hold in the Army, while about the same time Little Richard had forsaken "the devil's music" to join the ministry, Chuck Berry was in prison for his "involvement" with a certain young lady, and Jerry Lee Lewis' career was in shambles after it was revealed that he had married his teenaged cousin.

To add to all this, on February 3, 1959, three rising stars of rock, Buddy Holly, Richie Valens & J.P. "Big Bopper" Richardson, were killed in a plane crash. All these events led to a vacuum in rock music; the public was hungry for more but product was in short supply.

Perhaps, one of the performers to benefit the most from this situation was young Ricky Nelson. Nelson, already a star on his family's groundbreaking weekly t.v. show, had persuaded his father Ozzie to allow him to perform a song every week on the show. Ozzie, ever the shrewd businessman, soon realized that millions of teenagers tuned in just to watch Ricky do his song and then immediately wanted to buy the 45 single. Ozzie helped his son recruit the best young back-up musicians to perform with him. Among them was the young master of the telecaster, James Burton, on lead guitar. Just a few years before as a teenager, Burton had made a name for himself playing the innovative lead on Dale Hawkins' hit "Suzie Q." Of course, Dale was Ronnie Hawkins' cousin, who himself had also been inspired to answer the call of rock & roll.

To bring this all back around, years later, James Burton would become a fixture in Elvis' touring band. Yes that's Burton playing lead on Elvis' version of Chuck Berry's "The Promised Land."

Fri Feb 5 19:44:49 MET 1999

Little Brother

Now that you mention it, I do remember someone treating me to a show at the Bijou in the post-Band era-- I can't begin to place the year, even the decade. Late Seventies? You tell me. I think it was everyone but Robbie, and I know Blondie Chaplin was playing guitar. Yet I remember so little of the actual set that I can't believe Garth was there-- I mean, I'm sure the club stage didn't have his monster keyboard setup, nor do I recall accordion.

So much for senile reminiscence; it's odd that my clearest memory is my worst: Rick did a sort of mocking, clownish, lizard lounge version of "Unfaithful Servant". We were in the balcony, and I always wondered if he was pissed off or wasted or just Not In The Mood and was being hassled or something. I assumed he felt as if he'd sung it a few million times too often.

On the other hand, we were seated near the door that turned out to be the one to/from their dressing room or ready room or whatever. So I got to SHAKE those actual living hands as they passed by coming & going-- they were real pleasant and friendly as they "ran the gauntlet"! That alone was worth the price of admission-- yes, John, Band fans do tend to feel deeply connected to those guys. The heart has its reasons that reason cannot know.

Fri Feb 5 19:36:18 MET 1999

brin

Raining in My Heart

Felice and Boudeleaux Bryant wrote 'RIMH.' Originally a B. Holly b side, it's often included on greatest-hits collections, including the two-disc 'Collection.' Danko also sang a verse or two at Watkins Glen, before the deluge.

Fri Feb 5 19:04:04 MET 1999

Ellarbee

To All: on the day after the "day the music died", it occurred to me that, in the discussion of "Not Fade Away" and the other Holly compositions performed by the Band (or members thereof), there's another song that's well worth a listen. I haven't heard it in quite some time, but I recall being mightily impressed with Rick's rendition of "Raining in my Heart", which I'm 90% sure was written by Buddy. Anyway, Rick's fine performance of this tune (no matter who wrote it!) is but one more testament of what that unique voice of his can do to, and for, the listener. "Raining in my Heart" is on the first CD of Ringo's All-Star Band (circa 1990), a live album including such other notables as Levon, Dr. John, Nils Lofgren, Clarence Clemons, and Joe Walsh. Their all-star group's version of "The Weight" is particularly well-delivered and enthusiastically received by the audience. Best to all.

Fri Feb 5 18:36:21 MET 1999

Peter Viney

Joe & Dexy: Elvis did 48 seconds of “I Shall be released” which is on “Walk A Mile In My Shoes”- The Essential 70s Masters. He also did “The Promised Land” after The Band covered it on “Moondog Matinee.” There’s a CD around of an Elvis imitator doing songs that Elvis might have covered had he lived. I heard the whole of it in Tower while browsing and nearly bought it. The name was suitably Presleyesque (like “The King” or whatever) but I don’t recall it. It’s a bit like the Big Daddy albums in concept but not as funny. I think it’s British. Anyone know? Anyway, there are no Band covers on it. “The Shape I’m In” would have been suitable for late-Elvis. I’ve just bought “Careless Love” the second Guralnik book so it looks like I’ll be listening to Elvis while I’m reading it.

Fri Feb 5 16:45:49 MET 1999

Dexy

Joe from London: Love the idea of Elvis doing STAGE FRIGHT -- can't get it out of my mind. How about Clapton doing TOO SOON GONE? Harrison on A LA GLORY? Or the Wilburys doing BOUND BY LOVE?

Fri Feb 5 16:40:43 MET 1999

David Powell

Take That Last Train To Memphis

The premise that Elvis Presley was and still is a major influence on the music & the culture of the twentieth century is hard to deny. Countless books, articles & movies have chronicled his tragic life. So why should anyone be interested in yet another book on the subject?

Perhaps there is no finer writer on the subject of music than Peter Guralnick. His second volume on Elvis, _Careless Love / The Unmaking of Elvis Presley_, was just printed by Little Brown. His first volume, _Last Train To Memphis / The Rise of Elvis Presley, printed in 1994, covered his life from birth up until the death of his mother & his induction into the Army in 1958, two significant events that would alter his life. _Careless Love_ picks up with his Army stint in Germany, tracing in precise detail, his life, eventual downfall & untimely death

Mr. Guralnick faced a daunting task, since Elvis rarely gave interviews or wrote anything himself about his experiences in life. Guralnick spent the better part of a decade researching the subject and extensively interviewing everyone he could who knew Elvis. The books are filled not only with fascinating details about Elvis' life, but also about the rock & roll music business as well. Mr. Guralnick writes with such vivid clarity, that one gets the feeling that they are experiencing the events first-hand, rather than just reading about them. Anyone who has a deep love for rock & roll should read Mr. Guralnick's books.

Fri Feb 5 16:15:50 MET 1999

The Philly Kid

Oh Yeah, one of the highlights of the Danko/Hall show was John Hall doing Whispering Pines solo. A total surprise and very moving. Richard Manuel must've been smiling. Reminds me of time I saw Rick Danko sing Unfaithful Servant solo accompanied only by a pre-recorded piano track payed over the sound system. Rick just just sat on a stool and sang his heart out. It was so good it gave me the shivers. The old Bijou was the place, early 80's. Anyone else remember?

Fri Feb 5 15:58:10 MET 1999

The Philly Kid

Decisions...Decisions. Yo, listen up. Tonight 2 great performers with connections to The Band. John Hammond at the Tin Angel site of an awesome Danko/John Hall show a few weeks back. Or...Mac Rebennack the good Doctor himself at the Keswick. Such a night! See youse there.

Fri Feb 5 15:07:13 MET 1999

Just Wonderin'

Peter Viney: Thanks for the info on Not Fade Away. Serge: If you don't have anything to say don't say anything at all. YOU don't know everything!

Fri Feb 5 14:25:49 MET 1999

Rick

What a sad read that Dallas/Levon story is. In the twilight of a great career all we hear is bitterness and regret. Maybe some of it is justified, but Lee just let it go and enjoy what's left.

Fri Feb 5 12:28:36 MET 1999

Gerard

Mercury Rev is playing here this weekend, and I was glad to read interviews in two newspapers wherein they pay tribute to Garth and Levon. For these guys the music of The Band is part of their roots.

Fri Feb 5 11:56:04 MET 1999

Peter Viney

Two drummers: Spinal Tap could have used a spare drummer.

On recent shows Van Morrison has used two drummers in an odd but interesting way. There’s a percussion player too, who I suppose is a THIRD drummer. For most of the show the two drummers take alternate songs, the spare one either sits with folded arms or shakes a tambourine. This is for all the swing / jazzy / bluesy material. Then when they start hitting the more characteristic Van material, about an hour in (like Tupelo Honey), both drummers suddenly start playing together and the sound really moves up a notch and it continues to the end. When I saw this in November I thought Van was working in a new drummer, but apparently there have been further shows, six weeks later, still with twin drummers. When you’ve had an hour with one and it switches, you appreciate the difference.

I thought The Cate Bros shows were muddy, judging by the two videos. Even if you use two drummers you don’t need two bass players and three keyboard players. And I’d rather hear Danko playing bass than strumming an acoustic guitar. I appreciate why they did it that way, so as not to break up the Cates’ band, and I have the Cate Bros own albums.

Fri Feb 5 11:37:15 MET 1999

Diamond Lil (again)

Almost forgot. Found one of those hidden treasures in the discount bin last night. "American Children" cd, which includes Rick doing "Blue Tail Fly". It brings up a question that I've had since I was small. Does anyone know what "Jimmy crack corn" means?

Fri Feb 5 11:29:02 MET 1999

Diamond Lil

Thanks Jan, for posting the most intriguing Levon interview/article. Not sure if I agree that Lee was goaded into anything though. Maybe he just got the opportunity to really speak his mind, and he did. Doesn't diminish any respect I have for the man at all. Truth hurts.

Phil from CA: Just want to metion that I saw a show in the 80's in New York City with 3 drummers onstage. Levon, Richard, and Terry Cagle. Can't remember what tune they did, but I remember being blown away by the 3 of em drumming.

Little John Tyler: A napkin? Geez...that's been done. Can honestly say it was the first time Rick ever signed a poster of Buffett and I'm probably the only one in the world who has a memento like that. Wasn't even the autograph I was after as I have several from over the years. It's just that the poster was there, Rick was there, and what the hell....

Fri Feb 5 08:39:20 MET 1999

Ilkka

RE: POWELL AND GODFREY - about the quietness.

So right you are. My experience is that the drummers, lead guitarists and singers are worst in dominating the fellow musicians. In The Band these three functions live in balance (as they will do in Guestbook Band, I'm sure!) - John Mayall have played without a drummer. With a flute and a classical style guitar picking it was - may I say chamber-blues with plenty of room for everyone.

Fri Feb 5 07:55:45 MET 1999

Donald Joseph

Query for you dogs who were lucky enough actually to be at the Last Waltz or who have ready access to the complete bootleg: Monster-man Serge provide 4 indispensable CONTEMPORANEOUS articles reviewing the concert (now on this site). The reviewers, to a man, make a big deal about the brand-new song "The Last Waltz," the lyrics to which were held up on cue cards. Is this just the tossed-off ditty on TLW side 6 ("it's the last waltz with you/But that don't mean that the dance is over") -- or is this some separate, new lost Band song?

Also, the TLW album implies the INSTRUMENTAL 3/4 time "Last Waltz" waltz tune was played live with the orchestra & the Band (side 1 cut 1), as well as done in the studio (side 6). But the reviews don't mention the new instrumental. Was it really played live with the Band & orchestra -- or is the album guilty of fraud?

Fri Feb 5 07:14:18 MET 1999

Serge

Joseph: Levon toured extensively with the Cates bros. prior to 1983. His cousin Terry Cagle was the Cates' drummer. He was kin. Meanwhile Beak was doing his own thing. In 1983 or so Garth, Rick and Richard were called in to give rebirth to "the Band" as you know. A guitarist was needed, and Levon did not want to break up the Cates. Personally I loved the sound. Garth could do his horn playing and still have an organ in the background, Levon could mandolin and still have Beak on piano, etc...When Weider came along it was a different story. Levon was the lone drummer then, until Manuel passed on. (I have a video of a Band concert with that combination). You know the rest. Now there's no choice.

Fri Feb 5 06:50:57 MET 1999

Phil

Good point D.J. It's not like Levon or Richard ever drummed together(except for maybe at TLW because of too many keyboard players on a particular tune). Two drummers has always sounded like one too many, IMHO.

Fri Feb 5 06:43:27 MET 1999

Donald Joseph

Whew! That Dallas Levon article is...an adult dose!

It's a milestone, kids: You can circle the date of that article on your calendar as the final date on which it became absolutely clear that Levon & Robbie would never share a stage/studio again in their lives.

Levon's book was not pro-Robbie, but the bile in his tone has gotten increasingly bitter, until now he's a caraciture of the angry man. Interestingly, he had little concrete to say against Robbie, other than that Robbie was the guy whom the recording establishment wooed and turned. (Levon doesn't raise his steal-songwriting-credits beef at all.) And Levon's bitterness at getting screwed by the record companies, although I suppose totally well-founded, is over-kill. What's the point in speaking out that way? Levon purposts to be "warning" new young bands coming up -- but surely he doesn't expect even one group of garage-practicing teens to walk away from a major-label record deal just because Levon didn't nail down his paperwork with Warner Bros. on the Last Waltz project, put in the can before today's punks were born. So what IS the point?

Fri Feb 5 06:39:05 MET 1999

BANDMAN

THIS IS TO RICK DANKO. YOU AND GARTH PLAYED A CONCERT AT THE ROXY THEATRE IN NORTHAMPTON PA. CANT RECALL EXACTLY HOW MANY YERAS AGO.IT HAS TO BE FOUR OR FIVE. I AND MY WIFE HAD A GREAT TIME. ERIC ANDERSON WAS THERE WITH YOU.A LOCAL CRITIC REALLY TRASHED THE SHOW IN THE NEWSPAPER. THERE WAS A FOLLOW UP ARTICLE IN WHICH YOU WERE QOUTED AS SAYING YOU THOUGHT THE SHOW WAS SUBPAR AND HOPED YOU COULD COME BACK AGAIN AND PLAY THE ROXY AGAIN TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT, SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT. ANYWAY, THERE HOLDING CONCERTS THERE AGAIN SO I HOPE YOU CAN KEEP YOUR PROMISE BECAUSE MY WIFE AND I HAVE A NEW BAND FAN IN THE FAMILY SINCE THE LAST CONCERT. AT ALMOST 3 1/2 YEARS OLD ,HES NOT TO GOOD WITH THE LYRICS YET. HE SINGS THE NIGHT THEY DROVE OLD MIXEY DOWN. BUT HE RECOGNIZES GREAT, GREAT MUSIC ALREADY. I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE HIM THERE TO SEE YOU AGAIN. BRING THE WHOLE BAND THIS TIME. THANKS RICK, AND GARTH FOR A GREAT SHOW THE LAST TIME LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER ONE IN NORTHAMPTON , PA.

Fri Feb 5 06:07:15 MET 1999

Donald Joseph

I said I didn't understand why, when The Band reformed in '83, they had the big 2-drummer etc. sound. So monster Serge ridicules me for not realizing "after Richard's passing" they needed someone to fill in on drums, as Richard had. To which I respond:

They toured the planet several times over from '83 to "Richard's passing" -- why did they need the Cate Bros., other players, AND Richard? RICHARD WAS WITH THEM THEN.

They're all multi-instrumentalists, & their new sidemen are or could be multiinstrumentalists. Just because they do indeed need a guy to fill in on drums on those few tunes where Levon steps out from behind the kit doesn't mean they need a full-time second drummer & a bunch of other hangers-on thickening the sound.

Fri Feb 5 04:44:12 MET 1999

Little John Tyler

I just finished reading the Levon interview article posted here (thanks Jan) from the Dallas newspaper, and now I gotta get outside for few deep breaths of cold, crisp air. But it's "must reading" for Guestbook regulars.

Anybody seen a February entertainment schedule for Levon's club yet?

DIAMOND LIL: Why would you give Rick a Jimmy Buffett poster to sign, of all things? No napkins handy?

Fri Feb 5 02:40:02 MET 1999

Mitt Stampler

Anyone who'd like to chat, please send me a message--I work 12 hours a day in software and would love to talk to other Band fans after settling down at night with the DeWar's. Yeah, I know that means I stare at a screen most of my waking hours Mon-Fri. But on weekends when I get out and fish no matter how cold it is. Otherwise, as LeVon Helm wrote about Martin Scorsese, I'd never see the sun or breathe fresh air, though there's precious little of either here in the Bay State, at least this part of it. TTYS--Mitt

Fri Feb 5 00:51:38 MET 1999

Paul Godfrey

Overheard and remembered from the Last Waltz: On hearing Neil Young do Helpless..."oh isn't that wonderful...he wrote a song about California!" After Neil's apology to Robbie..."looks like ole Neils gone and got drunk again!" From a fellow Canadian "Like a sip of this Alberta sipping whiskey?...you did say you wuz from Canada eh?" Young Blue eyed blonde...Wow..Neil Diamond...oh groovy!" Any other overheard comments remembered?

Fri Feb 5 00:42:21 MET 1999

Farmer !

I LOVE IT!! CAN'T WAIT TIL fEB.27 SEEYA AT THE planet high bbridge! N.J. great job as always!!

Fri Feb 5 00:02:14 MET 1999

john donabie

Stanley Landau From: Toronto writes....

Paul Godfrey: I was at that club on Dixie Road when Dr. John and Levon joined Ronnie Hawkins. I seem to recall that it was a Hawkins gig and word got out on local radio stations that Levon and Dr. John were going to be there. I remember Levon coming off the stage with a glass of white wine in one hand, and I shook his other hand. A memorable experience. No recollection of John Donabie being there, but then again I can't remember what I had for lunch yesterday.

Stanley I was sitting at the front table and then Ronnie asked Paul Godfrey and I to sing back up vocals on the last tune. I do have the tape and I realize why Paul and I never became singers, in the real sense of the word.

Fri Feb 5 00:00:38 MET 1999

you already know, dontcha

Jan, good job including the Dallas asshole's article. I immensely enjoyed reading the article. This guy defintiely had an axe to grind! He also must own a crystal ball----he seems to know why Richard killed himself (he clued all us readers into his personal analysis) --- and yeah he DEFINITELY was doing some IMMENSE button pushing...he had to be really goading Levon in an area where he would get an emotional response. But i was glad to have the chance to read it.."i'd stay up all night drinking dirty water for one chance to kick them in the nuts" LOved that quote! I guess we can all agree that it is probably a good thing Levon didn't work with guy on his book! (BUT--- on the other hand....hahaha) I dont imagine Levon wants to retract one letter and furthermore....Mister Martin Score -sese..why dont you kiss Levon's redneck Arkansas ass! (you Hollywood fucking weirdo!) there I feel much better

Thu Feb 4 23:33:07 MET 1999

John Doe

I just checked the music section of that Dallas Observer site. They have a piece on the great Roky Erickson that is saturated with gossip and speculations too. Jan, your web site is good but please be a bit more careful with what you chose to include here. We don't need this kind of crap repeated at The Band site.

Thu Feb 4 23:04:04 MET 1999

Serge

Thank you Ellarbee, I am with you. Thank you Jan.

Thu Feb 4 23:01:30 MET 1999

Ellarbee

Hats off to Jan for including the Wilonsky article from the Dallas newspaper. I hated some of the editorializing, particularly comments in which the Band in its current incarnation is portrayed as merely something that Levon just "hauls around" from place to place. That truly offended. But other parts of the article are much more charitable toward our boys. And, hey, there's BAD BLOOD, is there not? So, let's allow Jan to clue us in to the articles that discuss this unfortunate reality of the Band. Look, we'd all like some happy ending to the Robbie/Levon thing, wouldn't we? They were brothers once, we think; surely they can be brothers again. Not likely. Time and emotions are running out. So, let's just accept that the rift will always be there, appreciate what they all have accomplished together and apart, and learn to live the occasional spewing of vinegar. Life is a carnival, after all. Lots of fright, happiness, and ugliness, too. We can handle it all, Jan, as long as it's reasonably well-written. And say what you like about Wilonsky's piece, but it was, indeed, a very good read.

Thu Feb 4 22:57:33 MET 1999

Joe

Peter Viney Surely it's nonsensical to say that MM doesn't compare with the first 3 creatively: it's an album of covers, a tribute to rock and roll (their roots) but reworked in The Band style: you cannot compare like with like. To my mind The Band at the top of their form could have played anything and made it sound good and here they did. One of the things I hate about rock criticim is the continuous categorisation: into musical genres and into good/bad. It becomes almost Knee jerk. Fr'instance: artists like The Band, Nanci Griffith, Emmylou aren't country or folk or rock, but critics have to classify them. What are Mercury Rev, what are Massive Attack: they're mixes of different influences and styles. Similarly: "MfBP and TB are classic albums the rest deteriorates, anything Elvis did after the army was crap" according to the critics. The truth is surely more complex: MfBP was creatively probably miles ahead of any other Band album (or anyone else) but as a collection of music, I'd rate MM and NLSC as second only to the TB (also tell me a better Elvis song than Stranger in my Own Hometown??!!Imagine the Band doing that !)

On RR dominating live, I saw The Band at Wembley in 71 (?) with CSNY and my dominant memory is Rick leading, dancing and generally "the man in the spotlight". PS On Elvis/Band swaps (a category I've just invented) imagine Elvis performing Stagefright??Woh...

Thu Feb 4 22:28:52 MET 1999

Peter Viney

Just wondering from Texas: You probably did hear Levon singing NOT FADE AWAY. It's the title track of a Buddy Holly tribute album (Decca DRND 11260) from 1996 and is by "The Band & The Crickets". It's a great album ranging from ghoulish material by "Buddy Holly & The Hollies" (new backing on an old track) to fine renditions of Holly numbers by Nanci Griffith, the Tractors, Mark Knopler, Suzy Bogguss & Los Lobos. As David posted, "The Day The Music Died" just hit its 40th anniversary.

Thu Feb 4 19:42:36 MET 1999

Peter Viney

Dexy's right - I've never seen the three recent albums as cut outs, either in the UK or the US and they are still around. JUBILATION, he re in the UK, is still an import at a premium import price. Yes, Wilonsky had an axe to grind and I think he did deliberately push buttons. Fascinating read though. Levon tells Capitol where to get off (which might be a mistake, but sounds well-deserved).

Thu Feb 4 19:24:04 MET 1999

greg

freddie/lil: i'll be happy to send you a copy of the aforementioned newspaper ad promoting the band/buffett gig i attended. however, you'll have to wait unitl next week as my bandmates, jack daniels and i are headed to a weeekend of music/merry-making in the seductive backwoods of hocking county, ohio. freddie, i'm full of it all right...full of great musical memories, standing in the mud twenty feet from the stage watching the boys play their hearts out...especially garth, who performed a searing solo during "difference." as for the possible levon/jimmy collaboration, i can't verify that one way or the other. as i mentioned, i don't do buffett and left immediately following the bands' set. tell your contact to do his homework :-)

Thu Feb 4 18:58:34 MET 1999

Trikywu

Just read the Levon Helm article. Seems like our American son had a bad day. Yes, he can pour on the vitriol. He should temper his words, cause he doesn't come off well. I have never met the man, but truly believe he is a gracious, nice person. I hope he's having better days since that interview.

Thu Feb 4 18:09:28 MET 1999

Paul Godfrey

The Beverley Hill Motor Hotel...Thanks Bill. Stanley do you remember what the destination sign said on the front of Levon's bus on that occassion? "The President" Many enjoy that great sense of humour that only the Band can hand out from time to time. Yes..Ronnie held court there for what turned out to be an old home week with so many friends dropping in from "Days Gone By." Shine On!

Thu Feb 4 18:00:56 MET 1999

Dexy

Beyond Levon, one problem I have with the Dallas article is the references to all '90s Band CDs being in the discount bins. Where I live, they are still stocking JUBILATION and I often see JERICHO -- neither in the discount bins. Seems to me that while JERICHO's no THRILLER in the sales department, it must have done okay, all things considered. Same with JUBILATION.

Thu Feb 4 17:40:29 MET 1999

Peter Viney

Wilonsky on Helm: Of course it’s disquieting. I thought the beginning comments on health were both tasteless and deliberately cruel. It’s also extremely well-written, and doesn’t pussyfoot around its theme. And yes, of course it should be here. This isn’t a cheerleaders’ association, and Levon revoices what he feels in extreme terms. It’s one of the major pieces on The Band in the last few years. There are some oddities. Helm “insists the stories aren’t true” about the rest selling shares to RR, though I thought these stories first appeared in his autobiography. If we want to be anorak (= obsessively picky), I thought “He Don’t love You” was the B-side and “The stones I Throw” was the A side. Good quotes from Marcus, including

“I don’t think (Levon) has a clue as to how permanent his contribution to our culture is and how deep it is and how recognized it is.”

Nice positive remarks on “Jubilation”. Levon feels The Band are under-appreciated and he’s right. I can see how those of you who are personal friends of Levon’s are going to be so angry about the first page that you won’t be able to read the rest calmly. But you should try. It’s by no means entirely negative.

Ben Pike: I think Greil Marcus wrote more about Harmonica Frank than anyone else ever did. Correct name is “Harmonica Frank Floyd” and as well as recording for Chess, which was re-released on Sun, he released an album on “a self-owned label in the 50s” (which could be one listed as catalog # “Puritan 1003” in one guide) then another on Barrelhouse in 1975 called “Harmonica Frank Floyd”. According to the Guinness Encyclopedia his “Rockin’ Chair Daddy” is a precursor of Elvis. That’s all my reference stuff throws up, and I don’t think I’ve ever knowingly heard any of his songs. Looks like one for the second-hand stores. Happy browsing. I’m going to look too.

Joe: I like “Moondog Matinee” too and enjoy it every time. I just don’t think it can be compared to the first three in terms of creativity. Performance is great, but creatively they were marking time. Not wasting time at all, just passing it. On NLSC they were back on full power. I did a long article on “Moondog Matinee” on the site, and have another in the new “Jawbone #6” on “Cahoots”. It’s just out and has the theme of 1971. Lee’s found some great interviews and cuttings.

Thu Feb 4 17:19:11 MET 1999

David Powell

Paul Godfrey indeed brought up an interesting point. An accomplished musician not only knows what to play & when to play it, but also what & where not to play. Spaces allow the music room to breathe, adding natural resonance to the notes. Almost all young & inexperienced musicians are guilty, at one time or another, of trying to play too much, as if they'll forget all those little riffs if they don't get to play them every chance they get. The sign of experience is knowing what essential part to play in just the right place.

In the context of the music of The Band, with three vocalists & varied instrumentation, the members of the group left spaces so as to not step on each other's toes. With all that was going on in the music, there was a sense of spaciousness rather than clutter.

Thu Feb 4 17:08:28 MET 1999

Dexy

Well, now, I'm at very least tied as Levon's number one fan. Like so many others, I've had the odd chance to meet him, and found him almost absurdly kind, gracious and generous with his time. The cat can sing, the cat can play, the cat can act, and as I told my wife, "He does the best Levon Helm of them all." Now -- the Dallas article. First of all -- pretty good writing (except the part about all five Hawks singing on the 1956 b-side -- I doubt that.) I gather the writer got most of the quotes right, and I think it's fair to say he got Mr. Helm on a ... bad day. But -- I would sure rather Jan include any and all such articles than to imagine that we fans can't handle the good with the bad. I've taken Bill King's BEATLEFAN for years, and one reason is because it doesn't give every damn Beatle-related item or release a glowing review. Obviously, subscribers are fans, but that doesn't mean every critic (or reader) is going to approve every John, Paul, George & Ringo product 100 percent. If this site only included raves and accolades, what credibility would it have? I'm for including anything Jan has the time and patience to include -- good or bad, even if it doesn't show my favorite musician in the best light.

Thu Feb 4 17:00:57 MET 1999

Mike

Paul Godfrey's comments on how important the spaces and what was left out in the Band's music really hits the mark I think. Even in the latter work the fact that there were more layers in the mix or more players on the stage still does obscure the clarity of the music. These guys always seemed to play to each other and for the song. Lately here there has been some opinions expressed about how Robbie took too many solos and hogged the spotlight. I really don't agree. Even in The Last Waltz he and Garth trade solos like the singers trade verses. I think that's a very overlooked facet of their instrumental style. Robbie with the Band was always noted for understatement and I remember many people wishing he would rock out more with the Band the way he did with Dylan. He made it clear that Dylan asked him to "solo my ass off" as he put it. The short solos and fills that he peppered thru The Last Waltz were so full of feeling and fit the songs so well. I have heard many musicians play twice as long and say much less. The Boys always played together. More than once when I heard them live I would think to myself that it was like being allowed into a private session where the musicians play for the love of the music.

Thu Feb 4 16:51:13 MET 1999

Richard

I think I can see the validity of where John Doe is coming from (about the recent Levon interview), but I'm of the opinion that at least for the sake of the complete record of the Band's ongoing history we should have access even to the negative press. And I think we can all see that the interviewer has something of an ax to grind, that he thinks the current Band is a joke (he more or less says so), and that he no doubt egged Levon on (i.e. he knew which "buttons to push"). No context is given for how these angry remarks were prompted by the interviewer's questions, which I would assume were not neutral, cheery, innocuous little questions about the Band's "heritage." What we do know is that once upon a time Levon was an angry young man, the real spitfire of the Band. Now he's an angry old man, and he's still the spitfire of the group. Good. Give 'em hell Levon, including that snot-nosed reporter down in Texas.

Thu Feb 4 15:54:41 MET 1999

Bill Munson

Re: the Hawkins/Helm/Dr John show in Toronto in the late '70s, the one that I was at took place at the Beverley Hills Motor Inn at Jane and Wilson. I'm pretty sure one of the main Hawks-related books (Hawkins, Helm and Hoskyns) has a photo. For the finale, it was Hawkins on voice, Helm on guitar and singing "Washer Woman", Ken Kalmusky on bass, Jack deKeyzer on guitar, Carl Mather on guitar and fiddle, Jerry Penfound on sax, King Biscuit Boy on harp, Dr John on piano (displacing Martin Short's brother Mike), Gary Oatridge on drums, Pat Travers on guitar and singing "Johnny Be Goode", some other guy from the RCO All-Stars on sax mouthpiece (!). The word was that Fleetwood Mac (who were playing that night - possibly at the same Ex Stadium that just got torn down) would show up too, but didn't get there before I left when the bar closed (1:00 am).

Hawkins' gig at the Beverley Hills was probably a week-long thing, as I went twice. Once where the lineup above appeared, and once, earlier in the week, without special guests. I think it was at this earlier show that John Donabie introduced me to Larry Leishman from the band Rhinoceros. Playing in the sleazier, smaller pub next door, but still in the same hotel, was a guy named Doug Billard, who sang one of the great non-Toronto (he was from Halifax) sub-Hawks, Bo-Diddley-beat records, "Loading Coal" by the Five Sounds.

Thu Feb 4 15:46:11 MET 1999

Serge (again)

Just noticed "SWEATING,WONDERING's" entry. He must have just landed from another planet.

Thu Feb 4 15:36:34 MET 1999

Serge

JOSEPH: Richard Manuel could play drums. After his passing, did you expect Levon to wear a harmonica strap a la Dylan while drumming, whenever a tune called for a harp. Or carry on the back beat with some invisible hands while "mandolining" ? Use your head, or the monster will bite you on the ass.

Thu Feb 4 15:19:54 MET 1999

Just Wonderin'

I sweat I heard Levon singing "Not Fade Away" on a record the other night while I was eating dinner. Any comments? Maybe that margarita was too strong!?

Thu Feb 4 14:58:32 MET 1999

John Doe

Why did you include the new Dallas article about Levon? This web site should support the Band, and not reprint negative articles like that one.

Thu Feb 4 14:56:18 MET 1999

Stanley Landau

Paul Godfrey: I was at that club on Dixie Road when Dr. John and Levon joined Ronnie Hawkins. I seem to recall that it was a Hawkins gig and word got out on local radio stations that Levon and Dr. John were going to be there. I remember Levon coming off the stage with a glass of white wine in one hand, and I shook his other hand. A memorable experience. No recollection of John Donabie being there, but then again I can't remember what I had for lunch yesterday.

Thu Feb 4 13:36:45 MET 1999

pepper

YOU HAVE A VERY COOL PAGE, BE SURE TO VISIT PEPPER SCOTT'S WEB TELEVISION SOMETIME, FEATURING A VARIETY OF INTERNET TV PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING THE ARTS, BAND SHOWCASING, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY,COMEDY AND MUCH MORE...

Thu Feb 4 08:52:45 MET 1999

Jan H.

Donald J.,
I have some information about the Chili Bros. and their '88 effort Empty Bottles at http://theband.hiof.no/albums/empty_bottles.html.

Thu Feb 4 07:01:53 MET 1999

Donald Joseph

Ragtime, of course you're a monster.

Serge, you're a monster in both senses of the word.

When the Band reformed in '83 I was surprised at their big sound with all the Cates -- they've rarely, since reforming, played as "The Band" without taking the stage with well over 5 players. I've always wondered why, & longed for the old sparser line-up. Levon, especially, has (since reforming) seemed to need a Grateful-Dead/Little Feat-like double drummer/percussion format, both live & in the studio -- strange for one of the great rock-'n'-roll drummers of all time.

Everyone speaks of the Cate Bros., but how many of you remember the CHILI Bros.? That was a band Ricky was tied up with in the late 80's. I caught a Ricky show in Greenwich Village NY in the late '80's, on New Year's Eve (shades of ROA), & the Chilis were Ricky's back-up band & opening act. At the show they were hawking an album -- 1988's "Empty Bottles" album, on which Ricky sings backup vocals on 3 tracks, most engagingly on the title track. I've still got the l.p. -- do any of you? I need to check if Jan's site even mentions these Chili Bros.or Rick's contributions to their album -- I never hear of them on this guestbook. Whatever happened to 'em?

Y'all's talk of the Band opening for CSN reminds me of when I saw the Band open for CSN -- in Cincinnati, at Riverbend (outdoors), in summer (July or Aug.) of '85. I too left before CSN. My excuse was I'd just gotten out of law school, & I had to take the Ohio bar exam the very next day, in Columbus (110 miles away)! Everyone told me I was an idiot to catch a rock concert the night before the bar exam in a different city -- but I answered that if I could write my bar exam answers as well as The Band play rock & roll, I'd be sure to pass. (Seeing the Band the night before was, for me, INSPIRATIONAL studying, if not substantive studying.)

I passed.

Thu Feb 4 05:42:12 MET 1999

Dave Z

Donald J: Sorry, no Buddy Guy connection here (Ragtime makes a better monster than me anyhow). I just got the Brown CD (Opps there goes the rest of the monster), and is it my imagination or do a couple of the songs either start abruptly or fade out quickly? I am not complaining because I love it. I had never heard the original Dixie before with that haunting harmonica (at least I think that's what it is). Regarding NLSC, I like some of the funky guitar grooves that end songs like Ring Your Bell and Forbidden Fruit. For those fortunate enough to see them do NLSC live, did they extend any of these songs into longer jams?

Thu Feb 4 05:34:42 MET 1999

Blind Willie McTell

I vaguely recall some crazy Canadian gov't rule back in the 1970's which stated that every headlining group or person, had to have a Canadian band as the opening act.

The townsfolk were outraged but the law held. The Band opened the show for Linda R. because of a technicality.

Thu Feb 4 04:56:14 MET 1999

Pat Brennan

Paul and Stanley, as various members of the Band have said, it seems those first two albums were conceived and molded at a very low volume, where Stage Fright and the ensuing albums reflected a growing stage volume. Sadly, they also may have been reacting to what was going on around them. I saw them at Watkins Glen, and it was humorous to witness two sets by the Dead with this massive wall of amps then see the boys come out, Rick with an Ampeg, Robbie with some small Fender amp, Levon with his little drumset.Still, they played unbelievably well that afternoon and sounded every bit as big as the Dead, without the interminable soloing. Also, my thanks to the Canadian contingent for the wonderful memories of the various concerts. BTW, there is a set list of the Varsity show in the tape library which shows Instrumental into Just Another Whistle Stop. It also lists Genetic Method into Cripple Creek. Can that be true?

Thu Feb 4 04:08:49 MET 1999

Paul Godfrey

Stanley...I really like the Cate Brothers. Found one of their albums in a 99 cent bin on time. It really was a great album. Also have some poor quality cassette tapes of a show the Cates did with Levon at a club in Cambridge Ontario. I really enjoyed the way they turned out " USA

Paul and Stanley, as various members of the Band have said, it seems those first two albums were conceived and molded at a very low volume, where Stage Fright and the ensuing albums reflected a growing stage volume. Sadly, they also may have been reacting to what was going on around them. I saw them at Watkins Glen, and it was humorous to witness two sets by the Dead with this massive wall of amps then see the boys come out, Rick with an Ampeg, Robbie with some small Fender amp, Levon with his little drumset.Still, they played unbelievably well that afternoon and sounded every bit as big as the Dead, without the interminable soloing. Also, my thanks to the Canadian contingent for the wonderful memories of the various concerts. BTW, there is a set list of the Varsity show in the tape library which shows Instrumental into Just Another Whistle Stop. It also lists Genetic Method into Cripple Creek. Can that be true?

Thu Feb 4 04:08:49 MET 1999

Paul Godfrey

Stanley...I really like the Cate Brothers. Found one of their albums in a 99 cent bin on time. It really was a great album. Also have some poor quality cassette tapes of a show the Cates did with Levon at a club in Cambridge Ontario. I really enjoyed the way they turned out "Rock n'Roll Shoes." Speaking of rare cassette tapes we must ask Donabie if he recalls a cassette that is floating around with him singing "Peepin & Hiding..Baby What You Want Me to Do." John sang a duet with a real good singer from Peterborough, Ontario one night at a club out on Dixon Road, Toronto backed up on stage by Levon on Drums and Mack the Dr. on piano. (can't recall who played guitar. It was sort of a Ronnie Hawkins reunion of old friends. You will find a photo of that evening on the Hawks sight with: Ronnie, Gordon Lightfoot, Wanda (Mrs. Hawkins) et al. Sorry John! You do have a copy of that tape...right?

Thu Feb 4 03:17:41 MET 1999

Spider John

Jerry Garcia passed away on August 9, 1995. Jimmy's August 11, 1995 show was dedicated to Jerry and included Jimmy's performance of Uncle John's Band. Jimmy donned a Deadhead shirt for the occasion. It seems unlikely to me that 1 day later, with The Band allegedly in the house, all the boys wouldn't have joined the stage for such a tribute, let alone collaborating on either a Band or old rock & roll tune. Yet none of the three fans who claim to have been at the show said boo about any of this. Thanks for all the JB plugs though guys.

Thu Feb 4 03:03:09 MET 1999

Charlie Young

Dylan's been doing "Not Fade Away" in his concerts this week as an apparent tribute to the 40th anniversary of the Buddy Holly plane crash. Buddy sang "love that's love will not fade away," and neither will his legacy...

Thu Feb 4 02:36:35 MET 1999

Stanley Landau

Paul Godfrey: You make a very important point about The Band's music. You can really hear the spaces in the music on the first two albums. It seems to me that after they went from playing in concert hall type venues to arenas and stadiums in the first half of 1970, in their live performances, they opted for a bigger, guitar dominated sound. Contrast say the understated breaks and bridges all over the Brown Album with the big sound of Before the Flood and The Last Waltz. I really like most of Rock of Ages, but I never thought the big brass fit that well with their sound. Anytime I saw them play before June of 1970, Robbie would always make a point of playing acoustic guitar on The Weight and Rockin' Chair but then that changed and Robbie played electric on these songs. Rockin' Chair in particular never sounded right to me with electric guitar and maybe that's why they took it out of the repetoire. I always thought it unfortunate that when The Band reformed in the 80's and started playing the smaller places again, they didn't go back to the sparse sound of the early years and instead added the Cate brothers for a while.

Thu Feb 4 02:28:04 MET 1999

Diamond Lil

Chris/Scott/Greg: Not trying to add fuel to the fire, but there's something I want to add to the Band/Jimmy Buffett debate. I have a poster of Jimmy that I asked Rick Danko to autograph for me last year. He did. I find it kind of ironic though that he never mentioned ever opening for or playing with Jimmy Buffett. Not sure who's right or who's wrong here, But I too am intrigued and would like some more details about this show that neither Jan's site or the Buffett site had any record of.

Thu Feb 4 02:27:18 MET 1999

Freddy Fishstick

Greg/Stephen/Chris

I know Jimmy Buffett, Jimmy Buffett is a close friend of mine and yous guys are no friends of Buffett! I cannot conceive of The Band being on the same stage as Jimmy. However, if they all was there is no way that they wouldnt have joined the stage to collaborate. As two Southern Boys with deep roots in the Gulf Jimmy & Levon would absolutely have done some tunes together. In none of your posts does anybody mention such a colloboration, nor the absence of it. Anybody paying such bucks woulda stayed around to see if they joined forces. IMHO you are all likely full of it. As i said before I hope I am proven wrong.

Thu Feb 4 02:27:01 MET 1999

Ben Pike

OK Vinney, I got one for ya. I recently got the Sun Records best of box on Rhino. There is a song from Harmonica Frank, you know, the guy written about in Mystery Train(you know, the book that has so much about The Band). Tnang is, the song on the collection, "Swamp Root" is dismissed as Marcus as minor among the seven songs Frank did record. Maybe, allthough it sure is an interesting tune! Anyway, you ever hear the other Harmonica Frank tunes? Got any comment about them? Anyway in God's Green Earth they are available on CD?

Thu Feb 4 01:46:25 MET 1999

Paul Godfrey

A question for those who are musicians. Is it possible that the most important thing about the Band and their music is....they knew what to leave out?

Thu Feb 4 00:50:17 MET 1999

Stanley Landau

I too think NLSC is an excellent album and I don't agree that it is overproduced, at least not in any negative way. I hear a lot of Garth having a great time in the early days of the synthesizer. I hear some vocals and guitar parts double tracked and I hear Byron Berline's wonderful fiddle playing. Everything else sounds pretty much like it did on the earlier albums in terms of production. I love all the songs on the album and it ranks with the first three albums on my list. Acadian Driftwood is probably one of my top 10 Band songs, and if Robbie was trying to recapture the quality of Dixie, I think he came close to succeeding.

As far as Cahoots is concerned, it too has some great songs but also some that don't rise to the high standard of The Band (in my opinion). Oddly, I rather like Moon Struck One probably because Richard sings it, and I don't think there is any song that Richard sang that I don't like. I say "oddly" because there seems to be a consensus on this site that it is not a good song.

Since there seems to be a lot of talk about Toronto Band concerts, do any of you guys remember the concert at the Borough of York stadium? I seem to recall that it was not up to the Band's usual standards - they didn't seem too happy to be there and almost didn't play the obligatory encore.

Thu Feb 4 00:43:49 MET 1999

catbalu

DONALD JOSEPH – Darlin, I meant that as a compliment. I like you - pick on me anytime, just don't expect serious NOTHIN from me (the south is determined to keep a wheel in the ditch). I'm off the clock in here… MITT - yes, yes, twas from a Band song "tell the tale" they said, or of late, "tell me a story, lay it down".... Do a SEARCH on Jan's lyric search and i bet you find it. Today, the core of our BandDaddy Caravan turned 50. what a tale there, lead singer in a zip band in the Mekong Valley while his sweet Bessie girl, all of sixteen then, waited all alone in SF, long way from home... he's very sick now too (hence the girl party for his Woman of the Highest Order). We've already lost 3 in the past 12 months. Diamond Lil, thought of you more than once that night. They had to sell their place on the river called "Cripple Creek" 2 years ago, reeling in the years. So glad some of you had the chance to be THERE, tho. no envy, just "tell me more, tell me more" - name that tune. MY story is...got free and on my own and John Travolta and the Disco Ducks take over the music scene. I will NEVER forgive him, no matter how much he's "evolved" from life with gorilla hair. Don't get me started. PLANET WAVES - So THAT'S the tragic flaw. I knew there was one thing missing..... Change the Lead Singer! Yes. My favorite album because nobody is trying to achieve perfection, everybody sounds....out of tune alittle, sideways-happy, loose and alive. But YES! Let Rick and Richard dig it! i can hear it.......... Can't imagine Ragtime, Ikka, Mike, or Jan ever hurting a fly...or walking away. IMO that's the stuff our generation is made of. Let the fire burn to keep you all warm.

Wed Feb 3 23:10:55 MET 1999

Ragtime

Donald Joseph: being called a monster by you is like being inducted into the guestbook's Hall Of Fame... I realize you'll never do me this honour (sob):-)

NLSC overproduced? Jupiter Hollow maybe, but what about the wonderful & underrated Rags & Bones? And what about the unpretentious & lovely Hobo Jungle? Jens Magnus is not the only one who loves it. Acadian Driftwood makes me feel the winter in my blood. I never cared so much for Ophelia, but Ring Your Bell is wonderful. I am glad Twilight never made it to the album.

Re Planet Waves: if Rick had sung "You Angel You" & Richard "Going, Going, Gone" these would have been perfect Band songs. Thus spoke Ragtime.

Wed Feb 3 22:43:21 MET 1999

Joe

Charlie Young: thanks for identifying Copper kettle (it was bugging me!)

Donald Joseph: I agree that NLSC does have overproduced bits in it. I'v always struggled with Jupiter Hollow. But some tracks hardlt get a mention in "best of" lists: like Ring that Bell a great Band rocker with lots of swapping of lead vocals. Some of Richard's singing with his that beautiful mournfiul nasal sound is his best IMHO (Rags, Bone). As for Acadian D: it compares with Aint No more Cane for most equally share vocal in their whole output. that lovely lyric : but what hurt the most was when the people there said you better keep moving on..sublime!!!

Peter Viney my compatriot: Moondog matinee a drop in form?? rubbish my friend!!I'd argue the only Band album (bar the brown) without a weak track on it (incl MfBP!).

Wed Feb 3 22:21:25 MET 1999

Donabie

Last time mentioning the Ronstadt/Band thing. I just read Serge's comment. The Band must have opened for Linda. One thing about Serge, is that he has a great memory for these things. Godrey and I have had our brains fried by radio waves. I don't want to ruin Serge's reputation or anything; for those of you who have a problem with him; but he was nice enough to send me some wonderful photos last year and they were much appreciated. And Wolf it has nothing to do with bragging...it's called reminiscing.

Wed Feb 3 22:10:27 MET 1999

Peter Viney

Donald: Though I don’t agree about NLSC, I liked the way you summed it up:

“Another part of the problem is Robbie wrote the songs & Honeyboy played them -- everyone else went on holiday. “

A lot of us felt that “Cahoots” & “Moondog Matinee” were below the level set by the first three albums, and to me NLSC seemed like a return to top form. It provided Rick with “It Makes No Difference” (almost his signature tune) and Levon with “Ophelia.” “Jupiter Hollow” is Garth, Garth and Garth.

I do agree with you about “Planet Waves” - I thought they relied on inspiration rather than the craftsmanship that had carried them so far. And it wasn’t particularly inspired on the day. It was overshadowed by the subsequent great run of “Blood On The tracks,” “Desire” and “Street Legal”. There was only one song that became one of Dylan’s most-played, “Forever Young”. I thought the whole thing worked best on “You Angel You” though. The rest I find sub-standard and, yes, lacklustre. Which I’d put down to Dylan .

So, concise reviews of The Band. Robert Christgau wrote a one word review of Levon Helm and the RCO All Stars: “Boogie.” Any more reviews in fewer than ten words? Let’s eliminate “Masterpiece” as a one word review - it applies to all of the first three.

Wed Feb 3 22:06:10 MET 1999

John Donabie

The funniest thing I remember about the Varsity show is that I had brought my car and parked it a few blocks away. Levon let me sit just behind him throughout the whole concert which was an interesting perspective. When the Band finished Levon said come on up to the hotel John. I said I would get my car. "Hell no son...get in the limo." And away we went to the Inn On The Park.

Now comes the funniest line of the evening. I made some comment to Garth on the couch, in general, about how things were going. He thought for a moment and said..and I'll never forget it..."John, It's a long way from Port Dover to Malibu." That was it. The he asked me if I remembered a guy who worked at a record store years before who had a memory for remembering the numbers on the edges of album spines. Garth said, "Strangest thing...I don't know what else he knew; but he sure could remember numbers. I would name an album and he would give me the number right away. Amazing." It was in fact an amazing night. I don't believe I met Serge that evening; but I have a picture on my wall here that night of Levon The Hawk and a couple of guys from Capitol Records.

Wed Feb 3 21:24:42 MET 1999

Jim Soko

I'm going to New Orleans at the end of March on business. I was wondering where you can find info on Levon's club. I found the phone number of 592-CLUB on the advertisement, does anyone have more info??????? Or the complete phone number. thanks

Wed Feb 3 21:08:20 MET 1999

Danny Lopez

Some music questions:

On the studio version of Get Up Jake, does anybody hear one of the boys cough (or clear their throat) during Robbie's intro? It seems to me that's what I hear. It occurs right before the drums kick in.

And the introduction at Watkins Glen, what happened there? It sounds as if somebody starts the intro and then gets confused when Bill Graham usurps him. So what's up?

Wed Feb 3 19:31:08 MET 1999

Stanley Landau

Wolf, I promise I am not trying to impress anyone, but I was at the Varsity Arena concert too. Contary to what I said in a previous post, as Serge and Paul Godfrey both pointed out, The Band were not the headliners at that concert. Not knowing any members of The Band, I didn't go to the Inn on the Park, but instead stuck around for Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. (Yes Neil was there.) Let me say that you were very wise to have left before CSNY's performance which really sucked. Those harmonies sound terrible when they're not in tune. Thank you Serge for reminding me about the instrumental The Band played. Was that the concert where the instrumental lead into Just Another Whistle Stop or am I maybe thinking of a concert I saw at Rich Stadium in Buffalo in the early 70's when The Band opened for a (very drunk) Eric Clapton?

Wed Feb 3 18:50:15 MET 1999

Paul Godfrey

Serge. Thank you for your recollections of the Varsity Stadium September 7, 1974 show. Likewise I did not hang around for CSN. Like you I went to the Inn at the Park. Levon and I had some fun relating to old times and he asked my wife Julia how soon she was going to have a baby. We promised him that if it was a boy we would name him after him. Sure nuff...it was and we did. Maybe we did not meet that time...but I have a feeling we might have met up in connection with the Hawk. Funny how sometimes you only remember certain parts of a story. That's why I like the guestbook so much...it helps to put more of the pieces of the puzzle together. Shine On!

Wed Feb 3 18:00:11 MET 1999

Stephen Novik

Just want to point out that in Murray Mclauchlan's autobiography he relates an anecdote of Levon's wife on the 'set' for "Acadian Driftwood" in "Murray McLauchlan- Floating Over Canada", the CBC special which introduced me to the greatest band of all time!

Wed Feb 3 17:44:21 MET 1999

Twilight

After reading the latest round of posts, i had an idea that was complemented by a post from serge. How about if we all pitch in a favorite band memory? I really enjoy peoples recolections, as i have never seen the band live. Any story relating to the band will do.

When i was 16, I went on a cross country camp that brought together kids form all over the US. As we traveled throughout the states and canada, a friend of mine named Jeff turned me on to the Band and the Dead. Interesting thing was that we didn't have any of the music - portable players were rare at the time. When I got home, I knicked a 8 track of the last waltz from a woolworths. I found out then that my 8 track didn't work anymore, so I got the album. By then the packaging was pretty poor. It came in one sleeve and the pressing was a disaster. I enjoyed looking at the pictures of the guests, and I listened to dixie first. I loved it! Then later on, i got the brown album, and i couldn't figure out where the horn section was.....

Wed Feb 3 16:26:36 MET 1999

greg

freddie, i blew off a colleague's house warming party to attend the band/buffett gig at buckeye lake. (some friend i am!) to the best of his recollection, this was late july/early august of '95. as scott pointed out, "the jake" show in cleveland was 8/95. so there you have it. next time i'm at the library i'll see if i can't get a copy of the newspaper ad which tipped me off to the show in the first place.

Wed Feb 3 16:21:03 MET 1999

Martin

Donald, Glad to see somebody shares my blasphemous views on NLSC. It's not that I dislike the album at all, more that I feel it seems to get rather more praise than tne likes of cahoots which I feel makes for far better listening

Wed Feb 3 16:05:39 MET 1999

David Powell

I remember how the music made me smile but February made me shiver. Yes, today is the 40th anniversary of that day the music died.

Recent discussion of the Ronstadt / Band concert reminded me that when I saw The Band at the old Municipal Auditorium here in Atlanta (winter '69-'70), it was a solo bill with no opening act. That was very unusual, especially then, since concerts here almost always had two, sometimes three, acts on the bill. Prior to The Band, the only solo bills I recall seeing were Dylan (with the Hawks) and Simon & Garfunkel. As I remember, The Band played about an hour, took a short break, then came back out and played for about another hour. They impressed me at the time as being very professional & almost businesslike, at a time when a lot of rock acts that performed here often seemed disorganized & unfocused on stage.

The music The Band played that night still makes me smile when I think about it. A special treat that I recall was their performance of "Loving You Is Sweeter," which was a crowd-pleaser for us Southerners who were raised on soul music. Also, their performance of "Get Up Jake" inspired me & my fledgling bandmates at the time to learn that song.

Wed Feb 3 14:59:03 MET 1999

Pat Brennan

Donnie Joe, you're a monster, but almost all of Islands was recorded before TLW concert. Side 6 was recorded after the concert and (obviously) before the movie release. Re: NLSC, to each his own. But the live versions of the NLSC songs from the last tours absolutely smoke. The Sept 76 Palladium show should be released just to remind everybody how great they were live.

Wed Feb 3 09:23:07 MET 1999

Ilkka

Anyone out there who saw The Band in Järvenpää Puisto Blues? - I wasn't there so I'm curious to know how it was. Please send me an e-mail (S/DK/N/FIN are OK) if you think it is not a good idea to write it down in here.

Diamond Lil: On the behalf of this part of the world I will thank You for Your warming words.

Wed Feb 3 07:48:21 MET 1999

Donald Joseph

Catbalu, et al.: Pls. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood. "Monster," as I use it, is the highest accolade. I first heard it in this sense when my uncle was trying to turn someone on to Roy Buchanan...he explained ex-Hawk Roy is a "monster." How else to describe his fretwork?

David Z: You're a monster. (Do tell: What's your connection to the same-named producer of the latest Buddy Guy album?)

Viney: Your 1/28 post is a monster contribution (ok, ok, you yourself can be a monster, too).

Martin, re your less-than-enthusiastic opinion of NLSC: You've declared the emperor naked! Failing to worship NLSC is, on this site, less politically correct than a D.C. bureaucrat's admission to being niggardly. But I'm with you: NLSC is maybe the Band l.p. I listen to the least. And before the rest of you jump on me: I'm not knocking it, but do a forced ranking of all the Band l.p.'s yourself, from your most favorite on down. What's at the bottom of YOUR list? I'll defend Cahoots, Moondog & even Islands over NLSC! Part of the problem is that "Driftwood" is very strained, over-written, over-wrought, & pretentious. Don't deny it. Admittedly, it was a "critic's darling" tune in '75, but it has none of the authenticity of the moving songs on the Brown album -- it's Robbie's conscious attempt to recreate "Dixie Down." Another part of the problem is Robbie wrote the songs & Honeyboy played them -- everyone else went on holiday. Also, NLSC is the least funky Band record (with the exception of "Ophelia." ("Ring Your Bell" gets a bit funky in parts. And yes, "Islands" IS funkier, to wit: "Streetwalker" (that's right), "Pepote," "Ain't that a Lot of Love," & even "Ga.," in an understated way.)

Rod: I own that Nevilles l.p., but I never even noticed (or else I forgot) that they use Robbie's lyrics on "Mystery Train," uncredited.

I'm with those of you recently lauding side 6 of TLW & "Planet Waves" -- although I must say I always liked the "Planet Waves" CONCEPT more than our boys' actual lackluster (understated?) performance, borne of their lack of practice time. I have always heard the l.p. as a toss-off, unfortunately. "Torch songs" my ass.

BUT: Rod, you said side 6 of TLW is "what the Band might have sounded like" had they recorded a post-Last Waltz album. Ever heard of "Islands"? That project was put together after TLW (using a few previously-recorded scraps).

Wed Feb 3 04:30:48 MET 1999

Mitt Stampler

Crazy Chester: Sorry I missed you in the chat. Drop me a note and we'll talk one of these days. Catbalu: I ran across your old post about there being "not enough telling of the tale"--me, I want to hear all the old stories. My dad is a Woodstock refugee (my sibs and I used to call him that when we were kids but it doesn't seem so funny anymore). These last few years he's been too sick to do any reminiscing, but checking in this Guestbook (as well as the Band's music, natch) lets me know, a little bit, where Dad was coming from and what he was trying to tell me. I want to hear it all--so keep talking--

Wed Feb 3 04:19:30 MET 1999

Serge

P. Godfrey: Sept.2,1974. Varsity. I was there. Danko had a cast on his right arm, but played anyway. They started with an instrumental, an way to open that I found odd. Never witnessed them do that before, but it was a great change. Sorry, did not take any pix that day. Did not bother to stay for CSN (Don't know if Young was there and didn't care). Went to the Inn on the Park with a friend instead. Messed around with Garth and reminisced a while and he later took us up for a buffet offered by Capitol Records. I recall spending ten minutes trying to do up Danko's button on his shirt sleeve, over the cast, while he giggled and gesticulated and not making the task easy. Nice memories. Sorry about photos.

Wed Feb 3 03:38:28 MET 1999

S. Valenti

Bay-Heim, 1. the Orange suck 2. You have had too many Sam Adams or Sammy shrooms 3. because it would be Sam Phillips of Sun Records that Garth was talking about 4. new wife? not for long! 5. lets keep it to the Band and not the East Coast Basketball circuit Greetings from Marin county

Wed Feb 3 03:25:33 MET 1999

Freddy Fishstick

Greg/Chris/Scott

Sorry not the kind to take incredible pairings like Jimmy & The Band on faith. I have emailed numerous sopurces including a guy who maintains setlists of all Jimmy's shows from Michigan and some from Ohio since like 1985. If its out there they will confirm it. BTW official buffett site initially said they had no record of Jimmy & The Band ever playing together. Now that you have provided a date they can do a proper search. It would make me very happy to be proven wrong. I just dont see Jimmy sharing a bill with such a heavy group as The Band. Parrotheads and Bandheads are a different lot. Only a few of us that straddle both.

Wed Feb 3 03:15:45 MET 1999

Paul Godfrey

Serge...just looking again at your photos from Varsity Stadium of July 1969. Didn't catch that show...did you make it to a Sept/Oct 1974 show at varsity with Crosby Stills and Nash (maybe Young?) I would most certainly love to have any photo's of the Band from that show and have a very special reason for wanting them. Can you help me out on this one.

Wed Feb 3 02:53:26 MET 1999

Paul Godfrey

Wolf...funny thing about the Band/Linda Ronstadt show. I did't make the show as I had to do a radio station appearance elsewhere...but made the party afterward.

Wed Feb 3 02:27:50 MET 1999

greg

freddie, aside from scott's review of "the jake" show, there is obviously a serious lack of documentation to support our claims. you're just going to have to take our word for it!

Wed Feb 3 01:42:23 MET 1999

Freddy Fishstick

Greg/Scott/Chris

My interest is piqued. Have sent emails to three parties to confirm The Band having opened for Jimmy 8/12/95 at Jacob's Field. I look forward to being proven wrong. We shall see.

Wed Feb 3 00:59:25 MET 1999

Stanley Landau

Wolf: No it doesn't really matter. Much of what is discussed here doesn't really matter in the big picture. But it's of interest to some, and if you don't like it, skip to the next post. I saw the original Band perform live many times as did many people who post here, and it frankly didn't occur to me that anyone would be impressed by my attending this particular concert.

Ragtime: At the risk of offending Wolf, I think you are correct. From their second Toronto concert at Massey Hall on January 17, 1970 to the August '76 concert (I believe) the Band were always the headliners at their Toronto shows. This includes the Festival Express in June of 1970 which was a two night affair featuring many performers who were quite popular at the time. The Band were the closing act on one night and Janice Joplin closed the other. This can be contrasted with a mid-80's appearance with the Greatful Dead where the Dead were the headliners. However, whether it was Ronstadt or The Band who headlined that '76 show, sadly it sure seemed to me that more people were there for Linda then The Band.

Wed Feb 3 00:02:32 MET 1999

Serge

Only saw part of Ronstadt, and all of the Band. Therefore...

Tue Feb 2 23:56:25 MET 1999

Wolf

Landau, Munson, Donabie, Godfrey: does it really matter? or do you want us all to know THAT YOU WERE THERE, and we were not.

Tue Feb 2 23:55:20 MET 1999

Bones

To David Powell: I have always heard that same story about Planet Waves where Dylan crossed out Nobody 'Cept You in favor of Wedding Song. What I never understood was the fact that there were two versions of Forever Young. Why not drop the countrified Forever Young for Nobody 'Cept You? But then again, this is the same man who never released She's Your Lover Now and I'm Not There, so I should not be surprised.

Tue Feb 2 23:48:07 MET 1999

Ragtime

This "who opened for who(m)" debate makes me wonder how much The Band's popularity was in decline already when they toured in Canada at that time. A few years earlier, around 1970, nobody should have doubted that The Band was the main attraction of any show they did.

Tue Feb 2 23:45:08 MET 1999

Wolfgang

BOEHEIM: what have you been smoking? You're hallucinating!

Tue Feb 2 23:38:32 MET 1999

Stanley Landau

Messrs. Munson, Godfrey and Donabie: At the risk of belaboring this, next time I'm at the library, I'm going to check back issues of the Toronto Star and settle this once and for all. I seem to recall being annoyed that more people seemed to be there to see Linda, the opening act, then The Band the headliners. If they did play Acadian Driftwood then I'm in big trouble from a memory point of view! I'm pretty sure that the first time I heard The Complete Last Waltz was the first time I heard Acadian Driftwood played live. Incidentally, do any of you people who were at TLW remember who played what on that song? It sounds like Garth is playing the picolo like part on the organ or synthesizer, but I'm also pretty sure he's playing accordian. He's a man of many talents, but I believe he only has two arms. Poor Richard really struggled with the vocals on that one which I guess is why it didn't make the movie. By the way, John Donabie, did you introduce the boys at that concert at the Ex in 76?

Tue Feb 2 23:36:02 MET 1999

Paul Godfrey

Bill, Stanley, John. As I recall, and somewhere I have an interview I did with Levon after the show. We were all at the Harbour Castle Hilton. Funny I don't remember Robbie or Garth hanging out with us that night. Ricky was his usual fun self and Beak flashed that great grin of his a lot during the proceedings. Anyway next morning Levon and I recorded an interview in which he mentioned being disappointed that there wasn't time to do "Acadian Driftwood." Seems there may have been some pressure from Linda's people to keep the Band set to within certain time lines....any other thoughts folks! Shine On!

Tue Feb 2 21:20:39 MET 1999

Bill Munson

John, so far the race is tied: two of us think Ronstadt opened, and two of us think the Band opened. Funny you should mention the Stone Ponies. Since Kenny Edwards played bass for Ronstadt at the Ex, two thirds of the Stone Ponies were there, which would constitute a quorum. And in a way the Crackers were there too. However, Jimmy Driftwood and Jackie Shane - I think not. BTW John, Jackie absolutely must have guested with our guys during all those years when Hawkins and Frank Motley both played up and down Yonge. Would've been something to see!

Tue Feb 2 20:53:05 MET 1999

Jimmy Boeheim (again)

John: In all the time Ive known Garth I # 1 didn't know garth had a brother and #2 didn't realize he was in to divining. Hell, thats one of my favorite hobby's ( that and cleaning locker room shower room doors with my new wife) Shes young and vulnerable not unlike Garth.. Hey there ya know I one went 36 holes in one afternoon with garth and all he kept sayin all day was "Sam Williams", Sammmm Willlliams" Geez he sure has somethin for that fella.. See ya on the flip side if we ever do meet John.

Tue Feb 2 20:20:28 MET 1999

donabie

Wait a minute. Wasn't it Jimmy Driftwood, The Stone Ponies and the Crackers on that tour. Where was Little Jackie Shayne? Ho Ho

Tue Feb 2 20:16:12 MET 1999

john donabie

RE: RONSTADT & BAND TORONTO '76

Paul is correct that The Band did open for Linda. She was the headliner on that particular tour. I wouldn't hazzard a guess on Acadian Driftwood.

Tue Feb 2 20:08:29 MET 1999

Bill Munson

Stanley Landau, your comment slipped in while I was typing my own. Thanks. Funny thing about memory: mine is that they did a really nice, and enthusiastically received, version of Acadian Driftwood in Toronto; yours is of disappointment that they didn't play it! One of us is getting older even faster than the other.

Tue Feb 2 20:03:03 MET 1999

Bill Munson

Paul Godfrey, thanks for the confirmation on the Toronto concert date. However, I'm sure that Linda Ronstadt opened for the Band in Toronto, though I believe she was the headliner elsewhere on the tour. I remember "Acadian Driftwood" getting a fair bit of airplay in Toronto, if not elsewhere.

Tue Feb 2 20:02:13 MET 1999

Stanley Landau

Paul Godfrey and Bill Munson: I was at the same concert, and if my memory is correct, it was Linda Ronstadt who opened for The Band rather than the other way around. I was very dissapointed that Acadian Driftwood was not performed. I believe that Ophelia and It Makes No Difference were the only two songs they did that day that post dated Stage Fright. It's particularly surprising that a fine song like Acadian Driftwood didn't get airplay in Canada considering the subject matter.

Tue Feb 2 19:42:01 MET 1999

John Hudson

Boeheim: That isn't a golf club my cousin Garth carries out on the course. Its a divining rod made out of a hickory branch. He's looking for water. Its a hobby of his.

Tue Feb 2 19:12:01 MET 1999

Paul Godfrey

Bill Munson...near as my memory will allow...The concert at CNE was in 1976 as you say and the Band opened for Linda Ronstadt. Some members of the Band were somewhat disappointed that Acadian Driftwood did not get more wide spread radio airplay.

Tue Feb 2 18:14:48 MET 1999

David Powell

Ragtime raised the question as to why "Nobody 'Cept You" was not included on the CD version of _Planet Waves_. I would guess that this was Dylan's decision, contractually or otherwise, that this album as well as others were released in their original form.

Apart from a few aborted Blonde On Blonde sessions, the Planet Waves sessions marked the first time that Dylan & The Band would record an album together in the studio. It's a shame the it was such a rushed affair, but that's consistant with Dylan's "shoot from the hip" methods of recording. According to Heylin's book on Dylan's recording sessions, Levon was not present at the first day of the sessions.

"Nobody "Cept You" was reportedly dropped from the album to make room for "Wedding Song." Dylan would later make a similar decision when, for whatever reason, he left "Blind Willie McTell" off of _Infidels_, much to the chagrin of Mark Knopler & others involved. Thankfully both of these songs would later turn up on the _Bootleg Sessions_ box set. The version of "Nobody 'Cept You" included as part of that set is apparently a early run-through of the song. It starts out hestitantly as The Band finds the groove and slowly builds before ending somewhat abruptly. I think this version is also spoiled by Robertson's use of some sort of phase shifter effect on his guitar, but that's a matter of taste for others to decide for themselves.

As to why session out-takes are left off of CD reissues, this is a constant source of debate. Recently it was reported that Sony, in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Columbia's introduction of the 33 1/3 LP, was licensing the rights to reissue some of the notable albums from its vast catalog to Classics Records. Supposedly, as part of the deal, Classic will release a two LP set that contains both versions of Dylan's _Freewheelin'_ album. Hopefully there will be other choice reissue releases that contain out-takes as part of this venture.

Tue Feb 2 16:47:17 MET 1999

Bill Munson

A couple of days ago a demolition company blew away Exhibition Stadium on the CNE grounds in Toronto. The only time I ever saw the full Band was there in '76 (I think). Northern Lights Southern Cross was new. They were great, but I have no specific memories of the show, other than Robertson - or maybe Danko - saying as they came on, "Great to be home".

In other news, Peter Viney's kind posting about the Australian tour of the "... and Friends" ensemble allows us R&R family-tree climbers to make the much-sought-after link between Tommy James and the Shondells and the Band. Wow!

Tue Feb 2 16:29:56 MET 1999

Jimmy Boeheim

Hey how about last nights win over # 1 UCONN. Didn't hear Dicky V. mention how it would have been if I hadn't had a few key players on the court. If UCONNS #1 and they only have two players that can play the game well I just don't kanow about the accuracy of the polls?? In any case I know Garth Hudson ( personal friend of mine) is happy about Syracuses win. Hell, hes got a house in Syracuse; loves the game. loves the players, loves Jimmy B.. Hes a sport and a pretty good golfer too. Bet ya didn't know that?!

Tue Feb 2 14:45:55 MET 1999

Peter Viney

I was just reading back through the Ruth Albert Spencer interviews in “The Woodstock Times” from 1985. She did a series of four: Robbie; Levon & Rick: Richard; Garth. She asked them about keeping in touch with Robbie. Richard says he hadn’t spoken to him for two weeks, but that Rick had a couple of days before. Robbie and Garth were in touch too. Richard’s interview is by far the longest I’ve seen with him, and insightful :

RM: “We weren’t putting our hearts into it. That’s what I claim has been missing in music for all this last stretch”

RAS: “You mean real feeling?”

RM: Soul. What they used to call soul music … soul has been missing. And I know about it because it’s the only kind of music I can play. I can’t do hack stuff.”

I got photocopies from the Woodstock Library a few years ago. Tracy transcribed the Robbie one for the RR magazine. My copies are faded and very hard to decipher. Can some one there in Woodstock get better copies of this stuff and do an OCR job on it? They should be up on the site if there’s any way of doing it and getting permission.

Tue Feb 2 14:26:48 MET 1999

greg

SCOTT and CHRIS: thanks for your posts confirming the band/buffett tour. see you at bogart's/the odeon when the boys decide to hit the road.

Tue Feb 2 13:37:54 MET 1999

Patric

Just reading some of the verbal jousting on here and a thought struck me. If Jan makes a book out of all the scintillating insults and put-downs will HEshare the copyrights and royalties??.

Tue Feb 2 13:22:48 MET 1999

Patric Mulcahy

PETER VINEY:Thanks for replying to my question about the '88 tour of Australia. You were correct about the tape, I remember it was on sale at the Enmore Theatre the night they played there.

Just to add a humorous touch I remember seeing them on television during the tour playing at a north coast counter-culture festival near the town of Nimbin [ famous for it's marijuana called Mullimbimby Madness !!] . They could write a book..Oh yeah, Levon already has.

Tue Feb 2 12:18:54 MET 1999

Diamond Lil

BONES: Would like to comment back about that scene in TLW where Levon lights Robbie's cigarette. It has always been a favorite scene of mine because it certainly is a moment where you get the feeling of closeness between the 2 men. It's ironic, with all that was going on, that the scene hits me that way. I think maybe it just goes to show that although friendships may end, "brotherhood" can still continue. Thanks for pointing that out.

Tue Feb 2 10:32:43 MET 1999

Peter Viney

Patric: There's a tape around from Queensland in 1988, but the group is labelled as "Danko, Hudson & Friends" rather than "The Band". Buddy Cage (?) plays steel guitar.

Tue Feb 2 06:57:38 MET 1999

Paul Pearman

i enjoy the bickering between individuals on this page, it makes things interesting. song of the moment: "Stage Fright" The line "Fancy people go driftin by" and "My brow is sweating and my mouth gets dry" I think these lines speak on the success the band was experiencing. Plus they rock it out on TLW, killer rick song peace pp youngblood

Tue Feb 2 05:41:20 MET 1999

Pat Brennan

Serge, a factual error is a factual error, no matter to what degree you chose to disparage it. Claiming that Van Morrison sang Tura Lura Lura without mentioning Richard's contribution to the song bothers me. Calling "I Don't Believe You" a "lost love song from Another Side..." while ignoring the restructuring the Hawks did on it in 65-66--the real point of my original post and one you choose to ignore--bothers me. Given the rigorous approach you take to the Guestbook, I'm surprised such inaccuracies don't bother you.

Tue Feb 2 05:30:33 MET 1999

Tim(SUNDOG)Corcoran.

Jan, You look so sad in the picture you posted, you should be HAPPY cuz you put so much into this web site, its something to be proud of my friend, not to mention, exciting too! Peace, Tim(SUNDOG)Corcoran.

Tue Feb 2 05:19:47 MET 1999

Serge

No Brennan, I ask again: what "various factual innacuracies" ( plural ) are you babbling about? So, Levon and the Hawks...one slip, big deal. That's what they were known as when their important breakthroughs started. Stop your nitpicking. Go to bed.

Tue Feb 2 04:49:51 MET 1999

Pat Brennan

Serge, one writer claimed that the group formed 16 years before as Levon and The Hawks. We all know that's inaccurate. Robert Hilburn is a highly respected journalist, not a schmuck. Assuming that I criticized the articles because you submitted them is a remarkable jump of logic. Do you really think the point I made wasn't valid? BTW, I have no idea where your anger comes from, but, honestly, it doesn't bother me in the least. And, thank you, really, for submitting them.

Tue Feb 2 04:31:20 MET 1999

Serge

What factual innacuracies are you talking about Brennan ? Were you there? What did you expect from two shmucks sent out to report on what they saw ? Or are you bothered because "I" contributed the pieces. Why don't you provide the site with all the interesting Band related goodies that YOU have. Haven't seen any yet. Or are you strictly limited to a verbal intestinal disorder ?

Tue Feb 2 04:15:19 MET 1999

Scott Stephens

Greg: If it's any help to you, I found a newspaper clipping to confirm my memory about The Band opening for Buffett at Jacobs Field in Cleveland Saturday, Aug. 12, 1995. Probably the same tour during which they appeared in your neck of the woods. It was the first rock-n-roll show at the ballyard, and maybe the last, because the centerfield grass took a pretty good beating. Set closed with "I Don't Want to Hang Up) My Rock and Roll Shoes." A good show, but the sound wasn't too great, given the wide-open venue. Peace from the North Coast.

Tue Feb 2 04:08:44 MET 1999

Pat Brennan

Reading the two reviews Serge posted was a little unsettling. Besides the various factual inaccuracies that seem to accompany anything written in a newspaper, I'm surprised neither writer caught the appropriateness of Dylan's choices. Two come from the Dylan/Hawks tours and two come from Planet Waves and the 74 tour. Greil Marcus, in his Rolling Stone review of the show (30 Dec 76) certainly commented on it and added a memorable line concerning Dylan's portion of the show:"He was on, some said, for 25 minutes; I would have bet on seven." Indeed.

Tue Feb 2 04:07:50 MET 1999

Charlie Young

Jan: thanks for all your work here. This site remains the best of music web destinations (by far). I just visited my first HMV store tonight and was not impressed. For chains, Virgin and even Tower have more soul and selection. The only redeeming feature of the visit was hearing a bit of Dr. John. Otherwise it was a bunch of techno crap that sent my ass out into the cold night. No wonder people are buying so much music online!

Tue Feb 2 03:15:23 MET 1999

Mike

FOLKS- I don't want to get too gushy but I would like to thank you for this site and all the nonsense that goes with it.There are not many people I know that share my feelings for the amazing musicians that bring us together here on these pagse and to be able to dial up a like minded group is very meaningful to me.Of course I use like minded in a general sense.The debate and discussion here serve to underscore how important the Band is to us.Perhaps we don't agree on much, but we all hear the Band as important enough to get excited about. Again thanks too all of you- celebrate the music. Yours- Mike

Tue Feb 2 02:09:32 MET 1999

catbalu

jill - they play hard ball, but not all the time........actualy came in here to make SURE i wasn't messed with saturday night. had a girl party and after MUCH tequila they were all over this computer. got into my bookmarks (going to teach me how to "surf" - helped to death i barely remember it.) Time for internet nanny. MEAN WOMEN! Lucky me, they didn't find you....

Tue Feb 2 00:45:35 MET 1999

Kevin Gilbertson

Serge: Thanks for the articles.

Tue Feb 2 00:11:32 MET 1999

Bones

I have a minor comment about a scene in The Last Waltz. There is a great interview with Levon and Robbie(the "midnight rambler" scene). When Levon lights Robbie's cigarette and then his own, isn't it amazing that what appears like five minutes go by and that match never burns Levon's hand. A very cool scene between two old brothers.

Mon Feb 1 21:04:14 MET 1999

Peter Viney

Jan: If I'd known we were so close to a record this month, just missing by 150 bytes, I wouldn't have been so concise in my entries :-)

Mon Feb 1 19:13:02 MET 1999

Jan Høiberg

Once again the Band guestbook generated more than one half megabyte of data in one month. The size of the January file is just 150 bytes (!) less than the record from November '98. The total size of all guestbook entries since '96, including HTML code, is now over 10 megs, about the same as a decent sized PC harddisk some years ago. Now, does anyone know when Jubilation will get the world-wide distribution and attention it truly deserves?

Mon Feb 1 18:20:50 MET 1999

Paul Godfrey

Serge, thank you for contributing the next day newspaper accounts to "What's New" concert review section. Like I said ... mine are stashed away in moving boxes. Really hope we can get together and share memories at some time. Shine on paulg

Mon Feb 1 17:51:22 MET 1999

Chris Lecky

Greg, I remember when The Band played with Buffet. A lot of people I know when and saw the show. We have a few Buffet fans in this area. I wasn't there, but I do remember it happening.

Mon Feb 1 15:45:10 MET 1999

Sheryl

I just recently found this guestbook and must say that I am for the most part,pleased with the discussions. I have been a fan of The Band for years, but since the split have been hooked on Robbie's music more so than the Band's newer work. I spend a lot of time on the Robbie Robertson board at Hollywood and Vine and there is a lot of discussion there about the "fued" also. Most of us over there while being solid RR supporters do also respect the work done by the Band and there is not a lot of Levon bashing. I for one am very happy for his improved health and new ventures into the club scene. I am glad to see a similar attitude on this site. Thanks to all of you who are trying to keep this an upbeat place for fans of both The Band and Robbie!

Mon Feb 1 14:19:50 MET 1999

SN

Take a picture of this...."Mm-Hmm". Life is good :-)

Mon Feb 1 14:09:34 MET 1999

Phil

I've only just taken an interest in the Band after hearing that they guested on Mercury Rev's new CD. I've got Big Pink, but can anybody point me in the direction of there other best cds. I always thought the band were just prog rock hippies....however they're cool!

Mon Feb 1 12:53:33 MET 1999

Jens Magnus

I like the idea of a guestbook-band-band, I play the bass, and will join you anytime. About humming or whistling in the bath or bike; my all time favourite is Hobo Jungle, but other major hits are: Olly showed me fork in the road I'll bring over my fender... daniel daniel, would you mind :-)

Mon Feb 1 12:46:43 MET 1999

Ragtime again

Talking about "Ring Your Bell" made me suddenly realize where I'd heard the phrase "Smoky bars & souped-up cars" before. It is in the RR song "Tailgate" (issued as a LP-format single record together with "Broken Arrow" & "Crazy River") as well as in "Ring Your Bell". Has anyone more information about "Tailgate"?

Mon Feb 1 12:25:07 MET 1999

Ragtime

ILKKA :-) Thanks for admitting me into The Guestbook Band. I polished my bicycle bell already & added "Ring Your Bell" to my on-bike repertoire.

JILL: Sundog & Pat Brennan said it all...

DANNY LOPEZ & others: I'd like to bring up the bonus track issue again. Re Planet Waves: why didn't Sony add "Nobody 'Cept You" to the CD version since its exclusion was only dictated by the limitations of the LP format? Is this collection of Cast Iron Songs & Torch Ballads such a unity-in-itself that it couldn't be disturbed by a 12th track? I say this because in classical music they do it all the time: reissuing recordings in new combinations has never been a problem out there.

Mon Feb 1 09:39:43 MET 1999

Peter Viney

Danny: a CDR is a recordable CD that works on domestic recorders. Cheaper versions work on computers. You’ve hit upon an esoteric argument about bootleg quality. Most bootlegs are normally-pressed CDs with printed centers, covers etc. Recently, some CDR bootlegs have appeared on the Dylan collecting scene, i.e. they’ve been made on a home machine and therefore don’t have a printed label (I haven’t seen any Band ones). There are so many never-ending tour bootlegs that even hardened collectors are limited in number. CDs are silver, CDRs are gold. Computer CDs are greenish (and even cheaper). The argument has been debated hotly in ISIS the Dylan magazine. A CDR is a bootleg of a bootleg. From the artist’s point of view, a bootleg means no money. Oddly, a CDR bootleg of the bootleg will get the artist some money, as every CDR sold (in Europe anyway) has a copyright fee built in, which goes into a pool. There was debate about this pool, but I think it’s a good thing and could extend to audio tape. Clinton Heylin wrote a book about the history of bootlegging called “Great White Wonder” . CDRs are the latest manifestation. The computer ones have a reputation for corrupting after a period of time (this might be hype to get us to pay three times as much for the gold ones).

Some bootlegs are not technically illegal - you couldn’t copyright a live performance in some countries (notably Italy) until very recently. As a result such “live recordings” turned up in legitimate UK stores from time to time. If you look at a Band bootleg like “Live in Washinton” (sic) you’ll find this note referring to a law promulgated by Mussolini:

Music Magic S.r.l. wishes to notify the members of the group as on the back cover mentioned that when this record has been issued, meanwhile has been deposited in their behalf or to whom it may concern a sum per each printed copy as adequate remuneration according to art 80ff L 22/4/1941”

The artist is directed to an account in La Spezia to get the money. An English musician who’d been similarly bootlegged said he contacted the bank to ask, and was met with tears of laughter.

Diamond Lil: Thanks. I haven’t forgotten “Whispering pines”

Jill: I agree that flaming strangers is an unecessary and pointless exercise. It’s best ignored, which I occasionally find hard to do. As to gender, the latest unpleasant manifestation on this site has been from Beth, though I’d agree that males tend to be more frequent offenders. It could be that the Robbie v Levon divide (real or imagined) gives us that classic duality!

Mon Feb 1 08:47:16 MET 1999

Ilkka

Surely can Ragtime join THE GUESTBOOK BAND! - When we sing '...and the bells were ringing...' in 'Old Dixie', he can ring his bicycle bell.

Mon Feb 1 06:16:39 MET 1999

Patric Mulcahy

Can anyone tell me how long Blondie Chaplin and Levon's nephew Terry Cagle were part of the touring group ?. I saw them in Sydney,Australia early "88 Rick and Garth were there and I recall they also had someone playing dobro for them.

Mon Feb 1 05:00:15 MET 1999

Pat Brennan

Jill, my experience tells me that this site is relatively tame when it comes to flaming. Very few of the regulars resort to that kind of behavior. Happily, I've also noticed that there are a number of women who contribute regularly. If you go back in the Guestbook, that very point was a topic of discussion not too long ago. If you do check that out, you'll also notice that that's not the only interesting topic that's been tossed around here. But the Robbie bashing is a fact of life, primarily because one of the members of the Band began it and continues to do it. It has, unfortunately, become something of both a lightning rod and a measuring stick: people are drawn to it and, sometimes, people take sides. It's something anyone who is a fan of the Band has to deal with.

Mon Feb 1 04:48:25 MET 1999

Danny Lopez

Since the subject of boots has recently been mentioned, I'll take this opportunity to climb the learning curve: what is a CD-R and why should one avoid it like the plague?

'hep me somebody!

Mon Feb 1 04:35:15 MET 1999

Scott Stephens

Yeah Jill, you're right. You're right, too, Bill Sapphire. It looks like Ken Starr has infiltrated every aspect of our life, even this otherwise uplifting web site. I was trying to help out Greg, a fellow fan, but I'll say this real slow, Kenny, so your lips can keep up: The Band opened for Buffet at Jacobs Field a couple or three years ago. No, I don't have the set list from a three-year-old concert. I'd be kind of embarrassed if I did. Call the local paper, or anyone else, to confirm if you like - I'd be happy to send you a review from a local paper, if you leave an e-mail. But of course you won't.

Mon Feb 1 04:00:02 MET 1999

Tim(SUNDOG)Corcoran

JILL; Most people>all the people here on this guest book really love each other, even if they haven't met personally. When one bashes something, an other one corrects, or explains their differents, and most of the time, things get resolved. You can't never say that Jan's web site is boring, right?

Mon Feb 1 03:08:09 MET 1999

Paul Godfrey

Hey...Bones....minor corrections...the year was 1977...and there was a food "shortage" ....were you there for the fireworks?

Mon Feb 1 01:02:57 MET 1999

Paul Godfrey

Hey Bones...I hope there is a way we can trade photos of the RCO Album release party in 1997 in Woodstock. Having the jeep around certainly made for a lot of fun. Somewhere I have some slides of a number of people in the jeep. We just moved recently and most everything is still in boxes. Moving into the afternoon there was a food storage and Forest asked me to go into town and buy up every hot dog and bun available. It was like being a kid again in the food store by the fire hall with all the shopping carts. What a time. Then the beer was about to run out so I made a run to the General store in Bearsville and brought back all the Pabst Blue Ribbon in stock. Also picked up a case of COOR's for fellow DJ Jim Brady at CFTR Toronto. Understand at that time we didn't have the watered down copy we now have in Canada....it was the Real Coor's. About an hour after I get back Paul Buttefield walks up and says, "I can smell a case of Coors a mile away." Jim Brady (now at the River in Toledo) never did get his Coors and Paul owes me a case on which I will never collect. How we all miss that man. Fortunately the music survives. Tell me more about your day at the party. Shine On ...Paulg

Mon Feb 1 00:24:05 MET 1999

Diamond Lil

Jan Hoiberg and everyone else there in Norway. Please do whatever you need to do to stay warm and safe there. Thinking of you.