The Band Guestbook, May 2002

Guestbook entries between May 27 and June 2 was lost, due to a disk failure.

Entered at Mon May 27 08:42:06 CEST 2002 from h0050ba8ceef5.ne.client2.attbi.com (24.61.243.158)

Long Distance Operator

I'll stick my two cents in for Ian Paice.

Entered at Mon May 27 07:50:33 CEST 2002 from 52-pool9.ras10.inind.tii-dial.net (206.148.144.52)

Jon

Subject: Musical Taste

I'm always glad to see other bands discussed on this website. Wouldn't things suck if everyone had the same musical tastes. My three favorite bands since day one have been, Marshall Tucker, Ozark Mountain Daredevils and Lynyrd Skynyrd. I'm real proud of OMD, being from Missouri and all. The Band is also in my top ten, I own everything they ever recorded (at least most of it). Every band has merit, and all of them influence the next generation. I enjoy Neil Diamiond, The Doors and around a campfire John Denver sounds pretty good. Last night, camping, the first CD I put in the car was Big Pink, and let me tell ya, it sounded outstanding being in the middle of the woods and all. It all boils down to personal taste I think. The best thing any Band fan to do is introduce a non-Band fan to the music. They may like it- they may not. But the one thing I hope for is that they do the same to me: Introduce me to some music I have never heard before. Variety is the spice of life. I have never heard any "bad" music. It might not be my taste, but I would never put it down. Right now, I'm listening to Hank Williams Sr. My musical tastes have no bounds and am not ashamed of any CD in my household. Let's see....Should I put in Rick Danko, Willie Nelson or Kid Rock next...Maybe play all three.

Entered at Mon May 27 05:16:13 CEST 2002 from saintpaul.pioneerpress.com (208.149.52.102)

Niel Diamond

Subject: Drummers

Another drummer I will add to the previously mentioned...Ginger Baker

Entered at Mon May 27 05:11:22 CEST 2002 from saintpaul.pioneerpress.com (208.149.52.102)

Neil Diamond

Subject: Doors

To say the Doors have no talent is a bit much.. Whenever I hear folks knock Jim M. for not being a poet it usually comes from a Dylan fan, I guess the comparison that I would make is people who say Dylan cant sing...Does Dyaln have a great voice? in my opinion no, would I want to hear someone else do Dylans songs? the answer again is no.. Jimmy M. a poet, maybe not but one hell of a great voice..Dated music... probley, but dam good dated music.

Entered at Mon May 27 04:06:19 CEST 2002 from sdn-ap-005castocp1798.dialsprint.net (63.187.47.20)

rollie-

My condolences to all acquaintances of Jack Wingate.My only memory of Jack is sharing a room with him briefly at The Last Waltz. He seemed somewhat non-plussed at having been stuck with some punk-eighteen year old.He introduced me to Ronnie Hawkins the day before the show."...burned into my memory...." Here's to Jack and his Canuck buddies.---Jeffrey

Entered at Mon May 27 03:58:14 CEST 2002 from (209.236.161.51)

MIKEY LENAHAN

Subject: JIM WEIDER BAND

Another Hot night at the Pattenburg House. Jim Weider Band put on one hell of a show. Looking foward to getting the new CD. Hope to see many of you at the Village Underground show in NYC this friday 5/31. Thanks Jimmy and Randy for giving us such great music.

Entered at Mon May 27 03:05:05 CEST 2002 from 0-2pool44-119.nas1.cincinnati1.oh.us.da.qwest.net (63.232.44.119)

Jenny T

Whenever I think of the Doors I see a Doberman Pinscher in a hula skirt serving bar-b-q. That is because when Light My Fire was popular, my Mom (an artist) prepared a flyer for the Los Angeles Kennel Club annual bar-b-q that said "Come on baby light my fire" at the top and had such an image. If you ever think Band people are weird, you should hang out with dog show people for a while.

Entered at Mon May 27 02:33:36 CEST 2002 from 0-2pool44-119.nas1.cincinnati1.oh.us.da.qwest.net (63.232.44.119)

Jenny T

Speaking of Lay Lady Lay, IMHO the best words ever written in a love song are: "his clothes are dirty but his hands are clean," unless they are "the ground is so warm and the moon is so bright."

Entered at Mon May 27 01:31:50 CEST 2002 from dax37.revealed.net (208.16.227.180)

Mike D.

Peter, you're quite welcome for the info. By the way, some of the other remastered Byrds cd's have "hidden tracks" too...Sweetheart has a radio promo, Untitled has a beautiful a capella of "Amazing Grace", Ballad Of Easy Rider has 2 radio promos, Younger Than Yesterday has the part of "Mind Gardens" which was used for the backward overdub albeit the forward version. I think Byrdmaniax has a hidden track too. I just discovered them by accident while listening to them in un-interupted fashion. Well worth seeking out. Also, the "Byrds Play Dylan" which has been remastered/expanded is due for release soon. It'll be interesting to hear the single version of "Lay Lady Lay" from 1969 with the unwanted "choir" overdubs. The song was remixed im 1990 for inclusion on the box set.

Also worth seeking out is Rhino Records' Gram Parsons anthology "Sacred Hearts and Fallen Angels". It perfectly traces his beginnings from The International Submarine Band through The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Bros., up thru his solo work with Emmylou Harris. In my opinion, not a song is missing. It also contains a few hidden tracks too! A interview snippet about "trucks" and two radio promos. Highly recommended.

Mike

Entered at Mon May 27 01:07:04 CEST 2002 from h66-59-176-158.gtconnect.net (66.59.176.158)

Serge

Garth and Levon's good friend Jack Wingate (see Levon's book p. 235) died this morning (May 26) after a battling cancer for several months.

Entered at Mon May 27 00:48:58 CEST 2002 from spider-ti032.proxy.aol.com (152.163.194.187)

Bayou Sam

Subject: RINGO

Pete Best was actually the heartthrob of the Beatles. He was an adequate drummer, although that fast snare roll seemed to be his only drum fill.....Ringo would fill in for PB when he was sick (not sic), and Rory Storm was at the same club. Eventually, they asked Ringo to join. When the Beatles got Ringo he was a hell of a catch. He was one of, if not THE top drummers on the scene then. He was older and had more playing experience than J,P,&G - and he could sing, which was not common for drummers. Most importantly, he ROCKED better than the dummers before him. He also just fit in with the other three so well. He was hired because he made the band better.

Peter bought up an interesting point about George Martin and the tamborine thing on 'Love Me Do". GM didn't think Ringo was "no good" as much as he just hadn't heard of Ringo wasn't sure of his ability, but he knew a session guy (Andy White) that could do the job.

(I could talk Ringo all night)

Ringo can't do a traditional roll around the drums because he's lefty, but plays the drums set up for a righty. Why? When he was young (so much younger than today), he had an uncle that thought being a lefty was the same as being posessed by the devil or something, so he made Ringo do things righty. This changes the way you would start around the drums, and which hand you lead with. I do drum, so I know what I'm talking about here. This made for some very interesting fills on some of Ringo's recordings.

I get nuts when I see Ringo get blown off as "no good", or just "lucky". His stuff didn't jump out at you like Moon's or Bohnam's (both of whom I like). But he did alot of great stuff on songs. Some of it you have to listen close for.

LONG TALL SALLY -recorded in one take - drums low in mix.

BIRTHDAY - Ringo totally drives the song, like a good drummer should.

OH DARLING - if you have time to kill(Band connection), listen to the side of the stereo mix with the drums on this one. Hi-Hat on the verses, and the snare fill going into the bridge. You'll hear stuff you never noticed.

Dig out a copy of that old Beatles live in Hamburg 1962. It was a hell of a lucky break when someone recorded the Beatles live show on a night when Pete Best was out and Ringo filled in. You'll hear the energy he bought to the music.

I didn't mean to ramble on, but Ringo is a subject dear to me

BTW - I think that the Doors had some of the best songs of the era, but Jim Morrison was way over-rated.

Entered at Mon May 27 00:33:01 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-073.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.73)

Peter Viney

Thanks Mike- I'd wondered who was who. It's not as hilarious as the Troggs tape, but is in the same kind of pretty inarticulate frustration territory. The Byrds are far nicer to each other than theTroggs were. It was a mean trick putting it on there, I guess - and it is so elaborately 'concealed'. Without a review pointing to it, I doubt I'd have found it. You'd only find it if you let the CD run way over in the background, and even then you'd probably stop it after the "Going Back" ad. BTW, the album holds up well after all these years - after finding the bit, I listened through again.

Entered at Sun May 26 23:31:16 CEST 2002 from zorg230.revealed.net (208.243.237.230)

Mike D.

Peter, that's David Crosby who is harping on Michael Clarke. McGuinn has a go at Michael calling him a "motherfucker", while Chris Hillman and Gary Usher try to smooth things over, but ti doesn't work. By the way, they are attempting to record the song "Dolphin's Smile", which was a Crosby composition. No wonder he was getting annoyed with Clarke! Then again, Crosby was no slouch at ruffling feathers either. Take McGuinn for example. One listen to thier set at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 and you can hear how Crosby runs his mouth too much and McGuinn must have been seriously annoyed by it. Who led that band anyhow?

Mike

Entered at Sun May 26 23:20:29 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-117.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.117)

Peter Viney

There was an extract in an English newspaper from the bio - either the Guardian or Sunday Times - it dealt with Neil's children and was excellent stuff. I'll buy the bio as soon as it appears. look out too for Clinton Heylin on Van Morrison- due in September.

Entered at Sun May 26 20:12:28 CEST 2002 from spider-tq043.proxy.aol.com (152.163.201.63)

butch

Entered at Sun May 26 18:52:12 CEST 2002 from 1cust117.tnt1.fredericksburg2.va.da.uu.net (63.36.6.117)

Charlie Young

Subject: Neil Young Bio Makes NY TIMES BOOK REVIEW Cover

Staring out with that serious glare while clutching his black Gibson, a cartoonish portrait of old Neil Young takes up the whole front page of today's NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW. Unfortunately, Rick Moody's review of the new 800-page authorized biography of Neil doesn't make me want to run out to buy the book, but I suppose I will get around to it anyway. Writer Jimmy McDonough spent ten years researching the book (including 50 hours of interviews with Neil Young himself), so it sounds like some serious work was put into the project despite the complaints of the reviewer. There's no indication in the review about any content that might cover Neil's connection to The Band, but I may have to cruise by my local bookstore this afternoon to see for myself...

Entered at Sun May 26 18:41:37 CEST 2002 from sc-hiltonhead1b-18.hhe.adelphia.net (68.70.20.18)

Amanda

Butch: Is that Montgomery as in Alabama???? Please let us know....and the details. Thanks!

Entered at Sun May 26 18:31:21 CEST 2002 from cache-ink1-kno-eth1.cableinet.co.uk (62.30.0.3)

Michael

Happy Birthday, Levon!

Entered at Sun May 26 18:23:27 CEST 2002 from spider-to052.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.67)

butch

Subject: birthday boy takes philly by storm

yesterday, saturday, Levon & The Barn Burners celebrated Levon's birthday a little early !!!! \, Big Joe ( JL ) & i cruised down I-95 with Levon & met pat & the fellas @ the hotel,,,,which was a mix of festival hippies& musicians & TWO inner-city proms,, with all the trappings that go with that,,,,heheheheheh,,,

Sat, we cruised to the site & watxched a very cool zydeco band,,,

then bald george the greek, big joe, me, Pat, & sarli started settin up & maxwell & his paramour simone helped out with his keyboard,,,

all our friends were milling around,, Wigo, mr & mrs Donna,,, Fred Santore & his kids,,,our philly restaurant friends,,miriam,,,Steve from thr FEAT family & his wife , the tatooed love slave,,( THEY brought goodies,,,)

by then , some of us had sampled Levon's special birthday cake ( brownies ? ) & the day took on a decidely festival setting,,,

the fellas kicked it off with a shuffle in E & went on to kick the memorial day outta Philly,,,,MAN ,,DEY WUZ HOTHOTHOT !!!!!!

Muddy, lil Walter, Wolf, Sonny Boy, Muddy,Muddy & more muddy,, plus a ton of chris & pat's originals,,,

Chris had some US MARINE buddies & dedicated US BLUES to them & their service in their beloved CORPS !

through it all Levon was drummin his red-necked ass off,, i mean he was in a zone & Sarli hung elbow to elbow with the boss ,,,,as chris & maxwell took off into their zone & pat just doing his wonderfully understated thing,,,

rob wasserman hadda come out & see what the deal was,,,,( i dont think HE wanted to follow THAT,,,, )

but we didnt care,, OUR fans & friends were happy ,, levon signed any & everything put in front of him & we stayed late visiting with david & amy from the New Paltz Bakery,,,who were just BLOWN AWAY from the guys,,,

so Levon started the birthday celebration early & me & big joe told him all about the birthday wishes from YOU ALL,, & he was really touched & said to say thank-you & bless your hearts,,

& we will see younext sat,, the 1st,, in montgomery,, with tony garnier on bass,,,

ya shoulda, coulda been there,,,,,,,,,

butch

Entered at Sun May 26 18:20:39 CEST 2002 from 1cust8.tnt44.nyc3.da.uu.net (67.193.90.8)

John W.

Happy Birthday Levon! Thanks for all the great memories and shows. Remember this is the one birthday that lasts only one minute. (Your sixty-second birthday!)

Entered at Sun May 26 16:59:26 CEST 2002 from sc-hiltonhead1b-18.hhe.adelphia.net (68.70.20.18)

Amanda

Subject: Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Levon!

I wish you good health, true happiness and contentment...all your life!

With love and respect, Amanda

Entered at Sun May 26 15:48:32 CEST 2002 from user15325.vip-za.com (163.203.155.221)

Desiree

Subject: The Last Waltz

Its been a while since I posted but I would like to wish Levon Helm a happy birthday. I have also been haunting our better music outlets trying to get my hands on the Last Waltz DVD only to be told that it has to be specially ordered as it is not being released here. On the plus side I was told that quite a few people have been enquiring about it which I find interesting because it has often felt as though I'm the only The Band fan in Cape Town, SA. I'm at the moment consulting with my credit card in an effort to establish whether it can cope with an extra R500 being added to its balance. (At the moment its saying NO emphatically).

Entered at Sun May 26 15:38:36 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-te064.proxy.aol.com (64.12.103.179)

Ben Pike

"I am the Owl, old and wise, the lord of wood, with silent eyes"...this lyric is banal and trite. A cliche of a cliche. And why does the owl want the night to fall on him, as opposed to just falling?

"This is the end, my only friend, the end, of our elaberate plans, the end, of everything that stands, the end, I'll never look into your eyes, again." This is a model of economic language that builds with grace and suspense, convaying a real feeling of dread. All of those crackers sitting around the barn with there no account relatives, they are going to DIE! They will be thrown into a void of meaninglessness with everything else, so we might as well shoot up and try to have sex. Now there's a song with something to say!

Entered at Sun May 26 15:23:35 CEST 2002 from spider-wm061.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.176)

JTull

Subject: Ringo

I believe it was Pete Best who was popular with the girls in the audience and stayed with the Beatles as long as he did for this reason, and he was replaced by Ringo (already successful with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes)when they were on the verge of international success and about to record the Please Please Me album. They realized they needed more than charisma to drive the band.

Entered at Sun May 26 15:17:53 CEST 2002 from netcache-1115.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.222.132)

Cody

Subject: The Last Waltz (dvd)

What do yall think of the new release of The Last Waltz on dvd? I love Robbie, but again it seems like it was another Robbie project.Will we ever get the full 6 hour concert?. Mr Lavon Helm, Happy Birthday! I would love to talk with other fans. Maybe exchange tapes, photos, etc. Shine On!

Entered at Sun May 26 14:44:03 CEST 2002 from ppp146.a1-1.56k.execulink.com (209.239.9.148)

The Godfrey Family, Levon,Shannon, Julia & Paul

Subject: Happy Birthday Levon

Entered at Sun May 26 12:04:26 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-149.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.149)

Peter Viney

Ringo: No, Ringo was chosen because he was known to them as a far better drummer than the one they had, and because he was socially compatible. The whole thing about Ringo playing tambourine on one version of ‘Love Me Do’ because he wasn’t considered good enough by Geoge Martin fuelled a whole shool of mistaken thought that Ringo wasn’t a great drummer. Ask Levon about playing with Ringo and Jim Keltner on the All-Starrs tour, and I doubt that you’ll hear any criticism. ‘The world’s three best rock drummers’ was what I heard. Ringo defined the straightforward solid drummer, and you don’t need to go all round the kit when what you’re doing already is perfect and contributes to the overall. Several musicians (who’ve played with him) have said that Ringo is one of the best drummers they’ve ever played with, even though he claims that he can’t do a roll properly and never does solos. Step forward the other drummer who never does solos, Levon Helm. It’s all about the sense of time. Which is why Jim Keltner and Steve Gadd also stand head and shoulders over many flashier drummers.

As for Michael Clarke, listen to the remastered version of “Notorious Byrd Brothers”. Track 17 is listed on the cover as “3m 33s” – but your CD player read-out will reveal it to be over 13 minutes long. There’s one minute cold silence after the song, then a Gary Usher ad for the album, then another long, long piece of cold silence and finally at 6m 40 s you get the Byrds very own Troggs-tape, with McGuinn, Crosby and Hillman attempting futilely to teach Michael how to play a drum part, while Gary Usher tries to pour oil on troubled water by saying ‘It’s real good, man.’ Someone after 14 takes says, ‘Why not try playing it RIGHT, Mike?’ Plenty of ‘industrial language’ (though not up to Roy Keane’s standards). It’s along the specific lines of ‘start off with a rim shot, then hit the snare’.

But the thing is that because someone started out as poor on their instrument, doesn’t mean they’ll stay that way. They’re getting experience and learning at a high level and turn out in the end to be good. The Small Faces were famed as getting a record deal and gigs on their looks before they were even half competent, but as it turned out every one was more than proficient.

I was speaking to an osteopath once who said that Earth Shoes and the like (especially Nature Trek) had fed his family for years. There was the idea that they’d give you more natural support, but as he said that was a major change to a skeletal system unused to the angle for 20 or 30 years, and people ended up with low back ache or knee problems

Entered at Sun May 26 11:22:26 CEST 2002 from 64-80-53-237-static.surferz.net (64.80.53.237)

Diamond Lil

Wishes today for a wonderful birthday to Levon, who I forgive for being in Philly one weekend after _I_ was! :-)

Have a good day everyone.

Entered at Sun May 26 05:50:50 CEST 2002 from 1cust58.tnt17.nyc9.da.uu.net (63.38.83.58)

Crabgrass

Subject: Ringo / Earth Shoes

What Ringo may have lacked in drumming skills he made up for in charisma, a sense of humor, and personality. He also could sing. I think he was more than adequate as a drummer - the Beatles' tunes didn't require a Buddy Rich. Ringo's looks were usually the butt of jokes btw so I don't think he was asked to join for that reason.

I think "Earth Shoes" jokes and Flo & Eddie are a bit dated. I did once have a pair of the former - got them cheap as they were going out of style as I recall.

Entered at Sun May 26 05:43:40 CEST 2002 from sdn-ap-005castocp0328.dialsprint.net (63.187.41.74)

rollie

Huh? Have we met yet? I have no idea what you're talking about.Kabish?

Entered at Sun May 26 03:40:07 CEST 2002 from spider-th022.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.52)

Brien Sz

Subject: Drummers

Wasn't Ringo added to the Beatles because of his look NOT his drumming ability - that's what I always thought. I also think history has been kind to Ringo because I believe there was a time he was considered a joke on drums. I never thought anything he did was innovative. Kieth Moon may have been an ass but he could rip it on the skins - John Bonham (i'm not a huge ZEP fan in the least) he brought a distinctive style that helped define Zep's sound. Stewart Copeland, Bill Bruford and of course Levon, now these guys could play and were innovative. I'm sure i'm missing a host of others. Oh and the guy from the Doors - well he looked good back there. (just thought i'd throw that jab in there)

Entered at Sun May 26 02:52:21 CEST 2002 from 209-239-199-184.oak.jps.net (209.239.199.184)

Phil

Subject: The End spoofs

I recall a short spoof on The End by Flo and Eddie from the seventies with the lyric "The killer woke before dawn. He put his earth shoes on". Remember earth shoes? I never did own a pair. Desert boots, but no earth shoes.

Entered at Sun May 26 01:17:07 CEST 2002 from 1cust178.tnt4.tco2.da.uu.net (67.201.214.178)

Bonnie

Subject: One More Shot

One More Shot selling for$18.97 at Amazon.com sells for $13.99 at CD Universe.com. It was shipped the next day and arrived within 3 days. BR

Entered at Sun May 26 01:05:15 CEST 2002 from spider-wk051.proxy.aol.com (205.188.198.171)

JTull

Subject: Doors and SNL

one of my favorite Saturday Night Live pieces originated in the late 80's (the true peak of the show, not the late 70's), which involved a K-Tel spoof called 'Sold Out Rock', which featured the Doors' People Are Strange with lyrics changed to 'GE Range', it it went some thing like 'Things come out right from my range, GE Range, GE Raaaaaaange....' Just beautiful!

Entered at Sun May 26 00:45:31 CEST 2002 from netcache-1115.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.222.132)

roz richardson

Subject: "The French" (Non-Band related)

Rollie, Did I Commit A Mortal Sin? Did I use a phrase in your precious language out of context? Well Shame The Fuck On Me! But you know us Americans, we hate the French. I worked in a restaurant once and was unfortunate enough to get a table full of French people. Now this was an American restaurant but these 4 or 5 french folks became pissed off at me when I did not understand their order, it had been given to me completely in French. I had a friend many years ago who had a French boyfriend. She told me that he hated his own people. I asked her why. She told me she had asked him that same question and this is what he had told her. "Let's say you have this group of French people and they go into a restaurant where the china is not so handsome and the surroundings aren't so sharp but the food is great. Those people will leave that place feeling like they have been doused. You take that same group of people, they walk into a ritzy place with all the finery you could ask for but the food is just terrible! Those same people will walk out of that restaurant feeling like they just had the best meal in the world!" Could anyone explain that mentality to me? I don't get it!

Entered at Sun May 26 00:29:48 CEST 2002 from dialup-63.208.243.35.dial1.losangeles1.level3.net (63.208.243.35)

jq

Subject: the end, please

FF Copolla may have liked it too and deemed to use it as a 60's reference in Appocalypse Now. I think it was the background to M Sheen's nightmare or hallucination bit. I'm with Viney: pop shite, pop melodrama and ordinary goth writing. I still stand by Roadhouse Blues though, even played it on the auld strat today.

Entered at Sun May 26 00:06:48 CEST 2002 from abby24.revealed.net (208.16.227.215)

Mike D.

Peter V., How can you compare The End to anything that Robbie wrote? The End is (in a way) Jim rebelling against his parents. In all honesty, he couldn't stand his parents! And The Band loves thier families (i.e. Next of Kin phot on the inside sleeve of Big Pink). I'm sure the other guys in The Doors loves their families too. Jim probably had a "hatred" for his parents, especially his father! I mean, his dad probably held a "dictator" type of role. After all, he was an admiral in the navy. Imagine growing up on that kind of environment and no matter what dad says, it's "the law". No wonder he rebelled. The End borrows a lot of similarities from "Oedipus Rex", the greek tradgedy. I'm sure you've read it :) I can't see any Band song having any "Oedipal" influence. The End isn't supposed to be a happy song. The Doors music explores a different view of life, a much darker one than The Band. I can't see The Doors performing "Rocking Chair" either. I like The End just fine. Jim was very much into poetry and the darker side of things. Not so much the others. I do belive it's redundant to compare those 2 bands. I'm not trying to argue with ya. This feels like a debate in my high school speech class! I'll be careful not to step on your toes but this disussion is healthy enough. You really can't compare Robbie's songwriting skills to anyone else. He's in a league of his own. The same goes for the original 5 members of The Band. No band that I know had/has a mastery of as many musical instruments. What's more, they can actually PLAY them. The Band are definitely above all others in my opinion. Silly to compare them to The Doors, whom I like just fine too.

Mike

Entered at Sun May 26 00:01:51 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-ta022.proxy.aol.com (64.12.105.27)

Calvin

Subject: How Drummers are chosen

This is kind of funny, but WHen Peter Viney said drummers were often chosen because they were cool and fit the profile I thought of Mike Clarke, and Peter then mentioned the Byrds right after. Funny thing is Mike Clark was the drummer from the first few Byrds albums, then Gram Parsons and Hillman recruited him for the Flying Burrito Brothers and then he helped formed FIrefall and had a few more hits during the 70s. And amazing run for a guy who was known as a better looking drummer than actual drummer. BTW Peter, Gene Parson who was the drummer on the last few Byrd albums was quite good. And if anyone gets a chance the Flatlanders have a new album out, it is really worth a listen.

Entered at Sat May 25 23:55:00 CEST 2002 from dap-209-114-161-78.nfas.monroe-tnt-1.sns234.pa.stargate.net (209.114.161.78)

Mary (bear)

Subject: Levon

Just wanted to wish you a Happy 62nd Birthday tomorrow Levon. Last year I hand delivered your card......but I couldn't make it to Philly this year to see you. Donna will fill you in... Anyway, Happy Birthday to you and many more to come. Look forward to seeing you soon....Mary and family One more thing....Thanks Butch for the pictures. I am sorry I haven't emailed you to tell you thanks. I really appreciate it. Take care and I hope to see you too at the West Virginia Music Festival....

Entered at Sat May 25 23:51:44 CEST 2002 from abby24.revealed.net (208.16.227.215)

Mike D.

Mike

Entered at Sat May 25 23:46:57 CEST 2002 from dialup-63.208.243.35.dial1.losangeles1.level3.net (63.208.243.35)

jq

Subject: the end, etc

I reckon Oliver Stone would take swing at defending The End and the Doors generally.

Entered at Sat May 25 23:21:26 CEST 2002 from 1cust140.tnt1.fredericksburg2.va.da.uu.net (63.36.6.140)

Charlie Young

Subject: Stung by a Snake...Over by the Lake

Peter: I can't defend Morrison's "The End" any better than you can defend Robbie's "Moon Struck One" (both lyrics do rhyme "snake" and "lake," by the way) as that was the music of the Doors at their most rambling and incoherent, with Jim at the wheel. When Robbie Krieger guided their sound (e.g. "Light My Fire," and "Love Her Madly") the band focused and actually had hit records. "The End" is such great parody material that SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE managed to create one of their funniest bits in the last decade with a re-incarnated Morrison singing the song as a little girl. The sketch featured the late Lizard King in a sketch with Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Buddy Holly and Louis Armstrong (!?!) playing in a posthumous band in heaven. They all wound up going back to earth in different forms at the end of the sketch and Morrison wound up as a sweet little school girl in a frilly dress, singing "The End" in a polite little voice. It was hilarious. I wonder if she knows little John Tyler...

Entered at Sat May 25 22:06:44 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-036.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.36)

Peter Viney

Lil - that is wonderful. From now on, when anyone asks, I will tell them that 'sic' means 'spelling is crap.' Much better and more workable definition than any dictionary.

Entered at Sat May 25 22:04:19 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-036.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.36)

Peter Viney

OK - can someone just try to defend "The End" as a lyric? Robbie Robertson, it ain't! (sic)

Entered at Sat May 25 21:13:17 CEST 2002 from h24-77-46-106.gv.shawcable.net (24.77.46.106)

Lou

Subject: I Came Late to the Party

I just saw The Last Waltz for the first time, and of all the incredible people in that show the one person who stood out above everyone was Rick Danko and his lonely, haunting voice. For me, one of the most poignant moment in the film was Rick sitting with Martin Scorcese in the control room with the shadows on his face and the his bittersweet song in the background. I don't know why that stayed with me so strongly, but it did. I'm only sorry that I came to The Band's music so late, but better late than never. I feel like I've discovered a gem. Rick Danko's voice continues to enchant even though he has left this world.

Entered at Sat May 25 20:36:59 CEST 2002 from adsl-61-135-251.rdu.bellsouth.net (208.61.135.251)

Bones

Does anybody know if some of the Garth music in The Right Stuff made it onto the soundtrack cd by Bill Conti? Garth gets a credit in the movie, but I didn't know about the soundtrack.

Entered at Sat May 25 20:31:33 CEST 2002 from spider-wm014.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.154)

JTull

Subject: Doors and the Band

Who did the Band have to rebel against? The Moody Blues, Donavan, Procol Harum, Jefferson Airplane, Pink Floyd/Syd Barrett, Iron Butterfly's In A Gadda Da Vida,The Stones' Our Statanic Majesty's or whatever it's called, Brian Wilson/Van Dyke Parks, Magical Mystery Tour, (I'd add Jethro Tull but Thick As A Brick didn't come until '72, and This Was and Stand Up are solid, unencumbered albums)and I could go on and on! Now, I LOVE much of what I just listed, so don't shoot me. But in terms of rebelling agains overconceptualized or rebeliously posteuring music, they had much to rebel against. On the Doors, I do like parts of Waiting for the Sun and L.A. Woman, especially because it castes two great portraits: Southern California circa 1971 and a totally trashed and ragged Jim Morrison at the end of his career and life.

Entered at Sat May 25 19:19:46 CEST 2002 from dialin-1203-tnt.nyc.bestweb.net (216.179.5.187)

Gene

Although notoriously weak at the neck joint, is there any cooler looking guitar than the SG? Never really like the Firebird look.

Entered at Sat May 25 19:08:48 CEST 2002 from (194.117.151.69)

mrduck

thanks for the info peter on TLW i cant wait untill 2003 so gonna get the import thanks again

Entered at Sat May 25 18:53:44 CEST 2002 from 64-80-53-212-static.surferz.net (64.80.53.212)

Diamond Lil

Peter Viney and Donald Joseph: Thanks for your definitions of "sic". I knew what it meant, but wasn't sure how to say it. And since I usually see it when something is copied as written and the spelling is wrong, I always liked to think it meant "spelling is crap" :-)

Entered at Sat May 25 18:52:50 CEST 2002 from h24-64-32-8.cg.shawcable.net (24.64.32.8)

Rob Boschman

In 1978, I saw The Last Waltz in a Halifax theatre. I was 17. I'll never forget it. The day after, I bought the soundtrack and wore it out over the next ten years. In 1987, while a student at Dalhousie, I jumped at the chance to see Levon Helm performing live at a bar called Crazy Horse. Levon sang "Ophelia." Nine years later, I saw the Band in Winnipeg's Walker Theatre. I wept when Danko sang "It Makes No Difference." Rick had the sweetest, achiest tenor voice I have ever heard.

Entered at Sat May 25 18:44:17 CEST 2002 from dax16.revealed.net (208.16.227.159)

Mike D.

Crabby, I uaually don't agree with you but in this case I msut. I side with you on your opinions of The Doors. Mr. Viney, only the early Doors material featured a Vox Continental organ. From then on, it was a Hammond organ, for studio work that is! I don't think The Doors sound dated at all. ? and The Mysterians...96 Tears is a great song but really? That's dated! At least nto anymore than that early Beatles stuff. My goodness! A friend once said to me that The Beatles music became better once they discovered drugs. Well? Drugs don't help music. But the mid to late 65 Beatles period signaled a huge maturity in their music, around the time they began experimenting with substances. I forget who said it but The Doors did look after one another like brothers. They even tried with Jim too but he was on his own path apart from the others. I'd say The Band has a darker legacy. But The Doors had darker music. But can you really compare them? Apples and oranges...You really can't compare The Band to The Doors...two different kinds of music, but with similar roots (blues and jazz). I have no bitch about The Doors' musical abilities either. I guess anyone here would be a staunch supporter of The Band, as I am too. Imagine if someone compared our boys to...The Police? Now I love The Police, but...is that comparison possible? Hmmm...

As for The Who, brillaint "live" band. Keith Moon was no more of an asshole than anyone else! Those guys in Led Zeppelin were just as bad, if not worse! Keith Moon definitely had his own style. He's quite a busy drummer. But most of his stuff is impossible to reproduce. Why? Because he never planned it. He played what came into his head, sometimes even smashing a drum or two (or set!) Peter, I'd rather listen to The Who over...say, a peer group like Zeppelin. The real leader and "genius" of that band never got his due (John Paul Jones). Well, he did take control on "In Through The Outdoor", and it shows. Maturity and a new dirction. Out with the recycling of old blues songs. The early Zep stuff sounds stale to me as I have heard it on the radio too much. I'll take Presence or ITTOD anytime...sounds fresh to my ears.

As for Abbie Hoffman, he made the mistake of going onstage and ranting about John Sinclair (manager of the MC5) in the middle of a band's set. Also, Townshend (and the rest of The Who) was peeved about being "spiked" with acid and they were in a pissy mood. Listen to a boot of their Woodstock performance and you can hear it clearly! They were fighting exhaustion and the drugs. An angry Who puts on a better show. Woodsotck might be one of the best shows they ever gave! So, it's Abbie's bad luck. Pete has even reflected on the situation and said that he regrets it. But that's life. It certainly didn't help Abbie's profile that he got a Doc Marten up his arse and a Gibson SG in the back of his head.

Here's a Cheech and Chong/Band connection...A left field thingy for ya...That old song "Basketball Jones", featues Billy Preston on organ and George Harrison on guitar...everything comes back to The Band. Funny how it happens like that.

Mike

Entered at Sat May 25 18:30:09 CEST 2002 from dialup-209.245.79.24.dial1.losangeles1.level3.net (209.245.79.24)

jq

Subject: doors, am radio, flaco & elitism

It was big deal (and fairly innovative for the era) to sometimes hear the long version of "Light My Fire" on am radio. It was just before fm stations popped up and long tracks became commonplace. So, there's a bit of Door's legacy. Anybody that was around out here at that time knows what I mean. krla vs kmet or (the mighty kppc).

On accordians: Does anyone hear of Flaco Jiminez anymore? With Doug Sahm gone, Freddie Fender in trouble & D Yoakum in the movies he seems to have fell off.

"Well I got up this morning and I got myself a beer" - cause I can't stand all the masses that decend on this peaceful beach every Memorial Day weekend, thousands of them, all greasy, loud, sunburned and overweight. Doors fans most likely, wha

Entered at Sat May 25 17:57:08 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-009.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.9)

Peter Viney

sic – “thus” or “so” is the translation in most English dictionaries. The Latin one also gives “this way”, “as follows”, “as it is, as they are”. I guess the idea is “Thus it was written”

On food, it was the sadism of squeezing the lemon on the poor bugger’s eye that got me. Until then I’d steeled myself to eat it. Left to my own devices in somewhere like Greece or Italy where it’s straight out of the sea, I’d live entirely on fish.

In a spirit of fairness, I decided I’d better listen to The Doors this morning just to confirm that I wasn’t being (too) unjust. A bit unjust I can live with. Musically, it’s what I’ve always said. The drummer and guitarist are not good, the drummer being worse than the guitarist. The keyboard player carries everything because he’s the only decent musician in there and the most interesting and memorable bits are always organ bits, and even so he invariably gets that weedy thin cheap organ sound which is fun nowadays when used as pastiche of early 60s groups. Hence my half-joking remark about ? and The Mysterians – they were the genuine article for that kind of sound- Farfisa or Vox Continental rather than Hammond or Lowrey - if he was using a Hammond, he really was poor. You can hear the Doors drummer trying to follow rather than lead. What is so bad about them is Morrison’s lack of irony. The lyrics are drivel. The End is pretentious drivel, which is worse. The man was not a “poet”. Take ‘Riders On the Storm’. I think it has definite virtues as a pastiche of The Shadows (or The Ventures if you prefer) in “Ghost Riders in the Sky” mode (which is what they were lifting from), but dull as they were, The Shadows and Ventures could play rings around the guy playing guitar and The Doors seem to take it seriously, while they could have had fun with it. I knew people who would play the Doors endlessly and had to suffer them a great deal in the period. The same people did manage to persuade me that Airplane and The Dead were great, but they never got through to me on the Doors. As I said last time, isn’t it odd how The Doors are remembered as icons, whereas The Airplane aren’t in the same way – but Airplane had three first rate singers, and a world class bass player and guitarist in Casady and Kaukonen, and at least three good songwriters. And made more records. But I think they had repeated problems in the drummer department too.

That generation of bands had drummer problems, I suspect, because they’d ask someone who was cool and a good social fit to have a go at being a drummer (read the bios – I don’t know about The Doors – but it comes up with several other bands, notably The Byrds). The Hawks, like The Beatles, The Stones (and OK, The Who) came from an era just 4 or 5 years before when drummers were recruited as professional musicians. Just a shade later, you’d have a few people forming a band – usually ex-folkies – who could all play a bit of guitar or keys (so one could switch to bass) but they didn’t seem to know any drummers and persuaded people they liked to have a try. Drummers have to be in a band to get much fun out of playing, they have to carry around a lot of kit, which is initially more expensive, and they have to keep playing to keep the muscles in trim. Anyone who’s never tried drumming, just try to maintain only the bass drum pedal for 5 minutes … then thirty … then ninety. Probably that’s why the ex-folkies who formed the West Coast groups didn’t know any. You never got drummers in the folk clubs. When the history of the rock era is finally written, most of the West Coast major bands will be in Division 2 (Division 1 being only the likes of Dylan, Beatles, Band, Stones) and the more I listen, weakness in the engine room is one of the dividing factors. The Doors were doubly disadvantaged – poor drummer, and no bass player to compensate. Even The Grateful Dead needed two drummers, and the combined effect was never near the Levon level of playing. Both the Airplane and The Dead had truly great bass players to compensate, which is one reason why they’re right at the top of Division Two. BTW, I’m aware that of the three elite drummers here (Levon, Ringo, Charlie), Ringo isn’t as “technically” capable as the other two, but he has that innate sense of rhythm that you can’t learn.

Entered at Sat May 25 17:44:51 CEST 2002 from dialup237-a.ts552.cwt.esat.net (193.203.156.237)

Hank

Subject: Let it roll, baby, roll

Ray Manzarek-a wonderful keyboard player,

John Densmore-a wonderful drummer

Robbie Kreiger-a wonderful guitarist and songwriter

Jim Morrison-a wonderful...uh.....JIM MORRISON! and excellent frontman and not afraid to write and confront the ugly side of life.

and don't forget, gentle GB folk, without The Doors we would NOT have had The Band.......

"FOUL!!!!" I hear you cry!

But consider this: If it were'nt for The Doors, who the hell would the Band have to rebel against?

Hermans Hermits?

......and so The Doors hated their Moms and Dads.....The Band LOVED their Moms and Dads and had 'em on their debut album sleeve.......

Here's a thread.....in the end, who had has a darker legacy?..........The Doors or The Band?

Don't misunderstand me, now, folks........I think The Band are better all 'round and I'm not impressed by Jims Occult Death Wish vibe..........but having your family on your album sleeve is no protection against the evils of this world.......AND you don't hear the surviving Doors bitching about money, either......them fellas REALLY looked after one another from the git-go...........like a band of brothers.

Entered at Sat May 25 17:27:04 CEST 2002 from 12-249-119-233.client.attbi.com (12.249.119.233)

Donald Joseph

THREE Band related-events this weekend! Indeed, what else can we talk about on this GB but such great news! So, please: Allow me: Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Whew. Thanks. Now, having said that -- may I please change the subject?

As to what rock stars are like when you really meet them, let me tell a Band-related story that (I confess) I've told before on this GB, but years ago (the statute of limitations on tedious repitition having passed): When JRR appeared at the Guitar Heroes concert in Seville (circa '91 or so), my mother ran into him in his hotel. She says Patch was just walking around the lobby, with no entourage and no one paying attention to him (he's not exactly a household name in Spain). Mom went up to him and gushed "Ooo! We're such big fans! My son LOVES...!," etc. She said he brightened right up; indeed, Mom's read on the situation was that Robbie appeared glad to be recognized and treated like a Somebody in the land of Cervantes. (Also, there's the well-recognized phenomenon of meeting a countryman abroad: People overseas are often eager to meet & greet someone from their native land whom they'd not give the time of day to at home.) My mother asked if he would please pose for a picture with her, and sure enough, Jamie was very obliging -- he actually grinned, put his arm around Mom, & squeezed (almost but not quite a bear-hug). The photo now hangs on my wall with our other family pictures; our kids all know that's their grandma gettin' some lovin' from a Mr. Robbie Robertson.

JennyT: I totally agree about "Ain't No More Cane" -- that's always been one of my all-time fave Band tunes, and, of course, virtually unsung.

"Sic" is Latin for something that means "that's exactly how it appears in the original." It's used within a quotation when there's an error, to say "that's no misprint; that's how it occured in the original." It's a useful tool for criticizing other people's grammar: When I read grammar/spelling errors in opposing lawyers' legal briefs, in my reply brief I always find some excuse to quote the passage with the error, just so I can use the "sic," spotlighting opposing counsel's ignorance to the judge. When, however, you have to quote an ungrammatical passage in a legal opinion written by your same judge, you of course don't use the "sic." I guess, though, that I'm not being responsive: I admit I don't know the precise English translation for the Latin word "sic." Viney?

As to gross food, I grant those of you who invoked White Castle. Notwithstanding my having ingested all the exotica I mentioned last time, I admit I'm too chicken even to touch a bag of sliders.

Viney: Another great story, that about the fish. While we squeamish Westerners do indeed find tales of that sort off-putting, it's important to acknowledge that in the Orient they put a healthy emphasis on fresh food, and they turn their noses up at the weeks-old, long-since-slaughtered refrigerated meat sold in Western supermarkets. Some day, Western medicine will discover that, indeed, freshness in food (when the cells are still alive) is essential for good human health -- and all the stale food in the American diet is what leads to artery-clogging. (For example, Argentines eat lots more meat per captia than Americans and Scandanavians, but arterialsclerosis and heart failure are a lot more prevalent, per capita, in the US & Scandanavia -- because the meat eaten there is smoked or otherwise not delivered to market fresh.) Japanese, who eat fresh fish, do a lot better in this regard.

Entered at Sat May 25 15:40:16 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-ti053.proxy.aol.com (64.12.101.173)

JTull Fan

Subject: Accordian music and the Doors

I was seriously into the Doors at age 11, having read Nobody Here Gets Out Alive. It was a natural progression up from the Monkees. That being said, they were a great 'dangerous' band for 10-12 year old boys and 13-16 year old girls, but like candy, you grow up to appreciate more adult pleasures. Paul: Garth Hudson is a neighbr and great friend of Polka king Jimmy Sturr. If you check his list of thank-yous on Jubilation, you will see him mentioned. For great accordian use, check the recent 'Boris Dancing' by Ian Anderson/Jethro Tull, which features the great accordian work of current Tull keyboardist/accordian player Andy Giddings, who plays accordian on all Tull tours from 1991 to present day.

Entered at Sat May 25 13:44:50 CEST 2002 from 64-80-53-218-static.surferz.net (64.80.53.218)

Diamond Lil

The Doors. Funny, but years ago I used to really like them. Now I seem to find myself changing the radio station whenever they come on. I guess they're just played out. I still do like "Soft Parade" though.

Bayou Sam: "Belly Bombers"?? Heheh.. you made me laugh. I remember those long-ago nights on Long Island, hitting White Castle in the wee hours of the morning! Thank god for drive-thrus, hm? :-)

Note to self: Never eat out with Donald Joseph or Roz :-)

Have a good day everyone and a safe holiday weekend. Hug Jan.

Entered at Sat May 25 12:02:01 CEST 2002 from dialin-1269-tnt.nyc.bestweb.net (216.179.5.253)

Gene

Entered at Sat May 25 10:47:00 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-118.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.118)

Peter Viney

Actually, when 'Light My Fire' comes on the car radio, I will always turn up the volume (just as i will for 'Substitute'). Classic singles. But I prefer ? and the Mysterians if I want it minimal - 96 Tears beats Hello, I Love you for me. Having managed to work an unlikely name into the GB, I'll put in an even more unlikely one - Lulu. She's just done an attempt to follow Tom Jones "Reload" success with an album of duets, providing an extremely tortuous Band link. She duets on Sail on Sailor with Sting, a song which The Band did when Blondie Chaplin was playing with them. Brilliant song - but I have to say she adds nothing to it. Well, Sting adds even less because I don't find him attractive.

BTW, on seemingly unrelated threads, the GB is worldwide, and if you live more than (say) 250 miles from Woodstock, live gigs are something we read about and say "Great! pleased to see they're keeping on keeping on" and we all value the information and reviews (so please keep it coming) but if you live in Europe, or the West Coast you're not going to start examining your weekend plans to see if you can fit in one of the gigs. Which is why we ramble …

Entered at Sat May 25 09:01:49 CEST 2002 from h0050ba8ceef5.ne.client2.attbi.com (24.61.243.158)

Long Distance Operator

Crabgrass recently used the notation [sic]. I know it signifies a mistake because I see this all the time, but what exactly does it mean?

Entered at Sat May 25 07:22:51 CEST 2002 from spider-tl022.proxy.aol.com (152.163.207.182)

penny

Subject: pilgrimage

my best friend and i are EXTREME Band fans ('specially robbie) and planning a pilgrimage to toronto. are there any particular sites of interest anyone can recommend?

Entered at Sat May 25 07:19:43 CEST 2002 from tnt14a-237.chcg3.il.corecomm.net (216.214.203.237)

Paul

Saw the Garth interview in What's New; thanks to Jan and his informants for rounding this stuff up for us. I enjoyed his jokes about the accordian, but he's the kind of guy who gives this instrument a good name. I don't care one way or the other about the accordian, which I associate with polkas and oompah music. But the request for favorite Band moments would have to include Garth's offhand work on Strawberry Wine, perfect for that song, and his jam with Levon's guitar on Don't Start Me to Talking on the Band Reunion video. Great accordian work (don't worry, it's not a long list):

Garth with the Band

Dan Federici with the E Street Band

Ponty Bone with Joe Ely

Flaco Jimenez with practically anybody

David Hidalgo with Los Lobos

There's some good stuff on the Anthology of American Folk Music, as well. I still don't care much for an accordian, but I also can't spare any of the above guys or the work they did on the instrument.

Entered at Sat May 25 06:52:06 CEST 2002 from 1cust91.tnt16.nyc9.da.uu.net (63.38.56.91)

Crabgrass

Subject: Dreckula

Most of the songs on the later original Band albums are "dreck" and everything on Moondog Matinee is "dated." Scott Joplin and Fats Waller's tunes sound "dated" but they're none the less great for it. Same goes for Django Reinhardt. Neil Diamond is "super-dreck" yet some folks manage to like both he and The Band. Incomprehensible. Hendrix and The Doors are "Classic Psychedelic Rock" and the late '50s, '60s, and early '70s will forever remain the Golden Age of Rock. Crosby Stills & Nash (& Young) and Dylan sound quite dated to me - but I still think much of their music is great. Same goes for the Beatles.

Psychedelic dreck? What station should I tune into and what are they playing - besides The Doors???

Entered at Sat May 25 06:11:02 CEST 2002 from netcache-1115.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.222.132)

roz richardson

Subject: The Doors

I read somewhere that when The Doors played in that Los Angeles club way back when, that the crowd came all excited expecting to see Morrison slithering around on the floor like a snake with his tongue darting in and out and foaming at the mouth and on those rare occasions when that didn't happen everybody went way grumbling and disappointed. If that's true it would speak volumes for the music. Don't ya think?

Entered at Sat May 25 05:46:00 CEST 2002 from stjhts20c058.nbnet.nb.ca (207.179.149.63)

WS Walcott

Hey Bayou Sam. I also have Two Sides of The Moon. Bare arse and all.

Entered at Sat May 25 05:42:26 CEST 2002 from stjhts20c058.nbnet.nb.ca (207.179.149.63)

WS Walcott

Brien Sz stole the words right out of my mouth. I also consider The Doors sound to be very dated. I also tune out when I hear one of their songs on the radio, with the possible exception of Roadhouse Blues.

Bayou Sam: You and I go back aways, and you know how I feel about The Who. Technicaly, Moon was not the best drummer, but he certainly was unique. I love his drumming style. Just listen to the drum roles on Song Is Over. He was a "busy drummer". He always did as much as he could, and put everything he had into his drumming. As far as the Who Are You LP, I agree again. His drumming was outstanding. That LP was their swan song. They should have never made those other 2 albums.

Its kinda funny, I always thought Kenny Jones never fit in with The Who. A few years later Townshend said the exact same thing in an interview. Jones was a fine drummer, but not a Who drummer. Their was only one Keith Moon, and he was great! Maybe he was an arsehole in a lot of ways, as I have heard. I can not draw on personal experience. As far as the music goes, he was OK with me.

Entered at Sat May 25 05:02:48 CEST 2002 from spider-wm061.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.176)

Brien Sz

Subject: The Doors

I look at the Doors in odd ways.., I think their music is dated, it has its own unique sound that elevates itself from a lot of the dreck that came out of the psychodelia period. Morrison's voice carries the whole show. The keyboard sound was cool for it's day, but no Jim, no Ray and the proof is in the pudding on this cause Ray couldn't do anything with that sound after Jim. In high school I had a thing for Doors tunes but it waned and now (when i happen to listen to classic rock stations)when a Doors song comes on the radio, I look elsewhere for music. Can timeless music be dated? The Doors did it!

Entered at Sat May 25 04:45:18 CEST 2002 from sdn-ap-005castocp0311.dialsprint.net (63.187.41.57)

rollie

"It takes real brains to make an imbecile of yourself".

Entered at Sat May 25 04:17:51 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-tc051.proxy.aol.com (64.12.105.171)

Bayou Sam

interesting stories from Peter on the Who. There was a book called "Full Moon" that was written by a guy named Dougal Butler (if I remember correctly), and he was basically Moon's "keeper" for a number of years. I finished that book and was astounded that Keith actually lived to 31 years old. He was at a McCartney function that honored Buddy Holly the night before he died. If you ever see the photos from that night, you can see that he looked like hell.........I suppose he was not a great man in many ways, but I'll always be a fan of his drumming. I disagree with those who think he was losing it a little near the end. I still think his drumming is terrific on "Who Are You"......I even have his one and only solo album. You should hear his cover of Lennon's "In My Life" - not bad.....I guess that Moom the Loon was just a talented drummer thug, who was in the right place at the right time. Too bad he didn't manage to grow older and wiser. He did carry out My Generation though.

There was a place here on Long Island some years ago called "Beefalo" that served great burgers that were part beef and part buffalo. They were supposed to be better for you - they were very good tasting.

All this talk though of these adventerous meals is nothing compared to comsuming a half-dozen White Castle burgers on a late night food run. They don't call them "belly bombers" for nothing.

Happy Birthday Levon. May there be many more.

Entered at Sat May 25 04:14:44 CEST 2002 from 1cust153.tnt17.nyc9.da.uu.net (63.38.83.153)

Crabgrass

Subject: The Doors / Nugent / Abbie

The Doors cited as "lacking talent" and "one of the worse [sic] and overrated bands of all time" by GBer's is pretty shocking (I'm shocked by the ignorance of the posters one of whom should know better!) when The Doors in fact were one of the most original and very finest groups of the 20th Century. Their music is in a class by itself like that of Hendrix and The Band. Although, John McLaughlin imitated Jimi to a degree I can't think of anyone or any group who imitated The Doors or The Band (or even bothered to try).

Ted Nugent and his love of hunting have been brought up in here before as has the Townshend / Hoffman incident. Personally, I think Abbie Hoffman was a great guy with a great sense of humor as well as someone who was dedicated to worthwhile causes. I don't think John Lennon would have attacked him physically or verbally.

The Doors have been discussed in detail here in the GB too - I'm just stating facts, not trying to start another discussion concerning them.

Entered at Sat May 25 03:35:19 CEST 2002 from 1cust162.tnt2.fredericksburg2.va.da.uu.net (63.36.7.162)

Charlie Young

Subject: Rolling Stones Parody

I know that some people would say that the Stones are a parody of THEMSELVES, but the link above is typically damn funny stuff from the clever writers of THE ONION in Madison, Wisconsin. Hey Peter, at least Jim Morrison had the balls to sing "Light My Fire" on THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW as it was written, not changing the words as Sullivan ordered him to do (Jagger sang "let's spend some TIME together" on the same show because old Ed was uptight about the real words to the song). I'm almost surprised that "Up on Cripple Creek" wasn't too risque for the conservative Sullivan...

Entered at Sat May 25 01:27:20 CEST 2002 from csiewert.student.princeton.edu (140.180.130.73)

Cam

About what time tomorrow is Levon's band playing in Philly?

Happy Birthday to two musicians who continually amaze me.

Entered at Sat May 25 00:32:28 CEST 2002 from netcache-1115.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.222.132)

roz richardson

Subject: "Puppy Stew"

I actually had a large bowl of Puppy Stew once. The family who served it to my family and I were proud to do so. It seems that Puppy Stew is quite bonne bouche on most American Indian reservations. The father of this large family kept telling us "Dig deep! Puppy In Bottom" There was an obvious proud tone to his words. We did, and ya know, it wasn't bad. Puppy is very tender and white opposed to grown dog which is dark in color and coarse in texture.

Entered at Fri May 24 23:42:12 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-te074.proxy.aol.com (64.12.103.184)

Paulie Walnuts

Levon , Happy Birthday , You are the real deal partner, the best there ever was and will be , you are loved in hombreland , and everywhere.....

Entered at Fri May 24 23:10:52 CEST 2002 from (63.66.135.217)

JTull

Subject: Ted Nugent

With all this talk of game-meats I'm surprised Ted Nugent hasn't found his way into the dialogue. Well, here he is!! I'm not really a fan of his, and don't have too much interest in him, but he definately comes to mind for this thread!

Entered at Fri May 24 22:39:47 CEST 2002 from spider-wc012.proxy.aol.com (205.188.193.22)

jcf

Entered at Fri May 24 22:27:54 CEST 2002 from (209.236.161.51)

MIKEY LENAHAN

Subject: Birthday drink

Hey Levon, Happy Birthday..... Stop off at the Pattenburg after your Philly show... G-Man is buying the first round of Birthday shots. I'll pick up the sushi. G- Man said he would dress up like Marilyn Monroe and sing H*A*P*P*Y**B*I*R*T*H*D*A*Y to you. Good old G-Man. Stay FOREVER YOUNG Levon.. Your the best.

Entered at Fri May 24 22:16:39 CEST 2002 from ptldme-cmt1-c3-24-25-165-152.maine.rr.com (24.25.165.152)

MattK

Subject: Blues and Bison Burgers

Jim Weider often plays the Rynborn in Antrim, NH. If you're ever there, go a bit early and order their buffalo burger (medium rare, otherwise it's a bit "gamey"). It's one of the best buffalo burgers I've had.

Gee, I hope that was acceptable content. I had no idea you could only post when a Band-related event was appearing near you. Damn. I wish they'd stop changing the rules on us!

Entered at Fri May 24 22:10:04 CEST 2002 from (38.201.148.3)

Jay

Subject: Authorized Bio DVD

It arrived yesterday. It is a Hong Kong release (hence the high price) and will play on Region 1 NTSC players. I forgot how much I had enjoyed the video, the downplaying of Robbie notwithstanding. And the Harrison and Clapton footage used for Classic Albums is obviously cribbed from the same interviews used for this video. Quality was pretty good, although it is clear that the video was not specially transferred for DVD (the image quality is somewhat soft when compared to most DVD releases, and there are occasional obvious digital artifacts). No menu or chapter stops are included on the DVD. Nevertheless, I'm pleased to have it on DVD since I don't hold out much hope for an American release. Now, I'm just hoping that someone somewhere might see fit to release either The Band Is Back or Japan Tour (or both) on Region 1 DVD.

As a quick aside, in light of the recent conversation about the "band of brothers" myth, it is worth noting that Mary Martin refers to "Levon & his boys" (her words) in those very terms on the video.

Entered at Fri May 24 22:00:53 CEST 2002 from (208.218.212.2)

David Powell

Subject: Happy birthday Levon!

This weekend I'd rather be in Philadelphia.

Entered at Fri May 24 22:00:20 CEST 2002 from spider-tk053.proxy.aol.com (152.163.206.198)

Paul Schmitz

Subject: Dylan

Happy 61st Birthday Bob, No one writes better in this world

Entered at Fri May 24 21:54:40 CEST 2002 from (66.200.102.18)

JTull

Subject: Band, Bison, Shaved fish with lemon in the eye.

Sounds like there are a lot of great Band-related events going on. Unfortunately for me and most of us we are just to far away to take advantage of them! What does a bison-burger taste like? It tastes just like a really fresh, juicey hamburger. You would NEVER notice the difference. The species are too similar. My main reason for eating them is because they are locally farm grown without the use of antibiotics or growth hormones (an no mad-cow disease as federal regulation prohibit bison and cattle on the same farm)and they are far less fatty without TASTING less fatty.If you are ever in Richmond I will be happy to grill you some! PETER VINEY: That is one GROSS experience. Pass the tofu!

Entered at Fri May 24 21:49:58 CEST 2002 from (209.236.161.51)

MIKEY LENAHAN

Subject: Philly and then the Pattenburg

Hey Butch, Philly is not to far from the Pattenburg. Hope to see you and Levon.

Entered at Fri May 24 21:43:32 CEST 2002 from stjhts23c110.nbnet.nb.ca (207.179.171.115)

WS Walcott

P.V = Thanks for The Who story, interesting. I still love 'em though./n And I couldn't agree with you more about The Doors. One of the worse and most overrated bands of all time. Manzarek was the only one with any talent, in my opinion. And I believe Robbie Kreiger penned most of the hit singles.

I once did a set up and tear down for a Canned Heat concert in the mid 70s when I was in high school. They were ok. They at least said hello, goodbye, and thanks. I remember Bob "The Bear" Hite backstage afterwards. I got to bring the guitars back into the dressing room, wow! Anyway, he looked old tired and was out of breath. I would guess at that time he was in his early 30s. But man, he looked a lot older!

Their road manager was a jerk, tried to rip us off. One of the roadies took us right to the road managers hotel room, which was just a couple blocks away, and made him pay us. I think the words cheap bastard, or something to that effect were used. Anyway, we got our money.

Entered at Fri May 24 21:31:00 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-030.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.30)

Peter Viney

The hardest thing to eat? Well, I’ve had gator tail too and it’s OK- slightly fishy chicken. My worst moment was in Japan, where they fished a live fish out of the tank, put it on the table and expertly stripped the flesh off without killing it. The head, bones and tail lay on the plate. They then squeezed a lemon onto the eye to make it jump and prove it was alive. I looked at the quivering fish on my plate and announced solemnly and untruthfully that I was allergic to fish unfortunately, but the rice and vegetables would do nicely.

Entered at Fri May 24 21:27:02 CEST 2002 from (169.200.133.37)

Bones

Is Garth going to speak at tonight's showing? Sign autos? Play? I wish I could be there!

John D: Did you get that John Simon info?

Entered at Fri May 24 20:39:52 CEST 2002 from spider-wc014.proxy.aol.com (205.188.193.24)

butch

Subject: confusion

Lets see,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Levon & The Barn Burners are in Philly,,

the Jim Weider/Rando Ciarlante band is @ The Pattenburg

Garth & Maud will be @ the early showing , in woodstock, for The Last Waltz,,,

& the conversation here is congealed blood & The Who ????

kids,, where are your priorities,,,???,,,,just curious,,,,

,,,& you know something is happening, but you dont know what it is,,,, do you ? mr jones,,,,

Entered at Fri May 24 20:35:43 CEST 2002 from 56k-la-01-06.dial.qnet.com (209.221.212.69)

Dave the Phone Guy

Subject: Hey Phil out in Calif.

Phil,,,, I sent out the photos of all you guys at the Robbie meet and greet (Sherman Oaks) yesterday.Let me know if you get 'em.

Entered at Fri May 24 19:33:21 CEST 2002 from (129.237.189.58)

Ray Pence

The stories about the Who and especially Mr. Moon throw more light (or darkness) on the question of what happened to the Band in LA...for example, Robbie's story in Barney Hoskyns's book on waking up in the morning and seeing Moon passed out on the beach and getting scared. Presumably that was a time when Moon had settled down a bit and adjusting to aging, if moving into one's late twenties can be considered aging, and for the Who with their public and embarrasing weeping and wailing about "getting old" in the seventies, it was considered aging. When I think back on how I perceived Moon in photos at that time and on an interview, yes, with David Hartman on Good Morning America, I recall how he did seem shockingly unwell and worn out for a person in his very early thirties. (Ronnie Hawkins mentioning he turned 41 onstage at the Last Waltz has great irony to it in the age of the Stones, Dylan, McCartney, and lots of other less famous 60 year olds on tour). I would say the LA lifestyle as practiced by the Band and friends (and who WEREN'T their friends among musicians, is my question) had as much to do with their breakup as anything. They look too old for their ages in the Last Waltz, too, especially in some of the interviews. Or maybe it was just different standards for appearance then -- the Band had their sex appeal, but not the kind that came through lifting weights, jogging, and macrobiotics, which seem to be required for a chance at stardom, and not exclusively for women anymore either, though they are still subject to greater pressures.

Entered at Fri May 24 19:21:44 CEST 2002 from (12.33.126.141)

John W.

In today's New York Daily News, consumer reporter Asa Aarons has the following column: It's human nature to be tempted by offers of huge sums of money - and equally human to argue with anyone who tells you not to take it. But a scheme that could cost you your life is well worth avoiding. Every few months, I get a flurry of inquiries about a scam involving someone in Nigeria who urgently needs to transfer millions of dollars out of the country. The temptation comes in the form of his offers to share the wealth. The scheme is known internationally as the "4-1-9" fraud after the section of the Nigerian penal code it violates. It arrives in the form of a letter, fax or E-mail from someone with an alleged connection to the government there. The hook is an offer to transfer millions of dollars into your personal bank account. If you accept, you'll get a series of official-looking documents, affirming the validity of the offer. Then you'll be asked to provide up-front or advance fees - security for the millions of dollars you expect to get. This is one of those times when it's imperative to avoid temptation. Victims are almost always asked to travel to Nigeria. They're assured a visa is unnecessary to enter the country. But that's not true. Those who enter without one are often conned into paying large sums of money to get out again - money usually given to the people who enticed them into the country. The goal of the scheme is to extort money from the victims, and violence is often used to do it. The Secret Service warns that an American was murdered in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1995 pursuing a 4-1-9 scam, and others have been reported missing. There have been no reports of anyone walking away with millions of dollars. If you get one of these offers, discard it. You can fax a copy to the Secret Service at (202) 406-5031. If you've lost money to one of these schemes, contact the Secret Service at (202) 406-5850.

Entered at Fri May 24 19:22:40 CEST 2002 from user-112098n.dsl.mindspring.com (66.32.37.23)

Pat Brennan

Jenny T, I meant to say "released". The Basement Tapes are rife with standard country fare but The Band's released output had next to no standard country songs or forms. Now, the implication of country music in their recorded output is pretty deep, but that stands along with numerous other forms which makes the group so gosh darned interesting.

Man, I'm glad I don't live downwind from our good friend Donald J.

Entered at Fri May 24 19:00:05 CEST 2002 from du170-249.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.249.170)

Ilkka

Ooops! My brains worked in GERMAN! It should be 'Brown Eyed Girl' - not Braun. A very special person, anyway :-)

Entered at Fri May 24 18:58:40 CEST 2002 from ptldme-cmt1-c3-24-25-165-152.maine.rr.com (24.25.165.152)

MattK

Subject: mmmm, MMMM...home cookin'

DJ, now, you can't give a menu like that without describing the experience. I've known a few people who've had dishes of congealed cow's blood - though in this case it was in Africa. In each case, the person thought it was really good as long as they didn't think about what it was.

Personally, I'm apt to try almost any kind of food once, though my experience is somewhat less exotic (and well-traveled) than yours. It's funny, though, even within the US, regional gastronomic oddities can be a delicacy in one state and a stomach-turner in another.

Having grown up in the West, Rocky Mountain Oysters (fried sheep testicles), menudo (made from cow intestine), mexican dishes made from cow's tongues, brains, etc turn most of my friends in my adopted home in New England somewhat green.

Likewise, tales from my Appalachian grandma's (or 'mama') table have left a few heads scratching - fried chicken hearts, gizzards, "sweet meats" from cow (pretty much any part of the digestive tract), will freak out my wife's polish grandmother ('bobci'). Interestingly, nothing seems to freak people out as much as the Southern delicacy of "wilted lettuce" (a bowl of lettuce with bacon grease poured over it). My wife's family somehow finds that more objectionable, though personally, I find it no worse than a galumpkie.

I think that taste has less to do with what people find edible than texture and appearance. I've been told the African variety of congealed blood doesn't look anything like what you would expect (one person didn't know what it was, liked it, and got sick after asking what it was). I really like a good Kim Chee (pretty much spicy rotten/fermented Korean vegetables), but the texture of it was the hardest thing to get past for me.

Personally, the most inedible thing I ever tried was sheep's tongue soup in a Syrian restaurant. It wasn't so much the taste as the texture and appearance - a shallow bowl of murky water with a big tongue floating in it (marginally boiled). The tongue (unlike calves tongue, which I've eaten and enjoyed) was very rubbery, so you had to cut it, which felt like cutting...well, a TONGUE. The sensation of nearly raw taste buds against my own was a bit more than I could deal with.

Entered at Fri May 24 18:57:17 CEST 2002 from du170-249.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.249.170)

Ilkka

Subject: Good to see you!

Good to see the long lost friends TIM(SUNDOG)CORCORAN and PAUL GODFREY in gb! Come back BRAUN EYED GIRL!

Entered at Fri May 24 18:56:57 CEST 2002 from m124-133.on.tac.net (209.202.124.133)

Bill

Hank and I seem to agree on Peltier and the First Nations of North America, but certainly not on Dylan and the Band. I was disappointed in how Dylan chose to perform his songs at TLW. For a few happy seconds I thought he was going to lead the guys in a rousing rendition of "You Really Go Me", which would have been fantasic - but no, he has to do the world's worst arrangement of "Baby Let Me Follow You Down".

C&W: While C&W doesn't seem to have been a big part of the Hawks' performing lives as a group, it would certainly have been a big part of their individual upbringings, as the music was pretty well unavoidable in Ontario in the fifties and early sixties. Rick played C&W before joining the Hawks, and Robbie's quoted in Marcus's Weird Republic (or whatever) book as having played country with the relatives on the Six Nations reserve. I guess "Liza Jane" is as much country as it is folk. And Hawkins had recorded a full LP of Hank Williams material(some of it with Levon), so he presumably would have played at least some of that live for a period of time. All in all, it would have been pretty easy for all of them to take it onboard.

I heard the new Robert Plant recording of "Darkness" (which I know from a Youngbloods record). A striking version - with musical backing that sounded an awful lot like Skip Spence's koto song from Moby Grape's "20 Granite Creek" LP.

Entered at Fri May 24 18:34:04 CEST 2002 from 0-1pool33-30.nas1.cincinnati1.oh.us.da.qwest.net (63.232.33.30)

Jenny T

Entered at Fri May 24 18:33:41 CEST 2002 from wc12.ym.rnc.net.cable.rogers.com (66.185.85.79)

John D

Happy Birthday to Levon and Bob.

Entered at Fri May 24 18:19:42 CEST 2002 from 0-1pool33-30.nas1.cincinnati1.oh.us.da.qwest.net (63.232.33.30)

Jenny T

Entered at Fri May 24 17:57:12 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-001.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.1)

Peter Viney

MR DUCK: The 2003 UK release date for TLW Region 2 (Europe/ Japan coded) DVD was listed in The Independent review as 2003. You can get a Region 1 (North America coded) copy from amazon, but there’s always the risk with amazon of getting caught for VAT by customs. The 17.5% VAT isn’t such a problem, but then you get TWENTY FIVE POUNDS fee on top for “customs clearance and negotiation” from the couriers. I saw an advert in “Q” magazine for ‘TLW (Region 1 DVD)’ and that’s a safer bet, because it’s already customs cleared. The ad was Badlands, on 01242-227724 or mailorder@badlands.co.uk. It was £24.99. I’m still waiting for the postman to bring my copy - daily reminders to my son to mail it to me! At least he used my $2 off certificate from the box set.

Any UK DVD/ Home Cinema magazine will have adverts from companies offering a “personal import service” for American DVDs with a list of current titles – they can’t “sell” them legally, so they “personally import” them for you, which is legal – you even get two receipts, one from the US “seller” and one from the UK “importer” for a nominal sum. For European readers, note that the Region 1 DVDs will only work if you have your player “chipped” to accept region 1 DVDs (about £60) or you have one of those models where you can change the region coding by arcane fiddling around with the remote control. Anyone who hasn’t had a DVD player chipped should consider doing so. Frequently the European versions are lacking DTS sound, and this is because they might be accomodating so many language soundtracks that there isn’t space. American ones more often have DTS because they have French and Spanish at the most as extra soundtracks, and often only one of these. It is irritating to have the Bulgarian, Rumanian, Slovak and Russian subtitles and soundtrack instead of DTS. Some Region 2 DVDs have ten soundtracks. For the same reason, there are often better extras on US discs, and of course some movies come out far earlier on DVD in the USA. I’ve even obtained American DVDs in the past before the British cinematic release. Other stuff doesn’t come out at all here – there’s a far bigger US catalogue.

Entered at Fri May 24 17:35:03 CEST 2002 from ppp70.a1-1.56k.execulink.com (209.239.1.70)

Paul Godfrey

Subject: Happy Birthday Levon

Entered at Fri May 24 17:29:58 CEST 2002 from (66.200.102.18)

JTull Fan

Subject: Exotic food and rock stars

Peter V: Really enjoyed your stories of late. This is one reason I have no desire to meet famous people, even Ian Anderson. I prefer to know them through their art or a mutual interest if it existed, ie tuxedo cats. I'd rather not know about their warts. On exotic foods, the most exotic food I ever ate was rattlesnake at a restaurant in Sedona, Arizona last year. YUCK! I washed that bugger down with a mouth full of Tequila! It was, incidentally, at a restaurant specializing in buffalo, and they offered the rattlesnake for free, and I just could not be such a wuss as to not try it.

Entered at Fri May 24 17:13:14 CEST 2002 from pres058003.ashe.miami.edu (129.171.58.3)

O'Toole

I completely agree! I've been dying to hear Little Birdies since I first heard about it on this site. Many people have posted questions about the song throughout the time I've been 'lurking' here in the guestbook but it never gets picked up. Its hard to believe that its not been bootlegged - but I've not been able to find it. Audiogalaxy doesn't seem to have it either - surprising - considering the presence of almost all of the Genuine Basement Tapes. I'd love it if someone who's heard it or has a copy (for God's sake -share it!) could even send the lyrics to Jan so we could get them on the site. The same goes for Even if She Looks Like a Pig Pt. 1&2, Bacon Fat, and any of the other rumored songs we hear about.

If anyone here knows more about this song or the others- open your heart... and spill the beans. Thanks!

Entered at Fri May 24 17:01:03 CEST 2002 from (208.218.212.2)

David Powell

Subject: Donnie P.'s questions & Bob's birthday

Larry Packer on violin and Neil Young & Joni Mitchell on vocals joined The Band on "Acadian Driftwood" at TLW.

Among bassist Carl Radle's many credits is that he co-produced "No Reason To Cry" along with Eric Clapton & Rob Fraboni. He played on George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass" & "Concert For Bangladesh" and was part of Joe Cocker's "Mad Dogs and Englishmen Tour". Mr. Radle played bass on J.J. Cale's original version of "Crazy Mama". After Derek & the Dominoes disbanded, he rejoined Clapton for his "comeback" in 1973 and remained with him for six years. Following the 1979 "Backless" tour, Clapton fired his entire band, including Mr. Radle. Carl Radle died sadly of kidney failure on May 30, 1980 at the age of 38.

Happy birthday Bob Dylan:

On the endless highways & crooked trails
May you stay forever young

Entered at Fri May 24 16:53:34 CEST 2002 from (194.117.151.69)

mrduck

Subject: last waltz dvd

can anyone confirm that the uk dvd release of the last waltz has been postponed until 2003 ??????????? my mate says he heard it on bbc radio2 just wondering if anyone knows thanks

Entered at Fri May 24 16:49:56 CEST 2002 from dialup-63.210.117.70.dial1.losangeles1.level3.net (63.210.117.70)

jq

Subject: moon & reptile king

P Viney - Agree with your K Moon assessment. I saw him (as a customer, not performing) at the Whiskey. He was out of control and I saw the foaming too. He was being held back from going after a woman, maybe his wife, this was around 1971. It was an Albert King show of all things. Growing up here in So Cal I got to see the Doors at a couple small venues (our local playground) and they did suck, just boring. They seemed more on a par with the Monkees although soooo much more serious. I do still like a good live version of Roadhouse Blues though - and I can play it pretty well so I know it's not a matter of talent.

Entered at Fri May 24 16:41:00 CEST 2002 from spider-wb083.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.188)

Dave Z

Entered at Fri May 24 16:38:03 CEST 2002 from 1cust170.tnt1.pocatello.id.da.uu.net (67.250.112.170)

Hey Lil!-(from Rollie)

Any possibility of getting a diagram from you know who Lil?-Thanks -Jeffrey ......"rags bones and ole sing songs, hear them how they talk to me".

Entered at Fri May 24 16:35:46 CEST 2002 from (158.72.71.193)

SteveH

Subject: Rock Stars

I've got to say I've only met a few "Rock Stars" and Townshend was really nice. Sorry to hear about Moon being a violent lout, but don't doubt Peter Viney's story. Joe Jackson was kind of a jerk when I met him.

I hate to say it, but the necessary self-confidence to get up and perform often spills over into rampant egotism, especially among the highly successful. Guys like Levon and Rick who appear to remain friendly, level-headed, and approachable despite what is, to me anyway, legendary status look like the exception. Barry Manilow (I'm embarassed to mention here) once was asked if he was really as nice as he seemed to the interviewer. He said, yeah I guess I'm about as nice as you can be when people kiss your ass all the time.

Entered at Fri May 24 16:28:12 CEST 2002 from tu2.nirai.ne.jp (218.40.170.163)

Fred

You haven't lived until you've eaten goat sashimi! And speaking of living...I partook in the eating of the dreaded & deadly fugu (blowfish)--twice and still lived to tell about it! I'm not foolish though, so I won't press my luck with a third time!!

Entered at Fri May 24 16:14:02 CEST 2002 from spider-wn032.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.162)

butch

just a final reminder,,,,,

if ya need something to do, in the PHILLY area,,, saturday the 25th,,,,come see Levon & The Barn Burners make some scorching hot blues,,,,

with David Maxwell joining the Barn Burners with his amazing piano-playing,,,,,,its gonna be a good afternoon,,

showtime for Levon & the fellas is 330,,,,,,

Ratdog, with bob weir follows,,,,, ( if they can,,,,hehehehehheheheheheh,,,)

see ya on the river in philly,,,,

Remember our VETERAN's,,,,,,,, spend a moment in their memory,,,,WE all owe THEM !!!!!

Entered at Fri May 24 16:10:59 CEST 2002 from l98uppx1.hewitt.com (4.17.250.5)

Donald Joseph

Viney: Excellent Who stories. Wow!

Diamond Lil: Bison & ostrich are for lightweights. I've eaten cow tounge in Haiti; ant eggs in Mexico (in a taco); fried whole scorpians in China; congealed cow blood in Uruguay; alligator in Louisiana; and barbequed guinea pig in Peru. Once in Korea I saw live puppies and kittens for sale in a food market, but I didn't (knowingly) partake.

Entered at Fri May 24 16:05:23 CEST 2002 from (209.166.233.21)

Jon Lyness

Subject: re: Bar Band etc

Pat Brennan mentions the performance of "Little Birdies" from Winterland...I think there's no other unreleased Band song I want to hear more. Do people out there have it? If nothing else, I hope it makes its way to the box set project that's been talked about. Also, any word on the Toronto Express 1970 film footage? Has anyone seen it?

Entered at Fri May 24 15:33:07 CEST 2002 from bcefire2.cibcwg.com (207.61.221.19)

Lawrence Brissenden

Subject: The Who: Ultra-violence

Peter, thanks for The Who stories. They certainly had their A Clockwork Orange period. At Woodstock, hippy activist Abbie Hoffman attempted to jump on stage while The Who were performing. Pete Townshend clobbered him with his Gibson SG. This effectively ended Abbie’s rock career. I guess he was lucky Daltrey didn’t get to him first. A few years later, during rehearsals for their Quadrophenia tour, Roger completely leveled Pete with one punch, sending him to the hospital. Ironically, these days, it's somewhat of a love-in between those two guys. Pete now comes to Roger's defence when anyone criticizes him.

Entered at Fri May 24 11:44:01 CEST 2002 from saintpaul.pioneerpress.com (208.149.52.102)

Neil Diamond

Subject: The Big Mac

I never really cared for Fleetwood Mac in the mid 70's, but in recent years have gained alot of respect for Lindsey Buckingham as a guiterist and song writer, definately not a mainstream writter and although he has a number of hits to his credit perfers to experimate in new sounds... and although Rumors was their big album as far as sales and is a very good pop record, Buckingham wanted to go into other directions, in this proccess thier next album Tusk was born and although not the hudge success that Rumors was in its own right a great alternative piece of work that went against the direction this band was previuosly going. His solo work, particularly Out of The Cradle is very good stuff, a real talent who fought with the record label and his band mates over the direction of the music....

Entered at Fri May 24 11:11:29 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-114.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.114)

Peter Viney

A lot about The Who was theatre though- they used to carry rolls of Marshall speaker cloth and half the speaker cabinets on stage were dead. The roadies job was to put new cloth over them for Townsend's nightly spearing.

Entered at Fri May 24 11:07:17 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-114.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.114)

Peter Viney

WSW- I don’t know when, so I’ll repeat it, assuming that it will have changed a bit since last time, as it inevitably does! I always felt that the British rock music conspiracy to describe Moon as a loveable rascal (a tad crazy) was evidence of serious lack of judgment by people (like Eric Clapton) who must have known better. I first saw The Who in a small club just after “I Can’t explain” (they were astonishingly brilliant) and then saw them twice more before Tommy . To tour in the 60s and load trucks with valuable equipment (after being paid in cash) at 2 am in dark alleys, you have to be reasonably tough, or able to act it convincingly, and Levon tells a few stories about the requisite toughness. Fine. And a praiseworthy quality in a friend. I’ve been there myself and seen the necessity. The Who crossed the line from being tough to being violently aggressive. I witnessed two incidents which if they hadn’t been rock stars would have put them in for thoroughly deserved prison sentences. I saw Moon have his hired muscle hold a guy’s arms while Moon, literally foaming at the mouth, beat him up (I said thugs, not brave)- the crime? Putting “My Generation” on a jukebox in a coffee bar in Bournemouth. No, Moon wasn’t funny. Nor ‘a tad crazy’. He was clinically insane and prone to extreme domestic violence. Read Ian McLaglen’s autobiography for worse. Moon allegedly took out a contract to have McLaglen’s hands broken with a hammer so he could never play again – he only escaped because Townsend intervened and paid the hit man twice as much NOT to do it (McLaglen has nothing but the greatest admiration for Townsend). Having witnessed Moon early, I don’t agree with the TV documentary on him that drugs and alcohol caused his violence – they merely released what was intrinsically there. Not a loveable crazy, but an evil person.

While neither Daltrey nor Townsend ever descended to Moon’s depths to my knowledge, I saw a particularly foul incident (Hull university, either 1967 or 68). The Who were being harrassed by an obnoxious skinhead – skinheads were rare in those days – who was drunk and kept chanting ‘Chelsea! Chelsea!’ (the football team, not Clinton’s daughter ). He also kept shouting for a particular song- The Who seemed to have a strange attitude to people who liked songs they didn’t feel like playing. So Daltry invited the drunk on stage and lead him gently to the microphone. While the drunk started mouthing crap, Townsend ran and poleaxed him from behind with his guitar (held by the neck and swung with so much force it’s amazing the guy survived) while Daltrey shoved a microphone through the guy’s teeth. There was blood everywhere. And the guy was such a fan that he refused the police’s urgent suggestions of prosecution. The guy was an arsehole himself- he lived two floors above me and I saw the scars– and so it wasn’t some kind of theatrical set up as fans have claimed when I’ve told them. And it affected the music for me. I never got into Tommy (I liked the film though) nor Live at Leeds or anything those guys ever did again. OK, many musicians are obnoxious people and total arseholes (e.g. step forward Mick Jagger) and you shouldn’t let it change your attitude to the music. But it did. I’ve seen Townsend on chat shows since and he seems highly articulate and intelligent. I’ve also worked with people who knew him personally who couldn’t believe the story as they said he was just about the sweetest guy they knew (which McLaglen’s stories support), but I was there. I saw it. Put it down to his youth and amphetamines, I guess. There and I didn’t bash The Ox at all. Though working for the Inland Revenue is not a mark in his favour in my book!

But The Doors are different – my objections to them are purely based on their lack of talent.

Entered at Fri May 24 09:54:20 CEST 2002 from ti531210a061-0191.dialup.online.no (130.67.209.191)

borghild

nice page

Entered at Fri May 24 07:07:52 CEST 2002 from spider-tp043.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.193)

DZ Agin

Entered at Fri May 24 07:02:34 CEST 2002 from spider-tp043.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.193)

Dave Z

David P: I liked your radio switching story... Thanks!... I ventured down to the LynLakes' Country Bar again tonight... and sure enough some old grey hair was carrieoakeying The Weight... I offered to sing the female lead for Neil Diamond's He Don't Bring Me Flowers but got no takers... I've been enjoying the new Van CD like some of you... but also picked up Laura Satterfield's Dirty Velvet Lie... which is a nice surprise... Gnite...

Entered at Fri May 24 05:08:44 CEST 2002 from stjhts18c047.nbnet.nb.ca (142.166.254.52)

WS Walcott

P.V.=I am interested in reading about your experience with The Who. Do you remember what year and what month(approximately)that you would have posted it? Might save me a lot of searching.

Thanks

PS=You never mentioned Entwistle. I have heard that he is very quiet and a is a gentleman. I believe he once worked for the revenue dept. before joining The Who.

Entered at Fri May 24 03:40:56 CEST 2002 from (64.80.240.96)

Diamond Lil

Bison burgers? Yuk. I've tasted one..was not happy. A little diner here by my house has those..as well as Ostrich burgers. I tasted them too. Yuk again. I'm ok with things like that if you don't _tell_ me what it is.. but as soon as I know..no thanks. That also goes for that awful venison that people seem to go nuts for up here. I don't like to eat anything that was previously hanging on the tailgate of someone's truck... kind of ruins the appetite.

Have a good night everyone.

Entered at Fri May 24 03:12:50 CEST 2002 from dialup249-a.ts552.cwt.esat.net (193.203.156.249)

Hank

Subject: (I gots 'dem 'ole)Buffalo Bison Burger Blues

Yeah, LDO........"Swaggering bullshitter" ain't so bad.......

Actually, "Swaggering Bison-Shyter" might have been more to the point.......

The people described in "Long Black Veil" would, these days, be prime candidates for The Jerry Springer Show.........

Imagine it flashing across the bottom of your TV screen.......

"I HAD BEEN IN THE ARMS OF MY BEST FRIENDS WIFE"

All this bar band/Americana stuff is bison-shyte.....

The Band were a country-soul rock'n'roll band............ All the singers in The Band were soul singers...... among the best that ever were.............

Entered at Fri May 24 02:24:05 CEST 2002 from (206.14.153.181)

Joe

Subject: "Up on Cripple Creek" and "Sugar Magnolia"????

While reviewing recent posts, Hank's message from 5/20/02 caught my attention. I was surprised to see him connect Bessie from Up On Cripple Creek with the Grateful Dead's "Sugar Magnolia" written by Robert Hunter & Bob Weir. According to John Perry Barlow (Weir's more common lyricist) in a piece Barlow wrote called "Casady's Tale" he notes "Frankie Weir, Bobby's ol' lady (is) the subject of the song Sugar Magnolia." I think this is as close to the horse's mouth as we're going to get on this one. Thanks again for all the thoughtful ideas and great info. JMH

Entered at Fri May 24 01:33:47 CEST 2002 from l98uppx1.hewitt.com (4.17.250.5)

Donald Joseph (again)

Crabgrass: Thanks for articulately clarifying your question. It's an interesting query, but I (not surprisingly) can shed no light on it.

Don Pugatch: Van the Man was not introduced at TLW; he walked on stage during "Tura," after Richard had sung the first verse. He famously had not done a live show in 2 yrs., and was seen as a reclusive/sporadic performer at the time, so I guess his unannounced walk-on was meant as a surprise. I have a bootleg audience cassette of the TLW concert (not the "Complete Last Waltz" CD), and when Van walks on after Manuel's first verse, the crowd goes nuts and essentially drowns out the music. On the original 3-LP set you can hear a surge in audience response at this same point (as Van walks on), but the crowd response is muted and not obtrusive, unless you listen for it. Frankly I've not yet listened to the new 4-CD set to see if they retained in the mix the crowd's response to Van's walk-on, but I bet you can hear it.

Entered at Fri May 24 01:19:49 CEST 2002 from dial2a-200.i2eyenet.com (64.80.2.200)

HI

Entered at Thu May 23 23:32:32 CEST 2002 from user-1121kdb.dsl.mindspring.com (66.32.209.171)

Pat Brennan

The Hawks were a great RnB bar band. The Dylan tour turned them into a rock band. The Basement tapes period (and the Dylan/Harry Smith Anthology influence) turned them into the Band.

Levon's arrival probably opened the country thing, no doubt because of the music he learned as a kid. I think it's been said here before that there was little room in a Hawkins show for straight country. The Band however seemed open to all options. The Band's version of country was hugely tempered by RnB, to the point that Long Black Veil is probably their only true recorded country song. And it would be hard to argue that that song is performed in a strictly country style. Live, their first stand at Winterland included Little Birdies which is real country.

Don Pugatch, that's bassist Carl Radle of Delaney and Bonnie/Derek and the Dominoes/Eric Clapton solo fame.

Entered at Thu May 23 22:54:59 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-082.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.82)

Peter Viney

Entered at Thu May 23 22:49:07 CEST 2002 from 1cust34.tnt16.nyc9.da.uu.net (63.38.56.34)

Crabgrass

Subject: From "Bar Band" to "Band"

"Forcing" a vision upon others and others "deferring" to another individual's vision are not the same. I used the phrase "to which the others deferred" in my previous post. Rick and Richard both sang songs on Big Pink which they co-wrote with Dylan and Richard wrote several on his own while Robbie is solely credited for several and didn't co-write anything with Dylan. The major influence in The Hawks' shift of style does seem to have been Dylan in regard to Big Pink - but beyond that was it that same force that kept the momentum going or did someone else take hold of the reigns keeping The Band on track overtly - or was their staying the same course conscious and verbalized through collective discussion and decision making? Maybe that's the real question.

Entered at Thu May 23 22:26:49 CEST 2002 from spider-tn063.proxy.aol.com (152.163.207.73)

Bumbles

Subject: Robert Gordon

The author of "I Can't Be Satisfied: The Life & Times of Muddy Waters" (as well as "It Came from Memphis") and the journeyman neo-rockabilly vocalist are not the same person.

Entered at Thu May 23 21:59:49 CEST 2002 from l4duppx2.hewitt.com (63.73.213.5)

Donald Joseph

Crabgrass: While perhaps not discussed in the GB previously, I always thought the majority view was that the bar band sound of the Hawks morphed into the Big Pink sound as an outgrowth of the several years spent with Zimmie, first on tour, then Basement Tapes. I.e., Bar band + Dylan = Big Pink. Perhaps, Crabgrass, your question is whether that evolution was natural, or whether JRR forced it on the others, who might otherwise have returned to the bar band sound, even after the Dylan exposure? Perhaps, but you need to account for Richard's/Rick's songwiting on Big Pink.

Entered at Thu May 23 21:54:47 CEST 2002 from (12.33.126.141)

John W.

The Band's music is definitely rock and roll, but with a definite influence from country & western, much more so than soul or R & B. It's not "country" and it's not "country rock", those terms have been used to mean something else. I have a friend who has one of the world's greatest collections of rock and roll and doo-wop 45's from the 50's thru the early 60's. I loaned him Moondog Matinee once, thinking he would like the remakes of those songs from that era. He hated it, saying those guys should be arrested for taking those great songs and turning them into "country and western crap".

Entered at Thu May 23 21:48:00 CEST 2002 from (192.68.30.221)

Adela

Subject: Doug Sahm for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Got this today. It is quickly circulating through the great state of Texas and I wanted to share it with my fellow music lovers, especially since Doug has such a wonderful history with The Band. Thanks, Y'all!

http://www.petitiononline.com/dws/petition.html

Entered at Thu May 23 21:43:36 CEST 2002 from (66.200.102.18)

Jtull

Subject: cats

Crabgrass: all I can say is I'm glad my two tuxedo cats are indoor cats!

Entered at Thu May 23 21:21:08 CEST 2002 from spider-th074.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.79)

Brien Sz

Subject: Americana Continued

If the Band is Americana, is Wilco Modern Americana? Could we count The Counting Crows, Whiskeytown/Ryan Adams, JayHawks as Modern Americana? Where does Little Feet fit in, in this configuration, as well as the Allman Brothers?

I know there are Wilco detractors out there. I'm a fan but in a limited sort of way. When Wilco's stuff is on, I think it's right on -good groove, good rock (excuse me Modern Americana Rock) Yet I have been hesitant about purchasing the new cd. I have read glowing reviews but have also heard it has a lot of those slow, pained songs, thatI have a hard time getting into. This is similar to how I feel about Ryan Adams' Gold - Some great stuff, but some painfully dull, long winded droning. Wilco's Summerteeth was another cd that disappointed BIG! A couple nice diddies but otherwise dull. I thought the JayHawks early stuff was good but they also decided that slower was better - to each his own i guess..,

Crabgrass: I know you like Richard Thompson, so I wasn't sure if you knew his ex-wife Linda is releasing a new cd this summer. Ex-Hubby Richard makes a guest appearance as well.

Entered at Thu May 23 21:12:36 CEST 2002 from 24-196-235-53.charter-georgia.com (24.196.235.53)

Don Pugatch

Subject: The Last Waltz

Couple of questions to the crowd. When Richard and Van do their Tura Lura thing, was Van on the stage during the beginning, or did he come on for his part.

Arcadian Driftwood, who came on to back up The Band?

The bass player during the Jam sessions, not familiar, who is he and some background, please.

Observations from the DVD, the comments by Dr. John, so fantastic, how can you not just see the good Dr. closing his eyes and telling his stories. Listening to Levon, I only hear the true soul of a man, no malice, no fueding, just a lover of music and the life he lives. Garth, or should I say "Squeeze", those accordian jokes, never knew there where only 127 others, thought there were more.

Entered at Thu May 23 21:10:52 CEST 2002 from (169.200.133.37)

Bones

Either Robbie, Scorsese or Harvey Weinstein has persuaded U2 to write the title track to the upcoming Scorsese movie, Gangs Of New York. I'm interested in what kind of music Scorsese (with Robbie's help) will have in the movie since it's a period piece. Will it be scored like Kundun? Will there be original music like Color Of Money and King Of Comedy? Or will it have previously released material like Goodfellas and Casino?

Entered at Thu May 23 21:06:00 CEST 2002 from 1cust169.tnt16.nyc9.da.uu.net (63.38.56.169)

Crabgrass

Subject: The Band's Musical and Poetic Vision / Bison, Cats, & Dogs

The Band members went through a major stylistic change with the release of Big Pink eschewing their previous "bar band" sound - the closest they ever came to reviving it amongst their original tunes was in the raucous "Look Out Cleveland" on the Brown. As to whether or not this radical shift in style was a spoken or unspoken "collective vision" or the vision of the main songwriter to which the others deferred and collaborated in realizing is an interesting topic which I don't think has ever been discussed here in the GB.

I was unaware that lack of Bison meat was causing diabetes in Native Americans. But let's be fair to everyone and not deprive Oriental Americans of their traditional cat and dog meat.

Entered at Thu May 23 20:59:57 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-077.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.77)

Peter Viney

Various corrections: Not a hater of early Fleetwood Mac (who I did see live) just someone who thinks the Buckingham / Nicks version infinitely superior.

Daltrey never snubbed me for an autograph, but the three – Moon, Daltrey and Townsend were all (a) violent thugs (b) total arseholes. the story is in the archives! But Townsend undoubtedly wrote several all-time great singles.

JQ: The Peggy Lee album is “Mirrors” – just out on CD too with the bonus track “Is That all there Is” – an essential purchase. And Tommy was crap.

Entered at Thu May 23 20:37:42 CEST 2002 from dialup-63.209.89.103.dial1.losangeles1.level3.net (63.209.89.103)

JQ

Subject: band style

Ben P - I wouldn't want to see it on stage either (shiver me timbers). I was trying to answer earlier questions about style, Americana, etc. I think the Brown Album just stands out as a cohesive piece vs the other The Band records or other pop groups for that matter (and that's not just because I thought Tommy was crap). Peggy Lee did a record in the 70's that had a loose continuity, maybe that was close to what I meant. I can't remember the name of hers; it had a silver cover. Or Tom Waits' Big Time.

Entered at Thu May 23 20:35:06 CEST 2002 from dialup-63.209.89.103.dial1.losangeles1.level3.net (63.209.89.103)

JQ

Subject: band style

Ben P - I wouldn't want to see it on stage either (shiver me timbers). I was trying to answer earlier questions about style, Americana, etc. I think the Brown Album just stands out as a piece vs anything else The Band or other pop groups ever did (And that's not just because I thought Tommy was crap). Peggy Lee did a record in the 70's that had a loose continuity, maybe that was close to what I meant. I can't remmeberr the name of her record; it had a silver cover. Or Tom Waits' Big Time.

Entered at Thu May 23 20:18:32 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-tb072.proxy.aol.com (64.12.104.52)

Ben Pike

JQ, I think that is a real interesting idea to think about. And I hope that's what people will always do, as opposed to trying it.

Entered at Thu May 23 19:57:25 CEST 2002 from (12.34.17.194)

Johnny Flippo

Subject: TLW Royalties

Robert Gordon (he of neo-rockabilly fame and some-time author) has written a biography of Muddy Waters, available in better bookstores everywhere.

On page 253 of said biography, Gordon, quoting then-manager of Muddy Waters Scott Christenson, states that not only did Muddy receive royalties from TLW, but that it was THE FIRST TIME Muddy received a royalty check from any major record company.

Interesting.

Entered at Thu May 23 19:37:14 CEST 2002 from du6-3.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.3.6)

Ilkka

Thanks for the response to my emotional non-Band post yesterday. I'll try to control myself better in the future. (But after all, I posted it for you :-)

Entered at Thu May 23 19:13:54 CEST 2002 from stjhts20c081.nbnet.nb.ca (207.179.149.86)

WS Walcott

Someone mentioned something about the old Fleetwood Mac. I will take the old Fleetwood Mac R&B over the latter day stuff anytime. Moby Grape were not great, but I liked some of their stuff. /n Glad to see Townshend's songwriting prowess mentioned. He didn't write everything for Daltrey. Some he wrote for himself. I think it shows through in some of the tunes.

Maybe Daltrey snubbed Viney for an autograph! I don't think I have met any rock music fan that doesn't like, or at least appreciate The Who.

Entered at Thu May 23 19:10:40 CEST 2002 from dialup-63.209.89.103.dial1.losangeles1.level3.net (63.209.89.103)

JQ

Subject: Band style

Dangerous turf here, but I always believed the Brown Album had continuity enough to be a staged musical. There is a common thread throughout that could have had a dramatic interpretation. That does not apply to any of their other records. Kurt Weill in the rural South. I think The Band was the best bar/nightclub band ever, but that type of energy is not present on the Brown Album. It doesn't rock like a bar show but remains brilliant as a musical work.

Entered at Thu May 23 18:43:57 CEST 2002 from dialin-670-tnt.nyc.bestweb.net (216.179.3.162)

Gene

Entered at Thu May 23 18:41:28 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-146.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.146)

Peter Viney

The link Wilco to Michelle Shocked tour to Band is synchronicity, because Wilco and Michelle Shocked’s ‘Deep Natural’ have been alternating today –one of those days when work is rather mechanical so I can listen to music at the same time. And post more. Too often, really. The Wilco grows (Shocked has a greater melodic gift, but that may be because it’s more familiar)

Passing a small pub in Wimborne, Dorset today and a blackboard outside had “Friday night - The Band”. I was thrown for a moment. Has some local group adopted this name, or did it mean ‘the band we normally book are playing instead of a pub quiz or bingo’? (I assume it doesn’t mean that Levon, Garth and Robbie will be playing in the back room to 15 lucky locals!)

On bovine traces in meat, the scandal hit the papers today that Dutch chicken breast imported into Britain has been found to contain beef and pork protein (in spite of some of it being labelled kosher or halal). If they can manage to get it into chicken, then who knows where it will turn up? Another BSE type scandal. If farmers will turn ruminants into unsuspecting carnivores this will happen. While we can’t get buffalo meat here (and I’d be interested in the Nebraska variety), we can get real buffalo Mozarella cheese from Italy and all this talk of bison leads me to a tomato and mozarella salad this evening.

Entered at Thu May 23 18:30:41 CEST 2002 from hse-toronto-ppp187427.sympatico.ca (64.229.118.126)

Doug Barnard

Subject: Levon & the Hawks

I was fortunate to been a teenager when Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks were playing dances in southern Ontario. I used to see them every Christmas night when they played in my home town of London. Shit, were they good! Every musician playing at the time would go to these Christmas dances just to stand and watch Robbie wail away on his Telecaster. It was sheer magic. Everyone just stood there with their jaws hanging open- the Hawks were really that good. Anyway, I once knew a guy who had this tape of Robbie playing Robbie's Blues. It was known to be in the hands of several local musicians at the time. I have lost contact with the guy. So here we are, some 45 years later and lo and behold, here's a bootleg CD that MUST be the music from that tape. My question to you is WHERE CAN I FIND A COPY OF THIS? I've wanted to hear this music for decades! I hope you can help.

Entered at Thu May 23 18:30:35 CEST 2002 from sc-hiltonhead1b-18.hhe.adelphia.net (68.70.20.18)

Amanda

I like what Bruce Eder wrote about The Band's music. He described MFBP as a album that "ran counter to the so-called counterculture". Eder wrote that the sound "took a little getting use to, if only for their lack of smooth, easily categorizable sound". Mr. Eder believes that the mythical American imagery in the Band's songs, was given so much respect by the Canadian members. They were on the outside looking in and could appreciate Americana in a different way than Americans. The article goes on to say that the music was "so far removed from the self-indulgent virtuosity and political and cultural posturing going on around them". That statement still holds true today. The Band's music seems so non-Americana in a way because it's not flashy, doesn't have a political motive and sings to and borrows from many cultures, not focusing on just one. My opinion is the same as Eder, "that the Band seemed to be operating in a different reality, to different rules". I don't feel like any music I have heard in my lifetime has touched them. One more quote from Eder..."Classical organ flourishes meshed with a big (yet lean) rock and roll sound"...I love that.

Entered at Thu May 23 17:51:51 CEST 2002 from (158.72.71.193)

SteveH

Subject: Better website on Bison

This is the tribe's website on the Bison Project. Nice pictures.

Entered at Thu May 23 17:48:26 CEST 2002 from roc-66-66-184-69.rochester.rr.com (66.66.184.69)

Pepote Rouge

Subject: Fav Moments in Band Songs

Best Band moments Hmmmmm....The call and response lyrics between Levon and Richard in Whispering Pines...Ricks bassline in Jawbone....Garth in Ring that Bell....and his solo in Last of the Blacksmiths...A Live Time to Kill..Robbies live solos in Endless Highway 74.The opening song on Big Pink Tears of rage..on and on and on. Take Care

Entered at Thu May 23 17:46:56 CEST 2002 from (158.72.71.193)

SteveH

Subject: Bison, etc.

Interesting reading about Bison. Just a couple of weeks ago I met a guy who runs a Bison project in Nebraska, and Frank Popper who coined the term "Buffalo Commons." Several Plains states are being depopulated and the prairie is coming back (to some extent). The Bison project is partially intended to improve Native American health by allowing them to return to a diet closer to that of a couple centuries ago.

"Buffalo are being brought back to the Winnebago land to revitalize the spirit, land, and health of the people there. The 200-acre refuge holds the Winnebago bison herd, which was formed in 1994 as part of the Intertribal Bison Cooperative. From an initial herd of 10 animals, the Winnebago herd has grown to over 50."

See the link if interested.

Entered at Thu May 23 17:37:56 CEST 2002 from host-65.subnet-76.med.umich.edu (141.214.76.65)

Steve Knowlton

Subject: Bison meat - not completely bison!

JTull Fan: Recent genetic tests show that all farm-raised bison share some genetic material with cattle (it seems that somewhere along the line a little interbreeding happened.) So there are only a few "true" bisons, and they're the ones roaming free out west. Doesn't make a buffalo burger any less tasty, though.

Entered at Thu May 23 16:58:13 CEST 2002 from pres058003.ashe.miami.edu (129.171.58.3)

O'Toole

I love the Band. I love the triumphs they had. I love the low points, when they were struggling. I love it when Robbie's guitar recoils like loosed barbed wire during Who Do You Love. When Rick and Levon drop down the backbeat at the beginning of Garth's amazing solo in Chest Fever. When Rick's fiddle takes off in Rag Mama Rag. When Richard says "I'm a theif, and I dig it!" in Jawbone. The sound made when they all sang together in We Can Talk and Slipping and Sliddin'. And The way people cheered for them after The Weight on Rock of Ages. The way I would've if I were there.

Anyone else have favorite song moments from Band songs?

Entered at Thu May 23 16:38:19 CEST 2002 from user-1120841.dsl.mindspring.com (66.32.32.129)

Pat Brennan

I think Wilco got the Americana label from their (actually, I suppose you could say "his" as in Jeff Tweedy) participation in the group Uncle Tupelo, which was closer to the "country via punk" ethos than Wilco's latest direction. Uncle Tupelo opened for The Band on that early 90's Michelle Shocked tour, and I believe Levon called their then current album his favorite of the year.

As a sales point, Americana is beyond broad and thus includes everyone from Nanci Griffith and Lucinda Williams to the Handsome family and Wilco. I think the Band gets thrown in there because almost all these artists reference the boys as their touchstone.

Entered at Thu May 23 16:29:32 CEST 2002 from (208.218.212.2)

David Powell

Subject: How to categorize the music of The Band?

In categorizing the music of The Band, one can find guidance in various definitions for the word "band". We certainly have "something that binds, ties together". Of course we have "a group of people joined together for a common purpose", more specifically, "a group of musicians playing together".

But how does one define with any degree of specificity that music which The Band played? Turning to yet another definition for "band", we find "a specific range of wavelengths or frequencies, as in radio broadcasting or sound or light transmission".

Imagine being transported back in time to the 1960s. You are alone, late at night, somewhere in North America. A radio is playing, the light from the glow of its tubes casts shadows on the wall. You reach for the tuning dial, close your eyes and slowly change from station to station, pausing just long enough to listen to a snatch of a song, here and there, before moving on to the next. Pop to rock to jazz to country to classical to big band, and then back down the dial again. You alter the effect with the speed in which turn the dial -- from fast to slow and in-between. Soon you find a rhythm in which all the different songs blend almost seamlessly into one continuous song.

Time disappears as you fall into a deep sleep. You awake to hear a disc jockey announce that you've been listening to a group called "The Band".

Entered at Thu May 23 16:26:27 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-099.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.99)

Peter Viney

Americana continued. I did track down the Wilco CD and have given it a single listening. Immediate reaction – like Lambchop, it’s musically interesting and i think the songs will stick in the head (though it has very pretentious bits in a few places), but just like Lambchop … er … the main singer does not have a ‘signature’ voice. It’s neither memorable nor particularly good (or bad). This is I think the difference between now and then. Nowadays the writer sings the songs. This was the significant change Dylan wrought in the business. In the glory days of The Band, the writers knew their limitations. Robbie wrote for three great voices, all ‘signature’ voices. I guess even with my pet loathing, The Who, Townsend had the sense to write for Daltrey’s voice, not his own (yes, I have heard Townsend solo). Much as I like John Cale’s early solo stuff like Vintage Violence and Paris 1919, he’s in a similar category as a singer- and obviously must have known that with Lou Reed (and Nico) in the band, you didn’t try to hog the lead vocals. Before we make other comparisons, I think Robbie DOES have a signature voice – immediately recognizable, that is, and interesting – but it’s at its most effective on a narrow range of songs (a far narrower range than his writing ability in fact) which is why he excelled by writing for three signature voices. With the latest Lambchop you have superb music until the voice comes in. I wish they sold an instrumental only version, in fact. But above all, what on Earth makes Wilco "Americana"?

Jenny – Bruce definitely says it better on this one (delivered in a signature voice too). I get song references whenever I visit places too. Having to walk a mile along Madison Avenue every day for a week once was torture because “Walking on Madison” rang through my head the entire time and I couldn’t shut it off.

LDO: I think I’m the only Doors hater here and I don’t mind (and Who hater too, except for the early singles). I’m a miserable SOB about some music.

BTW, surely like venison in Scotland, the key to building up the numbers of (e.g.) bison is to find them a useful role, which sadly for the bison will be as eventual meat. However, it will have had a free range life first. To be honest, it wouldn’t have been bred in the first place otherwise. Either it’s a few lonely ones in zoos, or a lot of them roaming wild (and being killed for meat at the end of it). Didn’t the Native Americans use to drive a whole herd over a clifftop, then pick up what they needed afterwards? Or was that just in the movie?

Entered at Thu May 23 16:10:39 CEST 2002 from 0-1pool35-109.nas1.cincinnati1.oh.us.da.qwest.net (63.232.35.109)

Jenny T

Entered at Thu May 23 16:05:35 CEST 2002 from 0-1pool35-109.nas1.cincinnati1.oh.us.da.qwest.net (63.232.35.109)

Jenny T

Subject: Where Do We Go from Here?

It is amazing to me that the very words I thought of this morning from Where Do We Go from Here are in the GB just a few paces south of here. I never think of that song at all unless I am back home (in the victim of fate state), but (bear with me) thinking of Big Mama and Little Bessie made me think of a Little Mama, Wanda, in Bruce Springsteen's brilliant Open All Night from Nebraska. That song so perfectly expresses sorrow for the loss of a sense of place, and for the loss of places themselves in our asphalt nation. While Robbie himself said that Where Do We Go from here was the "shithead way to say it," I think Bruce's way might be the non-shithead way to say some of what Robbie was trying to say. Ironically the car is both a reason for the loss, and a treasured means of escaping, if not the hideousness of the "lunar landscape," at least the loneliness and alienation he feels. I would be happy to type out the words if someone will tell me again how you make lines that are not paragraphs. But the finish is key: "Your eyes get itchy in the wee wee hours/Sun's just a red ball risin' over them refinery towers/Radio's jammed up with gospel stations/Lost souls callin' long distance salvation/Hey Mr. DJ, woncha hear my last prayer/Hey ho rock and roll, deliver me from nowhere."

Entered at Thu May 23 15:56:46 CEST 2002 from (66.200.102.18)

JTull

Subject: Peltier

Jeffrey: Laughed when I saw your last post. Actually, my eating Bison is no different to Peltier than my eating beef would be to a Hindhu or Pork to a Jew. I respect Native Americans respect for the animal but for the rest of us it has no religous attachment. I remain apalled at what the U.S. gov't did to the bison in the 19th century. Howver, I wish to stress that the bison currently availablefor food is farm raised and bred (more humanely, again, than the factory farms currently used in the poultry and beef industries). Current use as food in no way threatens the remaining free buffalo out west.

Entered at Thu May 23 15:36:21 CEST 2002 from 0-1pool35-109.nas1.cincinnati1.oh.us.da.qwest.net (63.232.35.109)

Jenny T

Well I love that song and the way Rick sang it, but that woman seems like a spineless jerk to me. Yes it would be humiliating to admit to the world you slept with your husband's best friend, and your husband might not be too happy about it, but this is a man's LIFE we are talking about. She lets him HANG so she will avoid some (admittedly bigtime) embarrassment and suffering! Big deal she cries over his bones, although he seems to have some kind of afterlife going where he gets to sing (and even has a recording contract!) so maybe it's not all bad for him.

Entered at Thu May 23 15:34:03 CEST 2002 from sdn-ap-005castocp0551.dialsprint.net (63.187.42.43)

jeffrey

You and Peltier would definitely not get along.........

Entered at Thu May 23 14:16:31 CEST 2002 from (66.200.102.18)

JTull Fan

Subject: Bison and Illka

Funny, I saw the posts on bison AFTER I removed some from my freezer for dinner tonight. Bison is increasingly gaining popularity as a local farm grown, non-antibiotic/non-hormone fed low-fat alternative to beef. It is also better tasting, in my opinion, and can be purchased at better restaurants, specialty stores, and even Kroger supermarkets. Illka: I don't have enough facts to comment on your last post except to say that if society did not take it upon itself to judge, then yesterday in Alabama we would not have finally condemned the terrorist who bombed a black church in 1963 and killed 4 young girls. Justice delayed is still justice. Just bought TLW DVD last night (along with the new Tull DVD) and should have a fun weekend coming up. BP: Give it up.

Entered at Thu May 23 14:16:31 CEST 2002 from wc12.ym.rnc.net.cable.rogers.com (66.185.85.79)

John D

Subject: Nigerian e-mail Fraud

Well according to Yahoo news they got six of the spammers sending us e-mails over and over again.

Entered at Thu May 23 13:52:05 CEST 2002 from h0050ba8ceef5.ne.client2.attbi.com (24.61.243.158)

Long Distance Operator

I'm the Changeling.... SEE ME CHANGE!

I know the Doors are anathema in here, but I thoroughly enjoyed Hank's reference. I don't know how it was intended, but I for one think "Swaggering Bullshitter" resonates quite nicely. I wouldn't be insulted if it were applied to me. Well alright!

Entered at Thu May 23 12:48:20 CEST 2002 from 64-80-53-235-static.surferz.net (64.80.53.235)

Diamond Lil

Just a reminder. TLW opens at the Tinker Street Cinema tomorrow night. Two showings, 7pm and 9:30. Garth and Maud will be at the early show. I hope to see some of you there.

Donald Joseph: I loved your story about your daughter being the only one who knew Neil Diamond's name. Who knew that bathroom breaks could be so educational? :-)

Have a good day everyone. Hug Jan.

Entered at Thu May 23 10:30:38 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-009.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.9)

Peter Viney

Last week's refreshing look at "Up On Cripple Creek" from the viewpoint of Bessie, rather than that of the trucker, made me think of "My Long Black Veil;" where Marijohn Wilkin follows up the song from the woman's viewpoint (I shed not a tear …). I thought we'd have a week of other viewpoints in Band songs, but it didn't transpire. Pity. Carmen's view of the stranger who accosted her in the street? Crazy Chester's opinion? The Union Man's opinion of the intransigent farmer?

Entered at Thu May 23 10:24:02 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-009.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.9)

Peter Viney

The word Americana is so new that earlier in the life of this Guestbook, I posted to ask what it was! I had only heard it applied to art, and especially “collectibles” (MacDonalds ephemera, Mickey Mouse toys, baseball cards) not to music. When I asked the question, I already owned the “Columbia Country Classics Volume 3” CD which is subtitled “Americana” and is basically “novelty country” which had pop chart success. It was released in 1990, and I thought of it as a one-off title. It includes Long Black Veil (Lefty Frizzell version), Big Iron, El Paso, Big Bad John, Don’t take Your Guns to Town, Cross the Brazos at Waco, Ballad of Paladin, North to Alaska, Wolverton Mountain, Ballad of Davy Crockett, Ballad of Jed Clampett, Battle of New Orleans. “Cowboy” would have been a possible title covering much of it.

Ace’s wonderful series “The Golden Age of American Rock & Roll” has just added a 10th “Country Special Edition” which includes about half the same tracks as Columbia’s “Americana”, and has the same premise – crossovers to the pop charts, but it is not limited to one label and adds other successes like King of the Road, From a Jack to A King, White Lightning, Six Days of the Road (Dave Dudley version). It also has stuff like I Fall to Pieces, He’ll Have to Go, Walk on By (Leroy Van Dyke) which are what I’d simply call “country”.

The sort of music I’d have called Americana in the past has a kitsch quality to it. Much of it is conscious pastiche, (“Rhinestone Cowboy” should have been put on the collections as a wink and a nod about the content!) ‘Long Black Veil’ was a knowing pastiche by Marijohn Wilkin, and The Band saw it the same way- Levon’s autobiography points out that they found it ‘funny’. ‘Big Bad John’ is firmly tongue in cheek, as are several others in the category. I think ‘Sweetheart of the Rodeo’ falls into an Americana grouping, because it was a special edition of sorts, whereas I don’t see The Band as setting out to pastiche, pay tribute to or send up any genre (except for Long Black Veil). They were genuinely playing that music. As critics have said, ‘Dixie’ isn’t a song “about” the Civil War aftermath, it sounds as if it’s a song FROM the Civil War aftermath. So I think the term ‘Americana’ is a heavily misused one. I chased for a Wilco CD round a store the other day, because no one knew if it was ‘rock’ or ‘country’ or ‘rock and roll’ or ‘Americana’. Turned out that it was sold out anyway. Still haven’t heard it. Americana and alt.country have merged, and in the UK, Tower was the first store to label a section ‘Americana’ – though I guess this was around the time I asked what it meant. 1997? I agree that it’s inappropriate for The Band. And yes, it bothers me too when I read it again and again.

I always wonder if Tower sell any records or DVDS. In Southampton they have DVDS at £22.99 which are £19.99 at HMV, £18.99 at Virgin and £17.99 at MVC. Doesn’t anyone compare?

Hank: Glad you brought up the BISON. Where do we go from here? Now that buffalo’s in the zoo, standing in the rain, just one more victim of fate, like California state. Maybe I’ve been too harsh about the lyrics of The Moon Struck One! Anyway, my favourite recorded Dylan and The Band moment is Live 66, and apart from the obvious, I’d go for One too Many Mornings when they get to sing as a group – BeHIND! The fragments of 1965 stuff are unlistenable recording quality anyway, but back up contemporary accounts that they were much better in 66 than Fall 65.

Entered at Thu May 23 09:23:47 CEST 2002 from 1cust124.tnt16.nyc9.da.uu.net (63.38.56.124)

Crabgrass

Subject: American Roots Rock

"Rock" is too generic a term to use to describe anyone these days. The most accurate term to describe The Band's music is "American Roots Rock."

The roots are American Mountain Folk and Country Music, American Rhythm and Blues, Mississippi Delta Blues, and American Rockabilly and Rock 'n' Roll.

Okay, next topic!!

Entered at Thu May 23 07:24:11 CEST 2002 from 12-249-119-233.client.attbi.com (12.249.119.233)

Donald Joseph (again)

Does it bother anyone else that the press so frequently refers to The Band's music as "roots rock" or "Americana"? Those references always leap out at me as inappropriate. To my ears, The Band plays "rock." If the press wants to add an adjective, add it to everyone else's rock (glam rock, punk rock, grunge rock, speed-metal hair bands, etc.).

I think my point is backed up by history: During The Band's recording heyday, 1968-76, I suspect they never were labelled as "roots" or "Americana" rockers -- those terms are neologisms that, as applied to The Band, are anachronistic. (I grant you that Time mag. tried to label The Band as "country rock," but virtually no one else did.) Also, to the extent that "roots"/"Americana" describe present-day genres like Wilco's music, I think The Band's style is sufficiently distinct as to distingush it entirely.

Am I tilting at windmills here, or am I right?

Entered at Thu May 23 06:56:28 CEST 2002 from 12-249-119-233.client.attbi.com (12.249.119.233)

Donald Joseph

True Story: My 9-year-old third grade daughter told me that in school today her teacher played a Neil Diamond song for the class (I believe she said it was called "Coming to America," or something to do with "America" -- not "Crunchy Granola" or "Jonathan Livingston Seagull"). After playing the tune, the teacher -- testing the class's short-term memory -- asked whether anyone could remember the name of the singer. Only my daughter raised her hand. She got the answer right.

Turns out the Diamond name resonated more with my daughter than with her classmates, because I'd recently dragged her to the theatrical release of TLW. Seems she paid attentions to Daddy's mutterings as he took her out, in the middle of the film, to go to the john.

Entered at Thu May 23 05:49:13 CEST 2002 from bay-set7-ip-78.se-tel.com (65.163.13.78)

Danny K. Blevins

Subject: I love to listen to The Band

I just want to say that I really enjoy listening to The Band. If any of the members should ever look at this page I also would like to say, "Thanks!" Thanks for the joy you have brought to so many people. Danny

Entered at Thu May 23 04:25:48 CEST 2002 from spider-we042.proxy.aol.com (205.188.195.37)

butch

Subject: guest this saturday

hey, this saturday,, @@ the Jam on the River, in Philly,,, guest pianistDavid Maxwell,,,from the James Cotton Blues Band,,,, will be joining the Barn Burners & Levon,,,

the show starts @ 3ish 3:30,,,, then bob weir & ratdog,,,,,

see ya there,,,,,

Entered at Thu May 23 04:20:34 CEST 2002 from netcache-1115.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.222.132)

roz richardson

"I guess it would have been better that HE had gotten shot by the FBI instead of them FBI fellers getting shot" Nobody Said That You Swaggering Bullshitter!

Entered at Thu May 23 03:41:09 CEST 2002 from dialup161-a.ts552.cwt.esat.net (193.203.156.161)

Hank

Subject: GHOSTS CROWD THE YOUNG CHILDS EGGSHELL MIND

Indians scattered on Dawns Highway........... Bleeding..........

Leonard Peltier........sounds like a dangerous, kickass guy........broke out of prison, too, eh?

I guess it would have been better that HE got shot by The FBI instead them FBI fellers getting shot.

You know, The USA would have NO problems with the descendants of the natives if they had just decimated The Bison properly instead of letting the last 500 be bred and fed by hippie cow punks like Neil Young.......Then the world would not have to deal with the fact that Native Americans were subject to a slow, systematic genocide..........the karma of which is still to be reckoned with........... The lesson to learn is if you're gonna bring a life form to the brink of extinction, you better finish 'em off for good and not let'em grow back stronger, eh?

sheesh......what were they thinking?..........

Come to think of it, I'm surprised this subject doesn't get MORE of an airing in this GB....considering the heavy politico ranting that goes on in here........meself included........

I'm sorry....but apart from "Tell Me Momma"......I'm not mad about Live '66 at all.........Yeah, it's great but, I mean, I'd love to hear Levon with the Hawks and Dylan from '65 if possible........"I Don't Believe You" from TLW is possibly the best thing Dylan EVER did with The Band........'66, Basement Tapes, '69, '74 included........Dylan really leads them at TLW.......Them fellas were playing for their lives when Dylan hits the stage at TLW.......RR's eyes look like they're about to pop out of his head or like he's about to cry or faint.............he even took his jacket off for it!

Entered at Thu May 23 03:27:01 CEST 2002 from sdn-ap-005castocp0218.dialsprint.net (63.187.40.218)

jeffrey

Subject: Oops!forgot to add my link!(political)

Entered at Thu May 23 02:44:54 CEST 2002 from sdn-ap-005castocp0218.dialsprint.net (63.187.40.218)

jeffrey to Bones

Entered at Thu May 23 02:15:23 CEST 2002 from webcacheb07a.cache.pol.co.uk (195.92.168.169)

Jez Lowe

Continue to be inspired by this group of musicians.

Entered at Thu May 23 00:36:12 CEST 2002 from dv029s55.lawrence.ks.us (24.124.55.29)

Dexy

Entered at Wed May 22 23:02:49 CEST 2002 from (63.95.85.139)

seems

this is the most extensive and best site on a band i've ever seen. i don't know if its a testament to THE BAND or the website, but i get inspired every time i open up the page. i'm a recent BAND fan and i cant get enough. saw levon and the barnburners and was blown away. keep up the good work now...

Entered at Wed May 22 22:34:22 CEST 2002 from m124-133.on.tac.net (209.202.124.133)

Bill

Entered at Wed May 22 22:31:44 CEST 2002 from (169.200.133.38)

Bones

John D: I have enclosed a link to the NEW John Simon website. This is where I got a copy of Hoagyland. I also got a nice note from John himself (with a copy of Harmony Farm, his personal favorite). I hope this helps. We should have this new web page linked to the John Simon page on this site.

Jeffrey: No need to get sarcastic. I just come here to follow my favorite group and get away from BIG ISSUES. If it's alright with Jan, you may post whatever you like. Thank you for letting us know if it's non-Band related.

Entered at Wed May 22 22:29:31 CEST 2002 from ns1.prenhall.com (198.4.159.5)

Ray G

Hello, Just wondering if anyone has any insight as to which Bass Guitars Rick used to record with. I have seen him pictured playing Fender, Gibson, Ampeg, and in later years some that look to be custom made. I'm just wondering if he stuck to one main bass in the studio though? Anyone have solid info?

Entered at Wed May 22 21:55:31 CEST 2002 from pool-141-153-198-177.mad.east.verizon.net (141.153.198.177)

Bumbles

Subject: Mickey Jones

I noticed an ad for a recent collection of late 60s/early 70s solo recordings by Dean (of Jan &) Torrance one selling point of which is “…backed by the premier session players of the day.” The short list of the likes of Larry Knechtel and James Burton also includes Mickey Jones. I suppose that (not to mention the KR/First Edition gig) is much more what his musical career was all about, but his is a name I only think of in connection with the words Royal Albert Hall.

Entered at Wed May 22 21:23:23 CEST 2002 from stjhts26c041.nbnet.nb.ca (198.164.241.46)

WS Walcott

Entered at Wed May 22 21:07:37 CEST 2002 from netcache-1115.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.222.132)

roz richardson

Subject: Kenny

I read somewheres about that The Hawk once made a pass at Kenny Rogers, maybe that's why he didn't show up. Possibly the sexual tension between the two would have been too much for the Last Waltz crowd and so Marty and Robbie decided it wouldn't be such a good idea. Has anyone ever read that quote by Scorsese's old girlfriend Sandra Weintraub...she said "It was a shame that Marty wasn't gay, the best relationship he ever had was with Robbie." Huh......

Entered at Wed May 22 20:53:33 CEST 2002 from (208.218.212.2)

David Powell

One would have to be extremely naive to believe that someone convicted of participating in the brutal, execution style murder of two FBI agents would ever be paroled or pardoned, especially in light of the current political climate.

Mr. Peltier's long series of appeals challenging his conviction have proved unsucessful. In addition, not long after his conviction, he made an armed escape from prison and was later recaptured.

Entered at Wed May 22 20:44:36 CEST 2002 from syr-66-67-72-194.twcny.rr.com (66.67.72.194)

Bashful Bill

A positive review of the DVD (with a brief mention of the box set and the recent theatrical run) in today's USA Today. They are running out of things to say about it though, it seems like it was cobbled together from any number of articles we have been reading for the last couple months.

Entered at Wed May 22 20:25:52 CEST 2002 from syr-66-67-72-194.twcny.rr.com (66.67.72.194)

Bashful Bill

Iikka-I hope, also, that it was an unavoidable action, but my cynical side asks why the scene was cleaned up? Things are getting shakier by the day. I don't know if the government is overreacting to last weeks partisan attacks, er, constructive criticism, by raising the warning levels,or if their intelligence is actually correct-that something may be afoot. But, regardless, the terrorists(which is a broad title)have achieved one of their main goals of terrorizing by raising our fear&anxiety levels...On a more pleasant note-I checked out Mickey Jones website a couple months ago, I forget what led me to it. An interesting life, he has led. Highly recognizable, too, I have seen him around for many years, on TV and in commercials mostly, and never knew it was the same guy who was once a Hawk...I was in the dentist office(found out I need a root canal, yikes!) and was looking at a People magazine from a couple weeks ago, with JFK Jr on the cover. They did a review of the new Neil Young biography, with a pcture of Neil, Dylan, and Rick(it even had his name in the caption) from what I think was the SNACK concert...and I saw Nancy's post re Almost Famous-I agree, that is a cool movie.Cameron Crowe is one of those directors whose talent keeps growing. Mrs Bashful Bill loved it when it came out, I bought her the DVD(the special edition with all the bells&whistles) for Mothers Day. Haven't sat down to watch it, yet, though.

Entered at Wed May 22 20:16:20 CEST 2002 from netcache-1115.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.222.132)

roz richardson

Subject: "Chasing The Dragon"

There was one story in that book that was rather amusing. Bob Dylan had gone to spend a little time with Cathy and Gordon and they asked Bob if they could get him something to eat. Bob said "I'd like a cheese sandwich" Cathy and Gordon went into the kitchen to prepare the sandwich and Cathy said "Gordon, We can't give him JUST a cheese sandwich...that's Bob Dylan!" So they prepared him a ham and cheese sandwich and walked out to the livingroom and handed it to him. He just kinda looked at it for a minute or so and then began to nibble on the edges. When he left they found a piece of ham lying across the arm of the livingroom couch. They didn't know? Anyway...I was inspired by Donald Joseph's post too. He seems to have much more on the ball than most of the rest of ya! That CNN broadcast was called "Pinnacle"

Entered at Wed May 22 20:01:30 CEST 2002 from 1cust105.tnt17.nyc9.da.uu.net (63.38.83.105)

Crabgrass

Subject: Lenny / Kenny

That settles that - Red Man speaks with forked tongue!!

Why wasn't Kenny Rogers invited to TLW? Were he and The Hawk feuding?

Entered at Wed May 22 20:00:23 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-td072.proxy.aol.com (64.12.104.182)

Ben Pike

Thanks John W, the violence inherent in the dim bulb Clinton hater comes out of the cave and struts for us all to see.. I'm sure you've got your order in for a W "comemorative photo" of your boy in action during 9-11. But your not going to be able to hide behind the firefighters for long... looks like some of the families want answers, and you won't be able to sell them on the "no, it's not that he can't speak in compleate sentences, he's like Hemingway don't you know" line for long..

Pretty good review of the "Waltz" DVD on Salon, hey, T Fan, check it out!!

Entered at Wed May 22 19:16:17 CEST 2002 from du48-250.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.250.48)

Ilkka

Subject: Inspired by Donald Joseph's post on Lenny Peltier

Who is innocent, who is quilty? Who are we to judge? - The unarmed cousin to a female gypsy student of mine was killed by a police officer yesterday after a taxi robbery. The firemen cleaned the street immediately after the dead-shooting. No blood, no traces, no evidences. The police officer did what he had to do (I surely hope), the firemen did what they had to do, and the poor cousin - only a simple twist of fate. Who is going to write the ballad of cousin to "my" Paula?
God bless his brother and the police officer who is going to carry this shooting in his heart for the rest of his life. (My link is my vCard.)

Entered at Wed May 22 19:05:34 CEST 2002 from netcache-1115.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.222.132)

roz richardson

Subject: Leonard Peltier

Peltier, when asked by the interviewer on the CNN sunday night news program whether or not he killed those two FBI agents said "I didn't kill them. Conditions on the rez killed them...years and years of systematic neglect by the US goverment killed them" "But did you pull a trigger Mr. Peltier" asked the inteviewer. Silence, and a lie, which a few minutes later was recanted when the interviewer caught him up in it. The interview ended with a " I don't know who killed the two FBI agents and if I did know I wouldn't tell you..as far as I'm concerned they died from frustration and discouragement and hopelessness"

Entered at Wed May 22 17:40:46 CEST 2002 from m124-133.on.tac.net (209.202.124.133)

Bill

Entered at Wed May 22 17:33:34 CEST 2002 from (208.218.212.2)

David Powell

Peter: Many answers to questions about Mickey Jones' career can be found at his own website (www.mickeyjones.com). Dylan had already met Mr. Jones before he was asked to join the '66 tour and was impressed with his skills as a drummer. After the tour, according to Mr. Jones, he chose not to move to Woodstock because of lifestyle choices regarding the use of drugs & alcohol. There were plans for further work with Dylan, including concerts at Shea Stadium and Moscow (?), but Dylan's motorcycle incident changed everything.

Mickey Jones returned to California and found work as an extra in the movie business. Through the Smothers Brothers, he later hooked up with and joined the group that became the First Edition featuring Kenny Rogers. In 1968 their recording of "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) reached #5 in the charts. Later hits, such as "Ruben James", "Ruby Don't Take Your Love To Town" and "Something's Burning" followed. Kenny Rogers left the group in 1970 for a solo career, but Mr. Jones remained with the First Edition until they disbanded in 1976.

Over the years since then, he has successfully pursued a career as an actor in the movies and television. He has appeared in many films, including "Sling Blade", "Tin Cup" and "Total Recall". To television viewers, he's best known for his role as Peter Bilker on "Home Improvement".

Entered at Wed May 22 17:23:53 CEST 2002 from m124-133.on.tac.net (209.202.124.133)

Bill

Entered at Wed May 22 16:36:48 CEST 2002 from 0-1pool33-194.nas1.cincinnati1.oh.us.da.qwest.net (63.232.33.194)

Jenny T

Subject: Great Books

Peter Viney: I am wondering if you have read a book by Carl Sagan called Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors. Maybe that is where you got your anthropological insights, but if you have not already read it, it is very interesting--it delves pretty deeply into "Jemima Surrender" territory. I will have to read what you said about that song.

Another excellent book I have read recently is Cathy Smith's autobiography, Chasing the Dragon. I have so much to say about it but I know that while the GB doesn't mind lying around in the gutter once in a while, it generally tries not to fall into the storm drain. I am holding onto the curb.

Entered at Wed May 22 16:21:33 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-057.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.57)

Peter Viney

He didn't hop on the first plane back in May 1966 but returned at a leisurely pace with Garth by sea. He also says he was paid for a full year after that by Dylan - presumably they all were, so nominally remained a group just in case Dylan had been ready / willing / able to tour. I often wondered if there was any more contact. e.g. was he the reserve when they called Levon and asked him to rejoin. This era between May 66 and the basement tapes from March 67 on is little documented by anyone. Mickey Jones was back in California, I assume.

Entered at Wed May 22 16:07:35 CEST 2002 from m124-133.on.tac.net (209.202.124.133)

Bill

Entered at Wed May 22 11:34:31 CEST 2002 from ppp80.ac1.56k.execulink.com (209.239.5.80)

Jeanette

Subject: Thanks Sparky !!

I loved your feedback !

I already thanked you in the 'subject line', but I am still 'muchly beholdin'!

As soon as is possible, I will enjoy the "LAST WALTZ" again, keeping in mind that it may take some time without a DVD player at my immediate disposal (in Canader'eh? LOL)

Welcome 'dembry' --- 'twas my first time too !!

Love ~j~

Entered at Wed May 22 07:46:28 CEST 2002 from spider-ta073.proxy.aol.com (152.163.205.78)

Dave Z

Entered at Wed May 22 07:21:12 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-th011.proxy.aol.com (64.12.102.21)

Bayou Sam

WFUV radio has a little segment they call "under the covers" where they play a set of tunes that were written by a certain artist, and covered by others. Today they played a set of songs that featured the songwriting of Rick Danko. I wrote them down, but I left them at work - sorry. I can post them tomorrow if anyone's interested.

C'mon Rollie - keep it out of the GB. We get the message.

Entered at Wed May 22 04:42:55 CEST 2002 from pcp01369050pcs.jamisn01.pa.comcast.net (68.80.192.240)

Doug Embry

I remember buying the album "The Band" on a trip to Memphis from Mississippi in '70 or '71. It must have been Cripple Creek that generated the urge - that and just looking at these guys and that funky drumset on the back cover. I credit Levon Helms drumming for getting my attention because I was a drummer and Levon's drumming struck me as "down home" and unpretencious. Wow - that album was fantastic and I've listened to it for over thirty years. I also own the DVD for the making of that album and I just watched the new Last Waltz DVD with the additional footage. I found this site just by searching for information on Rick Danko. I'm so glad they got Rick Danko on that documentary.

This my first time on this site. I'm really enjoying the pictures from the 50's & 60's

Entered at Wed May 22 02:10:32 CEST 2002 from 1cust16.tnt2.idaho-falls.id.da.uu.net (67.227.173.16)

To Bones(non-music related)--from Jeffrey

Hey Bones! I appreciate your stance on what may or may not be appropriate for this forum, hence I've limited some of these "political" posts to mere URLs. If one is interested enough to pursue it, they have the option. However, I feel strongly that this particular issue transcends mere politics. People are dying ,perhaps sons and daughters of folks from this GB.The information contained in these writings is not conjecture or speculation. It is documented public record.It has nothing to do with Democrat or Republican, although many steer it down that path. I'm not trying to stir up debate.For what's it's worth, I feel that this stuff is a helluva lot more important than the latest DVD of "The Last Waltz". If it ain't about music , I'll say so up front so you can scroll on. If i find a piece of journalism that is interesting and seems to be well studied,I feel obligated to pass it on to those who have any interest, and they are out there. I will continue to "refine" my posts so as not offend your sensibilites.All the best----J

Entered at Wed May 22 01:44:02 CEST 2002 from dialup-67.25.134.136.dial1.buffalo1.level3.net (67.25.134.136)

G-MAN

Hope we have a good turn out 5/25, at the Pattenburg House, for the Jim Weider Band!! Are the Philly Penn's Landers trippin up???

Entered at Tue May 21 23:46:20 CEST 2002 from aca6e97a.ipt.aol.com (172.166.233.122)

Andy R

Subject: End of "She Knows"

Hank:to answer your question..."She Knows", the version you are referring to comes from a live show at the Lone Star Cafe in NYC. The MC was famous radio personality Pete Fornatelle ( I think from WNEW-FM NY). That's who Rick is talking to at the end of the song...and he replies to Rick. Hope this answers your question.

Entered at Tue May 21 23:44:06 CEST 2002 from cs242228-7.houston.rr.com (24.242.228.7)

Laura Holt Lorfing

Subject: Houston wants Levon!!

Does anyone know why Levon's show was postponed in Houston? It was scheduled for May 7th at The Mucky Duck but has been put on hold. I'm wondering and waiting here in "H" Town for the new date. If anyone knows what's up please let me know. The Mucky Duck has been less than helpful. When you call it's all that menu crap with no option to speak to a live person. They ain't worth a shit at returning emails either on the subject. On a Dylan note.... I saw a really good special on the Biography Channel about Mr. Bob. Two hours of really good info. for those of you that want a front to back history of Mr. Zimmerman and of course little tid bits on The Band as well. I'm sure that channel re-runs stuff all the time so try to catch it if you can. Hello to Donna in PA. ..it's been a long time! Acadian Ruby where are you??? PEACE ALL!

Entered at Tue May 21 23:41:07 CEST 2002 from netcache-1115.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.222.132)

roz

I think Rick said "Ahh Pete, it's good to see ya man" And it's good to see you again Rick" came the relpy. Pete was probably a club owner..maybe.

Entered at Tue May 21 22:41:36 CEST 2002 from wc12.ym.rnc.net.cable.rogers.com (66.185.85.79)

John D

I just ordered 3 Cd's from John; but he told me that Hoagyland has not been available for awhile. I was just wondering where you bought yours. Hate to send to Japan because of the Yen vs our dollar here in Canada.

Entered at Tue May 21 22:34:47 CEST 2002 from (208.218.212.2)

David Powell

I believe Levon's birthday is this coming Sunday, May 26th. The two birthday boys, Levon & Bob Dylan, are still playing great music. They get my vote -- I don't need no stinking politicians.

Entered at Tue May 21 22:22:19 CEST 2002 from (169.200.133.38)

Bones

Yesterday, I was proud that the GB readers were staying away from Jeffrey's multiple non-Band posts trying to stir up political debates. Unfortunately, people seem to be at it again today. Isn't there a MSNBC website or somewhere to have these discussions?

Entered at Tue May 21 21:47:26 CEST 2002 from dialup127-b.ts552.cwt.esat.net (193.203.157.127)

Hank

Subject: Bill Clintons Saxlife

Bullshit!......I don't care what anyone sez.....Bill Clinton NEVER played sax with The Band!

Please, people, settle an argument for me..........

Richards live version of "She Knows": At the end of it Rick comes on stage and sez something like:

"Ah ,man, good to SEE you......" and then someone replies

"It's good to see you too, Ricky....."

Who EXACTLY is that replying? Is it Richard replying to Rick or is it someone in the crowd? Thanks

Entered at Tue May 21 21:33:04 CEST 2002 from l98uppx1.hewitt.com (4.17.250.5)

Donald Joseph

Subject: Politics & line-drawing

For my part this Bush/Clinton political discussion is off-point completely to this GB.

Politics, though, is fair game when it comes to Lenny Peltier, because Lenny is the subject of a JRR song. Roz, it's interesting that you say you saw a TV show about Lenny where he failed to profess his own innocence. Quite some time back I made the same point about Lenny's monologue in the JRR song: Lenny complains about procedural issues in his conviction, but he never once (in the monologue) claims to be innocent of the underlying crime, shooting the Fed. I've listened to the song several times, and I am positive that nowhere on it does Lenny claim to be not guilty.

Of course, as a technical legal point of criminal procedure, the law does require due process, and a criminal can get off on a "technicality." But when it comes to social causes, it seems necessary -- before getting behind a "Free So-and-So!" campaign -- that the person in question at least profess to be innocent, and raise a reasonable doubt as to his underlying innocence.

In my view this was the shortcoming with the campaign to free the New York woman (named Laurie Berenson, I believe) who went to Peru, harbored/supported/housed/supplied Peruvian terrorists who plotted to blow up the Peruvian parliament, and then got convicted. There was a big push in the U.S. to free her or give her a new trial -- she did ultimately get a new trial, but she lost a second time, yet won a somewhat shorter sentence. However, she never convincingly claimed to be innocent, and, indeed, when she was originally arrested, TV cameras caught her screaming "Viva Sendero Luminoso!" (Peruvians, therefore, never got behind her cause.) I could never understand the social/emotional case among those Americans championing her release, because -- due process/procedure aside -- she herself never presented a compelling case for her innocence or raised any reasonable doubt as to her guilt (late in the day she offered a defense, but it was too little to late to be believable, and even her defenders advanced claims of procedural irregularities, not underlying innocence).

Now I know little about Lenny Peltier's case other than what he tells me in his monologue in JRR's song, and -- all caps for emphasis -- I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT IS MY OPINION LENNY'S GUILTY. I'm NOT saying that, so don't accuse me of saying that -- I have not studied Lenny's case and I don't know all the details. What I do know, though, is: (1) nowhere in the JRR song monologue does Lenny claim to be innocent; and (2) according to Roz, on a TV special about the case Lenny similarly fails to profess his own innocence.

Hence, unless Lenny somewhere convincingly claims to be innocent of the underlying murder charge, I don't think it's our place to lament Lenny's incarceration. That is, if Lenny's whole case is built on complaints about procedure, while he might have a good legal case, he doesn't have much of a social (cause celebre) case. So query: Does Lenny somewhere convincingly claim to be actually innocent of murder? If so, where does he claim this? Why doesn't he claim innocence in the JRR song? (Robbie's bad editing?)

Pls. don't flame me for not being an expert on the ins-and-outs of Lenny's case (I've been flamed on this before). I'm an admitted NON-expert asking YOU experts a specific question, and it's not a rhetorical question: Where does Lenny convincingly claim to be innocent of murder?

Slightly off-topic, but remember when JRR, on TV right after Clinton left office, lamented that Lenny "isn't Marc Rich enough" to merit a presidential pardon? Perhaps any Band fan who champions the success of Clinton's presidency might reconcile this support with JRR's accusation that Bill wrongly sold his pardons. This, at least, is one Clinton issue that is peripherally Band-related.

Entered at Tue May 21 21:28:13 CEST 2002 from dialin-742-tnt.nyc.bestweb.net (216.179.3.234)

Gene

Entered at Tue May 21 20:37:20 CEST 2002 from spider-wk082.proxy.aol.com (205.188.198.187)

Harry & Mim

Subject: "watkins glen (?)" and happy birthday

(The NEW usual disclaimer on authorship goes HERE)

The "watkins glen" CD was suspect from the very beginning. How do you get an intro of San Cutler for the rolling stones (during their 1969 North American tour) mixed up with Bill Graham introducing The Band (individually, very full of praise for the fellows too)? Too strange....

I believe (please correct me if I'm wrong) that this friday, May 24th, is also the birthday of one Mr. Levon Helm. In addition to being Mr. Bob Dylans' birthday (and my brothers', as well), I'm pretty sure it is LHs', too...

Seeing "The Levon Helm Blues Band" on Saturday (May 25th), I want to be right about this and wish THE MAN a happy 62nd. Seeing them two years ago on the 24th of May and having Mim give him a bunch of flowers (which he handed to his lovely daughter and the girl oohed and aahed over them) was a great pleasure. Looking forward to a "revised repeat" of the same.

Bring the party favors, (please Butch), and we'll bring something along, too.

"Oh just save me the leavings

Save me the leavings

Leftovers is just good enough for me..."

Entered at Tue May 21 20:15:13 CEST 2002 from m124-133.on.tac.net (209.202.124.133)

Bill

Entered at Tue May 21 19:45:13 CEST 2002 from (203.124.243.235)

surdbird

come and play in india boyz...we love u, as does .0001% more of the population, and that's a hundred thousand people.... up on mahim creek....

Entered at Tue May 21 17:49:55 CEST 2002 from (12.33.126.141)

John W.

Ben Pike - OK I'm a terrible person, a lowlife and a Donny Osmond fan just because I don't agree with your opinion of Clinton as Saint Bill. I guess that reveals your intellectual level. Since when is being a Band fan restricted to fuzzy headed liberal thinkers? And I wish you would come up to New York and tell the firefighter and cops who supported Giuliani and Bush that the blood of their brothers who died on 9/11 is on their hands. They probably would not mess you up, they would just laugh at you because it wouldn't be worth their time. But with any luck that would be the day we get a suicide bombing and you'd be standing right there.

Entered at Tue May 21 17:49:20 CEST 2002 from (209.236.161.19)

MIKE LENAHAN

Subject: Levon Helm and The Barn Burners

THE 6TH ANNUAL BLACK POTATOE MUSIC FEST July 12,13&14 at the Red Mill Museum Village in Clinton NJ; Levon and his Band will be playing this year. Not sure which day he is playing so check out the web site: http://www.blackpotatoe.com/fest2002/fest_2002.html HOPE TO SEE EVERYONE AT THE FEST.

Entered at Tue May 21 17:24:06 CEST 2002 from pool0376.cvx32-bradley.dialup.earthlink.net (209.179.158.121)

Jay

Subject: WS Walcott -- Watkins Glen CD

WS Walcott,

For answers to your question, please check out Pat Brennan's excellent article that can be found at this very site. All you need to do is click on "My Link" above, and it will take you directly to that page.

Entered at Tue May 21 16:49:21 CEST 2002 from stjhts23c039.nbnet.nb.ca (207.179.171.44)

WS Walcott

Whats the deal on The Band-Watkin's Glen? People say it is bogus. Bogus how? Is there demos and outtakes thrown in with live stuff? Is it worth picking up if I get it for a low price? Feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks

Entered at Tue May 21 16:24:04 CEST 2002 from (203.199.169.233)

chinacat

Subject: I love this Band

Love this site, Love this Band. Can some one please ask them to play in India :-)

Entered at Tue May 21 15:51:58 CEST 2002 from oshst-035.olysteel.com (63.91.50.35)

bob wigo

Subject: Bob Pierce's Photos

Bob,

Thanks for the great photographs. I attended the early show that evening and enjoyed it immensely.

They are making another stop at The Point this summer. I hope to see you there.

Entered at Tue May 21 15:29:49 CEST 2002 from (12.34.17.217)

Johnny Flippo

Subject: Robert Pierce's Photos

Thanks for the photos, Mr. Pierce. Garth on the "Poland A-80" is priceless.

Entered at Tue May 21 13:13:29 CEST 2002 from 6.houston-24rh16rt.tx.dial-access.att.net (12.83.15.6)

Jim O'Brien

Subject: CD burn Traders

Hi, I'm new to this site but I'm looking for folks who have tradable recordings of The Band and or Bob Dylan. I have a really sweet Feb 2002 of Bob here in Austin that I'd like to trade. I also have the Band @ Watkins Glen anyone interested? Please respond via email. thank you, Peace.

Entered at Tue May 21 13:10:36 CEST 2002 from wc12.ym.rnc.net.cable.rogers.com (66.185.85.79)

John D

THANKS CARMEN........then I stand corrected.

Entered at Tue May 21 09:25:58 CEST 2002 from saintpaul.pioneerpress.com (208.149.52.102)

Neil Diamond

Subject: Good Guys

Wow Jeanette, how cool would that be to jam with the boys in thier prime.

Entered at Tue May 21 09:17:06 CEST 2002 from netcache-1115.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.222.132)

roz

Subject: Leonard Peltier

That's an interesting subject...Mr.Peltier. A couple of years ago I watched a CNN story right before the big Presidential pardons, They had gone to Leavenworth and interviewed Peltier.He never said he was innocent. He showed no remorse. To the contrary, he acted like those FBI agents deserved to die simply because they were white men, white men who had held the Native American down for over a hundred years. What he failed to realize was that it wasn't THOSE FBI agents that were the culprits in these hundred years of desperation and misery. They were just white guys...and they were shot to hell for it. If you pick up a gun and shoot down someone who is unarmed and defenseless you are a murderer. From what I can gather about this story, it wasn't much of a shoot-out. As far as I can gather it was a "OK...It's time somebody paid and we don't give a fuck whether YOU had anything to do with it or not! We ain't just killin' you...we're killin' your whole fucking race, You guys are are just unfortunate enough to be representives at this moment and today we got the guns and today...That's right.. YOU die!" That does not make Leonard Peltier innocent, that does not make the others that stood with him innocent. He was the unfortunate one on that day...another "Somebody has to pay" and Peltier was just unfortunate to be last in line.

Entered at Tue May 21 09:15:44 CEST 2002 from spider-wa082.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.57)

Ben Pike

Guess your proud J.W., your Gingrich, whose affair with a young co-worker was somehow an "open secret" in Washington, even as your party paid off a chippy to abuse the legal system with a nusance suite against a sitting president, (will we ever know if he could have gotten close enough to bin laden to nab him, had he not been thus shackled by that on the one hand and the "wag the dog" abuse on the other? ) this of course being the tip of the Whitewater, filegate, travelgate, Fostergate iceburg your politicos sucked on for 8 years, 3 SPS, and seventy million tax dollars.

Let us not mince words, much of the blood of the 9-11 3,000 is on your hands. And of few of us, my bag of hammers stupid republican friend, will remind you of it til your very last day. So get used to it.

To think, after years of hounding the Clintons over who was running the travel office, you now don't want to answer questions about Enron and 9-11. How deeply indulged the white right conservative has been! How over all that now is! So spin this, lowlife.

How such terrible people can listen to The Band is beyond me, isn't Donny Osmond going to be mad you're not buying his records?

Just got the great "MacBeth" film (Polanski's), new on DVD. To me the "Third Ear Band", who had a couple of CDs, suggest something of what a Garth Hudson movie soundtrack might have sounded like. In any case, terrific film.

Entered at Tue May 21 09:12:39 CEST 2002 from saintpaul.pioneerpress.com (208.149.52.102)

Neil Diamond

Subject: What else The Band

I'm listening to Pink again, my God when Richard breaks into Tears of Rage it makes the hair on my neck stand up, someone in here said on a GB entry that the Band did not test well on radio test audiances, I can believe that, to appreciate the Band at there best is to listen to there records front to back, an example of this I think is when you listen to a Band best of, even though I love the songs they do not seem to have the luster that they do when you listen to them in there original order on there orginal studio record, summing it up I would say the Band was just too dam good for program radio, which is unfortunate, the fun part about being a fan is that when you tell someone about the Band they almost have this look of disbelief on there face as if to say nobody is that good, well as all of you folks know in here they really are, its almost like this little secret that only a few folks know or care about and all you can think of is what the rest of those poor souls who havnt discovered these guys are missing. A friend of mine asked me what Band song I liked the best, I thought for a second and replied, whichever one happens to be playing at the time..... have a good one....

Entered at Tue May 21 07:07:17 CEST 2002 from ppp294.ac1.56k.execulink.com (209.239.4.104)

Jeanette

Subject: THE (one and only) BAND

I have spent most of the day perusing this website, inspired to do so after viewing "The Last Waltz" again (for about the 10th, or maybe 12th, time since I obtained it 10 years ago) --- I love this video, but I look forward to viewing the more recent release !

I have a friend, ART, whose father used to jam with THE BAND members (they lived near Simcoe, Ontario). Art and I were both deeply saddened by Rick Danko's death. Art knew him personally and had partied at "The Pink House" a couple times. I wish I could have accompanied him upon one of those most divinely privileged opportunities.

"The Brass Rail Tavern" no longer exists here in my home city, London, Ontario, but it is really cool that this is where it all began for THE BAND. They are certainly musical geniuses, and their music will never die !

Entered at Tue May 21 06:12:50 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-tk022.proxy.aol.com (64.12.107.27)

DZ Agin

Entered at Tue May 21 05:53:15 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-tk022.proxy.aol.com (64.12.107.27)

Dave Z

Hey JW, my own wife accuses me of being a left wing liberal... but I can't even conceive of rationally accusing Bush of knowingly ignoring a threat that killed so many people... This tragic event is the type that takes everyone by surprise... I just wish some of his so called compassion could be extended to Leonard Peltier...

I love EC's emotional guitar playing... especially on Holy Mother... I think that's what's it's called's... yeah, the one for Richard... btw while watching Survivor my wife asked's me... it's a tough choice between the two, who would you want to be the ultimate survivor?... without hesitation I said's... you right it's tough... I want both Rick and Richard... and I'd give the immunity necklace to Leonard... Gnite... I've got to go delete all my Logos emails... as well as the new thing... tiny little movie pictures with wierd subject titles sent by random pirated folks from here... anybody else enjoying that twist?

Entered at Tue May 21 05:26:23 CEST 2002 from 1cust227.tnt2.idaho-falls.id.da.uu.net (67.227.173.227)

jeffrey

http://www.rense.com/general25/bushsfatalhalfhour.htm

Entered at Tue May 21 05:03:41 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-ti044.proxy.aol.com (64.12.101.169)

Matt

The Band, one of the best, most influential groups in the history of music. Thats music, not just rock n' roll. Blues, blue grass, country, and gospel as well. You guys are legendary heros.

Entered at Tue May 21 04:11:15 CEST 2002 from dialup-63.208.65.111.dial1.chicago1.level3.net (63.208.65.111)

Pat Brennan

Playing that same game, if Bush were a Democrat, the Republicans would be howling at his incompetence.

Of greater interest, I a/b'ed TLW's TNTDODD, album vs. new CD. The difference is startling, and, again, the crucial change is Garth. And for you completists out there, the intro to Chest Fever on the new CD (which is lifted from the movie) features Garth's actual opening (the weird low chanting and syth efects--I believe it's from a tape he made specificly for the show) follwed by two fragments he played at approximately 2:47 and 5:20, then the gliss into the opening chords.

Entered at Tue May 21 03:12:04 CEST 2002 from ac89c62c.ipt.aol.com (172.137.198.44)

Andy R

Subject: Clinton thread

Following the Clinton thread...around the time of the Jericho album, The Band was invited to play at the "Bluejeans Bash" in Washington during the '92 Inaug. Was held at the National History Museum... featured The Band with the Cate Brothers, John Simon directed, appearances by Don Johnson (singing "Stormy Monday"!!!) with Melanie Griffith I think, Dickie Betts, Steve Stills, Dr. John and many others...capped with a guest performance by Dylan (who was on the toilet when John Simon introduced him!!!). Clinton never showed, but Don Tyson (Superchicken), owner of Tyson chicken of Arkansas, and the Governor of Arkansas, and many others. Pyramid Records recorded the whole affair, was planning to release it, but I guess it just didn't "make the grade". But funny to hear just for Don Johnson/Melanie Griffith!!!

Memories!!! Anyone out there in attendance for that one?

Entered at Tue May 21 02:36:33 CEST 2002 from pcp01633868pcs.lndsd101.pa.comcast.net (68.80.6.37)

carmen

Subject: RR Music and Bush

Saw the preview for Windtalkers with RR's music playing in the background mentioned by Dave Z.

By the way John D., if you do the research, Clinton deployed the US Military more times then Reagan and Bush 1 combined.

Entered at Tue May 21 02:06:22 CEST 2002 from spider-tm031.proxy.aol.com (152.163.197.56)

Bayou Sam

David = you're right about Jeff Beck. You've reminded me of the "Secret Policemen's Ball" albums. One of them has a version of EC and JB doing F.O.U.T.R. and Beck does smoke Eric a bit on it. Actually, there are quite a few live takes around of Eric doing that tune. He must love the song since it was a regular in his live sets for years.

Speaking of Clapton's playing - he would be the last one to claim that he played alot of original licks. The thing that makes Eric my favorite guitar playing is "feeling". IMHO, when EC leans his head back, and closes his eyes, he brings feeling up from way down deep and goes to a place that nobody else does - maybe Stevie Ray Vaugn and Hendrix did.

Break out your Layla albums and crank up "Have You Ever Loved A Women" for an example.

Entered at Tue May 21 01:07:49 CEST 2002 from cpe014120014212.cpe.net.cable.rogers.com (24.101.110.233)

John D

As a non American I was enjoying reading J.W.'s posts. Obviously a staunch Republican. All's I know as an observer is that during Daddy Bush's reign there was Desert Storm. During the Democratic years of Clinton he freed Willy; but alas no wars. Jr. Bush comes in and bang it's back to war again. Coinsidence? Perhaps it is; but I find it strange that just after a day after allegations that Bush knew about what was coming (which I don't believe by the way) instead of handling it they have started a fear campaign again about the next bombing! I'll bet the airlines must just love him. Because with that kind of information, I'm not flying anywhere!!!

Entered at Mon May 20 23:59:54 CEST 2002 from (12.33.126.141)

J.W.

All this "what-did-Bush-know-and-when-did-he-know-it" is a bunch of political you-know-what. Let's say, based on the information they had before 9/11, the Bush administration had told people they would have to show up at airports 3 hours early for head-to-toe searches, every piece of luggage would have to be scanned, I.D.'s double-checked, especially for Middle Eastern types, because "we have information the Islamic Fundamentalists MIGHT attempt to hijack planes in the U.S." -- Who do you think would have screamed the loudest about the "Big Brother type search and seizures", "civil rights violations" and "ethnic profiling"? The left wing Democrats, that's who!

Entered at Mon May 20 23:36:07 CEST 2002 from (12.33.126.141)

J.W.

No matter how they try to spin it, there would have been no Paul Jones press conferences or Lewinsky distractions if Mr. C. had kept little Willie appropriately tucked away when he was supposed to. Whatever they want to say about politics or right-wing conspiracy, there is no question the man cheated on his wife in the oval office while maintaining the public illusion of a faithful marriage, did so with a girl who only 2 years younger would not even have been of legal age of consent, shook his finger at all the cameras and insisted he did not do it, and even lied about it under oath to a grand jury. Now whether or not these facts are enough to wreck your respect for this leader is up to each of us to decide for ourselves. I take the negative view, I think these circumstances provide serious questions about credibility. But let's stop the crap that these things did not happen or that they were lies trumped up by right wingers. Stop the denial -- your President was a Perjurer!

Entered at Mon May 20 23:16:16 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-te064.proxy.aol.com (64.12.103.179)

Ben Pike

Well, I seemed to have been dragged into the political fray; gosh, you know how I hate that.

To clairfy my views on The right wing media; I never said, or would suggest, that the only place you can find the truth is "Salon". Reading between the lines and finding the truth, about say, The Clinton Years, was always possible. The N.Y. Times, L.A. Times, even the now demented Washington Post carried the truth about Clinton's Whitewater/Travelgate/Filegate etc, etc. innocence buryed deep, deep behind there raving editorials(The very fact we are raising an issue raises an issue!) and splashy feature stories, so void of content behind the headlines. C.B.S. I 'm sure had a sentence or two about Clinton being exsonerated three or four times on Whitewater, when they wern't cutting to live coverage of Paula Jones press conferences. There is, of course, crap in Salon too, just not wholesale mistatements of facts or invented Republican stories (Anyone follow the "White House Pranks?", or read what Al Gore really SAID about the internet?) What you have not found there, in what the our lame Tull fan calls "such a publication" is wholesale factual inaccuracies, and can think of no example where they have ever been caught in such a situation. "Spin" of course, is something else, and often in the eye of the beholder.

Of course, it is brainiacs who listen to mean spirited tripe from the likes of Limbaugh (have we gotten an apology yet for spreading rumors of Vince Foster's "Murder" to millions of people?) who dislike facts. Even the recent "Blinded By The Right" is mearly a first hand account the "get Bill" squad, nothing in it conserning these horrible, right wing tratiors couldn't be found if you did a little digging.

Seems to me there's not a lot of disagreement on Bush's post 9-11 breifings, just how you spin them. And of course that they have lied about them, but you are allowed to lie about everything except your sex life, in the wacked out world of Rush, Russert, Matthews etc.

Sorry for this you non-political types, but everytime I try to leave they pull me back!!

Entered at Mon May 20 22:19:17 CEST 2002 from wc12.ym.rnc.net.cable.rogers.com (66.185.85.79)

John D

Bones...........Where did you get your Hoagyland? I am trying to buy a copy. Thanks very much.

Entered at Mon May 20 20:25:47 CEST 2002 from (169.200.133.38)

Bones

I did catch the ad on tv last night for Windtalkers (movie with Nicholas Cage) where they played "Coyote Dance" throughout the commercial.

Entered at Mon May 20 16:54:51 CEST 2002 from (208.218.212.2)

David Powell

I've also heard live versions of "Further On Up The Road" that Clapton recorded with Freddy King (just before TLW) and Jeff Beck. In my opinion, Jeff Beck's playing on that song blows all the other guitarists away.

This coming Friday, May 24th, marks Dylan's 61st birthday. I think I'll burn a CD-R with Dylan/Band selections from "Live '66", "Rock of Ages" and "Before The Flood" to mark the occasion.

Bayou Sam: At your lunch in Hicksville, it sounds like you discovered, to paraphrase the great Tom Waits, "The Former Hawks at a Diner" (:-)

Entered at Mon May 20 16:29:42 CEST 2002 from roc-66-66-184-69.rochester.rr.com (66.66.184.69)

Pepote Rouge

Subject: Band

First, Thanks to Susan for starting my Band cdr collection!Second, Bob Dylan announced his Summer US and Canada tour. Third, anybody have Port dover 64...or the Frost 76 show with "in a station" available to pass on? Only a few more days and Richards Cd is released and on its way!!!!! One question....does anyone recommend the Complete Last Waltz boot as opposed to the new collection, except for the obivious sound issues. I have the box and DVD but am shocked at the missing Georgia...Harvest...entire Chest Fever..etc...were these songs unusable or something? Thanks for all your help. I love the GB! Lew

Entered at Mon May 20 14:41:44 CEST 2002 from citrix2.doc.state.vt.us (159.105.102.7)

John Cass

Subject: Amanda

Amanda... Thanks!! I just got the tapes and can't wait to hear them... I would of e-mailed you but lost your email

Thanks again... I will say it agin this is why this GB is the best great people! who spread the Band's music and keep the spirit alive

Entered at Mon May 20 12:44:03 CEST 2002 from i249-009.nv.iinet.net.au (203.59.249.9)

Nancy

Michael, you posted more or less exactly my thoughts about the documentary. Such a pleasant surprise to see The Band given so much recognition when often they are overlooked in favour of performers with higher profiles. Although I didn't have a clockwatch handy, I would say that they received more airtime than any other featured performers - there were film clips of three songs - The Weight, Cripple Creek and King Harvest. Maybe the producer of the show (?Ian Pye) is a fan??

The show finished with a short clip of The Last Waltz, and stated that the band left when they were at the top of their craft.

An extra bonus for me was to see an interview with the REAL Ben Fong-Torres when I'd just seen an actor playing that role in "Almost Famous". Are Peter Viney and I the only people here on the GB who have seen the film? I've seen it a couple of times and found it to be very entertaining, and I think its an achievement that Cameron Crowe relates real life experience that is (hopefully) true to fact and also so watchable on screen. Maybe only rock and roll lovers will love it, who knows??

(It looks a little like it's a teenager's movie but it's more than that). If you haven't seen it yet then do!

Entered at Mon May 20 09:01:08 CEST 2002 from saintpaul.pioneerpress.com (208.149.52.102)

Neil Diamond

Subject: name change,formly Chester

Since there are two Chesters, Ive decided to change names, I was trying to think of a name that wouldnt be copied and I think I did it.... Watched the dvd again into Sun. morning and as it ends I switch back to regular t.v. and who do you think I see performong on an old SNL, thats right JRR, had to take a double take as I was half a sleep when this happened, for a second I thought there was a Jam 3 that I somehow missed....

Entered at Mon May 20 07:55:49 CEST 2002 from imscache03.netvigator.com (218.102.23.26)

Chris Far East

Subject: Guitar Playing

Intersting take on guitar styles: RR V EC. The thing I've always liked about the former was his ability to playing within the context of a song. Robbie's Telecaster playing on the first three albums is tasteful, economical and completely integrated within the song. Once he started weilding the Strat he was a bit more "out there". While I'm a professional musician, guitar player too, I've always been bored by many of the blues cliches so many rock players fall into. The last thing I will say is that the guitar solo on ROAs Unfaithfull Servant is absolutely astonishing. I can't imagine EC doing anything like that. Also RRs playing on LIVE 66 is jawdropping in it's intensity.

Entered at Mon May 20 07:16:16 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-th054.proxy.aol.com (64.12.102.44)

Bayou Sam

Subject: Hank/Clapton

Oh man Hank - you said exactly what I've always thought. RR does a stupendous job on "Further On Up The Road", but in that last part, Eric kind of re-takes the title of "THE guitar man" from Robbie. He dosen't do it intentionally, or to upstage RR - it just happens because he's EC.

I was having lunch in a diner in Hicksville yestrday, and on the little jukeboxes at the tables it had disc one of The Last Waltz.

Entered at Mon May 20 05:26:53 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-th053.proxy.aol.com (64.12.102.43)

Dave Z

Anybody else catch the commercial for Windtalkers tonight during Survivor... had a little soundtrack bit from RR's Music for the Native Americans in it...

Entered at Mon May 20 05:25:51 CEST 2002 from (203.14.69.14)

Michael

Subject: Walk on by.

A 13part BBC documentary on popular songs called 'Walk on by' is running on Australian TV, the series so far has been fabulous, the preview for this weeks episode covered the transition period from physcidelic to the more 'mellow' country rock period and featured Neil Young, Joni Mitchell etc, I said to my wife how could such a well researched doco not mention 'The Band', nearly didn't watch it, they did the intro for the episode and mentioned the Byrds and Neil Young again, then they crossed to the Band at Woodstock footage and spent the next 15 minutes showing footage of the guys, crosses to Robbie, Barney Hoskens and Ben Fong-Torres telling the audience how important the Band were to modern music, the episode finished with a cut to the last waltz and again emphasised how good the Band were. If you get the chance to see this documentary do, its 1st class.

Entered at Mon May 20 04:57:20 CEST 2002 from h000094cb53b3.ne.client2.attbi.com (66.31.33.214)

Bruce from Boston

Subject: Robbie interview

Real Audio interview of Robbie Robertson discussing his influences including Allen Toussaint and New Orleans, can be found here: http://www.americanroutes.org

From their web page: This Week on American Routes: May 15-21, 2002 Robbie Robertson/Johnny Otis/Dew Drop Inn A visit with legendary bandsmen including roots rocker Robbie Robertson and California jazz bandleader Johnny Otis. Robertson was a prime mover behind The Band, who, along with the Grateful Dead and others, defined the image and sound of American rock with folk roots in the 1960s and '70s.

Entered at Mon May 20 03:37:59 CEST 2002 from spider-wb061.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.176)

JTull Fan

Subject: Bumbles and Salon

Bumbles: You miss the point. I have nothing against homosexuality, bisexuality, heterosexuality, and the majority of physically gratifying acts thereof. MY ISSUE is that after months of Mr. Pike's criticism of just about every news outlet under the sun, and in return my request to him that he name at least ONE outlet he approved of, the only one he could list was Salon. Being of an open mind, I checked it out, and was immediately faced with that article we have both referred to. Now, NOTHING WRONG with that subject per se, but if such a publication IS YOUR ONLY accepted source of information, then it speaks of some serious limitations. It is unfortunate that in the process of attempting to rebutt my posting you need to resort to petty cliches and distortions. 'Confederate'? Perhaps. I would be honored to bear the label but in doing so I remind you that among the musicians we honor on this site are a Mr. Levon Helm, Robbie Robertson, and the fictional but representative Virgil Caine. And I do recall a Confederate Battle Flag proudly displayed in the Last Waltz. So, if you do love The Band and intellectual openness and honesty, at least acknowledge and admit your selective version of it.

Entered at Mon May 20 02:22:10 CEST 2002 from atpm3-3-3.enter.net (208.137.243.105)

Zeppe

Garth's piano playing was beautiful at the end of the DVD commentary. It was the perfect piece to be played while the Band was performing the "Theme from the Last Waltz" on the soundstage.

Entered at Mon May 20 01:48:58 CEST 2002 from dyn216-8-130-50.adsl.mnsi.net (216.8.130.50)

chester

Any particular pieces? A Prokoviev Piano Sonata demands special chops.

Entered at Mon May 20 01:18:23 CEST 2002 from ac8d0484.ipt.aol.com (172.141.4.132)

J Goldman

Does anyone think the highlight of the DVD is hearing Garth play at the end of the film on the commentary track? Absolutely spellbinding...especially the piece he chose. I would love to see a concert of Garth playing classical pieces. Anyone know if he ever does that or does he only play with Louie and the Crapmatix.

Entered at Mon May 20 00:59:07 CEST 2002 from netcache-1115.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.222.132)

roz

Subject: TLW on cable

Did anyone else get a look at The Last Waltz being played on the VH1 classic video deal last night? I noticed Robbie sitting there in his trademark black, all dolled up for the camera and really looking good, and Martin Scorsese sitting beside him in his matching powder blue chair...I don't have the DVD thing everyone's been talking about, all I know is that I saw commentary between songs and comercials that were not there in the original. I took a listen to Neil Young and Dr. John and went to sleep....I was tired. Musta come on about 8 or 9 pm. Hell we've all seen it before anyway. Right?

Entered at Mon May 20 00:02:22 CEST 2002 from dialup162-a.ts552.cwt.esat.net (193.203.156.162)

Hank

Wow!......just spent the last hour or so reading posts since Tuesday.........highly entertaining, folks! Thanks!

I got my video copy of TLW back from a friend during the week and slipped it into our video player when I got home...."Further On Up The Road" burst onto the screen.....and yes, the bass is obviously overdubbed.......but that's not what I want to say.....

I just wanna know if anyone agrees with me when I say that Clapton actually mocks RRs solo and style before he lets fly on the last few bars........it's the last solo and if you watch and listen, Clapton starts bending his notes like RR might.........and then rounds off the song with some masterful blues licks...as only he can.......as if to say, "I love you Robbie but I'm a hafta kick your ass here, pal". The crowd go bananas as he's doing it, too........

Y'see, for years, I've had to endure people saying "RR kicks Claptons ass" in TLW.......

Not so, I say.......

While RRs solo is exciting and inspired and everything......what Clapton comes back with is astounding in guitar player terms.........

OK.....now that I've said THAT.........

Bessie from "Cripple Creek"........very few people know this, but the very same girl was the girl in "Sugar Magnolia" by the Dead.......she's STILL got everything delightful, of course........she was last seen at a Phish concert......but they've yet to write a song about her........

Entered at Sun May 19 23:43:26 CEST 2002 from spider-we031.proxy.aol.com (205.188.195.31)

Bumbles

Subject: Salon.com

J_DULL_FAN: What’s wrong with Salon? It’s one of the best-written & -edited general-interest sites on the Web. And the only one I know that has Greil Marcus as a regular columnist. They did recently feature an interview with the (gay) authors of a how-to guide to blow jobs written for a general audience, but (news flash you might not have heard from Rush Limbaugh) blow jobs aren’t a specifically homosexual act. Or are neo-Confederate arena rock enthusiasts just opposed in principle to oral sex?

Entered at Sun May 19 23:01:24 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-tb084.proxy.aol.com (64.12.104.59)

JTull Fan

BP: I thought it may have been you with the foul taste in your mouth, as the one time I went to the Salon website (at your recommendation) it's cover story concerned not political news or music news, but rather certain male to male sexual acts I need not describe, but needless to say I was 'surprised'. I am not making this up. So although I still think the great majority of GB participants are intelligent and able to gleen their facts from reputable publications, certain others can be dismissed out of hand.

Entered at Sun May 19 22:49:39 CEST 2002 from spider-we073.proxy.aol.com (205.188.195.53)

Ric

This web site brings back all the nights we sat around having a great time. Sure wish I could go back to those days. The Band was and still is great.

Entered at Sun May 19 19:01:33 CEST 2002 from inktomi2-mid.server.ntl.com (62.254.64.5)

Paul

Subject: The Band

I think this is a great site. I've only recently got into The Band's music and this site is informative. Good work!

Entered at Sun May 19 18:51:33 CEST 2002 from spider-wq072.proxy.aol.com (205.188.200.191)

Ben Pike

TF, got a nasty feeling in the back of your throat? That's what's known as "a taste of your own medicine."

Entered at Sun May 19 17:16:26 CEST 2002 from spider-wb053.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.173)

JTull Fan

Subject: Jeffrey

Jeffrey: I considered posting something comical in response to your recent posts, but I think to do would help obscure the fact that your allegations are more offensive than comical given the seriousness of the subject. I know from experience that the participants in this guestbook are intelligent enough to seek out information on their own. However, given the premises of this GB, I doubt it is the venue best suited for your subject matter.

Entered at Sun May 19 12:06:46 CEST 2002 from gateway.standardradio.com (209.89.149.98)

CLOTHIER TO THE STARS

That's why Robbie was always known as "The Duke" among his Hawk-Mates. Always looking sharpy-doo.

Entered at Sun May 19 07:02:55 CEST 2002 from 1cust16.tnt2.idaho-falls.id.da.uu.net (67.227.173.16)

jeffrey

Entered at Sun May 19 07:00:29 CEST 2002 from dialup-166.90.86.235.dial1.chicago1.level3.net (166.90.86.235)

Pat Brennan

Bassmanlee, Robertson had ditched the rabbinical thing and was facially shorn as early as the 71 tour. Same with the wire rims. Interestingly enough, I recall a buddy of mine commenting after the '71 Arie Crown show here (Chicago) that Robertson seemed out of place in the group, that he dressed much better than the rest of the fellows. In fact, the Hawk describes Robertson as being a sharp dresser his whole life. I don't think his wardrobe in the movie was much different than what he had been wearing for years. However, the size of the bellbottoms on Rick and him in TLW are, shall we say, stunning.

Entered at Sun May 19 06:09:40 CEST 2002 from modem057.phl-tc03b.fcc.net (63.121.117.144)

bassmanlee

Subject: The Last Waltz DVD - first impressions

Just finished my first viewing of TLW (from DVD) probably since I saw it in theater on it’s first release. Some impressions…as I watch the jam footage. Bear in mind I’ve not read all the GB since my last post.

Immediate reinforcement of my initial impression that JRR comes off as quite the hot-dogger. Is that makeup? The tacky gold strat? The Mick Jagger scarf thing? And TLW was the first time many of us saw him shaven and without the wire-rims. Quite the transition from the Rabbinical student of the Brown album/Landy pics. Chalk it up to some bad Hollywood advice…and maybe the nose candy. (Those were, after all, the days.)

Someone asked if anything else had been dubbed. Hell yes! Rick’s bass on Further On Up The Road. Check at approx. 1:15:38 (Chapter 23). Unless he was able to do a walking blues sleight of hand without moving his hand, it ain’t him playing. It doesn’t even sound like Rick. Possibly also on Ophelia, and with higher probability, Radio (see 1:35:38). Forever Young seems to return to Rick’s bass. I had not noticed this on any previous live tracks, but then I’ve not yet gone back to look. Sonically the dub is close to his regular sound, which is a bit disappointing, but I’m not a fan of that Gibson Ripper/Grabber line of basses, having made the mistake once of owning one. (Fender rules!) Then again I had to kick in the loudness on my receiver as the non-Dolby Digital “original remastered surround sound” on the DVD (which I assume would be compatible with Dolby Surround once known as Dolby Pro Logic) seemed tinny, with a heck of a lot of rear speaker content (and my rears are weak).

Nothing wrong in my book with Joni’s Coyote (or with looking at Joni, then or now). But I apparently have a much higher appreciation/tolerance for the female artist than many here. Rick (if it is Rick) sticks close to the root and doesn’t try to Jaco, and Robbie adds some nice touches. I’ve actually done this song a few times with a singer who could pull it off both vocally and instrumentally, and you gotta be in the zone to even approach a similar feel, although mine was needless to say waaaay simpler! It’s not just the general subject of women on the road that makes this transition work, but Richard’s line that “as we grew, so did the women”. Then Ms. M follows with a very worldly wise assessment of the rouge lover. Didn’t see Joni get grabbed. (Index, anyone?) And Neil definitely had some sort of nasal baggage.

Can’t say the film overall has great flow or pacing. The interview segments, which are in many cases rather bogus, keep killing any build that may have been present in the concert itself, which is presented out of order anyway. As do the soundstage performances. Seems both could have served as intermission for the concert itself. Then again the pacing and cuts could have been due to the dying swan cameras. Levon’s interviews in the pool hall show him in as very photogenic and may be his screen test for his later film work.

During I Shall Be Released, Mac and The Other Neil realize they are blocking the only shot that could possibly catch Richard singing, and they both move off to stage right. This may lead to the previously mentioned gracious gesture credited to Mr. Diamond…

And speaking of the other Mr. D (or is it Mr. Z) after an exquisite Forever Young, he apparently calls an impromptu and raucous Baby Let Me Follow You Down, taking The Band back from the sympathetic ensemble it had transformed itself into back to the runaway freight train it always seemed to become when backing Big Bob (as apparent on Before The Flood and disk 2 of Rock Of Ages). Sigh.

Will go back and reconsider the (Almost) Complete box set, as there are but seven (7) full Band songs on the DVD, not counting those where they are backing up other artists. The Classic Album DVD is worth owning too, but enough already, I’ll save that for another day.

Luka welcome aboard. Bear in mind many here read English or American as a second language, and may have problems with "netspeak". My apologies to these same folks for my late-night phrasing!

Entered at Sun May 19 04:28:34 CEST 2002 from (168.143.113.112)

Blue

"The Last Waltz" ROCKS! So does this web site!

Entered at Sun May 19 00:29:05 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-115.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.115)

Peter Viney

Bashful Bill: Whatever it is, Yoda kicks it! Wonderful entertainment. Lucas got a lot of criticism for stilted dialogue, but it didn't grate too much for me- and how would you, like, expect them to speak? whatever. But not like that.

The fastest Lucas-Band connection will be through American Graffitti at a guess- which includes The Great Pretender, Ain't That A Shame + Lee Dorsey's Ya Ya. Oh, and among the surfeit of trailers before "Attack of The Clones" was a new Dreamworks cartoon, Leader, about a Native American and his horse. Wonder if there's a Robbie connection?

Entered at Sat May 18 23:57:28 CEST 2002 from netcache-1115.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.222.132)

roz

Linda, If Cahoots was the first album by The Band that you ever heard, you certainly had some surprises coming a little later if you ever listened to another....agreed? Actually, I loved Cahoots. Shoot Out In Chinatown was always one of my favorites, along with The River Hymn and 4% Pantomime, and of course When I Paint My Masterpiece. Speaking of Cahoots, it is now also the title of a wonderful little no-budget film written and directed by Dirk Benedict. He had been trying to get this little beauty made for about 25 years and finally got it into production with a shoe-string budget. It stars David Keith and Keith Carradine, Carradine's best role in a many many years. He deserved an Oscar nod but alas the film is still doin' the chitlin circuit and is not to likely to find a distributor, Too bad...too bad. It was shot in digital video and looks terrific! If anyone gets the chance to see this thing in a film festival near you, treat yourself and go look. I think it played the Woodstock festival last year. It's gonna rain like hell here so I'm going out to bring the lawn furniture in and then sit down somewhere and finish "The Book Of Daniel." Not the Bible one, the one written by E.L. Doctorow. Happy Saturday Everyone!

Entered at Sat May 18 21:43:32 CEST 2002 from spider-wa062.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.47)

JTull Fan

Subject: Neil Diamond

Just returned from Las Vegas (thank-god)but thought ya'll would like to know that Neil Diamond was playing across the street from me. Too bad I didn't have the Last Waltz DVD for him to autograph! Actually, if I had the time and money it would have been a fun thing to go see, but I just wasn't up to 'doing the Vegas thing.' Anything going on in NYC in June? That's my next stop. Guess I'll check the What's New section now.

Entered at Sat May 18 20:59:44 CEST 2002 from ws090161.ppi.siu.edu (131.230.90.161)

Linda

Subject: The Band on "American Routes"

Listening to Robbie Robertson on "American Routes" talking about The Band. What a good time. Found your website -- GREAT!! Got first Band albun in 1972 "Cahoots" - I was hooked.

Entered at Sat May 18 19:41:30 CEST 2002 from dialin-125-tnt.nyc.bestweb.net (216.179.1.125)

Gene

Geraldo has known of the 911 plot since he uncovered Al Capone's tomb. Granted, Bush should have paid more attention to Nostrudamus. BTW, is that the back of Leon Russell's head on page 6 in the new TLW cd? More grist for the conspiracy mill!

Entered at Sat May 18 19:34:38 CEST 2002 from ool-18be4376.dyn.optonline.net (24.190.67.118)

Jason

Subject: Will Levon be attending either of the 3 NYC shows?

Hi, Does anyone know if Levon will be attending the Night of Legends (w/ Vassar, Peter Rowan, Buddy Cgae, Falzarno+) on 5/30/31 or the Buddy Cage benefit for his stolen equipment on 6/1 all at Tribeca Blues in NYC? Any information is appreciated.

Entered at Sat May 18 19:22:48 CEST 2002 from a010-0038.burk.splitrock.net (209.252.173.38)

Tim(SUNDOG)Corcoran

Subject: S*S*s*

Hey now folks, I just would like to pass this to you all. Hope everyone here is well and doing fine!!! We'd love to have you join us with Vince Welnick (keyboardist of The Grateful Dead), The David Nelson Band, The Zen Tricksters, Professor "Louie" & The Crowmatix, Michael Falzarano of "Hot Tuna", Toni Brown of "The Toni Brown Band", Mississippi Cactus, Bob Young, Groovatron, and 15 other grate and up-coming Jambands for our next gathering at the ~SUNDOG SUMMER SHAKEDOWN~. All the fantastic fun, camping, music magic starts this coming *Labor Day Weekend*, on August 30th thu September 2nd 2002. This gathering is located at the Hoppe Homestead Farm Campground nestled in the wonderful rolling hills of East Troy Wisconsin! This will be our 2nd gathering for all you Tie-Dyed Psychedelic Kind Folks, and fun Lovin' DeadHead Friends! This gathering will be almost as magical as the Grateful Dead shows use to be. There will be three grate daze & nights of camping under the sun, moon, and stars with campfires, drum circles to swirl and dance too! We also have Hoppe's Country 'Cafe with grate food, and Sawtooth's Shakedown Screenz for grate vids, and bootlegs to watch after the main stage music is over for the night! Plus vending along the wonderful Shakedown Street. "Tim's Sundog" television show and his crew, have aired some of the best jam'n JamBands that the midwest has to offer for the past five years on WYOU Cable Channel 4 in Madison Wisconsin. The program has also showcased many national acts such as Merl Saunders and Boots, Vince Welnick with Terrapin Flyer, Justin Kreutzmann (the Son of a Grateful Dad), The Four Bitchen Babes, David Gans, Michael Falzarano of "Hot Tuna" with Professor "Louie" & The Crowmatix to name a few! The music just gets better and better, so don't miss the bus this year! This years band line-up will surely make you Smile, Smile, Smile :) Tickets are on sale now, so please be so kind and check out the web site below for details and a world of information about this kind gathering! Hope to see you all at the ~Sundog Summer Shakedown~ this year! "Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much"

Entered at Sat May 18 18:47:56 CEST 2002 from dialup-209.244.64.203.dial1.chicago1.level3.net (209.244.64.203)

Pat Brennan

Well, that's not what Ruppert is alleging but feel free to invent your own reality.

Entered at Sat May 18 18:20:36 CEST 2002 from 1cust78.tnt17.nyc9.da.uu.net (63.38.83.78)

NEWS FLASH!

President Bush had lunch with suicide pilot Mohammed Atta at the White House in late August during which he personally ordered the destruction of the Twin Towers. This will be revealed on the upcoming Geraldo Rivera special. It will also be revealed that the Al-Queda financed their early operations in the U.S. with money stolen from Al Capone's safe.

Entered at Sat May 18 18:15:06 CEST 2002 from 66-169-112-107.ftwrth.tx.charter.com (66.169.112.107)

roy

The Last Waltz what can you say,a great rock film! I've seen The Band in concert twice my-o-my!!!

Entered at Sat May 18 17:39:06 CEST 2002 from wwwcache.lanl.gov (128.165.156.80)

Kay

Subject: Barn Burners in Tulsa

Just back from a great show in Tulsa, Levon and the Barn Burners with Jr. Markham opening. Roger Tillison showed up, along with Steve Ripley and Walt Richmond from The Tractors (Walt played keyboards with Rick for years, and played with Jr. Markham on Thursday) and lots of other Tulsa musicians from the Leon Russell/J.J. Cale bands. I loved watching Chuck Blackwell (Little Richard's longtime drummer) watching Levon from backstage, smiling and shaking his head at what he was laying down. Levon clearly had a ball, the party went on till the wee hours. . .

If you haven't yet seen the Barn Burners, do it this summer. They are really on their game and so much fun to watch.

Entered at Sat May 18 17:30:26 CEST 2002 from dv094s53.lawrence.ks.us (24.124.53.94)

Dexy

Entered at Sat May 18 16:09:03 CEST 2002 from px1ar.ed.shawcable.net (24.70.95.203)

Cindy

Entered at Sat May 18 15:44:03 CEST 2002 from du18-249.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.249.18)

Ilkka

Subject: Psycho

Congrats John W, Vincent van Gogh was the right answer. (My link is my vCard.)

Entered at Sat May 18 15:28:17 CEST 2002 from spider-wf031.proxy.aol.com (205.188.195.154)

Bayou again

Subject: spellin' stuff

is "nah" a word? I don't want to upset any of the dictionary thumpers.

Entered at Sat May 18 15:26:20 CEST 2002 from spider-wf031.proxy.aol.com (205.188.195.154)

Bayou Sam

Allright kids! Knock it off already.

I've never even seen the first Star Wars movie - is it good?

I'm trying to imagine The Band and Dylan in the basement, with all the creative juices flowing, and discussing the grammer in the songs being perfect - nah.

Entered at Sat May 18 15:22:36 CEST 2002 from dv094s53.lawrence.ks.us (24.124.53.94)

Dexy

George Lucas to Linda Ronstadt to Rick Roberts to Chris Hillman to Gene Clark to Danko/Manuel. Surely there's a faster way....

Entered at Sat May 18 15:15:17 CEST 2002 from netcache-1115.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.222.132)

george lyne

Subject: levon 5-17-02

i just returned from the barnburners show in fayetteville. levon played better than i'd heard in years.....the barnburners rocked for over 3 hours.and with the cate bros across the street,earl and ernie showed up!

Entered at Sat May 18 07:23:56 CEST 2002 from 1cust179.tnt1.idaho-falls.id.da.uu.net (67.250.109.179)

jeffrey

Entered at Sat May 18 07:19:33 CEST 2002 from netcache-1115.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.222.132)

roz

Well.. it's ok if ya read them Brenon, just don't comment on them.

Entered at Sat May 18 05:45:26 CEST 2002 from spider-ntc-td011.proxy.aol.com (198.81.17.151)

Dave Z

Anybody go to the Bearsville show on the 11th? I was hoping to hear a review of the show.

Entered at Sat May 18 04:55:12 CEST 2002 from 1cust250.tnt17.nyc9.da.uu.net (63.38.83.250)

Crabgrass

Subject: TLW / Star Wars

I just passed the Ziegfeld Theater yesterday (where they had the NYC premiere of the re-released TLW on April 10) and guess what just started running there? That's right, Part 2 of Star Wars in the very same theater that Robbie and Garth sat last month!!

So obviously, there is a connection between Star Wars and The Band and as most of us know by now - if you're a Band fan EVERYTHING is Band related!!

Entered at Sat May 18 03:20:19 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-th053.proxy.aol.com (64.12.102.43)

Kevin Kenna

Subject: The Band

Got Robbie's signature in NY last week. Also partyed with Levon & Rick Danko before. Anybody wants to talk about The Band . my e-mail is kkennapa@AOL.com

Entered at Sat May 18 03:01:33 CEST 2002 from syr-66-67-72-185.twcny.rr.com (66.67.72.185)

Bashful Bill

Peter, my 8 year old son and I just saw it a couple hours ago, at 3:10 PM eastern Fri, were we seeing it approx the same time as you? We compared notes on our way out- we agreed that our favorite part was when Yoda took on one of my alltime hero's-Brit Christopher Lee, who is still going strong.(I showed my son some pics from Lee's Hammer days,when he often acted with his good friend and alumnus of the original SW movie-the late Peter Cushing. I have several of those movies on video.) I didn't care much for the young Darth Vader, though they did a good job of setting up for his inevetible descent into the darkside, along with the rest of the SW universe, in the next episode.

Entered at Sat May 18 01:32:45 CEST 2002 from ptldme-cmt1-c3-24-25-164-68.maine.rr.com (24.25.164.68)

MattK

Subject: wasted days and wasted nights

Hmm, actually, I have no clue what the hell Roz's is talking about. I had no idea making an obtuse comment about someone (else's, no less) ISP was an indication of one's political leanings.

Still, if I'm being accused of thinking that disparaging someone for whom they choose to love un-American, un-Christian, and positively inane...guilty as charged!

Some people, though, seem to have WAY too much time if they're expending such energy on two totally unrelated matters. Ah well, to each there own.

Matt

PS - One of the endearing aspects of the GB is the penchant for people to rise to a fellow poster's defense. Thanks, Pat (though, I think you're wasting your breath - whatever the ax that's being ground here, it's got nothing to do with relevance, reasonability or grace).

Entered at Sat May 18 00:36:16 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-090.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.90)

Peter Viney

On discounts - the MVC chain in the UK currently has both "Live at Loreley" and "Classic Albums- The Band" in the 2 DVDs for £20 section.

Entered at Sat May 18 00:16:32 CEST 2002 from user-1121kmh.dsl.mindspring.com (66.32.210.209)

Pat Brennan

jt/roz, I forgot that when people post on a public forum, no one is supposed to read them, except for the person who was supposed to read them, who would have to read them to find out if they were supposed to read them. So I won't read them unless I'm supposed to read them, which I can find out by reading them then pretending not to have read them if I wasn't supposed to read them.

David Powell makes a point we should all remember, that Robertson didn't mix the WB release and it shows. The new mix reminds much more of BtF and even a bit of RoA, with a lot more Garth (thankfully). It also has that digital sheen that can be aurally wearing, but the increased detail is amazing.

Entered at Fri May 17 22:50:31 CEST 2002 from (208.218.212.2)

David Powell

When discussing The Last Waltz, I have to keep reminding myself that the movie's sound and the Warner Bros. soundtrack were originally recorded and mixed separately by different people in entirely different studios. Robbie Robertson mixed the sound for the movie's original release, but because that was such a demanding task in itself, he had someone else mix the soundtrack for the original WB release.

Entered at Fri May 17 22:48:39 CEST 2002 from netcache-1115.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.222.132)

j~t (roz)

Subject: I'm not sure yet...

I never look into this guestbook more than once a day but it seems I'm being paged...I heard it from the lawn where I was pulling weeds and planting baby's breath. Brennun, If you would go back a piece and check the "subject" line on the post in question, I do believe you will find that it is addressed to a MattK not a Pat Brennen. He knows what I mean. You don't have to be privy to every little nuaunce that goes down here in the Band Guestbook do you? Are you a doctor? An eyes, ears, nose and throat doctor ? While we are on the subject of name changes, may I begin to use my given name when posting a reply or a thought here? If so, I will begin to key in the name "roz" where it says "Name Required" My friends all call me that. My mother calls me Rosalind and my nieces and nephews call me Rozawind...I prefer "roz". Since we are all becoming a big happy family here now, exchanging quips and kidding and just all around pleasantries, I think that would be quite appropriate, don't you? So as our dear departed John Lennon once said "Give Peace A Chance" Or was that Rodney King that said that? Hell, I forgot !

Entered at Fri May 17 22:46:18 CEST 2002 from p28.as1.qkr.cork1.eircom.net (159.134.180.28)

luka

hey folks how'u doing? i'm...new here as u probably realize. i presume it's kind of hard to join a group of people who know each other for a while but...i try anyway. i'm actually not only new concerning the guestbook but also concerning THE BAND itself. i just bought my first album a couple of days ago and...well...i'm hooked on it.i mean this music is fucking brilliant! as i listen to it i ask myself how much do i miss every day? how many bands are there in the world, brilliant music, and u just don't get to hear them?! lets be honest, most of the music played on the radio nowadays is... bullshit. todays bands who top the charts do so with songs which are oldies and evergreens. they just have their own coverversion. bands mixed by "popstars" or some kind of manager just to make money. and then there are bands, singers and songwriters, really good, and they never even get the chance?! and the sad thing about it all is: todays youth, who buy most of the cd's , is listening to and buying this crap! can anybody tell me why? anyway...

hank: i don't have the answers to ur questions. sorry about that. but i was asking this myself. where does all the money go? also if somebody covers a song and makes an awful lot of money out of "his bandnew cd"?.....ah well, more questions don't help. however there is one more: do u know whether u can still watch TLW at the cinema? 'cause u wrote the last time 'if u purchase a ticket to see TLW at the cinema'... i hope to hear from u at some stage. god bless, luka

Entered at Fri May 17 22:23:03 CEST 2002 from spider-wa041.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.36)

Calvin

Subject: Cassandra Wilson and Jenny T

Jenny T, for the last 10 years or so Cassandra Wilson has been the reigning queen of Jazz Vocalists. Many, if not the vast majority of critics, regard her as this generations answer to Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn and the like. While Jazz is simply not a popular musical form anymore, which is an incredible shame as it may be my favorite, Cassandra Wilson is one of its serious heavyweights and one of the few who treanscends the medium in a sense.

Entered at Fri May 17 21:50:52 CEST 2002 from (12.34.17.217)

Johnny Flippo

Subject: Overdubs

"Performance is dead. Long live the recording." Glen Gould

Entered at Fri May 17 20:31:25 CEST 2002 from user-1121kmh.dsl.mindspring.com (66.32.210.209)

Pat Brennan

And we do have to mention Garth re-doing all his parts after a 60 cylce hum rendered his LW performances unusable. Now, is that overdubbing? Yeah, in the strictest sense, but it was done to correct a technical flaw rather than a performance boo-boo.

I'll second Ben Pike's reaction to the DVD. It is a spectacular package and a fitting close to that part of the Band's career, although this box set that everyone is hinting at sounds interesting. I still think the 1976 Palladium show should be released, and we know Woodstock 69 is out there in fine form somewhere. Ahh, to dream...

jt, now if you could explain the "homosexual rights"/liberal bashing, we'll be even.

Entered at Fri May 17 20:10:16 CEST 2002 from atpm3-9-15.enter.net (208.137.244.163)

Zeppe

While watching the DVD, I noticed that some of the overdubs were different than the ones that were used on the VHS version. It seemed like the DVD songs were mixed exactly the same as they were mixed on the new box set of TLW. On the other hand, the songs on the VHS version were mixed differently than the way they were mixed on the original LW soundtrack. The difference with the DVD mix is evident if you watch "Cripple Creek." On the last verse they show Rick harmonizing with Levon, but he doesn't step up to the mic until the line "is getting pretty old." However, you can hear his voice start singing on the line "and this livin' off the road." I'd also like to know whose voice it is that we hear singing backup on Dylan's "Forever Young." On the film you can see Levon singing into the mic during the chorus, but it doesn't sound like his voice on the song. Was that an overdub from Rick or Richard?

Entered at Fri May 17 20:07:56 CEST 2002 from (169.200.133.37)

Bones

I resisted commenting on this, but it drives me crazy when people suggest that Robbie had anything to do with putting his own picture on the back of the DVD cover. If you have a problem with it, blame MGM, UA, Rhino, Warner Bros, etc.......just don't blame Robbie.

Entered at Fri May 17 20:01:04 CEST 2002 from spider-wk063.proxy.aol.com (205.188.198.178)

Ben Pike

Wow, I was tired when I made that post, just to clairfy, it was in Chicago that I saw the Band and last night in L.A. I got my DVD signed.

JT, I'd either hang onto that video or check what they are getting on ebay for them now. Many are still not DVD friendly and some videos stay collectors items anyway.

Complaining about RR being on a little square on the back of the box pretty much sums up the kind of petty nonsense that has created such animosity over the years. I wearily must state: A) he didn't design the box, and B) his image as representative of the group is perfectly fine, and C) without RR there would of course be no "Last Waltz". To bad mouth him for this is even more gauling, because not only is the DVD a beautiful, made with care, wonderful item, but Garth AND LEVON are on it in commentary, dispite Levon's public bad mouthing of the film.

Not only THAT, Levon is very, very moving in the nev commentary and perhaps my favorite of the new elements involved, though interviews with Ronnie Hawkins, and Scoresse particuairly are great too. I'm not generally the one to gush around here(to say the least), but I can't believe more has not been said about what a terrific, stunning, let's put it in stone item this is for Band fans. I'm as cynical about endless reissues as anyone; but this(at a very resonable sale price yet) is a true gift for those who love the Band.

And for the less happy topic of The Band testing badly on Radio. To the causal ear, they always sounded like a bunch of hillbillies. The world's loss.

Entered at Fri May 17 19:56:37 CEST 2002 from netcache-1115.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.222.132)

j~t

Subject: ahh..

Thanks for clarifying that for me Brennon !

Entered at Fri May 17 19:49:52 CEST 2002 from (38.201.148.3)

Jay

Subject: Update - Authorized Video Biography DVD

CDNow is currently having a 15% off sale, so I decided to take a shot and order this title on DVD. Still was pretty dadgum expensive, but I'll let everyone know what happens. It is clearly labeled on the website as Region 1 (US and Canada only) and came up as in stock, so this should be interesting.

For those interested in the sale, the link is above.

Entered at Fri May 17 19:39:18 CEST 2002 from general.centerpointenergy.com (158.81.13.135)

Jim H

Subject: Radio Tests

Hey All, I went to a radio test session once, years ago. About a 100 of us in a hotel conference room. For about 5 hours we listened to 5 second clips of songs. and then we were asked to rate them 1-5 on wether we loved them or hated them, then 1-5 wether we were familiar with them or were sick of them.

I've always said my 3 favorite groups are The Band, Little Feat and traffic. Well they played clips of two Band songs (The Weight and Cripple Creek), Two traffic songs (Feeling Alright and LSOHHB's) and One Litte Feat (Dixie Chicken).

But they played five or six Journey, Foreigner, Styx, Bob Segar etc.

Radio will never change because nobody in the radio biz even cares about music. How else can DJs and programmers bounce between top 40, country, classic rock, and "buzz" music and each place they go they proclaim that this is the greatest music going?

Classic rock stations play the same one hit wonder songs every day and play no deep cuts. You can hear "Green Eyed Lady", "Time of the Season" or "Spirt in the Sky" everyday one a C-rock station but you'll never hear "Makes No Diff.".

OK Rant Off

Jim H

Entered at Fri May 17 19:38:21 CEST 2002 from ns1.prenhall.com (198.4.159.5)

Ray G

Subject: Overdubs

Pat, thanks for the response. I would'nt advocate comparing the video to the DVD either. I was wondering if anyone out there had some solid info on the overdub subject because I'm curious as to why Robbie would leave some mistakes and not others.

Entered at Fri May 17 19:34:31 CEST 2002 from spider-wk083.proxy.aol.com (205.188.198.188)

yorktr

Subject: DVD audio quality

Just to clarify my position vis-a-vis the DVD's audio quality.

I must obviously concede the point about the dolby 5.1; as I don't have the proper receiver, but rather a lash up through the computer re-entered through the stereo. Comparing other DVD's was done almost as a troubleshooting exercise to verify the DVD player's settings. Since this is a concert recording with hall reverberations, my theory is that the 5.1 is accentuating concert hall reverberation induced phase cancellations, which would have the net result of "thin" audio, just like what you get with a stereo pair of balanced outputs, one of which mis-wired to be "out of phase", or more correctly, out of polarity. My other DVD's are regular soundstage movies, which would have better control of reverberations, and would thus not be afflicted with "thin sound" in the 5.1 mode. For those of you with the proper receiver, I was wondering about your results

The analog output of the disc should be perfect, however, and it is definitely of low amplitude. Switching to the 2.0 stereo restores some of the bass punch, but the levels are still low, relative to other DVD's in the fleet. I'm still adding 6dB with the Mackie mixer in one path; "raw" analog out through another, and the SP/DIF output into the computer, blah blah blah...

My signal routing allows three configurations to be tested simultaneously, by the way. No wonder you are instructed to play the DVD loud; it is absolutely necessary.

At any rate, if you don't have the 5.1 dolby receiver, you had better use the "stereo 2.0" setting...

Entered at Fri May 17 19:18:53 CEST 2002 from user-1121kmh.dsl.mindspring.com (66.32.210.209)

Pat Brennan

Ray, I think it would be fruitless to try to A-B the released LW against the CLW to find all the overdubs etc. That's take an awful lot of time. There were however some notable flubs, Rick playing the first part of Caravan in the wrong key for instance. It's too bad the GB is indexed (I'm kidding here, Jan) as I recall a fairly detailed discussion about this some years ago.

Had an interesting conversation with a highly regarded former Chicago DJ this morning. We talked about the great press our people have been receiving lately when he said, "You know, as great as they were, they consistently tested poorly with radio test audiences." Any theories as to why, other than most people are fairly stupid?

Bob W., those Aragon tix sold out in minutes.

Entered at Fri May 17 19:10:47 CEST 2002 from user-1121kmh.dsl.mindspring.com (66.32.210.209)

Pat Brennin

jt, mattk was referencing a former multi-poster who was identified by the "Web-TV" ID in those funny little numbers that crown the GB posts. He wasn't making fun of Web-TV users.

Entered at Fri May 17 18:40:12 CEST 2002 from (12.33.126.141)

John W.

Jenny T. - Well I think it is obvious that applying real-life, grown-up relationship values to some of the Band's characters will not show these gus in the best light anyway. There are a lot of guys like this in the Band's music, and usually they are paying the price. In The Shape I'm In, the guy is just out of jail (vagrancy), has no place to go, and is looking for his "lady" -- no surprise she's long gone! Strawberry Wine, Life is a Carnival, a few other Band tunes evoke scenes of a somewhat tacky, seedy lifestyle. Of course these characters would not be great candidates for reliable life partners. But maybe these are just "guy songs" -- a fantasy, sure, like Bruce Springsteen's brooding, alienated drag racing dudes, not someone you would want to be but still a very real picture of real-life type characters. Think of some of the popular songs for women -- wouldn't it spoil the fun a bit if we start applying real-life values to "Material Girl" (selfish, immature), "It's Raining Men" (promiscuous), or "I Will Survive" (fear of relationships).

Entered at Fri May 17 18:05:31 CEST 2002 from ns1.prenhall.com (198.4.159.5)

Ray G

Subject: TLW overdubs

Watched the TLW on DVD last week and enjoyed it very much. A lot has been made of the fact that much of what we hear on TLW had been re-recorded to spruce it up but I actually picked off some mistakes while listening to/watching the DVD. I'm a guitarist so the mistakes that are easiest for me to notice are Robbies. They were'nt blatantly obvious and I'm not knocking him (I'm a big fan of his guitar work and consider him one of my favorites) but the mistakes are there. It makes me wonder just how much of TLW is over-dubbed?

Does anybody have genuine knoweledge regarding the over-dubs?

Entered at Fri May 17 17:50:08 CEST 2002 from spider-tr062.proxy.aol.com (152.163.201.202)

franko

...now playing in a Guestbook near you.

Entered at Fri May 17 17:45:58 CEST 2002 from oshst-139.olysteel.com (63.91.50.139)

bob wigo

Subject: Stones

Pat Brennan.....the Aragon Ballroom....9/16/02

Franco....the Orpheum Theater...9/8/02

Crabby....the Roseland Ballroom...9/30/02

Any hope for tickets?

Entered at Fri May 17 17:37:33 CEST 2002 from netcache-1115.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.222.132)

j~t

Subject: Huh?

Brennin, What the hell are you talking about ?

Entered at Fri May 17 17:27:41 CEST 2002 from 0-1pool34-144.nas1.cincinnati1.oh.us.da.qwest.net (63.232.34.144)

Jenny T

And when I said "the Mother Theresa of drunken truck drivers" I didn't mean to insult truck drivers. I meant if you are the Mother Theresa type, go be Mother Theresa, don't get used smalltime--make a career of being useful.

The "hee hee" adds a lot to the song. It is not on one of the alternate takes and you really miss it.

Who knows more about this Cassandra Wilson? I heard her on Acoustic Cafe and wrote her name down it was so good.

Now I am swearing off the GB for a whole week. I can quit anytime I want to.

Entered at Fri May 17 17:13:33 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-086.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.86)

Peter Viney

Ben - next time you run into Robbie, would you mind getting me a signature with "Hey! The Moon Struck One doesn't suck, Viney!' While I might still disagree, I'd love to have it!

Off to see Attack of the Clones now …

Entered at Fri May 17 16:32:39 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-144.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.144)

Peter Viney

Chester- good grammar is a relative concept anyway. I think we were having fun rather than suggesting that ‘Ain’t no more cane’ might sound better as ‘There isn’t any more cane.’

Yorktr- your post kind of falls apart when you say you don’t have a 5.1 Receiver. In which case you won’t be getting an accurate output of the six channels.A patch-up might sound great on other DVDs because they might not have dispersed the signal so greatly over the 6 channels, therefore what you get out of a stereo lead (presumably only the front left and front right channels) will sound acceptable. But if you don’t have an output for centre, bass, and rear speakers you can’t expect to be able to judge what’s encoded on the disc. I’ll tell you more when my copy finally gets here.

Entered at Fri May 17 16:25:52 CEST 2002 from user-1121kmh.dsl.mindspring.com (66.32.210.209)

Pat Brennan

Ben Pike, thank you for that post. Not only more entertaining than jt's, it mirrors my thoughts exactly. And yorktr, although the easy answer is just don't buy it, I applaud your proactive approach to audio. I'm always futzing with levels and eq, but i work from the assumption that my system, although pretty good, is still somewhat below mastering standards. I have listened to the DVD in studio quality conditions and it does sound awfully good.

Entered at Fri May 17 16:20:38 CEST 2002 from user-1121kmh.dsl.mindspring.com (66.32.210.209)

Pat Brennan

Entered at Fri May 17 16:10:14 CEST 2002 from 0-1pool34-43.nas1.cincinnati1.oh.us.da.qwest.net (63.232.34.43)

Jenny T

Nancy: Very interesting. I think you have to date a Bad Boy or two, esp. when you are young and maybe trying to separate from your parents. It is funny you mention TLW--my high school boyfriend took me to it, too. He was a classic Bad Boy--kind of a cross between Spicoli from Fast Times and Ridgemont High and maybe any sex-obsessed teen character from any movie--but he had very good taste in music and I learned a lot from him.

Entered at Fri May 17 15:59:04 CEST 2002 from 0-1pool34-43.nas1.cincinnati1.oh.us.da.qwest.net (63.232.34.43)

Jenny T

Entered at Fri May 17 15:55:44 CEST 2002 from ptldme-cmt1-c3-24-25-164-68.maine.rr.com (24.25.164.68)

MattK

Subject: oh my

Now THAT's comedy...

Entered at Fri May 17 15:11:52 CEST 2002 from 0-1pool32-51.nas1.cincinnati1.oh.us.da.qwest.net (63.232.32.51)

Jenny T

I don't think I said anything about money. I am the last person to judge people by their occupations or incomes.(Remember how I said there was honor in any useful occupation re: meatcutting a while back?) Being a single income/two kids family we have to economize, but that is a choice we made in order to have a simpler less stressful life. And I am also devoted to materially simple living both from a spiritual and an environmental standpoint.

It's just that the song makes it clear she works hard to take care of all his needs and it's not really clear he does anything but drink and get a kick out of her. I was just looking at it from an older, hopefully wiser woman's point of view. What if she gets pregnant? Is he still going to come around or does he have screaming kids with Big Mama he likes to avoid as much as possible? If she loses her girlish figure and focuses on a baby rather than babying him, he will probably find another girlfriend. He may not have the extra cash to support a child, or he may be one of those guys that figures it's her problem.

I guess I did say she won't take money from him--which is to her credit--but I just picture her doing all his wash and cooking and dishes and mending the cigarette holes in his clothes and meanwhile trying to keep the shack up, and maybe waxing the cab on his tractor trailer and shining his boots while he's sleeping one off, when she could be having more regular fun with a studly, healthy, non-addicted local boy who doesn't reek. A real nice guy who does nice things for her about as much as she does nice things for him--maybe she waxes his car and he builds her a bookshelf. And they can both enjoy the sex. And not only that, HE WILL REMEMBER THE SEX THE NEXT DAY, unlike Mr. Blackout. I guess I think good relationships are more mutual, more even Steven. Otherwise someone's getting used. And though I only went out for a short time with one person who had a drinking problem, I can tell you it isn't as fun as it's cracked up to be.

Entered at Fri May 17 14:32:21 CEST 2002 from 0-1pool32-51.nas1.cincinnati1.oh.us.da.qwest.net (63.232.32.51)

Jenny T

yorktr: At least you didn't spend $80 on a used TLW video from Ebay only a few months before the DVD came out like I did! Whoever sold it to me was probably aware of the DVD.

Entered at Fri May 17 12:45:13 CEST 2002 from saintpaul.pioneerpress.com (208.149.52.102)

CHESTER

Subject: I, me, whom, who gives a rats ass

I got shitty grammer, horseshit spelling, thank God, because if I cringed upon hearing a rock -n- roll song with bad english and thought about that verses the beat and what the songster is trying to portray listening to great music wouldnt be very enjoyable.... its just fortunate that talented and creative people do not have to be formly educated, If any of folks in here who cringe at bad grammer are cringing after my entry.... well then I did what I intended to do...

Entered at Fri May 17 08:35:35 CEST 2002 from spider-ta062.proxy.aol.com (152.163.205.72)

yorktr

Subject: How Many More Last Waltzes?

So nearly 24 years ago, I saw this swell film in a beautiful old theater in Petaluma with a bunch of longhairs entitled "The Last Waltz". Well, as a longtime Band fan, I really enjoyed it, so I bought the 3 LP set.

A few years later, VHS machines became affordable, (less than $500), and one of the first movies I bought was "The Last Waltz" in hifi stereo.

Well, a few years after that, I acquired a CD player, since record companies were now releasing all their stuff on this format. One again, one of my first purchases was a 2 CD set called "The Last Waltz".

Last year, I purchased a DVD player, and just the other day I received a new disc pre-ordered from Amazon entitled "The Last Waltz". Inside the box is a $5 rebate coupon applicable to the new 4 CD set entitled "The Last Waltz".

So what is next??? A Last Waltz PDA with all of the song lyrics in the Memo pages? How about a Last Waltz shower radio with the songs embedded inside? Or perhaps a Last Waltz pocket pager which will allow you to text others with the lyrics?

As to the DVD itself...well, as much as I admire Mr. Robertson, it would seem a bit much to have only HIS picture on the back of the box along with the "stars", but when you are the producer.......

I guess the mix is different...is this the "actual" performance? Have the alleged overdubs been eliminated? I trust all of you experts to know this, because "Coyote" sounds different to me, but I can't tell from the film if this was Rick's actual performance...

Primarily, because I don't think that the sound is all that great on this DVD. The disc has a very low audio level, and is very thin. I have tested the system with known good discs, and I can see and measure both SP/DIF levels as well as the analog output.

For acceptable quality, I have routed the DVD analog output through my Mackie mixer, adding 6dB of level and about 3dB of low EQ to get some bass punch similar to the "raw" output of other music DVD's such as "Down from the Mountain"

While I don't have a proper Dolby 5.1 receiver, I have previously enjoyed wonderful results using the SP/DIF output through my Soundblaster Live, re-entered into the stereo. Though wildly dis-similar films, both "O Brother" and "Das Boot" sound marvelous when routed this way, so I am wondering if the studio is trying to minimize piracy by supplying the public with barely adequate quality in the originals. I haven't compared the DVD to the VHS version, however...

Entered at Fri May 17 07:37:38 CEST 2002 from spider-te023.proxy.aol.com (152.163.195.183)

Dave Z

Entered at Fri May 17 07:17:27 CEST 2002 from host-209-214-118-30.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.118.30)

Let's talk about something more important and Band-related. The new Star Wars is pretty awesome.

Entered at Fri May 17 07:12:15 CEST 2002 from spider-ta061.proxy.aol.com (152.163.205.71)

Stephen Novik

Subject: Answer to Franko's quote question

and the answer is -- Levon Helm 'Dixie' drum roll please.... Kate Bush! From her album "The Dreaming" and the song, by the way is called "Houdini". My fave, however is "There Goes A Tenner", 2nd fave would be "Suspended In Gaffa". Hey! Is it possible to say that the Band / Kate Bush connection is that they are both released on EMI Records? Anyway, thanks Franko for the game!

Entered at Fri May 17 06:57:59 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-td073.proxy.aol.com (64.12.104.183)

Ben Pike

Well, I just popped in the DVD and I'm getting into it like everyone else...BUT... I happened to be in L.A. tonight, and for the first time since I saw the boys at a racetrack in Chicago the summer before TLW. He was signing DVD's at the Tower records in Chicago. /n Rather than gush, I just had Robbie weigh in on a old beef familair to those in the GB. If you bought the CD or DVD, he would sign two things, no matter what you wanted. So I got the DVD, and one for a friend of mine, that is signed "To Dusty, Stop underrating Cahoots."-Robbie Robertson.

He seemed to get a kick out of it.

Entered at Fri May 17 06:54:05 CEST 2002 from netcache-1115.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.222.132)

j~t

Subject: ...shame on mattk

In these days of political correctness, I thought that the he/she/it references were exclusive to the more conservative side of the fence. Knowing how Matt has always been sooo proud of his highly educated and liberal background and proves it every time he has the chance to by standing firm and loudly coming to the defense of homosexual rights and the like. It sounds rather "slippery" of him to lower himself to the standards of the fundamentalist christian and the redneck from Alabama. But isn't that just a liberal? And now we find him sniggering at webtv users. Maybe because he assumes they have no education and therefore cannot find a position in life that will grant them the luxury of sitting behind a big beautiful Baby like the one he's got. I for one have found that the easiest way to "internet" is to have a small object that moves from room to room without the assistance of a wheel barrow. Plus the little remote is just about the right size to ....well....you know. Anyway, I think most of you should get one and use it regularly. And the webtv part is just right for insignificant stupid shit like posting in guestbooks !

Entered at Fri May 17 06:07:38 CEST 2002 from sdn-ap-005castocp2015.dialsprint.net (63.187.47.237)

rollie

http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/ww3/051602_liewontstand.html

Entered at Fri May 17 05:15:18 CEST 2002 from ptldme-cmt1-c3-24-25-164-68.maine.rr.com (24.25.164.68)

MattK

Subject: Could be worse

Hey, at least he/she/it got rid of that WebTV account...

Entered at Fri May 17 04:19:57 CEST 2002 from dialup-65.56.138.113.dial1.chicago1.level3.net (65.56.138.113)

Pat Brennan

Yes, we seem to have an old, uhhh, friend among us.

Gus, I do believe the front of the DVD is the backs of the performers onstage, probably after ISBR. I haven't looked hard enough at it because the packaging doesn't really mean that much to me. Call me dumb, but I do believe TLW has long ago ceased to be strictly about The Band and now represents a rather interesting and important moment in pop music history. As much as I love The Band, I'm guessing that the general population has no idea who they are and would approach the movie to see the stars. Luckily, along the way they will pick up a fair bit of musical education about the boys.

You may notice that the CD release packaging would no doubt be more to your liking, although it may work against your theory.

Although I didn't take part in it, I enjoyed the deconstruction of the lyrics. Having been slammed in the past for doing much the same thing, I applaud all of you who took part and encourage you to ignore the naysayers. And, "donut in my tea, hee hee" is indeed a rather amusing sexual reference. I recall that particular reference in some early review of the album.

Entered at Fri May 17 03:06:18 CEST 2002 from spider-tr042.proxy.aol.com (152.163.201.192)

Bayou Sam

GB stands for Golden Bozo's.

Entered at Fri May 17 02:32:58 CEST 2002 from as3-2-64.hip.berkeley.edu (136.152.194.178)

Dave Hopkins

Subject: Life imitating art...

Apropos of the recent discussion, there appears to be some "multiple personality disorder" right here in the trusty ol' GB (or Guest Book). In fact, the personalities even appear to be talking to each other! (check the IP's).

Entered at Fri May 17 02:03:54 CEST 2002 from (12.22.86.207)

Cutie Pie

No Robbie has no shame but he has a big ego! Sincerely, Cutie Pie

Entered at Fri May 17 01:51:37 CEST 2002 from pool-63.49.157.84.bltm.grid.net (63.49.157.84)

Gus Elliott

I honestly try to cut robbie some slack. However,enough is enough.No more. I recently received my DVD of THE LAST WALTZ.On the front cover a shadow photo of the audience {I think}.On the back, photos of Mitchell,Young,Dylan,Morrison,Clapton,Diamond,and robertson.I thought THE LAST WALTZ was about THE BAND.Has he no shame?

Entered at Fri May 17 01:36:51 CEST 2002 from (12.22.86.207)

QT Pie

Subject: 2 Jokes 4 U

Joke #1) This horse walks into a bar and the bartender says, "Hey, why the long face?" Joke #2) Why is the number 6 afraid of the number 7? Because 7 8 9. (Hee hee hee haa haa haa hoo hoo hu huh heh heh he ho ha he hu ho hm.)...get it?) And to message board poster: MARIA....keep being silly...don't let folks who are too serious or critical get you down. Have a nice evening fellow Band Fans, QT Pie

Entered at Fri May 17 00:40:41 CEST 2002 from (64.80.240.24)

Lil Again

Am I the only one who seems to notice something reminiscent of Java in the air?

Entered at Fri May 17 00:33:06 CEST 2002 from (12.22.86.207)

Maria

Subject: To poster: Bassmanlee

Bassmannlee, Regarding your comment for me to "settle...". If you for one second took my silly poems seriously than I pitty you. I saw a license plate yesterday that said simply: BE SILLY.....and then a bumber sticker that read: HAVE FUN. Thats all I was doing in here....and not with YOU.....with a poster named Matt K. So there! LIghten up and learn to take a joke!

Entered at Fri May 17 00:19:46 CEST 2002 from (64.80.240.24)

Diamond Lil

A biiiig congratulations to our very own resident television star! You done good Jan :-) Hug.

Entered at Thu May 16 23:48:30 CEST 2002 from (130.195.196.201)

ajr

Subject: drivel about cripple creek pscychoanalysis etc and a throwaway remark about the Sea to the North

I thought the psycho-analytical readings of Cripple Creek were funny. And some of the poems are quite funny too. I wonder if the fact that Little Bessie sends the trucker to Cripple Creek suggests some ambivalence on his part. Yes, she’s a drunkard’s dream but when he is with her he is crippled- “unmanned” as it were, by her enabling behaviour. (That’s more or less what Bill said.)

Incidentally, as I mentioned once here before a long time ago a horticultural reading is also possible of the lyric. Drunkards Dream a.k.a HATIORA SALICORNIOIDES is a member of the cacti family has unusual branching stems which supposedly resemble bottles.

Finally, on a confessional note, I am a female law academic and I suspect my husband would frown upon me lying on the couch watching Spike Jones on the box & drinking gin all day. I guess I could try it and when he complains I’ll tell him he is selfish and materialistic and should just enjoy being in my presence & bring me a doughnut and a cup of tea. Do you think it will work?

Nice photos Crabby. I especially like the one of Garth with the Bauls. Have been listening to the Sea to the North recently and I think I hear a gubjabi (a Baul(ish?) instrument) on a couple of the songs.

Entered at Thu May 16 23:50:36 CEST 2002 from pool-141-155-115-89.ny5030.east.verizon.net (141.155.115.89)

jcf

Recently I lisetened to jazz singer Cassandra Wilson's cover of The Weight from her latest album. I didn't think much of it although her cover of Dylan's Shelter from the storm was real good... Anyone else heard these two tracks?

Entered at Thu May 16 23:28:50 CEST 2002 from plantlogic.com (209.195.208.11)

bassmanlee

Subject: Band DVD price tip

Been out of town and touch for a while and finally caught up. Psycho-analysis, and ebray-ting! Whew! Y'all need to get out more! Trying to get enough home time to watch TLW and Classic Album DVD's which I found, for those of you with equally thin wallets, at what I thought were good prices from deepdiscountdvd.com - $17.09 and $14.39 US respectively, with free, albeit snail-mail, shipping (in USA).

Yo, Maria G...settle! (or lurk and learn...)

And by the way
A backslash and a b
Poems like this
Will let you see
On the forum we call
The ol' GB

Does make them take longer to scroll past, however...

Entered at Thu May 16 23:23:31 CEST 2002 from bandfan.halden.net (195.70.189.163)

jh

Dexy,

http://theband.hiof.no/albums/whos_been_sleeping_in_my_bed.html

Entered at Thu May 16 23:08:10 CEST 2002 from (12.22.86.207)

Harry Sier

Subject: Bud's post

Bud, You are incorrect. Kevin Bacon was not in The Crossing Guard. Having it and in on the website and I checked and it. Having on the wrong. He wasn't in that. He wasnt. He wasn't in that movie and.

Entered at Thu May 16 23:05:49 CEST 2002 from (12.22.86.207)

Harry Sier

Subject: Amagdi

Bud, Why am and it on the record you're referring to? It is but the song was, and in the end we all did, isn't that what correct? I looked it up yesterday but could be wrong on and it was, it.

Entered at Thu May 16 23:03:26 CEST 2002 from (12.22.86.207)

QT Pie

Subject: Joke 4 U

Why is 6 afraid of 7? Because 7 8 9! Haa haa hee hee!

Entered at Thu May 16 22:58:50 CEST 2002 from (208.11.92.3)

Bud

Subject: Dexy & Kevin Bacon

Phog Allen to Garth Hudson in just two degrees of separation? Congratulations, Dexy, that's the most impressive Band-related link I've ever seen here. If the Kevin Bacon Game weren't woefully dated (how about those terrible VISA Check Card commercials trying to cash in on a cultural phenomenon that died four years ago?), you'd be a champion.

Oh, and if this wasn't mentioned when it was relevant in 1997 (I hadn't yet discovered this website), by virtue of appearing together in 1988's _End Of The Line_, Kevin Bacon and Levon Helm are separated by only one degree. Robbie to Kevin requires two degrees -- Robbie was in _The Crossing Guard_ with Jack Nicholson who was in _A Few Good Men_ with Kevin Bacon. Finally, Levon can be connected to Robbie via Fred Ward (Robbie and Fred were in _Carny_, and Levon and Fred were in _The Right Stuff_.

Please pardon my compulsion to do that.

Entered at Thu May 16 22:29:00 CEST 2002 from webcachem07b.cache.pol.co.uk (195.92.194.17)

jim

Subject: Levons drum kit in last waltz

Does anyone know what drum kit levon used in the last waltz, especially what size were the bass drums and toms

Entered at Thu May 16 22:27:15 CEST 2002 from (12.33.126.141)

John W.

Subject: More "Crazy" Band Characters

Let's not forget Evangeline from the Last Waltz ("Evangaline from the Maritimes was slowly going insane".) Also the unnamed character from Life is a Carnival ("Trying to deal with people, people that you can't see".) Was the title character in "Crazy Mama" actually mentally ill? And in Rick's "Java Blues" and entire country is diagnosed ("Down in Bolivia, the people are insane...")...

Entered at Thu May 16 21:31:48 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-138.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.138)

Peter Viney

Mojo's Best 100 Soundtracks includes "Carny" this month. (As well as Bob Crewe's 'Barbarella' - another sound choice).

The same Mojo has Arthur Lee of Love complaining bitterly about Hoskyn's biography of him (if you're there, Serge, you'll enjoy it).

Entered at Thu May 16 20:51:12 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-tc064.proxy.aol.com (64.12.105.179)

franko

Subject: pronouns

Anyone care to guess who wrote this gem (from memory)

HIM and I in a room...To prove YOU are with US to

HE'S using code that only YOU and I know\ This is no trick of HIS...This is YOUR magic

I get the Clues...Watching YOU...Hoping YOU'LL do nothing wrong

Entered at Thu May 16 20:49:50 CEST 2002 from (12.22.86.207)

Maria Gene

Subject: To Jon W

Jon W, you have my way confused with someone else....i haven't posted anything in here about vv goe.....lol.

Entered at Thu May 16 20:47:28 CEST 2002 from (12.22.86.207)

Maria Gene

Subject: Matt K the Scholar

Another poem for Matt K.....to help you start your day! HEY SMARTY PANTS, I AWAIT/TO HEAR MORE ON MY GRAMMAR'S FATE/SO PLEASE IF YOU WILL REPLY/BUT DON'T SLING ANY SCHOLARLY CRAP IN MY EYE/I'M JUST A GIRL WHO LOVES ROCK N' ROLL SLANG/AND I TEND TO OFFEND BRAINIACS WITH A BANG/SO IF I DON'T SEE YOUR POST REAL SOON/MY CORNY POEMS WILL BE YOUR DOOM/I WILL CONTINUE ON AND ON/WITH THESE MEANINGLESS RHYMES AND SONGS.......

Entered at Thu May 16 20:44:35 CEST 2002 from (12.33.126.141)

John W.

Ilkka - You are referring to Vincent Van Gogh, who is mentioned in "Last of the Blacksmiths" on Cahoots.

Entered at Thu May 16 20:40:29 CEST 2002 from (12.22.86.207)

Maria Gene

Subject: GB?

Donald, remind me...who the hell is GB? Your post went right over my head......plus....in answer to your comment....anyting relating to The Band is unique......and pleasantly unlike anything else. Who the hells GB? Boy will I sure feel stupid if I figure it out AFTER i've posted this!

Entered at Thu May 16 20:31:33 CEST 2002 from l98uppx1.hewitt.com (4.17.250.5)

Donald Joseph

Subject: Jenny T's husband's income; uniqueness of GB

John W: Where'd you hear Jenny T's hubby pulls in 100 bills a year? I must have missed the link to the Ts' 1040.

Pardon me if I'm piqued, but did just I whiff a scent of lawyer-bashing? (Actually, don't tell anyone, but lawyer-bashing doesn't bother me. However, I once knew a lawyer who was extremely offended by lawyer jokes, and who genuinely couldn't see a distinction between lawyer jokes and racial insults. Her inability to draw this distinction made me wonder about her skills as a lawyer.)

Maria Gene: You say this GB is unique, & I've seen others say that here, as well. But I've never taken the time to study similar message boards on other web sites, and I'm genuinely curious about what is unique about this GB: Aren't there other not-real-time (not-chat room) posting boards on the 'net where regulars plus "irregulars" post messages that refer back to one another, all anchored by some central theme (here, The Band)? Or is it just that there's something unique about the level of discourse on Jan's beloved GB (if so, what about our discourse is unique?)? Or is the GB unique only in that it's the only such forum about The Band? I am (and perhaps others might be) genuinely interested in insights on Jan's GB's uniqueness, from any of you who may've spent "quality time" in other GB's/message boards.

Entered at Thu May 16 20:28:52 CEST 2002 from 12-222-68-179.client.insightbb.com (12.222.68.179)

Amanda Savchuk

Subject: The Last Waltz

This website is great! I love The Band. I have been trying to find the video of The Last Waltz for years and my attempts have been unsuccessful, until now. I am so glad the movie is being re-released. What a fantastic concert. Any fan of The Band must own this!!!

Entered at Thu May 16 19:50:30 CEST 2002 from dv094s53.lawrence.ks.us (24.124.53.94)

Dexy

Entered at Thu May 16 19:36:33 CEST 2002 from pool-63.52.221.185.ipls.grid.net (63.52.221.185)

Bobby Jones

Subject: Pepote Rouge

Would that be Pepote Rouge?

Entered at Thu May 16 19:26:41 CEST 2002 from du17-250.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.250.17)

Ilkka

Subject: Psychoanalytical posts

One mentally very sick person (a real one!) is mentioned in a Band song. According to Dr. Peyron who was in charge of the hospital where he was treated, he was suffering from "acute mania with hallucinations of sight and hearing and epileptic fits at very infrequent intervals." (The life and works of "X" by Janice Anderson © 1994 Parragon Book Service Limited).

Who was this "X" in a Band song?
I am very disappointed if RAGTIME is not the first to answer! BTW I want you all to wish luck to our gb friend NORBERT who should arrive to his own "Le Grande Rose" in any minute now. (My link is a vCard.)

Entered at Thu May 16 19:21:43 CEST 2002 from (208.218.212.2)

David Powell

Subject: Van & Elvis

I agree with Don -- Van is back in top form with his new album. It would be great to assemble a version of "Georgia" with Ray Charles, Richard and Van swapping verses!

After graduating from high school, Elvis drove a truck for Crown Electric in Memphis for a while in 1953. It was on his lunch hour one day that he stopped by Sun Records' studio and recorded two songs for his mama's birthday. A man who drives a truck, loves his mama and can sing rock 'n roll is alright in my book.

Entered at Thu May 16 19:18:11 CEST 2002 from stjhts18c084.nbnet.nb.ca (142.166.254.89)

WS Walcott

Yeah, eye is hear. Howz it goin' Sweet Maria?

Entered at Thu May 16 19:09:38 CEST 2002 from (169.200.133.37)

Bones

Entered at Thu May 16 18:51:23 CEST 2002 from stjhts18c084.nbnet.nb.ca (142.166.254.89)

WS Walcott

Please, please please, no more about cripple creek!

"Spike Jones on the box."

Does that have a secret meaning too?

Entered at Thu May 16 18:50:17 CEST 2002 from (12.22.86.207)

Joe the Shmoe

Subject: Robert Blake

I don't know, in my opinon, Robert Blake is innocent. But you never know. (Oooops, sorry, wrong message room!).

Entered at Thu May 16 18:44:52 CEST 2002 from (12.22.86.207)

Maria Gene (who else?)

Subject: WS....

Oooops, I keep forgittin' to ask ya WS Walcott, are you the same Walcott Sir Levon Helm speaks of in The Last Waltz? (He says "Walcott's Rabit Foot Mentrals....") Hm? Gimme a shout and lemme know, ya hear now? (Hey its fun to use crappy grammar aint it?....tee hee!).

Entered at Thu May 16 18:41:15 CEST 2002 from (12.22.86.207)

Maria Gene

Subject: WS Walcott

To WS Walcott: Howdy partner! Donut seem like this message board is gittin' curiouser and curiouser? I aint seen nuthin' like this on any other message board...yee haw! While I'm awaitin' a hello from you I'm gonna head on up to 'Cripple Creek' to 'Ophelia's' for one more 'Last Waltz'. Oh and hey, tis gonna be a beautiful day, aint it? I doesn't know fer sher but it looks like it ta me!

Entered at Thu May 16 18:33:09 CEST 2002 from (12.22.86.207)

Marie Gene

Subject: Matt K

To Matt K The English scholar....here's a poem for you smarty......THE TIME YOU SPENT CORRECTING MY GRAMMAR/SHOWS YOU HAVE NO LIFE AND SO YOU RAMBLE ON AND YAMMER/BUT TODAY I COME ARMED WITH A DICTIONARY BOOK/SO BRING ON THE BIG WORDS AND FOR THEIR MEANING I WILL LOOK/I AINT GOT NO USE FOR KNOW IT ALLS LIKE YOU/BUT HEY THIS IS KINDA FUN, WEREN'T IT?/SO IT'LL GIMME SOMETHIN' TO DO/SO WHILE I'M A-WAITIN' FOR YOUR POST/I'LL DIP A DONUT IN MY TEA/AND I'LL AWAIT YET ANOTHER CORRECTION FROM YOU...SPECIALLY TO ME......(HEE HEE!!)

Entered at Thu May 16 18:04:13 CEST 2002 from (12.33.126.141)

John W.

Jenny T. - So you love your husband, he pulls in 100 thou and gets to work on time and helps out around the house. But if he starts sitting around all the time and drinking he'd out of there. So do you really care about this man as a human being, a companion, a soul mate, or is it really all about the success object factor? I mean, I understand there is a middle ground. My own daughter is only 6 and I hope she never ends up unhappy, with a bum. But I am worried about how to teach certain values. Sure it's just as easy to fall in love with a lawyer as it would be a gas station attendant, nothing wrong with that. But I hope she will see there is more to a man than the size of the wallet. Maybe I am bitter but it irks me to see, after all these years of women's liberation, the first thing women want to know about a potential suitor is "What does he do for a living"? And as far as irresponsible behavior, I guarantee you a woman's tolerance for it will be directly related to the success level of the man. So I say, if the singer from Cripple Creek has found someone with whom he can enjoy some time, and not be evaluated for what he's worth or what benefits his presence can provide, then more power to him because very few of us poor males manage to achieve this.

Entered at Thu May 16 17:40:37 CEST 2002 from l4duppx2.hewitt.com (63.73.213.5)

Donald Joseph

Subject: Web site/grammar in tunes

I stumbled upon a web site with a very interesting biography of The Band. While the biography covers familiar territory, it unearths interesting facts (e.g., JRR's joining Hawkins at a piano player's insistence); it posits interesting opinions (e.g., re The Band's artistic superiority to Zimmie in '74); and it makes curious non-sequiturs (e.g., complaining that The Band never toured in support of "Islands"). Hence it's worth a peek -- I apologize if it's already been posted on this site, but I (for one) never saw it, so perhaps others didn't, either: http://music.msn.com/Artist/?artist=100612

As to grammar in song: I never complained about grammar in rock songs, because the presumed narrator usually is someone not expected to speak the King's English. I only cringe when a grammar error in a rock song is an "overcorrection" (Viney's term), such as "...the love of you and I." This makes me shudder because the presumed narrator of rock songs isn't someone who would overcorrect. I'd much rather hear "ain't" or "You and me, we love each other..." than an overcorrection.

I raised grammar in JRR's 4 mistakes on the TLW DVD audio commentary track. There JRR was speaking as JRR, not a rock song narrator. And 3 of his 4 mistakes are overcorrections. Note that JRR conspicuously uses "whom" (correctly) in the beginning of his TLW DVD liner notes -- this signals he likes to hold himself out as using good grammar.

Entered at Thu May 16 17:35:27 CEST 2002 from dv094s53.lawrence.ks.us (24.124.53.94)

Dexy

I stumbled across the site above -- The Mike Reilly Band's CD "Who's Been Sleeping In My Bed." Says it features Garth along with Mike Finnigan, Taj Mahal and others. Has this been noted before?

Entered at Thu May 16 17:28:51 CEST 2002 from 24-196-235-53.charter-georgia.com (24.196.235.53)

Don Pugatch

Subject: New Van Morrison

It is hard for me to be critical, since I am just a fan and not trained in the ways. To me, Van has returned and his new CD, Down the Road, is the beginning of his trip to what makes Van, well Van. Listening closely, I hear many other Van tunes in these songs, and the double CD Philospher's Stone, keeps on coming up to me. Great version of Georgia, can you imagine, with the technology today, someone could actually make a duet between Richard and Van doing Georgia. With Jimmy Carter being in Cuba this week, it brings back to me a time, when life was simplier and less tense.

Entered at Thu May 16 17:09:47 CEST 2002 from spider-we044.proxy.aol.com (205.188.195.39)

Dave Z

What, nobody has taken a shot at the Genetic Method Chest Fever?... Ferdinand the Imposter? Who knows, maybe Cripple Creek is about a couple of lesbian truckers? Or maybe it's a joke about a Kathy Bates Misery kind of experience gone wrong for some poor trucker and his buddies keep teasing him?... Kathilyn: Best advice I got from a fellow painter... was to take a class or join a workshop... where other artists participate in critiques of each others work...

Entered at Thu May 16 17:02:32 CEST 2002 from dialup-63.210.121.198.dial1.losangeles1.level3.net (63.210.121.198)

JQ

Subject: Truck Driv'n Man

With all respect: In one of The Band videos the narrator, Harry Dean Stanton I believe, refers to Elvis as a "truck driv'n man". He even pronounces the words sort of in-character. But... wasn't Elvis a delivery boy?

Entered at Thu May 16 14:53:17 CEST 2002 from i249-009.nv.iinet.net.au (203.59.249.9)

Nancy

While the cringe factor would prevent me getting too autobiographical here in the guestbook, I need to add a comment after reading Jenny's very amusing post about Bessie. In the past many years ago I associated with a man who SOMEWHAT resembled the wicked waster in Cripple Creek, although the person I knew was NOT married at the time, and I have never perceived myself to be a "victim" of emotion and circumstance, the way Jenny describes Bessie. While there may be some qualities about the man I knew that were ultimately undesirable in a partner, the memories I have are mostly of good times and shared exploits. Speaking from experience, I can say that at that time of my life I found the wickedness to be exciting, and I feel that this could be part of the attraction that Bessie and the singer have for each other also. While their relationship is not clearly described by the lyrics, it could be that the couple have certain needs that are only met by the other, and therefore they continue to have a hold over each other. While I don't condone men sneaking off from their wives to see cute little girlfriends, it always seemed to me that the bond between Bessie and the singer is based on more than convenience and co-dependency (even though it could be argued that love and lust is a form of co-dependency). I feel that the overriding drawcard between Bessie and the singer is that they are friends (albeit lustful ones) who UNDERSTAND each other and are therefore able to satisfy needs in a way that no-one else can (especially Big Mamma). My final point is that the man I once knew is sure to be remembered by me, BECAUSE of where he took me for our first date.........a little old movie that you may have heard of once or twice..........I think the title was something like "The Last Waltz". He might have been wild and wicked but he had exemplary taste in music and I thank him for that as I might have completely missed The Band's music if it wasn't for his influence.

Entered at Thu May 16 13:24:03 CEST 2002 from 64-80-53-206-static.surferz.net (64.80.53.206)

Diamond Lil

Getting a real kick out of some of the psychoanalytical posts about Band tunes here lately. Freud would be proud :-)

I've had the Norwegian issue of "One More Shot" for several months now.. and it's great! It's nice to hear that it's finally being released in the states. Sadly though, I always hoped there'd be another DFA recording...which only gives me one more reason to miss Rick. It's still a bit surreal..even after all this time. Sigh.

Have a good day everyone. I'm off to work. Hug Jan.

Entered at Thu May 16 12:11:31 CEST 2002 from 0-1pool33-181.nas1.cincinnati1.oh.us.da.qwest.net (63.232.33.181)

Jenny T

Well the person most in need of immediate help is Crazy Chester. He is in such a mess that he can't even take care of his dog anymore.

Entered at Thu May 16 04:25:27 CEST 2002 from netcache-1115.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.222.132)

j~t

Subject: Last Waltz merchandise

If anyone is interested there is a beautiful Last Waltz presskit available on eBay for 34.99...lots of nice black and white 8 by 10's and a bio.

Entered at Thu May 16 03:42:08 CEST 2002 from ottawa-dial-64-26-165-76.d-ip.magma.ca (64.26.165.76)

canoe

Entered at Thu May 16 03:38:32 CEST 2002 from w37.igs.berkeley.edu (128.32.52.97)

Dave Hopkins

Subject: more psycho

Don't forget "The Weight" (narrator has vision of Satan walking with his friend Carmen, obviously an indication of serious psychological problems), "It Makes No Difference" (feelings of powerlessness and permanent injury, as well as a rather disturbing sense of livestock running amok in the immediate vicinity); and "Livin' in a Dream" (which celebrates a permanent detachment from reality altogether). Maria Gene, thou knowest not what thou hast wrought.

Entered at Thu May 16 03:36:06 CEST 2002 from hse-toronto-ppp180849.sympatico.ca (64.229.92.152)

Blind Willie

Peter Viney's right ... the foam cd holders in TLW music box set start to fail after two weeks. Saw TLW DVD last weekend .... twice .... WOW!

Entered at Thu May 16 03:03:02 CEST 2002 from proxy.lfpress.com (204.101.153.10)

Mike Nomad

Subject: TLW: reviews (contd)

Ben Wener, writing in the Orange County (Calif.) Register, has yet another review, fyi: It begins:

"I became mad for The Last Waltz, Martin Scorsese's 1978 document of the Band's star-studded farewell, four years after it came out, when my mother and I stumbled upon it on TV one summer afternoon."

In anyone's interested, click on link above, then do a search for key word: scorsese.

Entered at Thu May 16 02:48:35 CEST 2002 from ppp-225-62-191.friaco.access.uk.tiscali.com (80.225.62.191)

The other Bruce Springsteen

just want to say i have been searching for the song that mr danko starts singing in the last waltz video that starts i want to lay down beside you for the past 9 years and i thought id never find it, then found this site and bobs your uncle, fannys your aunt i found out its called sip the wine and its fandabbydozy so cheers to whoever made this site youve made this twenty year old a very happy nearly man

Entered at Thu May 16 02:24:07 CEST 2002 from netcache-1115.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.222.132)

j~t

Subject: Filters....?

M I A B W N W I T, "You got to get an education son or you're gonna end up in the Congress" ~Clem Rogers~

Entered at Thu May 16 02:13:54 CEST 2002 from stjhts26c101.nbnet.nb.ca (198.164.241.106)

WS Walcott

Across the Great Divide (Schizophrenia)

When you Awake (narcolepsy/insomnia)

Oh my God, now you have me doing it too. Save me Maria Gene before its too late!

I always thought slang, colloquialisms, and double negatives were all standard fare in rock lyrics ie:

"Ain't Got No Home"/n "Can't Get No Satisfaction"/n "Ain't Got You"

At least ain't nobody done bashed John Entwistle yet.

Entered at Thu May 16 02:09:47 CEST 2002 from (12.22.86.204)

Maria Gene

Subject: WS Walcott of course!

To WS Walcott: What am I doing Friday night? Listening to the Band's music and dreaming of you! I love the way you think! And as far as the Who goes, they are one of my FAVORITE bands.....I'll take 'Tommy' and 'Quadrophenia' to my grave with me and into my next lifetime......and also The Band's Music From Big Pink and The Band/Bob Dylan's 'The Basement Tapes' record.....ahhh....now theres a little taste of heaven ay? (OOoops, "ay" is grammatically incorrect....I might get analyzed or corrected in here!!). Gotta go WS Walcott....you're a doll!!

Entered at Thu May 16 02:00:25 CEST 2002 from stjhts26c101.nbnet.nb.ca (198.164.241.106)

WS Walcott

Viney: Daltrey said "Don't hold up", not doesnt hold up. I never thought of him as a thug. Just a rich ex sheet metal worker. But the guy can sing! You don't seem to have much regard for the rest of the boys either. Townshend, in my opinion, is one of the greatest rock composers of all time. Moon was a great drummer who was a tad crazy. "I'm a Boy is straightforward, you don't need to analyze that song.

Dip a donut in my tea= maybe Levon said hee hee hee because it rhymed with tea. The reason could be as simple as that.

Maria Gene=I love you too. What you doing Friday night? :)

Entered at Thu May 16 01:41:23 CEST 2002 from 0-2pool45-105.nas2.cincinnati1.oh.us.da.qwest.net (63.232.45.105)

Jenny T

Entered at Thu May 16 01:29:36 CEST 2002 from host-209-214-115-73.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.115.73)

M.I.A.

Alright! Patty Jarp's back! Whoo-hoo! Time to get out the filters.

Entered at Thu May 16 01:18:36 CEST 2002 from spider-tm033.proxy.aol.com (152.163.197.58)

Bayou Sam

........it seems to me that Cripple Creek is nothing more than a musician on the road who has a wife at home, and a little "cookie" in another town that he likes to visit when he desires. I'm sure this is autobiographical song for most big rockers.

Entered at Thu May 16 01:09:11 CEST 2002 from (38.201.148.3)

Jay

Subject: Appleseed Records

I wanted to echo David Powell's comments about Appleseed Records - excellent stuff. I have both of their wonderful Pete Seeger tributes and the Roger McGuinn disc. Highly recommended! I can't wait to add ONE MORE SHOT to my collection. I love the D/F/A album and am thrilled to have the opportunity to hear a live show from them.

Entered at Thu May 16 01:07:50 CEST 2002 from 0-1pool33-22.nas1.cincinnati1.oh.us.da.qwest.net (63.232.33.22)

Jenny T

Subject: Tonight

I have to say I am busting a gut tonight over the postings, esp. MattK's eerie vision of the future. The guest book is worth the sweat.

Also I would like to say to John W. that there has never been a point in history where normal, self-respecting people were happy in any kind of relationship where there wasn't some real tit for tat. I love my husband truly, but if he started to spend his time getting plastered and making a dent in the sofa while I did all the work around here, I'd tell him to snap out of it or else even though he's very amusing company.

Maybe Bessie wants to go down in (local) history as the Mother Theresa of drunken truck drivers, but most people have higher hopes and expectations for themselves. (Mr. Viney will detect my admiration for the ever-so-practical Jane Austen.)

Entered at Thu May 16 00:48:56 CEST 2002 from (169.200.133.38)

Bones

I've noticed one extremely minor hiccup in the sequencing of songs on the new set. Right after the Band plays that incredible version of "Ophelia", you hear Robbie say, "everybody knows him.......you know this guy!" (referring to Neil Young). In the movie it occurs after Dr.John I believe, but it doesn't fit after "Ophelia".

Stephen: Canada and basketball maybe going a little too far.

Entered at Thu May 16 00:22:03 CEST 2002 from 66-106-4-126.customer.algx.net (66.106.4.126)

MattK

Subject: So the priest says...

Nice poem, Maria, 'cept it's not very original (or, hence, creative). There's actually a number of variations on that old joke:

"To do is to be." (Descartes)
"To be is to do." (Cervantes)
"Dooby, dooby, doo..." (Sinatra)

or...

"To do is to be" (Socrates)
"To be is to do" (Plato)
"To be or not to be" (Shakespeare)
"Dooby Dooby Doo" (Sinatra)
"Scooby Dooby Doo" (Scooby)
"Yabba Dabba Doo" (Flintstone)

You'll notice the "The To do/To be" lines are often associated with variants - others include Schopenhaure

ietzche; Descartes\Spinoza (which is better than Cervantes, IMHO); Plato\Aristotle (no doubt by those who feel Socrates was a creation of Plato); and Bacon\Shakespear by those insisting Willie didn't really write all those plays.

But, I am touched by the effort, however weak. Allow me to repay the compliment (and I promise it's 100% me):

There once was a gal named Marie
Who dissed any real thinking, you see
'cause denying one's mind
masks creative decline
And makes you wonder why someone who says she's anti-rule and pro-freedom, force herself into making bad poems simply because she thinks they have to rhyme - when such affectations were abandoned by respected poets nearly 100 years ago.

"I wish I had a pair of bongos..." - Captain Beefheart

Entered at Wed May 15 23:57:23 CEST 2002 from cc5414-a.hnglo1.ov.nl.home.com (212.120.101.7)

Norbert

south, from dawn to dawn ...... Band and Van cd's ...... talk some, sign some, drink a beer, wonder ..... and smile (doe er je voordeel mee).

Entered at Wed May 15 23:54:32 CEST 2002 from bandfan.halden.net (195.70.189.163)

jh

Watching the server traffic tonight. Right now, two web robots, both from unresolvable IPs, are scanning the guestbook archives for mail addresses. Expect another wave of e-mails about Nigerian treasures and buy-the-cream-that-gives-you-four-more-inches. Or get yourself a good spam filter.

Entered at Wed May 15 23:50:30 CEST 2002 from (209.166.233.21)

Jon Lyness

Subject: Richard solo album

Just realized the blindingly obvious: that the track list for the live Richard Manuel album which is called Whispering Pines, actually includes a performance of Whispering Pines! Wow. I had no idea Richard performed that live in the 1980s, or that he'd ever performed it at all for that matter! Really looking forward to picking up this album.

Entered at Wed May 15 23:45:43 CEST 2002 from (12.22.86.204)

Kathilyn King

Subject: Missing Rick & Richard

To Richard Manuel and Rick Danko: "And it makes no difference where I turn, I can't get over you where the flame still burns, And it makes no difference night or day, your shadows never seem to fade away....." I love you guys and where-ever you are now, you continue to live on in my heart.....two sweet souls and two sweet soulful voices.........

Entered at Wed May 15 23:45:10 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-172.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.172)

Peter Viney

Entered at Wed May 15 23:44:04 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-172.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.172)

Peter Viney

Entered at Wed May 15 23:42:49 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-172.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.172)

Peter Viney

I am reliably informed that the colouring in Smarties is just as toxic as that in M&Ms. Forgive the nationalist prejudice there.

Marie - hate to be analytical, but 'dude' and 'you' don't rhyme that well. Suggest finishing line 2 with 'you'd …' then continue the sentence on the next line : - ) N.B. SMILEY there!

Entered at Wed May 15 23:19:40 CEST 2002 from (12.22.86.204)

Maria Gene

Subject: Matt K's post

A poem regarding the post from Matt K, Whoh! Those were big big words from a deep deep dude/I had to pop ten Tylenols after I read the post from you/Descardes once said, "To be is to do..."/but Sinatra once said, "Dooby dooby doo!!" (and I share old Blue eye's sentiments!!! And hey, where's WS Walcott when I need him???)

Entered at Wed May 15 23:18:42 CEST 2002 from (208.218.212.2)

David Powell

I have a couple CDs released on the Appleseed label and would like to add that they do an excellent job, especially sound-wise. Even though I already have the Rycodisc versions of the Danko/Feld/Andersen albums, I looking forward to purchasing the upcoming Appleseed release.

Entered at Wed May 15 22:57:52 CEST 2002 from 66-106-4-126.customer.algx.net (66.106.4.126)

MattK

Subject: Not psychological...

Peter, don't forget:

Rag Mama Rag - Anorexia (skinny little body)

Well, ok, it's not PURELY a psychological problem, but there are significant mental/emotional issues surrounding it...

Entered at Wed May 15 22:53:47 CEST 2002 from 66-106-4-126.customer.algx.net (66.106.4.126)

MattK

Subject: Get Back, JS

Oh man, somewhere in Leipzig, they're getting ready to shoot me. Back? DOH! I meant JS BACH, obviously!!!!

And I hope I didn't offend Ilkka's pooch. I'm sure he get's his needs across, banjo or no. I understand he'll Offenbach...

*boom* *crash*

Thank you, thank you. Don't forget to tip your waitress. I'm hear through Sunday!

Entered at Wed May 15 22:48:42 CEST 2002 from 66-106-4-126.customer.algx.net (66.106.4.126)

MattK

Subject: If Maria Ruled the GB

Maria, discussing what ANY art means to the perceiver - be it written, painted or sung - is the difference between the artist and the witness. You're right that an artist's view of "rules" is somewhat different. Historically, most artistic "rules" (as well as identifying any given concept of artistic genre or era) have been done in hindsight.

JS Back didn't think in terms of "I must avoid parallel fourths," or "I must resolve that neapolitan 6th to the V. He thought about things in terms of effect he wanted on the audience and simply what sounded right to him, avoiding dissonance, which, to him, sounded bad (but what he called dissonant was different than what Monteverdi called dissonant, which is different than what Dufay considered dissonant (to the medieval/renaissance ear, major thirds were considered disagreeable).

The late 19th and the 20th Centuries marked a change, when, for the first time, you had composers creating "rules" that should be followed, where the rule itself was a creative expression - though these too were usually the codification natural evolutions (e.g. Schoenberg defining the 12-tone concept, which Wagner was using by the end of his life, though not expressing it as rigidly as his pupil). Jazz gives us a short history of this evolution to "post modern" concepting - Buddy Bolden and Louis Armstrong weren't thinking in terms of rules, however, Dizzy and Bird (particularly Dizzy) went to great lengths to analyze and document the musical structure of what he and his contemporaries were hearing instinctively.

Do such things tend to stunt creativity? Yes ... and no. It depends on the how and why the rules are applied. Schoenberg was never able to make particularly moving 12-tone music, but Alban Berg was able to use it to open up doors and express his musical freedom.

In Jazz, the Lydian Chromatic concept seems very restrictive, yet it is the basis of one of the most beautiful and expressive albums EVER, Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue." Lydian Chromatic theory, in fact, allowed Miles the room to free himself from the strictures of bebop, but made Coltrane's "sheets of sound" approach of the late-50s/early 60s possible. Somehow, I think Trane could teach you and I an awful lot about musical freedom, and he could be a very analytical man.

Either way, Maria, what would you have us discuss? If not for people analyzing songs, music, gear, lyrics, etc, would you come to a GB who's everyday content looked like this?

----Year 2010: After lobbying congress, Maria "Ghostsinger" Gene, sees her bill outlawing musical analysis signed into law by President-for-life "Doc" Dre...

Peter Viney: The Band's music is very good.

Serge: Shut up Viney, it's extremely good you toad.

Matt K: Well, I think the line between "very" and "extremely" is insig...

***Analysis Alert: User Terminated***

Peter Viney: The Band is very good.

Ilkka's Dog: I like the Band, but I wish this guy would down his banjo and open the door, I gotta PEEEEEE.

Peter Viney: The Band is very good.

Egbert from Botswana: I LOVE THE BAND AND THEIR MUSIC. THEY MEAN THE WORLD TO ME. WHEN ARE YOU COMING TO PLAY MY LOCAL VFW??? ROCK ON!!!!

Peter Viney: The Band is very...ahhh, f*** it.

Serge: &%#*($%($&$(#@)(@*&$#

Entered at Wed May 15 22:48:04 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-097.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.97)

Peter Viney

WSW- How can you quote Roger Daltrey on analysing rock lyrics? When you’ve sung “I’m a boy, I’m a boy, but my Ma won’t admit it,’ you have a vested interest in quelling psychological dissection! I’m sure Donald will join me in pointing out that “it don’t hold up” should be “it doesn’t hold up’. Bill is quite right too. Daltrey is a violent thug (as I have noted before from personal observation – as were both Townsend and Moon) whose opinion on anything other than force-feeding fish on his trout farm is dubious.

Jenny’s post was the funniest in a LONG while. Johnny Flippo’s follow up to mine was nearly as good. Let’s add:

Jemima Surrender- sexaholic

This Wheel’s on Fire – paranoid delusion

Stage Fright – paranoia, heightened anxiety

The Unfaithful Servant – paranoia

The Long Black Veil- overwhelming guilt

The Rumor- oh, no! Paranoia again

4% Pantomime – alcohol dependency.

The Shape I’m In – multiple dependency problems

All La Glory- delusions of grandeur

Entered at Wed May 15 21:53:29 CEST 2002 from stx32.library.uiuc.edu (130.126.32.133)

Susan

So I get back from the dentist to find all these posts dissing lyric analysis. Analysis is a harmless occupation and is certainly Band-related. Hey, some people rant on and on about US politics. Perhaps some of you are humor-challenged. I thought Jenny and Peter were spot-on in their imitation of pop psychology. Like so many things, Band lyrics included, they played with the literal and the figurative usages.

For me, really good lyrics imply more than they say, and work with the music for the full effect. Lyric analysis allows participants to point out the suggested and implied meanings, which will be different for each person. Band lyrics are full of this kind of thing; after all, they did learn from Bob Dylan.

Entered at Wed May 15 21:32:03 CEST 2002 from 0-1pool33-144.nas1.cincinnati1.oh.us.da.qwest.net (63.232.33.144)

Jenny T

I started to have a little sympathy for the truck driver though (I think "mountain" can mean big rig) because maybe Big Mama is REALLY big--maybe she has had a few kids and let herself go to hell, not that the trucker is going to be buff with all that drinking and a sedentary occupation.

According to Greil Marcus, who has a gift for making stuff up, Cripple Creek is sort of a mythical place where everything's fabulous, like big rock candy mountain. Of course everything's fabulous when some naive girl pampers you.

The donut part does sound raunchy, but like Margaret Cho says, guys like that talk big.

Entered at Wed May 15 21:06:09 CEST 2002 from netcache-1115.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.222.132)

Ed Blayzor

Subject: One More Shot

Just a little more info to add to Bones post: "One More Shot"-Danko/Fjeld/Andersen can be ordered through Appleseed Records(link above).

Entered at Wed May 15 20:03:46 CEST 2002 from m124-132.on.tac.net (209.202.124.132)

Bill

Speaking of which, MattK, your reference to "Bill" being dead was a tad disconcerting. Could you do me a favour and add Mr Graham's surname more often in future?

Entered at Wed May 15 20:12:59 CEST 2002 from (12.22.86.204)

Maria Gene

Subject: All you song dissectors/analyzers

To those of you who waste your time/analyzing and dissecting rhyme/man you need to loosen that knot/cuz music is the only real freedom you've got/so don't be so proper and prim/or I'll have to come in here and whip it to ya'll again!! -The Ghostsinger

Entered at Wed May 15 20:03:32 CEST 2002 from (12.22.86.204)

Maria Gene

Subject: WS Walcott of course!!

Hi again to WS Walcott.... I couldn't agree with you more. I broke off a songwriting relationship with a guy last year because he kept dissecting and analyzing my lyrics...jeez! He was far too analytical and grammatically perfect....he'd ask me crap like, "Why did you sing ooh ooh rock me baby on that part....no one in real life says ooh ooh rock me baby....thats not proper English.." (I wanted to pop him one after he said that...can you believe it?? Where was the fun in songwriting for this guy??). For me, music is the one place where I can totally cut loose and forget all the rules......music is like soaring through the sky like an eagle and like a breath of fresh air.....so here's to Levon singing..."Hee hee....dip a donut in my tea...." Who gives darn what those lyrics mean.....its a damn good song it feels too damn good to sing along too.....donut? (I love you WS Walcott!!....and I love you The Band....!)

Entered at Wed May 15 19:52:36 CEST 2002 from (12.33.126.141)

John W.

Cripple Creek - I always thought the singer of the song is doing some time in jail. Someone told me the phrase "on the mountain" is a reference to "doing a stretch" or "going up the river", so the singer is thinking about "when I get off of this mountain", i.e. when he gets out of prison, this is what he is going to do. I guess in light of Robbie's comments about a "trucker", this jail idea must be wrong, but I have pictured the guy this way for about 30 years and I am going to have trouble changing that picture in my mind! And while I can't say exactly what's meant by "doughnut in my tea", I sure got a laugh out of the expression "whiskey di*k" -- a great term for that certain predicament. One drink can be the nice, relaxing enhancer for an amorous interlude, but a few too many will certainly take the rigidity out of any situation! (Speaking only for myself, of course.)

Entered at Wed May 15 19:38:26 CEST 2002 from stjhts24c057.nbnet.nb.ca (142.166.232.62)

WS Walcott

I'm glad some folks agree with me on this point.

I think Roger Daltrey summed it up best:

"Rock and roll never stood for inspectin' an disectin', cause it don't hold up. So shut up!"

I always loved that quote!

Entered at Wed May 15 19:29:44 CEST 2002 from (12.22.86.204)

Maria Gene

Hey WS Walcott, I love your post! Thats how I feel too! WHo cares about analyzing the songs and their lyrics, just sing along to them and enjoy them! Thats also how I handle life as well.....don't analyze it too much.....just go with the flow and enjoy. Peace and God bless......

Entered at Wed May 15 19:29:03 CEST 2002 from netcache-1115.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.222.132)

j~t

It was Levon's fault for throwin' me off with that "Hee Hee" at the end of that part. I couldn't understand why he would say "Hee Hee" if all she was doin' for him was dipping doughnuts in his tea...hmmm..

Entered at Wed May 15 19:19:13 CEST 2002 from netcache-1115.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.222.132)

j~t

Subject: WARNING "Misunderstood Band Lyrics!"

I thought Levon was singin "Dip A Doughnut In My Teeth" ...That's what it sounded like to me. I think it goes "One Thing I sure Do love To see Is When That Little Love Of Mine Dips A Doughnut In My Teeth...OK.. well..nevermind.

Entered at Wed May 15 19:17:30 CEST 2002 from (12.22.86.204)

Kathilyn King

Subject: My very last post in here

Hi all, Oh man, I forgot to say in my last post/letter in here that the songs I had mailed to THE BAND/Butch Dener were written as a personal tribute to them.....each and every member of THE BAND. I wrote and typed out three separate songs and the lyrics and they were written specifically by me as a tribute to the band and then I mailed them to the guys. Sorry , I didn't clarify that in my last post.....it sounds more like I submitted three songs for them as a writer....no no! They were tributes....sorry just wanted to clear that up cuz it completely changes the meaning of my last letter.....(sorry, I tend to explain myself too much!) Take care everyone.....

Entered at Wed May 15 19:13:14 CEST 2002 from (208.218.212.2)

David Powell

One of the most endearing traits of rock 'n roll is an inherent degree of rebelliousness. It ain't rocket science and it damn sure ain't politically correct.

Entered at Wed May 15 19:09:20 CEST 2002 from (12.22.86.204)

Kathilyn King

Subject: The Band and their fan mail

Hi everyone, I have a comment first and then a question. My comment is that I just wanted to share with other Band fans how much I truly love their music. Such incredible writers, singers and players. The Band never fails to take my breath away....their music has always brought me to my knees. I will always be in awe of them and as a singer/songwriter myself, they will always be a big influence on me.....not only as musicians but also as people. I hope one day, I'll be able to hold a candle to them.....but for now....I'll hold one for them. And now for my question: This is an extremely painful question/subject matter for me so please bare with me everyone. Has anyone had their fan mail answered by any members of the band? And if so...whats your secret to getting a reply? A year or so ago when I was hospitalized on and off and real sick, I sat at my computer at home and whipped out three songs (there was no music yet but three pages of heartfelt lyrics) and I printed them out on nice paper and mailed them to Butch Dener (former road mgr. for The Band who said (in an e-mail) that he'd be kind enough to forward my letter and lyrics to Levon and the guys.) It would have meant the world to me to hear from my heros.....Levon, Garth and the remainder of the guys...(Rick was sadly, already gone, and I'll never get over Rick....God how I loved him so!!)....Anyway, I never heard from any of them.....not even an e-mail or a nod. Nothing. I guess I tend to take stuff real personal and all, but it crushed me and broke my heart...to the point of not being able to listen to their songs anymore without feeling the rejection (from my unanswered letter,etc.) Just to detail for you, the three sheets of heartfelt song lyrics I mailed them, along with the letter I wrote in my hospital bed to them all, was from my very soul....I had never had the courage to open my heart to anyone like that before and I was so sure I'd get an answer....just a hello...anything. I was left to wonder if I had somehow intruded upon their personal feelings (you know, through my lyrics...etc.) and left to wonder if I'd even inadvertantly and accidently offended them even. It was terrible and painful for me. Can someone either forward this letter to the band, and/or could one of the guest book signers/band fans in here offer any words of comfort to make me feel any better about this. I feel so hurt and rejected....those songs I wrote as a tribute to the band members....along with my letter....went ignored and it broke my heart and crushed me deeply. I still cry about it occasionally when I hear their music....becasue here I was loving all of them so much....yet they thought nothing of me....as a fan....at all. Please help cheer me up somehow.....please.....I want nothing more than to listen to their music again and feel happy and wanted....as a fan/follower etc.

Entered at Wed May 15 19:00:40 CEST 2002 from stjhts24c057.nbnet.nb.ca (142.166.232.62)

WS Walcott

What are you people, a bunch of psychoanylists? Why do you try to read so deeply into things? Just enjoy the music. I think you are seeing things that aren't even there. It's only rock and roll. It was never meant to be too deep or profound. We don't need any Freuds around here. Its the music, rock and roll was meant to be fun!

Entered at Wed May 15 18:45:38 CEST 2002 from 66-106-4-126.customer.algx.net (66.106.4.126)

MattK

Subject: Bill Graham

One of the things I really like about the Bill Graham "autobiography," is it's fair-mindedness. I suppose this is due to two factors:

1) Bill died prior to it's completion

2) The book is presented more as an oral history instead of having Bill be the book's supposed narrator. While Bill's comments get the most ink, co/ghost writer (since Bill died before it was published, the co/ghostwriter Robert Greenfield presents Bill's life in the form of commentary - usually at first by Bill, and then quotes from other people involved in whichever topic is at hand.

The result is a pretty unbiased look at Bill. To his credit, Graham is pretty up-front that he can be a pain-in-the-ass who has a penchant for bertating and verbally abusing those around him. Still, for every bad thing by or about Bill, Greenfield gets quotes from someone on the otherside of the allegation, and doesn't insert his own commentary at all.

The result is a great example of how very little is black & white the world. The same people that will criticize Bill on one facet of his life/behavior, also heap praise on him for the great things he did accomplish. Likewise, where Bill will not hesitate to ream an artist or band for their actions, he also gives credit where credit is do for the great things THEY have done.

An example of relevance is the way the chapter on TLW is handled. At the end of the book, we find out that Bill only spoke to Robbie one time after TLW, and that was to call him up and rip him for (Bill felt) slighting his contribution to the TLW event in the credits of the TLW film. Bill's unflinching in recalling what he said, and Robbie (who is given ink to respond) doesn't dispute the conversation. To Robbie's credit, he doesn't seem to take any of it personally, and both he and Jon Taplin indicate an understanding of why Bill was angry, without necessarily agreeing with his point.

Still, most Levonistas probably want to get the book, or read that chapter at the local bookstore for the chance to read someone ripping Robbie a new a**hole.

Other interesting things in the book:

Graham's crusade against Led Zepplin after Bonham (and some cohorts) beat the crap out of one of Bill's guys for removing Bonham's kid from an area he wasn't supposed to be (the kid wasn't hurt, but he whined to dad, and dad and some friends allegedly went to the guy's trailer, locked the door and stomped him pretty severely).

Graham's criticism of Mick Jagger in the aftermath of the Altamont tragedy.

The genesis and operation of the Band/Dylan tour in '74 (and it's place in history as the first "supertour" of it's kind).

The story of how The Dead dosed Bill in the 1980s after decades of trying.

Bill's relationship with a Carlos Santana from street kid to superstar.

A very fair-minded look at Bill's relationship with Jefferson Airplane, and how/why that relationship went south.

Entered at Wed May 15 18:32:33 CEST 2002 from stx32.library.uiuc.edu (130.126.32.133)

Susan

"Dip a doughnut in my tea" certainly sounds raunchy, especially in Levon's delivery, but it's not a sexual reference I've ever heard. I polled some people in my office and they'd not heard it either, and no one could think of just what it might represent. It's like so many of the best Band lyrics - the literal meaning and the metaphorical or implied meaning intertwine. Off to ponder "The Moon Struck One" while the dentist cleans my teeth.

Entered at Wed May 15 18:29:37 CEST 2002 from (12.34.17.217)

Johnny Flippo

Subject: Band character candidates for analysis

Great question, Mr. Viney. How's about:

1) "Jawbone" (obsessive compulsive)

2)The protagonist in "Strawberry Wine" (chronic alchoholism)

3) "Tears of Rage" (disfunctional family)

4) "Lonesome Suzie" (clinical depression)

5) "Sleeping" (ditto)

Entered at Wed May 15 17:41:53 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-003.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.3)

Peter Viney

Discussed Jenny’s take on Bessie. It’s pretty obvious that the trucker has a classic ‘Madonna v whore’ complex, as evidenced by his Oedipal reference to his wife as ‘Big Mama’. Bessie’s preference for the travelling man is anthropologically interesting. If it was a small frontier community, you could point to a woman being drawn to the traveller because she has a deep-seated underlying desire to enlarge the local gene pool, thus avoiding genetic disorders in closed communities. Which is why some Pacific islanders in the 19th century allegedly rushed to offer their wives to the first European visitors. And there are so many jokes about travelling salesmen and farmer’s daughters, that The Hays Office Code for movies forbade mention of both within any given sentence. But Lake Charles isn’t a small frontier community. Maybe she has inherited the need for diversification of the gene pool from her immediate ancestors who did live in such communities. This begs the question of the trucker’s probable inabilities to diversify the gene pool which Jenny has pointed out. He’s cackling at Spike Jones on TVand will be comatose by bedtime. BTW, last time this came up, several agreed that ‘dip a doughnut in my tea’ was a sexual reference, we can guess what a doughnut is, but we also agreed that while it sounded raunchy, no one had heard it outside the song or could offer a specific explanation of what it meant. As I said in the article it’s one of those expressions beloved of British comedians – it sure sounds raunchy, but why?

OK, which character in a Band song gets the next psychological analysis? Does ‘The Moon struck One’ plumb the murkiest depths of the psyche?

Entered at Wed May 15 17:36:58 CEST 2002 from (12.33.126.141)

John W.

Jenny - You have figured out why Bessie is "a drunkard's dream"! Maybe she just enjoys this "loser's" company and indulges in some revelries of life when they can be together, without eyeing the situation solely for what she can get out of it, from a social/personal point of view. Some people used to be like that, you know.

You Know You're A Canadian When....

You only know three spices - salt, pepper, and ketchup.

Driving is better in the winter, because the potholes are filled with snow.

You think sexy lingerie is tube-socks and a flannel nightie with only 8 buttons.

You owe more money on your snowmobile than your car.

The local paper covers national and international headlines on one page, but requires 6 pages for hockey.

At least twice a year, the kitchen doubles for a meat processing plant.

Your snowmobile gets stuck on the roof.

You know which leaves make good toilet paper.

You find -40C a little chilly.

Entered at Wed May 15 17:31:59 CEST 2002 from netcache-1115.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.222.132)

j~t

Subject: Bessie and Neil

Jenny T and I have something in common today...We both got PMS! I love that post ! I also always thought if us Band folks would get our drains cleaned Ol' Neil wouldn't have looked so bad...the song he sang was a lovely addition to The Last Waltz...I think it summed up the feelings of the entire show ! As for Bessie and the "Donut Dunkin'" Well I must have misunderstood the words or something cause I always thought it was sexually suggestive........

Entered at Wed May 15 17:16:11 CEST 2002 from ottawa-hse-ppp255541.sympatico.ca (64.230.8.68)

Bill

Entered at Wed May 15 15:32:32 CEST 2002 from spider-wg082.proxy.aol.com (205.188.196.57)

butch

Subject: neil & reeege

if i can stop laughing long enough to post this, ill be surprised,,,

i just saw neil diamond on Regis Philbin's clips of "great singers i have sung with ",,, they were dueting,,, on some nd song,,,,

even reeege was goofin on it,,

neil was in between tony danza & that michael guy from Phantom of the Opera,,,,,

i guess THAT says it all about nd,,,,

talk about comic relief,,,,,,,even regis knew,,,,,,

Entered at Wed May 15 15:31:22 CEST 2002 from stx32.library.uiuc.edu (130.126.32.133)

Susan

Subject: Bessie

Jenny, I've long thought the same about Bessie but never taken the thought to the very logical conclusion that she's a fantasy. And it's an infantile fantasy at that; the guy can't even dunk his own doughnut. Somehow I get the idea that Bessie not only dunks the doughnut but feeds it to him as well. And, of course, he calls his wife "Big Mamma".

Entered at Wed May 15 14:18:48 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-060.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.60)

Peter Viney

Sam – interesting encounter- it’s what I said the other day, remove all pre-conceptions and Neil Diamond’s fine at TLW.

Jenny’s analysis of Bessie sounded all too true to me! When I’ve done an article on the site, I tend to clip further comments onto the bottom of the original document. I just went to clip Jenny’s piece onto the bottom (it’s the most amusing one so far), and there are already about four pages of additional remarks over the last three years since it went up on the site. Might be time to redo it soon.

Stephen – fun list, but you’re inviting a list of opposites! I’ll start out with the Air Canada website- I had to research a fictional journey yesterday for a textbook (with real times and flight numbers), and found the bits of info I needed in about 5 minutes on the BA, JAL, ANA, KoreanAir, United and American Airlines websites. After 30 minutes of slow loading and creaking menus, I still couldn’t get any sense on the Air Canada one. I gave up, and sent the fictional character by Northwest instead. Worst airline website, then. Surprised you failed to add Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell et al to the positives though! And aren't Smarties British? (British equivalent to M&Ms without such toxic colouring, but still quite toxic colouring for the uninitiated)

Entered at Wed May 15 14:02:04 CEST 2002 from stjhts20c003.nbnet.nb.ca (207.179.149.8)

WS Walcott

Subject: Canadian stuff

Canada

1. We invented the foghorn

2. 70% of the world's maple syrup is produced here

3. Moosehead beer

4. The worlds best cymbals are made here, Sabian/Zidjan

5. The friendle giant can kick mr. roger's ass.

Entered at Wed May 15 13:37:47 CEST 2002 from 0-2pool44-246.nas1.cincinnati1.oh.us.da.qwest.net (63.232.44.246)

Jenny "Oprah" T

Subject: Is Bessie a codependent moron or what?

I have what I think is a totally new topic for the GB: psychoanalyzing "Bessie" from Up on Cripple Creek, and questioning whether she isn't actually a real "dream"--a fantasy.

First of all you have to ask what does she get out of this relationship, which is essentially a standing invitation for occasional visits from a married, hard-drinking, gambling, high maintenance kind of guy that all her friends and family probably think is a loser. A guy who probably barfs and does other disgusting things, and who probably has whisky dick a significant amount of the time. She won't take money from him, he's probably not a star in the sack, and he probably doesn't bust his butt meeting her needs though she spends quite a lot of effort meeting his. He does appreciate her, and presumably expresses his appreciation to her, but appreciation and a dollar will get you a cup of coffee.

The only type of woman I am familiar with that would put up with such a one sided, pain in the butt, insubstantial relationship is not the cheerful, fun-loving, spunky type but the drama queen, the woman with REALLY bad taste in men who seemingly makes life decisions in order to create as much chaos and crisis for herself as possible, and thus get a lot of attention and sympathy. That is why I think Bessie IS a dream, a fantasy.

Bessie must also be overly endowed with nurturing instincts--one of those women that likes to have lots of wounded birds to take care of, so as to make herself feel useful and needed. She should probably get a job in a hospital (or a detox center) so she could use up her nurturing abilities in a more useful and rewarding way. She probably has no squeemishness about bodily fluids and likes bandaging injuries.

She should also get some therapy to raise her self-esteem and realize she needs to think about her own wishes, needs and dreams more, and other peoples' less. Her defense of this guy to others is not necessarily a sign of her independent-mindedness, since every woman is blind to the faults of whatever loser she is hanging out with and will defend him even if all her friends think she is wasting her time or he is jerking her around. With her sense of humor and other competencies, Bessie could do better, but never will if everyone in town thinks she is a doormat for married, troublesome guys. Eventually I think the guy will show up and Bessie will have awakened and smelled the cheap booze, and will be singing "What have you done for me lately, ooh ooh ooh yeah." Thoughts, anyone?

Entered at Wed May 15 09:12:34 CEST 2002 from spider-tm031.proxy.aol.com (152.163.197.56)

Stephen Novik

SO, WHAT DO CANADIANS HAVE TO BE PROUD OF?

1. Smarties

2. Crispy Crunch, Coffee Crisp

3. The size of our football fields and one less down

4. Baseball is Canadian

5. Lacrosse is Canadian

6. Hockey is Canadian

7. Basketball is Canadian

8. Apple pie is Canadian

9. Mr. Dress-up kicks Mr. Rogers ass

10. Tim Hortons kicks Dunkin' Donuts ass

11. In the war of 1812, started by America, Canadians pushed the Americans back...past their 'White House'. Then we burned it...and most of Washington, under the command of William Lyon McKenzie who was insane and hammered all the time. We got bored because they ran away, so we came home and partied...Go figure..

12. Canada has the largest French population that never surrendered to Germany.

13. We have the largest English population that never ever surrendered or withdrew during any war to anyone, anywhere.

14. Our civil war was a bar fight that lasted a little over an hour.

15. The only person who was arrested in our civil war was an American mercenary, who slept in and missed the whole thing... but showed up just in time to get caught.

16. We knew plaid was cool far before Seattle caught on.

17. The Hudsons Bay Company once owned over 10% of the earth's surface and is still around as the worlds oldest company.

18. The average dog sled team can kill and devour a full grown human in under 3 minutes.

19. We still know what to do with all the parts of a buffalo.

20. We don't marry our kin-folk.

21. We invented ski-doos, jet-skis, velcro, zippers, insulin, penicillin, zambonis, the telephone and short wave radios that save countless lives each year.

22. We ALL have frozen our tongues to something metal and lived to tell about it.

23. A Canadian invented Superman.

BUT MOST IMPORTANT!

24. The handles on our beer cases are big enough to fit your hands with mitts on. OOOoohhhhh Canada!!

Oh yeah... and our elections only take one day.

Pass this on if you are proud to be Canadian!!!

Anything not mentioned here? Then add to the list!

Well, ok -- THE BAND!

(and that's just the tip of the iceberg for our culture!)

I AM CANADIAN!!!

EH!

Entered at Wed May 15 07:23:06 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-tc072.proxy.aol.com (64.12.105.182)

Bayou Sam

I was working with a guy today, he's in his mid-20's, and we got to talking about music after he asked me who did the song "The Mighty Quinn". He asked me at one point if I was familiar with the movie "The Last Waltz" which he had just seen the new DVD of. I told him that I was of course, and told him about this website. I found it interesting to hear this younger guy talk about the movie. He thought it was amazing. He funny thing was to hear him talk about a few of the people in the movie. He said that he'd heard of the movie, and of Robbie Robertson before. He thought that Van, and Neil Young were fantastic. Also Clapton. He said he never realized how RR could rock on the guitar. He one that made me smile was Neil Diamond. He said he's heard of ND but didn't know much about him until the movie. I asked how he liked him and he said that he was awesome in TLW.

I thought for a second about mentioning the whole thing about ND in the movie and how he "dosen't fit in" , and I decided that it was great to hear this unspoiled opinion of Neil and his LW appearance from someone who just watched ND as a performer in the concert without all the other crap to clutter his thinking - and why should I change that. It was fun to listen to this guy go on about how he loved the movie.

Entered at Wed May 15 04:41:36 CEST 2002 from atpm3-5-80.enter.net (208.137.244.44)

Zeppe

Ray, Levon had throat cancer. That's why his voice sounds raspy. But he is recovering and doing great.

Entered at Wed May 15 02:28:38 CEST 2002 from dyn216-8-145-198.win.mnsi.net (216.8.145.198)

ray

Entered at Tue May 14 23:06:08 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-082.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.82)

Peter Viney

I originally bought the Bill Graham book for the 60s / 70s stories, but the whole book is excellent - from his childhood in the war to being a busboy in The Catskills it's a fun read. then you get to The Band bits … even better. He never sussed why the $1000 tip upset them either.

Entered at Tue May 14 23:02:36 CEST 2002 from pd9e4e3e2.dip.t-dialin.net (217.228.227.226)

Disker

Subject: DISKHOP RUUUUULZ THA WORLD

What goes on??? I'm the Disker and I'm Diskhopper and I must say that Diskhop ruuuuuuuulz tha world! Visit www.diskhop.tk and be stoned and happy! DISKER in order of his Diskity ADI SEMMEL

Entered at Tue May 14 22:29:34 CEST 2002 from (208.218.212.2)

David Powell

As Pat Brennan and others can attest, it was Bill Graham who gave The Band such a nice introduction at Watkins Glen in 1973. It was there that they performed before their largest audience ever. Accordingly, Mr. Graham also promoted their first and last concerts as a group.

Bill Graham was a pioneer in bringing a high degree of professionalism to the rock music concert business. It should be noted that over the years he also promoted countless events that raised money for various charities. It is my understanding that his former company is now part of the SFX/Clear Channel group.

Entered at Tue May 14 22:00:36 CEST 2002 from syr-24-169-64-59.twcny.rr.com (24.169.64.59)

Bashful Bill

Correct, David Powell, it was a Huey Lewis & The News show. They were flying back to the Bay area following a show which his company had produced. I forget exactly where the show was, somewhere in northern CA.

Entered at Tue May 14 21:53:22 CEST 2002 from stx32.library.uiuc.edu (130.126.32.133)

Susan

Subject: From one S to another

Well, S, don't just drop in and tantalize us with your specialized knowledge. Tell us some stories of the Hawks in the early days. Levon and the long pants might be a good start. I love stories.

Entered at Tue May 14 20:45:24 CEST 2002 from d141-199-254.home.cgocable.net (24.141.199.254)

S

I just found this site. It's so strange looking at these guys.........I knew them when.........they had just hooked up with Ronnie Hawking.......the old Brass Rail in London. Garth's home town. I knew then they would go far..... Just want to say I really miss the "beak"... and of course Ricky. Levon......you still kickin' around tho.......hope you're not tripping over your pants still. Garth still quiet as ever......until you get to know him. And Robbie still lookin' for some big itchies I bet..... My favourite is still "Bring It On Home"

Entered at Tue May 14 20:36:04 CEST 2002 from oshst-056.olysteel.com (63.91.50.56)

bob wigo

Subject: Bill Graham

Check out the link for additional information on Bill Graham's film appearances.

Entered at Tue May 14 20:28:09 CEST 2002 from oshst-056.olysteel.com (63.91.50.56)

bob wigo

Subject: Stevie Wonder

Happy Birthday Stevie Wonder. Talk about a musician that can fill many chairs.

To my mind and ears, a true musical genius and a fine soul.

Entered at Tue May 14 20:27:58 CEST 2002 from (169.200.133.37)

Bones

According to ICE Magazine, One More Shot (2 cds) will be released by Appleseed Recordings on May 21st.

Entered at Tue May 14 19:32:03 CEST 2002 from (208.218.212.2)

David Powell

Bashful Bill: You're correct, Bill Graham was in "Gardens of Stone". He was also in Coppola's "The Cotton Club", Oliver Stone's "The Doors" and Barry Levinson's "Bugsy". As I recall, I think it was after a concert by Huey Lewis & the News that his helicopter crashed. His girlfriend's son filmed a documentary about the tragedy.

Entered at Tue May 14 19:21:33 CEST 2002 from pool-129-44-56-106.ny325.east.verizon.net (129.44.56.106)

RICHARD W. HONOSKI

THANK YOU!

Entered at Tue May 14 18:12:01 CEST 2002 from pool-141-153-198-177.mad.east.verizon.net (141.153.198.177)

Bumbles

Subject: Bill Graham & the Band

Bill Graham’s not-quite autobiography, “Bill Graham Presents: My Life Inside Rock & Out,” has been mentioned recently, and for anyone unfamiliar with it, it has some great firsthand accounts of the Band, especially concerning the first, “hypnotist,” show at Winterland, how an unsuccessful attempt to book the Band for a week at Lincoln Center led to Graham’s decision to walk away from the Fillmores, and, of course, TLW, which is presented as a Bill Graham extravaganza also featuring the Band. The image of Graham “tipping” each Band member $1000 in the dressing room after TLW is especially weird. The book is an oral biography of the sort co-author Robert Greenfield specializes in, with the story told by an alternating cast of voices, Graham’s most prominent, but also including Robbie Robertson and former Band associate Jonathan Taplin.

Entered at Tue May 14 17:29:49 CEST 2002 from (38.201.148.3)

Jay

Subject: Re: Jay and Rick's CD

John, thanks for the confirmation. I assumed that there was nothing to recommend the Edsel CD over the One Way CD, but wanted to be sure before it slipped out of print like Levon's albums have. Agreed about saving my money for Richard!

In fact, I've been wondering whether it might be possible to organize a group of folks to order several copies at once from HMVJapan in order to reduce substantially the per unit shipping costs.

Entered at Tue May 14 17:11:02 CEST 2002 from user-33qte7b.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.184.235)

Pat Brennan

And, David P, if I might add, one of the great album covers.

Entered at Tue May 14 16:36:01 CEST 2002 from (206.2.196.66)

Band Thought

Subject: RR Signing

Brian: Thanks for sharing your experience at Robbie's signing. I was there, and you had it down perfectly. I too had a planned dialogue for Robbie but the end experience felt something like Peter Billingsly in Gene Shepard's movie, "Christmas Story." You know, the scene where the boy waits in line to see Santa, has his pitch for his favorite toy planned, only to get snuffed by Santa as the boy is sent down the slide without getting his message across. O.K., so this was not so dramatic, but you are right that the pace of the signing was much faster than anticipated. I pulled out an old photo I had taken of Robbie on stage during their last tour in 1976 (Commack, L.I.). I asked him to guess the year of the photo, but he did not seem too interested. He was pretty gracious though, and as friendly as he could be under the circumstances.

An added side story; in 1993 I was in Newark Airport having just arrived from London and was waiting for a car service with my wife. A chauffeur came up to me and put a sign in my face - it read, Robbie Robertson. I looked at my wife and said, "We are not going anywhere." She laughed and understood, having withstood countless CD playings and Band concerts over the years (a slow convert). About 10 minutes pass and through the doors steps Robbie, who looked over to me as I approached him. We shook hands, I exchanged some pleasantries with him and pointed out his driver, who had wandered away. Funny thing, when I walked out of J&R on Friday, the same driver was sitting in a limo with the "Robbie Robertson" sign in the window. I guess back in '93 that was his first RR pick-up. Fun stuff. John

Entered at Tue May 14 16:31:12 CEST 2002 from (208.218.212.2)

David Powell

Morganfield, Butterfield & Bloomfield -- no, that's not the name of a silk tie, Chicago law firm, but rather an aggregation of fine blues musicians. McKinley Morganfield, a/k/a Muddy Waters, teamed up with two of his young disciples, Paul Butterfield and Mike Bloomfield, to record a great album in 1969. Appropriately titled "Fathers and Sons", this 2-LP set included one record of studio sessions with another one recorded live. Along with Butterfield & Bloomfield, Muddy was accompanied by Otis Spann, "Duck" Dunn and Sam Lay. A few other musicians such as Buddy Miles make cameo appearances.

"Fathers and Sons" has been remastered in recent years and is available on CD. This album, along with the one that Muddy recorded in Woodstock with Levon, Garth, Paul, Fred et al., are two of the best of Muddy's later projects.

Entered at Tue May 14 16:09:40 CEST 2002 from wc12.ym.rnc.net.cable.rogers.com (66.185.85.79)

John D

Excellent Pictures Crabby. The hand on the accordion.......very artsy........love it!

Entered at Tue May 14 15:21:43 CEST 2002 from wc12.ym.rnc.net.cable.rogers.com (66.185.85.79)

John D

Jay I have both copies and quite honestly I don't find any sound difference. I believe I bought the Edsel version; because they were first to release it here in Canada as an import; but I also have the other which was given to me. I would save my money for the Japanese releases.

Thinking maybe I'll wait and see if Dreamsville releases Richard's CD here like Jim Weider is doing with Remedy. I would also love to get on hands on the John Simon Hoagy Carmichael CD with Garth on it.

Entered at Tue May 14 14:52:59 CEST 2002 from syr-24-169-64-59.twcny.rr.com (24.169.64.59)

Bashful Bill

Subject: a variety of subjects

First-Bill Graham. I recommend his autobiography. A trivia question-who knows what concert he, and his girlfriend, were returning home from in that helicopter when it went down? I know the answer to that one, but this one I'm not sure of:didn't he also appear in Coppola'a Gardens of Stone in the late 80's, with James Caan and Angelica Huston? Buttons-I collect buttons-all kinds of buttons-political, entertainment, anything, I have well over a thousand on display. I even have a precious few Band buttons: 2 Robbie Robertson promos from his first solo album,a large one with a picture of 4 original members, minus Garth(bummer!), and what I imagine to be a very rare Hawks button in the shape of a feather. I did have a tiny LW promo but it seems to be among the missing. If anyone could help me acquire one of those LW backstage buttons John D is talking about, or a Free Rick Danko button, or any other Band-related buttons, they will be my hero. And finally, I said this a month or two ago, when the LW rerelease media hype started kicking in-it's a great time to be a Bandfan. Just look at all the stuff Jan has put in What's New in the last few days alone.Levon and Garth working very steadily, not to mention working together.A Garth Hudson solo album?! And an official Richard release, so official that according to Lil, it appears that his estate is seeing something from it. Who would have thunk it? Like someone said just today, there are now solo albums from every original member, mot to mention Jim Weider.People are standing in line to meet&greet RR. In the next 6 weeks, I plan on seeing Levon's band twice, and Jim Weider's band once,with friends I have made through this website, and I hope to see The Crowmatix(hopefully better yet Garth& the Crowmatix) sometime over the summer. I don't want to hear any complaints!

Entered at Tue May 14 14:14:13 CEST 2002 from host-65.subnet-76.med.umich.edu (141.214.76.65)

Steve Knowlton

Subject: Missing from TLW

I haven't seen this mentioned yet, but why wasn't Allen Toussaint featured?

Entered at Tue May 14 12:31:49 CEST 2002 from pcp01769617pcs.audubn01.nj.comcast.net (68.46.168.3)

Chris D.

Subject: The Last Waltz: Question

I've been too busy to catch most of TLW discussions but I have a question. Is the DVD I recently purchased a different version than the one I saw two weeks ago in the theater. I don't mean all the interviews and Jam session, just the concert portion. It seems so, or is it me? I'm happy either way, but I'm curious. Thanks!!

Entered at Tue May 14 11:11:58 CEST 2002 from spider-te063.proxy.aol.com (152.163.195.203)

Jazzbow

Variety.com reported that the Last Waltz grossed $25,000 in ten theatres last week for a total of almost $300,000. Not bad.

Entered at Tue May 14 09:41:54 CEST 2002 from h243n1fls35o856.telia.com (217.211.16.243)

Ilkka

Subject: I am a"Rick" but who are you?

My knowledge on psychology comes from my wife's ELLE Magazine. Take this like it is.

Does our passionate virtual relation to Robbie, Levon (mostly) - and others depend on how we are seeing ourselves. Look at your left side. Is there a "Robbie" you hate. Or maybe you ARE a "Robbie". Or do you sit in a meeting with "Levon" - well, not exactly in a meeting room but in a room beside.
The good news is that I share my room with a "Garth", white beard and all.

And now back to Elle and Heidi Klum. (My link is my vCard.)

Entered at Tue May 14 09:24:08 CEST 2002 from netcache-1115.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.222.132)

j~t

Subject: The Hoskyns book

Across Th Great Divide is available on eBay right now with a starting bid of $15.99...Levon's book is there too. Did I hear someone mention the other day that Billy Joel would have fit right in at The Last Waltz? Oh My God! How far out of touch with the roots of The Band does someone have to get to believe something like that? Someone said that "Levon would have puked" if that would have happened...I think everybody would have !

Entered at Tue May 14 06:44:55 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-tc072.proxy.aol.com (64.12.105.182)

Jay

Subject: The Authorized Video Biography on DVD?

CDNow lists a Region 1 DVD of this title (very expensive -- around $40) that was news to me. Does anyone know if this is the real deal? I'd love to add it my collection of Band DVDs (as I try to replace my videos). I have the Classic Albums DVD, the Last Waltz DVD, Live at the New Orleans Jazz Festival DVD and Robbie's Going Home DVD. Am I missing any Region 1 Band DVDs? As a final note, The Band Is Back and/or some other early reunion shows with Richard certainly would be great to have on DVD.

Entered at Tue May 14 06:42:45 CEST 2002 from spider-tm011.proxy.aol.com (152.163.197.46)

Bayou Sam

what color was your button rollie?

Entered at Tue May 14 06:03:36 CEST 2002 from saintpaul.pioneerpress.com (208.149.52.102)

CHESTER

Subject: Thanks John D

Thanks JOHN D for answering my button question, so far this GB has yet to let me down for the questions Ive had....Ive noticed this many times in watching the Waltz, that it surely seems that whomever is being interviewed with JRR and Im talkin Band members here,they seem to be tenative, almost waiting for Robertson to answer first or almost afraid that they havnt been granted permission to add to the story, in one particular segment Robbie, Rick and Richard are sitting on the couch talking about Rubys club, at certain times Richard and Rick try to interject something and are totally ignored by Robertson, dont get me wrong I love this film and in no way am I a Robbie basher but I just think it would have been nice to hear more from the rest of the guys....

Entered at Tue May 14 05:23:03 CEST 2002 from 190-pool9.ras10.inind.tii-dial.net (206.148.144.190)

Jon

Subject: OK, I forgot something.......

OK. Got to readin' the musicians on the Louisianna Red CD. You'all probably heard that organ and sax before. They call Him Garth, and plays on a few. Not going to be worth much at work tommorrow. Up way too late.

Entered at Tue May 14 05:09:02 CEST 2002 from 223-pool9.ras10.inind.tii-dial.net (206.148.144.223)

Jon

Subject: Louisiana Red

Just got the Louisiana Red CD, "A Different Shade of Red." I ordered it from the Severn Records website, and I got it fast. Drummer reminded me of that fellow I saw in Batesville, Arkansas a few weeks ago. Really knows his stuff. Says it was recorded in a barn, but I'm glad I didn't have to milk the cows the mornin' after. This music sure didn't fatten up the hogs none cause I'm sure they was dancin' all the time. I knew it would be good with a couple tracks called, "Laundromat Blues and Lightnin' Bug" Thumbs up on this one. I have to go, this ones empty, have to get another, only on track 3. That barns got spirit, let me tell ya. No tellin' what could come out of that thing. I'm not affiliated with the record company or anyone, just like great music. Just personal opinion. Thanks as always to Jan, if the Rebel Yell didn't wipe out too many brain cells.

Entered at Tue May 14 04:19:24 CEST 2002 from mtl-hse-ppp202203.qc.sympatico.ca (65.94.229.219)

Douglas Brown

Subject: re-release of Hoskyns' Across the Great Divide

Hi N.B. This message is a professional inquiry and is not meant to be posted on the Band website. You may remember that a few months agao I sent in a correction to the lyrics of Ferdinand the Imposter along with an explanation of who the Doukhobours are. I was amazed to see how quickly you had the correction and my comments up on the website, and you'll be pleased to hear that a Doctor Tenenbaum from Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto congratulated me for my comments within twelve hours of me submitting them to you! I have no further comments at this point, just a problem. I read in the library section that a new edition of Hoskyn's Across the Great Divide will be released in 2002 by Cape/Pimlico. I am a regular book reviewer for Books In Canada (Toronto), and would like to write a review essay on Hoskyns' book and on the Band. However, the editor of Books in Canada is having trouble locating the book. How do you know Cape/Pimlico is re-issuing the book? Can you help us get in touch with Cape/Pimlico or Hoskyns himself so we can find out when exactly the book is coming out and how we can order a copy? Any help you can provide will be much appreciated. (By the way, I visit this website often, and thanks to you I will soon have a copy of the live Richard Manuel album that is being released in Japan, and I will be seeing Garth and the Crowmatrix on May 25 in Burlington. I have been informed, enlightened, and inspired by this wonderful site.) Yours sincerely, Douglas Brown Montreal

Entered at Tue May 14 03:06:36 CEST 2002 from dv004s52.lawrence.ks.us (24.124.52.4)

Dexy

Entered at Tue May 14 02:22:52 CEST 2002 from akcf1.xtra.co.nz (203.96.111.202)

Rod

Two of the more negative reviews I have read about The Last Waltz have complained about Robbie's extended guitar solos. Have they seen a different version of the film? I don't recall many of his breaks being much more than 8 or so bars!

Entered at Tue May 14 01:39:48 CEST 2002 from (38.201.148.3)

Jay

Subject: Rick Danko Album

A quick query for the group -- is the current Edsel CD of the RICK DANKO album preferred over the now OOP One Way Records reissue in the US for any reason? Just wondering if there is any reason that I should try to grab the Edsel pressing before it disappears. I've been delving more deeply into the solo material lately and wanting to make sure I'm not missing anything. Thanks in advance. Exciting news about the new Richard album! I've heard good things about CDJapan's service, but they don't list the album currently. In any event, looks like I'll have to study my wishlist to find several Japanese CDs I want to help lower the per unit shipping costs.

Entered at Mon May 13 23:19:46 CEST 2002 from (208.218.212.2)

David Powell

WS Walcott: I purchased the new Neil vinyl version for $15.99 at a local Atlanta record store. That's a bargain, considering it's a 2-LP set pressed on heavy vinyl. On his last few albums Neil has taken extra care to release separate LP versions that have been recorded, mixed and mastered in the analog domain.

While Martin Scorsese & his all-star camera crew were instrumental in filming The Last Waltz, the late Bill Graham was a key figure in staging the concert itself. Mr. Graham was no stranger to bigtime film directors. He appeared in a supporting role in Francis Ford Coppola's "Apocalypse Now" arround the same time as TLW. Coppola's epic began filming, on location in the Phillipines, in 1976.

Mr. Graham appeared in the role as the manger/emcee for the Playboy Playmates. In a memorable segment of the movie, Willard (Martin Sheen) and the boat crew stumble across a bizarre USO show staged at a remote military outpost. After an introduction by Mr. Graham, the bunnies, portrayed by actual Playboy Playmates, begin strutting their stuff to Flash Cadillac's version of "Suzie-Q". Their inspiring moves little resemble those of Van Morrison at The Last Waltz and the soldiers in the audience are driven into a frenzy. Mr. Graham & the bunnies quickly jump into a helicopter and narrowly escape intact.

Among the previously delected scenes that are included in the restored "Apocalyspe Now Redux" version is another one featuring the Playmates. Willard and the crew run into the bunnies again upriver where their helicopter has run out of fuel. In a bit of typecasting, Bill Graham, ever the impresario in real life, finds a solution to his charges' dilemma. He offers the brief "companionship" of the Playmates in exchange for two cans of diesel fuel, which Willard quickly agrees to. The crew members, Chef, Clean & the Surfer Dude, enjoy the Playmates up close & personal, their flesh unmarred by staples.

Bill Graham, ironically, died in a helicopter crash following a concert in 1991.

Entered at Mon May 13 22:19:38 CEST 2002 from (169.200.133.37)

Bones

As far as songwriting goes, I tend to believe what John Simon and Garth said on the subject.

Brien SZ and Tracy: I'm glad you got to see Robbie. Thanks for the pics.

Best of all, a new RICHARD cd, and the song list looks wonderful!

Entered at Mon May 13 22:15:42 CEST 2002 from spider-wi041.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.36)

Paul Schmitz

Subject: Hombres Website

I posted an improper link to our website, use this link to get to The Last Hombres website. We have shows in the New York area coming up , with Levon . so put it in your favorites, thanks

Entered at Mon May 13 21:49:58 CEST 2002 from stjhts25c055.nbnet.nb.ca (142.166.249.60)

WS Walcott

Is the vinyl of Neils new release cheaper than the CD. I still collect vinyl, just curious.

Entered at Mon May 13 21:47:05 CEST 2002 from spider-tj061.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.201)

Paul Schmitz

Subject: The Last Hombres

Hi everyone, just a note to let you know The Last Hombres website is up and you can get "Redemption" now, sorry for the delay..... Thanks

Entered at Mon May 13 21:07:26 CEST 2002 from (208.218.212.2)

David Powell

Looking forward to hearing Van Morrison's new album. It's being advertised on t.v. and I've seen a few print ads. Peter: Yesterday's N.Y. Times had a full-page ad that duplicated the album's great cover.

Speaking of vinyl -- I picked up an all-analogue "AAA" version of Neil Young's "Are You Passionate?" The songs are nicely spaced onto 2-LPs pressed on 180-gram quiet vinyl.

Entered at Mon May 13 20:47:55 CEST 2002 from (209.166.233.21)

Jon Lyness

Subject: Levon & Garth

Butch, don't go teasing us like that! More details on these new Levon/Garth sessions?? :)

Entered at Mon May 13 19:50:25 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-048.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.48)

Peter Viney

A reminder – Van Morrison’s new CD “Down the Road” is out today in the UK, tomorrow in the USA. Band fans will enjoy everything, but “Georgia On My mind” is especially poignant. Great cover of a collector’s shop window full of classic vinyl LPs (is this David Powell’s dream sleeve?). Big surprise guest artist – Acker Bilk on ‘Evening Shadows’. Nicely laminated sleeve – laminated all the way through in wipe-clean finish!

On which, Michelle Shocked’s new one “Deep Natural” gets the booby prize for horrible packaging. These ecologically sound card sleeves are getting out of hand. On this one, the spine title and track list is a wrap-around scrap of separate paper. Once you’ve lost it, there’s no ID on the spine. No track list on the gatefold, nor credits. Worse it’s sold as a “2 CD set” at the full price of two CDs, but CD2 is actually “Natural Dub” as sold at gigs for the last couple of years, basically the tracks without the vocal. Fine as a “bonus” disc, but an outrageous rip-off as the second full price CD, which many of those who have seen her already own. “Contact from the underworld” was a crappy ecologically sound sleeve too- it easily split because it was too tight. And those bits of foam rubber in the TLW box set don’t hold the CDs properly either. They fall out unless you’re very careful. I know that a lot of repro card sleeves look great and most appealing (the Toshiba Band set were the best ever), but fiddly attempts to play with the format tend to fail. Where’s the sympathy for those who earn their living producing plastic jewel cases?

Entered at Mon May 13 19:40:26 CEST 2002 from (208.11.92.3)

Bud

Subject: The Tao of Greil Marcus

Jenny T.,

Thanks for introducing a Taoist analysis of The Band and its music -- I think it's particularly appropriate in terms of Rick. Listening to and watching TLW so many times in the last couple of weeks, I was reminded of Rick's amazing versatility. He might be the ultimate sideman -- just drop him into any song or situation and he's going to come through driving the rhythm section perfectly and singing great harmony vocals. I know how much time Rick and the boys put into their craft, but you can just sense that so much was just instinctive for Rick. Music made with "no mind."

As for Greil Marcus, the guy is about as far from a Taoist as anyone you'll ever find -- over-complicates almost every analysis he's ever made to the point of near uselessness. Of course, if the premises that I was trying to support were as tenuous as those of Mr. Marcus, I suppose I'd take that route as well. Has anyone hear read _Invisible Republic_? Talk about inpenatrable. Maybe my reading comprehension isn't as solid as I like to think it is, but I couldn't see any sort of intellectual or emotional payoff that justified finishing that thing.

Entered at Mon May 13 18:54:48 CEST 2002 from spider-wb033.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.163)

Harry (& Mim???)

Subject: Feelings of Immortality & Guilt PLUS Stevie Ray Vaughan

Donald:

You're like a dog with a bone on this "credit" thing, aren't you? Well, what can I expect from a Band fan, eh?

OK - herewith, I promise to specify WHICH PARTICULAR STATEMENTS ARE MINE ALONE, and, conversely, WHICH ARE MY WIFES'. This should be an interesting exercise...

Thanks for "a picture from life's other side" Butch. You are a good fella.

Little Miss - if you want an SRV related "site" in Austin, TX - check out THE STATUE OF THE MAN down by the river that flows through the center of town - while you're there, check out the sculpture garden near it, too, and go for a swim at Barton Springs - they're all in the same approximate neighborhood. Then, go downtown, get yourself some REAL TEX-MEX food and beers, and find a club with THE NEXT great Texas bluesman/woman.... Austin is a great town, have a good time.

Your soon to be differentiated friends - MIM & Har

"Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future." Oscar Wilde, Irishman, said that (not Harry nor Mim)

Entered at Mon May 13 16:16:34 CEST 2002 from m124-133.on.tac.net (209.202.124.133)

Bill

Thanks to Paul for directing attention to the Kudlets article in the Spectator. It's funny, because I spent a good bit of last Thursday in the presence of Dallas Harms. We each have a copy of Dallas's first single, which was recorded in '58 with Levon and the other Hawks of the day, and someone we both know wanted to find the best copy for taping purposes.

It was nice to see Harold Kudlets get some credit, as he's always seemed such a gent. Twenty odd years ago, I called him out of the blue to talk about the Hawks, and within days he'd slipped a couple of glossy promo photos of Hawkins and the Hawks under my door. Research was so different back then - or at least it was up here. Back then you could find Garth's parents in the phone book and call them, and they'd be surprised and pleased that someone had called long distance - all the way from Toronto!

JQ: Judging by the raga-influenced sound, the east in East-West must refer to India, not NY, and the west must be even bigger than Chicago.

Entered at Mon May 13 16:08:51 CEST 2002 from 0-1pool36-221.nas2.cincinnati1.oh.us.da.qwest.net (63.232.36.221)

Jenny T

Subject: grammar/the Tao of meat cutting

I am of the opinion that grammar and pronunciation can be too perfect, especially in ordinary conversation. If someone speaks too perfectly all the time they come off a little stuck up or phony to me, even if I know it is what they grew up with. I purposefully de-perfected my grammar in junior high so as not to sound like a geek, and change the way I talk and write depending on the situation. That's what Confucius said to do.

And speaking of ancient Chinese sages: Someone a while back said that Rick was probably happier as a musician than he would have been as a meat cutter. I think someone with enormous musical gifts like Rick would never be happy unless he could use them quite a bit, but I remember him saying somewhere about cutting meat that "there's an art to it, like anything else." That made me think of one of my favorite Taoist texts, where they talk about the importance of any useful craft, and specifically the art of the butcher. The butcher who has perfected his art cuts in exactly the right place so that the blade never hits bone and never gets dull, and does this with "no mind"--without consciously thinking about it anymore. I think all the Band guys (and maybe all great musicians) probably make music with "no mind," but there is an art to everything else too, and nobility in anything useful. (The spiritually perfected farmer is at the top of the Taoist social status pyramid.)

Entered at Mon May 13 15:54:58 CEST 2002 from sdn-ap-005castocp1950.dialsprint.net (63.187.47.172)

rollie

Subject: Levons Barn

Great to hear Levon still has his barn, and that the legends are still cranking out great music in it!I'd have given a portion of my left you know what to have witnessed that.

Entered at Mon May 13 14:57:17 CEST 2002 from p04-21.hartford.dialin.ntplx.com (204.213.188.171)

Tracy

Robbie's daughters are Alexandra and Delphine.

Entered at Mon May 13 14:54:56 CEST 2002 from p04-21.hartford.dialin.ntplx.com (204.213.188.171)

Tracy

Subject: Re: Brien

Nice pictures Brien! It brings me back to Friday. I started to hysterically laugh when I saw the "line" photo simply because you can very easily see me in the front! I was one of the next five to go inside J&R. LOL!! You must have been one of the first in line. The woman I was talking with had her back towards the store since she was camera shy. My mom's right next to me as she had to for support (possibly due to fainting). Hahahaha!

I still can't believe it happened!

Tracy

Entered at Mon May 13 14:52:55 CEST 2002 from stjhts26c086.nbnet.nb.ca (198.164.241.91)

WS Walcott

I don't know if Robbie has a daughter named Francois, but I'm pretty sure he has a daughter named Alexandra.

Entered at Mon May 13 14:31:54 CEST 2002 from host-65.subnet-76.med.umich.edu (141.214.76.65)

Steve Knowlton

Subject: Francoise Robertson

I seem to recall Robbie has a daughter named Francoise... is that correct? Because I saw an actress by that name in a late-night cable flick, "Twists of Terror", and she looked like she could be related.

On grammar, it has always bugged me that in "Dixie" they sing "Richmond had fell." I know it rhymes, but the past participle is "fallen"!

Entered at Mon May 13 14:08:29 CEST 2002 from 64-80-53-226-static.surferz.net (64.80.53.226)

Diamond Lil

JohnD: (Hi!) That's interesting and a bit intriguing to me. Why did you choose to sit there? It sounds as if perhaps it was a spot where you'd be relatively undisturbed and could really focus on what was going on. Anytime I go to a show, I always like to sit either in a corner or on the side.. for that reason. I don't like crowds.. and I don't like being in the middle of one when I'm trying to listen to music.

Entered at Mon May 13 13:50:46 CEST 2002 from (24.49.235.75)

Amanda

Subject: Brien

Brien: Your photos are excellent! I am so happy you got to meet Robbie! I know how fantastic you felt! Your post was wonderful also and my apologies that I let it slide by without letting you know. You always honor The Band in a really special way and that is way more than I can say for myself and what I have been participating in lately.

Entered at Mon May 13 13:44:39 CEST 2002 from wc12.ym.rnc.net.cable.rogers.com (66.185.85.79)

John D

Chester, since I was backstage at TLW I can tell you exactly what the yellow buttons are. First of all there were two colors. Yellow and Blue.

The PERFORMERS could be identified immediately by security by their yellow button; which simply had the words, "The Last Waltz" written on them. All of the rest of us that were either family or invited friends wore blue buttons; with "The Last Waltz" written on them. I still have mine today. This said visually to security that you were allowed access in "certain areas".....backstage etc. You could also walk out into the crowd and watch from there and then come backstage again without getting a hassle at the security points. We were handed these buttons upon arrival as our names were on a list.

BTW, not that anyone cares; but my wife and kids used to ask me where I watched the concert from most of the time. Just to the left of Richard is a large red curtain. The "edge of the set" if you will. There was a gaping hole in the curtain and behind the curtain were some seats that were in darkness. I ended up sitting there alone most of the time with Michael J. Pollard of Bonnie & Clyde fame coming in and out from time to time.

Entered at Mon May 13 12:54:46 CEST 2002 from 64-80-53-226-static.surferz.net (64.80.53.226)

Diamond Lil

Donald Joseph: Wonderful review of 'Carny'! I haven't seen the film in many many years.. but I remember enjoying it, and after reading your review...I think I may rent it and watch it again. Thanks.

Brien Sz: Great photos from J&R! Thanks for sharing them with all of us.

Have a good day everyone. Hug Jan.

Entered at Mon May 13 08:57:41 CEST 2002 from as3-1-185.hip.berkeley.edu (136.152.194.107)

Dave Hopkins

Subject: BC at TLW

Donald Joseph: Thanks for the "Carny" review. To answer your question, I hear RR ("Patch") say "We're going to bring out another friend of ours now (to) do this tune with Mac" (the "to" kind of gets swallowed) when introducing Bobby Charles...I don't get the feeling that he's saying that they had recorded it together. The new TLW box still doesn't follow the running order of the concert (though it's closer than the original album)...in actuality, "Down South" directly followed "Such a Night," so the Dr. was already on stage.

Glad to learn of the Richard Manuel album, and I'm eager to hear reports about its quality and the circumstances of its release. We will now have solo albums from all 5 original members (plus Jim Weider). I'm sure many others here have joined me in wondering what we would have gotten from Richard had he continued to write songs, for the Band or on his own, after the early albums. During the lastest iteration of the songwriting discussion, I also pulled out "Sea to the North" and wondered what fruits a Robertson-Hudson partnership would have borne.

Entered at Mon May 13 05:13:32 CEST 2002 from netcache-1115.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.222.132)

j~t

Subject: Carny

After a moment or two of thought I remembered something. RR said that the script for Carny had been floating around Hollywood for several years and he caught sight of it and called up Robert Kaylor, the guy who wrote it and told him "Nobody's ever gonna make this film" So, Robbie and the Kaylors got together and re-wrote the thing...Kaylor had only directed one other film in his entire career...that could have had something to do with the end product turning out a bit flawed.

Entered at Mon May 13 04:45:11 CEST 2002 from saintpaul.pioneerpress.com (208.149.52.102)

CHESTER from Minnesota

Subject: TLW

Opps one more thing, just watched my TLW DvD, noticed that a number of the guests were wearing little yellow buttons, I have to believe its been disscused in here to what was on the button so if you would be so kind let me in on it, one thought I had was that maybe it was a Happy Face button but I kinda doudt it.....

Entered at Mon May 13 04:44:55 CEST 2002 from spider-to063.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.73)

Bayou Sam

Subject: Levon 'n' Garth - and Butch

......so I'm scrolling through the GB thinking about the various subjects and weather or not I want to chime in on them, and I hit Butch's post. You lucky so-of-a-gun Butch. I envy you for getting to be in that amazing atmosphere in Levon's barn. All the other GB stuff flew out of my mind, and I just enjoyed the vision, and thought, of what Butch described. That's what it's all about. Nice post Butch. Thanks.

Entered at Mon May 13 04:37:57 CEST 2002 from saintpaul.pioneerpress.com (208.149.52.102)

CHESTER from Minnesota

Subject: Geezers

I saw Beatle Paul on Leno a week ago or so with his new young girlfriend or is it wife I cant keep up, I never was a huge fan of his but like most of the Beatle stuff to say the least, what I found kind of laughable was how vain this fricken society we live in has become, they showed the vidieo version of his latest song, Paul looks 20 years younger on it, they brush the shit out of him, I say this because when the clip is over and they come back to Jay, Paul is sitting kind of sideways in the guest chair the first thing you notice is the contrast from real life to the vidieo, shit on the vidieo he had tighter skin than he had during Sergant Pepper, just kind of laughable is all I guess, I mean most of the folks that are going to buy his stuff now are his age and maybe 20 years younger or so and we all know what it is to get fricken old. Pluss Paul trying to act 25 years younger was a turnoff, Im not saying its wrong to get the younger chick but shit act your age.. n/nIn regards to bad grammer, I guess its wonderfull if its something you have, those of use who dont do the best we can, I agree with Viney about this subject when he says people over correct for "me" with "I" I do it and remember being taught how using me was bad, what they failed to get across to me and evidently many more was the right time to use me, with that I will let you folks in here with good grammer try and get through this mess, I doubt anyone who is turned off by bad grammer is still reading this anyway....Have a good one......

Entered at Mon May 13 04:31:16 CEST 2002 from adsl-64-173-27-117.dsl.sntc01.pacbell.net (64.173.27.117)

Dave Hampp

Subject: Thank you

Just wanted to say thank you to all involved in the re-release of The Last Waltz and the amazing restoration/remastering that you have done. I was lucky enough to catch the film at The Castro Theatre here in San Francisco and could not have been more impressed. Thank you!

Entered at Mon May 13 04:27:22 CEST 2002 from netcache-1115.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.222.132)

J~t

Subject: Sinatra and "Carny"

I read many years ago that Scorsese and RR actually had a few battles with the studio to get that PG rating. They wanted the picture to reach a larger audience and the R would have deterred parents from allowing their 12 and 16 year olds to go and see it. Carny...the original script was never even shot ! Thomas Baum wrote the book.. Robbie and the Kaylors sat down and re-wrote the thing to make to more shootable for their budget..then everyone abandoned the original script and took it day by day. End product..a film that could have been an American classic...but wasn't."The storytelling was all wrong" RR said. It could have been perfect ...it had everything to make it perfect...but it didn't move. Frustrating as hell. A perfect slice of Americana...ruined by not following the original script.

Entered at Mon May 13 02:37:42 CEST 2002 from dv166s40.lawrence.ks.us (24.124.40.166)

Ray Pence

Subject: Marketing

I bought TLW DVD from Wal-Mart, on sale for about $18.50, with the $2 off coupon. Opened up the DVD, found another coupon, this one for a rebate on the new box set. I wonder if I can use it since I ordered the box from amazon.com (they were very speedy with delivery, especially considering that I paid by check). In any case this triangulation with the movie rerelease, the box set, and the DVD is a case study in expert marketing. I think Robertson and friends know that the target audience is fairly small, and they did their best to anticipate that audience's desires, which lead to other desires, quite well. All one has to do is take a look at the posts of the last month or so to see how successful the plan has been. Beyond that core market of devoted Band fans, I don't know how well the new products will go over.

Entered at Mon May 13 01:32:03 CEST 2002 from 64-80-53-84-access.surferz.net (64.80.53.84)

Diamond Lil

I am so very happy to say that I just found out (through _very_ reliable means) that each purchase of the 'new' Richard Manuel cd _will_ benefit his children. I apologize for any skepticism I may have had pertaining to this and would just like to say "thank you" to those responsible.

Have a good night everyone.

Entered at Mon May 13 00:45:39 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-td014.proxy.aol.com (64.12.104.154)

Lee

Just got back from a gig by Wilco. Excellent. The last time I saw these guys I think they were backing the Jayhawks. Anyway, glad to be from the UK and Not be an old fogie. Spoke to the boss man yesterday and he said he's just recorded ten tracks with the McCoy Bros and Garth was overdubbing as we spoke.

Regarding The Band split and money credits: I've probably snuck my nose in there more than most and the best conclusion you can come to is - when they played together they were a band of brothers with an incredible spirit and a fantastic soul... And that can't be taken away from their legacy when you listen to those albums, whether it be Music From Big Pink or The Last Waltz. Anyway, I hear the pizza man and the Last Waltz DVD, a beer and a smoke are calling. God bless ya.

Entered at Sun May 12 23:30:19 CEST 2002 from 0-2pool44-116.nas1.cincinnati1.oh.us.da.qwest.net (63.232.44.116)

Jenny T

Subject: DVD Commentary

I just finished watching my TLW DVD with commentary, and I would like to say that I love listening to Dr. John. I am pretty sure he made up a few words that are not really English, but who doesn't and I am thinking maybe they should be added anyway. I would also like to say that although I don't normally use profanity unless I have smashed my finger in the car door or something, Greil Marcus is full of way more ridiculous, over-the-top, where does he get this stuff bullshit than the average guy.

Entered at Sun May 12 23:29:40 CEST 2002 from dialup-64.156.157.116.dial1.losangeles1.level3.net (64.156.157.116)

JQ

Subject: Elvin Bishop

Does anyone hear much about Elvin Bishop anymore? I think I saw that he was playing in Vegas not long ago. I always thought he was more original than the other 70's Southern rockers like Allmans, Marshall Tucker, etc. I believe he is from Tulsa & part of that JJ Cale & Leon Russell crowd. With PBBB I thought he had a more rural take on rythm & leads. It was a nice balance to the other guy's urban thing. North/South or East/West as it were. I've always assumed that East/West referrred to NY & Chicago but I'm not sure.

Entered at Sun May 12 23:23:48 CEST 2002 from sdn-ap-013ilchicp0028.dialsprint.net (65.176.128.28)

Susan

Subject: Yen

I just worked through the HVM (or is it HMV) site. The x2 is some sort of point system - you get 2 points for ordering Whispering Pines. The exchange rate on Friday was .007823, which makes 2,500 yen about US $19.56. With the cost of Fed Ex shipping my total will be around $36.00 for the cd. Cheap at the price. It's possible there may be customs charges in addition.

Entered at Sun May 12 23:15:50 CEST 2002 from wc12.ym.rnc.net.cable.rogers.com (66.185.85.79)

John D

Found the answer to part of my question. It costs 1,800 yen to mail to Canada which is approx $21.60 to Canada. Still don't know what the X2 means.

Entered at Sun May 12 23:04:03 CEST 2002 from wc12.ym.rnc.net.cable.rogers.com (66.185.85.79)

John D

I notice in ordering the Richard Manuel CD from HMV Japan that shipping is 2,500 yen x2. Anyone know what this means (x2) and how much is 2,500 yen in dollars??? Thanks

Entered at Sun May 12 22:39:59 CEST 2002 from atpm3-6-87.enter.net (208.137.244.143)

Zeppe

I watched TLW on VH1 after I staggered home from the bar last night(or early this morning). It was weird because I just watched the DVD earlier last night before I went out, and while watching the VH1 version, I could definitely notice the differences in the picture from the DVD version. I swear that when I watched the DVD I saw things that I never saw in the VHS version. For example, on "Mystery Train," you can clearly see Richard on the drumset at the beginning of the song. On the VHS version, it was hard to notice him. The DVD was a great investment. I especially liked the closed caption option which printed out the words that were being spoken during the interviews and at the concert, because sometimes it was hard to hear what the Band members were mumbling during the interviews. It even printed out the "more pussy than Frank Sinatra" line, and Robbie's response to Neil Young, "Oh shit, are you kidding." I always thought I heard him say that word.

Entered at Sun May 12 21:50:50 CEST 2002 from dialup-64.158.84.166.dial1.buffalo1.level3.net (64.158.84.166)

G-MAN

OK,,,OK,,,,,how many GB'ers stayed up last nite and watched the "OLD" version of TLW????

Entered at Sun May 12 21:35:59 CEST 2002 from dialup152-a.ts552.cwt.esat.net (193.203.156.152)

Hank

Subject: Go on....Guess!

It's not really about the songwriting, is it?

It's more to do with the money that is accured in the name of "The Band".

What exactly happens to the money you pay when:

A) you purchase a DVD, Video or CD of ANY product that features the music of The Band ('68-76)

B) you purchase a ticket to see TLW at a cinema

C) you rent a Video/DVD of TLW from your local video shop

Does ANY of your money go to living members of The Band or to the respective estates of Rick and Richard?....and if not, then WHY not? Also, when some film director decides to use music made by The Band, no matter who wrote it, where exactly do the performance royalties go?

If anyone here has specific answers to these questions.......I'd like to read them........here in the GB.

The sad reality is that it's ALL been bought and paid for....a long time ago. But that's showbiz....tough shit, fellas. You're not the first to be ripped off and you won't be the last. What makes the problem worse is people will be buying, listening to and enjoying The Band forever. Where will THAT money go? It will go to those who own the mechanical and performance rights of the The Bands work........

Who EXACTLY owns these rights?...and if it's not the surviving members of The Band and Rick and Richards estates......... then WHY not?

Entered at Sun May 12 21:15:41 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-131.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.131)

Peter Viney

Hey now, hey now, Guinevere – we UK old fogies have no problem sussing “it’s the shit” because we’re so well up on varied argot. My favourite UK equivalent is “It’s the dog’s bollocks.” This came to my notice when standing outside the Louvre in Paris in beautiful sunshine admiring the glass pyramid. My daughter’s boyfriend said, ‘Hey, Peter. This is the dog’s bollocks.” (Dogs, I assume, are held to have the greatest admiration for their own testicles which they express in various non-human ways). I still think it was inappropriate in the situation though.

Entered at Sun May 12 21:11:59 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-td043.proxy.aol.com (64.12.104.168)

Bumbles

Subject: HMV Japan

Many thanks to Lee G for the tip on HMV Japan. They are indeed accepting pre-orders for the Richard Manuel disc and gave me (in New Jersey) an estimated arrival date of 27 May. I noticed they also have the RR-produced (and notoriously hard to find in any format) "Hirth from Earth" in stock and guaranteed to ship within 24 hours.

Entered at Sun May 12 21:03:57 CEST 2002 from sdn-ap-002ilchicp0166.dialsprint.net (63.184.136.166)

Susan

Subject: Carny, perfidious Amazon

Donald Joseph, nice review of Carny. I was entranced by that movie when I first saw it. One of my grandfathers took a cleaner carnival around Illinois and Indiana in 1919-20 with his wife and daughter along. Grandma used to tell some fairly wild stories about the experience. Sleaze can be so attractive at a remove.

Gemm has copies of the LP for sale; there are some copies of the VHS tape at half.com, and a PAL version at Gemm. The tape is listed at two running times - 106 min. and 104 min. My copy is 106 - I have no idea which two minutes might be cut out in the other releases.

Yes, Amazon sucks, at least right now. My box set came the day after release, so I thought I could wait for my copy of the DVD, but it's taken all my will power not to rush out to Circuit City and buy a copy Right NOW. I am listening to the box set, and I could watch Carny, I suppose, but it's just not the same. I'm glad to hear the commentary is worth hearing. I hoped we'd get some more information if we could not have more concert and interview footage.

Jan, I really like the GB software. It's so easy to correct a mistake or add a bit in the middle of a sentence, unlike other software, such as the Amazon review process. And the ability to move down one line for lyrics is way cool.

Entered at Sun May 12 19:25:58 CEST 2002 from 12-249-119-233.client.attbi.com (12.249.119.233)

Donald Joseph

Subject: TLW rating/Stereo Review review/JRR grammar/PS Brown

As to TLW's rating, I checked my video copy and my DVD, and both are "PG" (not even "PG-13"). I always have seen it rated this way.

Peter Stone Brown's article ("What's New") has to be one of the very-best critical analyses of TLW ever.

Completists: "Sound & Vision" (f/k/a "Stereo Review") has a laudatory review of TLW CD & DVD by Steve Simels in its latest (June) issue -- but Simels adds nothing to the other stuff we've been reading here, so I won't type it all in.

Viney: I agree with your lack-of-formal-education-leads-to-over-correction analysis; that had been my suspicion, as well.

Amanda: Whew!

Entered at Sun May 12 19:22:05 CEST 2002 from intern2.wdse.org (131.212.19.41)

Marsen

Subject: TLW Rating

If I am remembering it right, TLW was PG. Pretty sure on that.

Entered at Sun May 12 18:54:11 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-tl011.proxy.aol.com (64.12.107.151)

Brien Sz

Subject: "R" Rating

Movie Ratings are a funny thing. IF the LW was rated R, it was for language and suggestions "You'll get more Pussy than Frank Sinatra..," was probably what tossed it an R rating. You can make the most wholesome movie, say the word "Fuck" and Boom! it's rated "R". Same with sex, the more sexually suggestive or downright graphic, the "R" rating. Violence on the other hand seems to have a wide latitude - Spiderman, has lots of violence, granted cartoon like, none-the-less, violent and a couple scenes that whack you out of your seat. There's blood (not a lot) but it's there. It's PG-13 - no language (no shit, fuck, g-damn, very disneyesque in that way) BUT there is a good nipple shot, which is what probably iced the PG-13 rating. The producers probably wanted this movie to be PG but the villian is scary (a tad too scary for young kids) and again violent. Had it been released PG, the movie would have caught a lot of flack but throw the 13 on and parents can go "ahhhhh, that's much better". Oh how easy it is sooth our puritanical paranoia/guilt.

Entered at Sun May 12 18:40:46 CEST 2002 from dv166s40.lawrence.ks.us (24.124.40.166)

Ray Pence

An enjoyable review of "Carny" by Donald Joseph...I saw the movie in fragments on HBO in 1981, and much later in full on VHS. It's available in many video stores but it might take some time to track down. I found it to be a very, very uneven film; some scenes work well, and the concept must have sounded better in meetings and on paper than it ended up on the screen. Cocaine influenced the results negatively, I have no doubt--that drug makes you feel you can do no wrong, and all three lead actors were using at that time, Robertson and Busey heavily (Busey is a case study of wasted potential, downright pathetic what he did to his career). Foster was arrested for coke around that time. I'm not trying to be an anti-drug preacher here, but there are many wonderful things to get high with, natural and chemical, but coke should be avoided. Here's an example of how it can cloud one's judgement: I recall Robertson appearing on "Good Morning America" for an interview with Rona Barrett around the time of "Carny," and that was probably the weirdest, most uncomfortable interview I've ever witnessed. Decisions like that, along with "Carny," had a lot to do with why Levon, not Robbie, went on to a respectable, often memorable, film career.

Entered at Sun May 12 18:40:11 CEST 2002 from 216-224-155-60.thegrid.net (216.224.155.60)

Guenevere

Crabgrass, those new photo’s of Garth and Friends are the Shit !!!.....especailly the one of Garth's boots!!!

For all UK and East Coast old foggies..."the Shit"...is an expression that means GREAT!!!...or "The Stuff"!!! It comes from an Hawaiian expression ..."The Kine"!!! (originally "The Kind"!!) which refers to a particular "kind" of marijuana, or “reefer”....this expression which "caught on" in pot head vernacular of the late ‘70’s.... later morphed from "the kind" into "the kine"....which has recently been "one-upped" by GenX with...The Shit!!!!

As in, “Crabgrass’s new photos of Garth and friends are most definitely the shit!!!”

Entered at Sun May 12 18:20:05 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-021.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.21)

Peter Viney

Donald’s review of ‘Carny’ is great – it reminds me that it’s time to watch it again in the wake of TLW. I’ve seen it several times, including once, fortuitously, on a plane. I don’t think it’s currently out on video, which is a pity, and as far as I know the OST has never been on CD. At a guess it’s been out-of-print for years. It’s surprising that Robbie never capitalized on such a strong performance, which has charisma.

The review of the OST reminded me that Robbie has been willing to share credits where it’s been due – two songs with Martin Page on the first solo album; Bruce Hornsby, Ivan Neville, David Ricketts, Martin Page on Storyville; Jim Wilson, Douglas Spotted Eagle, Patrick Leonard on ‘Native Americans’; Howie B., Tim Gordine, Marius de Vries, Leonard Peltier, Jim Wilson on ‘Contact.’ Taking an extra share of credit is not that hard for a star on a solo album, so it doesn’t indicate a habit of taking unfair credit.

Entered at Sun May 12 17:54:29 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-150.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.150)

Peter Viney

YOU MAY WISH TO SCROLL BY …

Donald - Robbie’s grammar- being a ‘descriptive’ grammar person, I wouldn’t knock Robbie’s use of ‘him and I’ but this is an interesting phenomenon (at least to a select few grammarians). The simple explanation is that ‘him’ is an object pronoun (like me), while ‘I’ is a subject pronoun (like he). So it should indeed be either ‘him and me’ or ‘he and I’ depending on the position in the sentence. The classic example of Robbie’s use is Queen Elizabeth II, who is fond of the phrase ‘My husband and I’, so much so that she tends to use it both “correctly” (My husband and I would like to say …) and in Robertsonian style (… wish you all goodnight from my husband and I). BBC twin newsreaders in the early 60s used to say ‘goodnight from John and I’ till outraged linguists forced them to switch to ‘from John and me.’ The over use of “I” is believed to be over-correction. Children often use ‘me’ in place of ‘I’ and are corrected. This instils the belief that ‘I’ is somehow better than ‘me’ rather than placed differently in a sentence. Over-correction would be one sign of a self-educated person, who had left school at 15 to play guitar, and who had never taken SATs in English. Being Canadian, he could have based his model on the Queen instead. American SATs tests in English have no equivalent in Britain, which is why educated Americans normally speak more carefully and more grammatically than educated Britons. When my son took English SATs for American university entrance I was amazed at how prescriptive they were, how old-fashioned they were and how often they were downright “wrong”. No British test would expect kids to discriminate between ‘who’ and ‘whom’ because ‘whom’ is seen as archaic here, except in the formula ‘to whom it may concern.’ One example in SATS was where you have to say whether a sentence is correct or wrong, and if wrong where the mistake is. The sentence was “The teacher told each of the boys and girls to bring their homework to him’. This was supposedly “wrong” and “his or her homework” was “right” which is crap and bullshit (as grammarians say). Both Chaucer and Shakespeare used ‘their’ in this sense and it’s the standard recommended use in modern publishing manuals so as to avoid gender-marking.

On expecting more from great writers, I’m reminded that F. Scott Fitzgerald was said to be atroshus, sorry, atrocious at spelling. When an editor complained and suggested that he check and correct in future, Fitzgerald replied, ‘But then what would YOU do?’ I’ve seen it suggested that writers should leave a few spelling and grammar errors in to give editors the ego-boost of correction, thus keeping them busy so that they don’t change anything important.

Everyone has an idiolect, and Robbie’s most distinctive feature is his use of the word ‘this’. Look through interviews or listen to documentaries. I believe that Robbie uses “this” more frequently than anyone I’ve ever heard.

Entered at Sun May 12 17:27:32 CEST 2002 from spider-te061.proxy.aol.com (152.163.195.201)

butch

Subject: levon & garth - musicians

the last few days ive had the pleasure of watching levon & garth work on a recording project @ Levon's barn,,,,,,,

instead of just being "the session drummer" or "session organist", they brought the 76 yrs ( combined ) of music & recording with them & contributed to this cool session,

some friends of friends, from Georgia, & TN,,, their project,, & they knew they were blessed working with MUSICIANS like garth & levon,,,

the down-time , between takes, while garth would fill his corncob, & levon would sip his coke,,,& be the consumate host,,these smart talented musicians soaked it all in,,, the area, the room, the history,, the old, old picture of Rick on the wall, randy ciarlante's funny lists of people with two first names,,,

They knew that Garth & Levon & Rick & many great musicians made great music there,, & they added to the list,, & the legend,,,

it was Levon & Garth helping them to build their band,,, which is what musicians do,,,,,,

Entered at Sun May 12 16:51:42 CEST 2002 from spider-wj073.proxy.aol.com (205.188.198.53)

JTull Fan

Subject: TLW rated R??? Has this ever been discussed?

When I saw TLW at the theater some weeks ago, I noticed it was listed as being rated R. Was this accurate? What content earned this rating? If it was released for the first time in 2002, I doubt it would even earn a PG-13. I understand some movies actually try to get an R rating to make them seem more appealing. Do you guys think this was the case on TLW? I'm pretty pleased with myself for finding a 'fresh' thread. Oh boy oh boy!

Entered at Sun May 12 16:13:24 CEST 2002 from stjhts26c071.nbnet.nb.ca (198.164.241.76)

WS Walcott

No Amanda, I am not sexist. Everybody give it up! How's that?

Entered at Sun May 12 14:34:58 CEST 2002 from sc-hiltonhead1a-331.hhe.adelphia.net (24.49.235.75)

Amanda

Donald:Yes, you did mean to be disrespectful, which was expected. However, the opinion of a self-serving, pretentious man hardly makes me want to change my way of thinking. I know it must be a fascinating subject for you, but spare yourself from psychoanalyzing my political stance, your not very good at it.

Entered at Sun May 12 13:20:17 CEST 2002 from 0-1pool35-203.nas1.cincinnati1.oh.us.da.qwest.net (63.232.35.203)

Jenny T

Subject: SRV on ACL

Did anyone catch this Stevie Ray show on Austin City limits which includes parts of two shows, one from '83 and one from '89 and also has moving, charming and interesting comments from bandmates? It was on our PBS last night and it was really good. You could really see his technique since the camera was focused on his guitar a lot of the time. Not that I know too much about that stuff but he really bent those strings sometimes.

We are going to Texas in June for a reunion of my mother-in-law's family, and I am wondering if there are any SRV related sites my husband would enjoy seeing since I am dragging everyone to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. On our last vacation (in the Hudson Valley) my son begged me one morning: "Please tell me there are no stone houses around here!" so I am trying not to overdo on my interests this time. (He still freaks out if we pass a sign including any of the words "old," "historical," or "village.") We will be on a ranch outside Austin. Any suggestions?

I'd better go since the boys are making me breakfast and they are a little marginal in the kitchen. Happy Mother's Day.

Entered at Sun May 12 12:39:55 CEST 2002 from 64-80-53-229-static.surferz.net (64.80.53.229)

Diamond Lil

Just wanted to wish all the other mom's out there a very happy Mother's Day.

Entered at Sun May 12 10:51:56 CEST 2002 from spider-wi031.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.31)

Lee

The Richard Manuel CD hasn't been released according to HMV in Japan. You can pre-order it and also get a copy of Weiders Remedy CD. www.hmv.co.jp I've had CDs from this site before and they're sent via Fed Ex.

In my last post I forgot to mention the great photographs from John Scheele. Sorry I didn't get in touch John. Great shots from Crabgrass also.

Entered at Sun May 12 08:55:38 CEST 2002 from 1cust17.tnt1.pocatello.id.da.uu.net (67.250.112.17)

rollie

Subject: The Cocteau Room at the Last Waltz

Seems like the couch at this link would have fit in nicely at the Last Waltz.Expensive furniture to say the least!

Entered at Sun May 12 07:57:46 CEST 2002 from 216-224-154-17.thegrid.net (216.224.154.17)

Guenevere

Crabgrass, the new photos of Garth and Friends at the Bottom Line are _da kine_ bro...

you definitely outdone yourself this time!

Entered at Sun May 12 07:06:08 CEST 2002 from 12-249-119-233.client.attbi.com (12.249.119.233)

Donald Joseph

Subject: Doin' clean up here: Lots of issues

Amanda: I WAS going to ask you about "Don't Do It": All critics, from Greil Marcus on down, agree the Band's version is unique & even an improvement on the original. But the Band always credited the song as written by "Holland/Dozier/Holland," as it was. They arranged the hell out of it, but they don't claim any writer's credit. "Mystery Train" is different only because JRR actually penned a couple of brand-new verses; hence he added his John Hancock.

I say I "WAS" going to ask you that, becuase then I read your penultimate post, in which you at last made clear that you just wish JRR had voluntarily agreed to a 5-way split on his songwriting credits as an act of altruism. That's idealistic, even (pardon the hot-button word) communistic. Still, while I disagree with your opinion (I'm no commie; ask McCarthy), I now understand your position, and I respect it; indeed, you're in good company (Engels, Lenin, Mao, Castro, et al. -- I mean no disrespect by this -- "from each according to his ability; to each according to his needs" is a philosophy that has attracted a lot of great thinkers, greater than any of us).

But to ans. your exact question: I'd feel no different if I were in either JRR's or Levon's position.

MattK et al.: Amanda is not arguing Levon wrote the songs; she's just pleading, after the fact, for Robbie to have done a gratuitous 5-way royalties split. It's not our place to argue on this point, because Amanda is making a political/economic point; she's not arguing history.

That having been said, thanks, MattK, for backing me up on the "driving Robbie to the library" thing. As I read Levon's book (I don't have it handy to cite chapter & verse), he was indeed seeking songwriting credits solely for his library chauffering on TNTDODD (Amanda, I wasn't being flip -- read Levon's exact words); if you read Levon carefully, he was not claiming to have penned lyrics or music to the song (as I recall the text).

MattK & Amanda: I'm not the one who originally made the Rubin Carter point, so don't credit me with it. (See, Amanda? I don't take writers' credits where they're not due me.)

MattK: Your "Monotony" post was one of the best & funniest I've read in the GB!

Susan: I pre-ordered my TLW DVD months ago, & just got delivery today. (Amazon sucks!) The DVD is all its cracked up to be (Dave Z posted prematurely -- before hearing the 2 movie-length audio tracks, which are the DVD's best features). The jam & documentary are OK, but the real addition is the 2 separate audio tracks, which essentially eliminate most all the movie soundtrack & just talk over the film. So I watched the complete film today twice, hearing both full audio tracks. The one with JRR & Marty is good, but the other is fantastic.

Medicine Hat: You're wrong: Nothing's deleted. "Out of the Blue" was never in the film, of course.

On the DVD, the audio track with Levon, The Dr., et al. contains a "Strong Language" warning. But the Robbie/Marty contains no warning at all. Having listened to it, it should contain a "Bad Grammar" warning. Robbie makes 4 grammar mistakes. Once he uses "Him and I...," instead of "He and I," as the subject of a sentence, and 3 (THREE!) times he uses "him and I" (instead of "him and me") in a prepositional phrase (e.g., "It was important for him and I to..."). I know 99% of you will scoff at my schoolmarmishness, but actually I'm semi-serious in my disappointment here, only because I see JRR as so literate and such a great writer. (Wouldn't you be disillusioned if you unearthed 4 grammar errors in interviews with Ernie Hemmingway & Nate Hawthorne? JennyT, my fellow U. of C. English major, how about some back up here?)

Re bootlegs: I have a Band bootleg album called "The Music" in a white cover with a white label with no labelling, at all except a blue stamp saying "The Music" (the absence of a label means I don't know the show, but it's an early one). Sound quality = unlistenable, except for "The Genetic Method." Anyone else have it?

Harry: Pls. come clean w/Mim re your serial forgeries & post under your own name. I'm sure my 6-year-old daughter would agree, if I asked, to ratify all my posts as my co-author (she'll agree to anything) -- but I won't impose this charade on the rest of you. Why the hell don't you spare us, and at last give our beloved Mim the dignity of speaking for herself?

Brien Sz: Thanx 4 yer great JRR @ J&R coverage.

Fred & Marsen: While most of the Japanese website is unintelligible to Westerners, it does say the Manuel LP is from a single live solo performance in '85. Hence it'll be great to get our hands on that LP!

On new TLW CD, in introducing Bobby Charles, JRR says Bobby has "done" (recorded) "Down So. in N.O." with the Dr. ("Mac"). Where? I own pretty much all the recorded output of both men, & I don't know of this collaboration. Anyone with info. on this, pls. post, or e-mail me at my fake e-mail address!!!!!

Entered at Sun May 12 05:48:43 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-te053.proxy.aol.com (64.12.103.173)

Kevin Brown

Subject: Just curious

Just wonderin', why is the telecaster so prominent in TLW advertising? While I have of course seen JRR play one occasionally thru the years, mostly you see him with a strat. And if I recall correctly, other than that accoustic thing,all he plays in TLW is a strat. Just curious. Got to go watch VH1 now. kjb

Entered at Sun May 12 05:47:20 CEST 2002 from spider-wg061.proxy.aol.com (205.188.196.46)

Brien Sz

Subject: Spiderman..., GB Historical Data

Just back from Spiderman..., A real fun, nobrainer film. Well Done, paced well, well acted. Well what else can I say. Robbies in the film but I didn't see him and i tried to look for him. He doesn't have a speaking part. If he does, it was quick and i missed it. The only thing my wife and I could think was that he was on The Board of Directors, in one of the scenes. It had to be quick.., quicker even than my brief encounter with him.

I was wondering if data has been collected on how many times a year the fued comes up? How long the debate lasts? Who starts it, Levonistas or Robertsonians? Who participates the most in it? How many times it's said, "I didn't want to jump in on this but...," If a thorough enough study is done, then maybe we can predict on when the next debate will flair up by using the mean average. Warnings could be posted, "Entering Dead Horse Country...," Does this part of the post count as participating in the debate? Am i continuing the saga? Is my sarcasm apparent? Should I end my post now? Are you tired of reading lines that have no purpose but to take up your precious time as you read this to yourself right now, Thinking, is this guy an idiot or maybe you're getting a chuckle that you've continued to read this far because for last few momnets this is exactly what you've done and this has exactly been my purpose to write run on sentences so as to continue, ah, the hell with it..., Thank you - - -Happy Mothers Day!

Entered at Sun May 12 05:02:28 CEST 2002 from ptldme-cmt1-c5-24-25-167-115.maine.rr.com (24.25.167.115)

MattK

Subject: Pants on Fire

Amanda writes:

"Wouldn't it just be easier for some of you to say that you believe that Levon is a liar...instead of everyone repeating the same thing in different ways?"

See, Amanda, that's exactly the mindset that I object to. To say I don't believe Levon's accusations are accurate is not the same as believing he's lying - nor is does it mean he's crazy.

To believe he's a liar, I'd have to think that he doesn't believe what he says - and clearly he does. "Crazy" is a looser proposition, that requires definition. Do I think that Levon has real anger towards Robbie? Obviously he does. Do I believe that his anger justified? I have no idea.

Do I think his anger towards RR has led him to draw conclusions (and as a result level accusations) that, by-and-large, are contradictory of more objective sources (including other Band members and close associates)? That seems a reasonable conclusion, which merely makes Levon human, and (despite what some assert) doesn't besmirch his honor and reputation.

To be honest, I'm find it much easier to understand Levon's position - I don't know anyone, including myself, who hasn't projected less-than-accurate perceptions from anger and feelings of betrayal. What I find harder to understand, is the way some fans tend to internalize Levon's feelings for themselves.

There are any number of musicians/composers that I love to near obsession, but personally, I shudder at the idea of internalizing the emotions of Charles Mingus, Miles Davis, Frank Zappa, or even Robbie Robertson. It's hard enough keeping my own house of cards from crumbling.

Entered at Sun May 12 00:51:15 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-030.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.30)

Peter Viney

For British readers! Just picked up from the Wavelength website. Van Morrison is playing at The Crown Hotel, Eveleigh, Wiltshire on Saturday 3rd August. This is the info: Tickets from The Crown : 01264.852664 or 01202.469033. Concert starts at 1pm, with Chris Farlowe and other bands. Van is on stage at 6pm. Tickets are £32.50 each, STANDING (ah, well. I have mine)

Entered at Sun May 12 00:46:27 CEST 2002 from ac902d8d.ipt.aol.com (172.144.45.141)

Medicine Hat

The new DVD of The Last Waltz is missing complete song. This should have been stated on the packaging but is not. "Out Of The Blue" is not on the DVD but is part of the original movie. Very disappointing! Also, the mix is not as good as the original VHS.

Entered at Sun May 12 00:35:52 CEST 2002 from spider-tp024.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.184)

Harry & Mim

Subject: Lack, paucity of "Band" "official" releases

Friends:

Enjoying a beautiful spring day here, rushed my last post to go out and enjoy it out there.

One other "reason" (justification) for searching out your favorite music in ALL FORMS (especially including "out of the ordinary" stuff, like BOOTLEGS)is that we like some folks "output" so much, and the # of official releases is LOW...

We look for audio cassettes, reel to reels, SHN's, MP3's and all that other new recording tech & format minutiae because WE WANT MORE.

Speaking of MORE - give us Crang Plaza or Port Dover - the fun of bootlegs (in the old days) used to be getting to hear "new stuff" from your favorite band, if you were a stickler or "fussy/exacting" about recording quality, you were more than often likely to be disappointed.....

Hoping your day is as beautiful as ours, we remain,

Mim & Harry

Entered at Sat May 11 23:14:20 CEST 2002 from sdn-ap-003ilchicp0696.dialsprint.net (63.184.146.188)

Susan

Subject: Ode to our lettercarrier

Please, Mr Postman,
Look and see
Please check that package
Is it my DVD?

I ordered early
It just isn't fair.
My box set came the second day;
What's behind this long delay?

Please, Mr Postman
Look and see
Please look again
For my DVD

Now it's the weekend
Rain's pouring down
I'm in such an anxious state
How much longer must I wait?

You got to wait a minuite, wait a minute
Please, Mr Postman
Mr. Pooooooostman

Entered at Sat May 11 22:30:38 CEST 2002 from spider-wg032.proxy.aol.com (205.188.196.32)

Harry & (by proxy), Mim

Subject: Ok, Alright, You Win

To Donald Joseph of Chicago, IL:

You got us, Donald. I "take the liberty" of signing Mim's name with mine because we "tend" (see the qualifier) to agree on most things musical and Band related.

and, Lil (I believe it was), MOST MUSIC FANS are very "passionate" about their favorites, hence the endlessly continuing sagas of uninteresting arguments, speculation, and ugly rumours...

And, referring to the above paragraph, I seek out "bootlegs" of ALL MY FAVES because I am "SOOOOO PASSIONATE" about their music. I know this may be disagreeable to some, cause other managers and accountants indigestion, make other "rock stars" pissed off, but, I CAN'T HELP IT. Being a slightly (ahem) ADDICTIVE personality, I need ALL THE MUSIC I CAN GET from the artists I love........

Goodbye, and may God bless - Mim (by proxy) & Har

Entered at Sat May 11 22:05:33 CEST 2002 from spider-tr032.proxy.aol.com (152.163.201.187)

Bayou Sam

I think Pat Brennan nailed it on the head. This stuff goes much deeper than songwriting credits. These guys are not the life long brothers that some fans invision. I also still feel that alot of folks dislike RR simply because Levon says so, and because Robbie isn't sitting in a cabin in Woodstock pickin' on his Telecaster. Robbie has grown and progressed in his career in a wonderful way. He's obviously proud of his past, and excited about what's next. Good for him.

The Beatles were actually linked contracturaly(spelling?) until 1976. So when "Band On The Run" sold so well, they all got a piece of it.....I beleive that the onl tune Paul wanted switched to McCartney/Lennon was "Yesterday" on the recent "1" CD......Actually, there are a couple of early singles that do say McC/Len. John just pulled rank when they were getting to the big time.

Entered at Sat May 11 21:20:34 CEST 2002 from spider-tp022.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.182)

Calvin

Subject: Songwriting credits

Amanda, I dont for a second consider Levon a liar. But what he is asking for is for RR to operated in a direct opposite way from the vast majority of songwriters in the music industry, its just that simple. People who are musicians have posted here and said, sure Ive help arranged a song but I dont expext credit-it doesnt work that way. Robbie played by the rules, Levon thinks the rules suck and want them changed. There isnt anything to get, its just a difference of opinion and Levon is in the Minority, outside of Band fans at least. All 4 of the other members of the group directly contributed to the way the Band did the Weight, but the did little if anything to contribute in the way Aretha or Cassandra WIlson did The Weight. Robbie on the other hand did as much on every version cause he wrote it. But that doesnt mean Levon is lieing, far from it. Glad your son is OK BTW, dont beat yourself up, the best moms cant watch em 24-7.

Entered at Sat May 11 21:07:56 CEST 2002 from sc-hiltonhead1a-331.hhe.adelphia.net (24.49.235.75)

Amanda

None of you are getting my point at all, but I didn't really expect that. I understand all the analogies, I don't need another one. Wouldn't it just be easier for some of you to say that you believe that Levon is a liar...instead of everyone repeating the same thing in different ways?? Anyway I can't play anymore today. I am usually so anal and careful about everything, but today I made a terrible mistake. While I was upstairs worrying about life and death situations of The Band, my two-year old twins escaped (older son left door unlocked), ran down to the dock and luckily were rescued by two boaters (angels), before they had a chance to take a dip in the shark infested intercoastal waterway. I am in deep shit with my husband and rightfully so. I am, as ever, in Levon's corner, but must turn off this computer for awhile or my husband may throw it out the window. I will, however, continue pondering the crucial event that might have taken place in 1983.

Entered at Sat May 11 19:55:25 CEST 2002 from ac8c4104.ipt.aol.com (172.140.65.4)

Andy R.

Subject: Richard Manuel..etc

Am very happy, as all fans, to see the realization of the Richard Manuel CD on Dreamsville Records in Japan. I will try to post correct instructions in english as to how people can order the CD. The liner notes are written by Eric Clapton I hear, and I hope to be able to give a full report ASAP. I have not, as yet, gotten a acutal copy of the CD, but I'm told it is "on the way" to me. It presents Richard just like he was at that time, with no attempt to correct or embellish. It would be very nice to be able to hear the tracks as massaged by Garth Hudson at Bearsville, but unfortunately that is not in my area of influence.

I can shed a little light on Harold "The Colonel" Kudlets. I had the pleasure of working with him over the course of several years, both with The Band/Cate Brothers combination of '83-'84, and with Levon & The Cate Brothers several tours..including one really memorable visit to Halifax, Nova Scotia, playing The Palace. The Colonel is a wonderful man, a Scottich Jew from Hamilton Ontario. His late beautiful wife Pauline and his son Jackie are some of the finest people you could know. Armed with a big long cigar, business suit and a sharp wit, the Colonel regaled me with his stories of early Levon & The Hawks, Ronnie Hawkins, and the general tenor of how music and entertainment was brought up to Canada by himself and a few other brave individuals. He was a manager in the classic "grand" sense. Someone whom you wanted to speak for you. He taught me a lot about the booking business, and my best goes out to him and Jackie where ever they are.

For some reason my correct e-mail address comes back as wrong in the sign in. My correct e-mail address is andybr67@AOL.com

Entered at Sat May 11 19:47:47 CEST 2002 from dialin-103-tnt.nyc.bestweb.net (216.179.1.103)

Gene

Entered at Sat May 11 19:40:07 CEST 2002 from spider-wg082.proxy.aol.com (205.188.196.57)

Calvin

Subject: Amanda and the Beatles

An intersting point about Lennon "putting the Beatles first" Amanda. According to Paul he and John simply entered a legal agreement saying anything either of them wrote for the Beatles would be credited as Lennon/McCartney. Paul also clames Lennon's name is listed first because he simply got to the lawyer's office first. ALso, when the recent box sets and No 1 came out Paul asked Yoko to let him list his name first, McCartney/Lennon, on a few tunes he wrote exclusively and was quite proud of. Yoko refused and held him to the contract. I agree with those who say it boils downs to RR writing the songs, The new cassandra wilson CD has an almost unrecognizeable version of The Weight. If Levon, Rick, Garth and RIchard are owed co-songwriting credit for the Weight because of their help arranging the song in the studio than a very good case can be made for Wilson's band get the same credit. After all, the took the words and music and changed the arrangement. I'm not a Robertsian, Rick was far and away always my favorite, but I think it is unfar that RR is called to task for doing business like %95 of songwriters do.

Entered at Sat May 11 19:03:57 CEST 2002 from dialup-65.56.141.46.dial1.chicago1.level3.net (65.56.141.46)

Pat Brennan

Amanda, since Richard and Robbie claimed solo credits, and Rick, Richard, Robbie, and Levon claimed co-writing credits, my guess is that maybe the whole thing isn't about songwriting but something deeper and more personal. Just a guess.

Entered at Sat May 11 19:03:10 CEST 2002 from pool-141-149-51-55.ny325.east.verizon.net (141.149.51.55)

ANDY TAYLOR

Nice webpage keep up the great work visit my web side WWW.CNDMALL.COM

Entered at Sat May 11 18:54:57 CEST 2002 from intern2.wdse.org (131.212.19.41)

Marsen

Subject: Richard Manuel Solo Album

This may be a dumb question, but to someone who's not proficent in Japaneese, how does one make sense of the Dreamsville Records website? More specificly how does one go about ordering this much-awaited disc?

Sure enjoying TLW DVD. Especially the new commentary, and Jam. Bummer to see it's just RR and Marty in the Featurette though. I ran out and bought it Tuesday AM, and raced directly home and re-arranged my living room with a chair in the middle to fully enjoy the new audio. My next 5 or 6 hours were mesmerizing, as I ran the movie, then with commentary, then trailer, featurette, and photo gallery. It's especially fun to have Levon's book in hand to help get the feel of the animosity in those interviews.

As great a treat as this DVD is, I await the Richard Manuel solo album with even more anticipation!

Entered at Sat May 11 18:53:46 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-133.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.133)

Peter Viney

Amanda – without dredging the site for the requisite quotes, neither Rick nor Garth have made similar specific accusations about Robbie and songwriting. Quite the contrary in fact, including a very recent quote from Garth, and a late quote from Rick. That’s one reason why several of us leap to the defence on this one time after time. I’m not saying they disagreed with Levon – there are comments from Rick Danko in various interviews on the leadership / management aspect which are critical, but both stated unequivocally that Robbie did write the songs. Any look at their songwriting efforts since 1976 proves that one was a natural songwriter, the others were sporadic at best. ‘Storyville’ has all the sound of a Band album, except the voices. The other musicians who contributed to the arrangments did a great job. And you can see immediately that it was written by the same guy who wrote the Band songs. As to the “Band of Brothers” communal aspect, it’s all a bit Help! or The Monkees where we like to imagine our favourite group previewing Friends by a few years. Nobody’s ever explicit, but even in the 90s band, a good few cracks in the façade were visible on the 96 tour.

There’s songwriting. There’s arrangment. Other versions of ‘The Weight’ do not copy Levon’s drum part for example (not that they could). So it’s not an integral part of “the song” in the way that the top line (melody) and lyrics are. Take one of Robbie’s finest moments, the guitar part on ‘Visions of Johanna.’ (Before anyone quotes Dylan discographies, we’ve done that, and Al Kooper confirmed to one of our regulars that it IS what it sounds like – vintage Robbie). Does Robbie complain that Dylan didn’t cut him a share? Does Al Kooper complain that he gets no royalty for the organ part in Like a Rolling Stone? Does Garfunkel claim half the publishing on Bridge Over Troubled Water?We are talking major contributions in arrangment here. But none of them are ‘songwriting’. Listen to any ten cover versions of ‘The Weight’. Still the same “song”.

Entered at Sat May 11 18:45:53 CEST 2002 from ptldme-cmt1-c5-24-25-167-115.maine.rr.com (24.25.167.115)

MattK

Subject: John D

John D, "I haven't always agreed with your posts but they are well thought out and you have a passion for your beliefs and I have to respect that." Thank you, John. That's all I really ask of anyone. As far as my e-mails to you a few weeks back, I was admittedly outraged when you singled me out, somewhat out-of-the blue, and I apologize that my dismay translated into something more personal. I felt that you were deliberately misinterpreting earlier statements to justify some sort of internal dialog. While I stand by my belief that I was unfairly mischaracterized, I also realize that "deliberate" assumes that I'm privvy to your private thoughts and feelings, which of course is unfair of me.

Entered at Sat May 11 18:33:14 CEST 2002 from sc-hiltonhead1a-331.hhe.adelphia.net (24.49.235.75)

Amanda

Pat: I don't have to address that issue because I don't have an answer. That would be one for Levon. I don't know why he feels differently about Rick and Richard's credits. Do you?

Entered at Sat May 11 18:28:08 CEST 2002 from dialup-65.57.15.186.dial1.chicago1.level3.net (65.57.15.186)

Pat Brennan

Amanda, you would still have to address why Robertson bears the brunt of this injustice, when Richard and Rick (and even Levon with Stawberry Wine and Carnival) all did the exact same thing.

Entered at Sat May 11 18:15:48 CEST 2002 from dialup-65.57.15.186.dial1.chicago1.level3.net (65.57.15.186)

Pat Brennan

BTW, I am glad to see John D and Paul posting here. And Lil, no one could have said it better.

Entered at Sat May 11 18:11:42 CEST 2002 from dialup-65.57.15.186.dial1.chicago1.level3.net (65.57.15.186)

Pat Brennan

John D, first of all, nothing here really bothers me. My first paragraph was a good natured poke at people who complain about some of the subject matter discussed here. It was also meant as a reminder that people can be unintentionally guilty of the same behavior they complain about, including me. Secondly, I don't think I've ever brought this songwriting thing up. However, if someone else does, I'm happy to ask questions. It's my nature.

I think that it's worth noting something here. People think this songwriting thing divides down the middle of the Robertsonian-Levonista chasm. However, veterans here will recall that I find the Robertson-produced Basement Tapes overdubs dishonest and the presence of the Band stuff on the Columbia release to be misleading. That they all went along with it is disheartening. I also think that Robertson could be behind the Watkins Glen fraud.

Entered at Sat May 11 18:13:26 CEST 2002 from wc12.ym.rnc.net.cable.rogers.com (66.185.85.79)

John D

Entered at Sat May 11 18:11:54 CEST 2002 from wc12.ym.rnc.net.cable.rogers.com (66.185.85.79)

John D

Just got off the dreamsville site. I sent them two e-mails. One wondering how much 800 yen is in dollars for shipping for the Richard Manuel CD and also requesting an english translation of the site. There is so much that I don't understand.

Entered at Sat May 11 18:08:59 CEST 2002 from 64-80-53-143-access.surferz.net (64.80.53.143)

Diamond Lil

I suppose if there had to be one word used to describe Band fans..it would be passion. Right or wrong, the passionate postings are all pretty amazing. Something that brings out this kind of emotion must be _very_ loved.. which I guess is why we're all here. I hope that folks who disagree, or agree to disagree, know that they have more in common than they realize. I think we'd be hard-pressed to find another band with such a passionate following.

Have a good day everyone.

Entered at Sat May 11 17:51:19 CEST 2002 from wc12.ym.rnc.net.cable.rogers.com (66.185.85.79)

John D

What is it that bothers you in your first paragraph there Pat? I found it a little evasive. I'm sincerely interested in your comment. MattK I agree with you about the personal e-mail. The only time I don't respond to personal e-mail is when I am called names and my perceived character flaws are thrown at me. I don't think any band is worth getting angry over and I have been guilty of that in the past and am working on changing that. Life's too short. I agree with the old saying and I put myself in this category as well........"He who is without sin cast the first stone." I haven't always agreed with your posts but they are well thought out and you have a passion for your beliefs and I have to respect that.

Entered at Sat May 11 17:51:33 CEST 2002 from ptldme-cmt1-c5-24-25-167-115.maine.rr.com (24.25.167.115)

MattK

Subject: Monotony

Pat Brennan makes a very good point. I find the whining about people talking about the so-called "feud" a no-less repetitive (less substantive) part of the cycle.

To me, the difference is that new information, new releases, new interviews, new data motivates some to re-examine the issue. The need to complain about it seems to be related to a congenital inability to use the scroll bar.

I'd suggest those who are bothered might make use of Jan's groovy new subject line input to avoid posts they find so objectionable. However, I suspect the need to beat the "dead horse" is surpassed only by need to carp about the people beating the dead horse.

Besides, if they couldn't complain about the occasional feud flare up, what else would these folks have to complain about? The 3,000 revision to our "desert island" list? Surely the perpetual rehashing of Robbie's/Rick's gear, with occasional posts inquiring about the next Band tour of Camaroon would break-up the monotony.

Entered at Sat May 11 17:29:26 CEST 2002 from sc-hiltonhead1a-331.hhe.adelphia.net (24.49.235.75)

Amanda

Subject: Songwriting...final thoughts...for now

Songwriting credits are such a hot product, but there don’t seem to be any regulations that protect musicians from each other regarding writing contributions. The music business is still following archaic practices and the only way musicians can get relief is to get involved in expensive lawsuits. I know that record companies and certain types of managers are just as guilty. I could never sit back and say, “that’s the way it is” just because the musician I admire just happens to be the one that is getting his pockets lined. What a corrupt business that favors everything else over the musician.

I realize that the guys in The Band should have come to some type of understanding, in the beginning, regarding songwriting. Things should have been discussed to avoid problems in the future. They were all young men, playing music, inexperienced with the business aspect. Most of us agree that Robbie has a head for business. Back then…if Robbie could actually see the big picture and the others were still oblivious, he should have shared the knowledge. This seems to be the problem for Levon, that Robbie just took all credit and didn’t put the Band as a whole first. This isn't being communal or following a band of brothers creed, it is simply human care and concern for your friends and creating partners. I read something last night about the Lennon/McCartney writing relationship. I read that Lennon only wrote 15% of the songs by himself, but they agreed in the beginning to put the good of the band ahead of anything else. I guess my WHY yesterday was…Why didn’t Robbie make such an integrity based decision? Please…don’t answer the why again…I’m just clarifying.

I am not passing judgment on anyone. It bothers me that I have this sort of negative feeling or reaction about Robbie. I love this music...that Robbie was a part of, but he made some choices that I don't respect. Just because the music business set up certain technicalities for songwriting credits a hundred years ago, doesn't mean that it is fair or the way it should be. Laying tracks for someone's cd, being influenced by other musicians or people is one thing, but creating as a group, everyone giving something to add to the song, that is entirely different. The Band's songs were a part of all of them. Robbie wouldn’t have been capable of creating that particular magic without the others. I only have to play the music to know that Levon, Garth, Rick and Richard just didn’t show up for a job and played the songs. Those men were way too innovative and exceptional for that.

Entered at Sat May 11 16:04:28 CEST 2002 from dialup-65.57.15.186.dial1.chicago1.level3.net (65.57.15.186)

Pat Brennan

Ahhh, the same old posters commenting on what other people are commenting on, with the same old world-weary, above-it-all aspect. The tradition continues.

Yazooman, only a few here have a negative attitude about boots. I heard Port Dover and had a chance to get Crang but the reviews of it--especially the quality issues--made me pass. Peter V is quite correct: I've listened to Port Dover all the way through once and have revisited some of it occasionally. But it's at the wrong speed (too fast, which is typical of tape boots) and the source is poor. When I heard Crang was worse, I passed.

Another interesting thing about the DVD jam is that you get a better sense of Winterland as a place. They pan across the balconies--which I didn't know even existed except for the mention in the show flyer. Another thing: it doesn't enjoy the same movie lighting approach and has a rather ordinary look. Very different than the movie.

Entered at Sat May 11 15:42:26 CEST 2002 from spider-tp012.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.177)

JTull Fan

Subject: Kudlets/credits/wealth etc.

I'm really interested in that Kudlets info. Hope to see a link under what's new if it ain't already there (my favorites links me directly to the GB) On the wealth/credits thing, I started to think after reading Amanda's and MattK's recent posts about the whole issue (AGAIN!) Ya know, if the rock world worked like the classical world I think everybody would be so much happier. What did Leonard Stern, Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Pavarotti, any of the Three Tenors, The Great Carusso, or Arthur Fiedler write? Even Barbara Streisand (not that she is in that illustrious company, but still)write? Yet, they are all very renowned and wealthy for their interpretations of great works and their performances. I do believe Robbie wrote much if not all of what he is credited for. But I also believe that the other four contributed the 'magic' that something hard to define that breathed the life into Robbie's works which otherwise would have long fallen into obscurity, for which they have not received their due. What is ther due? If I could answer that I could settle this thing, but I can't. But if history were just, RR would go down as Mozart or a Beethoven, and the other four as the earlier people I mentioned, or as Sinatra's, Dean Martin's, etc. But such is life, and I'm sure Rick, up in that Great Gig in the Sky, looks down and prefers his lot to that of being a butcher, which I think he said was his first occupation, or Levon to that of Lousiana oil-worker.

Entered at Sat May 11 15:31:42 CEST 2002 from (202.56.245.114)

yazooman

Thanx for the replies.....sometimes I think too much.... :)

Ray G: check your e-mail.......

Yazoo

Entered at Sat May 11 15:26:06 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-tg022.proxy.aol.com (64.12.102.157)

Rick S.

Subject: The Last Waltz

"The Last Waltz" is on VH1 tonight at Midnight.

Entered at Sat May 11 14:44:39 CEST 2002 from ns1.prenhall.com (198.4.159.5)

Ray G

Subject: Yazoomans find and Richard's Dreamsville Records release

Yazoomam - great find! Would love to get an earfull of the early Hawks. I just got Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks greatest hits on Rhino Records. The boys kick @## on Who Do You Love and Bo Diddley. Would love to hear them live!

O.K. sans going to Japan how do we get Richards new album, maybe there will be a U.S. release sometime soon? Anybody have any ideas?

Gee, early Hawks and Richard solo, Bliss!!!

Entered at Sat May 11 14:17:17 CEST 2002 from p02-38.hartford.dialin.ntplx.com (204.213.188.88)

Tracy

Subject: JRR at J&R

All I have to say is Robbie is $#@%^#! AWESOME.....especially in person.

Let the beaten horse still get a strapping on the subject of credits.

Tracy

Entered at Sat May 11 13:40:31 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-149.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.149)

Peter Viney

Lee- wish I’d been in Manchester with the seats, no smoking AND “Senor” which I always hope to hear live (without having struck lucky yet). There’s an article in today’s Guardian on the travails of the dedicated Dylan video bootlegger. The one the reporter accompanied was caught by security after seven songs at Brighton, but did manage to switch a blank tape for the recorded one before confiscation. It seems that they retired to the pub where two other “fingered and expelled” bootleggers were drowning their sorrows. These people were at every show. It said that Dylan’s attitude was ambivalent and that sometimes the bootleggers had been invited on the crew bus and had shown their footage.

The same paper has a long extract from the new Neil Young biography, describing his “train house” with its model railway which is his place of retreat. The only music memento in the room is a Last Waltz poster. So he meant what he said in his intro to “Helpless.”

Yazooman: I don’t think there’s any intent not to discuss bootlegs, or that people aren’t reading you. I just don’t think many of us have heard a copy (yet). The entry under the bootleg in the discography says the sound is worse than the Port Dover boot (which is not good either, though better than earlier cassette copies) which is probably why no one’s been breaking a leg trying to seek it out. These early things are fascinating – at least to me – but you don’t play them often because of the quality. I don’t think I ever really understood why Levon and Rick kept deferring to Richard as “our lead singer” until I heard that early stuff. Listening to Port Dover you realize why the Canadians who know that era personally also think of him as “the lead singer” - By Big Pink even, he was manifestly not “the lead singer” but one of three, on Big Pink he does get the biggest share – just, but by the brown album, Levon had caught up. Rick tended to get a slightly smaller share of leads. Funnily enough, in the 90s band, it was when when Rick sang his first lead number (I think Levon always sang the first) that you got that sense of continuity, because Richard and Rick did have similarities (hence the Holy Cow debate – PLEASE! No!). For those of us who got to hear The Band in 1968, Levon appeared to be the lead singer – because he was on the most prominent tracks (The Weight, Dixie, Cripple Creek, Rag Mama Rag). So early boots are valuable documents of an era, but the sound prevents them being true listening for pleasure. Bootlegs are an aquired taste- you have to adjust your critical faculties if you're unused to the difference.

Entered at Sat May 11 13:39:59 CEST 2002 from 0-1pool39-143.nas2.cincinnati1.oh.us.da.qwest.net (63.232.39.143)

Jenny T

Subject: BTM

I forgot to mention it is also necessary to have a few tragic car or other accidents, preferably while under the influence.

Entered at Sat May 11 13:20:06 CEST 2002 from 0-1pool39-143.nas2.cincinnati1.oh.us.da.qwest.net (63.232.39.143)

Jenny T

Amanda: I would like to apologize for indulging in totally unrelated tangents (re: half-naked parties) but without peoples' e-mails, conversations that might be better conducted elsewhere can't. Sorry!

Donald Joseph: Thanks for the tips. I am wondering if the Little Feat boxed set is worth it. Have you heard it?

On the subject of the feud and the Band breaking up, etc., if you have watched enough Behind the Musics, you realize the Band's story is identical with the story of almost every other band's: the ridiculous levels of adulation from the press, fans and lots of sluts plus hard drugs and alcohol screw everyone's head up, and people waste enormous sums of money, living extravagantly thinking they will always have an enormous income. Then whoops they are relatively unproductive alcoholics/drug addicts and broke and no longer the hot new thing, plus some are mad at each other. Some groups clean up, mend relationships, replace any dead members and become an institution like the Red Hot Chili Peppers but that is rare. Much as I love the Band, they just made the same mistakes that a hundred other great bands have made. There should be a money management course for every newly minted great artist and band. Lesson one would be don't buy heroin and cocaine.

Entered at Sat May 11 11:14:00 CEST 2002 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime

And the feud goes on...

The feud goes on...

La dee dah dee dee...

La dee dah dee dah...

How many times did I post this the last few years...

It's The Same...

Old Song...

Entered at Sat May 11 09:43:39 CEST 2002 from ptldme-cmt1-c5-24-25-167-115.maine.rr.com (24.25.167.115)

MattK

Subject: Amen

John D, I agree with you. There are far too many attacks on people for disagreeing with the party line as well. Some may try to take care of such issues via private e-mail. But as you know, some folks never respond to personal correspondence.

You're right. It really sucks.

Entered at Sat May 11 08:38:28 CEST 2002 from (202.56.245.114)

yazooman

Subject: Crang Plaza

Hi folks,

I was kinda hoping that I would be receiving at least a few replies to my inquiries on Crang Plza 1964. I only received one mail as a result of my post and that was from the wife of some dead dictator of some obscure African country !!

Brings me to two questions:

1. Is it wrong to discuss Band boots on the GB ? Is there a huge hush hush campaign around them that I am unaware of ??!!

2. People don't bother to read whatever I write ?? I hope not at least :(

I hope people will send me some info on the CD that has landed up here and which has got me all excited !! Please Please do......at least share the info.....

(sigh)

Entered at Sat May 11 08:29:54 CEST 2002 from sqd104.nirai.ne.jp (218.40.162.4)

Fred

Subject: RICHARD MANUEL CD DREAMSVILLE RECORDS

I URGE EVERYONE to check out the link above regarding a Richard Manuel release...all the information is in Japanese though. However if you click on the RICHARD MANUEL (in red) you be taken to more Japanese information and a song list. I haven't checked out the WHAT'S NEW on the Band site so I apologize if this information has already been posted.

Entered at Sat May 11 08:27:01 CEST 2002 from netcache-1115.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.222.132)

j~t

Subject: "Dead Horse Sense"

...I couldn't be completely sure of course but...I think the only way to stop beating a dead horse is to actually stop beating it. I have been observing the veterans here....I find that they are never more satisfied and "jacked up" for a little as they are when someone throws another piece of that dead horse into the ring. They know who they are.

Entered at Sat May 11 07:01:22 CEST 2002 from arc1-27.upland.in.hypervine.net (216.117.91.27)

4VRLamm

Want to learn something about your capitalism "issues"? Try reading Don Passman's book. If you have *applauds LOUDLY* good! Quit being so obnoxious about the songwriting credits. I come here and read the same old crap way too much. Levon...blah blah blah...Robbie Robertson...blah blah blah...songwriting credits....blah blah blah...forclosure (awwwwwwwwwww) blah blah blah.

For those of you who got to meet Robbie today: I'm IMPRESSED!!!! *you know who you are* ; )

Entered at Sat May 11 06:48:56 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-tg054.proxy.aol.com (64.12.102.174)

DZ Again

Just got done a dose of DVD... with audio commentary... AWESOME!!!! I hate to say anything... because you should hear it fresh... but what the heck... while you guys were re-visiting the fued... I was listening to Little Islands being played during closing credits... way to put us in our place Mr. Squeeze... oh heck, I'm not gonna say anymore... get the DVD... the commentary runs through the whole movie... over it in fact and you can turn it on or off... lots of humor... maybe some restored nose action for Neil, no?

The only bad thing I can say is my Mac had a read problem during Dixie... but then I started that portion over again... Anyway, thank you Robbie, Garth and Levon!!!!

Entered at Sat May 11 06:24:05 CEST 2002 from spider-ti051.proxy.aol.com (152.163.194.196)

Bayou Sam

Ahhh, Neil Diamond bashing, and the feud - all in the same week. Good, solid guestbook tradition.

Entered at Sat May 11 06:05:57 CEST 2002 from 1cust191.tnt1.fredericksburg2.va.da.uu.net (63.36.6.191)

Charlie Young

Subject: Reasons to Buy TLW on DVD

The jam footage (which ends early, allegedly due to camera shutdown) is mildly interesting, though meandering as those things usually are. I wonder if Neil Young even realized that Stills came onstage since he was so seemingly entranced with Levon's drum beat that he had his back to the audience.

So far the best reason to own the DVD that I've seen is to use the subtitle option to learn how to say "get more pussy than Frank Sinatra" in French. It sounds so much more sophisticated!

Crabgrass, with a name like yours, I had a feeling you must be vegetarian...

Entered at Sat May 11 05:23:59 CEST 2002 from 1cust13.tnt16.nyc9.da.uu.net (63.38.56.13)

Crabgrass

Subject: Autograph Seekers

A lot of folks showing up at artist's "autograph signings" these days laden with armsful of memorabilia (lps, posters, etc.) are simply trying to take advantage of the artist by having him/her increase the item's value so they can sell it on ebay or somewhere else. I've seen this first hand and think it's reprehensible.

I also don't think it's unfair for stores hosting such events to limit signings to items for purchase since the purpose of the event is mainly to promote the sale of the artist's product which is why the artist is participating in the first place. (Usually, the item being promoted is available at a sale price. $14.99 is pretty damn cheap for a DVD.)

And why should the person who's number 50 on line with one item he/she wants autographed have to wait an extra hour because 49 people in front of him/her want half a dozen items signed? The artist will probably have writer's cramp by the time the folks at the back of the line reach the front and the autograph will be nothing more than an unrecognizable scribble.

It's also bad manners to buy something in one store and get it autographed in another - like buying food at Burger King and bringing it into McDonald's to eat. [BTW since I'm vegetarian I don't recommend going into either of these establishments except maybe to use the toilet in an emergency.]

Entered at Sat May 11 04:57:31 CEST 2002 from wc12.ym.rnc.net.cable.rogers.com (66.185.85.79)

John D

Entered at Sat May 11 04:47:40 CEST 2002 from dialup-67.28.39.89.dial1.chicago1.level3.net (67.28.39.89)

Pat Brennan

Mike Lyons, I'm curious how much money this re-release is generating. Do you have some numbers to share?

I do know that after the initial surge, sales of the remasters fell off quickly. It also seems that the theatrical release of TLW lasted about two weeks in a very limited number of theaters.

Entered at Sat May 11 04:21:51 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-tk054.proxy.aol.com (64.12.107.44)

Dave Z

Subject: DVD

Jam #2 is all about Garth... he's pretty darn animated too at times... and Neil Young... I got real excited when Robbie brought out Stephen Stills... and set him up... obviously Levon comes off well on the jam too... Garth moves from organ to piano after Dr. John leaves... Ron Wood doesn't excite me... but seeing Danko and Richard milling about is kinda neat...

The extra interviews with Marty and Robbie about storyboards and camera challenges... are really cool... as well as the Boris Leven paintings...

The extra photos and the collectible 8-page booklet... really don't add much... but who really cares... well, I take that back, Dylan's charisma is strong... and it's nice to see behind the scenes people... but you won't buy the DVD for just that...

Robbie's got some neat guitars and a piano behind him during the interview parts...

Now I'm gonna watch the movie... Take care... God Bless The Band... they done good...

Entered at Sat May 11 04:13:52 CEST 2002 from dialin-621-tnt.nyc.bestweb.net (216.179.3.113)

Mike Lyons

Subject: Share The Wealth

I guess that my original question was not really a question. It was rather a statement. Maybe that is what I meant. And maybe I shouldn't have addressed it to just RR. So to clarify myself---- To Universal, MGM and whoever else controls the HUGE amount of money THAT IS BEING MADE 25 YEARS AFTER THE FACT-----------SHARE THE WEALTH!!!!!!!!!

Entered at Sat May 11 03:43:08 CEST 2002 from ottawa-ppp3517229.sympatico.ca (206.172.191.100)

Richard

Subject: Hamilton Spectator Article

Thanks Paul, I needed that.. : )

Entered at Sat May 11 01:35:32 CEST 2002 from ppp79.a1-1.56k.execulink.com (209.239.1.79)

Paul G

Amanda, I do not have your email address any longer, otherwise I would have emailed you personally.

I ask you and all other GB people to take the time to read the: "Theres a nice article about the BAND & The Hawks in and Ontario (CANADA) newspaper - The Hamilton Spectator." You will find it under the May 6th listings in 'Whats New'.

Former manager Harold Kudlets comes as close to giving you the inside story re: Our Boys in the BAND as you will ever find. This is the best article about the BAND and their history that I have ever read. Believe me it beings you as close as you can ever hope to come to the way it all went down. Enjoy the article EVERYONE! shineonpaulg

Entered at Sat May 11 01:13:26 CEST 2002 from ptldme-cmt1-c5-24-25-167-115.maine.rr.com (24.25.167.115)

MattK

Subject: Why Redux Again

A final thought, Amanda. You say: The song was written about him, not with him. You know as well as I do, that "driving Robbie to the library" isn't the only reason Levon wanted credit for TNTDODD. Statements like that insult Levon and that is what I find hard to accept sometimes. Usually, you are respectful of Levon althought not always of other GB posters.

"What would you feel in Levon's situation and how would you have handled things if you had been in Robbie's shoes?"

A pair of friends of mine produced their own downtempo/trip-hop CD about a year ago ("downtempo" is the style that Howie B and Marius DeVries, who collaborated with RR on "Red Boy," create). Previously, they had added guest musicians for certain tracks, and I was honored when they asked me to add sax parts to some of their songs.

Of the songs I played on, I received no direction. I listened to the digital masters 3,000 miles away and dubbed parts of my own interest over what they sent me. Other than adding some delay, they used my parts verbatim. They even took a bit of extra noise and used it as a basis for a completely different song.

Recently, these friends (who I've played with and who I would describe as being like brothers to me) were signed to a well-known Canadian downtempo label, which is going to distribute the CD I played on. The A&R guy told them that he particularly liked the songs that I was on, because I gave the songs a different melodic character than one usually hears in that style.

I am not credited on that CD as "co-writer" of those songs, even though what I did contributed greatly to what they became. And you know what? I wouldn't expect to be credited. My "job" was to provide my particular perspective to their songs, which I did, was honored to do, and was compensated for. While I may still need to negotiate possible points against sales (though I doubt I'll bother as the attorney fees won't cover what I'd earn), I hope the CD does well for them, and I look forward to playing with them on their next CD.

Also, in regard to DJ's post, you made a statement:

"Bob Dylan...totally different and Rubin Carter???? The song was written about him, not with him."

Please provide proof of a song that Levon "wrote with" RR that he's not been credited for. Please show us the lyrics, chord structures and melodic factors you have special knowledge regarding.

"You know as well as I do, that "driving Robbie to the library" isn't the only reason Levon wanted credit for TNTDODD."

I don't know about DJ, but I sure don't know of any other reason - and Levon hasn't offered any.

There's some suggestion that Robbie's experience in Arkansas living with Diamond and family influenced his understanding of the Southern point of view regarding that war. Levon may be the first Southerner Robbie got to know well, but I doubt he was the last. Does this mean he should share credit with every Southerner he met before writing Dixie? The Hawk? Fred Carter, Jr.? Diamond Helm?

Entered at Sat May 11 00:51:06 CEST 2002 from ptldme-cmt1-c5-24-25-167-115.maine.rr.com (24.25.167.115)

MattK

Subject: Why Redux

Amanda, you keep asking "why," and people keep answering. I'm not sure if you are bothered by the fact that The Band was not a commune, or what.

Why? I'll keep it short. Because he wrote the freaking songs!!!!!!!!!!!

Should Levon share the money he makes as a drummer with Fred Below or any of the other great blues drummers that influenced him? Are Rick and Richard (and their surviving families) ripping Levon and Garth off for not sharine THEIR songwriting credits? Are they ripping Robbie off for not sharing songs HE didn't write with them?

It's funny, but no matter how many times people try to answer this question, you keep repeating it over and over. I think it's been answered in detail from a number of perspectives here, just today. I've ask YOU some questions? Will you answer them?

Incidentally, just because I may not be posting, it doesn't mean I'm not reading. But I'm glad to know you've missed me!

As far as your meeting Levon, I'm very happy for you. Levon puts on a great show, and he's great with his fans. I know how much you admire him, and I can imagine meeting him was a great thrill. I'm quite serious about that - I would never begrudge you or anyone such an experience.

However, despite what some might believe, just because I don't think Levon walks on water, it doesn't mean I think he's an evil bastard, or crazy. Similairly, even if Robbie isn't the warmest guy (though recent encounters here seem to indicate he's a very open and friendly guy as well), it doesn't mean he's a thief.

Perhaps such a balanced perspective regarding human fraility and failing would suit you better than passing judgment on a man you HAVEN'T met.

Entered at Sat May 11 00:46:38 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-006.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.6)

Peter Viney

Wow! about three hours since I last looked and there's pages of posts. The old subject always does it best. I think in the end, maybe the point is simply that Robbie did after all write those songs …

Entered at Sat May 11 00:41:35 CEST 2002 from bob14.revealed.net (208.16.227.17)

Mike D.

Lil, I like the idea. Billy Joel and Dylan would have been interesting indeed. I've finally heard his cover version and I really enjoy it. he puts his own spin on an already good song. I forget who said it but I doubt Levon would've puked, whoever said it wasn't a GB regular.

Yeah, May 10th. And nobody can sing that like Levon, for damn sure!

All this talk of Lowell George and Little Feat makes me wonder if Lowell could have been at TLW and performed "Willin". That'd have been a nice idea.

Off to watch the DVD of TLW again.

Mike

Entered at Sat May 11 00:42:16 CEST 2002 from user-2inikg5.dialup.mindspring.com (165.121.82.5)

Peter Stone Brown

Subject: that songwriting thing

As both a songwriter and someone who has been in and also led bands, Steve Knowlton's comments and also those of Pat Brennan and Matt K. are totally on the mark.

A songwriter write a song and brings it to a band. The players do their job and play the song. It's not rocket science.

I've put guitar parts on other people's songs, but I didn't write them. They could leave the band and someone else puts on a guitar part. That person also didn't write the song.

If someone adds something that substantially changes the structure of the song, then that's a different story.

To make it toally clear, contributing to an arrangement is not writing the song.

Entered at Sat May 11 00:35:22 CEST 2002 from 56k-la-01-04.dial.qnet.com (209.221.212.67)

Dave the Phone Guy

Personal relationships should always come before self-interest(greed).

Entered at Sat May 11 00:05:46 CEST 2002 from sc-hiltonhead1a-331.hhe.adelphia.net (24.49.235.75)

Amanda

Why are you requesting that only I "give it up"? Is it just that you don't agree with me or your just sexist? Forgive me for having a sense of fairness and voicing my thoughts about it.If you would rather get back to fascinating discussions on taking your clothes off at U of Chicago and what Band member resembles a character on King of the Hill...by all means, I'll refrain from posting.

Entered at Sat May 11 00:01:24 CEST 2002 from dv009s54.lawrence.ks.us (24.124.54.9)

Dexy

Entered at Sat May 11 00:00:44 CEST 2002 from wc12.ym.rnc.net.cable.rogers.com (66.185.85.79)

John D

Entered at Fri May 10 23:44:27 CEST 2002 from wc12.ym.rnc.net.cable.rogers.com (66.185.85.79)

John D

I wanted to bring something to add about having to buy the DVD to get the autograph etc that Lil brought up. This is a very common practice with stores. They want you to purchase the NEW PRODUCT in THEIR store. I have seen stipulations that you can't bring in old books by an author, for example.........you must purchase the brand new "current" one that they are there to "push" and that makes total sense. Everybody wins, except maybe some who stand in line and are their strictly for the "autograph" which is not the point of a "signing" anyway.

There would be no point in getting John Grisham; for example; to pop in to sign "Time To Kill" at this point of his career. It's all about commerce and in the transaction you get to meet someone you always wanted to meet.

Entered at Fri May 10 23:43:41 CEST 2002 from stjhts25c074.nbnet.nb.ca (142.166.249.79)

WS Walcott

Amanda, you seem like a nice person, but give it up please. This horse has been beaten solong it is beyond dead. Can't we talk about something else?

Entered at Fri May 10 23:13:05 CEST 2002 from user-1121k6a.dsl.mindspring.com (66.32.208.202)

Pat Brennan

Saying that musically contributing to the recording of a song brings someone in line for publishing money opens up a can of worms. Aretha covered The Weight and a number of fine musicians worked on her unique recording of the song. Should they all receive a percentage of the publishing dollars? Such a stance would mean that every time a song is recorded, the publishing money would be divvied up in increasingly smaller percentages. This is simply ridiculous.

Now, instead of relying on all these possibly flawed memoirs, go back to contemporaneous interviews. Robertson is consistenly referred to as the chief songwriter of the group. Robertson discusses writing particular songs. Robertson's name appears on the albums on the songs he wrote and co-wrote, along with everyone else in the group. Levon speaks well of Robertson right up to mid-1983 when something changes. Did the facts established from 1968-76 somehow change in 1983?

Entered at Fri May 10 23:04:44 CEST 2002 from sc-hiltonhead1a-331.hhe.adelphia.net (24.49.235.75)

Amanda

There are many more bleeding here...obviously. You, of all people should know that this topic does get buried, but never dies.

I never asked why The Band broke up.

I've had capitalisim in the music business explained to me many times...by the "best" of them, right here in the good ole GB. Why didn't Jagger/Richards share with Watts/Wood? Maybe a different situation? Bob Dylan...totally different and Rubin Carter???? The song was written about him, not with him. You know as well as I do, that "driving Robbie to the library" isn't the only reason Levon wanted credit for TNTDODD. Statements like that insult Levon and that is what I find hard to accept sometimes. Usually, you are respectful of Levon althought not always of other GB posters.

What would you feel in Levon's situation and how would you have handled things if you had been in Robbie's shoes?

Entered at Fri May 10 22:42:23 CEST 2002 from host-65.subnet-76.med.umich.edu (141.214.76.65)

Steve Knowlton

Subject: On Songwriting & Playing in a Band

I have seen this topic come up lots in the last couple years, but have not contributed. Please forgive me beating a dead horse, but I'd just like to add the perspective of someone who has both been a member of a band when someone else was the main songwriter, and the main songwriter in a band.

As a "support player", I never felt uncomfortable adding ideas (particularly about "which part should go where") but none of us ever contributed to the melody or lyrics (or, really, to the riffs, except maybe to tweak it, like saying "instead of D major, play Dsus4 to accent the vocal line") because, generally, the vibe among musicians is to stand back and respect a songwriter's work. No matter how pathetic, there's a vision at work, and the idea is to enhance its presentation, not participate in its creation. Band rehearsals are not the place to hash out a vision - that happens when a songwriter or a couple of partners are sitting alone, sweating out the rhymes, etc.

As a songwriter, I always felt that the "essence" of the song was what was coming out of the singer's mouth. Chords can be changed, bridges moved after the solo, etc., but that doesn't change the meat of the song. So I felt like, had I been playing with different guys, the performance might sound different, but the song would not be different. If a band member fooled around with a riff and I took it home and made a song out of it, then certainly he's entitled to a share of the credit. But if a band member suggested a G# in the bass instead of a C#, it's nice (and it's his job) but he didn't help me write the song. I tried to be very generous with credits (and I could afford to be, we never made any money!), but there were times when I felt the song was my work alone, and I'm don't think that's selfish, it's just accurate.

Entered at Fri May 10 22:31:36 CEST 2002 from (208.218.212.2)

David Powell

Amanda -- I believe that the short answer to your question "why????" is as follows: Although Robbie Robertson approached music with all the passion of a devoted musician, he also adhered to the cold, hard facts of music as a business and never lost sight of the long-term goals afforded by songwriting & publishing royalties.

Entered at Fri May 10 22:23:48 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-tj032.proxy.aol.com (64.12.106.32)

Brien Sz

Subject: RR in NYC

Just back from NYC where Mr. RR signed my new DVD of the Last Waltz. I must say I was pleasantly surprised by the turnout. I had actually thought that it wouldn't be a large crowd; that i would have an opportunity to ask a couple questions.

I arrived at J&R about an hour before his signing and there were already about 20 people in line. I quickly bought my copy, called my wife and said "I'm getting on line - I'll be in the back part of the store." By the time i purchashed it I may have been about the 40-50th person on line. The line worked its way along the latter half of the alphabet of the music selections and as i passed the "R"s, I saw two LW Box Sets snugged in RR's slot. The store at this time was cranking the LW. It sounded real nice.., People had all sorts of old albums, paintings, guitars, cd covers and of course the DVD for RR to sign. About a half hour before the event, the manager came down the line making the anouncement, "Because of time constraints, you may only have two items signed." That was fine with me but some folks seemed a little dismayed as they had brought all their Band valuables with them. About 10 minutes before the event another anouncement came, "because of time constraints, you may only have one item signed." More huffs (only from some, others were like, "well i'm gonna try to get more")

Shortly after that announcement, my wife came in. "You should see the line! It goes all the way down the block!" I never imagined RR would get that crowd.

At shortly before 12:40, they turned down the music and made the announcement "ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Mr. Robbie Robertson." Mild applause. Mainly because people were wondering from which direction he was coming from. He strolled on by, flanked by I guess, 'his people' (not many, a couple) He was ushered onto a platform and the signings began. The lined moved fast. There wasn't a lot of chit chat -just, could you sign this to xxxxxx, or - I love your work -that kind of stuff. I snapped some photos as the line moved. As I got closer I handed my wife the camera so she could snap a couple. The couple folks in front of me said little and RR just signed and said thank you. I went up, handed him the DVD and said, "just wanted to say thanks for all the wonderful music you've done. It's meant a lot to my life. It's an honor to meet you, I think you did a great job remastering the Box Set." He smiled and said "Thank you very much, I appreciate it." I put out my hand and he shook it, smiled and I was on my way. If the encounter lasted 20-30 seconds, that was a lot. I went off to the side, fired off a few more frames with my camera of someone else getting there stuff signed and that was it. I grabbed my wifes hand and we walked out of the store. That is where I got my first glimpse of the line that stretched the entire blockand just around the corner. I jumped up on a cement planter, fired off another shot and then went on my way. Now I just have to get a DVD player.

Entered at Fri May 10 22:13:38 CEST 2002 from stjhts24c006.nbnet.nb.ca (142.166.232.11)

WS Walcott

I've been listening to a lot of Steve Earle lately. "I Feel Alright" is one of the best albums I've heard in years. His newer stuff is so much better than his old stuff. To me, this has always been a sign of a great and resiliant artist. I have always thought The Beatles, for instance, got better and less commercial sounding with each album. For most artists this is usually the complete opposite.

I also like that Earle is not afraid to take chances. He doesnt stick to one tried,true and safe formula. He covers everybody from The Stones (Dead Flowers, one of my Stones favorites), to The Chamber Bros. and Lttle Feat.

It's ashame he has been pidgeonholed by some as merely a country artist. He is a roots rocker if I ever heard one. It's not hard to see by his latter recordings that his musical influences were most likely rock, blues, and R&B.

Rock on Steve!

Entered at Fri May 10 22:13:33 CEST 2002 from pool-141-153-198-177.mad.east.verizon.net (141.153.198.177)

Bumbles

MATTK: I don’t think the Band-of-brothers concept followed from the initial marketing. I remember the print & broadcast ads from the (genuine) Band’s active days, and while they did focus on the “Dylan’s eccentric & reclusive Woodstock assistants” aspects, there was no “More than the Band…they’re a family” push. They had to have been close, certainly closer than most bands, just by the way they came up, and I think Levon’s book shows that. But again, he never claims any of his Band mates as brothers, except in the most casual “Yo, bro” sense. Even with all his anti-RR toxicity, there is no “My brother stole from me,” or even “[insert Band member name here] was a brother to me.” You’re probably closer to the mark with the next of kin photo, which I think was responsible for a lot of the Band-as-upholders-of traditional-values jive. Traditionalists they were, but the tradition they were furthering was that of Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland and Jerry Lee Lewis (and Ronnie Hawkins, I guess), which is not quite the same as hearth & home. There’s a tendency (among younger fans, I imagine) to see the Band in their prime as standing in opposition to the acid-eating, wallow-in-the-mud excesses of hippiedom, when I think they were just standing (or slouching) apart from it---not simple, humble farmers (or “mountain men”), but nightcrawling, shades- & suit-wearing hipsters amusing themselves in more sophisticated fashion. Like the Band of Brothers fantasy, the traditional values notion now just makes a convenient whipping stick for RR, as in “He turned his back on everything good & decent to run with a fast Hollywood crowd” (Martin Scorcese! David Geffen!! Paul Allen!!!), forgetting, of course, that other members of the Band spent years in California, shooting dope & taking turns with the likes of Cathy Smith while mamma and the babies shoveled snow back in the Catskills. Be it ever so humble…

On the a-strong-back-is-a-terrible-thing-to-waste thread, Nadine Cohodas’s “Spinning Blues into Gold: The Chess Brothers and the Legendary Chess Records” describes a visit to the home of Leonard Chess by competitor Syd Nathan, founder and owner of Cincinnati’s King Records. Hearing the man doing yard work singing to himself while he worked, Nathan gave him a business card and told him he might want to think about making records only to be told he already made records, for Mr. Chess, and, in fact, had a new one out. Muddy Waters, of course.

Has any one actually heard the new Central Park ’71 bootleg?

Entered at Fri May 10 22:08:42 CEST 2002 from ns1.prenhall.com (198.4.159.5)

Ray

Subject: Lennon and McCartney

According to comments made by John Lennon, George and Ringo got songwriting royalties on all Lennon/McCartney songs to the tune of 5% each at Lennons insistance to Paul McCartney. This was one of the reasons John was bitter towards George not giving him a nod in his book I, Me, Mine.

Entered at Fri May 10 22:07:38 CEST 2002 from sc-hiltonhead1a-331.hhe.adelphia.net (24.49.235.75)

Amanda

Matt K: Your right...the songwriting credits are not to my satisfaction ethically at all. You've been absent for awhile and I forgot to fill you in on this little bit of info...Levon Helm does not appear to be "demented"!! When I had the opportunity to meet him in Arkansas, his head didn't spin, no eyes rolling back in his head, etc. Levon did; however, seem to be well mannered, thoughtful, considerate and humble. HELL YES...I believe every word he says! Maybe Levon is not foremost a songwriter. He was however, a member of The Band. The Band...five men who were together for years and shared experiences...five men who made/created music TOGETHER. There is not another musician on earth who could have replaced any of them. I'll always believe that all credits should have been shared...everything. You can get angry and write as many paragraghs as you wish. You haven't embarrassed me or put me in my place. You have only expressed your opinion as I did mine. I just don't care anymore about whether I get bashed or whatever. There are only a very few people here whose opinions I admire anyway.

BTW: My question is still..."WHY"?????

Entered at Fri May 10 22:01:44 CEST 2002 from 64-80-53-191-access.surferz.net (64.80.53.191)

Diamond Lil

Bones: I actually didn't give a whole lot of thought to the wristband thing being a J&R policy, but I guess I just figured that since Robbie doesn't really tour and isn't usually accessible to his fans, it would be nice if folks could actually just shake his hand or something if they wanted to without it being such a "business". Buying the DVD is wonderful if that's what someone chooses to do, but making it a stipulation to be "allowed" to stand on line for an autograph just doesn't sit well with me. What if you already have the DVD.. purchased from somewhere else? Would you be allowed to bring _that_ one in and have it signed..or would you have to purchase _another_ one just to get on that line? I suppose it's the business aspect of it all that bothers me. I just hope that those who would like to meet RR will get the chance to do so.

Anyhow.. I'm going to help my 12 year old daughter get ready for her very first dance tonight! She's going with Harry Potter... or a very eerie facsimile :-)

Have a good night everyone. Hug Jan.

Entered at Fri May 10 21:53:23 CEST 2002 from l98uppx1.hewitt.com (4.17.250.5)

Donald Joseph

Subject: Amanda triage

Amanda: Whoa! All of us GBers probably are in too deep, but in your case, we need to stop the bleeding. Let me spell it out simply for you, OK?

As to your first question (Why did the Band break up?): The Band broke up because they had past their artistic and commercial peak, which led to inter-personal tensions, which led at least one member to long for a change of venue.

As to your 2d question (Why didn't JRR share songwriting credit/cash with the others?): JRR didn't share songwriting credit or royalties because that just isn't how capitalism works (with maybe some few isolated exceptions of generous songwriters). If you write a song -- just as if you mow a lawn -- you get paid for it. If someone else lies in a hammock drinking a beer while someone else writes a song -- or mows a lawn -- he does not get paid for it. It's that simple.

We don't need to go into how the Band was truly a unit that collaborated, etc., etc. That horse is beat to death. The difference, Amanda, is the distinction between "songwriting" and "arranging." In Creedence, John Fogerty not only wrote the songs, but he told his bandmates how to play 'em. In the Band, Robbie merely wrote the songs (those credited to him), but the whole Band arranged them. (Hence the Band's music is better & more complex than Creedence's.) One exception to this is the horn arrangements, which the Band often outsourced, to Toussaint, H. Glover, or sometimes to Garth. Album credits often give a distinct credit to "arranger," and no one says Robbie was the arranger of the Band's material. But the record is pretty clear that Robbie came to the studio with the skeletons of the songs, and the lyrics, already written (even Levon admits this, particularly re the later work, such as on NL/SC). Indeed, as I read Levon's book, he seems to want co-writer credit for "The Night They Drove Dixie Down" only because he drove JRR to the library (it's in the book). Unfortunately, chauffering isn't the same as songwriting, and so it isn't compensated the same.

You didn't see Lennon/McCartney sharing songwriter credits/cash with Starr/Harrison. You don't see Jagger/Richards share with Watts/Wood. Indeed, Dylan didn't share songwriter credits with the Band on the Basement Tapes material, either, except on songs where there was real collaboration (Tears of Rage, I Shall Be Released, This Wheel's On Fire). And clearly the Band contributed mightily to all the Bansement Tapes songs.

That's the "WHY," O.K.? (& sorry, everyone else; I concede this topic has been dead & buried).

Entered at Fri May 10 21:37:44 CEST 2002 from stjhts21c054.nbnet.nb.ca (198.164.98.59)

WS Walcott

I was just looking at the video jacket of Wodstock The Lost Performances. Didn't C.C.R. The Dead and Mountain also perform? Funny that Melanie would be included instead of these acts.

Entered at Fri May 10 21:35:32 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-ta043.proxy.aol.com (64.12.105.38)

Calvin

Subject: JR Songwriting credit, Amanda's question

I would have to think Amanda that Robbie's influence for believing sole songwriting credit is his is the music industry itself. Frankly that is the way %95 of bands did it. By which I mean when George Harrison showed up at a Beatles recording studio with a song and John or RIngo said, George I think the song would be better if you did this, they didnt get credit on the song. WHen Ray Davies wrote a song for the Kinks and his brother Dave, or Mick and Pete, contributed something to the song, they never got credit. it had long been the norm for the primary songwriter to get full credit even though it is well known other band members contributed to the song. I'm not saying this is write or wrong, in fact I heard Ray Davies say a few years ago there were a few songs that he should have given Dave credit on. But Robbie's position falls under the majority rather than the minority.

Entered at Fri May 10 21:32:13 CEST 2002 from host-65-164-8-8.co.erie.ny.us (65.164.8.8)

G-MAN

I agree! It is so great that Robbie is out there mixing with all HIS fans(some Band fans too)!! Maybe a change of heart??? Where has he been??? Now he is out hawking the music and dvd,,,but he couldn't stand it before!!!!!!!! He is just a giant character disorder waiting to straighten out!!

Entered at Fri May 10 21:26:52 CEST 2002 from ptldme-cmt1-c5-24-25-167-115.maine.rr.com (24.25.167.115)

MattK

Subject: Why?

Amanda ask:

"WHY was it feasible or justified in Robbie’s mind not to share all songwriting credits with every member of The Band? I have read so much on the issue, heard countless opinions, given it great thought, and even dreamt about it, which doesn’t yield for restful sleep. What was Robbie thinking? What were his influences? What kind of values was he taught as a child? How bad did he want power and success? What was he willing to sacrifice to get what HE wanted?"

But, Robbie addressed precisely that issue, though perhaps not to Amanda's satisfaction:

"To say that it was an issue [while they were together in The Band] is just nonsense, utter nonsense, after all these years. Who did the work? I tried, I begged Levon to write songs or help me write songs -- all the guys. I always encouraged everybody to write. You can't make somebody do what they don't want to do or can't do, and he's not a songwriter.

"With The Band he started to write one song, `Strawberry Wine,' the whole time and couldn't finish it, and I helped him finish it. And there were some other songs that I wrote and he was there when I was writing them, and just because he was being supportive, I gave him credit on a couple of songs. He didn't write one note, one word, nothing. What he's saying now is the result of somebody thinking about their financial problems. I wrote these songs and then 20 or 30 years later somebody comes back and says he wrote the songs? It never came up back then, and it's preposterous that it's coming up now."

While these comments may be comparatively "brief" compared to voluminous comments made by Levon and Robbie's detractors, they are quite succinct.

Combined with John Simon's commments in Lee Gabites' excellent interview, the answer would be "why should credit be shared?" Rick does not share credit with other members for "Wheels on Fire," Richard does not share credit for "Tears of Rage" or "In a Station." Are Rick's and Richard's credits deemed "selfish" by Amanda and others? Apparently not.

Robbie clearly feels (and Simon backs him up), that there was no discussion or arrangement at the time regarding the sharing of these credits. The double argument in favor of sharing seems to be that many of the songs Robbie wrote were based on "Levon's stories" or that the songs are what they are largely because of the contribution of the other four during the recording sessions.

While such arguments suggest an ethical (if not legal) basis for sharing credits, they simply lack any basis in historical practice, especially during the era they were written and recorded. The versions of these songs were certainly made special by the contributions of other members. However, "performance" is not akin to "composition," in the vast majority of such cases. Production and arrangement credits are addressed via a separate set of rules for renumeration.

Other members were compensated in the form of "points" on records sold to the other members. Additionally, there appears to have been a business arrangement whereby everyone was initially a stakeholder in the publishing company that owned the rights to the songs. While these stakes may have been sold to Robbie by Garth, Rick and Richard (Levon implies he did not sell his stake, which begs an entirely different question regarding his objections that we've gone over ad-naseaum).

Despite Levon's allegations that RR "took advantage" of the other members in aquiring these "stakes," one assumes that Rick, Richard and Garth received a lump sum at the time, and no one put a gun to their head to force the issue. While no one can argue that such publishing rights proved more lucrative for RR than any "points" on sales (as is the norm for artists), if one considers the fate of the Beatles' catalog, singular conrol of the publishing catalog does not seem to be such a bad thing.

After passing to interlopers like Michael Jackson and then to Sony, after decades of Mac's and Yoko's feuding, John's and Mac's songs have been relegated marketing jingles selling tennis shoes and cellphones - while Dylan's company sold Coke the rights to use "The Weight" 10 years ago (the royalties for which Rick was most grateful), we've been spared the indignity of ad-friendly version of "Dixie" being used by the Georgia tourism board to lure tourists below the Mason-Dixon.

As far as the "they were Levon's stories" argument, there is certainly truth to that when one considers, particularly, songs like "WS Walcott." Still, in no artform (except maybe film) does one's personal experiences translate into creative compensation. As stated before, does this mean that Dylan is ripping off Rubin Carter?

Simply put, the "why" is asked and answered. Robbie's sacrifice, in his mind anyway, is that he took the responsibility for writing and developing these songs and brought them to The Band for recording. He makes it quite clear that there is "nothing to share," given that by almost any definition of "composing." RR developed the chords lyrics, and melodies for those songs. He feels (and other accounts confirm) that he was very deferential in encouraging other members to take a greater role in coordinating the group's activities, up to and including "begging" others (particularly Levon and Richard) to write more, offering his assistance as much as they wanted. For his own reasons, Levon has written very little in both his pre and post TLW careers (Richard, to the detriment of the quality of albums after Stagefright, I believe, is an entirely different issue). One assumes that was his choice, and no one (much less Robbie) was lurking behind him, snatching the pencil, guitar or whatever from his hands each time he came up with an idea.

Entered at Fri May 10 21:21:58 CEST 2002 from dv166s40.lawrence.ks.us (24.124.40.166)

Ray Pence

I believe J.E. Davis died in 1990, not long after collaborating with the great John Trudell. J.E.D. had a truly distinctive, emotional tone and style used to great effect on the John Lennon albums prior to J.L.'s retirement. He also played on one of the weirdest and in my opinion one of the best 70s albums, Death of a Ladies Man by Leonard Cohen, but he's hard to hear in the Wall of Sound (it's produced by Phil Spector).

Entered at Fri May 10 21:16:35 CEST 2002 from stjhts21c054.nbnet.nb.ca (198.164.98.59)

WS Walcott

Yes, I think that guy on King of the Hill looks like Levon, especially with the cigarette. You think Garth looks like a cross between Richard Attenborough and Ernest Hemmingway?

Kids in the Hall were supposed be here, but lack of ticket sales forced them to cancel. But hey, we get to see the Royal Lippizaner Stallions instead.

Big Bill Morganfield, son of you know who, played here last month. There wasn't even a revue in the local papers. Does anybody know if he is any good? I heard he was nominated for a grammy.

Guy Davis, son of Rubie Dee and Ozzie Davis, also played awhile back. Ditto on the revue. Anybody know anything about this guy?

Took my son to see Spiderman. It was ok, not great. I liked the Green Goblin better. Macho Man Randy Savage was great too!

Entered at Fri May 10 21:00:49 CEST 2002 from stjhts21c054.nbnet.nb.ca (198.164.98.59)

WS Walcott

Subject: jessie ed, little feat

Didn't Jessie Ed pass away a few years ago? I believe he played on some of Lennon's albums. As did Earl Slick, another underrated guitarist.

I have never cared much for the post Lowell Little Feat. Let It Roll was decent, but Craig Fuller?? is no Lowell George, although Fred Tackett is a decent guitarist. I really gave up on them after I heard Ain't Had Enough Fun Yet, featuring Shawn Murphy on lead vocals. What a bad album! Is she still with them

We are finally geting some decent concerts in our neck of the woods. BB King played last week. But we also had Kenny Rogers and Nellie Furtado, oh well. Dylan is playing here Aug. 9, no opening act. Lightfoot will be here in September. Things are finally starting to look up.

Entered at Fri May 10 20:52:35 CEST 2002 from cs242225-123.houston.rr.com (24.242.225.123)

Laura Holt Lorfing

Well put MattK and J. Flippo.

Entered at Fri May 10 20:33:42 CEST 2002 from cc5414-a.hnglo1.ov.nl.home.com (212.120.101.7)

Norbert

Entered at Fri May 10 20:30:16 CEST 2002 from sc-hiltonhead1a-331.hhe.adelphia.net (24.49.235.75)

Amanda

Subject: Even brothers go their separate ways...

Robbie has addressed the songwriting issue to an extent, but not all the way. Everyone that suffers from the Obsessive-Compulsive-Band Disorder will just have to accept that most of our questions will never be answered, at least the way we want them answered. That is fair. Those lives were and are theirs, however intriguing, they don't belong to us. I agree that it would be rude to ask any surviving Band member about the money aspect. Am I being naïve when I say that I don’t think most of us really care about the actual figures? I believe that the question that antagonizes most people is simply…WHY????? The very brief statements that Robbie made during the re-released TLW media blitz regarding songwriting credits told us that he feels it’s a non-issue, he doesn’t have the time, he’s proud of the work and he wishes Levon well. Don’t you JUST want to know WHY???? WHY was it feasible or justified in Robbie’s mind not to share all songwriting credits with every member of The Band? I have read so much on the issue, heard countless opinions, given it great thought, and even dreamt about it, which doesn’t yield for restful sleep. What was Robbie thinking? What were his influences? What kind of values was he taught as a child? How bad did he want power and success? What was he willing to sacrifice to get what HE wanted? I can only speak for myself when I say that the little word “WHY” eludes me more than any other.

I should have pre-ordered the box set and bought the DVD locally. The box set arrived yesterday and Amazon sent word that the DVD is on the way. I was so bummed out when I didn’t get the box set on the first day and I have been eagerly awaiting its arrival. I have opened it and glanced at most of the pictures and listened through half of Disc One. The music is wonderful and the packaging is perfect, but I feel sort of let down and cheerless and I don’t even know why. Maybe it’s just the poignancy of it all.

Entered at Fri May 10 20:29:35 CEST 2002 from (66.200.102.18)

JTull Fan

Subject: TLW liner notes

Hey Clavin, thanks a bunch! That really makes me glad. i wouldn't expect much on the post-TLW Band given the subject matter but it is so nice to know that that era and it's 3 albums are at least acknowledged. Now I can go enjoy it without the politics...

Entered at Fri May 10 20:23:42 CEST 2002 from chl179129.usc.edu (128.125.179.129)

Linda

Subject: RR signing in LA

Just to let anyone interested know. Robbie will be at the Sherman Oaks Tower Records in the Sherman Oaks Galleria on Thursday, May 16, at 8:00 pm. The usual applies - wristband with purchase only.

Entered at Fri May 10 20:20:12 CEST 2002 from (208.218.212.2)

David Powell

Pehr: I'd recommend Jesse's "Ululu" (1972). Features a fine cover of "Strawberry Wine" and George Harrison's "Sue Me Sue You Blues". Guest appearances by Dr. John, Stan Szelest, Jim Keltner & "Duck" Dunn.

Entered at Fri May 10 20:15:02 CEST 2002 from (12.34.17.217)

Johnny Flippo

Subject: Band of Brothers

Well put Messrs. Bumbles & Viney. I've said it before and I'll say it again...even if these guys considered themselves "brothers", brothers grow up and sometimes grow apart. I know my brothers and I have. Sure we speak and get together on occasion, but we have separate lives, separate interests and,*SEPARATE SOURCES OF INCOME*. As a matter of fact, one of my brothers makes quite a bit more than I do. Does it ever occur to me to hit him up to share the wealth because he's my brother? Well, I'd be a liar if I said it's never crossed my mind, but the answer is no.

Entered at Fri May 10 20:12:17 CEST 2002 from pub26.lrc.swt.edu (147.26.108.140)

Pehr

David Powell: ah yes, jesse Ed Davis... indeed what a record. You have inspired me to make a run to the record store just for a Jesse Ed record! which one(s) do you recommend? thanks!, P

Entered at Fri May 10 20:10:16 CEST 2002 from ptldme-cmt1-c5-24-25-167-115.maine.rr.com (24.25.167.115)

MattK

Subject: Band of Brothers

Bumbles, I think much of the "band of brothers" stuff is marketing that dates back to the "mountainmen" myth that accompanied The Band's earliest efforts. That's not to say these men were not friends, or that they weren't close in various configurations at various times. It's very likely there was a stronger kinship during the initial Hawks period (through the BT) - which is not uncommon amongst musicians in a struggling band (much less through five years of struggle).

Still, the notion of the group being "like family" seems to have started with that "next of kin" photo, and given new life by Levon in his book. This of course, provides a neat, simplistic platform for attacking RR as a traitor, which many here are eager to gobble up (e.g. Mike Lyons' "question").

Evidence suggests otherwise. Concurrent articles from the 70s describe a rather dysfunctional family, with plenty of in-fighting all-around (not just Robbie vs. whomever). Chemical abuse, fiscal extravagence and the whispering of hangers-on and sychophants may describe "The Osbournes" or a family guesting on Jerry Springer, but it does not describe a "band of brothers" by any definition I would use.

I believe Band fans, God bless them, are rather vulnerable to the various Band myths - perhaps even needing that illusion of a tight group of friends brilliantly making music until one betrays them for 30 peices of silver. Perhaps it gives us something that validates a certain idealism from a period that never truly existed - but without which, we might lose hope in where we're headed, collectively and individually.

Given the anger flashed in the GB whenever anyone tries to clean the rose-colored dust off of the glass, it's clear that believing in a "band of brothers" as the source of this music is more than a "warm and fuzzy" tale. The fierceness with which that image is protected indicates something more fundamental is being sheltered; much like that image most of us cling to of a childhood filled with sun, fun and innocence, that ignores the fact that only adults believe childhood is easy, and children will tell you it's the hardest thing they can imagine.

Entered at Fri May 10 20:09:55 CEST 2002 from (169.200.133.38)

Bones

Also, Diamond Lil's comment about not treating the fans correctly is understandable. However, that is a J&R Music policy and has nothing to do with Robbie. I think it's great that Robbie is meeting and greeting the fans.

Entered at Fri May 10 19:41:04 CEST 2002 from spider-wi042.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.37)

LG

Dylan played a great set in Manchester last night. Opened with acoustic Maggies Farm followed by a wonderful version of Senor, again acoustic. Don't Think Twice and Drifters Escape were also exceptional. The Arena is situated in the heart of Manchester and it was a no smoking, seated for this event. Nice to have front row seats with my lady who is 8 months pregnant.

As Bob finished his first song and you could here him sigh as he looked at the group of fans that had ran from the front row towards the photo pit - I believe the late John Bauldie called them Bobcats. Dylan gets to see the same faces evrynight when he plays the UK. He should stipulate that only kids who accompany parents can come to the front:-)

Garnier was almost on top of Keltners drum kit and Sexton/Campbell stayed pretty tight with Dylan. They had a lot of stage to move around but I kind of like the way they stayed close. There was a guy (from Dylans people)recording many songs with a digital camera and mics on the side of the stage to pick up audience reaction.

First time I've posted since the Memphis trip and it sure felt good to hear Levon say, 'Welcome to the delta, son.'I sent Jan some photos. Don't know what he'll do with them though.

Entered at Fri May 10 19:09:55 CEST 2002 from (208.218.212.2)

David Powell

Pehr: I believe some of the slide guitar on "No Reason To Cry" may have been contributed by Jesse Ed Davis. There are so many great guitar players on that album, that sometimes it's hard to identify who's doing what.

Entered at Fri May 10 19:09:19 CEST 2002 from spider-tm073.proxy.aol.com (152.163.197.78)

Dave Z

Robbie's in NY? Wouldn't it be cool if he sat in on Garth's 5/11/02 gig? I'd like to hear a review from a Gber of that show regardless. Take care all.

Entered at Fri May 10 18:54:31 CEST 2002 from l4duppx2.hewitt.com (63.73.213.5)

Donald Joseph

Subject: Lifting the veil on Harry & Mim; JennyT; Pat B.

Harry & Mim: Do BOTH of you actually compose these posts of yours jointly and collaboratively? Or does one of you write, & the other merely OK the text before posting? Perhaps it's a writer + editor relationship? Whassup? (Post-posting ratification by one of you shouldn't count, by the way.)

Pat Brennan query to Mike Lyons: Kudos.

JennyT (apologies to others who may've read this from me before in posts past): I saw Lowell live on his "Thanks I'll Eat It Here" tour 2 weeks (to the day) before he died. He had a big band, did lots of Feats tunes, and did 'em so well you didn't miss the other Feats. After he died the group broke up -- just like the post-Garcia Dead. I've always seen the subsequently-re-formed Little Feat as a band without its soul, & I've never supported them (I wish 'em well, though). I just bought the 2 CD re-release of "Waiting for Colombus" (it's brand new, (c) 2002), and I recommend it to your husband. Great sound, great package, & -- best of all -- great previously-unreleased tracks.

Yesterday I recommended the "Muddy Waters Woodstock Album" re-release to you, & I just listened to it again. Garth's organ is amazing on the bonus track "Fox Squirrel."

Entered at Fri May 10 18:48:17 CEST 2002 from spider-te054.proxy.aol.com (152.163.195.199)

Calvin

Tull, the booklets for TLW just mention in passing the regrouping and 3 later albums, but then it doesnt mention at least half of the orginal groups albums either. The booklets talk almost exclusively about that night and the weeks leading up to it. If other albums are mentioned it is in connection to why such and such person was invited.

Entered at Fri May 10 18:33:32 CEST 2002 from m198214176085.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.176.85)

Pehr

Interesting, the Ron Wood banter. Just so happens I have gone number of years, (embarrassed to admit) since replacing my copy of Clapton's "No Reason to Cry", (recorded with the Band and friends, etc, at Shangri- La.) I took care of this last week finally with a special order, and as often happens when I get the right music, it's been king of the turntable for almost a week. Credits are a bit vague, but there is a preponderance of lovely slide throughout the record, which I assume is Woody and George Terry, maybe an occasional EC or even Richard... At any rate, the combination slide sounds makes this record a real classic, particularly some of the cuts which feature "Duelin' slides", something IMHO is just not done enough. I have a great appreciation of Ron Wood just from this record. I'd love to know more about who played what if anyone knows.

The RR solo on "Sign Language" may be my favorite guitar solo. I must have played it 15 times in the last few days. the whistle sound at the end of that first solo and the de- tuning of the low string at he end of the second one just kill me.

Over the years I forgot that "Beautiful Thing" was a Danko/Manuel number. Did anyone see or hear them do this one live? the 2 slides are rapture...with the clapton solo over them all 3 sing like birds.

I remember getting this record in high school just when it came out, and I was just getting started in appreciating music. soon after I picked it up I got a terrible flu and played it while delirious. I'd never heard slide before or seen a dobro and I remember wondering what that sound was and how would it be made. this was on that rythm slide on "County Jail". The electric slide on top of that is downright vicious.

this version is remastered. the original cover was blue, now its black. elegant rekkid...

Entered at Fri May 10 18:21:04 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-028.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.28)

Peter Viney

I guess that if anyone was rude enough to ask RR about the money, and he was in a polite mood, he'd simply ask what evidence you have of their private business dealings which allows you to ask such a question. Of course, there's no reason for him to regard such a statement, backed as it is by no solid information, as deserving of a polite reply.

Entered at Fri May 10 17:50:55 CEST 2002 from citrix3.doc.state.vt.us (159.105.102.8)

JOHN CASS

A Buddy of mine was just telling me Imus was talking about Levon Helm the other day on his show...something about his Book.. did anyone here it???

I saw that SNL with Butter & Danko it was great seeing Danko dance around playin the fiddle and Butterfeild playin that harp.. it looked like Danko and Bill Murrey where on there way to mischeif walking off stage.

I love SNL but those older eposodes are great mostly for the music... I am 29 and think the funniest cast was Hartman, Myers, Carvey, Neilan, Farley, Spade, Sandler, Rock, Meadows, Sweeney, and Jackson.. I think that was early 90's... I think that Belushi and that cast was good but not as funny (just my opinion)

Anyone heard of the whole line-up and times for the Sackets Harbor 6-15 show??

Entered at Fri May 10 17:41:47 CEST 2002 from pool-141-153-198-177.mad.east.verizon.net (141.153.198.177)

Bumbles

Subject: 'Band of Brothers'?

Where does this notion that the members of the Band were, or ever considered themselves, brothers originate? I’ve read just about everything I’ve seen about the Band since 1969 and don’t recall any of the group members ever describing their relationship to the others in that way. Did I miss something? This seems to be a matter of curiously urgent concern to a number of GB posters, particularly in the case of Robbie & Levon. Why would they embrace each other as brothers now---years after whatever personal & business ties once bound them are gone---if they never did? The whole ‘Band of Brothers’ idea seems to say more about the posters (A longing for familial closeness absent from their own lives? The projection of a homoerotic fantasy?) than the reality of the Band.

Entered at Fri May 10 17:26:41 CEST 2002 from (66.200.102.18)

JTull Fan

Subject: TLW Box set liner notes/booklet

Haven't bought it yet as I may get it for my anniversary gift next week. Can any of you tell me if the extensive 80 pages of liner notes refer to post-TLW Band activities, or does it totally ignore 1983-1999?

Entered at Fri May 10 17:04:44 CEST 2002 from spider-wk021.proxy.aol.com (205.188.198.156)

Harry & Mim

Subject: Billy Joel, Ron Wood, Muddy Waters & Lowell George

Friends/neighbors/countrymen/non-countrymen/all women:

I think LH WOULD have ACTUALLY puked ONSTAGE if Mr. Billy Joel had somehow ended up at The Last Waltz.

Ron Wood has had a varied and interesting career with: The Birds; Jeff Beck Group; Rod "The Mod" Stewart with and without the Faces; solo; and with The Band, Dylan, and The Rolling Stones. There also exists a great video "starring" Fats Domino, Ray Charles, and Jerry Lee Lewis (live from a club in New Orleans) where Ronnie joins in with a backing band led by Paul Shaffer (?spelling). RW looks like he's having the time of his life, and JLL is quoted as saying "I love Ron Wood. I raised him, you know." I believe his choice of musical company (and, consequently, their choice of his) speaks much for his amiability and ability.

Yes, Mr. Viney, at one point, McKinley Morganfield of Rolling Fork, MS WAS painting the ceiling of a studio at Chess Records during one Rolling Stones visit to the shrine of Chicago Blues. During another (or the same) visit, he was also noticed "helping" to carry in The Stones amplifiers. "What a man", indeed! humble, like an "Oriental Buddha", with the face and countenance of a king, and more dignity than most... "Caldonia, girl you better come back home" (Thank you to the great Louis Jordan)

And, the always enjoyable Lowell George. Amazing slide guitar, great songwriting sensibilities, fantastic blues/R&B/ New Orleans influences, and "being picked" by FZ to play in the FZ MOI (refer to "Weasels Ripped My Flesh" for example)...

Crabgrass: Thank you for the photos of Mr. Garth Hudson (talk about humility and dignity there, too) et al from The Bottom Line show last week. Makes me kinda sad we DID NOT ATTEND the recent show at The Point in Bryn Mawr, PA... makes me feel kinda stupid as well...

Love to all (and good music):

Mim & Harry

Entered at Fri May 10 16:40:29 CEST 2002 from user-1121ma5.dsl.mindspring.com (66.32.217.69)

Pat Brennan

Mike Lyons, that's not a question you proposed. It is a presumptuous command. He has already addressed the songwriting thing, so what is it you want to ask him?

Entered at Fri May 10 15:09:47 CEST 2002 from 0-1pool37-61.nas2.cincinnati1.oh.us.da.qwest.net (63.232.37.61)

Jenny T

Subject: Waaah waaah waaah

Well I am VERY disappointed to have missed Rick playing fiddle on SNL. They probably won't show it again for a long time if ever. I have to say that show is often not very funny at all. I am wondering why I used to stay up to watch it at Saturday sleepovers, even though I am Miss Morning Sunshine and not "the owl" and it would have been impossible if people didn't poke me and step on me to keep me awake.

I am pretty sure we have everything Little Feat ever did because they are my husband's favorite with the possible exception of SRV, but maybe we don't have anything remastered. I think there is also a box set I should get him for his birthday. We saw Little Feat in Boston in 1989 but of course Lowell was gone already.

King of the Hill is hilarious but a lot of people here don't like it. My husband thinks it might hit a little close to home.

Entered at Fri May 10 14:56:58 CEST 2002 from dialin-594-tnt.nyc.bestweb.net (216.179.3.86)

Mike Lyons

Subject: Robbie's CD Signing

Although I will not be attending the signing today, I wish I could ask Robbie the most important question-----SHARE THE WEALTH---- THE BAND IS EXACTLY THAT------ THE BAND----- REMEMBER- A BAND OF BROTHERS. DO the right thing..........

Entered at Fri May 10 14:10:58 CEST 2002 from host-65.subnet-76.med.umich.edu (141.214.76.65)

Steve Knowlton

Subject: Signed books

On the topic of signing books, a fun thing I used to do was take obviously unsignable books (e.g. a paperback copy of "Jane Eyre") and inscribe them for gifts ("To Jessica, Best Wishes, Charlotte Bronte"). This gave everyone a kick.

The catch is, a friend of mine liked the idea, so we got a William Shatner book for a friend, did the same, but his friend thought it was really signed by Shatner and absolutely fell out with pleasure. I never did hear how that dilemma was solved.

Entered at Fri May 10 14:01:19 CEST 2002 from (202.56.245.114)

Yazooman

Subject: Crang Plaza

A friend of mine in Delhi just traded for a copy of Crang Plaza. I was with him yesterday at his place and I spent the whole evening listening to the concert. Pretty muddy sound but a good performance. Anyway I was trying to match the setlist for the disc with track listings given on this site and there are a quite a few differences.

The CD mentioned here has 12 tracks and runs for 43 mins. The one my friend has runs for 70:15 mins and has 24 tracks.

I am giving the track listing for my friend's disc below:

The Hawks @ Crang Plaza

July/August 1964

24 tracks, 70:35

1. Turn on your Lovelight

2. Not fade Away (after song they say they are taking a break)

3. Twist and Shout

4. Woman Love And A Man (Ain't That Right)

5. ???Blues Song?? - Ridin' my automobile??

6. "Rick, the ladies choice here, from Simcoe" is announced as singer for next song

7. ??The way it all around me?? - Sam Cooke cover

8. Labor day announcement

9. Hoochey John Blues (Garth and Jerry on saxes)

10. Memphis Tennessee (incomplete)

11. Home Cookin' (Garth's Blues)

12. ??I am gonna rock until morning and...??....you

13. Kansas City

14. Announcement of song for Chucky's sister

15. Robbie's Blues

16. Please Please Please

17. Announcement/Tuning

18. Short Fat Fanny

19. Georgia on my Mind

*20. Not Fade Away

*21. Same song as #12

*22. Please Please Please

*23. Instrumental (incomplete)

**24. Back to Memphis - "Live at 5" appearance dring the HOTH North American Tour

Tracks 20-23 seem to be sourced from some other date. Track 24 is self-explanatory.

If anyone here has fundaes/info on the above tape, please mail me and do inform me.

Have been receiving mails lately from Ben Turkel (bent1969), Viney and some Norwegian address too with virus attachments. I don't think its them who are sending these mails out, but whoever is this freak has to be a real loser in life !! I won't be surprised if it is the same ass**** who has all the dead dictators in Africa has his relatives and whose personal secrets he had the fortune of being privy too. RIP man and get a life......

PS. Somebody pleeeze do send the Crang Plaza info......

Entered at Fri May 10 13:32:40 CEST 2002 from sqd104.nirai.ne.jp (218.40.162.4)

Fred

Hey I've got a couple of unsigned Peter Viney books here at home....what would the value be IF I FORGED a Peter Viney autograph?!?!?! SEVERAL years I guess! Years ago, in what appears another life, I was able to forge my parents signature..rather well I might all too modestly add!! Such a waste of talent! I could have been a rich criminal instead of a poor honest teacher!

Entered at Fri May 10 13:16:22 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-054.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.54)

Peter Viney

Autographs and wristbands. It’s pretty standard practice to demand a purchase on book signing tours. Basically they are set up to please a chain of stores who will then give prominence to the product in all their other stores. The actual “sales on the day” are of very minor importance in setting up these things except that the sales on the day will be seen as a tribute to the local manager’s efforts. In my limited and dullish area of educational books, I’ve done quite a few signings myself. Most of the people who come up actually want you to sign their old and battered copy, which of course you do. Douglas Coupland signed about four books for us with tremendous grace and friendliness – we’d had to re-buy one paperback to join the line. The person signing is in an embarrassing position in regard to the store’s attitude, though. They’ve organized it all, met you at the station, bought you a nice lunch perhaps, been extremely helpful and friendly … The cheap paperback is the usual key to getting in line, but it’s more than irritating if you already have the TLW box set and DVD. My solution is that you should all buy a second copy of the DVD, and send the spare to a GB poster from Europe who can’t buy a copy here. Begin with me! (Actually, mine is already on the way).

In the book collecting world, signings are an odd thing. I’ll give you an example. A British first edition “Captain Corelli’s Mandolin” is worth about £400. A signed one is worth at least £1500. (Multiply by ten for the first Harry Potter first edition British hardback). So how does Louis de Bernieres feel when a secondhand bookseller thrusts a pile of early editions in front of him and says, “sign these?” I have no idea, but I do wonder! The point is supposed to be that the signature has to be dated and should be within the time when the edition was on sale new to be REALLY valuable. Fortunately my own books are not valuable and with a couple of them the unsigned copies are far rarer than the signed ones.

Entered at Fri May 10 12:30:58 CEST 2002 from spider-loh-ta054.proxy.aol.com (195.93.32.174)

Les Bruce

Subject: Last Waltz DVD

Anyone know when The Last Waltz is going to be released in Region 2 format?

Entered at Fri May 10 12:29:07 CEST 2002 from 64-80-53-198-static.surferz.net (64.80.53.198)

Lil Again

That last post should've read 'you must buy a _dvd_ in order to get a wristband to stand in line for an autograph'.... Whatever.

Entered at Fri May 10 12:25:20 CEST 2002 from 64-80-53-198-static.surferz.net (64.80.53.198)

Diamond Lil

I suppose it's nice that Robbie Robertson is making some appearances to promote the new DVD (today's "what's new") but something really bothers me. 'You must buy a cd in order to get a wristband to stand in line for an autograph'. Huh? Pretty lousy way to treat fans if you ask me. I couldn't imagine Levon or Garth ever doing something like that...

Mike: Although I love Billy Joel's "I've loved these days" and agree that the lyrics would fit right in with something with the sentiment of TLW, I also think that a duet with Dylan of "To Make You Feel My Love" would be interesting....What do you think?

Jack Straw: Made me smile to see the lyrics for "Life is a Rock..." in here the other day. Thanks! Now.. can you sing it backwards? :-)

Have a good day everyone. Hug Jan.

Entered at Fri May 10 07:43:06 CEST 2002 from 12-249-119-233.client.attbi.com (12.249.119.233)

Donald Joseph

Subject: JRR @ J&R

Someone mentioned this days ago, but here's detail on JRR @ J&R: I get the NY Times (yes, even in Chicago), & today's ed. has a full-pg. ad for "J&R Music World Computer World" at 23 Park Row, NY NY 10038 ("across from City Hall Park, Lower Manhattan"). The whole ad shills various electronica (boom-box $39.99; Sony DVD $149.99, etc.).

But in a small box in the lower left corner, taking up less than 5% of the pg., is a notice saying "Meet Robbie Robertson/Legendary Guitarist & Songwriter, Robbie Robertson Will Be Signing Autographs May 10 @ 12:30 pm * 23 Park Row" [capitalization sic]. With it is an ad for the TLW DVD for $15.99, a small picture of the DVD box, & a small picture of Patch from the film (with the scarf, playing guitar).

New Yorker Guestbookers: Pls. go, get Patch's John Hancock, & ask him some of the GB Eternal Questions, so's the rest of us can get satisfaction, awright?

I suppose queries about the "fued" would be declasse, & I doubt Robbie'd give you a straight answer about Rick-vs.-Richard crooning "Holy Cow" (besides, obviously it was Rick).

So let me propose a question fer you Big Applers to lay on JRR @ J&R: Did Clinton's pardon of Marc "Rich-enough," in lieu of Lenny Peltier, turn Robbie off of Democratic presidents enough to make him regret orchestrating Richard's "Georgia On My Mind" cover?

-- Just Wondering

Entered at Fri May 10 06:57:11 CEST 2002 from netcache-1115.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.222.132)

j~t

Subject: Rick and Butter on SNL

Jenny T. did not miss The Band on Saturday Night Live last night. What she missed was a 1978 episode hosted by Gary Busey ..with musical guest Eubie Blake and that black dancer cat that Sammie Davis Jr. threw the ball to before he passed away...his name escapes me at this moment but he can really dance ! Anyway.. the end of the show was the best part and came as a big delightful surprise..Ricky on one side with his fiddle...Butter on the other side with his harp.. and Busey in the middle doing his Ronnie Hawkins impression..."Stay all night...Stay a little longer..Dance all night..Dance a little longer...Kick off yer shoes and throw 'im in the corner....can't see why ya can't stay a little longer" Rick bouncin' around like a rubber ball and laughin' his ass off as everyone crowded onto the stage to say good-night...That big ol' smile of his glowin' like a diamond ! I taped it. Hey Uncle Bob..wasn't you in that drunken chorus on Ronnie's new Cd?

Entered at Fri May 10 06:23:29 CEST 2002 from hse-toronto-ppp168317.sympatico.ca (64.229.45.66)

uncle bob

Subject: Hawk's New CD "Still Cruisin"

RONNIE'S new CD "Still Cruisin" will be availiable by sending $20.00 CANADIAN Money Orders Please....to the Address below giving your mailing address. The cd's will be mailed at no charge for this limited time offer.....delivery within 4 - 6 weeks (Yes this is the one with Levon on Drums and R. Robertson on Guitar) recorded during 2000 finished August 2000.

Ronnie Hawkins Promotions 627 Oxford Street Peterborough, ON K9H 2A9 (705) 876-7670

SEE YA"S ON THE FLIP SIDE Uncle Bobnoxious ps. GET THIS CD"S NOW ITS GREAT !!!!!!!! Uncle Bob unclebob@whoever.com toronto, ,canada - Friday, May 10, 2002 at 00:22:02 (EDT)

Entered at Fri May 10 05:57:58 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-th073.proxy.aol.com (64.12.102.53)

Bayou Sam

Let's not forget that great scene in the Rutles' movie where Ron Wood plays a gang member and is being interviewed by a reporter, portrayed by George Harrison.

Entered at Fri May 10 04:26:11 CEST 2002 from maxtnt-2-273.enter.net (208.137.245.237)

Zeppe

I used to love Mike Myers' impression of Ron Wood on SNL. I think he used to do a skit called "The Ron Wood Show."

Entered at Fri May 10 04:03:00 CEST 2002 from dv166s40.lawrence.ks.us (24.124.40.166)

Ray Pence

Thank you to Dexy and Ray G for the dialogue...it occurs to me that, unless I'm mistaken, Ron Wood put out albums under his own name prior to the Stones, so it may not be exactly right for me to call his later albums "solo albums"-- and I should not have neglected the solo work of Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, and Mick Taylor ("the only man to leave the Rolling Stones and live," he called himself, that was pre-Wyman's departure), which also very likely outdoes the efforts of the solo "Glimmer Twins"...

Entered at Fri May 10 03:26:34 CEST 2002 from dyn216-8-129-191.adsl.mnsi.net (216.8.129.191)

chester

Subject: May tenth

Tomorrow Band fans celebrate "Dixie" and Robertson's line: " By May tenth Richmond had fell..." but nobody wails on it like Levon.

Entered at Fri May 10 03:05:25 CEST 2002 from dv009s54.lawrence.ks.us (24.124.54.9)

Dexy

Entered at Fri May 10 02:46:06 CEST 2002 from abby18.revealed.net (208.16.227.209)

Mike

All I can say is that the DVD is wort purchasing. Not enough outakes but hopefully someday they'll be located. I was also talking to a buddy of mine today about Billy Joel who turned 53 today. He asked me why HE wasn't at The Last Waltz. Now, I am a fan of Billy's stuff but i don't know if I can see him fitting in. What song could he have played? Also, what would Richard have done?! Other than play drums I guess. That just got me to thinking. Besides, Billy hadn't really established himself just yet. What do you think? The only songs I could see fitting would be (maybe!) "I've Loved These Days" and "Souvenir". Any takers?

Mike

Entered at Fri May 10 02:08:43 CEST 2002 from 0-1pool204-53.nas29.somerville1.ma.us.da.qwest.net (63.159.204.53)

Ray G

Subject: Woody

I agree with Ray Pence that Ron's solo work beats Mick and Keith. Mick's albums sound like the Stones without Keith and Keith's albums sound like the Stones without Mick!

I think that Ron does his own thing very well. Slide on Live and Slide on This are both great rockin albums. I have all but one of Ronnnie's solo albums and enjoy them all, some are better than others but it's that way for everyone. Ronnie is alright!

Entered at Fri May 10 01:34:28 CEST 2002 from dv166s40.lawrence.ks.us (24.124.40.166)

Ray Pence

I'll add my voice to those of Ron Wood fans. It might not be saying much, or actually it might be, that his solo albums are better than those of his Stones peers. His 1992 effort "Slide on This" was a very solid effort, quite soulful and varied. He strikes me as a down to earth person with a workmanlike attitude that was on display when I saw the Stones in 1999: he stood and played hard, an anchor like Watts. Quite the visual artist too, whose work has gone to help endangered species. No surprise he hit it off with some Band members--yes, a "good bloke."

Entered at Fri May 10 01:14:19 CEST 2002 from 209.236.161.16.cnjnet.com (209.236.161.16)

MIKEY LENAHAN

Subject: JIM WEIDER BAND

Hey RICK S...........You are 100% correct.... Looking foward to picking up this cd. I hope to see the road crew at the Pattenburg House and follow up the next weekend at The Village Underground in NYC and then back to the Pattenburg with Jim and Tom Pacheco (June 5). For all of you who post on this site please take the time to check out and support the Jim Weider Band when they hit you hometown..... Peace

Entered at Fri May 10 01:12:36 CEST 2002 from 56k-la-02-28.dial.qnet.com (209.221.212.139)

Dave the Phone Guy

Albert Collins tuned that Tele to an open F minor chord.(F C F Ab C F)

Coco Montoya played drums for him in the Icebreakers and learned to play guitar from Mr. Collins.Talk about unorthodox, Coco Montoya strings his guitar standard-wise but plays it upside down!(skinny on top,fat string on bottom)

Entered at Fri May 10 00:53:48 CEST 2002 from l4duppx2.hewitt.com (63.73.213.5)

Donald Joseph (again)

Subject: Ron Wood

But how do you explain the haircut?

Entered at Fri May 10 00:35:55 CEST 2002 from wc12.ym.rnc.net.cable.rogers.com (66.185.85.79)

John D

I always remember Wood playing slide with the Faces on "Around The Plynth" going from one channel to another and it still knocks me out. Also his wonderful work on the Stones Live at The Max. I also enjoy his solo albums and his Dylanish vocals.

Entered at Fri May 10 00:32:50 CEST 2002 from h0050ba8ceef5.ne.client2.attbi.com (24.61.243.158)

Long Distance Operator

I'll go to bat for Woody. I met him in 1992, he signed for me and posed for an all-time classic photo. Very gracious gentlemen and a hell of a guy. He is also a kickass player who only wants to do one thing: Rock & Roll. Can't knock him for that! His "Slide On Live: Plugged In And Standing" is a tremendous feel-good album. Don't listen to it if you don't like to feel good.

Entered at Fri May 10 00:15:38 CEST 2002 from ns1.prenhall.com (198.4.159.5)

Ray G

Subject: Ron Wood

Ron Wood is an excellent guitarist, multi instrumentalist, songwriter (have a bunch of his solo albums), and accomplished artist (I have seen work on display).

He may not have the icon status or the partnership status of Keith but as a guitarist he is at least equal (I have read many interviews with Keith where he actually gives Ron credit for being the better guitarist). His bass work with Jeff Beck was outstanding (as Bayou Sam pointed out too). Bonnie Raitt gives him credit as a slide guitar influence. Lot's of well known artists (George Harrison, Keith, Mick, Eric Clapton...) have guested on his solo efforts most of wich are really good. I have seen the past two Stones tours and in my opinion he and Charlie Watts are the guys that hold the Stones together on stage. His ragged but righteous style was perfect for the Faces, he also played on but doesn't get credit for a good bit of Rod Stewarts solo work.

All and all Ron has made some worthwhile contributions to the music world! Why knock him?

Entered at Thu May 9 23:45:57 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-072.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.72)

Peter Viney

On musicians having to fill in between jobs. Actors do the same (ask any waiter in LA or Orlando). I was reminded of musicians in the 60s. By then, younger musicians were touring, but older musicians in dance bands in resorts still often had long residencies (like 20 years). So it was a very steady job. I’m generally interested in the period and lifestyle. One popular way of supplementing income was newspaper pick ups. Newspapers would arrive at the regional railway stations from London circa 3 am, and many of the drivers who collected and distributed them were pro-musicians. They’d finish playing at 1 or 2 am, then work 3 – 5 am for very good money- who else can you get for just two hours work at that time of day? Another possibility was delivering afternoon newspapers between 1 pm and 6 pm. Some even did both jobs.

Entered at Thu May 9 23:43:37 CEST 2002 from spider-tm072.proxy.aol.com (152.163.197.77)

Rick S.

Subject: JWB Band CD/touring

Congratulations to the JWB Band for putting out their second CD- available later this month. This is a great compilation which includes "Remedy", "Blues Condition", "The Weight" and my new favorite Jim Weider instrumental, "Freedom Walk." This CD has the Road Warrior seal of approval.

If you get a chance, see the JWB Band perform. Jim is unbelievable on telecaster, Randy is a great drummer and vocalist, Albert Rogers (bassist from Wilmington, N.C.) has the high coastal blues voice that could charm a bird out of a tree, and Dan (The Keyboard Man) adds to the total sound. Don't miss them.

Entered at Thu May 9 23:42:12 CEST 2002 from sc-hiltonhead1a-331.hhe.adelphia.net (24.49.235.75)

Amanda

Subject: Willin' Little Feat mp3

Entered at Thu May 9 23:03:27 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-078.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.78)

Peter Viney

Sorry, it was me. No disrepect to Albert Collins intended. It was just that I was listening to radio in the car today and they were discussing ancient jokes in the wake of Anne Winterton’s sacking – she is a Conservative shadow-minister in the UK who was sacked for making a joke that was not only racist and tasteless, but also at least 40 years old. And not funny. Anyway, they were listing REALLY ancient jokes on the show and did the classic:

Man: Did you know that Hitler was a painter?

Woman: Oh, really? was he any good?

Man: Good? He could do a room- primer, undercoat and topcoat - in four hours.

That being on my mind, I was into seeing the silly side of house painting. BTW, My guess is that Albert Collins was an independent contractor. Without me looking it up, wasn’t a famous bluesman repainting the Chess studio when the Stones paid their first visit? Trying to recall who it was. Muddy Waters?

On Ronnie Wood (or Woods as TLW would have it). I think he’s admitted himself that the basis of his job is that he fits in perfectly with the Stones socially. I saw that he’d only graduated from employee to shareholder status when Bill Wyman left, too. Ronnie was a good bass player, I agree. As a guitarist, I suspect that “Live Aid” with Dylan is something that will take forever to live down. He used to sound pretty sloppy some of the time with the Stones, but that was the ambience and it may have been considered.

Entered at Thu May 9 22:13:02 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-tc081.proxy.aol.com (64.12.105.186)

butch

Subject: TLW in Woodstock

a little birdie told me that TLW is being booked to play @ Tinker Street Theatre,in Woodstock, in may,,,

perfect timing------------ Levon & The Barn Burners will be in arkansas,,,,

i hope Garth is home,,,,

this showing should be an EVENT for old, old woodstock,

have fun,,,,,,,,,

Entered at Thu May 9 22:00:36 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-ta044.proxy.aol.com (64.12.105.39)

Bayou Sam

Well - me and Levon are both drummers that don't have a DVD player. We have so much in common. Hey Levon, ya want to go shopping for a player? Maybe we'll get a discount for buying two. I'll drive :-)

Y'know - stories like the one about Neil Diamond being stand-offish to someone are silly. It's always risky to meet someone you admire. They are human beings and are entitled to have a shitty day every now and then. I still can't understand why some folks who might not be fans of ND's music want to find any negative thing they can about the guy. If the reason is that Levon didn't think he belonged at TLW, that's not right. Someone just posted something that's true - ND was invited. Should he have said "no"? I wonder how Levon feels about Neil today. If he can somehow dis-associate Neil from RR I bet he'd be just fine with him. ......I caught "Crackin' Rosie" on the radio the other day and cranked it up. It was a hit at a certain time of my life, and hearing the song takes me back there, and it's a good feeling. That is one of music's great powers.

Ronnie Wood was a terrific bass player with the Jeff Beck Group.

Entered at Thu May 9 21:41:45 CEST 2002 from pcp523038pcs.nash01.tn.comcast.net (68.52.169.13)

Sharon Wendt

God bless you!

Entered at Thu May 9 21:19:00 CEST 2002 from l98uppx1.hewitt.com (4.17.250.5)

Donald Joseph

Subject: Collins

Viney (if it really was you who authored that last post re Collins): Albert is not available to paint your house because he's dead. Cancer, mid-'90's.

One trait perhaps relevant to Albert Collins's skill as a painter: The fingertips on his right hand were totally callused -- he never used a pick. Someone else mentioned Albert's strange tuning and his capo. Another little-known technique he used to get that "icy" sound: Albert would turn his treble tone controls on his guitar (or amp) all the way up (to "11") -- and the bass all the way down. I was told this by a professional keyboard player who actually jammed with Albert and saw him do it.

As to Albert's skills as a house painter, you might as well also inquire into Professor Longhair's abilities as a janitor (Fess was working sweeping out a record shop when he was re-discovered in the '70's), or Ibrahaim Ferrer's skills as a shoe-shiner (his job when Ry Cooder re-discovered him in Havana in the '90's). I, however, remain much more interested in Neil Diamond's performance as employer: Did he pay Collins min. wage, make worker/unemployment comp. withholdings, etc., etc. -- or did he tell Albert he was an "independent contractor"?

Entered at Thu May 9 21:10:39 CEST 2002 from (169.200.133.37)

Bones

Entered at Thu May 9 20:32:51 CEST 2002 from bandfan.halden.net (195.70.189.163)

jh

Subject: Willin'/ Lowell George

Jenny,

"Willin'" is among the many masterpieces from the great Little Feat. Lowell George (RIP) was a great artist and songwriter. Get the remastered _Waiting for Columbus_ live 2CD set, it has the ultimate version of "Willin'."

Willin' (Lowell George)

I been warped by the rain, driven by the snow
I'm drunk and dirty don't ya know, and I'm still, oh I'm still
Out on the road late at night, I seen my pretty Alice in every head light
Alice, Dallas Alice

I've been from Tuscon to Tucumcari
Tehachapi to Tonapah
Driven every kind of rig that's ever been made
Now I driven the back roads so I wouldn't get weighed
And if you give me: weed, whites, and wine
and you show me a sign
I'll be willin', to be movin'

Now I smuggled some smokes and folks from Mexico
baked by the sun, every time I go to Mexico, and I'm still
And I've been kicked be the wind, robbed by the sleet
Had my head stoved in and I'm still on my feet and I'm
willin', oh I'm willin'

And I been from Tuscon to Tucumcari
Tehachapi to Tonapah
Driven every kind of rig that's ever been made
Driven the back roads so I wouldn't get weighed
And if you give me: weed, whites, and wine
and then you show me a sign
I'll be willin', to be movin'

PS. Thanks to our dear Diamond Lil for sending us the lyrics to "Willin'."

Entered at Thu May 9 20:26:45 CEST 2002 from atpm3-2-30.enter.net (208.137.243.86)

Zeppe

Donald Joseph: I also noticed Bill Graham's referral to the Stones' guitarist as Ron Woods. I also noticed that he forgot to mention Eric Clapton in that long list. Come on Bill, how could you forget him?

Entered at Thu May 9 20:26:23 CEST 2002 from spider-wk064.proxy.aol.com (205.188.198.179)

butch

Subject: TLW

well,, FED-X just left,,,,

they dropped Levon & my copy of TLW DVD,,,,

thanks UA,,, LOL,,,,,,,,

now we need to get dvd players,, so we can actually watch it,,,

oh well, at least we got a copy,,,

now we can watch MUDDY,,, Richard,,, Rick & Butter,,,

Entered at Thu May 9 19:45:32 CEST 2002 from snyflcj.flcc.edu (192.156.234.137)

Pepote Rouge

Subject: BAND BOX

Does anyone have any concrete info on the new upcoming Band Boxset? With the bonus tracks on the remasters is it going to be unreleased live tracks? I hope Robbie takes a look at some other Boxsets and does'nt make it a large best of collection.But I think when he pulled across the Great divide off the shelves he already knew that. any info would be great. Thanks all.

Entered at Thu May 9 19:07:27 CEST 2002 from du-tele3-024.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.24)

Peter Viney

Yes, yes, all this talk of Albert Collins' guitar work is true and interesting. But what about his qualities as a house painter? No one has enlightened us here. Does he do a good burn off and rub down? Or is he one of those who just paints on top of the blemishes? Does he clean up paint spills on paving stones? Does he place his ladders on top of precious plants? Is he currently available? And what is the hourly rate? Are you sure you mean Albert and not Phil? If it's Phil who has entered the painting and decorating business it would be more convenient for me because of lesser travelling time. The drumming should have strengthened his arms, thus avoiding R.S.I. from the brush strokes.

Entered at Thu May 9 18:47:42 CEST 2002 from (208.218.212.2)

David Powell

I heartily agree with Mr. Joseph regarding Albert Collins. He is truly an amazing guitarist and has a unique approach to the fretboard. He uses a non-standard tuning, most often an open minor key and then employs a capo that allows him to transpose into any key. In addition to "Ice Pickin", another one of my favorite's is "Showdown", an album he recorded with Robert Cray and Johnny Copeland.

Picked up The Last Waltz CD box set this past weekend. I really like the detail & clarity of the new mix, along with the generous portion of bonus cuts. I did notice, right off the bat however, that Robertson mastered the cuts very loud and bright. This is probably the result of generous dose of compression and EQ boost in the high end. Don't get me wrong -- this is a must-have set of recordings, but as someone who still listens to a lot of vinyl LPs, my ears are susceptible to digital fatigue. Listening to all four discs in one sitting is like being back at Winterland seated in the front row.

Also picked up the DVD video version. With the $2.00 off coupon combined with Circuit City's $14.99 sale, the price was truly a bargain. The DVD also comes with $5.00 rebate coupon, redeemable if you mail in the receipt from the CD box set purchase. Waiting until I have the time this coming weekend to watch the DVD and all the added features. It will be interesting to compare the DVD surround sound with that of the CD remix.

Entered at Thu May 9 18:27:12 CEST 2002 from dialup-64.156.156.51.dial1.losangeles1.level3.net (64.156.156.51)

JQ

Subject: Boomauer

With total respect: Does anydody else find a similarity between the Boomauer character on King of the Hill & Levon Helm? I think that program is as great as the Simpsons.

Entered at Thu May 9 17:15:49 CEST 2002 from l4duppx2.hewitt.com (63.73.213.5)

Donald Joseph

Subject: Collins/Caldonia

WS Walcott: You completely missed my points re Neil Diamond's house painting, and Ron Wood. I loved the Neil-Diamond-house-paint tale not because it involved the beat-to-death-in-the-GB warhore Neil Diamond, but because it was fresh news on Albert Collins -- often called the greatest guitar player who ever lived. I'm a huge Collins fan, I own all his available albums (& many out-of-print), I saw him live, etc. etc. I commend him to you all: Start with the "Ice Pickin'" album, which I just saw listed, deservedly, along with about 25 other albums in a Blues Album Hall of Fame. I'd put "Ice Pickin'" on my list of top 10 or 15 albums of all time.

Albert Collins's guitar playing was so incredible it's impossible to describe. But let's just say he subscribes to the flashy Hendrixsonian school (as opposed to the restrained Robertsonian one). The difference: Albert's a lot more talented than Jimi. By the way, I believe Jimi himself, along with Stevie Ray, et al., are on record acknowledging Albert as, indeed, the "Master of the Telecaster" (& Albert got really good only after Jimi died).

This segues into my comment about Ron Wood's lack of talent. While I was of course being flamboyant -- Ron has a hell of a lot more talent than, say, I do, or (dare I say it?) Neil Diamond does -- what I meant was that Ron is a journeyman sideman whose solo work doesn't show the spark of the first-rank great artist, and whose guitar playing doesn't rise up out of the pack of other famous players. He isn't, for example, any Albert Collins. Any I suspect Ron'd be quick to admit that.

JennyT: Your revelation about not having heard "Caldonia" on record before betrays your unfamiliarity with the Levon-produced "Muddy Waters Woodstock Album," which co-stars Butters, Garth, et al. I HIGHLY commend it to you -- do not pass go, do not collect $200, go directly to your record store and buy it (it was rereleased a few years ago with extra tracks, & I hope is still in print).

Entered at Thu May 9 16:49:59 CEST 2002 from (208.218.212.2)

David Powell

Jenny: The song you mentioned is entitled "Willin' " and was written by the late great Lowell George.

Entered at Thu May 9 14:51:39 CEST 2002 from 0-1pool32-175.nas1.cincinnati1.oh.us.da.qwest.net (63.232.32.175)

Jenny T

I apologize if this place name thing has already been mentioned--I sort of missed the beginning of that conversation. It's only a small part of the song, and as much as I don't like the idea of a wasted truck driver, it is still a great song, plus it is really fun to say: I been from Tucson to Tucumcari, Tehatchapi to Tonapah...I'm sure everyone here knows it, and maybe could spell it more correctly than I have done. Robbie probably likes it, given his love of interesting place names.

Entered at Thu May 9 14:42:08 CEST 2002 from 0-1pool32-175.nas1.cincinnati1.oh.us.da.qwest.net (63.232.32.175)

Jenny T

Subject: SNL

Oh please don't tell me I missed an SNL with the Band or with Rick. I have been watching faithfully every night at least until they announce the musical guest, but last night decided to make a fancy dinner and got sidetracked.

I have been enjoying the new TLW CDs. Caldonia is a treat--I'm not sure I've ever heard it except for my mother used to sing it around the house. That and some other song that goes "put your shoes on Lucy, don't you know we're in the city" which maybe I will ask her what that song is. Does anyone here know?

I'd forgotten how much I like Out of the Blue. Dylan's Hazel is so different from the Planet Waves version. I know a lot of people don't like Planet Waves much, but I do. I absolutely have to play it on a cold, snowy day or on "a night like this."

Entered at Thu May 9 13:44:37 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-tf072.proxy.aol.com (64.12.103.52)

Brien Sz

Subject: The Number 1 British Single Of All Time Is....,

According to a poll done by Guiness World Records, the Number 1 all time single in Britain is Bohemian Rhapsody!!!Just to round out the list 2. Imagine 3. Hey Jude 4. Dancing Queen (abba) 5. Like a Prayer (madonna) 6. Angels (robbie williams) 7. Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields 8. Wannabe (spice girls) 9. Yesterday 10. Let It Be

Entered at Thu May 9 13:18:03 CEST 2002 from stjhts20d045.nbnet.nb.ca (207.179.149.174)

WS Walcott

Subject: neil diamond and ron wood

I guess I am not as enthusiastic as Donald Joseph when it comes to stories about Niel Diamond and who he hires to paint his house. I think enough has been written about Neil already. Wasn't Robbie the one who wanted him at TLW in the first place? What was he supposed to say, no? Who cares about Neil anyway? He isn't even worth mentioning.

I totally agree with Crazy Chester. Ron Wood is a very underrated and very good guitar player. He may not be in the upper echelon, but he is far above average.

Entered at Thu May 9 12:48:23 CEST 2002 from host213-1-177-154.in-addr.btopenworld.com (213.1.177.154)

Lifeboy

Subject: Counting Crowes song about Richard M

Hi all you Band Trainspotters(guess that includes me now!) Theres a special collectors edition of Uncut magazine out this month(if you are not UK resident try www.uncut.net)with a big Dylan feature that picks 40 songs with commentary etc. But more important is in the news section says Counting Crowes album Hard Candy released June 24 contains a track called "If I Could Give My Love To You(Richard Manuel)" a moving tribute to The Bands tragic singer. Great site by the way ta ta

Entered at Thu May 9 10:55:02 CEST 2002 from 64-80-53-235-static.surferz.net (64.80.53.235)

bluesflute

Subject: troy, ny

I'm sure not trying to spread false information here. Quite the contrary -- and certainly, it's quite possible that I misunderstood what Richard meant. However, he did always say something about being from Troy whenever a new article would come out. It was all a long time ago obviously, and I'm not claiming to be any closer to the source than I actually am. On the other hand, was a time that whenever I'd mention in these geographical parts that Rick's birthday was on December 29th, there would always be someone informing me that no, either I'd mis-heard the date, was imagining things, or he 'must have' lied to me, because everyone "knew" it was December 10th or 9th (depending on the source).

My point in the original post was only that much of the information out there seems to come from what has been surmised, heard or read "somewhere" by a third party, and/or that is a question of personal interpretation -- two sides to each story being a bare minimum, at best.

In my second post on the subject I tried to be careful to make the distinction between what my understanding was, and what I know to be fact. I actually came back to post again this morning for the sole purpose of adding that it would be a good idea for anyone with questions about Richard to ask someone closer to the source. I don't know the "secret identity" of The Hawk, so I wouldn't have any idea how close to the source he or she may be, although I'm sure that there are others here who do. My own contact with Richard was musical -- involving crossing voices, mostly -- and casually social. He was always very sweet to me, and treated me as a friend, but I don't recall being his confidant. I'm sure I would have noticed, had I been.

Entered at Thu May 9 09:56:44 CEST 2002 from salzl10proxy.aon.at (195.3.113.37)

Simon B.

Very good informative page, especially for fans!

Entered at Thu May 9 09:14:37 CEST 2002 from saintpaul.pioneerpress.com (208.149.52.102)

CHESTER from Minnesota

Subject: Diamond in the rough

I know,I know.... Im one of those last waltzers who say fare well and cant stay away, in this case less then two months since I wrote my farewell post in here, what can I say, ohh Ive read the posts in here but thats not good enough for a true blue Band fan I guess, so here gos...... I know how all you folks feel about Diamond, I guess I wasnt so quick to knock him and although Im not a fan I had no problem with him on TLW, so when the radio had a song of his on I actually would give it somewhat of a chance, not much of one but a little bit of one...I was almost to the point of saying the bashin in here wasnt justified, until a friend of mine who is in the culinary field told me a Neil story, she says a lot of rockers that come to town are pretty cool folks, I asked her who was one of the most down the earth rockers and she said Clapton is really a cool guy who will talk to anyone and doesnt expect to be traeted like royalty, on the other hand when are ole friend Neil comes to town you cant get near him because of his people are around him, he takes up a number of floors wherever he stays and is a major pain in the ass, hell just when I was about to give him a chance I find out hes pretty anal, just thought some of you GBers would get a kick out of that Neil spin.....just bought the DVD and really like it but whats not to lioke right, still looking for Neil Young trying to tweak Joanies ass but will ardently keep watching...... latter

Entered at Thu May 9 07:48:51 CEST 2002 from cas01.tsclos01.al.comcast.net (68.62.112.7)

Kevin

Subject: Meeting Levon Helm

Here's a story I posted in the newsgroup and someone told me I should post it here, so here ya'll go:

Just thought I'd let all of ya'll in on a cool little encounter I had this past weekend. Be warned, this is a looong one.

I was giggin' in Birmingham, AL this past Saturday and we opened for a band called the "Mike Plume (sp?) Band"....well, they were great and, get this, all from the great nation of Canada. Well, I was chewin' the fat w/the guitarist afterwards and he told me an awesome story about meeting Levon. I'll try to recount as best my memory can recollect. (I had a few to drink that night).:

Well, the MPB was on a stint in Woodstock and were playin' one night at a bar that I can't quite remember the name of. Well, guess who they opened up for. None other than Levon and his BarnBurners, who apparently are regulars at the bar. So, anyways, the MPB plays their set and then Levon and the Barnburners tear it up afterwards. Well, the drummer from MPB is Greek-American and is semi-fluent in the Greek dialect and, as the guitarist told me, Levon's road manager is as well. So, the drummer and Levon's road manager get to talkin' and so, the manager says "hey, boys, d'you wanna meet Levon?"...well, the MPB are huuuge fans of his, so of course they said yes. So, the road manager goes and tears Levon away from the crowd he's conversing with and Levon comes over and says something to the effect of (you should've heard this Canadian cat do a southern accent...it was perfect) "You boys really tore it up tonight. Ya'll really have some talent. You keep it up and don't let those corporate record company assholes get you down." So, Levon apologetically returns to the people he's conversing with and the boys from the MPB assumed that's the last they'll ever hear from their idol. So, anyways, after the show, the boys are loadin' up their van, and, as is the norm, one man is stationed at the van at all times to deter any would be five-finger discounters. Well, the guitarist from whom I'm hearing this story is pullin' his shift at the van waiting to get some equipment to load in, when he feels a "presence" behind him. Well, he turns around and who should it be than Mr. Helm himself.

Well, Levon tells the boy "Man, I wasn't bullshittin' you guys when I was sayin' that ya'll have talent. Ya'll keep at it and don't ever give up." Well, Levon shakes the boys hand and as he removes his hand he leaves behind a little "gift in a bag" for the boys. (I'll leave the reader the responsibility of deciding the gift's identity.) Well, I can't remember whether it was Levon or the road manager or who that asked 'em, but somehow the boys got invited back to the 'ole barn to hang out for the night. So, they went over and gazed in wonder and amazement at the many rock and roll treasures that were before them. These included, but were definitely not limited to, Rick Danko's TLW bass, and one of Garth's organs. So, anyways, the boys pass a few left-handed cigs around, politely thank Mr. Helm, and head back to their motel. Now, simply being a part of the story up to this point alone would've made me die a happy man, but no, the story does not end there.

While the boys were still in Woodstock, their bassist decided he'd had enough of the road and decided to split. So, the boys called up an old friend and he accepted the task of touring as their bassist. So, there they are w/a green bassist and nowhere to rehearse. They were scratchin' their noodles tryin' to think of a place in Woodstock they could rehearse and bring their new bassist up to speed and the only place they could think of was their new found friend Levon's barn. Well, the call was made and Mr. Helm, bein' the musician's friend that he is graciously let the boys come rehearse in the barn for an entire week. They would arrive around 10 every mornin' and go to work in that barn so full of spirits from years past and present. They got so inspired that they wrote song upon song while they were there and were occasionally joined by Levon in his nightshirt and underwear cheerin' the boys on and bringin' out a fresh plate of "Ma" Helms' cookies. Well, after the week of 10-hour rehearsal days was over, the boys thanked Levon and headed back out on the road with van loads of memories to carry along.

I just thought I'd pass this wonderful story along to all you fellow Band fans. This only goes to show Levon's true understanding of the touring musicians and his kindness and generosity as a person. Thank you, Levon for all you've given us and I think I speak for all my fellow musicians by saying you are one of the greats and will always be held in the highest esteem. Oh, yeah, and if you ever see the Mike Plume Band on the bill at a bar near you, go check 'em out. They make some great music and are a great bunch of fellas. And don't forget to ask that wild guitarist about meeting Mr. Levon Helm. Tell him Kevin from The Spoons said hello.

Sincerely, Kevin

Entered at Thu May 9 07:23:20 CEST 2002 from paalto-apx-1-147-151.penn.com (64.91.147.151)

Crazy Chester

Subject: Ron Wood(s)

Donald Joseph's quote about Ron Wood not having much talent isn't much of a comment. I was struck by how good Ron Wood sounds in the Jam#2 on TLW DVD. Great slide guitar. In fact he sounds better than just about anybody and looks a lot more alert than his cohorts. I don't know about Ron Wood's work with The Stones cause I quit listening to them after Mick Taylor left but don't forget all those early Rod Stewart LP's and Faces stuff. To me, Ron Wood is pretty darn amazing as bass player,slide and lead guitar,and songwriter too. Ron Wood not much talent, eh ? DUH!!!!

Entered at Thu May 9 06:18:59 CEST 2002 from rdu57-230-092.nc.rr.com (66.57.230.92)

barbecue bob

Hi everyone. I found this guest book a couple of months ago when it occurred to me to do a search on "The Band". They have been my favorite group since the Brown Album (never heard that term before reading it here) came out during my second year of college. Later I went back and caught up with Big Pink and am still amazed at how new things keep revealing themselves in the songs and performances even after all this time. Or maybe I'm hearing them with different ears at different life stages. Anyway, it sure is a lively spot you have here. Just wanted to mention a few great songwriters whose names I haven't yet seen listed: Curtis Mayfield (especially older Impressions tunes), Carter Stanley, Walter Hyatt, Isaac Hayes-David Porter, Bobby Womack, Dan Penn, Chips Moman, Spooner Oldham (The Memphis-Muscle Shoals crowd). About place name songs, does anyone else remember "High School USA"? I don't know the artist but there were different versions done for different markets listing local highschool names in a rapid-fire "I've Been Everywhere" sort of way. I think it was from around 1960.

Entered at Thu May 9 05:27:42 CEST 2002 from 1cust208.tnt16.nyc9.da.uu.net (63.38.56.208)

Crabgrass

Subject: Name Changes

Well, most folks seemed to disagree when I put "Honky Tonk Gurus" at the top of my Worst Band Name list a while back. Now, suddenly, the Gurus have been transformed into the Jim Weider Band!!

Crabgrass' influence? Or was Jim simply following Levon's lead? And will there soon be an Aaron Hurwitz Band?

Entered at Thu May 9 05:14:55 CEST 2002 from sdn-ap-001castocp1810.dialsprint.net (63.187.7.32)

rollie

Is he blowing his ass off?:)

Entered at Thu May 9 04:24:13 CEST 2002 from dialup-63.215.116.66.dial1.chicago1.level3.net (63.215.116.66)

Pat Brennan

Yes, Butterfield is all over the Jam.

Entered at Thu May 9 04:10:01 CEST 2002 from dialup-63.215.116.66.dial1.chicago1.level3.net (63.215.116.66)

Pat Brennan

My Diamond Theory is rather simple. The discovery of that moment showed me that Neil Diamond has two sides: the show-biz persona that prompts him to wear funny clothes and duet with Streisand types, and the human side that prompts him to urge on The Hawk to join in the ISBR chorus. Note here that nobody else on stage urged the elder statesman to join the festivities. Now we all know the show-biz Diamond and probably have similiar feelings about him. But we all have these secret Diamond pleasures too (mine being Cherry Cherry, which means I've had a less than compelling relationship with most of his career). And I have no doubt that it was the guy who waved The Hawk to join him at the mic (The Hawk opted to lean over to Levon's mic) is the same guy who wrote Cherry Cherry. Thus, when addressing Neil Diamond here, we should think of that moment, and those guilty pleasures, before we tow the company line about him.

Entered at Thu May 9 03:16:49 CEST 2002 from sdn-ap-005castocp0121.dialsprint.net (63.187.40.121)

rollie

Subject: Butterfield

Is there any new footage of Butterfield in the updated LW? Does he appear in any of the jam footage?

Entered at Thu May 9 03:05:08 CEST 2002 from wc12.ym.rnc.net.cable.rogers.com (66.185.85.79)

The Hawk

QUOTE

"Manuel, the son of a Stratford, Ontario, mechanic, developed his vocal ability as a youth in the Baptist church choir. He grew up listening to country music, eventually discovering R&B, which would become a huge influence. (His voice would garner frequent comparisons to Ray Charles.) Manuel was the fourth future member of the Band to join the Hawks. In 1961, Levon Helm was the drummer for the Hawks and Robbie Robertson was on bass. Soon, however, Robertson took over as lead guitarist and Rick Danko was added as the new bass player. When Stan Szelest left the group that year, Richard Manuel was brought in as the piano player.

Richard was from Stratford, played with the Revols in Stratford and is buried in Stratford. Richard was not from Troy New York and this is the first time anyone has ever read he was from Troy NY.

Entered at Thu May 9 02:31:19 CEST 2002 from spider-mtc-tg063.proxy.aol.com (64.12.102.178)

Bayou Sam

Subject: Reunion

This is one of the greatest visits I've ever made to the guestbook. Sometime in the mid 70's I got the single of "Life is a Rock But The Radio Rolled Me" by Reunion. I've always loved the vocal and hoped that one day I could learn all the lyrics - Today I make my regular trip through the GB, and there in front of me, the words to this song. I read through them with a big grin on my face like I just discovered the meaning of life. Jack Straw, you're the best.

RayG = I couldn't agree more. Robbie should get a swift kick in the ass for having done ANYTHING to that Tele.

Entered at Thu May 9 02:05:19 CEST 2002 from netcache-1115.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.222.132)

j~t

ahhh...how terrific it was to see Rick dancin' around on that old SNL a few minutes ago....and Butter too !

Entered at Thu May 9 01:29:06 CEST 2002 from dialup-67.25.134.170.dial1.buffalo1.level3.net (67.25.134.170)

Road Wariors

We just scanned through the WHAT's NEW section and noticed Jim Weider's post re. the name change-NEW NAME-THE JIM WEIDER BAND. Thanks for the clarification!! Also, we are glad to see that your new Cd, "REMDY", will be out at the end of May! It is super, super, super! Congrat's to you and all the JWB crew.

Entered at Thu May 9 01:04:36 CEST 2002 from ns1.prenhall.com (198.4.159.5)

Ray G

Subject: Can you belive

This post is for the gear-heads.

Ugg!!!!!!!!! I just listenned to the commentary on TLW DVD and Martin Scorcese said that the Bronze Strat had belonged to Buddy Holly and Robbie had it modified and bronzed. Robbie gave it to MS after the movie was completed. I know its value is astrinomical anyway because of its past and present owners but Vintage Smintage... how can you cut into and re-finished one of Buddy Holly's guitars! Great musician/song-writer stuff aside... What a bone-head!!!

Entered at Thu May 9 00:03:52 CEST 2002 from l98uppx1.hewitt.com (4.17.250.5)

Donald Joseph

Subject: I think I understand the new Neil Diamond doctrine

I flunked Logic 101, so pls. bear with me. Lemme see if I got this down, OK?

PROPOSITION #1: Neil Diamond graciously urged Ronnie Hawkins into the TLW finale singalong. PROPOSITION # 2: The Bard of the Brill Building once hired Albert Collins to step 'n' fetchit & paint his house (I assume Diamond provided water, rest breaks, & paid minimum wage, although I doubt he contributed to workers' comp./unemployment comp., but we'll let that go -- he probably would argue that the Master of the Telecaster was a self-employed independent contractor).

Hence, from these 2 propositions it directly follows that, vis-a-vis his Hawkins/Collins good deeds, Neil Diamond is, therefore, a morally worthy human being. Ergo, all "art" Neil Diamond ever produced is good art. Hence to criticize or deride any Neil Diamond tune is, a priori, wrong.

As such, it stands to reason that "Soulemon," "Song Sung Blue," and the "Crunchy Granola Suite" are great art, components of a great artist's oeuvre.

OK, OK, I THINK I've got it. But just one more question: Is there some sort of exception or exclusion for "Jonathan Livingston Seagull"? How about those bits of "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" where you can only hear Babs singing?

One more question: It stands to reason, given the foregoing, that all of Levon's snide Neil Diamond derision in "This Wheel's on Fire" is ill-founded, and should be razor-bladed out of all copies of the book in print. But because the source of those jabs is none other than Levon Helm, is there some sort of "Helm Nullification Quotient Corallary" we can apply -- if only so we can maintain the integrity of our personal libraries?

PS to WS Walcott: You say not much has changed in the GB, & it's the "same old stuff"? Ha! Cite me another post in GB history informing you that Neil Diamond once hired Albert Collins to paint his house! It's nuggets like these bringing us all back, man!

Entered at Wed May 8 23:36:10 CEST 2002 from 64-80-53-226-static.surferz.net (64.80.53.226)

bluesflute