The Band Guestbook, July 2000

Below are the entries in The Band guestbook from July 2000.

Posted on Mon Jul 31 22:59:28 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

(slow day at work, forgive the obnoxious posting).

Ken Nordine, man, there's a name I'd forgotten about. Obvious Band connection there...he does the voice over to Garth's "feed the birds" on "Stay Awake," no?

Nordine was also one of the great voice-over artists of the 60s and 70s. I'll always equate him with Taster's Choice Instant Coffee. My personal favorite is the riff where he goes golfing with God and Gerald Ford. I seem to recall God alway's wins because he hits the longest drives...

Posted on Mon Jul 31 22:49:54 CEST 2000 from m198214181111.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.181.111)

pehr

jazz/band fans... my 2 cents, what the hey- I'm a big fan of the old New orleans school, thats Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet and anyone that does to old dixieland sound. Jazz guitar? Charlie Christian drives me wild forever... Gene Krupa, oh man! dont give a kick about modern jazz, they play it too darn fast... But I'm a big fan of Ken Nordine's word jazz!

Posted on Mon Jul 31 22:33:59 CEST 2000 from spider-wj044.proxy.aol.com (205.188.198.39)

Donna

From: Drexel Hill, PA

Wow! Have been so busy the last couple of weeks, trying to keep the kid's somewhat occupied during the persistent rain that has been lingering around the Philly area lately. Spleen Venting: 1. Watching "Barney," and "Sally's Birthday Party!" (over and over) 2. Being forced to listen to "Britney Spears," "OOPS! I Did It Again." 3. "NSYNC," better know as, (NStink) 4. Entering the GB, and having to read disparaging, and obnoxious, post! Come back "Lil." We value your mature and knowledgeable input, here. You know as well as any, that there has been several peculiar individuals who posted here before. It is best to ignore than to get enraged! Hurry back... BTW, I'm trying to organize a trip to the "Lake," for August 30th. I'm not sure if Levon and the BB's will even be playing there that night. If anyone is planning on going or has any news about this, please e-mail me. Thanks!

Posted on Mon Jul 31 22:14:29 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

Just noticed that Joan Osborne made someone's "vent" list as a "phony" blues singer. Hmmm, have you by chance heard her "Early Recordings" album, which was released after her studio debut, "Relish?" I thought Relish was nice enough, though "If God Were One of Us" got WAAAAAY too much air time (Right Hand Man is a tricky bit of 7/8 time, though). "Early Recordings," however, blew me away. Recorded in her pre-fame days at such NYC institutions as Delta 88, it features some very powerful and earthy vocals. It also has my all-time fave version of "son of a preacher man."

Posted on Mon Jul 31 21:54:45 CEST 2000 from m198214182032.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.182.32)

Pehr

whew!!!!! what a weekend here!

I think Mr. Donabie nailed it!

Posted on Mon Jul 31 21:02:49 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

Lil rules. End of story. If you don't like a post or a poster, move on. If you have to be a moron, due it in e-mail so at least you show some backbone to "face" the person. As for "the Truth," assuming the e-mail address is accurate, you have my reply to your venom.

Have a rose, Lil, on me:

-<<-@

Posted on Mon Jul 31 20:47:15 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

checking the intermittent postings before mine made it up, i see the name John Zorn. I have to agree that Zorn, like Brøtzman is playing some of the most adventurous work out there, and I'm a big fan of his Naked City recordings from a few years back. Also, in that NYC arty mode, I really like neo-klezmer clarinetist Don Byron. I guess from there you could leap to Spike Jones, and from there to Zappa.

As I mentioned before, I'm a big Blue Note fan, circa 1959 - 1970. The stable of guys who would work on that label, sometimes as sidemen or as leaders presents some incredibly vital music from the likes of guitarist Grant Green, Hank Mobley (IMHO, the most underated sax player ever), Lee Morgan (the classic "Sidewinder" album is a must for the jazz fan), as well as solo recordings by Wayne Shorter (esp, "Ju Ju," "Witchhunt" and "Speak No Evil"), Herbie Hancock, and McCoy Tyner.

When asked by some where to start a jazz collection, I usually say "buy anything on Blue Note and go from there). Even picking blindly, you're likely to get something stupendous.

Matt

Posted on Mon Jul 31 20:36:26 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

I've been a jazz freak longer than I've been a rock-n-roll fan. I didn't start listening to rock until I was about 19. I spent my formative teen years getting beat up for blaring Count Basie from my boom box instead of AC/DC's "Back in Black."

That said, my jazz tastes run the gamut, and change witht he seasons. Last year I was completely immersed in Charles Mingus' Columbia and early 60s Atlantic recordings ("Ah Um," "Mingus Dynasty," "The Clown," "Roots and Blues").

Eternally, though, my collection is dominated by Coltrane (I'm a sax player, what would you expect?). I've managed to collect all of Coltrane's studio recordings as a leader and with Miles. I've got a good start on his other sideman work, but as reissues come out, I'm finding more and more to buy (the re-release of Johnny Griffin's fabulous "blowin' session" with Griffin, Coltrane and Hank Mobley comes to mind.

Beyond that, I'd pretty much agree with the general sentiment of Zappa's. Jazz, in my opinion, has largely stagnated and is living very much off past laurels. Certainly the Marsalis brothers and other neo-classicists of their ilk, bring a lot to the table, but it's still rehash. Fusion pretty much died on delivery, with some fun things popping up in the 70s, but generally falling victim to the sort of guitar hero monotony that crippled rock in the same era.

The more modern guys that I do make an effort to buy/listen to/see, include a lot of guitarists, ironically (John Scofield, Bill Frisell leap to mind). Sax players seem locked into a pretty retro posture (a la Joshua Redman, who is amazing, but not really groundbreaking). I do like the jazz/rap fusion work that Steve Coleman's been putting out lately, and I think James Carter has an outrageous approach that I really dig, but have not seen bear fruit in the form of truly original music (the same sort of argument one could make about Stanely Jordan as a guitarist).

Europe, actually, has provided two of my favorite sax players, neither of whom could be considered jazz in the purist sense, but who generally get filed in that section and who cut their teeth in the jazz world:

Jan Garbarek is wonderfully eclectic player whose style and approach was honed from George Russell's lydian chromatic school in the late sixties. Jan made his name recording with Keith Jarrett on a series of quartet albums ("My Song," "Belonging," and the live "Nude Ants") along with some very moody orchestral work ("Luminessence" and "Arbour Zena." Crabby, for my money, "My Song" and "Nude Ants" represent my favorite Jarrett albums, though I agree the standards trio is outstanding. Garbarek, more recently, has delved more into eastern and middle eastern music, playing and performing with Zakhir Hussain and Ustad Fateh Ali Khan.

His collaborations are far more reaching than this (most recently improvising around Medival choral music with the Hilliard Ensemble). I know Jan is a bigger deal in northern Europe, so I'll leave it to our friends and webmaster from the region who could probably espouse on Garbarek with greater authority than I.

On a more dissonant note, I'm also a big fan of Peter Brøtzman. Brøtzman is more avant garde than pure jazz, but I'm particularly fond of his timbres and noises he brings to the table, particularly with his recordings as a member of Last Exit with Bill Laswell and the late (great) Sonny Sharrock. Not for the faint of heart, but definitely worth a listen for the more adventurous.

Beyond that, my jazz playing of late has been focused on a combination of the pianist Bill Evans (as opposed to the former Miles Davis saxophonist of the same name), especially his trio dates in the sixties with various Paul Motian/Eddie Gomez/Scott LeFaro lineups. I also recently picked up the Prestige boxed set of Sonny Rollins' 1950s material. Of his three major stylistic eras, I'm still a big fan of Rollins' earliest incarnation during and immediately following his stint with Clifford Brown. I also heartily recommend the complete Blue Note set from Rollins, which features some of his most aggressive work with the piano-less quartet. Along the same lines, this weekend, I picked up the re-release of Joe Henderson's "State of the Tenor" double album, which featured his own work with a piano-less quartet playing live in NYC circa 1985.

Finally, on a more commercial note. I used to be a huge Michael Brecker fan (I still like him a lot, though I burned out on him at one point). Mike is known primarily for his fusion work of the 1970s, studio work from the 70s through today, and his own solo work of the last 10 years. For my money, though, I really like his work with the Steps/Steps Ahead group of the early 80s. I recently picked up Nippon/Columbia's re-release of the Steps's "Smokin' in the Pit" with Mike Maineri, Steve Gadd, Eddie Gomez and the late Don Grolnick. The Elektra Musician eponymous release Steps Ahead, is also pretty amazing, if slick - with a young Eliane Elias on piano and Peter Erskine replaceing Gadd on drums. Along similair lines, the Brecker, Gomez, Gadd lineup recorded a tremendous set in the late 70s with Chick Corea called "Three Quartets," which is available with session outakes - revisiting this recording is giving a lot to chew on these days.

Matt

Posted on Mon Jul 31 20:14:47 CEST 2000 from proxy-543.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.133)

Scott

Favorite jazz musicians: Medeski, Martin and Wood & Charlie Parker. I know this is a stretch but John Zorn & Marc Ribot are also on the top of my list.....Some food for thought - What happens to a BUMBLES bee after it stings ? That entry was a disgrace. The Truth and Cupid are also fools.... Diamond Lil, a toast !!! "drinkin coca cola from a bottle that's frosty green". I am sure the vast majority of GB people enjoy your contribution to this site

Posted on Mon Jul 31 20:04:18 CEST 2000 from (207.159.232.162)

jcf

From: new york
Home page

Favorite jazz artists of Band fans? My knowledge of jazz is much narrower than my knowledge of rock and popular music, but I do appreciate jazz. I have a handful of jazz albums. My favorite is Miles Smiles featuring Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Waune Shorter, and tony Williams. The first four tracks are my favorite . Does anyone know if the Ron Carter from that album is the same Ron Carter that is listed on one of John Simon's 90's albums.. My favorite jazz artists is probably Thelonious Monk. The link between Monk and the Band is probably known to most regualrs here. Incidentally a great station for jazz, featuring the great Phil Schapp is WKCR in New York. Click for their website above. I became a Monk fan by listening to a bithday broadcast of his music on the station. WKCR, which is Columbia U's stations, plays mostly classical and jazz. However there is country/ bluegrass on Sunday's from 10a.m to 2p.m. And some blues/ soul, I seem to recall, On Saturday evenings.

Posted on Mon Jul 31 19:29:01 CEST 2000 from spider-wi073.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.53)

bob wigo

From: havertown,pa.

"Jazz is not dead, it just smells funny." -- Frank Zappa

Sorry Crabby. I couldn't resist.

Posted on Mon Jul 31 18:34:19 CEST 2000 from 1cust118.tnt14.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.142.118)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

Guess there's not too many jazz fans amongst us here. Since you asked, violinist Grappelly (sometimes also spelled Grappelli) recorded and performed with both David Grisman and Vassar Clements among many other music notables such as Jean-Luc Ponty and Yo Yo Ma. The range of his musical tastes was wide. "Here, There, and Everywhere" and "You Are The Sunshine of My Life" were part of his live sets in recent years.

What about group #4 - People who've seen The Band and love SOME but not all of their music? Maybe I'm the only one in this category.

Have somehow been completely unaware of the musical score for THE HUSTLER one of my very favorite films featuring a great serious acting role by Ralph Kramden. I'll listen harder next time I view it. Scorcese's "sequel" THE COLOR OF MONEY is abominable and one of his worst pictures. Mainly, the film doesn't work because both the Tom Cruise and "girlfriend" characters are basically very unlikeable and the viewer has no one with which to empathize.

"Move To Japan" really cooks!! I've said it before. At least Levon, Rick, and Garth had a sense of humor.

Whoops!! With all my gushing about Grappelly I forgot to mention my very favorite jazzman - Kenny G. Sorry, Kenny!

Posted on Mon Jul 31 18:18:17 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.187)

David Powell

From: Georgia

To reinforce my perception of just how innovative "Music From Big Pink" was, my listening "project" for this week is to play that album along with some of my other favorites from 1968. So far the line-up includes: "Beggars Banquet" from the Rolling Stones, the Steve Miller Band's "Children Of The Future", "Wheels Of Fire" from Cream, "Electric Ladyland" from the Jimi Hendrix Experience, and the Beatles' self-titled "White Album". It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it! In order to keep things in the proper context, I'll be listening to the vinyl LP versions. BTW--the RIAA recently certified 18 million sales for the "White Album", placing it in a tie for sixth place on the list with "Rumours" from Fleetwood Mac.

My quote for today comes from Taj Mahal: "Sometimes you catch the train in life; sometimes you don't. But I think I'm an example that if you have knowledge of self, you don't have to get up in anybody's face and make them feel bad just so you can feel good. The blues is an incredible way to lif the negativity off any situation."

That quote is included in a wonderful essay on Taj Mahal by Timothy White in his Billboard magazine column "Music To My Ears: Taj Mahal: A giant Step Ahead Of His Time". You can read it online at: http://www.billboard.com/musictomyears/

Posted on Mon Jul 31 18:07:40 CEST 2000 from usr51-dialup226.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.198.104)

G-MAN

Hey Joe--from N.Rochelle--THEM BARN BURNERS are something!!!!!! D'Lil, don't give up the ship, it's just a full moon or foul moon cycle. Anyone ever hear of a blues singer named Buck Dollar ???? What's goin' on on the GB- since Jan's away ?????? PEACE !!

Posted on Mon Jul 31 17:38:13 CEST 2000 from sjiassoc16.erols.com (208.58.12.144)

Jon Lyness

From: New York City

Hank, your comments about Lil are right on the money. Lil, hope you will rejoin us soon...as the saying goes, don't let the turkeys get you down. :)

And hey, it is nice to see a positive mention of Move to Japan for once! I mean sure, the lyrics are totally ridiculous, but as was just mentioned, Garth is fantastic on that one. The sound of his accordian is so infectious, and the song is so joyful and tongue-in-cheek. "When we get to Japan, we gonna do our part, we gonna love Japan with all our heart..." Sure, it's no Acadian Driftwood, but to me it is a hell of a lot of fun.

Posted on Mon Jul 31 17:34:26 CEST 2000 from 56k-la-00-08.dial.qnet.com (209.221.212.23)

Dave the Phone Guy

From: L.V.,Ca.

BWNWIT,David Hidalgo on drums?I know he can play lead guitar,acordian,violin,and is a great singer.

Sundog you dog.Are you going Furthur?

Joe,could you expand on those going west rumours?

Brien,I think the philosopher actually said "Can't we all just get a bong."

IILLKA,it's time for another verse now.

Posted on Mon Jul 31 15:58:03 CEST 2000 from spider-wi014.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.24)

bob wigo

From: havertown,pa

Anyone see the Doug Sahm tribute on "Austin City Limits" Saturday evening? Great show. Sir Douglas was something special and ,unfortunately,vastly underappreciated.Jan, I hope you can provide a link in the "Related" files so that we can all learn more about him and his music.

A good segment on Sting on "CBS Sunday Morning" as well. Like him or not he is a wonderful and unique talent.By the way, it is my humble opinion that "Sunday Morning" is, and has been for a very long time, what television should be; informative, entertaining and splendidly diverse. If you've never watched, check it out.

Are there any GBers planning to attend Levon's Pocono gig this coming Saturday?Since I wear no mask nor cloak I'll be easy to spot. Please say hello if you are so inclined.

It appears that the old saw is right on the mark. The Truth is , in fact , stranger than fiction.

Regarding Little Brother's ( my nomination for "poster laureate" ) Instant Kharma reference -I have long appreciated Bono's take on the matter spawned by Mr. Goldman's attack on John Lennon . "Instant Kharma's gonna get you..... if I don't get you first."

Finally;

"There never was a good war or a bad peace." -- Benjamin Franklin

Posted on Mon Jul 31 11:56:25 CEST 2000 from dialup-331.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.75)

HANK

From: CORK CITY
Home page

This GB is made up of Three types of folks.....1. Folks who just love the music The Band made............2. Folks who just love the music The Band made and were fortunate enuff to see 'em live a few times (together or solo) and/or who met them personally......and 3. Folks who just love the music The Band made but who are extremely jealous of those who've seen The Band live or who met them personally...............Jealousy is an awful thing..........I suspect people are very jealous of Diamond L'il.............This is not the first time I've seen posts attacking her...........I can't be sure, but as far as I can gather, L'il was pretty tight with Rick or at least knew him pretty well.....correct me if I'm wrong, here ,people.........I've seen posts labelling her a "groupie" and you can tell that it's pure jealousy that would make people write something like that..........these people will NEVER get a chance to hang with Rick and, while he was alive, probably would not have cared to and woulda accused him of being too stoned or reckless or whatever..........So, Diamond L'il, come back to us ...........Don't EVER let jealousy drive you away from something you really love

Posted on Mon Jul 31 11:32:13 CEST 2000 from proxy-651.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.129)

Patricia

From: lodged under a big fallen tree limb

sorry...we are going to get nailed with another electrical storm here directly and I want to get another lick in before the subject of Little Richard fades off...I just realized that someone in here accused someone else of being homophobic because they didn't care for Little Richard...anyway.. that's how I read it...which leads me to think that at least some of you don't know why Little Richard wears make-up....the following story is true...when Rich was just starting out..way down in Georgia...he had to play somewhere..and the black side of town was too poor to pay anything so...Rich got jobs in the white side of town, but he ran into a little problem...during his gigs the little white girls would gather all around and scream and holler his name....which in turn made the white boys piss and holle and threaten to kill him...and so ...everynight after the show they'd take Rich out back and kick the shit out of him.....so Rich got to thinkin'...yeah...I'll put on a little rouge...and a little eyeliner and a little lipstick..so after doing all that he could get kissed by the girls all he wanted...ad he boys just stood in the back of the clubs and laughed at him...little did they know that their girlfriends and sisters could see thru all the make-up...into something only girls can see.....so Rich could play anywhere on the white girl side of town he wanted to ...and after the show he would slip in and out of as many of the white girl backdoors as he wanted to....without getting the shit knocked out of him by the once-irate white boys....who now think Rich is "Just one of the girls"....wrong....Rich is a smart dude...he's takin' the white boys money.....and the white boys honey....and ain't even comin' close to bein' killed......if you can't respect him for one of his geniuses...ya gotta respect him for the other one......

Posted on Mon Jul 31 09:49:17 CEST 2000 from proxy-333.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.33)

Patricia

I'm not going to start over posting again but I read something I missed while the lightening was knockin' out peoples lights in my neck of the woods for the last two days...Cupid:...Elvis:the fat bastard years...live fast...die middle-aged and left his bloated drug-riddled carcus on the bathroom floor.....please excuse me but...Cupid F--- You....lets see you or any one of us walk a mile in old Elvis' shoes and not end up in the same shape he was...if "The King of Rock and Roll" can fall off his toilet and soffocate in his bathroom rug cause he was just too stoned or too tired...do you know what a heartattack is....I know what a heartattack is and believe me you don't want to have one ...if Elvis can go out that way it don't leave much hope for the rest of us........

Posted on Mon Jul 31 09:26:24 CEST 2000 from tcnet04-55.austin.texas.net (209.99.40.244)

LAURA HOLT

From: AUSTIN, TEXAS

Lil...we miss you..I MISS YOU! This GB thing has become a bit of a circus..maybe you can tame some of the animals ..I don't know...maybe you're tired of doing so. I can't blame you if that's the case "Life is a Carnival" in here right now. Hope you don't stay gone too terribly long. Oh BTW...Bumbles....Kiss my white bean bag! You're an a..hole!!! Just go.....ok??!! PEACE TO THE REST OF THE PLEASANT AND KIND GB'ers!

Posted on Mon Jul 31 09:09:51 CEST 2000 from 1cust95.tnt2.morristown2.nj.da.uu.net (63.15.223.95)

Carr

Home page

James Damiano vs Bob Dylan for copyright infringement link below "This court will except as true Plaintiff's allegation that Sony represented to him that he would be credited and compensated for his work if Dylan used it". (Judge Simandle) / "Plaintiff has demonstraated genuine issue of material fact as to whether Defendants had access to his work" (Judge Simandle) / "The melodic arc found in both Dylan's "Dignity" and James Damiano's "Steel Guitars" is more than a collection of shared pitches. 0It seems to embody the melodic shapeor character of both compositions.. When played on it's own it is reminiscent of both compositions" (Doctor Green - Harvard University) Damiano vs Bob Dylan for infringement http://_dylan_.homestead.com/

Posted on Mon Jul 31 07:56:26 CEST 2000 from proxy-543.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.133)

Patricia

I love seein' my name mentioned along with the other girls...makes me feel....you know...anyway speaking of jazz..I watched "The Hustler" this afternoon.. that Kenyon Hopkins score does it to me everytime...and I have seen that picture forever...but that Scorsese deal in 86 was one of the most disappointing movies I have ever watched...the music was wonderful..Robbie's work with the great Gil Evans ad the Blues that he put at the exact right places...beautiful....but that movie for me was actually revolting...I was so pissed off...did anyone else have a reaction kind of like that ? I was always so in love with th original..that was probably most of the problem for me...I always wondered what was going on in Scorsese's mind when he decided to tackle that...I think maybe he just wanted to show off his skill....well Marty...it sucked a blue streak......but the music was good...was real good...I've wanted a way to get my feelings about "The Color of Money" out for a long time...peace y'all

Posted on Mon Jul 31 07:19:56 CEST 2000 from cf3k-3.paradise.net.nz (203.96.152.183)

Amanda

There is nothing with Billy Bragg. He is a good song writer, very entertaining as a live performer, he has a social conscience & is part of a long & proud tradition of protest singers.

However I do agree about Stephane Grappelly. In fact I think I shall switch off my computer now and go and listen to him and Django Reinhardt & le Quintette du Hot Club de France. He is indeed outstanding!!

Posted on Mon Jul 31 06:56:25 CEST 2000 from 1cust39.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.136.39)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

That's an interesting topic - Band fans' favorite jazz artists and/or recordings. My fave jazz artists are Stephane Grappelli, Keith Jarrett, and The Rosenberg Trio. The Rosenbergs are Dutch Gypsies and I first saw them at Grappelli's 85th Birthday Celebration at Carnegie Hall. I recommend the album of that concert ("85 and Still Swinging" on the Angel label) as the second half features the entire "middle" set by the Rosenbergs which is spectacular. (They blew everyone totally away.) The recording captures it well. Stochelo Rosenberg plays in the tradition of Django Reinhardt on acoustic guitar. The first half features Grappelli with Bucky Pizzarelli and John Burr. All of Grappelli's recordings are terrific spanning his amazing career from the Paris days with Django in the Quintet of the Hot Club of France to his many recent albums up until his death just a few years ago. The Rosenbergs released one studio album (Caravan - 1994) in this country subsequent to that concert which features Grappelli on 4 cuts. An earlier album recorded in Holland when Stochelo was 21 is available as an import. They are both great.

Everyone's favorite Jarrett album is his solo improv masterpiece The Koln Concert from the mid '70s but he's great with his trio too. Apologies to those who already know all this stuff.

Can't really say enough bad things about both Wilco and Billy Bragg. I'll just leave it at that.

Wasn't that "great '90s philosopher" wife beater Rodney King? I always admire those who practice what they preach.

Just discovered a new Rosenberg Trio website: rosenberg-trio.com

Posted on Mon Jul 31 06:48:43 CEST 2000 from ipnak1-c8.xtra.co.nz (203.96.111.202)

Rod

From: NZ
Home page

Back with no wife in Tennessee: I thought Move ToJapan was aload of junk too - until I started listening to Garth's solos. Some of the best work he's ever done.

Posted on Mon Jul 31 06:16:26 CEST 2000 from user-33qt8uo.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.163.216)

Pat Brennan

From: USA

Bumbles's own words: "I check this site almost daily for the purpose of gleaning useful information about the Band." Followd quickly by: "Mick Dall-Vee: Don't be so shy next time. Robbie is super approachable, and there's nothing he enjoys more than meeting Band fans. Ask him about the guitar/amplifier/effects combinations he used on The Band or who played drums on what Basement Tapes tracks and he'll bend your ear all night. He can frequently be found at the bar at Joyous Lake, where---when he's not onstage teaching the local talent a thing or two---he bums joints from the regulars and happily signs autographs and poses for pictures."

Since your post doesn't provide any useful information about the Band--in fact, fulfills one of those "I hate Robbie" routines that clutters up the cyberfile-- I guess this means that you'd have to post another one apologizing for violating the Bumbles Guestbook Code. Perhaps even flame yourself. Interesting.

Posted on Mon Jul 31 06:00:20 CEST 2000 from mat-10-40.enter.net (207.16.156.234)

Little Brøther

From: around Philly, PA

Sorry for the double posting, once is plenty. The first one hung up for a LONG time, and I thought it was lost. I hit "STOP", but I guess it was in the pipeline already. Whoops! Live and learn...

Posted on Mon Jul 31 05:51:24 CEST 2000 from mat-10-40.enter.net (207.16.156.234)

Little Brøther

From: around Philly, PA

-- I guess I'd have to go with Garth's solo on "It Makes No Difference", but I'm also sentimental about "Walcott", especially the ROA take where he was cheered on by "the best horn men in New York". Although it may well have been the case that the solo was actually blown two weeks before the concert, and pasted in... You can't believe what you hear on the radio, etc. I also must give honorable mention to that raunchy sax on "Volcano".

-- I'd been distracted from the GB for a few days, and sure enough I missed out on another pyroclastic eruption. There are a whole bunch of posts, mostly from women (Amanda, Guenevere, Nancy, Lil, Patricia, others not gender-specific but I think are women), that countered the ugly, nasty, and downright stupid ones that got the pot boiling. This leaves almost nothing original to contribute. Almost, I said...

-- First of all, I want to thank Crabgrass for not posting, "Lil-- don't go away mad, just go away." Under that acerbic exterior lies a heart of flint, I fear. But seriously, Lil, a diamond ought to emerge unscathed from a dunk in flaming excrement. Allow me to join the others in polishing you back to your characteristic sparkle.

I've noticed that every few weeks we're treated to "drive-by" postings from some pipsqueak who's boiling with supercilious righteousness about a given opinion or trend. These beauties are usually only a few lines long, riddled with errors, and presume to set everyone straight about the proper attitude toward Band music, non-Band music, and the right way to live.

I find such miniaturized berserkers comical, from their choice of handles to their paradoxical rants. "The Truth" never heard of Instant Karma, that's for sure. Then there was some earnest, finger-wagging pissant who blustered that he (?) "hated to bust our bubbles", but we were Living in the Past or whatever. My bubble? Trust me, my zealous interlocutor, your tiny stinger could be torn out by its venomous little root and left buried in the surface of my bubble without leaving so much as a mark or even an itch.

As others noted, there are many varieties of flames, slams, putdowns, sneers, and condescending disapprovals bandied about here. I think that any regular contributor understands that we are, or must become, Cyberweebles-- we wobble but we don't fall down. The transient meteorites of molten dung are annoying, but their effect is minimal. One scrapes them off one's shoe and moves on.

I may be wrong, Bumbles, but I think that contradictory posting that purported to be an apology may have been the "last straw" for Lil. Or maybe it wasn't meant to be conciliatory at all. In any case, your description of your rationale for scoping out the GB seems problematic. It sounded like the lament of a private detective rooting nightly through a hotel dumpster or laundry hamper on a long-term stakeout. Here you are, trolling the depths daily in hopes of some solid evidence, picking up fistful after fistful of garbage or soiled linen. You don't MIND the half-eaten food or the inappropriate stains, but you just won't stand for inaccuracies or misleading input! Well, OK.

Personally, I too value firsthand stories about Band members and music past and present, especially ones that present new and unique information. But those kind are few and far between. I'd find it a real drag if I had to wade daily through the muck of all the stuff you find just OK at best with expectations set so high! I certainly will never fulfill them, by definition. But that's your thing, so I wish you luck. Heaven forfend I join the bubble-busting brownshirts!

-- I like Little Richard OK, but it's possible not to without being homophobic or racist. All those Mariahs and Celines and Brittneys are pretty dreadful, though-- not to mention fading stars hyped as "diva"s. Likewise all those ersatz "boy bands" and all such pre-fab (post-Fab?), synthetic muzakal groups cultured in corporate petri dishes.

God rest ye merry, gentlemen. And gentlewomen, too...

Posted on Mon Jul 31 05:45:55 CEST 2000 from mat-10-40.enter.net (207.16.156.234)

Little Brøther

From: around Philly, PA

I find such miniaturized berserkers comical, from their choice of handles to their paradoxical rants. "The Truth" never heard of Instant Karma, that's for sure. Then there was the pissant pipsqueak who blustered that he (?) "hated to bust our bubbles", but we were Living in the Past or whatever. My bubble? Trust me, my zealous interlocutor, your tiny stinger could be torn out by its venomous little root and left buried in the surface of my bubble without leaving so much as a mark or even an itch.

God rest ye merry, gentlemen. And gentlewomen, too...

Posted on Mon Jul 31 03:45:33 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.avnl1.nj.home.com (24.4.252.66)

Brien Sz

From: NJ

You try to go away for a couple of days for some R&R in the mountains and you come home to a messy house. Sometimes kids just can't play nice. Anyway, i want to say I love this place. Even though the bickering sometimes gets a bit sophmoric and we have a tendency to beat certain issues to death-- i love it. Yes their is the occassional cyber bully who likes to pick on the nice kids but they are few and far between and we should just let their opinions roll off our backs.

Didn't a great 90's philosopher once say " Can't we all just get along".

Richard Patterson: I have both cd's by Billy Bragg and Wilco. They are both very good. I think the first one is a bit stronger than the second.

As for Wilco's 'Being There' being the next Brown Album, I'd say thats a stretch. And funny thing that this was brought up because i was discussing this very same cd this weekend with a friend. I t would be a much better cd if it had been a single cd (not double) and they cut about 8 songs off it. Then it would be a classic!

I did discover a band this weekend that i really liked called The Picketts and an artist named Julie who can really sing the blues

And one more thing---If you kids can't play nice, I'll make you watch every hour of the Republican Convention this week.

Oh and i love Pink Floyd to!

Posted on Mon Jul 31 03:22:11 CEST 2000 from spider-wj032.proxy.aol.com (205.188.198.32)

Mike

From: Sweating in Oregon

"The Truth"...Lighten up...Lil's one of the family...Some of us have been trading posts for a number of years now on this site...no need to be so nasty. Lil, hang in there and don't fret. Some people work real hard at being a jerk; to others it just comes easy. Either way...

Eagerly waiting the new release from Rick.

Posted on Mon Jul 31 03:12:43 CEST 2000 from trt-on73-33.netcom.ca (216.123.88.33)

John Donabie

Well. well, well. A couple of things. Lil, I'm not going to say "don't go"; because I don't believe you'll let this person push you out. You've been through lots of adversity and your still going strong. Hang in there.

As to those who are "horrified" by people like "The Truth", I'm more surprised we don't see more of it. Remember......although this feels like a small community, we are on the world wide web. Heck I know neighbours I'm not crazy about.......imagine with the anonymity of the web what could happen? I personally feel that generally this is a very tame oasis within the world wide web. Once in awhile someone comes out and tried a little "shock treatment." Go with the flow. Since my heart attack I don't sweat the little things anymore. Lil you've got your kids and your bright outlook on life. Don't let "words" of some stranger bring you down. It's really not worth it. In the words of Diamond Lil.......Hugs Lil:>)

And don't be a stranger Lil.......write sometime like you used to.

Posted on Mon Jul 31 03:07:05 CEST 2000 from spider-wg044.proxy.aol.com (205.188.196.39)

Just Vacuuming

I will not tolerate intolerance.

Posted on Mon Jul 31 02:47:42 CEST 2000 from proxy-671.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.71)

Patricia

I think the stuff that's attacking RRs Capitol site is an inside job....they have those sammiefans.over there and they go from site to site and say obscene things...that place is a mess over there now...anyway I happen to have a wonderful recipe for "cherry-almond crunch"....and yes Rich...I think you just might be right ....Long tall Sally..she's built for speed..she got everything that Awkansaw need...oh baby...yeahhh baby...ooooh baby....bopbabaloobopbabamboom...or somethin' like that !

Posted on Mon Jul 31 02:33:55 CEST 2000 from spider-wg013.proxy.aol.com (205.188.196.23)

Pac

From: SF area

Great posts!!!!! ;)

Posted on Mon Jul 31 02:26:15 CEST 2000 from stk-pm1-12-140.dialup.slip.net (207.171.230.140)

Guenevere

if someone would be so kind as to re-post Bob Dylan's mothers recipe for "Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins" that was posted in here last year, I would be eternally grateful...

Posted on Mon Jul 31 02:09:19 CEST 2000 from 183.0102.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.183)

Nancy

From: Australia

Bumbles: You say that you like to check this site almost daily, but also that much of the trivia you read here is meaningless filler for you. I can understand that you are after serious information and that we come here for different reasons. But if you vetoed all the types of entry you mentioned in your post, you would only have to check the 'book once a week at best, so what would you do for the rest of the week?

Posted on Mon Jul 31 01:59:02 CEST 2000 from pm2-78.delrio.com (208.246.52.199)

Just Wonderin'

From: Somewhere out of San Antone

I wonder if the virus that is contaminating this site is the same one attacking Robbie Robertson's? I suppose it's possible...and if it is to the offender grow up!!

Diamond Lil: I don't know you, but I always enjoy your posts...please don't abandon us! We will defend you from these fools! Though I think you do an excellent job of sticking up for yourself!

Posted on Mon Jul 31 01:46:55 CEST 2000 from cf3k-3.paradise.net.nz (203.96.152.183)

Amanda

From: hey lets exchange recipes sometime here in the GB!!

Hmm…I suspect the Robbie Robertson at Joyous Lake thing might not be true…drumming on the Basement tapes, showing the locals a thing or two on stage, being accessible to fans…sounds like Levon to me. I think someone may be having a jab at Robbie Robertson.

People are always being nailed for their opinions in here, but really, who cares? The GB would die if people were only allowed to contribute fully referenced posts with no spark of personality. If someone hadn't started the ball rolling by saying nasty things about the Beatles then there would have been no interesting discussion about just how great they really are.

This is a shared resource. No one individual can speak for the whole GB. (Although, of course, Jan can close it down) For everyone who is bored by someones posts there will be someone else who agrees with/enjoys/learns from them. Diamond Lil you get plenty of positive feed back. The GB would not be the same without you & in my opinion if you have something you want to say, you should say it. Laugh at or ignore any mean-spirited individuals who suggest you are wasting their oh so important looking up music trivia on the internet time.

Anyway, I could moralise some more but domestic trivia is calling & I really do need to look out the window to see what the weather is doing…You know its strange…I don't actually remember meeting Mick Jagger…can't have been very memorable…

Posted on Mon Jul 31 01:47:39 CEST 2000 from ts1-40.steveston.axion.net (207.34.146.40)

Doug Smith

From: The banks of the muddy Fraser

Greetings friends.Was horrified to read The Truth's post.I want desperatly to flame him/her or at least to rip a strip off the clown but fear he/she/it would/is get[ting] a kick out of all this. So let me just say, The Truth let's you and me hope we never bump into each other. Be it at night in an alley or in broad daylight on a busy street.Why? you ask, becouse I'd probably make like the Bible and Smite thee.Even if you've only visited a few times you should have recognized the esteem in which Lil is held by the denizens of the GB. Lil don't let this bottomfeeder[my apologies to Flounder everywhere] keep you from posting.Hank pour me a tall Scotch will ya...Peace Cupid

Posted on Mon Jul 31 00:30:59 CEST 2000 from stk-pm1-27-155.dialup.slip.net (207.171.230.155)

Guenevere

oh yeah... and I'M VACUUMING!!!!!

so, does somebody want to make something of it?

Posted on Mon Jul 31 00:06:46 CEST 2000 from stk-pm1-57-185.dialup.slip.net (207.171.230.185)

Guenevere

Aww come on Lil, you can't let some little weenie (or weenette) drive you outta the GB like that! I've faced opponents thousands of times more formidable to defend my opinion in here... but did I let it drive me out?.... NO!!!! You gotta at least wait until Deb's Dog and Cat attacks you to give your Checker's Speech ... girl...

btw... its hotter ‘n hell here today!!!

Posted on Sun Jul 30 23:55:02 CEST 2000 from (205.199.123.231)

Daniel

From: Florida
Home page

woah cool site but im like looking for the band bass tabs and cant find them anywhere if anyone reads this and has some or knows where i can get some please e-mail me.

Posted on Sun Jul 30 23:53:36 CEST 2000 from ppp7096.on.bellglobal.com (206.172.238.208)

Richard Patterson

From: St Kitts

Patricia: Little Richard ... Gee... I think it means you like rock n roll...

Posted on Sun Jul 30 23:40:18 CEST 2000 from proxy-1321.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.220.148)

Patricia

falalalalalalala falalalalalalala.tis the season to be jolly falal...hey wait a minute....wrong song..sorry...anyway what I'd like to know is Does Robbie's wife go to the Joyous Lake club with him ?

Posted on Sun Jul 30 22:49:47 CEST 2000 from spider-wl044.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.39)

Bayou Sam

From: Pepperland

I've been hanging around this site for only ten months or so and I really enjoy it. I had the same reaction as alot of people when I discovered it. It was the "WOW I can't beleive the Band has this website". I see it when a "new" person posts the same kind of reaction. I think it's cool. I also feel that they should be welcomed in weather they like Robbie, OR Levon in "the fued" - weather they Like the Beatles or Neil Diamond - or weather or not they can spell (as long as we understand what they're trying to say). It seems that every once and awhile(or is it, once and a-while) someone rolls in and trys to shock the place. That last post about, and to, Lil is NOW the stupidest thing I've ever read in the GB. Lil handled it with her usual grace instead of telling the fool something that would only drag her down to that level - and that level is quite a ways down. I can't imagine why a person with so much venom would even bother with this site if it prduces so much ugly hate. It is a very cowardly way to go about expressing your thoughts. I sure hope Jan dosen't feel it necessary to shut this down. We could simply ingore this mean spirited clown until he/she just goes away. If we turn it into a free for all, then Jan would have a reason.......................... .."Peace remember Peace is how we make it"- Ringo Starr 1971

Posted on Sun Jul 30 22:45:10 CEST 2000 from spider-tn032.proxy.aol.com (152.163.207.57)

Pac

From: SF Bay Area

Who defines the content of Guestbooks? I've really enjoyed the personal touches and feel that what made Levon's book so great was the humanization of the people behind the music. Academia is just ONE part of the picture, agree? Also people's vague references to sources such as VH1 programs have triggered the "amazing trivia facts" part of those with different kinds of brains who can then give us the specifics. We all contribute in our own ways. Hank, I think we need a keg for the room!

Posted on Sun Jul 30 21:55:05 CEST 2000 from proxy-1341.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.220.164)

Patricia

From: uuuuummm

I like Little Richard,but....I don't like RuPaul....huh....wonder what that means...or is it the other way around...well anyway..does Robbie really hang out at the Joyous Lake deal...sounds unlikely but...

Posted on Sun Jul 30 21:33:47 CEST 2000 from 200-191-199-179-as.acessonet.com.br (200.191.199.179)

Marcelo de Andrade Toledo

From: Porto Alegre, Brazil

Hi there! How's everybody?? Long live Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen and of course, THE BAND!! I read some e-mails and I just want to say that I hate Britney Spears, Celine Dion, Rick Astley, Michael Jackson and all this shits. Okay, just for the records, my all time ever The Band's top ten is(not in order of preference): 1 - Whispering Pines 2 - The Weight 3 - Acadian Driftwood 4 - Daniel and the Sacred Harp 5 - Katie's Been Gone 6 - Up on Cripple Creek 7 - Tears of Rage 8 - The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down 9 - Life is a Carnival 10 - When You Awake That's it. E-mail me to reply or to agree ! Bye !

Posted on Sun Jul 30 20:54:18 CEST 2000 from 209-23-55-13.ip.termserv.net (209.23.55.13)

Diamond Lil

I have one question for 'Bumbles' and then I'm gone. Since when does not liking someone's voice or someone's music make a person "racist and homophobic"?

It's really sad to see what this forum has become, and frankly I have no wish to be a part of it anymore as long as it continues this way. Sorry. And for the sake of the folks that come in here to truly be a part of this little community, I sure do hope that Jan's tolerance level stays intact. I wish you all well.

Posted on Sun Jul 30 20:16:41 CEST 2000 from spider-wl053.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.43)

Bumbles

From: Where It's At

Hope I didn't set off the deluge of ad hominem attacks on D. Lil. Don't see the point in heaping that kind of mindless personal abuse on someone you don't know. My only purpose was to correct a misstatement of fact from a guestbook eminence who presents herself as an authority. I check this site almost daily for the purpose of gleaning useful information about the Band. In the guestbook, this entails wading through countless "Can't believe someone else has heard of the Band," "The Beatles suck 'cause I say so," and "Levon, we hung out after a show in Des Moines in '76. e-mail me" posts, as well as those from posters who use the GB as a diary, with almost-hourly updates on the weather in the greater Catskill region, their romantic disappointments, the joys of child rearing, and general domestic tedium. Harmless enough, but if those are your subjects, stick to them. The loopy historical background, hazily remembered from a VH-1 special, is a disservice to everyone. And the boorishly racist & homophobic take on Little Richard is something worse.

Mick Dall-Vee: Don't be so shy next time. Robbie is super approachable, and there's nothing he enjoys more than meeting Band fans. Ask him about the guitar/amplifier/effects combinations he used on The Band or who played drums on what Basement Tapes tracks and he'll bend your ear all night. He can frequently be found at the bar at Joyous Lake, where---when he's not onstage teaching the local talent a thing or two---he bums joints from the regulars and happily signs autographs and poses for pictures.

Posted on Sun Jul 30 18:09:21 CEST 2000 from x2-6.poughkeepsie.bestweb.net (216.179.14.180)

Gene

From: ClintonFreeZone

oops, directed spleen-venting to wrong website. Beg pardon

Posted on Sun Jul 30 18:00:47 CEST 2000 from x2-25.poughkeepsie.bestweb.net (216.179.14.199)

Gene

From: New York free of Clintons

Take Hillary,

PLEASE

Posted on Sun Jul 30 17:36:44 CEST 2000 from stjhts19c14.nbnet.nb.ca (142.166.253.20)

WS Walcott

From: N.B. Canada

Spleen Venting: Shania, Celine and Alanis-there are some good Canadian artists you know,just gotta find them. Check out Big Dave McLean if you like the blues. Regis and Katy Lee. Shes gone, just gotta get rid of him now. "Survivor", what is this, a bunch of people on a tropical island? Let them go to Labrador or northern Quebec and see how they make out. We Canadians would consider "Survivor" a Club Med vacation. Hell, we'd outlast everybody! Who else, Leonardo DiCaprio and Sandra Bullock, how about the Baldwin brothers? How about 14 year old kids who wear Grateful Dead tie dies but wouldn't know Jerry Garcia from Ricky Martin? Oh yeah, and latter day Santana fans too-bandwagon jumpers!

Posted on Sun Jul 30 17:15:50 CEST 2000 from stjhts19c14.nbnet.nb.ca (142.166.253.20)

WS Walcott

From: New Brunswick

I must say I'm apalled by the comments made by The Truth. Grow up! I enjoy reading the posts because the submissions are written by intelligent, well informed music fans. No need for the other smut. Take a hike Truth! Anyway, I would like to know if anybody has read 3 Dog Nightmare by Chuck Negron? of 3 Dog Night. I know its a bit off topic, I never liked 3 Dog Night anyway. However, I've heard its quite good. Any feedback on this one? Best Garth sax solo? Gotta go with "It Makes No Difference" from NLSC.

Posted on Sun Jul 30 16:41:18 CEST 2000 from ras-c5800-1-49-87.dialup.wisc.edu (128.104.49.87)

Ryan Stang

From: Madison, WI

Sorry for my which-Beatle-is-drumming-comment. Does anyone know the actual date of release for the reissues? That Capitol records thing said the 29th, but a recent ICE mag at my local record store says the 15th.

Posted on Sun Jul 30 16:13:43 CEST 2000 from pm4-47.delrio.com (208.246.53.47)

Just Wonderin'

From: Somewhere out of San Antone

Ihope the virus that has recently infected this guestbook disappears on its own. Personal attacks are absolutly unwarrented. I for one DO NOT want to see this book shut down! Take a pill and chill to the offender.

Posted on Sun Jul 30 15:58:18 CEST 2000 from dialup-069.cork.iol.ie (194.125.43.69)

HANK

From: CORK CITY
Home page

PAC!!!!!.......What're yer havin'? A Murphys or a Guinessssh? Great Post, BWNWinTenn....... PATRICK....my fave horn performance by Garth is "It Makes No Difference" at TLW......kinda obvious, perhaps, but I can remember being 16 in 1979 in a beat-up old cinema in Mallow Co. Cork with my Dad and thinking THAT is THE most beautiful thing I've EVER heard........There ya go.......

Posted on Sun Jul 30 14:19:40 CEST 2000 from 185.0102.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.185)

Nancy

From: Australia

On a lighter note, I thought that you'd all like to know about a biography on Mick Jagger that I read recently.

It states categorically that Mick has slept with (or been found in bed with) an astounding 99.99999% of the world's population. The exceptions are estimated to be only two people, namely myself and Peter Viney.

Now I guess there may be a few people reading this who are thinking "that's bullshit, I haven't been in bed with him", well, all I can say is "sorry sweetheart, it's all in the book".

Posted on Sun Jul 30 13:35:02 CEST 2000 from alb1-as5300-2-2.termserv.net (209.23.41.2)

Diamond Lil

Aww.... what a dilemma. If folks keep posting under so many different names in here, how will I ever know which one to send the Christmas card to? :-)

Have a good day everyone. Hug Jan.

Posted on Sun Jul 30 13:03:02 CEST 2000 from ptcm02m01-62.bctel.ca (209.53.246.62)

Mick Dalla-Vee

Thanks for the page. It reminds me of such a simpler time in my life. I stood right beside Robbie Robertson at the Juno awards in Vancouver 2 years ago, and I was too stunned to at least say 'hi'. I hope I'll get the opportunity again. There's so much I want to ask him about the making of "The Band" (the brown album - one of my all-time favourites)

Posted on Sun Jul 30 10:14:03 CEST 2000 from gw3a60-2-d1.wind.it (212.141.124.1)

Emanuele " The Beard"

From: Venice , Italy
Home page

Hey friends of The Band ! Visit THE BEARDS HOMEPAGE , 3 new realaudio - DON'T YOU DO IT - WHEELS ' ON FIRE - LIFE IS CARNIVAL ALL FROM LIVE IN JERSEY CITY 1973 ! Thank you ! Soon other RealAudio from 1974 tour : From New York Oakland BYE ! EMANUELE

Posted on Sun Jul 30 10:12:30 CEST 2000 from proxy-651.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.129)

Patricia

.....altho..I must add that I know what it's like to get nailed for expressing an opinion in here...and If I remember correctly ...not many people at all came to my rescue......but that's alright....

Posted on Sun Jul 30 10:02:14 CEST 2000 from proxy-651.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.129)

Patricia

hey...I hope no one here thinks that I had anything to do with this ugly stuff that's been going on ....Quit calling Lil names or we're gonna look you up and kick your ass !!

Posted on Sun Jul 30 08:16:26 CEST 2000 from spider-tn054.proxy.aol.com (152.163.207.69)

Pac

From: SFBay Area

I've been checking into this site since December. Have learned so much, reminisced a great deal, agreed with many comments/opinions, and thought about those so different from mine. But what I can't accept is watching a nice person get targeted maliciously for expressing her opinion, while others are treated with respect for doing the exact same thing. I wonder if there's sexism behind it too -- girl fights can be just as nasty, but I think if Lil were a guy this wouldn't be happening...IN MY OPINION. Food for thought. I just had to say something because it's starting to turn my stomach. The majority of posts and personalities are an absolute delight and I feel privileged to tune in. There's so much good music out there to share on many different levels. I appreciate that Lil talks from her heart, and I appreciate that our historians and writers talk from their minds. One should not invalidate the other IMHO. Hank, luv, can you pull me a pint? It's time the music schtarted.

Posted on Sun Jul 30 08:06:02 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-116-3.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.116.3)

BWNWITennessee

From: The Architect of Guestbook Posting

Okay, Mr. The Truth/Not Important - yes, the appalling lack of grammatical skills give you away as being the same person - this one's for you. Where to begin - how 'bout the top. There's a period after the "A" in U.S.A. No hyphen in "thank you." Small "y" in "you." Why the apostrophe before "The Beatles"? It should be a comma, not a period, after "The Beatles." Why the quotation mark before "The Artist"? Why the apostrophe after "The Artist"? "Groundbreakers" is one word. There shouldn't be a comma after "them," there should be a semicolon after "Little Richard." It should be "who would disagree," or better yet just rewrite the entire convoluted (just for you - "bad") sentence. It doesn't take a musician to tell you if someone is a "legend." Musicians might be able to tell you what it is that makes him a legendary figure, but anyone who has ever seen the "Tonight Show" (it's like Jerry Springer and Jenny Jones, sort of) or read anything about contemporary history can tell you that he that he is a "legend" in terms of popular culture. Okay, why the apostrophes around "sounds"? And what the hell does that mean? Everything that creates an audio wave is a sound. Everything that has ever been recorded is a sound. There's no apostrophe before "looping." What does "tracking" mean? Like double tracking a vocal? Try "originators" instead of the grammatically poor "starters." Okay, now, like hell the Beatles invented loops, sound effects and double tracking. Buy a book (they usually sell them in stores in the mall, that place where you hang out in your baggy jeans) about the history of music. Look up the term "musique concrete." Look up the names "Pierre Schaeffer" and "Pierre Henry" (this goes for all of you dirty Beatle fans, by the way). You'll see that they were using disc loops, prepared piano, spoken word segments and natural and mechanical noises way back in 1948. But I digress (get off the track). Semicolon after "tracking," no period after "pros." It's very obvious that you are not a "pro" (well...) I'll assume that "make a record and record one" are two different things, but either way it's poorly stated. Why the apostrophes around "posters" and "opinions"? And yes, we all know you're the same person who posted a while back saying that you occasionally visited and "got a laugh" from people who acted like they knew The Band, and that you really knew them.

Alright now, you damn jackass, everyone's laughing at you. The reason people like Diamond Lil is because she has intellegent comments to make. Keep doing your homework like Mom always tells you to, and maybe someday, many years from now, you will have the mental acuity to make an intellegent comment. I do hope that you "visit" again to see the reaction to your comments, although it's probably past your bedtime, or your dad's kicking your ass for forgetting to mow the lawn this afternoon.

Now, if you were anything less than a total chickenshit bastard, the manly thing to do would be let us all know your real name, rather than using a bunch of aliases. You must be too big of a coward to do that, though. Come on, we're all waiting. If you're still laughing, let us know. Let's hear a reply, motherfucker.

Posted on Sun Jul 30 07:53:34 CEST 2000 from 209-239-207-190.oak.jps.net (209.239.207.190)

Phil

From: Ca

I'll take Yoko (or anyone else screaming) as long as it drown's out SUPER TRAMP.

Posted on Sun Jul 30 07:47:39 CEST 2000 from x2-6.poughkeepsie.bestweb.net (216.179.14.180)

Gene

(and, if you wish to disagree, feel free, and I'll respect your opinion)

Posted on Sun Jul 30 07:41:53 CEST 2000 from x2-6.poughkeepsie.bestweb.net (216.179.14.180)

Gene

(not that there's anything wrong with it, of course)

Posted on Sun Jul 30 07:27:19 CEST 2000 from x2-6.poughkeepsie.bestweb.net (216.179.14.180)

Gene

From: Dutchess County

Don't like Yoko's screaching.

Posted on Sun Jul 30 07:08:07 CEST 2000 from 155.0102.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.155)

Nancy

From: Australia

Spacecowboy; you're a sick puppy. Hands off Lil! Quite apart from the fact that you don't know what you are talking about, your kind of back chat will get the site suspended.

You may not have worked it out, but many of us posting on here have never met any of The Band members. It is not a pre-requisite for visiting the site.

Posted on Sun Jul 30 07:06:22 CEST 2000 from mplsdslgw10poolb161.mpls.uswest.net (63.228.41.161)

Patrick

Home page

The voter turnout for "GARTH'S BEST HORN PERFORMANCE" has been kind of sad. So please email me and give me your answer. Even if you can't figure out which one, just pick one of a hat. Next time i'll think of a better question!

Posted on Sun Jul 30 07:00:23 CEST 2000 from dialup-112.cork.iol.ie (194.125.43.112)

HANK

From: CORK CITY
Home page

Mother of Divine Mercy, People!!!!!!!!......everyone just chill out....this place is getting to be the internet version of Altamount.........I can't believe anyone would write something so nasty as what "The Truth " just wrote to Diamond L'il.......Very Sad, folks....very sad...........Hey There, The Truth....what's yer TRUE name?.....are you scared of us knowing the REAL Truth? This GB is about folks discussing MUSIC.......NOT a forum to insult and hurt people..............w/ regards to my last few posts.......how'sabout Nirvana covering "Yazoo Street Scandal"?..........or maybe The Red-Hot Chilli Peppers doin' it?.......seeing that Kurt is jammin' with Rick right now.........Actually, it's too bad Kurt never met or hung with Rick ( maybe they did.....I dunno)........but Rick coulda chilled Kurt right out, I figure..........PLEASE no smart-ass comments about them sharing drugs..........Anyway, I'm only fantasising.........it's nearly 6 in the AM here......Sunday morning......played "Back To Memphis" with my band at a gig last night..........I Love The Band.......WOW!!!!!!!........did'nt mention The Fab Four on this post........till just now......g'mornin' all!!!!!!..........g'afternoon Amanda and Nancy!!!!!!!!

Posted on Sun Jul 30 06:57:19 CEST 2000 from 155.0102.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.155)

Nancy

From: Australia

I forgot to mention my dislike of Celine Dion, how remiss of me. As soon as someone mentions that they enjoy her music, I think oh oh, we're on different planets.........

Posted on Sun Jul 30 06:23:12 CEST 2000 from pm2-75.delrio.com (208.246.52.196)

Just Wonderin'

From: Somewhere out of San Antone

Spleen venting: Nobody mentions Whitney Houston, but she drives me crazy. So does Celine, Prince, Joan Baez (The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down just is appalling!) and Brittany. How about Anne Murray anyone? And Lou Bega??

Posted on Sun Jul 30 06:08:57 CEST 2000 from spider-wg032.proxy.aol.com (205.188.196.32)

The Truth

Diamond Lil this is a message for you that someone should have posted a long time ago....FUCK YOU, YOU STUPID BITCH. You think you have all this "inside information" well you are probably just a lying wanna-be groupie who met the Band once. So in two words FUCK OFF

Posted on Sun Jul 30 05:56:01 CEST 2000 from spider-ti031.proxy.aol.com (152.163.194.186)

Mary Lou ( guess who ? )

From: The festival( it went well )
Home page

do not like: spleen SIRENS that are not sirens such as: Celine Dion, Mariah Carey........and well......... I cant I cant say it...ooooo( I'm afraid) phoney female Blues singers......Joan Osbourne ?? Oh ..I could go on........but instead all of "yous" lets play on........

Posted on Sun Jul 30 05:09:34 CEST 2000 from spider-wa083.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.58)

Bayou Sam

From: quite a bit north of south Luzianne

Hey "Not Important" , I just want to agree with what Lil said about your post...... BWNWITenn. I agree with you AGAIN. This is gettin' scary. Your post-RR Band album ratings were about where I'd put them. Also, good call on the live George Harrison CD. There's hope for you : ) That happened shortly after Clapton's son had that tragic fall out the window. GH invited EC to join him on tour to help ease the pain a bit. It's a great CD featuring George doing live versions of most of his Beatle songs. He even does some of the obscure stuff like "Old Brown Shoe". There's also a Bangladesh repeat with GH and EC doing "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" with the trading solos at the end..... Hey, is anyone planning to go to the Garth/Rick Danko Memorial in Amagansett, Long Island next month? I know it's a long haul for anyone who isn't on the Island, although the Conn. people could take the ferry. Anyway, I might go. If I do I'd love to meet any of you who might attend. Let me know............ well allright....

Posted on Sun Jul 30 04:55:45 CEST 2000 from cf3k-3.paradise.net.nz (203.96.152.183)

Amanda

From: Right not its windy but clear and not too cold & thank you so much for caring

Venting spleen, eh? Oh my! Where to begin?

I don't like Celine Dione. I really dislike all of the obnoxious loud music my neighbours (who I also really dislike) listen to while I'm trying to sleep…here special mention must go to Rage Against the Machine whose lyrical subtlety,maturity and sly subversiveness is probably best encapsulated in the words of one their songs which go something like "F--- you, I won't do what you tell me to!"…Oh wow! Way to undermine capitalism, man!!

What else? In-store Christmas shopping music, particularly when it begins in November, makes my ears bleed. And don't even get me started on Skinny Puppy or Frontline Assembly…I'll be frothing at the mouth any minute now… perhaps we should leave all this hate before its too late…

I nominate "Sleeping" as a BAND song Nirvana could have covered. It would be quite different to the version we know & love but I think Kurt Cobain could have brought out the song's underlying bleakness, alienation and despair (discussed here a while back.)

And to end on a cheery, positive note I must admit I like Little Richard's flamboyance and over the top-ness. My father still remembers seeing him live in Glasgow in the early '60's…apparently he (little Richard) ran through the audience to get to the stage, ripping off his shirt, yelling A WOP BOP A LU BOP…etc. What a show that must have been!

Incidentally this is the second time I'm posting this. The first time it just went missing. Fortunately I typed it out in word first. (Hooray for cut & paste!!) But my apologies for the repetition if the first post now reappears.

Posted on Sun Jul 30 04:42:44 CEST 2000 from cf3k-3.paradise.net.nz (203.96.152.183)

Amanda

From: Right now its windy but a clear day and not too cold and thank you so much for caring

Venting spleen, eh? Oh my! Where to begin?

I don't like Celine Dione. I really dislike all of the obnoxious loud music my neighbours (who I also really dislike) listen to while I'm trying to sleep…here special mention must go to Rage Against the Machine whose lyrical subtlety, maturity and sly subversiveness is probably best encapsulated in the words of one their songs which go something like "F--- you, I won't do what you tell me to!"…Oh wow! Way to undermine capitalism, man!!

Posted on Sun Jul 30 04:30:47 CEST 2000 from 1cust5.tnt9.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.128.5)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

Gee, y'know they're both right!! I guess that concludes all further discussions about music in the Guestbook.

Weather's improved in these parts since this morning - sky pretty clear now. Anyone else got a weather report they want to share?

Posted on Sun Jul 30 04:17:15 CEST 2000 from ts1-22.steveston.axion.net (207.34.146.22)

Cupid

From: The banks of the muddy Fraser

oop's forgot to vent my spleen. 1] Boy bands 2] What ever that is thumping through the darkened windows of the tricked out [but some how still cheese dick] Honda sitting next to me at this red light. 3] Elvis: The "Fat Bastard" years.Someone should have told him it's, live fast,die young and leave a beautiful corpse.Instead he lived fast, died middle aged and left his bloated,drug riddled carcass on the bathroom floor. Peace Cupid

Posted on Sun Jul 30 03:54:04 CEST 2000 from ts1-22.steveston.axion.net (207.34.146.22)

Cupid

From: The banks of the muddy Fraser

Further to Diamond lil's comments.In time one realizes that there is but two kinds of music...good and bad.The listener is free to decide what falls into which catagory .Your good pile will probably look nothing like mine and that's good becouse it means more music is getting heard.Radio formats and record store bins rob us of more music than they give us.If your music doesn't fit in a catagory[folk,rock,rap ETC] nobody knows what to do with you so they do nothing.Unless of coarse you sell a bunch of disc's independently[Hello Loreena McKennitt] then you get your own catagory.End of rant.Hey lil drop me a note will ya haven't heard from you in forever am starting to get worried.Peace Cupid

Posted on Sun Jul 30 02:13:01 CEST 2000 from 209-23-55-2.ip.termserv.net (209.23.55.2)

Diamond Lil

Well don't I have alot of nerve......breathing the same air as someone as knowledgeable as 'Not Important'. Loved the irony of the comment about laughing at posters who presume to know everything by someone who posted one of the most condescending, know-it-all posts I've ever read in here. Thanks for the laugh :-)

It's my opinion (yes..I said _opinion_) that dictating to others what music they should like and dislike is juvenile and very narrow-minded. Frankly, I listen to music because it makes me feel good. If it doesn't..I don't listen. _That's_ what music's really about.

Thanks for listening. Have a good night everyone.

Posted on Sun Jul 30 00:45:42 CEST 2000 from 1cust182.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.136.182)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

Interesting. I guess to avoid confusing the CD buying public Prince's new label is gonna have to promote him as "Prince - formerly known as The Artist formerly known as Prince." (And maybe Michael Jackson who named his son Prince will now change it to The Artist.)

Too late now, but obviously The Band should have had their likenesses removed from the cover of Islands and said it was by a group called The Artists.

BTW as one who does know everything I also get a kick out of those posters who presume to think that they do too. Jericho and High On The Hog are damn good albums and easily beat out any of the Original Five's studio albums beyond Stage Fright including NLSC.

Posted on Sun Jul 30 00:04:20 CEST 2000 from spider-wg063.proxy.aol.com (205.188.196.48)

Pac

From: SF Bay Area

John Prine's new CD "In Spite of Ourselves" is my favorite these days. Duets with Iris DeMenthe steal the show (which BTW was broadcast on Sessions at W. 54th St. or Austin City Limits). Pluses are Dolores Keane's soulful voice and of course, Emmylou. I have to skip "So Sad" each time though -- the one weakness of the CD. Best song: the only one he wrote: "In spite of ourselresume to think that they do too. Jericho and High On The Hog are damn good albums and easily beat out any of the Original Five's studio albums beyond Stage Fright including NLSC.

Posted on Sun Jul 30 00:04:20 CEST 2000 from spider-wg063.proxy.aol.com (205.188.196.48)

Pac

From: SF Bay Area

John Prine's new CD "In Spite of Ourselves" is my favorite these days. Duets with Iris DeMenthe steal the show (which BTW was broadcast on Sessions at W. 54th St. or Austin City Limits). Pluses are Dolores Keane's soulful voice and of course, Emmylou. I have to skip "So Sad" each time though -- the one weakness of the CD. Best song: the only one he wrote: "In spite of ourselves we're gonna end up sittin' on a rainbow. Against all odds, honey we're the big door prize." (Am leaving out the risque lyrics for your listening surprise.) Hope everyone's enjoying the return to more golden light. Beautiful time of year!

Posted on Sun Jul 30 00:02:04 CEST 2000 from spider-wd041.proxy.aol.com (205.188.193.166)

Not Important

From: U.S. A

Thank-You Hank. It takes a musician to know that 'The Beatles . Little Richard and "The Artist' , are ground breakers. Anyone who doesn't like them , doesn't know what makes up music. The Band loved Little Richard , there isn't a professional musician alive that would disagree he is a legend. The Beatles created 'sounds' in the studio and were the starters of 'looping and tracking and once again only pros. know what it takes to make a record and record one. I visit this site once in a while and get a huge laugh at 'posters' who presume to know everything , yet truly only have their 'opinions' to speak of...rock on. peace out

Posted on Sat Jul 29 23:16:42 CEST 2000 from stcath-ppp73104.sympatico.ca (216.208.72.103)

Richard Patterson

From: St Kitts

Venting the spleen here; 1. brittey spears 2. joan baez 3. uh... i don't don't listen to radio so much anymore so how about... styx (come-back tour comin' your way)

BTW: DAVID POWELL: Richard Thompson and John Prine is my idea of the perfect night out... enjoy ... rich.

Posted on Sat Jul 29 21:29:27 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-116-23.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.116.23)

BWNWITennessee

From: East of Belle Meade

My profound apologies, Hank, I didn't mean to confuse you with Crabgrass, God forbid. NOW it makes sense as to why those album ratings were so irrational...

You know who else I like - the few, the proud? Jimmie Dale Gilmore. I don't think I've heard anyone else here talk about him, but he seems like someone who would be appealing to most Band fans.

Wow, I'm really hogging the GB today, aren't I? I'm not high on it, though.

Posted on Sat Jul 29 21:28:13 CEST 2000 from user-33qta79.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.168.233)

Pat Brennan

From: USA

Actually, The Artist "reacquired" his nom-de-plume Prince as of 1 Jan 2000. Turns out it was a way to get out of his publishing contract--"a means to free myself from undesirable relationships." Kind of like Islands.

Posted on Sat Jul 29 21:14:16 CEST 2000 from 1cust181.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.136.181)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

I usually don't mind if some of you are wrong and disagree with me - BUT I have to draw the line at Britney Spears! Her powerful and emotive version of "Satisfaction" has brought new life to the hackneyed Stones' tune elevating it to the status of an anthem for a disillusioned younger generation who are tired of an over commercialized world of "designer" clothes and fragrances, Pepsis, Burger Kings, "theme" amusement parks and restaurants, body piercing, tattoos, and shopping malls. Britney is the voice of her generation crying out in the wilderness!!

Little Richard being dumped on is almost (but not quite) as hard for me to bear. After all, by his own admission he is the "Archictect of Rock and Roll." And he bangs a mean piano!!

I never cared much for The Artist (formerly known as Prince) but to refer to him by his discarded real name is downright disrespectful.

"Good Vibrations" - would make an excellent commercial for a motorized orthopedic bed. Wasn't their big yuppie hit about island hopping in the Caribbean used to promote Club Med? If not, it should have been.

Posted on Sat Jul 29 20:00:38 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-118-46.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.118.46)

BWNWITennessee

From: South of Hendersonville

No, Sam, I like the Beach Boys. I had tickets to see Brian Wilson last year, and he cancelled on me. So pay attention, here's the score: Beatles = Bad, Beach Boys = Good. Mike Love, though, = Bad.

George Harrison did release a live CD back in - '95? It was recorded during his Japan tour and featured that Eric Clapton guy in his band. Why do I have to have this kind of information in my head? "Rolling Stone," unsurprisingly, gave it a lukewarm review.

Posted on Sat Jul 29 19:48:17 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-118-46.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.118.46)

Back with no wife in Tennessee

From: West of Lebanon

Hank, A+ for Jericho, A for Hog (???), and B- for Jubilation? What's up with that? I say, B+ for Jericho, D for High on the Hog, and A- for Jubilation. That's ratings for your run of the mill, non Band fanatic. I think Jericho has a few of the Best songs the Robbie-less outfit did, like "Atlantic City," "Blind Willie McTell" and "Shine a Light," but it's weighed down by some garbage and filler, like "Move to Japan" and "Blues Stay Away From Me." It also gets a bonus for having the closest thing to a new Band hit single, "Remedy," and it's great to hear Richard in the studio. Hog has a couple of decent moments, "Forever Young," but is downright painful sometimes, like "Free Your Mind" and "Ramble Jungle." Even the good stuff is very uncreative, "Where I Should Always Be" is nice, but so obviously an attempt to imitate "It Makes No Difference" and "Unfaithful Servant." Jubilation doesn't have the really great songs that Jericho does, but I think it is the most consistent album. It has a lot of good songs, "Book Faded Brown," "Bound By Love," "If I Should Fail," and the few lesser songs aren't really bad at all. The only thing that kind of breaks the spell is "French Girls," although it's nice to hear Garth featured, of course. I also like it because it has the most songs written by Band members, and because Rick's singing is featured the most, even though it was because of unfortunate circumstances. So I would say it's a toss up between Jericho and Jubilation. Jubilation is their best album, Jericho has their best songs. I felt like there was nothing embarassing on Jubilation, in comparison to their recorded history, while the other two had some shameful moments.

Here's my spleen, on display -

1. Boy Bands. 2. Rap Metal 3. The fact that Christina Aguilera went to the same high school I did, but ten years after me. Damn! I could be with a wife right now, a rich 18-year-old one with that midriff. Damn!!!

Posted on Sat Jul 29 19:23:30 CEST 2000 from spider-tj053.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.198)

Bayou Sam

From: earth

I found something to agree with BWNWIT about and I couldn't wait to post it. Hal Blaine was a great drummer. He may not be a household name but among drummers he has plenty of respect. If people saw a list of the stuff he's drummed on they'd say "wow". One of my faves is Good Vibrations. I suspect though that BWNWIT will think that the Beach Boys couln't sing a lick, and Brian Wilson was a shitty songwriter. If there are Beatle haters who choose to remain silent then why bring it up? You can hate their music if you like, but if you think they were untalented players and writers, you don't know what the hell you're talking about. Enough on that. I'm not biting at your Elton John bait - yet..................... Crabby - Tweeter and The Monkeyman is a great song isn't it? So is Congatulations. I think I'll listen to them today. I hadn't realized that it's been 13 years since G. Harrison's last album. Wow. He was busy with the Wiburys, the Anthology, and getting stabbed. I know he also had throat cancer too. I wonder if he can, or will be able to sing again. BTW, to you folks who have been seeing Levon. How is his voice?............ If anyone needs a Big Pink photo, and you are anywhere near the house, you can drive right up and snap a photo from the same exact angle as THE photo. I did this a couple of years ago. In fact I was lucky enough to get it autographed by Rick at a gig months before he died. If you're stuck, and I can find the neg., I could probably get a copy for you.E-mail me..... ........... Bumbles - don't be a smart ass. Lil didn't deserve that............... bye

Posted on Sat Jul 29 19:03:35 CEST 2000 from user-33qt9b5.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.165.101)

Pat Brennan

From: USA

It's a funny world where "not much more than adequate" is a compliment. (Here, Funk would write "adequate: barely sufficient or satisfactory.) For the rest of us, compare Ballad of A Thin Man on Highway 61 to any of the boots.

Consider British Rock's hierarchy admission of getting blown away by the power of the Dylan/Hawks England performances. Talk to Gary Brooker of Procol Harum and discover how RAH forced him to reconceive what a rock band could be. Funny they don't talk about the albums; they talk about those performances.

Posted on Sat Jul 29 17:01:45 CEST 2000 from stjhts19c60.nbnet.nb.ca (142.166.253.66)

WS Walcott

From: New Burunswick

Thanks to everybody for your reviewws on Jericho,Hog and Jubilation. Don't have the best record stores here. Employees don't even know who the Band are. It would help if people who worked in music stores actually knew something about music. Was told Jericho was unavailable but that I could get the other two. I could probably find Jericho at used record store if I look hard enough. Actually, I bought Jericho for my nephew as a Christmas present back in 1993. Wonder if he would give it back to me this Christmas. Hey, its worth a shot.

Posted on Sat Jul 29 14:57:55 CEST 2000 from spider-ti072.proxy.aol.com (152.163.194.207)

Joe

From: New Rochelle - Red Hook

Barn Burners!!Barn Burners!!!Barn Burners!!!!! Man! were these guys (and lady) on fire last night!!!! I have seen them six times, and last night was unbelievable!! I have never heard them sound better. I brought 3 friends to see them for the first time and had been pumping them for the last 3 weeks to them. On the way to Piermont I said to my friends, "I hope I haven't over exaggarated this band to you,but they are good". Well, it's show time, and out they come. Chris O'Leary puts his harp to his mouth and it's screaming da blues!!!!! He just transforms himself, from a mellow kind of shy guy off stage, to a raging blues man. I can close my eyes and listen to him sing with his harp licks in between all night. A truly talented man. You can tell that he feels and loves the music,as I'm sure the rest do,but it's much more obvious with Chris, it's in his soul. Then comes Frankie Ingrao, the bass man. Before a show he can be seen running here and running there, busy as a bee, he's almost comical. I love to watch musicians get into their instruments, and Frankie is no exception, watching him play that stand up bass is fascinating. His left hand running up and down the neck fingering the notes while his right hand is plucking and slapping the strings is a sight to see. Him and Levon driving the band, smiling and concentrating on each other to the last note. High fiving each other knowing they have done a good job, and the crowd whistling, cheering, shouting encouragement after each tune to let them know that they also approve. Next is Pat O'Shea git-tar man!! Before the show you can always see Pat walking around inside, outside, back and forth, seems to be nervous as he smokes his cigarettes, but once he's up there you know that he is working very hard to do his part. His guitar is featured in many of thier tunes and when those parts are acknowleged by the audience he always mouths or nods a thank you, a gentleman. Amy on her keyboards is very quiet just playing her part, but when she is featured on lead vocals her voice is strong and she can sing, believe me.It makes Levon beam with love and pride. What can I say about Levon that hasn't been said 100 times before. The man loves what he's doing right now. He looks so happy behind his drums, playing with such intensity, but yet ease. He loves the audience and truly appreciates his fans,waving and smiling to individuals throughout the night. He's a down home boy! Even after so many years up here in the north his southern accent is still strong, and I love it and him.He loves people! A man who has paid his dues and deserves the best that God can give him,and I hope that good health is in there. So listen people. If you have a chance to see these guys and gal...DO IT!!!!! You won't be disappointed!!! And by the way word on the street is they will be heading out west soon....SO PEOPLE GET READY!!!!

Posted on Sat Jul 29 14:04:09 CEST 2000 from dialup-355.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.99)

HANK

From: CORK CITY.......home of Danny La Rue.....it's True!!!!!!
Home page

AW, 'Lil!!!!!!!!......how could you not like The Georgia Peach???? Little Richard.....The Band LOVED Little Richard!!!!!............SLIPPIN' AND A SLIDIN"!!!!!....DYLAN LOVED LITTLE RICHARD!!! EXCUSE ME WHILE I TURN THE CAPS LOCKS ON MY COMPUTER OFF................Alright, That's better..............Without Little Richard Rock'n'Roll as we know it would be non-existent.......Chuck? ....yeah, of course...........Elvis....The King, yep.....Buddy Holly......Rave On!!!!......But Richard screamed his way to the top........sure, he was known to have been a bit ........uh, ....crazy......but we're ALL a little crazy when we're young, are'nt we?......Thank you, BWNWin Tenn. for your contribution to the "What Band songs coulda Nirvana done" Thread thing I started last night....great choice!!!! any one else????.......This thing of Beatle hating tho'..........I can only figure that The Beatles, to this day, scare the living shit out of people............They really did from '63-'70......going around the place singing "All you Need is Love", making movies about young men playing Rock'n'Roll for a living instead of marchin off to war or going to college and then working a pensionable job for the rest of their days........AND to add insult to injury....they were really HUMOUROUS!!!!! They KNEW how funny they were too, and they played it up, too....THAT drives people demented..........not to mention all the young women that swooned over 'em.....and with the exception of Paul, none of 'em were particular "pretty boys".....there's ALOT to be jealous of and to actively HATE in the very NOTION of The Beatles if you don't like their music..........John Lennon himself got to that point.....so did George........George was involved with The Rutles.....which REALLY ripped on the holy Iconography of The Beatles.......I'm sure you KNOW all this but hey, back to The band GB..........There's a thread going on about current musical trends which we love to hate or something, right?........OK, I'll tell you what pisses me off about the modern music industry......... There's just not enough Rock'n'Roll happening...........name ONE great Rock'n'Roll band out at the moment? That are like, not marginalised by the industry....name one......you DON'T see ROCK'N'ROLL on MTV.........you get oldies on VH-1.....but it's all tried, tested and safe AND linked to big publishing deals that NEED exposure of their songs. The MOMENT something decent rears it's head over the horizon, it's EATEN by vampires who run the music business....Jeff Buckley and Kurt Cobain, for eg................Travis is this years Gomez......Moby is this years Fat Boy Slim and on and on and on.......none of these people are ever given a chance to develope into anything other than a one year wonder.......it's like the industry sez "ThANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!! NEXT!!!!!"...........OK........at the risk of sounding COMPLETELY over-the-top arrogant and vain in a Little Richardesque way.....MY band, HANK WEDEL and OPEN KITCHEN are The Best ROCK'N'ROLL band in The World today!!! A WOP BOP A LU BOP A WOP BAM BOOM!!!!!!!!...........BTW, we DON'Tdo any Beatle songs...... we play a few Band Songs tho'.............later, 'gators..........

Posted on Sat Jul 29 12:23:11 CEST 2000 from 209-23-38-17.ip.termserv.net (209.23.38.17)

Lil Again

Nancy: Aah yes.... spleen venting. Good for the soul (and the spleen one would assume :-)

Number one on my list right now is Britney Speaks. Aarrgghh!!! If my kids force me to listen to her cover version of the Stone's 'Satisfaction' one more time....
Number 2 with a bullet for me is Prince. Anyone who agrees with me knows there's no explantion needed.
And for my third turn-my-stomach choice...I'd have to pick Little Richard. Hate Little Richard. Makes my skin crawl.

Anyone else?

Posted on Sat Jul 29 11:53:48 CEST 2000 from 135.0102.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.135)

Nancy

From: Australia

Since some of us like to vent our individual spleens from time to time, I thought some of you might like to join me in a spleen venting exercise. Think of it as therapy at the cost of a local telephone call. To keep things nice and peaceful we should limit the object of spleen-venting to objects and persons UNRELATED to The Band, and definately unrelated in any way to OTHER guestbook members :)

Hope you will join me in this cleansing experience. So to kick off, I will volunteer the aspects of the entertainment industry that have me yelling YEETCH and running for the bathroom:

1. Mariah Carey hitting high notes and sounding like a cat in a compromising situation

2. "Fabio" with his hair-free chest staring out at me through one of those low-cut singlets he favours

3. Michael Bolton doing just about anything.

GO!

Posted on Sat Jul 29 11:50:28 CEST 2000 from 209-23-38-17.ip.termserv.net (209.23.38.17)

Diamond Lil

Bumbles: I stand corrected. I guess because Mr. Croce stated that "Country Boy" was the first tune he serenaded his wife with, I thought he wrote it. He wrote so many beautiful tunes..it didn't seem impossible. The "inside information" you refer to is only my memory of the same VH-1 special that others were talking about, and I guess I remembered incorrectly. According to the "Jericho" cd, the tune was written by E.Brooks and M. Barer..but doesn't say the year it was written. Do you know? Sorry for the mix-up. Not sure that being mistaken about something warrants your sarcasm however. Hey..if we were all always right..we'd be..what?? You?? Heheh...no thanks. I think I'd rather be wrong sometimes.

Have a good day everyone.

Posted on Sat Jul 29 07:32:51 CEST 2000 from 1cust25.tnt14.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.142.25)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

First the important things - those needing a picture of Big Pink can right click on the small image in the upper left hand corner, then save, and enlarge and print it if you have a photo enhancement software program - but it's low quality and will pixelate and look "boxy" if you enlarge it a lot. For a higher quality image go to the Discography section and find the cover painting for Jericho by famous pop artist, disciple of Swami Satchidananda, and big tax cheat Peter Max and save that image - it's higher resolution.

Just checked one of the George Harrison sites -- [mit.edu./scholvin/www/harrison/harrison.html] which has a discography and all the words. George's triple vinyl release All Things Must Pass is certainly the strongest of the three initial releases by the songwriting Beatles. I hadn't realized it was co-produced by Phil Spector and that Gary Brooker was one of the contributing keyboard players. I also hadn't realized Harrison hadn't put out an album since 1987's Cloud Nine.

The first Travelling Wilburys album ('88) I think is excellent and Roy Orbison's contributions are spectacular as is his own album released in close proximity timewise. Very strong writing and singing. I'd forgotten how good Dylan's crazy "Tweeter and the Monkey Man" song was too. But the second Wilburys' album ('90) jokingly subtitled Vol. 3 and without Orbison who had passed away is really awful.

Re: Dylan and the Hawks - I said they were "not much more than adequate" (I see this as a compliment) on the early tours meaning mainly that they pretty much imitated the instrumentation on the Dylan albums that featured other backing musicians. It is evident that Dylan and Robbie bonded musically at this time from the clips of them playing together in a hotel room in Eat The Document. This was a foreshadowing of what later went on in the infamous Basement. BTW I didn't say that Dylan's band at Newport sounded better than Dylan with the Hawks on tour - I just meant that the Hawks didn't add much creatively to Dylan's previously recorded songs.

I'd rate Jericho A+, High On The Hog an A, and Jubilation a B- (the intitial handful of good songs are worth the price - the rest grow on you.) All are listenable all the way through and fairly cohesive. Jubilation is very acoustic sounding and can't really be compared to the other two entirely fairly - though I'd say most of the compositions are chordally unsophisticated and therefore not as interesting musically.

Posted on Sat Jul 29 06:40:18 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-117-43.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.117.43)

BWNWITennessee

From: North of Lynchburg

P.S. - I've received a lot of e-mail from GBers recently, and have come to the conclusion that there is a silent majority of Beatle-haters amongst us.

Posted on Sat Jul 29 06:35:45 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-117-43.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.117.43)

BWNWITennessee

From: West of Knoxville

I don't care if Paul McCartney played drums on whatever. Here's some real, current news - David Hidalgo is actually starting to play drums with Los Lobos now while Louie Perez plays lead guitar. When I saw the Latin Playboys in New York (I'm so lucky) Louie played guitar for the whole show, and David played quite a bit of conga and percussion. Louie is actually turning into a pretty good lead guitar player. I know there is someone out there somewhere who cares about this particular piece of information.

Speaking of drummers, my favorites, besides Levon, are Earl Palmer and Hal Blaine. Hal doesn't get nearly the attention he deserves, he played on most of the Phil Spector stuff, "Be My Baby," "Da Doo Ron Ron." If you like Dr. John, pick up some Professor Longhair CDs, Earl Palmer plays on a lot of his early music. And don't forget about Alan Jackson Jr., from the MGs. I also like, for something totally different, Steve Gorman from the Black Crowes.

I think Nirvana could do "Ain't No More Cane." In their acoustic set, of course.

Elton John ain't no good neither!!

Posted on Sat Jul 29 05:47:50 CEST 2000 from dialup-307.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.51)

HANK

From: My Bedroom, toooooo early in the morning
Home page

Well it's 4:30 AM here and I'm really tired.........I just wanna say hello and thanks to everyone who replied to or commented on my most recent posts......this place is the best...........Thank you to Crabby for reminding me that Richard Thompson is playing in Ireland soon....very soon.....I've seen him three times......a tour de force everytime......however, what's all this stuff 'bout The Band/Hawks being less than brilliant with Bobby D in '65 and '66????? NO ONE ever sounded like THAT before '65.......NO ONE!!!!!!!!!......it was a completely NEW sound. In The 20th anniversary of Sgt. Pepper documentary, the interviewer quizzez McCartney about why EVERYONE went LOOPY in London in 1967.........McCartney sez "Dylan"........something along the lines of "Dylan had been here in '66 and everyone wanted to emulate or outdo Dylan" .......Dylan and The Hawks....... BTW...here's a Thread.....I figure Kurt Cobain coulda done a GREAT cover of "The Shape I'm in"..........What Band songs coulda NIRVANA done????...........Now then, it's time for bed......she said she said.............

Posted on Sat Jul 29 05:29:18 CEST 2000 from spider-to072.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.77)

Rick S.

From: Suffern, N.Y.

If there were a composite sketch of the perfect drummer it would bear a striking resemblance to Levon. Tonight is the third time I've seen the Barn Burners and they get better each night (exponentially). I don't know how they can get any tighter. Kudos to Chris O'Leary out front.

Posted on Sat Jul 29 05:27:33 CEST 2000 from cache01.cajunnet.com (206.251.162.24)

Bud

From: Louisiana

Can anyone help me locate a color photo of "Big Pink". I am in the process of completing construction of a big pink house and would like to include a photo of The Band's house in a small gallery in the entrance.

Posted on Sat Jul 29 05:15:23 CEST 2000 from spider-tk072.proxy.aol.com (152.163.206.207)

Bumbles

From: Where It's At

Diamond Lil: Heartwarming little story about Jim Croce and "Country Boy." Not accurate, but heartwarming. Sam Cooke recorded the song (as "I'm Just a Country Boy") for his 1965 lp Shake, a record the members of the Band were certainly familiar with---it also included "A Change Is Gonna Come." Keep that inside information coming.

Posted on Sat Jul 29 04:59:08 CEST 2000 from user-33qt9j6.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.166.102)

Pat Brennan

From: USA

Tell you what. Listen to the boot of Newport 65, then put on, oh, say, Manchester 66. If you think the Newport band with Bloomfield is better, then I completely understand that you have separate issues at work other than cogent musical analysis.

Posted on Sat Jul 29 04:31:32 CEST 2000 from t-27-182-72.dialup.wisc.edu (144.92.182.72)

Tim(SUNDOG)Corcoran

From: Madison, Wi. *AMERICA'S JERRYLAND*
Home page

Hey now, I hope everyone is still hanging in there! Seems like the old daze of fighting ain't around here no more :^) Well, thats how it should be, so take care everyone, Luv ya!

Posted on Sat Jul 29 04:01:03 CEST 2000 from spider-wj023.proxy.aol.com (205.188.198.28)

Bayou Sam

From: The Empire State

Ryan Stang - you're mistaken about Paul drumming the solo on Abbey Road. It is Ringo............. Knockin' Lost John and D. Lil- I saw that Croce special but I don't remember Country Boy. I didn't realize the he wrote it. That's cool. Jim Croce recorded for such a short time before his death (like Buddy Holly). Thanks for the info - and Lil, do start listening to him again. I picked up his Photographs and Memories, hit CD - and it's one feel good song after another. Jim Croce was a special songwriter, and we will never get to hear the rest of what he had in him........... ....llkka - your post was hysterical............ Bones -what a great discription of Clapton you posted. Humble, Generous, and Passionate. You nailed it.............. Bob Wigo, very funny Yellow Sub post..............Crabgrass made mention of contractual obligations. Did you know that The Beatles were tied together on paper until 1976? So when Band On The Run - for example - was number one. John, George , and Ringo got a little peice of it. It wasn't until '76 that the Beatles were "really" separated......... .... Twilight - good call on All Things Must Pass. This is a wonderful album............ WS Walcott, go get Jubilation. It has the sound and spirit of The Band.................... Finally. I picked up a copy of Modern Drummer magazine today because on the cover is none other than Charlie Watts and Jim Keltner together. I haven't read the interview yet, but they have apparantly done a project together. It's great to see Keltners name in here. I know him through his connection to the solo Beatles stuff. He has done SOOOO many great tracks. He did alot of double drumming with Ringo from Bangladesh right uo until Ringo's current tours. One of my fave Keltner cuts = a song called "What You Got" from Lennon's Walls And Bridges album (1974).........Have a great weekend. I'll see some of you folks in the chatroom.

Posted on Sat Jul 29 03:54:06 CEST 2000 from proxy-343.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.43)

Patricia

Yes WS tose cds are worth more than just picking up..."Jericho" is a wonderful record..."Blind Willie Mctell" is worth more than the entire price of the cd..."The Caves of Jericho".."Amazon"...sung so beautifully by Rick...and "Country Boy" sung with Richard's unearthly voice....buy that one first !!..and "Jubilation" with "Book Faded Brown"...sung hauntingly by Rick...and that song about the good old days.with Ronnie...Levon singin with that scratch in his voice...buy that one too !"High on the Hog"......it's okay but ...I'm glad they didn't go out on it....just my nobody opinion.......

Posted on Sat Jul 29 02:55:44 CEST 2000 from well.health.nb.ca (207.179.181.34)

WS Walcott

From: Nouveau Brunswicke

I have not heard The Bands last 3 albums (Jericho, High on the Hog and Jubilation). I did hear Remedy and Atlantic and thought they were decent tunes. Anyway, I am somewhat of a purist when it comes to The Band and without Robbie and Richard (my favourite Band vocalist) I do not consider these albums true Band albums. What I would like to know folks, and be honest, are these albums worth picking up? I have read mixed reviews on all 3 but would rather hear the opinions of true Band fans. Big fans are quite frequently the harshest critics and I know you won't pull any punches. So how about it? Do you recommend thesen albums or not?

Posted on Sat Jul 29 00:20:36 CEST 2000 from saturn.landshut.org (212.72.69.61)

Paul Vilser

From: after midnight

Ilkka: well, well, well...hard nights...good to see you survived.

Hank: EC again: you're absolutely right, he's one of the best - playing with really good musicians (No Reason To Cry was mentioned not so long ago). The Cream - great, but they were very young and had to prove that everyone is the best - endless soloing but still a need. EC reached his highest point on Layla - the best he ever did! but he had great partners: D.Allman (greetings to all 'No One To Run With' feelings). On every following record are a few good/very good songs...but...less than he could do! Maybe except Unpluged, From The Cradle (he's coming back?! no, listen to Pilgim...).

LadyGreenEyes: Maybe you got it, you found it! Congratulations!

Brien Sz: I know that problem...helpless...then I got it last week: I bought four Los Lobos cds!!! - newest best music! The Beatles are a famous british band - you can read everything about The Beatles in this guestbook.

John Donabie: Ringo and Charlie - maybe it's too simple, so it's easy to forget about their great part... Jim Keltner - he's everywhere! I found him last week on Los Lobos' The Neighborhood (and Levon!) and on Terry Evans' Walk That Walk.

Good Night, sleep tight...(Ringo singing)

Posted on Fri Jul 28 22:19:10 CEST 2000 from 209-23-38-35.ip.termserv.net (209.23.38.35)

Diamond Lil

From: a fridge full of cold ones

Bayou Sam/Knockin Lost John: The tune 'Country Boy' which Richard sang so beautifully was indeed written by Jim Croce, for his wife Ingrid. I've always liked Jim Croce, yet admittedly haven't listened to him in many months. Glad you guys posted about him. Maybe now I can start listening again.

Have a good night everyone. Hug Jan. Welcome home....bet you missed us, hm? :-)

Posted on Fri Jul 28 21:13:02 CEST 2000 from (207.204.117.188)

Bob Kelley

Thank you for info, lyrics, ect.

Posted on Fri Jul 28 20:49:41 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.187)

David Powell

From: Georgia

Yes Crabgrass, Richard Thompson with his band will be playing at the Chastain Park Amphitheatre in Atlanta on Aug. 25th. They will be opening for John Prine. Two great acts on the same bill and I will be there.

Posted on Fri Jul 28 20:46:15 CEST 2000 from m198214181166.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.181.166)

pehr

From: spendin too much time in bandville today

Hey Paul G... I think you misunderstood me. I am a HUGE Hawks fan and Ronnie Hawkins fan! I love THAT stuff, I love all the stuff we talk about, that's why I check in regularly. My point was the "Hero's Journey" began for Levon &Co. when Ronnie H's band was a dream, they left their homes for the road. Later they left Hawkins because as they matured they developed the confidence that they didnt need RH anymore, they had dreams for themselves and found the Hawkins regime too controlling for them to realize their own destiny, and the rest we know. Thank god for the RH music please dont misunderstand how much I love that link in the chain of history! thanks for responding anyway and as you say, Shine On!

Interesting too that Crabby should bring up Bloomfield the same time I did. I am a Bloomfield fan like no one I know, personally at least. But Robbie's playing in those days was insane, a tribal, very minimalist sound that had little to do with Bloomfields soaring, melodic style. The Highway 61 band- lets see, the record had Harvey Brooks/ (Russ Savakus had a breakdown and had to leave the sessions)Al Kooper, Bloomers, Bobby Gregg on drums I think, went live to the Butterfield band with the still swingin' Sammy Lay and Jerome Arnold, Kooper on organ and Bloomfield on guitar. that band broke up because Bloomfield wanted to stick with Butter and the blues, so Dylan picked up on Robbie and the Hawks. Robbie and Dylan hit it off largely in the ability to write and collaborate together, some legendary tapes made in hotel rooms confirm this type of approach long before the Bt's began. RR approached the music on a few more levels than Bloomfield, who was the first guy to lead the other musicians involved in Dylans electric chrystalization... in those early "Dylan's Going Electric" days the studio and the musicians you'd find there were alot less flexible and more uptight than what we take for granted today. We have Dylan and Bloomfield, the Beatles and a few others to thank for this. Bloomfield did a hell of a job loosening things up and getting the ball rolling on the Hwy'61 project but was just coming into his own as a bluesman and blues scholar. Dylan's oft quoted words upon hiring Bloomfield were to the effect of "Just dont give me none of that BB King shit". Bloomfield fortuitously invented a heck of a guitar style as things came to pass, and could be said to have gradually abandoned the signature style for a more musicalogical approach to making blues records that took alot of work and trial before EC was able to finally put it across with fantastic success some years after Bloomfield fell to a very sad, tragic ending.

But I digress as usual, sorry. RR threw everything he had into this role as Dylan's chief co conspirator. He had everything to gain by it. Rockabilly was dying out and Rock was being born. It really is amazing music, still very edgy, and that guitar playing is insane. Bloomers had a different take to the guitar, very artful, very beautiful, supremely functional, a floral (not saying Decorative)melodic approach to lead playing... Robbie's style was then intentionally harsh, punkish, neo dada, even "Beat". They needed that toughness, I believe, to survive the hostility of that tour, which we take for granted. They travelled the world at a furious pace, were greeted by very few friendly people onstage and off. they couldn't hear a thing they did. hot, alot of places didnt have air conditioning. they were 21-23 some odd years of age. tough kids. had to be . tough music. some of the greatest.

Dont forget Bloomfield had the greatest respect for the Hawks. They stayed at Bloomfield's pad when he managed the "Fickle Pickle" cafe in Chicago back in the years when they were all scrounging and sleeping on floors. On the John Hammond record "So Many Roads" from '65, Bloomfield deferred the guitar parts to RR and moved to piano out of as he said in the Ed Ward book on Bloomfield, awe... A year later Bloomfield became a force of his own. there are some that say Bloomfield single handedly saved the Les Paul guitar, which was no longer being made, by being the first rock player to be associated with it.

Posted on Fri Jul 28 20:31:34 CEST 2000 from pm457-28.dialip.mich.net (198.110.21.134)

twilight

From: ann arbor, mi

John Lennon was once quoted as saying something like " quite simply, Ringo was the heart of the Beatles." They all said that his timing was so on that they could record and rerecord tracks because he was a human metronome. I think George Harrison's All Things Must Pass may well be the best of the Beatle solo albums. It has its very own quality - heavily inspired by the men we admire the most. I really think much of McCartney's solo work was meant for a time and place - although he has shining moments as well. John's first two are excellent - but I'm going to stick with Harrison. I'm sure he had plenty of stuff from his days as a Beatle - and he learned from the best. I'm with Hank - I love the two singles the Threetles did with the Ghost of John. They highlight all of the great things about the Beatles. I still have a hard time believing that John, Richard, and Rick are no longer with us. But that's the beauty of recorded music, because they come to life often in this house.

Posted on Fri Jul 28 19:38:02 CEST 2000 from cfa1.execulink.net (199.166.6.10)

Paul Godfrey

John, re: street name..just can't remember. I might have written it in one of the RPM articles of the time. I will try to dig thru the files.

Pehr....without the Ronnie Hawkins connection there would never have been The Band with the 5 originals!

Posted on Fri Jul 28 19:21:15 CEST 2000 from trt-on55-101.netcom.ca (216.123.100.101)

John Donabie

From: TORONTO

Wouldn't you know it. I booked my room for two nights for next Wednesday's Joyous Lake gig and their off to B.B. King's. Oh well there will be another time. Thanks Butch for the quick update. Let's hear it for Butch. The man is working all the time. I've got to see Levon with The Barnburners soon. Getting jealous of all those great reviews. Levon's got more heart and passion in his little finger than most I've met.

Posted on Fri Jul 28 19:18:08 CEST 2000 from m198214178108.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.178.108)

pehr

From: deep in the heart o texas

Crabgrass: I really do enjoy your posts. for a while back there I hated them, but I learned along the way to loosen up and now look forward to hearin from ya. That said, here 'tis:

The equiptment used in making the music and recording the BT's is well documented on this site, and a bunch of books. I remember in Robert Sheltons Dylan book (forget title now) a quote from RR to the effect of:

"We hung out and played, recorded everything on a tape recorder. A shitty little tape machine. we thought, who's gonna hear this stuff ever anyway."

OK back to me. That's how alot of good music comes, in an easy atmosphere of give and take. the music began to decline(for you in particular) when they began to do separate things and go in different directions with their lives, asw was bound to happen. they didn't need Ronnie Hawkins tutelage, they left, they fought and scrounged together for a few years, got exasperated, met the magic helper (Dylan) who took them to new places, they bonded in a paradise and lived to the fullest in woodstock,and realized they didn't want to stay as close as they did in the scroungin years because nothing stays the same. It's the same story as Cambell's idea of the Hero's Journey, except life keeps moving and doesn't end like a book.

I ramble. forgive me. But getting out the microscope distorts our ability to enjoy the music at face value with an open mind and, well, how is that any fun? the ability to appreciate is necessary in order to be able to critcize. Sometimes the critical end goes overboard. Its easier to criticize than appreciate alot of things. There are alot of reasons for this. I'm talking too much already.

I love the sound of the BT's myself. its warm and folky, unpretentious. Living room atmosphere. I'm not understood by some of my fellow music appreciators because I dont care much about production on records at all. I find much rock music of the last 20 years sickeningly over produced, I stay in touch with it but I can't get close to it. I find it insensitive, cold, contrived for selling an image, stale, phony, whatever.The sound of the BT's and the best live boots take me away from that. In my book, you can't beat the old blues records no matter what ya do. Good music is folk music,whatever we call the genre, not the sterile crap that gets the hype with equal credit going to certain celebrity producers.

the day is coming, is here now when the slipshod production values that comprise the BT's will be in vogue and the new thing.

As for the Band in 66 being adequate, well, I appreciate your posts alot, Crabby, have learned to love 'em and look forward to 'em, but there are times I am glad I dont see things thru your eyes. Sometimes I do wonder.. do you/can you Rock? or do ya just think an talk and argue about it.

Thanks for listening. have a great weekend all.

I posted some stuff about Roy Buchanan yesterday. I didn't mean to slag or belittle EC and the other folks we were talkin about.It's their greatness thats make RB such a giant for me, not the only guy that can really play... forgot to mention how much I dig Link Wray and the late Mike Bloomfield too. Also, forgot to mention "Rockin' Chair" as one of my favorite band songs

Posted on Fri Jul 28 19:06:31 CEST 2000 from 1cust196.tnt9.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.128.196)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

The "Band's" performances with Dylan during the Highway 61 and B on B era are not an improvement of the studio album versions. If they were so significantly better why didn't Bob use them as his band for the LPs? Robbie certainly doesn't outdo Mike Bloomfield on the Highway 61 tour.

If the Beatles "fell apart" during Let It Be they certainly "came together" for their last one - Abbey Road. I'm tired of the "contractual obligation" excuse for Islands (and also other bands') substandard albums. The artists should seek to please their fans with each new release - not rip them off. We're the ones shelling out our money and in effect paying their salaries!

Richard Thompson (Rick's choice to join The Band after Robbie left) playing solo dates in Ireland this weekend - also Atlanta at the end of August. Check his touring schedule if interested at www.alphalink.com

Posted on Fri Jul 28 18:36:48 CEST 2000 from spider-wi064.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.49)

bob wigo

From: havertown,pa

Yellow Submarine {McCartney/Lennon}

Instrumentation:

John Lennon - acoustic guitar, background vocal, blowing bubbles through a straw

Paul McCartney - bass guitar, background vocal

George Harrison - tambourine, background vocal, swirling water in a bucket

Ringo Starr - lead vocal, drums

Mal Evans, Neil Aspinall, George Martin, Alf, Geoff Emerick, Patti Harrison and studio staff - chorus on fadeout

session musicians - brass band

I'd have sworn that was McCartney swirling the water in the bucket and Ringo blowing the bubbles.

Maybe I'm amazed......

Posted on Fri Jul 28 18:09:18 CEST 2000 from ric-wht-pxy-int02.wheatfirst.com (204.238.130.68)

Bones

From: CT

Did someone say something bad about Clapton? He happens to be one of the most humble, generous and passionate musicians of our time. Not to mention the fact that we Band fans owe him a huge thank-you for promoting the legacy of our favorite group.

Posted on Fri Jul 28 18:06:59 CEST 2000 from spider-mtc-td043.proxy.aol.com (64.12.104.168)

bob wigo

From: havertown,pa.
Home page

The site above offers some answers on the "who played what" issue. Hope it helps settle the debate.

Posted on Fri Jul 28 17:49:33 CEST 2000 from du49-2.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.2.49)

Ilkka

From: Nordic Countries
Home page

I had this terrible nightmare the other night.
I was a passenger on S/S Titanic. I had with me the five first Band LPs. I shared a lifeboat with Levon, Robbie and Grabgrass. Me and Grabby - we got along. We listened to the three first LPs with a phonograph. Levon and Robbie paddled with #4 and #5 on opposite side of the boat. It ended well - they rescued us before we killed each other.

Posted on Fri Jul 28 17:24:58 CEST 2000 from (149.160.22.92)

Knockin' Lost John

From: Indie

DEAR BAYOU SAM (and others): Interesting that you should mention Jim Croce. Here's an odd Croce/Band connection I happened upon to a while back. I caught a VH1 special on Jim Croce, and at the end of the special they played a "never before heard Jim Croce recording." The song was "Country Boy", the same "Country Boy" Richard Manuel recorded and sang on the BAND's 1993 Jericho record. Spooky, huh? John

Posted on Fri Jul 28 16:44:01 CEST 2000 from 1cust208.tnt1.topeka.ks.da.uu.net (63.39.63.208)

Dexy

And, hey! A current-day Band-Beatle connection: According to Beatle News Briefs (via Classic Rock Magazine), George has signed with DreamWorks Records. BNB, my second-favorite website, is at: http://www.best.com/~abbeyrd/fabnews.htm And finally, no no no no no. It is most definitely Ringo Starr playing his one and only drum solo at the end of Abbey Road. That's been documented many many times. Paul did play drums on USSR and a few others, but not that. It is indeed, a grand curtain call for all four members, with drum solo, the three-way guitar battle, and the final statment ("and in the end..."). According to Paul, they had to coerce Ringo to do it (he deplored what he considered showy drum solos), but he did it, and well.

Posted on Fri Jul 28 16:29:22 CEST 2000 from ras-c5800-1-48-225.dialup.wisc.edu (128.104.48.225)

Ryan Stang

From: Madison, WI

I noticed a bit of Wilco mentioning going on. In case anyone has't heard them yet, do it immediately. "Being There" is the closest thing we now have to the Brown Album, believe me. The two volumes of Mermaid Avenue are a great continuation of the work done by Dylan and the Band at Carnegie Hall; complete reworking of Woody songs (or in this case helping create the songs). Jeff Tweedy said that they wanted to "steal back" from Dylan what he had "stolen" from Woody, and that they listened to the Basement Tapes constantly in order to bring that sort of vibe to the recordings. I noticed that a couple people said that they didn't like "Summerteeth," which I loved. True, they did use a lot of analog synths, but no more than Garth did in concert from '74-'76 or for "Northern Lights..." I think that with all the weird two-keyboard effects, leslie-souding guitar parts, three-part vocals, and lack of a single guitar solo, "Summerteeth is a modern day Big Pink. Remember, as RR said, "...that's all it is, is an attitude, not necessarily what you play." Or something like that.

Posted on Fri Jul 28 16:27:07 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.187)

David Powell

From: Georgia

The fact that various members of The Band did not receive songwriting credit has been discussed often. The Beatles worked out a different arrangement up-front. Lennon and McCartney agreed to share the credits, no matter how significant the contribution each may have made. On the songs that Harrison brought to the group, he received sole credit. In his book, "All You Need Is Ears", producer George Martin sheds some light on the working methods of The Beatles with the following description:

"The way that Lennon and McCartney worked together wasn't the Rodgers-and-Hart kind of collaboration. It was more a question of one of them trying to write a song, getting stuck, and asking the other: 'I need a middle eight. What have you got?' They were both tunesmiths in their own right, and would help each other out as the need arose. In the early days, that was a matter of necessity. But as they developed their art, each moved on to writing songs entirely on his own. Collaboration became rare, apart from the odd word or line: it was either a John Lennon song or a Paul McCartney song. We established the working format that whoever wrote the song generally sang it, and the others would join in. If it were John's song, he would sing it, and when we came to the middle eight--the section in the middle of the song where the tune changes--Paul would sing thirds above or below, or whatever; if a third part were needed, George would join in. It was a very simple formula."

Of course, in the end this formula no longer seemed to work and the group fell apart. Evidence of this can be seen in some of the footage from the film "Let It Be", especially in the out-takes that were included in the Anthology documentary series.

Posted on Fri Jul 28 16:08:36 CEST 2000 from ras-c5800-1-48-225.dialup.wisc.edu (128.104.48.225)

Ryan Stang

From: Madison, WI

I think the reason that the 5CD set of the BT sounds so bad is due to the transfer to CD from whatever (surely not original) source was used. The original master reels weren't used to put the normal albums on CD, and they all sound like crap, which is one of the reasons the reissues are coming out. Bob and the boys used great equipment for the time--Altec Lansing Tube PA mixers, Neumann mics, and a Revox A77 (which happens to be in the RNR Hall of Fame). I'm sure the original reels , while not studio-quality, actually sound pretty good. Oh, and Hank, Ringo didn't play the drum solo at the end of Abbey Road--Paul did.

Posted on Fri Jul 28 15:23:20 CEST 2000 from saturn.oucs.ox.ac.uk (163.1.103.107)

Colin

From: Oxford

I wonder whether any of you have thought how little the Band used their brilliant Basement Tapes songs in their live shows. I feel that every song that got onto the Columbia official release would pass muster in a Band set. I don't know about you, but I am irritated that given the number of live albums the band put out, there was an overconcentration of certain songs; The Shape I'm In is a good song, no doubt, but do we have to hear it on Rock of Ages, Before the Flood and the Last Waltz? When songs of supreme genius like Bessie Smith, Yazoo St. Scandal, Katie's Been Gone and of course Ruben Remus remain only as rough, if superior demos? I suppose we must give thanks that we have the songs at all, but live performance might have provided us with better quality versions. Have any of these songs been done live?

Posted on Fri Jul 28 15:22:45 CEST 2000 from mars.oucs.ox.ac.uk (163.1.103.104)

Colin

From: Oxford

Posted on Fri Jul 28 15:14:45 CEST 2000 from user-33qt80c.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.160.12)

Pat Brennan

From: USA

The Hawks backing Bob Dylan were adequate? And didn't expand musically the Dylan records? Take a listen to either Newport or the Hollywood Bowl boots, then listen to "Albert Hall". Then turn in your real world membership.

Islands was product, a way to get out of the Capitol contract. Done quickly while preparations for the Last Waltz were going on, it hardly bears reflection. Still, it has some nice moments. And, as far as my last post was concerned, has no bearing.

Posted on Fri Jul 28 14:23:11 CEST 2000 from wstisp2c01.ml.com (199.43.48.22)

Ben Turkel

From: New Jersey

There have been some interesting threads in the guestbook during the past week or so. I saw David Bromberg two years ago as part of the 'Newport Folk Festival' tour. He was very good, though he only played for 20 or 30 minutes. I believe he played in Philly last December, so he does perform occasionally. I came across a new Colin Linden compilation that features 'Remedy'which he co-wrote and 'Whispering Pines'. I believe this was just released by Sony Canada, and I ordered it from Chapters, which seems to be a Canadian counterpart to Borders and B&N. I also recently found a Paul Butterfield compilation of his Bearsville recordings, which I higly recommend. This features 'Small town talk' as well as 'Ain't that a lot of love' and a few other tracks that feature Levon from an album recorded around the time of the Muddy Waters Wooodstock cd. I foud this cd at Amazon.uk. Regarding the sound of the Basement tapes, I think they sound fine considering the time and circumstances they were recorded in. There was a Gram Parsons cd of demos and rehearsals released a few years ago that sounds much worse in my opinion. If you want to pick on a poor sounding Band related cd, I nominate 'Rick Danko In Concert'. The sound on much of this cd is very dissapointing for such a recent release. I understand that it was put together very quickly in order to raise money for Rick's legal defense, but I wish they had used a better recorded performance.

Posted on Fri Jul 28 14:14:21 CEST 2000 from gw3a60-2-d2.wind.it (212.141.124.2)

Emanuele "The Beard"

From: Venice, Italy
Home page

Hi ! I am searching The Complete Last Waltz ( Trade or Buy) and various Live Concert Of The Band ! Can you help me ? Thank you !!!!!!!!!! theband@tiscalinet.it

Posted on Fri Jul 28 07:35:44 CEST 2000 from spider-wa024.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.29)

Bayou Sam

From: ny

I heard a song the other day that I would love to have heard The Band cover, with Levon singing. It's "Working At The Car Wash Blues" by Jim Croce. What a tragic loss he was. Did he ever cross paths with The Band? They would have been great doing something together.

Posted on Fri Jul 28 07:31:56 CEST 2000 from spider-wa024.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.29)

Bayou Sam

From: ny

Lennon was a great rythm guitarist and could pull off some great lead work. He's playing the lead on You Can't Do That. Check out his complete guitar performance on Get Back. He plays a rythm mixed with a riff, and he does the lead proper. He also came up with some of the best intro hooks this side of Keef Richards. I feel Fine, Day Tripper, Revolution. Also, the three guitar Beatles have a guitar duel on "the End" from Abbey Road. John also does some real tasty guitar work on The Ballad Of John and Yoko, which features McCartney on bass, drums, and piano................ Paul is a flat out great bassist. Lennon once said that Macca never realized what a great bass player he is. Check out Rain, Drive My Car, The Word, etc,etc,etc............... George. The guy can give a song just the right lead. For a good variety of GH, check out And I love Her, Nowhere Man, and One After 909. (Crank that last one way up). I also think his lead on the album version of Let It Be is wonderful................ Ringo. Being a Ringo fan, and a drummer, I'm so happy to see all the positive Ringo stuff in here. He gets dismissed alot in the drum circles. If you can get a video of the Beatles first US concert in Washinton DC, you will see him just driving the band, like a good drummer should. The video is around - it's just bad quality. Also, listen to him on Long Tall Sally, particularly on the end chorus. Keep in mind that they did LTS in ONE take........ By the way, my part in this whole discussion was never to be Beatles VS Band................. Hey BWNWITenn..CLAPTON DOESN'T HAVE EMOTION?.. no wonder your wife didn't go back to Tenn. with you. Check out Have You Ever Loved A Women from Layla - (D. Allman plays a Woderful little slide part in the middle. The rest is EC)... then listen to Five Long Years from, From The Cradle. If you don't hear emotion in his singing and playing after hearing these, I can't help you. I'll be happy to send you a tape if you like............... You know who is a great, long time, solid as heck bass a dum combo. Mick Fleetwood and John McVie.(Tenn of course, will hate them)........... Allright, that's enough from me for now.................... lay down all thoughts, surrender to the void...........

Posted on Fri Jul 28 07:29:16 CEST 2000 from proxy-383.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.83)

Contact

From: The Underworld of"Redboy"

Rattlebone...Rattlebone....shake it for the war chief all night long....Rattlebone....Rattlebone...shake it for me Bitch ! Has anyone given the back cover of that cd a good look ? We see two Rs on the right hand side.....we see a large store window thru which we are shown stacks and stacks of a popular brand of "Charcoal"......uuh...and on the left hand side we see in black lettering $1.19.....I wonder what Mr. Robertson was trying to tell us...........

Posted on Fri Jul 28 07:24:55 CEST 2000 from 1cust9.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.136.9)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

I would truly have loved for The Band to have gotten better with each new album as did The Beatles and for Islands as a final album to have matched Abbey Road in quality. Unfortunately, my membership in Real World Society has prevented me from doing this - I'd be expelled and banned from attending the wild parties.

The pre-Band Band members touring with Dylan in the Highway 61 and Blonde on Blonde eras (and I saw them in both) were not that much more than adequate and did all the tunes pretty much as they sounded on Dylan's LPs although only Robbie was a backing musician on one of them. Dylan had the songs done his way (pretty much like on the records, as I already said) - the "Band" members didn't do much in the way of "new" arrangements - except maybe "One Too Many Mornings" and "Baby Let Me Follow You Down" which I don't really care for in their electric incarnations.

There's nothing at all to indicate during this time that these backing guys would ever produce the great original music that they did. It took the Basement sessions with Dylan to demonstrate that - which might never have happened if Bob hadn't had that accident. I've heard all of the Basement Tapes and most of the remaining ones are mere fragments a lot of them being covers of fifties songs. I think Columbia chose all the best cuts for the delayed release. And since no one's ever commented on why the recording was of such awful quality (like I said before, my cheap reel-to-reel Panasonic could have done a better job at the time) I'll ask it again. Why? (My best guess was that they were all too stoned out of their heads to get it together.)

Posted on Fri Jul 28 06:48:30 CEST 2000 from remi1pool1-a17.reese.tds.net (204.246.2.210)

LadyGreenEyes

From: Michigan

A relaxing evening,by the fire, listening to Robbie Robertson's The Underworld of Red Boy. What can beat it!

Posted on Fri Jul 28 06:10:27 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.lndn1.on.home.com (24.112.158.228)

Kerrilyn

CARMEN: I guess we are the only Pink Floyd fans here....and I was starting to think it was just me alone.

Posted on Fri Jul 28 05:39:26 CEST 2000 from user-33qt9qq.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.167.90)

Pat Brennan

From: USA

Okay, the boys take their art to the stage with Dylan from Sept 65 to May 66. While onstage, and unlike about every rock group at that time, they create history every night. That takes something beyond slaving about in the studio for weeks at a time; that takes laying it on the line, naked if I want, at a million miles an hour. The many boots display the results.

They then hole up in Woodstock and produce what most consider to be one of the greatest musical runs in American pop history--the Basement Tapes. I've seen six CD compilations that evidentally don't quite cover the whole thing.

They then emerge as The Band and produce those three albums in three years. That's three albums in three years for the hard of hearing here. I only say three because there seems to be some question here about Cahoots. I love that album and feel for those of you who don't; again, it's your loss but big deal, I don't care.

Ahh, they actually calm down. They put out a wonderful tribute to older music and give Richard a chance to shine, which he does. They record a very cool album with Dylan and do that tour. Interesting. They then hit with Northern Lights. Again, there are those among you who find fault with this album. Too bad, your inability is your loss. However, the album is a gem and boots from 76 show that the NLSC tunes were exploding on those last shows.

Now Crabgrass, you never miss a chance to make your point about supposed slippage after Stage Fright, and God bless you for your intransigence; it's really becoming. Unfortunately, it had little basis in fact. This group accomplished such an incredible ammount in those ten years that carping about perceived flaws during a relatively short period of time simply comes across as ill-informed and ill-willed.

Your defense of the Beatles, on the other hand, is judicious.

Posted on Fri Jul 28 04:55:24 CEST 2000 from well.health.nb.ca (207.179.181.34)

W S Walcott

From: New Brunswick(Canada,not New Jersey)

Heres my list: Goldfiger Live and Let Die View To a Kill, Thunderball, The Spy Who Loved Me, For Your Eyes Only. Oh, I thought you said the top 10 Bond songs.

Posted on Fri Jul 28 04:40:18 CEST 2000 from well.health.nb.ca (207.179.181.34)

william walcott

From: New Brunswick(Canada's only billingual province,big deal)

Thanks Steve S. for the info on Bromberg. Hope he gets tired of making violins and gets back to playing them. Must have been quite a thrill playing with the late great Roy Buchannan. Say hi to David for me.

Posted on Fri Jul 28 04:29:17 CEST 2000 from well.health.nb.ca (207.179.181.34)

William Walcott

From: New Brunswick (the picture province)

Okay Patrick, it was a tough assignmet, but here are my top 10 Band songs(in no particular order): 1. Acadian Driftwood 2. To Kingdom Come 3. The Weight 4. Chest Fever(live-Rock of Ages 5. The Shape I'm In 6. King Harvest Has Surely Come(live-Rock of Ages) 7. Daniel and the Sacred Harp 8. Stage Fright 9. 4% Pantomime 10.Rockin' Chair. Oh, I almost forgot, how could I forget about"WS Walcott Medicine Show". Make it my Top 11 Band songs. By the way, can anybody help me with this one. Rick Danko is credited as appearing in The Who documentary "The Kids Are Allright." Excellent film by the way. I own a copy of Kids and have scanned hundreds of times to try and find Danko. No luck yet. His appearance must obviously be a brief one. Can anybody help me out?

Posted on Fri Jul 28 04:17:58 CEST 2000 from spider-wm045.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.190)

Dave Z

From: Chaska , MN

Picked up a Muddy Waters CD after fielding recommendations here last week... and I am really blown away by "Trouble No More" and "I Just Wanna Make Love To You"... The harmonica is errie and to a non-musician like myself the timing of everything sounds sooo right especially with Muddy's deep voice... so natural... I've always enjoyed the respective covers by the Allmans and Van... but these originals seem more right (maybe it's just the newness for me too)... I hope the Barn Burners include a cover of "I Just Wanna..." on their upcoming CD with Amy singing... I also like the version of Mannish Boy with its subtle sexual language even though I most prefer the Hard Again version with miscellaneous screams by Johnnie Winter... even over TLW version... Muddy's drummer sounds pretty good too... I wish I had explored this years ago but I have to confess I am guilty of buying just a few artists and loyally listening to them forever without ever being aware of all the other stuff out there... I guess the Band, Van and Gord are not bad ruts to be in but my thanks to those of you who truely browse the wide spectrum and then share your recommendations... Take care...

Posted on Fri Jul 28 01:51:13 CEST 2000 from spider-mtc-td043.proxy.aol.com (64.12.104.168)

longdistanceoperator

Well, ol' Ry couldn't have been too cheesed off at the Stones if that Honky Tonk Woman story is true. He played slide on "Sister Morphine" and was credited in big, bold letters. Marianne Faithfull, on the other hand....

Posted on Fri Jul 28 01:40:39 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-126-90.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.126.90)

BWNWITennessee

From: South of Bowling Green

Here's one more reason to dislike Eric Clapton - he played on a BEATLES record!

I think Pink Floyd has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I remember Billy Corgan playing with David Gilmour during one of the ceremonies.

I've heard that Ry Cooder either wrote, or actually played on the recording of, the famous open G guitar intro to Honky Tonk Women, and was uncredited.

Here's my list...

1. Willie and the Hand Jive, by E.C.

2. Hold My Hand, by Hootie.

3. Hard to Handle, by the Black Crowes.

4. Brown-Eyed Handsome Man, by Chuck Berry.

5. I Touch Myself, by the Divinyls.

Oops! Sorry, I thought it was favorite - well, you know.

"The Wife that got left in Tennessee"???

Posted on Fri Jul 28 01:34:19 CEST 2000 from dial-82-max-bbvt-01.ramp.together.net (207.41.57.210)

steve s

From: southern vt

hey wswalcott - bromberg has apparently gone into a relative seclusion making violins up here in the woods - he did however do a show at the Latchis in Brattleboro a while back. He is a super nice guy - I had a band called "The Jewish Blues" in the late 70's early 80's - we were doing just fine until our album came out with a guest slot by my former friend, mentor and client, Roy Buchanan (who, like Garth was really into world music years before anyone else got turned on to it) One of the reviews of the album compared us to Bromberg (I guesss the Jewish and blues connection) but glibly noted that Bromberg, unlike us , didn't sing in Hebrew. I showed David the review and he laughed and autographed it - in Hebrew. It still hangs in my office 20 years later!

Posted on Fri Jul 28 01:05:00 CEST 2000 from pm3-pt3.pcnet.net (206.105.29.77)

Laura P.

Er... my entire post about favourite Band songs seems to have mysteriously disappeared. Too bad, because it was really long, I spent quite a while writing it, and I didn't keep a copy! I guess it's that "two people posted at the same time and one person's post got sucked into a black hole" glitch. :-/

Posted on Fri Jul 28 00:55:44 CEST 2000 from spider-wd082.proxy.aol.com (205.188.193.187)

butch

From: ulster county ny

TO ALL OF OUR FRIENDS WHO ATTEND THE LEVON & THE BARN BURNERS SHOW,,,,, WEDNESDAYS in WOODSTOCK,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ON AUGUST 2nd,, THERE WILL BE NO SHOW ,,,, Levon & The Barn Burners will be in NEW YORK CITY,, @ B.B.King's Club,,,,,,,,,,,, AGAIN !!!!! so to recap,,,,,, NO WOODSTOCK JOYOUS LAKE SHOW on the 2nd of aug,, but YES IN NYC @ B.B.'S,,,, thanks,, & sorry for anyone's plans it screws up,,,, oh yeah,, special guests in new york,,,, too,,,,,, butch

Posted on Fri Jul 28 00:49:24 CEST 2000 from gw3a60-1-d17.wind.it (212.141.122.17)

Emanuele

From: Venezia, Italy
Home page

A answer for Band Fans: In the catalog of remastered of the CD The Band: I have read that remastered will also come The Last Waltz, but the songs will be added also included not in the original version of the concert (the songs that are contained in Complete Last Waltz)? Who to give an answer to me to respect can to send a to me puo' e.mail to theband@tiscalinet.it . excuse me for my bad english !!

Posted on Fri Jul 28 00:44:10 CEST 2000 from proxy-661.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.61)

patricia

Must not forget that not only does E.C. play good and looks really doin' it but also that he irons all his own clothes ! and one small correction....Mac Davis sang "Stop and smell the Roses" Tony Orlando and Dawn sang "Knock Three Times"....I know that because my mother was once in love with Mac Davis....Alvin and the ChipmUnks....must remember that.

Posted on Fri Jul 28 00:43:16 CEST 2000 from stcath-ppp73061.sympatico.ca (216.208.72.60)

Richard Patterson

From: St Kitts

BRIEN SZ. : You may have been turned off by Wilco's wimpy "Summer Teeth" (I certainly was), but the 2 Billy Bragg/Wilco collaborations (both called 'Mermaid Ave." - vol. 1, 1998 - vol. 2, 2000) are pure genius... Billy Bragg is the big inspiritor here, on songs that Woody Guthrie wrote post 1949 (after his recording career was over, and the disease that would take his life had taken hold) ...but never completed with music...

... and if'n yer a Bob Dylan fan, i reckon' you might be very impressed...

Posted on Fri Jul 28 00:37:39 CEST 2000 from m198214181105.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.181.105)

Pehr

From: texas

Back to the samo... some people dog "Stagefright", fine, but I dont get it. one heck of a record'IMHO. Thanks to whoever said side 2 stood up to anything. I agree.

Most under-rated band album? Moondog Matinee. It gets dogged here alot- I wonder whaqts wrong with it. there aren't too many bands over the years that have the depth, substance, flexibility of vision to make an oldies record. the set list is superb, the playing is very playful but not compromising. It may be the best "Cover Album" in Rock's history. when I heard Rick had passed on I played the heck out of it, particularly "A Change is Gonna Come". I was overwhelmed by it. Besides Lennon's "Rock n'Roll" what other bands have dared do this?

top 10 patrick not in any order:

Shape I'm in

The Weight

Jemmima Surrender

Chest Fever

To Kingdom Come

Up on Cripple Creek

King Harvest

Yazoo St. Scandal

When you Awake

Endless Highway

Posted on Fri Jul 28 00:14:39 CEST 2000 from ahml93.ahml.lib.il.us (38.231.168.93)

Osceola

From: Des Plaines, IL

Check this website out, if'n yer a Bob Dylan fan: http://freelib.org/dylan/freelib.html If'n yer a fan, I reckon you might like this. Peace.

Posted on Thu Jul 27 23:43:15 CEST 2000 from trt-on68-56.netcom.ca (216.123.107.184)

John Donabie

COUSIN LORI: The way to tell if you were at the right hotel or not is the fact that Winterland just just down the hill from the Hotel. It was about a 3 minute drive from the Hotel to Winterland. Don't know if Winterland still exists.

Posted on Thu Jul 27 23:30:59 CEST 2000 from spider-tk074.proxy.aol.com (152.163.206.209)

Bob Wigo

From: havertown, pa.

Here's my list:

1)I Wish I Was An Oscar Meyer Wiener

2)Choo Choo Charlie Was An Engineer

3)Everyone Knows It's Slinky

4)I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing

5)I Heard It Through The Grapevine--performed by the California Raisins

Damn, I'm sorry....

I thought you said Brand songs.

Posted on Thu Jul 27 23:25:07 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.avnl1.nj.home.com (24.4.252.66)

Brien Sz

From: NJ

IS THERE ANY GOOD NEW MUSIC!

Recently in my meanderings through the record stores, I just can't believe how much CRAP is out there! I've bought some of the newer groups cd's but outside of the radio tune and one or two others, the music is weak. Not only weak but loaded with 15, 16, 17 songs of shere junk! I just finished listening to Moby. This guy or whatever is suppose to be BIG; But Each song is one riff, 5min. long with variations of samples mixed in. Outside of the one song, that's used in every commercial or promo going, IT STINKS! The JayHawks new cd has some wonderfully orchestrated songs, but it it gives the word dull a sharp edge in parts. Wilco's last cd "Summerteeth" i believe it was, was abysmal. This group Moe, a Phish wannabe is nice until the third 10min. song that just continuously swirls along. AHHHHHHHH! About the only new cd i've bought recently that i've listened to a couple times and isn't bad is the new Match Box Twenty cd and it's only a little better than average.

So what do i do, I buy Yessongs. Why? Because i have a four hour drive tonight, i want to jam while i drive and I love YES. Not as much as i love the Band but..,Believe me the Band will be cranked sufficiently. The cd's are all loaded and ready to be rocked!

Please, anyone have some suggestions as to what's new AND good these days?! Criteria; It has to rock--No soapy over produced syruppy ballads and more than 8 solid songs--

By the way, Bill Bruford is one of the best rock drummers i have ever seen or heard. Love Levon but..,

Posted on Thu Jul 27 23:21:35 CEST 2000 from trt-on68-56.netcom.ca (216.123.107.184)

John Donabie

From: Toronto

DAVE THE PHONE GUY: I've heard that story about Ry Cooder & the Stones as well. I don't remember the circumstances.

COUSIN LORI: I believe that is the one and only. Paul Godfrey are you out there. Was the hotel on Post Street in San Francisco?

Posted on Thu Jul 27 22:51:24 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

My top ten faves:

Close to You - The Carpenters
If - Bread
Knock Three Times - Mac Davis
Lift You Up - Rick Astley
Mr. Telephone Man - New Edition
Afternoon Delight - Starland Vocal Band
Let Her Cry - Hootie and the Blowfish

...er...wait...

I thought it was favorite BLAND songs.

...nevermind

Posted on Thu Jul 27 21:45:07 CEST 2000 from pm3-pt106.pcnet.net (206.105.29.180)

Laura P.

From: Manchester, Connecticut
Home page

Hey Band experts--did any of the members of the (original) Band play the banjo? I need to know for a project I am working on. Thanks in advance, if anyone answers!

And yes, I'd love to know what people's favourite Bea... er, I mean Band songs are, too! ;-) I'll post my list tonight, if I can narrow it down to a reasonable number!

Posted on Thu Jul 27 21:06:14 CEST 2000 from gw3a60-1-d37.wind.it (212.141.122.37)

Emanuele

From: Venezia, Italy
Home page

HEY ! THERE ARE 3 NEW REALAUDIO FILES OF THE BAND ON THE BEARDS HOMEPAGE ,THE BAND TRIBUTE PAGE . (FROM 28 JULY 00) THANKS !! VISIT MY PAGE , AND SIGN THE GUESTBOOK !! BYE , EMANUELE

Posted on Thu Jul 27 20:57:16 CEST 2000 from stjhts20c103.nbnet.nb.ca (207.179.149.108)

William Walcott

From: Beautiful New Brunswick

Hey Crabgrass, I agree with you once again. I love The Band and The Beatles both. And yes, The Beatles became better with every album, and less and less commercial sounding as well. Many groups become less and less interesting to listen to as they become bigger and richer. Take U2 for example, once they achieved superstar status they became a self indulgent bore. Every album they make is supposed to be such a big event. I hate rock and roll bands who take themselves seriously. Besides, I never thought U2 were all that great in the first place. Perhaps Roger Daltrey (The Who) put it best. "Rock and roll never stood for inspectin' and disectin' because it don't hold up, so shut up!" Yeah, shut up and play. I also agree with Grabgrass about The Band albums. The first 3 were great and Cahoots was a major disappointment. Next came Rock of Ages, splendid live album and Moondog Matineee, a competent album of cover versions of 50s tunes. I agree, after Stage Fright things did decline. It was a long gap between studio albums before they came out with N. Lights S. Cross, 5 years I think. It was a solid album and they did recapture some of the old magic but I think the writing was already om the wall. And Patrick, I'm tired of this Beatles vs Band thing too. Top 10 Band songs sounds good to me. I'll make my selections on my next entry. Later folks.

Posted on Thu Jul 27 20:41:09 CEST 2000 from cic-proxy01.firstunion.com (169.200.25.140)

Bones

From: CT

The Learning Channel is presenting a four hour documentary called Stand Up And Be Counted. The show discusses music as a art form and its impact on social reform. It will be aired in August. Robbie Robertson is listed as one of the many artists interviewed for the special.

Cousin Lori: Thanks for the info on the Clapton web chat. I was interested in that.

Posted on Thu Jul 27 20:13:14 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.187)

David Powell

From: Georgia

Crabgrass mentioned the talented Randy Newman. Another member of the "Newman Dynasty of Film Composers" is Randy's cousin Thomas. Thomas is the son of Alfred, who along with his brothers Emil & Lionel, were pioneers in composing & conducting film scores in Hollywood. Thomas Newman has composed music for such recent films as "The Shawshank Redemption", "The Green Mile", "The Horse Whisperer" and "American Beauty." Thomas also composed the original music used in "Phenomenom", working with Robbie Robertson, who was the executive producer of the soundtrack. Perhaps Robertson's most notable contribution to this soundtrack was hooking up the team of Eric Clapton & Babyface, who collaborated on the hit song "Change The World." However, for my money, the best music from that film was that which was composed by Thomas Newman.

In 1974 I was fortunate enough to attend a concert in Atlanta in which Randy Newman premiered his album "Good Old Boys" backed by The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra with Emil Newman conducting. The concert included all the songs from that album along with many of Randy's other songs. The highlight of the evening, for me, was getting to hear Randy & the ASO's spellbinding performance of "Louisiana 1927" and "Marie", two of my all-time favorites.

Posted on Thu Jul 27 20:13:31 CEST 2000 from spider-wm058.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.197)

Cousin Lori

From: VA

Hey John Donabie! How are you feeling and glad you're better! Yes, that's the one on Post St. where I stayed. Don't know where the OTHER one is (if there is anOther one). You? Anyone?

BTW, Carlos Santana COOKED last night in Norfolk!!!! SMOKIN'. . .

Also, don't be so hard on Eric Clapton. His rehab center in Antigua is very successful (and I don't be he's rolling in the dough, I mean he's helping alot of folks!) And he named it Crossroads after the Robert Johnson tune. I like him.

Posted on Thu Jul 27 20:08:27 CEST 2000 from ip-138.dial.wans.com (64.7.64.138)

Molly Z.

From: MV California

Dave the phone guy: Thanks for the cheers!! :-) I actually have wondered if there's anybody around my age that's into The Band. A few friends of mine nearby know The Band, but they're not into the music very much, which is a shame! I sure hope that more younger people will like The Band and pass the music on to their kids. That's what I plan on doing when I have kids. I'm gonna be passing The Band's music to my kids, because it's important to me for them to not be trashed by listening to bubble-gum stuff that's out now, Like BSB and Nsync, and other bubble-gum bands. I mean The Band's music IS real, and original! That's what I like about them. So let's have this music last for generations to come! :-)

Have a great day everyone! :-)

Posted on Thu Jul 27 20:04:17 CEST 2000 from mplsdslgw10poold91.mpls.uswest.net (63.228.43.91)

Patrick

Home page

IM SICK OF THE BEATLES VS. THE BAND! NEW DISCUSSION- 10FAVORITE BAND SONGS. THE UNFAITHFUL SERVANT THE RUMOR TEARS OF RAGE WHEN YOU AWAKE ACADIAN DRIFTWOOD KING HARVEST UP ON CRIPPLE CREEK DANIEL AND THE SACRED HARP THE WEIGHT 4% PANTOMIME

Posted on Thu Jul 27 20:01:41 CEST 2000 from m198214181166.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.181.166)

pehr

From: texas

I'm with Bob Wigo on the beatle question. To question their musicianship is ridiculous in my mind. I find their early music to be very complex chordally and harmonically speaking. I think Lennon/McCartney belong at the top of any list of 20th century composers. Lennon was one hell of a singer. I dont know what the detractors want from him... to be richard?

Please dont kill the messenger- but I know a ton of people that swear5 McCartney as the greatest Rock bassist (I do prefer Rick and John Entwistle Myself, along with Duck Dunn)

Trish, please play us these beatle songs and show us how easy they are for you.

I agree E.C. is over rated. he's damn good, flawless attack. Heres my "crabby" moment... I find even Hendrix a little overated. he hides behind some of that flambouyancy at times, pedals and so on. For My 2 cents let Roy Buchanan dust 'em all off. they all seem insensitive next to george, Roy, RR, and Hubert sumlin... My greatest list. Ok, Jeff Beck too.

Posted on Thu Jul 27 18:22:27 CEST 2000 from 56k-socal-02-39.dial.qnet.com (209.221.198.150)

Dave the Phone Guy

From: Lee Vining,Ca.

There has been a whole bunch of honest and informative posts over the last couple of weeks.Also,a lot of respect or at least tolerance to other's opinions.Yeah! BANDHEADS!

That said I'll throw my opinions out here too.

Eric Clapton never fumbles or makes a mistake playing solos.Everyone should give "From The Cradle" a listen.It's the only one I listen to,although there's a couple of great songs on "No Reason To Cry".

I was really impressed with Ringo's left hand on the first All-Starr tour.He was completely in command and like a clock on the snare.(Jim Keltner was in this band also,along with a third drummer and a pretty darn good bass player)Yeah Man!

The Beatles on Ed Sullivan was a definate turning point in my life,but it was for countless multi-thousands also.I grew my hair long and have kept it that way ever since.All my buddies had to have electrics and trap sets after that TV show.

Did I read in here that Ry Cooder was also ripped-off by the Stones and was quite mad about it?

Just my opinion; Prince SUCKS! Go somewhere else for funk or R&B.

Three cheers for Molly!!!She's about the same age as I was when I first became a BAND fan.Is she the youngest BAND fan in the world right now?How encouraging to know this next young generation can recognize genuine good music.I do see young folks at all the Grateful Dead related events and not just for the scene or drugs.Hurrah,Hurrah,Hurrah!Molly Z.!

Posted on Thu Jul 27 17:18:38 CEST 2000 from host161-123-26-209.utelfla.com (209.26.123.161)

carmen

From: pa

Speaking of the RRHOF, how about Pink Floyd not being in yet. I know their music is not at all closley related to THE BAND, however, there are some similarities with the 2 groups relating to the songwriting question, leadership & reformation, not to mention the Wall thing, so I am putting this out there.

Posted on Thu Jul 27 17:02:46 CEST 2000 from 2cust20.tnt14.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.140.148)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

Lennon played the main riff on "I Feel Fine" which he no doubt invented and also on "I Want You (She's So Heavy)." And Paul is known for giving Ringo drum lessons and George guitar lessons in the studio. He played both.

The Beatles went through mainly metamorphoses during their recording career with almost each one better than that preceding it - The Band's albums steadily declined after Stage Fright with a slight resurgence on NLSC.

Michael Jackson's Moonwalk is one of the greatest moments in the History of the World as far as I'm concerned. The second greatest moment was his scalp getting singed during the filming of a Pepsi commercial when a smudge pot exploded - front page coverage!!

Didn't realize the Chipmunks have not yet been inducted into the HOF - let's start a write-in campaign! (Their harmonies btw were a definite influence on Brian Wilson.)

Posted on Thu Jul 27 15:58:20 CEST 2000 from trt-on72-76.netcom.ca (216.123.89.204)

John Donabie

COUSIN LORI:

Is this the hotel your talking about?
Miyako Hotel
1625 Post Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
Phone: 415-922-3200

Posted on Thu Jul 27 15:46:38 CEST 2000 from stjhts21d100.nbnet.nb.ca (198.164.98.229)

ws walcott

From: New Brunswick

Some good observations there Crabgrass. I forgot to mention Lennon's rythm guitar playing. It was more than adequate, a lead guitarist he was not. He was also a good harmonica player. No, guitar George was probably not George Harrison, but I think its a good analogy. Yes, Harrison wrote While My Guitar Gently Weeps. Eric Clapton played lead on that song-uncredited. Harrison also cowrote "Badge" with Clapton and "The Holdup" with David Bromberg, another overlooked and very talented musician. I have a lot of his stuff but haven't heard anything lately. Does anybody out there now if Bromberg is still around and still recording and/or touring?

Posted on Thu Jul 27 15:40:26 CEST 2000 from spider-mtc-td082.proxy.aol.com (64.12.104.187)

bob wigo

From: havertown, pa

John Donabie: We march to the beat of the same drummers !

It has long been fashionable to write off Ringo as one of R & R's lesser talents. Much of this is due in fact to the role he played away from the kit.A band of that caliber cannot subsist without a rock solid rhythm section.As for McCartney's bass playing, I've spent hours enjoying those wonderfully melodic undertones and have always found his interpretations integral to the arrangements. John Lennon was well above average as a rhythm guitarist and oft times "way beyond compare" as the raw and raucous vocalist that gave them just the right amount of edge. George Harrison, while a splendid soloist in my humble opinion, always seemed to have a strong sense of the ensemble and played to support the structure of those magical songs ( not unlike another guitarist discussed here).

Many times I've heard it said that George Martin's masterful production made The Beatles. I disagree vehemently.Somehow I keep coming back to something about a silk purse and a sow's ear.

Posted on Thu Jul 27 15:04:01 CEST 2000 from x2-9.poughkeepsie.bestweb.net (216.179.14.183)

Gene

From: Dutchess County

Hank, I also like Peter Green. In fact, my Peter Green collection is every bit as extensive as my Band (and Beatles) collections. Peter Green, by the way, will be on a US tour (on a joint bill with John Mayall) in September. Check out the dates at http://www.petergreen.net/ustour.html

Posted on Thu Jul 27 14:53:27 CEST 2000 from revlukup2.clr.com (164.57.254.209)

Brown-Eyed Johnny

From: Jones Beach

Bob Dylan was wonderful last night at the Beach. Naturally, he got a big hand when during "Desolation Row," he sang, "Everybody is making love or else expecting rain." One of the highlights for me was "Long Black Veil," which I like to think was Bob paying tribute to Johnny Cash and the Band (especially Rick, who did the song so often in his solo shows).

Posted on Thu Jul 27 12:03:37 CEST 2000 from spider-wl072.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.52)

The wife that was left in Tennessee

My favorite Band wedding tune is Bound by Love (even though they didn't write it).

Posted on Thu Jul 27 11:49:48 CEST 2000 from proxy-671.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.71)

Paticia

dear Colin..."Livin in a Dream"..kinda sounds like row row row your boat...everybody'd get a kick out of it !

Posted on Thu Jul 27 11:47:02 CEST 2000 from spider-we014.proxy.aol.com (205.188.195.24)

Mary Lou

From: prison
Home page

NEW YORK (AP) - Feb. 9, 1964. A British band from Liverpool takes "The Ed Sullivan Show" stage and sends waves of teen-agers into screaming convulsions across America, bewildering millions of parents. What's rock and roll's biggest TV moment? A new Top 100 list from VH1 and Entertainment Weekly magazine says that was it - the day Beatlemania hit the states and stayed. The Beatles U.S. debut even topped the 1968 comeback of the King. An estimated 73 million people were watching that night in '64 - about three times the audience of an episode of this summer's TV blockbuster "Survivor." John Lennon was so nervous he taped song lyrics to the back of his guitar. As Ringo Starr explained, the band didn't realize until it arrived in America how important Sullivan's Sunday night showcase was. Elvis Presley's comeback special four years later, his return to radio after years of B-movies, was No. 2, and deemed more important than the King's 1956 debut. The 1968 return at least showed those swiveling hips - in 1956, the camera only shot him from the waist up. Several selections were more important in retrospect as historical movements rather than memorable moments, such as the premieres of MTV, "Saturday Night Live" and "American Bandstand." Other moments in VH1's Top 10 included Michael Jackson's first moonwalk on the 1983 "Motown 25" special, the Live Aid telecast in 1985, Madonna's "Like a Virgin" performance on the 1984 MTV Video Music Awards, and the Who's appearance on "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" in 1967. See http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2568370945-1ae Flying Burrittos, and Tacos FOREVER...........and Gram too : )

Posted on Thu Jul 27 11:39:34 CEST 2000 from saturn.oucs.ox.ac.uk (163.1.103.107)

Colin

From: Oxford

The wedding song strand is of more than theoretical interest to me, as I will be playing in an ex-bandmates wedding band in Buffalo, NY in a couple of months and wanted to throw in a Band cover. We have two days to rehearse, so it has to be easy to learn (that rules out the majority of Band songs, actually), it must be cheery (there goes 'It Makes No Difference), and must have a good catchy tune and singalong chorus. Stand up, 'Across the Great Divide'! This is a wonderful song and despite the eccentricities of the characters (what's she done with the gun?), has a broadly optimistic vision of marriage and family life. Instead of a wife and children being a burden to man's aspirations (as in the old cliche 'settling down with wife and kids', with the obvious overtones of ennervation and boredom) the song paints a most lively (and occasionally fiery) picture of married life. Above all, it celebrates marriage as essential to the happiness of man, without resorting to lovey-doviness. Was this ever released as a single,and if so why did no one buy it?

Posted on Thu Jul 27 09:09:14 CEST 2000 from spider-wc083.proxy.aol.com (205.188.193.58)

butch

From: wherever i am

Just returned from The Wednesday night Levon & The Barn Burners show,,,,, this guy came up to Levon & said he drove 400 miles to see the show,,, man, L.H. hugged him , smiled,, & just said, welcome to the family, son,,, thats how it is, now,,, family,,, TONIGHT, TOM "BONES" MALONE & John Simon sat in with the fellas & miss amy, powering the set to a different place,, the trombone was so nice,,,BONES is such a treasure,,,& his ear is so right on,,,, he knows where the spaces are,,,& the silences,,,, WHEW !!!!! & John, he's always just a pleasure,, a real tasty, understated playing style, that fits the Barn Burners,,, & the B.B.'s were smokin,, CHRIS trading licks w/ everyone, bones, PAT, john,,,, man it was a night,,,, ya'll should get out more,,,,, ,,,,, the TURNING POINT, this friday night,,,,in Piermont, NY,,, see ya,, butch

Posted on Thu Jul 27 08:13:44 CEST 2000 from 1cust54.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.136.54)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

At the P.O. yesterday and noticed a new stamp honoring Alfred Newman - Randy's soundtrack composer uncle (wrote the famous 20th Century Fox fanfare too). Randy's most recent release Bad Love is on the Dreamworks label. Maybe he'll eventually have a positive influence on Robbie. It's a great CD co-produced by Mitchell Froom who more often than not gets criticised when he produces Richard Thompson but the Newman record sounds great. Go figure.

And I just discovered that Randy's got a nice website too with a pleasant color scheme - www.randynewman.com

I'm having a good night - so far!!

Posted on Thu Jul 27 07:12:32 CEST 2000 from proxy-721.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.141)

Patricia

That Rock and Roll Hall of Fame deal turned out to be just another award show....something is "buggy" when the Jackson Five go in before Gram Parsons....and another thing...The Band going in the same year as Elton John....not right...and Eric Clapton going in three times....three times !!..he deserved one time ...how many albums did Cream make ? Do you really think that Cream deserved a hall of fame award...I never liked that group...there's alot of stuff a little "buggy" up there..I thought that thing was suppose to be kept only for the great ones...yeah..Gram might be "Considered"... and Roy Buchannon might be "Considered" but they will probably give the damned thing to Alvin and the Chipmonks...

Posted on Thu Jul 27 06:44:17 CEST 2000 from dialup-111.cork.iol.ie (194.125.43.111)

HANK

From: CORK CITY...... 'Right?
Home page

Set a metronome or a click track to Ringos drum solo at the end of Abbey Road.....you'll find that Ringos drum solo is perfectly.....I mean PERFECTLY, in time.....They did'nt have click tracks in 1969. Ringo, people, is a human metronome!!!! Can anyone here name a Beatle track where the drumming is less than absolutley perfect for the song? Where it's sloppy or out of time?? BWNWinTenn complained about "Hey Jude"......but just listen to the way Ringo EXPLODES onto that track....a big flurry round the kit and then he's belling the cymbal to increase the urgency in the song....amazing!!!!!...Ringos rolls on "A Day in the Life" were something very powerful and ominous indeed, I could list out every single for a start , you MIGHT find the odd album track, but WHERE?.............. The only one I can think of is his own tune on the White Album: "Don't Pass me By".......to these ears it's a bit loud and sloppy, but then, the song itself is like a great lost Hank Williams song.....so, for me, that redeems it, if you 'em, ie.....anyone else go along with that?.....or against it? The thing to remember about The Beatles and The Band is that they were great BANDS who played REALLY well... TOGETHER........there's a HUGE difference between people in a band being great instumentalists/singers personally and people in a band playing really well together.......we've all heard bands of supposedly GREAT instrumentalists playing together and it's often boring and unexciting.....but take a band like The Velvet Underground........Mo Tucker is'nt ANYONES idea of a session drummer......but she was PERFECT for what The VU were laying out....if you dig 'em, ie......same as Pink Floyd.....none of those guys were fantastic musos, really....but they were a great band, if you dig 'em, ie. (again!)........Keith Moon was an amazing drummer but I remember an hearing an interview with Keith Richards once and Keef said, as great as Moon was, he probably would'nt have sounded so good with anybody else other than The Who.......it's probably true.....Chris Thomas, who produced alot of The White Album, once said in an interview that The Beatles were a great band.....he was really surprised how well they played together considering they were'nt gigging...... OK.....enuff Beatlemania......actually, did anyone ever take the sheets off the beds of a hotel The Band slept in and cut 'em up into small squares and sell 'em off in picture frames? No? Chew on THAT for a while folks........ ERIC CLAPTON...........(sigh)...............EC is great when he plays guitar for anyone other than hisself............w/The Yardbirds, w/ Jon Mayall, w/Cream, w/Blind Faith, w/Derek and The Dominoes w/ John Lennon @ The Stones Rock'n'Roll Circus AND @ Toronto, w/ The Stones themselves playing "Little Red Rooster" live in 1989 @ Shea Stadium, w/ The Beatles on "While my Guitar Gently Weeps", w/ Roger Waters, @ The Bob Dylan 30th thing in MSG in 1992, w/ The Band @ TLW, Folks.......don't anyone give me guff about how RR blew him away on "Futher on up the Road"....Eric makes a bit of a ham of it at the start, but when he plays the last solo he COMPLETELY mocks RR's twisted finger, bendy, pinchy note sound and GOES for it......get out TLW and just watch the audience go bananas as he's screaming in the last bars of the song..........check out the faces of RR, Levon and Rick.........pure, unadulterated musical JOY!!!!!.....it's when EC plays for whatever EC band he's got going that he'll let you down........not always, mind you, there's some lovely stuff on his "Unplugged" album............publicly his problem is that he was/is a handsome, articulate, well-dressed white English boy/man who did'nt DIE, despite all the sex'n'drugs'n'rock'n'roll......and he was very good indeed.........it's EASY to knock him..........personally, tho', having said all THAT, I think Rory Gallagher kicks everyones ass on the geetar, 'cept for Hendrix, and uh, Peter Green and uh, Mick Taylor and uh,.......BTW, I played "Jumpin' Jack Flash" at a gig last night........Happy Birthday, Mr. Wandering Spirit.................Wow!! I went on a bit there.....my wife sez The GB is my therapist.......OK............ THANKS JAN!!!!!! MORNIN'ALL!!!!!! 'cept maybe AMANDA.......'AFTERNOON, MATE!!!!!!

Posted on Thu Jul 27 05:43:13 CEST 2000 from spider-tk083.proxy.aol.com (152.163.206.213)

longdistanceoperator

All I will say about Eric Clapton is that his interpretation of "Crossroads" is one of the very finest moments in the history of rock and roll.

Posted on Thu Jul 27 05:42:55 CEST 2000 from ras-c5800-2-52-253.dialup.wisc.edu (128.104.52.253)

Ryan Stang

From: Madison, WI

Supposedly, the Stones wrote "Wild Horses" in the countryish style specifically for Gram and/or the Burritos to perform (they did record it before the Stones did--Burritos Deluxe vs. Sticky Fingers). In return, again, supposedly, Gram rearranged Honky Tonk Woman as "Country Honk" for Let It Bleed. I case anyone didn't hear, Gram is being considered for induction for the RNR Hall of Fame this year. Robbie doing a voiceover segment about Gram would be too cool to deal with.

Posted on Thu Jul 27 05:19:34 CEST 2000 from spider-wo032.proxy.aol.com (205.188.200.32)

Cousin Lori

From: Virginia today, ? tomorrow!

I sat in the Eric Clapton's live web chat earlier this week and just wanted to mention that he didn't mention The Band as influences this time. He plugged (repeatedly) Fender guitars and answered alot of questions about his new collaborative effort with BB King. Said they wouldn't be touring together which was disappointing. Did say that if they happened to be in the same place at the same time they would get together so maybe a surprise guest sometime (fingers crossed). He further baited us with a mention that he wants to get together on a collaborative effort with someone that is "very high profile" and didn't want to mention anything yet because he hasn't cleared it with said mystery person. Could it be our RR? I can dream, can't I?

Someone mentioned the Miyako Hotel in San Francisco? In both sources that mention the hotel by name spell it Mikayo Hotel. Now we all know Levon can't spell but Barnie and Stephen would have caught it wouldn't they. Also, little groupie that I am couldn't find the Mikayo Hotel so I stayed at the Radisson Miyako and rushed downstairs to find the ghost of Bob Dylan only to find a cheesy ballroom with a Bonsai display, no sign of Osaka Lounge! Also, the Miyako is famous for their deep Japanese baths and funny little buckets and spouts that you use before bathing. A little plush for a group of guys that is accustomed to staying at the seediest hotels in town, do'ncha think? Of course, things were better then than they were in the 80's when Rich and Richard almost got kicked out of the Hotel Harrington in Washington, DC cause for smoking and laughing hysterically until the wee hours. What a bite, getting kicked out of a place that should have paid THEM for their atttendance! Later . . .

Posted on Thu Jul 27 05:16:32 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.avnl1.nj.home.com (24.4.252.66)

Brien Sz

From: NJ

Just one question----------Who are the Beatles?

Posted on Thu Jul 27 04:58:46 CEST 2000 from trt-on80-85.netcom.ca (216.123.38.213)

John Donabie

I have to disagree a little on the quality of the musicianship of one Ringo Starr. My favorite drummer has always been Levon Helm....... followed by Richie Hayward of Little Feat......Ronnie Tut from Elvis' Band......BUT two of the most under rated drummers to my mind are Ringo Starr and Charlie Watts of the Stones. Both Starr & Watts were good solid drummers. I'm talking rock and roll music here; so don't write in and throw in Buddy Rich or Gene Krupa. Obviously they were both brilliant in their forms of music. I would agree that over all the Beatles didn't have the depth of The Band as musicians. Oh I forgot Jim Keltner!

Posted on Thu Jul 27 04:21:35 CEST 2000 from 1cust118.tnt11.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.134.118)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

The "George" Mark Knopfler was talking about obviously wasn't Harrison - didn't GH write "While My Guitar Gently Weeps?" Paul McCartney has always modestly said that the Beatles were "adequate musicians" meaning they had enough chops to get the job done. I'd rate them a bit higher - listen to John's rhythm guitar on "All My Loving" and then try to emulate it - pretty tricky! Incidentally, I think "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" on Abbey Road is one of Lennon's very best. Anyone who thinks the Beatles' music is somehow less complicated than The Band's hasn't listened closely enough.

The Beatles' incredibly catchy and original songs - once they got airplay - is mainly what "marketed" the Beatles. Other opportunists selling Beatle wigs, lunch boxes, and other nonsense simply cashed in on the Beatles' popularity. Such products were not part of a grand scheme to make the Beatles more popular.

(Incidentally, if anyone out there has a Band lunchbox I'm dying to get my hands on one!!)

Posted on Thu Jul 27 03:43:09 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-126-185.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.126.185)

BWNWITennessee

From: East of Memphis

Okay, now on to Eric Clapton. I mean, obviously he is nowhere near as good a guitarist as Hendrix. He does, however, have a very unique style that is immediately identifiable. He might even be better as far as phrasing is concerned than Hendrix. He also has gone through quite an evolution of guitar tones. Remember his "open wah" sound in the late '80s? I just don't like his songwriting. He always has these crappy J.J. Cale shuffle rhythms going on, these plodding, monotonous and dull beats. There is something kind of cheesey and emotionless to most of his music, in my opinion. "Layla" was nice, but I think that everything good about that song was done by Duane Allman and the piano player (Bobby Whitlock?). I also don't like how he quit the Yardbirds because they were too pop, and now is just pure pop. Which isn't to say that people can't change their opinions over the course of 30 years, but then when "From the Cradle" came out I remember him saying that he was only going to play the blues from then on, and then his next record was "Pilgrim." I hate to rip on RR's buddy. I don't know if I'd say he's overrated, but overpopular, maybe.

If the Stones didn't give Gram Parsons the respect he deserved, keep in mind that they also didn't give songwriting credit for "Stop Breaking Down" and "Love in Vain" to Keith's hero Robert Johnson. I guess maybe they did have some influence on Led Zeppelin after all. And I also heard that maybe Gram didn't give Clarence White the respect he felt he deserved when they were both in the Byrds.

Hey MattK, I'm going to see Galactic tomorrow! I haven't actually heard them yet, but I've heard a lot about them, I'm looking forward to it. Best of all, it's free!

Mick Jagger is 57? Good Lord! In another three years he's going to have to start buying plaid pants and white belts.

Posted on Thu Jul 27 02:44:51 CEST 2000 from well.health.nb.ca (207.179.181.34)

william walcott

From: New Brunswick

About this Beatles vs Band thing, they were both great, whats the problem? I do take exception, however, to Patricks comment that The Beatles were not good musicians. Granted, Ringo was an average drummer and John was an average guitarist. No matter what you think of him, one cannot deny the musical talents of Paul McCartney. He was an incredible bass player(listen to Rain and Lady Madonna). Paul was not too shabby on the 88s either. As for George Harrison, he was a very solid lead guitar player. Just because he did not not rip out or do wild or lengthy guitar solos does not mean he was a bad musician. The kind of stuff The Beatles were doing did not always allow for free form guitar work. Perhaps Mark Knoefler put it best, "Check out guitar George he knows all the cords, but its just strictly rhythm, he doesn't wanna make it cry or scream".

Posted on Thu Jul 27 02:03:56 CEST 2000 from proxy-701.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.101)

patricia

oops.....by "blood experience" I didn't mean anything sexual......we'll leave that to ol' Mick....

Posted on Thu Jul 27 01:13:01 CEST 2000 from pega2pp87.alltel.net (166.102.107.88)

Martha Page

From: Georgia

Thank you, Just Wonderin', for the info on Rod Stewart and "Broken Arrow." I think his interpretation misses something that obviously RR knows!

Posted on Thu Jul 27 01:11:56 CEST 2000 from proxy-681.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.81)

Patricia

pleasw excuse my intensity on the Gram Parsons subject....I remember reading about a gig sometime in 74 or 75 where the pulled into Richmond and there was a banner hung up at the gate saying "Welcome Gram Parsons"....they didn't even know he was gone.. Gram died on the 19th of september...and Jim Croce died on the 21st....Gram didn't even get a line in the news...he was so important to the entire "country-rock thing...and everybody I knew thought that it had started with the Eagles....what a shame. Somebody mentioned Clapton...I think E.C. is so uncomfortable being popular...he always just wanted to be Robert Johnson...somebody else mentioned a while back that Clapton was an RR groupie.....but I think Robbie and Eric had a blood experience together....back in 1990...I just feel that.

Posted on Thu Jul 27 00:45:50 CEST 2000 from ip-178.dial.wans.com (64.7.64.178)

Molly Z. (again)

Yes I forgot to mention, Happy Birthday Mick!! And thanks for the music you put out!

Posted on Thu Jul 27 00:45:15 CEST 2000 from user-33qt8qs.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.163.92)

Pat Brennan

From: USA

Someone show me one example of how marketing effected the music on a Beatles album. Explain to be how being teenage girl-friendly effected the music.

Posted on Thu Jul 27 00:01:00 CEST 2000 from mplsdslgw10poolb250.mpls.uswest.net (63.228.41.250)

Patrick

Home page

Here's my view on Beatles VS. BAND- The Beatles made some very creative music that still influences music today. The Band did the same, but are less talked about because the weren't teenage girl friendly. The fact that The Beatles weren't good musicians makes it more incredible that they made some very influencial music. The Band had 5 incredibly good musicians. The made some incredible music. Its the fact that they weren't marketed well is why they are not talked about more. Sorry guys, life isn't fair.

Posted on Wed Jul 26 23:46:30 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

Music pick of the year, thus far, folks, IMHO:

Galactic - "Late For The Future"

New Orleans meets Acid Jazz meets the JBs. If God's in a band, he's playing with Galactic. Holy cow, I'm transformed. This is the third album from these guys, who made their name touring all over hell and back, and playing around New Orleans (their home) with the likes of the Meters, Nevilles, etc.

I'm told they are phenomenal in person, but the CD sure has me going. They're up in Canada and NY state this summer (not northern New England, unfortunately). See 'em if you can. Buy the CD at your local record store or (failing that), it's at Amazon.com and CDNow.

Posted on Wed Jul 26 23:15:30 CEST 2000 from ppp662.on.bellglobal.com (206.172.238.86)

Richard Patterson

From: St Kitts

BWNWIT: Sorry to see such a slim tolerance for the great music of this generation,,, but I must agree with you and CRABGRASS that Eric the C is incredibly overrated.

The only thing that the Beatles saved us North American rock 'n roll fans from, was the emerging greatness of black American pop artists... this, I see as a real shame (much as I love the Beatles music). So really, IMHO, they only "saved" rock and roll from it's inventors cashing in on their baby...G-MAN: I think that when the Beatles live shows began to look "staged and stiff" is the same moment that they decided to pack it in as a live band... The Beatles in Hamburg are a lot closer to what the Hawks were like as a live performing band.

Thanks HANK and BONES and PAT for kind words about Gram Parsons... I just wish this 1:33 of "I Shall Be Released" on the 'Farther Along' Flying Burrito's comp was the whole song... it sure is a great beginning...

Hey Lizz... Flying Burritos and Mighty Taco's... hahaha.

Posted on Wed Jul 26 23:11:31 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-052.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.52)

Pet er Viney

When albums had sides … the best "Side 2" The Band recorded was "Stage fright"- as the late John Bauldy said, on its own it was as good as the first two albums. If you want to simply enjoy RR at full steam, Stage Fright has to be the one. The greatest Beatles Side 2 is the "Abbey road" medley. But side 1 also had "Come together" and "Something", and Side one of "Stage Fright" had "All la Glory" & "Sleeping". Not bad albums then in spite of Octopussey’s Garden and I Want You on Abbey road. In fact my all-time favourite Beatles side 2 is probably "Magical Mystery Tour" (US release) but it’s really a collection of great singles and B-sides so shouldn’t count.

Show tunes: this is a similarity between the greatest Bs. There was a music hall (aka vaudeville) tradition that Paul embraced, but providing the "slow numbers" for dancers is part of this in the clubs. When The Beatles started albums. If you want to simply enjoy RR at full steam, Stage Fright has to be the one. The greatest Beatles Side 2 is the "Abbey road" medley. But side 1 also had "Come together" and "Something", and Side one of "Stage Fright" had "All la Glory" & "Sleeping". Not bad albums then in spite of Octopussey’s Garden and I Want You on Abbey road. In fact my all-time favourite Beatles side 2 is probably "Magical Mystery Tour" (US release) but it’s really a collection of great singles and B-sides so shouldn’t count.

Show tunes: this is a similarity between the greatest Bs. There was a music hall (aka vaudeville) tradition that Paul embraced, but providing the "slow numbers" for dancers is part of this in the clubs. When The Beatles started to get big (after three years hard labour in the dives, just as long as The Hawks at that point), they played summer variety seasons. In the tradition of these, you do your rock and roll, then prove you’re an all round entertainer by doing a standard too. It worked both ways. Tom Jones would do his big voice ballads, then had to prove he could rock out. This was not just a British thing. Elvis may have started it. Around the same time, Bobby Darin wanted to prove his versatility by going from rock to cabaret, then prove his intellectual cred by going to folk and Dylan. Marvin Gaye was keen to do a standards album, and Motown got into that whole area. In the early to mid 60s that was how you worked the audience. Even the real greasers would nod in admiration at hearing a standard done well. They didn’t trust the quality of their own stuff somehow, and artists sought acclaim by doing standards (and jazz). Paul was special because he could write them too. I put it down to 50s music teachers who were all in love with "West Side Story" and thought it gave them more street cred than Beethoven. Richard Manuel held up this for the Band because masterpieces or not, stuff like "You don’t Know Me" was definitely in the parents / standards area. "She Knows" and "Country Boy" were almost exaggeratedly so. Van Morrison still does it, with "It’s all in the game", "You don’t know me", "I Can’t stop Loving You", "Send in the clowns." Irish Show Bands, where he started, were expected to be versatile.

On standards, if a British artist does "You’ll Never walk alone" nowadays, it’d have to be part ironic – it’s now THE British football fans anthem, particularly, but not exclusively, associated with Liverpool FC.

The Beatles cut of "To Kingdom Come" is only playing about in the studio, not an attempt at a cover.

Posted on Wed Jul 26 23:10:19 CEST 2000 from spider-ta083.proxy.aol.com (152.163.205.83)

jcf

From: new york

beatles v.s The Band? I'm still at the immature stage where I'm so biased that I have trouble admitting some group may have actually been better than the Band. If you were never at that stage maybe that is because you were a Band fan before this website existed. Everyone says there was a big decline after the Band's second or third album. (I have not listened to Cahoots yet but will get the album on the release date). I do acknowledge that Stagefright is a step down from the second album. The beatles were lucky than forces broke them up when they were at their peak. Maybe they would have recorded some less than stellar albums if they carried on around longer. The Band, on the other hand, didn't get a chance to record an album without any other participants until fairly late in their carrer. This was partly beyond their control. Maybe in some alternate history their are more than just a few great Band albums... Anyway what can we make of the fact that the one Band song the Beatles chose to record was To Kingdon Song. I like the original but it seems an odd choice...

Posted on Wed Jul 26 23:09:28 CEST 2000 from proxy-721.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.141)

trish

And Long Distance Operator...with all due respect.....Bullshit !

Posted on Wed Jul 26 22:51:34 CEST 2000 from (206.15.160.247)

Long Distance Operator

Trish, I must disagree with your assertion that the Stones snubbed Gram when he was alive. Keith was a huge supporter of Gram, and you can even catch a glimpse of the Burritos at Altamont in the film "Gimme Shelter". As for "Country Honk", as great a tune as it is, it's a minor track on the tour de force that is "Let It Bleed". With all due respect to Mr. Parsons, it's just a countrified "Honky Tonk Woman". I think it's appropriate to take this time to wish the mighty Mick Jagger a happy 57th birthday. Shine on, Mick!

Posted on Wed Jul 26 22:24:05 CEST 2000 from proxy-533.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.123)

trish

Gram Parsons was a much bigger influence that "Far Away Eyes"..."Wild Horses".."Sweet Virginia" and on and on...What I meant was they had never even given him even a nod of thanks WHEN HE WAS ALIVE...and not even as much as a thanks G.P. on any of their album covers. And what's with all this Beatleshit.....I remember hearing Rick say "you don't know how hard The Bands Music is to play until you sit down and try to play it" I never heard anyone say that about The Beatles. You simply cannot compare te two groups...I am so glad that The Band didn't enter in thru "The pop door"...the Band grew up out of the earth...I never knew where The Beatles came from...someone explain please

Posted on Wed Jul 26 22:17:50 CEST 2000 from spider-we022.proxy.aol.com (205.188.195.27)

jcf

From: new york

Beatles v.s. Band? I am still at the immature stage where I can't be objective and think from the outset that no one was ever better than the Band. If some of you other Band fans were never at such a stage that might be because you became a fan before this site existed. Anyway I do acknowledge there is a decline from the first two albums to Stagefright. But those first two albums are at least equal to any of the classic beatle's albums. By classic albums I only mean the White album and Abbey road (not Sergeant Pepper's etal) Can we make anything of the fact that the one Band song the Beatles chose to record was To Kingdom Come. I like the original but maybe it was a strange choice for a cover.

Posted on Wed Jul 26 21:18:57 CEST 2000 from ip87-max7-lowell.ziplink.net (206.15.160.247)

Long Distance Operator

I saw Bekka Bramlett fronting Mick Fleetwood's Zoo at the Paradise rock club in Boston around 1993. She was incredible! I fell in love on the spot. Whatever happened to her? I don't think I've ever seen a more powerful or charismatic female rock singer, and oh my can she get the sex thing over!

Posted on Wed Jul 26 20:50:57 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.187)

David Powell

From: Georgia

The Tulsa musicians that twilight mentioned, Carl Radle, Jim Gordon & Bobby Whitlock, first toured England as part of Delaney & Bonnie Bramlett's band in 1969. The group also included Rita Coolidge, Bobby Keys, and Jim Price. It was on this tour that Eric Clapton, George Harrison and Dave Mason also tagged along and the group became known as Delaney & Bonnie & Friends. Later, Radle, Gordon, Coolidge, Keys & Price joined the band led by Leon Russell to back up Joe Cocker as Mad Dogs and Englishmen. In the meantime, Clapton recorded his first solo album which featured many of these same musicians. In fact, it was Delaney Bramlett who first encouraged Clapton to step forward as a "frontman" singer. Little did Delaney know at the time, but his band members Radle, Whitlock & Gordon would become (D)Eric's Dominos. Rita Coolidge of course would later be associated with a guy named Kris and Robbie Robertson. And was that Bonnie & daughter Bekka seen recently at a concert by Levon & the Barn Burners?

Posted on Wed Jul 26 20:51:34 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.blfld1.ct.home.com (24.4.252.36)

AHROOO!!

From: somewhere down the CT River
Home page

Okay, this is bugging me now. Does anybody have a copy they can dub for dear ol' ahroo of the offensive basketball game that Robbie appeared in, that so many cherish talking about?

My e-mail is the correct one and I don't use any pseudo names or addresses.

AHROOO!!

who needs to get to the bottom of this

Posted on Wed Jul 26 20:47:49 CEST 2000 from usr50-dialup179.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.196.183)

G-MAN

I think of the Beattles as pure POP..Their performances looked staged and stiff..compared to the Band. Seeing Robbie, Rick, and Levon play was a lot better than the Beagles shakin their heads. Listen to King Harvest; Listen and watch the Band perform Don't Do It, Stage Freight!!! Beattles were marketed; later years was a little different. I'd compare a Band version vs.the Beagles version of Roll Over Beethoven. There wouldn't be a comparison.

Posted on Wed Jul 26 20:28:19 CEST 2000 from 2cust111.tnt9.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.129.111)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

Keith Jarrett frequently performs "Over The Rainbow" as a solo encore. A hard-to-beat composition even without the words. A "good song" always was and always will be just that.

Posted on Wed Jul 26 20:20:44 CEST 2000 from ti15a22-0018.dialup.online.no (130.67.112.210)

Dag

From: Norway
Home page

According to the site "Bob Dylan's Officially Released Rarities and Obscurities" (link above), a "director's cut" of The Last Waltz that was about 25 minutes longer than the commercial video has been shown on TV in the UK...does anybody know what the extra footage was?

Posted on Wed Jul 26 19:29:33 CEST 2000 from cic-proxy01.firstunion.com (169.200.25.140)

Bones

From: CT

Sonic: Sorry for the disagreement, but to say that The Last Waltz was just another concert is to say that Levon Helm is just another musician. The show was special no matter how you look at it. You may be right in that people like me get too wrapped up in it.

Hank: I think you are right about Gram and the Stones. His friendship and influence on Keith at the time was definitely a concern for Mick. Gram Parsons was one of the unsung artists in the history of Rock. Like the Band, he was so much more influential than popular.

Posted on Wed Jul 26 19:26:20 CEST 2000 from polaris-fw1.nspco.com (206.10.243.20)

Dave Z

From: Chaska, MN

Wow... tough to keep up with all the Beatles posts passing by... I'll add my belated thanks for Peter V's post too, now deep in archives... and in response throw out something... the Band was unique from the Beatles in a sense that they demonstrated the ability to back other stars such as Hawkins and Dylan... Did the Beatles ever even have this opportunity?... and could they have pulled it off to the successful degree that the Band/Hawks did?... Also, I think the Band's bootleg stuff especially the BTs is unique... and wonder if the Beatles ever really did something comparable to this?... and finally, when I watched the VH1 100 greatest R&R acts and tuned in to the Band clip... the one thing I took away was a comment by some artist that the Band uniquely brought people together to play...

I love the Beatles too... and I am looking forward to the new book that is supposed to come out and dispel all the myths... I hope it enjoys success and record sales... so, who knows, maybe RR will be enticed to write one too... but honestly, I am finding it hard to routinely listen to their music today...

Posted on Wed Jul 26 19:11:50 CEST 2000 from spider-tl022.proxy.aol.com (152.163.207.182)

Long Distance Operator

Speaking of "Broken Arrow", I saw it performed last Saturday by Phil Lesh and Friends (Robben Ford and two members from Little Feat). They did an excellent version of it, too. The friend I was with said, "Why the hell are they doing this lame Rod Stewart song?". I just sighed. By the way, Mr. Bob Dylan opened for Phil and Friends. He was, of course, phenomenal. Bob Dylan is the King Of Rock. There is none higher.

Posted on Wed Jul 26 18:59:02 CEST 2000 from pm457-41.dialip.mich.net (198.110.21.147)

twilight

From: ann arbor, mi

hello out there! i remember reading in books about the early days of the beatles, and reading that john and george would crack up while paul sang "over the rainbow" and his other show tunes. i think he did them justice, myself, but I have always thought paul was quite the showman, therefore his singing "till there was you" makes sense. great vocals, great guitars - ringo on the bongos - it still sounds good to me. Instead of making comparisons between the bands - I like to think of what they created as part of the esteemed group of musicians mentioned here often. In the 67 or 68, George Harrison connected with Bob Dylan, who was working with the Band. George Harrison also worked with Eric Clapton, who idolized the band, as we know. When Leon Russell crossed the Atlantic to work with Joe Cocker, he brought the Tulsa crowd with him. They in turn worked with Harrison on "All Things Must Pass", and became the Dominoes. The Dominoes came to America to record, and hooked up with Duane Allman. Allman played with John Hammond and Ronnie Hawkins, which takes us right back to the band. What an incredible time - where musicians from all over joined eachother through the universal language of music. I could go on and on - but I won't. The Beatles work is history - but it has stood the test of time - so has the Band's.

Posted on Wed Jul 26 18:55:52 CEST 2000 from spider-wi061.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.46)

bob wigo

From: havertown,pa.

We don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out."

-- Decca Recording Co. (Rejecting the Beatles - 1962)

Posted on Wed Jul 26 18:45:22 CEST 2000 from cfa1.execulink.net (199.166.6.10)

Paul Godfrey

John, you and I come from an era that saw the standards of the Big Bands fall away and the slow emergence of Rock n Roll from the Delta Blues to the South Side of Chicago.

The Beatles: "Till There Was You" rings true with other standards. Just listen to the Righteous Brothers doing: "I Love You For Sentimental Reasons" or "White Cliffs Of Dover" or for that matter "You'll Never Walk Alone"

Music can have a wonderful way of bridging the gap from one generation to the next.

David Powell - as long as the music shall live - the "Dream" shall live and by God this is one worn out of Rock n Roll Disc Jockey who refuses to give up his "Rock n Roll Shoes!" Long live Levon.

Shine On! =0)

Paul Godfrey

Posted on Wed Jul 26 18:44:04 CEST 2000 from 1cust37.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.136.37)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

BTW as both a "Guitar God" and songwriter EC doesn't come anywhere near Hendrix. His reincarnation as a "supermarket music" star doesn't do much for me either.

Posted on Wed Jul 26 18:15:39 CEST 2000 from 1cust37.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.136.37)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

How about The Beatles and The Band vs. ABBA? I believe they've outsold both by a considerable margin.

There is no comparison between Abbey Road and Islands except that they are both groups' final albums. The point was that Abbey Road is great while Islands stinks.

Speaking of pronunciations McCartney sang "saw" as "sore" on "'Til There Was You."

Posted on Wed Jul 26 17:06:45 CEST 2000 from dhcp21556.sunyocc.edu (198.242.215.56)

The Kicking Horse

From: on a high bluff overlooking lake

"IMAGINE" I met John Lennon (and yoko) at the Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse N.Y. in 1971. Had an opportunity to speak with him for a few moments in a small back room. Met him/knew the man and believe me Robbie Robertson is no John Lennon Mr. Quyle.

Posted on Wed Jul 26 17:00:32 CEST 2000 from ip-178.dial.wans.com (64.7.64.178)

Molly Z.

From: MV, Ca.

In my opinion, I like both RR and Rod Stewart's versions of Broken Arrow. I actually heard Rod's version first, on the radio a few times, then heard Robbie's version. I was glad to hear his version of that song, although I must say I like Rod's version of the song better. I guess I'm still kinda not used to Robbie's version yet.

Sharon, I tried to email you, but couldn't get thru. Please email me. Thanks.

Have a great day eveyone, and stay cool! :-)

Posted on Wed Jul 26 16:05:44 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.187)

David Powell

From: Georgia

I don't believe in Elvis. I don't believe in Zimmerman. I don't believe in the Beatles. I don't believe in the Band. I just believe in the music. Because, as Lennon said, "the dream is over."

Posted on Wed Jul 26 15:53:45 CEST 2000 from pm2-7.delrio.com (208.246.52.128)

Just Wonderin'

From: Somewhere out of San Antone

The cover version of "Broken Arrow" is Rod Stewart. For my money it is awful! IMHO

Posted on Wed Jul 26 15:44:06 CEST 2000 from r-53.82.alltel.net (166.102.53.82)

Martha Page

From: Georgia

Does anyone know who made a cover version of RR's "Broken Arrow"? I heard it yesterday as part of piped-in music at K-Mart.

Posted on Wed Jul 26 15:43:32 CEST 2000 from host161-123-26-209.utelfla.com (209.26.123.161)

carmen

From: pa

Sonic. Elvis once said that the only act he would never want to follow was Roy Orbison. I would bet that the Beetles might say the same about the BAND. Point here is both Elvis and The Beetles are considered by most critics to be best of class, however, Roy and The Band had their respect. Which is greater?

Best Regards.

Posted on Wed Jul 26 15:37:40 CEST 2000 from user-33qt8g1.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.162.1)

Pat Brennan

From: USA

The Beatles have faded into memory? Let's see. Their first appearance on Ed Sullivan is named the most important rock music broadcast moment. The release of their three 2-cd compilations and video/broadcast history propel them--again-- to the financial top of the entertainment industry--important here as a measuring stick for interest in the group. "In My Life" is named the best song by a group of influential songwriters. Led Zep and Creedence as the standardbearers of the generation? The Beatles existed years before those groups and did some of their best work before either did anything; I'd consider both 2nd generation. You of course are welcome to your opinions.

Posted on Wed Jul 26 15:15:49 CEST 2000 from spider-wi033.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.33)

Funk ( of "and Wagnall" fame )

This one's for you Hank.

Scous·er

Pronunciation: 'skau-s&r Function: noun Date: 1959 : a native or inhabitant of Liverpool, England

I certainly hope this group isn't getting complacent. Don't think there won't be a quiz someday.

Posted on Wed Jul 26 14:31:10 CEST 2000 from (205.230.10.2)

SONIC

You know something? I've been reading this nonsense for DAYS now regarding the Band vs The Beatles and I have to tell you....the vast majority of you guys are sooo far gone its not funny. I mean, think about it---The Beatles are in a league by themselves. They are it. Yes, the Band is (was) SPECTACULAR, but their reputation has been basically built around their first two albums....I mean I am hearing drivel like comparisons between Abbey Road & Islands...can you believe it ???? Do you people know ANYTHING about music ??? Both bands are great...both bands made some tremendous music, but to compare the Beatles and the Band (and spend a week doing it) is totally absurd. One more thing and then I'll fade off into oblivion-- cant you people get your heads out of the 60's & 70's....to go on & on & on for months about the last waltz and what shoulda, coulda, woulda been is ridiculous...here's a tip: Levon Helm is out playing NOW...Garth Hudson is out playing NOW.....Ringo is out playing NOW..... McCartney is releasing NEW music all the time...get with the HERE & NOW...STOP living in the past! Go support what the artists are doing now while they are around....I hate to burst your bubble but The Last Waltz was JUST a concert...it was not the greatest single event in modern history. Do you think theBand actually put that much introspective insight into it??? They just did it!

Posted on Wed Jul 26 14:29:19 CEST 2000 from trt-on53-77.netcom.ca (216.123.99.77)

John Donabie

From: Toronto

Guenevere & Bayou Sam. Couldn't agree with you more.

Posted on Wed Jul 26 14:23:39 CEST 2000 from dialup-106.cork.iol.ie (194.125.43.106)

HANK

From: Cork
Home page

DIAMOND L'IL...........at the back of my mind I'm ALWAYS scheming to get back to The USA........it'll happen....I've got a plan!!!!!!......TRISH......Keith Richards has, in many an interview, acknowledged GP and his influence on The Stones. The truth of the matter is that GP hung around the Stones because he and Keith got on so well.......Jagger apparently felt threatened by this and that it interfered with The Stones work in the studio........Jagger was probably right about that........GP was like Brian Jones.......beautiful, musical but personally screwed up by fortune and fame.........I have to admit tho', his influence on the Stones is huge........"Faraway Eyes' from the "Some Girls" LP is pure GP..........Well, folks I's getting my car repaired yesterday and had to hang at my sisters place for a coupla hours 'till it was done.....I watched that documentary on The Band where they interview Ronnie Hawkins, Al Kooper, George, Ringo, Eric Clapton, Phil Ramone et al..........Harry Dean Stanton is the narrator....it's great to watch 'cos it's The Band.......but does anyone else here feel that it's something not right about that particular show?......it seems rushed....it seems like a desparate effort to remind everyone how great The Band are and let's all go out and buy tickets/albums/merch......There seemed to be a tremendous sadness lurking underneath.........Rick looked particularly unwell whilst being interviewed......although he said something which blew my mind....."success can rear it's head like an ugly beast....or be like an angel with thick white wings".......is he quoting something there or what?...it does'nt matter 'cos it's still a powerful, apt thing to say.........The classic album series and, of course, Levons Instructional Drumming Video seem to be WAAAAY more informative and humanly appealing..........JOHN DONABIE.........if yer a scouser....you'd sing "There were Bells...on an 'ill"..... which reminds me......the fact that The Beatles were Scousers had ALOT to do with their success..... (call in FUNK of WAGNELL fame to define Scouser, if you don't know what it means....) OK........there's my 2 cents for the day........talk to you later.........

Posted on Wed Jul 26 12:33:59 CEST 2000 from du135-1.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.1.135)

Ilkka

From: Europe
Home page

The Beatles as a phenomenon - short remarks from an European point of view:
1) It was a reaction in Europe to the "greasy" American '50s - at the same time it followed the rock'n'roll tradition
2) It was a British package - together with Mary Quant, mini skirts and Carnaby Street (BTW Nobody under 20 years travel to the US these days, everybody go to London again!)
3) Musically it was connected to Vaudeville tradition - even my mother could relate to it
4) Like Elvis made the black music white, The Beatles made the American music European

Posted on Wed Jul 26 11:08:09 CEST 2000 from (204.214.66.179)

Kelly

From: Texas - Where it's HOT!

Laura Holt and Pehr: I understand the heat, as I'm also in your neck of the woods. How many years since we last had a winter? Still praying for a break in the heat wave as well. Have a good day all.

Posted on Wed Jul 26 10:20:17 CEST 2000 from proxy-523.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.113)

trish

Speaking of The Rolling Stones..there has been something buggin' me for about the last 25 years....I read an article in "Creem" magazine in the year of 1975. I know it was 75 because that was the year I stopped listening to The Stones...The article consisted of conversations with a lot of Gram Parsons friends...one of those friends dropped a bomb...he said that The Stones were hangin' out with Gram...and that Gram dug the Stones so much...and the Stones used him ..and that all that great country influenced stuff that They did came from none other than Gram Parsons....he went on to say that he was there the night that Gram sat down at the piano and wrote "Country Honk" EXACTLY the way it ended up on their Album....and with not so much as a f------ "Thanks G.P." that was the day I stopped listening to The Rolling Stones....I don't care if they are good !

Posted on Wed Jul 26 08:54:10 CEST 2000 from (61.12.27.184)

Daniel

From: a Buick 6

Sure the Beatles were a wonderful talent but just like The Band they have faded into history. To achieve true music immortality it is necessary to continue to have your songs played on contemporary music stations, few of the sixties bands can boast that their music is still heard on stations for teen/twenties age groups. Following this line of thinking bands like The Rolling Stones, Led Zepplin and particularly Creedence Clearwater Revival will carry the flag to the next generation while some of their more illustrious comrades have fallen by the wayside ..thats the way it is.

Posted on Wed Jul 26 06:59:54 CEST 2000 from spider-te041.proxy.aol.com (152.163.195.191)

Bayou Sam

From: ny

Me again. I stopped in a Borders Book store today and went into the music department to scope out the CD's. When I walked in I heard Rag Mama Rag playing on the stores stereo, but it wasn't the Band. I walked over to the counter to find out that it is the first song on a brand new Little Feat album. I asked the guy if he would start the tune from the top again since I only caught the tail end of it. It's a pretty cool version that stays pretty true to our beloved original. Especially the piano playing. They extend the song a bit with more soloing. It's worth a listen if you haven't heard it.

Posted on Wed Jul 26 06:53:50 CEST 2000 from spider-te041.proxy.aol.com (152.163.195.191)

Bayou Sam

From: ny

Wow. I appologised in one of my posts for going on about the Beatles on the Band website. However, I just scrolled through and it's been a Beatles frenzy. Being a longtime Beatles fan and collecter of Beatles records and memorabilia, I agree with all the great positive comments. I almost feel sorry for the one or two of you who can't enjoy them like most of humanity has. Of course you have no obligation to like them because everyone else does. It's just that you got it so wrong. The Beatles didn't START OUT huge. They paid a tremendous amount of dues playing in dives in Hamburg for two years. They would play for 8 hours, taking pills to stay awake. They also got turned down by most record companies before George Martin gave them a shot. They couln't even get Capitol to really push their first couple of singles in the U.S. Once "I Want To Hold Your Hand" shot around the world - they got big fast. Then they stayed big because they kept cranking out great music. The early stuff was just the beginning of honing their craft. By '65 you had "Help!", and "Yesterday" - to name two. I suppose these are low quality tunes. BTW, The Beatles changed one important thing around this time. Musicians went into a studio from nine to five and followed the rules. The Beatles broke down that barrier(one of many) and used the studio as a tool if you will, and a workplace to really work out and explore the possibilities of a song. If you can find it, there was a great book put out a few years back on every recording session they did. It has the dates, times and details of all the sessions. Great stuff. What a amazing variety of music the Beatles catalog offers. Hell, just the White album alone has fast rock, ballads, blues, reggae, 1920's music,a lullaby, and really bizzare shit(Rev. #9). You can't beat it. BTW, Abbey Road side two is one of the great album sides of all time. Also BTW, the connected songs were not connected in editing. The Beatles played and recorded them live that way. Also, you can't compare The Band to The Beatles. They are two very different groups - both great in their own way....... Now let's hear what's so bad about the great, incomparable Eric Clapton. EC,and The Band are tied for second after The Beatles on my list of favorites................ You know what I love about this guestbook? I love the fact that - "thoughts meander like a restless wind inside a letterbox, they tumble blindly as they make their way across the universe" (John Lennon-1968).

Posted on Wed Jul 26 06:16:09 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-115-199.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.115.199)

BWNWITennessee

From: West of Carolina

Ya know, John Donabie, you're supposed to pay for that. :-)

(It's my job.)

Posted on Wed Jul 26 06:12:24 CEST 2000 from proxy-1341.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.220.164)

Trish

From: burma shave

been wonderin'...who is Chris Gaines...and what the hell is a "Puff Daddy" ? hey Little Brother...wink wink........

Posted on Wed Jul 26 05:55:10 CEST 2000 from 2cust125.tnt11.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.133.253)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

It looks like Jan & The Band website have some stiff competition. In today's NY Post (p. 11) David Bowie is pictured with pseudo hipstress Alanis M. after accepting the Yahoo Internet Life Magazine award for the best music website at Studio 54.

To get a taste of what all the fuss is about check it out for yourselves (davidbowie.com). Bowie looks great btw - I wonder who his plastic surgeon is.

TAFKAP's unabashed narcissism has always turned me off - he certainly has a lot more musical talent than Michael Jackson or Madonna whose marketing machines have parlayed a handful of hyped "hits" into double decade careers. (And also a lot more talent than U2 and REM put together.)

Posted on Wed Jul 26 05:41:02 CEST 2000 from stk-pm1-34-162.dialup.slip.net (207.171.230.162)

Guenevere

Another thought to add regarding standards. Way back in ancient times, people went to dances, and they had an ancient ritual called "slow dancing"... that's what I always thought standards were for... :)... when The Beatles did standards, I think I suspected it was a marketing ploy to please our parents, so we wouldn't be prevented from buying their records...

Posted on Wed Jul 26 05:35:47 CEST 2000 from tcnet28-007.austin.texas.net (209.99.98.133)

Laura Holt

From: Austin

Thanks Pehr!!! I see we are both from the same part of the woods. Not much fun unless you are out swimming in Lake Austin!!! The waters cold but that's about it. Nice to know there is SOMEONE from my parts that knows how bad this heatwave is. Laura P; I suppose "It makes no difference" would be a bit depressing BUT I just love the way Ricky's voice sounds in that song and I can see myself out on the dance floor just swooning to that tune !! PEACE ALL!! :)

Posted on Wed Jul 26 05:34:16 CEST 2000 from trt-on51-37.netcom.ca (216.123.98.37)

John Donabie

From: Toronto

ALL RIGHT EVERYBODY.....1 2 3 4

There were bells on a hill
But I never heard them ringing
No, I never heard them at all
Till there was you

There were birds in the sky
But I never saw them winging
No, I never saw them at all
Till there was you

Then there was music and wonderful roses
they tell me
in sweet fragrant meadows
of dawn and dew

There was love all around
But I never heard it singing
No I never heard it at all
Till there was you

Then there was music and wonderful roses
they tell me
in sweet fragrant meadows
of dawn and dew

There was love all around
But I never heard it singing
No I never heard it at all
Till there was you
Till there was you
Cha Cha Cha

Posted on Wed Jul 26 05:29:47 CEST 2000 from mat-12-20.enter.net (207.16.159.76)

Little Brøther

From: around Philly, PA

Remember: You can't straighten a snake by pulling it through a straw.

Posted on Wed Jul 26 05:21:57 CEST 2000 from trt-on51-37.netcom.ca (216.123.98.37)

John Donabie

From: Toronto

Guenevere has prompted me to return to something I seem to have started. Regarding Till There Was You. The fact that it was part of The Beatles EARLY EARLY repertoire doesn't surprise me. It would have been part of their growing up and hearing it as a standard.

The point I was trying to make is that they appear in the History of Rock & Roll to have been saviours..... as American pop got syrupy and lost it's edge. The Beatles came out rockin' To perform this on the Sullivan show just surprised me.....that's all. I don't think the Stones or The Animals or The Who would have been doing old standards.

You know I'm reading this back to myself and I still don't think anyone's going to understand what I'm saying. So let me summerize by saying: Song....Good.......Method of using song for the times.....Strange only to me. Does that make sense?

Let me put it this way. When Brian Ferry now records standards; or any other artist from my era. I LOVE IT. However when your a teenager you want what's hot for your generation. It's part of adolescence. Once again I am putting myself back to those times thinking as a teenager. Goodnight.

Posted on Wed Jul 26 04:42:03 CEST 2000 from stk-pm1-38-166.dialup.slip.net (207.171.230.166)

Guenevere

I cut teeth doing Elvis impersonations in front of the TV when I was five, and no one in my family could believe I was doing it! When The Beatles came out with "Love Me Do" a year before I "Want To Hold Your Hand" which was released in ‘64... it was WAY too rock and roll for the stations to give it air play, and they pulled it. As soon as I picked it up on the radar, I was up at 5:00 a.m. calling KFWB in L.A. over and over, requesting it.... the DJ kept asking me if I had just called, and I would disguise my voice and tell him "no"... (I did this for weeks) the reason that I was so motivated to hear it was because (take my word for it) ... it WAS rock and roll...

Its great that The Beatles did "Till There Was You" ... and that's why I love Richard Thompson when he does a song like ‘When You Walk Through A Storm'... sure he knows its corney, and so does everybody else... its just great to have the humor and the balls to be corney...

All well rounded musicians do standards... that's why the music of the last 20 years sucks so much, there's the lack of the direct influence that comes from small clubs, and a lack of the study of music through the standards ... however, that's what helps to make the latest incarnation of The Band so great, they still do that stuff... and they always did...

It wouldn't kill Puff Daddy to do ‘Green Door', he'll just never know what it is, cause he'll never hear it... its like when kids are too apathetic now to stand up for the environment, why should they, when they don't know there was an environment... that's why we'll lose this country folks, with ignorance ... bird by bird...

Posted on Wed Jul 26 04:41:45 CEST 2000 from m198214181105.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.181.105)

pehr

From: austin

Laura holt; think about the good cooler days comin soon! hang in there and remember...

"I'd rather be burned up in Canada, than to freeze here in the south!"

The Beatles bumped rock n roll out of the doldrums. thats a good thing. they bumped rock and roll out of the blues after that which might not be so good for all of us, but thats that. they earned the respect they have, and continue to set standards- thank god they released Anthology just when Garth Brooks (VOMIT...sorry) was about to break their sales records. Now the career of G.B.(cant even bring myself to aknowledge he shares the name of a GREAT MUSICIAN) is in the doldrums. No offense any Chris Gaines fans out there... Well I love the beatles for that. Maybe I'll go find a G>Brooks fan site and be a crabgrass over there!

Posted on Wed Jul 26 03:59:32 CEST 2000 from proxy-661.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.61)

P

there's a lotta difference between a "shake" and a "Snake"...

Posted on Wed Jul 26 02:14:25 CEST 2000 from proxy-661.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.61)

Patricia

geez...all this talk about The Beatles...I remember my brother buying me "Yellow Submarine" for christmas 1968 ..I think. That was the only Beatles album I ever got. I discovered The Band really early but like all kids got away from the reall good stuff in my teenage years and started to listen to The Eagles and Randy Newman and Steely dan. Then in 1975 or76 I mey these people from D.C. I remember the day it happened...I was 15....I had met some people from D.C...I had become the babysitter for their three boys...and one Saturday afternoon I heard these words coming out of the dining room...they had a big old wooden console...the records sounded so good in that thing...He said...Patty, come out ere ..I want to play something for you...He had never spoken to me before..I looked at his wife aand she smiled ad motioned for me to go on out there...so I walked out there ..and there was this guy that I thought had never knew I existed..he was pretty loaded...and he had a beer in one hand and an album cover in the other....he said come here..so I did..he pulled this beat up od record out of its cover and threw the cover on the dining room table...I looked over at it sideways..."Roy Buchannon and the Shakestretchers" he was smilin' the whole time...he put this record on the turntable and stepped back to check my reaction....."The Messiah Will Come Again".....I sat down and laid my head on the table...and started to moan. I kept asking him"what is this...who is this ...where did this stuff come from....I had been listening to stuff that I thought was the best there was.....but I was not too satisfied...I didn't realize how unsatisfied I was till I heard the "real thing"...Roy Buchannon started me off ...I had never heard the blues..I had never heard any of the good stuff at all..and from then on out I compared everything I heard to Buchannon.....and then in 78 I went to see The Last Waltz..and as I sat there I slowly realized that there was a whole world of it...that Buchannon wasn't a fluke ...from then on I never looked back..not at The Beatles..nor The Eagles...nor anything else...but a couple of years ago I did let myself be seduced by Brian Wilson...anyway I felt like sharing tonight...thanks

Posted on Wed Jul 26 01:29:09 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-113-39.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.113.39)

Back with no wife in Tennessee

From: East of Arkansas

Colin, good point about the Beatles' lyrics. No one has mentioned this yet - I'd say they all pale in comparison to anything by Dylan, The Band, and I'll even go so far as to say the Stones.

Hey Jude, nah-nah-nah, nah-nah-nah, Hey Jude, nah-nah, nah-nah-nah, Hey Jude, nah-nah nah-nah, Hey Jude... God, does that come in first or second place in the competition with Whitney's "I Will Always Love You" for the world's most annoying song?

And MattK, don't be thinking that I'm a baby boomer because I dissed U2 and R.E.M. I'm not an antique! That is, I'm sorry to say, the music of my generation. I saw Bono waving that stupid white flag at Red Rocks far too many times in my youth. Just like with the Beatles, I sort of like a few of their songs, mostly the ballads, but I just don't see what the fuss is about. I'm afraid it's another case of people liking them because they're so "cool" rather than so good.

As for new bands that I like, I kind of enjoy "Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space" by Spiritualized. Chris Whitley is just amazing, and vastly underappreciated. I just hope he goes back to having a band for his next CD. Does anyone know anything about that group Spain? I have one of their songs on a really great soundtrack called "The End of Violence" that I really like. I've been thinking about getting one of their CDs. The EOV soundtrack is excellent, it's really diversified, it has the Latin Playboys, Tom Waits, an '80s Roy Orbison song, Medeski Martin and Wood. You must all buy it. Don't come back here until you have.

The few songs I've heard from Neil Young's "Silver and Gold" just suck, in my opinion. And I like Neil well enough. I just think the songs are so trite, I mean, "Buffalo Sprinfield Again" is horrible! It just mystifies me as to why most critics seem to adore him nowadays. It all started with "Freedom" in '89, which was a good record. He must do something unmentionable to keep getting such good reviews for doing the same thing over and over - electric then acoustic, electric then acoustic. Actually, I think he writes really good music but was always a pretty awful lyricist.

Those are my happy thoughts for the day.

Posted on Wed Jul 26 01:14:59 CEST 2000 from spider-wg054.proxy.aol.com (205.188.196.44)

Patch

Need live tapes: Band 96 shows/Band at levon/New orleans 98 chicago 99/benefit 2000. Please email.

Posted on Wed Jul 26 00:26:43 CEST 2000 from pm3-pt39.pcnet.net (206.105.29.113)

Laura P.

"It Makes No Difference" is wonderful, but the lyrics are awfully depressing for a wedding! It would sound as if one of the newlyweds was still pining over a lost love. Not a very auspicious start for a marriage... :-)

Posted on Wed Jul 26 00:22:20 CEST 2000 from p3ee0650e.dip.t-dialin.net (62.224.101.14)

Wolle

From: Germany / Hamburg
Home page

Hi The Band Manager, The Band-Concerte-Germany 2000/2001 ??????? The Band-TV-Germany??????????? The Band-Radio-Germany???????

Posted on Tue Jul 25 23:31:34 CEST 2000 from tcnet04-24.austin.texas.net (209.99.40.213)

Laura Holt

From: Austin. TX

Hello all! Gee the whole wedding song thing kinda got me to thinking. As far as The Band goes....it would have to be "It Makes No Difference". That's a good one!! All of this debate back and forth on The Beatles and The Band..how can the two even be compared? The music is SO DIFFERENT! That's just my opinion but like John Simon said "We didn't care about Sgt. Pepper or Pet Sounds..we were just doing our own thing up in the mountains." I think that certainly comes through in the sound of there music. I myself am a HUGE Beatle fan and it's hard to beat Lennon/McCartney as a song writting team or Jagger/Richards either BUT J.R. Robbinson had a style all his own (during that time)that you just don't find anymore. Like Bernie Taupin said "It's like Steinbeck or Falkner..a sort of history lesson with these songs". I, myself have yet to really find that in any other group other than "The Band". Just my thoughts on the topic for all to see. PEACE ALL. Have a good day BAND FANS!! Oh...if you ain't down south be GLAD...we are 104 degrees right now and it's NOT FUN!! Can't wait for the winter...I hope we get one this year!!

Posted on Tue Jul 25 23:30:48 CEST 2000 from pm3-pt22.pcnet.net (206.105.29.96)

Laura P.

From: Manchester, Connecticut
Home page

About this new "classic album" by the Jayhawks, Smile... er, couldn't they have come up with a more original and unique title?? Why steal the title of the Beach Boys' unfinished and unreleased masterpiece? That's pretty annoying, not to mention pretentious, if you ask me. Also, extremely confusing to posterity, I would think. (Not that the name The Band isn't fairly confusing as well. It's just about impossible to do a search on, for one thing!)

As for the Beatles... I used to really like them when I was young (until I discovered Bob Dylan, I guess!), so I'm not just being prissy and ignorant here, but... well... for some reason I find Beatles music extremely uninteresting now. Merit or lack of merit aside, there are only a few Beatles songs (mostly ones by George Harrison) that I can stand to listen to; they just feel so tiresome to me. The Beatles are a wearying, irritating experience. I think part of the reason for this might be overexposure. They just don't feel fresh and engaging like The Band does. I suppose it's all a matter of taste. I definitely agree that part of The Band's appeal is their under-exposure, though. I don't like liking what everyone else likes, you know? The Band is pretty special.

Posted on Tue Jul 25 22:32:04 CEST 2000 from 213-194-4-205.dialup.telfort.net (213.194.4.205)

Jim2873

From: Netherlands
Home page

My compliments on the site.. surely the best one about The Band i've seen so far! Keep up the good work, and keep a rockin and a rollin'! Jim2873 http://www.mymorningjacket.com

Posted on Tue Jul 25 21:12:58 CEST 2000 from ric-wht-pxy-int02.wheatfirst.com (204.238.130.68)

Bones

From: CT

Patrick: Your Garth site looks great! I hope the rumor that Garth is working on a solo record is true. We have been talking about that for years. I would love to see a major release with reviews and press, but I will settle for ANYTHING!

Posted on Tue Jul 25 20:16:23 CEST 2000 from mplsdslgw10poold203.mpls.uswest.net (63.228.43.203)

Patrick

Home page

Hey Band Fans, On my Garth site i'm going to take an online poll every few weeks. I will post the questions on deja.com and this site. QUESTION OF THE WEEK- GARTH'S BEST HORN PERFORMANCE E-MAIL ME YOUR VOTE. I'LL POST IT ON MY SITE AFTER IO GET ABOUT 15 VOTES. Also, if anyone has any pics of Garth could they please e-mail me them for use on my site. I'm taking off the pics of the other bands. THANKS

Posted on Tue Jul 25 20:14:40 CEST 2000 from proxy-523.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.113)

Scott

From: Paramus, NJ and Decatur NY

In case anyone is interested, The Gurus extra track on their Japan import cd is called "Elmo's Mambo", written by Jim, basics recorded in 1990, which I thought was fun, a pre-Jericho tune, and overdubs completed in 1998. It features Randy and Stan Szelest, which I thought was great to hear him on a tune....Anyway a slide guitar bluesy, rumba style song, if that makes any sense....Current events are finished for the day....

Posted on Tue Jul 25 20:01:39 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

David, you're probably on to something that the popularity of such works is a thing of the past. It is not completely dead, however. Radiohead's "O.K. Computer" would seem to be the most recent (1997) album that was successful both commerically and creatively at capturing some form of "consciousness." I wonder however, in this age of soundbytes and MTV-driven microtrends whether (western) culture can sustain any consciousness long enough for a group to get it's fingernails in deep enough. I'm always hoping for the next big explosion that sets the industry back on its heels. Seems like the last time this happened was 10 years ago when Nirvana came out of nowhere to "define" a generation. Seems like we're due. Surely someone other than Ricky Martin or N'Sync are capable of capturing the imagination of current teens and 20-somethings.

Is it me, or are we at some form of nadir regarding marketing completely defining our musical culture?

Posted on Tue Jul 25 19:49:56 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.187)

David Powell

From: Georgia

As Mattk said, The Beatles did bring a new "level of sophistication" into rock 'n roll. Following the path that Brian Wilson blazed with _Pet Sounds_, they helped revolutionize the concept of the rock album. In their hands, the LP was no longer just a mere collection of singles. It became a group of songs that fit together either thematically, or through musical forms of artistic cohesiveness. With _Rubber Soul_, _Revolver_ and _Sgt. Pepper.._, they help set the standard for rock albums to come. Surely, with _Music From Big Pink_, _The Band_ and _Stage Fright_, The Band produced classics in that same category.

This past Sunday, in The New York Times, Karen Schoemer wrote an interesting article entitled "What It You Made a Classic, and No One Cared?" In it she specifically focuses on the new album from the Jayhawks, _Smile_, but also bemoans the apparent demise of the concept of the classic rock album.

On this point, Ms. Schoemer says, "_Smile_ aspires to be nothing less than a classic, the kind of album teenagers stumble upon and hold dear for the rest of their lives. It wants to join a club with Van Morrison's _Astral Weeks_, the Beach Boys' _Pet Sounds_, Big Star's _Sister Lovers_ and other rock-'n'-roll benchmarks of loneliness and disillusion from the 60's and early 70's. _Smile_ is so retro in tone and scope it even feels like it should be on vinyl: you can imagine a thick gatefold sleeve, the dusty white outline of a circle impressed into the cover."

Ms. Schoemer goes on to conclude, "There's just one problem. In this day and age, who's going to care? _Smile_ has arrived at a time when the notion of the rock album as an art form that liberates and unites people is severely out of fashion. Rock 'n' roll itself has rarely been lower on the cultural radar in the 50 years since it began: teen pop, rap, Latin music and dance all have a stronger presence in the youth market. And the rock bands that do score big on the charts are generally singles-driven acts like Creed and Matchbox 20 that could not create a thoughtful album from beginning to end if their video budgets depended on it. Boomer icons are still doing great work: Neil Young's recent _Silve and Gold_ is an intensely personal reflection on love and aging, while Joni Mitchell's _Both Sides Now_ is a gorgeous reinterpretation of pop standards. But these albums barely made a dent in the mainstream consciousness."

What do y'all think? Are the days of the "rock album as an art form" that can capture the collective "consciousness" of a large group of people just a thing of the past?

Posted on Tue Jul 25 19:48:17 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

Hey Crabby, good to know the arbitor of all things has set me straight. Here I thought Prince's LoveSexy show was the greatest single performance by any group I've ever seen. And all these years, seeing U2's War tour was on par with the most powerful and dynamic show by anything I've ever attended. How could I have been so wrong. Glad you were here to set us all straight. Anything else you'd like to dictate about what's worth listening to? Maybe I can consult a hypnotist to expunge my memory and reset them for the dregs these bands truly are. I had no idea you'd even attended shows or owned albums by any of these guys. Guess it's ESP, eh?

Posted on Tue Jul 25 19:43:36 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

Seems unfair to lump "Abbey Road" in with "Islands." While both lack the cohesiveness of the respective groups' earlier albums, Abbey Road contains some truly classic songs. Islands, on the other hand, has some nice work, but nothing on par with "Come Together," "Something," "You Never Gave Me Your Money" or "Carry that Weight."

Posted on Tue Jul 25 19:18:44 CEST 2000 from pm2-16.delrio.com (208.246.52.137)

Just Wonderin'

From: Somewhere out of San Antone

At 13 I was bit by Beatlemania as everyone else on the planet. I even saw them live! (the first live concert I ever attended!) Then...I heard "Like a Rolling Stone"...theBeatles were out the window for me. Big Pink made me a diehard Band fan.

Posted on Tue Jul 25 18:56:54 CEST 2000 from du99-0.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.0.99)

Ilkka

From: Nordic Countries
Home page

About the Wedding songs. - There were not too many bass players where I grew up. It happened that I was asked to play occassionally in a Wedding Band (All of you have seen the movie Wedding Singer...?). We played waltzes and tangos. People drank home made vodka and strong beer. The musicians got their share of that, too. Me and the drummer - we were moderate in our consumtion. If only the drummer and the bass player are sober the other players can be stoned and the music can still go on and on and on. Just like The Rolling Stones. Or like Bill Wyman put it in an interview in Swedish radio: "...with me on the bass and Charlie on the drums, ANYONE could do ANYTHING..."

Posted on Tue Jul 25 18:51:41 CEST 2000 from 2cust63.tnt11.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.133.191)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

"'Til There Was You" was a good "change of pace" song for the Beatles first set on the Sullivan show and served to show their recognition and appreciation of good songwriting regardless of the era or genre. George's instrumental break is beautiful and it's the first time I became aware of the magic of the "ninth" chord.

It is true indeed that the Byrds re-arrangement and recording of "Tambourine Man" was responsible for Dylan's decision to go electric the Byrds absolutely being influenced by the Beatles in that regard.

The Maysles Brothers film The Beatles: The First U.S. Tour which was released on video by Apple was done right - with the COMPLETE Ed Sullivan appearances inserted (and not even transferred to the film medium) unlike the frustrating-to-watch "clips" on the Bands' Authorized Bio and elsewhere. Obviously, Lorne Michaels or someone (maybe RR?? - it might redeem him) should do something about releasing the Band's SNL appearance in a similar manner.

The Beatles wrote lots of great songs before Rubber Soul - it's just that when RS came out I (and many others) realized they had made maybe the first of several artistic quantum leaps. The medley on side 2 of Abbey Road has always worked for me. And where is The Band's "Abbey Road?" Is it ISLANDS???

Not to forget mentioning - TAFKAP, REM, and U2 are a complete waste of time.

Posted on Tue Jul 25 18:11:53 CEST 2000 from h-21-80-158.ccnet.com (207.21.80.158)

Krissy

From: SF Bay

On the Band's popularity (or lack thereof)...I am glad they are not overwhelmingly popular like the Beatles. The Band is a cult band (much like many of my other favorites, Van Morrison, Elvis Costello)...and I think it makes it more fun. I feel like I have a bond with other Band fans. And also, since they are not as popular, you don't get these "imitation" fans who claim to like them just because of their popularity. It's better this way. Their moderate fame is perfect for me. It also makes THEIR lives more liveable, like they can walk down the street without being swarmed by fans. And as the other person from the SF Bay Area stated, it's fun introducing people to the Band. I am only 18, and I grew up hearing the Band in the background of my childhood. And I always loved them. But until recently (when I saw a special on VH1 about them) I really started to appreciate the complexity of their music. Several days ago, I viewed The Last Waltz for the first time -- and was in complete AWE. It was AMAZING. *sigh* :-)

Posted on Tue Jul 25 17:33:39 CEST 2000 from spider-tl071.proxy.aol.com (152.163.207.206)

bob wigo

From: havertown, pa

John, Didn't their first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show include several tunes? "All My Loving", "Till There Was You","She Loves You", "I Saw Her Standing There" and "I Want To Hold Your Hand" were all part of that defining moment to my recollection. The inclusion of TTWY seems a natural choice in the context of the overall performance. I'm sure the boys and their management were well aware of the current state of American pop music and wanted to be sure to strike a few familiar and comfortable chords to appease the misplaced parental panic that accompanied Beatlemania. We can only laugh now to think about our parents' reactions to those boys in the dark suits and narrow ties winking into the cameras as the "birds" in the audience shrieked.

For those who seem reluctant to give them their due, a few statistics say it all. The largest TV audience to that date, 73 million people,60 percent of the available audience tuned in to the Sullivan Show that momentous evening of 2/9/64.A "really big SHEW indeed". The music was magnificent, bristling with raw energy. I remember the moment and feeling as if my whole world had just been reinvented.By April The Beatles held the top five slots on the Billboard Top 100. It was never done before and has never been done since. I can't deny the effect of a well constructed promotional effort but if that's all it took we'd be discussing The Bay City Rollers in the same breath.The music and the musicianship formed the foundation not the PR.Great songs performed by great musicians have always stood on their own merit. We certainly know that here.

Every morning here in Philly a local FM station does a segment called "Breakfast With The Beatles" and every morning I check in. On more than one occasion I've buzzed into the corporate parking lot with the radio blaring "I Saw Her Standing There" and for those few minutes I'm back in the living room of my childhood home, basking in the glow of that beautiful black and white light, and the world is filled with the magic of boundless possibilities. I am forever grateful for that feeling.

Posted on Tue Jul 25 16:49:14 CEST 2000 from cobalt.nextlink.net (206.129.70.172)

Mike

The impact the Beatles made on popular music probably should be looked at in terms of timing. It seem that every so often, someone shows up and just explodes on the music scene. Rudy Vallee in the 1920's, Benny Goodman (30's), Sinatra (40's), Elvis (50's), Beatles (60's), etc. Each had a tremendous influence on society at the time. Where the Beatles have the edge is in their creativity/songwriting. Sinatra and Elvis never wrote anything. That's a huge difference. Sure there were better musicians around, but the Beatles came along at just the right time. Manufactured, like Avalon, Rydell, the Monkees, etc.? I don't think so, but certainly tidied up by Mr. Epstein and ushered through both social and musical "opportunities." They influenced just about everybody. (Even the Dead decided to go electric after seeing "A Hard day's Night.")

But this is a Band page - been my favorite band for a long, long time. Am REALLY looking forward to Rick's release in August. Wishing Levon and company will make it out west sometime. Have good day everyone.

Posted on Tue Jul 25 16:53:13 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

...(entry partly lost)...grubbte parking lot with the radio blaring "I Saw Her Standing There" and for those few minutes I'm back in the living room of my childhood home, basking in the glow of that beautiful black and white light, and the world is filled with the magic of boundless possibilities. I am forever grateful for that feeling.

Posted on Tue Jul 25 16:49:14 CEST 2000 from cobalt.nextlink.net (206.129.70.172)

Mike

Posted on Tue Jul 25 16:53:13 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

I'm no Beatles scholar, but it seems obvious to me that they were arguably the seminal pop band of their generation, or any generation, for that matter (I refuse to call 'em "rock and roll," but that's another debate). Along with the Beach Boys and Frank Zappa, the Beatles ushered in a level of sophistication to the rock-era composition that was unheard of prior to the release of Pet Sounds, Freak Out, or Rubber Soul.

Certainly, The Band, flush born of their strict rock and roll diet as Hawks, took advantage of this sophistication and were successful in getting the labels' attention when their ascetate began making the rounds in 1967.

As we all recognize the futility in judging the musical merit of anything based on sales or marketing, perhaps, the best gauge is their influence on other musicians.

Of course, such events are rarely linear. We can't know the influence the Band's demo had on other bands fully, though we know it was widely distributed and admired at the time. Whether it specifically found it's way to the Beatles prior to the recording of Sgt. Pepper is uncertain (anyone know the relative timelines here?). However, we do know that the Beatles did admire the Band's music after Big Pink was released, and that they did mess around with "To Kingdom Come" during the "Let It Be" sessions in early '69.

We also know that Big Pink and the eponymous "brown" album are among the most widely respected albums by other musicians ever recorded, but particularly amongst musicians of the late-60s and early-70s--the degree to which songs from these albums are covered by subsequent musicians speaks for itself.

That said, regardless of their influence, it's difficult to put The Band's work on the same level of influence as The Beatles. If cover versions alone are any indication, Beatles songs are amongs the most widely re-recorded songs of the rock era. Can we really say then, that the Band, regardless of how much we love them, enjoy the same level of influence as the Beatles? That seems dubious.

Finally, this is the point in these discussions where I admonish my baby boomer friends against discounting the music of the subsequent generations as "less relevant." Specifically, I'm disappointed by Tennessee's implication that U2 or REM are somehow less relevant. This seems foolish. Whether you personally like them or not, both U2 and REM enjoy tremendous influence on musicians coming of age after 1980. Both groups are arguably the most influential bands of the last 15 years, and despite their iconic nature, have produced, in my view some incredible songs.

Perhaps the biggest mistake made is the assumption that since REM or U2 lack the harmonic sophistication of Lennon/McCartney/Harrison or The Band, they are somehow lesser. It's important to note, however, that these bands came of age in a post-punk world where the complexity of the Beatles was avoided in an attempt to get to something a bit more grounded. This is not an assault on The Beatles or The Band, specifically. Rather, subsequent bands of the 1970s became increasingly self-indulgent. Both REM's and U2's initial success was derived from the elegance of their more personal approach to music, which in turn enlivened a rather stale rock scene in the 1980s. Of course, by the 90s, both groups became increasingly sophisticated in their approach. It's ironic, though, that both groups have in the last few years attempted to get back to their roots in an attempt to reinvigorate their sound.

Personally, I'd nominate the artist formerly known as the artist formerly known as Prince (he's Prince again). No less than Miles Davis called Prince the future of music, and I have to agree that Prince's approach is among the most sophisticated and hard-wired of the last 20 years. Ironically, it's arguable that Prince's sophistication is derived in large part from an admitted infatuation with the Lennon/McCarthy schools as much as the Sly Stone or James Brown school of r&b/funk.

matt

Posted on Tue Jul 25 16:41:34 CEST 2000 from (206.224.31.3)

Little Brøther

From: around Philly, PA

I was-- what, maybe 8 or 9 when the Beatles first appeared on Ed Sullivan. We had finished Sunday dinner at my grandmother's, and I remember sort of squirming to the front of the circle of curious oldsters standing around their black & white TV, wondering what all the fuss was about. Standing? Why? Maybe we were getting ready to go home, maybe everyone wanted a GOOD look.

I also remember assuming that they were all brothers, and that their last name was Beatle. It was written on the drum. I asked my brother and sister if that were so. "That's Paul Beatle, and John Beatle?" They hooted me down.

By 1969, I was hip enough not to ask, "Is that Robbie Band? And Garth Band?"...

Posted on Tue Jul 25 16:40:45 CEST 2000 from mars.oucs.ox.ac.uk (163.1.103.104)

Colin

From: Oxford

I take it that this Beatles thread comes from Robbie's comments about the Fab 4. As a Brit I'd like to rebut his charges of tweeness and commercialism against the Beatles, but I can't. For God's sake do anyone other than nostalgics bother with those awful early albums? I notice even Crabby, who seems to be their guestbook champion restricts his praise to Rubber Soul and henceforth. Certainly there is great invention on these albums, but the downside is that the band begins to disintegrate, with session violinsts/cellists becoming more important-how many of the Beatles played on Eleanor Rigby? Harrison is quoted as saying he was being sidelined in Seargent Pepper, and the White Album is widely recognised as being a hybrid of solo albums. Biographers point to Abbey Road as the great renaissence of the band as a proper group, but I personally find most of the songs dull. In fact, A.R. seems to mark the point at which Lennon and MacCartney were drying up and Harrison was becoming a serious writer ('Something' is perhaps the best song on the record.) And can someone please enlighten me as to the adulation heaped on the Beatles for the horrible medley on the B-side? This must rank as their nadir- a long stream of fragments, utterly unconnected with each other. More importantly, the number of filler and joke songs on most of the albums and the mostly bollocks lyrics rank them way below Dylan or the Band. Lyrically, where is their 'Gates of Eden', or 'Night they drove old dixie down'? So much for the Beatles. Tomorrow, Clapton.

Posted on Tue Jul 25 16:33:12 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.187)

David Powell

From: Georgia

Once upon a time it was when a couple of folkies went to see the Beatles movie, "A Hard Days Night." "Hey, let's try that" they said and decided to plug-in their guitars become rock 'n roll stars. They talked a bluegrass mandolin player into learning how to play the electric bass, found a guy who had "the look" to sit behind the drum kit and voila, they were a band.

For a while, nothing seemed to work out in the studio, but then they found a Dylan song to record, and the rest is history. When the Byrds released "Mr. Tambourine Man" everyone, including Dylan, liked the sound. Dylan, in fact, liked the sound so much that he too decided that "the ghost of electricity" was the key to the future. After rounding up some musicians in the studio and at Newport to plug-in behind him, he forged full speed ahead and didn't look back. At that point, he went looking for an electric band to take to the road, and guess who he found?

And so, that's one version of the story of how Mr. D. followed the path of the three B.s in the sixties -- The Beatles, The Byrds and The Band. What a time it was; but they were so much older then.

Posted on Tue Jul 25 16:14:18 CEST 2000 from usr3-dialup23.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.66.151)

G-MAN

Just got back from Saratoga Springs--and the Guru show. That was the "real-deal". Everybody was cordial to their fans; thanks much for all. Lamont you da man-sure can sing. THese guys played for nearly four hrs..I was tired watchin. Jim was a true guitar guru-WOW. Rando, Knockin them out!! Malc and Jeremy---were rollin; Ms. Malc can do some bass, too. All that lightening seemed like some former Band mates comin down to sit in. Heard the BB King show was even tighter?????? CAN"T IMAGINE THAT. MANY RIVER TO CROSS brought some mist to the eyes, but it was soon ROCKED away!!!

Posted on Tue Jul 25 15:38:33 CEST 2000 from trt-on70-03.netcom.ca (216.123.108.131)

John Donabie

From: Toronto

I just had to jump in on this Beatles thing for a moment. The other night I sat down and watched for the umpteenth time, The Beatles First Tour of America. BEATLEMANIA at perhaps its peak. The fans screaming at the airport.....outside their hotel room and of course The Ed Sullivan Show.

It's easy to look back and quarterback what it was like then; but at the time it was an exciting moment. Sitting on the edge of the couch on that first Sunday night's Sullivan show jumping up and down. They were the "saviours of rock & roll for many of us as the American Pop scene had fallen. America gave us that savage raw rock and roll; but by '63 Bobby Vinton was on the charts singing Blue Velvet.

The Beatles brought, if you will, Rock & Roll back. One thing in watching the show now is odd. I'm sure it will make sense to PV; but their choice of "Till There Was You" to me, was an odd one. Here they were doing original material......great rock & roll covers and suddenly the very middle of the road "Till There Was You." I'd love to know if that was an Epstein choice to make them appear safe.

John Lennon to this day and I agree with Sir George Martin on this one, was one of the great white rock & roll singers of his time. It's interesting to note that Lennon did not want the Beatles to go in the direction they did. He wanted an R&B band like the Stones. As it's been pointed out, depending on what country you were in the early albums were released differently. In Canada the first album was called BEATLEMANIA. In other countries Meet The Beatles. I will never forget Side 1, Cut 1. "It Won't Be Long."

Posted on Tue Jul 25 15:00:15 CEST 2000 from usr3-dialup23.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.66.151)

G-MAN

E-mail: ralphg36@hotmail.com

Posted on Tue Jul 25 15:00:15 CEST 2000 from usr3-dialup23.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.66.151)

G-MAN

D'lil, a little late re. wedding songs. At one of my weddings we closed the nite, or morning, with It Makes No Difference(it didn't) and Shape I'm In; how prophetic !!!

Posted on Tue Jul 25 14:17:57 CEST 2000 from ap01-d02-014.dial.freesurf.nl (62.100.1.14)

Zon Der Meer

From: East of Holland

Hallo Band verslaafden. Zijn er ook Nederlandse Band liefhebbers? Neem asjeblieft contact op.

This means:

Hello there Band addicts. Are there any Dutch Band fans? Please reply.

Posted on Tue Jul 25 11:58:00 CEST 2000 from alb1-as5300-60-60.termserv.net (209.23.41.60)

Diamond Lil

Thanks to everyone who e-mailed or posted in reply to my question about Band tunes at weddings. Love your choice for your 10th Kelly...it's my favorite DFA tune. If I ever do it again..that's the one I want too.

Hank: Wondering if you're ever going to come to the states to play? I think it would be really fun to see you. I hope a trip is included in your future plans.

I just want to mention that as old as I am (my kids would say 'ancient'..) that The Beatles, as a group, never did much for me...although I did (and still do) like alot of their individual solo stuff. I guess The Beatles seemed to 'manufactured' or something. Sorry if that's unamerican...buy hey...I don't like baseball either :-)

Have a good day everyone. Hug Jan. Miss you.

Posted on Tue Jul 25 09:16:36 CEST 2000 from (204.214.66.179)

Kelly

From: Texas

A little late in posting this, but due to work constraints, and sadly again, health issues, I have not had as much time to read the GB as I would like. But, for our 10th wedding anniversary "vow renewal" we chose to play "Your Eyes" from Ridin' on the Blinds. Have a good day everyone...

Posted on Tue Jul 25 08:30:52 CEST 2000 from x2-8.poughkeepsie.bestweb.net (216.179.14.182)

Gene

From: Dutchess County

Beatles? Sheer geniuses. Macca singing the high harmony while putting down a dazzling bass track, against Johnny's driving rhythm guitar and Ringo's spot-on drums--those guy's were unbelievably good. To those who like Strawberry Fields Forever, seek out the bootleg "It's Not Too Bad" on Peg Boy which, in the course of 25 tracks, takes the song from Lennon's earliest home demo to (several) finished versions.

Posted on Tue Jul 25 08:21:22 CEST 2000 from 1cust197.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.136.197)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

Well, as John Lennon once said - "The Beatles are more popular than Jesus Christ!" Still true for me - and much better song writers to boot!!

Posted on Tue Jul 25 07:18:41 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-115-35.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.115.35)

BWNWITennessee

BWNWITennes - no, wait...

Posted on Tue Jul 25 07:17:54 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-115-35.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.115.35)

BWNWITennessee

Posted on Tue Jul 25 07:17:28 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-115-35.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.115.35)

BWNWITennessee

R.E.M.

Posted on Tue Jul 25 07:16:38 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-115-35.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.115.35)

BWNWITennessee

From: North of Alabama

Just because millions of people believe something does not prove it to be true, thus explaining the simultaneous existence of Christianity and Islamism, Buddhism, Judiasm, etc. I'm keepin' my faith in spite of all oppression!

You know who else I don't care for all that much? Eric Clapton.

Posted on Tue Jul 25 05:26:50 CEST 2000 from mat-16-37.enter.net (207.16.158.47)

Little Brøther

From: around Philly, PA

As a habitual iconoclast, it's damned odd to read impassioned commentary that there's less to X than meets the eye, with corollary arguments that it was merely the treacherous, illusory fires of the Bitch-Goddess Hype which cast world-sized shadows from figures who were really rather small and mediocre-- and feel utterly unable to connect to the premise. X = the Beatles, of course.

To me, part of what made the Beatles a rare and wondrous phenomenon is that by some magic or miracle, for once the hype was vested in a worthy vessel! One which evolved despite a stultifying, potentially lethal megadose of success and attention. BWNWIT's passionate views must be respected-- I'm reminded of the Merry Prankster's perceptions of the Beatles as described in "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test", where they're seen as little dressed-up dolls who are the nucleus of a vast beastlike manifestation of monstrous adolescent energy. Music didn't even enter into it.

Anyway, this Emperor Has No Clothes (or polyester ones) view might be more successfully applied to, say, Elvis than the Beatles.

And yet I can't seem to motivate myself to defend my permanent post-adolescent Beatlemania. It glows within me, serene as the Maharishi at his peak. Likewise, I don't buy the argument that real quality musicians, like the Band, are somehow cheapened or dissed because the unwarranted adulation of the Beatles sort of drives the value of all musical currency down.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, the Beatles were launched into the stratosphere on a monster rocket of clever marketing and timing (and luck), fueled by raw teenybopper frenzy. Then it was up to them, and they were up to it. Eight million Frenchmen can be wrong, but not, I think, 800 million world citizens. The Band were never given this exposure, nor is there reason to think they would've thrived on it. The opposite is likely, sad to say.

I do want to belatedly thank Peter Viney et al for some excellent analysis on the subject.

Posted on Tue Jul 25 05:09:57 CEST 2000 from pm3-pt35.pcnet.net (206.105.29.109)

Laura P.

Oops, sorry. Typo. That should be "Pinball machine and a queen," of course.

Posted on Tue Jul 25 05:07:24 CEST 2000 from pm3-pt35.pcnet.net (206.105.29.109)

Laura P.

From: Manchester, Connecticut
Home page

...Listening non-stop today to Richard singing "Across the Great Divide" on the RealAudio from Roosevelt Stadium Jersey City '73 that's available on this site. (Yes, I admit it, I unabashedly and very affectionately love these drunk Richard performances!) So, I looked up the correct lyrics to see just how mangled the lines actually were, and now my question is:

What does "Pillball machine and a queen" mean, exactly? I'd never quite understood what was being sung in that line, and now that I know, I still don't get it. Can anyone explain?

Posted on Tue Jul 25 04:51:50 CEST 2000 from dialup-281.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.25)

HANK

From: Cork, New York, Gortahork and Glenamaddy!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Home page

BWNWinTenn.......I dunno, man.........I was 5 years old in 1968....I was allowed to stay up and watch "The Smothers Brothers Show" for two Sundays in a row by my folks to watch The Beatles sing "Hey Jude" and "Revolution"........the year before, I remember being with my Dad buying "Sgt. Pepper" I remember buying "The White Album" with my Dad, his friend and my sister.....to this day I enjoy learning to play one of their songs with my guitar....are you telling me (or all of us for that matter) it's ALL abig SWIZZ?.........a Rip-OFF? All of it?......I also remember Big Pink being in the house from that time.......last night I played a gig in Arklow, Co. Wicklow ......when the gig was over the bar-staff put on a really weird compliation tape.........ALL the Beatles singles in a ruff chronological order but only, maybe 30 seconds to a minute of the begining of each song......sorta the intro of "Love me do" a few lines and then the intro to "Please Please Me" and on and on to "Get Back" and "Let it Be" drove me demented!!!!! I went up to the bar and asked what The heck was goin' on.......the guy said someone made up this CD and the locals LOVE it......sure enuff........I noticed the locals DID love it..........it reminded me of The GB there in Arklow last night.........Anyhoot, I really SHOULD'NT get into this.........I'm the kinda weirdo who really enjoyed "Free as a Bird".......brilliant chord changes, beautiful singing, great guitar playing.........I guess I'm easily pleased........The other thing is, The Beatles Thought The Band were GREAT, by all accounts.........Mark David Chapman treated John Lennon as a God, alright but the rest of us just wanted to see his face.......sometimes you don't wanna talk about music you just wanna hear that voice......you just wanna hear that voice.......hope I did'nt use up tooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much SPACE here.........although my hair has been thinned alot since 1968........ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

Posted on Tue Jul 25 04:48:03 CEST 2000 from 1cust60.tnt6.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.11.190.60)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

The Beatles did not become famous by doing cover versions of the hits of their Rock 'n' Roll idols - they became famous by writing and recording great original sounding songs. With the release of Rubber Soul they had become such prolific and creative composers that they could fill whole albums without even including their current "hits." This was unprecedented.

I'd say The Band petered out sharply after Stage Fright which I think is as great as their first two albums. If The Band had produced high caliber music 'til the end they'd be better known and more widely respected. Lennon & McCartney were certainly the Mozarts of the 1960s. Nobody else even comes close.

Now let me get back to the Beatles website!!

Posted on Tue Jul 25 04:45:08 CEST 2000 from user-33qt806.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.160.6)

Pat Brennan

From: USA

Can't knock the Beatles. Sorry.

When I got home today, I check out a great compilation called The History of British Rock Vol. 2. I knew it had a little blurb on Thunderclap Newman which adds little to Richard P.'s post. However, i was quite surprised by the number of Band connections on the thing. Just two pictures away from TN is Julie Driscoll; her 'This Wheel's On Fire" is on the album. One up and over from her is Van. One up and three over from Van is Manfred Mann whose "Quinn The Eskimo" graces the grooves. Then there's the Hollies and Rod the Mod who both covered Dylan, and up at the top is the Beatles who, of course, stole their version of Money from the Hawks.

Not like they need defending, but pull out "And Your Bird Can Sing" and listen to the harmonies on the third verse. Enough said.

Posted on Tue Jul 25 02:19:24 CEST 2000 from (198.172.31.133)

Richard Whelan-Stevens

From: SF Bay Area

Sorry, but the assertion that the Beatles would not have gotten the same level of critical acclaim if they had not sold so many records earlier falls apart when you consider that the critical acclaim for the Beatles began with their earliest records. Even their 63-64 era music was the first rock music to be seriously praised by "straight" music critics. And what about the legions and legions of musicians who were inspired to become musicians by hearing their earliest music or seeing them on the Sullivan show. Not to mention the fact that the Beatles made rock music artistically viable enough for folkies like Dylan and r and b purists like the Stones to become rockers. I've heard the Beatle bashing assertion that it was all caused by later day hype before, but that does not explain the giant critical and musical impact that they had from the very begenning. Of course The Band should be much more well-known. Much of that is because of the fact that they did their best work in their first two albums, unlike the Beatles, who were just getting warmed up by then. Another factor is the fact that Grossman created a very low profile mystique for them which might have seemed hip at the time but really diluted their popular impact over time. In any case, I'm almost happy that The Band isn't better known because I have the pleasure of introducing them people who haven't heard of them.

Posted on Tue Jul 25 01:32:55 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-114-126.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.114.126)

BWNWITennessee

From: South of Kentucky

I'm sorry my last post didn't cause quite as much turmoil as I had hoped it might. But I never said that the Beatles SUCKED (even though I presonally think they do), but that they don't deserve near the level of acclaim that they recieve. There are so many great musicians out there that are underappreciated, and these bozos get treated like the greatest thing since Mozart. So let's forget the Band vs. Beatles talent-wise comparisons, but think about this - does anyone think the obeisance given to the Beatles by your average, layperson classic rock fan is in accordance with the level of respect (of lack thereof) given to The Band? The Beatles are treated like gods, yet I've met a LOT of people who have never even heard of The Band. Does that seem right? I stand by my assertion that the Beatles wouldn't be given the level of critical acclaim that they are if they weren't so huge when they first started out. If a no-name band made the EXACT same records, they would be respected, but not deified.

I've seen Dylan a few times in recent years. The first time, in '96, was excellent. The last two times I've seen him (the last being in Nov.), I thought he was still good, but I just didn't enjoy the shows quite as much. He's doing more of an acoustic set to start the show, whereas before he would mix it up more. In '96, at the end of the show a woman from the crowd jumped onstage and kissed Bob. Then a stampede started; people from the lawn area were literally running all the way down and climbing on the stage. By the end of the song the stage was just a wall of fans, you couldn't even see the band. They kept playing, though. This was already the second encore, so I thought the show was over for sure. They cleared everyone off the stage, and Bob came back AGAIN for a few more songs. It was one of the best shows I've ever seen in my life. The next year they didn't jump onstage, but people, including me, still ran down the aisle up to the stage during the encore. The last two times I've seen him were a lot more complacent.

This Guestbook is like Nashville - it's getting overcrowded. I almost have to go into the archives to read each day's postings. I think it's time to thin the herd. ;-)

Lars, not to make light of a tragedy, but "I forgot to feed my last duck and when I opened the pen found that his leg had fallen off"???

I've gotta go eat now.

Posted on Tue Jul 25 00:29:21 CEST 2000 from ip-125.dial.wans.com (64.7.64.125)

Molly Z.

From: Mill Valley, California
Home page

Hey y'all!! I have updated my website, and added a collage of Robbie Robertson! So when you guys have time, take a peek and sign my guestbook. :-) Thanks. Have a good rest of the day everyone!

Posted on Tue Jul 25 00:18:59 CEST 2000 from gw.itac.ca (209.146.161.1)

Bill

John Keene released at least one well-received solo LP in the mid-70s using his nickname, Speedy Keene. Townshend may have been involved in that one too. A Who-fanatic friend of mine dropped in on Track Records on a trip to London (UK) in about '75. When he told the receptionist he was wondering if they had copies of some obscure Thunderclap Newman record, she yelled out something like, "Hey Jack, do we have any more of your records?", and a little man appeared from a little room under a staircase. I forget who Jack was, but it was one of the group members. To bring it back to the Band, the same friend had the first copy of "Stones I Throw" that I ever saw, and played me the "Albert Hall" version of "Rolling Stone" for the second time ever. (I first heard it on a John Donabie radio show back in the days when radio would even play boots.)

Posted on Tue Jul 25 00:10:20 CEST 2000 from stcath-ppp73130.sympatico.ca (216.208.72.129)

Richard Patterson

From: St Kitts

PAT B.: THUNDERCLAP NEWMAN were Andy Newman (a trad jazz pianist), John "Speedy" Keen (he wrote "Armenia, City in the Sky" for 'The Who Sell Out') and Jimmy McCulloch (yes, late a member of Wings). Townsend played bass and produced the first lp 'Hollywood Dream' under the alias Bijou Drains - haha.

Although they pretty much died after "Something in the Air" (in fact 'Hollywood Dream' was there only lp), the two following Speedy Keen solo lp's were really quite good - especially the first one 'Previous Convictions'...

Posted on Tue Jul 25 00:06:23 CEST 2000 from mplsdslgw10poolb193.mpls.uswest.net (63.228.41.193)

Patrick

Home page

HEY VISITORS. AFTER YOUR DONE CHECKING OUT THIS SITE GO TO MY GARTH SITE. I HAVE A NEW ADDITION- "GARTH PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK". I KNOW ALL OF YOU WILL GO TO THE SITE EVERY MONDAY AND CHECK OUT WHAT I SAY IS THE.....GARTH PERFORMACE OF THE WEEK, AND THEN LISTEN TO THE SONG SEVERAL TIMES TILL YOU EARS BLEED!

Posted on Mon Jul 24 23:48:29 CEST 2000 from proxy-681.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.81)

Patricia

From: closer to the center line....

Harry...here's what you do...you get a real bad dose of the blues...pour a bunch of different kinds of perscription drugs in a big glass and fill it to the brim with Tullamore dew...no on second thought ....please don't...I hope I didn't start all this.....to whoever straightened my screen up....Thank you.....I can see you all much plainer now......Wig..."Someone Like You" is also my choice for "wedding song"...nobody sings a love song like Van the Man

Posted on Mon Jul 24 23:36:41 CEST 2000 from user-33qta0k.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.168.20)

Pat Brennan

From: USA

Thunderclap Newman and Something In The Air? Really, one of the great songs of that era. If I recall correctly, Townshend actually produced the album that song was on, and it was supposedly his first work outside The Who. I think (I repeat--think) Keene was the pianist/singer in the group, and the guitarist might have been Jimmy McCullough (?) who spent some time in Wings.

Posted on Mon Jul 24 22:57:55 CEST 2000 from pm457-41.dialip.mich.net (198.110.21.147)

twilight

From: ann arbor, mi

Bob W. - Pete Townsend did in fact play bass on the recording of SOmething In The Air by Thunderclap Newman. However, the song was written by John Keene, whom I know nothing about. Information came from Tom Petty's Greatest Hits. They covered the song for that album.

Posted on Mon Jul 24 22:36:04 CEST 2000 from saturn.landshut.org (212.72.69.61)

Paul Vilser

From: Rain Country

"You better stop, look and listen...":

http://www.user.xpoint.at/n.arno/default.htm

http://home.t-online.de/home/ebbbi/toureu~1.htm

I'm glad to see that my life long companion Bob Dylan is is very much appreciated on this tour...as he was on his European.

I followed him on all his ups and downs (yes, even the religious!) and I think he is a strong and serious man. Strong enough not to hide the downs and reaching highs like nobody else.

(Maybe, you should remember well, Robbie Robertson does.)

Just do yourself a favor: go to see him whenever you can!

Posted on Mon Jul 24 22:36:26 CEST 2000 from host161-123-26-209.utelfla.com (209.26.123.161)

carmen

From: pa

Lars, hang in there and look on the bright side. You could be living in China! Best Regards!

Posted on Mon Jul 24 22:12:10 CEST 2000 from 208-51-135-71.nas1.mon.gblx.net (208.51.135.71)

Lars

From: Upstate NY

This is a bad day. My truck lost it's tranny first thing after breakfast, so I stayed home to watch my stocks get slaughtered on the Market. All red. I watched them sink. Then I remembered that I had forgotten to give my one surviving duck his food & water, and when I opened the pen door I could see his leg had fallen off. As I entered the house again I found my new puppy Eppard had taken a "dump" on my kitchen floor. I retreated to this hallowed guestbook to find some solace, but somebody saw fit to "dump" in here, too.

But, if you keep your powder dry...the worm will turn. Better days are coming. Keep loving that Band music.

Oh, and Harry....Jesus loves you (everyone else, though, thinks you're an a**hole).

Posted on Mon Jul 24 22:05:43 CEST 2000 from usr53-dialup48.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.199.48)

G-MAN

Amanda-be cool and enjoy the history of the Band. You are right, if you're a youngster. I do miss the BAND, but enjoying the new stuff--being there live; just returned from Gurus in Toga. Serious-try to see Levon live and the Gurus live, if ya can. Peace.

Posted on Mon Jul 24 22:01:55 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-146.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.146)

Peter Viney

Bill: I agree it’s unlikely The Hawks "did" Money because of The Beatles. I meant they "continued to do" "Money" because of the Beatles. I don’t think ‘Money’ or ‘Twist & Shout’ were radio hits in the UK either. They were album tracks that also got released on EPs (anyone remember Eps with four tracks?), and those EPs made the singles charts. We all got into Twist & Shout when the "Please Please Me" LP was released and sold millions. "With the Beatles" added "Money" in late 63. These two songs, as live numbers, were probably the most popular songs on the albums, another Beatles innovation. So many of their best songs were not the singles . See the recent Mojo songwriters poll, where "In My life" & "Here there & everywhere" were their highest scoring songs. And add "Yesterday". And "Nowhere man." And "All My loving". The Beatles, quite remarkably for the time, saw LPs as a separate entity and didn’t put all the singles on the original European LP versions (which the current CDs duplicate).

I know they didn’t become megastars in North America until 1964, and that LP releases differ, but by 64 they were motoring across the world. I don’t suppose for a moment that The Hawks "discovered" these songs from The Beatles. It’s fascinating to hear that they were doing stuff in 62/63. I didn’t discover "Please Mr Postman" or "You really Got a Hold on Me" from The Beatles either, because like so many I was an avid listener to the Oriole Records 15 minute nightly show on Radio Luxemburg – Oriole were Motown’s first UK distributors. They bizzarely interspersed Motown and The Spotniks. The point is that The Beatles gave all these songs a far higher profile than they otherwise had (ditto The Stones and "Not Fade Away"). The Stones were also doing "Money" before The Beatles version was released, and put it out on an early EP. Bern Elliot & the Fenmen also had an early hit with it. I’m just saying that a dance band keeps stuff in the act because the audience knows it (and more people had heard the Beatles version than the original), and this would be why "Money" & "Twist & Shout" survived in their act into 1964 / 65. Judging by Levon’s competent but unexciting solo version in the 80s, The Beatles had no fear of competition on this particular song.

On Dylan: When I saw him in Bournemouth two or three years back I was stunned by the sheer charisma. During the show it seemed like the definitive version of everything, specially reworked for that day. The thrill of "Absolutely sweet Marie" as the opening number was unmatched. When I got the boot six months later… well, it wasn’t nearly as good as my experience on the day. What Dylan has, live, projecting such force, simply does not record in any magnetic or digital form. That’s why he remains a "must see". And I’m going to be away when he plays Portsmouth, a mere 50 mile drive, in September.

Posted on Mon Jul 24 21:29:43 CEST 2000 from spider-tk051.proxy.aol.com (152.163.206.196)

bob wigo

From: havertown, pa.

Any takers ?

Posted on Mon Jul 24 21:27:43 CEST 2000 from (202.140.157.77)

The Supra Historian

From: who knows where

Just for the record (for the sake of maintaining historical authenticity) :

Nero is often remembered to have made his horse Incitatus a consul of state. He did not do anything further with any horse as was mentioned here some time back. However now this story has been rejected, as a fabrication by contemporary and latter-day writers, to simply malign him.

Also since his mother died when he was only 2 or 3 yrs old, the other thing that has also been mentioned in these hallowed pages is completely off the mark. He was however obsessively fond of his sister and had her deified as a demi-goddess after her death. Too bad Nero ain't around to sue any of you :-).

Another well-known story about Nero is that he played the harp or something ( lute ? ) of that sort while he watched Rome burn. Nothing could have been further from the truth. Anyway Rome benefited from the fire because the new Rome that arose from the ashes was a well-planned and scientifically built city. Sorry for being such a pain. :-)

Thanx.

Posted on Mon Jul 24 21:24:46 CEST 2000 from ti15a22-0026.dialup.online.no (130.67.112.218)

Dag

ooooops...typed in the wrong email address on my last post.

Posted on Mon Jul 24 21:20:56 CEST 2000 from tcnet26-049.austin.texas.net (209.99.98.49)

Harry Head

From: Tulsa

I have had it with you idiots, everytime I hear the band I get the runs, damn let me tell you something... man if it wasn't for you god damn fans maybe i can rest my ass, everytime I hear levon voice I fuckin get a bad hemmoroid.. please what can I do to shut down this fucking web page.. there... My ass has not botherd me in 5 min...

Posted on Mon Jul 24 21:19:50 CEST 2000 from ti15a22-0026.dialup.online.no (130.67.112.218)

Dag

From: Norway
Home page

Bob might have been talking about the backup singers he brought with him on the tours in 1978-1981...but when he went out on tour with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers in 1986 and '87 he also brought singers with him...

Posted on Mon Jul 24 21:16:52 CEST 2000 from tcnet26-049.austin.texas.net (209.99.98.49)

Harry Head

From: Tulsa

Posted on Mon Jul 24 21:16:15 CEST 2000 from h-21-80-158.ccnet.com (207.21.80.158)

Mariye

From: CA

Hey all :) Does anyone have any information on the families of the Band members? Are any of them married, have children or anything? I've been looking for that info but have had no luck. Thanks.

Posted on Mon Jul 24 20:59:39 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.187)

David Powell

From: Georgia

A really great version of "Ain't No More Cane (On The Brazos)" can be heard on the legendary Dylan bootleg, "Gaslight Tapes". Recorded in the fall of 1962 at the Gaslight Cafe in New York, City, it features a strong vocal performance by Dylan accompanied by just his acoustic guitar, sans harmonica.

Posted on Mon Jul 24 20:22:34 CEST 2000 from dialup-264.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.8)

Hank

From: Cork City.....home of Rory Gallagher
Home page

I actually had to go to the archives to catch up........PETER VINEY......great post on The Beatles vs The Band thang that was goin' down there for a while......PAC......I just bought a pair of sandals.........Just to throw the mouse amongst the cats here......About this Dylan playing live thread.........I once heard Bob being interviewed on a US radio show in 1984 and the interviewer asked him something about people singing on stage with him and Bob very angrily replied that he sang on his own these days because, over the years "so many people have got in my way singing on stage with me" ......I laughed when I heard it first......but I wonder was he referring to our heros, The Band, or was he talking about other singers....any ideas?........IMHO The Band always sounded great when sangin' with Bob......but there ya go............A few years later, 1987, Bob toured and The Dead crowed along behind him.....which I also thought was great.... saw the show in Giants Stadium NJ.........but whaddaya reckon folks?..............Actually, I'd love to see Ringo, Levon, George, Paul and Garth backing up Bob in a live band......OK OK......I'll stop now......see ya later.........

Posted on Mon Jul 24 20:18:07 CEST 2000 from spider-tk051.proxy.aol.com (152.163.206.196)

bob wigo

From: havertown, pa.
Home page

Another terrific site for all of us music junkies. This one has listings and lyrics for every Top 40 hit from 1930 to 1999. Click on "Home Page" to check it out.

By the way, the mention of "Something In The Air" reminds me to ask if Pete Townshend ( whose solo work overshadows anything The Who did as a band IMHO ) did, in fact, write that song and play bass on the recording ? Can I get a witness ?

Posted on Mon Jul 24 20:13:16 CEST 2000 from usr53-dialup48.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.199.48)

G-MAN

Saratoga Springs Road Trip--THE GURUS. Fri., 10 am, hit thruway #49 scalper booth; 3 cars ahead. Time for best of Robbster. Oh, get that ticket & RR's done. Some local talent-Guy Pelino & the Evictors(hard RR)get us to Rochester. Time for Band drivin'tunes--Big Foot, White Caddy, etc..Couple pit stops; empty tanks/fill tank. Exit #21--Slap on "BIG FOOT". NO RAIN YET. Hit TOGA @ 3pm. Great place; not there for 30 yrs..Home of Skimore(or less) College and some fine history!!(More history after the Gurus played--FOR SURE. Type of town that should have Ronnie Hawkins as the mayor. Local PD were great. Got us to the Sheridan Hiltone--three blocks from the Metro. Check-in;check out the Metro--start time NOT clear!!!! Walk town in BAND SHIRT-STIR UP SOME CROWD. Rain in buckets, lightening show outta site, and drenched to the bone!!! Great dinner at Wheatfields. Waitin to beat the rain. Our luck litenin will knock out the power. Donna waits on the corner(hey), me checks the club. Who's that unloadin them drums????RANDO-great intros. and invite for 8 pm sound check--thanks Bro. Show at 10. Arrive @ 9--front row table. Rando and Jim come over; great to their fans. We THANK YOU ALL. Meet Steve, Carol, & momma Steve from Pattenberg House--GREAT FOLKS. Hey intro to Lamont Depew & family. I live in Depew--sorry I thought it was Dupre, Bro.. Lamont you can ROCK. Just awed, Donna laughin cause I could hardly talk. Well the Gurus hit the stage a runnin and didn't slow down--four-I said FOUR hours. Place is fillin up--and nobody cannot get up and dance. Put a dozen eggs near the stage & we'd all have breakfast-- HOT SOUNDS !!! HOW TIGHT-tighter than a turkeys' neck on Thanksgiving eve!!!! Man, Jim's like in a Roy Buchanan mode !!! RANDO MAND-knockin it to HELL; How ya keep your feet attached ??? Man Feb's show was great, BUT man--this was SUPER GREAT!!! Malcolm and Jeremy--were in a groove; I think that lightenin was commin from some BAND mates upstairs; THAT BASS and those KEYS reminded of some PLAYERS !!! Carol and Lamont added some vocals, and were SUPER. Thanks for the autographs, the music info, and the pleasure of your playin. Man the time and effort must be unreal !!! Sorry we didn't make it to BB's; ya know why. Folks-get BIG FOOT and see the GURUS. Austin City & Studio on W.54th should be knockin at your door. See ya in Sept., at JOYOUS.

Posted on Mon Jul 24 19:44:15 CEST 2000 from cic-proxy02.firstunion.com (169.200.25.141)

Bones

From: ct

Five Miles From Hope by Mindy Jostyn is a good record with Band ties. Besides playing on a track called "Common Ground", Garth's voice and playing are used as an intro to start the CD and later after one of the last tracks. Three great Garth moments in all.

Posted on Mon Jul 24 19:24:11 CEST 2000 from gw.itac.ca (209.146.161.1)

Bill

A few things to comment on:

1) I know we've gone over this before, but I think it's very unlikely that the Hawks did "Money" because of the Beatles, or "Not Fade Away" because of the Stones. Neither was a radio hit in Toronto, and to the extent that the Hawks were a 'dance' band, they'd have played the hits rather than the album cuts - especially album cuts by teen groups. "Money", as I've said before, was in the repertoire of Frank Motley and the Motley Crew, one of Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks' main Yonge Street rivals, and appears on their one and only LP - from late '62 or early '63.

2) Vic, Crowbar is a great group, but were lineups away from the Band/Hawks in Hawkins' chronology. Robbie Lane and the Disciples replaced our Hawks. When the Disciples split, their place was taken by an unrelated aggregation of individual musicians, who came and went individually over the next five years. Crowbar is what the then-current bunch called themselves when they left Hawkins in '69. Guitarist John Gibbard was from Stratford and is quoted in Hoskyns' book (as I suspect Roly Greenway may have been). Sonnie Bernardi's parents owned the coatcheck at the Concord (or similar bar) so knew the Band/Hawks very well; there's even a photo around of Sonnie on Levon's knee.

3) While on the subject of Crowbar, it's worth mentioning that they did a really nice version of "Cane On The Brazos" on their live LP ('72?). Very different than the Basement Tapes version.

4) Little Brother, thanks for mentioning "Something In The Air". That song always thrills me too, even more than "Let's Get Together" as sung by the Youngbloods. I think part of the feeling is due to a recognition that nothing much really was in the air, and that we've never really gotten together. (Witness the nastiness in this GB!)

5) Need to Know: You might be thinking of "Claire" by the Rheostatics (though from Toronto not England). It was the main song of their soundtrack to the wonderful movie, "Whale Music" (which was based loosely on Brian Wilson, and perhaps also local singer Joe Hall it occurs to me). Of course you could also have heard Gilbert O'Sullivan, but probably not.

6) Bashful Bill / Dave Z: I know this isn't the RR/Superman link you're looking for, but both RR and Superman creator Joe Shuster were from Toronto. Joe's cousin, Frank, of Wayne and Shuster, is the father of SNL writer Rosie Shuster, and therefore the ex-father-in-law of SNL kingpin Lorne Michaels.

Posted on Mon Jul 24 18:07:11 CEST 2000 from stk-pm1-46-174.dialup.slip.net (207.171.230.174)

Guenevere

BOB!! Now that you've forever ruined Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds for me...

I'm just wondering, are these the same people who have labeled us as "the counter culture".... ( I wonder if any of them think that Nixon was a great president) ... well I'm headed for the Soilent Green factory... have a nice day!

Posted on Mon Jul 24 17:39:09 CEST 2000 from 209-23-55-44.ip.termserv.net (209.23.55.44)

Diamond Lil

Bob Wigo: Heheh....thanks for the laugh. Still chuckling about the Beach Boys singing "owls pooping on my head" :-)

Posted on Mon Jul 24 17:37:02 CEST 2000 from spider-tk023.proxy.aol.com (152.163.206.183)

bob wigo

From: havertown, pa.

"...a girl with colitis goes by..."

Posted on Mon Jul 24 17:34:43 CEST 2000 from spider-tk023.proxy.aol.com (152.163.206.183)

bob wigo

From: havertown, pa.

"....and the way she looked was WAY beyond REPAIR..."

Posted on Mon Jul 24 17:27:23 CEST 2000 from spider-tk023.proxy.aol.com (152.163.206.183)

bob wigo

From: havertown, pa
Home page

For those of you who participated in the recent thread concerning misinterpreted lyrics I thought you might enjoy this site. Click on "Home Page" above.Turns out we've had it wrong all along.

Please note: Tongue in cheek.

Posted on Mon Jul 24 17:03:24 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.avnl1.nj.home.com (24.4.252.66)

Brien Sz

From: NJ

While on another whirlwind tour of The Garden State this weekend (and cranking The Band of course) I stumbled across a best of Steve Forbert cd while in Barnes & Noble. Having just heard his latest release on the radio not too long ago, I figured i'd plop down the $10.99 and give it a listen. While reading the notes, it turns out John Simon produced the album that produced his biggest hit "Romeo's Tune". It also turns out that the Band was one of Steve's F's biggest influences-- I liked reading that. The cd itself is nice, full of story telling and catchy songs but because my lovely wife was sleeping while i was driving and i was traveling on roads unfamiliar to me, i cannot give it a full assesment just yet. Many of the songs just rolled right on by as i had to pay attention to where i was going.

Also picked up the soundtrack to Gladiator--which by the way is very good and got a chance to listen to an Amie Mann cd (green cover) she's another good lyricist. A friend of mine who produces for a local artist was most insistant that i pick it up and give it a thorough listen.

By the way, anyone ever listen to Mark Germino and the Sluggers -- Radartown cd? Lots of that middle America sound. Some of you might really enjoy the story telling going on their. At parts lyrics are a little liberal whinny sounding but all in all a very solid cd that has an interesting delivery as far as use of lyrics.

Posted on Mon Jul 24 16:42:05 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

Our wedding song was "Love Song" by Bruce Cockburn - unfortunately, the guy who sang it pretty much mutilated it. More successfully, however, we had the organist play "Obladee Obladah" for the recessional. It was in a restored 17th century New England meeting house. Somehow, I think Desmond would have approved.

Posted on Mon Jul 24 14:11:42 CEST 2000 from (205.230.10.2)

Bob R

From: Cape Cod

Saw Dylan Saturday night at the Tweeter Center in Mansfield Mass- I have to say he was truly great-- His voice was clear and strong,his band was impeccable. The audience brought him back and he performed an additional four songs for his encore.The place was going nuts. Some highlights: Blowing in the Wind, Frankie Lee & Judas Priest, and a truly beautiful "Tears of Rage" with his other guitarists providing Richard Manuel-ish harmony vocals. Really great. Dylan is really on top of his game these days. Hey Butch....how about hooking Levon & The Barnburners up with Big Bob as an opening act ? What a bill that would be!

Posted on Mon Jul 24 13:09:56 CEST 2000 from host161-123-26-209.utelfla.com (209.26.123.161)

carmen

From: pa

My wedding song: Mabey I'm Amazed by Paul McCartney.

Have a good week all!

Posted on Mon Jul 24 12:39:18 CEST 2000 from 209-23-38-162.ip.termserv.net (209.23.38.162)

Diamond Lil

Patricia: Noone here thinks you did anything on purpose. Please try and relax. Jan's purpose in giving us this guestbook is to give us the opportunity to talk about and discuss The Band. Yes, I am also guilty of not always doing Band related posts..perhaps because of the sense of 'community' in here. I ask you though, and I think I can speak for many in here...to please confide in someone you trust about whatever personal problems you're having...not in a public forum such as this. It doesn't mean we don't care..it's just that some things should remain private. I hope you're ok.

Posted on Mon Jul 24 10:42:29 CEST 2000 from well.health.nb.ca (207.179.181.34)

Trevor Wilson

From: Eastern Canada

I just stumbled onto this web site today and I must say that I am enjoying it immensely. The chat room is great as well. I haven't had time to read a lot of the guest book postings but I plan to in the immediate future. I do not really have anything else to say at this time but I plan to make some contributions soon.

Posted on Mon Jul 24 08:00:01 CEST 2000 from lsanca1-ar7-216-188.dsl.gtei.net (4.35.216.188)

Victor D. L'Esperance

On a recent trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame I was delighted to see that Scotty Moore had been included. I did my best to chastise them for not featuring his music with the presentation, I'm hopeful that this will be corrected in the future. My own belief is that Scotty's guitar playing was one of the most critical ingredients that made Elvis' early work the very best. I have been enjoying the CD "The Guitar that Changed the Word" tremendously. Thank you Scotty for this great gift!

Posted on Mon Jul 24 07:01:46 CEST 2000 from proxy-721.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.141)

patricia

I didn't do it purpose...I didn't ..I don't have anyne to tell when i'm like that...you people are the only communication i have ..i'm sorry Jan...I know this is your space and Its seemed like I did it on purpose...and I don't know how to behave...I wanted to come in here right after i realized what i had done but I was afraid....I hope this helps make up...but nobody wants a reclusive nut in the family

Posted on Mon Jul 24 06:39:43 CEST 2000 from proxy-661.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.61)

patricia

everybody...I go into depressions...I'm under doctors care and when i drink and take this medication I do things...all I can do is apoligize and hope I am in no big trouble...what else can I do..sorry if I scared anybody...probably not huh...I realized what I had done after done it...please forgive me, all of you

Posted on Mon Jul 24 04:59:13 CEST 2000 from sdn-ar-001nyglenp258.dialsprint.net (168.191.118.20)

LAMONT DEPEW

From: CHATHAM NY USA

caught jimmy weider and the gurus at the metro in saratoga ny saturday night. wow they blue the doors of the joint once again. rando plays like a freight train takin' a dirt road, a lotta' smoke and thunder! jimmy's tele cut through the smoky night air like a laser beam. and malcolm and jeremy were right on the front burner in a wicked rock and roll stew that tastes like success. thanx for having me up for a couple of numbers too.BIG FOOT, BIG FOOT, BIG FOOT! later, monty

Posted on Mon Jul 24 04:54:40 CEST 2000 from atmax-6-5.enter.net (207.16.154.15)

Little Brøther

From: around Philly, PA

-- Mea culpa, mon Crabgrass; I DID space out your idea for a Puffed-up "Chest Fever". How 'bout Eminem for "Shape I'm In"? They'd make swell roomies, no?

That said, won't you never learn to behave yourself? Wait until Daddy comes home!

-- Classifying 60s/70s artists/groups as countercultural or anti-countercultural doesn't lead to much of anywhere, in my opinion. It wasn't as if the Band declared its opposition to Flower Power or anything. Brooding over this question in Wayback Machine Mode, we early-70s white Philly & suburb high school kids didn't apply any ideological litmus tests. We liked Country Joe and the Fish for their upfront politics, we dug Grace Slick's "Up against the wall, motherfucker!" even though wiser, more cynical, or more committed critics saw through its radical chic, and we liked the Band even though they didn't sing those kinds of songs. And the songs they DID sing held up better over time; in fact, when they did come around to some overt sociopoliticizing in "Cahoots" (you know which tracks), we found we preferred the more obscure, apolitical stuff!

The distinctions we made at the time were between "rock" (good) and "pop" (lame), and in the domain of loud electrified music you staked out territories according to primitive social categories: Greasers liked anything from "Sha Na Na" and the Stones to proto-metal like Steppenwolf or Deep Purple; (we) freaks (called "heads" in some parts) were all over the map, from Band and Beatles through Tull. Some were partial to British groups like ELP, King Crimson, etc...

Pardon my senile rapture. I'm just offering a slice of sociology. Again, this is a report of the sensibilities of a relatively pale, feeble colony of primitive shrimp. We rode the final swell of the countercultural tide that began as a West Coast tsunami a decade earlier. Perhaps the more advanced, complex, reef-building life forms had more sophisticated political antennae, and thereby scanned performers with an eye to background and subtext.

The other obvious point here is that for all of the clear differences between the Band and their contemporaries-- they were a little older and they'd been around, and said so apart from their material-- they inhabited the same world as the majority "countercultural" groups. There they were, cheek by jowl with the rest, playing the same festivals, stadia, arenas, etc.; their records, tapes (8-tacks) were in the same racks; their music went along with all the, er, "countercultural" recreations of the day. (Still do, if you're lucky.)

If their "anti-countercultural" stance had meant that they only played in, I don't know, VFW posts or symphony halls, THAT would've had an impact.

We knew that there were lots of interconnections among rock bands, and circles like the SF area bands, but I don't think that the average music fan developed a pedigree for each artist or group. So they ALL seemed like part of the same cast; there was no obvious way to distinguish the independent mavericks from the cliques, the ins from the outs. It was a smorgasbord (or is that smørgasbørd?) and you either partook of the dish or didn't!

'Scuse me while I go get my shovel...

Posted on Mon Jul 24 04:20:28 CEST 2000 from spider-to087.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.39)

Bayou Sam

From: ny

Peter Viney. I enjoyed the Beatles post you wrote. I never thought of comparing Garth and George Martin - what a great comparison as far as how each musician "colored" the song . I also thought that the last line in your post nailed it on the head man, perfect.................. Dion was different than all those pretty teen idol guys that were in that period after Buddy Holly's plane crashed and the Beatles plane landed. He had attitude and "balls", to use a crude but appropriate word. I recently read his autobiography and have been exploring his stuff from the mid '60's on. He got into the blues a bit............... BTW, my wedding song was "Grow Old With Me" by John Lennon which appeared on his posthumous Milk and Honey album in demo form. It's a beautiful song that he never got to finish........

Posted on Mon Jul 24 03:26:10 CEST 2000 from async65-new-isp-1.nas.one.net.au (203.101.34.66)

Daniel

From: A Buick 6

Despite all the gushing praise on here for recent Bob Dylan concerts I have been to see him on every tour and they all, without exception have been very dissapointing .In fact the last time I saw him actually put on a first-class show was with The Rolling Thunder Revue , and that was half a lifetime ago. His studio work on the contrary has been as always a pleasure to listen to and good value for money unlike his live appearances.

Posted on Mon Jul 24 03:24:58 CEST 2000 from spider-tk063.proxy.aol.com (152.163.206.203)

frank

From: pa.

Best all time wedding song of all time {someone like you} by van{the man}morrison.

Posted on Mon Jul 24 03:19:23 CEST 2000 from 1cust77.tnt14.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.142.77)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

Of course, Garth was still to outdo himself on the final and most masterful of The Band's studio albums - the superbly impeccable ISLANDS - with the exceptional Danko/Hudson/Robertson composition of the same title.

Posted on Mon Jul 24 02:23:16 CEST 2000 from mplsdslgw10poolb101.mpls.uswest.net (63.228.41.101)

Patrick Swanson

Home page

REVIEW OF "NORTHEN LIGHTS-SOUTHERN CROSS"-(1975) To me, NLSC is the best studio album of the 70's for the band. It's easily the most musically complicated Band album, mainly because Robertson's complex and mature chord changes, and the invent and use of synthesizers and 24 tracks. All of them play as good as ever, but Garth once again stands out taking huge advantage of the new technology. It contains some of the best Band material of their career. Here is a song by song review. "Forbidden Fruit" Very catchy and upbeat for a song about the lure of hard drugs. The song begins with some interesting guitar(a-la wammy bar) and Garth and Richard keyboards. You can't keep from smiling till the first line-"High and lonesome out on Time Square, ain't got a dime, ain't got a prayer." WOW. Thats direct! Also a cool thing about the song is the chorus, which lyrics change each time till the fourth time. On the word "Forbidden Fruit.." is a augmented seventh chord which gives a sound of confusion and trouble, but it is resolved with a normal chord with some instructions("That's the fruit that you better not taste"). Very clever writing and playing. Nice synth work by Garth, and great singing by Levon and Rick. Also interesting guitar from Robbie. One the strongest tracks on the record. "Hobo Jungle" Seems from the title it will be a silly song, but it is meant as a lament about bum-town. It seems from the lyrics, that is about a old man who frozed to death and his girlfriend who takes him on a a train ride, after he's dead or before. That is the tricky part of the song for me. mainly because i'm not good at decoding lyrics like Peter Viney! But Richard(The Narrator) is an quiet observer to the sadness of the event. Nice meloldy, and alright lyrics for Robertson. Not one of the best tracks on the album, but a nice break from the rock and funk of "Forbidden Fruit." "Ophelia" Of course one of the most popular Band songs, with its catchy melody and lyrics. I guess its about Minnie Pearl, who's real name was Ophelia. The song is about this great woman who is the toast of the town, who leaves for unknown reasons. The narrator is wondering why this great woman left, and he needs her to come back. My favorite parts of the song are the very funky horns from Garth, Richard's B-3, and of course Levon's vocals. "Acadian Driftwood" No intro needed here. This is a compelling epic of a Band song, musically and lyrically. Read the article on the song by Viney for details on the track. Highlights other than the singing from Helm, Manuel, and Danko, include the tuned-down acoustic from J.R, the authentic sounding piccolo and Accordion from Hudson, and Berline's Acadian fiddle. Easily one of Robertson's best compositians. "Ring Your Bell" Easily one of my all-time favorite Band tracks, complete with some funny lyrics about "Rebel Love". All three singers give great performances, but the one who sticks out is Danko. His singing and his funky bass line that starts the song, makes ya say-"Haven't I heard that on a Beastie Boys song." You need a track like this to wake you up from the dream-state you were in from "Acadian Driftwood." "It Makes No Difference" Regarded by many as Danko's best performance since "The Unfaithful Servant." The lyrics are very memorable, and they truly make you believe Danko is really singing to his lost woman. From Robbie's guitar solo, to Garth's soprano sax, make this a very cool love song. "Jupiter Hollow" I would say this is the most odd instrumentation line-up the Band ever did. Levon Helm on Drums and lead vocal, Richard on Drums and vocal, Rick on bass and vocal, Robbie on Clavi, and last but NOT LEAST, Garth on lord knows how many keyboards. I never pay much attention to the lyrics on this song, I do know they deal with the fantasy of Greek mythology. And if anyone doubts Garth Hudson's genius, they have never heard this song. I don't know how he does it, but he shoots you into space, and creates the feeling of endless wonder. Can any other keyboardist do that to you?NO. This track has all the elements of a masterpiece. "Rags And Bones" A wonderful track to end on(though the original end tune "Jupiter Hollow" would be the best song possible one to end mainly because its theme of "Northern Lights", and its overall feel). The best Richard performance other than "Acadian.." on the record. The song mainly deals with the diversity of the city, and how it can effect someone. I can't help laughing at the line, "The organ grinder and his monkey.." though. The chord progression is very un-Band like, but I still love to play the song. "Northern Lights-Southern Cross" is a underrated masterpiece and for me, is up there with "Big Pink", or "Band." It showed that they hadn't lost their artistic merit. But then again, they always had it, it just got lost under the comparison of everything they did after the two masterpieces.

Posted on Mon Jul 24 00:23:41 CEST 2000 from 3cust124.tnt11.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.135.124)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

The socalled "Counter Culture" of the sixties at first embraced The Band mainly because of their association with Bob Dylan. Can anyone think of someone more "counter culture" than Dylan during that time? (Okay, maybe P.F. Sloan but his output was limited.) Yes, Bob was venturing out into unchartered creative and thematic waters with songs like "Tears of Rage" and "I Shall Be Released" and The Band were clearly on his ship.

And let's stop the Fabian bashing - as I mentioned several months back his mammoth hit "Turn Me Loose" was in my 45 collection. So was Frankie Avalon's "Dede Dinah" which Frankie recorded while keeping his nose pinched - one of early Rock 'n' Roll's true vocal innovators along with Little Richard!! (BTW check out Frankie's Yahoo! site for some great personal grooming and health care products!)

While The Band's best stuff is undeniably on a par with The Beatles it is dwarfed in terms of sheer numbers - Lennon & McCartney were much more prolific penning dozens of great songs - and even gave some away which they didn't bother to record and release. Where's The Band's "Double Studio Album" of original tunes?

Posted on Sun Jul 23 22:33:18 CEST 2000 from user-33qt851.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.160.161)

Pat Brennan

From: USA

Despite the fact that everybody evidently knows that Dylan blows hot and cold in concert, I'd advise a peek at http://www.expectingrain.com/ You'll find links to concert reviews, songlists, articles, you know, stuff everybody knows. For those of you who aren't everybody, you'll discover that Dylan has become a consummate live performer, constantly reinventing songs on stage, constantly changing his songlist, and refusing to play into expectations. I can't think of a bad show I've seen of his in the last 11 years, and off the cuff I can recall 7 or 8 that were pure magic.

Again, this reinvigoration dates not to the act of firing somebody, but to the very positive decision to strip down his musical approach. He just as easily could have fired the singers and replaced them with a horn section.

Posted on Sun Jul 23 22:31:22 CEST 2000 from (204.120.54.1)

jcf

From: new york

One of the things that initially hooked me to this site was Rob Bowman's history of the Band. I was particullarly impressed with his eloquent expression of the notion that the Band were antiethitical to the counterculture and the youth rebellion. There are at least two other Bands from around the same time, i.e. the late 60's, that also probably fit that description. First is Creedence Clearwater Revival. At first they seemed a political and I think that a lot of the other San Francisco bands supposedly resented that they were so gooo but not "one of them". This was pretty much a theme of the John Fogerty Legends documentary that VH1 unfortunately never replays. Fans of the Velvet Underground like to say that they were far removed from the hippie culture. Reportedly they were not received well in the Bay Area. Truthfully, these three Bands differ a lot in how popular they were back then. CCR was maybe the most popular group in the country. For them to be nota so called "counter culture" band, probably carried more significance than any anti- rebellion stance the Band might have taken. Anyway does anyone think that some other group should be mentioned in this non counter- culture catgeory. Or should any of the three mentioned be removed. Or is the whole idea that the Band, and some other groups, were anti counter- culture/ rebellion/ hippie culture a mistaken one.

Posted on Sun Jul 23 20:23:37 CEST 2000 from stk-pm1-6-134.dialup.slip.net (207.171.230.134)

Guenevere

I'll give in, and admit that Neil Diamond can't be put in the category of "record company manufactured teen-idol" along with Fabian, (just seeing if you were paying attention)... but I gotta say Dion sang his a** off on "The Wanderer," "Runaround Sue," "Lovers Who Wander," and "Ruby Baby"! The thing that permanently eliminated Dion from fitting the criteria of that category as well, was when he kicked his heroine habit and made a comeback with the beautiful "Abraham, Martin and John" ....

Posted on Sun Jul 23 20:09:25 CEST 2000 from spider-wc011.proxy.aol.com (205.188.193.21)

Pac

From: SF Bay Area

Peter V. and Twilight, your posts on the Beatles lifted my heart. Couldn't agree with you more! Although George was always my least favorite, he seems to have given the spiritual depth that expanded their music all the more. His Bangladesh concert set the tone for many rock musicians to use their fame in ways that helped thousands of devastated people, while enlightening many of us about issues beyond ourselves. And his harmonies are surprisingly complex and unpredictable at times. John's voice with covers like "Stand By Me" could cut through a smokey bar at closing time and tear your heart out. There were so many sides to him and to his music. Re his being "an asshole" -- he obviously had a lot to work on and it seems he sincerely tried to become a better human being. Forgive him his youth, especially with all the fame and fortune that came his way at such an early age. I was 16 when Sgt. Pepper's came out; it changed how I listen to music, but not so much that I couldn't lustily enjoy the early Stones LPs -- which led to a lifelong love of blues and R&B. The Band had it all...Rick's and Richard's voices, perfect harmonies, extraordinary musicianship, and the power of grounded spirit. I'm so appreciative of their turning me onto New Orleans music too. It's great to see the guestbook rise to higher levels again. Viney, you're right on. And Hank, spiff up those boots, baby, I heard Wilson Pickett's coming to hear you play.

Posted on Sun Jul 23 20:02:43 CEST 2000 from 1cust6.tnt9.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.128.6)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

I saw Dion on a Fillmore East show in the late 60's when he was doing "Abraham, Martin, and John" playing an acoustic (nylon string) guitar and doing covers of old acoustic blues tunes. He was pretty good. I never would have thought that a guy who started out in Doo Wop would be into that stuff or even play an instrument. Also, saw a documentary about Bobby Darin last year on PBS and there were shots of him grabbing a guitar in the studio to demonstrate how the song he was recording "went" to the other musicians at the session. Also, recall he moved into a trailer on the outskirts of L.A. in the late '60s to "rethink things" - this was the period in which he changed his manner of dress and recorded Tim Hardin's "If I Were A Carpenter." The guy started out with "Splish Splash" and wound up doing some jazzy stuff like "Mack The Knife." Most singers do play instruments even though they don't bring them onstage. Mick Jagger never brought his guitar onstage until quite some time had passed. I also recall Elton John once mentioning that he played guitar though admittedly not well and saying he might play it onstage sometime. And Billy Joel occasionally did do that in later years.

Dylan's musical rebirth began when he dumped Christianity and those awful backup singers that ruined even the halfway decent cuts on his "Jesus" albums. (They also ruined all the boots from those years by adding backups to classic Dylan songs like "Just Like A Women.") But the guy's hot and cold in recent years in his live performances - everyone knows this.

Re: Puff Daddy - Good news actually - I can wait!!!

Posted on Sun Jul 23 17:32:00 CEST 2000 from trt-on52-92.netcom.ca (216.123.98.220)

John Donabie

Pat, re: Dylan's stripped down band. Call me old fashioned and in some ways I am. I still miss the organ-piano combination with Dylan's music live. He can play Like A Rolling Stone, Positively 4th St. etc. anyway he wants; but I still miss the organ sound.

Posted on Sun Jul 23 17:16:01 CEST 2000 from user-33qt9m4.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.166.196)

Pat Brennan

From: USA

Bob Dylan's "rebirth" began in 1986 when he started touring with a stripped down four-piece band. There are rumors that he cleaned up in the early nineties when a new focus invigorated his stage show, but I saw some great ones before that. He's been killing audiences for years now while infusing his old and new tunes with a searching, improvisational and it's nice to see the folks on the GB discovering this.

Posted on Sun Jul 23 16:46:25 CEST 2000 from pm4-47.delrio.com (208.246.53.47)

Just Wonderin'

From: Somewhere out of San Antone

Guenevere: Though I'm not a big Neil Diamond fan (him again!!) I don't think you can lump him in with Bobby Rydell and Dion. He was a songwriter and he does play his own instument. The songs he wrote are what made the connection with RR. His earlier music has the type of storytelling that attracted Robertson.

Posted on Sun Jul 23 16:29:40 CEST 2000 from pm455-21.dialip.mich.net (198.110.21.31)

Twilight

From: ann arbor, mi

My two cents worth on the Beatles. First of all, I think the Beatles did great versions of Motown songs. They tended to do lesser known covers for obvious reasons. Their take on"You've Really Got A Hold On Me" shows their terrific harmonies, and "Please Mr. Postman" is a great call and response between Lennon and the rest of the band. "Money" is Lennon at his rocking best. It was Lennon, not McCartney, who covered Larry Williams "Slow Down", "Dizzy Miss Lizzie", and "Bad Boy". These are all terrific takes. It still blows my mind that the Beatles did Sgt. Pepper when they were in their mid twenties. I am a huge fan of both the Band and the Beatles, and I still don't understand the idea of questioning either group as far as their chops are concerned. The only difference in my mind is that the Beatles got an earlier break than the Hawks. I don't think the Band did better Motown covers - just different ones. The power of these groups is undeniable and unbelievable. Have a wonderful day everyone!

Posted on Sun Jul 23 14:46:06 CEST 2000 from dialup-110.cork.iol.ie (194.125.43.110)

Hank Yeah Yeah Yeah

From: Cork City, la.......
Home page

CRABBY!!!!!.......Whaddaya mean "slacking off" reading The GB? I have very important boots to match for my band, y'know!!!!......BWNWinTenn....Give Peace a Chance.....Thanks to everyone for answering my inquiries and your comments.....I'll write a more detailed post tomorrow.....

Posted on Sun Jul 23 14:40:47 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-068.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.68)

Peter Viney

Dave "Baby" Cortez wasn’t a name I expected to see here, but no problem. "Rinky Dink" was the masterpiece beating even "The Happy Organ". Which reminded me of "Let’s Go" by The Routers, another 1962(-ish) one to conjure with. What next? "Surfer Joe" by The Surfaris?

Knocking The Beatles is a sure way to keep the traffic going, but in quoting RR, it’s important to note that he had a bad habit of criticizing the competition in the late 60s, a habit that people tend to have when they’re young, competitive and on the way up. Most (including RR) grow out of it and come to respect their "rivals" or rather to realize that their rivals are often coming from the same place as they are. Do you think The Hawks circa 1964 played "Money" because they thought the audience were deeply into Barratt Strong or "Twist & Shout" because of The Isley Brothers? Wouldn’t they have been aware that "Not fade away" was a current Stones hit as well as an original tribute to Buddy Holly? We discussed this years ago, and they may or may not have been doing these songs before The Beatles or The Stones ever started playing them. For sure, they would have known and gone back to the original versions for inspiration (which everyone did when covering a Beatles cover version). But as a band trying to make a living in dance halls, the fact that they chose to do these songs at that time … or continued doing these songs if you prefer … must have had a lot to do with the popularity The Beatles gave to them. The commercial reality is pretty clear. In Levon’s description of their 1964 set he says "Barratt Strong’s ‘Money’" just as anyone covering Roll over Beethoven would have cited Chuck Berry, not The Beatles. How many times did you hear a singer in the mid 60s say "Now we’d like to do Bobby Womack’s "It’s All Over Now" followed by Jimmy Reed’s "Honest I Do" when the truth was "We’re a Stones cover band". As far as Rock and Roll singing goes, John Lennon sang the definitive versions of both Money & Twist & Shout, no competition from the originals or any other covers. Paul did Little Richard better than anyone else except Richard Penniman, and Larry Williams better than Larry Williams himself. In retrospect, The Beatles were not in The Band’s league at covering Motown or soul, except for their original, "Got to Get you into my Life" which was The Beatles playing at being a soul band, and showing they could do it with ease. A trick they repeated with "I Want you" when they played at being Spooky Tooth (or Free or whoever).

The Beatles in Hamburg and The Hawks at the same period drew their material from the same well. The Beatles leaned more to R&R, The Hawks more to R&B, but there’s an area where the categories cross. Both did unexpected cabaret-style tunes, because both Paul McCartney and Richard Manuel had the voices to carry it off. The Beatles made it big well before The Hawks /Band did, and hence had less need to develop their instrumental prowess, but instead more need (with George Martin’s participation) to develop their studio abilities. The Beatles stopped devloping as a live outfit because they were doing 20 minute sets in halls and stadiums where their Vox AC30s couldn’t get above the screams. I saw them three times. I actually heard them the first time, too. Even when the Vox "Beatle" amp was introduced, they couldn’t get enough volume. As spotty youths, we used to hang around the local guitar store admiring Beatle amps. "So powerful that tone controls are irrelevant … there aren’t any" was the odd publicity for these 50 watt monsters. The Beatles missed out on the 1964-66 period when live bands in the clubs and small halls were improving their on-stage technique by leaps and bounds.

McCartney is one of the world’s best melodic bass players. Danko was in the same elite group on bass, but Paul was a far better 6-string guitarist, a decent pianist and Beatles archeologists say that Paul played drums on an uncredited and probably surprising number of tracks. Levon and Ringo have expressed mutual admiration and played together. Technically, there isn’t any competition with all awards to Levon; but for being solid, Ringo is still a great simple drummer – it’s the beat, not the rolls. Lennon, like John Fogerty and Lou Reed, was a great rhythm guitarist (rather as Richard Manuel was a great "rhythm pianist".) Robbie wins in a comparison with George, but both played for the song not for the solo. That leaves Garth as The Band’s trump card. George Martin would have fulfilled some similar "sweetening" roles for the Beatles. In the end, it’s not supposed to be a contest. My CD player has plenty of room for both.

Posted on Sun Jul 23 14:37:53 CEST 2000 from du112-2.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.2.112)

Ilkka

From: Nordic Countries
Home page

About rebirth of Bob Dylan. - I posted a few messages in May of Bob receiving The Polar Music Prize and giving a terrific concert in Stockholm. I thought I was only dreaming. After that we have seen more testimonies of rebirth of Bob: Finland (Kalervo), Norway (Jens Magnus), Germany (Paul Vilser), Reno (Dave), Chigago (Lizz, Jeff). It makes me wonder:
1) What happened? 2) Could it have happened with the Band? 3) Why didn't it happen? - Oh, I was dreaming, too. The concert was announced as "Bob Dylan And His Band" - I read it first: "Bob Dylan And The Band".

Posted on Sun Jul 23 12:49:36 CEST 2000 from 209-23-38-126.ip.termserv.net (209.23.38.126)

Diamond Lil

Brown-eyed Johnny: Long time no hear from..although I guess I'm not surprised. Just wanted to say that reading your post from my hometown is like getting a letter from home...except the family is gone now, and alot of the friends turned out to be liars and bastards. Oh well, hm?

Enjoy Dylan's show at Jones Beach...and remember Rick.

Posted on Sun Jul 23 12:25:21 CEST 2000 from 1cust134.tnt2.farmingdale.ny.da.uu.net (63.23.218.134)

Brown-Eyed Johnny

From: Massapequa, NY

Last night, I watched "Robbie Robertson: Going Home," and it is wonderful. What a treat it was to see Levon, Robbie, Garth, Richard, and Rick--and of course, Bob Dylan--in all their splendor. Robbie is so gracious. I will be seeing Bob at Jones Beach on Wednesday. Somehow I know that Rick will be in the audience, too.

Posted on Sun Jul 23 09:31:30 CEST 2000 from 144.0102.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.144)

Nancy

From: Australia

Crabgrass: I hope you're in a position to wait for Puff Daddy's version of "Chest Fever" as impeccable sources (yesterday's TV mag) indicate that he could be heading for a period of inactivity in regards to music production.

Posted on Sun Jul 23 08:35:10 CEST 2000 from 1cust184.tnt11.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.134.184)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

I believe I mentioned "The Happy Organ" a while back when Liberace was being discussed though not in the context of Garth doing it. Great choice!!

Gee, it does get frustrating when people slack off reading the GB - I picked Puffy to do the ravey dance re-mix of Chest Fever - check the archives.

The mention of a forthcoming album by Garth is exciting - but where'd he get the idea to do it? (It better be a double and have the extended version of "French Girls" on it.) And all this coming together with the creation of the brand new Garth website!!!

"Get Up, Jake" re-write definitely an improvement on the original. Gonna check the Dave "Baby" Cortez site right now - wonder if he's got anything new in the works?

Posted on Sun Jul 23 07:41:27 CEST 2000 from atmax-2-27.enter.net (207.16.153.83)

Little Brøther

From: around Philly, PA

-- Get up, Trish / It's late in the morning,

The modem's warming / You've got posts to do.

Get up, Trish / There's no use in lyin'

Ya tell us that you're dyin' / But ya know it's not true…

______

-- I always liked "Time To Kill" as far as capturing the essence of connubial bliss, though it's not something to strike up in the hushed halls of conventional churches. "Forever Young", though, is more apropos for a christening. This from a single guy raised Roman Catholic, now Secular Humanist Incipient Gnostic. Sort of.

My sister's wedding in 1976, held in our local parish church, featured lyrics from "Here Comes the Sun". Spoken. Being, like her, one of the millions of hopelessly deluded Beatles fans*, I applauded her and her spouse's courage. But the moment was pretty strained and horrible. I think my brother-in-law read the lines, but now I'm hearing William Shatner or Sebastian Cabot. Maybe a dozen people in the congregation recognized the lyrics-- the oldsters rooted through their prayerbooks, trying to figure out where they'd lost the thread. It was like a cold little cloud of perplexity rolled in and fogged the place up for a long minute.

For last rites, I'd pick "The Moon Struck One". (If I don't do it / Somebody else will)

-- No, Hank, there wasn't much reaction to your "Chest Fever" rave mix idea. But I say, "Sure, why not?" It's one of the few Band songs ("Shape I'm In" also comes to mind) that could be expanded infinitely into-- gack-- disco-length. Hell, why not throw in "Mystery Train" for an all-night medley? My solitary, sedentary existence lacks an "ecstasy" connection, but if it has a speedy buzz at all, what better music to jog in place to with yer partner(s)? I can imagine Robbie cutting an EP mix, possibly overtracking electronic percussion!

-- As long as I'm touching bottom: While reading that rather gamy, but funny (because it's TRUE) survey of men's-room poses, then the first-hand TLW story, I see a twisted yellow thread emerging: Match the mostly-male performer lineup to the assorted peeing techniques.

-- Despite Crabby's scathing putdown of "Moondog Matinee", two choices for Bonus Tracks I'd Most Like to Hear are: "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" (The Casinos) and, yes, "The Happy Organ" (Dave "Baby" Cortez). Did the Hawks ever cover THAT one? Maybe Garth will include them in the newly-rumored solo album…

-- * I think the recent Beatles-bashing is a mixup of some kind, in which the Beatles are being confused with the Rutles.

Posted on Sun Jul 23 07:16:09 CEST 2000 from spider-ti042.proxy.aol.com (152.163.194.192)

Bayou Sam

From: ny

BWNWITenn............. Lennon could probably come across as an a-hole to someone who didn't appreciate his raw honesty. Lennon and McCartney were writing pretty damn good stuff for a couple of guys in their early 20's who were still maturing as song writers. Stanley Clarke once said that when Paul came along he gave a respectability to bass players. They were no longer just people who couldn't make it on guitar. Nobody was playing bass like he was then. Paul wrote Yesterday and Helter Skelter - and could sing both. That's versatility. George's greatness was in giving a song just the right kind of lead to accompany the feel of the song. Nowhere Man is a perfect example. George himself gave a great discription of his playing in The Band Biography video when he was comparing his approach to RR's. By the way - these second rate musicians cut Long Tall Sally and Twist and Shout in one take each. Give them a good listen sometime. ............I'm sorry folks. I know it's a BAND website, but this very skewed vision of the Beatles just got me going.... Mr. Tenn., I asked you in an earlier post how the Beatles "ripped off everyone"......... ................................................?

Posted on Sun Jul 23 06:39:41 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.lndn1.on.home.com (24.112.158.228)

Kerrilyn

Much More Music played The Wall Berlin 90 (the Roger Waters concert) tonight. I didn't see it when it originally aired and I was thrilled to see that Levon, Rick and Garth were amoung the artist that played. Garth played instruments on several songs, and Rick and Levon join Sinead O'Connor on Mother. I was wondering if anyone can tell me any other Roger Waters/Pink Floyd and The Band connections.

Posted on Sun Jul 23 06:26:05 CEST 2000 from stk-pm1-10-138.dialup.slip.net (207.171.230.138)

Guenevere

My apology to Bobby Rydell for the misspelling of your name.

Posted on Sun Jul 23 04:50:26 CEST 2000 from 2cust60.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.137.60)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

I'll take the originals over the pathetic hackneyed cover crap on Moondog Matinee - recorded by The Band in a desperate effort to scrape together another LP when their creative well had all but run dry. An insult to their fans - no wonder it sold poorly.

We learn from history - when 'N SYNC puts out their "Sgt. Pepper" I'll be the first to demolish it! Besides, anyone in the know realizes that without Britney Spears' "good friend" Justin Timberlake the SYNC boys would be nothing. He is the heart and soul of the group.

Read May Pang's "Loving John" if you thirst for some really priceless stories about both John and Phil Spector. John was the more talented a-hole of the two in my opinion.

Let's not dump on Bobby Rydell - I saw him in the chat about six months back - no kidding.

Posted on Sun Jul 23 03:53:15 CEST 2000 from mplsdslgw10poolb153.mpls.uswest.net (63.228.41.153)

Patrick

Home page

Does anyone know what keyboard Garth is playing in CLASSIC ALBUMS-THE BAND. He does 2 solos on that keyboard and then he does a kind "Cripple Creek" with that and another one. What are those keyboards?

Posted on Sun Jul 23 02:44:39 CEST 2000 from stk-pm1-1-129.dialup.slip.net (207.171.230.129)

Guenevere

I don't understand attempting to strip artists (well after the fact) what they've long earned ... The Beatles were a great Rock and Roll band ... (its pretty much unanimous according to almost anyone who I've ever met that was alive in the '60s)...

I mean weren't Fabian, Bobbie Rydel and Neil Diamond more like the 'NSync of the 60s... at least The Beatles wrote their own songs and played their own instruments... and did both amazingly well (imho)

Posted on Sat Jul 22 23:55:18 CEST 2000 from cf3k-3.paradise.net.nz (203.96.152.183)

Amanda

From: well I had the chance to one day, but I was all dressed up for Sunday

BWNW etc …Hanks an American living in Ireland I believe...in any case I thought the matching boots, clothes etc was a SOUL thing!

Also don't have the reference but in one of Ken Kesey's essays he describes John Lennon breaking up a potentially nasty brawl between some Hells Angels and a security guard by authoritatively saying "that's enough…" Kesey was just blown away by the way that put a stop to everything since John Lennon was probably half the size of the Hells Angels. So maybe the Beatles were quite tough too just not in such an obvious way.

Best line for a divorce (can't think of a song right now) "We've got to find a sharper blade/or have a new one made"

Posted on Sat Jul 22 22:36:53 CEST 2000 from ahml95.ahml.lib.il.us (38.231.168.95)

Jeff

From: the Chicagoland area

I caught the Dylan/Phil Lesh gig up at Alpine Valley on 7-15-00. Alpine is a beautiful place, and this was my first visit there. The previuos comment about Dylan having a rebirth is ABSOLUTELY true! He played an amazing, amazing set, and I would recommend checking him out this summer if y'all can. I need some help, however. I'm trying to locate a copy of a Band concert I was at, if it exists on tape. I have plenty of stuff to trade by all kinds of different bands/folks, audio and video. The show I'm looking for is the Band on 12-31-96 at the Keswick Theater in Glenside, PA. If anybody can help me to locate a copy, please send me an e-mail. I would be extremely grateful to anybody that could help me with this quest. Thanks a bunch and y'all have a great day

Posted on Sat Jul 22 22:27:04 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-116-171.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.116.171)

BWNWITennessee

From: The Real Birthplace of Rock 'n' Roll

Whoa!

Oh, come on, Hank. When The Beatles first came out they were the N'Sync of the '60s. They were just lucky that popular taste back then demanded musical experimentation as opposed to dance steps and lip synching, so that's where they went, the same place everyone else at the time was also going.

I won't deny that they had some songwriting talent. They are just nowhere near deserving the adulation that they recieve. If they weren't so hugely popular as a result of their early years, if they were a no-name band, people would not be calling Sgt. Pepper a work of genius. They would have the moderate group of fans that they justly deserve.

And let's face it, they really were pretty horrible musicians. At least Ringo was cool, and he had a good feel. Lennon really was an a-hole (just ask Julian), McCartney was an airhead. George Harrison was alright, but basically useless. (Ahhh - let the curses upon my unborn children begin!) And to say they revitalized Rock and Roll! Their early work was just hackneyed, cut-rate versions of Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry songs. They could not hold a candle to the Four Tops of any of Phil Spector's stuff. (Speaking of Phil, I recommend that you all buy his box set, "Back to Mono," it's excellent. I just got a PS t-shirt on ebay and am a happy camper.)

And yeah, the Hawks met them when they played with Dylan. Here's RR's account, from "Rolling Stone" 513 - "We were astonished at how naive they were. How very sweet and nice and everything. They all had on, like, matching boots and matching clothes. And they talked about mystical things that were very corny. From the American side of it; it wasn't so sweet. It was tougher. Different rules to the game, I guess, is what it was." Oh, but what do you know, Hank? You're from Ireland. I bet when you play with your band you all wear matching boots and clothes.

Bloody 'ell!

Posted on Sat Jul 22 20:39:39 CEST 2000 from dialup-106.cork.iol.ie (194.125.43.106)

HANK

From: A City near enuff to Liverpool.......
Home page

I been away for a few days but I just checked in to see what was goin' down here..........Mother of Mercy in Heaven Above tonight!!!!!.........some of you folks here have some SERIOUS issues to deal with..........I dunno whether to laugh or be genuimely scared when I read some of the stuff here..........I guess that's whay I like coming here...... Gosh, I have'nt a clue where to start........Any takers on my suggestion that "Chest-Fever" be re-wired into a Ravey-Dance Thang for to blow the ears off of todays ecstacy-rave-dancey-clubber generation?......No?......I was gonna look at the archives just to see.....but I ain't got the time for that now........I'd appreciate it if someone would post or email me what the reaction was........maybe there was none.......I thought rollies description of TLW was great to read.....thanks, rollie!!!!!! BWNWin TENN. dissed The Beatles.....all I can say about that is: If you listen to their early stuff......you'll realise that there were actually a GREAT 4-piece Rock'n'Roll Band......Sure, there were better players in The USA and The UK (and, er, um,..... Canada....just to keep things relevant) but as a BAND, The Beatles can never be so summarily dismissed or dissed......the other thing to remember about The Beatles is that they, ALMOST single-handedly, reminded North America of the pure joy of Rock'n'Roll......they did this by making a sound that combined their rock'n'roll influences of the 50ies and what was THEN current in Motown and Phil Spector-produced girl groups..........aw, heck, I'm going on a bit here..........just to finish this Beatley rant......When The Band backed Bob Dylan at the Isle of wight in 1969 John, George and Ringo choppered in to hang with' em and they played 'em cuts from the unreleased "Abbey Road"....apparently Dylan and The Band were floored by it........Why would'nt they be?.........Ah, it's great to be back rantin' on the GB!!!!!!! I started this this afternoon and finished it this evening.......The ONLY thing you can say about RR is that he could play more Rock'n'Roll guitar than he does these days........I THINK I mentioned that before, did'nt I?.......SEE Y'All......later......

Posted on Sat Jul 22 20:12:15 CEST 2000 from spider-ti021.proxy.aol.com (152.163.194.181)

Ruby

From: Mass.

Hello good people Just got back from Hartford, Conn. after seeing the Dylan/Lesh concert Amazing!!!! It is true what everyone is saying My friends and I see Bob at least 2 times a year or more if possible. He is having some kind of rebirth or something At any rate it is outta sight. The real kicker was Phil Leshs' last song "Endless Highway" !!!!!!! Ricks spirit is everywhere! Try to get to one of these shows if you can I think I will go again tonight to the Tweeter Center in Mansfiel Mass. Got to catch them while you can Have a great day all Peace

Posted on Sat Jul 22 19:57:32 CEST 2000 from gw3a60-1-d17.wind.it (212.141.122.17)

Emanuele

From: Venezia, Italy
Home page

HELLO !!! New add RealAudio Files on the Italian Tribute Page to THE BAND !!! VISIT ME !!!!!!

Posted on Sat Jul 22 19:44:51 CEST 2000 from 1cust2.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.136.2)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

Obvious best Band "Divorce Song" - "I Shall Be Released."

What's next??

Posted on Sat Jul 22 15:52:37 CEST 2000 from pm4-86.delrio.com (208.246.53.86)

Just Wonderin'

From: Somewhere out of San Antone

Best Band Wedding Song: I cast my vote for "Right as Rain" along with Deb. Forgot to do it last night.

I also like "Time to Kill" which I've always thought as romantic and fun.

Posted on Sat Jul 22 10:50:53 CEST 2000 from dudley.dialup.cloud9.net (168.100.205.100)

Robert dudley Dickinson

From: Upstate New York a ways
Home page

I have to refrain from commenting on the Band right now. Just saw Dylan in Hartford CT do Tears of Rage & the ghosts of Danko & Manuel were singin harmony.

As always a great web site. Hi Levon & Garth.

My reason for being here tonite tho' is I just told a guy at rec.music.dylan that someone here might have directions to Big Pink (yes, in West Saugerties, Ulster County, NY).

Anyone help? Much appreciated.

Sincerely,

PresidentDudley

Posted on Sat Jul 22 10:36:35 CEST 2000 from pm3-029.efn.org (206.163.180.29)

deb

From: oregon

The best song for a wedding by The Band:

Right As Rain.

Take a listen to the words...beautiful.

Posted on Sat Jul 22 10:28:58 CEST 2000 from pm3-029.efn.org (206.163.180.29)

deb

From: oregon

Hey, if The Band could play that good at The Last Waltz while stoned, what would have they sounded like if they were not blottoed? Just wondering, I am Deb

Posted on Sat Jul 22 09:02:06 CEST 2000 from mplsdslgw10poolc42.mpls.uswest.net (63.228.42.42)

Patrick Swanson

Home page

I'VE GOT SOME HUGE GARTH NEWS. COME TO MY SITE AND SEE FOR YOURSELF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted on Sat Jul 22 08:06:42 CEST 2000 from 1cust73.tnt1.idaho-falls.id.da.uu.net (63.28.242.73)

rollie

Awww shucks Patricia! I knew you cared for me!

Posted on Sat Jul 22 07:16:34 CEST 2000 from alb1-as5300-179-179.termserv.net (209.23.41.179)

Diamond Lil

Code Blue/Patricia: I saw the movie. Please e-mail me.

Posted on Sat Jul 22 05:53:10 CEST 2000 from mplsdslgw10poolc42.mpls.uswest.net (63.228.42.42)

Patrick Swanson

Home page

Could someone please e-mail the chords to "Bessie Smith"? Even if its not perfect I can figure the rest out. Oh and I watched The Last Waltz and was incredibly dissapointed. The only semi-cool performences was "Caravan" and some other stuff. Also the drugged way all of them are ACTING during the interviews made me wanna beat the hell out of them. The only ones who were not FAKE and not trying to work the camera were Levon and Garth. AND THE WAY THE INTERVIEWS ARE ALL EDITED AND STUPID made me realize who close they came to rock-bottom. WELL THANK GOD FOR REHAB!!!!!

Posted on Sat Jul 22 05:37:56 CEST 2000 from pm1-5.delrio.com (208.246.52.25)

Just Wonderin'

From: Somewhere out of San Antone

Many thanks for all who posted and emailed me the info on the Mikayo. Looks like we may get there during low season so we may actually be able to afford it!!

Please everyone be kind to each other even if you have to bite your tongue (or I guess in this case fingers on the keyboard!. Remember how unhappy we all were when Jan was forced to shut down the guestbook in the spring of '98?

Posted on Sat Jul 22 05:32:51 CEST 2000 from proxy-681.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.81)

'night mother

From: the last resort

__--code blue--____________

Posted on Sat Jul 22 04:54:30 CEST 2000 from pm3-pt9.pcnet.net (206.105.29.83)

Laura P.

From: Manchester, Connecticut
Home page

Band wedding songs:
Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever
She Knows
Jemima Surrender :)
My Love (Rick & Richard live at O'Tooles Tavern... not a "real" Band song, but unbelievably heart-stoppingly wonderful and emotional. Probably best as an anniversary song, but might fit for a wedding, depending on the couple.)

Posted on Sat Jul 22 04:17:48 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.avnl1.nj.home.com (24.4.252.66)

Brien Sz

From: NJ

Pac: The corn is GREAT this year. I'm not a great corn lover but man..., this year it has been wonderful. As far as local music, it all depends on where in jersey you are going. Yea it's a small state but with traffic, places can be mighty far!

On the topic of wedding songs(it seems my earlier post didn't go through)Our wedding song was Book Faded Brown.

Posted on Sat Jul 22 04:12:12 CEST 2000 from 3cust241.tnt11.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.135.241)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

Well, I guess that about clears up all my questions about the poor technical quality of the Basement Tapes. Thanks to all those who participated!!

Robbie's "Take Your Partner..." is my choice for an all-purpose wedding song.

Posted on Sat Jul 22 04:10:13 CEST 2000 from spider-tj084.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.214)

Doc

From: The Institute

Dear Patricia/Ironweed/Helenbak/Miss Gulch:

Honey. Look at yourself. You're posting on theis Guestbook about 10 or 12 times a day. About half of those posts are apologies for the other half. Think---before you post--"is what I'm about to say, REALLY worth saying?????" Try this for a few days. You'll be happier, I promise

Posted on Sat Jul 22 04:00:41 CEST 2000 from proxy-1341.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.220.164)

Patricia

"Out of the Blue"...a happy relationship song... It's in the wee hours in some lonely bar..but you don't stay up all night and walk the floor...couse you know damned well..I'll be comin' back for more ! A happy relationship song?? yeah..maybe up at Madame Jackie's !

Posted on Sat Jul 22 03:47:02 CEST 2000 from cf3k-3.paradise.net.nz (203.96.152.183)

Amanda

From: I do not like green eggs and ham

I think the words to "forever young" might be quite nice as a reading at wedding. Other than that I don't feel that many BAND songs are really "happy relationship" songs...time to kill & out of the blue possibly being exceptions??

Mr Amanda, as he likes to be known ;), & I listened to I'm sticking with you by the Velvet Underground and Into my arms by Nick Cave before we caught the bus to the registry office on our wedding day. Aaaaaah... the touching romance of student poverty!

I like stories too... But right now the world is calling so I'll have to plant you now & dig you later...there's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like home...

Posted on Sat Jul 22 03:31:18 CEST 2000 from proxy-553.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.143)

Patricia

I'm melting...i'm melting...what a world...what a world....-----code blue-----code blue_______

Posted on Sat Jul 22 02:57:50 CEST 2000 from spider-wg082.proxy.aol.com (205.188.196.57)

Pac

From: SF Bay Area

To "Just" and anyone else who may be wonderin' -- I called the Miyako Hotel in SF (part of the Radisson Hotel chain) and they're still located at 1625 Post St., SF CA, 94115. The phone number is (415) 922-3200. Single/double rooms go from $209 to $239; off-season rates ($179) start in mid-November. Too bad you're not here now. Never saw such beautiful weather! Hey east coasters, I'll be at the Jersey shore in less than 2 weeks. Any suggestions for local music? Heard the corn's delicious this year. And Rollie, great story. You're far from conceited. I used to organize concerts; any mention of people I came to know was always perceived by some outsider as namedropping. Came to loathe the backstage scene. Gotta admire people like Rick D. and yes, Butch, that much more for being able to handle it and show kindness instead of ego. Hope everyone's having a great summer!

Posted on Sat Jul 22 02:26:30 CEST 2000 from proxy-343.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.43)

patricia

FOR WHAT...I'm just a juvenile delinquent...never learned how to behave !

Posted on Sat Jul 22 02:16:34 CEST 2000 from proxy-563.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.153)

Patricia

From: why the hell does everything happen to me!

please everybody...forgive my last post...sorry about the homo jab...wig...you ain't no dummy....this is not a boring place......I had a real bad day...peace !

Posted on Sat Jul 22 02:08:15 CEST 2000 from grmn-105ppp109.dialup.valstar.net (199.224.105.109)

BIG BROTHER

From: THE HOUSE

I NOMINATE PATRICIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted on Fri Jul 21 23:33:59 CEST 2000 from trt-on65-95.netcom.ca (216.123.97.95)

John Donabie

From: Toronto

JUST WONDERING

I believe the Miyako Hotel is still there. I don't know the street. It's right in the middle of Japan town. Nice food. Ask to go down to the basement where Dylan rehearsed. He was the only one that didn't come to the hall to rehearse with others. I went back to the city about 10 years after TLW and it was still there. Give em' a call.

Posted on Fri Jul 21 23:07:43 CEST 2000 from 56k-la-00-03.dial.qnet.com (209.221.212.18)

Dave the Phone Guy

From: L.V.,Ca.

I just can't stop thinking 'bout that Dylan/Lesh concert.You gotta go if there is any possible way of attending.I don't know how Dylan could play or sing any better.

Here's the remaining itinerary.The rest of July,21@Hartford,Ct.,22@Mansfield,Ma.,23@Saratoga Sprgs,NY,25@Montage Mtn,PA,26@Wantagh,NY,28@Camden,NJ,29@Columbia,MD,30@Stanhope,NJ.Bob Dylan opened the Reno show so go early like Richard was saying.

Reno audience got Somebody Touched Me,Long Black Veil,Masters Of War,Girl Of The North Country,Tangled Up In Blue,Don't Think Twice It's Alright(unrecognizable from the original),Country Pie,Gotta Serve Somebody,I'll Be Your Baby Tonight,I Don't Believe You She Acts Like We Never Have Met,Drifter's Escape,Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat(absolutely burnin' hot smokey blues!),and encored w/Things Have Changed,Like A Rolling Stone,The Times They Are A-Changing,and Rainy Day Women#12#.

Bob fancies himself a lead guitarist and played good note selections/phrasing.It's true he never addressed the crowd directly but made quite a dramatic figure with dipping to one knee while blowing harp and different gestures with his hands.He also stood in one place very still after the last song while the two guitar playing sidemen just dropped their arms to their sides with heads down.The whole crowd stood there with their jaws opened.Just overcome by the sheer power of the music and presentation.

Oh,by the way Gals(or whatever)the two guitarists(Larry Campbell and Charlie Sexton)looked like they walked off the cover of GQ magazine,damnit.

This is not a half-drunk Bob mumbling at the microphone.This is Dylan at his peak playing with PASSION and committment.

This post is not written to cause envy or jealousy.It's simply being posted to push the undecided to get off the fence and in the ticket line for those that can attend.

Harvey Mandell,Norton Buffalo,John Mayall,and John Lee Hooker on tap for me up in Reno tomorrow.(not braggin')Have a great weekend BAND-mates!

Posted on Fri Jul 21 22:16:08 CEST 2000 from cic-proxy02.firstunion.com (169.200.25.141)

Bones

From: CT

Did anyone ever clarify if Levon played mandolin on Ringo's Rotogravure? If so, why's he not mentioned in the credits?

Posted on Fri Jul 21 21:41:48 CEST 2000 from (129.79.75.120)

m shiflet

LEON RUSSELL CONCERT - September 28, 200 - Coyotes - Louisville, Kentucky Would like to invite The Band AND Billy Preston (if he's out by then!) to The LeonLifer's Leon Russell Concert in Louisville, Kentucky - September 28, 2000 - at Coyotes. There will be people from several continents in attendance and we intend this to be a tribute to Leon for all he has done for music and for us, his best followers for 30+ years. We hope you all will be able to attend! For more information, contact me at mshiflet@indiana.edu Thanks!!!

Posted on Fri Jul 21 21:17:52 CEST 2000 from proxy-543.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.133)

Miss Gulch

hey Wig...It's a broom,dummy! I think all this chatter about mens Genitalia has got our sensitive little Matt all worked up.......you know ..you folks are getting awful boring......

Posted on Fri Jul 21 20:58:40 CEST 2000 from m198214181166.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.181.166)

Pehr

From: cc.tx.us

Thanks Rollie, I'm with Guenevere on this one. More stories!

Posted on Fri Jul 21 20:41:31 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

We were just commenting at work what a great word "abulia" is. We immediately looked to register "abulia.com." It's already taken, though, and you guessed it...

...it's a porn site.

Posted on Fri Jul 21 20:37:45 CEST 2000 from spider-mtc-td061.proxy.aol.com (64.12.104.176)

bob wigo

From: havertown,pa.

Which one of you has a license ?

Is there gas in the car?

Posted on Fri Jul 21 20:29:23 CEST 2000 from (12.40.113.50)

Funk ( of "& Wagnall" fame )

A couple of humdingers courtesy of Jonathan Katz:

abu·lia

Pronunciation: A-'bü-lE-&, -'byü-, &- Function: noun Etymology: New Latin, from 2a- + Greek boulE will Date: circa 1864 : abnormal lack of ability to act or to make decisions - abu·lic /-lik/ adjective .

and

an·he·do·nia

Pronunciation: "an-(")hE-'dO-nE-&, -ny& Function: noun Etymology: New Latin, from 2a- + Greek hEdonE pleasure -- more at HEDONISM Date: 1897 : a psychological condition characterized by inability to experience pleasure in normally pleasurable acts - an·he·don·ic /-'dä-nik/ adjective

Posted on Fri Jul 21 20:21:36 CEST 2000 from proxy-1311.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.220.140)

Patricia

From: up on the roof

hey Wig....wanna go for a ride ?

Posted on Fri Jul 21 19:59:09 CEST 2000 from (137.187.145.40)

Jonathan Katz

From: Columbia, MD [8 days to Dylan/Lesh]

FYI: MP3's of Neil Young's "On The Beach" are available for download at

http://www.dergunerz.freeserve.co.uk/

This long out-of-print album features, among others, Rick Danko on bass and Levon Helm on drums. This is a fairly dark album that some have speculated is a result of the abulia and anhedonia that result from the excesses of the LA scene and its [for lack of a more descriptive term] culture. [Only two weeks until my annual trek to LA to visit relatives!] Young's Canadian heritage and his ex-patriate status in this scene may have been contributing factors to some kinship felt by Levon and Rick. On the other hand, it could be just some good ol' boys makin' music.

Posted on Fri Jul 21 19:11:22 CEST 2000 from proxy-333.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.33)

Patricia

Dear rollie...in the words of May Alice Culhane from the wonderful John Sayles picture "Passionfish"...it was a joke...precious. You know that Miss Gulch aka The Wicked Witch..was by far the most "colorful" member of "The Wizard of OZ cast ....love and peace to everyone.Miss Gulch

Posted on Fri Jul 21 19:09:13 CEST 2000 from (206.186.16.78)

Rick Kenworthy

From: T.O.

D. Lil: You are so much more subtle than I . . . and hate to admit it, but 20 some odd years ago, there were no band tunes played at the Kenworthy wedding . . . which maybe speaks to the lack of endurance of that particular union. Next time 'round, though I think it's a choral version of Book Faded Brown for down the aisle, with Rag, Momma, Rag kicking off the reception . . . ("Hail stones beatin' on da roof . . ") Dileas gu brath Rick

Posted on Fri Jul 21 18:47:01 CEST 2000 from spider-wi052.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.42)

bob wigo

From: havertown, pa.

No way Crabby. Those "caps" give you away every time. By the way, it would seem that Patricia is several wonderful people !

Posted on Fri Jul 21 18:35:52 CEST 2000 from 1cust91.tnt14.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.142.91)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

To be quite honest it always amazed me how poor the sound quality was on the socalled "Basement Tapes" both bootlegged and officially released versions and thought to myself - "These guys were all professional musicians - couldn't they have used better or better functioning equipment even if the tapes were only meant to be feedback for themselves? And weren't they somewhat frustrated on playback to hear how crappy the quality was on some of the songs that came off pretty good performance wise? Or were they just too stoned to care?" (my personal best guess) Hell, my cheap Panasonic reel-to-reel could have done a better job at that point in time!!

It's regrettable that Pennebaker, the Maysles, or Murray Lerner didn't get the chance to document the basement rehearsals for TLW - if so, that would be the film we'd all be talking about - not Scorcese's "staged" extravaganza.

BTW I'm actually also a wonderful person!

Posted on Fri Jul 21 18:16:17 CEST 2000 from stk-pm1-46-174.dialup.slip.net (207.171.230.174)

Guenevere

Thanks rollie, I didn't read ‘conceit' into your character by that story at all, and use of the lowercase "r" indicates that you have a sense of humility... :)...

I like stories, all kinds of stories, myths, fairy tales, legends... even a rumor will do (if I get desperate)...I say we need more stories!!

Posted on Fri Jul 21 17:13:04 CEST 2000 from ras-c5800-1-49-30.dialup.wisc.edu (128.104.49.30)

Ryan Stang

From: Madison, WI

If anyone can help me with the following information, it would be greatly appreciated----We know that Garth had the boys set up in the Red Room and Basement with a Revox A77 Reel-to-reel, and a set of Neumann U67's. Here's my question: Does anyone know what type of Altec-Lansing Tube mixer they were using? There weren't that many models that would fit the criteria. I think it's either a 1567A or a 342B. My band is assembling a Basement Tapes soundscape, and we want to find out the mixer model. Thanks in advance, Ryan Stang

Posted on Fri Jul 21 17:06:05 CEST 2000 from 1cust143.tnt1.idaho-falls.id.da.uu.net (63.28.242.143)

rollie

Geez Patricia, That's a little harsh! Just because I was there hangin out at the TLW with the cogniscenti of the rock'n'roll world,and you weren't, doesn't mean I'm conceited!!! These are simply my personal experiences,which have found their forum(for better or worse I suppose!). I'm actually a wonderful person, who finds the time to do lots of public service work! Why,even tonight, I'm performing at a benefit for our local recycling center at which we're auctioning off birdhouses for our our little feathered friends!Folks will get a chance to come down and look, hear, and possibly even touch me! I might even tell a story or two about the Last Waltz and my significant role in it!(I'll leave out the part about slapping my u-no what off the sides of the urinals!) I will give ya some leeway here though.That whole time period, coupled with having been on the periphery of that whole experience has had a profound and positive impact on me.I was fortunate enough to have experienced some great music, and been in the company of some amazing people, mostly non-musician types. I enjoy talking about it, and hope that somebody here in this guestbook will dig it and find something of value in it.The stories are many and this seems to be a good place for them.If they come off a little over-the-top,that can only be attributed to the nature of that whole scene.

Posted on Fri Jul 21 16:50:34 CEST 2000 from spider-wi022.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.27)

bob wigo

From: havertown, pa

Tell me hon, what you done with the gun ?

Posted on Fri Jul 21 16:35:20 CEST 2000 from 1cust163.tnt1.idaho-falls.id.da.uu.net (63.28.242.163)

rollie

Hi Matt! Dylan was not at the soundcheck at the Winterland.I had heard he was partaking of the jam in the basement at the Miyako hotel. I could hear the music coming up though the floor of the hotel.Just enough to realize I was missing out on a historic occasion in its own right.My recollections I hope are reasonably accurate at this point in my life.By the way, what the hell was your name again?(chuckle, chuckle!)

Posted on Fri Jul 21 16:19:30 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

Thanks for the great post, Rollie. TLW tales have the air of legend about them so it's good to get "first-hand" accounts.

I found it interesting that you noted Dylan being at the post rehersal jam. I was just reading the Last Waltz chapter in Bill Graham's autobiography last night. He says specifically that Dylan was not at the soundcheck the night before(he doesn't mention the jam). He also notes that he felt the soundcheck was better than the show. On Dylan's attendance, Graham later mentions that Dylan was not seen until right before the show when he raised a stink about being filmed (he was concerned that his appearance in the film would delute interest in "Renaldo and Clara," which he was working on at the time.

According to Taplin, Robbie and Graham, it was Bill who essentially got Bob to agree to be filmed for a couple songs and who later physically kept the camera's from stopping when Bob spontaneously launced back into "Baby Let Me Follow You Down" (at least I think that was the song). Dylan's manager tried to shut off the stage camera and Bill got into a shoving match with him, keeping the cameras rolling.

Posted on Fri Jul 21 15:51:26 CEST 2000 from (130.219.229.173)

BK

From: NJ

Mornin' folks, Great to hear about people that were at the TLW opening. Lil, I was also there at the Ziegfield on the first night. What a great show! But I have a question, I don't remember them doing OOTB, but I if my memory (such as it is) serves me well, wasn't the show a lot longer that night? I seem to remember most performers doing more than one song. And I thought it ran for maybe 4 hours. Also, I saw it again a couple weeks later and it seemed shorter.

Maybe in my confused little mind I've mixed the film with the album? (or maybe I'm just insane. well...there is that).

Anyway, I've wondered about it for years and thought somebody here might have a similar memory. Thanx

Keep Rockin' - Bill K

Posted on Fri Jul 21 15:42:37 CEST 2000 from pm4-69.delrio.com (208.246.53.69)

Just Wonderin'

From: Somewhere out of San Antone

Does anyone know what street the Miyako hotel is on and if it still exists? Might consider staying there this year when we go to San Francisco. Any info would be appreciated thanks!!

Posted on Fri Jul 21 15:34:59 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.lndn1.on.home.com (24.112.158.228)

Kerrilyn

All you guys that actually got to go to TLW...you're killin me. I hope you realize how incredibly lucky you were! By the time I was old enough to go anywhere the most significant final rock show was WHAM! splitting up. (OOH sorry I missed that one).

Posted on Fri Jul 21 15:32:23 CEST 2000 from pm4-69.delrio.com (208.246.53.69)

Just Wonderin'

From: Somewhere out of San Antone

Rollie: Thanks for sharing your recollections of TLW! For those of us who weren't fortunate enough to be able to go these history lessons are mandatory!!

Posted on Fri Jul 21 13:32:01 CEST 2000 from (206.186.16.78)

Rick Kenworthy

From: Upper Canada

\\"It's better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and confirm it." - Abraham Lincoln.// Enough with the personal jabs, folks, it' Summer in the City, go out and find a girl and_listen_to_the_music . . . Dileas gu Brath Rick

Posted on Fri Jul 21 13:23:44 CEST 2000 from alb1-as5300-159-159.termserv.net (209.23.41.159)

Diamond Lil

Rollie: Wonderful post about The Last Waltz! Thanks for sharing.

Bashful Bill's last post got me thinking. He mentioned that he and his wife danced to "Out of the Blue" at their wedding...and I was just wondering if anyone else had a Band tune played at their wedding?

Posted on Fri Jul 21 10:16:26 CEST 2000 from proxy-563.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.153)

Patricia

Oh yeah....there is a big difference between being clever and being conceited....Rollie seems to me to be more the "Conceited" type.......know what I mean ?

Posted on Fri Jul 21 10:02:12 CEST 2000 from crtntx1-ar2-074-173.dsl.gtei.net (4.35.74.173)

Kelly

From: Texas - where it is HOT!

John D. and Diamond Lil (hey Lil, long time no talk to!) I remember the same as both of you, I saw TLW when it was first released, and no RR performance of Out of the Blue. Additionally, I was given a VHS tape, before 1982, still have it... no performance on the tape either... Hope all is well with everyone here...

Posted on Fri Jul 21 09:52:34 CEST 2000 from 154.0102.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.154)

Nancy

From: Australia

Thanks for the post, Rollie. Thoughtful as well as anecdotal. One day I might get sick of hearing TLW stories, as some people here indicate they are, but I can't imagine when. After all it is my No.1 Band Fantasy.

Posted on Fri Jul 21 09:40:28 CEST 2000 from 1cust203.tnt1.idaho-falls.id.da.uu.net (63.28.242.203)

rollie

By the way Miss Gulch, I'm the clever kind! Genetics I think!

Posted on Fri Jul 21 09:30:46 CEST 2000 from 1cust203.tnt1.idaho-falls.id.da.uu.net (63.28.242.203)

rollie

Well Nancy....!!!!! I believe i finally answered natures call about the time Ringo jumped on the drum kit, and Stephen Stills came on the stage with his git-fiddle. Not that this was an unworthy line-up, but, well, you know..... I will say this. Scorcese could have done a much better job at catching the flavor of the "entire" program than he did.That's not to say I'm not a fan of the movie or Scorceses work,(for anybody who gives a rats ass)! The costumes were outrageous, the boogie-woogie barrelhouse piano player who opened up the night down on the main floor was smokin!(as was the cop guarding his piano who nearly took my head off when I leaned over and rested my arm on the piano, something to do with respect I think!). And what about the rehearsals the night before at the Winterland and the jam in the basement of I believe it was the Miyako Hotel with the Band, Butterfield, Dylan, Muddy Waters and Van Morrison. Or how about David Graham, Bills son, all of thirteen years old , being the shuttle driver of the RV taking folks to and from the Winterland. I nearly blew a gasket when the door from the RV opened up and there behind the wheel was this little grass hopper asking me if I needed a lift down to the Winterland to go check out the rehearsals? A sniper was loose in SF at this time and I can remember flinching just a bit every time I stepped out of a doorway onto the street, thinking that this better be one hell of a show if I was going to have to run the gauntlet just to see it! I was a "guest" of the Band at this show, and I'll never forget trooping around SF with Garth and his buddy David Boyle and my sister, checking out hardware stores! of all places.(Ah, so this how rock'n'rollers prepare for the big gig!!!!!)Having lunch in the hotel when Levon and Rick and Robbie came trooping through,(man, Levon sure seemed steamed about something!! Had I only known!!! Shit, I was only eighteen!!) What I wouldn't give to be up in the Catskills in October, sitting around the Joyous Lake when it still had a piano in it, getting sauced, and listening to a little "Strawberry Wine". You know, as much as I grow tired of some of the ramblings here in the guestbook(mine as well as others)it just struck me,( again!!!)how much of a mark these musicians made on me,the times, the place. It's hell "growing up". Hard to let go.Surely it meant something. Is it true what John Popper said? It won't mean a thing in a hundred years? I hope not. I still play their music with my band, and it still has a huge impact, especially with the "new" generation of hellions! I take that as a sign. There's power in this music. It's tapped deep into the "roots" of life itself. This is something Scorcese briefly covered in TLW. The confluence of many cultures.If music is designed to bring folks together,then these pages are living proof that The Band was, and is still, a huge success at having done just that.

Posted on Fri Jul 21 09:24:42 CEST 2000 from proxy-563.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.153)

Miss Gulch

From: standing behind the door....

SPEAKING OF "THE WIZ"....twelve types of men you might meet in a public restroom..Excitable__shorts half twisted around,can't find hole..rips shorts__Sociable__joins friends in piss whether he has to or not__Crosseyed__looks into the next urinal to see how the other guy is fixed__Timid__cannot piss if someone is watching..flushes urinal..comes back later__Indifferent__all urinals being used...pisses in sink__Clever__no hands..fixes tie..looks around..usually pisses on floor__Absent- minded__opens vest...pulls out tie..pisses in pants__Tough__bangs D--- on side of urinal to dry it__Disgruntled__stands for a while ..gives up ..walks away__Conceited__holds two inch d--- like a baseball bat__Drunk__holds left thumb in right hand...pisses in pants.............peace

Posted on Fri Jul 21 09:23:58 CEST 2000 from tcnet03-39.austin.texas.net (209.99.40.165)

Laura Holt

OK Rollie..I wanna hear you're "EXTREMELY ONCE IN A LIFE TIME EXPERIENCE" at TLW. You are making us CRAZY!! Please DO TELL. I would love to hear. You gotta SHARE SWEETHEART!!! We are waiting for you're reply you DOG!!!

Posted on Fri Jul 21 09:23:43 CEST 2000 from pm3-pt24.pcnet.net (206.105.29.98)

Laura P.

From: Manchester, Connecticut
Home page

I've been listening nonstop to the new RealAudio track that Jan put up (originating on the Italian Band site) of "The Shape I'm In" live in Jersey City. Does anyone know which night (and/or which boot) this version is from? I love it! I am going to run my ISP bill up sky-high because you have to be online to play the thing! :-) "Well I just spent 60 days in the jailhouse, and we're gonna have another ride!" I like the "It takes time!" at the beginning, too. (And yes, it certainly does sound like Richard sings, "You know they feel they're tryin' to **** us.")

Posted on Fri Jul 21 08:38:26 CEST 2000 from proxy-563.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.153)

Elmira

From: Kansas

Hey....did somebody just refer to me as "Miss Gulch"......

Posted on Fri Jul 21 08:36:18 CEST 2000 from tcnet03-39.austin.texas.net (209.99.40.165)

Laura Holt

From: AUSTIN

OK CRAB ...gotta speak my "Chardonay Mind" on this subject. See ...now you're backtrackin to make "all good" I don't really feel that you are one of those "HOMO HATERS" as some would say BUT let me say this...don't go round sayin shit that's gonna make ya have to feel like you're gonna have to defend yourself in the aftermath of it all. THINK BEFORE YOU TYPE!!! I feel (in my small world of Laura opinion) that what you have said is in BAD TASTE!! BUT...let's just leave it at that and press on with other topics. I feel this is NOT a site for all of that mess nor would I feel Jan would WANT it be. At any rate..I enjoy the input that you do..it certainly sparks thangs up a tad. You get some people's "Fur Up" so to speak, and there is plenty of that goin round that share this GB these days. Maybe I sound corny with what I'm about to say but I feel this is a site for LOVE AND PEACE for ALL TRUE BAND FANS. I DO NOT want ANYONE with those sexual preferences feeling "run off" from this site because of you're remarks ...MAN you gotta be tough to stick it out in here!! I tell ya..."THE HAWK" would love this place ...let's send him a set of teeth we have all knocked outa someone in here from time to time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted on Fri Jul 21 08:30:36 CEST 2000 from 161.0102.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.161)

Nancy

From: Australia

Rollie, I just re-read your message to ascertain whether you are the sort of person to take a bit of ribbing. I did this AFTER I posted the message about you at TLW, so it was a superfluous exercise, but you sound like you are OOKK!

I saw in that message that you have a story you are willing to tell us, but you are holding back in case we find it boring. I bet it's not, but if it is then someone is bound to tell you and then you'll know and will never tell it again..... :)

So, please tell the darn story....

Posted on Fri Jul 21 08:18:34 CEST 2000 from 177.0102.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.177)

Nancy

From: Australia

Okay, so Rollie was at The Last Waltz, and Rollie admits it was hard to leave the show to take a whiz. So unless he was able to quell his urges for the 12 hours the show went for, despite all that food and drink, my question is: "WHICH performer or WHICH song did Rollie forgo in order to attend the little boys room?"

Posted on Fri Jul 21 07:22:43 CEST 2000 from 2cust33.tnt11.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.133.161)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

Hey, let's not forget the Village People!!

Posted on Fri Jul 21 07:00:30 CEST 2000 from 209-239-196-202.oak.jps.net (209.239.196.202)

Phil

From: Ca

Procol Harum, Thunderclap Newman, Whiter Shade Of Pale & Something In The Air. Can't remember enjoying this guestbook more. TCN did a great version of "Open The Door Homer" if I recall. Boy would I like to hear that again.

Posted on Fri Jul 21 06:32:55 CEST 2000 from atmax-5-22.enter.net (207.16.153.216)

Little Brøther

From: around Philly, PA

-- It is an odd but undeniable fact that when Jan goes away, even more hell than usual seems to break out on this site. It's like "The Cat In The Hat", except that there's more than one cat at work here.

Which, to jump to a parallel universe, leaves me feeling a bit like Dorothy in the center of the cyclone. Mouth agape, simultaneously horrified and fascinated, I watch the chicken coops and the knitting ladies in rocking chairs and Miss Gulch, pedaling furiously, whirling and whizzing by.

There was even an ACTUAL whiz, or at least a comment about someone at TLW needing badly to take one. EVERYTHING made it in here this time around, though I thought the Boy Scouts would pop up during the tangled allusions to gay rights. Well, let that be my contribution as I fling open the storm cellar door to get some fresh air, and/or expel some pent-up fumes… Return that nerve-curdling EBS banshee to the hell where it was spawned! (Notice it NEVER comes on during commercials?) Nuclear sneak attacks and natural disasters ain't nothin' to survivors of THIS 'book. Speaking of which:

-- LIZZ! All I can say is, you are SO HIGH, girl! I'm seething with envy, 'cause you still managed to do the underlining thing. Please E-mail me with technical tips if you ever fully rematerialize.

-- "Whiter Shade of Pale" is a beautiful, compelling, haunting song, including the "miller". Mirror, my ass, will all due respect to Chaucer. Whether Robbie made disparaging comments about it way back when is no big deal. I seem to recall similar extemporaneous putdowns about some Beatles tunes in a Band interview-- probably archived on this site. What sticks in my mind is somebody-- Levon, I think-- trashing "Michelle" as a lightweight "pinky-dew" song. I guess I ought to research before going further.

The point here is that it's incredible to the point of mild hilarity that the Band, like the Beach Boys and other groups of their generation, truly were programmed to critique songs primarily on the basis of whether they'd work as as AM radio "hits". (Regardless of which stations they listened to, RADIO was the esthetic lighthouse from which the divine spark of hot music radiated, a spark that fused artistic and financial aspirations.) Record-making and radio airplay is a chicken-and-egg phenomenon, but one gets the impression that the hit song on the radio was the Golden Fleece, the Holy Grail-- craft that Number One hit and the records will take care of themselves!

I just mean it's amazing, and amusing, that the boys would listen to the radio, think "We can top THAT", and eventually come up with the material that resulted in "Big Pink" and "The Band". Sure, by then they were being handled by Albert Grossman, and seemed to have transcended such simplicity. But hearing Levon muse that he really thought that "Cripple Creek" had a chance to hit the charts with a bullet (so to speak) reveals the basic motives. I'm not mocking this, far from it. It's like hearing a country mechanic say, "We were just looking for something that could run a few gallons of moonshine over to the next county" and building a Lotus Elan.

But, as someone observed, Top-40 radio really couldn't do justice to The Band anyway. "Underground" FM, during the few years it honestly existed, was the better venue; it was commercial, but unobtrusively so, and gave the music respect and a chance to breathe. Unlike AM radio, which, like today's network TV, delights in boorishly clipping, cutting, and stepping on its programming-- as does FM, now swallowed, digested, and excreted by the same capitalist juggernauts who created "corporate rock", and dominated by a claque of braying-ass egomaniacs, the clown jocks. (Thanks to Amanda and Andrea for sharing the exceptions!)

-- "Whiter Shade of Pale", for no logical reason whatsoever, reminds me of another great tune from around that time that also thrills me: Thunderclap Newman's "Something In the Air". What ever became of Andy Newman, who seems to have had a distinctly Garth-like quality? The lyrics can be related to the subject of "Dylan and social change", but the less said about that the better, for now.

-- And Band music vis-à-vis psychedelic drugs? Don't get me started…

Posted on Fri Jul 21 04:40:26 CEST 2000 from 2cust79.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.137.79)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

On second thought it occurred to me that it is very likely that the EBS test was deliberately injected into TLW cable broadcast in order to prevent anyone from taping a copy of the complete film. The owner of the film's copyright probably stipulated this when consenting to the broadcast. No doubt with a DVD version soon ready for the marketplace the broadcast served as a free lengthy commercial in a sense. Capitol Records was also involved I'm certain since the new CD releases will soon be out. This may seem cynical but that's the way big business works.

Posted on Fri Jul 21 04:36:09 CEST 2000 from parachute2-156-40-65-95.net.nih.gov (156.40.65.95)

Jonathan Katz

From: Columbia, MD - 9 days to Dylan/Lesh

David Powell: I also picked up the fourth annual Southern Music Issue from OXFORD AMERICAN magazine. I really enjoyed last years, which was the first year I saw it [thanks to Mom]. I tried to get past issues but they are out of them. What was in the one from two years ago?

Posted on Fri Jul 21 04:28:11 CEST 2000 from user-33qt9uq.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.167.218)

Pat Brennan

From: USA

Folks, folks, folks. At the risk of sounding redundant, ebay always has sealed copies of TLW, The Authorized Bio, and the RR vid's at extremely low prices. It's very easy to do. Don't be afraid.

Posted on Fri Jul 21 04:18:22 CEST 2000 from m198214181105.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.181.105)

Pehr

Rollie- I'd love to hear your story but my E mail is outta whack for some reason. nothing about The Band bores me except a bunch of bitter Levonistas living in a world they Know nothing of, but as usual I digress... I liked your story and will listen for ya soon.

there was a guy who surfed in and said he was on ROA requesting 4% pantomime a while back. I never thought about it but little things like that make the best live albums. Still wonder who says "Break the box!" (and why) before wheels on fire.

Carmen- funny, thats how I got my TLW vid also. I wish they still had carny here.

Posted on Fri Jul 21 03:10:03 CEST 2000 from 1cust109.tnt1.idaho-falls.id.da.uu.net (63.28.242.109)

rollie

Alright you miserable little guestbook dwellers! Go ahead and watch your little TLW videos! I was there! Hah! The movie ain't the half of it. I remember watching some poor young lass nearly pass away screaming her head off for Joni Mitchell. I also have the distinct memory of having to relieve myself for some time, but no way was I going to move and miss this momentous occasion in any way shape or form. I'm also on the recording. Listen very closely to the audience just moments before "Ophelia". I shout out the name of the song and RR says,"You got it". There's a long and boring story behind this if any one wants to hear it.

Posted on Fri Jul 21 02:51:55 CEST 2000 from spider-wc011.proxy.aol.com (205.188.193.21)

Bashful Bill

From: Minoa.N.Y.

Lil&Richard Patterson-ditto re OOTB, I saw it opening nite in Syracuse, have also seen the LW in theatres in Austin & San Fransisco with no OOTB. Mrs. Bashful Bill & I danced to it at our wedding, 2nd song we played after Clapton's Let It Grow, it is definitely one of RR's shining moments(with The Band)), but that's not really relevent to the thread. Have a great weekend everyone, I won't be checkin in for a few days, who knows what I will find in Jan's excellent GB then?

Posted on Fri Jul 21 01:47:52 CEST 2000 from 119.mercerville-28-29rs.nj.dial-access.att.net (12.78.151.119)

carmen

From: pa

Here's how I got my copy of TLW. My local video store owner felt sorry for me because I was the only one who rented TLW, he gave it to me. Same with Carney. Not a bad deal. Regards to all!

Posted on Fri Jul 21 01:33:18 CEST 2000 from pm4-10.delrio.com (208.246.53.10)

Just Wonderin'

From: Somewhere out of San Antone

I too saw the Last Waltz in the summer of '78. It ran in my hometown of London, Ontario for 6 weeks or so and I saw it at least 6 or 8 times. "Out of the Blue" was a surprise to me when I bought the lp because it certainly didn't show up in the film. I think I would have noticed after seeing it so many times, because it was one of my favorite songs at the time.

Posted on Fri Jul 21 01:32:30 CEST 2000 from proxy-553.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.143)

patricia

hell...maybe I dreamed it...I do more than my share of that....

Posted on Fri Jul 21 01:26:47 CEST 2000 from spider-tr083.proxy.aol.com (152.163.201.213)

Ruby

From: Mass.

Just want to say about your post yesterday Lil It is the same thing I posted on July 15th. Get out there whenever you all can and hear the music that is going on now. Try real hard to show your love and support for what is still happening.Great stuff from a beautiful bunch of people. Peace to all who come here.

Posted on Fri Jul 21 01:23:18 CEST 2000 from ppp16934.on.bellglobal.com (206.172.134.54)

vic

was at a free concert in brantford, ontario, last staurday evening. the band playing was "crowbar", ronnie hawkins next band after THE BAND. they opened with "remedy" and included four other BAND related songs, "i shall be released, aint no more cane, mystery train, and sing sing sing". you got the sense these people play to a tradition and were respectfull in tribute to the BAND. this band consisted of three original touring members, Rolly Greenway, John Gibbard, and Sonny Bernardi. the second lead guitarist and the keyboardist were excellent players in their own right. crowbar's own songs, such as "o what a feeling, corrina corrina and murder in the first degree" stand out as classics and were well performed. i have seen other versions of crowbar that included original members Kelly Jay, and King Biscuit Boy, who were not present this evening, but who could rock the house down when they were playing. saturday's version was equally as tight and entertaining and in my opinion a must see again. if they come to your town don't miss them!!

Posted on Fri Jul 21 01:14:47 CEST 2000 from stcath-ppp73051.sympatico.ca (216.208.72.50)

Richard Patterson

From: St Kitts

Saw the LW on opening night myself...(the movie that is) I don't remember anything called "Out of the Blue"... I wasn't at the concert though... JOHN D. Do you recognize this song???

Posted on Fri Jul 21 01:00:25 CEST 2000 from alb1-as5200-21-21.termserv.net (208.20.67.21)

Diamond Lil

I was not fortunate enough to be at The Last Waltz concert, but I did see the film on opening night at the Ziegfeld Theatre in NY city in April of 78..and Robbie did _not_ sing 'Out of the Blue'. I also own the original videotape...which does _not_ include that song either. Thanks.

Posted on Thu Jul 20 23:55:43 CEST 2000 from proxy-1321.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.220.148)

Patricia

John D....I saw the original in the movie theate in september of 78....RR sang "Out of The Blue"...it was shot on the same soundstage that The Staple Singers and Emmylou Harris were ....I would not forget a rare moment like that...TLW was rereleased in 82 reedited.....maybe that is the one you saw !

Posted on Thu Jul 20 23:53:01 CEST 2000 from stcath-ppp73051.sympatico.ca (216.208.72.50)

Richard Patterson

From: St Kitts

I would like to second (or is it 3rd?) the comments made by Lizz and Dave the Phone Guy regarding the recent Bob Dylan/Phil Lesh and Friends Shows... Bob is definately on his game... 2nd tune in Toronto was something called "A Song to Woody" which I guess is not on any of his "official" lps...a beautiful heartfelt homage to the "old" Bob Dylan... Lot's of unusual songs in the T.O. set anyway ("Duncan and Bradly", "Drifter's Escape", "Country Pie")... If you get to catch the tour you will not be dissapointed...

**WARNING**DANGER**ETC.**... Go early ... for the last 5 or 6 dates Bob has been the openning act... GO EARLY!!!

Posted on Thu Jul 20 23:46:43 CEST 2000 from trt-on57-11.netcom.ca (216.123.101.11)

John Donabie

Well DAVID POWELL, you just cost me some more money. Just ordered my copy of the Oxford American. I've been to Oxford a number of times. Hard to believe this is the same town that Bob Dylan wrote about in the true story at Ole' Miss in the song Oxford Town.

Posted on Thu Jul 20 23:45:48 CEST 2000 from www-cache.vuw.ac.nz (130.195.2.96)

Ack!

Home page

Of course I meant to say Harry Smith was the compiler of the American folk music anthology! (Click home page above for more on Harry Smith...)

Posted on Thu Jul 20 23:28:52 CEST 2000 from www-cache.vuw.ac.nz (130.195.2.96)

Amanda

From: will the weekend never come?

Thanks Guenevere for your response to my question re. Bob Dylan & social change. It was all good but I was particularly interested in your linking of Dylan to the Beat poets. I admit I hadn't thought of that connection but was simply thinking of Dylan in the context of politicised folk singing (Pete Seeger etc)But of course as part of the general interconnectedness of everything there must be overlap with the rest of the culture.

I associate the Beats with jazz but there must have been connections with folk music=>Dylan too. Harry Sinclair (the compiler of the American Anthology) being one obvious link between the two. Also I remembered the Alan Ginsberg- Bob Dylan connection which I should not have missed having seen DA Pennebaker's film. I agree the Beats were not serious all the time by a long way & they spread across the whole spectrum of political views from Kerouac (sp?) being consciously apolitical to Ginsberg's far more activist stance.

Dave Z- I was interested in your comments about there being something American about siding with the underdog etc but my pedantic streak will not let me rest till I remind you that Robbie Robertson is Canadian!

Nothing personal G-Man & I appreciate your enjoyment of the Barn Burners etc but I always find comments about "living in the past" rather problematic. Although it might seem like I'm fixated on the 60s from the above I'm not living there. Like a number of posters here I'm post Baby boom so finding out about this stuff (& the BAND) is part of my present

Happy Friday to everyone.

Posted on Thu Jul 20 23:19:14 CEST 2000 from (216.73.7.188)

Dave Hopkins

From: Rochester, NY

Peter- the Emergency Broadcast System (EBS) is a network which connects US radio and television stations so that information can be quickly and easily disseminated to the public in case of an emergency. As Crabgrass points out, the EBS originated during the Cold War as a way to alert citizens in case of possible nuclear attack. Nowadays it's used during natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, etc. FCC regulations require periodic testing of the EBS (at the radio station I used to work at, we had to broadcast these tests at least once a week). I'm sorry to hear of the unfortunate timing of the test during the Last Waltz broadcast...

Posted on Thu Jul 20 23:09:32 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-129.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.129)

Peter Viney

From: The deepest bunker

So TLW was disrupted by some kind of air raid warning system? For shame! Haven’t you all got it on video? I found the concept quaintly 1950s. When I was a kid, they used to test air raid sirens a couple of times a year, always at 11 a.m., which was memorable as one was right outside our house a few feet from my bedroom window. So you knew it was a test, unless some fiendish enemy had learned all this and attacked at 11 a.m. It all sounds a bit like "Die Hard 2" where it takes them 90 minutes to remember they can just phone the plane after the terrorists have taken over the radio system. Over here, we dismantled the sirens about 30 years back. But to interrupt "The Weight"! Unbelievable. If there were a sneak nuclear attack from Dr No or Dr Evil, I’d rather watch the Weight without knowing I had just four minutes left. Such knowledge would put me in a turmoil – whether to finish "The Weight" or stick on a CD of "King Harvest" instead? After all, doing so would lose about 24 seconds of my remaining 240. All of "The Weight" or 75% of "King Harvest." An unbearable dilemma.

Posted on Thu Jul 20 23:06:41 CEST 2000 from trt-on57-11.netcom.ca (216.123.101.11)

John Donabie

Clarification.....No Widescreen on VHS, if I remember correctly.

Posted on Thu Jul 20 23:00:59 CEST 2000 from trt-on57-11.netcom.ca (216.123.101.11)

John Donabie

From: Toronto

Patricia, Robbie never sang Out of the Blue in the movie, TLW. It was recorded after TLW and put on the soundtrack. Also there has never been a widescreen version. It's interesting to note how much they "cleaned" up the audio of the movie. There are some sour guitar notes on TCLW. When I was there that night, I don't remember a bad note. I was to thrilled. For others that were that week they will agree that some of the rehearsals were even better.

Many, like myself are hoping we will see some "lost footage" when the DVD version arrives. My only worry is that that would be expenseive and that Scorcese wouldn't find it "cost effective." Robbie once told me in 1992 that he felt no one would be interested in a re-release with the "whole thing." He felt too much time had passed. I disagree. I think there would be many many Band fans and just plain Rock & Roll fans that would buy it.

Hell I paid $36.00 Canadian the other day for the Roy Orbison Black and White DVD; which I will tell you is far superior to the VHS copy. It's shot from different angles. You get to really "HEAR" James Burton and Tom Waits dreadful organ solo is gone.

Posted on Thu Jul 20 22:30:18 CEST 2000 from pm3-pt68.pcnet.net (206.105.29.142)

Laura P.

From: Manchester, Connecticut
Home page

Dave Z: You asked if I think RR is an intimist songwriter... Ha, that's an excellent question, but I'm afraid I don't know enough about Robbie's methods to say. Do you think his characters are expressions of himself? At first glance, it certainly wouldn't seem like it... but I suppose they could be, under the surface details. Very interesting. Has he ever talked about this in interviews? I would say that some of his lyrics are fairly intimist in style... "It Makes No Difference," for example.

Posted on Thu Jul 20 22:18:31 CEST 2000 from pm3-pt68.pcnet.net (206.105.29.142)

Laura P.

From: Manchester, Connecticut
Home page

Jim from Houston: I've wondered about the "Cardiff Rose" site, too. I too would love to hear the additional music that is available on The Complete Last Waltz, but it seems as if there must be a way without paying that guy big bucks. Are there any CD-R traders here who are willing to help out newbies? It's a much more satisfying experience (in my opinion) to trade unreleased music with fellow fans than to buy it from an overpriced dealer. I'd love to hear more unreleased Band music... what I have so far is bringing me tons of pleasure. If anyone would like to trade, please e-mail me privately. (I hope it's okay to post about this on the GB... if it's not, then I honestly apologize.)

Posted on Thu Jul 20 21:22:40 CEST 2000 from proxy-1321.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.220.148)

Patricia

Everybody knows that the "Test for the emergency broadcasting system" is very important,but.....when it happens to scroll over something you have been waiting and hoping to get on tape you must admit that it ....pisses you off,to say the least.I love wide screen films but TLW looked like an old copy,if they were going to play the original,they could have at least dug up the real original that has RR singing "Out of The Blue"....that one they play on TCM is a real disappointment,it's light and grainy lookin'...nasty.Someone mentioned yesterday if they thought RR was an "intimist" writer......he is an "Extreme Iintimist" songwriter....doesn't anyone really listen to his lyrics around here?...the guy is incredibly personal so when someone asks him about a song that obviously has personal lyrics...he makes something up ....what else is he suppose to do ....can't anybody in here figure that out after all these years...and that comment he made years ago about the lyrics for "Chest Fever" being "dummy" lyrics.......aah come on !

Posted on Thu Jul 20 20:13:51 CEST 2000 from sjiassoc16.erols.com (208.58.12.144)

Jon Lyness

From: New York City
Home page

According to the Woodstock Records web site, August 24th will see the release of a Cromatix CD (presumably Garth/Cromatix), as well as Rick's final release. Garth, Professor Louie & co have a smattering of shows coming up in the upstate NY area, as well as Pattenburg, NJ on August 5th (check the homepage link above -- scroll down to the bottom to see dates/locations).

Posted on Thu Jul 20 20:01:02 CEST 2000 from general.reliantenergy.com (204.254.32.135)

Jim

From: Houston
Home page

Hey ya'll, I've been visting off and on for a year or so and really love this sight. A friend of mine asked me to dub them a copy of the Last Waltz (VHS) yesterday. Well I started looking on cdnow and amazon.com for a copy and I was shocked to learn it was out of print! So then I came here and what a coincedence, Ya'll hipped me to the fact it was on TCM last night. It was great to see it in letter box for the first time since it first came out. I was a Jr. in HS and went just to see Neil Young. it was truly a life changing experience. I've had TLW on cassette (twice) and on video (can't wait for a DVD release). Well now from this site I find out about the COMPLETE Last Waltz. So I searched around and found an internet dealer who has it (click on the home page link). His site is the cardiff rose and it is a very professional site but I would like to know if any of you have experience with him? I'm sure it will have to be a cash type deal and I'd like to protect myself because it ain't cheap. Also is this set as good , sound quality wise, as it sounds? Also have ya'll heard if Marty is working on a DVD release, hopefully with extra footage and behind the scenes features. next year will be the 25th aniversary of the concert. Thanks in advance logman

Posted on Thu Jul 20 19:35:20 CEST 2000 from usr53-dialup50.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.199.50)

G-MAN

Well---I missed the TLW, restin for the GURU trip(D'LiL). Then I found out it would of been my 3000 viewing; I'm stuck @ 2999. Crabby--would ya rather watch TLW while an A-Bomb dropped, or be warned in advance??? Besides that system is just a myth. D'Lil--your right--see the current shows, if and when ya can. They are great!! Ben T---right on. DONNA, Pa---thanks. 19 hrs till Toga show.. Next great show will be when Levon is able to trade vocals w/Amy. Something to look ahead for, not livin in the past. Although it's good to trip back every so often.

Posted on Thu Jul 20 19:34:50 CEST 2000 from m198214181166.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.181.166)

Pehr

just my take on Ben Turkel's post re: RR's quotes from the 80's... sounds like Mick Jagger's famous quote about not wanting to sing "Jumpin' Jack Flash when he was (#?) I cant remember was it 30 years or 50... anyway he still is. RR stuck to his word. He obviously doesnt like touring and doesnt want to be a full time member of the group. His values are different. He should be true to them first, not to the group or what the fans want him to do with his life.

the problem may be that when we are not open to anothers freedom, or if it upsets or frustrates us we react by seeing them as either gods gift or the lowest worthless scum. I dont think RR's any more or less a human being than any of us who post about him. He also (should) have the freedom of autonomy that all of us have here to think what he thinks, feel what he feels, and say what he means. I dont recall his saying anything to the effect that the others were wasting their time. If he feels that it would be a waste of his time, why not take it at face value?

Posted on Thu Jul 20 18:55:18 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.187)

David Powell

From: Georgia
Home page

The fourth annual Southern Music Issue from OXFORD AMERICAN magazine is out on the stands. This is the third year in a row that I've picked this up and, let me tell you, it's the best bargain around. For $8.50, not only do you get an great CD sampler with 23 songs from various artists, but you also get the magazine that features profiles of the performing artists along with excellent articles on different aspects of all kinds of music. Here are a few highlights:

The CD kicks off, and I mean KICKS, with Doc & Merle Watson's "Train That Carried My Girl From Town", accompanied by T. Michael Coleman, Sam Bush, Marty Stuart and Alan O'Bryant. This cut is followed by Keith Frank & the Soileau Zydeco Band performing "Sometimes We Make You Move Your Feet"!

You get "Teenie" Hodges, who played on all the old Al Green classics performing "Best In Town" with the Hodges Brothers & Hi Rhythm Section, followed by Randy Newman's "Louisiana 1927", Mose Allison's "Seventh Son" and Randall Bramblett's "Get In Get Out".

Back in May, Randall sat in on alto sax when Levon & the Barn Burners played down here in Winder, Ga. The fact that he's such a talented multi-instrumentalist often makes you forget that he's a fine singer & songwriter, since his solo work is few & far between. As he proves here, he's got a new batch of great songs in the can. Stanley Booth, who's chronicled the life & times of Keith & Stones and is currently working on a biography of Gram Parsons, wrote a profile of Randall that is included in the magazine.

An article from Peter Guralnick about his life-long passion for the blues and how it led to his career of writing about music is also included.

You get songs from artists as varied as Todd Snider, the Judybats, the late blueman Asie Payton, Tom Petty, Kelly Willis, Wilco & Billy Bragg (a Mermaid Ave. out-take), Dolly Parton, Kim Richey, Kevin Kinney, Jesse James, Alejandro Escovedo, The Derailers, Gov. Jimmie Davis and Allison Krauss.

Every year that I buy this Southern Music sampler/magazine I make a few surprising discoveries. The surprises this year, for me, are: Actors Robert Mitchum & Lillian Gish singing a haunting version of the spritual "Leaning" (from the classic 1955 film "The Night of the Hunter"). Dean Martin singing a version of Hank Cochran's "He's Got You" that almost as good as Patsy Cline's. Ronnie Milsap's soulful 1971 recording of "Not For The Love of You Woman", produced by Dan Penn and featuring an all-star backup band including James Burton, Norbert Putnam, Kenny Buttrey and David Briggs! I don't think John Hiatt's ever gonna record this song.

For further details & ordering information for this wonderful Oxford American Southern Music Issue & CD Sampler just click on the home page hyperlink above.

Posted on Thu Jul 20 18:17:57 CEST 2000 from 2cust73.tnt11.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.133.201)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

Any Band fans who think that "The Weight" is more important than a testing of the Emergency Broadcast System really has their priorities all wrong. Do you realize that this system was designed to protect the citizens of this country from the dangers of not only natural disasters but nuclear sneak attacks? I think a brief interruption of The Last Waltz is a very small price to pay considering the possible consequences of having the system fail.

I am horrified to see such selfishness displayed here in the GB. Besides, anyone can rent or purchase a copy of TLW for a couple of measly bucks.

Posted on Thu Jul 20 17:29:48 CEST 2000 from sheridan.nycmny18.ciscony01.x-speed.net (216.35.32.66)

Andrea

Check out a cool internet radio show hosted by legendary free-form d.j. and long-time supporter of The Band's music Vin Scelsa. "Vin Scelsa's Live at Lunch" airs live every Tuesday - Thursday 12N-3P (eastern). The show is also archived and available on demand. Just go to www.liveatlunch.com. Enjoy!

Posted on Thu Jul 20 17:04:00 CEST 2000 from cvg-165-109-108.cinci.rr.com (24.165.109.108)

zuke

From: the outskirts of town

http://www.dergunerz.freeserve.co.uk/

Somebody has put up a petition to Neil Young to rerelease "On The Beach" which is not available currently in any form. Several members of the Band played on this album. Sign the guestbook plus it has lyrics, liner notes and mp3s. I apologize if this has already been posted here. Later, Zuke

Posted on Thu Jul 20 15:45:15 CEST 2000 from 1cust129.tnt1.idaho-falls.id.da.uu.net (63.28.242.129)

rollie

Crabby, Your ideas and comments on Gay marriages, sex changes and the like are simply too overwhelming for this page.How could you possibly raise any questions about the morality of sex changes? If it weren't for sex changes, I wouldn't be the man I am today.

Posted on Thu Jul 20 14:47:35 CEST 2000 from ip-155.dial.wans.com (64.7.64.155)

Molly Z.

Well, believe it or not, I finally saw The Last Waltz!!!! On top of that, my dad videotaped it, so now I can watch it over and over again, and really enjoy it! I have a few questions about it though, which unfortunately I can't remember right now. Anyway, it was an honor to finally see it!!

Hope everyone has a good day today. :-)

Posted on Thu Jul 20 13:40:02 CEST 2000 from port261.isd.to (195.7.130.209)

christine Berbee

From: Anna Paulowna HOLLAND

Hallo My english is not very good, specialy writing it, but I just found this page on the internet. I love The Band I'm 33 and I was born to late. I only have a video tape, so I wish I had seen them live, maar helaas, but I can read all about it now so I'm very pleased by those pages. Thanks and good luck.

Posted on Thu Jul 20 11:46:13 CEST 2000 from kgtna010-0540.splitrock.net (63.254.20.32)

bluesflute

From: Bearsville

It never ceases to amaze me just how good a musician Levon is. (I went to The Barnburners' show tonight, and as usual his playing blew me away.) Which is not to say that the band's sound as a whole isn't good too, and Amy obviously inherited quite a bit of her dad's talent. However, Levon is ... well ... unmistakable, I guess you could say. Many, many years ago, back when I was living on Capitol Hill in D.C., a group of Congressional Aides and I were listening to a Band album and discussing its many merits. One of these Aides -- like most of them, an extremely well educated and intelligent young man, well versed in music of all kinds -- explained: "Hearing The Band," he told us, "is like getting to have Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, Brahms and Verdi not only alive at the same time, but composing and playing together." All of the Aides agreed this was the perfect analogy. I always kind of liked it myself, as analogies go -- and besides, who am I to disagree with ton Capitol Hill in D.C., a group of Congressional Aides and I were listening to a Band album and discussing its many merits. One of these Aides -- like most of them, an extremely well educated and intelligent young man, well versed in music of all kinds -- explained: "Hearing The Band," he told us, "is like getting to have Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, Brahms and Verdi not only alive at the same time, but composing and playing together." All of the Aides agreed this was the perfect analogy. I always kind of liked it myself, as analogies go -- and besides, who am I to disagree with the people who make the whole country run? Anyway, thanks to all BarnBurners for yet another enjoyable evening. (I'm sure sorry to have missed so many of these Wednesday nights, but between being bedridden for four months, and being disgustingly broke as well, there wasn't much to be done about it.) At least I've gotten to some of them. Hearing Levon play is always a privelege and an unmitigated pleasure (somehow he manages to keep getting cuter all the time too, I've noticed). One question, though: Is there any particular reason why these sessions aren't being publicized much? Just curious. There must be lots of folks who'd love to know about them. I'm not the only person in the world who worships Levon, I'm sure -- and he's got so many good people playing with him now, too ...

Posted on Thu Jul 20 11:51:03 CEST 2000 from user49-125.jakinternet.co.uk (212.41.49.125)

Ryan Williams

From: Newport
Home page

Hi there, Hope you dont mind this blatant plug... I'm trying to put together a new Welsh community site with features like chat, band promotion, sms services and so on. Please feel free to take a look and tell me it's crap! Anyways, See y'all! Ryan

Posted on Thu Jul 20 10:45:57 CEST 2000 from spider-tp012.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.177)

bob

From: ct.

just got back from woodstock!finaly found big pink,when i got to the end of that dirt road and saw it i got chills.it was so cool to see.does anyone know if the barnburners have released anything yet? also,i know levon went through all his medical problems does anyone know if he will ever be able to sing in the future?i just figured that his voice on jubilation was after his treatment and that was how he would sound from now on.

Posted on Thu Jul 20 09:30:09 CEST 2000 from aca34b42.ipt.aol.com (172.163.75.66)

Lizz

From: hell ......I think they think......
Home page

just got back from Phil Lesh and the Bob Dyaln.....excuse the bad typing, Paul Barrere, Billy Payne and Robben Ford w/ Phil........ Geeze Louise....... : )( Lil Feat songs too whoppie @#$#$%^ Dixie Chicken etc ) They put it in the French Fries this time......."I know you Rider " and Bob from the basement tapes - gosh I know I sang alot But......Bob Dylan is at a place where you must hear him. Tangled up in Blue had the folks dancin, at the start of the show, while folks were still filing in, Things Have Changed was prophetic.........Dont ever forget the rooots of this -plant here.....and that was only the start of the show.......wait- lets see what my notes say. hahahah oh by the way.........they took my camera hahhaahah " The Bob Dylan Band" wanted "your" camera.....in the office/ they had 7 cameras,I said those are not mine........ hahah //I Finally got busted.... its kinda funny........the Boobs are smaller,(ya know ?) I hope they like the pics.....Desolation Row...., Lost River Road, Queen Jane, Maggies Farm, Its all over now Baby Blue .......Midnight Messenger, It aint me Babe, Like a Rolling Stone....Bob Dylan is on Tour, Outside of this guest book.. Woody Guthrie and the rest of the story....and by the way Bob Dylan can play the piss out of a Gibson these daze..please keep listening and playing.......Lizzzzzzzzzzzzzz(I have to sleep...........) hahhahaha

Posted on Thu Jul 20 09:01:41 CEST 2000 from proxy-373.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.73)

ironweed

From: the wrong side of the road

Guenevere.."Frances " did not have multiple personalties..."Sybil had "them"..."Frances" had a nervous breakdown..because she was completely misunderstood at every turn...do you get it now ? I I guess it ain't much fun living with a weasel..oops..I mean a ferret...is it ...anyway , why do these television guys always get all the information wrong....last summer Grace Slick hosted music week special on a movie station and said this while introducing TLW...she said "and lead singer Robbie Robertson" you would think that she would have corrected them....and tonite that Osborne guy got all kinds of information wrong....the SF bay area.........??????

Posted on Thu Jul 20 08:39:26 CEST 2000 from pm3-pt5.pcnet.net (206.105.29.79)

Laura P.

From: Manchester, Connecticut
Home page

Just finished watching (and recording) The Last Waltz. I cracked up when Robbie said, "it was like a grotesque beast came out of nowhere..." and then Scorsese cut to Van the Man in his hideous sparkly maroon suit!

I was screaming at my TV earlier on, though. The stupid local cable system chose halfway through "The Weight" as the perfect time to make a test of the Emergency Broadcast System!!! It ruined what has to be one of the very best stretches in the movie--"The Weight," "Old Time Religion" (my favourite!) and "The Night they Drove Old Dixie Down"! I kept yelling, "You idiots!! Get rid of that thing!!" and finally, most of the way through "Dixie," they did. Geeeeez. Okay, at least it was only a scrolly thing across the screen, but it completely wrecked the flow and my concentration. I mean, how can you groove along to the Staple singers with that going on?

Posted on Thu Jul 20 08:10:51 CEST 2000 from host-208-60-233-128.ilm.bellsouth.net (208.60.233.128)

Blair

From: North Carolina

Watching (again) 'The Last Waltz',Van Morrison is on now, and will have to agree with all before me and say to all that don't know, The Band is the greatest rock and roll BAND.

Posted on Thu Jul 20 08:08:56 CEST 2000 from spider-tj084.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.214)

Leon Wolf Fainstadt

From: Los Angeles / Originally Paris,France and Kazakhstan Russia
Home page

I am sitting here tonight watching the Band on Television. The Band has always been an inspiration to me. The music and sincerity of the members and their music continue to both inspire and elevate my life condition. I sit on the eve of an effort to promote support for education in America. This comes from my having worked with the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Much of the show involves music that will lift the spirits and draw people together to support children across the nation. So tonight I listen to The Band and pray that the music we bring to America with WWW.AER2000.ORG will have the same effect that your wonderful music has always had with me. Thank You. Leon

Posted on Thu Jul 20 07:48:49 CEST 2000 from spider-wb063.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.178)

Mike

A couple of things:

Butch is OK in my book. Consider the source and forget about it.

Hearing "What's her name's" version of Dixie reminds me of listening to Pat Boone sing Tutti Frutti -- it just don't make it!

If the boys did an album of country classics, what songs would be included? I can hear Rick doing "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry." Richard would do a killer "Crazy." What about Levon doing "I'm In the Jailhouse Now?" Any others?

On Robbie's derogatory comments about playing the Lone Star, etc. I have nothing but the greatest respect for the guys continuing to do what was obviously their passion and love: play music for whomever would listen. No, there weren't any more arenas. So what. There were opportunities to continue sharing their music and lives with their fans, and for that I'm extremely grateful -- If I was in New York I'd be even MORE grateful :)

Been listening to "Bigfoot" lately - it kind of grows on you. It's a great showcase for Jim. He plays several different styles -- blues, rockabilly, slide, etc. He even pays homage to Mr. Hendrix on one track.

Great idea, Lil -- crank up some tunes and do your own version of Rick's happy dance...

Posted on Thu Jul 20 07:33:39 CEST 2000 from stk-pm1-53-181.dialup.slip.net (207.171.230.181)

Guenevere

From: :)

BTW: I think all of us GB "regulars" should follow Jan's lead and take a few weeks off. Ms. Multiple Personality will keep the guest book going without us and probably not even notice that we are gone.

Posted on Thu Jul 20 07:20:36 CEST 2000 from tcnet04-08.austin.texas.net (209.99.40.197)

Laura Holt

From: Austin

AAHH..Thanks Laura P. for the nice comment in you're GB entry. Now that there are 2 of us we do need to make sure we put our initials. "Ruben Remus" is one of my favorites off "Basement Tapes" as well. Wanna say that this ole guestbook is slinging some sharp darts around. Ya'll watch it now ( tee hee). I know it spices things up in here but we don't want Jan feelin he's gotta shut down so that things can cool off. Maybe we should all take a chill pill (blue one preferably) or have a glass of chardonay...hell do both!!! PEACE ALWAYS!!!

Posted on Thu Jul 20 07:16:38 CEST 2000 from pppa39-resaleeugene2-1r7161.saturn.bbn.com (4.54.66.68)

Sara Ann

From: Eugene, Oregon

A couple of things---you have a very classy and "hardworking" site here---lots of good work, lots! Other thing---I've seen bits and pieces of "The Last Waltz" before and TCM has it on tonight; obviously, once again, I'm not going to watch it all (since I'm typing here) but we have the music up and it's SO GREAT!! Happy happy memories they gave me. Many thanks!

Posted on Thu Jul 20 07:11:55 CEST 2000 from stk-pm1-53-181.dialup.slip.net (207.171.230.181)

Guenevere

Amanda, I'll take the bait regarding the "was Dylan a catalyst for social change" topic... my feeling is, that it's more akin to the Chinese curse that goes "may you live in interesting times"... to me, Robert Zimmerman is a brilliant song- writer who grew up in very interesting times. He was a Jewish American young man, who's birth positioned him coming out of one war and going into another, and like so many of the baby boomers, he wasn't willing to stand by quietly, and watch, while social injustice and hypocrisy was twisting and whirling all around him. You can't separate the times from the poet, it would be unfair and uninteresting to take his writing out of context, so to understand the work, you must understand the times. He was one of the very special people, of those times, who was willing to speak out against the war in Viet Nam, a war that very few of us knew anything about, and he did a great service to all of us with his willingness to be a voice in that particular wilderness. Myself, I don't like to generalize, but to me the Beat Poets seemed not only earnest, but they also seemed to be having a blast, with their pushing of all envelopes and experimenting and exploring new horizons, much like the Dadaists, Surrealists, and Impressionists movements did in the early part of the Century. And like them, it seems as though a number of artists and poets and musicians of the time, connected and somehow influenced each other and formed a special chemistry with one another, creating layers and layers of synthesis, and endless mutations, one style and experiment catalyzing the next, and on and on... it was an incredible time for music and social catharsis-- an artistic continuum that includes the some of the greatest poetry and song writing of the 20th Century. I still suspect that this is an understatement... but I find Bob Dylan's latest writing and musicianship as brilliant as ever, for one thing, in my opinion Dylan is one of the least appreciated and most sensitive guitar players I've ever heard... and he has an amazing sense of showmanship to boot, he truly connects with and cares about his audience ... so I recommend that if you ever get the chance to hear him live now, be sure and don't miss it, he is a special person, and I think its no small accident that way back when, he was able to recognize and appreciate the five guys to whom this site is dedicated...

bla bla bla... viva The Band!!!

Posted on Thu Jul 20 06:57:03 CEST 2000 from 1cust61.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.136.61)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

Apologies to anyone who found my post regarding Robbie's gay anthem offensive. I also did not mean to poke fun at the lovely and talented cross-dresser RuPaul who does indeed have a great pair of legs as someone else mentioned. After all, David Johansen wore dresses and high heels when he was in the NY Dolls and now he's singin' with Levon!!

I am also a fan of the Village People who had a few great catchy and humorous hits. Songs like "YMCA" and "In The Navy" were subtley subversive to both the Christian (The "Y" attacked the song vehemently) and military establishments whose discriminatory attitudes and policies toward gays were revealed to the public at large. (They had really neat costumes too!!)

Admittedly, I do have some questions about how far certain things should go - should gay marriages be permitted? Should sex change operations be legalized in this country? Should cross-dressing be allowed in our schools and places of business? - et cetera. BTW I always thought - and still do - that Tom Robinson's song "Glad To Be Gay" was top notch both musically and wordwise.

Also, some of my best friends are gay.

Posted on Thu Jul 20 06:21:26 CEST 2000 from 1cust9.tnt1.idaho-falls.id.da.uu.net (63.28.242.9)

rollie

You know what they say about the chat room. Nobody goes there no more, it's too crowded!!!!!

Posted on Thu Jul 20 05:55:58 CEST 2000 from user-33qt8rj.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.163.115)

Pat Brennan

From: USA

Brien Sz, only one problem: Springsteen told Reagan he was full of it. Cynical co-opting differs from adopting in many important ways.

If you're all looking for something under the bed, how about that 70's movie "The Boys In The Band"? Like, wow?

Posted on Thu Jul 20 05:46:49 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.avnl1.nj.home.com (24.4.252.66)

Brien Sz

From: NJ

I used to be with "it" but now they changed what "it" was and now "it" is scary.

This whole TYPBTH thing is like a microcosm of Reagan saying Springsteen songs identified with his ideology (remember the 84 campaign). It seems to be nothing more than a group finding a song that makes references in a vague enough way--that if you just hear some parts that work for you--sure it could be some gay pride alliance theme song thing.

I agree, The song is about atmosphere!

Posted on Thu Jul 20 04:58:02 CEST 2000 from proxy-383.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.83)

Frances

From: i'm on the lam

Hahahahaha....you didn't say Simonton says.....come on isn't there room in here for one of me?....please....peace

Posted on Thu Jul 20 04:43:55 CEST 2000 from spider-we061.proxy.aol.com (205.188.195.46)

Dave Z

From: Chaska, MN

I guess I noticed something different in Robbie's comments on "Take Your Partner By The Hand"... I saw a continuation of a thread that goes something like this... The Band was underground... did and saw things nobody else did... you know, people doing Elvis in tent shows before Elvis made it big, blah blah blah... now Contact is underground or underworld... something that hasn't been done... hidden... and the people who brought this unique music out... are undergroundish... and finally... now it's kinda cool to find out that there is this other underground group... the Gay underground nightclubs that are picking up on this music... and you don't read about this in your Sunday newspaper... My apologies for such simplification...

I think Robbie's responding to the media takes time to be understood... at least by me... maybe like his lyrics... I was initially bothered by his comments regarding the underground production folks who worked on Contact... he definitely complimented them by saying something that felt like... nobody else from the usual pool of resources could have done this so I had to get these underground guys... which is fine... but doesn't it slight everyone else but his current folks?... and I am not sure he maybe means that... I guess he would have to clarify... anyway, I never take anything he says too directly... after all I don't want to be stung by no snakes down by the lakes, right?... I have to admit though I am guilty of being hoodooed by his charisma... I mean there's something really American about siding with the underdogs or undergrounders... Entrepreneurs, Gays, underground artists, Indians, what do they all have in common?... my apologies because Last of the Mohicans was on TBS last night... some residual stuff going on again here in my head... hey Crabby maybe Daniel-Day Lewis could play Robbie in the made for TV movie... you'd just have to knock him upside the head to get that sleepy eye sort of look going... huh, don't all the Band members have cool looking eyes?... that drawl you in?...

Laura P: Would you say RR is an expressionist or intimist?... or maybe something else all together? Maybe he's a misunderstood intimist?... now I am going to have to go listen to Rueben Remus with everybody else... cause I'm hooked...

Posted on Thu Jul 20 04:29:18 CEST 2000 from (216.18.0.129)

Dr. Freud

PATTY.......PATRICIA........IRIONWEED?

TIME FOR YOUR MEDICATION. TIME TO GET BACK TO THE HOME. REMEMBER JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO YOU THREATENED TO GO BACK TO WEBTV LAND? THEN COME BACK PATRICIA. YOUR MEDS ARE WAITING. YOU'LL BE FINE

Posted on Thu Jul 20 04:01:51 CEST 2000 from proxy-383.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.83)

Patty

I just tennessee's post again...It seemed like i was steppin' on something..but i wasn't...sorry Tennessee....anyway things can really get in a mess if you don' know how to explain everything perfectly ina place like this ...can't it? anyway I personally think RR was writing about some kind of kinky sex trip...maybe up to Madame Jackie's or something....

Posted on Thu Jul 20 03:51:56 CEST 2000 from proxy-383.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.83)

Patricia

From: mennoniteland

Girls just like to have fun....and that's what I was doin'.....Tennessee, that's what RR said..we all know how big he is on that atmosphere stuff....I was watching that Scorsese thing on TV....doesn't that guy look like he just slithered out of the sewer.....geez,what a troll....no wonder Levon couldn't hardly look at him...neither can anybody else !

Posted on Thu Jul 20 03:36:59 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-115-138.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.115.138)

BWNWITennessee

From: The Rave

My belief is that when Robbie wrote, "He's a woman, she's a man," it was in an attempt to convey a surreal, hypnotic, dream-like atmosphere. The song is about a dance club, where men and women are constantly moving around and blending into one mass. I don't think he wrote it for gay people, although it's pretty easy to see why they would adopt it. But it's pretty pathetic if any of them view it as an "anthem," since it's not really making any type of a statement about anything at all. The song is just all about atmosphere.

On my one and only trip across the pond, I went to the Ministry of Sound in London. Don't imagine I saw any GBers there. I think that I remember them playing "TYPBTH." This was in autumn of '97, so I hadn't heard the song before. I recall them playing something that I thought was "Somewhere Down the Crazy River," but with different words. I could swear that it was Robbie singing, though, but I couldn't imagine anything that he did being played in a dance club.

Posted on Thu Jul 20 03:25:11 CEST 2000 from cf3k-3.paradise.net.nz (203.96.152.183)

Amanda

From: lay back and groove on a rainy day

Still interested in Bob Dylan's contribution to social change…I'd imagine some of his early to mid 60's songs were anthems for the civil rights and peace movements (the answer, my friends is blowin' in the wind???) but it doesn't seem like he has been Mr Activist Guy since then.

Joe Hill, Woody Guthrie and Billy Bragg all seem like more committed and consistent protest singers of the 20th Century than Dylan. Not that I blame Dylan or anything since that early 60's folk music scene does sound like it was rather earnest and not much fun & I can imagine the more apolitical Hawks/Band must have seemed like a refreshing contrast.

In fairness to Crabgrass I don't get the impression from his post that he would be disturbed by Band members performing at Aids benefits. Interesting re. Vermont. New Zealand (the first country in the world to give women the vote) is currently considering similar legislation.

I'm glad to have the 2 Lauras thing clarified!

Posted on Thu Jul 20 01:22:36 CEST 2000 from proxy-513.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.103)

patty

AMEN....you got it.......

Posted on Thu Jul 20 01:12:31 CEST 2000 from 209-23-55-34.ip.termserv.net (209.23.55.34)

Diamond Lil

My fellow guestbook posters: Got a minute? Then please...step away from your keyboards, crank up the music...and do the shuffle! :-)

Posted on Thu Jul 20 00:55:00 CEST 2000 from proxy-513.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.103)

IRONWEED

HEY LISTEN.....MATT BROUGHT THE WHOLE THING UP WITH HIS "GOD FEARIN AMERICAN" CRAP...DON'T BLAME THIS "CHEAT" ON ME .... NAIL HIM!!

Posted on Thu Jul 20 00:39:15 CEST 2000 from pm3-pt44.pcnet.net (206.105.29.118)

Laura P.

Home page

mattk: All I can say about your posts on "Take Your Partner by the Hand" is Thank You. Patricia... how about thinking about how hurtful your remarks might be, before making them?

Reading Crabby's post about the song last night made me really want to hear it, and, thanks to the RealVideo available on this site, I was able to. This was the first time I'd ever heard one of Robbie's solo songs, and I was quite astonished by how different they are. Robbie's voice on this song (speaking, not singing) is so creepy!! It's quite affecting and very cool. I love the lyrics, and I certainly would have interpreted them as gay/lesbian. I think Robbie's response is great.

Posted on Thu Jul 20 00:29:26 CEST 2000 from proxy-513.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.103)

Patricia

don't forget Matt..that you are the one that brought the remark about the "god fearin' 'merican"......one side without the other is unfair.....and really Matt..it does bare repeating...you should try and get more fun out of life.....he's so sensitive.......

Posted on Thu Jul 20 00:14:07 CEST 2000 from pm3-pt33.pcnet.net (206.105.29.107)

Laura P.

From: Manchester, Connecticut
Home page

It's pretty confusing having two different Lauras in the GB! I guess I should post as "Laura P." instead of just "Laura" to avoid being confused with Laura Holt. (Not that I'd really mind being confused with her... I like Laura Holt a lot! Individualism is vital, though.)

I'm glad there are others who agree that "Ruben Remus" is an important song. I fell in love with "Ruben" before I really even realized who The Band was. I have been a Dylan fan since I was in my early teens, but I'd only ever listened to his 60's albums up to Blonde on Blonde... finally, I guess about a year ago, I bought The Basement Tapes because I wanted a copy of "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" on CD. I was really fond of it from owning Dylan's GH Vol. 2 on vinyl. At first I was quite dismayed to find out that the version on the Basement Tapes was completely different... then I got to love that version, too, and start to really fall in love with a lot of the other Basement Tapes songs, too, especially "Too Much of Nothing," "Million Dollar Bash," and, most of all, "Ruben Remus."

I was pretty much in the dark about The Band and didn't really understand who they were... all I knew was that I was completely addicted to "Ruben Remus." At the time, I wrote to an e-mail friend about it, "There are a couple of songs that are on the Dylan set that I am so in love with right now. Both of them are new to me. One of them's on disc two--the song that opens the disc, actually, and the other is on disc one. They're nothing alike. I am crazy about both, though. The one on disc one isn't even sung by Dylan, actually... it's sung by one of The Band guys. I wish I knew which guys in that group sang. I just love the way the guy who sings that one song does it, in one spot especially." (That spot is the final "Ruben Remus ain't no doctor!"--the one at the end of the third verse. It makes me grin like crazy every time, the way Richard sings so high. I just love it.) So, well, anyway... it was Richard's voice on "Ruben Remus" that was responsible for drawing me into The Band.

I also loved (and still do love) the lyrics of "Ruben Remus"--how crazy and incomprehensible they are, how they inspire one to imagine things, to picture scenes; the experience of listening is so enjoyable--moreso than with lyrics which make straightforward sense. My initial theory about Ruben Remus was that he was some sort of a drug dealer. I think the song feels like a precursor or companion to "Caledonia Mission."

About the alternate version on "Crossing the Great Divide"--it's so beautiful. I would guess that the reason that they didn't put that version on The Basement Tapes is that Richard and Rick stumble over the lyrics a few times. I love having both.

Posted on Thu Jul 20 00:11:38 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

First, how you dare question my faith or anyone elses. It's not your business, nor is it your place. When I need your spiritual guidance, I'll ask for it. Otherwise, keep it to your close-minded self.

Second, marrying or having sex with a horse qualifies as beastiality and has nothing to do with homosexuality. Catherine the Great, as a member of the Russian Orthodox hierarchy, would describe herself as extremely christian, was a wife and mother, and yet...

Finally, Nero was completely insane - he also committed incest with his mother, which while disturbing, as she was presumably female, makes your analogy both irrelevant and ignorant.

Speaking for myself, there are any number of people who enjoy music that I abhor. While I find your views on sexuality repugnant and ill-informed, the fact that you happen to like both the Band's music and RR's solo works is merely an unfortunate coincidence.

As YOU chose to bring this up, I'll suggest that if your going to spout off about religious or political matters, to trot yourself over and obsess on the myriad of sites where such chatter is on-topic. For myself, I find it offensive and I peruse this site in an effort to get away from people like yourself. You dare call anyone elitist? What a joke.

I'm done. Please direct any further drivel to my e-mail address above and spare everyone your rancor.

Peace all, seriously

Matt

Posted on Wed Jul 19 23:26:06 CEST 2000 from proxy-513.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.103)

god fearin' american

From: i was just there it's real hot..so be good

MattK...what can you say ...it's either you are on God's side or you're on the side of "Open-minded wonderfuls like the "left" Didn't Nero once deify a horse so that he could marry it......and then keep bonfires going all over Rome with the bodies of those God fearing people you were referring to......huh...hey Matt....makes ya think.....but I'm not one to fight...especially while Jans away....THE END

Posted on Wed Jul 19 22:58:40 CEST 2000 from spider-wi033.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.33)

Bayou Sam

From: ny

Ok, first, damage control= Lil, I may not have clearly made my point when I responded to Laura's post. I just thought it was a shame for her to feel the way she did and maybe it took some of the enjoyment out of being here for her. I actually enjoy reading the tales from people who just came from a show, or about a show that they saw 20 years ago. I find the people who might have known (or know)one of the Band guys, and brag about it in even a subtle way, kind of tiring. I usually just ignore them. I was just talking about what Laura said and the people that caused these feeling s in her. I certainly wasn't addressing all of upstate N.Y. I know the feeling you described. I'm only about a hundred miles from Woodstock, but I've got kids and the whole bit. Hell, the last time I went to the movies was to see Titanic. I keep wanting to catch a Levon show - and I will. I'd love to meet some of the GB people too. As far as Jan goes, I have nothing but praise and gratitude for him. I can only agree with the things people have said recently regarding him and this site. I meant that if the guy who does this site so well, is halfway around the world, then she shouldn't feel bad being halfway across the country. I hope that cleared it up a bit. BTW Lil, as far as I'm concearned you never come across as one of those people Laura describes. I think you seem like a down to earth, real, cool, person.......... ............................Should I keep going or have I taken up enough space??? Hmmmmm, ahhh what the hell......... Rollie, were you pulling my leg or was my choice of words out of line. If serious, I'm sorry. If joking, screw you :-) ................. Brien Sz.. you are so right. The Band was "on" when Before The Flood was recorded. Listen to Levon's opening verse on Cripple Creek. I made a tape of just The Bands stuff from that CD. I love it............... ..... Crabgrass, get ready for this, I AGREE with what you said about the Beatles and how they were still (very much) on top of their game when they split.............this brings me to BWNWITenn... your veiw of the Beatles is completely backwards. They showed, and paid tribute to their influences in the beginning. Little Richard, Larry Williams, Elvis, Everlys, Chuck Berry(the REAL king of R&R), Buddy Holley, etc. Then they blazed a trail down the road that EVERYBODY followed to some degree. That dosen't mean they didn't pick up some influences. Lennon tlked about Dylan and The Byrds as influences. McCartney mentioned Brian Wilson(a musical genius). Then when everyone was on the psychadelic band wagon, they put out Hey Jude and took us onto the next road. The White album came out in the summer of '68 and Paul was already growing a beard, probably having not yet seen a photo of the Band. George had a goatee in '67. The Beatles also wore dark suits in '64. I'd love to hear how you figure they"ripped everybody off".................My God, that's enough out of me. I'm afraid to look when click on the preview button..... ........ have a great day all.

Posted on Wed Jul 19 22:41:22 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

Damn those gay people for identifying with a good song. How dare they! If Robbie had any sense, he'd side with god-fearin' 'mericans and sue those bastards, or at least call for their heads on a stake. What's this country coming to when artists start siding with justice and open-mindness. Sheesh!

Posted on Wed Jul 19 21:42:53 CEST 2000 from proxy-641.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.89)

Patricia

From: on the right side of the road

I went over to RRs site and read that thing that Crabgrass posted last night a couple of weeks ago....I came to the conclusion that RR said the only thing that he could have said...what the hell else was he suppose to say..."are you kidding..oh no not them"...boy, that would have gtten him in a lot of trouble,given the fact that everyone who disagrees with the "alternative" lifestyle gets splattered up against the wall! especially in "Hollywood"...personally hearing that "I'm proud of that" statement coming out of Double Rs mouth made me kinda sick.....I can only hope that he was not sincere.....but you know ...that RuPaul does have great legs.....and them great big pretty lips...anyway, Dave is right , that Scorsese thing is being played all throught tonite...and for those of you that can actually stand the sight of Martin Scorsese's face without wanting to throw a plate at the screen....it's a great documentary....Levon probably won't watch, but ...what the hell ,the rest of us can.....Ben,you are missin one big point...everybody likes different stuff....some dig the band sound ..and some dig RRs sound...it just goes to show ya...that if The Last Waltz wouldn't have happened they would have gone seperate ways anyway....but what the hell do I know..I like both sounds on a fifty fifty basis...but as Miss Emily Latella aways said......it's always something !

Posted on Wed Jul 19 19:56:49 CEST 2000 from sjiassoc16.erols.com (208.58.12.144)

Jon Lyness

From: New York City

I saw the early show of Levon and the Barn Burners at B.B. King's club Friday night. Not much I can say that hasn't been said before: an all-too-short set, but truly a phenomenal band and a great night. Just seeing Levon's face light up when Amy takes the stage is worth the price of admission.

Posted on Wed Jul 19 19:53:47 CEST 2000 from sjiassoc16.erols.com (208.58.12.144)

Jon Lyness

From: New York City

Ryan, thanks for the correction. It sure sounded like Richard's falsetto to me, but I will trust you. Another excuse for me to go listen to it again! :)

Posted on Wed Jul 19 19:23:10 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.187)

David Powell

From: outside the gates of Cerdes

Jimi Hendrix did not sing " 'scuse me while I kiss this guy" but Gary Brooker did sing "as the miller told his tale." No less an authority than the lyricist himself, Keith Reid, confirms this in the reprinted lyrics that he helped compile for the "Beyond the Pale" Procol Harum website (www.procolharum.com/text99.htm).

As Patricia previously mentioned, tonight is Scorsese night on the Turner Classic Movies cable channel. From 8:00 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. EST all three parts of "A Personal Journey With Martin Scorsese" will be broadcast, followed by "The Last Waltz". "A Personal Journey..." is Scorese's personal perspective on the history of the craft of film directors. Part 1 focuses on musical, western and gangster films. Part 2 deals with Hollywood's technical innovators. Part 3 is a tribute to the "maverick" directors such as Nicholas Ray and Sam Fuller. Take note: the last time that TCM aired "The Last Waltz" several months ago, it was the widescreen version.

Music has always been an essential element in Scorsese's films, usually used to evoke a certain mood, and not just in the soundtrack. As he explained to "VH-1 Online Presents: Rock'n'Roll Picture Show": "I usually make up the designs of my shots listening to different kinds of music. And it's happened to me over the years. I grew up with -- listening to pop music, really."

In 1989, Scorsese used "A Whiter Shade of Pale" in "Life Lessons", which was included in a compilation of short films entitled "New York Stories". In the film, Nick Nolte plays the role of an artist whose mistress has left him. As Scorsese told Entertainment Weekly Magazine (Dec. 6, 1991 edition): "I used Procol Harum's 'A Whiter Shade of Pale" because, for me, it captured the whole feeling of loss -- the sense of a relationship ending and there's nothing you can do to stop it."

Posted on Wed Jul 19 18:23:53 CEST 2000 from host161-123-26-209.utelfla.com (209.26.123.161)

carmen

From: pa

RPENCE, give me a break! Where were you when crabby commented on various races and religions? Now that he may have offended you it is a different story.

Regarding the subject RR song, he was quoted as never have intended this to be a gay pride reference.

Posted on Wed Jul 19 17:44:15 CEST 2000 from (129.237.77.56)

RPence

From: Casper, WY

In reference to Robbie's song and its connections to gay/lesbian rights--yes indeed, he has every right to be proud of those connections and the song itself. I hope Crabgrass has nothing against Rick Danko and other ex-Band members doing benefits for AIDS causes? What embarrassing, rude, and destructive comments to have on this guestbook. I don't know what they add to the dialogue, but they certainly have nothing to do with the Band's music and legacy. I also hope that visitors to the guestbook won't associate all Band fans with such garbage.

Posted on Wed Jul 19 17:11:08 CEST 2000 from ras-c5800-1-48-35.dialup.wisc.edu (128.104.48.35)

Ryan Stang

From: Madison, WI

Ruben Remus on CTGD doesn't have Richard singing with himself; Rick is singing the falsetto line. Listen to other Rick falsetto readings versus Richard's, like on Tears Of Rage.

Posted on Wed Jul 19 15:56:02 CEST 2000 from sjiassoc16.erols.com (208.58.12.144)

Jon Lyness

From: New York City

It's great to see several mentions of "Ruben Remus" on here. Colin, I like your case for "Remus" being a crucial song a lot. Who knows, if it had been released on one of the early Band albums, it might at least enjoy the stature of (say) "W.S.Walcott" today, instead of getting buried in with the Dylan material on the Basement Tapes album. After a recent discussion of "Ain't No More Cane" (another very underrated one, compared to the higher-profile "Long Black Veil", for instance), I went back and listened to it after an absence of many years, and was surprised anew by what an amazing song it is.

And Laura, I couldn't agree more with your singing the praises of the "Crossing the Great Divide" version of "Remus" -- the one where Richard appears to be duetting with himself, one voice normal (deep) and one voice falsetto. The texture of his voices together is breathtaking. I can't imagine why this wasn't released as the official version...unless, perhaps, there was a feeling that the studio trickery needed to have a Band member duet with himself flew in the face of their low-tech, "singing-around-the-campfire" image.

Posted on Wed Jul 19 14:29:58 CEST 2000 from telisp1c02.ml.com (199.43.32.22)

Ben Turkel

From: New Jersey

The fact that RR's solo albums have explored different styles of music doesn't make them better than Levon's or Rick's, just different. Musical taste is subjective. I happen to like RR's first two albums. But in my opinion the other members of the Band both solo and together have produced more satisfying music. I don't have anything against RR. If this was a general music newsgroup of some kind I would vigorously defend his work with the Band. But, within the context of the Band I feel that he is often given more than 1/5 of the credit and that the various works produced after the last waltz indicate that the others contributed greatly to their sound.

Posted on Wed Jul 19 13:25:05 CEST 2000 from spider-wo061.proxy.aol.com (205.188.200.46)

Ben Tukel

From: New Jersey

My last post was in response to BWNITTennessee's question a few days ago to give him some examples of negative quotes that RR has made about the Band. A lot of people here seem to think of him as the unfair victim of Levon's anger. My point is that he was making condescening and negative comments towards the reformed Band back in the 80's, several years before Levon's book was released. For some reason this seems to bother people who seem to view RR as some righteous, principled Artiste.

Posted on Wed Jul 19 13:04:21 CEST 2000 from jupiter.oucs.ox.ac.uk (163.1.103.106)

Colin

From: Oxford

Here's a good idea. Lets never mention RuPaul again and talk about something nicer. One thing I'd suggest is what do people believe to be the first 'Band' song? By this, I don't mean all those teeny-bop trivia things, or 'Ronnie Hawkins sings Hank Williams' (I kid you not!). What I'm getting at is what is the first song by the five that sets the tone for 'Music from Big Pink' and later glories? Levon makes out a good case for 'Ain't No More Cane' in his book- the raggedy backup harmonies and odd instrumentation. But, my lords (or your Honours) I beg that this item be removed form the record, since it wasn't penned by any of the Band members. Here is my choice: Ruben Remus. I'm guessing that Richard wrote the chords and some of the melody and Robbie wrote the words. I feel the song is nearly as good as the Weight in terms of creating a fuzzy, ambivalent world of fantastic characters, which are nevertheless believable. Firstly, the title. Mr Remus, seems to be some sort of medicine man tho perhaps an unsuccessful one (cf Caledonia Mission). His name is a variation on Uncle Remus, the master American storyteller (Brer Rabbit etc.). Also Remus is a traveller and a musician ('he was that black man singing bass'). Is he a good man or a bad man? There is something sinister about the line 'He only wanted what you had, asked for nothing more'- that means he wants everything! Is he a gangster, or a loan shark in his spare time? The last lines are full of menace ('Turn me down, would you? Well, i got news for you....)- I get the impression this man has been involved in a chase around America and now wants to collect.' You'll see from these musings that the song is full of ambiguities- a great and precious gift for a lyricist. You have to be weird but concrete, so as not to alienate the listener. Does the music help us in working it out? Firstly, Richard's singing is excellent (as usual on the basement tapes!) but doesn't give too many clues, apart from its thrilling urgency. To coin a phrase, 'something is happening, and we don't know what it is.' The harsh chords that stab out in the choruses are reminiscent of knocking at a door-another hint of nemesis (Don Giovanni and Macbeth have similar motifs at key moments). Garth's organ is unusually harsh too on the recording, suggesting something darker than say 'Million Dollar Bash'. So Mr Remus seems to be something more than the kindly, if moralistic old storyteller of the children's tales. Given the disintegration of the country at the time, perhaps Robbie was creating an Uncle Remus for the late sixties. All things considered, this is a song of supreme, if wayward genius, and marks the start of the Band's mythologising tendency.

Posted on Wed Jul 19 12:48:52 CEST 2000 from 209-23-55-175.ip.termserv.net (209.23.55.175)

Lil Again

After re-reading my last post, I realize that the last sentence in the second paragraph sounds a bit condescending..which is not the way I meant for it to sound. What I was trying to say is that there's _alot_ of touring happening right now...much more than in the past few years...and if there's a way for some of you to see Levon, or Garth, or Jimmy and Randy....you should really make the attempt to do so. I would love to see posts from folks who have always wanted to see one of these shows..and finally got the chance. So if you need to pack a few cd's and drive for a few hours...please do it. You'll be happy you did.

Have a good day everyone.

Posted on Wed Jul 19 12:38:16 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-037.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.37)

Peter Viney

Huh: I sang those words in the shower for a while myself (as the mirror told its tale), but would you listen again? It is indeed "as the miller told his tale". I double-checked the A side and the unreleased stereo version on the 30th Anniversary Collection. BTW, "as the mirror told its tale" takes us back to the most commonly misheard lines thread – whichever article did it, this was near the top.

Neil Diamond and TLW is well-trodden here, and just about everything must have been said. Reading ISIS (the Dylan magazine) today was a parallel experience. Paul Simon’s set on the 1999 tour seems to raise the same ire among Dylan fans as Neil’s song at TLW does here. I got the 3 CD boot set "Something is Happening At Mr Jones Beach" at the weekend, which has the whole of both sets. The review was typically snide and patronizing about the Simon set. But then you listen, and though the "Bridge" arrangement is shaky, Simon has a great band who can play supple, sinuous music, and his voice is still there, and he can hit all the notes (which Dylan can’t). The band includes Steve Gadd, too. You can’t fault the inventiveness nor the compositions. The duets were rubbish.But why does Paul get all the nasty remarks? Any ideas from those who saw the shows?

While not under-rating George Martin’s genius as a catalyst he himself says it was all The Beatles. In the Let it Be out-takes they were keen to get The Band’s drum sound (and couldn’t) and Harrison has acknowledged their influence, which can be heard heavily on "All things must pass". But I really don’t think they attempted to follow either Dylan or The Band on sartorial matters, cover designs or anything else of the kind. Like nearly every professional musician ever to comment, they liked and admired Big Pink and the Band and said so. But if you want influences, Lennon may have felt competitive with Dylan, but on their overall sound, you’ll get a lot more mileage out of the Brian Wilson v Paul McCartney comparison.

Posted on Wed Jul 19 11:53:54 CEST 2000 from 209-23-55-175.ip.termserv.net (209.23.55.175)

Diamond Lil

It seems to me that someone somewhere is missing something. Just because I happen to live in upstate NY (and I'm speaking only for myself here) that doesn't make me any better than anyone else in here. I don't go to shows every week as some of you seem to think, as I'm too busy with work and kids and everyday life..as most of you are as well. I personally have posted about perhaps 2 or 3 shows in the past year, and the reason for posting was to _share_ with the rest of you. I thought that's why we were all here in the first place. And as far as posts by others who have been fortunate enough to attend shows, I don't recall ever getting the feeling that they were better than me because they were there and I wasn't. Sorry..but that's crap.

And Bayou Sam: It's true that the man who runs this site lives in another country. It's also true that's he's travelled to the states to see shows (and posted about them). If you're going to use him as an example, perhaps you should mention that if he can sit on a plane for 12 hours from Norway...others could find a way to attend a show if they really wanted to.

Posted on Wed Jul 19 09:49:13 CEST 2000 from dial167.gtn.net (209.167.110.247)

Huh?

What's with all this Chaucer's Tale nonsense ? Everybody knows that the words are "...and so it was that later, as the MIRROR told ITS tale..." Listen again.

Posted on Wed Jul 19 08:09:43 CEST 2000 from 1cust33.tnt9.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.128.33)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

What the Beatles were great at was writing original songs with original melodies and chord progressions and then arranging and recording definitive versions of them. George Martin has repeatedly said that the Beatles were the musical innovators at every turn and that he merely helped them to facilitate recording the sounds which they envisioned.

The Band's first three albums demonstrated uniquely original melodies and chord structures - beyond that they faltered more often than not whereas the Beatles got stronger with every record until the very end. (Okay, Let It Be was a bit messy.) The Beatles evolved musically until the end - The Band petered out rather early in their recording career. Without the first three albums The Band would hardly be worth talking about - until the new configuration recorded Jericho in the '90s.

Fellow RuPaul fans - check out his/her website - really cool!!

Posted on Wed Jul 19 08:03:22 CEST 2000 from spider-te024.proxy.aol.com (152.163.195.184)

Donna

From: Pa.

G-Man, Good question you posed on Rick's best vocals... My favorites are: "Blue River," "Sick and Tired," and I could not go without mentioning, "Sip the Wine."

Posted on Wed Jul 19 07:04:14 CEST 2000 from 1cust9.tnt2.idaho-falls.id.da.uu.net (63.25.9.9)

rollie

Gee willikers Sam! Is it absolutely necessary to use such harsh language in this guestbook.? Suggesting to a user to possibly engage in hedonistic activities with another user! How distasteful!Anybody out there have access to recordings of Butterfield with The Band, not counting the Last Hutzpah!? Did it ever occur outside of the Danko/ Butterfield gigs? Thanks,----- Rollie-----

Posted on Wed Jul 19 06:45:07 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-115-179.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.115.179)

BWNWITennessee

"I'll show you, you son of a bitch!" - Levon Helm to Robbie Robertson, "This Wheel's on Fire," p. 254.

Regarding Robbie not contributing to The Band's sound because his records sound different, I think that shows that he has always experimented with new things. All of his solo records sound different from each other. When Robbie was in The Band, they progressed from being a blues band to a folksy, country band. Once he left, the other guys stuck with the same formula, while Robbie continued to look in new areas.

I always thought the Beatles ripped off The Band, but that's because the Beatles ripped off everybody. They are the most overrated band in the world. That's not to say they have no redeeming qualities, they did write nice melodies, but they are nowhere near as creative as they are given credit for. Everything innovative that they did was either because of George Martin, of the result of sheer dumb luck. If you're doing avant-garde influenced music, it's easy to call someone a genius because they cut a tape into pieces and then splice it back together in a different order, but it's really not all that clever. What the Beatles were great at doing was spotting trends that were just beginning to develop, and then jumping all over them. And because the were the Beatles, the trends then became extremely popular and they were credited with having started them. They started out playing sloppy versions of music that was ten years old; then when they went psychedelic, they certainly didn't create that. They just made an everyman's version of psychedelia. When "Big Pink" and "John Wesley Harding" came out, they jumped on the black suits and long beards image. And I've heard an interview with John Lennon in the early '70s where he says something like, "There comes a time when you have to grow up and cut your hair." I always assumed he was getting that from The Band's anti-revolutionary, short-hair, family-oriented stance of the period.

Posted on Wed Jul 19 06:37:41 CEST 2000 from proxy-513.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.103)

iron

From: ready for action

I promised to be good on Jan's site...so Mr. B.why don't we take this out in the alley.....I'm up for anything......

Posted on Wed Jul 19 06:27:44 CEST 2000 from www-cache.vuw.ac.nz (130.195.2.96)

Amanda

From: procrastination

This is an all inclusive hi to every band fan… like Bob Dylan said I ain't lookin' to compete with you/Beat or cheat or mistreat you,/Simplify you, classify you/ Deny, defy or crucify you and so forth...

And now a question: how much & in what ways did Bob Dylan contribute to social change?

Posted on Wed Jul 19 06:20:56 CEST 2000 from proxy-641.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.89)

ironweed

Yeah Ben......what the hell happened between the two of you anyway.....you ain't gonna start claiming he owes you money too.....are ya?

Posted on Wed Jul 19 06:12:25 CEST 2000 from spider-to022.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.52)

Bayou Sam

From: ny

Laura...... I don't think you need to feel any less a part of this website and guestbook because you don't live in upstate NY. Hell, the guy who maintains this wonderful site isn't even in this country - and it dosen't matter. If anyone gives off a vibe that they are somehow "better" because they are closer than you - screw them. You should be proud you're not like them. I thought your post was very honest and heartfelt.

Posted on Wed Jul 19 06:09:20 CEST 2000 from user-33qt9ad.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.165.77)

Pat Brennan

From: USA

Ahhh, homophobia, we've been expecting you.

Posted on Wed Jul 19 06:05:49 CEST 2000 from spider-to022.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.52)

Bayou Sam

From: ny

Hey Ben - what horrible thing did Robbie Robertson do to offend you so personally. It's like watching a movie of a relentless detective trying to bring down a horrible menace to society. Geez, lighten up and enjoy the music........... .... most of the White Album was (as someone pointed out) almost completely written while the Beatles were on retreat from the world in India. Mike Love was there which is why Back In The USSR has Beach Boy backround vocals. Dear Prudence was about Mia Farrow's sister who was with them. I could go on..............................

Posted on Wed Jul 19 05:02:14 CEST 2000 from proxy-631.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.40)

ironweed

From: on the right

yuk...that's a terrible thought

Posted on Wed Jul 19 04:43:31 CEST 2000 from 3cust153.tnt9.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.130.153)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

Well, I just got back from Robbie's handsome easy-on-the-eyes white on black hollywood & vine website and found the trip very illuminating. It seems that the song "Take Your Partner By The Hand" (on Red Boy) has been adopted by the Gay & Lesbian movement as an anthem with Robbie's blessing. Can't wait for RuPaul to do a cover version - maybe RR will add some stinging guitar licks with the Village People on backing vocals - the music video will probably be very interesting too!!

Anyway, this is obviously good news for the die-hard Robertsonians who may now possibly get a chance to see their hero perform at upcoming alternative lifestyle events across the nation. Maybe, he'll even do some tinkering with the words and turn the tune into the first gay wedding song! This will no doubt be of great social significance when the rest of the 49 states follow in the footsteps of Vermont's landmark law permitting same-sex legal unions. The denial of this basic human right is one of the last barriers to personal freedom in this country today. Robbie may indeed even merit the title of "First Bob Dylan of the 21st Century" for his musical contribution to needed social change.

Posted on Wed Jul 19 04:15:29 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.avnl1.nj.home.com (24.4.252.66)

Brien Sz

From: NJ

The last two days I have spent an endless amount of time driving around for work. And for my many trips I pulled out Before The Flood for listening, then some serious cranking. I played a pretty good medicore bass in my time but i'll be damned if i wasn't the best air bassist jammin' around on the open road. I'll tell ya..., It's been a while since I've listened to that cd and you can tell the boys were at the top of their game.

Singing wise, Levon's the strongest, the grittiest, and maybe the most passionate--just listen to Upon Cripple Creek and Dixie, WOW! And Rick's backing V's, especially on Creek are tremendous. And Garth's parts really open up songs on this cd. I don't think i've ever heard his parts unfold like they do here on any of their other live stuff (from what i've heard). Richard's version of "Released" holds back on the falsetto a bit more than onother takes but I loved it and RR's guitar playing soars and compliments in all the appropriate parts.

If it's been a while since you've listened to this cd, break it out and turn the volume up to 11!

Posted on Wed Jul 19 04:08:40 CEST 2000 from ppp7187.on.bellglobal.com (206.172.250.203)

Need to Know

Heard a British band do a track called "Claire" (spg??) recently but missed band's name. Anyone know? Viney?

Posted on Wed Jul 19 03:27:33 CEST 2000 from 165.mercerville-31-32rs.nj.dial-access.att.net (12.78.152.165)

carmen

From: pa

As taken from the July 2000 ICE magazine.

"Robertson's memory is the main source for the record credits, while Hudson is currently providing from his own archives many "lost" songs for next year's batch of CD reissues."

The article also listed 5 new songs for SF and Cahoots. Interesting because the news wire shows only 4 including the interviews.

Posted on Wed Jul 19 03:19:08 CEST 2000 from udslppp120.mpls.uswest.net (63.226.146.120)

Patrick Swanson

Home page

DOES ANYONE WANNA SELL ME "CLASSIC ALBUMS" THEBAND, OR "THE AUTHORIZED BIO? I don't have a credit card so it'll have to be cash. The Most ILL PAY UP TO 15 DOLLARS. AND VISIT MY SITE OVER...AND..OVER..AGAIN.......................

Posted on Wed Jul 19 02:48:34 CEST 2000 from pm3-pt70.pcnet.net (206.105.29.144)

Laura

From: Floating up above the clouds!!!
Home page

Aaaaaahh!! I'm just about falling off my chair with bliss, gripping onto the desk to keep upright... I just got the "Crossing the Great Divide" set, and I'm listening to the alt. version of "Ruben Remus"... (one of my favourite songs, and the first Band song I fell in love with!) oh wow, oh wow... Sorry, I'm inarticulate; I can't take much more. Oh, it's fabulous, and funny, and beautiful.

Posted on Wed Jul 19 02:46:12 CEST 2000 from proxy-393.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.93)

space-hog....sorry

RR never wanted to tour again...ever...he didn't care if it was a night club in Chicago or if it was Madison Square Garden.....is that your final answer RR........RR said...YES ! things get slow this time of evening,don't they...

Posted on Wed Jul 19 02:13:20 CEST 2000 from proxy-393.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.93)

patricia

I always got the feeling that Robbie was a little too press-conscious for his own good....and after all , it was RR that really pushed The Last Waltz into being...so the other guys really didn't have that kind of weight to carry.....and Ben...comparing Rick's album with Robbie's first album I feel, isn't a fair thing to do....ricks record was made in 77 and Robbies album was made in 87....and RR had been thru a lot of really hard times in the 80s ..in that hollywood scene...his album was and still is for me,the most violent music that I have ever heard...he was trying to break loose......I'm sorry ... forgor to capitalize Ricks first name above...RD was a definate capitol

Posted on Wed Jul 19 01:43:55 CEST 2000 from spider-wj064.proxy.aol.com (205.188.198.49)

Ben Turkel

From: New Jersey

Regarding RR's negative quotes about the Band. There were several in the Hoskyn's book on pgs 374-375.Here's my favorite.'I'd made a movie and a three-album set about the fact that the Band was over,'he said in 1987. 'To come out a few years later and say, "Just kidding"... I mean that's my idea of horrible.'... From 'Where are you now, Bo Diddley?' By Edward Kiersh (1986)Doubleday Bks, pg 13 "I don't want to play in Milwaukee, at the Country Club, or in New York at the Lone Star. Are you joking? It upsets me just to think about it."... Sure, these comments aren't as angry as some of Levon's. But these were negative comments towards the reformed Band several years before Levon's book came out. I agree with a comment in Hoskyn's book by Elvis Costello that comparing RR's first album and Rick's album indicates that RR's contribution to the Band's sound was a lot less than it's been portayed in the press. I think that the other solo and group projects over the years have certainly made a strong case for this argument.

Posted on Wed Jul 19 01:29:30 CEST 2000 from proxy-393.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.93)

dummy

No ...its tomorrow night

Posted on Wed Jul 19 01:24:48 CEST 2000 from proxy-393.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.93)

patricia

From: bedford pa

Hey everybody....they're playing The Last Waltz tonite on Turner Movie Classics...12:30 till 2:30 am...plus before that they're gonna play a third of that "Personal Journey thru American Movies"deal.... you know ..that Scorsese thing.....happy television...peace

Posted on Tue Jul 18 23:05:04 CEST 2000 from athe530-j192.otenet.gr (212.205.245.192)

pretty little girl from Greece

From: Athens

pirate radio stations? any "Radio Caroline" memories from anyone? did they ever play any Band records? (...Peter?)

Posted on Tue Jul 18 22:39:46 CEST 2000 from alb1-as5200-36-36.termserv.net (208.20.67.36)

Diamond Lil

G-MAN: I agree completely about Rick's vocals with DFA being some of his best! I keep both DFA cd's in my car..and listen to them very often. My favorites? "Your Eyes" and "Blue River".

Patrick: Very nice page on Garth! Keep up the good work.

Peace. What a nice word...

Have a good night everyone.

Posted on Tue Jul 18 22:04:15 CEST 2000 from usr37-dialup41.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.75.41)

G-MAN

Putting together some tapes for the toga/guru trip. Just got hit by a bolt !! Listened to Danko/Anderson/ Fjeld CD's; to me Rick did some of his best ever vocals, compared to his Band songs, excluding Jubilation. (IMND & Twi-lite were exceptions) Any opinions ??? Peace !!!

Posted on Tue Jul 18 21:59:55 CEST 2000 from proxy-333.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.33)

Patricia

I am going to say something that I have never said before to anyone...PEACE EVERYBODY....and I will be more infrequent with my postings.....I just have a tendency to "jump the gun"......peace, and thanks Jan

Posted on Tue Jul 18 20:29:43 CEST 2000 from client-151-198-114-195.nnj.dialup.bellatlantic.net (151.198.114.195)

Bumbles

From: Where It's At

Procol Harum's "Whiter Shade of Pale" was never anywhere near the soul charts.

Posted on Tue Jul 18 19:47:44 CEST 2000 from proxy-636.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.70)

ironweed

Crabgrass....I do not think "anything goes" just because Jan is gone for a couple of weeks...I would have not been so offended if someone else had said it,but coming from you makes it kind of an insult.....speaking of radio stations...I have had my FM banished for years,I wan't to mention something tho...in 1987 I was listeng to one of our Local FM stations and they played one of the singles from Robbie's first solo album...and after it was over some guy came on and said these words...That was a newcomer from Canada...his name is Robbie Robertson ! well I just saw red...I went over to pick up the phone to give this guy some advice,but thought about it for minute...and came to the conclusion that RR just might have considered that a compliment...so I put the phone back down...but that certainly didn't keep me from pulling the FM cable out of the wall a litte later...Boy,FM ain't what it used to be...and belated thank you for the tip on WWOZ, that is the greatest station I have ever heard....and it's free....I think It was me who mentioned that everybody else's new music is taliked bout in here ...why not RR's stuff.....this is The Bands guestbook...and RR is a real big part of The Band"s music......and GEEZ LAURA...I didn't know that YOU were a "Cybersister!! What an honor....somebody should have told you ..huh

Posted on Tue Jul 18 19:24:07 CEST 2000 from ric-wht-pxy-int02.wheatfirst.com (204.238.130.68)

Bones

From: CT

"To Kingdom Come" and "Knockin' Lost John" are group efforts vocally as are most Band songs. The reason Robbie gets mentioned a lot with regard to these songs is because he sang on so few of them, which makes these particular songs unique.

Posted on Tue Jul 18 19:09:34 CEST 2000 from 216-1-128-63.akorn.net (216.1.128.63)

Mike Carrico

Procol Harum was pretty damn good and Crabgrass was right on about their first three albums - "A Salty Dog" in particular. Their dual keyboard setup certainly invited comparisons with The Band.

BJ Wilson was an excellent drummer and Gary Brooker a fine singer; and Matthew Fisher played some of the meanest organ east of London (Ontario) and Saugerties NY. "Quite Rightly So" (from Shine On Brightly) would have made a good Band cover song, with Richard on vocals and Garth soaring off into his own private stratosphere on the break and the fade.

Posted on Tue Jul 18 18:59:29 CEST 2000 from (12.40.113.50)

bob wigo

From: havertown,pa.

The state of radio in the Philadelphia area is so bad most of us have given up. Even the U of Pa. station WXPN, long recognized for an eclectic blend, doesn't give The Band its due. I thank the powers that be every day for the good fortune of having a CD player in my car. This might be a good "thread" opportunity. What is the general consensus on the quality of radio in your hometowns? I don't think it is fair to judge them harshly based on the absence of Band material, after all we harbor a strong bias but, I would like to know who's got it going on out there.It will be interesting to see if the reissues generate any additional interest from the programmers.

I have always been a great fan of radio and find it very difficult to hear what has happened to the quality of our local stations. The on air personalities are hardly personalities at all and the programming is all over the board. No one seems capable of maintaining a focus and direction. The playlists are as predictable as death and taxes.Sometimes I dream of a radio station that plays only "B" sides.There was a time here in Philly when the likes of WMMR, pioneers in AOR,and DJ's like Michael Tierson ( spelling? ) were considered the very finest in the land. Unfortunately we have de-evolved to a collection of pseudo-comics relying on banal humor and pranks.I sure wish they would make use of those wonderful audio libraries that surround them and entertain us with great music just like the instruction book says.

Posted on Tue Jul 18 18:52:07 CEST 2000 from 1cust59.tnt14.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.142.59)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

I hope that just because Jan's taking a much deserved (and probably needed) vacation from the site that some of you don't get the idea that "anything goes."

I never needed to hear The Band on "classic rock" stations or even think of any Band songs as "hits." Personally, when The Band performed their "hit single" "Up On Cripple Creek" on the Ed Sullivan show it made me want to hear it less when I played the Brown Album as it created an aesthetic imbalance amongst the songs in my mind. Repetition on the radio in isolation from the rest of the songs on the LP made the song seem annoying in a way. Time has fortunately corrected that.

Posted on Tue Jul 18 18:09:31 CEST 2000 from (129.237.77.56)

RPence

From: Casper, WY

Random thoughts: in response to the prompt on the singership of "Kingdom Come," I agree, and point out that "Knockin' Lost John" is similar, basically a Levon-Robbie duet, not a Robbie lead as is usually claimed...the Band website is state of the art and deserves all the attention it gets, from CNN, etc...though I do agree with the guestbooker who wondered why solo albums by Weider, Danko, et. al. get links, but not "Redboy," certainly one of the most significant releases of the last couple years...on one of those "classic rock" stations, I heard a mini-set by Dylan, followed by one of the typically obnoxious DJs talking about Dylan's backing bands...though he correctly said that the Band was the best of these, and had some praise for the Last Waltz, he played no Band, and the station never does play their music...which is actually a blessing in some ways, because I don't want to hear the Band alongside the Jefferson Starship, Journey, the anti-gay, sexist, and racist "humor" the DJs engage in, and the obnoxious ads...what do guestbookers think about the Band's absence from classic rock stations?...one more thing, I like the new Roosevelt Stadium samples, even though each one is a real drunken mess--is Richard really singing "Now two young kids/might start a ruckus/you know we feel/they're trying to **** us"????????

Posted on Tue Jul 18 16:25:40 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-157.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.157)

Peter Viney

From: Deep inside the encylopedia

I received A Whiter Shade of Pale as a birthday present in 1967. Brown and white Deram label. definitive record of the year, and what a year it was for music. It’s not only Lennon who liked it, one of the DJ votes that fill papers in the off season had it as "Best single of all time" (A title also held by "I heard it through the Grapevine"). Anyway, a bit of extremely pretentious lyrical reference for you, as the writers were erudite.

"As the miller told his tale …" is Chaucer’s story, The Miller’s Tale, much loved by schoolkids because it’s funny and filthy. It’s the one everyonewishes they’d studied, but instead they end up with boring tales like those of the clerk or the Wife of Bath.

"Skip a light fandago" mirrors "trip the light fantastic", an odd saying referring to dancing, with its origins in Milton’s "L’Allegro":

Sport that wrinkled Care derides

And Laughter holding both his sides

Come and trip it as you go

On the light fantastic toe.’

The quotable version is "Come, let’s trip the light fantastic" which is, like so many sayings, not the actual original. (cf. Play it Again Sam).

Then there’s the bit of Bach, or rather, as my local classical record shop sniffily informed me, a 19th century popular transcription of Bach, "Air On a G String" (aka Suite #3 in D Major – Air). It’s been used a few times, most recently in Sweet Box’s 1998 British hit, "Everything’s Gonna be Alright". This samples a German Symphony Orchestra recording rather than replaying the melody. The bonus track on the single is "most wanted G-String Mix" and the cover says it’s "Based on Air out of Suite No. 3 by J.S. Bach – MAD RESPECT!"

Posted on Tue Jul 18 14:06:36 CEST 2000 from 213-161-70-178.available.lhr.above.net (213.161.70.178)

Mandy

Just want to thank "The Band" for who they are and for coming together the way they did. The first song I ever learned to play was a "band" one! God Bless

Posted on Tue Jul 18 13:43:43 CEST 2000 from 173.0102.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.173)

Nancy

From: Australia

Laura: I was going to send you an email but decided that maybe a public hi was in order. I always like seeing your messages, and part of the reason is because that you only post now and again (rarity value), and partly because you are a cybersister, this implying no disrespect to the men posting here.

I can understand what you are saying about the "club" that occasionally dominates the GB, but because the whole setup is so unstructured, I don't think that there is anything that will change the way it operates. This means that whether or not you find people with whom you find meaningful communication will remain in the lap of the gods. I have been approached by a few people who have felt ignored by the GB, and I can understand that those negative feelings could rapidly the quell the desire to continue posting, with the loss of potentially valuable discussion.

Lack of acknowledgement doesn't always mean that you have been ignored. It may just be that there was no more to be said on the subject, or that the particular comment you made did not stimulate or irritate anyone to make a response. This may be why some people try so hard to be noticed (even bad press is good press), and rock musicians have proved that in days past as well as in the present. Some GB posters have also put this strategy to good use. So Laura, keep posting and know that a variety of messages ensures a flavourome cocktail for everyone to enjoy, (IMHO anyway)!

Posted on Tue Jul 18 11:19:58 CEST 2000 from (198.172.31.67)

Richard Whelan-Stevens

From: SF Bay Area

Herman, I don't think there could have been much Band influence on The White Album. Most of the songs were written in India, and, although I would need to check my chronology books, I think most of the White Album sessions would have been completed by the time Big Pink was released. Good call on Let it Be though. There is a book called GET BACK which is the story of the Let it Be sessions, and the Band influence was very apparent. The especially true with Harrison, who had hung out The Band in Woodstock and later said he was hoping they would ask him to join. George is constantly playing snippets from Big Pink, proclaiming the superiority of Lowery over Hammond organs (thanks Garth) and at one point is telling Paul he should play more like Rick Danko! The Beatles were certainly directly inspired by Big Pink to try to have a stripped down, more down home style. Unfortunately, this requires the ability to be in the same room together, and by 1969 the bad feelings amongst the Beatles prevented that.

Posted on Tue Jul 18 09:43:49 CEST 2000 from proxy-621.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.181)

42

dang RR.."nice suit"...and the rest of that stuff of yours ain't bad either

Posted on Tue Jul 18 09:31:57 CEST 2000 from proxy-621.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.181)

42

Herman.....everybody thinks that Robbie sang "To Kingdom Come" because Robbie said he did......hell maybe he lied...actually,I think Robbie said he sang "on" To kingdom Come.....it 's a real good song tho...

Posted on Tue Jul 18 09:24:59 CEST 2000 from 1cust210.tnt11.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.134.210)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

Wow, Rick was right!! Check the photo of Robbie with Giorgio Armani - 1999 in the "What's New" section for July 16th. I wonder if he gets a discount. I guess the cover of GQ is next for RR or maybe my favorite mag - Cigar Aficianado.

Correction for error in previous post - Matthew Fisher NOT Fischer. Sorry Matt!!

Yeah, The Beatles sound so much like The Band from the White Album on I can hardly tell them apart - and they stole that title from the "Brown Album" - how blatant!! (BTW Mary was Paul's mother's name who died when he was about 10.)

Posted on Tue Jul 18 09:20:40 CEST 2000 from jan-hoiberg.hiof.no (158.36.52.15)

jh

From: Halden, Norway
Home page

Time for the annual get-away. The site and the guestbook will not be updated or maintained^* for a couple of weeks. See y'all in August.

* Actually, there is a "guestbook gremlin" running, a little (and still buggy, I'm afraid) program that tries to move older guestbook entries to the archives every now and then.

Posted on Tue Jul 18 09:18:13 CEST 2000 from proxy-621.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.181)

42

thanks Laura...

Posted on Tue Jul 18 09:09:47 CEST 2000 from proxy-621.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.181)

ironweed

From: hump 40

you folks are changin' my mind about Procal harum.....I'v got to look into this a bit more....and Strawberry Fields is my favorite beatles song....along witha couple of others!!

Posted on Tue Jul 18 08:53:45 CEST 2000 from gateway.tono.no (212.71.68.22)

Jens Magnus

Whiter Shade of Pale. Yes.
I attended a concert with Bill Wyman's rhythm kings two years ago. Splendid show. During the extra-songs-section in the end, organ player and vocalist Georgie Fame says: Today is Mick's birthday, he is 59. I was hoping that on behalf of the band you would sing Whiter shade of pale for him, Gary?
And Brooker hunched over his small electric piano and sang to us all. This was a blessed moment in Oslo.

Posted on Tue Jul 18 08:19:52 CEST 2000 from stk-pm1-56-184.dialup.slip.net (207.171.230.184)

Guenevere

From: nowhere man

I was laying there listening to the radio, and thinking "I sure wish I could hear Strawberry Fields right now"... and I kid you not...all of a sudden... (ta da!) ... they played an entire Beatle's set, and right at the end...there it was!

You're so right Bayou Sam, there's nothing that sounds like Strawberry Fields Forever... and nothing ever will!!

BTW: I think a "No" will mean a "Yes"/but it's all wrong/that is I think I disagree...

Posted on Tue Jul 18 08:01:48 CEST 2000 from spider-wm056.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.195)

Herman Berman

Why does everyone think Robbie sang "To Kingdom come"? I think it's mostly Richard and Levon. I think Robbie sings the one part"waitin down here for so darn long waitin for the end to come along...". Am I off the mark? Feedback please

Posted on Tue Jul 18 07:57:01 CEST 2000 from spider-wm056.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.195)

Herman Berman

Anybody notice how the Beatles sound changed after Big Pink came out. We all know they were fans but you gotta listen to the last three beatles albums starting with the white album. Very dry straight ahead drum sound (like Levons). Alot of raggedy backing vocals (I'm so tired, Birthday, Dont let me down, I got a feelin, "Boy your gonna carry that WEIGHT", You know my name look up the number, etc). I think a song like "Let it be" with its' gospel like keyboards,vocals and lyrics (Mother Mary- did Paul pick her up from scrapped lyrics from "The Weight"?) definately owe alot to big pink. Listen to the intro to "Dont Let Me down", very Robbie. Not to mention the very dry production on the white album and Let it be. What do ya think?

Posted on Tue Jul 18 07:50:01 CEST 2000 from 1cust98.tnt11.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.134.98)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

I saw Procol Harum at least thrice in their heyday at the Fillmore East. I recall Gary Brooker once making his entrance on a dimly lit stage in overalls sweeping the floor with a broom as if he were a stagehand and then sitting down behind his grand piano as the other members filed onstage. A nice touch.

Procol's first three albums are excellent all the way through and non-group member Keith Reid's words are as remarkable and memorable as those of any of his contemporaries. I always found Robin Trower's fuzzy guitar tastefully understated although it was obvious he had felt restricted by the band as is evidenced on his subsequent Robin Trower albums. I believe the same Bach organ riff which Garth improvised upon in "Chest Fever" is also given a musical nod by Matthew Fischer somewhere on Side Two (Gee, remember when albums had 2 sides!!) of Shine on Brightly though I haven't heard it in quite a while (lack a one sided CD copy).

Posted on Tue Jul 18 07:09:55 CEST 2000 from tcnet22-058.austin.texas.net (209.99.97.58)

Laura Holt

From: AUSTIN

Have to agree with a certain "P" in the GB that sometimes it does seem a bit "clickish" here in the GB...don't mean to throw any stones (especially Diamonds) but sometimes certain people in here tend to forget that there are some of us that can't hang out every week and go see "The Barnburners" on a regular basis. You truly are the lucky ones that get that luxury. I wish I was close enough to see the music you get to witness. Some of us are far, far away. Wish I was closer. I wish the ole GB would make me feel closer to that music I don't get to see being down south like I am. I guess what I'm trying to say is ...at times it DOES feel like a "Band fan club" in here with only certain members allowed. Gee..just wish SOME of us could all be friends and not be so snobbish. Oh well ...maybe it's "Just my imagination...runnin away with me!!" PEACE ALWAYS!! Thanks Jan for the wonderful site that allows us to share whats on our minds!!

Posted on Tue Jul 18 07:10:04 CEST 2000 from spider-to087.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.39)

Bayou Sam

From: ny

there's nothing that sounds like Strawberry Fields Forever. Nothing ever will. One of Lennon's masterpeices.

Posted on Tue Jul 18 07:06:40 CEST 2000 from stk-pm1-26-154.dialup.slip.net (207.171.230.154)

Guenevere

From: here 'n there

Regarding "A Whiter Shade of Pale":

well, I looked up the song, and first of all, I can't believe those damn hippies put that thing out in 1967! Yikes!!! I musta smoked too much of that "wacky- weed" my OWN self ... cause this time I lost about 5 years! So then, when I searched the lyrics (which I did because I could never figure them out)... I found this interesting quote (that someone might enjoy) along with "the mystery verse" posted at the end of the lyric's sheet:

"Apparently there is an unpublished second verse that never made it onto the record because the record company thought the song was already too long. I've heard they included this verse in concerts."

She said "I'm home on shore leave"/ Though in truth we were at sea/ So I took her by the looking glass/ And forced her to agree/ Saying, "You must be the mermaid/ Who took Neptune for a ride"/But she smiled at me so sadly/ That my anger straight 'way died

I also discovered that the song is recorded on 126 different albums, and the song appears on two albums by none other than RR's man, Percy Sledge himself (on his "Greatest Hits: When A Man Loves A Woman" album... and on his "24 Greatest Hits 98"!) It was also recorded by the likes of King Curtis, Joe Cocker, Sammy Hagar, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Ringo Starr, Bonnie Tyler, Willie Nelson, Johnny Rivers, Michael Bolton...

but tsk... no Neil Diamond...

Posted on Tue Jul 18 06:54:46 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-119-182.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.119.182)

Back with no wife in Tennessee

From: Duh

Yes, sometime's I'm back with Neil's wife, but presently both he and my next door neighbor are getting a bit suspicious, so at the moment I'm with no one's wife. Sorry I've been gone for awhile, I've been busy showing relatives around Nashville, since none of you folks took up my offer to come down and visit. If you ever see the "Always Patsy Cline" show, I'll see you, and you might see me, although I'm not gonna tell you who I am! I saw Doc Watson last week, along with the Nashville Bluegrass Band. Doc is still great, and the NBB's mandolin player is Roland White, who used to be in the Kentucky Colonels with his brother Clarence. Clarence was an incredibly innovative bluegrass (not crabgrass) guitar player who later joined the Byrds, and was an influence on Jerry Garcia. Just some trivia.

Here's some sad local news that some of you might want to know - the guitar player for the great country/latin/rockabilly band the Mavericks, Nick Kane, recently quit the group, and their singer, Raul Malo, is working on a solo record. I dont' know what this means for the future of the band, but it doesn't look good for what I consider to be one of today's truly great bands.

Posted on Tue Jul 18 06:41:45 CEST 2000 from proxy-621.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.181)

Patricia

By the tone of the RS interview Robbie seemed to be irritated at the question,the guy asked him if had been influenced by Whiter Shade of Pale while coming up with Chest Fever...this seemed to really irritate him and you could hear in his choice of words that he did not like to be accused of copping anything from any group that was a ordinary as Procal harum...coming from a group of fella's as original as The Band You can understand why RR could have gotten a little irritated at the question...plus he had just gotten out of bed at the time the interviewer showed up....Procal Harum were ok but the were yesterdays bread compared to The Band...Robbie said "we got ours from gospel..I don't know where thet got theirs".

Posted on Tue Jul 18 06:11:21 CEST 2000 from user-33qt9k9.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.166.137)

Pat Brennan

From: USA

Concerning Woodstock, it is The Band's own fault that the Woodstock footage is so disappointing. They refused to let the movie makers turn on the necessary lights to blanket the stage, thus placing most of the members in half-light or darkness. Their argument that they didn't want the camera-people to get in their way pretty much assured an underlit performance. And when Grossman demanded a bunch of money, they were cut out of the movie anyway.

Posted on Tue Jul 18 05:59:30 CEST 2000 from user-33qt9k9.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.166.137)

Pat Brennan

From: USA

Crabby, fearing infringement, I'd still like to comment on Whiter Shade of Pale. Oddly enough, besides charting high on the rock/pop charts, that song reached Number 1 on the soul charts, and at the time a lot of people thought it was a black soul band doing the tune. I've mentioned before that the Procol Harum site is the second best music site on the Net, and there's a boatload of interesting info on the tune there, along with a lot of interesting discussion of the Band. Procol's drummer was a huge Levon fan, and Levon returned the kudos.

Lennon felt AWSoP was the best song ever recorded and said so a number of times. Robbie was quite dismissive of Procol Harum for whatever reasons, but they were a great band and had nothing but the highest respect for The Band. PH's singer Gary Brooker was at Albert Hall in 66 and used that show as the blueprint for his new group. Not a bad choice at all.

Posted on Tue Jul 18 05:43:29 CEST 2000 from spider-wm012.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.152)

Lori

From: Chicago

Daniel, think I know what you mean. Still get tears in my eyes, too. But there's all that truly wonderful music Rick left for us. Glad that you found the Guestbook...Peace.

Posted on Tue Jul 18 05:05:32 CEST 2000 from spider-to087.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.39)

Bayou Sam

From: ny

HANK, the wonderful whining in the Weight was always Richard in my mind. It's one of the best parts of the song. I loved seeing it mentioned. How about the exhales on The Shape I'm In, when the little break parts start?.............PATRICK, nice Garth site............... EVERYBODY, I was in a music store today and in the used record section I found a copy of a Ronnie Hawkins album from 1979 called "The Hawk",for $2.00. I haven't played it yet. Anyone familiar with it? Garth is on it.............later

Posted on Tue Jul 18 04:59:03 CEST 2000 from spider-wg024.proxy.aol.com (205.188.196.29)

Bashful Bill

From: Minoa,N.Y.

Dave Z. I don't know of any RR-Superman connections but... in Spiderman comix, early 70's a character was introduced with the name Robbie Robertson. I don't read it regularly anymore but he is still in the series, and he is on the animated series. It's never been verified but I've always suspected it was an homage to RR......Hank-I think BP(my very favorite Band album, after all its where it all began) is very much a psychedelic-tinged album.......and thanks to all the folks who responded to me re where to find a reasonably priced Rick Danko album(the 78 one). Nice people!

Posted on Tue Jul 18 04:55:43 CEST 2000 from 1cust56.tnt11.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.134.56)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

John Lennon mentioned more than once that he loved "A Whiter Shade of Pale" which is an incredible poem perfectly wedded to a haunting classical melody. Really makes you feel mentally unhinged whether stoned or not. Percy Sledge's song "When A Man Loves A Woman" (a great, great monument of a song) does share similarities musically which never occurred to me before. And I'd never thought about a connection between "Strawberry Fields Forever" and The Band tune "In A Station" but certainly they are somewhat similar thematically. Interesting. (I mentioned way back somewhere that there seems to be a kinship between "Jawbone" and "Maxwell's Silver Hammer." However, I think both connections are coincidental.)

Puffy is the guy to do the dance / ravey remix of "Chest Fever" - hope they don't lock him up! FREE PUFFY!!! (Maybe Sting - who thought the rap version of "Every Breath You Take" was "absolutely marvelous" will testify as a character witness at Puffy's trial.)

In case anyone's wondering I've been spending most of my time over at the new Garth Hudson site lately - can't wait 'til the chat room and Guestbook are added!!

And btw everyone please note that ALL MY GUESTBOOK ENTRIES are copyrighted by Crabgrass Inc. - anyone referring to them or commenting on them must first obtain written permission.

Posted on Tue Jul 18 04:27:17 CEST 2000 from proxy-393.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.93)

no name

Yeah ...Spiderman comics ...and it only costs 3.99

Posted on Tue Jul 18 04:05:05 CEST 2000 from spider-wl033.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.33)

Dave Z

From: Chaska, MN

I was on Ebay... and did a search on RR... when I saw something too wierd... Tracy... AHROOO!!! Help me here... because I swear I saw an entry for RR appearing in a Superman Comic Book #51 or 52 or something... Am I losing it??? I very quickly exited the page for fear of a PC virus... Then I came here... only to find out that I shoulda gone to that Dylan/Lesh show last Friday... Ahhh!!! Oh well, I then thought I would re-group... and reflect on all the nice Muddy Waters and Staple Singers CD recommendations (Thanks!)... so I head over to www.cdnow.com... and it looks like Barney Hoskyns is recommending the Top 10 "live" CDs of all time for shoppers to consider... He's got the Apollo James Brown, Van's "Too Late To Stop Now"... and TLW...but what, no ROA?!?! I sometimes think the historic significance of TLW overshadows unfairly ROA... Take care...

Posted on Tue Jul 18 03:22:43 CEST 2000 from pm3-pt84.pcnet.net (206.105.29.158)

Laura

csiron: the Lost Woodstock video version of "The Weight" includes the first verse, the Crazy Chester verse, and the last verse. No special intro. Annoying scenes of Woodstock attendees (not the audience of the song, just people arriving and such) are shown almost more than The Band's performance is. Richard is shown for about one second. (Yeah, I was disappointed.)

Posted on Tue Jul 18 03:05:01 CEST 2000 from 1cust158.tnt8.dfw5.da.uu.net (63.30.41.158)

csiron

Can anyone tell me whether the Authorized Video Biography includes a complete take of the Woodstock performance of the Weight, or is it just an excerpt? Follow-up question: Does the Woodstock Lost Performances tape include material on the Band (e.g., stage introduction) that isn't included in the Authorized Video Biography. Thank you for your help.

Posted on Tue Jul 18 02:53:58 CEST 2000 from dialup-074.cork.iol.ie (194.125.43.74)

HANK

From: CORK CITY
Home page

Saw your site, Patrick......it's Great!!!!! Well done.... Thanks to all the folks who answered my question about "The Weight".......Here's one that might ruffle a few feathers.........here goes.....Does anyone here think a dance/ravey remix of "Chest Fever" would be any good?........believe me, I'm NOT a raver/dancer type....but I've often been at these MDMA/acid/trippy things and thought ......"I'd love it if these people had their ears blown off by Garths mother of an organ sound......."... I told y'all a few nights ago that I pulled into a gas/petrol station and this teenager started groovin' to it as it emanated loudly from my car......... Yea or nay?.......

Posted on Tue Jul 18 02:29:21 CEST 2000 from spider-tq032.proxy.aol.com (152.163.201.57)

JRyan

Where can I find info of who sang what in the Band songs. And what Dylan hits were with the Band? Can you email that? Thanks

Posted on Tue Jul 18 02:28:57 CEST 2000 from proxy-553.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.143)

Patty

If I offended anybdy with the redneck stuff this morninI'm sorry...I just figured since everyone here is a fan of The Band we all know the history of the group and know about The Hawk and the boys.....what's wrong? thought everybody would smile...this doesn't sound like a group of Hawks fans to me...the hawks had fans that liked to have fun....the Band had fans that liked to have fun....I do not think that this place is a "Guest"book at all...it seems like a small circle of friends that have no chairs for any new company....

Posted on Tue Jul 18 00:47:33 CEST 2000 from proxy-553.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.143)

P

aah Daniel.now ya got me cryin'

Posted on Tue Jul 18 00:31:12 CEST 2000 from proxy-553.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.143)

Patricia

Daniel...you are not alone..Ricks voice was and will always be alive with childlike sweetness,pure and gentle and completely unforgettable...you are not crying alone....The Band gave us the most unforgettable music that was ever created....and it will never grow old ...every time you listen you hear something new that sometimes brings tears to your eyes....dry your eyes kid and smile because you are counted among the few that ever got to hear Rick and Richard and Robbie,Levon and Garth. What did mankind use for magic before 1969...we're all glad that you found Prince Jan's site....stay

Posted on Mon Jul 17 23:47:43 CEST 2000 from www-cache.vuw.ac.nz (130.195.2.96)

Amanda

From: NZ

Interesting what you say about Bob Dylan 2000 Dave the Phone Guy…In my part of the world we don't get to see many of our heroes but I saw Dylan in Auckland in about 1994…Admittedly I wasn't much of a Dylan fan in those days but I went with people who were & everyone agreed it was quite disappointing…I guess it must have been a bad night because he just didn't seem very interested or involved in performing at all He didn't say anything to the audience…not even its nice to be in NEW ZEALAND…

In fact its only recently as I've been developing an interest in the BAND that I've been learning to appreciate Dylan as a performer and not just a song writer. Listening to Bob Dylan Live 1966 "the Royal Albert Hall" Concert I had a moment of thinking "Well now I finally get it" & I'm also becoming a big fan of the Basement tapes. So I think if he tours this way again I'll make an effort to go.

Didn't LH say/imply speed was the Hawks drug of choice? But I'm not sure after that…Is Big Pink psychedelic? In some ways…its got an underwater, out of it feel to it…lyrics kind of mysterious and only half understood…although it maybe partly that my speakers are about to die!

This reminds of something I read somewhere. Maybe here? About how different drugs have different aesthetics. Apparently stoners like round shapes, people on LSD like colours and flowing shapes (hence the tie dye thing of the 60's??) and alcohol is a writers drug. But I'm not sure its that clear cut for music since in my not very extensive circle quite a few stoners really like Hendrix. Would anyone with a "more adventurous lifestyle" care to share??? :)

Posted on Mon Jul 17 23:45:08 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-039.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.39)

Peter Viney

Hey, Patrick, good work. Watch the size of the page for those with smaller screens, but it's good to see Garth's genius highlighted.

Posted on Mon Jul 17 23:18:46 CEST 2000 from inh1ts09-qfe0.ims.bt.net (193.113.185.133)

Daniel Marchant

From: UnitedKingdom

I found your site through a search, i was looking for things related to the Band. The special for Rick is playing and for some reason i am crying, i never met him so why is their such saddness. He has the sweetest voice, and he sings pure and true. Bless you all out their in this world, is music our last salvation, i dont know but no one sings the songs like rick danko...we will miss you,

Posted on Mon Jul 17 23:04:15 CEST 2000 from gw.itac.ca (209.146.161.1)

Bill

Thanks for the correction, Medecine Hat.

Posted on Mon Jul 17 22:34:09 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

As David says, it's about the music. In that spirit...

To piggy-back David's comments regarding the Staples and "Wade in the Water," a more recents and equally impressive effort by Mavis on this gospel warhorse can be heard in her 1996 duet album with pianist/organist Lucky Peterson, "Spirituals & Gospel." The album is a tribute to Mahalia Jackson, and is in keeping with Mahalia's quiet intensity in singing gospel. Mahalia's approach is best represented by Mavis in the next generation of gospel singers, and is a huge influence on the Band's own approach to the style when borrowed in their own music.

I differentiate Mavis's sort of low rumbling style in gospel to the more bombastic approach that dominates the popular conception of African American gospel. In this sense, the term "spiritual" is best used over "gospel" where Mavis and Mahalia offer an exceedingly intimate and personal approach to their music.

An excellent example of both styles being used by masters can be found on Aretha Franklin's album,"One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism," during an amazing rendition of "Oh Happy Day." The song features Mavis and Aretha in an incredible display of gospel prowess and gospel intensity. Aretha, true to her voice goes for brute power where Mavis runs the low range of her voice--less pyrotechnic than Aretha, but equally powerful. I don't beleive "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism" is in release anymore, but I believe Aretha's "Amazing Grace" compilation carries this specific version of "Oh Happy Day."

Matt

Posted on Mon Jul 17 22:33:23 CEST 2000 from usr51-dialup317.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.198.199)

G-MAN

Patrick, nice work. Hey, who's bashing Butch ??? One of the most personable people we ever met. Back off !! Rick did an updated version of Sip the Wine on Live on Breeze Hill which sounded real good. Can't wait for his new CD--August 1st ???? Some of the commo is gettin mean, here !! I'm headin to Saratoga to see the GURU's, then seein the BB's in sept......the Band debates etc. can rage forever, but the new stuff is what's actually happinin !!! Besides--Richard's voice had soul on his hi notes. I'll be nice: Robbie sounds like he just got caught in his fly while tryin to overcome a urinary tract infection--military type. Boy I could sing that bad when I had me one, back 1970 !!!! Catch what's playin NOW. Peace...

Posted on Mon Jul 17 22:32:25 CEST 2000 from tdslppp26.mpls.uswest.net (63.226.145.27)

Patrick Swanson

From: Minneapolis (I was born in Ontario)
Home page

I just made the GARTH site better with backround music (NO CHEEZY MIDI!REAL PIANO!) . Also sooner or later their will be a link to my page on www.breezehill.net. Well expect some new things on this 3 day old site. Thank You.

Posted on Mon Jul 17 22:25:41 CEST 2000 from (12.34.17.217)

medicine hat

From: pittsburgh

now listen you young whippersnappers -- the band __never__, i repeat ___never___ had their picture taken in civil war attire. that was just a concoction dressed up by the rock dreams guy. there were many wannabe's at the time who adopted civil war/western wear, but our guys would never have been so gross. i write this for the sake of posterity and to circumvent any rewrite of history, intentional or not. peace.

Posted on Mon Jul 17 22:20:11 CEST 2000 from proxy-601.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.161)

ironweed

From: the deep south of the north

hey Matt...screw you..you know you really ought to try to get more fun out of life..and for heavens sake loosen up,you're gonna work yourself into a heart attack.

Posted on Mon Jul 17 22:11:25 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary of American English

From: Mattk's bookshelf (bookmarks, actually)

Time to play connect the dots

ob·tuse
Pronunciation: äb-'tüs, &b-, -'tyüs
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): ob·tus·er; -est
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin obtusus blunt, dull, from past participle of obtundere to beat against, blunt, from ob- against + tundere to beat -- more at OB-, CONTUSION
Date: 15th century
1 a : not pointed or acute : BLUNT b (1) of an angle : exceeding 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees (2) : having an obtuse angle -- see TRIANGLE illustration c of a leaf : rounded at the free end
2 a : lacking sharpness or quickness of sensibility or intellect : INSENSITIVE b : difficult to comprehend : not clear or precise in thought or expression

Laura

From: Manchester, Connecticut
Home page

I just wanted to say... I am really looking forward to the upcoming reissues, especially Big Pink. As a huge fan of the basement tapes, those bonus tracks sound utterly fantastic! Just think, good sound-quality versions of stuff like "Ferdinand the Imposter"! Plus, a second version of "Lonesome Susie"?? And a second version of "Rag Mama Rag" on the brown album reissue? (I sure hope it has plenty of screechy fiddle! Mmmmmm.) The deluxe inserts with lots of photos sound really nice, too.

Posted on Mon Jul 17 19:56:58 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.187)

David Powell

From: Georgia

Dave Z: You can find "Wade In The Water" by The Staple Singers on the CD "Freedom Highway." This is a reissue from Sony/Legacy of an album originally released in 1965. As far as Muddy Waters -- "His Best 1947-55" is a goodun and so is "His Best 1956-64." The budget priced "Muddy Waters / 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection" from MCA/Universal" is an excellent value for the money.

My all-time favorite is his acoustic "Folk Singer" album with the sparse accompaniment of Buddy Guy on 2nd guitar, Willie Dixon on stand-up bass and a drummer. This album, basically recorded live on the studio with just a couple of microphones, presents Muddy's rich baritone vocals beautifully. Sadly, the Mobile Fidelity gold-CD version, one of the best sounding CDs you'll ever hear, is no longer readily available, except at ridiculous on-line auction prices. You can still find the Chess/MCA version, which sounds just fine.

In answer to Jonathan Katz's question: The new "Rollin' Stone / The Golden Anniversary Collection", to my ears, is remastered (sound-wise) better than the box set collection from a few years back.

Remember -- IT'S THE MUSIC THAT MATTERS!

Posted on Mon Jul 17 19:37:10 CEST 2000 from 56k-la-00-07.dial.qnet.com (209.221.212.22)

Dave the Phone Guy

From: Lee Vining,Ca.

I recently attended the Bob Dylan/Phil Lesh concert at Reno,Nv. If they play nearby,GO!

The only other time I saw Dylan was in '74 backed by you know who,so I don't have a lot of show comparisons.Dylan was mighty mighty fine.(great voice,Bob playin' good solos,wonderful band,Jerry's drummer from JGB,and everyone on stage looked great)

Phil Lesh has got Paul Barrere and Billy Payne from Little Feat and Robben Ford in his band. Phil's band can jam and improvise like nobody's business.

An added bonus was ALL music during the set change was The Band on the house P.A.(mixes of Big Pink tunes that sounded different;like lead vocals way up in the mix)

My expectations of Mr.D were exceeded by far.I'm very impressed with the 2000 era Dylan.

GO,GO,GO!

Posted on Mon Jul 17 19:37:07 CEST 2000 from proxy-721.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.141)

..jef..

Hahahaha...thank ya wig.....anything to try to break the "I'm so cool I don't laugh at common folk'es humor...cause I'm a hipper than that...and we "hipper than thou" crowd only laugh at each others jokes....everybody knows that!....you people are "stuck"...that's too bad.

Posted on Mon Jul 17 19:19:55 CEST 2000 from spider-mtc-td051.proxy.aol.com (64.12.104.171)

bob wigo

From: havertown,pa.

Thank you, Patricia, for your rework of the Jeff Foxworthy Show and your concern for the "inner workings" of the Guestbook. Stellar contributions.

Posted on Mon Jul 17 19:01:08 CEST 2000 from host161-123-26-209.utelfla.com (209.26.123.161)

carmen

From: pa

Bones, thanks for the answer to Hank's question. It's funny I always wondered the same thing, however, I was debating between Rick and RR. Best Regards to the GB'ers.

Posted on Mon Jul 17 18:55:19 CEST 2000 from pm3-pt105.pcnet.net (206.105.29.179)

Laura

From: Manchester, Connecticut

Interesting! I, too, have been wondering a lot lately about whether it was Richard or Robbie on that whimpery whine. I just listened again with headphones, and it does clearly come from the left channel, along with the rest of Richard's vocals. I had thought it might be Robbie, though, as it's a very Robbie-sounding sound. It reminds me of his vocals on "You Say You Love Me" and some of his vocalizations in the "rainy afternoon" hotel room songs with Bob Dylan from 1966. BUT, yeah, Richard also does something very similar to that exact sound in part of "You Say You Love Me"! Anyway, I love "The Weight" and I love that whimpery whine.

Posted on Mon Jul 17 18:46:38 CEST 2000 from proxy-523.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.113)

ironweed

hey it tok me a long time to think of all those things...I even made some of them up myself.....they reminded me of ...well I won't say....most of you people are so puckered up that I'll bet 90 percent of you haven't had a decent "bowel movement in years"

Posted on Mon Jul 17 18:32:27 CEST 2000 from cic-proxy02.firstunion.com (169.200.25.141)

Bones

From: CT

Hank: That is Richard making the high-pitched wail on "The Weight". It is a good question considering that Robbie makes a very similar sound with his voice on his records. Robbie has said that he used that sound on "Fallen Angel" as a tribute to Richard, and he has used it often since then.

Posted on Mon Jul 17 16:07:42 CEST 2000 from gw.itac.ca (209.146.161.1)

Bill

1) Ahroo: In case he didn't answer you, BWNWIT solemnly told us some weeks ago - and it took a brave man to be so honest in the circumstances - that N stands for Neil's. And Neil Diamond at that!

2) More on the Union Gap front. Not only did both they and the Band appear for pictures in their Union suits, but both came to pop-world prominence backing up singers from Hibbing, Minnesota. However, there are also differences. One changed the face of rock music; the other did not. One was a bunch of Canadians with an American drummer; the other was a bunch of Americans with a Canadian drummer.

Posted on Mon Jul 17 15:28:23 CEST 2000 from dialup-266.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.10)

HANK

From: Co. Corcaigh, Eire
Home page

On "The Weight"......who sings that whiney thing between verses? Is it Robbie or Richard?......I can hear Richard quite clearly in the chorus but I have a feeling that whimpering sound is Robbie............now, don't get all upset over the words "whiney" and "whimpering"......how else would you describe it??. I always love listening to "The Weight"...........

Posted on Mon Jul 17 12:53:37 CEST 2000 from du60-1.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.1.60)

Ilkka

From: under a lamppost
Home page

Me and my dog, we were howlin' under a lamppost the other night - we had a pint or two of Pedigree Pal Strong, we got the blues, you guys know what I mean. We wanted to make some personal questions to CRABGRASS but because "it" NEVER answers to my emails, we had to do it right here in front of the whole wide Band universe:
1.) What would be your first words if you woke up one morning between ROBBIE ROBERTSON and the POPE?
2.) Which one is more reactionary: Bluegrass or Crabgrass?
3.) Which is your choice for the Band music on a desert island, let's say 2 1/2 albums.
3.) Which one do you prefer: a guillotine or a lawn mover?

Posted on Mon Jul 17 09:36:52 CEST 2000 from proxy-711.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.111)

ironweed

From: bedford pa

YOU KNOW YOU'RE A REDNECK..if your wife howls at the moon more than your huntin' dogs_if you've ever paid for a six-pack of beer with a sandwich bag full of pennies_if you have no hubcaps cause you're using em'to feed yer dogs_you've ver shot a deer from inside your house_you enter a fully funtioning deserted restroom and piss in the sink_you clean your nails with a stick_yer mama tought ya how to flip a cigarette_your wife says"hey come here and move this transmission so I can take a bath"_you can spit without openin' your mouth_you've ever been too drunk to fish_your biggest ambition in life is to "git that big ol' coon that hangs around over yonder"_you swerve to hit a deer_your mailbox holds up one end if your clothesline_your mama can tell a highway patrolman to "kiss off"without takin' the cigrette out of her mouth_you cut yourtoenails in front of company_ya call yer boss "dude"_your car breaks down on the side of the road and you never go back to get it_spelin'ant tha eazist thang you evar tryd. and last but not least...You know you're a redneck if ...mama stomps in the house and announces" THE FEUD IS BACK ON !

Posted on Mon Jul 17 08:35:37 CEST 2000 from athe530-e026.otenet.gr (212.205.247.26)

Ex- pretty little girl from Greece

From: Toronto!!! (soon, not yet though)

been gone for about a month, nice to be back. I missed you all. Still bickering I see!....Just got a job offer in Toronto so I'll be leaving Athens in a few weeks. Here's my Band related question: all you serious Toronto Band fans out there, can you recommend any hang outs? where's a good place to go out for a drink/good music/live music? I don't know the city very well, so any good advice for a newcomer would be sincerely appreciated. Thanks. (Huda Siksek, a fan from Greece)

Posted on Mon Jul 17 04:57:58 CEST 2000 from proxy-721.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.141)

Scott

Just finished listening to Honky Tonk Gurus - Big Foot. The song "Many Rivers To Cross" is as soulful as it gets !!!! Nice site Patrick, If anyone sues you, I know a good attorney.....

Posted on Mon Jul 17 04:37:53 CEST 2000 from proxy-711.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.111)

ironweed

From: just another sucker on the vine....

I would like to say something...I will whisper it since everyone is napping....Tom Waits is my very very favorite artist...as a writer and a vocalist he cannot be touched...but he doesn't have a guestbook that moves..if he did I would be out of here like a bat out of hell...The Band is my second choice as favorite artists....so I have no other place to go...sorry

Posted on Mon Jul 17 04:08:02 CEST 2000 from tdslppp138.mpls.uswest.net (63.226.145.139)

PATRICK SWANSON

Home page

I'VE REDONE THE WEBSITE OF GARTH HUDSON, AND TAKEN OFF THE MANY PHOTOS BY ELLIOT LANDY, AND TAKEN SOME FROM THE BREEZE HILL SITE. I HAVE PERMISSION.

Posted on Mon Jul 17 00:06:04 CEST 2000 from proxy-711.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.111)

Patricia

From: sittin' right on the good ol' Mason-Dixon

Thank you so much Donna...thank you !

Posted on Sun Jul 16 22:48:08 CEST 2000 from user-33qtaes.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.169.220)

Pat Brennan

From: USA

In regards to the earlier discussion on Richard's playing, I had quite a moment today. There's a very good boot of the '74 Dylan/Band tour called "Love Songs Across America," a Boston Gardens show. I see it on ebay quite often. Richard is in an aggressive mood, and his playing absolutely dominates the stage. RR picks up on it and delivers a roaring, guitar-hero performance. Not surprisingly, Richard's vocals on the Band material are quite strong. A real tour-de-force.

I'm a bit surprised no one picked up on the horn section question. I'm thinking the ROA shows, Greek Theater, Palladium, SNL rehearsals and show, and TLW. Any others? Any between 72 and 76?

Posted on Sun Jul 16 21:04:50 CEST 2000 from dial148.gtn.net (209.167.110.228)

Serge

PATRICK SWANSON: The are such a things as copyrights on photos that you find on web sites. Perhaps you don't know it, but you could be in a little trouble for helping yourself to other people's property without permission. If you would have asked the Webmaster here, something could have been arranged for your use of Mr Landy's and my photos from this site. What happens Patrick is that someone like a Barney Hoskyns might copy some of those pix from YOUR site to use with one of his babbles, then claiming that no copyright warning on these pix was visible...Get it? Now do what's right...Ask your parents... Then Email me. BTW I am glad that you like Garth. I like him too.

Posted on Sun Jul 16 20:14:42 CEST 2000 from proxy-621.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.181)

Scott

From: Bandland

Just back from Peaceful Valley Bluegrass Festival in Downsville NY. Despite the 300 inches of rain we had a good time. After the shows some of the musicians get together in their campsites and jam to the wee hours. We walk around from one site to the next checkin' out the music. It was fun to hear Long Black Veil and When I Paint My Masterpiece, bluegrass style......

Posted on Sun Jul 16 20:02:33 CEST 2000 from spider-tk054.proxy.aol.com (152.163.206.199)

frank

From: pa. side of the delaware river, bucks county

I went to the black potato fest last nite and Levon and the Barn Burners tore the place up.It was really nice to see all the people dancing from 2yrs. old to people in the 70s. Everone left that place with a smile on their face. Also to Butch me friend,there isn't enough room on this site to thank you for everything you do to keep this thing going the way you do. Thank You for taking {family portrait}last nite. Can't wait to see it. See ya in the Poconos. p.s. tell The Boss and Amy I'm not responsible for any dentist bills. later,frankie

Posted on Sun Jul 16 19:39:12 CEST 2000 from spider-wm047.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.192)

jcf

From: n.y.c

I saw Levon and company at B.B. King's on Friday night. A good concert. It wasn't a Band experience, which is something I haven't witnessed live since I am too young, but I enjoyed the show. There was a special guest, not R.R of course, Phoebe Snow.... One of the best things was that Levon seemes to be enjoying himself... I would have liked to seen him play mandolin but there doesn 't seem to be a place for that in the type of music he is playing now with the Barnburners.

Posted on Sun Jul 16 11:28:56 CEST 2000 from 209-23-55-134.ip.termserv.net (209.23.55.134)

Diamond Lil

WJH: Both of the songs you mentioned.."It Makes no Difference" and "Sip the Wine" can also be found on Rick's 'Live on Breeze Hill" cd...still available for order over the net at www.woodstockrecords.com

Posted on Sun Jul 16 09:02:19 CEST 2000 from spider-wm012.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.152)

Donna

From: Drexel Hill, Pa

ironweed...(aka Patricia) I liked your reference to the "Royal" Profundus Maximus." In the so called age of _Free Speech_,,, Go ahead and mention names... No matter if I agree with your views or not. "It Makes No Difference." Diversity is the spice of life... In my opinion, a intellectual society or website, will not start burning books or fragmentizing our so called _Freedom of Thought_. If reduced to that level of ignorance, then I will certainly become concerned for all of us free thinkers. So on that note, I welcome you back! "Hey Butch," thanks for the update on the show last night, I wish I was there. Sounds like it was just great, as usual. Looking forward to seeing you all again!

Posted on Sun Jul 16 08:47:36 CEST 2000 from proxy-651.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.129)

P

I know Mr.or Mrs. or Ms. BEE,It was a joke...now leave me the hell alone !

Posted on Sun Jul 16 08:38:53 CEST 2000 from proxy-651.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.129)

patricia

Sure Wes..."It Makes No Difference" is on The Bands "Northern Lights,Southern Cross" album released in 1974 but the song is on practically every compilation album of band material ever released..that song is very easy to find...and the other song you asked about is called "Sip The Wine" it was on Ricks first album released in 1977,he was working on that album during The Last Waltz...I have an original copy of the record that I drove clean to Pittsburgh to find....It was well worth the drive...also it has a beautiful cover of a handsome Rick at the age of about 34...I have it framed and hung above the stereo system in my upstairs favorite room....I think that you can go into Jans site here and find where you can buy the song you are wondering about...plus a lot of other wonderful,wonderful music that you will never grow tired of....happy shopping...

Posted on Sun Jul 16 07:57:07 CEST 2000 from spider-wg073.proxy.aol.com (205.188.196.53)

Wesley John Hardin

Maybe someone here can help me out... Is the song "It makes no difference" that Rick sings on The Last Waltz movie recorded on one of their albums anywhere? I think this is one of the most evocative and emotive vocals I've have ever heard, and seems especially poignant every time I've listened to it since his death, and I'd like to hear an original/alternate version of the song... Also the song that Rick shows Martin Scorcese on the soundboard when he gives him a tour. What is that? Was that released on an album? If anyone can give me a hand on thes, it would be most appreciated. Thanks in advance... WJH THE Lonesome Hobo...

Posted on Sun Jul 16 07:47:24 CEST 2000 from pm3-pt20.pcnet.net (206.105.29.94)

Laura

From: Manchester, Connecticut
Home page

I just put online a few not-that-great images of Richard and Robbie that I photographed from the TV. I.e., Richard and Robbie look pretty good, but the quality is not great because my source material had weird lighting and fairly grainy picture quality. I tried to fix them up as much as possible, but they are certainly not my finest achievement as a TV-photographer by any means. Still, they are kind of cool and arty. There's one of Richard's two-second appearance in the "Lost Woodstock" video (what a disappointment!!) performing "The Weight", and the others are all from "Eat the Document." I would've included some of Garth and Rick, too, but I couldn't get those to come out. Anyway, click on the "home page" link above, or the URL is http://members.dencity.com/fisk/Band/EatDocument/index.html. Jan, you are welcome to put them on this site, if you'd want them. Oh, and, yes, "Eat the Document" is in color, but most of the images looked better when I made them greyscale.

Posted on Sun Jul 16 07:28:53 CEST 2000 from user-33qta02.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.168.2)

Pat Brennan

From: USA

Patricia, I believe I emailed you to warn you that if you intend on posting things just to be provocative, you should learn to take the accompanying heat.

Posted on Sun Jul 16 07:18:42 CEST 2000 from proxy-393.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.93)

Patricia

I don't want to become a big pain in the ass here...yeah...but Phil, I think I have the answer to the question you asked about "Procol harum"thing. Robbie gave an interview to Rolling Stone when he was in Toronto producing Jesse Winchester's album in either 69 or70..he was asked about what he thought of "Whiter Shade of Pale" and he said that it sounded to him like Percy Sledge's "When a Man Loves a Woman" over and over and over again...when the interviewer asked him if The Band was influenced by Procal harum,he said "I can't see how we could have been,since we got ours from gospel...I don't know where they got theirs!

Posted on Sun Jul 16 06:34:21 CEST 2000 from 209-239-203-35.oak.jps.net (209.239.203.35)

Phil

From: Ca

Hank! I'm here to save ya... 'In A Station' is very trippy! Nothing is real and everybody is dreaming...(just read this GB for proof) you can rest now.

I've also heard that 'Chest Fever' is an answer to Procol Harum's 'Whiter Shade of Pale' but I'm not sure if I believe it.

Posted on Sun Jul 16 06:18:23 CEST 2000 from ip-120.dial.wans.com (64.7.64.120)

Molly Z.

From: MV, Ca

hey patrick! You have an awesome start on your page. Keep up the good work!

Posted on Sun Jul 16 05:53:55 CEST 2000 from parachute2-156-40-65-143.net.nih.gov (156.40.65.143)

Jonathan Katz

From: Columbia, MD [Dylan here on the 29th!]

Dave Z: On Muddy's Woodstock album. It's certainly worth a purchase. The musicianship is great [as you would expect from the players]. I wouldn't say that its Muddy's best outing, but its still an order of magnitude better than most of what's out there. BTW: on Muddy there is a very nice biography by Sandra B. Tooze, which quotes Levon on the back cover: "Boy, this is the easiest piece of readin' I've done in some time. It almost reads itself...that's how good it is. It feels like Muddy's right in the room with ya'. Every school library in the country should have a copy of this book."

Because of Hank's recent post I went back and listened to "Back To Memphis" on the "Watkins Glen" CD. I also listened to it on the "Roosevelt Stadium" CD. What a difference! I don't think that Pat went into this in detail in his fine article, but the WG version is very guitar oriented [hence Hank's post], whereas on RS its Garth's solo's that stand out. Hard to imagine that they changed the arrangement that much between these two dates. More evidence to support Pat's theory.

Posted on Sun Jul 16 05:28:35 CEST 2000 from proxy-513.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.103)

Patty

Hey kid..I'm no expert or nothin'but that's a great site ya made....you keep that up and you'll give us all some great joy....Garth Hudson is the coolest dude that ever walked across the planet...bar none!! I only have one suggestion...either take God out of the mix altogether or move him to the top of the page..then you would have made a masterpiece

Posted on Sun Jul 16 05:09:10 CEST 2000 from tdslppp73.mpls.uswest.net (63.226.145.74)

Patrick Swanson

Home page

HEY PEOPLE. LISTEN UP!! I'm 15 years old, and The Band is my fav group. My friend Ryan likes to make websites. I asked could he show me how to make one. I DID!! It's mostly about Garth Hudson, and some things i like. But look at the very bottom of the page. That is cool! REMEMBER: THE SITE IS BAD! I'VE NEVER MADE ONE BEFORE. But e-mail me what ya think. STOP ON BY!!!!!!!!

Posted on Sun Jul 16 04:51:43 CEST 2000 from proxy-513.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.103)

ironweed ..aka..whatever

From: somewhere over the rainbow

Hanksters...when you're on them there mushrooms and that mean old acid yourself...everything looks "trippy"...even "In The Pines"

Posted on Sun Jul 16 04:42:47 CEST 2000 from spider-wl044.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.39)

Dave Z

From: Chaska, MN

I'd like to see a good version of "Slippin' & Slidin'" on a reissue... wouldn't Moondog be a good place?... Just got Big Foot and have been listening to it in my car all day... Good hot guitar for the good hot weather up here in MN...

Posted on Sun Jul 16 04:39:07 CEST 2000 from dialup-311.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.55)

HANK

From: WHERE THERE'S STILL NOTHING TO GET HUNG ABOUT........
Home page

.........and NO Chocolate Subway or Marshmallow Overcoat jokes, PLEASE!!!!!!!!

Posted on Sun Jul 16 04:36:15 CEST 2000 from dialup-311.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.55)

HANK

From: WHERE THERE'S NOTHING TO GET HUNG ABOUT........
Home page

Well, I been away for a day and nobody answered my question about whether "In a Station" is a reply to "Strawberry Fields"..........Well, maybe they did.... but I did'nt see it.....an' I scrolled all the way back.............actually, this is reminding me of a thread I thought of but never wrote.....BIG PINK: Psycedelic or not?........... Everyone goes on about how "back to basics" it was or how it "made Clapton quit Cream" yadda yadda yadda........but it's actually quite trippy in it's own acidic way......just to get you guys off your personal little vendettas here.........does ANYONE know if The Band took ALOT of acid or mushrooms around that period like, say, John Lennon or The Dead......or were they ALWAYS just stoners?..... The more I listen to BIG PINK the more it reminds me of some funky acid trip........NOW, stop arguing amongst yerselves and chew on THAT for a while.........BUTCH, bring them BARNBURNERS TO EUROPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted on Sun Jul 16 04:14:51 CEST 2000 from proxy-513.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.103)

..aka..

From: a town with no cheer..that's why I stay here

They were pretty !

Posted on Sun Jul 16 04:01:44 CEST 2000 from 162.0102.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.162)

Nancy

From: Australia

You're absolutely right about the Cybersisters, Patricia (aka Ironweed etc). After your post, I checked out Cybersisters and was amazed at the resemblance between one of the sisters and me. The likeness was so strong it was like looking into a mirror.

Posted on Sun Jul 16 03:42:10 CEST 2000 from proxy-671.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.71)

ironweed

From: on the straight and narrow...

Amanda,thanks for the hoot....I figure you girlfriends in here are the "Cybersisters" led by you're "Royal" "Profundus Maximus".......no names mentioned...I only got half way thru the list when my little red "You got mail" light came on,great letter,thanks bunches......she knows who she is......

Posted on Sun Jul 16 02:56:13 CEST 2000 from asnet01-094.houston.texas.net (209.99.87.94)

Jacques

From: omaha, ne

I know that everybody who reads this guestbook believes in just how great the Band really is. If you want to hear them at their greatest, listen to the intro to Mystery Train (not the Last Waltz version). A quarter of a century later, that songs sounds like it is the cutting edge of everything that is going on in music today. I just discovered this. It's on the box set, and it makes me feel real good.

Posted on Sun Jul 16 02:50:15 CEST 2000 from cf3k-3.paradise.net.nz (203.96.152.183)

Amanda

From: NZ
Home page

I really think some of you might enjoy THE GALLERY OF FLAME WARRIORS. http://www.winternet.com/~mikelr/flame1.html or click homepage box above. I wonder whether Crabgrass warrants a new category??

Great post Pac, as always...as far as stereotyping particular generations/decades goes I thought it was GEN X who were meant to be cynical, ironic and detached. Personally I think of the Woodstock generation as being relatively innocent...grossly generalising here of course & I mean no disrespect but there did seem to be an idea that drug taking had no negative consequences for example which all turned bad in the 70's when people started to die.

I agree the BAND & Dylan too were somewhat apart from that 60's mainstream/subculture. When I think about Joan Baez at Woodstock and the way that what she said seemed to imply that wearing beads and long hair was somehow genuinely subversive rather than just a fashion statement...well it might have been then for all I know but that sort of attitude makes me think of the lines which I might be misquoting "I myself was among the ones who always thought it was just a childish thing to do"

Like Greil Marcus said the BAND were men making music for grownups with all the complexity, cynicism, hope etc, etc that that implies.What I mean is it wasn't superficial which some of the stereotypical Woodstock hype did seem to be.

Posted on Sun Jul 16 01:42:43 CEST 2000 from proxy-691.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.91)

ironweed

huh.....well you did send me that E mail a couple of months ago and told me I was a....."Provocative" bit of work..remember?

Posted on Sun Jul 16 01:34:09 CEST 2000 from user-33qtacn.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.169.151)

Pat Brennan

From: USA

"Mr. Bee"? What makes you think I'm a "Mr."?

Posted on Sun Jul 16 01:17:19 CEST 2000 from proxy-691.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.91)

ironweed

ah ah ah Mr.Bee..that wasn't politically correct....yooou better watch it....

Posted on Sun Jul 16 00:27:37 CEST 2000 from 914-ip-170.albany.thebiz.net (216.238.221.170)

Tom

From: Woodstock
Home page

Jan - A belated congrats on your CNN debut.

All the best! Thanks for keeping up a great site.

Tom Moretti/WR

Posted on Sun Jul 16 00:18:09 CEST 2000 from 1cust173.tnt1.topeka.ks.da.uu.net (63.39.63.173)

Dexy

1) Man, I would have loved to be at BB King's. Thanks Butch, Crabby, et.al. for the rundown. Butch-- get those guys/gals on the road (even Kansas...) 2) Reissues -- Looks pretty good to me. Best part: the words "Garth Hudson, Levon Helm and Robbie Robertson" right next to each other, and (I guess)new quotes from Robbie and Levon -- IN THE SAME RELEASE! Got to love that. (at least I do)

Posted on Sun Jul 16 00:13:35 CEST 2000 from d18182962.rochester.rr.com (24.24.41.98)

Dave Hopkins

From: Rochester, NY

I just wanted to point out that the Capitol Records press release just added to this site (see "What's New?") indicates that the Music From Big Pink reissue will contained three additional bonus tracks as well as the six announced previously: an alternate take of "Lonesome Suzie" plus versions of "If I Lose" and "Ferdinand the Imposter." However, I am slightly disappointed to see that Capitol still doesn't have all its facts straight (e. g. MFBP was *not* recorded in the basement of Big Pink!). Let's hope that the "new liner notes" are slightly more accurate...

Posted on Sun Jul 16 00:02:44 CEST 2000 from user-33qt8pa.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.163.42)

Pat Brennan

From: USA

The pot addressing the kettle....

Posted on Sat Jul 15 23:24:08 CEST 2000 from proxy-393.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.93)

ironweed

From: Hicksville USA

Hahahahah...Crabby that was pretty funny.Anyway,I got more "don't go " E mails today then Robbie got happy birthday wishes from both this guestbook and that old Hollywood and Vine deal they got goin' over there.....It is unanimous....I'm staying...thank you's...you know who you are,I would not want to ruin anyone's credibility by mentioning all of your names.....

Posted on Sat Jul 15 22:20:09 CEST 2000 from 3cust36.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.138.36)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

How about waiting for the new releases before discussing them to death?

They Shall Be Released.

Posted on Sat Jul 15 21:12:45 CEST 2000 from user-33qt9v2.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.167.226)

Pat Brennan

From: USA

The Capitol wire story begs so many questions, I can't even begin to know where to start. How about "Endless Highway" on Cahoots?

Posted on Sat Jul 15 20:23:01 CEST 2000 from spider-tr044.proxy.aol.com (152.163.201.194)

Pac

From: SF Bay Area

Patricia, come here to Berkeley sometime. You can't put people from "The Woodstock Generation" in a box. The values of being nice and sharing are lived out every day here, in complete contrast to the changes going on in SF. That's why I returned to the East Bay to make it my home. This guestbook represents all kinds of people of all ages from many countries and varied backgrounds. No matter where I go, there will always be someone taking on the role of a sexist, a troublemaker, a peacemaker, a rebel, blah blah blah It's human nature. Labels and gross generalizations about Woodstock people don't work. Sorry this room didn't work for you. I don't like when comments get nasty, but someone always seems to say something to get beyond it and bring the discussion to an educational level. Thank you Jan for giving us this forum to share common music, films, books and a love of history. All the best! Pac

Posted on Sat Jul 15 20:05:00 CEST 2000 from proxy-373.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.73)

Patricia

Now I really don't understand this guestbook...I recieved three E mails today asking me to stay...and even Peter V. did....thanks ...this place makes me feel like a loser....I don't know...but thanks anyway......

Posted on Sat Jul 15 19:36:34 CEST 2000 from spider-wa072.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.52)

Dave Z

From: Chaska, MN

Thanks Rollie... That's good enough for me... I agree Carmen... Cahoots good... Looks like late August for release and I am guessing each might run about 25 US$?... I still think it would be neat if they made them enhanced CDs with a link back to Jan's site... Oh, oh, I wonder if Capital will do it's own page for the Band kinda like they did the RR one for Contact?... I hope not...

By the way, anybody know what CD by the Staples has that version of "Wade In The Water" that appears in the Band video?

Posted on Sat Jul 15 19:16:21 CEST 2000 from spider-wg042.proxy.aol.com (205.188.196.37)

butch

From: ulster county n.y.

JUST getting up to speed after a GREATGREAT night @ B.B.'s in NYC,,,,,,,,,, levon, The barn burners, miss amy,,, & the audience , were locked in from the first note,,, watta great audience, too,, they really understood the blues,,, & what the Barn Burners do,,,, the originals were very warmly received & their version of the blues standards,, is, IMO, perfect,,, when phoebe snow came out, it was icing on the cake,, cause The Barn Burners & Levon really OWNED THAT ROOM,,,, & it was a good house,,, she & amy, have sung together before,, & it was chilling,,,, CRABBY,, next time, come say hello,, ( thanks for those pix from Central Park ) EVERYONE else that shows up,, PLEASE PLEASE come say hello,, we make some good friends thattaway,,, ,,,,& THANKS for all the kind words,,, & support,,, THE BAND family is still the BEST,,,, see ya @ the next one,,,, oh yeah,, the 2nd set,,,,, also a very good crowd,,, Roger Waters came to say hello ( i didnt know who he was ) but DOYLE BRAMHALL jr i knew,,, & they were great,,,, that 2nd set had some MOMENTS to remember,,, a triumphant night,, like i said,,, for a few hours,, Levon & the barn burners,, owned NEW YORK CITY !!!! the staff there loved the show,,, the sound was good,, everyone seemed to really enjoy their food,,, & the folks were wunnerful,,, GO ! if youre in the area,,,, great TEE - SHIRTS,, thanks ,,, butch

Posted on Sat Jul 15 16:42:09 CEST 2000 from spider-wl042.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.37)

bob

From: ct.

i will be visiting woodstock this week.last time i was there i tried to find big pink.i took pine lane to stowe road,but could not see it.there were two driveways posted no tresspassing,guard dogs.was one of them the house?i just wanted to take a quick look from the outside.does anyone know if its cool to do and where its located?thanks

Posted on Sat Jul 15 14:04:58 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-071.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.71)

Peter Viney

Crabgrass is quite right. Any singer would benefit from the close attentions of The Duchess (Bo’s sister, I think) and Jerome. Wasn’t Bo (Mr Diddley?) sitting on a scooter holding his oblong guitar on one sleeve? But was it a Lambretta or a Vespa?

The 1977 Rick Danko album has been reissued in the UK (again) and is reviewed in this month’s Mojo. The issue is devoted, it being summer when you fill space with these things due to the paucity of significant releases, to "The 100 Greatest Songs of All-Time" as voted by Songwriters including Sir Paul. "The Weight" is #55. Number one is "In My life" which surprised me, as it was never a single. The next highest Beatles entry is "Here there & everywhere", never a single either.

Ghost Dance. Our minor disputes have the virtue of getting you to review the music, so thanks Patricia – p.s. don’t quit. (I assume the book of depression-era pictures you read is "Let us Now praise famous Men"). I watched a tape of RR on Letterman 1994 a couple of times last night. And remembered that NTSC stands for Never Twice Same Colour. Converted to the PAL standard, it’s even worse, which meant a pretty blurry image, so I might be missing subtlety. All I see is musicians focussing and concentrating hard because they’re all singing different parts, and it’s complex. Though not up to Ikettes standards, Priscilla C. indeed has a sensuous line in shimmy, but I don’t see these reactions. The 1995 BBC live version of the song a few months later is better, and shows how much RR gained in confidence as they played the show more often. The announcer has a very BBC (i.e. French) pronunciation of "ensemble"in Red Road Ensemble too. Excellent performance, with 100% concentration on the song from all. Priscilla seems ecstatic, but this is "as if moved by the song". As I said, it’s called "performing." BUT what it does bring out is that it’s time for RR to do a few live shows, for however limited a time.

To type the "ø" in Høiberg" just type "ALT-o" in Word, at least on a Mac. (I always type in Word and paste in)

Posted on Sat Jul 15 13:43:33 CEST 2000 from 209-23-38-168.ip.termserv.net (209.23.38.168)

Diamond Lil

From: oslashschool

¢ ¢ ¢ ¢ ¢ .....H¢iberg! :-)

Posted on Sat Jul 15 12:58:14 CEST 2000 from du99-1.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.1.99)

ø

From: Ilkka (across the Norwegian border)
Home page

The results of the test:
Diamond Lil: more homework to do!
Ragtime: I don't know what to do with that naughty boy :-)
Bill: passed! - and moved to the Extended Level (with Mattk - of course).

Beside *& and oslash and ;* you can try ALT + 155 for ø and ALT + 157 for Ø.
Class dismissed!

Posted on Sat Jul 15 12:57:16 CEST 2000 from spider-wl063.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.48)

Joe

From: New Rochelle - Red Hook, N.Y.

Caught Levon & The Barn Burners first show of a 2 show evening at B.B. Kings in N.Y.C. last night. An added surprise appearence of Phoebe Snow with Levon and the boys excited the crowd. It was a full house, and a line stretching down 42nd. street for the 2nd show. The guys were loaded for bear!!!!

Posted on Sat Jul 15 12:47:59 CEST 2000 from webcacheh05a.cache.pol.co.uk (195.92.67.69)

Dave

From: daveland
Home page

this websites really good. and so are the band. i like them. alot. i heard they are going to rerealese the bands albums in england. good news. also have you heard or got an audio file of travis' cover of the weight at glastonbury a few weeks ago. it was okay. i love the version that is on the last waltz.

Posted on Sat Jul 15 12:24:37 CEST 2000 from 146.0102.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.146)

Nancy

From: Australia

Further to Patricia's comment, I have a question for Jan Hoiberg (won't attempt the fancy Hoiberg, as everyone recognises the plain one!).

I don't know whether Jan wants to make a comment here, as he may prefer to be seen as an impartial webmaster. I hope I am not upsetting any web protocol by asking Jan about his feelings about the GB, but obviously my question can be sailed past with a flick of the scroll bar if that is the case.

My curiosity is about how Jan feels about his baby guestbook, given its longevity, and the fact that a lowly guestbook has developed over time into a forum for multi-faceted discussion. It's certainly far more interesting tnan a simple guestbook of signed names and messages of adulation.

So Jan, I'd love to hear of your thoughts at the moment, given that you have had so much good feedback in recent times, culminating in exposure on CNN recently.

Posted on Sat Jul 15 12:17:05 CEST 2000 from 49.mercerville-28-29rs.nj.dial-access.att.net (12.78.151.49)

carmen

From: pa

I just read the Capitol news wire (see whats new) regarding the new releases. In my opinion if Cahoots when released in 71 contained Don't Do It, Endless Highway and Bessie Smith, it would have been considered another master piece. I also can not wait for Big Pink. I wonder if the bonus tracks listed represent what Big Pink may have originally looked like?

Best Regards to all!

Posted on Sat Jul 15 10:06:57 CEST 2000 from proxy-611.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.171)

patricia

Since I will never post here again I want t make somthing clear...I believe Jan,for the love of The bands music put this site together and did not contribute to what it has become.....

Posted on Sat Jul 15 09:40:39 CEST 2000 from proxy-523.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.113)

Patricia

I have a book that I often page thru that's full of depression era faces...you all probably know what book I'm referring to,as I turn those pages I can hear The Bands music in my heart and sometimes tears come.I do not understnd this "Guestbook " and what it is suppose to keep alive. I am a child of the seventies,I did not partake of the values of "the Woodstock generation "...the arrogance, the irreverence,the haughtiness and the "detached hipness"that invaded the spirits of the Woodstock nation,but It was never a mystery to me...and I thank God that I was protected from 'That Stuff"... The Band's music was not a music that was born of the sixties....it was seperate...The Band wrote and sang of those faces in this book in front of me...the most unhip,humble faces I have ever seen....stripped bare of all haughtiness...I think all of you that won't just flip over this post will agree that the sixties were a state of mind and a set of values...but that state of mind and those set of values were born dead...and it killed everything and everybody it touched...this guestbook is a prime example of the "detached hipster" movement and does the legacy of "The Band " major,major disservice....those are my true feelings..with no bull!

Posted on Sat Jul 15 07:53:24 CEST 2000 from 1cust134.tnt1.idaho-falls.id.da.uu.net (63.28.242.134)

rollie

To Dave Z. I highly recommend "The Muddy Waters Woodstock Record",Muddys only Grammy. The most upbeat record the Mud ever made, with some of Butterfields best harp playing on record.Garth Hudsons accordion playing is staggering. That Muddy enjoyed himself making this record is readily apparent! There was a tremendous vibe surrounding Woodstock in those days, more so when Muddy passed through town. Ihave read some poor reviews of this record which only made me wonder, how far was the poor fellows head inserted when he listened to the record. Not a single throwaway on the entire record.(In my humble opinion!) With folks like Howard Johnson(horns), Bob Margolin(guitar) Pinetop Perkins(piano)Fred Carter(bass)Levon Helm(drums, of course), it's hard to go wrong with this one.Get it, you won't be sorry!------Rollie------

Posted on Sat Jul 15 07:34:43 CEST 2000 from spider-ta062.proxy.aol.com (152.163.205.72)

Donna

From: Drexel Hill

Bob Wigo: Good posting on "Serge's school of the charmless!" Although, in retrospect, yes Lil, your right; let's drop this. We all hold Jan, in the high est esteem, for all his efforts and diligence to this website. Butch, you know we all love you here! PEACE TO ALL!

Posted on Sat Jul 15 06:55:50 CEST 2000 from 3cust123.tnt11.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.135.123)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

Just got back from seeing the Barn Burners heat up the Center of the Known Universe (W42nd St. in NYC) at B.B. King's spanking new spacious, plush, and expensive (unless you "slipped in" like me) tourist trap... I mean blues club!!

Was pleasantly surprised by Amy Helm's vibrant earthy vocals while the rest of the members thoroughly cooked as I had anticipated. The ensemble mostly looks and sounds like a blues band from an earlier era with Frank Ingrao's stand up bass, Pat O'Shea's wide bodied electric guitar (alternating with a strat), and also it's manner of clothing and hair styles. Lead singer Chris O'Leary did a self-penned tune about being in the marines (never would have guessed it from looking at him) which he said he wrote the first time he played with Levon. Other standouts were Amy's duets with O'Leary on "I Just Wanna Make Love To You" and "Hound Dog" (not the Elvis arrangement). Surprise guest Phoebe Snow joined the others on stage to belt out "Bring It On Home To Me" which was pretty incredible and the final number was "The Grass Is Always Greener" (I'm sure I heard O'Leary sing "Crabgrass" on at least one chorus!) which ended the approximately hourlong set. This band is strong, tight, and consumately professional. If you like The Band and The Blues you'll like the Barn Burners. (Levon, of course was pounding his drums like a demon and smiling a lot needless to say.)

I hope the above serves as at least a partial antidote to some of the bitterness, hostility, and negativity which unfortunately all to often passes for "thinking" around these parts.

(Butch - hope I included everything, had some trouble deciphering your handwriting. When do I get paid?)

Posted on Sat Jul 15 06:41:47 CEST 2000 from spider-tp054.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.199)

Dave Z

From: Chaska, MN

Jonathan & David P: I myself was thinking of picking up Muddy's "His Best 1947-55". The only other one I have is an LP of "Hard Again"... Any suggestions for me given I probably won't buy another Muddy for a while? How does the Woodstock one sound?

I'm a liberal MN DFLer... but Butch gets my vote anytime... Thanks for the updates!... even though it's gonna take a miracle for me to get to one of the shows, I always read your posts and share in your excitement... and I hope Amy gets to sing lead on some of the Barnburner CD tunes... I keep trying to imagine what she sounds like...

OK, I voted for Jesse... but if anybody trys to impose a GB death sentence on the likes of folks like Surge or even Crabby (mini-Serge), I'll come out pushing for alternative re-abilitation on the Group W bench instead... I mean... I mean you gotta lotta gall to dismiss those old glossy photos... or argue too much with somebody who had the good sense to actually be at ROA (I was probably laying in a field somewhere)... Ah, here let me shake my leg and get this last bit of this Arlo thread out of my system... Oh... there it goes... flying through the air... look out RR... duck... straight at Bobby Knight... ouch...

Posted on Sat Jul 15 06:28:59 CEST 2000 from r-53.19.alltel.net (166.102.53.19)

Martha Page

From: Georgia

I had the experience of hearing the splendid Georgia blueswoman E. G. Kight this past week at “Fannie’s by the Sea” on Tybee Island near Savannah. E. G., from Dublin, Georgia, has “followed [her] heart” into blues although she grew up with the country music sounds that dominate in her area of the state.

E. G.’s album “Come Into The Blues,” which was recorded in Macon, Georgia, and ends with an expressive and exalting interpretation of “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)" in tribute to Otis Redding, calls the listener back again and again to hear her commanding, rich, and soulful voice.

Her album is a combination of the best of the blues and southern rock that has come out of the South. The opening song, a piece with brass, which is frankly reminiscent for me of the rhythmical elements of Robertson / Hawk / Band interpretations, “Somewhere in Atlanta” will be a favorite as will the haunting “Unlove You.” “Skin Deep” resonates on the album as much as it does in live performance.

E. G. credits Koko Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, and Etta James as inspirations for leading her “into the blues.” Certainly, E. G.’s smooth rendering of Etta James’ “At Last” exhibits both her great talent as a blueswoman and the influences that have brought her to such maturity.

E. G., who has co-written many of her songs, has chosen an outstanding group of musicians for the album and says that she has now has added to her band a fifteen-year-old lead guitarist Michael Pierce from Warner Robins, Georgia, who she salutes as an up-and-coming Stevie Ray Vaughn (I couldn’t help but talk with her about the fifteen-year-old Robbie Robertson who at one time was one of the few white blues guitarists around—as pointed out by Robert Palmer—and one of the best in his generation).

A diminutive woman with a full-size voice, a commanding stage presence, and mean guitar playing, E. G. is also gracious and personable. I hope that you will visit her website at http://members.aol.com/egkight and catch one of her shows.

Posted on Sat Jul 15 05:35:28 CEST 2000 from pm4-102.delrio.com (208.246.53.102)

Just Wonderin'

From: Somewhere out of San Antone

Amanda: Thanks for the info on WWOZ! I've been wondering what was the best radio station in NO and now I know.

Posted on Sat Jul 15 05:09:44 CEST 2000 from kayroybal.lanl.gov (128.165.14.55)

#1 Butch Dener fan

C'mon Serge. We all know Butch is the best. . . nothing to discuss.

Posted on Sat Jul 15 05:01:53 CEST 2000 from parachute2-156-40-65-156.net.nih.gov (156.40.65.156)

Jonathan Katz

From: Columbia, MD

David Powell: How does the new Muddy collection compare to the Chess 3 CD set? Also: I just picked up "Country Blues" by Muddy [Catfish KATCD113] which has his first recordings. Sounds like it would be a nice historical compliment to the new one.

Bashfull Bill: I saw Rick's first solo CD [One Way Records OW 34497] about a year ago on CDNow at a great price [~$10.00 if my memory serves....]

Those turning up the heat: Lets be nice.

Posted on Sat Jul 15 04:11:01 CEST 2000 from spider-wg081.proxy.aol.com (205.188.196.56)

Bashful Bill

From: Minoa,N.Y.

Great point acadianruby, listen to the music! And, from what I hear, Rick's album should be out very soon, in the next 2 weeks. I have been looking for his first solo album on CD for years, and finally found it today in a local used CD store where I often find cool stuff. But...I had to pass it up, $24.99 was too steep for me. I know I'm gonna end up springing for those reissues, if anyone knows where I could get a copy of Rick's 1st solo album foer a reasonable price, please let me know.

Posted on Sat Jul 15 03:59:25 CEST 2000 from spider-th021.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.51)

bob wigo

From: havertown,pa.

Ingrates. The entire lot of you. How dare you thank Jan without going through Serge? Now look what you've done.

Serge, please thank Jan for me.

Keep the faith Butch.We all know where you stand and it certainly isn't in that huge shadow Serge casts with this kind of negativity.He may have made several notable contributions to this site but none of them occurred today.

Posted on Sat Jul 15 03:48:01 CEST 2000 from cf3k-3.paradise.net.nz (203.96.152.183)

Amanda

Home page

David Powell- you will be the financial ruin of me with all these great reviews and recommendations!

I'm just listening to a radio station recommended (though not to me personally) by Robbie Robertson. Apparently in a magazine piece (which I haven't read but would like to) titled something like Robbie Roberston's Guide to New Orleans he recommends that a visitor to New Orleans should tune their radio to WWOZ and leave it on for the rest of their stay.

Its available on the internet at http://www.wwoz.org (click home page box above) Right now the Doctor is hosting blues r & b & Zydeco and so far I'm liking what I hear...Robert Johnson and Jimmi Hendrix doing Catfish Blues & all sorts of good stuff.

Incidentally any film buffs out there (& I do think there is an overlap between BAND fans & film buffs- maybe because the BAND have film connections anyway...) "my Best Fiend" about film maker Werner Herzog's relationship with actor Klaus Kinski is a very interesting insight into how creative partnerships can be a very complex love-hate mixture:

For example Werner Herzog admits that at one point he went to FIRE BOMB Kinski's house only to be deterred by the vigilance of Kinski's dog. There was hardly a page in Kinski's autobiography in which he didn't mention how stupid, cowardly, insensitive and otherwise awful Werner Herzog was.

And YET they carried on to make more films together & clearly there was some kind of very strong bond between them that probably outsiders will never really understand. Well- I certainly don't understand it anyway...Hope everyone has a good weekend.

Posted on Sat Jul 15 03:09:54 CEST 2000 from 209-130-151-16.nas3.mon.gblx.net (209.130.151.16)

Lars Pedersen

From: Pine Bush, NY

I feel kind of bad that a man like Butch Dener is the center of a guestbook controversy. Butch is the manager for Levon Helm and the Barnburners. Before that he was the manager of the Band. I've never heard Butch speak ill of anyone. If you speak to him he will talk to you. If you ask for his help he'll help you. I believe he not only calls people "Bro," but looks at them as his brothers. He is a man who has made a lot of friends and is one of the leading citizens of his town.

He's also a person who's held public office and is probably one of the most powerful Republicans in our area. This experience has given him a pretty thick skin. I doubt that he's given this GB controversy much thought. He has a job and a band to run. He has a few critical problems to deal with right now. I don't think he has any time to worry about criticism from people who don't even know him.

Keep your powder dry, Butch.

Posted on Sat Jul 15 03:08:36 CEST 2000 from proxy-631.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.40)

ironweed

They could still be friends....they could still be friends....they could still be friends...they could still be friends..la la la la la....I forgot the rest...THE END!

Posted on Sat Jul 15 03:02:08 CEST 2000 from ch3smc.bellglobal.com (206.47.244.59)

Blind Willie McTell

Just heard the Big Foot cd for the first time, if you don't have this cd - buy it. Does anyone know the song list for Rick's cd?

Posted on Sat Jul 15 02:30:42 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.blfld1.ct.home.com (24.4.252.36)

AHROOO!!

From: somewhere down a crazy river

I'm not sure if anyone caught the latest RRHOF inductions for this year. Dominique was sitting right next to Robbie. If you've got it on tape, pause it when Patti Smith is giving her speech and tell me that's not Dominique sitting next to Robbie.

Alexandra was the one who was at the '94 RRHOF ceremonies. Delphine was on the PBS special "Making A Noise."

BWNWITennessee : I've got to ask what does the BWNIT mean? I was about to say the line, "Back With My Wife In Tennessee...when one day she called to me..." Only that would be BW 'M' WI.....aaaaah, I've got Band stuff on my mind! I laughed so hard at your last comment. "Robbie still won't let me date one of his daughters." Hey, if you ever do, put in a good word for me, ask them if their little brother, Sebastian is up for grabs. :::evil grin:::

I'm sure Jan knows how much everyone appreciates this site. I think traffic on the net has gone up in general because computers are even more accessible than in '96. It's amazing that anything on The Band let alone this site get noticed after being underappreciated in the first place. Let's just enjoy what we've got and I don't think it's going to mean that people are going to come over and flood this site. Now they'll know how much The Band is appreciated with this site instead. One thing I noticed about the net since getting on-line, this type of medium and talking with people can be enjoyable but it also fosters a lot of anger and resentment. Let's just enjoy what we have and I too will say, "a job well done Jan."

Patricia: How are girls suppose to sound over the net in the first place????????????

AHROOO!!

Posted on Sat Jul 15 02:29:34 CEST 2000 from spider-wq074.proxy.aol.com (205.188.200.193)

Ruby

From: Mass.

Hey peopleJust want to take you off the RR subject and ask that you would put some energy into positive things that are happening right now like The Honky Tonk Gurus for instance. These boys are ripping up every joint they play. Hope you all get out there and see them real soon.Some friends and myself just saw them for three nights in a row and wish it could have gone on some more. Peace to all here

Posted on Sat Jul 15 02:04:15 CEST 2000 from proxy-701.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.101)

ironweed

I didn't see the damned Lakers game...you people mentioned...and who are you kiddin' boy....Tennessee talkin' to Lord Robertson...yeah...only in you're dreams cowboy !

Posted on Sat Jul 15 01:56:52 CEST 2000 from 209-23-55-151.ip.termserv.net (209.23.55.151)

Diamond Lil

I'd just like to mention that Robbie's wife and one of his daughters ( I don't know which one) were with him in Bearsville at the memorial service for Rick in December.

Also... Not everything that's said between people here is necessarily said publicly in this forum. Just because something was not posted here 2 or 3 years ago doesn't mean it wasn't said.

Try to have a good night everyone, ok?

Posted on Sat Jul 15 01:54:49 CEST 2000 from proxy-701.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.101)

ironweed

From: potters field

yeah,maybe...but Letterman..april..94..interesting...kinda.Crabgrass,did you sneak over to Robbie's Capitol Pages and leave a smelly little guest ? And Tennessee,it wasn't a comment....it was simply an observation...........

Posted on Sat Jul 15 01:23:27 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-114-146.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.114.146)

BWNWITennessee

I always get here too late for all the good stuff, damn.

Patricia, no offense, but your comment was pathetic. Wynona Rider was coming onto Robbie. Um, okay. The last picture of Dominique you saw was in '94. She's his wife! The last picture before that was... what, 1968? And for the beautiful girl next to him at the game, have you ever seen Alexendra (or maybe it's Delphine, I can't remember)? Wow. Every time I call up Robbie he still keeps telling me he won't give me his permission to date her :)

Okay, Ben Turkel, I'll repeat my challenge - what has Robbie said that's been so negative about the other guys? Give us some verifiable quotes.

Grrr...

Posted on Sat Jul 15 01:23:08 CEST 2000 from dial43.gtn.net (209.167.110.208)

Serge

My question was simply : WHAT TOOK SO LONG ? Why almost 3 years ? Does anyone understand plain English anymore ? Still waiting for an answer from the spokesman who is tap dancing all around my question. I understand how generous everyone has been with Jan. That's great, but I have a right to ask. I am NOT asking anything on anyone's behalf. Just an interesting observation of how things work. Is my question embarrasing anyone ? Was the WWW unavailable in N.Y. state before 1999 ? I need the info.for a special chapter of my memoirs.

Posted on Sat Jul 15 00:16:35 CEST 2000 from ti15a22-0098.dialup.online.no (130.67.113.34)

Dag

From: Norway
Home page

Here's some basement noise for anyone who might be interested, all in streaming real audio: The Band: If I Lose, Ferdinand The Imposter. Bob Dylan & The Band: I'm Your Teenage Prayer, See You later Allen Ginsberg (click on the "home page" link above)

Posted on Fri Jul 14 23:58:46 CEST 2000 from proxy-333.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.33)

ironweed

From: hunched down behind a big rock

now kids..you's guys behave......anyway,I just came to the conclusion that AHROOO is a female.....damn girl you sound just like a real boy.....it's fun ain't it ?

Posted on Fri Jul 14 23:21:48 CEST 2000 from 209-23-55-23.ip.termserv.net (209.23.55.23)

Diamond Lil

Jan _knows_ that everyone here appreciates all his hard work and dedication to this site. He also appreciates all the valuable contributions Serge has given to this site, AND the warm welcome and thank-you's he receives..in person...from Butch and the gang. _Please_ let's not continue this. Thanks.

Posted on Fri Jul 14 23:21:23 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

oh, so it's clear. In my last post:

WE = signers of the GB - think it's safe to say we're all Jan fans.

HERE = meaning the GB.

Didn't want any confusion as to the liberties I'm taking.

matt

Posted on Fri Jul 14 23:08:16 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

wow, serge getting into it with Levon's right-hand dude. Now THIS is interesting...

(last I checked, Butch was thanked on the Band's recent releases - right next to the mention of this site).

either way, i think it does a disservice to Jan's hard-work to kick up this kind of dust, Serge. Why don't you save it for e-mail and let Jan defend himself. Personally, I hope Jan knows how much we appreciate his efforts here.

If that's not been clear, Jan, please understand it now. You're a blessing and your efforts in creating/maintaining this great site honor both The Band, it's members (original and otherwise) and the fans...whether they first heard Richard in 1959 or 1999.

matt

Posted on Fri Jul 14 23:05:39 CEST 2000 from spider-wi024.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.29)

bob wigo

From: havertown,pa

Notice: Serge's School of Charm is closed for the remainder of the summer for a retooling of the curriculum.

Posted on Fri Jul 14 22:52:30 CEST 2000 from spider-wi051.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.41)

butch

I will not get drawn into a battle of wits with an unarmed person,,, Jan knows what he means to us,,, when he visits, WE make it clear how we appreciate all of what he does for US,,, stay out of other's peoples business,,, if it aint your business,,,& our friendship with Jan , or anyone else,,, is NONE of your business & donot presume to correct me on miss amy's spelling,,, you know nothing of what WE do,,, & it is WE, cause WE are a family here,, & wont stand for a bitter, past- tense, nowhere man tryin to start trouble,,, now go kick a dog, or whatever you do when not spreading hate ,,,or keep it private, cause i dont know what youre problem is,,, but im here if ya wanna talk civilized,,,, bd

Posted on Fri Jul 14 22:34:40 CEST 2000 from dial151.gtn.net (209.167.110.231)

Serge

Butch from Babbleland: I like your "WE" go into the sudio in about two weeks..."We" be firin (sic) up...I didn't know you were a musician. What instrument do you play?? BTW (Miss Amy's name should be written with a capital A).

You don't need to get snarky with me. I merely pointed out the 3 years of frustration caused by the non-recognition of this site by the Band's management if there was one, and Jan still sticking with it with a lot of people's help. You could have easily mentioned that fact, not merely sent congrats to Jan on some 15 second piece on TV, since you come on as a "spokesman". It's that simple.

Posted on Fri Jul 14 22:08:14 CEST 2000 from m198214181105.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.181.105)

Pehr

From: sweden

Don Bob Margolin on Guitar, Paul Butterfield on harp, Pinetop Perkins on piano.

Posted on Fri Jul 14 22:04:33 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

Mannish Boy @TLW:
gtr - bob margolin
piano - pinetop perkins
harp - paul butterfield

if memory serves

Posted on Fri Jul 14 21:53:42 CEST 2000 from spider-wc044.proxy.aol.com (205.188.193.39)

Don

From: Roswell

This morning, on the daily Blues show that is aired from 6 to 10 AM every week day here in Atlanta, the last song was Mannish Boy, yes from TLW. Question that was posed, was besides The Band, who played guitar, harp and piano. Now, lets try to be real, no looking at the CD or any written info. The winner gets a free copy of this weeks guestbook's response. :)

Posted on Fri Jul 14 21:21:56 CEST 2000 from spider-mtc-tc031.proxy.aol.com (64.12.105.161)

butch

From: serge-land aka no where,,,,

OK,, TONIGHT in NEW YORK CITY,,,, Levon & The Barn Burners @ B.B. King's ( Times Square ) 2 shows,,, 9 & 1130,,,,, with scott healy from the Conan O'Brien band on keyboards,,, we gonna burn down that barn,, The Fellas & miss amy are HOTTER THAN EVER !!!! we go into the studio in about two weeks,, for the Levon Helm Barn Burners CD,, so we be firin up,,, TONIGHT IN NYC,,, TOMORROW in CLINTON N.JERSEY @ our friends ANGUS, Black Potatoe Festival,,, be there too,,, but tonight,, stand back at least 500 feet,, or YOU MIGHT GET SCORCHED !!!!! see ya there,,,, ( except serge ,,, ) butch

Posted on Fri Jul 14 21:02:58 CEST 2000 from m198214181166.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.181.166)

Pehr

From: texas

yeah but Crabby, most of what you say can be taken as egotistical too, ya know. Maybe you are the Anti-Robbie coming to stir things up on spaceship earth before the final judgement. I'll tell ya this... Robii wins in the end, I peeked at the final page.

Wasnt gonna post today, but had to come face the computer and I'm here getting psyched. lots of good posts lately. another gooder by David Powell.

My day was made yesterday. I met and hung out with Hubert Sumlin backstage, had pictures taken, all that. When we met I said "Mr. Sumlin , you are the greatest!"

He says, "Oh, no, I'm not the greatest!"

me: "Well in my book you are!"

Sumlin: (nodding emphatically)"Well, then..."

me: "you wrote the book in fact!"

he was so charming and friendly and warm. just a great pleasure to meet, I'll never forget.

Steady Rollin' Bob Margolin (From TLW) played a formidable set with Pinetop and calvin jones from Muddy's band. they had Ted Harvey from Hound Dog Taylors band on drums. Nobody plays that style (or Styles) of guitar Margolin features... An old beat up tele with amazingly high action, in standard tuning with a slide that cried and bounced all over the place. They were joined by Big Bill Morganfield, Muddy's son on a purple tele, tuned down a 1/2 step with a capo and slide, also in standard tuning. never did get to ask Hubert Sumlin about recording last spring w/ Levon- Doh! maybe tonite I'll see him again.

Posted on Fri Jul 14 20:44:49 CEST 2000 from proxy-533.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.123)

ironweed

From: right on the money

that was the hall of fame deal I was referring to it ......it was in 94.....it was just a simple observation.....geez

Posted on Fri Jul 14 19:34:42 CEST 2000 from (24.3.160.27)

Brien Sz

From: NJ

I'm driving around doing errands and such the other day and I pull out a Tangerine Dream cd and pop it in. Nice mindless mellow zone out music and it hits me! I think if RR got together with TD they could put some interesting spins on RR's Indian music riffs.

Whatta ya think?

Just a thought on a dreary day at work.

Posted on Fri Jul 14 18:51:23 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.187)

David Powell

From: Hot ' Lanta Ga.

It was fifty years ago this past February that Muddy Waters recorded his influential song, "Rollin' Stone." Since then Mick, Keith & Brian named a band after the song, Dylan borrowed the title for his own classic rock opus, and Jann Wenner named his magazine after it. And who can forget Mr. Morganfield's own electrifying performance at The Last Waltz, when he turned back the years and became a Mannish Boy who could still show the younger musicians a thing or two about the blues.

In honor of the milestone of "Rollin' Stone", MCA/Universal recently released a fine 2-CD set appropriately entitled "Rollin' Stone / The Golden Anniversary Collection". The album contains the first 50 recordings that Muddy made on the Aristocrat and Chess labels from 1947 to 1952. From his early sessions with Sunnyland Slim on piano and Ernest "Big" Crawford on bass, to his later recordings that plugged in the various members of his band who electrified the Chicago club scene, this set traces the evolution of Muddy's unique brand of Delta blues.

Muddy first started playing the blues down in Mississippi. While he was working on the Stovall plantation outside of Clarksdale and playing juke joints on the side, two folk song collectors, Alan Lomax & John Work, "discovered" Muddy and recorded several '78s featuring him for the Library of Congress. The success of those early recordings gave Muddy the confidence to move north and try to make it in the big city of Chicago. Sunnyland Slim soon introduced him to Leonard & Phil Chess, who owned the Aristocrat and Chess labels, and the rest is history.

While his early recordings duplicated the success of the sparse, haunting sound of just Muddy's voice & slide guitar accompanied only by few other instruments, he would later convince Leonard Chess to let him add the full compliment of his band to the mix. It was this lineup, with Little Walter on harp, Jimmy Rodgers on second guitar, Big Crawford on bass and Elgin Evans on drums, that allowed Muddy to experiment with new electric-charged blues sounds in the clubs around Chicago. Muddy would later describe the scene to writer Robert Palmer this way: "So I started playing for these rent parties, and then I run into Blue Smitty and Jimmy Rodgers and we got somethin' goin' on. We started playing little neighborhood bars on the West Side , five nights a week, five dollars a night. It wasn't no big money, but we's doin' it." ("Deep Blues" by Robert Palmer, Penguin Books, page 15) It was this brand of blues that would become the foundation of rock & roll and influence several generations of young musicians. Years later, on one of his last albums, Muddy would sing "the blues had a baby and they named it rock & roll."

On the "Rollin' Stone / Golden Anniversary Collection" you can hear for yourself on these recordings, arranged in chronological order, just how Muddy was "doin' it". The 2-CD set serves up heaping portions of excellently remastered blues -- one CD contains about 72 minutes of music, the other clocks in at 74. An informative booklet of liner notes with historical information, complete session discography and rare classic photos of Muddy accompanies the set. This is a must-have addition for all fans of the blues.

Posted on Fri Jul 14 18:34:57 CEST 2000 from 2cust20.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.137.20)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

I suspected the surprising moratorium on RR bashing wasn't gonna last too long. For shame!! Robbie's (lovely) wife and kids were briefly on camera as he made his short egotistical speech at the HOF show a few years back. I believe this clip is on the Going Home video.

Bo Diddley was a pioneer in the sexy back-up singer department at least in the rock genre. His other great visual innovation, the cigar-box shaped electric guitar never really caught on for some reason.

Posted on Fri Jul 14 18:29:13 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.lndn1.on.home.com (24.112.158.228)

Kerrilyn

I stop in here every few days. But I haven't been able to come here for about a week...missed a million posts I think, this place sure fills up fast.

Congrats to Jan for the CNN recognition, this must be a huge undertaking.

Just wanted to let the Canadians in the crowd know that the CBC's Life and Times is replaying the Ronnie Hawkins episode next Tuesday, in case you've missed it.

Posted on Fri Jul 14 18:08:47 CEST 2000 from gw.itac.ca (209.146.161.1)

Bill

An effective - if inefficient - way of putting the slash back in Hoiberg, is to toggle over to your word processor, hit Insert (in Word, anyway), choose Symbol, choose (normal text) as your font, find the ø in the middle of the seventh row, insert it, copy it, toggle back to the Guestbook comment form, and paste in the ø (control-V)and type H and iberg around it. Simple really. Or just call him Jan!

Cornelius Bumpus was on Moby Grape's wonderful 20 Granite Creek LP. And the Grape's Skip Spence was responsible for putting the Doobie Brothers together (and gets a thanks on their first LP). So I guess they (Cornelius and Skip) were chums.

Come to think of it, the Granite Creek cover photo - guys in a field - is reminiscent of Band group shots of the day. But then, the Union Gap appeared in US Civil War costumes way before our guys did, but I doubt that anyone on this site would even think that they might deserve a nod.

Posted on Fri Jul 14 17:35:56 CEST 2000 from cache-hki-7.inet.fi (194.197.68.47)

Kalervo

From: Suomi

I have seen in some posts what kind of dangers are there when people are concentrating too much on one subject (here the Band): when there are no more real news (music) you are searching for instance small twisted things in the persons' characters (the members of the Band). I have never been interested in stamp collecting, especially when it comes to this silly good vs. bad guy game. There are no Ted Bundys in the Band, so what' s the news??? I welcome fresh and blue-eyed attitudes towards the Band and MUSIC in general.

Posted on Fri Jul 14 16:17:40 CEST 2000 from proxy-701.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.101)

Patricia

It's more than obvious that Peter Viney didn't see the segment I was referring to !

Posted on Fri Jul 14 15:39:25 CEST 2000 from spider-wi031.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.31)

bob wigo

From: havertown,pa

Fresh off the Steely Dan show at the E-Center in Camden, NJ last night. A marvelous performance by an enormously talented ensemble.

Tom Barney( bass) and Ricky Lawson (drums)drove the band with soulful precision.Ted Baker soared on keyboards and Cornelius Bumpus (we all know about the Doobie Bros. but what about Moby Grape?) rode point for a horn section that is everything it needs to be and more. Jon Herrington has taken the enviable task of lead guitarist to breath taking heights. A great player blessed to have the opportunity to play some of the finest guitar lines ever written.Walter Becker's guitar, while not as powerful as Herrington's,was impeccable. He plays with the confidence of the songwriter.And,of course, Donald Fagen.He of obvious Band connection and enormous talent.He played and sang with soul and wit and could not possibly be in better voice. All of this was beautifully complemented by three lovely and talented back up singers each of whom added depth and texture to the smartly crafted arrangements.I must admit there were more than a few ROA-type moments and I couldn't help but feel just a twinge of the "what ifs".Thirty plus years later the catalyst that drives this brilliant chemical reaction is intact and presenting the fruits of their labor for all to enjoy.

I have heard it said that it's all too "formula" at times but I must say this -the formula works.This show was strong from front to back and side to side.The songs are beautifully crafted and arranged.The musicians played each and every one of them with the energy and virtuousity they deserve (and demand).If your arms are empty and you got nowhere to go, get on out and catch this show.

Yes, there's gas in the car.....!

Posted on Fri Jul 14 14:50:45 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime

I was thinking out loud... when it comes to Jan's induction into the CNN-HOF, I like using the name Hoslashiberg more than H&o/;iberg :-)

Posted on Fri Jul 14 13:17:12 CEST 2000 from spider-wj081.proxy.aol.com (205.188.198.56)

Ben Turkel

From: New Jersey

The quote from RR regarding contributing to 'Jericho' is all nice and well. Did he ever contact the Band about contributing a song or guitar part or was this comment to a reporter the extent of his offer? It would have been wonderfull if they had worked on a song or two together for 'Jericho'. But, I think it's just as likely that RR was well aware of Levon's feelings at this point and the comment was just good public relations from his point of view. Despite the popular view that the negative comments in the press were only made by Levon, RR has made a few over the years as well.

Posted on Fri Jul 14 13:04:54 CEST 2000 from 209-23-55-24.ip.termserv.net (209.23.55.24)

Diamond Lil

Now Illka...you knew when you posted about Jan's name that I'd _have_ to try it, didn't you? The last time I attempted something like this I somehow managed to screw up about a hundred entries under my own. And so Jan...if this screws anything up...Illka made me do it! :-)

Ok..here goes...H&o/iberg..um..nope. Hoslashiberg...err...uhuh... H&thenosalshiberg...aww forgetaboutit...but hey...what do I win for trying?

You _do_ need a special keyboard to do that, don't you???

Have a good day everyone. Hug Mr. ehm...H :-)

Posted on Fri Jul 14 12:40:10 CEST 2000 from du235-2.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.2.235)

Ilkka

From: near the Ø-country

Gather around me children, I like to teach you something:
How to write Mr. Høiberg's name correctly in Internet:
Beguin with H - now comes the critical moment - write & then oslash and then ; then iberg.
OK, let's try it together. "Høiberg, HØIBERG (not so loud, Ragtime), Høiberg (that's better)..."

Posted on Fri Jul 14 11:31:11 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-115.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.115)

Peter Viney

First, I don’t think the personal non-musical relationships of any band member past or present are anyone’s business here whatsoever. But on the general subject of backing singers, isn’t it a major purpose of backing singers to look "hot" and appear to be irresistibly attracted to the singer? I’m thinking of many examples, from Madonna (surrounded by supposedly adoring male dancers) to the latest Kylie Minogue (the same) on MTV. I hasten to add that my several recent observations on MTV are due to time in the gym rather than serious brain softening, though I wouldn’t rule the latter out. Male and female backing singers have added this to their shimmy-while-glued-to-the-mic for many years, and have looked "hot" and irresistibly attracted to singers. You might see the same people looking irresistibly attracted to k.d.lang one week, George Michael the next, and Van the Man the next. I think it’s called "performing".

Posted on Fri Jul 14 07:34:19 CEST 2000 from proxy-601.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.161)

Patricia

Someone had mentioned Dominique Robertson in a recent post,and I had a conversation today that prompted me to go back over a collection of Robbie's television spots. I found among these TV proformances a 1994 David Letterman segment...Robbie singing "Ghost Dance" while Prisilla Coolidge put on a little dance of her own...she was wearing a skin-tight burgundy crushed velvet dress and and seemed to be well on her way to a "you know what"....this happened on international television.....I have never seen any one try so hard to get a man's attention in my life..ad Robbie did look over toward and give her a "boy..you look hot" expression and then acted like he was so stirred up that he didn't hardly remember where he was...and yet this guy is suppose to be married....didn't some of you see him all up close with a pretty young girl during the Lakers game? And wasn't Wynona Rider comin on to him at some award show?...the last photograph I have seen of his wife was way back in 94.....yeah..interesting..just an observation...R_S lil,you do not need to post and tell me that my observation does not belong in the guestbook..I know it doesn't... but then neither does a lot of the other stuff posted here...this thing has been buggin'me after going to other pages to look for information on this one particular subject...no one in his or her right mind would flirt so obviously with a happily married person and expect to continue to remain alive..and no married man would react in a manner such as that....especially on International television...he would get his skull cracked as soon as he waliked on the front porch...nothing personal...just an observation that I've wondered about once in a while for 6 years....does anyone remember that 94 letterman proformance.....just wondering....?

Posted on Fri Jul 14 05:34:10 CEST 2000 from 135.0102.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.135)

Nancy

From: Australia

Speaking of Band material on eBay, there have been numerous copies of TLW (vidoes and CD's) selling for what seem to me to be reckless prices. I can't accurately remember specifics, but examples are ex-rentals, and others going for US$24.00+. I bought a new copy of the film several years ago and had some difficulty getting it (a wait of 3 or more months), but the cost was only ~AUS$30.00, a reasonable price I thought. Since then I have often noticed copies of both the video and the CD set in local music shops. I wondered whether my special request in '97 had created a rush on the local market!! Seriously though, why would you buy an ex-rental (risking hard-earned $ for something that could end up being very low quality due a life of abuse), when pristine copies must be available in US stores? I'm assuming that this is the case when they are readily available in far-flung places such as where I live.

Posted on Fri Jul 14 05:05:46 CEST 2000 from 3cust39.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.138.39)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

I imagine that not too far into the future some GBer will report spotting Mr. Hoiberg on TV seated next to Ted Turner at an Atlanta Braves game wearing sunglasses, brandishing one of those politically incorrect foam rubber tomahawks, and screaming out "Indian" war cries.

On a related note I was disappointed that the Marshmallow Overcoat is not listed as one of the headline acts at the upcoming August 2000 Band Tribute Concert in Venice, Italy (see poster in the "What's New" section) along with The Beards, The Honkies, and Old Dixie. My hope is that The Jan will re-unite and show up as surprise guests at the tribute doing a version of "Chest Fever" in Italian. Jan's emulation of the famous "Danko bop" alone would be sufficient to totally blow away the competition I'm quite certain!

Posted on Fri Jul 14 05:05:09 CEST 2000 from user-33qt82e.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.160.78)

Pat Brennan

From: USA

Seems like an awful lot of people are dumping their Mobile Fidelity CD's of Big Pink on ebay these days. Still getting good prices, but nothing like before Capitol announced the re-releases. And Hank, that's the way he plays. Practice.

Posted on Fri Jul 14 04:11:12 CEST 2000 from dialup-321.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.65)

HANK

From: CORK CITY
Home page

Thanks to all you folks who replied to my inquiries about "Back To Memphis"........I think it's great that Supratrick played it in India all day yesterday......DAVID POWELL, your comments were especially enlightening........but does ANYONE have the lowdown on what actually is going on with that solo?........Y'see it goes around once and RR is bangin' away but THEN it goes around AGAIN and it's during the second round that this AMAZING thing happens......Levon is furiously bashin' his ride cymbal and generally going hell- for-leather and this THING happens whilst RR is playing the solo.....AAAAAAAAARGH!!!!!!......Sorry, folks,.........Well, tonight, for the first time ever I played "Back to Memphis" with my band at a gig.......we never, ever played it before but the drummer in my band, Martin.....a Levon disciple.......went for it and we did it.....folks started some serious hoe-down as we kicked into it.....what a song!!!!! .....what a way to face 600,000 people!!!!!!! (At Watkins Glen, that is......there were about 300 people at OUR gig tonight).............BTW, I heard Chucks version of it recently as well......it's got horns'n'stuff on it and while it's really good......I just can't over The Bands version.............Hey, Folks.....is "In a Station" sorta a reply to "Strawberry Fields Forever"?........any ideas? Peace to you all and yer neighbours..................

Posted on Fri Jul 14 04:10:56 CEST 2000 from m198214181105.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.181.105)

Pehr

From: texas

Little Brother... enjoyed that last post. I dont have much to add on Richard's Hawaiian guitar history/notes but you asked for anything so I'll give you what I got. Mr. Manuel refers to his degree in hawaiian guitar in an interview on this site, one from the mid- eighties, just mentioned it in passing no more as I remember. He plays the hawaiian lap steel in TLW at the close of the movie, the TLW theme reprise. only other thing I know is the history of it, in that at the St. Louis Worlds Fair of 1904 (The one that brought us the hot dog and ice cream!) also featured an exhibition by the Hawaiian slack key guitarists. The music became very popular and even something of a fad. The fad endured however through it's appropriation by bluesmen, who began playing "Bottleneck Slide" as a result of its powerful influence. That is why the National steel and resonator guitars have palm trees and hawaiian scenes etched or painted on them. but thats all I know. anyone else? tgif tomorrow. have a good weekend band fans

Posted on Fri Jul 14 03:45:09 CEST 2000 from spider-te014.proxy.aol.com (152.163.195.179)

Bayou Sam

From: New York

Thanks Just Wonderin for that nice RR quote you dug up. It was nice to see. Also, as a few of you have already touched on, it's great to see some nice positive talk on RR, and his playing. It's almost like he's a respectesd part of the Bands legacy - which he is. I know it must be bumming out "ol Ben though. If you missed it Ben, go back and read the quote that Just Wonderin posted from Rolling Stone. I don't know if it'll help, but I liked it...Take it easy peoples.

Posted on Fri Jul 14 03:23:22 CEST 2000 from proxy-701.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.101)

ironpat

If you were talkin' to me ..thanks benway....Dylan compared the you know what to the civil war....Levon,to me represents the south with all his pride and blood and guts and Robbie represents the north with all his Philadelphia lawyers and industrial brains...the civil war was in ...uhh..1860...and we still fight about that!!.So,I figure we have a really long way to go......but we might say..yeah,but Levon and Robbie are real people...aah..so what..they don't care..

Posted on Fri Jul 14 02:35:56 CEST 2000 from ppp746.on.bellglobal.com (206.172.238.170)

benway

From: the other side of the tracks

Hey Ironsides, where you been?

Crabby for Press !!

Robbie bashing rules...!

Hey Serge,, where you been?? Come on now... you're only here cause Jan is famous right ?? hahaha... Love you brother

Posted on Fri Jul 14 02:23:33 CEST 2000 from proxy-611.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.171)

ironweed

hahahahahah.....thats right...It keeps me kickin'and without it this could be a pretty ordinary place...I know nobody wants me here but dang it...I like it....thanks jan

Posted on Fri Jul 14 01:37:27 CEST 2000 from mat-4-31.enter.net (207.16.155.179)

Little Brother

From: around Philly, PA

-- First of all, I heartily agree with Vananroye Erik as far as "website" and "best", and I bet we're in agreement about (the) "Weight" as well. Just finding out that I already know three words of Belgish is a real ego-booster for me!

Though I'm cable-free and therefore CNN-challenged, I'm pleased to hear that Jan got some nanoseconds of richly-deserved fame. He's a much finer role model for aspiring cybergeeks than that weaselly Bill Gates, for one thing. And certainly more selfless and purer of heart, I'd guess.

Will success spoil Jan? The couplet, "They gave this Norse Boy his fortune and fame/Since that day he ain't been the same" is beginning to haunt me…

-- Richard was obviously not an out-front monster-technician virtuoso pianist, just a great musician. He found a register where Rick and Levon left off and Robbie and Garth began, and worked the hell out of it. My ear is fairly mediocre, I admit, but when listening to lots of Band stuff, especially the concert performances, I find that I "lose" him even when I'm trying to isolate his sound. As I say, I blame my ear(s), but I also think he deliberately just soaked into the music like rum into cake, surrendering distinctness for overall texture, flavor, and richness.

Except for showcase Richard songs like "I Shall Be Released", "Whispering Pines", etc., I find myself picking him up around the edges-- like those high, high triplets in the choruses of "Rock and Roll Shoes". More often, pianistic sleight-of-hand, aka magic.

One most intriguing "lost" fact about Richard is Hoskyn's note that "In 1959 he received a diploma in the Hawaiian guitar, no less, from the Ontario Conservatory of Music"! Does anyone out there have ANYTHING to offer about this? It almost sounds tongue-in-cheek. Is this legit? I can't readily imagine a way to incorporate that instrument into the Hawks or Band's sound, so did he simply utterly abandon it?

-- I enjoyed this latest round of Robbie postings, but don't be too free with congratulations about the enlightened level of discourse. Robbie is the catnip mouse of this site. The coroner's inquest on the Band permanently convened here, for better or worse, lacks the capacity for "closure" imposed by the judicial proceedings it mimics. Like other "Trials of the Century", evidence is ambiguous and can stack up one way or the other.

Jurors, advocates, and the occasional witness can rise to present definitive opinions in varying degrees. And, as recently, they can be illuminating and persuasive. But "Case closed!" will always remain over the horizon.

To pick just one point of controversy-- TLW: Graceful Exit or Contrived Deathtrap? One can read a half-dozen sincere essays on the first option, and think, "Yeah, OK, I guess SO." But then one will mull over something like, "Yeah, but it truly did foreclose the option of REALLY remaining together…" or even, "Yeah, but that camera-hog…" and up well the contrary perspectives, like a-bubblin' crude.

Catnip mouse! We can try to come to grips with it in a frenzy of clawing, we can sheathe our claws and wrap our velvet paws around it, we can suddenly weary of it and stalk away. But at best, it'll lay up by the litter box until we start all over again!

This includes the variously snide, genuinely despairing or disgusted, angry, (self)righteous and otherwise impassioned snarls, barks, and sneers about the appropriateness of debating the issue in the first place. The only person who can end it is Jan-- who, bless his heart, seems a one-man Founding Father of tolerance! Ergo, one who understands that it's tough to take away the catnip mouse without harming, even mortally wounding, the cat…

Posted on Fri Jul 14 01:19:15 CEST 2000 from proxy-711.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.111)

Scott

From: Decatur NY & Paramus NJ

Sure hope Levon & The Barn Burners are playing Joyous Lake 8/16, since I am off that week and will be upstate workin' on the house, hiking, breathing clean air etc.... One can only hope !!!!! Real sorry not to see Honky Tonk Gurus in NJ last weekend. Please play close to the NJ, NY border or up by Cobleskill, Oneonta soon !!!! I need a "Band" live fix.....It's nice to see their cd pictured on the home page here for more exposure. They are one hot talented group...

Posted on Fri Jul 14 00:55:43 CEST 2000 from (209.167.110.175)

Serge

BUTCH from Bubbaland or wherever you're from.: Big time Kudos for Jan...? It's about time, you people, and hangers-on who are "NOW" so proud to be associated with this site that has kept the Band cult alive.. Where were you in 1996, 1997, 1998 ?? Did it have to take so long for Jan's work to be recognized? Do you know how much work it takes? I wrote countless Emails about this site long long ago to a member of the Crowmatics, asking him to print and leave them laying around (which I think he did), hoping some management(?)people or Band members would take notice. Did it really have to hit CNN for it to sink in??

Well, better late than never.

Jan, I am glad that finally it hit home. No one can out-do you :)

Posted on Fri Jul 14 00:49:17 CEST 2000 from tdslppp35.mpls.uswest.net (63.226.145.36)

Patrick Swanson

From: Minneapolis

SOMEONE E-MAIL CHORDS TO "4 % PANTOMIME" PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted on Thu Jul 13 21:42:53 CEST 2000 from proxy-671.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.71)

IRONWEED

Yeah,it's almost a miracle out of scripture...but you know how it is in here....a day without bashin' Robbie is like a day without sunshine !

Posted on Thu Jul 13 21:14:03 CEST 2000 from cic-proxy02.firstunion.com (169.200.25.141)

Bones

From: CT

WOW! We have gone one whole day with rational discussions about Robbie, The Band, The Last Waltz and the subsequent break-up with NO BASHING. Thank you to AHROO for great posts.

Posted on Thu Jul 13 20:47:54 CEST 2000 from m198214178108.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.178.108)

pehr

From: texas

thanks ARHOOOO!. (did I spell that right?) Great posts with things I've felt but had problems being able to say.

Crabgrass has a good point in return I generally agree with, except for me the most important issue is an artist needing time to reflect upon recent work before releasing it. It can bog things down for the fan, or negatively affect the work by making it overly self conscious, but an artist of Robertson's stature deserves to not have to crunch numbers for bean counters at major labels. hopefully the internet will further enhance artists freedom and accessability. Alot of people hate his new work but I think that there is some great playing on the new records, as well as not being that different from the band records in structure and philosophy. If fans think so passionately otherwise, no big deal but perhaps they dont have an adequate scope of vision and are transfixed by a genre of music they cant get out of or dont want to. I can see why Robbie wouldnt want to stay in the Rock and roll guitar god genre. I'm glad and alot of his fans are too.

Nice post by David Powell regarding HANK's question about RR's WG solo. I havent gotten to listening to WG since this topic came up but along with what Mr. Powell posted there is a 1976 Guitar Player Magazine interview on the site w/ Robbie and Rick that discusses some of this further and firsthand. there also is an article I wrote about RR's Technique which is all I know about it really.

Speaking of RR's guitar playing, I saw his influence Hubie Sumlin last night, who just burned a Gold Top Les Paul and turned in one of the most amazing sets I have ever seen with Calvin Jones and Willie Smith backing himup with Pinetop Perkins. Pinetop was doing some mighty fine singing as well. Tonite they will be joined by Big Bill Morganfield, who is connected to The Band simply by being the son of the great Muddy.

BTW, Welcome back Carmen.

Posted on Thu Jul 13 20:43:45 CEST 2000 from pollux.telenet-ops.be (213.224.83.14)

Vananroye Erik

From: Belgium

De Weight was vroeger een van de mooiste songs en nu nog. De website mag er best zijn Groetjes Erik

Posted on Thu Jul 13 20:33:02 CEST 2000 from bangor13.hypernet.com (208.229.12.13)

Denis Howard

From: East Orland, Maine
Home page

I am the Monday host of MORNING MAINE, a program on WERU-FM 89.9 (Blue Hill) & 102.9 (Bangor). It airs from 6 - 9 AM each and every Monday morning. My co-hostess, Karen, and I play a mix of acoustic and eclectic rock, leaning towards Americana. The station was recently given a stack of Rick Danko Band CD's. We have been awarding them to listeners who call in. I want to know if, as a radio station, we are being serviced with every bit of Band product. Our mailing address is: Denis Howard / c / o WERU-FM / P. O. Box 170 / East Orland, ME 04431-0170

Posted on Thu Jul 13 18:16:05 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.187)

David Powell

From: Georgia

To add to my earlier post -- Another example of the Robertson guitar technique I mentioned can be heard in his solos on "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" from the 1966 Dylan tour. Listen to either the Manchester Live '66 (a.k.a. Albert Hall) version or the Liverpool (B-side from "I Want You" 45-single) version. Both are equally amazing, with the open strings droning in harmony with the fretted notes, to create full, rich multi-layered guitar sound.

Posted on Thu Jul 13 17:49:26 CEST 2000 from rsmithbehv.scs.unt.edu (129.120.128.155)

Rick Smith

From: Denton, TX

I THINK that the Band's last performance as the Band was January 3, 1999 at Levon's club in New Orleans. I was fortunate to be passing through NO on the 2nd and caught that show (see archives around Jan 4 for review). They were scheduled to play the 3rd, as well as some dates later in the month, but I'm pretty sure the later dates were cancelled. Looks like I attended what might accurately be termed the "next-to-the-last waltz." Anyone out there see the Jan 3 show?

Posted on Thu Jul 13 17:47:08 CEST 2000 from (202.140.157.115)

Supratik

From: read two posts below ( or is it three ? )

Thanks David ! I just had that gut feeling that Robbie could do it all along. He is simply amazing. He made his own choices but I still wish that he would have rejoined the fold, The Last Waltz notwithstanding.....(sigh)....somethings are perhaps never meant to be. But then his choice is HIS choice, not anyone else's.

Also what I missed in the last post. A HUGE CONGRATS to Jan for the CNN report on the website. You have my and I know everybody else's eternal gratitude. This is from your no. 1 fan in India ( I guess its time even webmasters had fans for keeping great websites like this one ). Besides considering the no. of Band fans in India I don't think I would have much competition. :-)

Posted on Thu Jul 13 17:14:45 CEST 2000 from vhannon-2.ucis.dal.ca (129.173.2.102)

aaron petrie

From: hfx

anybody out there know of further Dr. John/ Das band collaborations other than TLW?? Also, Band tabs other than harmony-central?? One last thing, what exactly is levon helm's involvement w/mercury rev??

Posted on Thu Jul 13 16:49:31 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.187)

David Powell

From: Georgia

Just a few comments in response to the guitar discussion:

Hank-- I haven't listened closely to the specific solo you mentioned lately but Robertson mastered a technique of hitting open strings adjacent to the notes he fretted. The open string(s) would usually be the note of the key the song or the solo was in, resulting in a drone-like sound. While the notes from the open strings continued to ring he would hit additional notes, thus creating an effect that sounded as if there were two guitars playing at once.

As mentioned here by others, Telecasters, due to their pickups, are known for their trebly sound, epecially when the bridge pickup is engaged. When Leo Fender first introduced this guitar, this was what set them apart from the other guitars of that era. This distinctive, knife-like edge allowed the guitarists to cut through the sounds of the other instuments and be heard clearly when they took a solo.

I, within the limits of my ability, play a recent vintage American Standard Telecaster and usually keep it set for the front pickup or use the middle, blend position, for a fatter, mellower sound. Occasionally, when playing a country-style solo, I'll switch to the bridge pickup. Recently I switched from a transitor amp to a small Fender tube amp with an overdrive effects pedal to further fatten-up the tone possibilities.

It's worth pointing out that, in the album cover pictures on "Rock Of Ages", Robbie Robertson can be seen playing a custom model Telecaster with humbucking pickups, rather than the standard, single-coil Fender pickups.

Posted on Thu Jul 13 16:35:05 CEST 2000 from (202.86.131.104)

Supratik

From: Calcutta

After reading Hank's post I have been listening to Back to Memphis all day long and to tell the truth I am hearing things I never heard before. Thanks HANK ! I think all the guitar techs out here should try explaining the how the HELL did Robbie manage to do that.

Also thanks to Amanda for all the help in how to write answers. Sure made use of that. :-)

Supratik

Posted on Thu Jul 13 16:04:22 CEST 2000 from 1cust145.tnt1.topeka.ks.da.uu.net (63.39.63.145)

Dexy

As noted yesterday, my wife caught the CNN report, but sadly, I did not. I don't know how many times I've told people about this site, explaining that even if you're not a Band fanatic, this is the best site I've found on the 'net. Rolling Stone, EW, other mags have regular columns about interesting music websites, and I've constantly been amazed that no one had yet picked up on this site. That it is so vibrant and packed with new information, new ideas, and information about these guys is truly a testament not only to the greatest group of rock musicians (from this side of the Atlantic), but also to Jan's vision, hard work and creativity. Thanks, The Band. And thanks to the Jan. (the individual)

Posted on Thu Jul 13 16:00:55 CEST 2000 from pm4-135.delrio.com (208.246.53.135)

Just Wonderin'

From: Somewhere out of San Antone

Can anyone point me to where I can get a copy of Dylan's "Genuine Live 2000"? Please email me if you know or post here. Thanks!

Posted on Thu Jul 13 15:54:36 CEST 2000 from pm4-135.delrio.com (208.246.53.135)

Just Wonderin'

From: Somewhere out of San Antone

OOPS! As usual I forgot something I meant to say...Congrats Jan! It's about time you recieved the recognition you deserve! Thanks for this wonderful site!

Posted on Thu Jul 13 15:48:46 CEST 2000 from pm4-135.delrio.com (208.246.53.135)

Just Wonderin'

From: Somewhere out of San Antone

OK here's a quote from Rollingstone issue 612 Sept. 5th/91 with Gun's and Roses on the cover: "Recently, Hudson, Danko and Helm have been working on a new album as the Band In the years since The Last Waltz, teh group has toured without Robertson, but this is its first studio album. Asked if he's ambivalent about that project Robertson says: "No, I'm not. I'm not going to make the record with them, but I've offere to make some sort of contribution. Even without me and Richard Manuel (who died in 1986) this group is still a bundle of talent. I hope it's tremendous."

For those interested in looking it up the article is on page 57 of the fashion section of this issue.

I guess what it boils down to is there are those who like RR and those who don't so it should just be left at that.

I remember reading an interview with Richard somewhere that he thought life was just too short for all this negativity. Most of us don't know these guys so maybe we read more into "the feud" than really is there. The press can color an interview so maybe Levon's comments in truth weren't as bitter as they sounded in print.

Posted on Thu Jul 13 15:46:10 CEST 2000 from host161-123-26-209.utelfla.com (209.26.123.161)

carmen

From: PA

The scene from "Going Home" where RR rolls his eys and drops his head tells it all.

Has anyone heard about a 5th RR release?? I will take a rumor at this point.

How about the Rick CD? Best Regards!

Posted on Thu Jul 13 14:03:41 CEST 2000 from dialup-375.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.119)

HANK

From: STRUGGLIN' UPHILL JUST TRYIN' TO MAKE A LIVIN"
Home page

First of All, Congrats to Jan!!! Now, down to business..... Listen Folks, y'all can whine and whinge on about RR Levon who left what and when and why but what I wanna know is THIS, I'll say it again..... and it's very important in the scheme of things..IT IS NOT HUMANLY POSSIBLE FOR A PERSON TO PLAY THE GUITAR SOLO RR PLAYS ON "BACK TO MEMPHIS".......IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.....or is it? Did he luck out or what? Overdub?........I'm very serious about this folks, and I've been here enuff times to know that there are guitar buffs who know what I'm talking about, heck, someone even mentioned that speed merchant, Whingie Millstream, the other day.....So c'mon, PLEASE someone give me a glimmer on this ........For what it's worth, I remember RR said in an interview once that he could'nt go on with The Band and songwriting anymore 'cos he felt he did'nt have ANYTHING to say......so he stopped...........which is fair enuff, when you think about it........having said that, he plays a really unique guitar and it's a pity he don't do it that much anymore........BTW, I'm NOT gonna let up on "Back To Memphis" till I get some answers..........

Posted on Thu Jul 13 13:15:34 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.avnl1.nj.home.com (24.4.252.66)

Brien Sz

From: NJ

"The best thing which we derive from history is the enthusiasm that it raises in us"

-------------------------- Goethe

Posted on Thu Jul 13 12:44:57 CEST 2000 from cf3k-3.paradise.net.nz (203.96.152.183)

Amanda

From: NZ

Thoughtful, interesting posts Ahhroo...I'm interested to know if you (or anyone else for that matter) has any thoughts on something I wonder about: how much of a catalyst was Dominique on Robbies writing?

I know he had written songs before but I have the impression that following the tour with Dylan (where he met his wife to be?) he suddenly increased the quality and quantity of his output resulting in the albums we all know and love. Now I realise Dylan was a big part of that (and of course we must never, never, not even for a second forget the brotherhood of the other band members,5 equal parts etc, etc...) but still I can't help wondering whether Dominique might have had something to do with that outburst of creativity too. She was/is (?) a writer, wasn't she? And I think I read somewhere that she helped Robbie to broaden his reading into philosophy and other areas.

Anway a final snippet on women at TLW: I'm sure I read somewhere (maybe in LH's book) that Libby Titus was there & got together with Mac Rebbenack that night. Hence there was some irony in his performance of "SUCH A NIGHT"!

And congratulations to Jan on his well deserved new fame. I think it shows extreme nobility,generosity & class that he has not slapped some advertising on here to capitalise on all the new visitors the tv appearance has/will generate!

Posted on Thu Jul 13 12:16:00 CEST 2000 from 209-23-38-72.ip.termserv.net (209.23.38.72)

Diamond Lil

Apologies to Tom Izzo for my failing to mention in my last few posts about your wonderful photos from the memorial concert in Conneticut. Thanks so much!

And Jan...does all this publicity mean that we have to start calling you the esteemed Mr. Hoiberg now? Geez I hope not. Not sure if I can do that with a straight face :-) Hug.

Posted on Thu Jul 13 09:15:32 CEST 2000 from proxy-523.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.113)

IRONWEED

don't nobody ever sleep aroud here?

Posted on Thu Jul 13 08:43:38 CEST 2000 from 1cust190.tnt11.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.134.190)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

A song that takes 10 years to write isn't necessarily better than one that takes 10 minutes. Lennon & McCartney wrote tons of great songs within a very short span of time. And an album that is five years in the making isn't necessarily better than one that's recorded in a day. I think Phil Ramone said something like that in the Classic Albums video.

Posted on Thu Jul 13 07:23:29 CEST 2000 from spider-wi053.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.43)

Henry

From: Sonoma, CA

Thank you Jan for providing the best site on the net for all of us to enjoy. Nice to hear you got some well deserved recognition, sorry I missed the CNN story. I haven't mised a GB entry in about a year but I rarely post messages.

I love Richard Manuel's singing and playing. You have to listen for his piano because it blends so well and he didn't solo much. Every time I heard him live I'd yell out to turn up the piano volume but I think Richard was a little shy and he didn't want it too loud. He may not be as intricate or technical as some keyboardists but I love his music and he's worth listening for.

There was some discussion about a week ago about when and where Watkins Glen and Rock Of Ages were recorded and if there were overdubs on any of THE BAND's live albums. I really don't care when or where they were recorded or if they were touched up in the studio. I'm just thankful to have all this great recorded music that I can listen to forever. ROA is one of my alltime favorites, who cares if it was recorded Dec 30 or 31. I love listening to WG regardless of where the songs were actually recorded.

One of the things I really liked about THE BAND is they played all the music themselves (with a little help from people like John Simon and Aaron Hurowitz). So many recording artists (I won't call them musicians) have studio or guest musicians, orchestras, horn sections and everybody but the stars playing the music. I fondly call THE BAND "Real Music" and I love all of it from 1965 to 2000. I'll gladly listen to anything I can get no matter when or where it was recorded. Long Live THE BAND

Posted on Thu Jul 13 07:12:31 CEST 2000 from tcnet00-22.austin.texas.net (209.99.42.211)

Laura Holt

From: Austin, Texas

GOLLY GEE...It's so great to hear some NICE things said about RR instead of the constant "Snobby Robbie" crapola that goes on in this GB at times. It get's REAL old listening to people bash him for leaving gracefully with TLW!! AHROOO... my "BAND HAT" is off to ya buddy and of course to the rest who have made some VERY educated comments on the subject of RR departure AND Levons brief departure back in the Dylan days! PEACE EVERYONE! My thanks to Jan for the great site.

Posted on Thu Jul 13 06:11:09 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.blfld1.ct.home.com (24.4.252.36)

AHROOO!!

From: somewhere down a crazy river

Okay, in my humble opinion I think it would have been a shame if Robbie went back on his word and decided to tour again with The Band, not because of friendship but the deal with such a task would be labeled as a "reunion." "Swallowing your pride?" Look what The Eagles did. Henley and the rest didn't want to even record with each other again he said in Rolling Stone of I think '86 "Will The Eagles ever play together again? When hell freezes over", then they decided to go back on the road, record an album and milk their reunion. What are reunions for in the first place other than to make money? Do you think it's to actually HAVE fun? Fleetwood Mac reunited for how much? The new Supremes deal is a rip-off. I'm glad they canned the rest of that tour.

I'm happy Robbie never went this route. He had enough sense to show closure and stick with it. How can you say that he abandoned The Band when they gave a concert like they did, along with a film, and a three record set? No bands last forever. We wish they could be but not everybody thinks alike. Robbie decided he had enough of touring. When The Band got back together, he thought that was fine because the rest wanted to do it. He never whined about them touring again. He simply stayed put at home with his family and had no urge to even record, unless it was an easier task such as helping out with a soundtrack. Not once did he ever try to make music that sounded like The Band. He never capitalized on his fame with them in articles. Usually the interviewer would ask about The Band in which Robbie would go on automatic pilot with a rehash of what he did with The Band, starting with Ronnie Hawkins on up.

We've got some people who wish Robbie had music that harked back to his Band days. What would people call him then, a phony? A sell-out? Can't have his own style of music? Does he have to rely on his past? He's basically damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. The thing is, he wouldn't sound like The Band anyways as he hardly sang any of the songs, save a couple. Those duties belonged to Richard, Rick, and Levon.

Others wish he would make more music. He's made four solo albums with no restraints on how long it would take to make them. He never had to make an album a year. Folks, do you want quality or quantity of a product? It takes time to write something up to snuff in the first place, let alone churn out 9 to 12 songs for one album. I know when I write whatever, it doesn't take me a week and that's it, I've got something done. Robbie has written songs since he was in his early teens, and played guitar since then. Do you mean to tell me that he shouldn't be able to go to a simple basketball game or help out in an awards ceremony? His life should solely depend on making music no matter what kind of energy, heart, or feelings go into it. Also he should always keep on plucking away at the guitar until he drops dead. Wow! What a life!

That's the mentality of fans. "Keep on giving us that music! Come on! You only came out with an album a YEAR ago. What are you waiting for? No, of course you can't have another life! Oh yeah, you HAVE to go out on tour too. You're in the music business baby!" Musicians aren't allowed to enjoy normal life because they have to make that music, then get bombarded with lousey reviews and have people criticize them after they just gave the fans what they wanted.

Excellent gratitude!

AHROOO!!

Posted on Thu Jul 13 05:53:48 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-119-17.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.119.17)

BWNWITennessee

From: ditto

Brien Sz. - the neck on a Tele is longer than a Les Paul; as a result the tension on the strings is greater, and you also have to push them farther in order to bend a note to the right pitch. Think about it - if you have an instrument with a very short neck, it's going to want to be higher pitched. So as you lower the pitch on it, the strings are going to get looser and looser. Conversely, if you tried to tune a bass guitar to the same notes as a regular guitar, the strings would be ridiculously tight. Teles also seem to have thicker necks from front to back, which makes them more akward to play. I'm not sure exactly why, I guess it's because your fingers are more at an angle and who don't have as much leverage to push the strings. All those horrid Yngwie Malmsteen people from the '80s preferred really thin necks so that they could go ever faster.

As far as the tone goes, a LP has humbucking pickups, so the sound is warmer and slightly "muddy," whereas a Tele has single coils, which are very crisp and trebly, making every tiny little mistake clear as a bell. I've heard a lot of Teles that I don't like, although I think it's because they are being played through Fender Twins, maybe. Some players have a very hollow, ringy sound, kind of like the great Danny Gatton on "Unfinished Business," which I don't care for. I like them when they are real trebly and rackety and full sounding, like Robbie. Strats have a lot of similarities to Teles as far as difficulty in playing, although they are a little warmer sounding and not quite so unforgiving, I guess.

So in summation, be like me, use a Les Paul as your main guitar, then pick up a Tele for country and raw blues stuff when your back needs a break. Never touch a Strat because they are overpopulating the world.

And buy a ukelele.

Posted on Thu Jul 13 05:34:42 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-119-17.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.119.17)

BWNWITennessee

From: 98 in the shade

I remember something in "Rolling Stone" from around the "Storyville" period, I can't recall what the cover was, but it featured Robbie in a fashion spread (yup). There was also a short article accompanying it. They included the anecdote about the cop in '68 who let Robbie off by saying, "Just remember to slow down, Rabbi." Now, this was before "Jericho," and I remember that they asked Robbie about the impending album. They asked if he was ambivalent, and he said - paraphrasing - "Not at all. I hope it's tremendous. Even without me and Richard Manuel, this group is still a bundle of talent. I'm not going to make the record with them, but I've offered to make some sort of a contribution, whether it be writing a song or playing a guitar solo." Maybe someone has a copy of this and can provide an exact quote. So I guess he was willing to do something, although I'm sure some here would say that he's just a lying SOB who would say anything to make himself look good...

Posted on Thu Jul 13 05:19:29 CEST 2000 from spider-tk073.proxy.aol.com (152.163.206.208)

Long Distance Operator

I understand what Robbie said in 1976: "It's a goddamn impossible way of life". However, we do have the right to change our minds in this life. Ask Peter Townshend! When did "Who's Last" come out? 1982? That was about 4 tours ago! Pete was able to swallow his pride, woke up in his late 40's and said, "Fuggit. I'm going to get together with my dear friends because we're still here, we still enjoy it, and I WANT to. Bollocks to what I said eight years ago!" The Band didn't necessarily have to return to the road warrior days, either; maybe it would have been palatable to do shorter 15 or 20-city tours. As a matter of fact, I think the current Who tour is only about 20 dates. I know, I know.... it's all just wishful thinking. I do often wonder, though, if Robbie felt he COULDN'T return to The Band or live performance because his coked-up ramblings were immortalized in "The Last Waltz". Purely speculation. It's impossible to see 10 or 20 years into the future. As time passed, perhaps he felt the urge to work with the fellas again. It would be a damn shame if the ill-fated pronouncements that Scorcese captured were all that stood in the way.

Posted on Thu Jul 13 05:06:01 CEST 2000 from svcr-adsl-216-37-220-133.epix.net (216.37.220.133)

Kevin Gilbertson

From: NE PA

Lil - Happy Birthday (belated). I also enjoyed Clapton's "No Reason to Cry" LP. Hope to have more music your way soon.

Peter Viney - thanks for mentioning the book by Peter Doggett (Are you Ready for the Country). On your advice alone I ordered it from Amazon.Uk. It arrived today after being ordered Friday. I don't ever get that type of delivery from the US counterpart. But, most of the stuff I order is always out of stock or print. Find myself reading it like a text book, bouncing around to different chapters. Was pleasantly surprised to see that my 2nd favorite band figures in the book also (Wilco). Although the index has them as Wico.

Robbie leaving, Levon leaving. Robbie wanting back in (first I heard that). I guess debating will go on forever. All I know is; I like The Band. The original, the reunited, Robbie solo, Rick solo, Levon solo. I like some flavors more than others, but I like it ALL. Will always be partial to Levon as it was his vocals that were the hook for me. Hope to get his autograph at "the gathering on the mountain" early next month. I will then have all 5 original members on one LP.

Jan - thanks again for this wonderful place

Peace.

Posted on Thu Jul 13 05:01:52 CEST 2000 from proxy-651.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.129)

patricia

In the interview I saw in the fall of 92 Robbie said he wanted to go back into the studio and rework old stuff and would be willing to write new stuff but he also added that he was not interested in going back on the road......

Posted on Thu Jul 13 04:49:23 CEST 2000 from user-33qt9rn.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.167.119)

Pat Brennan

From: USA

RR has never given any indication that he wants to return to the road. He was through with the road because he saw what it did to people--"a goddam impossible way of life" is the term. There is no way he would have started touring again in the 80's.

Posted on Thu Jul 13 04:38:43 CEST 2000 from user-33qt9rn.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.167.119)

Pat Brennan

From: USA

Richard Manuel was not a great technical pianist. The Hawk makes this point in one of the videos, that when compared to guys like Stan Szelest, Richard wasn't in their league. But Richard had that voice, which made him as unique an artist as any that the 60's produced. Still, Richard had an incredible feel in his playing, which matters much more than techinical proficiency. Garth said once that Richard also had a real way with voicing things on the piano and the various electric keyboards he used, the opening to Shape I'm In being one example of many. Of course any keyboard played in a band with Garth Hudson would be terrified most of the time anyway. For another example of Richard's soloing, check out Loving You from, uhh, Watkins Glen.

I think you can try with all your might to deny it, but Levon's departure in 1965 has many parallels with Robbie's just eleven years later. I also recall a Rolling Stone article from September of 76 announcing the Band's farewell to the road. In it, the writer describes the deletorious effect Rick's speedboat injury in the middle of their summer tour had on the group in general and RR: cancelled dates, karma, fear, etc. It was in that light--coupled with the admitted loss of interest most were showing-- that RR pulled the plug.

Just as no one should deny Levon's right to make a move as he saw fit, neither should anyone bemoan Robbie's.

I'd need more than someone's foggy recollection to believe that RR wanted back in in the ealy 90's. I'd also love to see the figures that everyone seems to take for granted about all the money RR made on TLW. Whatever the case may be, producers do get paid for their efforts, thank goodness.

For something completely different, how many times from 69-76 did The Band play with a horn section? And, for you completists out there, a good place to begin a live show list would be the tape library on site.

And congratulations to Jan for getting some recognition for his efforts here. They shoulda interviewed you.

Posted on Thu Jul 13 04:38:14 CEST 2000 from spider-tl031.proxy.aol.com (152.163.207.186)

Long Distance Operator

One very important distinction between Robbie's departure and Levon's is that Levon quickly returned. Robbie, alas, did not. As has been pointed out, The Band's music was being elbowed out of the mainstream by disco and punk. I think Robbie was astute enough to sense this and decided to "have a celebration". The Last Waltz, to me, was the last great night for rock and roll. It has never been the same since. Thanksgiving, 1976: The end of the Golden Age Of Rock. Despite Levon's negativity toward it, I give thanks every day for the document that The Band and Scorcese left behind. The only problem was the finality of it. How can you come back after releasing a movie called "The Last Waltz"? Once disco died and punk fizzled, The Band could have potentially returned triumphantly in the mid-80's, with all five original members still alive and well. Robbie would have had a 10 year break from the road and, presumably, been refreshed and ready. He probably felt that he couldn't come back, though. He didn't want his baby, "The Last Waltz", to be a put-on. I respect Robbie's integrity and pride, but unfortunately those noble qualities are probably the very reason a reunion never happened.

Posted on Thu Jul 13 03:58:42 CEST 2000 from user-37kas3r.dialup.mindspring.com (207.69.112.123)

Dan

From: orlando

Problem with books is that it is hard to back off from what is written. Listening to Knockin' Lost John right now glad for the music that was made. Also thinking about whether the E Street Band was credited for any of the Springsteen songs. Still wondering why when Manuel stopped songwriting, The Band did not make use of the songs of contemporaries such as Bobby Charles. Probably will never know, but will always enjoy listening to the music from that all-to-brief period of a band demonstrating the teamsmanship of the '69 -'73 Knicks & my fond memories of The Band's shows in '91, '93 , '96 & '97.

Posted on Thu Jul 13 03:46:04 CEST 2000 from spider-tq024.proxy.aol.com (152.163.201.54)

Stephen "butta" Patacchiola

From: phoenix, arizona

I was the guitar, bass, and drum technician/production mgr. from 1993 - 1995. It was an honor and pleasure working for the boys. I was lost for words on the passing of Rick Danko. He treated my family like his family and i will miss him dearly. thanks -- butta

Posted on Thu Jul 13 03:36:23 CEST 2000 from spider-wk063.proxy.aol.com (205.188.198.178)

Ben Turkel

From: New Jersey

I'm not sure when the Band's final concert was, I seem to think it may have been around New Years's a couple of years ago at Levon's club In New Orleans. I did see the Band in the summer of '97 at the Middlesex County fair in New Jersey. This was while Rick was in Japan, and there was basically a Band/Cromatix line-up for the show. I would definetly be interested in hearing a show from that summer if there are any tapes floating around.

Posted on Thu Jul 13 03:14:09 CEST 2000 from spider-tl084.proxy.aol.com (152.163.207.214)

frank

From: pa. side of the delaware river

I have seen Richard play live too many times to recall,but the one thing that I always remembered was every song that he sang he said THANK YOU at the end.

Posted on Thu Jul 13 03:05:45 CEST 2000 from proxy-641.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.89)

Patricia

Interview:Musician Magazine june 1982...a three part interview Robbie in the main section and Levon and Rick side by side on one page...Levon said that both he and Rick NEEDED to be on the road!!! Robbie did NOT want to continue on the road but wanted to keep "The clubhouse" meaning Shangi-La and to continue to record....and then everyone got into their own things and it just faded away....I don't know who AHROOO is but he's got his damned head on straight!!!!

Posted on Thu Jul 13 02:49:58 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.blfld1.ct.home.com (24.4.252.36)

AHROOO!!

From: some crazy river

Robbie said in an interview from '94 that the reason Levon left as Levon had told him was because the folk scene "Wasn't his thing." Levon didn't understand it and didn't like being booed.

When you talk about either Levon leaving when he did or Robbie when he did, there is a difference.

Levon left at a very crucial time when The Band was beginning to hit it big while they were the Hawks with Dylan. Levon only said goodbye to Robbie as he treated him like a younger brother. Everyone else would be left in the dark until Robbie told them Levon was going home.

When Robbie left The Band, he felt he had put in 16 years of his life on the road and The Band had plenty of success in that time. Disco and Punk were taking over the music scene at the time The Last Waltz happened and he had had enough, but wanted to only stop touring.....maybe for the time but everyone started doing their own projects and that widened the gap for The Band. Robbie did say goodbye in a very special way. Instead of just announcing, "We're through," The Band gathered some friends, influences and some people they worked with over the years and made it not such a sad or depressing occassion.

We only get that feeling after how many years? 17 years until a Band biography gets released do we let that cloud our very judgement to this day. Do you honestly mean to tell me that you don't get a thrill when (if you even own a copy) you pop in the tape of "The Last Waltz," Turn up that TV, and enjoy the fun everybody else is having or seems to show. Do you really rather watch music films that show shots of the crowd rather than what's on stage? How can you ignore this? It is a piece of rock history that has yet to be duplicated.

AHROOO!!

Posted on Thu Jul 13 02:33:41 CEST 2000 from proxy-641.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.89)

Patricia

The last 4 lines of Rods post.....BINGO!!!

Posted on Thu Jul 13 02:15:32 CEST 2000 from cf3k-3.paradise.net.nz (203.96.152.183)

rod

From: New Zealand
Home page

For a rare RM piano solo listen to Baby Let Me Follow You Down from the '66 tour. I'm not sure if this is the same as the official release but my copy "The Live Dylan with The Band" (Bulldog) has some nice piano playing on it.While on the subject of bootlegs I have another Dylan record "A Rare Batch of Little White Wonder Vol 3" from Joker records which I think may have the Hawks on it. It is definitely not from the Basement Tapes but the guitar playing on She Belongs to Me sounds like Robbie playing thirds Dirge style. It features Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window (the official release) and some mixed up titles such as Lay Down Your Weart Tune (sic) and It Takes A Lot to Laugh, Killing Me ALive.

If The Band did turn RR down for the Jericho project then that is a great shame. Jericho IMHO is the best of their last three releases but they missed a chance to do something really great. I remember reading a RR interview from around the time LH's book came out. He said that he had spoken to LH on the phone and they had talked about making some music together. He then went on to say that LH said nothing about his book coming coming out in the near future.

Posted on Thu Jul 13 01:49:08 CEST 2000 from spider-wb014.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.154)

Ben Turkel

From: New Jersey

I see big differences in Levon leaving in '65 and Robbie orchestrating the last waltz. Levon didn't try to break the Hawks up when he left, nor did he profit financially from leaving. The fact that Rick tracked him down when they were getting ready to sign a record deal shows how important Levon was to the others. My take on the last waltz is that Robbie wanted to stop touring but not necessarily break up the Band permanently. The post-production on the movie dragged on for longer than expected and by the time it was done Rick and Levon had already released albums, toured with their own groups and were into their own music. Maybe if the footage hadn't turned out well and was never released, they would have reunited in '78 or '79 and continued, maybe not. I definetly think that Robbie didn't expect the others to reunite without him, maybe he didn't think they could. Either way, I'm glad that they did. I feel that (particularly with the 90's lineup) they were still a great band and had a lot to offer.

Posted on Thu Jul 13 01:42:39 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-117-193.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.117.193)

BWNWITennessee

From: Opryland

I was looking through the tape archive and had a thought - does anyone know when and where the official last show ever played by The Band was? I would guess it would be sometime in '98. Didn't they play Carnegie Hall around then? It's not like with the Grateful Dead or Stevie Ray Vaughan, because The Band just kind of sputtered out, what with Levon's voice problems, and Rick getting arrested in Japan, and they never really officially stopped until last December. Actually, I don't know if The Band ever made an official press statement that they were breaking up, the way the Grateful Dead or Led Zeppelin did.

What would be great on this website would be if we could all work on like a "Deadbase" kind of thing - a Bandbase - all of the dates and locations played, maybe even setlists. Unfortunately, The Band doesn't have as many hardcore fans as the Grateful Dead, but who knows what some of the people here could come up with.

I have to add that I'm so grateful that they were able to release "Jubilation" before everything happened. I think it's the best of all of their post-Robbie albums, and I'm glad they didn't end with "High on the Hog."

Posted on Thu Jul 13 00:55:53 CEST 2000 from proxy-631.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.40)

Scott

What originally brought me to The band were the popular radio songs. As I explored their catalog, I discovered the magic that is The Band. I love the songs, the arrangements, the voices and harmonies. For me, when they mixed all the ingredients and it worked, nobody comes close...Richard IS an unfinished symphony. What a perfect way to describe one of our favorite musicians. His short songwriting list has always had me yearning for more...One of my favorite all time songs is "Sleeping" from Stagefright.... A masterpiece....

Posted on Thu Jul 13 00:43:42 CEST 2000 from spider-wc071.proxy.aol.com (205.188.193.51)

BUTCH

From: HUH ???

BIG-TIME KUDOS TO JAN !!!!!!!!!!!!! Way to go,,,,you should be VERY PROUD of the work you do here,,, We, up here in New York,,, are PROUD to be associated with YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK - YOU for all you do,,,, these buds are for you,, see ya @ the big one,,,, butch & L.H.,,,,

Posted on Thu Jul 13 00:41:13 CEST 2000 from spider-we014.proxy.aol.com (205.188.195.24)

Bayou Sam

From: ny

The last part of Carmens last post is the reason I've been going on about this RR thing. It was Pat Brennan who first said it a few days ago in a post. Levon flat out LEFT with no plans to come back, or even have a career in music if I recall his book correctly. Lucky for him, and really lucky for us - he returned. So, about 12 years later, RR does the same and for him the scaffold is high and eternity near..... ........ I'll try to lay off this thing for awhile. I know it will rear it's head again eventually............ Ricardo is right. He is a nice guy. I've chatted with him in the chat room................turn off your mind, relax and float downstream.

Posted on Thu Jul 13 00:32:18 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.avnl1.nj.home.com (24.4.252.66)

Brien Sz

From: NJ

This is for you guitar guys(genderless usage)

I was listening to Storyville on my way back from work. I had been listening to Bigfoot for the last few days; And I'm thinking about the Telecaster that RR & JW use. I love the sound they produce-the rings, the feel, the edge. Anyway, I've played in my share of bands when i was younger (average bass player here) And everytime I jammed with guys who owned Telecasters, the sound was never to my liking. Even guys who were pretty good really couldn't make it sing well. Is the Telecaster that much harder to work than a Strat or Les Paul or did i just run into a bad sample pool? Just curious.

Love Richard's voice. You can feel the pain, the joy, the passion. But like with a lot of things in our culture, it makes better press if it's controversial instead of soulful.

Posted on Thu Jul 13 00:21:45 CEST 2000 from (200.220.96.3)

Ricardo

From: Brazil

My heart belongs to The Beatles. But I think The Band is a great, great, great band. I love the songs. The Band's sound makes feel absolutelly stoned. And one of the highlights of my life is sit in front of tv and watch Last Waltz. Amazing. I remember Rick on stage and I feel very sad about his death. Unfortunetly I live in Brazil, and here nobody or almost nobody knows The Band. So, I feel like a lonely guy. Please, somebody talk to me. (Sorry about my english. My english is not so good, but I'm very nice guy)

Posted on Wed Jul 12 23:55:54 CEST 2000 from m198214181111.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.181.111)

Pehr

nice comment diamond lil. your thoughtful and sesitive posts are read and appreciated.

just want to add regarding Richard's musicianship that he is my favorite drummer. Wonderful loose style as fun to watch as to listen too. Thats him on "Yazoo St.", that cut and "Rag Mama Rag" makes me go into my version of the "Ricky Shuffle/bounce" all the time.

I'd be interested in seeing his discography as a drummer, just to see all the other stuff that isnt coming to mind. I believe he also does the drums for "Jemima Surrender" and Levon moves to rhythm guitar...(eh?)

down at Antones club here all week... Hubert Sumlin,,,Pinetop Perkins...Calvin "Fuzz" Jones...Willie "Big Eyes" Smith...Ted Harvey...Bob Margolin... James Cotton...Lazy Lester... oh man. Jimmy Rogers we miss you... Laura Holt you goin?

Have mercy for the blues everyone!

Posted on Wed Jul 12 22:54:00 CEST 2000 from proxy-651.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.129)

Patty

LiL,that was exactly what i said in my post a little earlier....but It was more than worth repeating.

Posted on Wed Jul 12 22:46:12 CEST 2000 from proxy-651.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.129)

Patty

I marvel at yours too Wig....

Posted on Wed Jul 12 22:45:12 CEST 2000 from 209-23-38-96.ip.termserv.net (209.23.38.96)

Lil again

Richard Manuel. I always got the feeling that Richard never knew how really _good_ he was. He'd get excited...like he was so happy that people _liked_ what he was doing...almost as if it surprised him at times. He had that almost gleeful look of pride when he'd finish a song...almost childlike..and very endearing...

And yes, I know the question asked was more of a musical definition of Richard, and so I guess you could say that I just saw him as one of the world's most beautiful unfinished symphonies.

Posted on Wed Jul 12 22:33:33 CEST 2000 from spider-tl041.proxy.aol.com (152.163.207.191)

bob wigo

From: havertown,pa.

Patty, I marvel at your magnetism !

Posted on Wed Jul 12 22:13:02 CEST 2000 from 209-23-38-96.ip.termserv.net (209.23.38.96)

Diamond Lil

Congratulations oh semi-famous one! Proud of you...hug :-)

Posted on Wed Jul 12 21:49:24 CEST 2000 from proxy-393.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.93)

patty

I agree with Bones..It was the most important time in The Hawk's career...after all those years starvin' and playing the dives....they were right on the verge of big-time success...and Levon leaves...why?...if you believe the Greil Marcus theory, it was because Levon felt that Dylan was trying to muscle in on his group or if you believe Levons story,he had gotten really tired of being booed...I think maybe it was a little bit of both...who knows......Welcome Mr. Petrie

Posted on Wed Jul 12 21:04:13 CEST 2000 from pc-20.alh.library.ns.ca (142.227.99.20)

d. aaron petrie

From: Halifax, N.S.
Home page

suuu--ey!! Absolutely a top notch exhaustive fan site. I came in through the cnn report, so i guess turner can't be all bad. If yr into something semi-related, a)tune in to ckdu 97.5 fm campus/community radio in halifax (realaudio at ckdufm.dal.ca) for my "roots music and beyond" show *The Wax Dummy Meltdown* sunday nights 23:00 est, and b) check out halifax (well actually dartmouth) band The Guthries. (theguthries.net)RIYL niel young, the band, wilco, gramm parsons, exile on mainstreet etc... they've got a full length out real soon, four first rate songwritters and play a bitchin cover of "don't do it"

Posted on Wed Jul 12 20:22:02 CEST 2000 from ric-wht-pxy-int02.wheatfirst.com (204.238.130.68)

Bones

From: CT

Jan : Congrats about CNN! You're famous!

Carmen: You do pose an interesting question. Robbie clearly gets blamed around here for leaving the Band, and yet nobody mentions the fact that Levon left the group during arguably the most important time of their career. I understand Levon's reasoning at the time, but I also understand and agree with Robbie's decision as well.

Posted on Wed Jul 12 20:06:00 CEST 2000 from m198214181105.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.181.105)

Pehr

Richard's Musicianship: great, great rhythmic feel for the piano. Ensemble player. Beautiful ballad player/singer solo. Filled the shoes of Stan szelest and Willard Pop Jones. Wrote some of the most inventive and complex chord arrangements in pop music to this day. Wrote some of the Bands best music. The word "Genius" comes to mind.

out of respect to Richard, when I wrote the hit "Lonesome Robbie" I changed the melody and chords. Its actually a reggae feel in 5/36 with a chord change from D-mented minor to E-gads major.

wished I'd seen the Cnn report on my favorite website. congratulations, Jan. this page is truly state of the art.

Posted on Wed Jul 12 19:23:58 CEST 2000 from ti09a63-0378.dialup.online.no (130.67.55.122)

jh

Too bad I can't get CNN here:

Wed, 12 Jul 2000 15:42:04
Newsgroup: alt.music.the-band
Thread    1 of    1
Lines 10

Band website featured on CNN

From: howells@best.com
John Howells at The ISP formerly known as Best

Just happened to watch CNN last night when they
were featuring Jan's Band site in a brief feature
of musical sites on the web. Nice overview of the
Band's career, pictures of the site, and some
streaming video from the site as well. Very cool!
--
John Howells
howells@bigfoot.com
http://www.punkhart.com

Anyone happen to tape this?

Posted on Wed Jul 12 19:10:50 CEST 2000 from proxy-333.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.33)

patricia

Rick Kenworthy...look at Janis..snh had a voice like none of us had ever heard before but she would cry and say "what am I gonna do when they find out I can't sing" Clapton said he saw that self doubt in Richard every time he played...when your confidence is shattered in your childhood,Even if you are sa talented as Ricgard was ...you can never see and appreciate your your own gift...I always thoiught That Richards hurtful childhood gave him that rawness in his voice that would make you cry...It took me a long time t get into Richards voice..and now I can't get out....Bayou Sam is right as usual....Robbie worked his ass off in that group...taking over as manager as well as all the songwriting in the later years of the group along with trying to keep everything above water just to be able to survive....one thing I never understood tho is why RR just didn't leave the group and let the other guys go on as The Band??? If it's true what LH said in his book about RR saying"well we can stop it" that puts RR in a pretty bad light.....carman..it's true Robbie wanted to get back with his mates...I saw it on the tube...I saw the love in his eyes and the need for it and i was just a year or so before LH released that book...Did Leven read thebok before it was released...he could have said "no this isn't what i said ,go back in there and tell the truth"to the co-writer...LH was never one to hold his tongue much so why din't he do that instead of letting the other guy miscolour things to the degree he did...if he did......Becka honey....we have to add music first....welcome....and mommy don't be scared,from what I just read this morning ..you're better off than any of us....thanks

Posted on Wed Jul 12 19:04:55 CEST 2000 from spider-th033.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.58)

Ferdinand

From: Chicken Town

The Joint CDR is most probably The Bands performance which was broadcast as a SuperStar Concert Series in 1996. You could pickup DJ copies of the CD from most dealers in Goldmine and such like. I believe it was also broadcast again last year. Try and find an original copy rather than a cheap CDR at major cost.

Posted on Wed Jul 12 19:03:37 CEST 2000 from (12.34.17.217)

medicine hat

From: pittsburgh

anyone who has doubts as to the caliber of richard's musicianship should do the following: a) listen to his fills in "cripple creek" (studio version); b) his wicked glissandos on "whistle stop" during the second "you can scream and you can shout"; and, c) his __very__ funky clavinette in "forbidden fruit" (particularly during the fade). peace.

Posted on Wed Jul 12 18:49:39 CEST 2000 from cfa1.execulink.net (199.166.6.10)

paul godfrey

Little Brother...

Linda Ronstadt was backstage as the Last Waltz as was Governor Jerry Brown! Shine ON!

Posted on Wed Jul 12 18:41:01 CEST 2000 from 1cust208.tnt11.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.134.208)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

Jane Siberry was a total embarrassment at the Joni's Jazz "tribute" in Central Park just one year ago. She destroyed "People's Parties" reading the lyrics from a piece of paper and apparently being barely familiar with the melody. An insult to Joni who was in the audience (and also Joni's fans) - she should've stayed home. Needless to say, she was not invited to the recent Joni Mitchell Tribute at the Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC which was taped for cable TV. A modern day Joni? I don't think so!

Steak knife winner - don't do anything rash with those knives - it's only a contest!

Agree that adding the lyrics would be a good idea - and when's that Virtual 3D Model of Big Pink gonna be ready?

Also, agree that Asians were under-represented in TLW line-up. The Band should've at least performed "Shootout In Chinatown."

Posted on Wed Jul 12 17:22:31 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.187)

David Powell

From: Georgia

ASCAP lists Richard Claire Danko & Eric Patrick Clapton as songwriters for "All Our Past Times." Richard Claire Danko & Richard G. Manuel are listed as the writers for "Beautiful Thing", which Clapton also included on "No Reason To Cry." Campfire Music is listed as the publisher.

Posted on Wed Jul 12 16:02:18 CEST 2000 from (206.129.70.172)

Mike

The Joint/Old Brown Boot CD -- Has anyone heard it? Is it any good? Where recorded? If it's good, where can it be obtained and for how much? Anyone? Thanks

Posted on Wed Jul 12 15:36:49 CEST 2000 from hlfx16-31.ns.sympatico.ca (142.177.66.31)

Rebecca Gidney

From: Digby, Nova Scotia, CANADA

I am 18 years old. I love the band!!! This page is awesome, excpet I think adding lyrics would be a good idea. PEACE LOVE AND HAPPINESS BECKA

Posted on Wed Jul 12 15:01:00 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

Thanks Tracy! You're absolutely right. I have the annoying habit of messing those two up in my head - I suppose it's the french reference...alas..

Posted on Wed Jul 12 14:23:53 CEST 2000 from host161-123-26-209.utelfla.com (209.26.123.161)

carmen

From: pa

I have been away the last 2 weeks on vacation and have been catching up. Hope all is well. Couple of comments: Regarding Dexy's post, this is interesting. Can anyone confirm that RR looked up his old mates to do a CD and was rebuffed? If this is true, what a shame!

Also, why is it ok for Levon to bolt a situation that he was not comfortable with , while RR is slamed for the same reasoning.

Posted on Wed Jul 12 13:16:33 CEST 2000 from (206.186.16.78)

Rick Kenworthy

From: Argo-land

Here's a suggestion for a new thread to cool off the summer (and get away from the RR vs the rest stuff) . . . Just read the article from Matthew Lewis(See "What's New"section of GB) reviewing "Sweet Dreams and Quiet Desisres" and it confirms something I'd wondered about when it states: "Though a superb singer, Manuel the keyboardist was a less-confident character who felt inhibited by Garth Hudson's technical genius. "He (Manuel) even went so far as to apologize to us for not being such a good musician," Gershen said, amazed. "Really, Richard was an unbelievably intuitive and talented player in his own right. He would find the soul of a song instantly, and enhance it with his unique style." When we think of Richard it invariably centres around his singing/songwriting, with little mention of his musicianship. For example, I've often wondered where Richard fit in on "The Weight" which seems to have his wonderful bang on rhythm piano at the start, but almost certainly becomes a Garth riff on the chorus with the climbing right hand octaves. Any GBers have personal stories or professional aprraisals of Richard Manuel as a musician that they could share with us all. Dileas gu Brath RickK

Posted on Wed Jul 12 13:08:17 CEST 2000 from spider-wk041.proxy.aol.com (205.188.198.166)

Ben Turkel

From: New jersey

Bayou, My point about RR's credit as producer of TLW is that he is the only Band member that was PAID for that project.

Posted on Wed Jul 12 09:20:33 CEST 2000 from spider-tp072.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.207)

me

From: w

whats wrong here? ah im a scaredy cat ? is anyone else ez GB totally bizrrro now? waaaaaaa Mommy ??? Im scared........

Posted on Wed Jul 12 08:26:11 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime

From: All Our Past Times

Lil... but on the cd version of No Reason To Cry the credits to Clapton were removed - it's our Rick only. So what should we believe?

Mmmm... guestbook screwed up? I like this new format :-)

Posted on Wed Jul 12 06:19:42 CEST 2000 from 1cust50.tnt1.topeka.ks.da.uu.net (63.39.63.50)

Dexy

Either my wife's gone completely off the deep end, or this website (Jan's BAND site)was shown and mentioned on a CNN report around 10:45pm CT / 11:45 ET tonight (Tuesday 7/11/00). Not her style to hoax. She just caught the very end of the story, but it was showing the site and the URL, and the announcer was talking about what you could find here. Was it about this site alone? Music on the web? Fan sites? I don't know, but someone surely saw the whole thing.... Jan, did they contact you??

Posted on Wed Jul 12 05:59:29 CEST 2000 from spider-to017.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.11)

Bayou Sam

From: 'bout 100 miles south of Big Pink

Richard P. In the interest of fairness, I went back to your post to see if I missed the point. What I get from your comment is that because RR did his own thing after TLW, he is somehow undeserving of reward, financial or otherwise. I don't think he should get any credit for Jericho, Hog, or Jub. However he is 1/5 of the deal from Islands, on back. You could say that he hasn't worked as a touring musician as much as the other guys since '77. But that would be silly, and it would be the second stupidest comment ever made here. Seriously, I didn't mean to suggest that YOU are stupid. I was just blown away by the thought that RR made money without working hard for it...............Ben - maybe RR is the only one listed as producer of TLW because he WAS the producer. Did he lock the door and not let the others in despite thier screams to unlock it, or was he the only one interested in doing it? I don't know. I'm just asking. Does anyone know? Keep searching for proof that RR is a bad man............Pehr, funny poem.................Hey Witt, what's happening..........Rollie, your the friggin best man. ...........have a wonderful day all.

Posted on Wed Jul 12 05:58:14 CEST 2000 from proxy-661.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.61)

patricia

I was just over in the dead rock stars site ....one of those guys got hacked to death by his wife.....anyway the child molester guy mentioned earlier was reeaallyyy good

Posted on Wed Jul 12 05:24:23 CEST 2000 from proxy-373.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.73)

patricia

Would Donna Summer be singing ooooh love to love ya baby aaaaah love to love ya baby?That would be almost as funny as Levon pulling a gun on Rick in "The Man Outside" which I thought was one of the funniest things I have ever seen....I play that movie for people and they don't know why i fall on the floor doubled up in laughter....all I ever heard was comments like boy,those guys are bad actors or man this is a really bad movie......laugh and shrivel up ...that oughta be the name of that movie....who is that creepy cat they got playing that child molester.....

Posted on Wed Jul 12 05:10:50 CEST 2000 from 1cust13.tnt14.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.142.13)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

Hey, somebody screwed up the GB!!!

Let's all boycott until it's fixed!

(E-mailing the Webmaster might help.)

Even though "Lonesome Robbie" was a late contender

I can't in good conscience accept the one-way ticket to Norway

and am immediately Fed-exing it to Austin TX.

(I hope Richard Manuel is given credit for the music, however.)

Posted on Wed Jul 12 04:53:13 CEST 2000 from 098.0101.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.98)

Nancy

From: Australia

My comment is linked to one made by Crabgrass a couple of days ago, when he stated that the only female singers around in the early to mid 70's were DISCO singers. This was in response to my query as to why there was such a poor showing of women in TLW line-up.

Anyway, Crabby's reference to disco led me to think of the scene in "The Full Monty" in the dole queue when Donna Summer's song comes over amongst the piped music. The five or six men who are training for their eventual gig as strippers are waiting in line, and on recognising the tune, commence a discreet bump and grind.

This led me to visualise a bizarre and ridiculous scenario (I'm prone to them) which could have spiced up TLW: Donna Summer on stage, giving her best, and the five Band members sachaying in time to her song across the stage behind her! And by the way, for the benefit of anyone who doesn't share my sense of the ridiculous, I AM joking!

Posted on Wed Jul 12 04:39:15 CEST 2000 from m198214181105.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.181.105)

Pehr

From: taxes

song: Lonesome Robbie

Lonesome Robbie just cant get a break

he gave his heart to us, but remembered as a theif and snake

maybe he took up farming, or left us just to be a carny

oh, how some hate you

wish th'yed find something else to do

anyone who just had a birthday wouldnt want to be left alone

if they had more worth they

might forgive and just get stoned

and I know it must be hard to read this

but since we all just live and breathe this

oh lonesome Robbie

that new record just wont do...

Posted on Wed Jul 12 03:49:34 CEST 2000 from dialup-105.cork.iol.ie (194.125.43.105)

HANK

From: WHERE RIVERS DANCE, apparently
Home page

........PHEW!!!!!!....took me a while to get warmed up there!!!!!!........OK, I'm back......and ready to rock with y'all!!!!!!!......On The Bands live version of "Back To Memphis" at WATKINS GLEN, d'y'know the solo RR takes? He does a guitar solo after the second verse.....IT is NOT HUMANLY POSSIBLE TO PLAY LIKE THAT.......please someone say it was an overdub!!.......I played it for the lead guitarist in my band during the weekend and he rewound the tape 15 times trying to figure it out!!!!!!!.........It's like he screaming treble notes and this mid-tone run kicks in while those notes up the neck of the guitar are still screaming.........y'know what i mean??........did he luck out or did they overdub or am I missing something (other than my brain, ie)...........BTW, folks, RR would be a whole bunch cooler if he'd just get into playin' guitar again... he was pretty good..........Tonight, at 1;30 AM (Irish time) I pulled into a local Gas/Petrol station whilst listening to "Chest Fever" ......LOUD.... in my car.......... three teensge guys 16-18 were just hangin' and when I opened my car-door, these three guys with BAD haircuts started to boogie to Chest Fever......it woulda been a GREAT single in 1968........or even today!!!! Maybe they should put it out as a single NOW to promo the albums being released

Posted on Wed Jul 12 03:23:55 CEST 2000 from dialup-345.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.89)

...................

From: ............
Home page

....and...they shoulda released "Chest-Fever" as a single in 1968!!!......

Posted on Wed Jul 12 03:10:07 CEST 2000 from proxy-543.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.133)

patricia

is working@home.nonet a fake e mail address....it's not mine........Ben,during the promotional stuff....you know the tv shows and interviews,I don't know what tv show i was on but it was the end of 91 and into 92..RR said that he would "love" to get with the rest of the guysin The band and rework some of the old stuff and he said,and these were his exact words"I would even be willing to write new material" I am positive he said that...and on an A=E network one sunday morning on that "Breakfast with the Arts" show they still have on there He was talking about having someone to communicate with musically and how he missed that bond....he called the "zone" that interview was broadcast in early 93 altho I think It was shot in the winter of 92....I forgot your question....I hope i didn't screw this up....new female preformers...I just love Gillian Welch....and old female proformers...Marcia Ball....altho niether one of them had any thing to do with TLW,If I had anything to do with it they would have something to do with "The New Waltz"

Posted on Wed Jul 12 02:27:11 CEST 2000 from user-33qt9e9.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.165.201)

Pat Brennan

From: USA

Richard P., with due respect, I have to disagree with you. First off, it was The Group long before it was The Band. They probably played way more as The Hawks than they did as The Band, thus cementing that brotherhood we all admire. And it was that brotherhood, that group, that Levon left for his own reasons. And, believe me, I am not knocking Levon for his decision to leave a situation he was no longer comfortable with.

Second, The Band was an indifferent touring organization. No tour to support Big Pink (medical reasons), perhaps two or three tours up to ROA, a year and a half off followed by some intermittant shows, the Dylan tour, and the last tour culminating in TLW. There are many "critics" who take the lyrics to Stage Fright seriously, that The Band retreated after their first two albums, never again to fully engage their audience.

The post-LW Band obviously did a lot of touring; personally I saw the permutations of that aggregation more than the original quintet. As much as I love them in all their forms, nothing touched the original five.

Posted on Wed Jul 12 02:20:45 CEST 2000 from svcr-adsl-216-37-220-133.epix.net (216.37.220.133)

Kevin Gilbertson

From: NE PA

A friend pointed me to this:

ROCK DOCUMENTARY ROLLS ALONG: A long-planned documentary of the 1970 Festival Express tour of Canada featuring Janis Joplin, the Grateful Dead, The Band and others is nearing completion, according to JAM! Music. Producers are drawing from 85 hours of onstage and backstage footage, which also includes clips of Traffic, Eric Andersen, Mountain, 10 Years After, Sha Na Na and several other acts. — Rich Brown

Here's where it was located:

http://tvguide.netscape.com/newsgossip/inthenews/

Posted on Wed Jul 12 01:47:56 CEST 2000 from mat-1-16.enter.net (207.16.155.26)

Little Brother

From: around Philly, PA

-- I'm not much for graceful concession speeches, but on the other hand I'm not disposed to snarl, "Now you won't have Little Brother to kick around any more", either. So I spoze I'll just reverently note that The People Have Spoken, declare my intention to Fully Support Crabgrass in his quest to climb ever-higher, and thank those who've suggested valuable parting gifts. Um, can I have ONE steak knife and HALF a bottle of gin? And, with all due apologies to the vegans, a steak to go along with the knife?

-- Sometimes you can't even go to the bathroom, or decide you're too tired to fire up the PC, around here. It's like a tractor-trailer filled with sweet and sour sauce crashed into the GB overnight! Plus I think I caught a whiff of leaking battery acid.

-- Women at TLW? If we accept the general premise that the performers really were directly associated with the Band (collectively or individually) some way, the obvious omission was Libby Titus. Performing, that is. ON stage, I mean. I can't remember offhand if she attended, and I don't dare pause to research this point. Too much happens when I'm off trying to remember where I left my life.

Otherwise, the ultimate missing, and by then sadly missed, woman was Janis. Ah, the possibilities! She certainly had the credentials in terms of music and connection to the Band.

As far as popular women performers of the day, apart from Carole King (whom I agree would have been a better representative of the Brill Building/Tin Pan Alley era than Neil-- Die, Man!) I can imagine Linda Ronstadt finding something suitable to do. I don't associate her with Band music generally, but I'm putting her in anyway.

And since I've always thought "Angel of the Morning" is a song eminently suited for the Band instrumentally, I'd give Merrilee Rush a cameo. OK, then, Juice Newton. But Merrilee did it first.

I'd bet SOMEONE considered the male-dominated lineup, at least as far as the film goes. Emmylou and the Staples were so right that it's irrelevant whether the gender issue was a conscious choice, though. Otherwise, it's pretty much a given that the Hawks/Band's career wasn't a showcase for enlightened feminism. With the exceptions noticed here, the one-armed go-go dancers were the rule. No reason to deplore this any more than deploring the absence of Asian or even Latin connections.

-- On the other hand, we can do that! Always looking for a new wrinkle to catch like fishooks in the sensibilities of the happier, better-adjusted visitors. By the way, I USED to live in the present, I really did. But I finally stopped when I realized that the damn present kept turning INTO the damn past anyway! I gave it up-- there just wasn't any future in it.

Posted on Wed Jul 12 01:38:57 CEST 2000 from 209-23-55-47.ip.termserv.net (209.23.55.47)

Diamond Lil

On Clapton's "No reason to cry" album (yes..the vinyl copy) the song "All our past times" _is_ credited to both Eric Clapton and Rick Danko.

Richard Patterson: Thanks for your last post. It really conveyed the essence of 'giving it your all'.

Have a good night everyone.

Posted on Wed Jul 12 00:54:57 CEST 2000 from ppp7556.on.bellglobal.com (206.172.191.44)

Richard Patterson

From: St Kitts,,, home of the stupidest comment ever made in the guest book

PAT BRENNAN: Yes, I know that Levon took time off during their stretch with Dylan, but I might also point out that our boys weren't "The Band" yet. Ever since 'Big Pink' they have remained fiercely loyal to the concept of playing on the road and keeping their fans happy. Slogging it out through big and small gigs 'til death and cancer finally stopped the wheel from going round. So now, with the last of those 3 unbelievable voices silenced, Garth and Levon still go out there on the road and make themselves and they're fans happy.

See BAYOU SAM, this is what I mean by WORKING... I think you may have missed my point...

hb: I wish I was half as good looking as Snaggelpuss

Posted on Wed Jul 12 00:57:31 CEST 2000 from 1cust119.tnt1.topeka.ks.da.uu.net (63.39.63.119)

Dexy

1) JRR is listed as "Producer" in TLW movie. 2) RE: Whether Robbie was turned aside by The Band in '93, there's an interview somewhere (probably on this site too), where Robbie himself said he had called the guys and said it was time to do some songs together. I believe his idea was to do a CD collection with some new songs (in anticipation of the Rock Hall induction). According to Robbie, they declined. Of course, they were working on JERICHO as their rebirth at the time. Anyone recall where that interview ran?

Posted on Wed Jul 12 00:34:26 CEST 2000 from spider-tp012.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.177)

Ben Turkel

From: New Jersey

Bones, I just checked my 'Last Waltz' cd and RR is listed as producer. None of the other Band members are listed in the production credits. I don't have the video, so I don't know what his credit is on the movie. As producer of the cd, I'm sure he earned a substantial fee at the time (I have no ideas if he's ever received royalties). The other Band members benefitted from the exposure, but according to Levon's book never received any payment from the movie or album. I believe they were on retainer with Warner Bros. at the time. Whoever posted about RR asking to perform with the Band in the 90's please explain?

Posted on Wed Jul 12 00:16:37 CEST 2000 from dialup-63.208.200.9.tampa1.level3.net (63.208.200.9)

calm

The Last Waltz-then and now. How about Carol King being added? Singer, songwriter, musician. I can imagine her voice dueting with Richard's.

Posted on Wed Jul 12 00:10:26 CEST 2000 from proxy-343.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.43)

patricia

Women at The Last Waltz...uuh..if k.d lang were really a woman...she woulda been ok..but she's not....Lynn Anderson on the other hand is a woman but..come on now...she could hardly hold her own at the Grand old opry on a slow night......no, they didn't need any more women on stage at The Last Waltz...but they were probably "more than busy"backstage.....wink,wink

Posted on Tue Jul 11 23:47:54 CEST 2000 from cf3k-3.paradise.net.nz (203.96.152.183)

Amanda

From: Goin' down the road to see Bessie...

Thanks to everyone who responded re. Joni Mitchell. I was just thinking maybe Jane Siberry is a modern day equivalent?? At least in that she is Canadian, a woman and a fine song-writer.

Another woman who possibly might be invited to a modern day TLW is k.d lang. I really liked Emmy Lou on Evangeline but could imagine that a k.d lang/Levon Helm duet of it might be quite outstanding.

As far as other women in the mid 70s go (I'm showing my youth & ignorance here I know) but was Lynn Anderson around then? Presumably she wasn't a superstar at the time but I think it would be kind of fun if she'd performed "the devil went down to Georgia" at TLW. Rick Danko could have played the fiddle & it would have tied in with the place names themette they had going (Cripple Creek, Down South in New Orleans.)

Oh yes I forgot to say I really liked the GB songs too & I think Little Brother should get a bottle of gin rather than just a set of steak knives.

Posted on Tue Jul 11 23:29:43 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.blfld1.ct.home.com (24.4.252.36)

AHROOO!!

From: somewhere down the crazy CT river
Home page

Hey, Matt, you've got the right scenario for the Paris scene with Joni, Geffen, and the Robertsons but the song you are referring to is "Free Man In Paris." This is the song that basically was about Joni's then-roommate, David Geffen and the process that drove Dominique nuts every time Joni would pick up her guitar and sing at will at various cafes while in France.

My other choice for Joni songs would have to be "(You Turn Me On) I'm a Radio." This would have been perfect as Robbie could play a call and response between Joni wailing and Robbie's guitar harmonizing with her such as we've heard with Van Morrison's "Wonderful Remark" from The King Of Comedy. If you don't understand the jist of it, pick up a copy of "Miles Of Isles" and check out the masterful dueting between Joni and a fretted one. Now, that would have been interesting! Of course it would nicely coincide with Van chanting "Turn it up" on "Caravan."

Also, "All Our Past Times" is credited to Danko only, not with Clapton.

Is the Robbie bashing STILL going on? It looks like more than one person can't get away from the past.

AHROOO!!

Posted on Tue Jul 11 22:43:50 CEST 2000 from (207.102.255.35)

Tish Lovely

Could anyone help me find Ricky Wellington? Please! tishlovely@hotmail.com

Posted on Tue Jul 11 22:14:26 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

I think Furry and Shadows and Light are horrendous at TLW primarily because they do not play to The Band's strengths, particularly Levon's and Rick's. Coyote manages to keep a steady groove which works well with Rick's bass playing and relies on Rick and Levon's abilities as a true "rhythm section," focusing on the groove.

Furry and S/L, however are both very good songs (particularly Furry), but both are derivitive of other styles that rely on timbre and texture, and both are rather "spacey." It would have been something to hear S/L with just Joni and Garth--probably a revelation.

To hear how these two songs (as well as a superior version of Coyote), I heartily recommend Joni's live set from the album "Shadows and Light." As I've noted before, I think this is one of the great all-time live albums ever recorded and featured one of the most accomplished bands made up of the cream of jazz sessionmen available in that era: Pat Metheny, Lyle Mays, Michael Brecker, Don Alias and Jaco Pastorius (at the peak of his form).

Jaco is the key reason S/L and Furry work on Joni's second live album. Jaco played less like a bass player and more like some misbegotten mutant of a keyboard, bass and guitar. This allowed him to control the phrasing in a way few players ever could in the bass chair. Additionally, Furry has Don Alias on congas instead of a drumset, which allows the drumming to be somewhat subtler and less driving (there's no bass or drums on the later version of S/L--just keyboard).

That said, and in an desperate effort to steer us out of this stupid argument about personalities, I'd like to submit to the GB for nominations of other Joni songs that would have been more appropriate (and why). Here are my nominees:

"In France They Kissed on Mainstreet" - a great bouncy groove right up Rick's alley. Nice background vox as well. Additionally, it has a contextural role as Joni wrote the song while visiting Paris with Robbie and David Geffen. The line "I'd go back there tomorrow except for the work I've taken on: stoking the starmaking machinery behind the popular song," fits nicely with the stated purpose of TLW.
Furry was probably chosen as (along with Coyote) it came off Joni's then new album, Hejira. We'll give her Coyote as a promo to sell her record, so for my second nominee, I'd vote for "Big Yellow Taxi," which was a bit of a throwback, but works wonderfully with the LA Express on Joni's "Miles of Aisles" live album, released in 1974.

Matt

Posted on Tue Jul 11 21:59:42 CEST 2000 from proxy-671.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.71)

patricia

From: on the nickel...

Got a joke for ya's...these two guys were sittin' on a bench in Central park...the one guy says..hey I gotta new hobbie...the other guy says ...oh yeah ,what is it...the guy says...Beekeeping...the other guy says...oh yeah,where ya keepin'em.....the guy says...in my apartment ..in a shoe box..got 2,000 of em' so far....the other guy scratches his head and says...ain't that a little uncomfortable....the other guy says.....F---em'

Posted on Tue Jul 11 21:52:03 CEST 2000 from udslppp140.mpls.uswest.net (63.226.146.140)

Patrick Swanson

From: Minneapolis

I have a collection of musician's autographs. Some people such as The Who's Pete Townshend will sign a picture if you send it to his P.O Box. I am a huge fan of The Band, and the biggest Garth Hudson fan. Does anyone know if I could send him something would he sign, and more importantly, where I send it? Well someone please e-mail me with a answer or idea at garthhudson@hotmail.com. THANKS!!

Posted on Tue Jul 11 21:41:09 CEST 2000 from (209.32.129.20)

Pete Rivard

Jim Walsh's article can be found on www.justgo.com/twincities/ and click on the Bob Dylan link. Also another entertaining article called "Go Start A Band" which articulates why being a part of a band is such a cool thing.

Posted on Tue Jul 11 21:38:20 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-134.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.134)

Peter Viney

Crabgrass can't imagine Joni doing "weak" versions of "Shadows and Light" and "Furry Sings the Blues." Well. have you heard "The Complete Last Waltz"? Two great songs, two bad renditions,

i love Robby Robinson two and have bean a fan ever since Music For Big Pink. You are the gratest songriter and leed gitarist ever - keep on rokkin'!!!

Seriously, while the debate will never cease, I think the Levonistas and Robertsonians are now fairly evenly-balanced here. No one should feel bullied out on either account. The RR website looked at one point as if it would get interesting, but Jan has far more material on solo RR than his own site does. If you have a look, you’ll see howand why this site excels in a way a record company-organized one has no chance of matching. I suspect most contributors have migrated here.

Arlo Guthrie & the Band: See "A Tribute to Woodie Guthrie Part One" Dylan and The Band feature on three tracks of this double album which was recorded at Carnegie Hall on 20 January 1968 and at the Hollywood Bowl in 1970. Other artists include Arlo Guthrie, Odetta, Jack Elliot, Tom Paxton, Pete Seeger, Judy Collins, Joan Baez and Country Joe MacDonald. The Dylan tracks are all from 1968, but the whole album mixes up 1968 and 1970 tracks at will. The musician credits mix the bands from both concerts in alphabetical order without stating who played where. The complete Band appear. The other musicians listed are presumably the Ry Cooder led 1970 group.

Dylan’s voice is way up in the mix, reducing The Band’s impact considerably. Of course he was performing in front of all his Newport ‘enemies’ from 1965 and would have been foolish to allow the backing to drown him again. I don’t think they sound anywhere near as good as reviews of the live concert suggest, but this could be the unsympathetic mix. They choogle nicely, but only fly on Grand Coulee Dam (also available on a long deleted CBS 3-album sampler from 1972, The Music People

The Band also allegedly feature on these Arlo Guthrie tracks, but I don’t recall where and when I saw this alleged. It may be bullshit. :

Oklahoma Hills , Do-re-Mi , Jesus Christ

Everybody appears on This Land is Your Land - Odetta, Arlo Guthrie And Company

Posted on Tue Jul 11 21:34:03 CEST 2000 from (209.32.129.20)

Pete Rivard

From: Hastings, MN

Anybody notice how so many of today's bands are all groove and no individual virtuosity? I was watching Wilco on one of the satellite channels the other night, and that's a band that I feel does some good stuff,with a roots rock groove (and the lead singer with a Tele around his neck looks like he could be RR's younger brother). No kick ass solo's, though. Nobody wants to talk through their axe anymore. Courtney Love says, "Why can't chicks play anymore?" I say, "Why can't anyone play anymore?" Isn't it allowed? Jonny Lang seems like the only up and comer who wants to step in front of the mike and let it rip.

On the subject of songwriting, Jim Walsh of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (www.pioneerplanet.com) wrote an excellent article praising Dylan's latest song "Things Have Changed", comparing and contrasting it to "The Times, They Are a'Changin'" and calling for more songwriters to stop navel gazing and write something worth hearing expressed with a little more rage.

Matt k, banjo's are easy to tune, your joke is a recycled 12-string guitar joke. Another one goes: How do you tune a 12-string guitar? Answer: No one knows. Here's a banjo player joke I rather enjoy: What's the difference between a dead banjo player in the middle of the road and a dead snake in the middle of the road? Answer: The snake was on his way to a gig.

Posted on Tue Jul 11 20:25:46 CEST 2000 from usr51-dialup243.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.198.121)

G-MAN

JONI MITCHELL---it was worth it because of the stellar bass Rick played on coyote. Awhile ago I expressed my (serious) view on RR and the Band: he is tallented. I even have his two CD's, and enjoy them, as well as both Native American CD's. He, as we all did, made choices !! Also, previously stated that won't be a Band as we knew it--so enjoy the three splinter groups. Their music makes ya feel good whether there's 10,000 or 1,000 fans. I think some of the Robbster bashing is done to fire some folks up !! I'll take the Crowmatix, Gurus, and Levon & the BB's. THAT'S MY CHOICE AND I'M STICKIN TO IT !!! The historical info here is super, but it's just that HISTORY. Support the folks in their new work and performance.

Posted on Tue Jul 11 20:04:53 CEST 2000 from proxy-701.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.101)

Patricia

Lil.....I care..I really,really do...I would not have come back here if I did not love The Bands music.....OK so I came clean...I hated coming in here ad lying about my real name ...My E mail is correct....I was a complete newcomer the first time I came in here...but only on the internet...I am an old-timer when it comes to my feelings about The Band and te situation...I endured some nasty name-calling from some of you ..Iwas called ignorant,sick nd I believe Di_mond Lil herself referred to me as "twisted" just for being couragous or stupid enough to speak what was in my heart....now I know better and will never again go that far....Please don't come down on me for every little thing tho.....you know Crabby speaks what he wants and nobody climbs all over him.....I want to come in here in peace..I do....and to the fela that asked me what i was talking about concerning the hall of fame ceremony..I think it was Bones...sorry,in all this other stuff I've forgotten.....Check out RRs "Going Home deal and watch the footage closely....if you have already done that....maybe it's something only I saw.....

Posted on Tue Jul 11 19:51:52 CEST 2000 from stk-pm1-4-132.dialup.slip.net (207.171.230.132)

Guenevere

I'm glad that Crabgrass won the ‘song writing contest'... it'll give the GB time to recover during his trip to Norway!!! I feel bad tho, that poor Little Brother only won the steak knife set... its a shame... I liked his song too!!!

Posted on Tue Jul 11 19:28:35 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime

From: originally appingedam

"All Our Past Times" is even credited to Rick Danko only, which certainly is no reason to cry...

Posted on Tue Jul 11 19:21:08 CEST 2000 from spider-wc062.proxy.aol.com (205.188.193.47)

Bashful Bill

From: Minoa,N.Y.

The story Nancy is urging me to tell "publicly" is a typical Rick story. I met Rick a few times, but I don't claim to have known him. The only time I ever spent any real time with him was after a Rick/Garth/Randy/Shredni show at Cayuga Community College. Dr. Pepper arranged for Mrs. Bashful Bill & me to hang out on the bus after the show. Garth made a fast disappearing act to the back of the bus, but everyone else hung out for a couple hours. Rick was his usual gracious, humorous, charming self,actually listening to and paying attention to his guests. He even picked up his guitar and played me a song(Chain Gang) when I lamented that he hadn't played it in the show. We also had a great conversation with Randy after Rick also disappeared later on. Anyway, I once told Nancy the following, and she really got off on it. When the good Dr. introduced me to Rick he said "Hey Rick, Bill here was at the LW". Rick replied "So was I, at least that's what they tell me". And...thanks Lil, I didn't know that song would be on Rick's upcoming album. Another treat to look forward to.

Posted on Tue Jul 11 19:07:13 CEST 2000 from 1cust170.tnt11.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.134.170)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

I love The Band and have been a fan ever since Music From Big Pink. You are the greatest band ever - keep on rockin'!!!

I can't imagine Joni doing "weak" versions of "Shadows and Light" and "Furry Sings the Blues."

Dave Mason was booked as the opening act for The Band's very last performance at Carnegie Hall several years back but lost his voice the night before while singing at a small club. Fortunately, the semi-talented Bacon Brothers were able to fill in for him.

I was at the Carnegie Hall Tribute to Woody which I believe also hit Chicago and one other city (?). It was Dylan's first appearance since his mysterious accident.

BTW is the song contest still going on? If not, who won? And what's the prize? (I hope it's a vacation in Norway!! Should the winner pack some suntan lotion?)

Posted on Tue Jul 11 19:02:34 CEST 2000 from cic-proxy02.firstunion.com (169.200.25.141)

Bones

From: CT

HB: What are you talking about? Please explain the Hall of Fame '94 thing? It is true that Robbie offered his services for the Jericho project and thrown the olive branch out a few other times, but what did I miss at the HOF performance?

Ben Turkel: Do you really think Robbie was the only Band member to profit from the Last Waltz? Granted, no Band member(not even Robbie) profited financially, but they all profited in other ways.

Posted on Tue Jul 11 18:57:40 CEST 2000 from proxy-641.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.89)

hb

Please folks,I've talked to people who have actually been bullied out of this site just for being Robbie Robertson fans...why can't we even things up...why not??? Rod is right "Without Robbie There Would NOT Have Been The Band".....

Posted on Tue Jul 11 18:52:33 CEST 2000 from alb1-as5300-102-102.termserv.net (209.23.41.102)

Diamond Lil

Just an observation..but I always find it funny when someone comes in here crying the 'poor me i'm a newcomer and noone will listen to me' blues..then proceeds to make nasty comments and personal attacks...and then leaves...only to turn up again...with a new name and new e-mail address...spouting the same old stuff. Can't for the life of me figure out what's gained by that. Can't figure out why someone who thinks of Rick, Richard, and Levon as "dirty, sin-laden old men" would even want to be here anyway. Am I missing something?

Posted on Tue Jul 11 18:32:41 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-107.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.107)

Peter Viney

Joni Mitchell & The Last Waltz: I like Coyote particularly on TLW, but if you listen to the Complete Last Waltz you will realize that one great unasked question is "Why didn’t they put more Joni Mitchell on there?" in that (as Levon’s book says) she lost the pace and direction of the evening and the other two numbers, Shadows & light and Furry sings The Blues were the only two weak performances of the evening. Whether you like Neil Diamond or not, Dry Your Eyes is at least "competent" to even the harshest critic. Furry sings the Blues wasn’t.

As to why there weren’t more female performers, there was a significantly smaller proportion of female singers to male singers in professional rock music in 1976 than there is nowadays, when MTV seems to be basically a parade of female singers, interspersed with the occasional pimply selection of boys, too often portrayed in their undershorts. The Last Waltz featured Joni Mitchell and Emmylou Harris which was probably about the representative proportion then. It’s still true that all the musicians including the horn section are male. You could write a sociological thesis on why this was so, but you’d have to withstand the heat that it would arouse. As far as the backing musicians go, it wouldn’t be much different now. The odd fact is that in the UK at least, more boys experience singing at a young age in church choirs, while a vastly greater number of young girls study piano or violin, and achieve higher grades in exams on these instruments. But when they grow up it seems, the boys play the instruments and the girls do the singing. Whether this is prediliction, cultural expectations or market forces is another question. Specific examples of brilliant female instrumentalists don’t change this generalisation. In the late 60s bands looking for work in England would peruse Melody Maker and see ads saying "Rock bands wanted for Lebanon, The Middle East and Far East. Must have girl singer."

The list of uninvited candidates isn’t large. Bonnie Raitt has been mentioned, but her fame is retrospective surely. She was around but she wasn’t a major star then, and the Band connection, singing with Richard Manuel on "River of Tears" from "Green light", dates from 1982. Joan Baez doing Dixie would have been a good comic turn / novelty interlude, and no doubt would have taken the heat off Neil Diamond.

A quick check list of major female stars of the era would give Joni the strongest connection. Carly Simon would have been interesting if she’d reprised those lost Hawks sessions. I don’t know of any connection to Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie, whose greatest hit came the next year anyway. Marianne Faithful’s work with Garth was in the future, and she was "disappeared" at that point in time. Grace Slick was the antithesis of the Band’s public stance on West Coast psychedelia. Soul was represented by The Staples in the film if not the concert, but both Aretha and Diana Ross had had hits from "The Weight". I would have said that they improved the gender balance by adding Emmylou and the Staples in the post-concert sequences, it might have been deliberate, but I wouldn’t have thought gender balance was ever considered.

Posted on Tue Jul 11 18:30:20 CEST 2000 from proxy-641.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.89)

hb

Ben T....they did not want to play with him....he asked them...in 92 and in 93 in interviews he would say things and in hat Whoopie Goldberg interview in 93...how can you associate yourself with a group that doesn't want you!...it' like beating your head against a brick wall.....and folks....anybodt that cares to get the real facts of the 94 hall of fame ceremony need to go no farther than the look on Garth Hudson's face when he looked over at Rick Danko in discust and took his seat after being hnded a solo that had originally always belonged to Robbie....wy is it so difficult to see the obvious?????

Posted on Tue Jul 11 17:43:37 CEST 2000 from alb1-as5300-102-102.termserv.net (209.23.41.102)

Diamond Lil

Bashful Bill: You may be happy to know that a wonderful version of 'All our past times'..which was indeed co-written by Clapton and Danko..is on Rick's new one :-) It's always been one of my favorites.

Posted on Tue Jul 11 16:36:47 CEST 2000 from 112.0101.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.112)

Nancy

From: Australia

Hi there Bashful Bill: While you are on the subject of TLW, why don't you share your story about your meeting with Rick, and his comment about being there? I thought it was worth the telling and hope you don't mind me encouraging you publicly to share it with others.

And while on the subject of Rick's sense of humour, has anyone taken any particular notice of the photograph of him, Robbie and Eric Clapton at the R&R Hall of Fame? It's to be found somewhere amongst the photos on this site. In the photo Rick is in the foreground leaning towards the photographer, with Robbie to his left and Eric behind him. Rick is cracking a joke about something and the other two are laughing at whatever it is that he is saying - probably taking the mickey out of something to do with the seriousness of their inauguration (is that the correct term?). Check out the photo sometime and tell me what he could have been saying!

Posted on Tue Jul 11 16:37:00 CEST 2000 from proxy-523.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.113)

hb

Except for Mr. Hudson who never ceases to come throught as his own magical self...sorry...I had to come back and add that.........

Posted on Tue Jul 11 16:12:54 CEST 2000 from proxy-651.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.129)

hb

I have all This Band's without RR and for me it has all the elements of The Bands music except the consistently good songwriting and the exceptionally wonderful guitar playing[but the other fella was altight] and something I can't put my finger on....It doesn't move...oh it moves physically but the spirit of it is petrified or something....its dead in a way. Robbie gave something beyond talent to that group...a living spirit that was always in motion,always searching....and there was a cleanliness about it,a reverence that was vital...crucial...without that The Bands music for laid flat as a pancake and I felt like I needed a good scrubbing after I would listen to them......they were not special anymore...they were just another bunch of dirty,sin-laden old men......I was so sad about that,I even cried about it one one occasion.

Posted on Tue Jul 11 16:10:16 CEST 2000 from spider-th072.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.77)

Bashful Bill

From: Minoa,N.Y.

Just my $0.02 worth her:One of the highlights of the LW, for me, was Muddy belting out Caledonia. When waiting for the album and movie to be released, I prayed it would make the cut. To this day I think choosing Mannish Boy was the wrong choice.It's not necesserily a bad tune, but I think it slows things down a little too much.While Caledonia was not only performed rousingly & beautifully, Muddy's best studio version of this song is on the Woodstock album,which was produced by Levon and teems with Band connections. Another ommision, IMO, was leaving out All My Past Times, which featured not only fine duetting with Clapton & Rick, but I believe was cowritten by Rick. this song comes from, as most here probably know, the Clapton album No Reason To Cry which was recorded at Shrangi-la(I'm not certain I spelled that correctly), also with heavy Band involvement.

Posted on Tue Jul 11 14:19:27 CEST 2000 from pm4-115.delrio.com (208.246.53.115)

Just Wonderin'

From: Somewhere out of San Antone

Dave Z: Of course there's an Arlo/Band connection! Remember The Band performed in 1967 (I think) with Dylan on "A Tribute to Woody Guthrie"? This is a wonderful cd well worth the purchase price by the way. Anyway young Arlo was there I believe.

Bayou Sam: Great posts as usual!

Posted on Tue Jul 11 13:16:27 CEST 2000 from spider-wa052.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.42)

Ben Turkel

From: New Jersey

Bayou Sam, I guess you missed my point. IMHO, the reason why Robbie is often bashed here (more than any other member of the Band)is becasuse he orchestrated 'the last waltz'profited the most from it and has disasociated himself from the Band's music except for very few live appearances/award shows he has appeared on over the years and the documentaries he has been involved in . While the other members continued touring over the years, solo, in combinations, then again as The Band, and continued performing Band material as well as new songs and various covers.

Posted on Tue Jul 11 13:09:17 CEST 2000 from (206.186.16.78)

Rick Kenworthy

From: Terrawwna

Just got into work and read on Canoe's Jam website about an upcoming film on the Festival Express. One quote of note for this page: ""It is terrific. It is a wonderful piece. I think people are going to get a real kick out of it. Janis (Joplin's) performance is wonderful. The Band is fabulous. Traffic are at the top of their game," he said. That from director Eddie Kramer. Full story at : http://www.canoe.ca/Canoe/canoejam.html Go out Yonder, y'all . . . Dileas gu Brath Rick

Posted on Tue Jul 11 12:18:57 CEST 2000 from 209-23-38-19.ip.termserv.net (209.23.38.19)

Diamond Lil

Guenevere/Bayou Sam : My last post about not dwelling in the past was referring to the post before mine, which stated that the only way to continue contributing to this gb is by taking swipes at Robbie. Not only is that not true, but I read it as another echo of who allegedly did what to whom all those years ago. I just think that considering the fact that The Band members are not together anymore (for whatever reasons) we should try to look more at what the individuals are doing now, instead of complaining about past stuff that doesn't matter in the big picture anyway.

And Guen: The re-releases are something wonderful that I'm looking forward to discussing in here. It's the _music_which brought us all here together in the first place.

Posted on Tue Jul 11 10:48:46 CEST 2000 from cf3k-3.paradise.net.nz (203.96.152.183)

Rod

From: NZ
Home page

Without Robbie there would not have been "The Band".

Posted on Tue Jul 11 10:10:36 CEST 2000 from 146.0102.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.146)

Nancy

From: Australia

We ARE fortunate to have the opportunity to talk to other like-minded people on this fabulous site! The hen-pecking that goes with it usually just keeps things hopping. I've sampled a few other guestbooks as I'm sure many of you have. They generally have entries along the lines of:

"I love (insert artist name here) and have been a fan since (insert album/concert name here). You are the greatest (insert artist name again). Keep on Rockin'". Meaningless and boring.

If anyone has come across another guestbook that in any way approaches this one for lively debate, please advise.

Posted on Tue Jul 11 09:04:20 CEST 2000 from spider-ti053.proxy.aol.com (152.163.194.198)

Lizz

From: a new " here"
Home page

Amanda......I once spoke with Rick Danko about music, we were just chatting and playing guitars. I played a Joni Mitchell song and we spoke about what a great writer she is. Rick said she was avery good friend of his and the BAND. gee ya think just maybe THATS WHY SHE WAS AT THE LAST WALTZ??????? and, as far as I know, "snagglepuss" is just a reference to a cartoon character????. great post RP, Levon and all the related musicians are the continuation of the BAND(thank God). and mattk: "whining about whining".......made me laugh ! Its only a guestbook...... its only a guestbook....and we are all lucky we have the right to voice our opinions...........Play On Keep Listening !

Posted on Tue Jul 11 08:56:25 CEST 2000 from proxy-701.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.101)

helenbak

I think The Last Waltz took place on Nov.25 1976.....or maybe I'm just getting old.

Posted on Tue Jul 11 08:40:20 CEST 2000 from proxy-701.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.101)

helenbak

From: Potters Field

wouldn't know what to do without you Sam....it's really dark in here most of the time like that creepy old forest in the Wizard of OZ....lions and tigers and bears...oh my ...lions and tigers and bears...oh my ..........it's good to have some supportive comrade......

Posted on Tue Jul 11 07:42:20 CEST 2000 from spider-tj012.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.177)

Bayou Sam

From: New York

Wow hb - thanks.

Posted on Tue Jul 11 07:17:37 CEST 2000 from stk-pm1-32-160.dialup.slip.net (207.171.230.160)

Guenevere

From: wonderland

I'm trying to do the math here... The Last Waltz occurred in 1975,so let's see, that would've been 25 years ago, so even if you were a pretty hip 15 year old at the time, you'd still have to be 40 right now to remember TLW. So, I guess it's a really good thing that Robbie made TLW, so that everyone who isn't old enough to have been there can still watch it, and come here and tell everyone who was old enough to be there to stop talking about it. Then I guess the logic must go, if you remember the ‘60s... then you weren't there... so, OK that makes sense to me!!!

And where does that leave the ones who can't stop talking about TLW today, who just yesterday were complaining that all we talk about is music from "about 80 years ago"? (I guess that's a completely different topic, and too confusing for anyone to follow.)

Ironic that the subject of "living in the present" and "not dwelling on the past" comes up 8 DAYS before the "re-release" date of practically the ENTIRE Band catalog, are we supposed to not voice our opinions about the quality of the new CDs then?

(You guys are doing this to me on purpose right?)

Posted on Tue Jul 11 06:55:55 CEST 2000 from spider-to046.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.22)

Dave Z

From: Chaska, MN

Had VH1 on in background this weekend when they were running the made for TV movie "The 60's"... They played "The Weight" during a scene where a family comes back together... really a good fit I thought... suggesting a sentimental interpretation of the song which might make some of the more machisimo GBers blow chow...

I finally threw down my good e-money and bought Big Foot... after holding out as long as I could in hopes that Radio Woodstock and Bearsville might try again for a radio show... or maybe it was Jan's subliminal stealth emails and CD cover icons to the left... I keep looking at them... hitting refresh... waiting for the Danko icon to appear... when I realized I had the other two icons... but not Big Foot...

Recalled seeing an earlier mention of Dave Mason... and it got me thinking about artists who don't seem to be currently thriving or even on the radar screen in this new VH1 R&R HOF documentary world we live in... Arlo Guthrie comes to mind... for what it's worth I say TLW could have maybe subtracted one version of Baby Let Me Follow You Down for maybe Rueben Clamzo... and then maybe added Arlo to the Band after RR's departure... let's see, guitar and writer of subtle lyrics gone... gazoo and potential interpretator of previous subtle lyrics added... sounds like they would have headed back to the basement and hopefully some banjo picking... anyway, I would vote for Arlo as the RR replacement... and as manager task him with writing a new Band book that would shine a light on true conspiracy stories that would put this GB to shame... always like Mason's Walk To The Point... and would have loved to hear a RR cover of Side Tracked or maybe Levon singing Every Woman... anyway, is there a direct Arlo-Band link other than Dylan or Woodstock related ones?... I remember reading somewhere that Gordon Lightfoot and Dave Mason played with Harry Chapin at some benefit once...

Posted on Tue Jul 11 06:51:12 CEST 2000 from proxy-701.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.101)

hb

Bayou Sam...I knew you would come to the rescue....thanks...thanks ..thanks.You are the only one in this GB that hasn't been clouded either by bitterness or jealousy or or just plain vindictive childishness....I totally,totally agree with EVERYTHING you said...you are a voice crying in this wilderness......never leave this site!!!!!

Posted on Tue Jul 11 06:15:24 CEST 2000 from spider-we023.proxy.aol.com (205.188.195.28)

Bayou Sam

From: New Yawk

ROBBIE ROBERTSON.......... hb - thanks for agreeing with me. You can speak whatever thoughts you want in here. Crabby has certainly proved that. It's not up to anybody to "let you stay"......... I never said that people take "daily swipes" at RR............Lil, I agree that we should look at the present, but The Bands history is pretty much all in the past at this point.............Bones, I couldn't agree more about the Band being 5 equal parts of the equation. It just seems that some people would like to have RR's photo removed from the homepage of this website if they could...................Ben, I cetainly don't feel sorry for RR for any of the reasons you mentioned. Who the hell are any of us to begrudge the guy for making alot of money and following his heart into other musical directions - weather we like the music or not? It would have been a nice little fairy tale had they continued forever. I wish the Beatles had kept going, but they didn't. Both bands left us a shitload of great music to enjoy. Why should RR's stuff have any connection with the Band's catalog if he dosen't want it to? What do you feel Robie owes you? Maybe he owes Levon something. Maybe not. Who cares. That's between them..........Richard Patterson, to echo Pat Brennans comment - Levon left the Band completley when the Dylan situation got too much for him. He didn't die. He went fishing. He was called back to the group(thank goodness). Saying that RR got paid without working is the stupidest freakin' comment I've ever seen in here. He paid some serious dues on the guitar when he first joined Ronnie Hawkins. He earned the respect and admiration of Dylan who could have hooked up with anyone he wanted too. ............... Robbie Robertson, thank you so much for your 5th of the incredible music of The Band. I look forward to your new releases also because you are a musically interesting guy.

Posted on Tue Jul 11 06:03:32 CEST 2000 from 1cust141.tnt14.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.142.141)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

I can't think of any other "Jonis" but if The Last Waltz were held tomorrow obviously Nicky Love (the new Australian singing sensation recently signed by Robbie) would surely be invited. Also, probably some of those basketball stars that have put out rap records.

Gee, did someone describe the Robbie Robertson site as "sterile?" Have to check it out - maybe I'm needed more over there!!

Personal Message: Britney, please come back to me - I still love you! Forget Prince William and Justin Timberlake - they'll only hurt you in the long run.

Posted on Tue Jul 11 06:01:19 CEST 2000 from proxy-553.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.143)

hb

It was the song that belonged.....the lyrics in the song belonged in the show..the singer did not matter. It gives me satisfaction just to be able to contribute to this site....I never had much use for feedback...

Posted on Tue Jul 11 05:53:50 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.avnl1.nj.home.com (24.4.252.66)

Brien Sz

From: NJ

Didn't mean to sound like i was bashing RR. In fact i enjoy his cd's(all of them) I like that he has stretched himself and taken chances. Bravo to him. If he toured--I'd be their in a heartbeat.

Posted on Tue Jul 11 05:13:12 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.avnl1.nj.home.com (24.4.252.66)

Brien Sz

From: NJ

Nancy:

The "means" in which i refer to is; Had Robbie not produced his album--I belive Neil would not even have gotten a press release that their was a Last Waltz happening. His persona (in my opinion) didn't fit the mold of the musical scene of TLW. Had RR been producing Boyce and Hart songs, they probably would have gotten an invite to. Nonetheless, he was their, he was better than i thought he would be and so it goes.

Posted on Tue Jul 11 05:01:07 CEST 2000 from 111.0101.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.111)

Nancy

From: Australia

Brian: what "means" did Neil Diamond use to gain an appearance at TLW? I understood that an invitation was made on the basis of past friendship/association with certain Band members/the band as a whole? And we know that Neil had a friendship with Robbie, so why do you allude to him gaining admission by some other process?

BTW I agree with you on the length of "Mannish Boy". If Neil's song is a toilet break, then the middle part of Muddy's is a coffee and sandwich break. We could have had another whole artist in there, maybe even a female one if the guys knew any women who could sing.....:)

Posted on Tue Jul 11 04:44:34 CEST 2000 from user-33qt82o.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.160.88)

Pat Brennan

From: USA

Well, let's not forget Levon left the group when the going got tough with Dylan.

Robbie bashing is a fact of life with a certain segment, as though anyone cares.

Seems like there were a lot of musical women at the Last Waltz. Joni because of RR playing on her album and the Canadian thing. Emmylou opened for them on the last tour. They always admired and aped the Staples approach. Shoot, most of the women in music in 1976 were disco singers. Maybe Bonnie Raitt but she had no connection with them. Think, if the Last Waltz happened tomorrow, what women operating today would be invited?

Posted on Tue Jul 11 04:27:16 CEST 2000 from proxy-343.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.43)

hb

Brien you hit the nail right on the head.....glad to see some people with an unclouded spirit....

Posted on Tue Jul 11 04:07:27 CEST 2000 from 167.0102.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.167)

Nancy

From: Australia

Amanda: it's coincidental that you have brought up the subject of Joni Mitchells' appearance at TLW, voicing your opinion that she seems to join Neil Diamond as an odd man out. I was thinking very recently that she was an odd one out by virtue of her sex, and the sound of her distinctly feminine voice. The Last Waltz appears to have been a gig for the BOYS, the presence of Emmylou Harris and the female members of The Staples in the film notwithstanding.

Okay, I guess people reading this want me to make a point here, and my point can only be that I wonder WHY it was such a male-dominated line-up? It seems true to say that atists were chosen/invited on the basis of their past association with certain Band members, so does that mean that The Band only hung out with male performers as part of a boys club? And who amongst The Band had the say in who was invited, and was that a democratic process?

As far as my observation about the predominence of male performers goes, some men reading this may jump to the conclusion that I am a crude, raving feminist having a shot at the other sex. This isn't the case, and I can back that by admitting that my music collection is absolutely dominated by male singers, and I have no problem with the appearance of so many fabulous male voices on TLW recordings! I'm just CURIOUS as to why there is such a predominence of guys there. While it obviously wasn't an issue in 1976, in today's world of "affirmative action", we would be seeing more Joni's and less Neil's in the line-up!

Perhaps the men with a predominence of female artist's music in their collections might like to say who would be on their wish list, if fans had had the chance to cast a vote on who was there.

Posted on Tue Jul 11 03:46:19 CEST 2000 from gdh2-170.twcny.rr.com (24.92.249.112)

Dr Pepper

From: LaJolla, Hurley, County Cork

Hey Jan, What do you call a Norwegian under a wheel barrow? A mechanic! Keep up the good work on the page, buddy. Hope you'll come back over here soon! Al Bundy has a place on the finger lakes with great walleye and tiger muskies! Let us know. Syracuse is a great blues town.

Posted on Tue Jul 11 03:42:42 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.avnl1.nj.home.com (24.4.252.66)

Brien Sz

From: NJ

TLW Comments:

Don't like Niel Diamond but thought Dry Your Eyes was good in the context of the night, even if i don't agree with the means in which he got to perform.

Joni Mitchell only rates slightly higher than Niel but i did enjoy Coyote.

On the other hand i like Muddy Waters but was bored with Mannish Boy after 3 min.--Hey it happens!

Posted on Tue Jul 11 03:10:43 CEST 2000 from proxy-691.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.91)

hb

Amanda....I can't help thinking that you are referring to me.......come on RP......snaggelpuss...most guys can only dream of looking as good as RR including you probably...hell I wish I was half as pretty as him...and no no no The Band ceased to be when the original line-up disintegrated....

Posted on Tue Jul 11 02:30:31 CEST 2000 from cf3k-3.paradise.net.nz (203.96.152.183)

Amanda Reilly

From: New Zealand

This has been said before but perhaps its time to state the obvious again. If you find a particular person's posts irritating you don't have to read them. Remember that sometimes the best way to show your contempt for someone and their opinions is to ignore them. Of course they may not notice you are ignoring them but at least you will gain some smug enjoyment from knowing you occupy the moral high ground. This has been a public service announcement & is not aimed at any individual or faction in particular.

And now just to attempt (however temporarily) to change the subject from the perennial Robbie is bad, is not, is too thread I'd be interested to know if anyone has any thoughts on the following...

I know that many of you have strong feelings about Neil Diamond's presence at the Last Waltz. Personally when I listen to the CD I nearly always skip his song. However, I *invariably* skip Joni Mitchell's contribution.

Any thoughts on Joni Mitchell & TLW? Does anyone agree/disagree?

Its not that I particularly dislike either of the songs or artists. Its just that to my ears they *both* sound wrong in the context of TLW. Joni Mitchell far more so than Neil Diamond. Also I find the Tin Pan Alley/songwriter rationale for Neil's presence more compelling than the Canadian connection which I guess is the main reason for Joni's inclusion.

Also with regard to Neil Diamond's perceived snobbishness I was interested to read in "Waiting for the Sun" that apparently in the mid 70s at parties Joni Mitchell would ask another famous person to ask the wait person for a drink rather than speak to a common person herself. (Of course that may be totally untrue.)

Incidentally I very much enjoyed seeing Yellow Submarine recently. I thought it was charming and certainly something the whole family could enjoy. As a BAND fan I naturally found myself wondering what the result would have been like if the BAND had ever dabbled in animated film making. I have a feeling that, if they had, the blue meanies would have been defeated with guns and car chases and not just LOVE! (as in all you need is...)

Posted on Tue Jul 11 01:46:38 CEST 2000 from stcath-ppp73074.sympatico.ca (216.208.72.73)

Richard Patterson

From: St Kitts

I agree with BEN TURKEL. Robbie is the odd man out in this equation... the only member of the Band who has left w/o death... (although I bet his taxes are killing him).

The "New Band" and the "90's Band" ARE the Band. Robbie made an exit (stage left - Snaggelpuss fans) many years ago because of his fears of the road... We (the audience) got left with a group of ROAD WARRIORS...

Because Robbie is clever enough to get paid without working is no reason for empathy...

Posted on Tue Jul 11 01:32:04 CEST 2000 from dial146.gtn.net (209.167.110.226)

the old philosopher

Hannah B: re your reply to Ben...Money may not buy happiness, but it sure helps you choose your own kind of misery.

Posted on Tue Jul 11 01:00:11 CEST 2000 from proxy-621.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.181)

hannah

I always got the feeling that Robbie never really fit in to that "roadhouse mentality"...he was the one that explored other avenues first,even in his young years....he read movie scripts and went to foreign films.He always had another self that he couldn't share with the other guys...you can't come down on a guy for being.....different.

Posted on Tue Jul 11 00:34:01 CEST 2000 from proxy-621.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.181)

hannah b.

Ben, money can't buy happiness...but on the other hand it will buy ya a half pound o' cocaine and a 14 year old girl.....speaking of tuning banjos..have any of you ever tried to tune an autoharp......

Posted on Tue Jul 11 00:14:34 CEST 2000 from spider-wl033.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.33)

Ben Turkel

From: New Jersey

Regarding the recent post complaining about Robbie-bashing on this sight. What else would you expect on this, The Band website. How can you feel sorry for Robbie? He obviously made much more money than the other 4, and was able to retire after the last waltz. His last two albums had virtually no musical connection to the Band's recorded catalog and he's never toured to suppoer any of his albums. While the other members of the Band continued to tour and record in various configurations, working within and exploring new areas of the musical tradition that they formed from.

Posted on Mon Jul 10 23:46:20 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

hb, I hear ya. I'm from a very long line of Harlan County (KY and later SW VA) coal miners myself. I've seen the damage Old Man Peabody has done first-hand. It's a sin.

Posted on Mon Jul 10 23:29:26 CEST 2000 from proxy-621.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.181)

hb

From: USA

ya gotta learn to connect the dots a bit more Matt......things get lost in the translation........I'm from West Virginia..maybe that's got somethin'to do with it.....all this coal dust "cloggs" up yer brain....plus their tearing up all our beautiful hills and we're just sick about it I think the aliens really did win........

Posted on Mon Jul 10 23:08:21 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

hb, in the immortal words of that great philosopher, Foghorn Leghorn: "it's a joke son, a joke"

like:

What's the difference between a banjo and a lawnmower?

you can tune a lawnmower

(with apologies to my bluegrass friends)

Posted on Mon Jul 10 22:58:50 CEST 2000 from m198214181111.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.181.111)

Pehr

Thanks for the permanent birthday wishes crabby!

Posted on Mon Jul 10 22:34:41 CEST 2000 from proxy-621.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.181)

hb

to MattK.....huh?

Posted on Mon Jul 10 21:59:10 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

Personally, I'm tired of all this whining about taking swipes at those who whine about whining...

: )

Posted on Mon Jul 10 21:15:00 CEST 2000 from proxy-553.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.143)

aahbeee

Meg Foster got shot in the forehead but the aliens won anyway..........blip--blip--blip.I agree The Band was a group with no leader...they were all equally important and when one of them was missing..well..It just wasn't the same........

Posted on Mon Jul 10 20:38:43 CEST 2000 from ric-wht-pxy-int02.wheatfirst.com (204.238.130.68)

Bones

From: CT

Diamond Lil: You are right! The daily whining about Robbie is ridiculous, for we are talking about a group with five equal and irreplacable members. Without one of them, we are not even here having this discussion.

Posted on Mon Jul 10 20:20:40 CEST 2000 from proxy-373.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.73)

hb

From: I'm not sure now

I am watchin' this movie in the PiP...Meg Foster is playin'this alien disguised as a yuppie...she has just hit slammed her boyfriend in te back of the head with a big glass thingy sending him out an enormous window where he falls two floors onto a gravel covered driveway...he rolls down a hill which is about a quarter of a mile long....lays there for a few seconds ....and holding in to his ribs with both hands ,he crawls into the bushes to try to keep away from the cops that his alien girlfriend Meg Foster has just called claiming that she had just thrown a intruder...a rapist....a burgler out the window but she's OK.....I'll keep ya posted.......

Posted on Mon Jul 10 19:40:26 CEST 2000 from proxy-681.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.81)

hb

Robbie does have a site but I have been looking for another one that's not so ..well...sterile.Is there another one other than that"Hollywood and vine"deal? please explain.......thanks

Posted on Mon Jul 10 19:06:06 CEST 2000 from 209-23-55-68.ip.termserv.net (209.23.55.68)

Lil again

Just want to add that instead of constantly dwelling on stuff that's past, why not go on out and see Garth and the Crowmatix? Or Levon and The Barnburners? Or Randy and Jimmy and the Gurus? Or if Robbie plays (and I truly don't know if he does or not)..then why not go see him? There's alot of wonderful stuff happening _now_! Thanks for listening.

Posted on Mon Jul 10 19:00:27 CEST 2000 from 209-23-55-68.ip.termserv.net (209.23.55.68)

Diamond Lil

Gee..I've been contributing to this guestbook for quite awhile now and don't take daily 'swipes at Robbie'. I'm frankly getting tired of the whining about poor Robbie...but I believe there is a Robertson site available to those who insist on dragging all this crap out again.

The Band is no more...get over it. You can't go home again folks. Rick and Richard have passed away, Garth and Levon are doing what they enjoy and are happy, and Robbie is doing what he enjoys and makes him happy. Can't we just leave it at that?

Posted on Mon Jul 10 18:01:18 CEST 2000 from proxy-651.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.129)

hb

Bayou Sam I completely agree but it seems like the only way to be able to continue contributing to this GB is to take snide swipes at Robbie.....you can't speak your real thoughts in here...they get you in trouble...I love this site and I want you to let me stay so I'm asking the powers that be to "please let me do that"I love all the new photos and all the new news that we certainly can't find anywhere else Jan did us al a big ,real nice favor by giving us this place even if it's lopsided

Posted on Mon Jul 10 17:35:34 CEST 2000 from gw.itac.ca (209.146.161.1)

Bill

Since a few other people have mentioned Neil Diamond of late, I guess it's safe to mention that the liner notes to my Rascals best-of CD say that Felix Cavaliere and Neil sang together in a Brooklyn doo-wop group in the '50s.

Posted on Mon Jul 10 17:34:29 CEST 2000 from (205.230.10.2)

Bob Reichers

From: Cape Cod Mass

if you EVER get a chance to see Levon Helm & the Barn Burners you have got to do it ! I saw them this past Satureday night in Hyannis Mass and they absoluteley smoked the place-- best band I have seen in years---Levon playing drums like a demon---the most swingin drummer in music today --forget all that Band stuff that happened decades ago-- Levon & the Barn Burners are out playing NOW----GO SEE THEM !

Posted on Mon Jul 10 15:11:06 CEST 2000 from (205.230.10.2)

Bob Reichers

From: Cape Cod Mass

Saw Levon & The Barn Burners this past Saturday night here on Cape Cod--and they were AWESOME!! If you have not seen them play yet, you do not, I repeat, DO NOT know what youre missing! They are the hottest band I have seen in years! Levon is playing the best I have ever seen him play and the band cooks like nobody else does! I was fortunate enough to meet Levon Saturday before he went on, and he was a really great guy-- very friendly and accomodating. Said they are about to start recording a Barn Burners CD at his studio and hope to have it out before summer ends-- if it's as good as they sound live, then everybody better buy 2 copies when it comes out, because the 1st one will melt right off the player they're so hot !!! GO SEE THEM ! Hey Levon, thanks for coming to the Cape!

Posted on Mon Jul 10 12:30:49 CEST 2000 from 209-23-38-93.ip.termserv.net (209.23.38.93)

Diamond Lil

Thanks for the birthday wishes. I _have_ to keep my sneaky kids away from this site....

Posted on Mon Jul 10 07:05:10 CEST 2000 from spider-wm074.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.184)

Bayou Sam

From: New York

Man is it getting tiring seeing people beat up on Robbie Robertson in here. People who weren't there when they wrote the songs and signed the contracts. I love Levon, but if he, (and the others) were writing songs and not giving a shit that Robbie put his name alone on them - then shame on him(or them)for not making a stink back then. Do some of you really think that RR is such a miserable bastard that he spent all those years in the trenches with these guys only to screw them in the end? As I've said before, RR dosen't need me to defend him, it just gets old seeing him dragged through the shit by some people who don't know.....Now I'm pissed at myself for keeping this thing going. Oh well. Have a nice day all..............Just enjoy the tunes.

Posted on Mon Jul 10 01:15:58 CEST 2000 from ip12.birmingham8.mi.pub-ip.psi.net (38.27.137.12)

Mike Shiner

From: Detroit

I have a few DAT's of The Band, and a slew of a number of other bands/artists...and would welcome a new trading partner or two. Please consider dropping me your list... Thanks! Mike mshine19@idt.net

Posted on Mon Jul 10 01:09:58 CEST 2000 from ti09a61-0110.dialup.online.no (130.67.56.110)

Groan Alone

Home page

Soooo I say with nothing on my mind but a weird sense of empty relaxation when once again hitting "The Band" in my favorites menu, ya, I like that, my favorites menu, the nights taking shape and I'm just try'n to say hi to anyone out there pounding their fingers tips on the plastic, in search for whatever it is they might think the pitter patter will bring them. Hang in there folks !

Posted on Sun Jul 9 23:09:09 CEST 2000 from stk-pm1-14-142.dialup.slip.net (207.171.230.142)

Such-a-Deal

Retraction: Apologies to all Band-fans!!!! Sadly, the most recent news flash regarding Britney Spears's engagement was a false rumor!! Britney is now reportedly intended to wed her N-Sync love Justin Timberlake. And sorry we are still temporarily out of the wallclocks.

Posted on Sun Jul 9 22:28:52 CEST 2000 from proxy-671.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.71)

hb

I've never been a fan of "political correctiveness" and i hate that little p---- they got hosting that crummy show "Politically Incorrect" noticed they changed from the host of PI to heres the STAR of PI "Bill[Mayer]? is such a p---- that Viagra makes him taller.........

Posted on Sun Jul 9 22:13:25 CEST 2000 from 2cust58.tnt2.providence.ri.da.uu.net (63.21.180.186)

Jake

From: Rhode Island

Saw a scan of the Danko/Kaukonen bootleg. Does anybody know where you can get a copy of that bootleg ?

Posted on Sun Jul 9 21:47:58 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime

From: Moondog Matinee bonus tracks

Be aware-a, be aware-a

On the site

The Band website

Webmaster sleeps tonight

Lil, my diamond

Be still, my diamond

There is no Band tonight

Be aware-a, Be aware-a (etc.)

In the guestbook

The quiet guestbook

Crabgrass sleeps tonight

Just wait longer

A little longer

To see what's up tonight

Be aware-a, be aware-a (etc.)

In the chatroom

The empty chatroom

Ragtime sleeps tonight

Get up Jake now

Any day now

I shall be released

Be aware-a, be aware-a

Posted on Sun Jul 9 21:27:53 CEST 2000 from 1cust122.tnt14.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.142.122)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

I already have 3 Britney Spears wall clocks!! (No, I don't want to part with any at the moment - even though Britney snubbed me for one of those hasbeen Backstreet Boys -- 'N SYNC rules!)

Already feelin' the heat of tough competition in the song contest - I think the winning tune should be added to the Barn Burners' set.

The phrase "Indian records" is not politically correct unless one is referring to Ravi Shankar or somebody like that.

Garth would've been a great guest on The Lawrence Welk show belting out some polkas on his accordian - he'd make those champagne bubbles fly at the speed of light!

Posted on Sun Jul 9 21:29:01 CEST 2000 from trt-on66-55.netcom.ca (216.123.97.183)

John Donabie

From: Toronto (Home of TheHawks)

TO ROBERT ZEVIN: Both song books are long out of print.

DIAMOND LIL'.....Happy Birthday to you......and many more!!!!!

Posted on Sun Jul 9 20:54:16 CEST 2000 from stk-pm1-15-143.dialup.slip.net (207.171.230.143)

Such-a-Deal

Of interest to all Band fans!! Britney Spears announced her engagement to one of the Back Street Boys!!!! Click here for your Britney Spears Wall Clock!

Posted on Sun Jul 9 20:49:34 CEST 2000 from usr26-dialup44.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.72.108)

G-MAN

Ride Robbie Ride But leave some cash behind (feel free to add to it---I'll SHARE THE ROYALTIES !!!!

Posted on Sun Jul 9 20:25:13 CEST 2000 from usr26-dialup44.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.72.108)

G-MAN

Ridin on the Blinds--I believe is a term that covers riding under railroad cars. There was overhands on some cars and old blues men crawled up under the car framework. They road the rails to their next gig, and the blinds kept them out of view. Best I know. Course it was abad week of Labatts Blue Ale and home grown herbal mushrooms(on pizza a course)!! Keep Rockin': Peace and Health. Gurus' gettin good air-play in this neck of the woods.

Posted on Sun Jul 9 20:20:53 CEST 2000 from usr26-dialup44.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.72.108)

G-MAN

GREAT tune Crabby-Keep Rockin': at least it is something new. Counting down the days to see the Gurus in Toga & Levon. Didn't Rick sing, "A Change is Going to Come" ? Well let's focus and who's playin now !!! Maybe Robbie will go on the road with Clapton, Neil(s) Diamond & Sedacka. Too bad Lawrence Welk isn't aroung--I bet someone could capitalize on his music !!!!

Posted on Sun Jul 9 19:53:26 CEST 2000 from atmax-10-39.enter.net (207.16.154.233)

Little Brother

From: around Philly, PA

I gotta admit it-- I felt kind of chickenbleep staying away from the songwriting invitational. Not until AFTER I saw Crabby's Grammy-contending entry did I ask myself what kind of candy-ass I was turning into.

So here's mine. I call it "The Ballad of Café Cafard" or "'Ware! Do We Go From Here?"

(Key of G, chords G/D/C/G; G/E7/A7/D)

Used to be a quiet place/Where a man could nurse his drinks

With decent folk who knew how to behave.

Saw a smile on every face/Brought by waves and nods and winks

Sweetest peace & quiet this side of the grave.

Chorus (C/Am; C/D7; C/G/D - C/Am; C/D7; C/D/G):

Then they opened up that mall/They poured asphalt on the field

Where the crickets chirped across from this café.

And the cursed suburban sprawl/Squeezed our souls until they reeled.

Some taxes you just can't afford to pay,

-- Verse 2 --

Now the screen door bangs all night/And the fallen moths get crushed

While bozos bray like bandsaws cutting tin.

Pray the Fool-Killer puts things right/Lays their tongues out in the dust

Till it's calm and cool as my next glass of gin.

(Chorus; repeat verse(s) if desired; rock out in G)

P.S. Um, I was going for a "Cahoots"y, vintage Levon vocal feel.

Posted on Sun Jul 9 19:47:05 CEST 2000 from proxy-523.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.113)

hb

Hey those Indian records are more than alright....they got excellent songwriting and terrific arrangements...give credit where it's due,and it' definately DUE you all so obsessed about music from about 80 years ago....Levon makin' new music,ya seem MORE THAN ELATED to gab about his new stuff....just bacause Robbie don't work like the rest of us have to do.....you know carnys....they don't buy what they can steal....come to think of it ...neither do I the smart ones never do ,so I guess that makes RR smarter than the rest of them......shame on you people.comin'down on a guy just cause he's smarter then other folks....any of us would hang up our gear for that cushy no-job in Hollywood....course I would get Boston Celtic tickets for free instead...anyway,I'm new here..thank you Jan I don't know who you are but you sure must love The Band.I've noticed in he few short days I've been looking in here that a lot of you seem to be aahhm..never mind

Posted on Sun Jul 9 19:38:47 CEST 2000 from stk-pm1-19-147.dialup.slip.net (207.171.230.147)

Guenevere

I enjoyed crabby's tune. It's got a good beat and you can dance to it!

Posted on Sun Jul 9 19:33:19 CEST 2000 from user___3.nf.sympatico.ca (209.128.34.3)

JOE

From: The Rock

Can anyone out there tell me what the phrase, "Ridin' the blinds" or "Ridin' on the blinds" means?

Posted on Sun Jul 9 19:02:40 CEST 2000 from 2cust42.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.137.42)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

Hey, wait just a minute - all the votes aren't in yet!!

Neil Sedaka also did a duet with Robbie at TLW on "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" which is rumored to be included in the forthcoming RR Box Set. (The box will be filled mostly with air so the Sedaka song is bound to be a standout!)

DEAL - KEEP ON POSTING!!! JUST CAN'T GET ENOUGH!

Posted on Sun Jul 9 18:59:21 CEST 2000 from spider-tn013.proxy.aol.com (152.163.207.48)

butch

From: HUH ???

Well, just got up,, after sleeping off a ROUND-TRIP to the CAPE,,, Levon & The Barn Burners played The Melody Tent, last night,, We drove up, played the show & drove home,,, 12 hours. round-trip,, ,,, WHEW !!!! But the fellas & miss amy were GRRRRREAT, as usual,,, a smallish but mighty crowd cheered from the downbeat,,, Caledonia was there,,, ( From the AOL Band board, ) good to see you again,,,,old friend,,, & THE GREAT STEVEN DAVIS, of "This Wheel's On Fire " fame,, was there,,,,as well as Chris O Leary's JULIE & her folks,,, Aharon & paul from BALTIMORE , too,,,, watta show,, the B.B.'s overcame some hideous house sound problems & just had a tour-de-force of the BLUES,,,, the crowd was on their feet screaming for more,,,,& Levon gave them another encore,,, i was smilin ,, I love to see the acceptance of this band's music,, & of Levon, now,,,, WE HAVE THE BEST FANS/FRIENDS,,,, THANKS ya'll,,, butch now you can go back to discussing 30 years ago,, ,,,

Posted on Sun Jul 9 18:32:17 CEST 2000 from user-33qt8p6.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.163.38)

Pat Brennan

From: USA

I kinda like the word "oik." And, on another note, Capitol has announced July 18 as the release date for the Band reissues.

Posted on Sun Jul 9 18:06:57 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.avnl1.nj.home.com (24.4.252.66)

Brien Sz

From: NJ

For what it's worth, I love "Get Up Jake"! It's a wonderful song with a nice head bobbing beat and a good melody. The lyrics are easy to sing to(and were easy to memorize). I do like the Long Black Veil comparison--it never dawned on me to put that combination of 2 and 2 together. But that was never a strong suit of mine anyway.

And so what if some people don't like the song--If we all liked the same stuff, it would be a boring world! I kind of like the contrasting attitudes towards songs and subject matters. Only when it starts to get personal do i think we start sounding like children with a better vocabulary.

Posted on Sun Jul 9 17:20:45 CEST 2000 from jupiter.oucs.ox.ac.uk (163.1.103.106)

Colin

From: Oxford

I'd like to throw my twopence into the Get Up Jake discussion. First thing to say is that the Rock of Ages version is duff, and anyone that only knows that version should defer judgement until they have heard the 'Brown Album' outtake. Musically, the latter has a splendidly rousing intro-rather appropriate!; Levon gives the kick a thump (i think- I'm no drummer), Robbie starts a bouncy riff, related to 'Cripple Creek', Rick doubles him next time round, Richard enters at an unusual moment and the first chorus starts. Its marvellous. The other aspect is the chorus has much more vitality by having the instruments, mainly Robbie and Rick climb up a broken chord between the lines- this gives the chorus much more dynamism, than the limp-wristed chugging on ROA. The playing on the whole is a lot rawer, as befits the dirty Dan lyric-needless to say there are no solos, so the song doesn't outstay its welcome. I reckon if 'Look out Cleveland' or 'Jemima Surrender' had got accidentally wiped from the Brown album (Heaven forfend!), 'Jake' could have been stuck in there without much loss of quality. As for the lyrics, I suppose they are on a par with 'Long Black Veil'- no need for extensive textual analysis, but serve the music well, and even conjure up a few Wild West images. Even though my knowlege of the west doesn't extend far beyond Deputy Dawg. By the way,as a Robbophile, I have to say that Crabgrass, is a guttersnipe, scoundrel, cad, bounder and oik. Without Robbie, we'd all be sitting around discussing the Band's thirtieth covers album, rather than their third.

Posted on Sun Jul 9 16:37:36 CEST 2000 from ns1.schuster.com (199.105.252.66)

Muddy Waters

From: The Waters of Oblivion

Neil Sedaka was at "The Last Waltz." He did a duet with me on "Mannish Boy," but kept calling it "Girlish Man." Scorsese left it on the cutting room floor along with all the other good stuff.

Posted on Sun Jul 9 15:47:33 CEST 2000 from user-33qta3a.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.168.106)

Pat Brennan

From: USA

Just like I thought. Nothing to add.

Posted on Sun Jul 9 14:30:06 CEST 2000 from 216-33-142-221.corp.selfcare.com (216.33.142.221)

Deal

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Posted on Sun Jul 9 12:25:48 CEST 2000 from du20-249.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.249.20)

Ilkka

From: The Country of Green Gold
Home page

To DIAMOND LIL

Posted on Sun Jul 9 09:22:44 CEST 2000 from 1cust100.tnt14.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.142.100)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

Just wanna wish a very Happy Birthday to everyone who's ever had a birthday or plans to have one in the future on any day of the year!!! Hooray!!!

(That covers me forever.)

Posted on Sun Jul 9 09:05:48 CEST 2000 from 1cust100.tnt14.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.142.100)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

NO SHOW JOB (words & music by Crabgrass)

(Chorus) G-F-C-G / G-D-C-G

He used to be a guitar man

workin' in a big time Band

Now he's got some no show job

out in LA LA Land.

(Verses) G-D-Em-G / G-Bm-C-G

There's a guy named JRR

played the ax real good

Toured the world with Bobby Z, Rick,Richard,Levon,and Garth,

helpin' out the neighborhood --

Wrote a bunch of great songs with his pals

for the albums both Pink and Brown (+ the third one)

Took most of the credit and dough-rey-me

and eventually waltzed outta town --

He tried his hand at acting

then said that he was bored with The Wait (sic)

But his on screen stuff was just no damn good

no cause to celebrate --

A couple of weak solo albums

left his fans with broken dreams

So he rooted up some Red Boy tunes

which didn't cause too many screams --

He's spotted every now and then on TV

sittin' at a basketball game

Wearin' sunglasses and a Hollywood tan

and hardly anyone recalls his name.

(Okay, that's my entry - who's next?)

Posted on Sun Jul 9 08:14:08 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime

From: people lined up all along the shore

Don't get up yet Lil, it's eight in the mornin' (here), the rain is pourin' (really) and you got celebrating to do...

Happy Birthday Diamond Lil !

Posted on Sun Jul 9 06:06:00 CEST 2000 from ac80096f.ipt.aol.com (172.128.9.111)

Robert N. Zevin

From: Massachusetts

I am searching for the songbook, The Band and Music from Big Pink, brown cover. Can anyone help?

Posted on Sun Jul 9 04:50:42 CEST 2000 from user-33qt87n.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.160.247)

Pat Brennan

From: USA

Why ignore the song competition thread? Nothing to add?

Posted on Sun Jul 9 04:45:05 CEST 2000 from 1cust106.tnt9.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.128.106)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

BTW if you're anywhere near as bored as me tonight check out www.mickeyjones.com - there's a nice photo of Mickey with Dylan and Robbie there. (Of course, there's a link to his site under Band Members on this site - but I seem to always be the last to know.) You'll find his site of interest if you haven't checked it before - there's a Band / Kenny Rogers / Dylan link. Also, wouldn't want one of those "ham fists" connecting with my jaw! Hey, Mickey - someone else here referred to you as "ham-fisted" - not me!!! (Unless of course, "ham-fisted" was meant as a compliment.)

Posted on Sun Jul 9 03:52:31 CEST 2000 from 1cust106.tnt9.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.128.106)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

Van's '80s filmed concert (available on video) at the Beacon Theater in NYC is really bad - all stuttering and mumbles which is a real shame. He's also pretty awful on the recently released tape of Chet Baker at Ronnie Scott's (recorded in '87, I believe) fumbling through "September Song" with a piece of paper in his hand.

Maybe Van's recently gotten back into Scientology and hired bargain basement talent for that recent show in England so he could make as much dough as possible to pay for his auditing sessions at Saint Hill. All praises to Commodore Hubbard! (Just a theory.)

Now, back to RR's no show job and the Neil Sedaka thread!!

Posted on Sun Jul 9 02:43:32 CEST 2000 from stk-pm1-22-150.dialup.slip.net (207.171.230.150)

Guenevere

From: (pretty close to) Bigfoot Country

OK Peter, maybe "stink" is too strong of a word, (but you gotta admit it goes well with the Bigfoot thread....:) ...Being a long time (long time) Van-fan myself, I did feel sort of sacrilegious making a post like that about ‘Van the Man', but some of the reviews he's gotten on here the West Coast have equaled your summation of his shows-- not so much that he sings badly, but that he doesn't sing enough and there are complaints about too much of the show being dedicated to the backup band, who seem unrehearsed... and that there's not enough of the quality of material that Van fans show up for...

Hey, and somebody just emailed me (you guys are ruthless) and said that Levon's not playing on "Live ‘66"... (now I am confused) ... I thought he played on part of that tour... so I wonder, was it Sandy Konikoff or "ham-fisted" Mickey Jones? ;)... (well, kudos to whoever it was then) ...

Posted on Sun Jul 9 01:21:00 CEST 2000 from proxy-721.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.141)

hb

I don't know what everyone means by this Neil Diamond business.....he didn't belong..that was obvious..but..the song he sang did! I think Robbie was trying to get something very important across with those lyrics. I think for some of us the words in that song really meant something....they have a transcendent quality....those words all reach up,and you follow them up.I thought"Dry Your Eyes"was a wonderful addition to TLW....I loved it...N.Diamond has a quality in his voice that is reaching up..there's something reverent about his voice and a lot of his songs too...and if "Dry your Eyes was anything..it was reverent

Posted on Sun Jul 9 01:17:44 CEST 2000 from spider-wb084.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.189)

Dave Z

From: Chaska, MN

Sorry for the misunderstanding Jan... I was just sitting here waiting for the new CDs to come out visualizing what the icons will look like under those for Jubilation, Breeze Hill and Big Foot... when I realized you didn't put up one for "Contact From The Underworld of Redboy"... If it's truely a midnight sun then all this talk about Get Up Jake is probably what's driving you crazy... Also, you shoulda been consulted during the TLW yellowing process... I like yours much better... Take care...

On another note... I noticed Ronnie Hawkins has a new 2000 CD up on www.cdnow.com for sale... Is this the one that includes both RR and LH? Or did I miss something?

Posted on Sun Jul 9 00:47:11 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-079.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.79)

Peter Viney

Knocking Van: Regular readers know that Van comes second only to the Band in my affections, and yes, that means just above Bob Dylan and Paul Simon. The problem last night was (a) the backing band, who were near inept outside a limited 12 bar framework (b) Linda Gail Lewis who was pretty obnoxious (c) he wanted to rehearse the new stuff and try it on an audience. He didn’t give a cuss that they’d paid nor that it was not well-received. He took the pile of money and ran. I’ve seen Van many times, about once a year since circa 1982. I don’t think I’ve seen him "stink" totally in that his vocals are always a pleasure, though I reckon he gave BAD shows in 1995 on the jazz tour as well as yesterday. I’ve been disappointed when he does too many covers –his own material is nearly always superior. There are some artists who think we are priviliged to see them, and if we are not bowled over it’s our fault. There are others who really want the audience, big, medium or tiny, to go home happy, and the success of Levon, Garth, Jim and Randy at doing this is shown by the flow of accolades here. And I wish Van would work with artists of his calibre like Levon and Garth (and/or Jim and Randy) rather than the tired, leaden R&R revivalists backing him last night.

Posted on Sun Jul 9 00:31:01 CEST 2000 from 1cust112.tnt9.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.128.112)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

Unfortunately, Robbie did not have the opportunity of producing Carole King who would have been great at The Last Waltz but would have eliminated the needed "bathroom break" which Neil Diamond so graciously provided.

Personally, I think Neil Sedaka would have been the most perfect choice as the Tin Pan Alley rep. As Neil Diamond himself says in Joe Smith's OFF THE RECORD tome "Neil Sedaka had a very big impact on me. My senior year I went to Lincoln High School [in Brooklyn NY], and Sedaka was at Lincoln, and he was a professional singer. He had records out and you could hear them on the radio. Back then, you judged yourself against Sedaka." I think The Band and Sedaka could've done a powerhouse version of "Calendar Girl."

Garth's solos are always magical but as the old saying goes "You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."

I wasn't just being crabby in my recent RR comments - read Rick's cynical remark about the Armani suit brigade. Rick, Richard, Garth, and Levon continued to be "working musicians" after TLW while Robbie hung up his Rock 'n' Roll shoes or at least put them in the back of the closet and only retrieves them for his annual trek to the HOF awards show.

One of the nicest features of this site is the Brown & Ivory (call it pale yellow - ok - but not just yellow) color scheme which is indeed not only easy on the eyes but makes one feel like one is living inside the Brown Album! (When is that virtual Big Pink 3D model gonna be ready btw? I'm getting impatient!!) I hope Capitol Records doesn't change the color scheme to Shocking Pink and Chartreuse when Jan eventually sells the site to them for 3 billion dollars. (Incidentally, I'd hold out for 5.)

Posted on Sat Jul 8 23:18:50 CEST 2000 from alb2-as5200-32-80.termserv.net (208.20.67.80)

Happy birthday MOM

From: My mommy's house

HI mom I know it is your birthday tommorow,And me and Justin were thinking that we would stay hom,e from grandma's so we could decorate the place, and clean the DOWNSTAIRS..... Shaun will sleep through it ALL I bet. I hope you see this and you are Happy when you wake up tomorrow on your birthday. I LOVE you mom. Hi Jan. Love Jessica

Posted on Sat Jul 8 22:14:35 CEST 2000 from ti09a63-0225.dialup.online.no (130.67.54.225)

jh

From: Feels like the North Pole

Dave Z,
Where did I "happen on the brown and especially yellow colors for this site"? Well... the brown was picked at random, of course. The yellow was inspired by TLW, I guess. Also, on a monitor, it's more relaxing for the eye than black-on-white. And..ehm..contact icon? Anything wrong with the e-mail link at the bottom of every page here? Hmm... this sounded almost sarcastic... sorry, this midnight sun is driving me nuts. Back to the pub-crawl.

Posted on Sat Jul 8 21:36:34 CEST 2000 from nas-2.ties.k12.mn.us (198.22.19.190)

Kevan Nitzberg

From: MN

It was just a fluke that I found this site...anyway, now that I am here...I used to know a Father William H. Francis when I lived in NYC. He apparently was known as the hippie priest of Woodstock, N.Y. and had married all of the members in the Band. Finding your site brought back some good memories (I also have a few Band albums still kicking around). I remember a Band concert that was to have taken place at St. Catherine's college in St. Paul a number of years ago that I was looking forward to which, unfortunately, was cancelled due to illness. Hope there is more interest in touring again at some point.

Posted on Sat Jul 8 21:26:12 CEST 2000 from ppp236-57-48-212.cvx-asd-02.zonnet.nl (212.48.57.236)

Patrick

From: The Netherlands

"Golden Earring" (Rock-band from the Netherlands famous with their classic 70's US-hit 'Radar Love') recorded a coverversion of the song 'This Wheel's on Fire' on their 1995 release 'Love Sweat' (Columbia/Sony 481122-2), released in Europe. On the same album is also a coverversion of B.Dylan 'Ballad of a thin Man'.

Posted on Sat Jul 8 21:25:36 CEST 2000 from user-33qta7c.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.168.236)

Pat Brennan

From: USA

While we all try to display our verbal adroitness and snappy dexterity, leave it to the scanner to come up with "the loping hems (of) the curly 90's."

If nothing else,"Get Up Jake" has a wonderful Garth solo. However, as a new thread, why doesn't everyone who has written a better song submit it to the GB for evaluation?

Posted on Sat Jul 8 20:22:40 CEST 2000 from proxy-543.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.133)

hb

Oh God,Crabgrass he has to be doin more than that.........he is kind of a disappointment....him hanging out at the Lakers game and all...I didn't even see the damned thing but i'm disappointed anyway.... what a slap in the face...I can't believe that he really feels comfortable in that scene....I think he wants out alltogether and theres really no place for him to go...like his moves at the hall of fame this year..he always looks unnatural....poor guy...i know that Crabgrass was being his own crabby self....what does RR do really??

Posted on Sat Jul 8 20:03:43 CEST 2000 from spider-wa043.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.38)

Dave Z

From: Chaska, MN

What I enjoyed most about Rick's interview was his comment that the band is The Band... Get Up Jake feels good to listen to... sleep... denial... whatever... thanks for the thread Crabby... reminded me of my trip last year to Savannah... btw Jan...on my PC screen it looks like you got room under that Bigfoot icon on the left for maybe a Contact icon?... or maybe that space is earmarked for sumpin else... P.S. Jan... how did you happen on the brown and especially yellow colors for this site... you've made me reconsider a reaction to a color... yellow... I've always hated... Take care...

Posted on Sat Jul 8 19:55:50 CEST 2000 from spider-wc071.proxy.aol.com (205.188.193.51)

Charlie Young

From: Dowb in Old Virginny

Speaking of Neil Diamond: I think that Carole King would have worked much better as the "Tin Pan Alley" representative in THE LAST WALTZ. Any other suggestions?

Posted on Sat Jul 8 19:29:42 CEST 2000 from stk-pm1-21-149.dialup.slip.net (207.171.230.149)

Guenevere

From: Bigfoot Country

Taking Jan's advice, I sparked one up and read the ‘Too Long In Exile' interview with Rick--who to me, sounds unguarded and glib on that particular day. Yesterday I was listening to ‘Live 66' on my walkman, and thinking how great the bass and drums sound, and how well-rehearsed all each performance must have been, then musing how funny it is to be walking along 34 years later, to the pulsing of Rick's bass and Levon's drumming, then being struck as I usually am by some harmonica rif of Bob's, or being melted by the delivery of a phrase, this time it was "with her fog, amphetamine and her pearls"... then thinking wow, these guys sure had some big shoes to fill, hanging out with Dylan, (if it was me, I'd probably never be able to write again)... so you really gotta give Robbie, Rick, Richard and Levon a lot of credit for rising to the occasion and writing all theses great tunes ...for a simple testament to Robbie (et al.) , just go and sing ‘Rag Mama Rag' to yourself and see how easy those lyrics fall of your tongue... its pretty scarey....

Another great songwriter, ‘Van (when he's on he's on and when he's off he's off) the Man'... and unfortunately when he's off he's even been known to STINK, and usually phenomenally too-- so sorry Peter to hear it happened to be the night you decided to see him. I can imagine an English audience, disappointed by an Irish guy singing Country Western, on a Friday night, (complete with nasal background vocals, and no drummer),, could be a bit like being forced to sit for a painting ... (perhaps a Vermeer)... while getting a whiff of ‘Bigfoot'...

or maybe hearing Neal Diamond...playing the spoons...during ‘I Am I Said'...

Posted on Sat Jul 8 19:04:45 CEST 2000 from 2cust26.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.137.26)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

I imagine that Robbie reports to his Dreamworks office every other Friday to check his voice mail, inspects his old tele (which is mounted on the wall behind a huge uncluttered mahogany desk) to see if it's been properly feather dusted by the cleaning personnel, attempts a mock soundcheck of the Last Waltz mic which sits in a glass case on a pedestal in one corner, and then moseys down to the accounting department to pick up his hefty paycheck and complimentary courtside basketball tix. Not bad for one day's work!! (Whoops! I almost forgot to mention stopping off at the art director's to check recent photos and view the music video rushes of newly signed singing sensation Nicky Love.)

Appreciated several efforts to illuminate "Get Up, Jake" for the benefit of those of us who seek a deeper meaning to Band songs even when there obviously is none. The reluctance of the GB's ace song analyst to go beyond a simple enigmatic statement regarding this tune indicates that "Jake" is far too complex an issue to be fully resolved in the GB. We can only hope that Greil Marcus will do an entire book about it.

Never thought I'd see Van the Man bashed so mercilessly in here - or was it just his backing band and singers?

Posted on Sat Jul 8 17:49:04 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime

From: a mean streak in his eye

Well, Peter, you say it has something to do with getting up late in the morning. Of course you know there's much more to these great Robbie Robertson lyrics than that. I'm still waiting for your in-depth analysis on such symbolic elements as the river Styx, the ferry Baltimore aka Le Vaisseau Fantôme, Charon the ferryman, the mysterious River Woman (btw I always heard Devil Woman), Dirty Dan (one of those notorious legendary heroes from American history - he came up from Savannah, but once upon a time popped up in the London East End), the lovely blue-eyed femme fatale Annabella (made famous by Dutch poet laureate Gerrit Komrij's great ballad) and the ominous appearance of Death himself as the deceiving narrator ("You tell me you're dying, but I know it's not true" at first, but later "I guess one man here has got to die").

Get up Peter, it's late in the mornin', the rain is pourin' and you got work to do... ;-)))

Posted on Sat Jul 8 16:11:40 CEST 2000 from proxy-621.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.181)

hb

To Beth R. we are in the minority,dear I'm new here but I figured that out real soon...we need to kind of even out this place.....equality is a good thing.I noticed over in RRs own webpage that he only got two happy birthday wishes...what's wrong with with them.....I think he got some kind of arecord here........six or seven maybe..what exactly does RR do at Dreamworks..does anybody know? I watched a movie the other nite..a Jim Jarmusch film,the one that started this Indie thing off called "Stranger than Paradise"I saw it many years ago and swore then that the "Eddie" part was played by Rick...no I said it can't be, but Richard Edson is the spitting image of Rick Danko,at least he was in the eighties..even the movements and the attitude. It was good to see it again.....he sure looked like Ricky

Posted on Sat Jul 8 15:19:08 CEST 2000 from du111-0.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.0.111)

ILKKA

From: North Country Blues
Home page

To Ralph/G-man: I wrote that The Band has played in Denmark, Norway and Finland. How could I forget the concert with Dylan in Sweden? HOW COULD I???? - See the sleeve notes in "music from BIG PINK": --then came more dust of everywhere from Molasses to Stockholm --

To hb: I'm glad you liked "Irish Lullaby". I have searched the Internet for finding Band music in MIDI files. Unfortunately, I have never took the time to learn how to play the music in MIDI format. Is there anyone who can link us to the Band music in MIDI (not in MP3!)? And is it leagul?

Guest photo

Posted on Sat Jul 8 12:18:04 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-111.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.111)

Peter Viney

Get up Jake: My in depth study was "it’s got something to do with getting up late in the morning" :-)

Saw the latest incarnation of Van The Man last night. He is now a Country & Western singer duetting with Linda Gail Lewis. Songs included Jambalaya and You Win Again. Apart from Linda Gail Lewis harmonizing (whining nasally?) relentlessly on everything, backing was provided by a four piece band wearing drape jackets. We decided they were semi-pro and extremely cheap to hire. It reminded me of Chuck Berry or John Lee Hooker playing with any pick-up band that was available. The "musicians" were so far out of their depth it was ludicrous, and at £24.50 a ticket (say $38) the consumer deserves a modicum of rehearsal and musical competence. I’d guess the receipts from four out of the 700 crowd would have paid the band. Van did the worst version of ‘Shot of rhythm and blues" I’ve heard with no dynamic, no accent, plus an excruciatingly bad "Rainy Day Women". The attempt at John lee Hooker’s "Boogie chillun" was a joke. The audience largely sat on their hands. And on a Friday night, you know the audience wants you to be good, they want to like you, they want to enjoy themselves. You start with a huge fund of goodwill, and it’s hard to dissipate it. Coming out of the hall, the audience looked subdued, disappointed. Van didn’t break sweat once. The back-up band couldn’t even play the single encore, "Gloria," properly causing Van to replace the drums by banging his guitar on the mic stand. In the end, I’ll be interested to hear Van’s forthcoming C&W album, but the point about C&W is that you need highly proficient backing. Even the worst C&W singers tend to have bands that play impeccably- e.g. Ringo Starr’s "Beaucoups of Blues". Now, as Van CAN sing it, no doubts there, he needs a band, preferably American, that can play it.

Posted on Sat Jul 8 11:55:31 CEST 2000 from (212.105.71.5)

Mattias

From: Sweden
Home page

Very good! I'm from Sweden and we have a lot of music happening over here too. So if you feel like checking it out, look at our bands homepage....... Rock on!!!!

Posted on Sat Jul 8 10:30:43 CEST 2000 from gw3a61-d540.wind.it (212.141.121.160)

Emanuele

From: Venice , Italy

In August in Italy ( Near Venice) There is a Tribute of THE BAND , with The Beardes , 25 songs of the Band . For info you can write me to :THEBAND@TISCALINET.IT BYE !

Posted on Sat Jul 8 08:31:41 CEST 2000 from tcnet04-49.austin.texas.net (209.99.40.238)

Laura Holt

From: Austin. TX

Guess I'm gonna start bitching because I'm envious of all of you that get to see Levon on a pretty regular basis. Here in Austin town I patiently wait. I know I'm gonna have to make it up north one of these days soon because if I don't catch him in New Orleans (whenever that might come around again) I might not see them/him at all!! Guess I wanna say how lucky you guys and gals are that get the pleasure. I enjoy reading about the shows but UNDERSTAND how hard it is to know Levons out there or should I say UP there playing and I'm down here wishing and hoping to see him make his way to the south!! Guess I'll be keeping my fingers crossed! PEACE BAND FANS!!!

Posted on Sat Jul 8 07:56:53 CEST 2000 from ts1-3.steveston.axion.net (207.34.146.3)

Cupid

From: the muddy banks of teh Fraser

Just wanted to second David Powell's recommendation of Steve Earle's latest offering Transendental Blues.Get two copies couse you'll wear the first one out.The man can flat write songs. Cupid

Posted on Sat Jul 8 07:04:53 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-115-147.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.115.147)

BWNWITennessee

Has anyone heard a new song called "Too Much of Nothing"? I heard it on the radio a few times recently, I'm not sure who sings it. It's pretty similar to the Basement Tapes song, lyrically and musically. I actually thought that it might be a cover version at first, but it's not. It's kind of bordering on plagiarism, IMO.

Posted on Sat Jul 8 05:21:13 CEST 2000 from sdn-ar-003nypougp023.dialsprint.net (63.178.225.31)

Jeremy

From: New Windsor, NY

thanks butch...i had a blast! it was great to see pat and the boys again, and it was a real honor to hear and play with Levon. he was awsome!

Posted on Sat Jul 8 05:06:56 CEST 2000 from atmax-6-29.enter.net (207.16.154.39)

Little Brother

From: around Philly, PA

There Ain't No Cure for the Summertime Blues, which I think I caught from a tock bite. Yes, tock. A tock is a virtual creature like the shadow of a tick, except moving backwards through time. Its bite can induce virtual chills and moodiness, and a general sense that time is passing you by.

I did get a couple of medicinal chuckles from this site, luckily.

-- First of all, I sincerely hope Jan is getting a piece of the action in his adroit role as Subliminal Seducer and marketer of the "Big Foot" CD. Mine is on the way. Now, to be fair, there have been lots of inquiries and Jan didn't so much as exhale near the back of anyone's neck, much less twist any arms. Yet I, who learned late in life to hang up on telemarketers without guilt or embarrassment, who sneers at any and all "personalized" niche-marketing tactics, who will delete, reply with "REMOVE" in the subject line, and cheerfully rip and trash unsolicited snail mail, let Jan's note sit in my In-Box for about a day and a half before abruptly deciding: "Jan sent me Bigfoot info. Must order. Can't disappoint Jan!"

The gilt-edged first volume of the Encyclopedia Norwegica should be here by the end of the month...

-- It's not so unthinkable that word association would precipitate a summery Guestbook Lite thread about Bigfoot. My contribution is to note that there was in fact another quasi-sighting Bigfoot report in American TV news this week! As some may know, a man (psychologist, I think, or at least he WAS) hiking with his family in the Pacific Northwest reported hearing mysterious "groaning" noises from within the woods. Earlier, the family had noticed a pungent, musky odor in the area. I found this evidence particularly exciting, since as a non-driving, lifetime public-transit taker, I can state categorically that an entire pod* of Bigfeet dwell in the tunnels of the Philadelphia subway-elevated system! Pungent, musky odors and mysterious groans are practically commonplace in the urban "El" stops, both above and below ground! *"Pod" is my choice for collective noun; a "cobble" of Bigfeet might be an acceptable alternative.

Perhaps they're gathering for the upcoming Republican National Convention being held here later this month. Local politicians, who emit unpleasant musky odors themselves, are establishing an undeclared martial law as a gesture of hospitality, so if any of the critters are caught without delegate badges, they'll likely wind up in a maximum-security cage in the zoo. So much for current events...

-- I liked the Rick interview a lot; I regret that I can't speak with the first-hand experience of others, but it sounded like the Rick I've gleaned from years of distant fanhood and perusing many veins from the mother lode of this site. One might discern "bitterness" embedded in his comments about Robbie and the songwriting credits issue, I suppose, but IMO it was pretty much smothered in the sweet cream of good-humoredness. Compared to Levon's oft-quoted acid-edged, bile-dripping views, Rick's remarks felt just right to me-- the wry, pointed humor embedded in a larger forgiving, philosophical understanding. Like cloves spicing up a big old ham. Mmmm... sweet cream, lemon meringue, ham. Mixing metaphors sure builds up an appetite.

-- OK, Comrade Crabgrass, in accordance with the "Lite" theme of this posting (excepting the calorie-rich third movement), I agree that "Get Up, Jake" is a bit light, not to say weak, by Band standards. I understand why people would get riled at the implication that it's almost a throwaway tune, because it's pleasant and solid enough. But your unpopular remark reminded me that when I first heard the song on ROA, I thought "eh".

If Peter really is cooking up a presentation, I may as well save my spit for later. But by way of a Lite Preview: "Jake" has the basic elements of a Band classic: "story" lyrics, room for the vocals and an arrangement suited to their basic live ensemble virtuosity.

But its simple melodic structure and chord changes and unadorned (though slightly mysterious) lyrics are a little too straightforward. I mean, "The Weight" is built on a four-chord progression, but the high poetry of the killer lyrics and the magical instrumentation transforms the simplicity into something powerful and sublime.

"Jake" almost seems like Robbie's attempt at manufacturing a home-made "Long Black Veil", insofar as it's a simple country story about a simple country ferryman tangled up with a femme fatale. But "Veil"'s story, which some find impossibly hokey, creates a haunting, Gothic mood and has an arc to it. "Jake" sets up some of the same emotions and conflicts, but just kind of doodles in and out without taking it home as the Band's better tunes do one way or the other. You go out the same door you come in, or at least I do.

I always assumed it was more or less DESIGNED as a sort of palate-cleansing "filler" concert song. Or a natural "B" side for a single. OK but no special instrumentation, no special zing. I can't think of a spot in any of their albums except ROA where it would sound right!

-- OK, I'm ready for that bedtime snack. Goodnight, Bigfeet everywhere.

Posted on Sat Jul 8 04:31:51 CEST 2000 from proxy-543.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.133)

hb

Are they really that good.....I gotta see those guys!

Posted on Sat Jul 8 04:20:11 CEST 2000 from ch3smc.bellglobal.com (206.47.244.59)

Blind Willie McTell

When are The Barn Burners gonna play Toronto?

Posted on Sat Jul 8 01:17:54 CEST 2000 from unused219-26.soldny.optonline.net (24.188.219.26)

Tony Lobue

Home page

Saw the Barn Burners at Joyous Lake Wednesday... I jumped out of my seat with the very first note. These guys are on fire. Levon looks great and is playing like it was the 70's. Good luck to all of you Levon, Amy, Chris, Frank and Pat. Jeremy Baum joined in on piano, man is he good. Oh ya, Chris O'Leary caught the Biggest fish I ever saw in me life that afternoon... Tony

Posted on Sat Jul 8 00:05:48 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.avnl1.nj.home.com (24.4.252.66)

Brien Sz

From: NJ

Just back from a brain drain vacation down at the Jersey shore. Brought along my Bigfoot cd i received just before leaving--thoroughly enjoyed cranking it with the windows down, amidst the hip-hop and metal i had to compete with at red lights.

Spent my mornings catching sunrises with my camera and my days sitting with my wife on the beach, where i happened to read "Where Big Foot Walks"--Crossing the Dark Divide by Robert M. Pyle (a well respected naturalist). Interesting adventure. The author sets out not to find Bigfoot but to experiance the land in which Bigfoot may live. There is lots of Indian folklore, and tall tales (true or not to be determined by the reader.) He explores how logging could affect the Bigfoot enviornment. How hoaxsters make money on the legend. How people have given up their jobs and marriages in search of this mysterious/mythical beasts. There's also exploring the genus it may fall into if it is real and so on. Very Interesting and not your typical tabloid text on the subject.

So much for that weak thread. Anyway just thought i'd share.

By the way, thanks carmen!

Posted on Fri Jul 7 23:49:19 CEST 2000 from spider-wj021.proxy.aol.com (205.188.198.26)

Beth R.

From: Chicago suburbs

Happy belated birthday to Robbie. It's wonderful to see some support for him lately (thanks Bayou Sam)! Was startin' to think I was in the minority around here. Robbie's voice is what started my interest in this whole Band thing, so I owe him! --Beth

Posted on Fri Jul 7 23:31:22 CEST 2000 from proxy-393.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.93)

hb

iikka...just clicked on your homepage listed under your unusual but lovely name...the music was beautiful as were the graphics...the only problem I had with it was that the music didn't go on nearly long enough...I love that kind of music....sweet,like wind chimes

Posted on Fri Jul 7 23:11:49 CEST 2000 from proxy-393.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.93)

hb

Just finished reading the 1997 interview in the "whats new" section. Maybe it's just me but I did not detect one tiny bit of bitterness in Rick's words,it seemed that he had completely forgotten all about the "you know what"...............

Posted on Fri Jul 7 23:00:57 CEST 2000 from 209-23-55-81.ip.termserv.net (209.23.55.81)

Lil Again

Just want to send a hug to the intoxicated one above the moral..ehm..polar circle :-) Glad you arrived safely..and have a few for me, ok? Love you.

Posted on Fri Jul 7 22:18:41 CEST 2000 from spider-wg033.proxy.aol.com (205.188.196.33)

butch

From: ulster county n.y.

For ALL you folks who wrote & asked me when LEVON & THE BARN BURNERS are starting, SAT, july 8th ,, CAPE COD MELODY TENT !!!!!!!!!!!!!! The 1st note, the DOWNBEAT is @ 830 pm,,,, SEE YA THEN,,,, also BIG HUGE thanks to TONY & DAWN LOBUE !!!!!!!! These are real friends,, & now,, members of the Levon family,,,, MENSCHKEIT !!!! & Big thaNKS to Jeremy Baum,,, from the Gurus, He joined the Barn Burners on piano wed night,,, brought it all to new places,,,, great blues pianist,,,, his latin background really adds a whole dimension,,,, Weider & Randy are fortunate to have JB play with them,,,, see ya @ The Cape,, or The Lake on wednesday,,,, we start cuttin the Barn Burners record,, VERY SOON,,, butch

Posted on Fri Jul 7 22:04:49 CEST 2000 from spider-tk024.proxy.aol.com (152.163.206.184)

bob wigo

From: havertown,pa.

Thanks DL. I was a bit surprised by the tone of Rick's comments concerning RR. Rick always seemed to go out of his way to buffer the situation but was pretty blunt on this occasion.Once again we are reminded of the fact that these are real people entitled to real emotions. Long live the music.

Posted on Fri Jul 7 21:32:30 CEST 2000 from alb1-as5300-137-137.termserv.net (209.23.41.137)

Diamond Lil

In reference to my earlier post, I'd like to mention that I talked with Mr. Lewis who assures me the interview with Rick was indeed genuine. Seems there was some kind of scanning problem which resulted in the enormous amount of typos. I just wanted to set the record straight. And thanks Mr. Lewis for being so nice.

Posted on Fri Jul 7 21:23:13 CEST 2000 from cobalt.nextlink.net (206.129.70.172)

Mike

Bones -- As far as I know, the new release of "Bigfoot" is the same. The last song is "Many Rivers To Cross" and it's dedicated to Rick. (Of course the Japan release has the bonus track; I don't think it's on the new American one.)

Posted on Fri Jul 7 20:40:27 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.187)

David Powell

From: Georgia

Following Rich's thread, here are two recent releases I recommend:

"Harry Smith's Anthology of Folk Music Vol. 4" (Revenant)-- The "long lost" follow-up to his earlier, monumental anthology, featuring blues, country, gospel, folk, jug band and cajun tunes. Highlights include "Black Jack David", "Hello Stranger" and "No Depression in Heaven" from The Carter Family, Big Joe Williams's "Baby Please Don't Go", "Nine Pound Hammer Is Too Heavy" from The Monroe Brothers, Leadbelly's "Packin' Trunk", Robert Johnson's "Last Fair Deal Gone Down", Bukka White's "Parchman Farm Blues", and "Milk Cow Blues" from Sleepy John Estes. Two CDs packed in 96 page hardbound book with great artwork and (easy to read print) essays by Ed Sanders, John Cohen, Dick Spottswood, John Fahey, and Greil Marcus.

Steve Earle's "Transcendental Blues" (Artemis Records)-- The fifth fine album since his "rebirth", featuring a blend of Tennessee twang meets "Revolver" era Beatles and a couple of doses of traditional Irish music. Mr. Earle's duet with his sister, Stacey, "When I Fall", is nothing short of a masterpiece.

Posted on Fri Jul 7 20:31:08 CEST 2000 from ch7smc.bellglobal.com (206.47.244.57)

Jim Mills

From: Canada
Home page

Great site. I linked it to my Canadian Bands site.

Posted on Fri Jul 7 19:50:55 CEST 2000 from sjiassoc16.erols.com (208.58.12.144)

Jon Lyness

From: New York City

According to Jim Weider's web site, he and the Gurus are on a bill with Dave Mason at B.B.King's blues club, Times Square, New York City, July 22nd (just 8 days after Levon & co. swing through there!).

Posted on Fri Jul 7 19:44:06 CEST 2000 from sdn-ar-003nynyorp249.dialsprint.net (168.191.122.139)

Rich

From: Rhinebeck, NY

One of the best things about this guestbook is the insight into music, not only Band music, that some of the regulars provide. I've found out about a lot of good stuff that otherwise would have gone undiscovered.

It would be interesting to find out what some of you have recently bought, or are currently listening to, that you think is worthwhile. My last 3 buys were the new Little Feat, Best of Lefty Frizzell (mostly for Long Black Veil, but I did find a few other cuts that I liked), and a Best of Traffic, since the only Traffic CD I had previously was John Barleycorn (one of the real classics, IMHO). Anyone?

Posted on Fri Jul 7 19:37:19 CEST 2000 from ric-wht-pxy-int02.wheatfirst.com (204.238.130.68)

Bones

From: CT

Is there anything different about the new release of Big Foot than the old one? Someone mentioned something about a Danko tribute listed on one of the songs. Do I need to pick this up even though I have an old copy?

Posted on Fri Jul 7 18:40:36 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-072.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.72)

Peter Viney

John Donabie: "Are you ready for the Country" by Peter Doggett appeared in England this week. The ISBN is 0-670-88938-5, and it’s Viking. the price label says "UK £12.99 CAN $29.99" so it’s a UK / Canadian edition. They usually do a separate US edition, but fortunately it looks as if Canada is going to be easier than the USA. I got it from Borders UK. If Amazon.com haven’t got it, you could try Amazon.co.uk.

Crabgrass: in depth study follows - I think it’s got something to do with it being late in the morning.

Posted on Fri Jul 7 17:48:59 CEST 2000 from 1cust141.tnt9.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.128.141)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

It looks like I've thusfar been outvoted in my contention that "Get Up, Jake" is a worthless throwaway. Can only hope that someone does an in depth explication of the lyrics and musical analysis which will fully enlighten me.

Posted on Fri Jul 7 17:55:21 CEST 2000 from usr51-dialup246.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.198.124)

G-MAN

D'LIL--I didn't initially read the original fax of the article. The original looks kind of rough. Noticed in the doctored up version that Mat Lewis wrote the article in May 1997--for Big O Magazine, in Singapore ??? Illk---NOT sun herds and home grown MUSHROOMS . PEACE.

Posted on Fri Jul 7 16:13:13 CEST 2000 from unionppp3.union.edu (149.106.172.4)

Danny Lopez

From: upstate NY

"Did you ever milk a cow?"

Since my move to upstate NY I've encountered a satanic bug -- the "stable fly." This little [bleeping] beast does kamikazes on the head and has a heckuva bite. I figure this is Band-connected, given all their tunes about country life. Besides, they more than likely would have encountered them during times outdoors around Big Pink.

Any homespun remedies on to eliminate this scourge?

"We've got to find a sharper blade, or have a new one made."

Posted on Fri Jul 7 16:02:21 CEST 2000 from trt-on54-95.netcom.ca (216.123.99.223)

John Donabie

After locating some major book stores....I guess we'll have to wait for Peter Doggett's book in North America. Figures...The Brits do it better when dealing with our own North American Heritage. In film and the printed page.

Posted on Fri Jul 7 15:49:04 CEST 2000 from cobalt.nextlink.net (206.129.70.172)

Mike

From: Oregon

MattK...Ditto on "Get up Jake." Thanks to Frank Ahart for all the new pics -- they're GREAT! I also would like to know more about Rick's interview...I enjoyed it, though.

Looking forward to Rick's new CD...Just wondering: Does anyone ever videotape any of the shows around? Those of us on the west coast miss out on so much. With Levon's Barnburner shows and Jim's Gurus, etc., is there anything available? What about the tribute shows for Rick? I'M STARVING!!! BTW -- I foung "Bigfoot" on eBay for $1.99. I hope it gets some airplay, it's really pretty good. Have a good weekend.

Posted on Fri Jul 7 15:14:00 CEST 2000 from twmaine-208-5-183-171.twmaine.com (208.5.183.171)

mattk

Gee, "Get Up Jake" is one of my all-time favorite Band tunes...

Posted on Fri Jul 7 15:10:06 CEST 2000 from trt-on54-95.netcom.ca (216.123.99.223)

John Donabie

PETER VINEY

HELP! Just went to Chapters on-line books and Indigo Books and nothing on the book your talking of. I even went to a search engine on Doggett and lots about him........nothing on this new book.

Posted on Fri Jul 7 15:07:41 CEST 2000 from pm4-152.delrio.com (208.246.53.152)

Just Wonderin'

From: Somewhere out of San Antone

Michael Shiloh: I didn't mean that RR never sang...he also sand "Out Of The Blue" which I think is great, but he left the most of the singing up to Rick, Richard and Levon. I think he found his true voice (whether you like it or not) in his solo stuff.

Posted on Fri Jul 7 15:02:00 CEST 2000 from trt-on54-95.netcom.ca (216.123.99.223)

John Donabie

To Peter Viney

Just wondering. Is the Doggett book only avaiable in the U.K.? I went on to Amazon.com and there were two books by him. One on Lou Reed and one on The Beatles. Nothing about the book you mentioned. You've wetted my appetite. Any more info?

Posted on Fri Jul 7 12:48:33 CEST 2000 from du129-2.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.2.129)

Ilkka

From: Nordic Countries

Ralphg! No, there is no sunshine up here, but you seemed to have stayed in the sun a few hours too long :-)
The Band has played in Nordic Countries, too. In Denmark, Norway (of course!) and in Finland. There has been many stories about a miserable Dublin concert and, I'm afraid, the concert in Finland was not better.
About being a musician: I have left my active years, but if you need a guy to play with a harp the national hymn of Biafra (which is a province in Nigeria, Central Africa) - I'm your man!
Sorry for the self centered totally unnecessary message :-)

Posted on Fri Jul 7 12:03:03 CEST 2000 from 209-23-38-191.ip.termserv.net (209.23.38.191)

Diamond Lil

RE: Matt Lewis' "interview" with Rick Danko/Donko/Donico/Panko/Dunk:

Is this for real? Laughed all the way through the original ocr scan (thanks for including that Jan) and was especially amused by "The Lost Waltz: The Bond's Forewall Concert" and references to "Rabbi" Robertson. Many thanks Jan for all the correcting you obviously did.

Now..I have to ask again..is this interview for real??? None of what 'Rick' said..even phrases that 'he'used....didn't sound like him at all. Curious as to where this "interview" originated from..and when?

Have a good Friday everyone. Hug Jan :-)

Posted on Fri Jul 7 09:32:04 CEST 2000 from hstna010-0280.splitrock.net (209.255.161.26)

Michael Shiloh

From: Texas

Just Wonderin': Robbie's voice is great, but he did sing back in the earlier days of The Band, didn't he? Isn't that him on "To Kingdom Come," "Look Out Cleveland" and some others? I can't wait to hear the outtakes and material on the new CDs! BTW, does anyone know how to get copies of some of the rare Band tapes?

Posted on Thu Jul 6 19:59:46 CEST 2000 from gw.itac.ca (209.146.161.1)

Bill Munson

I meant to ask earlier if anyone can tell us anything about the translators of portions of "Acadian Driftwood", Marcel Lefebure and Francois Cousineau?

Posted on Thu Jul 6 19:52:05 CEST 2000 from usr53-dialup139.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.199.143)

Ralphg36@hotmail.com

Ilkka, Hope your day is going well. You are a Musician ?? Bravo. Have you ever seen the Band preform ?? Still don't know how to pronounce your name correctly; novice on computer, too. Hope there is sunshine in Sweden. It is warm here; we have two seasons summer & winter. Our dogs like the cold and Donna enjoys the heat. Must be gone--good talking. Peace/Health

Posted on Thu Jul 6 19:46:58 CEST 2000 from m198214181166.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.181.166)

Pehr Smith

From: texas

loved the new pictures and the interview w/ Rick. thanks!

Posted on Thu Jul 6 18:40:39 CEST 2000 from ric-wht-pxy-int02.wheatfirst.com (204.238.130.68)

Bones

From: CT

Peter Viney: Thanks for the heads-up on the Doggett book. It sounds very interesting.

For those of you who are interested, Robbie just signed Nicky Love, an Australian singer, to Dreamworks. Her record will be coming out later this summer.

Posted on Thu Jul 6 15:56:47 CEST 2000 from pm2-10.delrio.com (208.246.52.131)

Just Wonderin'

From: Somewhere out of San Antone

Just looked at the new pics! Excellent! Thanks so much for sharing with all of us Band fans!

Posted on Thu Jul 6 15:43:20 CEST 2000 from pm2-10.delrio.com (208.246.52.131)

Just Wonderin'

From: Somewhere out of San Antone

I find Robbie's voice mesmerizing and warm. It suits the kind of music he writes now. He probably realized that the music he wrote with the Band was for the other voices and probably was the reason he didn't sing back then.

Posted on Thu Jul 6 15:12:31 CEST 2000 from kln2-t4-2.atm-bb.de (62.104.216.87)

Darius

From: germany
Home page

nice side! You are all invite to feel our music!

Posted on Thu Jul 6 07:29:04 CEST 2000 from 1cust81.tnt11.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.134.81)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

Just had a listen to Disc One of ROA and "Get Up, Jake" certainly stands out - as the weakest song of the lot both musically and storywise. It's presence on any one of The Band's first three albums would have been a big mistake - which fortunately was not made.

Nice bunch of new photos in the "What's New" section particularly those by Frank Ahart. Check them out if you haven't.

Posted on Thu Jul 6 07:20:41 CEST 2000 from pm3-075.efn.org (206.163.180.75)

Deb from Oregon

From: oregon

Here's another Deb who totally agrees; Robbie does indeed have an evocative voice. Sometimes it gives me "the shivers."

Posted on Thu Jul 6 06:03:34 CEST 2000 from hstna020-0336.splitrock.net (209.255.167.82)

Michael Shiloh

From: Texas

Happy Birthday, Robbie! You're still the mathematical guitar genius. I know you'd get a kick out of my two-year-old daughter's versions, when she proudly sings "All La Glory" and "Million Dollar Bash!" ("ooo baby, ooo-ee...")

Posted on Thu Jul 6 04:54:15 CEST 2000 from ts1-10.steveston.axion.net (207.34.146.10)

Cupid

Hi All Would all you Band Friends whom I swap e-mail with plaese forward me your e-mail addresses.Had a meltdown and lost everything.Molly I found yours but lil,Liz,Mid et al I need yours.Thanx Cupid

Posted on Thu Jul 6 04:07:32 CEST 2000 from proxy-671.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.216.71)

hb

I am glad to see that i am not the only one that appreciates RRs voice....I thought that I just might be. When I first heard it so many years ago it almost knocked me over....it was like nothing I had ever heard before,not that he has a great voice,or even a good voice for that matter,it's thin and fragile and doesn't have much range but the richness and depth is awesome.It's mysterious and decadent and atmospheric...Robbie's a conjure man....a stranger in a strange land....indeed

Posted on Thu Jul 6 01:34:40 CEST 2000 from chl179129.usc.edu (128.125.179.129)

Linda

Happy Birthday Robbie!!!

Posted on Thu Jul 6 00:28:57 CEST 2000 from max1-79.intellistar.net (206.105.68.79)

Dan

From: Orlando

Will "Get Up, Jake" be included on the reissue of the Brown Album?

Posted on Wed Jul 5 23:57:22 CEST 2000 from saturn.landshut.org (212.72.69.61)

Paul Vilser

From: RR country

Happy Birthday To Robbie Robertson! - Thanks A Lot!

Many years ago I started my private "Band-Weekend", so long ago, I can't remember when and why. It means I take a few days (around June or July) to listen to songs I don't listen to very often, such as "Twilight" from "The Best of Mountain Stage. Vol I" - nice to find it mentioned here, "The Weight" from The Ringo Starr All-Starr Band, Little Willie John - do you remember these lines:

"Take the picture of this

The fields are empty, abandoned '59 Chevy

Laying in the back seat listening to Little Willie John..."

Just meeting old friends and, of course, the everyday-friends, too.

Keep the fire burning.

Posted on Wed Jul 5 23:56:32 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-069.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.69)

Peter Viney

Just got Peter Doggett’s book "Are You Ready for The Country- Elvis, Dylan, Parsons and The roots of country rock" (Viking, 2000). Of course I read the chapter on The Band (King Harvest) first. Just too late for the revised Dixie article, but he echoes what Guenevere pointed out here in the GB: "the sound of bells celebrating the arrival of the Union Army in Richmond". He also picks up a 1971 Robertson quote that (for once) isn’t that well-repeated: "Rick and Richard don’t sing about the South … the only songs we do in relation to the South are all sung by Levon." I still have the rest to read, but it looks very good and Levon is listed in the acknowledgments.

Deb: There have to be more than six of us who believe Robbie is an evocative singer!

Posted on Wed Jul 5 23:29:05 CEST 2000 from webcache.netdoor.com (208.137.128.33)

Deb

I was channel-surfing while home for lunch and caught a bit of a Saturday night live rerun -- Robbie Roberston performing "The Weight" w/ G.E. Smith on mandolin, Bruce Hornsby on piano, Ivan Neville on organ, a horn section and drummer I didn't recognize, and two Mardi Gras Indians in full regalia, one of whom sang a verse. From that line-up, I'd assume it to be around the Storyville period. It was interesting -- and quite good, I thought. I mean, for those who are open to hearing any versions other than the original, or the version performed by the non-RR Band line-up, it was just fine -- the earth didn't tremble, the sky wasn't rent like a veil, and the walls didn't come tumbling down. Whatever one might think of RR's voice (I'm one of the six people on the planet who think he's an evocative singer), Bruce Hornsby, Ivan Neville and the "Big Chief" who took a verse are certainly no slouches. I think it was on Comedy Central -- if so, it will appear some time later tonight or tomorrow -- interested folks could check the CC website for listings.

Posted on Wed Jul 5 20:48:23 CEST 2000 from spider-wc083.proxy.aol.com (205.188.193.58)

LG

Hey Frank, me old pal. I told you Jan would get them on here.

Thanks for sharing some of your photos with the faithful here. You're a good man.

Posted on Wed Jul 5 19:37:43 CEST 2000 from spider-tl074.proxy.aol.com (152.163.207.209)

bob wigo

From: havertown,pa.

David:Thanks for reminding me about The Blue Nile and their gifted singer/songwriter Paul Buchanan. Fans of RR's "Storyville" will recognize Buchanan for his beautiful duet with Robbie on "Breakin' The Rules". I believe there are only three albums available spanning fifteen years or so. The first two ,in particular, are truly wonderful. I highly recommend them.

Posted on Wed Jul 5 19:35:13 CEST 2000 from spider-wm012.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.152)

Mark Smith

I need some help from the faithful. Many moons ago, a songbook was published of the BAND's first two albums. It's been out of print for a very long time. I have a good friend who's a devoted fan & fine musician - and I would love to get him a copy for his fiftieth b-day. Does anyone have one in good condition that they'd like to sell, or know where I can find a copy? Thanx.

Posted on Wed Jul 5 19:27:30 CEST 2000 from (196.3.218.213)

Glorita Batson

From: BARBADOS W.I

Posted on Wed Jul 5 19:10:31 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.241)

David Powell

From: Georgia

I finally ran across a copy of the "Coming Around" CD single from the group Travis with their version of "The Weight". Have to admit that I really like their cover of the song. They're now my second favourite group from Glasgow, Scotland, after The Blue Nile. It's great to discover younger musicians who have been influenced by The Band.

Posted on Wed Jul 5 18:49:55 CEST 2000 from cic-proxy02.firstunion.com (169.200.25.141)

Bones

From: CT

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROBBIE !!!!57? WOW

Starla: You were wonderful as everyone was in the Dollmaker. Butch(here in the guestbook) could probably relay a message to Levon. Good Luck!

Posted on Wed Jul 5 18:22:49 CEST 2000 from (137.187.144.172)

Jonathan Katz

From: Columbia, MD
Home page

For MP3's of the Dylan 5/2000 Koln concert check the homepage above.

Posted on Wed Jul 5 17:58:46 CEST 2000 from pool-209-138-154-207-ipls.grid.net (209.138.154.207)

Bobby Jones

From: Columbus

Hey Frankie - Great Shots of the Boys. Thanks for sharing. How's Capt. Jack doing. Have you spoken to Terry lately.

BOBBY JONES

Posted on Wed Jul 5 15:40:04 CEST 2000 from usr53-dialup123.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.199.125)

G-MAN

July 4: Party line-watched TLW-then AE-had the original Woodstock. Window right behind the TV-watchin the fireworks and some of the greatest performers. Alvin Lee (is he around), Carlos' Santana-his drummer's (Shrieve) solo, Sly, Janis, a calm Band set. WOW. Peace/Health

Posted on Wed Jul 5 15:21:30 CEST 2000 from revlukup.clr.com (164.57.254.206)

Brown-Eyed Johnny

I remember seeing the Band at the War Memorial in 1969 and then having dinner at Grimaldi's on Erie Boulevard.

Posted on Wed Jul 5 05:57:45 CEST 2000 from spider-to062.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.72)

Bayou Sam

From: New York

Happy Birthday Robbie Robertson.

Posted on Wed Jul 5 03:03:56 CEST 2000 from proxy-513.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.103)

Eve R.

Is RR 57....That's one beautiful man.....and he's got that bigshot job at Dreamworks.....Happy Birthday, kid!!!

Posted on Wed Jul 5 02:55:44 CEST 2000 from 200-191-196-3-as.acessonet.com.br (200.191.196.3)

Marcelo de Andrade Toledo

From: Porto Alegre, Brazil

Hi guys! I have A little problem and I wonder if somebody can help me. I just CANNOT find the following records : "Cahoots" and "Moondog Matinee". I search on Amazon, Barnes, CdNow, CdUniverse, Rock and it simply don't exist. I mean, they don't have copys avaliabe to sell. If any of you know a store, a on-line store of course, that ships to Brazil, please let me know. By the way, the site is really great, very informative and I visit it at least three times a week (I don't have much time). Sorry for my poor english and if someone from Brazil are reading this message right now, write me (escreva, tchê!). Thanks and let's keep listening to the greatest band ever, THE BAND !! Bye, so long !

Posted on Wed Jul 5 00:14:06 CEST 2000 from www-cache.vuw.ac.nz (130.195.2.96)

Amanda

From: NZ

I finally got round to seeing Jim Jarmusch's film "Neil Young and Crazy Horse." The concert sequences were great but for me the Last Waltz sets a very high standard for concert films and "Neil Young and Crazy Horse" fell somewhat short of this.

I can see the difficulty making such a film poses. As one of the musicians said: it is impossible to capture the essence of 30 years of making music, the love, the hate and the scenery in a film. He also mentioned the difficulty of the fact that one cannot sum up a person in a couple of questions in an interview but when people think of Crazy Horse in years to come they will think of those few sentences captured on film as being what that person is about. (I wonder if he had the Last Waltz in mind?)

However, all of that said, I would have liked the interviews and non-concert film footage to be rather more structured and informative about their influences & thoughts on music etc and rather less loose and rambling. Showing one argument about who should sing what would have been enough IMHO.

Still a good film and if it does not come up to the standard of the Last Waltz- very few films do. On the entirely subjective what-concert-films-I-like scale "Jazz on a Summers Day" is the only film I'd rate as highly as the Last Waltz.

Supratik, my friend, as a person who has just marked 300 exams my advice to you is legible handwriting is good! Concise is good! Paragraphs are good! May the BAND be with you as you study!

Sorry about all the exclamation marks! I'm just feeling happy because tomorrow I'm going on a road trip where among other things we have tickets to see the reissued reprint of Yellow Submarine on a big screen. So far the voice of reason is prevailing and driving music will be a selection of Dr John and the BAND & NO industrial goth whatsoever!

BTW I know this is childish and I don't care…Happy Birthday Robbie (gosh you are so talented) Robertson x 1000000!!!

Posted on Tue Jul 4 23:54:15 CEST 2000 from crtntx1-ar2-074-173.dsl.gtei.net (4.35.74.173)

Kelly

From: Texas

Walking through the neighborhood today, stopped at the "block 4th of July yard sale"... there on a table for a quarter was an unopened "The Best of Mountain Stage. Vol I". Beautiful version of "Twilight" by Rick and Garth. Rick's singing made me smile, but Garth's keyboards - amazing as always, brought tears to my eyes. Absolultely beautiful.

Posted on Tue Jul 4 21:29:37 CEST 2000 from pc19f110f.dip.t-dialin.net (193.159.17.15)

Wolle

From: Germany ( Hamburg)
Home page

Hi, New The Band Cd ?? New The Band Concerte-Germany ??? Pleace!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted on Tue Jul 4 20:04:04 CEST 2000 from 24-216-10-15.hsacorp.net (24.216.10.15)

Mid

HAPPY JULY FOURTH!!!!!

Posted on Tue Jul 4 18:31:15 CEST 2000 from spider-ta072.proxy.aol.com (152.163.205.77)

mark cupolo

From: Rochester, New York

Found myself on the guestbook page when searching for a way to find a copy of The Complete Last Waltz. Any Help? Happy 4th Mark Cupolo

Posted on Tue Jul 4 16:39:46 CEST 2000 from spider-th041.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.61)

Bashful Bill

From: Minoa,N.Y.

Funny, I was just telling Mrs. Bashful Bill the other day that The Dollmaker was one of Levon's better performances. TV movie with Jane Fonda in tha mid 80's. Haven't noticed it in reruns in a long time.

Posted on Tue Jul 4 16:10:40 CEST 2000 from usr50-dialup26.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.196.26)

G-MAN

A holiday off the G-truck!! Happy BD USA ! GURU'S RANDO MAN-HAPPY BD from Donna & I- PARTY BRO !!!! And yes, ya heard it here, HAPPY BD RRRROOBBBBIIIEEE !!! You'll beat last year's pole-1 from me, 3 from yourself & 1 from Crabby. Seriously, the Robster is class. Ya offer to buy some drinks for some real band members, who decline, but with a sincere thanks !! I thought I's be sharin some DOM PERIGNONEE !!! Just think if certain STARS could sing, they wouldn't need anyone !!!! PEACE/HEALTH----HAPPY HOLIDAY !!!

Posted on Tue Jul 4 15:44:16 CEST 2000 from pm4-48.delrio.com (208.246.53.48)

Just Wonderin'

From: Somewhere out of San Antone

Jan thanks for the BigFoot tip.

Happy birthday to all who are celebrating this week!

Happy July 4th as well!

Posted on Tue Jul 4 07:11:14 CEST 2000 from (202.140.157.31)

Supratik

From: its rainin' now

Happy Birthday in advance to the one and only Robbie Robertson. Keep on keeping on, guru.

Also a happy birthday to Randy Ciarlante, someday I will sure catch you.

Best of luck to Jim Weider on his CD release.

Now I will get back to studying my ass off for the sem exams that start tomorrow. Somebody help me out, I really need it :-).

Posted on Tue Jul 4 06:24:01 CEST 2000 from sdn-ar-001insbenp290.dialsprint.net (168.191.108.28)

starla whaley

From: dollmaker movie cast

I SPENT MANY MONTHS FILMING THE DOLLMAKER WITH LEVON AS I PLAYED HIS ON SCREEN DAUGHTER, CLYTIE , I HAVE LOST TOUCH AND WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM HIM AND CATCH A CONCERT IN THE CHICAGO AREA!!!! I WAS 14 AT THE TIME AND LEVON TOOK ME TO A SMALL DIVE TO HEAR HIM PLAY, HE IS AN AWESOME HUMAN BEING !!I NEED HELP GETTING IN TOUCH!!!! ANYONE???? STARLA WHALEY

Posted on Tue Jul 4 05:49:25 CEST 2000 from 2cust95.tnt14.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.140.223)

Crabgrass

From: The Front Lawn

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to this great country of ours ("America - Love It Or Leave It" as the popular '60s slogan goes.), Randy Ciarlante - who definitely added some spark to the '90s Band line-up, and Robbie "My Songs" Robertson whose musical contributions to The Band's early work will never be forgotten or equalled (by him). I'll jump out of the way now so the rest of you Robertsonians can add your good wishes.

Due to Robbie's current popularity amongst both Band and basketball fans I fully expect that this year's showing will top the whopping Grand Total of 4 "Happy Birthdays" which Robbie racked up in the Guestbook last year - although I suspect that this post will also have something to do with it. An exciting footnote - Robbie is now in 4th place in the Favorite Singer category (with 2 votes - just above Garth who's not listed) in The Internet Band Poll which appears on this site! Congratulations!!

Posted on Tue Jul 4 05:00:59 CEST 2000 from user-33qt834.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.160.100)

Pat Brennan

From: USA

We carried you, in our arms, on Independence Day....

Posted on Mon Jul 3 21:06:40 CEST 2000 from spider-wq031.proxy.aol.com (205.188.200.154)

Ruby

From: Mass.

Just in case it did not get on the Gurus site Happy Birthday Randy!!! Hope you are having one hell of a party

Posted on Mon Jul 3 20:48:29 CEST 2000 from ip-120.dial.wans.com (64.7.64.120)

Molly Z.

From: Mill Valley, CA
Home page

Happy Birthday Randy!!! Wishing you lots of happiness.

Posted on Mon Jul 3 20:16:05 CEST 2000 from cic-proxy02.firstunion.com (169.200.25.141)

Bones

From: CT

Mr. Viney: Great article as usual! Robbie has said in recent interviews that there were some tracks on Northern Lights-Southern Cross that he was very proud of, and I'm sure this song is one of them.

Posted on Mon Jul 3 19:36:08 CEST 2000 from spider-wl032.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.32)

Joe

From: New Rochelle & Red Hook, N.Y.

Happy Birthday Randy!!!!! That was a great show Sat. night!! Thanks for the sticks!!!

Posted on Mon Jul 3 19:30:41 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.241)

David Powell

From: Georgia

Charlie Young -- I enjoyed reading your posting about the Stoneman sign. It is interesting to note that Stoneman's cavalry had continued to fight in the spring of 1865 even after General Lee had surrendered at Appomattox on April 9th. Stoneman led his three cavalry brigades on their final raid of the war, leaving from Strawberry Plains, Tennessee on March 22 into western Virginia and North Carolina. Their raid culiminated on April 12 at Salisbury, N.C. where his raiders captured the town but were repulsed by Confederate artillery at the Yadkin River bridge, where a railroad that was the last supply line to Army of Northern Virginia crossed. In this isolated area of North Carolina, Stoneman's troops were so successful in their destruction that they had cut all the telegraph lines and therefore had not received word of Lee's surrender three days before.

Evidently there were no official military reports on this battle at the end of the war, but researcher Wayne Boone has recreated this final campaign from various local oral histories, magazine and newspaper accounts. You can read his description at the following site:

http://www.generalstoneman.com/main.html

Posted on Mon Jul 3 17:30:04 CEST 2000 from spider-th052.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.67)

butch

From: ulster county n.y.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ,,,,,,, TO MY BROTHER RANDY CIARLANTE !!!!! THE ROAD AIN'T THE SAME WITHOUT YA',,,,,,,, enjoy your birthday,,, wherever you are, today,,,, butch ,,,,,,,,& paul barrere from little feat,,,, too,,,, bd

Posted on Mon Jul 3 17:19:55 CEST 2000 from usr40-dialup33.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.75.225)

G-MAN

Any word on when, how, where to obtain Rick Danko's new CD ? What about video of the Band at Pres. Clinton's Billion Dollar Bash ???

Posted on Mon Jul 3 16:10:37 CEST 2000 from 1cust98.tnt12.det3.da.uu.net (63.27.69.98)

Ken Johnson

From: Saginaw, Michigan

I recently purchased a first edition copy of Levon Helm's book: This Wheel's On Fire. If anyone out there knows how I could get the book to Levon for a signature, any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Ken

Posted on Mon Jul 3 15:25:25 CEST 2000 from t6o20p62.telia.com (62.20.190.182)

Railroos Of SE/RK

From: GRAND FUNK ROADKILL Int. fanclub SWEDEN
Home page

Visit my Guestbook!

Click to subscribe to grandfunk

Posted on Mon Jul 3 15:03:52 CEST 2000 from usr53-dialup158.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.199.162)

G-MAN

Hope everyone has a great holiday. Jan thank you for the "Big Foot" info.. CD is getting air-play locally. IIKKA-nice post. It is a shame social institutions can manipulate people and have them spreading themselves all over, without keeping focus on what's important. Keep it simple !! I think we've been put off course re. needs vs. wants. What I want is to see the Band live-performing an ABB cover of "No One to Run With Anymore". Garth puttin some high pitch organ work; Rando & Levon knockin the snot off the drums; Rick drivin on the bass & doin the Ricky shuffle, all over; Stan Szelest bangin away on the keyboard; Jim Weider takin guitar solos to another dimension; Rando & Ricky handlin the vocals. That can't ever happen-- so it's see the GURUS and the BARNBURNERS and still keep rockin. Peace & Health.

Posted on Mon Jul 3 14:41:50 CEST 2000 from t-16-181-86.dialup.wisc.edu (144.92.181.86)

Tim(SUNDOG)Corcoran

From: Madison. WI.
Home page

Thanks for the Heads-Up Jan! I'll look into that new CD, SOUNDS LIKE A GRATE LINE-UP of musicians :)

Posted on Mon Jul 3 05:08:20 CEST 2000 from spider-wb024.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.159)

Bayou Sam

From: ny

I was cruising down route 17B yesterday, heading home to Long Island. I knew I was going to pass the turnoff to the site of the Woodstock concert but I figured I'd just go on by because I've seen it before, but I just couldn't, so I made the turn. I'm glad I did because they have really done a beatiful job of fixing up the whole spot with the "Day In The Garden" thing. For those of you who have been there, it was just a dirt parking area with a big granite monument stating that it's the site of the show, with the names of all the performers. They planted grass and trees and lanscaped the area and it's just beautiful. There was a sign saying that it's still under construction. I hadn't been there in a couple of years so it was a surprise. It's worth a stop by if you haven't seen it. That little spot in the world certainly deserves such treatment. Very Groovy.

Posted on Sun Jul 2 20:56:33 CEST 2000 from spider-we083.proxy.aol.com (205.188.195.58)

Kristina

From: Oregon

Hi everyone I would love if someone could help me. I need the lyrics to "MockingBird" If you have them please send them to me at MizzKitty3000@aol.com. Thanx Alot~!

Posted on Sun Jul 2 17:27:40 CEST 2000 from spider-tp061.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.201)

Rick S. (Downstate Rick)

From: Suffern, NY

Last night my wife and I went to a great concert- the Gurus at The Turning Point. Confident, relaxed, cooking. Ruby, you're in for a treat when you see them in Boston and Newport. Four guys making a rich unique sound. Jim's virtuosity compares with Hendrix and Clapton. Randy's drumming, vocals, million-dollar smile and funny quips are worth the price of admission. Phenomenal keyboards and bass lines that are exceptional. My wife liked the instrumental intro to "The Weight" and all the vocals (three outstanding vocalists). They retired the award for best cover when they performed "Life Is A Carnival." So many highlights: "Don't Do It", Chuck Berry tribute- "Deep Feeling", rocking Dylan rendition ("You Don't Have to Be A Weatherman To Know Which Way the Wind's Blowin:). My favorite- "Let It Slide" (Jim on slide). Jim said "Remedy" (he wrote it) will be on their next CD. Couples were dancing to their beautiful rendition of Jimmy Cliff's "Many Rivers to Cross" (dedicated on the CD to Rick Danko). These guys should be on T-V.

Posted on Sun Jul 2 13:21:21 CEST 2000 from alb1-as5200-19-19.termserv.net (208.20.67.19)

Diamond Lil

A biiiiig thank you to Garth and the Crowmatix for the wonderful show last night in Pawling! Hearing some of Rick's new cd before the show..and then having them open with a great rendition of "Don't Wait"(yeah Jan, I know...) pretty much made the night for me from the beginning. I wish I could give a whole set list here, but last night also reminded me why I usually don't drink beer at clubs. I end up being um..out of the room alot...and miss stuff :-)

Aaron did a nice job on 'Book Faded Brown', as well as 'Next Time You See Me' and 'Let The 4 Winds Blow'. Marie did a beautiful version of 'Where I should Always Be'..which managed to bring tears to my eyes. A new one (from their soon-to-be-released new cd) which I think was called 'Over The Edge' was _great_...kind of a bluesy rocker which I really liked alot. And of course...'Chest Fever' as always...was a standout.

What can I say about grandmaster Garth that hasn't already been said? The man is just amazing! 'Sea to the North' was incredible as always, and his "vocals" on what I think was called "Young Girl" made me smile :-) I was also especially touched by the beautiful instrumental version of 'This Wheel's On Fire'....

Thanks to everyone who made this such a nice night...and a special thanks to Tom for being so nice, and to Maud for just being there :-)

Have a good day everyone.

Posted on Sun Jul 2 02:19:55 CEST 2000 from spider-wa074.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.54)

jcf

From: new york

Another great article from Peter Viney!!!!

Posted on Sun Jul 2 02:01:31 CEST 2000 from spider-th033.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.58)

Charlie Young

From: Down in Old Virginny

CORRECTION: the date of the raid by General Stoneman's cavalry was of course, 1865, not 1965. Thanks to my friend in Georgia for the tip (before Griel Marcus had a chance to nail me).

Posted on Sun Jul 2 01:15:37 CEST 2000 from spider-th063.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.73)

Charlie Young

From: Down in Old Virginny

Peter Viney: thanks so much for putting together what has to be the definitive discussion of "Acadian Driftwood." I'm not surprised that the pompous Greil Marcus doesn't like the song. I regret that I bought his last pretentious book, when I can access much more lucid and intelligent musical discussions here, FREE.

On the subject of another Robbie Robertson song of historical interest, I'd like to mention an interesting sign I passed in North Carolina this week. While listening to "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" in my car--while passing through Dobson, North Carolina--I noticed a state historic marker sign with the words "Stoneman's Raid" at the top. I immediately stopped, turned the car around and pulled out my camera. The sign said: "On a raid through western North Carolina, General Stoneman's U.S. Cavalry passed through Dobson, April 2, 1965." The most bizarre part of the experience was that I had no idea that the man mentioned in the song had passed though Dobson; I was driving through because I'd never been to the town and I knew my grandparents were married there.

Later in the week I found Cripple Creek, Virginia and took some photos there which I'll try to scan and send to Jan along with the "Stoneman's Cavalry" sign. I also found some great hand-tinted antique postcards from Cripple Creek, Colorado this week. These are the sort of things that happen when you load up on CDs by The Band before heading out for six days on the road.

Posted on Sun Jul 2 00:32:04 CEST 2000 from spider-th014.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.49)

Stephen Novik

From: Edmonton Alberta Canada

Just to add to the excellent article about Acadian Driftwood by Peter Viney, there is a video version, featuring Levon and Murray Mclauchlan acting out an expulsion. (being chased off the land by a troop of redcoats.) According to Murray in his autobiography, Levons wife also acted with them. Bon Fete du Canada, everybody!

Posted on Sun Jul 2 00:09:59 CEST 2000 from proxy.lfpress.com (204.101.153.10)

Mike Nomad

Happy Canada Day today to those of us who care about those sorts of things -- and espy to the remaining members of the Band.

Posted on Sat Jul 1 19:16:53 CEST 2000 from sarc8b49.snip.net (209.204.69.49)

Chris D.

From: South Jersey

I just want to thank Butch, Levon & The Barn Burners ahead of time for bringing the blues to my kneck of the woods tonight. My wife can't take it anymore, I'm like a kid on Christmas Eve! I haven't been listening to Levon as long as some of you but I would say 25 years on a daily basis is reason for me to be excited! Hope to meet some cool people tonight by the bay at the Jersey Shore.

Posted on Sat Jul 1 14:07:31 CEST 2000 from 209-23-55-106.ip.termserv.net (209.23.55.106)

Diamond Lil

Ilkka: What a nice post! Finding happiness in the simple everyday things is something I try to teach my kids as well. Sounds like Nadja will do just fine as a 'grown up woman'.

Soooo very much looking forward to Rick's new one...which is due out at like any moment now. Thanks Lee for making me salivate here just knowing I'll finally hear a studio version of one of my very favorite Rick tunes. Miss the man so much. Thanks Tom/Quentin..and everyone else for giving us the precious gift of his voice..one last time.

Safe and happy holiday weekend to all of you out there...and a big hug and lotsa love to my favorite fisherman..who I hope is relaxing under a pile of empty beer bottles as I write this :-)

Posted on Sat Jul 1 13:43:16 CEST 2000 from du92-250.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.250.92)

Ilkka

From: Nordic Countries
Home page

The music industry has been one of the main exports in Sweden from the golden days of Abba. It has been run succesfully by people from musicians to economics, from dentists to elementery school teachers. There hasn't been any higher education in music industry. Until now. - A three years College education will combine musical studies with law, marketing, sale and information technology. They'll take 45 students - 324 students have it as their #1 choice.

Nadja, a former student in my writer's classes has her own column in a magazine. She is an aggressive feminist and communist, but inspite of that - or because of that (take what you want) - she has a good heart. This is what she wrote in her latest column (translated from Swedish by yours truly): "I am on my way to live as a grown up woman - and I am scared to death. I hate the fact, that our high standard of living is destroying us. -- The money only seems to bring us happiness, the power over other people means that you have to manipulate other people's feelings - and your own! -- I am am not rich, I don't have power, I don't have silicon breasts. My happiness is the laughter of the children, a sundown or the silence. -- It can be easy to be grown-up."

Haven't I heard this before. In the sixties, maybe???

With these two different kinds of young people we old-timers can take our afternoon naps without worrying.
Very good and warm summer to the whole community and master Jan!

Posted on Sat Jul 1 11:18:03 CEST 2000 from spider-wg031.proxy.aol.com (205.188.196.31)

Bashful Bill

From: Minoa,N.Y.

Great rumor,but this is the first I've heard about it. It would make my day to find out there was truth to it. Hannibal is (roughly)30 miles and (roughly)east of Syracuse. And as usual,the good Dr. is correct, it's a great place for a show.Sterling Stage has put on a good many shows on there over the last several years, usually small festivals featuring jambands like moe, Ominous seapods, etc. and more blatantly Dead related acts such as Merl Saunders, Toni Brown Band and the like.

Posted on Sat Jul 1 00:24:16 CEST 2000 from gdh2-221.twcny.rr.com (24.95.166.33)

DR Pepper

From: County Cork

Last time I was at The Sterling Stage in Hanibal NY I saw The Fabulous Thunderbirds while Jimmy Vaughn was still with them. A former Hawks guitar player opened up for them - Mr. Roy Buchanan. What a show, what a show. Nice outdoor setting. Don't get all riled up if you see a lot of "colors", it it s a very peaceful setting. Maybe the Dinosaur will be catering. There was no Dino back then....the bikers had no where else to go. This was early 80's and the Tbirds came out with their Rayban Wayfarers and acted like they owned the world let alone the stage. The Stones would have scamepered away at the sight of them. Mr. Buchanan put on his usual show and showed what a guitar wizard he always was (went a little over the top IMHO) but he is a great showman! Hope this rumor is true!

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