The Band Guestbook, November 2019

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Anaïs

Did Robbie not say this movie was like nothing else Scorsese had done before? I thought it was just another very predictable Scorsese mob movie and a very predictable soundtrack by Robbie! Scorsese has recently been working on a film about New York City’s vibrant music scene of the 1970's in a forthcoming documentary.

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Shag Time Willy

Subject: Once Were Brothers

Any of you kind, generous folk know where and or when one can see Once Were Brothers.

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jh

Robbie shedding some new light on the creation of "Up on Cripple Creek".

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Mike Nomad

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Dave H

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Dag B.

Subject: Rick Danko - Blue Tail Fly (1989)

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Dunc

Subject: Five Great Canadian albums

Let’s Frolic Again - Blackie and the Rodeo Kings - Garth on accordion and Richard Bell on piano on Old Hotel are amazing. Great song after great song, outstanding musicianship.

Live In London - Leonard Cohen - saw this show in Glasgow. The great poet accompanied by brilliant musicians, commanding an audience.

Hitchhiker - Neil Young - I think the performance series is great.

Complete Greatest Hits - Gordon Lightfoot - I only really know the hits, but this album gets a lot of plays. I really enjoyed seeing him in concert.

Ladies of the Canyon - Joni Mitchell - bought Big Yellow Taxi when it came out and still love it. I only have three Joni albums but there is a great 8 album set for a ridiculously low price. I’m contemplating buying it, but do I have too much music? (The reason I don’t know her work so comprehensively is because of Sandy Denny and to a lesser extent Jacqui McShee with Pentangle.)

All played this week.

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Norm J

Subject: Post Script

I had meant to comment. Watching "The Irishman", I was very much aware of how Trump talks just like those mob guys. It is such a laugh he is a wannabe mob boss. It is funny how the Trump lovers hate Deniro when Trumps sounds just as stupid as the mobsters. I recall in an interview a while back when Deniro says about Trump he's a wannabe and he gives gangstas a bad name. Not even any of them lie that much.

These people who hate Deniro and think he's dumb probably have not followed his career that much. Right back from the days of "The Deer Hunter" he has played some very difficult parts and he obviously has done his home work on a lot of history. One movie I really enjoyed with some expert acting was "Sleepers" where Deniro plays a priest.

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Norm J

Subject: I hear you paint houses

Hello Roger! glad I looked in this morning. Happy you are enjoying your holiday. Roberts Creek is where we lived when I ended my high school going to Elphinstone High in Gibsons. My folks lived in Roberts Creek for 35 years.

Last night I had a go at watching "The Irishman". Never finished, fell asleep. A typical Pacino, Deniro, Pesi gangsta movie. Watching it on Netflix maybe I'll finish it today.

The line "I hear you paint houses" to Deniro and he answers "and I do my own carpentry" gave me a chuckle. Reminds me of a long time ago when I was admonishing Bumbles about all those holes out in the Jersey swamps with bodies stuck in them. Bumbles very indignantly says "They are not swamps they are Meadow Lands" :-)

Anyone who has seen "The Irishman" will know. I was watching it in bed. Susan was interested in it at first then she gives me this scornful look. They swear worse than you do!

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Kevin J

ANSWER: “This Is Where I Get Off”......Album: “How To Become Clairvoyant”

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Roger

Subject: Guilt

Sync - we’re away (Roberts Creek at the weekend Norm!) but Guilt is storing up for us. It’ll have to be after Spiral and The Crown though. The Crown - the Aberfan episode was remarkable. Canada is wonderful. We were in a coffee shop in Tofino the other day and Rag Mama Rag came blasting (sedately) through the speakers. Never happens in Birmingham.

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Kevin J

Anyone else really enjoying the new RR Christmas song ? Nice to hear him actually singing and in good humour...and some fine guitar as well....Try not to wait 48 hrs to get back to me on this.....God, I miss JT....this place has never been the same.

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Helge D

Subject: Happy holidays

I’m sure I have heard this song before, also sung by Robbie. Any one who knows?

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Bill M

JQ, Lisa: Thanks for the pointers to Nathaniel Rateliff. I liked his "Caravan" more and more with each passing minute (and a lot of minutes passed). I just wish the guitarists hadn't felt the need to reclaim the spotlight after Rateliff's great finish. Not even a thanks or shout-out.

I also liked the kind of music he was doing on the drink song. A lot. Reminds me of the best label comp I've heard, "Bob Geddins' Big Town Records Story" - 1/3 sacred gospel songs and 2/3 profane R&B songs. Well worth tracking down.

I haven't the foggiest idea why, but the second little thumbnail 'recommendation' that appears down the right side of the YouTube screen when Rateliff was singing the drink song was "Asshole" by Dennis Leary. Ten years ago I heard and enjoyed a song with the chorus "I'm an asshole", but I never knew who it was by. So I clicked on the Dennis Leary song - at link - and sure enough, that was the one. Still pretty funny and largely on-target.

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Lisa

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JQ

Subject: Nathaniel Rateliff

Hi Lisa - I don't know if you've seen this but you might enjoy it -

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Jed

Saw Bob last night. Added a second guitarist and a new drummer. More rocking and bluesy. His voice is the best I’ve heard in years. Kick ass band. Bob played guitar on 2 songs. Outstanding performance and lots of incredible new lyrics. The humor is still deeply intact.

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Ragtime

Subject: Ragtime's guestbook archive 1999

A shocking experience.

Today I walked through the "Passage", which is a shopping arcade in The Hague, dating from the early 1900s.

They were playing muzak. I hate muzak. Well, we all do, of course. I once was a militant member of a Dutch anti-muzak society fighting for a muzak-free environment. It doesn't exist anymore (this society, I mean).

Anyway: I had to be there to do some shopping, this morning. Couldn't avoid it. Normally I try not to hear what the loudspeakers are doing to me. This time I was struck by a whiny tune that sounded vaguely familiar.

It happened to be a slow & slimy arrangement of "Chest Fever"!

I had to play the real thing all day to expell this painful experience out of my head. Now I'm wondering how one of the most intense Band songs could be turned into something absolutely horrible.

Another no less shocking experience.

Some time ago I was interviewed for a magazine as part of a series: What Music Do Reviewers Like Most? Kind of a Desert Island Discs query.

One of the questions was: "Do you like any other music than classical?" - Oh yes, I said.

"Do you listen to rock music by any chance?" - Oh yes.

"What rock music?" - The Band.

"The band? What band?" - Just The Band.

"The band?" - Yes, The Band.

"Oh, now I see! The Dutch Swing College Band, of course!" - No, no, no! I'm not a dixieland guy and I never wear a tuxedo! I'm getting tired now... it 's The Band.

"I don't understand! What band?" - Have you ever heard of Bob Dylan?

"Bob Dylan? Of course I've heard of Bob Dylan! Who hasn't? The guy that won the Nobel Prize" - Well, that Band!

Now today the magazine came out in print and what does it say? I like Bob Dylan and his band...

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Kevin J

I ducking hope you burn in hello

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Kevin J

Yes, Lisa.....Rateliff soared......Caravan a knockout in 1976 and 2019....wild !

Ya gotta know, it wasn't that evil Robbie Robertson that broke up the Band with TLW......it was the Ukrainians! ....anyhow....THANK YOU....that concert has meant so much to me over the last 40 years. Beautiful memories.

So so heartwarming to see Robbie letting it rip a bit and being alive to soak in what TLW has meant to so many......and take note Jed.....Robbie can still play guitar.

As to this GB history.....I was not a fan of the early years.....some staggeringly good writing about Band matters but overwhelmed always by ridiculous and viscous attacks against RR and squabbles amounts GB members..........I truly believe the golden era of this GB was the "Renegade Years" 2003-2008....not just because I was prominent during that era but because it seemed a time when we had an almost perfect balance of music and life writing........Steve, David P, Todd, bob w, PSB, Mike Nomad, the legendary Bumbles, Northern Boy, the always graceful Joan, PutEmUp(friendO), Peter V and Pat B as moderators....oh...to suspend Jeff for 3 games or a full season being an almost daily drama.....

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Peter V

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Wallsend

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Lisa

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Dunc

I would like to have seen that too Beg.

Peter and Roger make sure you watch ‘Guilt’, the Scottish black comedy. Record collecting is a theme running through the four episodes. Rick gets a great mention in the second episode and I couldn’t make out the album they were referring to in the background. Maybe Peter will be able to identify every piece of music used in the series.

It’s been a big hit here and critically acclaimed. And I notice it’s getting good reviews at your end of the UK.

Wallsend, I’m sure it’ll come to your area of the world because of its success.

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Peter V

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brown eyed girl

The Band’s Robbie Robertson Performs At The Last Waltz Nashville

Nov 24, 2019
Andy Kahn
JAMBASE

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Dave H

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Lisa

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Dave Hopkins

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JQ

PV - While you’re mooching around his catalog you might want to check this out on YouTube. Very good sound and it’s his most recent act, set list and band.

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Solomon

I do like that picture of Robbie on Bass with Levon on Mandolin and Rick on Acoustic- It looks like a very early 1969-70 show?

Last Five

Beck - Bottle of Blues

Boubacar Traoré - Africa

Randy Newman - Harps and Angels

Tift Merrit - Supposed To Make You Happy

Keith Richards - Love Overdue

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Peter V

Last five:

The Band, 5.1 surround version

Live At The Star Club, Hamburg – Jerry Lee Lewis with the Nashville Teens, often cited as the best live traditional rock & roll album ever. It may be.

Labour of Love: The Songs of Nick Lowe – Various Artists.

16 All Time Lowes- Nick Lowe.

Join Me & Let’s Be Free – Wilson Pickett, 1975 RCA album. A touch generic.

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Ragtime

Subject: My first steps in this GB

If my mem'ry serves me well... My first steps in this GB were in 1998, when Jubilation came out. I allowed myself to comment on Levon's and Rick's singing on that album and was subsequently reprimanded by Uncle Hangover, the constantly drinking guy from Joe's Generic Cafe. After some time Jan made this endearing old friend disappear ;-)

And yes, NorthWestCoaster, I welcomed you and your dog to the GB, and was reprimanded again, by Serge this time. Those happy old days... ;-)

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Rod

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Norm J

Subject: Hello Roger

Welcome to the west coast Roger. A little wet this time of year. As I sit here by my fire with head phones on listening to a lot of Playing for Change youtube, this thought struck me. I had to laugh out loud.

Think back to 1968 - 1969, could we ever have believed we could be sitting here watching and listening to a man in Nepal playing "The Weight" on a sitar. I can never get tired of listening to these master pieces.

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Roger Woods

Subject: Origins

I hooked up with the internet in 1996 and the first thing I did was seek out The Band. I was happy to find Jan's site. Karl Wallendzus was an early poster. A few Brits posted around May and June because The Band played a couple of dates in the UK. Karl and I hooked up to travel to a couple of events - Garth in London and a showing of The Last Waltz. I occasionally drive past his road in Oxford but haven't seen him for years. I remember Paul Godfrey well. He had a connection to Birmingham and we emailed back and forth a bit. I'm currently in Vancouver - so nearer holy ground than usual.

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Norm J "Westcoaster"

Subject: Interesting Bill

In the history of the Band Guestbook it's hard for me to remember exactly when I began to interact. I got my first computer in 1999 when I found how well the GPS navigation system worked so I had it on my boat. I think I first brought it home in 2000 or 2001. For a few months I observed the Guest book. I think at that time Norbert was at the helm. Then there was that period for a while when Tracey had that pink page.

The first thing that prompted me to post I recall a guy named John was saying what an insult it was to be called a Canuck. He said his grand father would fight. I believe he was French Canadian. I was motivated to explain "Johnny Canuck"

The first fellow that I had conversation with was Paul Godfrey. A very nice fellow who we unfortunately lost a long way back. "Shine On". Paul and I discussed at that time Don Gibson and his huge hit "Sea of Heart Break". I do miss Paul's company.

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Bill M

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Jon Lyness

ATTENTION CITIZENS: make sure you read the Clash Magazine article on The Band (1969 album) that Jan has linked to on the What's New page (currently the 3rd link down). Excellent evocative writing, and brimming with insights and asides about the writing and recording process that I have not heard before.

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Peter V

22 years. When did we go to Lyme Regis, Bill? I was thinking a dozen years, but it must be nearer twenty!

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Bill M

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Lisa

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Bill

jh and Jon L: "Twilight" is lovely, whoever sings it. If it's from the early '70s, I wonder why it didn't come out on an earlier album. I also wonder how it came to us with Rick singing; as Robbie wrote with the singer's voice in mind, it makes sense that Richard would have gotten first crack at it in the studio.

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Dag B.

Subject: Michael J. Pollard

Guess somewhere there could be an unreleased album with input from Band-members.

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Rod

John D, you must have a few stories about that night at TLW.

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John D

Subject: Michael J Pollard Dies at the age of 80

When I was invited to The Last Waltz in 1976 and was wondering where I could sit; when I wasn't wondering around out front. I was directed to go behind the curtain to the left of Richard Manual. There I was all alone; until Michael J. Pollard was ushered in as well. It was just the two of us behind the curtain. Had a great conversation with him. I knew him best for his role in Bonnie & Clyde. R.I.P.

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Jon Lyness

Wow. He is just everywhere these days. Crazy!

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Dag B.

Subject: Happy Holidays

Robbie's new track.

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Ari

Has anybody heard Robbies new Christmas song???

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Jon Lyness

Subject: Re: Twilight demo

Jan, I just love that Twilight. That demo recording is used to great effect towards the end of the Once Were Brothers film, which nicely uses a number of demos and alternate takes to keep things fresh. I actually thought it was Richard on vocals here on first listen. Seems likely it is Robbie aiming (quite effectively IMO) for a Richard-type vocal.

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NorthWestCoaster

Hello

Today I start my serie on THE FABULOUS "THE BEST OF THE BEST IN HISTORY OF GB"... people who introduced me to one of the most remarkable band in the history of American rock music. Later on you'll "meet" legendary Band profiles like late Mr. Serge Daniloff, Mr. Leon Dener, Mr. Greil Marcus. You'll meet lurkers like "Zimmie" (in fact, he told me "you may call me Zimmie").

Let's start from the start. For forty years ago in the childhood of the internet I sat in teachers' office. Actually, I waited for my spouse to finnish her teacher-parents discussions. Windows 95 'puters were in front of me. I searched "The Band" in Altavista. I found this site.

It didn't take too long before I posted my first contribution (nothing which would change the world). Surprise-surprise: I got reaction from RAGTIME WILLIE. He welcomed me to this gb. He got a lot of s**t beacause of that. A Canadian Band profile Serge Daniloff got mad: "You don't have any right to wish anyone welcome here." - After that I became an internet friend with RAGTIME WILLIE, a Dutchman. He has a great knowledge on Finnish classical music. In fact, he is classically educated. Occassionally, he is still posting here.

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Peter V

The real joy of the new remaster is the 5.1 blu ray, which does reveal new stuff. I agree on the drum sound. You can't polish perfection. With the box set you get it on CD, blu-ray and vinyl (two LPs at 12" single speed … 45 rpm for greater fidelity) and Rag Mama Rag / Unfaithdful Servant on a 45 rpm single, plus the complete Woodstock set in great quality. The photos are beautifully presented, but the new text is pretty short. For most, three versions in different media is overkill. I don't know whether they'll later make the 5.1 available on its own. The same is true of Big Pink. I've only been playing the blu ray - it's been a busy week. I've suddenly got addicted to re-listening to Nick Lowe non stop too.

The Mona Lisa, BTW, is extremely disappointing. It's behind bulletproof glass and you can't get near it. In contrast the cleaned up stuff in the Uffizi in Florence is not and is jaw dropping, especially Birth of Venus (aka Venus on the Half Shell).

Probably my favourite album of all time. It competes with Sgt. Pepper, Blonde on Blonde and What's Going On, but if I could only have one, it would probably be the Brown Album. (Though if it was just one side of an album, Abbey Road Side Two might win … or Magical Mystery Tour Side 2 with the singles). So I thought the investment in the 5.1 worth it (though I can't say I've gone back to Big Pink 5.1 much)

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Rod

The 50th edition hasn't hit the stores here yet. I don't want to buy it online as I feel I should support the few CD/LP stores that still exist here. I have listened to it on Spotify and I know that the quality is not as good as it wil l be on CD. It sounds brighter and clearer but I'm not sure if I like that yet - almost a bit dry in places, a bit Cahootsy. Really don't like the drum sounds on some tracks - seems to have lost that woody sound which was part of the trade mark sound. I'm listening on HS7s which can be a bit bright, comparing the new versions with the original mixes on YouTube. It is nice to hear the slightly different mixes but it's a bit like changing the contrast on the Mona Lisa.

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Bill M

Subject: John Mann, RIP

Today's sad musical news was of the death of John Mann, leader of Vancouver's wonderful Spirit of the West, a celtic-ish group. Their only kinda-sorta intersection with the Band was a compilation called something like "Canadian on Mountain Stage", on which they sang "Political" and Garth and Rick performed "Twilight" (which janh just posted another version of).

Their big song was the lovely "If Venice Is Sinking". Rather than linking to the official video, I've linked to a very moving production of the song onstage at Massey Hall a few years ago, preceded by a context-setting exercise. John had been diagnosed as suffering from early-onset dementia, and this was part of a short goodbye tour. Especially moving is seeing him having to read lyrics that he'd sung without assistance every night for 20 years before his faculties started to fade away.

For me personally, another link is that my closest friend had died of the same cause at 58. (Mann was 57.) And he was a HUGE Band fan. We went to see the gala opening of "The Last Waltz" movie after class in 1978. And I took him to see BaRK's Last Waltz tribute with Garth Hudson special guesting - maybe 10 years ago. He even got to go backstage to meet Garth, Maud and Bill Avis.

Dunc: The song after Venice is "I Was The King Of Scotland". It's about Idi Amin.

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jh

Subject: Twilight

Lovely vocals from JRR on this early '70s demo.

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Bill M

Subject: the Paupers

And here's "Numbers" by the Paupers. Brad Campbell sing the first half and plays bass; the principal singer (and songwriter), Adam Mitchell, sings the second half. Both those guys, and also drummer Skip Prokop and guitarist Chuck Beal, went on to do other work with Albert Grossman, suggesting he wasn't really all that bad.

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Bill M

Kevin J: Here's the Last Words' biggest hit, "Give Me Time" - from 1967. Bill Dureen sings, Brad Campbell plays bass.

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Kevin J

Bill Dureen........I am sorry about the loss of your friend........also pleased, as you noted, that Bill M takes the time and effort to get details right about people's lives. Not everyone who picks up an instrument goes on to world-wide fame but so many great musicians like Bill Dureen and Brad Campbell made an important mark in the musical life of a pretty good rock n roll city called Toronto.....and I for one care a lot about learning that history.

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Bill M

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Bill Dureen

Subject: Brad Campbell

Thank you Bill Munson and John Donabie for letting your group know of Brad Campbell's (bassist for Janis Joplin) passing. I played keys in his first band, The Last Words. Bill, your post was the most accurate history I've read. It will be tough to carry on without his humour and talent. Still shocked.

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Lisa

There is a growing movement to go digital with orchestral scores, as opposed to the usual paper scores that can become so overwritten with notes, corrections, etc. as to be almost unreadable, to say nothing of the work in providing 85+ physical scores to all the music that might be played in a season. This also eliminates having to turn pages of the traditional paper score.

I know it's been tried, but don't know how successful it's been so far. Interesting idea, though.

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Roger

Subject: Hey Wallsend...

Hey Wallsend - on classical music - we saw the Australian Chamber Orchestra at Newcastle Town Hall last week. Lots of bowing and much brilliant scraping. Were you there?

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Bill M

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Peter V

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Bill M

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Peter V

Performing rights is another area like this. If you have a second hand record shop and play music, you have to have a Performing Rights licence in the UK. The proceeds are divvied out to composers by some sort of calculation. This goes way back. When a band played live they had to fill out a performing rights sheet (often my job). We always wrote only the band’s own songs down in the vain hope of eventually getting a higher place (or rather just "a place") in the share out. We cheated, we lied.

My friends with second hand record shops say that they get inspected and checked too, and it’s quite a bit of money. They also go after fashion shops, dentists, osteopaths, anyone who plays recorded music in a business context. I heard of one therapist who is a good pianist who recorded herself playing her own compositions to play to patients and told them to Fu*k off.

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Peter V

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Peter V

Wallsend … there are different rituals. The conductor to lead violinist handshake was semi-ironic, I think, certainly after the first two or three. If you’d seen the conductor exhorting the audience at the encore, you’d feel spontaneity. Everyone in the chorus was clapping along to the music, and it felt very “now.”

We used to do a version of the play of The Ruling Class twice a year when we did ESL stage shows. The school advertised a full play once a month, and it was one of our choices. My then boss was partnered with a Brazilian opera singer who did the necessary Traviata part for us off stage. The opera ritual is a bunch of flowers and he used to buy and present them at the end when she appeared to take bows, because without that, the fat lady doesn’t sing (not that this one was at all fat).

I found the same ritual mildly annoying in Mexico. At the end of a major conference speech, I was always presented with a magnificent bouquet of flowers. Often, I was on my way to the airport right afterwards, so just handed them straight to the local rep. I always thought it was a bit of a waste of money all round. The gesture is important, I guess. I’ve had flowers elsewhere too while on tour.

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Pat B

Mary Martin describing Garth doing lead sheets for Leonard Cohen.

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b.lee

Subject: Sheet...

Sheet music. Expensive when you can find it, often transposed into piano-friendly keys, either stupidly simple guitar chords or jazz chords that nobody on the original records ever played unless they were studio ringers or George Harrison.

I recall seeing a Steely Dan songbook years ago that had an intro written by Walter Becker revealing the secret "mu major" chord that was essential to the Dan Sound, and how if they walked into a Holiday Inn lounge and your band was playing, say, Reelin' In the Years and you were NOT using the mu major, they would know.

Music books seem to be and attempt to squeeze some extra juice out of any popular artist that might inspire wanna-bes, regardless of how awful or inaccurate the transcriptions. The only outlets for these are music stores and Amazon. Many are slap-dash affairs, gussied up with a few choice photos, given a limited press run and quickly go out of print. The same 'publishers' (cough, cough, dick james) then decry and threaten hobbyists who post their versions of songs on user sites. Maybe they have a point. These are seldom entirely correct and once a bad transcription is posted to one site, every site in the bl***dy universe grabs ahold of that one error-riddled version and adds it to their index. I know of no site where an individual can buy a single song.

I recently bought a dusty copy of "Jerry Garcia Songbook -- His Solo Repertoire" in a local music shop for list minus senior discount. At the time there was one offered for about $30 on Amazon, which I also bought. The next cheapest one was in the $250 neighborhood. This is still the case today. Bear in mind these are songs Jerry did solo or with the Jerry Garcia Band. Most he did not even write. So they may bear little resemblance to how Jerry played them. Is it worth it? I read neither notation or tab although I can figure out the latter given some time. Some of the riffs (or riff, one per song) seem close, but I have to transpose most all of the songs in order to sing them. My second copy remains in the bag. Let the bidding commence...

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Wallsend

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Peter V

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JQ

In the great movie: 3 Billboards, they used the Joan Baez version. How come??

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Bill M

Producer: "Hey Joan. How 'bout we try that Dixie Down song from the brown Band album?

Joan Baez: "Hmm, is that the Virgil Crane one? Wouldn't it be a bit pro-South for my audience?"

Producer: "It's Cane, not Crane, but yes, that's the song. And I've got to tell you, it's not your audience we need - we need to get your message out to all of America. The main thing is that it's anti-war, and even Motown is going anti-war.

Joan Baez: "I guess. Do you have sheet music for me?" Producer: "That'd be like $8.95, assuming we can find it. Just borrow this. [Chair squeaks, and then squeaks again.] A copy of the album. You've got great ears - so just give it a couple quick listens and we'll get it down this afternoon. What could go wrong?"

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Peter V

As Richard Manuel said, it was rare for writers to have anything to do with the sheet music. Music publishers employed young music school graduates to write them out. Sheet music was still important for copyright, and the music publishing companies still thought in those terms, that the sheet music was the true central product. Richard would have been the exception in wanting to check (or wanting Garth to check) it was right. Paul McCartney still says he couldn’t read music. Maybe if you have a brilliant ear, it just isn’t important. You don’t need to. When I was working with bands in the late 60s, I don’t ever recall them seeking out sheet music for songs they wanted to cover. In early garage band days, we sometimes did (I still have All My Loving) but not later. I also have the Chuck Berry Songbook, which was bought for getting the lyrics right. I don’t think anyone ever looked at the music on the page.

BUT I wouldn’t take lyrics on sheet music as gospel either. The most they’d be given was hand scribbled lyrics, but often just the record.

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haso

Subject: Dag/2019 TLW

Thanks Dag. I'm sure I read that interview at one point; my self-mapped intro to Jan's site however many years back now, was to read everything he has in the members, history and library categories. It took awhile before I saw the Guestbook. I'll read all of RAS's interview again, soon; as well as the Clash article... that looks to be a very worthwhile investment of time. Also, looking forward to placing an order at our local bricks-n-mortar record shop for the 50th Brown deal.

Last 5 will have to wait, until next week.

Thoroughly enjoyed the Blackbird TLW 2019 tour. Saw it in a small venue, probably seats 1500 at the most; decent sound, decent sightlines although right on an aisle headed to the john and the doors outside for the tobacco crowd to get their fix. A few highlights I made note of late that night. (Some performances were up on youtube right away.) Opened w/ Cripple Creek; intermission return w/ Genetic Method/Chest Fever; encore of Such a Night, dedicated to the good Dr. and Don't Do It

As my adult daughter said "they did it (TLW) justice".

Jamey Johnson has a surprisingly nice, strong voice; good work on many Levon leads. Pulled out a deep cut early w/ a rendition of "Georgia" ... yes, I realize that's Richard's lead. Plus Lukas Nelson seemed to do a fine quoting of the lead guitar on that song from what I recall of Willie's version from his Stardust lp. Medeski was excellent (I mean, he's not Garth, but no one is). Cyrille Neville a very young 71 and the Radiators, Malone both excellent additions; Bob Margolin and Warren Haynes both playing good slide and I judged at appropriate moments even though, so far as I can recall RR never did, at least w/ the OQ. Bob did both of Muddy's tunes.

A very N'Awlins horn section I thought. A nice drumbreak btw Cyrille, on congas, etc and the drumkit during their Butterfield piece. Only later (after the early youtubes were out) did it appear clear to me that the guy sitting in row 10 or so afterwards, by himself, w/ a Hendrix t-shirt, was Lukas. I'm guessing he was getting a feel for what we all thought.

Anyway, 1st rate. Warren and Don Was have a good grasp on honoring what's come before I think.

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Dag B.

Subject: Ruth Albert Spencer interview, 1984

Do you read music?

RR: No... no.

RAS: How do you write out...

RR: I write out the chord progressions.

RAS: You mean, like the letters, "C major."

RR: Yeah, I write out the chords.

MS: How do you notate the melody?

RR: I sing the melody while I play the chords.

MS: And then does someone transcribe it for you?

RR: Nobody transcribes it - oh, you mean when they have it in song books and stuff like that?

MS: Yeah, eventually it gets committed to writing.

RR: Yeah, well, what they do for those things - they just take the records and they just take it off the records. I have nothing to do with that whatsoever - except they send it to see if they were done correctly, and I would give it to Garth and say "Is this done correctly?"

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Wallsend

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haso

Subject: quick to Dag, more on the 2019 tour later

I'll go into last 5 later tonight or tomorrow; plus I went to the TLW 2019 last Thursday w/ my daughter, so I'll give a recount.

But HUGE props, Dag. I had spent a good deal of time, at local music stores and such looking for RR sheet music. No such luck. I'm not a musician, don't even read it but know a Japanese piano teacher that will be happy to see your sheet music from your brown album, MFBP post. Man o man, good on ya. Here's a question somebody probably can answer: w/ all that sheet music on Dag's post, who transcribed all those song's off of guitar charts? I thought only Garth read music. Or by the times of MFBP/ John Wesley Harding etc, had he taught Dylan and the other 4 to read music? Does RR do so today? I would imagine it an aid for his soundtrack work.

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Peter V

Subject: Symphonic Pink Floyd

Link to my review. The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, the huge Bournemouth Symphony Chorus plus “The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Pink Floyd Rock Band.” There were nearly 200 musicians and singers on stage for a totally sold out concert. As it should be. Pink Floyd never sounded this good!

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John D

Subject: Bra Campbell

We'll see if this works. Picture of Brad with The Last Words. Brad is on far right.

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John D

Bill thank you very much for your photographic memory of Brad Campbell. Some things in there I did not know.

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John D

Many years ago I began a friendship with my friend Peter Donato. It was at the time that The Band came on the scene. I don't think he'd mind if I gave his quote to me yesterday to share with you.

" I probably know that album better than just about any other and I heard stuff today i never heard before. I like this remix better than I do the Big Pink one. The main things - Rick and Levon’s bottom sounds better, especially that deep Danko bass, vocals also popped out and the detail in Robbies rhythm playing is brighter."

We're stilll friends and i second Peter's thoughts now that I have listened to the 2 CD set. He also encouraged me to buy the new Abbey Road.

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Dunc

Subject: Catching Up

Thanks for the reviews John D and Peter.

I'll get the cheaper 50th version of The Band.(I don't have a record player, got rid of the Blu Ray player and am not bothered about photographs.)

Should I buy the Music From Big Pink 50th at the same time? Are the remixes worth it? Did we discuss this?

In from boys' football. Freezing this morning, but it's a beautiful winter's day. Not our normal rain. I'm playing the Live at the Academy of Music remix. I have the Bob Clearmountain remixes, and these CDs are great pieces of music.

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Bill M

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Peter V

I'm touched at the interest in my dancing. I was alone, but at one point Mrs V walked in and said "Jesus Christ!" and walked straight out again. I suppose she was just in an ucharacteristicaly religious mood and invoking the deity.

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Bill M

John D and I saw Brad onstage with Richard Bell and John Till when they backed Bonnie Bramlett (as Janis) at a big party celebrating the release of the "Festival Express" movie. Garth and Maud also performed at that event, as did Sylvia Tyson and Bernie Leadon.

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Ray Mizumura

One feature I noticed immediately (correct me on this if I'm erring) is how some of the remixes eliminate the fade-outs that were once on the ends of songs such as "Dixie" and "WYA," which I found to be a dramatic improvement, allowing us to hear how the musicians brought those songs to a close.

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Ray Mizumura

Bill M and Peter V: Thank you for your follow ups.

Yes, the new mixes of these classics are sensational. I don't have the box set but the iTunes version knocks me out. Peter has the right response, I'm sure, to the 5.1 disc. I wish I could get that without buying the box. I don't have a record player any more but if I did, I'd sure get a thrill out of playing the single and the LPs.

The sound on the album of The Band that I bought in the late 1970s after being enchanted by The Last Waltz (I'm 56, so my chance to witness them live was in 1983, which will always be my favorite concert) was not good, even though I could tell that the material itself is sublime. I don't think Capitol gave a damn.

Also, some of the Woodstock performances made it onto the notorious official "Watkins Glen" set from the mid-90s, didn't they? I'll have to go back and check Pat Brennan's excellent, fact-checking essay on that. Still have that CD. I was excited about it at the time but could tell that something (quite a few things) were "off."

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JQ

He’s braver than me - I save my dancing, singing, drumming and yoga for when I’m driving alone!

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Wallsend

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JQ

PV - Did anybody see you movin’ & groovin’ like that? Will a private video be made public at some point? I’d pay!

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Peter V

Oh, and the clarity of vocals on the centre speaker in 5.1 eliminates all doubt. It IS "There goes Robert E. Lee." No "the" no hesitation, no breath.

Way more interesting mix than Big pink.To get the full 5.1, I stood centre room and am exhausted from constant moving to the music!

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Peter V

From the article here, with quotes from GB users then:

PETE RIVARD: When I moved out here to the Upper Midwest, I discovered a whole genre of joke telling concerning a Scandinavian couple called Ole and Lena. Typically, the jokes center around Ole, or his wife's, cluelessness, and sometimes are inverted to make Ole the smart one among some of his oafish friends. Now, Ole is pronounced Oh lee, in these stories. I wonder if Robbie had picked up some of these tales from Dylan, a native Minnesotan, or someone else from this area, never bothered to check on the spelling, and used him as a character dispensing folksy advice.

Stu Huska comes up with another:

STU HUSKA: Several years ago I heard Rick Danko perform "When You Awake" in a small intimate venue. Rick asked for requests and as he started to sing he said " My mother's name, God rest her soul, was Leyola and her friends used to call her 'Ole'" He then went directly into this wonderful rendition of "When You Awake" Perhaps Rick's bandmates were also thinking of Leyola Danko when they penned this whimsical tale.

Stu's note is supported by the Classic Albums solo version where Danko sings:

Ollie showed me, the fork in the road

SHE said take to your left …

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John D

One important thing I did not mention on my quick overview of the 2 CD The Band 50th Anniversary set. The re-mixes really do sound great. Wonderful job bringing it into the 21st century. So many schools of thought. I have friends who have been Band fans since the beginning and they want to remember the original mixes only. I for one like what they have done here.

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John D

Subject: Brad Campbell

Bill Munson would know a lot about Bassist Brad Campbell. He died this week. An original member of Toronto's "The Last Words"; but will live on in musical history as the bassist for Janis Joplin't Full Tilt Boogie Band. Reason for his passing is unknown to me at this time. R.I.P.

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Rod

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Bill M

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John D

I bought the 2 CD set. It arrived tonight. On Side 2 the Woodstock 11 tracks are great to hear and all in one place. Taken from the original Rough Mixes. Tracks 12-18 can be found on the Band re-issue in the year 2000. The one they call extended.

Side 1's first 11 tracks are the original tracks from the original album. Cuts 13-18 are Alternates, an Earlier version, 2 Instrumental Mixes and one stripped down mix. This is definitely a buy for completists.

Kind of wished I had opted for the box set where Clearmountain has also created a new 5.1 surround mix. I would love to hear that mix. Nice to see a thanks to Levon's wife Sandy. Once again Anthony DeCurtis has excellent liner notes.

Elliott Landy also gives us some photographs that I have never seen. Hope he thinks about putting some of them up for sale. The price was $26.00 Canadian. The box set sells for $172.00

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Peter V

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Ray Mizumura

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John D

Found this on Facebook this afternoon.

"I thought this was an interesting quote from Rick: "Robbie wasn't the only one who wanted to do other things,” Rick Danko upheld in 1995. “Before The Last Waltz, I signed a production deal with Clive Davis to do my solo shows. Sometimes it breaks my heart when I remember that, in '76, Warner offered us a $6 million dollar deal to do an album a year, and we passed. But there's more to life than being able to live off your royalties. Ego is a funny thing, and after the first two or three albums, The Band pretty much became a Robbie thing, so there was conflict there.”

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Ray Mizumura

Subject: When You Awake

Friends, the first line is addressed to a character named "Ole." This is a first name with Nordic roots.

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Rod

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Bill M

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Peter V

A fifty amp fuse would be extremely heavy duty. I used to think it was 'fifteen amp fuse' because in 1969, some old halls still had 15 amp round pin plugs, because the switch to square pin 13 amp fused plugs was incomplete. Fifty? I guess that would be stuff like limelights. Cooker circuits used to have 30 amp fuses which still go into kitchens here, though now most cookers will run on 13 amp fuses.

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Kevin J

I have mentioned this here before……I had always thought that Mick Jagger had been so clever in using “a fifth of antabuse” in the song “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”………………..Decades later after playing the song and listening to it forever, I actually looked up the lyrics and realized it was actually “fifty-amp fuse”….I was disappointed!.. With Keef now on the wagon, maybe time for a change...

“And I went down to the demonstration/ To get my fair share of abuse/ Singing, "We're gonna vent our frustration/ If we don't we're gonna blow a fifty-amp fuse”

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Kevin J

Some thoughts from Robbie as told to David Kamp this year:

Robertson was noodling around on his piano one day in Woodstock when he happened upon a set of chord changes that struck him as melancholy. Something about them brought to mind the words “the night they drove old Dixie down” and summoned memories of his time in Arkansas nearly a decade earlier: of Diamond Helm’s proclamation, and of a house he had taken notice of while driving on a country road late at night, set back in a field with a single light on.

“I would think, ‘That’s the story. Who’s in that house? What are they doing?,’” Robertson said. “And that curiosity and fascination is what led me to Virgil Caine and his family.”

“The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” begins with the lines “Virgil Caine is the name, and I served on the Danville train.” But Virgil’s story didn’t come as intuitively as those doleful chords on the piano. Robertson played the progression for his four bandmates—Helm, bassist Danko, pianist Manuel, and organist Garth Hudson—and informed them of his one lyrical inspiration, the words that would become the song’s title. “Everyone was like, ‘O.K., that’s nice,’” he said. “But I needed to teach myself. Because I didn’t know the story that well. They didn’t teach that in Canada, the Civil War.”

Robertson was also keen for the song to be a showcase for Helm, “something he could sing as true as anything he’d ever sung in his life.” He asked Helm to drive him to the Woodstock Public Library. There, Robertson pored over some history books and familiarized himself with such figures as George Stoneman, a Union general whose Cavalry Corps destroyed train tracks that were used as supply lines by the Confederates. Robertson also hit up Helm for any suggestions that would enhance the song’s Southern bona fides. “He said, ‘Well, just don’t mention Abraham Lincoln,’” Robertson said. “I hadn’t thought that I would, but evidently, that was Rule No. 1.”

……He was working on the Richmond and Danville Railroad—“the Danville train”—when Stoneman’s soldiers ripped it up. His brother was killed by a Union soldier: “My brother above me,” as Virgil says. Does that mean his brother up in heaven, or his older brother?

“It was both. Two birds,” Robertson said. “I didn’t have much room. I had to get a whole movie in.” As for the lines “In the winter of ’65 / We were hungry, just barely alive,” Robertson explained that it is an allusion to 1965 as much as to 1865. “In early ’65, we were a bit on hard times as a band,” he said. “That was before we were with Dylan, and we were really struggling. So it just rolled off the tongue.”

Despite Diamond Helm’s assertion that the South would rise again, “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” offers no such rah-rah promise. The last words Levon/Virgil sings before the final chorus are “I swear by the mud below my feet / You can’t raise a Caine back up when he’s in defeat.”

What Robertson was ultimately trying to capture, he told me, was the haunted feeling of photographic portraits of poor Americans from the period, before the natural human response to a camera’s presence was to preen or smile. “I was thinking, ‘Why, when photography was so hard, and the photographer was looking through the camera with the picture upside down, and he only got one shot, did the pictures have so much soul?’ That added up to something in me in music, and in songwriting.”

BTW, Thank you, Roger.

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John D

I remember years ago being in a sheet music store here in Toronto. I came across a Music Book of The Basement Tapes by The Band. I should have bought it at the time. I've never seen it since.

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Peter V

I always heard "Oh, they told me." It is actually a more transparent and better line as no one except Rick knew who Ollie was.

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JQ

Thanks for that. On When You Awake I guess I misheard: Ollie told me, for Oh they told me. Likely more throughout that catalog too, for all those years ago..

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Wallsend

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Dag B.

Subject: Sheet music

Folio with "The Band" and "Music From Big Pink"

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Pat B

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Pat B

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Peter V

… and beer, Bill. Levon didn't add beer.

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Bill M

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Clint

Subject: Mud or Blood

Levon was asked whether he sang mud or blood and he said mud.

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Joe Frey

Subject: May the 10th

Chernow identifies May the 10th as the date that Jefferson Davis was captured in the pine forest in Irwinville, Georgia.

I agree with Peter et al that Robbie, in his research, was not researching the Robert E Lee steamboat.

I also agree with Wallsend that Robbie took elements and key figures and dates of the Civil War to tell a heartfelt story about the pain of war.

A bit of a naive question, but isn't there official sheet music that provides the copyrighted lyrics (blood vs mud) for the song? Don't really know how that works.

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Bill M

Note that 'thee' both rhymes with Lee and has biblical connotations. 'Thu', not so much.

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Peter V

And in reference to the discussion of tosser and plonker yesterday, this is the rival claim for the joke that got Max Miller banned from BBC radio.

“I was walking along this very narrow ledge on the side of a mountain. Very narrow, just room for one person, precipice on one side. So a naked woman appeared walking round the corner. I didn’t know whether to block her passage or toss myself off.”

Actually, in spite of 60 years, I reckon that one would still get him banned. The other, he'd get away with now.

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Peter V

As we’ve discussed, mistaken sightings of Robert E. Lee were a common post-war phenomenon. Also they would only have seen etchings or blurred pictures so mistaking someone was easy. I think the majesty of the song is respect for Lee, not interest in a steamship. There is also the point that while Robert E. Lee didn’t tour Tennessee, after the war, it’s not necessarily clear that Robbie, (and Levon driving him to the library), would have known that. The May 10th date suggests that the Civil War history they found in the library was sped-read. It also hinges on the hearing debate … swallow, or breath intake, or “the.” We’ve done that one many times. As I’ve noted before, Levon tends to an elongated Southern “thee” rather than “thu” and there’s no elongated “thee” in any interpretation. But as with mud or blood, we are into the realms of belief.

Which reminds me of a favourite story. Max Miller was a British comedian banned from BBC Radio in the 1950s. There are several tales of which joke got him banned, but one is that he was bet that he couldn’t say “fuck” on air. He agreed he couldn’t, but said he would spell it out to win the bet. So this is what he said.

“I went to the optician the other day. He said read the first letter on the bottom line of the eye test chart. So I said it’s K. The optician said, ‘Wrong, where I see F, you see K.”

So where I hear breath, you hear ‘the.’ We won’t resolve it.

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Peter V

I'm reading Elton John's "Me"- surprisingly funny, and well-written, though that might be ghost writer Alex Petridis. He talks about "Song for Guy." He wrote it as an instrumental, and as he finished heard that Guy, a young employee of his record label had died in a motorbike crash, so named it for him, Song for Guy.

Years later, Gianni Versace was telling him it was such a brave title and his favourite music ever. After some conversation, Elton realized that Versace thought the title was "Song for A Gay."

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Dag B.

Mondegreen: The first time ever I heard the song, in 1987, I thought the chorus went "the night is over, please sit down"

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Peter V

Dont’t know about what the planes were, Norm, but sure as a Las Vegas hotelier is ‘connected’, he’s right that there were no Kurdish forces helping the union at the Siege of Richmond.

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Norm J

Subject: Ya But Pat!

Pat are you sure it wasn't the planes that destroyed the bridges?? According to your president, they had planes back then :-) :-)

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Pat B

Since the POV of Virgil is postwar, the likeliest scenario is that the singer's wife mistook someone for Lee, an incident whose nature was not untypical. Many folks thought they saw Lincoln after he was killed. I don't believe seeing a steamboat would have prompted Virgil's subsequent philosophical ruminations. In fact, Lee only took one long trip after the war, and that did not include a stop anywhere in Tennessee.

George Stoneman basically reported directly to Grant, but George Thomas and William Sherman were part of the chain of command. Grant had been on him to begin the raid much earlier, but Stoneman delayed, due in some part to his recurring case of the piles. His cavalry finally left Knoxville, Tennessee on March 22 and inflicted much damage as they covered some 2000 miles over the next two months. Around the same time Lee was surrendering to Grant (April 9) elements of Stoneman's force destroyed RR bridges near Danville. Most of the raid occurred after Lee surrendered and included chasing down a number of Confederate generals.

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Wallsend

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Bill M

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Wallsend

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Joe Frey

Subject: For History Geeks only

First of all, what I am writing is NOT, in any manner, an attempt to denigrate the artistic achievement of Robbie Robertson’s The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down. I always saw it, and still do, as an evocative piece of music that brilliantly described the pain and suffering that southerners were experiencing in 1865. The Last Waltz version of that song is terrific.

I am presently reading Ron Chernow’s biography of Ulysses S. Grant which I am thoroughly enjoying. I just finished the Civil War section (about 60% of the book). The first thing that struck me was that Chernow identifies April 3, 1865 as the date where the Union forces entered Richmond. Of course, May the 10th was ingrained in my brain for 50 years.

“There goes (the) Robert E Lee.” Virgil sings this line when he is back in Tennessee. Lee was the commander of the Northern Virginia army of the Confederacy which was the main confederacy army in the eastern theater of the Civil War. I don’t know this for a fact, but I would assume that it was very unlikely that Lee would have been in Tennessee during the period 1861-65. Virgil may have seen Lee in Tennessee after the war. The western theater for the confederacy was commanded (for most of the time) by General Joseph Johnston.

So, I looked up in Wikipedia The Robert E Lee Steamboat and it is listed as being built in 1866 (right after the end of the civil war). Its route is listed as the Mississippi River which goes right through the heart of Tennessee. So, when Virgil sings “Back with my wife in Tennessee,” he could be referring to the steamboat. Again, I am not interested in revisionist history (too much of that around now), I just got interested in trying to see if the actual facts can shed some light on the man vs. the steamboat question.

The last piece that I thought was interesting was the issue about “Stoneman’s Calvary came and tore up the tracks again.” (I am assuming that he is referring to the tracks for the Danville train. From what I can gleam from the Chernow text, General Sherman (union) was in charge in the western theater of war and was instructed by Grant to destroy anything and everything of military value as he moved from the western theater into the eastern theater of war. Stoneman, I assume was under Sherman and was given the assignment of destroying the confederacy supply lines in Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia. Wikipedia mentions a number of rail lines that he tore up but not the Danville line.

Around the same time, in Grant’s assault on Petersburg and Richmond, General Sheridan led a highly successful union Calvary force that also disrupted the supply lines around Richmond and could have been the General responsible for the Danville train tracks, or it could have been both of them from different directions.

This what happens to a guy interested in both music and history and is just retired…..

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Bill M

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Kevin J

While dating Rod Stewart, the lovely Britt Ekland once insisted that Rod send her a love-letter while she was away making a movie.....Rod relented sending her a telegram which read:

"Tired of pulling me plonker. Please come home."

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Dunc

We don’t really use plonker. I don’t really know the Southwest, but we did have a lovely family in the Bristol/Bath area many years ago.

Can’t help you with these fashions, Bill, but I will check out the band. Thanks.

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Peter V

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Bill M

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Bill M

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Peter V

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NorthWestCoaster

Subject: ̈́" so called Wanker"

NOW I AM REALLY MAD. - For a couple of decades ago (when fooling around as a co-moderator in Norbert's Band Guestbook) my Windows-computer got a virus originating from Guestbook. My browsing history with bikini-babes was stolen and posted to the principal at my school and to my relatives like my step-mother.

I am after you. See you soon in Woodstock.

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Bill M

Speaking of full costumes, what did you British and Americans call what we in the '70s called 'the full Winnipeg' - a blue or green leisure suit with white tie, white belt and white shoes?

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NorthWestCoaster

Subject: Gb regulars from Nevada/California

Call me for a drunken nostalgic ... but I really miss good ol' gb regulars like 'Dave The Phone Guy' from Mono Lake in High Sierras in Nevada/California. I miss that guy from India, I miss Dave Z (who is fooling around here from time to time), I miss 'Bayou Sam', I miss this Algerian guy (remember: I always sit with the Algerians when waiting for the plane in Marseille), most of all I miss RAGTIME and NORBERT.

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Dunc

Subject: Wanker

I always think of ‘wanker’ as a London term. I came across common usage of the term amongst my bins’ mates about 50 years ago in London. Often preceded with with the f word and accompanied with appropriate hand gestures.

A highlight of the week would be when one bin lorry passed another en passant, and six growing men in each cab saluted each other with the appropriate hand gestures and accompanying shouts. Truly one of the great London sights.

I remember reading an article in the Observer on Only Fools and Horses where it said everybody knows Rodney and Del Boy are not saying plonker. I had never thought about it.

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NorthWestCoaster

Subject: Peter V wrote: "...a guy in a bar came out and said..."

Next time - Peter - do like we did and ride down the loneliest highway in Nevada and in the whole USA, highway 50. No one will say a thing to you.

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Dunc

Subject: Thanks

My granddaughters, Bill, have been taught to use they as singular not s/he. A few years ago, I looked it up in the Oxford dictionary and they is there describing single.

Well I've been influenced from your side of the pond, JQ. Every so often I have a Western Swing day. I had a lovely afternoon playing Western Swing yesterday, Bill M.

So last five played among many.

Asleep At The Wheel 'Route 66' - I love Ray Benson singing.

George Morgan, Larry Collins, Lorrie Collins and a young Glen Campbell on guitar 'My Window Faces the South'. Brilliant guitar playing.

Asleep at the Wheel, Quebe Sisters 'Navajo Trail'. I wear my boyhood Roy Rogers set when playing this and sit across the back of the sofa. My wife says I'm going too far.

Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airman 'Smoke Smoke Smoke (That Cigarette). I always seem to have had that album.

Hot Club of Cowtown with Frank Vignola 'Chinatown' - outstanding musicianship.

Have a nice day, all you folks.

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Peter V

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JQ

It’s happening frequently up here too: “Just about” vs “barely”. “Shift” vs “move”, etc. And, likely since the popularity of The Detectorists and other series: “Mate”. I do it habitually now, and soon I know I’ll be taken to task when I say it to a Brit/Aussie. And that, along with being called a wanker (another word worming in), will break me of it. I thought the 2018 pop word was nonplussed. Weaponize is out there now too in the political realm.

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brown eyed girl

"Levon Helm quickly became Robertson’s best buddy in the band, the big brother he never had. A few years older, Helm was, in some ways, Robertson’s opposite—short, Southern, hotheaded, with a devilish grin and white-gold hair. When Robertson first saw him play, he could have sworn he glowed in the dark. Helm took care of Robertson, introduced him to his family, tutored him in the ways of Southern life and culture. They double-dated, bought a Cadillac together, the first car Robertson ever owned. They reminded Hawkins of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. “It was me and Robbie against the world,” Helm once said."

Robbie Robertson’s Last Waltz

As front man for the Band, he spent his life jamming with Dylan, schmoozing with Dalí, partying with Scorsese.

The amazing adventures of Toronto’s greatest songwriter

Toronto Life | BY JASON MCBRIDE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTOPHER WAHL | OCTOBER 23, 2019

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brown eyed girl

Ronnie Hawkins

University of Arkansas

Videos
Audio
Transcript

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Bill M

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Peter V

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Lisa

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Bill M

Peter V: I like the 1471 message - likely a 21st-century innovation. The other stuff is the chronic problem of dealing with collective nouns. Whether the media suck or sucks is not the same thing as s/he=they.

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Dunc

Subject: Guilt

BBC Scotland is showing a real good black comedy just now called ‘Guilt’. Getting good reviews up here.

I’ve seen three of the four episodes and am enjoying it. One of the characters owns a record shop and in the second episode there’s a short, knowledgeable discussion relating to Rick Danko. Really good and I was surprised.

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Peter V

Use ‘they’ as a singular pronoun. e.g. ‘Ask everybody to open their books.’ Although this is seen as incorrect by some purists, it is common in spoken English and has a long history of use in written English (cf: William Caxton ‘Each of them should make themself ready’; Shakespeare ‘God send everyone their heart’s desire’).

You hear it on the phone in Britain if you press 1471: The caller has withheld their number.

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Norm J

Subject: Of interest I forgot

Any one who watches the video I just mentioned. Pay attention to the man playing the guitar solo. Bernie Williams is a Puerto Rican. He played center field for the Yankees for 16 years, 1991 to 2006. Although I have never been a Yankee's fan you have to be impressed with this man.

Retired with 287 home runs, 1257 RBI's Holds the all time record with 80 post season RBI'S and second all time with 22 post season home runs. Played 4 world series finals with the Yankees. He signed a deal with Paul McCartney's recording company some time after he retired baseball. All in all a pretty good career.

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Norm J

Subject: Today's Pick

Sly Stone's "Every Day People" by Playing For Change.

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Roger

Subject: What’s so funny about peace, love and understanding?

Wonderful exchange Pat B and Kevin J. Witty and good humoured. No-one stormed out of the GB in high, low or any sort of dudgeon.

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Bill M

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Peter V

Subject: Jeff article

Added a review from Brooklyn Reporter of Jeff's project. Love the music (but seriously, if you've eaten pizza in Naples …)

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Peter V

Subject: Jeff's music

You can hear some of Jeff Alexander's new music on the kickstarter link. Two EPs worth of material. Jeff is much missed here. Give the music a listen … includes Maria Muldaur.

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안전놀이터

Subject: dadda365.xyz

dadda365.xyz- 안전놀이터

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Peter V

"they" as a neutral pronoun was used by both Chaucer and Shakespeare, which is why "s/he" and "he or she" were always daft.

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Bill M

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Kevin J

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Pat B

I apologize in advance, Kevin J. I simply couldn't help myself.

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Rod

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Bill M

Subject: Lucinda Williams

Let's not forget the Lucinda / Tom Wilson duet on BaRK's "Kings and Queens" album - with Ken Pearson from Janis Joplin's Full Tilt Boogie Band on organ. Song written by Colin James and Tom Wilson.

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JQ

* Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely

* Geraint Watkins - Rush of Blood

* Eva Cassidy - Best Of

* Violent Femmes - Permanent Record

* Cousin Emmy & The New Lost City Ramblers, 1968

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John D

Subject: David Crosby

I finally watched the Cameron Crowe doc on David Crosby last night. It was excellent. I wasn't sure if I would like it or not; but it was so well done, I watched it again this morning. I was interested because I just read the Graham Nash autobiography where he talked about the extreme anger everyone seems to have toward Crosby. I mean REAL anger. Crosby himself is so filled with self loathing that you want to give him another chance; but I wasn't there. Very, very well done.

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Peter V

Subject: Dust

Live performance with Charles Lloyd.

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Peter V

Check out the album with Charles Lloyd & The Marvels "Vanished Gardens." Bill Frisell also plays on it.

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Far East Man

Subject: Lucinda Williams

Solomon - With interest, where did you find the song “Devastation” with Matthew Ryan & Lucinda Williams? I don’t have that one.

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Solomon

She's got so many great songs on tribute albums and duets on other people's albums.The last few on YouTube on this lovely Sunny Sunday

Matthew Ryan and Lucinda Williams- Devastation

Lucinda Williams - Cold, Cold Heart

Willie Nelson and Lucinda Williams - Overtime

Lucinda Williams - Here in California

Lucinda Williams - Lately

Boz Skaggs and Lucinda Williams - Whispering Pines

Lucinda Williams - This Old Guitar

David Crosby and Lucinda Williams - Return of the Grevious Angel

The first album I heard was Car Wheels back in 1998.

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Kevin J

......you're......and Marjolène Morin may well be the best female singer of rock n roll ever... Never mind the language - though I know that will be a barrier for the non-Canadian contingent here....Some other great ones, of course....led by Tina Turner and Janis Joplin but not that many really.....

Thinking of Joan.... Hope all is well.

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Kevin J

Recent songs:

Misfits - The Kinks

I'm Alive - Garland Jeffries (no better song to play loud to celebrate feeling good about something)

Silver, Blue & Gold - Bad Company ( only good song on that Bad Company album but listening to the greatest singer in rock n roll history is always a pleasure )

Hot Stuff & Hand of Fate - The Rolling Stones

Don't Go Away Mad ( Just Go Away ) - Motley Crüe ( No better song to listen to as your leaving a town or a situation )

Chats Sauvages - Marjo ( Marjolene Morin - the best French singer of rock n roll - period end of story )

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NorthWestCoaster

Subject: Celtic music

"What do you do with drunken sailors?" (Hello Dunc!)

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NorthWestCoaster

Subject: TV

My latest post - "happens to me all the time when I watch television drunk" - relates to this classic JOHN PRINE song lyrics:

"Throw away the TV, / Throw away the paper. / Try to find Jesus, / For own your own."

(Is there anything worse than a joke which needs to be explained...)

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Kevin J

Dave H.........Yes, a fascinating read and I've just gotten started........What really stands out for me - so far - as someone with a keen association with the film industry is the outrage expressed by Robbie at not getting the nomination from the Acadamy of Motion Pictures for TLW. Notice how much more direct and rock n roll he was in those days in expressing his opinions........I recall years later ( around the time of TLW 25th anniversary ) that there was talk of how the Oscar snub was a travesty but I did not know until reading Dag's clippings that it was very much a topic at the time !

.......Also love that Rick Danko headband in that picture with Dennis Hopper! Anyone, who knows about Dennis Hopper's condition in those days can only imagine what Rick might have made of that interaction..........see Eleanor Coppola truly fabulous documentary "Hearts of Darkness - A Filmakers Apocalypse" to better understand what I am referring to.

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Dave H

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Solomon

The Band’s Robbie Robertson: My life in 12 songs.

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Solomon

Rick Danko And Garth Hudson On Mountain Stage.

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NorthWestCoaster

Subject: Norm, Wed Nov 6 15:41:06 CET 2019

Happens to me all the time when I watch television drunk.

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Norm J

Subject: Sweetheart like you

Thanks for this video Dag. That is a new one for me. Love that line.......Steel a little and they put you in jail......steel a lot and they make you king. Seems that way every day now doesn't it.

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Ray Mizumura

Subject: Dag/Booker T./The Band

Thank you once again Dag. Your archives are state of the art. These primary sources put many other speculations, memories, and versions into perspective. Also, your link to the 1965 Hawks show is golden. What a tremendous gift. It's remarkable how these men sounded in 1965 in comparison to their music just three short but transformative years later.

Once again I will make an announcement about the Booker T. Jones autobiography--read this, please. It is an important chronicle.

I'm eager for the rerelease of The Band next week. The remixed/mastered version of "Dixie" is gorgeous, sublime. Almost like experiencing this performance anew.

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Ari

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Bill M

Note that the falling of the curtain is the image used in both OWB and "I Hear You Paint Houses". Reflecting a 76-year-old's sense of the approaching inevitable, I imagine.

On a happier note, the opening line of "Dead End Kid", "I stole a bible from a hotel room", immediately brought to mind the Beatles' Band-inspired "Rocky Racoon" - "Rocky Racoon checked into his room, only to find Gideon's bible".

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Dag B.

Subject: The Band in 1979-82

Another collection of clippings and stuff.

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Bill M

Subject: the link to the article mentioned in Kevin J's post

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Bill M

I can't imagine the Hawks not having played "Peter Gunn", but surely "Mr Lucky Goes Latin" was a bridge too far.

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Kevin J

From an article in the LA Times by Randy Lewis where Robbie Robertson is played some songs and asked to respond. He wasn’t told what was coming....nice article....and there were 12 songs that were part of it. Below is one and of note in that I don’t recall RR ever commenting before on anything that the reformed Band ever did:

“Country Boy” (from “Jericho,” 1993, the first album from the group’s reconstituted lineup, minus Robertson. The plaintive song opens with one of the final recordings made by Manuel before he committed suicide in 1986.)

“Ahhhh. Heartbreaking. That’s quite a feeling, in a musical group, when there’s one guy in the group that when he does what he does, it just brings you to tears, and you almost think like, ‘Don’t do that — don’t do that! We’re trying to be strong over here. We’re trying to not show that kind of stuff.’ But Richard had that ability to just reach in and just grab you by the heart, in the most beautiful way.”

Article is LINKED today at Expecting Rain

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Peter V

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John D

Peter do you have Mancini's album Combo? I love it!

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Peter V

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Pat B

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Norm J

Subject: John Cruz

No worries Jon. I was happy to see you bring attention to John Cruz as well. He has a big family of musicians in Hawaii. There is a Playing for Change video of him and all Hawaiian people doing a traditional song John wrote in their language. Very beautiful and great to watch all those people with their traditional dances as well.

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Jon Lyness

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Kevin from NE PA

Been awhile since I posted but had to give a big Thanks to Dag for that Levon and The Hawks show. Much appreciated !

Also, regarding the Lucinda Williams discussion (I think Todd spoke highly of her song-writing) - I agree. Ever since Car Wheels I've been a big fan. She recently produced an LP by Jesse Malin called Sunset Kids. Apparently Jesse has been around for awhile but this is the first I've heard of him. I cannot vouch for his earlier stuff (haven't checked them out yet) but this latest one is excellent. Lucinda can be heard on backing vocals on several tracks and also duets on one track. Check out 'Dead On' by Jesse Malin on youtube for the duet. Every track on his Sunset Kids CD is excellent.

Dag - thanks again !

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Norm J

Subject: Producing Bob

I forgot to mention something I got a laugh from. When they were making the video Jokerman, Bob kept closing his eyes and they were getting very frustrated trying to get him to keep his eyes open.

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Norm J

Subject: Steve Ripley / Steve Ridley

Steve Ridley is an English, French guitarist I read about some time ago. Don't know how that got stuck in my head. Steve Ripley I've known for a long time. Steve started playing with Dylan about 1981. At the same time Jim Keltner was playing drums on that tour. They are both from Oklahoma.

I remember Mark Knopfler produced that album Infidels for Bob at that time. I remember Mark saying, producing Bob was difficult and a challenge he enjoyed. No doubt Mark and Mick Taylor did a lot of playing on the album. However I read some where that Steve played on Jokerman. I read so much I can't remember where I read it. Looking on other sources Steve is not mentioned among all the guitar gods who played with Dylan. So I guess even tho' I think of Steve as a pretty hot player I was surprised to see where Dylan said Steve was one of his favourites.

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jh

Subject: The Band feature in Clash Magazine

There's a huge 50th anniversary piece on The Band by editor-in-chief Simon Harper in the new issue of Clash Magazine, including a long interview with Robbie. For this feature, Harper also spoke with Garth, John Simon, Jon Taplin and Elliott Landy, as well as celebrity fans Roger Daltrey, Ringo Starr, Pete Townshend and Bernie Taupin!

Check link above for a little preview of the Robbie interview.

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Peter V

Just lifted their two CDs off the shelf. I had totally forgotten them. Years ago, there was a guy at Record Fairs who specialized in Americana and had stuff like Levon's solo CDs and he often recommended stuff to me … Mark Germino was one. He also recommended The Tractors. Will give them a spin today. Years since I played them.

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Dag B.

Subject: Believe it or not.

Steve Ripley and Carla Olson are in the "Sweetheart Like You" video but neither plays on the record.

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Kevin J

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Norm J

Subject: A little more on Steve Ridley

You always find a little more. I didn't realize what good friends Steve was with Leon Russell. So Steve told Leon how much he wanted to meet Bob Dylan. After that meeting, Steve spent a year on the road with Bob. That is how Steve became one of Bob's most loved guitar players.

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Norm J

Subject: Another sad loss

I hadn't realized until going thru' more of my music, we lost Steve Ridley this past January 3 of 2019 from cancer. That is another big loss to the music industry. Steve was a great presence with many artists.

In the Buddy Holly Tribute, "Not Fade Away" with the Crickets, the Band, the Hollies, and the Tractors, Steve does a bit where he explains Buddy Holly's very innovative way of playing guitar. To many guitar players Steve helped to understand the reasons Buddy adopted his style. It was most interesting and if you are a guitarist it is something everyone would want to see. Steve will surely be missed by many, many people.

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Norm J

Subject: John Cruz

Jon Lyness, I tried the other day to turn everyone on to John Cruz. As well as Jokerman, he does a verse on All along the Watchtower, The Weight and many of his Hawaii songs with all people from Hawaii. John writes and produces many songs that are wonderful.

The original 1980's video of Bob Dylan singing "Jokerman" took many years to be found on youtube. It is one of the best vocals Bob has done (I think). the art work shown in that video is marvelous. I was surprised to find that Steve Ridley, (who apparently is one of Bob's favourite guitarists) plays the lead guitar in this video, a beautiful job. Steve Ridley of a band he put together called "The Tractors" was a champion of Buddy Holly and appears with his band on a movie of Buddy Holly's music along with The Crickets, The Band, The Hollies and Waylon Jennings. On that movie the Tractors cover Buddy's "Think it Over"

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Fat Mild Mercury

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Jon Lyness

Subject: Another new Playing For Change video...

Try "Jokerman John Cruz Playing For Change" on youtube. Beautiful and recommended.

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Jon Lyness

Thanks Dag!

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Kevin J

Dag.....I am back to my place end of next week and shall forward the magazine then.

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Dag B.

Subject: Levon & The Hawks - Oklahoma City 1965

Link good for 7 days.

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Peter V

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Dunc

Subject: The history of Scottish music

Last five played

Lonnie Donnegan Midnight Special - huge influence on the British music scene.

Chas McDavitt and Nancy Whisky - Freight Train - also big in skiffle.

Blues Council - Baby Don’t Look Down - reputation as a great band. Sadly two members die in a crash coming back from a gig. Rare, brilliant single. Probably saw them in Bournemouth, Peter?

Dean Ford and the Gaylords - That Lonely Feeling - first Scottish Band to get a recording contract related to Liverpool scene, but no hit until later as Marmalade.

Alex Harvey and His Soul Band - Shout - huge influence on Scottish music. Brilliant recording.

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Dunc

Subject: French Navy by Camera Obscura

One of the retirement projects I’m working on is a journey through Scottish popular music.

John Peel promoted the band, Camera Obscura and I think they are a really good band. Google the above song if you have a minute. I think it’s brilliant.

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Dunc

Subject: Aw wight, Todd

Really enjoyed that version of Waterloo Sunset. I hope you made the pilgrimage to Waterloo Tube Station. I was a little disappointed when I found out that Terry wasn’t Terry and Julie wasn’t Julie. Peter!!!

I loved working at the Market, Todd. The musical highlight for me in London was that I was in a pub in Hounslow and there was a trio playing and a jazz lady sang ‘A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square’. A beautiful rendition. I always think of London when I hear that song. Check out Twiggy singing it on You Tube. And Those Canvey Island rockers, Dr Feelgood ‘Down By the Jetty’ - London pub rock at its best.

Rick is brilliant on that YouTube clip, Kevin. I know the song, but Colin Linden adds to this version.

Got as far as ‘Lil Liza Jane’, Fat Mild Mercurry, but other clips weren’t available. Thank you.

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Dag B.

Kevin, I’ll take the pages from Musician 1987, please send them to luckywilbury AT online.no (no hurry).

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Kevin J

Power is out ! What to do ? Go to bed? Nah.......click on the VH1 Classic Albums doc on The Band.........stunning revelation for me is that the real thing has about 20 more minutes of content than the one I had originally recorded all those years ago from MTV ( or as it was called in Canada - and actually a much better V chanel it was - Much Music ). Levon and Robbie both great in this - though Robbie is out of tune in some of the guitar parts. Valuable bits on songwriting - guitar and piano from Robbie.

Also, for true fans of The Band and especially the late and truly great Rick Danko - do Google Rick Danko Blue River Much Music for a beautiful treat. And for Dunc, Colin Linden is along for the ride.

Fat Mild Mercury......Thank you and welcome!

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Fat Mild Mercury

The last week or so I've been binging on an Oklahoma City Levon and the Hawks show that is of much better quality than any I've ever heard before. I found it on Swinging Pig's YouTube channel. When I tried to listen to it today I found that Pig's site had been suspended. Anyway Richard and Garth dominate throughout, and Levon and Robbie absolutely shred on High Heel Sneakers. Listening to Robbie second solo (it really swings) on this one helps me understand what John Hammond was talking about when he said they were the hottest R&B band he had ever seen. Richard's voice is in perfect form and Garth dazzles through the entire show. I know this show will never be officially released and enhanced, but a boy can dream. Pig also had a decent 65 Dylan show with the boys, as well as countless 66 shows. Also lots of Band shows, but the one boot that stood out was without a doubt the Oklahoma City show.

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Kevin J

Wallsend.......I am not sure on this. The page I was referred to is called Levon Helm Fans - public page. The moderator has a warning on the page that anyone making deragatory or defaming comments about anyone in The Band will be immediately suspended. I was so heartened to scan through what seemed like days/weeks of posts - mostly about Levon but several including The Band and specifically Robbie - and to check out the comments and not see any of the usual hateful/vile nonsense. Even the specific video outtake of Acadian Driftwood at TLW where someone mentioned how it was one of the very best songs Robbie ever wrote - was not met with any negativity...........Really hope it wasn't just a case of catching this group in an unusually civil period because I was genuinely thrilled to see something on Levon that didn't contain any hate.

Bill M.......The Acadian Driftwood part really stood out especially because as mentioned in an earlier post about RR's 1987 Musician mag cover , it was at a time when hearing anything from The Band was special and hearing it prime-time on our national television network was even more surprising. Murray flew his float place across the.country and as he dropped down into each Provence and Territory was met by a performer of note to share a song with. Ian Tyson, for example out West ( he had already made his transition to being a cowboy ) and the only other vivid memories I have of the special was a very beautiful ( dare I say sexy ) Buffy Sainte-Marie howling out a song by a camp fire.....I think!.....and the great use of McLaughlan's song "Out Past The Timberline".

The other Band related tv special that is impossible to find was one from the same time period - early 80's - on Ronnie Hawkins called "The Hawk".

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Jon Lyness

The Ties That Bind (the Aussie Levon compilation) really missed out by not having Deuce and a Quarter on there. A real gem of a 90s Levon/Band track, and as many years as I've logged here I did not know of it at all. I've enjoyed that song over and over since Jan linked to it a while back.

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Wallsend

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Bill M

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Kevin J

Bill M.........meant to add a thanks for that research on Robbie playing around with the into to The Weight in 1965/66..... Adam of this GB had made reference to this years ago and Robbie has talked about noodling as all players do and extending some of the Curtis Mayfield influences into The Weight........music is beautiful.

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Kevin J

Dag B: If only the 1987 Musician magazine was the request, I'd be your man..... I hung onto that one and amazingly it has managed to go unlost through many moves......why so special ? Pre-Internet age and when I walked into that magazine store that summer it was a month or so before the release of the Robbie Robertson album. I had heard nothing about it and in fact had not heard a thing about RR getting back into the game. I remember being surprised at what he actually looked like as I had not seen his face since TLW!..........Walking home with the magazine that summer evening and having the pleasure of actually reading something about the new album and all kinds of great things about The Band was exhilarating. People now forget just how out of the picture the Band was in those days.....FM radio hardly played anything by them and it had gotten so bad that when news came out that Richard Manuel had hanged himself in some 3 star motel after having played an oldies show with The Band at a place called the Cheek to Cheek Lounge - the FM station I was listening to made reference to it, played "Up on Cripple Creek" and moved on.....not even a Richard song and no other comment........Robbie's reemergence in 1987 and the front covers of magazines all over the world and massive airplay and awards that followed really kick-started The Band's story.

The Kinks: Just listened to one of my favourite 80's album - Word Of Mouth. Start to finish great..........."Good Day" , "Summer's Gone", "Sold Me Out" , "Missing Persons" have always been favs but Dave's "Living on a Thin Line" is also wonderfuL.

Levon Fan Facebook Page: A nod to a really fine page that offers information and pays tribute to Levon and The Band......and here's the great part....The people that operate the place have class and operate the page in a way that respects ALL MEMBERS of The Band. A policy is in pace where anyone making any derogatory about any member ( obviously meaning RR ) is immediately suspended. If only these guys could exercise that control over all the Band related "comments" sections in Band land! ............. Anyhow, good news as well in that some there are obviously reading this guestbook as a recent mention by me of the "Acadian Driftwood" performance ( video ) in the Murray McLaughlan "Floating Over Canada" CBC special was followed up a few days later in the Levon Page.........All good, let's hope some of these folks start posting here.

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Solomon

The Ties That Bind - The Best Of... 1975-1996 would be a great start to a Levon Box set. I would always want most of Dirt Farmer in there too. I just hope it's not OPM (Other People's Music) who are working on it like they did with Levon and the Hawks: From Bacon Fat to Judgement Day or we might be pushing up the daisies first.

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Bill M

We live in the west end, but on Saturday my wife suggested we check out some church bazaars in Guildwood, a neighbourhood in the far east end the city. Each of us walked away with what the other would see as trinkets - in my case a few CDs and LPs, the latter including two interesting-looking calypso records from the early '60. Last night, googling the artists' names while listening, I was surprised to find out that one of the artists, "The Charmer", later changed his offstage name from Eugene Walcott to Louis Farrakhan - a name I recognised, but from a totally non-musical context.

We slowly made our way homeward, stopping in at a matinee to see who the musical guests were. This time it was a steel-player, a highschool classmate and band-mate of my closest old friend, both of whom hailed from the same Guildwood and played calypso music with the school's steel band. He's moved well beyond calypso to records with all sorts of people, including Luther Wright and the Wrongs, a Kingston Ontario group that made something of a splash their "Rebuild the Wall" CD, which reimagines Pink Floyd's "The Wall" as bluegrass music - see link.

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Todd

Subject: First Aid Kit - Waterloo Sunset

One more from First Aid Kit. Nice version of 'Waterloo Sunset'.
These ladies sound very good together.

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Todd

Subject: First Aid Kit

Following up on my Emmylou theme from yesterday, here is a link to a moving performance of 'Red Dirt Girl' by First Aid Kit, which are two sisters from Sweden. Emmylou is in the audience.

I don't know too much about these girls, maybe everyone is already aware of them? I've only been aware of them for the past year or so.

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Todd

Subject: Jason Crigler with Teddy Thompson & Poundcake

This clip has Jason Crigler guesting with Teddy Thompson's band "Poundcake", playing 'Little Sister' at City Winery in NYC.

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Todd

Subject: Jason Crigler

This link has more info about Jason's recovery. This is only a six minute clip. There was a full documentary about it on PBS in 2009 called Life. Support. Music. Not sure if the full documentary is available online, but is a powerful work, well worth watching if you can find it.

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Todd

Subject: Jason Crigler - The Bush and the Tree Song

I may have posted about the musician Jason Crigler in the past. He is a guitarist who has played in the NYC area, with many folks including Norah Jones, Teddy Thompson, Ollabelle and others. In 2004 he suffered a stroke and brain hemorrhage shortly into a set of music he was playing at a NY club. His prognosis at the time was grim, with very low expectations that he would ever recover, let alone play music again. He has no memory for about 18 months of his life during this time, but ultimately did recover, and had to relearn how to play guitar. The link above is one of my favorite songs from him. It's called 'The Bush and the Tree Song'.

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Todd

Subject: The Menzingers

Kevin J, Glad that you liked the Menzingers. The song 'Casey' that you referenced, is from their 2012 album called "On The Impossible Past". Probably their "best" album if you only had to get one. That was their third album. I haven't heard enough of their newest album (which is their fifth album) to have a strong opinion about it yet, but I'll probably pick it up soon. The first four songs on Impossible Past are all very good. The song 'Gates' is great, as well as 'The Obituaries' and 'Mexican Guitars'. But the entire album holds up pretty well.

The link above is from a club show they did in Florida in 2013. They lead off with a fantastic version of 'The Obituaries'. My favorite part is that Tom makes an announcement that the venue does not want any stage diving during the show, and then, about two minutes later, proceeds to dive off the stage into the crowd. And the crowd is into the show properly, no cell phones out, and singing along to every word. Great energy.

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Dag B.

Subject: Musician 1982

Good evening, infidels. I'm working on another collection of stuff, this time from 1979 onwards, looking for scans or good photos of the 1982 Musician magazine interview with Robbie.

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joe j

I never meant to be a shit disturber. Just a Dusty fan.

You want to hear a great African artist. Cynthia Erivo ('Harriet') may be playing Aretha in a Nat. Geog. TV series.

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Kevin J

Just to put a bow on this discussion.....In an appearance on the Tom Power CBC Q show from 2016 as part of the Testimony book tour, Robbie did expand on the story in quite a funny way.......worth looking up.

As to volume 2 of the RR story, regulars might remember that Sebastian R quite liked my suggestion to call it "Between Trains" and said he would pass it on to his dad. Since Robbie has hinted recently at a volume 3 as well, I think the title has even more meaning........Plus, I desperately want that song to be heard by more people.

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Kevin J

Todd.....Thank you for the Menzingers tip. I hadn't noticed your previous post on this but have spent the last 30 minutes or so getting up to speed! There is a brilliantly directed video for the song "After the Party" and I really liked the song "Casey"....some clever lyrics and yes - a Replacements vibe. Now listening to your link and songs off the new one.

Recent songs listened to...and all in the car on a long drive and most just purchased or re-purchased from iTunes.

John Prine......"The Great Comprimise" and "Souvenirs"

Van Morrison......"Days Gone By" and "March Winds in February" ( love the reference to the Côte d'Azur as it brings back fond memories for me )

Bryan Ferry......"The In Crowd" ( prompted by a recent viewing of a great doc on Halston )

Harry Nilsson...."Jump into the Fire". (one of Robbie's great music selections for a Marty movie )

Sweet......"The Ballroom Blitz" and "Fox on the Run" ( played really loud while driving.....they stand up and also bring back great memories of school days basement parties )

Robbie Robertson......"Golden Feather" and "Street Serenade"

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Peter V

My old friend, the One Armed Go Go Dancer, suggests to me that angry internal political discussions never lead to sweetness and light.

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Pluto

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Peter V

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Wallsend

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Jon Lyness

Todd, LOL at the Robbie Last Waltz story; I was thinking of that too! Too funny.

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Todd

Subject: When Worlds Collide

Stop the presses! Just saw this on YouTube. Chris Robinson singing 'With a Little Help From My Friends'. He does a great job with it, but that's not the most important part. This is from a recent show in New Orleans, and Amy Helm and Larkin Poe were also on the gig. You can see Amy Helm, and Rebecca from Larkin Poe singing backing vocals, and Meghan on slide later in the song. Looks like good times and camaraderie all around. Hopefully this will lead to more collaboration in the future...almost hard to process for me. Very fond of Amy, and adding Larkin Poe into the mix seems almost surreal. Excited about future possibilities.

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Todd

Subject: Emmylou - Red Dirt Girl

Thinking about Emmylou Harris and her song 'Red Dirt Girl'. Sad and beautiful at the same time. Here's a link to a live performance.

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Todd

"In a vacation town where I lived year round
She migrated here with the summer crowds
And we fell in love under impossible smiles
Life was perfect if just for a little while"

Again, not great art......but pretty darn hooky, kind of heartbreaking too.
Reminds me of my teenage years.

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Todd

Subject: For Kevin - The Menzingers

Kevin J, Not sure if you were on your hiatus (or if I was on mine), when I posted about a pop punk band from Pennsylvania, called "The Menzingers".

Anyway, they are signed to Epitaph records, but have mainly been slogging it out in a van and touring extensively, mostly in clubs, over the last decade or so. I've never seen them live, but have been following them on YouTube. I haven't gotten many takers here when I've posted about them in the past, but maybe you will be interested. They remind me a lot of The Replacements, with a bit of a Green Day vibe. Their live shows seem to be a little inconsistent, as compared to their albums, but I like their energy and they have a lot of hooky, catchy songs, shrouded under a "punk" umbrella.

They just recently released a new album called 'Hello Exile". I posted a link to the title track. Again, this is not great art...it's not the Beatles, it's not The Band, it's not even the Replacements....but it's not too bad! Give it a listen if you have the time. (It's definitely not soul music, so maybe a useful respite!)

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Todd

The recent kerfuffle between Pat & Kevin, reminds me that we should always keep in mind Robbie's story from The Last Waltz about the gig they played where there were three people in the room....the one with the one armed go-go dancer. He says that "there were not enough people in the room to be angry....and a fight breaks out!"
Generally speaking, this group is getting smaller and smaller as the years go on, so hopefully the chances of a fight breaking out should be reduced as well.
That said, I totally support people sticking up for their beliefs, and being able to express them.

For what it's worth, I agree with both Kevin and Pat to some degree. I don't think Pat was trying to perpetuate any kind of racial animus or division in his description of white soul singers, (or soul singers who happen to be white). But I also agree with Kevin, that any kind of division based on skin color should be something that we try to relegate to the past. It would be great to get to the point where someone could be described as a great (fill in the blank) singer, actor, President etc. without adding a caveat or limitation based on skin color.

Was Billie Jean King a great female tennis player. Or a simply a great tennis player? Is Serena Williams a great black female tennis player, or a simply a great tennis player? In my book, they are both "great tennis players", period.
Dusty Springfield is a great singer.....doesn't really need caveats or an asterisk.

As far as Pat using the word "heathens", I thought he was actually using it as a term of endearment (as strange as that may sound) It's part of his standard patter. I doubt Pat would ever say that to someone who who didn't consider to be a friend. I had an art professor in college who used to refer to us as "Philistines"...but he didn't really mean it in a negative way, and it was always said with a wink and a smile. But things in print sometime come across a little harsher, so there is always that limitation in the medium.

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Todd

Subject: Emmylou Harris - Lodi

OK, now I'm on an Emmylou kick. Link above to a performance of John Fogerty's 'Lodi', also from Dave Letterman's show. I think this one is from 1992.

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Todd

Subject: Emmylou's version of Crescent City

The Lucinda Williams link led me to a performance by Emmylou Harris on the Dave Letterman show from 1995. Very nice performance, which includes Sam Bush on fiddle. Watching this reminded me that Will Lee might be the most fun bass player to watch after Rick Danko. He really inhabits the groove in a physical way. And Emmylou is just a special talent and person. I've told this story before, but of all the celebrities/famous people that I've been in close proximity to over the years, one of my biggest "pinch myself" moments was standing in Levon's barn right next to Emmylou, watching Levon drum and sing 'Rag Mama Rag'. It's one of those moments that I wish I could re-live. It's the same night that I saw Amy Helm, Levon & Emmylou sing 'Angel Band' together. A really special night.

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Bill M

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Todd

Subject: Poe - Lucinda - Caulfield

Glad that so many enjoyed the link that I posted to Larkin Poe covering the Stealers Wheel tune. They did a really nice job on it, but the original can’t be beat. Thanks to Peter & Dunc on the additional info about Stealers Wheel and the links. I read the Toppermost entry from Dunc, and it filled in a lot of the gaps in my knowledge. The Joe Egan album that was referenced was nice too. I started listening to it on YouTube, but will probably end of getting it on CD to play in the car, where I can really dig into the music, rather than on my computer speakers.

Dunc, your days in London, in the market back in the day, sounds like quite a time! Must have been something to experience. And no, I did not eat any jellied eels, so perhaps my trip to London was not as immersive as it could have been. But had some great pub meals and local ales, so really enjoyed that part of the trip.

I’m also a fan of Lucinda Williams. She really is a great songwriter. The first time I became aware of her, was by hearing a cover version of ‘Passionate Kisses’ in a coffeehouse in Massachusetts in 1992. A local gal sang it, and mentioned in her introduction that it was a song made popular by Mary Chapin Carpenter, but written by Lucinda Williams. Loved the song so much that I had to start searching out her work, which wasn’t as easy in the pre-internet days. If you haven’t picked it up yet, you should check out her self titled album (which I think is actually her third album) simply named “Lucinda Williams” on the Koch label in 1988. It has ‘Passionate Kisses’ as well as another favorite of mine called ‘Crescent City’ which is inspired by her time growing up in Louisiana. I put in a link at the top to that song from the album

Bill M, Ha! I’m not quite sure how I strung those words together. It’s been 30 plus years since I’ve read Catcher in the Rye, but in an odd coincidence, my wife was just reading that book while we were away for a weekend recently. Perhaps some of Holden’s meter slipped into my subconsciousness.

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Bill M

Dunc: The Count Basie Orchestra on triangle; Roy Rogers on Trigger; Eric Clapton on ukelele; Quasimodo on bell.

Back to the subject, His Garthship is simply amazing on the '66 Belfast show. Very forward on some stuff and so powerful on LARS (on which he also plays a bit of "La Bamba" with Robbie. The drumming is odd, as it sometimes sounds more like Richard in the basement than Mickey on the stage. Mickey does vary it up between shows, but not to this degree (thus far). Oh yes, LARS starts with a guitar strum-strum and a single drum shot, and then Robbie plays a figure that turns up two years later in the intro to "The Weight". Recycling is good.

Sorry to see you guys squabbling. Life's too short.

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b.lee

Subject: That song

DUNC! DON'T GET ME STARTED! (Too late...)

There's Roy Rogers on Trigger...

That's Eric Clapton, ukulele...Nice, Eric!

Looking very relaxed, Adolph Hitler on vibes...

Vernon Dudley Bohay Noles bass guitar...

The Incredible Shrinking Man on euphonium...

That's General DeGaulle on accordian...an honor sir.*

And finally...

J. Arthur Rank on gong...

(* That's where I recall that line. I could be wrong.)

And no, I did not Google the lyrics.

I admit that in my glorious misspent youth I did not 'get' all of the references, but it was still a hoot.

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Kevin J

Please do leave the country, Norm and take that anti-abortion, anti-gay, anti-immigration insurance man Andrew Scheer with you.....Before you go, you might want to enroll in the free literacy programs on offer thanks to the Liberal Party of Canada. At least that way, I might be able to better understand what you are babbling on about in future posts.

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Norm J

Subject: Rude? RUDE???

Awright I haven't been looking in here in a while but I'm going to get in here. Thanks Dunc I'm going to look up your suggestion.

I'm with Pat Brennon all the way. There are heathens among us Pat and you found one easily. He who thinks he is an authority (and on politics as well).

Any one except maybe the mentally challenged knows about discussing (white soul singers). It is not any kind of a racial thing. The black folks who are soul singers for the most part see it as a compliment.

I have always been a great fan of Dusty Spring field and she does a creditable job of Tupelo Honey not a job that leaves me breathless. For example listen to Cassandra Wilson sing that song. Of course she is black (OH NO I've gone and said it).....oh well.

I see back there away with his smug idiotic comments Kevin brags about his moronic Prime Minister winning?? an election. The popular vote was not won by his party some time soon the electoral system will be rebuilt so that it works properly..........or we will no longer have to be a part of Canada and have the blood sucked out of us by Ontario and Quebec.

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Dunc

Subject: Blue men and the whites

On my left Sir Kenneth Clark, bass sax.

A great honour, sir.

So who can quote a line of this song?

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JQ

PV - Thanks loads for that. My goodness it was tremendous! Most of her stuff that I know are her hits and Dusty In Memphis. So I’m heading back into her catalog straightaway!

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Peter V

Dunno. i'm just a heathen too.

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Pat B

btw I've been using the term "heathen" here for perhaps decades without being considered rude. By this time I would have thought the regulars here understood the underlying humor (as in anyone who disagrees with me is a heathen). Obviously I was wrong in that supposition.

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Kevin J

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Peter V

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Peter V

“White soul singer” is a well-known and oft-used description because for many years “classic soul” was by black musicians as was classic blues and rhythm and blues, and if you go back pre-1939 a lot of jazz.

We’ve always known there’s a topic for discussion (Can Blue Men Sing The Whites, as the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band put it) , whichever side you come down on. I’m reminded of the Afro-Caribbean guy at Tower Records (a tale I’ve told many times and I’m sure it grows) who asked me who I was looking for in the blues section. I said Bonnie Raitt, and he exploded. Her greatest sin was having pedal steel on records. No one with pedal steel on any record they had EVER made got in his blues section. I mentioned that she’d been singing with John Lee Hooker, and he finished with “and she’s got red hair!” (I thought of mentioning that Etta James often had blonde hair, but he was bigger than me). So yes, people do make distinctions whether we think they’re real or not.

Yes, there are and have always been white singers and players of blues, jazz and soul, but I don’t think it’s unfair to distinguish them as “white” as a note: Van Morrison, Mick Jagger, Eric Burdon, Chris Farlowe, Maggie Bell, Janis Joplin, Dusty Springfield are all great “blues / soul” for starters. (Interestingly, all British … I realized after I'd typed it). I think one of Dusty’s virtues is she exudes soul, but doesn’t fake an accent. Yes, lots more. On blues more than soul, I often do find white blues singers “mannered.” I have been known to disparage a great deal of “white blues.” I’ve disparaged Greg Allman actually.

For me it goes back to 1964. We all bought The Rolling Stones first album, and laboured to learn this stuff, and were inevitably led to investigate Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Little Walter, Little Milton and so on. Then we stood and watched them play. They all preferred playing in Europe. Yes, they WERE different. I’ve stood about two yards from Muddy Waters at full power, and believe me, I’ve never seen any “white” singer match it in the same style.

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Kevin J

“I wish the term “white” could be dropped when describing a singer as having soul. Seems silly to me at this point. Dusty Springfield had all kinds of soul in her voice as Chet Baker did in his horn. Does Marcus King or Greg Allman make you feel soul or just white soul? The Jazz and rock areas don’t designate in this way, at least they generally don’t any longer, and they shouldn’t. And, I have had the pleasure of hearing First Nation singers in Canada that cut right to the bone with the soul in their voices.....How do we describe their soul?”

Can anyone here, other than Pat B really take offence to what I had written? Thank you, Solomon. I know Van Morrison wouldn’t. And the point Dunc made about the descriptive “white soul singer” being a back-handed compliment is also how I see it. Fifty years on, should we accept Jerry Lee Lewis or Burton Cummings being described as a great white rock n roll singers or just great rock n roll singers?

….and Pat, referring to someone as a heathen is rude. It may be the way of social media but coming from someone here and someone I like very much is a bit hard to take. You made reference after the fact to something Sir Bunter had written as to how refreshing it was to hear white singers rising above the rubbish of pale imitations on “In the Midnite Hour” being your exact thought. But your original post did not express that thought – you simply stated that Dusty Springfield “may be the greatest white soul singer ever” . and I simply expressed my thoughts on the use of white in such discussions. It wasn't personal and I wasn't out of line. Not sure why you were knocked off stride.

Todd: Larkin Poe’s cover of “Stuck in the Middle With You” was brilliant. Thank you.

Katie’s Been Gone & Fallen Angel: “Dear Katie, if you can hear me” and from Fallen Angel “Are you out there, can you hear me”

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Peter V

I've enjoyed Disc 1 of the new Dylan set today (John Wesley Harding / Nashville Skyline alternative versions). The most trumpeted one in reviews in Western Road, supposedly an outtake from Nashville Skyline with great piano (apparently Bob Wilson). I doubt that it was ever intended for the album. It's a rolling generic blues, beautifully played, ending with laughter- but totally uncharacteristic of the album. Sounds more like a warm up.

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NorthWestCoast

Subject: Haircut

... I mean, as long as Carrie Symonds finds it sexy ...

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NorthWestCoaster

Subject: JQ on politics/Boris

JQ, you have placed Boris Johnson in a questionable company. He is liberal economically and has a different view on immigration. I don't say this only because I have the same haircut!

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Peter V

Subject: Early Dusty

I felt the need to hear where it all started … her first major hit with The Springfields, Island of Dreams. Note how they try to sound "country" but her voice soars.

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Peter V

Subject: Dusty on Tupelo

Here you go. The Dusty Springfield version. Incredible.

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Peter V

One of my all time favourites in both versions but Dusty’s version is superb AND she has the extra verse. Van chose it for his own compilation of cover versions too. As well as a great soul singer she was pretty good at folk with The Springfields too.

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Solomon

I did like her version of Tupelo Honey- I think Van summed it up best in his song Soul

Soul is a feeling, feeling deep within

Soul is not the color of your skin

Soul is the essence, essence from within

It is where everything begins

I'm really enjoying his new one called Three Chords and The Truth. Good luck to England in the Webb Ellis Cup. I thought they were outstanding last weekend and it's a great excuse to have a full English breakfast this morning.

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brown eyed girl

Rolling Stone

By JON BLISTEIN
November 1, 2019

Robbie Robertson Details Soundtrack for Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Irishman’

Ex-Band leader penned score, theme for filmmaker’s new mob drama

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Pat B

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Dunc

Absolutely, Pat. I always saw that.

I love the new world version of The Weight.

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Dunc

What’s this my American friends? Is a Scot number 1 in the American singles charts? First time that has happened for a while.

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Pat B

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Dunc

If I could smell it, Peter, I’d definitely know. Three stalls selling them and the competition bordered on on intense hatred. Plate of jellied eels for my lunch from the jellied eels stall. Sunday shifts were dealing with a hangover and dealing with the public. If she bought it from Sounds or Melody Maker, it was one of ours.

Norm, I think you’d like the Joe Egan album.

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Peter V

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Peter V

Subject: Stealer's Wheel

Link to Dunc's Toppermost on Stealer's Wheel. Agree that you should check out Joe Egan.

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Dunc

It is a brilliant cover, Todd. This was made in my stomping ground. I absolutely love this song and I remember reading that many younger people thought it was a Dylan song. If you’ve got time, Todd, play the Joe Egan ‘Out of Nowhere’ album on YouTube and you could read my Toppermost on Stealers Wheel. I would buy this version, Todd of the song with the greatest hand clapping riff in the history of pop.

Glad you enjoyed, London, Todd. Before I hung my wild years on the line, I was a dustman in London and had the greatest job in the world selling Afghan coats at Pettycoat Lane at the weekend. I remember the vibrancy of the market with great guys and beautiful girls selling their own made beautiful swinging clothes. So I hope you had salt beef sandwich, jellied eels, chicken balti, steak and kidney pie and fish and chips? I had to get down to the Deep South and the Estuary because it was the era of my blues years. In those days, there was nothing like listening to the old original blues players like Jo Ann Kelly, Tony McPhee, Stan Webb, Dave Kelly, Duster Bennet, Ten Years After, Graham Bond, Stefan Grossman, Peter Green, Ginger Baker, Clapton is God and on and on. When you’ve seen these old, original blues guys...

Great quote, Peter.

I’m playing Lucinda Williams’ ‘This Sweet Old World’ and ‘Sweet Old World’. I got into Lucinda Williams because I thought ‘Passionate Kisses’ and the album ‘Car Wheels On A Gravel Road’ are great. ‘This Sweet Old World’ is a re-recording of the songs on ‘Sweet Old World’ and a few more. I had to get the copy of ‘Sweet Old World’ from the USA. Why does an artist re-record her songs? I read a good article in the Guardian on this. I think in this case - two reasons. The first is that there is a change in how she presents her songs, and perhaps more importantly many of her fans would not have heard these songs and Lucinda remains committed to these songs and wants them to reach a wider audience.

I like both albums, and was lucky to see Lucinda perform a great gig in Glasgow. I’ll collect all her work now, apart from her two earlier albums of blues covers. Well after you’ve seen so many of the blues masters, it wouldn’t be fair.

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Bill M

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Peter V

What a tremendous cover of "Stuck In The Middle With You." She captures the vocal "attitude" so well. A pleasant morning surprise for me (and I'm sure Dunc too as our other resident Stealer's Wheel fan).

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Peter V

In his autobiography, “Me” Elton John says he and Bernie Taupin listened to Delaney & Bonnie because he became obsessed with Leon Russell’s piano playing.

ELTON: (Leon) had managed to synthesize all the music I loved – rock and roll, blues, country, gospel – into one perfectly natural style. The other was The Band. We played their first two albums over and over again. Like Leon Russell’s piano playing, their songs felt like someone switching on a torch and showing us a new path to follow, a way we could do what we wanted to do. Chest fever, Tears of Rage, The Weight; this was what we craved to write. Bernie went crazy for the lyrics. Ever since he was a kid, he’d loved gritty stories about old America, and that was what The Band told: “Virgil Caine is the name and I served on the Danville train, ‘til Stoneman’s cavalry came and tore up the tracks again.’ They were white musicians making soul music without covering In The Midnight Hour, or doing something that was just a pale imitation of what black artists did. It was a revelation. END QUOTE

I’m only 70 pages in, but “Me” is a really great read. Highly recommended.

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Todd

Subject: Larkin Poe - Stuck in the Middle With You

Happy Halloween Y'all (see what I did there).

No tricks....just treats, at the link above is Larkin Poe doing a casual rendition of the Stealers Wheel classic 'Stuck in the Middle With You'.

When I was a kid, and used to hear this song on the radio, I used to think it was Bob Dylan.....see, I was even less knowledgeable then than I am now. Practically an expert at this point, Haw Haw Haw (I stole that last bit from Norm).

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Rod

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Ray Mizumura

Subject: Levon Anthology

Hello JH--Thank you. I've seen that Levon collection a few times in stores in Japan. Maybe I will purchase next time I'm there. I do have most of the music on other discs. Whoever did it has excellent taste.

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jh

‘The Ties That Bind’. Not a box, but AFAIK the only official Levon compilation with some of his post-LW material.

[See the guestbook archive for more]