The Band Guestbook, September 2000

Posted on Sat Sep 30 23:41:04 CEST 2000 from spider-mtc-tb051.proxy.aol.com (64.12.104.41)

Joe Frey

Peter, two more points and then I'll put it to bed:

1. In the '70s (when i was in my 20s), i ran around making tapes of some performers trying to get my friends interested. I can't tell you how many copies of John Simon's first album i made trying to get people interested in John. Now, as I am one tick in front of the big 5-0, and my friends aren't music nuts as I am (how many of you click on "what's new" three times a day to see if jan has put updates in - 'fess up), I send them what I think is intersting. No financial gain on my part and my right to do so legally. Over the years I have supported Rick's music with LPs,cds,tapes,videos, tickets,japan, etc. I have supported his artistry and will continue to do so.

2. As your last post inidcates, its a matter of degree. If i invested $20,000 in recored music over a 30 year period, do i have a right to trade for another record, no sale here? Do you have a right to trade for a cut or two(i'm sure your investment equals mine). Does a 16 yr. old with no investment have the right to parlay a burnt cd from napster into a sizeable collection. I don't have a hard and fast answer, except you do what you think is right.

BTW, I taped Lowell's album off the radio in the '70s, i purchased the cd in the '90s. Without the former, i probably wouldn't have done the latter.joe

Posted on Sat Sep 30 23:27:41 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime

OK, no more boring Minor/Major stuff. Let's talk exciting new threads like Feud/Fued. Holy Cow, whatcha doin' to me...

Posted on Sat Sep 30 23:07:45 CEST 2000 from spider-wo041.proxy.aol.com (205.188.200.36)

Ben Turkel

Getting back to the discussion of bootlegs. I beleive that Pat Brennan, picked the '76 Paladium show as a favorite. I agree, it's excellent. The King biscuit show is also very good. All of the shows I've heard from '76 were very spirited. The Band seemed invigorated by the new material from NL-SC. Hopefully another show from this tour will be officially released some day. I wonder what people's least favorite/most disappointing bootlegs are? In terms of sound quality, I would pick 'Royal Albert Rags'. Unfortunately, the sound of most of the Band shows circulating form 1969-71 isn't very good by today's standards. I believe that the '73 Roosevelt Stadium shows are the first high quality soundboards of the Band in circulation.

Posted on Sat Sep 30 23:03:23 CEST 2000 from spider-tr014.proxy.aol.com (152.163.201.179)

Charlie Young

Actually, Deadheads who trade tapes of their own recordings of live shows have had the blessing of that band--and now the Other Ones--for over twenty years. Other artists such as Bruce Hornsby and David Grisman allow taping (or digital recordings)of their concerts. Hornsby even used to allow fans to patch their recorders into the SOUNDBOARD, thus some of the tapes of his shows in circulation are among the best live recordings I've heard over the last decade. Cutting CD-R recordings of legit releases is a whole other issue--and I totally agree with Peter on that.

Posted on Sat Sep 30 22:29:55 CEST 2000 from 1cust31.tnt11.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.134.31)

Crabgrass

I agree. Let's get back to discussing Jazz!! I'd say Bill Evans influenced Keith Jarrett (as well as host of other jazz pianists) more than just a bit. Cuban jazzman and composer Gonzalo Rubalcaba cut his baby teeth on Evans' recordings. (For those not familiar with Rubalcaba's music I'd recommend The Blessing - his first US release.)

Posted on Sat Sep 30 22:19:33 CEST 2000 from user-33qt916.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.164.38)

Pat Brennan

WS, if you go back in the GB for a bit, you'll see how this thread developed.

Posted on Sat Sep 30 21:42:12 CEST 2000 from wc1-int2.nbnet.nb.ca (198.164.200.230)

WS Walcott

Good to see the old GB up and running again. Whats with this latest talk about minor chords, major chords, F flat, etc.? I am not a musician but I love music. Don't you all think this topic of conversation is a little boring? Can we move onto something else? Unless you are a musician it is probably not of any interest. Just a suggestion.

Posted on Sat Sep 30 21:03:46 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-119-182.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.119.182)

BWNWITennessee

Ixnay on the oreignfay anguagelays.

Joe, whatever your opinions are, and I don't necessarily disagree with some of them, you are still breaking the law. But then so are Deadheads who trade live shows, although most don't seem to realize that.

Posted on Sat Sep 30 20:56:40 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-139.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.139)

Peter Viney

Joe: If you get to England, the first modest round’s on me. Our collecting tastes have a lot in common and I’ll look forward to the conversation. I didn’t intend to come across as preaching. I think there’s a line though. You know, if you were after an album where Lowell George played on just one track, and you wouldn’t touch the album otherwise, fine. Get a copy. I’ve done that myself lots of times, as several kind suppliers will know. If it was a rare Japanese import with bonus tracks (and you had the rest of the album), fair enough. Bonus tracks are just a way of the Japanese company selling the same product back to the USA at a higher price. I’d run you off the bonus tracks myself in this case. You have every right to enjoy your investment in Little Feat, but you’re buying the copy, and the right to listen to the contents, not the duplication rights (nor the broadcasting rights). And this is new and easily available material, and you’re talking about the whole thing. I picked up the new Little Feat box in Borders myself, went and had a coffee to think about it, decided to leave it till I got back to England – it’s the same price or even slightly cheaper here. I’ll buy it on Monday. Like you, I have about two thirds of it already, maybe more (which is probably why you feel some justification), but that’s the box sets game for you, and maybe the remastering will make it worth having yet another copy of Willin’. As for Rick’s CD, I wouldn’t dream of doing a friend a copy. I’d play it to them, persuade them to buy it. But I feel that the miniscule benefit Rick’s family might get through the general pool for CDR-Audio is insufficient recompense. And if you’re not using Audio CDRs but computer ones, they don’t even get that. This comes on a day spent listening to Lowell George’s "Thanks I’ll Eat It Here" which is pure coincidence.

Posted on Sat Sep 30 20:11:41 CEST 2000 from hud1-pm-02-62.termserv.net (204.97.156.62)

Diamond Lil

I'd just like to add that all this minor squabbling is giving me a major headache...

Posted on Sat Sep 30 19:58:43 CEST 2000 from ucs232.surrey.ac.uk (131.227.101.22)

DJMitchison

Rag Mama Rag? Major, without a doubt. Though the verses of Stage Fright are in a minor key (resolving to major for the chorus), and no-one seems to have mentioned this.

Posted on Sat Sep 30 19:44:36 CEST 2000 from user-33qt85o.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.160.184)

Pat Brennan

Hey, I've argued with dogs before, especially those that speak German. In Rag Mama Rag, Levon uses the major third as much as the blues, or slurred, third, especially when he sings an octave up from the core of the song ("The bourbon is 100 proof, etc"). Garth's playing predominantly displays the major third. And, finally, according to the published sheet music, the song is in F Major. Intraibo ad altare Dei.

Posted on Sat Sep 30 19:01:01 CEST 2000 from spider-mtc-td011.proxy.aol.com (64.12.104.151)

Joe Frey

well Peter, since you mentioned my name in your last email message, I welcome the opportunity to respond. I have been a serious collector of music for 29 years. With over 1000 commercial cds and twice as many tapes and lps, i have a serious investment in recorded music. And, given my monthly cdnow bill, i'm still at it.

I believe that I have a right to use my investment and share my investment as I see fit. BTW, I have 7 commercially released Little Feat cds including a 1993 German Import, best of set. I guess my mistake is picking a forum which is very much larger than I usually use. Way back when, this guestbook didn't have a circulation that it does now. Remember when Jan? In hindsight, I probably wouldn't use this forum again because of its size.

Now, let's talk about Rick's new cd(I purchased two copies and sent one to a friend in Japan). But, I also burned two copies for friends who wouldn't have bought it, but I thought that it was important that the music should be heard. My investment, my decision. I got turned on to many new performers through trading (eg Eddie Hinton out of muscle schoals)

I don't support performers not getting their due and I guess it may be difficult for some to see that this point of view is not inconsistent with trading. I won't use this forum again for this purpose because as I said, its probably too big for that. If i ever make it over the big pond, peter, I'll buy you a round of drinks in your local pub. peace joe

Posted on Sat Sep 30 18:33:13 CEST 2000 from du245-3.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.3.245)

Ilkka

My dog beginns to speak in German after one spoonful of Liebfraumilch on Saturday nights, sorry. If you are not familiar with the language, here's the translation: "Dear Mr. Brennan. The classic theory of harmony, which is represented here so gallantly by Mr. Ragtime says that *Rag Mama Rag* - giving us the great joy from the 60s - is written in minor F. Thank you and good bye."

Posted on Sat Sep 30 17:53:05 CEST 2000 from 2cust119.tnt14.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.140.247)

Crabgrass

Wahrscheinlich haben Sie recht!!

Posted on Sat Sep 30 17:21:25 CEST 2000 from user-33qt926.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.164.70)

Pat Brennan

Illka, you don't fool me. Everytime there's a discussion about music theory, someone starts speaking German or something and everyone bows to his/her opinion.

Posted on Sat Sep 30 17:01:42 CEST 2000 from du31-2.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.2.31)

Der Hund von Ilkka

Lieber Herr Brennan. - Die klassische Harmonielehre, die Herr Ragzeit hier prächtig representiert, hat es festgestellt, dass man die Komposition *Rag Grossmutti Rag*, die uns von der sechziger Jahre gefreut hat, in dem Minor F gekomponiert hat. - Vielen Dank und auf Wiedersehen.

Posted on Sat Sep 30 16:40:55 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-077.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.77)

Peter Viney

Opinion: bootlegs are a vexed issue, but I for one can’t resist, and as has been said, no one buys the bootlegs until they have every official release anyway. And if someone does a CDR of a bootleg, no problem. They’re copying from the bootlegger not the artist. This is done on a trade basis with friends. No profit. Also, if an album is long out-of-print, then I reckon it’s fair enough to do a copy for a friend for no profit. If the owners want to enjoy the proceeds, they have to keep it in print. However, Joe Frey’s request for CDR’s of the brand new Little Feat box set is a different matter. This is an official release and by copying this you are STEALING directly from the musicians and songwriters. If you want it, go to the store and buy it. If you don’t havethe cash, then wait until you do. When Stage Fright first came out, I was so broke that it actually took me three weeks to get the money together. If you don’t think it’s worth the money, then you don’t really want it. Asking for CDRs of bootlegs is fine with me, but asking people to rip off the performer’s official release certainly isn’t. What are we going to get next? People swopping CDRs of Rick’s latest? The internet may be changing the world, but the bottom line is that the people who make the record have to make a living. A CD costs the same as a modest round of drinks in a bar. Purchasing one of the reissues will give you far more pleasure than a few beers. Live gigs aren’t worth much to mature artists anymore. They can’t spend months writing and recording for nothing. I’d hate to see people trading copies of official releases by our guys, and the same has to go for Little Feat.

Posted on Sat Sep 30 16:37:52 CEST 2000 from user-33qtaal.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.169.85)

Pat Brennan

Ragtime, in Rag Mama Rag, Levon rotates between the slurred 3rd and the major 3rd. Although this point may be treading the musica-esoterica line, when a song is in a major key and the singer bends the melodic third towards the minor, it acts more as an ornamental or a moment of tension than as a minor third. It's a function of R&B singing. In strict music terms, it is most likely designated a "Raised 9th" or "+9", with the closest easy example being the first chord under Jimi's singing in "Purple Haze."

Posted on Sat Sep 30 15:02:36 CEST 2000 from spider-mtc-td014.proxy.aol.com (64.12.104.154)

Joe Frey

Hi, I'm interested in CD-Rs of the new Little Feat box set. I have an extensive Band trading list in cdrs. Please email me if your're interested. joe

Posted on Sat Sep 30 10:20:58 CEST 2000 from cache-hki-5.inet.fi (194.197.68.45)

Kalervo

Kiitos Jan ! I have been in many websites, but this is still unique. Has anybody heard of Burning Sky - all Native rock band which has some similarities with the Band? I have tried to get their records, but it is quite difficult. Kalervo

Posted on Sat Sep 30 08:45:57 CEST 2000 from we-24-130-118-40.we.mediaone.net (24.130.118.40)

George Gawartin

The comment about the similarities between the Band and the Talking Heads reminds me of one of my favorite bands, the Blasters. They had a songwriter and lead guitarist, Dave Alvin, who didn't sing because his brother was so much better but wrote lyrics about American life that would have made Robbie proud. They also had one of the finest "roots" rock drummers this side of Woodstock in Bill Bateman. Unfortunately they didn't get on record the power and beauty of their live sound, still, like the Band, their recorded stuff sounded old, but fresh and original. Like Robbie, Dave Alvin left the band after the chemistry went bad and started singing his own songs. He's still doing a pretty good job. I feel fortunate to have been around the music scene in LA in the early 80's with Los Lobos, X, Dwight Yoakum, and especially the Blasters.

Posted on Sat Sep 30 07:42:09 CEST 2000 from 1cust90.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.136.90)

Crabgrass

Hey, I already admitted I don't even know what a C is. Gimme a break!!

Posted on Sat Sep 30 07:08:30 CEST 2000 from 1cust90.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.136.90)

Crabgrass

I happened to be perusing some info on Tim Hardin last night who coincidentally also died in 1980 though being about 10 years younger than Evans. Sadly, both were heroin addicts. I was shocked to read in a Hardin bio (www.zipcon.net/~hardinbi.htm) that "... a tour of England that same year (1968) had to be cancelled when he fell asleep onstage at the Royal Albert Hall shortly after dismissing his backup group in front of the audience."

On another site, a reviewer recalls seeing him in Seattle near the end of his life in a small club on New Year's Eve where his entire set consisted of singing "Georgia On My Mind" over and over again. One of my very favorite Hardin tracks is "Lenny's Tune" (for Lenny Bruce) which appears on an album of live cuts (actually, I believe, the long out of print Tim Hardin 3) released on CD for the first time about 4 years back - a haunting minor key composition. Hardin, of course, was a pioneer in the melding of the folk and jazz idioms and a great singer and songwriter - his recordings still sound fresh today.

Hardin appeared at the Woodstock Festival and also lived in Woodstock for a time.

Posted on Sat Sep 30 06:08:11 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime

Crabby - in your pre-previous post (Friday 18.43) you were referring to the melody line, not the chords of It Makes No Difference. It makes a difference, you know. Same with Rag Mama Rag, Pat.

Posted on Sat Sep 30 06:00:53 CEST 2000 from user-33qt9ia.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.166.74)

Pat Brennan

Just discovered that Fantasy has released a boxed set of my absolute favorite jazz pianist Bill Evans's last series of engagements at Keystone Korner in SF--two weeks before his untimely death in 1980. I bring this up because they titled it "The Last Waltz." He was well known for his brilliant jazz waltzes so there's a reason for the title. Great minds think alike, I suppose.

Crabby, you are quite right; TOOM has a number of minor key songs on it.

Posted on Sat Sep 30 05:40:50 CEST 2000 from 1cust90.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.136.90)

Crabgrass

It's somewhat humiliating but I admit it's been recently proven that like Django I don't even know what a C is. I realize Jan is tired from all those free beers right now but maybe when he's recuperated he'll have time to correct the site's lyric page for "It Makes No Difference" by removing the obviously wrong Em and Am7 chords.

Dylan's Time Out of Mind sounds kind of minorish to me also - maybe that's why I find it depressing in spite of the uplifting words. I wish Bob would have included "Go Tell Aunt Rhody" on it - maybe I can find it on a boot of outtakes from that all acoustic album of Bob's which included "Froggy Went A Courtin'."

Posted on Sat Sep 30 04:49:01 CEST 2000 from dialup-265.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.9)

HANK

"/n" ....finished off a quiet gig tonight in Kenmare Co. Kerry with "The Weight"....it wasn't my band....it was a mandolin player and I....a place we never played before.....whilst packing up the gear, a couple came up to me and said how much they really enjoyed "The Weight" and asked if I had ever seen TLW......I assured them I had....MANY times!!!!!..........The guy started talking about how great it was and how prophetic RRs words of warning about "The Road" were..........with regard to Rick and Richard.......Well, folks, what could I say???........It's amazing how TLW solidified The Band in history.......all I could do was tell this dude about Levons band, The Barnburners............which reminds me......BUTCH!!!!!!......you gotta bring The Barnburners to Europe!!!!!.......to Ireland.........and now, I gotta go to bed!!!!!!!"/n" "/nI'm not getting the new para graphical procedure right, am I?........"/n" "/n" Guess not, Goshdarnit!!!!.......But hey!!!!Well Done and Thanks Jan, for keeping this GB alive......The Spirit of The Band lives on in here.......please let us all respect it........"/n"

Posted on Sat Sep 30 03:51:53 CEST 2000 from spider-ti041.proxy.aol.com (152.163.194.191)

Bayou Sam

Jan - your efforts are greatly appreciated - Thank you

Posted on Sat Sep 30 03:37:57 CEST 2000 from (199.105.252.66)

Charlie Young

I'm listening to the new four CD Little Feat anthology, "Hotcakes & Outakes," and the first track reminds me that even on their first album back in 1970, the group was inflenced by The Band. Listen to Feat's first single, "Strawberry Flats" and see if you don't agree. There's even an imitation Robbie guitar solo. Great stuff...

Posted on Sat Sep 30 02:57:35 CEST 2000 from user-33qta2u.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.168.94)

Pat Brennan

Phil, just remembered: "Can't Get Next To You" "Freddie's Dead" "You'd Better Run" (Rascals) "Long Train Runnin'" "Serve Somebody"...

Posted on Sat Sep 30 02:50:42 CEST 2000 from user-33qta2u.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.168.94)

Pat Brennan

Phil, think "Moondance," "On The Way Down" (Little Feat), or any number of Marley tunes ("Jammin'" for example). If you go back to Berlin/Gershwin et.al., then you have "Love For Sale" and songs of that ilk. Jazz? "Milestones." Blues? "Thrill Is Gone." Uh, The Tarantella. Classical? "Fur Elise." Fact is, most pop/rock writers keep it major.

Posted on Sat Sep 30 02:31:20 CEST 2000 from 209-239-207-26.oak.jps.net (209.239.207.26)

Phil

Pat, if your'e right, then there are very few pop/rock songs that are to be considered in a minor key. I can only think of two at the momement. "Working Class Hero" and "And I Love Her".

Posted on Sat Sep 30 02:17:54 CEST 2000 from user-33qta2u.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.168.94)

Pat Brennan

There are very few if any songs past the 3-chord "Louie Louie" types that don't have minor chords and, as a result, a moment of minor tonality in the melody line. In pop music, when the song hits that I chord in the chorus and that I chord is major, then the song is in a major key. The minor tonality of the verses set up the major tonality of the chorus. As an example: Wheels On Fire opens on a minor chord but quickly goes major ("If I knew for sure...). Chorus starts on a minor chord ("Wheels on fire...") then plunges to the major I chord ("Just notify..") and actually ends on the major version of the first chord of the verse.

And Rag Mama Rag is a major key with ample use of the flatted third (the note that generally denotes major or minor) while the major chord is being played. Some refer to this as the "blues 3rd."

Posted on Sat Sep 30 02:08:08 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-116-209.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.116.209)

BWNWITennessee

Finally the shaking has stopped. Good to see that the spiders have crawled off somewhere else, too.

Posted on Sat Sep 30 01:58:55 CEST 2000 from spider-wd012.proxy.aol.com (205.188.193.152)

butch

OK,,,, where'd I leave off,,, well, ill just jump to the Hall of Fame thang,,, if i left out FAT FISH BLUE, Rob't Lockwoods club, G-Man will tell me,,,, The R&R Hall had this tribute to MUDDY WATERS,,,they had the real cats,, like James Cotton, Hubert Sumlin, Willie BIG-EYES Smith & Calvin FUZZ Jones, Johnnie Johnson,,,Charlie Musselwhite,,, the BLUES CATS,,,,they played with MUDDY ( ex charlie & Johnnie ) & they were grrrrrreat,,,,, ALL MUDDY ALL THE TIME !!!! Levon played with those guys,,, cause HE played with MUDDY too,,, Then there was everyone else,,,, Jimmy Vaughn, he was so cool, & he played great, also with the cats,, & then with DOUBLE TROUBLE's rhythm section,,,,them boys know a groove when they see one,,,,,BONNIE RAITT, who was ok, after Cotton straightened her out,,,, she wanted to do "make Love to You " in a different key than MUDDY did it,, & COTTON, who already had his chromatic harp out, ( like the original ) told her UH UH,, MUDDY DIDNT PLAY NO TUNING LIKE THAT !!!!!!! she deferred to the MAN,, of course he was RIGHT !!!!!!!!! they had Deborah Coleman, chris whitely paul rodgers ( why ? ) jon cleary,,, & these cool guys on marching drums with this little 8 yr old girl, otha turner on a handmade flute,,, now THEY HAD A GROOVE !!!!!!, it was cool to talk with these blues guys & hang with Hubert & cotton & Willie BIG-EYES,,, & VERY COOL to see the esteem they all hold LEVON,,, as one of them,,,, a cat,, nice PROPS for the boss,,,, then, true to form,, he & daughter AMY jumped in the car,, & took off for the Bayou of Louisiana,,, to record with some friends,,, A GREAT TIME was had,,,, & The Hall did a Great job,,, ( for them ),,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,BTW,, THIS WED is the LAST LEVON & THE BARN BURNERS wed night shows, cause the Lake is closing,, so if ya dont come this week,, dont bother,,,, sorry,,,, again Big Thanks to Ray Amy-Jo G-Man & Dawn,,, Carolyn Szelest Pauly Danko, & ALL the friends & fans who made this trip such a success & so much fun,,,,

Posted on Sat Sep 30 00:31:11 CEST 2000 from trt-on76-154.netcom.ca (142.154.117.90)

John Donabie RE: GARTH NOT IN TORONTO

Garth will NOT be attending the show on Wednesday night at the Horseshoe. Got word officially today from the prof.

John

Posted on Sat Sep 30 00:11:41 CEST 2000 from on-tor-blr-a58-03-1119.look.ca (216.154.15.103)

Rick Kenworthy

So good to get off the 401 rush hour and find Jan has resurrected the GB.

AND given this poor idjut the key to the mystery of paragraphs!

Have one more Jan, on my tab.

Now, if the Cromatix are part of Colin Linden's Tribute to Rick this coming Wednesday at Toronto's Horseshoe, does that mean Garth will be there, too?

Dileas gu brath

Rick K

Posted on Fri Sep 29 23:55:48 CEST 2000 from (213.167.203.158)

Romano

Ciao from Italy

Posted on Fri Sep 29 23:50:32 CEST 2000 from gw3a60-2-d415.wind.it (212.141.125.161)

Emanuele"The Beard"

When a big concert International tribute to THE BAND will be organized with groups of Fans that will play their songs? A day of world meeting for all us lovers of the BAND? bye! Peace ......... - emanuele -

Posted on Fri Sep 29 23:30:38 CEST 2000 from m198214181111.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.181.111)

Pehr

RT and RR sound very different to me, and I dont see much similarity, and I know who's music I like better and why. Crabby, you are too old to be this consistenly ridiculous, but you are funny so I'll indulge you. There will be those of us who in our grasp and sensitivity to the exact scale we are listening, lose the aspects of dynamics, tone, timing ,texture, context , delivery, rhythm, attack, bite, voice, nuance, shade, color,and the spaces of nothing between it all that makes it "Music"., and piddle about our days with listening to sad minor songs that sound like "Go Tell Aunt Rhody".

Posted on Fri Sep 29 23:25:49 CEST 2000 from dl-tnt1-c8b00931.poa.terra.com.br (200.176.9.49)

Luyde

Hi, Donald... Unfortunately, I won't... I DO need your help here... I'll keep on posting this message here... But I have to admit I myslef can't stand it much more... maybe I give up due to no replies... sorry... I'm a Paula Cole fan and about 4 month ago I discovered HERE that in 1995 it was release a X-mas holiday compilation CD entitled "Winter, Fire & Snow" and there was Robbie Robertson's "Christmas Must Be Tonight" on it, as well as a song by Paula Cole called "St. Nicholas Is Carrying A Gun." It was re-issued sometime later, with 15 songs and not 12 as the fisrt one, and without Paula's songs. All the cds I can find to buy are this "second" one, with Robbie's. All I want is to find someone who has THIS cd and that could tape me this song or, BETTER, maybe swap the old release with a new one - I can buy it! I believe true fans/collectors might have a copy of this cd... I'd be whole-heartedly thankful... And, definately, stop bothering you all : ) Please get in touch with me... Even if it's to say "Forget us! " hehehe... Thank you very much Luyde

Posted on Fri Sep 29 23:13:12 CEST 2000 from 209-113.snap.com (206.132.209.113)

Vincent Granville

You deserve an award!

Posted on Fri Sep 29 23:03:53 CEST 2000 from gw.itac.ca (209.146.161.1)

Bill

David Powell mentioned Lenny Breau, which reminds me to ask John Donabie if he ever got the Bear Family CD of early Canadian rockabilly recordings. Contained there is Lenny's first great rock instrumental offering - a tasty solo on "She's A Square" by Winnipeg's Ray St Germain.

Posted on Fri Sep 29 22:43:48 CEST 2000 from spider-tl013.proxy.aol.com (152.163.207.178)

bob wigo

While cruising the site and landing in the Audio Files I stumbled upon a 1987 Rick Danko performance of "Christmas Must Be Tonight". After hearing it I have to wonder how much of an influence Rick was upon Steve Forbert.Give it a listen and share your thoughts.

Posted on Fri Sep 29 22:34:32 CEST 2000 from spider-wk054.proxy.aol.com (205.188.198.174)

Joe

Hey Jan!! What would we do wit'out ya!!!!

Posted on Fri Sep 29 21:45:01 CEST 2000 from usr31-dialup38.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.73.166)

G-MAN

Jan, Thanks for your time and trouble getting the GB back up and runnin. I hope some people out there taken all you do into consideration and stuff wreckin somethin so neat!! Lets see if this works?? Have a few and enjoy the weekend.

Posted on Fri Sep 29 21:29:06 CEST 2000 from hud1-pm-20-80.termserv.net (204.97.156.80)

Diamond Lil

Aah...nice to see the little community functioning again. A beer? Jan..you deserve a whole bottle of Gentleman Jack :-)

(I am doing the backslash-n thing right now..but if I screw anything up I never told you that :-)

Maud: A day late (not that I didn't try yesterday)..but Happy Birthday! Hope you enjoyed the party. I dreamt of sesame noodles last night :-)

Have a good night everyone. Hug Jan.

Posted on Fri Sep 29 20:58:50 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.217)

David Powell

Ragtime: I recall reading somewhere that Dylan wrote the lyrics (on a typewriter) and Rick subsequently wrote the music for "This Wheel's On Fire". With all the talk about songwriting & royalty issues, it's worth noting that Rick, in his "last interview" (with Robert Doerschuk of All-Music Guide), mentioned that he received "two checks for over $100,000...checks from God" after "This Wheel's On Fire" was used as a theme for the British television series "Absolutely Fabulous". Jan has posted this entire interview in the "Library / Articles" section of this website.

Posted on Fri Sep 29 20:38:03 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime

Crabby, thanks for reminding me of Blind Willie McTell. But you surprise me - nou breekt m'n klomp - since It Makes No Difference is in B flat major throughout, no minor sections there.

BTW who wrote the tune of This Wheel's On Fire? Danko or Dylan? Did they divide their work between music and lyrics or was it kinda "integrated co-operation"?

If two of the probably three Band songs in minor keys (Wheels & Blind WMcT) are written by Dylan, this says something about The Band, doesn't it? Although minor is supposed to be more "tragic"or "sad" than major, they employed preferably major keys for all kinds of moods.

Posted on Fri Sep 29 20:38:02 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.217)

David Powell

Thanks again Jan for all your hard work, above & beyond the call ... You deserve another beer in celebration of Norway's outstanding Olympic victory over the United States in women's soccer. GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAL!

All this discussion about song keys has reminded me of a great album that was recorded by two legendary instrumentalists, pedal-steel guitarist Buddy Emmons and the late, great guitarist Lenny Breau. The wonderful word-play title of the album was "Minors Aloud" and it was released by Flying Fish Records in 1978.

Posted on Fri Sep 29 20:35:16 CEST 2000 from spider-tl081.proxy.aol.com (152.163.207.211)

bob wigo

Recovering nicely from a case of "Guestbookus Interruptus". Glad to see the problem has been rectified although I couldn't help but notice what appeared to be another attempt by our cyber-saboteur.

We recently heard from David Powell on a free show by John Mellencamp. That post and hearing "Cherry Bomb" on the radio during this morning's commute made me think what a great job The Band could have done with it. Accordion, fiddle, piano, great drum fills,etc. I think Levon would have had a grand old time with the vocals. Granted, the lyrics may lack a little but the tune and the instrumentation are wonderful.

"I was thinkin' out loud....."

Thank you Jan.

Posted on Fri Sep 29 20:13:04 CEST 2000 from spider-wo082.proxy.aol.com (205.188.200.57)

Bashful Bill

Wow, Jan, I also thought things would be out of commission for at least a few days. You ARE the man, which I've always, well for a couple years anyway, told anyone who will listen. Right before the GB interruption I was about to respond to Pat Brennan's post from a couple days ago, re the joys of cable surfing part IV. I saw most of that Behind The Music anniversery special on Wed nite. I missed the little snippet you describe,though while watching I was wondering if the boys would make the cut when they got to the inevetible feud/breaking up/band members hate each others guts segment. I was kind of hoping they wouldn't make the cut. A slight corection however: though The Band has never had a Behind The Music(or a VH1 Legends,the far superior & shorter-lived series which spawned BTM) episode, there indeed was an episode on one Robbie Robertson. I saw it once, missed the 1st 10 minutes, probably 2/3 of it was the RR/ Hawks/Dylan/Band story. There were a few interview spots with Levon as I recall, with both Levon & RR showing real emotion re Richard Manuel. The remainder was devoted to Robbie's post Band endeavors. I've never seen it again, nor have I seen it in the VH1 schedules, I'd like to tape it. The reunited Bangles were guests on the anniversery special the other night(those women sure are aging gracefully IMHO)and I liked the remark from one of them that in the past "we TRIED to develop serious drug problems so someday we would be eligible for a BTM episode".

Posted on Fri Sep 29 20:09:35 CEST 2000 from 216-1-128-34.akorn.net (216.1.128.34)

Mike Carrico

Thanks Jan for saving us all from the slings and arrows of outrageous hackers, and myself from a critical case of guestbook withdrawal. You deserve much more than a solitary libation...and in honor of the presidential campaign may you have "four more beers".

Posted on Fri Sep 29 19:58:56 CEST 2000 from jan-hoiberg.hiof.no (158.36.52.15)

jh

The final test...please ignore

That brew hit the spot, btw.

Posted on Fri Sep 29 19:20:55 CEST 2000 from (130.219.229.173)

BK

Whew... I can breath again!

Jan, you deserve TWO beers!! (I'd be happy to supply 'em if you're ever in NJ)

Posted on Fri Sep 29 19:14:58 CEST 2000 from gw3a60-2-d477.wind.it (212.141.125.223)

Emanuele " The Beards"

Hi!/ For Jan , do you put the Chord of "OUT OF THE BLUE" that I send you ? Thank you. / Thank you for you wonderful work./ Emanuele " The Beards"

Posted on Fri Sep 29 18:43:54 CEST 2000 from 1cust68.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.136.68)

Crabgrass

Although most of the Band's songs are in major key signatures rather than minor ones most of them contain minor chords and a minor scale is evident in the melody lines. "Ophelia" is decidedly major and "Blind Willie McTell," and "This Wheel's On Fire" are decidedly minor while "It Makes No Difference" reflects both major and minor scales in its melody line. And I think that most of Robbie's solo stuff is minor scale oriented.

BTW I think it's irrelevant if someone like Hubert Sumlin is musically literate or not as he's still playing lead in the minor pentatonic or "blues" scale whether he knows it or not. The ability to read music is certainly not a prerequisite for being able to play it. Legendary gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt couldn't read a note and once commented "I don't even know what a C is." I'd be tempted to write a book on this subject if I knew what I was talking about!

Happy to see that a blow for Freedom FROM Religion (and Advertising - almost as important) has been struck right here in The Band GB!!

Posted on Fri Sep 29 18:32:14 CEST 2000 from ric-wht-pxy-int02.wheatfirst.com (204.238.130.68)

Bones

Jan: Thanks for all your hard work! This is a wonderful place.

An old college friend of mine, Billy Crudup, is in a movie that I want to plug to all Band fans. It's called Almost Famous, and all the music is from '69-'73. Although no Band tunes, it is certainly Band era.

Posted on Fri Sep 29 18:19:53 CEST 2000 from spider-wd083.proxy.aol.com (205.188.193.188)

jennifer

I love this band because i feel that they have something worthwhile to say, and it is all god given talent! There is more to music than cute girls and boys singing about relationships with other boys and girls. It is totally an unlimited relationship to our surroundings, and instincts, and so much more....I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Posted on Fri Sep 29 17:58:09 CEST 2000 from (12.34.17.217)

Johnny Flippo

Dave: There is indeed a Band/Los Lobos connection. I believe around the time the bogus contract with Sony was signed (mid eighties?) The Band invited Los Lobos writers Louis Perez and David Hidalgo to Woodstock to woodshed and come up with some songs. Nothing is known (to my knowledge) about what, if anything, was written. But one song, "When the Circus Comes" later appeared on Los Lobos' "Kiko" and reflects a strong Band influence, right down to the distorted and harmonic-filled lead guitar.

In addition, Levon appeared for two songs on Los Lobos' previous LP "The Neighborhood" -- "Emily" (mandolin and harmony vocal) and "Little John of God" (lead/harmony vocal).

Thanks for all your hard-work Jan

Posted on Fri Sep 29 17:56:07 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-029.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.29)

Peter Viney

Bill: I figure that Peter Doggett’s "source of information" for Bessie Smith being 1975 was probably Clinton Heylin’s book … where he questioned the authenticity of The Band’s contributions. The Traum’s version means the song was around earlier. It makes you wonder whether they ever demoed "Davey’s On the Road again" and if not, why not?

Great job, Jan! I’d expected it to be gone for days.

Posted on Fri Sep 29 17:28:21 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime

Jan:

We're all going to try making paragraphs now...

I hope you'll enjoy your beer. Have a Heineken from me :-)

And BTW: Rag Mama Rag really is in F minor after starting in F major... (just wanted to tell you guys once and for all after 24 hours waiting :-)

And now: press Preview button and see if it works...

Yes!

It works!

Posted on Fri Sep 29 17:20:04 CEST 2000 from cobalt.nextlink.net (206.129.70.172)

Mike

Jan, You DO deserve a beer...Come on out to Portland, Oregon and I'll hook you up. Thanks for getting the GB back up and running.

Mike

Posted on Fri Sep 29 17:13:31 CEST 2000 from twmaine-63-167-210-226.twmaine.com (63.167.210.226)

mattk

Jan rules.

and yes, sir, you deserve a beer...

Posted on Fri Sep 29 16:38:16 CEST 2000 from hoiberg.hiof.no (158.36.51.55)

jh

Dave,

You used a "regular" slash, the "/" character. You need to use the backslash character "\" instead when making a paragraph in the guestbook. The code "\n" for creating a break is commonly used in programming languages.

Btw, I have also removed the ability to post images here, to make it easier to maintain this thing.

Posted on Fri Sep 29 16:32:39 CEST 2000 from gw.itac.ca (209.146.161.1)

Bill

I guess I missed the first part of the "Bessie Smith" debate, so this may sound tremendously uninformed, but wouldn't the fact that the Traum's recorded the song in the early '70s point to the existence of either a Band demo or a Basement Tape? (I remember being in a kitchen that I last saw in '73 when John Donabie played the Traums' version - and I think he pointed out how the brothers were trying so hard to sound like the Band.)

The Toronto Star ran an article yesterday about the Rick Danko event next week at the Horseshoe. Quoted organizer Colin Linden very extensively. The only fer-sher guests mentioned were Aaron Hurwitz and Linden's mates from the Rodeo Kings, Tom Wilson and Stephen Fearing. But I'd think Richard Bell would be likely to turn up too.

Posted on Fri Sep 29 16:29:20 CEST 2000 from 56k-la-00-44.dial.qnet.com (209.221.212.59)

Dave the Phone Guy

Hmmmm, I think I'll try a forward slash next time.

Posted on Fri Sep 29 16:27:19 CEST 2000 from 56k-la-00-44.dial.qnet.com (209.221.212.59)

Dave the Phone Guy

Is there any connection between The Band and Los Lobos?/n I'll be seeing Los Lobos tonight in a 1700 capacity general admission casino ballroom at Sparks,Nevada.Only 20 bucks too!This will be my third time seeing this wonderful group of musicians./n Have a great weekend everyone.Long live The Band.

Posted on Fri Sep 29 16:20:37 CEST 2000 from hoiberg.hiof.no (158.36.51.55)

Jan Høiberg

Just testing the "new" guestbook again....

Remember, "\n" to make a paragraph, and no HTML-tags, or "<" and ">" characters allowed anymore.

It seems to work fine. Perl rules. And I have deserved a beer.

Posted on Fri Sep 29 16:00:30 CEST 2000 from (62.98.156.55)

asdf

asdfsdf

Posted on Fri Sep 29 16:00:19 CEST 2000 from hoiberg.hiof.no (158.36.51.55)

jh

The guestbook is open again. It has been modified to reject all entries containing HTML-tags and other stuff that may damage it.

You may still break your entry into paragraphs, though, but you can no longer use the HTML paragraph-tag, aka <p>.

Type "\n" (a "backslash" and an "n") to create paragraphs in your message.

Posted on Fri Sep 29 15:09:57 CEST 2000 from hoiberg.hiof.no (158.36.51.55)

jh

Testing....

Posted on Thu Sep 28 15:58:12 CEST 2000 from hoiberg.hiof.no (158.36.51.55)

Jan Høiberg

Someone using a fake IP has been posting Javascripts that creates loads of pop-up windows. It can't do any damage to your computer, but messes up your desktop and makes the guestbook unreadable. This has happened twice in two days. The guestbook is now closed until I find time for a rewrite that rejects all HTML-tags and Javacode. Sorry.

Posted on Thu Sep 28 16:00:32 CEST 2000 from spider-tl074.proxy.aol.com (152.163.207.209)

bob wigo

To the cyber-stroker who continues to post active script and create difficulties for us -- grow up. We've seen what you can do and it has become boring.

Hank, this refers to the problems you and many others are having downloading the GB.

Donald Joseph: What's the deal with all the Mark and Jaime references?

Come on people--let it go.

Posted on Thu Sep 28 15:46:33 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-059.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.59)

Peter Viney

Check out "Record Collector", October 2000 for a perceptive article on the reissues, "The Band: More Music from Big Pink", by Peter Doggett. Doggett points out that "More recently, Robbie Robertson vehemently denied to Record Collector that "Bessie Smith" post-dated the basement sessions; now he’s suddenly decided it was cut between Stage Fright and Cahoots. Our information is that the actual date was 1975 …"

The same issue has The Beatles on the butcher cover, which was discussed here recently (extracted from the forthcoming Anthology)- they don’t mention the comment on Capitol’s butchering of their albums. Lennon liked it. Harrison thought it was gross.

Is anyone else getting a Norwegian astrology page opening with the Guestbook today? (and frequently crashing Explorer) .

Posted on Thu Sep 28 15:36:02 CEST 2000 from dialup-343.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.87)

KEVIN THOMAS MICHAEL "HANK" WEDEL

Well, first of all, I've been having difficulty downloading the GB.......these windows keep popping up advertising Caesar Maanedens Visrespons Hotels .......or something.......I eventually got to read the latest posts but it had me worried there for a while......wha'cha reckon causes that???? Did anyone else encounter this problem lately??.......has someone slipped my computer a virus???.......I feel sorry for those people............

BWNWin Tenn.------is there money in Giraffe humping?.....what kinda rusty-tub would you use??...... Pre-World War 2 or something a little more up to date?.......

Hey, Folks...... are Talking Heads and The Band alike or what???.........They both had songwriter-leaders who quit............They both put out fantastic Concert movies...........They both worked with Pop Staples...........well, I dunno.......Chris'n'Tina be bitchin bout David Byrne like Levon be bitchin' bout RR, too.........Not to mention Levon and Talking Heads doing their own versions of "Take Me to the River".........Hmmmmmmnnnnnn........Maybe The Band shoulda asked David Byrne to replace RR in The '80ies and maybe RR shoulda got the Tom-Tom club to make a record.......

Wha'cha reckon, folks?

ATTENTION RICK KENWORTHY: Email me when you can and we'll talk about getting your prize to you via post

Oh Lord, (sorry, Crabby) how I love this GB!!!!!.......

See y'all later folks

Posted on Thu Sep 28 15:17:53 CEST 2000 from user-33qtadd.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.169.173)

Pat Brennan

Epp, King Harvest is an interesting example as the instruments at the top play fifths and infer neither major nor minor while the voices slur between the minor and major third. However, when they jump into "Now here comes a man with a paper in his hand..." they definitely hit a major key center. Ditto for the short instrumental bridge that connects the chorus to the next verse. Wheels on Fire, somewhat like Dixie, begins in a minor key but soon goes major ("If I knew for sure..." and the chorus).

Posted on Thu Sep 28 14:52:07 CEST 2000 from 1cust54.tnt2.poughkeepsie.ny.da.uu.net (63.17.108.54)

epp

Rag Mama is definitely in a major key however Wheels on Fire and King Harvest are quite minor. There may be others but the brain is a bit foggy this morning...

Posted on Thu Sep 28 11:18:02 CEST 2000 from du155-2.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.2.155)

Ilkka

"If Ragtime's mem'ry should serve him well/ He'll remember there's still one/ Which starts in Am - which starts in Am - But written by 'that' Dylan. Amen."

Posted on Thu Sep 28 10:55:08 CEST 2000 from (152.94.18.196)

dfgtery

Posted on Thu Sep 28 10:39:54 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime #2

Yeah, found one (at last). "Rag Mama Rag" is in the minor key, although the instrumental intro seems to point otherwise...

Posted on Thu Sep 28 10:22:25 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime

"Corn in the fields, listen to the rice when the wind blows cross the meadow..."

Posted on Thu Sep 28 09:53:52 CEST 2000 from (24.41.0.151)

Jack Dollwin

HELLO World! This is my first visit to this site. I will be visiting here more often. Great work on this site!

Posted on Thu Sep 28 08:46:58 CEST 2000 from gateway.tono.no (212.71.68.22)

Jens Magnus

Regarding the major/minor thread. I agree, The Band have a tendency to stay in major keys. Whispering pines is perhaps the closest they get to playing minorish.
For those who are uncertain of major and minor, listen to Beatles Golden Slumbers. The "Once there was a way"-theme is very definite minor, while "Carry that weight" taking over in the final overture is major, a major major that is!
It is also a good observation that the boys hardly play straight blues (in their own write). But King Harvest is a very bluesy tune IMHO.

Posted on Thu Sep 28 07:28:50 CEST 2000 from (152.163.207.49)

Henry

I love THE BAND! Always have, always will. Their music just sounds so perfect to me. I love all of it, even their less popular songs and albums. I've collected a few "private pressings" only because I still had a thirst for more after I bought everything they ever released on vinyl and CD.

Some of my favorites are Crossing the Great Divide, Complete Last Waltz, Hollywood Bowl '70, Roosevelt Stadium 8/1/73, Ophelia '76 (Wash, DC), Forever Young '74 (with Dylan at Madison Square Garden), The Joint '96 (Las Vegas).

I'm sad by the premature loss of Richard and now Rick. I'm also sad that Levon can no longer sing. I'm very lucky to have seen THE BAND play a number of times over the years. I'm especially lucky that I will be able to enjoy their recorded music for the rest of my life. Peace to all. Long Live THE BAND

Posted on Thu Sep 28 05:36:43 CEST 2000 from pool-63.52.245.26.ipls.grid.net (63.52.245.26)

Bobby Jones

Donald Joseph - I was not stating that's were anything started. I was answering a question posed by "Mike" as to "Why was Robbie on RCO and at the following celebration Party". I was not trying to give a time line to the rift between Levon and Robbie. I suggest you research the link I was responding too. I agree it began long before the Last Waltz and even before the BROWN album.

I also read Lee's book (the 1st edition and the re-issue)twice and can safely say the answers do not lie with MARK LEVON or JAMMIE ROBBIE. If I was looking for the truth I would look to Richard, Rick or Garth. Since only Garth is left, we will just wait for his book to come out.

I have a few favorite boots - Last of the Moving Shadows, Complete Last Waltz , Best seat in the house, and Crossing the Great Divide.

I guess my new name will have to be ROBERT..........later!

Posted on Thu Sep 28 05:32:04 CEST 2000 from 209-239-198-194.oak.jps.net (209.239.198.194)

Phil

Pat, I'll buy that. I actually thought the same thing may be so, but I don't read (altough I attempt to play it from time to time) music. Songs like Dixie and TWOF always seemed to change keys to my untrained ears. How about you give an example of a pop/rock tune that we would all know that is totally in a minor key (if there is one)? It may help me and others understand this thread better. Thanks.

Posted on Thu Sep 28 05:14:17 CEST 2000 from user-33qtal5.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.170.165)

Pat Brennan

Jeez, what is this, four posts in one night. Sorry.

The Joy of Cable grazing, part 2.

The "Behind The Music" Anniversary show. As we all know, they've never featured the boys, but, Lo and Behold, they make an appearance on ths A-Show. The Kramer look-alike from the Man Show says, "Hey, Whether it's The Band or 2LiveCrew, we like to see 'em come apart at the seams." As he says the Band, there's a flash of the boys playing. It's quick, and there's no music, but it looks from the clothes to ROA era, and honest to God, I've never seen the clip before. There's still more out there, people.

Posted on Thu Sep 28 04:58:43 CEST 2000 from chpxy02-chrtr02.ne.mediaone.net (24.128.190.214)

Stephen

The Band was together for a long time.That karma would allow their paths to cross,and become The Band is a miracle.Very few artists produce an endless stream of work.Let's enjoy the music they left us and look forward to the music to come.Accentuate the positive for everything breeds itself.

Posted on Thu Sep 28 04:21:59 CEST 2000 from user-33qtal5.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.170.165)

Pat Brennan

Phil, you'll notice that when they hit "Just notify my next of kin..." they're on the major root chord. Granted, like Dixie, the song starts on a minor chord, but both chords serve to set up the eventual move to the major root("If I knew for sure..." being another example of this move).

Posted on Thu Sep 28 04:11:59 CEST 2000 from 209-239-199-66.oak.jps.net (209.239.199.66)

Phil

Isn't "This Wheels On Fire" in a minor key? I know it's by RD & Bob, but it is a band song.

Posted on Thu Sep 28 03:54:03 CEST 2000 from user-33qtal5.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.170.165)

Pat Brennan

Oh, and at the risk of offending anyone, three crucial Band boots: Winterland, April 69, probably their second show; Palladium 76, with horns, the real Last Waltz; Saturday Night Live, Nov 76, huge. Actually, most of the 75-76 boots are quite good, including another horn section show at the Hollywood Bowl. Also, Royal Albert Rags, while not the greatest quality, perfectly represents the 71 tour with an outstanding setlist.

Disappointing? The Roosevelt Stadium shows, attempts to become a jam band. Hollywood Bowl, Rubber Dubber, Levon hates the performance with good reason.

Posted on Thu Sep 28 03:43:09 CEST 2000 from user-33qtal5.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.170.165)

Pat Brennan

The comment about major/minor keys made me wonder...so I backtracked a little and checked out how many Band tunes were in a major key and how many were in minor. Just a cursory glance, of course, but it may be that every single Band tune is in a major key. Even the supposed minor key tune mentioned (Dixie) is in C major. Another interesting thing: there is little real blues in the Band's repertoire (68-76) which I always felt was to their credit. Garth's playing especially avoids the dominant 7th in the root chord. There are touches of the blues in some of RR's solos, but otherwise, nothing.

Now the Band vocals always had an emotional thing that seemed bluesish, and some will say they hear the blues in the Band's material. Well, God bless you, but I'd say they tend toward the R&B side of things rather than the straight blues. Of course, they could play the blues structures convincingly, but rarely did (Further and Mystery Train). I'd guess they were mining the same well the seminal Blues artists dipped into, and they certainly enjoyed interacting with blues artists in the Hawks days. This certainly informed some of their work with Dylan (Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat).

Once RR left the Band, he did explore some minor tunes, Burning for You being one of a few, but most of his stuff remained in the major keys. Only until his Redboy phase did he do some material that, while not necessarily minor, doesn't hew to major structures.

By the way, guessing why an artist does what he/she does can be bad business.

Posted on Thu Sep 28 02:47:57 CEST 2000 from host-216-76-151-102.bna.bellsouth.net (216.76.151.102)

Back with no wife in Tennessee

I'd think a learned mouth should also know that it's "Jaime" and "Mark Lavon."

And mixing American Indian music with hip-hop beats was a calculated play for commercialism? Good God! I think I'm going to go hump a giraffe while beating on a rusty bathtub then go buy a Mercedes.

Posted on Thu Sep 28 01:45:03 CEST 2000 from m198214191216.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.191.216)

pehr

Donald Joseph: Maybe this makes sense, maybe not, but to answer your question- I never meant to belittle RT's work in any way- by recognizing that it's not really my cup of tea the way it is for Crabgrass, or RR's work is for me. This does not mean that I dont have the utmost respect for RT's writing, singing, playing. I certainly do and appreciate it immensely, but I dont buy it or play it around the house.

I "love" alot of artists. Art, Music and Photography and a good book or film make a big difference to me. I deeply honor artists and anyone in the field that has my respect also has my blessing and love, whether or not they are considered "Big Time".

As for being a fan, the root of the word "Fan" is from "Fanatic". In this sense, while I deeply appreciate RT's work I am not at the "Fanatic" level about it. I am a JRR fanatic in the first degree however! thats why I say so many positive things about JRR on this website and so on.

Posted on Thu Sep 28 01:39:43 CEST 2000 from dial13.gtn.net (207.176.194.113)

Spellcheck

A learned mouth like D.Joseph should know that FEUD is spelled "FEUD". Just a friendly correction.

Posted on Thu Sep 28 01:24:11 CEST 2000 from l98uppx1.hewitt.com (4.17.250.5)

Donald Joseph

Regarding the fued: If Mark Levon is right, & if Jamie unfairly hogged scribe credit only post-Brown l.p., then how does Mark explain the fact that every single one of the pre-Band Hawks' self-penned tunes (on the Roulette singles, etc.), had been attributed solely to Jamie? Mark knew the score even well BEFORE Big Pink!

Bobby Jones: Nice try, but you're weak on the facts. Read Mark Levon's recently re-released book. The fued does NOT center on how the group came across in the '78 TLW Scorsese film; while this is indeed a bone that Mark picks with Jamie, Mark's beefs predate the '78 film, and extend back to well before the RCO l.p. was recorded, to the Thanksgiving-day TLW concert itself (cf. Mark's dim opinion of Jamie's jaw-dropping decision to make room for shlockmeister Neil Diamond over then-living legend McKinley Morganfield). Indeed, the fued concerns acts well before Thanksgiving '76 -- it extends back to the day Mark slit open his first copy of the Brown l.p. (that's when, Mark claims, he first figured out Jamie had grabbed scribe credit inappropriately).

Butch: Thanx.......4 da Barn*Burners!!!! dispatch!!!.......@-+......BUT dont {hold} yer BREATH 4 ***the*** Pulitzer!!!

pehr: Absent a personal/familial relationship, how can you "love" an artist yet NOT be a "fan"?

Luyde: Will you give up if I tell you where all the cowboys have gone?

Brown Eyed Girl: You're far too generous in your praise of Jamie's courage in championing American Indian music "in the face of so much racism" and at the risk of "turn[ing] some people off." American Indians have been popular heroes stateside for decades (cf. all the sports teams named after them). The current social/pop-cultural environment actively favors politically-correct support of historically-oppressed minorities like Indians, and, of course, holds "world beat" music out as avant-garde cool. Jamie's solo career was going nowhere after "Storyville" & "Jimmy Hollywood." His calculated turn to "hip-hop" mixes with American Indian themes was a not-too-subtle play for a commercial niche that has, indeed, boosted his profile and sold more records than previously. I like Jamie's Indian stuff, don't get me wrong. My point, though, is just that Jamie's embrace of Indian sounds was a savvy chess move in the then-losing game of Jamie's career--it was not an act of bravery.

David Powell: By my reckoning, much of Jamie's contribution to the soundtrack l.p. didn't make the film.

Brien Sz: Someone can be NOT "prolific" as a recording artist yet still be a "hard-working" executive. Two different concepts there, bud.

Posted on Thu Sep 28 01:21:40 CEST 2000 from ch8smc.bellglobal.com (206.47.244.58)

Blind Willie McTell

Does anyone have any details about the Rick Danko celebration in Toronto next week? I called the Horseshoe Tavern and all they would tell me is that it is being put together by Colin Linden.

Posted on Thu Sep 28 01:14:15 CEST 2000 from h0010a4b2b01e.ne.mediaone.net (24.91.134.110)

Frank Tardo

Wow!! Great site! I'm a Gezzer that was around when the Band shook up the music world. Just found this site, and printed some music I've been looking for for months! Gotta go, my gutar is calling!

Posted on Thu Sep 28 01:04:34 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime

Donabie: thanks. And good to see you posting. Missed your voice of reason for a while.

Posted on Wed Sep 27 23:15:22 CEST 2000 from spider-tl081.proxy.aol.com (152.163.207.211)

Ben Turkel

Regarding favorite bootlegs, my favorite is probably 'The last moving shadows'. It has good sound and covers the 1983-86 Band which I think is very underated. I still don't understand why there's never been an official live cd by either the 80's or 90's version of the Band. It seems that practically every famous group from the 60's and 70's that ever broke up and reformed has released a new live album besides the Band. I think Lynyrd Skynryd have released 3 or 4 in the last decade. If anyone is interested in trading tapes, e-mail me. I have a reasonable collection and am interested in findng new shows.

Posted on Wed Sep 27 22:45:29 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.253)

David Powell

While at one of the local music emporiums today, I noticed they were selling the "Any Given Sunday II" soundtrack for the exhorbitant price of $19.99. Over in the video department they had the "special edition director's cut" DVD version of the movie, chock full of bonus material, on sale at the same price. No brainer for me -- I picked up the DVD. I'll just wait until the soundtrack turns up in the used bins before I purchase it.

A couple of weeks ago, me & some buddies rented the DVD and thoroughly enjoyed it. Although I heard snippets of what I thought sounded like Mr. Robertson, the movie is such an intense visual & aural collage that it will definitely take repeated viewings to ascertain all the ingredients. Say what you want about Robertson -- after working on soundtracks for such heavyweights as Martin Scorsese & Oliver Stone, why should he worry about sticking with standard album format?

Posted on Wed Sep 27 22:45:09 CEST 2000 from pool-209-138-226-022-troy.grid.net (209.138.226.22)

N Karnes

Great site of the best rock band ever. (I would say best band ever but Bela Fleck has me wondering.) Anyone out there in the GR, Mich area who ever feels like jamming email me: ntg01@juno.com

Posted on Wed Sep 27 22:42:01 CEST 2000 from trt-on67-130.netcom.ca (142.154.116.34)

John Donabie

RAGTIME:

Best site to find John Simon CD's from Japan is www.soundcity2000.com/cd_az/INDEX.HTML This is the same site I got my Libby Titus CD.

Posted on Wed Sep 27 21:57:57 CEST 2000 from spider-wg061.proxy.aol.com (205.188.196.46)

Bashful Bill

The current issue of Goldmine,issue # 527 with Edgar Winter on the cover, has a lackluster review of Bigfoot. A couple factual errors, including refering to Jim Weider as"currently serving as lead axe player in The Band" & calling the Guru's "his pickup band", make it difficult to take seriously. The reviewer calls most of the music on the album" cold and somber", "doesn't translate well over home speakers". What? About the only good things the writer(Michael Galluci) has to say is that Weider chose his covers well, calls Many Rivers To Cross a "highlight", and highly praises the title track. Personally, I agree with whoever said in here recently that it's time for an album from Jim & Randy with the current solid lineup. Bigfoot has been available for a couple years now, though only just recently in record stores.

Posted on Wed Sep 27 20:49:41 CEST 2000 from b0gp5534y21ia.bc.hsia.telus.net (216.232.88.86)

Sam Mercer

Great site, very easy to navigate.

Posted on Wed Sep 27 20:46:36 CEST 2000 from cic-proxy01.firstunion.com (169.200.25.140)

Bones

Dave Z: You're right about "Carry Me". He used new lyrics to the music of "Pray". I think it is the best track on the disc. Dylan always does the opposite, for he will use new music to old lyrics. "Pray" was nominated for an Emmy in 1995 for Best Original Song for movie or special. You will be glad if you go out and pick up a copy of Any Given Sunday Vol.2.

Posted on Wed Sep 27 19:34:20 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.moline1.il.home.com (24.4.252.114)

Mike

Hello. To those of you who belong to Yahoo, I have started a club there for The Band. I've only just begun, so I still have much work to do yet. But I hope to gather a strong following. Here's the URL http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/thiswheelsonfire Thanks. I gotta run for work. Take care. Peace.

Posted on Wed Sep 27 19:19:57 CEST 2000 from (24.3.160.27)

Brien Sz

RR unprolific---I can't imagine Spielberg would have an unprolific figure basically run the music side of Dreamworks.

I know RR's not a favorite of some but lets give credit where credit is due--If exploring different musical avenues and taking chances with your art is "drying up" Then please dust me off the shelf!

Posted on Wed Sep 27 19:08:19 CEST 2000 from m198214176138.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.176.138)

pehr

Crabby, we just see things different ways. I dont think of that many songs the Band sing that I would call minor keys, per se. alot of the Band songs you bring to mind (in my mind, e.g., "the night they Drove Old dixie down" is a minor key but, others, well- I cant think of that many. "It makes no difference" has a beautiful modulation part that saves it from the minor flavor that just doesnt appeal much to me personally to listen to or to play very much. It avoids the weary/dreary... It goes back to what I meant about that Celtic type flavor, or old english ballad minor stuff. the Band's minor keys are much more a dixieland flavor to my eyes, the minor pentatonic blues scale is different than minor changes for me, the "Blue" notes can modulate and the chord substitutions open spaces of beauty/bittersweet/sweetness together that makes it very different from what I hear when I think of "sad" songs from RT, and anglo saxon folk music, call it what you will. I'm not an expert in this but it just is different to me and no fun to play or listen to. I'm not to particularly open minded or knowledgable but thats my interest.

As for Scales, I dont think of, play or listen to scales as far as the blues go. All I hear is sounds expressing the facts of life in the blues. I dont care much for technical aspects of guitar. My own favorite guitar players are more about attitude than theoretical saavy. I dont think, for example that Hubie Sumlin could tell you much about what he does. he just makes the guitar talk a certain way. I used to see alot of Albert Collins. I know Collins didnt know what he was doin'. it just came out, like this beast. RR's best playing (For me, "Before the Flood") also comes from here. It's wild and natural expression. nothin to do with Minor scale. Its a different tradition.

Comparing RT and RR's "productivity" is productive if it makes you feel better. I'm happy for both of them so long as they are being true to themselves and what they want to do. I love 'em both (though not a "fan" of RT's in particular) and think of them of great artists that give what they have and share what they are, and give me the luxury of thinking and discussing tangents with y'all. But if I think RR's the greatest songwriter of the last 30 years, well, whatcha gonna do. I dont think its a contest exactly - He's come up with a body of work that is hard to top and is working away. I think he still writes and plays the guitar beautifully.

(But Willie Dixon, man, he puts 'em both to shame, IMHO!)

Posted on Wed Sep 27 18:55:17 CEST 2000 from usr53-dialup83.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.199.85)

G-MAN

B.E.G. was in Toronto on business and heard RR was filming. Apparently, he filmed in every store he was in, convincing proprietors that the the shots would be used in his future visionary projects. Discounts were provided!!! Too bad ya missed him, but you didn't miss much!!!!!

Posted on Wed Sep 27 18:33:39 CEST 2000 from 1cust229.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.136.229)

Crabgrass

Gee, I'd say Robbie, Rick, and Richard all favored minor key songs and Levon the opposite though he was good at both. RR vs. RT - no comparison. RT has constantly evolved as a live performer and become an incredibly prolific songwriter since his Fairport Convention days while Robbie has receded into the shadows as a performer and has been extremely unprolific. RT's singing voice has steadily improved as well while I can't say the same for RR.

I think it a bit incongruous to dig the blues and yet find minor keys depressing since the blues scale is the minor pentatonic - no?

Posted on Wed Sep 27 18:27:10 CEST 2000 from apollo.tdsb.on.ca (207.164.137.164)

brown eyed girl

I just wanted to clarify that I never said that Robbie is an artsy performer. I was referring instead to the creative process(....his art). Of course he is not into performance art like Laurie Anderson or Peter Gabriel(when he first went solo). I really respect that Robbie was finally able to explore his heritage from his mother's side, especially when there is so much racism involved..... and the fact that his subject content is going to turn some people off, not because his writing has become inferior or that the melody is not interesting. I was told that Robbie was in a Toronto music store being filmed for......? He was filmed a couple of weeks ago. If anyone knows why he was filmed, could you please let me know. I can't believe that I missed Robbie! By the way, I don't care what anyone says, one of my all time favourite Band songs is "Out Of The Blue"!

Posted on Wed Sep 27 18:26:03 CEST 2000 from h0000f8718e9a.ne.mediaone.net (24.128.16.201)

Long Distance Operator

G-Man: Are you going to see Levon at Harper's Ferry in Boston on 11/4? I'll sure as hell be there, and it would be cool to meet up. You know the Acadian Ruby will be present, as well. That's a given! Let me know... -LDO

Posted on Wed Sep 27 16:51:31 CEST 2000 from usr1-dialup18.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.66.18)

G-Man

GROAN ALONE---GREAAAAAAAAAT POST for one GREAT ROCKER !!

Posted on Wed Sep 27 16:05:30 CEST 2000 from m198214176061.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.176.61)

pehr

Crabby don't get me wrong now. I agree with what you said in your last post Re: RT. He comes to my neck of the woods rarely and I missed his last show because I hate the club he played at and wont support it short of Levon, Garth or RR. My loss.

I respect RT a great great deal. It's all that minor key stuff, really. for some reason I hate 95% or more music in minor key signatures, that sound just drives me up a wall. Alot of RT's musical roots have Celtic/folk origins, but it aint my bag, though I have those roots myself.

I guess I'm a Robertsonian because of the blues influence and native american rhythms and philosophy behind the music, it's just my thing.

In sum, I'm not the most open minded cat on the block- for me, the greatest records, songs, and songwriters are all old bluesmen. But RR continues to be the next best thing (along with BZ) I just dont think he dried up, not by a long shot.

ah well, my life pulls me away from Bandville once again.

Cheers, Carmen!

Posted on Wed Sep 27 15:02:47 CEST 2000 from cobalt.nextlink.net (206.129.70.172)

Mike

And where can we get them? (Boots, I mean.)

Posted on Wed Sep 27 14:00:42 CEST 2000 from (24.3.160.27)

Brien Sz

I don't know how comfortable people are about posting on this topic and i know this site does not promote the sales of them BUT I'm wondering----

We've rated Band songs and albums etc.., What about boots--What are the best boots of the Band and or the individual performances by the members? Any takers? What are the worst? Just curious..,

Posted on Wed Sep 27 06:15:50 CEST 2000 from spider-tj063.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.203)

Sheila

Don't have a comment, just have a question. Went to a couple/few satellite sites and did not find what I was looking for. Here's my question. (Ooops! Ended that second to last sentence with a preposition. Oh, my! Anybody care about proper English? Sucks to be me, guess I still do.) Anyway, how much, ballpark figure, would it cost to hire Levon and the Barn Burners for a night? I realize it would depend on how far they would have to travel, as well as how many hours they would have to play, which I would estimate to be about 4/5 hours. HOWEVER, I would say, if it were in drivng distance, five or six members of the band, and their guests -- that is, one guest per person -- could stay with us (to save money of course, what are we talking about?....ballpark figure? -- but don't expect me to cook -- I can't fry an egg! -- other talents, sure, like keeping a clean house).....anyway, I know there must be a lot more people involved in putting on a show then the five or so members of the band and his / her buddy (by the way, Amy has one amazing voice!!), but forgive me, I don't live the touring life and all's I know is the few people I see everyday so...I am thinking, and believing, that there is no way, no how, I (we) could ever afford to have Levon play at the wedding, but boo, hoo, hoo, don't take pity on us...you never know what one can manage...all's I know is...I have been married once before and my current boyfriend is talking about getting married and buying me a big, diamond ring, however, he is the greatest guy EVER....and(please don't tell him you recognize me from shows gone by...yeah, yeah, yeah, that was me outside the Stone Balloon in Delaware about 8 years ago....anyway, the last thing I want him to spend his money on is a diamond ring for me....the BEST thing he could ever give me...(with my help, of course...I have some chump change stocked away)...is a night with you guys (i.e Levon and the Barn Burners)...just thought I would reiterate who I'm writing to, since this e-mail has been going on for farrrrrr tooooo looooonggggg).....funny thing is, I took him, who is new to me and to you guys to Pittsburgh and he LOVED the show.....been talking for far too long...please respond or direct me to a site where I can chit chat with the guy who books your shows......would really like to hear from somebody out there....and someday, everything's gonna be different..... Talk later, Sheila.

Posted on Wed Sep 27 06:14:06 CEST 2000 from ch8smc.bellglobal.com (206.47.244.58)

brown eyed girl

O.K. I can't help it, I need to include more artists on The Band tribute CD such as Maria McKee, Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Tom Petty, Ani di Franco, Everclear, Emmylou Harris with Buddy Miller and Cassandra Wilson. The first time I heard her sing was on Robbie's video "Going Home". My students sang "Ripple" with me today. They enjoyed Garth's accordion playing on Rick Danko's "Ripple". We also sang UB40's "Someone To Love" and Bob Dylan's "Man(I changed it to We) Gave Names To All The Animals". We certainly had fun singing that rhyming song with a reggae groove. A reminder to Band fans that the Rick Danko celebration in Toronto is on October 4 at the Horseshoe Tavern. The tickets are 12.00.

Posted on Wed Sep 27 05:41:50 CEST 2000 from (200.248.128.74)

Luyde

Hi... Sorry... I've made up my mind... I'll keep on posting this message here Even though some people around here might be hating me, for being so insisting... I need your help... I'm a Paula Cole fan and about 4 month ago I discovered HERE that in 1995 it was release a X-mas holiday compilation CD entitled "Winter, Fire & Snow" and there was Robbie Robertson's "Christmas Must Be Tonight" on it, as well as a song by Paula Cole called "St. Nicholas Is Carrying A Gun." It was re-issued sometime later, with 15 songs and not 12 as the fisrt one, and without Paula's songs. All the cds I can find to buy are this "second" one, with Robbie's. All I want is to find someone who has THIS cd and that could tape me this song or, BETTER, maybe swap the old release with a new one - I can buy it! I believe true fans/collectors might have a copy of this cd... I'd be whole-heartedly thankful... And, definately, stop bothering you all : ) Please get in touch with me... Even if it's to say "Forget us! " hehehe... Thank you very much Luyde

Posted on Wed Sep 27 05:30:49 CEST 2000 from 1cust206.tnt11.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.134.206)

Crabgrass

I'm against any Garth Hudson postage stamp since you have to be dead before they'll put you on one - here in the US of A anyway.

For me, Richard Thompson's sometimes depressing lyrics are balanced out by his incredibly inventive and lively guitar playing and his great sense of humor in concert - that's partly why I, like many of his fans, prefer his boots to his studio albums. Any song on a serious subject or one which tells a serious story can sometimes be depressing but there can also be great beauty in such songs. Emmylou Harris has an admitted penchant for sad songs and most blues songs have depressing lyrics, no? How about Dylan's "Ballad in Plain D" or "Restless Farewell" - easily as sad as any of RT's songs.

BTW I thought my posts dried up months ago - glad to see some have only picked up on this recently!!

Posted on Wed Sep 27 05:02:13 CEST 2000 from wc1-int2.nbnet.nb.ca (198.164.200.230)

WS Walcott

Nice to see some GBers recognized Malcolm Tomlinson. He had an album out in the late 70s " Malcolm, Comin' Outta Nowhere". Had a single called "Knockin' My Head". When I first heard it I thought it was The Band, great tune. He's a drummer who also sings. Sound like someone we know?

Posted on Wed Sep 27 04:51:18 CEST 2000 from spider-wb061.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.176)

Dave Z

Peter V: I agree with you that RR has not dried up... but are the tracks from that american football movie really that original?... I listened to the Real Audio clips from CDNOW... and it seems like Carry Me is just new lyrics used on the music from Pray off of Redboy?... Maybe I'm wrong and hopefully those instrumentals are cool? (I plan to buy the CD)... but I hope RR is writing some new stuff too when he can... I'd like to see him bring some of his American Indian themes (did someone say artsey earlier?) back to the more mainstream R&R product that appeals to the Band audience (I think somebody called it "bar room" music)...

Posted on Wed Sep 27 02:59:05 CEST 2000 from 182.mercerville-21-22rs.nj.dial-access.att.net (12.78.148.182)

carmen

Just picked up Any Given Sunday. The RR songs on the CD make the purchase well worth the price.

What's up Pehr!

Regards to all!

Posted on Wed Sep 27 02:55:10 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-116-98.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.116.98)

BWNWITennessee

I hope it's the old Garth, with the alligator-teeth hat.

Next mission, the Garth Hudson postage stamp.

Posted on Wed Sep 27 02:46:45 CEST 2000 from (209.179.96.240)

Joe

Just wanted to say hello to all you people :-)

Posted on Wed Sep 27 02:41:00 CEST 2000 from hud1-pm-28-87.termserv.net (204.97.156.88)

Diamond Lil

Another autumn night, it's gettin chilly....

The sound of the voice by the fire...warms me tonight.

Have a good night everyone. Hug Jan.

Posted on Wed Sep 27 01:10:58 CEST 2000 from ti09a61-0319.dialup.online.no (130.67.57.63)

Groan Alone

Home Groan's fourth album "Fish" is now available featuring the Rick Danko tribute "You Made A Difference". Find a distributor near you, or listen to some real audio at the Home Groan Page! Thanks folks! P.S. sorry about pitching but it's a family affair and Jan said it 's ok......................................................... It made a difference who you were You made a difference when you sang, your song You made a difference on stage, when you played Ya the carnival was turned on We've got you down on wax We've zipped you in a file And no ones keeping score, you know You went that extra mile You held that note and shook it, like a wolf might shake a bone Your bouncing big foundation, just a bass-line that hit home I grew up with your music, you're one reason that I groan Don't look back you've been there, there is plenty more space to roam There is hardship in a heart That grows bigger every year But blood won't flow as strong As a river formed by tears Yet tears evaporate They float up to the sky Where they join the missing souls Celebrating times that have gone by So here's a song for Rick And people that he moved His power's in a song And a feeling that he proved

Posted on Wed Sep 27 01:03:53 CEST 2000 from m198214178082.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.178.82)

pehr

Crabby I can do ya better than a cigarette... How 'bout a joint? Maybe then you can wake up to some of the reasons re: RR's writing I never agree with you?

Ah but variety is the spice of life. Without people like you I'd be way too agreeable...

which explains why you love RT's writing which bores and depresses me almost as badly as the Doors.

well we dont seem to ever agree on anything but I enjoy your posts and photography anyway.

Posted on Wed Sep 27 00:36:29 CEST 2000 from webcache12b.cache.pol.co.uk (195.92.194.46)

Michael

Hi folks!

Are there any GB regulars out there from Arizona?
This Thursday (28th) I'm coming over there from the UK to play a few gigs with my band - what I need is some advice on where to see and what to do on my days off!

I'm really looking forward to it but it's all happened so quicky I haven't had time to do any research. Any help would be appreciated...

p.s. - Levon or Robbie? Y'know, they're both great..

Posted on Tue Sep 26 23:41:08 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime

Thanks to my always reliable British friends Lee G and Peter V for the John Simon info. And Ilkka... I'm doing a bit of thinking :-)

Posted on Tue Sep 26 23:32:32 CEST 2000 from mplsdslgw10poold108.mpls.uswest.net (63.228.43.108)

Patrick

Ive finally updated the Garth site, and will continue for awhile! I don't recommend visiting it if your computer is slow, because since i'm not computer orientated, there is too much on it. Oh, well-Just visit. I have a couple fun polls coming up!

Posted on Tue Sep 26 23:31:15 CEST 2000 from mplsdslgw10poold108.mpls.uswest.net (63.228.43.108)

Patrick

Ive finally updated the Garth site, and will continue for awhile! I don't recommend visiting it if your computer is slow, because since i'm not computer orientated, there is too much on it. Oh, well-Just visit. I have a couple fun polls coming up!

Posted on Tue Sep 26 23:06:38 CEST 2000 from chpxy02-chrtr02.ne.mediaone.net (24.128.190.214)

Stephen

The Band's music has been a soundtrack to my life.I started listening at 15 when my guitar teacher mentioned the new Rock Of Ages album[I'm now 43].I've never stopped listening to and playing their music.I have had the good fortune to meet the reformed band in 1995.Let's all enjoy their music.

Posted on Tue Sep 26 22:43:01 CEST 2000 from csiewert.student.princeton.edu (140.180.130.73)

Cam

Hey, is anyone heading out to Sterling, NY this weekend to see Levon and Garth? The only thing is that Levon's not playing with the Barn Burners--anyone know why? And who is the Dave McLaughlin Band? And did I spell that right? Okay, over...

Posted on Tue Sep 26 21:24:24 CEST 2000 from gw3a60-1-d399.wind.it (212.141.123.145)

EMANUELE , the beards

On THE BEARDS HOMEPAGE , add 2 PICTURE of Concert Poster from ISLE OF WIGHT 1969 , and BOB DYLAN AND THE BAND 1974 TOUR . On section "PICTURE" THANK YOU , BYE EMANUELE

Posted on Tue Sep 26 21:06:20 CEST 2000 from twmaine-63-167-210-226.twmaine.com (63.167.210.226)

mattk

Personally, I think Crabby's posts have looked a bit parched of late...

Posted on Tue Sep 26 20:54:31 CEST 2000 from modem3.bank3.eureka.lk (202.21.35.142)

meeya

Your site is quite nice!

Posted on Tue Sep 26 20:42:33 CEST 2000 from usr51-dialup255.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.198.135)

G-MAN

Has anyone heard of a Rick Danko benefit in Toronto, approx. October???? Info appreciated!!! Thanks !!

Posted on Tue Sep 26 20:39:02 CEST 2000 from user-33qt878.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.160.232)

Pat Brennan

Of course, there is no agreement that RR dried up after TLW. Some think he did, some don't. He explained it himself, saying he wanted to pursue other avenues and didn't want to return to recording until he had something to say. If readers of the GB need their artists to deliver on a specific time schedule, then I'd guess they have no idea what it takes to do what RR and others like him do.

Posted on Tue Sep 26 20:33:49 CEST 2000 from gw.itac.ca (209.146.161.1)

Bill

What a great day! I love the Tremeloes version of "Silence Is Golden". Frankly, I didn't know there even was another version, as that one was the hit here in Toronto and that's the only one that gets played on the oldies stations I listen to. Dion's truly great too - though I much prefer "Runaround Sue" to "The Wanderer".

Speaking of Dion, I was in Quebec City last week, and came away reminded that the Abraham of Plains-of-Abraham fame was Abraham Martin (but not John). Although the area of the Plains has been a park for many years, a tour guide said it had been a golf course (!!) before WWI, then a munitions dump for a few years. So "what went down on the Plains of Abraham" included birdies and bogies. Whoda thunk?

How 'bout the Four Seasons doing "King Harvest"? Frankie soloing on the verses, with the others joining in for the choruses.

Posted on Tue Sep 26 19:42:49 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-123.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.123)

Peter Viney

Robbie drying-up? Take a listen to "Carry me" off the "Any Given Sunday Volume 2" soundtrack. Or just get the soundtrack for the instrumentals of Amazing grace and Out of The Blue.

The Four Seasons? Is Crabgrass referring to the up-market hotel chain and thus obliquely to the odd distaste people seem to have because Robbie has a sense of style? But taking it straightfaced and at face value, it’s not as totally bizarre as you might think. I see Bob Wigo had the same thought as me. The Four Seasons would have to sing a Richard song, and I thought they’d already done "I Shall Be Released". I checked and they hadn’t, BUT The Tremeloes had. In the UK the Tremeloes had the hit with a cover of "Silence is Golden" which is where I’m confusing it. They used to imitate the Four Seasons and their cover of "I Shall Be Released" was, I think, in the style. I don’t think that’s a recommendation on this song! While we’re in the era of "The Wanderers" (a movie which opens with "Walk Like a Man") let’s also plug the new Dion album, Deja Nu, which is excellent. Ten originals and two Springsteen covers.

Posted on Tue Sep 26 19:19:02 CEST 2000 from (206.186.16.78)

Rick Kenworthy

WS Walcott: "and when that train rolls in, we gonna be friends again ...." regarding the Festival Express documentary on the Old MotherPhone, as usual the CBC buried the lead. It was, for the most part, a Janis-umentary, with lively spicey quotes from her Pearlness. Nothing terribly new, and a few glaring errors (referring to Delaney as 'She' is one that comes to mind) a few taped quotes from Richard Bell and a few folks who attended, but precision little about The Band. HANK: who woullda thunk it? - just cuz I can't make paragraphs, do ya suppose it makes us think alike? "WELL . . . IT"S DOG EAT DOG, AND CAT EAT MOUSE . . . " Dileas gu Brath Rick

Posted on Tue Sep 26 19:07:43 CEST 2000 from cic-proxy01.firstunion.com (169.200.25.140)

Bones

Any more word on the Hubert Sumlin CD that Levon and Clapton were working on. Also, I'm going to pick up a copy of the new (and umteenth) greatest hits package by our boys being released today (for no other reason than getting excited by new "official" product).

Donald Joseph: Welcome back.

Posted on Tue Sep 26 19:00:34 CEST 2000 from spider-tk081.proxy.aol.com (152.163.206.211)

bob wigo

Thanks so much Crabby. Now I can't get the sound of Frankie Vallie's falsetto singing "I Shall Be Released" out of my head. Damn you man.

Posted on Tue Sep 26 18:59:24 CEST 2000 from du73-4.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.4.73)

Ilkka

© Bob Dylan 1972 (sorry)
To my friend Ragtime about Bob Dylan's candidature for the Noble Prize in Literature:

"No but that ain't your game, it ain't even your race/ You can't hear yer name, you can't see yer face/ You gotta look some other place/ And where do you look for this hope that yer seekin'/ Where do you look for this lamp that's a-burnin'/ Where do you look for this oil well gushin'/ Where do you look for this hope that you know is there/ And out there somewhere/ And your feet can only walk down two kinds of roads/ Your eyes can only look thru two kinds of windows/ Your nose can can only smell two kinds of hallways/ You can touch and twist/ And turn two kinds of doorknobs/ You can either go to the church of your choice/ Or you can go to Brooklyn State Hospital/ You'll find God in the church of your choice/ You'll find WOODY GUTHRIE in Brooklyn State Hospital/ And though it's only my opinion/ I may be right or wrong/ You'll find them both/ In the Grand Canyon/ At Sundown"

If this ain't worth of Nobel Prize, so what is? Ragtime, feel free to post ten lines of better contemporary literature, privately to me or to the gb. Band related, of course ;-) - And I haven't opened Blonde On Blonde yet!

Posted on Tue Sep 26 18:20:12 CEST 2000 from 1cust89.tnt9.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.128.89)

Crabgrass

Well, at least there's some agreement here that Robbie's songwriting ability DID in fact "dry up" regardless of whether or not he anticipated it. As for the lengthy gap between Islands and Robbie's first solo album I'd say that Robbie probably didn't plan initially to wait that long to re-surface on the recording scene - it just wound up being that way for any number of reasons. And I'd say most songwriters have a bunch of partially written songs dating back any number of years some of which are eventually completed and recorded so maybe it's not true that Robbie "held back" any completed songs, I agree. So if I don't deserve a cigar then maybe I deserve at least a cigarette? (Which I'd promptly deposit in the trash btw as I happily stopped smoking many years ago.)

New thread - which Band songs would everyone like to hear The Four Seasons cover??

Posted on Tue Sep 26 18:03:50 CEST 2000 from cobalt.nextlink.net (206.129.70.172)

Mike

Didn't want to pay $59.00 for the 2 CD "The Joint" on eBay just now. I will gladly pay some kind soul for a cassette. Please e-mail me if you would do this. Thanks. (I'm also still looking for the Portland, Oregon show from 1996 at the Roseland Theater w/ John Wesley Harding. Great show and would like to find either a tape or video.)

Butch...PLEASE bring the guys out west. Your posts are KILLIN' me!!!

Posted on Tue Sep 26 17:55:36 CEST 2000 from usr50-dialup63.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.196.65)

G-Man

BAND GB er's: How bout a group trip, w/out parental permission???? Levon, 11/2-Winooski, Vt., and Gurus, 11/3, Saratoga Springs, NY ?????

Posted on Tue Sep 26 17:43:57 CEST 2000 from spider-th063.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.73)

butch

Wipin the sleep & the road from my eyes,,,,,, as i get back to "reality" after this mini-roadtrip,,,,,,,,,,,The Tralf in Buffalo welcomed Levon & The BARN BURNERS with open arms,,,, Buffalo hsa always been a LEVON town,, & this was no exception,,,,

Carolyn Szelest, Stan's widow, & paulie Danko were our welcoming party with G-MAN & DAWN right behind,,,, beautiful folksm,,,,, G-MAN,,, you are a CLASS act,, all the way,,

Levon & The B.B.'s played their blues like a train was on they ass,,,, hot & heavy,,,,, the groove was PHAT,,, & the POCKET deep,,, Levon was havin so much fun,,,,, Pat & Chris tokk the melodies & bent them right around their harps & gitars,,, & the bottom was solid & thumpin,,,, Frankie & Levon locked tighter than a tick,,, & playin off of each other,,,, they played it all from MUDDY to SONNY-Boy,,,& when Amy came up for her songs,, the voices had a new depth to them,,,

But The blues were wll kept up in Buffalo,,, a great crowd, supportive & cheering after each song,,, it was great !!!!!

& Pauly Danko,, talkin to ya sounding JUST LIKE brother Rick,, it was nice,,,

Love you Buffalo,, be back soon,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Then on to pittsburgh,,,,MOONDOG's,,,,, a better bunchafolks,, RON, the owner made the fellas a HOME-MADE ROAST w/veggies & potatoes,,,, & veggie food for me,, clubowners like that,, ya just dont find everyday,, he was a prince,, very musician supportive,,,, as were the fans there,, it was a concrete bunker-like club,,, crowded, hot sweaty,, VERY BLUESY,,, everyone plays there on the blues circuit,,, but,,,, we killed the PACKED SCREAMING house,,, the men locked in early,, & despite battleconditions,, the band lived up to its name,, & BURNED IT DOWN !!!!!! it was a screamer,,, chris was a man possessed,, & pat, who had a childhood friend Steve visiting,, played those T-Bone licks,, sweeeeeeeetly,,,again our friends RAY & AMY Jo,,, & all the rest of our good friends gave us the hometown support ya need out there,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,RAY , boy you the best,, a good man,,, & Amy Jo,, w/o you,, the music would have no life,, no twinkle,,, thanks for ALL the support,,,,,,, OK,, THEN on to Cleveland,,,,,,,,,,, more to follow,,, stay tuned,,,,,,,THANKYOU BUFFALO (THE TRALF ) & PITTSBURGH,<< Butch

Posted on Tue Sep 26 17:05:42 CEST 2000 from twmaine-63-167-210-226.twmaine.com (63.167.210.226)

mattk

Story referencing Levon's participation in the Rock and Roll HOF tribute to Muddy Waters can be read here

Posted on Tue Sep 26 16:32:07 CEST 2000 from gw.itac.ca (209.146.161.1)

Bill

WS Walcott: Nice to see you mention the undeservedly obscure Malcolm Tomlinson. Though I don't recall him covering any Band songs - either on record or on stage - he certainly has the voice to carry it off. And he can drum while he sings, too! If I'm not mistaken, Malcolm is the only person to have recorded a Scott Cushnie song, other than Scott (ex-Suedes, ex-Hawks) himself. Do you, btw, have any knowledge of the whereabouts of his old chums, Louis McKelvey and Andrew Keilor?

Posted on Tue Sep 26 16:00:42 CEST 2000 from usr50-dialup63.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.196.65)

G-MAN

Well, Well, Well !!!! 9/21 The Barnburners lit up Buffalo-they were fire hot!!! Well-9/22 they had Fat Fish JUMPIN, literally, people on the bar, on chairs!!! WHAT A SHOW !! Mr. O'Leary and Amy sang up a storm--show time"""""" Mr. O'Shea is whats happenin on the guitar''''Frankie and Levon, again, were in sync and had the WORLD'S BEST RYTHYM SECTION. What a CLASS ACT and CLASS PEOPLE. BUTCH you da man!!!! Sorry Band fans-Band went to #2 on the all-time favorite list!!!! Barnburners and Gurus are tied for # 1.....Cannot describe the show-- but better than the BEST!!!!!!

Posted on Tue Sep 26 14:33:35 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-121.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.121)

Peter Viney

Ragtime: "John Simon's Album" was released on CD in Japan (Warner Bros WPCP-4914). I don't know whether it's still in print.

Posted on Tue Sep 26 13:38:47 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime

Dear record-companies and -watchers: is their any chance that "John Simon's Album" (1971) ever will be re-released on cd?

Donnie Joe! You're back! So after all Crabgrass is NOT a reincarnation of you...

Posted on Tue Sep 26 12:29:35 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-130.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.130)

Peter Viney

Good to see DJ is back. More on "O Brother, Where Art Thou?’. The title is, as Steve Hirsch says, a deliberate quote from Preston Sturges’ "Sullivan’s Travels" which has enabled reviewers to say it has a "feel-good Preston Sturges ambience." It’s extremely rare for an American film to open in the UK before the USA – we’re usually months behind. It makes sense that they’re holding back for a holiday season mega-release and the Oscars, and they couldn’t have pushed it forward to the summer season because "Perfect Storm" was playing so well. However, another thought comes to mind. Throughout the film, the escapades take place against the background of an election campaign. The politicians are hilarious. I seem to recall that movies with strong political backgrounds have been delayed before during the final stages of election campaigns both here and in the USA when they portray politicians as a bunch of stumbling, corrupt, inept creatures.

I would almost recommend importing the soundtrack album (it wasn’t out in the US last week, but is out here). I wonder if the impact of some of the songs in the movie might be diluted by hearing these versions in advance. Whatever, it’s an extremely good collection of pieces of genuine Americana. But while the audio of "Keep on the Sunnyside" is great, you have to get the visuals for full appreciation.

John Simon: devotees should note that John plays piano on Taj Mahal’s "The Real Thing" just released in remastered form. This is the February 1971 "tuba" show from the Filmore East, which Rock of Ages fans should have. Howard Johnson leads the horn section.

Posted on Tue Sep 26 05:49:02 CEST 2000 from user-33qt9h4.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.166.36)

Pat Brennan

Ahhh, the joy of cable-TV

On Headline News, an analysis of the lies in a Republican ad about education in America, the education recession Dubya is trying to make speeches about...

New Jimmy Swaggert tracts, including one called "That Thing," which refers to that one evil thing that has succeeded in "erecting" (his words, not mine) a wall around your soul...

A "Behind The Music" on the Bangles, who coincidentally have reunited and are on tour....

"The Naked Prey," and who thought the title referred to the running white guy?

The credits to a Showtime production called "Resurrection Boulevard" which ran against the beautiful strains of "Broken Arrow," the first RR solo album version.

Posted on Tue Sep 26 05:28:55 CEST 2000 from 209-239-208-53.stk.jps.net (209.239.208.53)

Phil

Donald Joseph: Something tells me I wouldn't have to twist too hard. Good to see you back. Stay awhile.

Posted on Tue Sep 26 04:43:14 CEST 2000 from pool-63.52.217.177.ipls.grid.net (63.52.217.177)

Bobby Jones

Hank- How about - Livin in a Dream?

Posted on Tue Sep 26 04:38:28 CEST 2000 from dialup-372.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.116)

HANK

HANK WEDELS BAND GB COMPETITION RESULTS!!!!!

Rick "Unfaithful Servant"

Richard "Tears of Rage"

Robbie "To Kingdom Come"

Levon "Rag Mama Rag"

........in my sleeping bag....but all--- you--- wanna do for me mama is.............Yup!! "RAG MAMA RAG"!!!!!..........

Three Winners

Crazy Chester- first Three outta 4

Bobby Jones- by email

Rick Kenworthy- in The GB

Folks, I really have been blown away by the response......my wife is convinced I need help.........Thanks to every one of you that took part..........

BTW.....I liked the "stream of unconcious" comment....it gets like that here sometimes.....3 in the AM ......nodding off.....waking with a start.....wondering where Am I..........oh yeah, GB.......

There's so much I wanna write to y'all but I gotta sleep........THANKS!!

Posted on Tue Sep 26 04:37:52 CEST 2000 from pool-63.52.217.177.ipls.grid.net (63.52.217.177)

Bobby Jones

Mike - The Dates - Last Waltz was played and recorded in November 1976. Levon's RCO Allstars was recorded in Fall / Winter 1976 thru early 1977. R.C.O was released later in 1977. The Last Waltz was not released until 1998. So when Robbie played on the RCO Allstars The Last Waltz was a concert they did a few months back. Levon had no idea in 1977 how the Last Waltz would turn out and who really knows what Robbie told the boys. It seems Levon, Rick, Richard & Garth were not really in the loop on this project. So we get the Robbie show.

Levon also had something to gain by letting Robbie be on his project(RCO), the more BIG names the more attention, hopefully resulting in more sales.

Then theres the re-union tour in 1983 and the baggage that brought. I know it's a different subject, but alot of old wounds reopened with that tour.

I know for some this is old news, but for others it might shed some light.

Posted on Tue Sep 26 04:13:29 CEST 2000 from wc1-int2.nbnet.nb.ca (198.164.200.230)

WS Walcott

Allright, artists I'd like to see perform on a Band tribute album. How about Neil Young, John Prine, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Allman Bros.,Lucinda Williams, Malcolm Tomlinson, Little Feat, Bob Weir, Blackhawk, and Leon Russell. BTW still waiting for feedback on CBC documentary on "Festival Express". Somebody must have tuned in.

Posted on Tue Sep 26 03:01:45 CEST 2000 from m198214191216.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.191.216)

pehr

hank- my vote goes to "Up on Cripple Creek", the "Before the Flood" version.

another one of my favorite Levon songs is "I aint Got No Home".

Posted on Tue Sep 26 02:43:26 CEST 2000 from spider-th081.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.81)

Ghost Rider

HANK: Yazoo Street Scandal?

Donald Joseph: Welcome back

Posted on Tue Sep 26 01:47:49 CEST 2000 from www-cache.vuw.ac.nz (130.195.2.96)

Amanda

Oops- scrolling through the previous posts I see Dave Z already voted for Strawberry Wine. Sorry about that...

I'm quite a happy GB poster these days because someone gave me a suprise present of Dr John's recently re-released Gris Gris. I've been listening to it non-stop for a couple of days now. As much as I love, love, love his later New Orleans stuff I can now see why some critics describe him as an underachiever. I haven't heard any of his later work that matches the originality and genius of Gris Gris- although I'd be delighted to be proved wrong.

And now I hear another Coen brothers film may soon be on its way.Life is good!

By the way I also am somewhat sceptical about directors cuts of films. I think they tend to suffer from self-indulgence. I also am not a huge fan of exhibitions in "artist run space."

Posted on Tue Sep 26 01:43:23 CEST 2000 from l4duppx2.hewitt.com (63.73.213.5)

Donald Joseph

Viney: Check out T-Bone's soundtrack to the LAST Coen pic., the fantastic "Big Lebowski," featuring Zimmie's hummable "The Man In Me."

And I don't care what anyone says, Viney, your screeds don't suck the very marrow out of the Band's songs until they turn brittle and, finally, crumble with dust.

Rod (NZ): I agree with the gist of your point in your 23 Sept. post, but I quibble with your example: "Blues So Bad" is a great tune, & has always been a highlight of the RCO l.p. Maria Muldaur, well-known (like Linda Rondstadt) as a discriminating cover artist, covers "Blues So Bad" on one of her recent LP's, & it's a highlight there, too.

Regarding the fued: Drummer Dave, your post is interesting. But didn't Mark Levon make the fued quite public in a splashy Rolling Stone article not too long ago? He can't let the feathers out of the bag & into the wind -- only to tell us to keep them in the bag. It's JRR who's kept his side more or less private.

As I've said before, although Mark Levon's book claims Mark Levon had a hand in Jamie Robbie's songwriting, when you read closely & look for evidence, the best you get is Mark Levon's allegation that he drove JRR to the library to research "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down." You don't have to be a copyright lawyer to know that pro bono chauffer services aren't enough to make out a prima facie intellectual property claim. Score: 1 for John Simon; less-than-1 for Marky-Mark.

Crabgrass: Your theory that JRR penned tunes during his Band days & held 'em back for a solo career assumes: (1) JRR somehow knew in advance his songwriting ability would dry up; and (2) JRR held the tunes back for 14 years (the gap between "Islands" and his 1st solo l.p.) -- or even longer, given that your theory has JRR writing the good stuff well before Islands. Nice try; no cigar.

Also, Crabgrass, your search for a photo of Robbie with Mark Levon post-TLW ignores (as Mattk alluded to) that Mark Levon INVITED JRR to play guitar on his 1977 RCO All*Stars l.p. In previous guestbook exchanges, I've thoroughly explored the enigma of how the fued arose AFTER the RCO record, yet the events in question all pre-date that 1977 lp. This is one of the Unsolved Mysteries that keep you guys posting the same stuff year after year, even after Mark Levon himself asks you to knock it off. (O.K., US guys.)

Phil: OK, OK, I'll produce. If you twist my arm.

Posted on Tue Sep 26 01:24:10 CEST 2000 from www-cache.vuw.ac.nz (130.195.2.96)

Amanda

Hank- is the competition still open?? My guess is Strawberry Wine.

Posted on Tue Sep 26 01:07:50 CEST 2000 from on-tor-blr-a58-01-1290.look.ca (216.154.5.20)

Rick Kenworthy

Hank: Gotta be Rag, Mama Rag - "HAIL STONES BEATIN' ON THE ROOF . . ." Yeow, man . . .

Posted on Tue Sep 26 00:51:13 CEST 2000 from st-catherines-ppp112495.sympatico.ca (216.209.140.124)

Richard P

HANK: Re: Levon - "Mystery Train" ?

Posted on Tue Sep 26 00:22:43 CEST 2000 from csiewert.student.princeton.edu (140.180.130.73)

Cam

Okay, Hank, here's my crack:

Levon: I don't know what everyone else has said, but I would go with TLW Up on Cripple Creek or Ophelia OR ROA Don't Do It OR When I Paint My Masterpiece.

Jeez, now hoooow in the wooooorld did you come up with just ONE?

Posted on Mon Sep 25 23:47:07 CEST 2000 from spider-wn084.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.189)

Ray & Amy Jo

Just got back from Cleveland after a few nights of great music. Moondog's friday night - Levon & The Barn Burners packed the house; standing room only. Many came with admiration for "the man", but left with a great respect & appreciation of the bands talent as true blues musicians. Know that the Pittsburgh area would welcome them back with open arms! Fat Fish Blues saturday night - the house was packed again. One of the waitresses told me she hadn't seen it this busy in a long time. Standing room only again. The Barn Burners had the crowd up and dancing (even up & dancing on the bar!!!) Levon, Amy, Chris, Frank & Pat had a captive audience. After the Muddy Waters House Party a lot of musicians came to watch, including James Cotton - who Chris repeatedly acknowledged while playing. The night came to end way too soon. No doubt Fat Fish Blues & Cleveland will have The Barn Burners back! Sunday night was a Tribute to Muddy Waters in which Levon played drums along with Hubert Sumlin; only complaint - Levon didn't get a chance to play more songs & that The Barn Burners didn't get to play at all. In closing, just want to say THANK YOU to Levon, Butch, Amy, Frank, Chris, Pat & George. You guys are the GREATEST (& we mean that On & Off the stage). You're all friendly, gracious, hardworking people. Thanks for all your time & attention during the past few days! See you all soon! Amy Jo & Ray

Posted on Mon Sep 25 23:46:42 CEST 2000 from (158.72.107.232)

Steve Hirsch

Peter Viney:

O' Brother Where Art Thou hasn't opened in the States yet. I'm looking forward to it.

You may already know this, and I'm sure the Coens did, but the great Preston Sturges made a film called Sullivan's Travels. Sullivan is a Hollywood director (one of his big hits: "Ants in Your Pants") who wants to make a socially significant movie called "O Brother Where Art Thou."

It's not Sturges' best movie, but a minor Sturges work is better than anything John Landis or his ilk have ever dreamt of doing.

Posted on Mon Sep 25 23:22:48 CEST 2000 from p3ee0773b.dip.t-dialin.net (62.224.119.59)

Robert Bauernfeind

I`m still looking for a Copy of The complete Last Waltz. Who can help me ?

Posted on Mon Sep 25 23:09:45 CEST 2000 from hud1-pm-25-85.termserv.net (204.97.156.85)

Lil again

Thinking seriously now Hank (I do that sometimes...go figure..) How bout "When I paint my Masterpiece"?

Posted on Mon Sep 25 23:04:39 CEST 2000 from hud1-pm-25-85.termserv.net (204.97.156.85)

Diamond Lil

Ok Hank..The Levon vocal you're looking for is "Holy Cow", right??! (Hmm...or was that Garth?) :-)

Posted on Mon Sep 25 22:35:11 CEST 2000 from spider-wj083.proxy.aol.com (205.188.198.58)

Dave Z

Great to hear about Garth T-Shirts... Please let us know when and where to send our orders... Hank the paragraph dude: I love Levon singing Strawberry Wine even after the negative liner note comments from reissue... Crabby: No man, Ferdinand good!... I just love it... maybe it's Garth's organ that does it for me... also Danko's vocal is not bad... Lyrics are kinda cool too... Sorry it doesn't work for you... Drummer Dave: Thanks for sharing your talk with Levon... I've got a window time of opportunity plus a frequent flyer ticket so I'm just eyeing up a date to see the Barn Burners hopefully in NY... Me or Me-again: If you really want to make yourself useful, preview Green Pastures Are Before Me, and tell us about them hymns... Matt K: I'm heading for the northwoods in my neighborhood, and will probably blow right by Hibbing... maybe I'll play Dylan's Going, going, gone... cause friday I left my job... and I'm packing up my twins for some serious leaf picking and cold water swimming...

Posted on Mon Sep 25 21:59:15 CEST 2000 from ric-wht-pxy-int02.wheatfirst.com (204.238.130.68)

Bones

Dave: I loved your post recently about your talk with Levon. I'm glad he is happy, and I'm even more glad that he wants to move on (and away from the feud). The music he is making now is wonderful, and when I saw him in North Carolina recently, he never stopped smiling.

The main problem with the feud is the money distribution. Everyone would agree that they were five equal members, but the music business pays the songwriter more. That is just the way it has always been. What if the singers got the majority?

Posted on Mon Sep 25 21:56:20 CEST 2000 from spider-tl033.proxy.aol.com (152.163.207.188)

Ben Turkel

Hank, my guess is 'WS Walcott medicine show'.

Posted on Mon Sep 25 21:31:14 CEST 2000 from twmaine-63-167-210-226.twmaine.com (63.167.210.226)

mattk

Bumbles, I think Blake's take on the nature of creativity and redemption in Milton would probably fit the bill nicely, given our latest hullaballoo.

That said, I hear from a GB'er that Levon's playing up in Portland, ME in November. Great news! Come Nov. 3rd, I know where I'll be...

matt

Posted on Mon Sep 25 21:28:30 CEST 2000 from (206.15.160.247)

Long Distance Operator

Hank: Don'cha Tell Henry, or Atlantic City if you wanna do the "post-Robbie" thing.

Posted on Mon Sep 25 21:26:49 CEST 2000 from (199.88.112.211)

Molly Z.

Hank, could it be The Weight? Or Havana Moon? if anyone said that already, I appoligize.

Have a good rest of the day everyone!

Posted on Mon Sep 25 20:43:47 CEST 2000 from client-151-198-114-165.nnj.dialup.bellatlantic.net (151.198.114.165)

Bumbles

bob wigo: I’d characterize Hank’s style as “stream of unconsciousness.”

mattk: Hope you’ll be returning to the subject of The Four Zoas. I’ve often thought the GB’s legions of raging RANDO-maniacs & bodacious barn-burnin’ bumpkins must be desperate to read a vigorous explication of Blake’s transformative narrative strategies in the poetic prophecies. Rock on.

Posted on Mon Sep 25 19:42:06 CEST 2000 from twmaine-63-167-210-226.twmaine.com (63.167.210.226)

mattk

EVERYday's a beautiful day in Porland, OR. Portland, ME is cool and sunny today. Fall is here and my trip up to the central portion of the state shows the leaves turning with silver maples particularly stunning at this time...

Posted on Mon Sep 25 19:30:13 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.250)

David Powell

O Coen brothers film, where art thou? Word is that the studio is holding back the U.S. release date until the "Oscar-friendly" time of the year. It will reportedly open in N.Y. & L.A. on December 22nd and elsewhere on January 12th, 2001.

Posted on Mon Sep 25 19:29:12 CEST 2000 from cobalt.nextlink.net (206.129.70.172)

Mike

I'm so confused...No feud...Matt's agreeing with Crabgrass...Hank's using paragraphs now...People are giving away FREE reissues...It's a beautiful day out here in Portland, Oregon...Have a great day everyone!

Posted on Mon Sep 25 19:21:26 CEST 2000 from (24.3.160.27)

Brien Sz

Hank: Free Your Mind!

Posted on Mon Sep 25 19:14:47 CEST 2000 from dialup-275.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.19)

Hank

Ah, c'mon people, I can't believe you haven't cracked it yet!!!!.....Well, time is running out!!!...

Here's something y'all will dig......Hubert Sumlin is playing The Lobby Bar here in Cork City during The Cork City Guiness Jazz Festival October 27-30. The Lobby is where Rick played in 1992 and it's where my band and I hosted a tribute to Rick last January. The owner asked me last week if I ever heard of Hubert Sumlin and did I think he'd draw a crowd......In the most excited way possible, I calmly told him to put aside ten tickets so that all me band and blues fanatic friends could be there.....nice one, eh, folks?........I met Hubert at The Abilene Blues Club in NYC in 1986.....any of you New Yorker GB heads remember that place??.......

Competition time is running out folks...........

Posted on Mon Sep 25 19:09:38 CEST 2000 from spider-wi011.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.21)

bob wigo

Hank:
I, for one , feel the paragraph breaks detract from your "stream of consciousness" style of posting.

I propose we put it up for vote with the group.

Posted on Mon Sep 25 18:57:01 CEST 2000 from twmaine-63-167-210-226.twmaine.com (63.167.210.226)

mattk

Hey, I agree with Crabby! Ophelia would be my Levon pick...TLW version. Actually it's ironic. As much as Levon despised TLW, some of his best vocal work comes out there...Don't Do It, Dixie...even from the "Complete" boots, I think both King Harvest and Rag really shine for him. Maybe BECAUSE he was so pissed so he seems to attack each vocal...for me, Levon really makes TLW shine.

BTW, did anybody else notic Hank's using Paragraph seperators now in his posts? Right on, Hank!

Posted on Mon Sep 25 17:45:57 CEST 2000 from pppa33-resalestpetersburgb1-3r7027.saturn.bbn.com (4.4.54.254)

Calm

I must have been REALLY, REALLY good! Half an hour ago, someone walked in and handed me all four! re-issues. Pardon me while I go submerse myself...

Posted on Mon Sep 25 17:43:35 CEST 2000 from 1cust129.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.136.129)

Crabgrass

Nice photo, though it took me ten minutes to locate Levon. I'm curious about the date, however, and hope someone can clear this up. The HOF awards? - everyone knows Levon didn't show up - and why.

I liked Blood Simple but recall a hole in the plot - something about a jacket being left in the safe. Barton Fink is my favorite film by the Coens so far - hope the new one's just as good. John Goodman was great. I don't see why he ever wasted his time on that stupid Roseanne show - the guy has a lot of acting talent.

If I were DJing I'd pick "Ophelia" to showcase Levon - no doubt about it.

Posted on Mon Sep 25 17:33:49 CEST 2000 from twmaine-63-167-210-226.twmaine.com (63.167.210.226)

mattk

not really band related, but Sat. marked what would have been John Coltrane's 74th birthday. Looking forward to Ken Burn's series on Jazz in January. So many of that last truly great generation is dying off - this is probably the last chance for a definitive oral history on 20th century jazz that isn't obsessive with revivalist styles (e.g. the Marsalis brothers) or fusion.

Posted on Mon Sep 25 16:59:08 CEST 2000 from spider-tk083.proxy.aol.com (152.163.206.213)

bob wigo

MattK:
Anytime anyone is pedantic they are "too pedantic for their own good".

Posted on Mon Sep 25 16:45:31 CEST 2000 from twmaine-63-167-210-226.twmaine.com (63.167.210.226)

mattk

Peter, to the best of my knowledge, the Coen Bros. newest is not released over here, yet. They just finished a re-release run of "Blood Simple," that was re-edited to the Coen's liking. I did not see it, though I told it was a bit less frantic and more pensive.

I love that film, so I was a bit reticent to see this new version (with the exception of Blade Runner and Brazil, most "director's cuts," in my experience, tend to miss the mark. As in writing, I think editing is under-estimated by too many directors these days (e.g. Blatty's bloated re-release of the Exorcist this past week).

Hmmm, perhaps that's why John Simon was so critical to this group (btw, I attribute the overall downturn in quality after The Band to Simon's lack of involvement). Having that "outside" and "trusted" ear is so important, especially in a creative project where the scope can get very large (for example, William Blake had to work for years on Four Zoa's, eventually tossing it aside, before hitting the right frame for his later cosmology in both Milton and Jerusalem).

Damn, sometimes I'm too pedantic for my own good.

matt

Posted on Mon Sep 25 16:32:21 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-143.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.143)

Peter Viney

Here’s an enjoyable project. Go and see the Coen Brothers "O, Brother, Where art thou?" as soon as you can. It’s been extremely well-reviewed in the UK, and I can’t figure what’s happening in the USA. Did it get released and die? Or is it being held back until "The Perfect Storm" has finished selling tickets? If so, it’s going to be a huge hit. Anyway, it stars George Clooney who escapes from the chain gang with two comrades. They pick up a blues guitarist… at the crossroads … and among other adventures record a kind of blues-meets-hillbilly version of "Man of Constant Sorrow" which becomes a local hit as the "Soggy Bottom Boys". They claim it’s based on the Odyssey (very remotely – John Goodman is Cyclops and The Sirens lure them to the river). The soundtrack, produced by T-Bone Burnett sticks to the 1930s setting and includes "Keep On the Sunny side" (which Levon has been known to perform), "I’ll fly Away", "Big Rock Candy Mountain", "In the Jailhouse Now", "You Are My Sunshine" …. Artists include The Stanley Brothers, Alison Krause, Emmylou Harris, Harry McLintock.

T-Bone was right to do everything in 1930s mode, but as I came out I couldn’t help thinking that Band songs would have been possible alternatives most of the way through. There’s a "River Hymn" sequence for sure, a "Life is a Carnival" as well as a "Rag Mama Rag". When you get to see it, see how many more you could fit in!

Having been away in the USA for a week and computer-free I’ve just returned and read a lengthy week of posts. Great one, Matt K (last Thursday). More dialogues please, Lars! One way to slow all these brightly-coloured time-consuming pieces of junk posting would be to eliminate the option of posting a photo – it’s much better if people link to a home page with pictures rather than have them up in the GB slowing stuff down - especially for us Europeans who don’t have permanent net connections and have to dial-up and download. I like to see people’s pictures, but see no need to have them on the GB in animated form. I can link. Matt did it the right way in the entry before this. By the way, I think I might have met "Me" on Sunday morning. He was standing outside Osco Drug, and shoved a weather-beaten bible in my face and shouted "I am a saint! A living saint! Give me two dollars. I haven’t had breakfast."

Posted on Mon Sep 25 16:04:55 CEST 2000 from twmaine-63-167-210-226.twmaine.com (63.167.210.226)

mattk

Crab,

Here is just such a picture. It's dated on this site as coming from 1976, but that does not seem feasible as it's from the RCO release party, and that album was released in 1977.

Perhaps Paul Godfrey, who took the picture can clear up the date discrepancy. Otherwise, while there are no pics (though, obviously RR is seen with Rick and Garth at the HOF inductions), there is at least one other occasion where RR and Levon were seen together, even acting as "brothers" as it was described. I think this was at Rick's party in the late-70s. I know at least a couple of people were there, perhaps they could once again share their observations.

Posted on Mon Sep 25 14:06:58 CEST 2000 from hud1-pm-30-90.termserv.net (204.97.156.90)

Diamond Lil

Hey Jan..what's a "java script error"..and why is there one here? Perhaps I'm just seeing things? :-)

Posted on Mon Sep 25 12:49:35 CEST 2000 from (152.94.18.114)

rytrtu

(Java-script removed from this entry. Please stop posting active content here. Sigh. --JH)

Posted on Mon Sep 25 12:31:24 CEST 2000 from hud1-pm-25-85.termserv.net (204.97.156.85)

Diamond Lil

Thanks Jan..for adding a word about the soon-to-come Garth Hudson t-shirts in today's "what's new" section. The shirts are beautifully designed by Garth's wife Maud, and I think they really capture the essence of the man. Without giving anything away...all you Garth fans (and who _isn't_ a Garth fan?!) are gonna love em!!

Posted on Mon Sep 25 11:53:35 CEST 2000 from dialup-373.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.117)

HANK

OK......Y'all got just ONE more day to figure out which song by Levon I played on my pirate rsdio show last Saturday morning......CRAZY CHESTER won the prize for guessing three outta four.....but I'm willing to go one more if anyone guesses the right answer......

Once again, folks thanks for the response....it's a blast to hear from you...and it makes a change from the so-caled "Feud".......

Posted on Mon Sep 25 08:48:11 CEST 2000 from atmax-9-20.enter.net (207.16.154.168)

Little Brøther

It's nice to hear that Levon is disposed to lighten up on occasion and downplay the feud. Of course, we're much too deeply into this to chuck it all merely on the say-so of one of the principals!

Nah-- it'd take a joint apprearance before a Select Committee of neutral interviewers to really clear the air, at least in the GB.

If there isn't a feud, there's a hell of a strain.

Anyway, I'll reserve comment on all the fresh, new, stale, old, sweet and sour exchanges over the past several days. I just wanted to commend Dave Hopkins on his article on the "Remasters", and nominate him for liner notes authorship on the subsequent reissues. My initial qualms at the overweening influence of the Gospel According to Robbie only intensified as I worked my way up to "Cahoots". Whoops, maybe it's not such a good idea to use religious metaphors, lest we attract those pesky zealots back in!

Speaking of nitpicky annoyances, I hope the final set of reissues are "commercial-free". Inclusion of those commercials on the CDs was, in my opinion, a mistake. It was kind of cute to hear them once, and I even wondered if they purposely picked a voice-over that sounded like a Band member-- but do we really want to be stuck with them for eternity?

If there are more lame advertisements or other Band bloopers in the vaults, they should be offered separately on an extra disc-- like those El Cheapo paper-thin vinyl "records" that were occasionally included in guitar instruction books or special editions of "Mad" or whatever. (I got one in my membership kit for the Merry Marvel Marching Society.) Hard to believe they didn't realize that the ads, unlike even the most mediocre bonus tracks, wouldn't be suited to repeated listening!

Posted on Mon Sep 25 07:13:51 CEST 2000 from 1cust122.tnt14.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.142.122)

Crabgrass

Any tribute to the Band project would wind up being a windfall for Robbie both monetarily and publicity-wise as he'd do the same number on the liner notes that he's done with those on the re-masters. Anyway, any such project is bound to include at least one artist you can't stand totally destroying a song you love - like Alanis Morrisette doing "Rockin' Chair" for instance. I say, who needs it?

BTW it's good to see a few more people learning the hard way about the need for Freedom FROM Religion in this country and the world.

Also, if there's no feud as someone assured us (maybe the "fu" should be up front) how come Levon and Robbie made their musical contributions to The Hawk's album separately? Scheduling problems? Come to think of it I haven't seen any photos of Robbie with Levon or any of the other guys post Last Waltz.

Just one more thing - "Ferdinand the Impostor" is really getting on my nerves especially when I put the CD on continuous play and it comes around right before "Tears of Rage" - anyone else have this problem? And that "Take 400" joke is starting to wear a bit thin too!! Okay, I'm done - back to the tribute picks for the next 10 days.

Posted on Mon Sep 25 07:07:50 CEST 2000 from ch8smc.bellglobal.com (206.47.244.58)

brown eyed girl

Let's make The Band tribute cd a triple one so that we can add the voices of Ben Harper, The Staple Singers, Arlo Guthrie, and I would also agree with Graham Parker and Eric Andersen. By the way, if you can't get enough of Garth, you can see him perform on Marianne Faithfull's video(Blazing Away)that was recorded at St.Anne's Catherdral in Brooklyn. An amazing line up of musicians are playing together like Lou Reed's bassist Fernando Saunders, Dr.John, Lew Soloff(trumpet player from BST-he was the one that blew me away the most at this concert!) Marc Ribot, Barry Reynolds and Dougie Bowne.

Posted on Mon Sep 25 07:05:41 CEST 2000 from spider-wb031.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.161)

Bayou Sam

hey Match head! - That's a little strong, don't you think?

Posted on Mon Sep 25 07:02:49 CEST 2000 from spider-wb031.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.161)

Bayou Sam

there was a discussion once before about a Band tribute album. The suggesstion that stuck in my head was McCartney doing "It Makes No Difference". Another guy whos name I haven't seen in here is Bob Seger. I could easily see him doing just about any Band tune. How about Seger doing Strawberry Wine..... How about George Harrison doing Sleeping-with some nice slide guitar work....... Jerry Reed doing Rag Mama Rag-with some blazing guitar pickin'.........I could go on.

Posted on Mon Sep 25 06:28:25 CEST 2000 from 209-239-194-160.oak.jps.net (209.239.194.160)

Phil

Why don't we do our own tribute CD? There seems to be plenty of musicians around this GB and we could get Donald Joseph out of retirement to produce it!

Oh, by the way, thanks. I think I got it now. "FEUD". I gotta get spell check.

Posted on Mon Sep 25 05:54:35 CEST 2000 from spider-wa061.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.46)

Ben Turkel

I like the idea of a Band tribute CD. I think that the recent Gram Parsons tribute, "Return of the grievous angel" was excelent and would serve as a good model. My choices that haven't been mentioned are Graham Parker, John Martyn, Colin Linden, Happy & Artie Traum, Eric Andersen, Ronnie Hawkins and Dan Penn.

Posted on Mon Sep 25 04:26:47 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-114-127.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.114.127)

BWNWITennessee

And voila, there it is, right on the Home page, for all those who missed it before.

It was kind of strange that several people were talking about going to see Levon at Moondog's on Friday. Almost made me miss my old home, except, well, I don't miss it at all. I never did like Moondog's much, it was too hard to see anything unless you're right up front. I did see Derek Trucks there last summer, and got to stand about twelve inches away from him while he played, which was pretty cool. So, could one of "yinz" e-mail me about how the show was? Did any of the GBers hook up? The one thing Pittsburgh has over Nashville is that it does get a lot more shows. By the way, did we kick your ASS today or what? One more reason to hate Neil O'Donnell. :-P

Posted on Mon Sep 25 03:50:28 CEST 2000 from 231.0103.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.231)

Nancy

Additional artists for The Band tribute:

John Mellencamp, Tracey Chapman, Eddie Vedder and Bruce Hornsby.

Make it a double CD and call it..........................?

Posted on Mon Sep 25 03:35:57 CEST 2000 from 231.0103.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.231)

Nancy

As an anecdote to the repeated postings by "ME" et al, of the Christian website, I recommend a visit to the Christian Parody Website, posted here by BWNWIT. It is totally blasphemous, and extremely disgusting, and I suggest anyone with a weak bladder install a panty liner before entering!! Maybe read one new section every time "Me" re-posts the Christian web-site on THIS site! Don't get mad, Matches, get even!!!

Posted on Mon Sep 25 03:36:25 CEST 2000 from ch8smc.bellglobal.com (206.47.244.58)

brown eyed girl

The artists that I would choose for a Band tribute cd would be:Van Morrison, Neil Young, Daniel Lanois, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Wallflowers, Jayhawks, Bodeans, Eagles, Steve Earle, and could we find something for Lou Reed please?

Posted on Mon Sep 25 02:55:05 CEST 2000 from (200.248.128.81)

Luyde

Hi... Sorry to bug you again... There might be some people in the message post of the site that are hating me, for being so insisting on it, but the point is that I get no reply... I myself am starting to hate me for it... : ) I need your help... I'm a Paula Cole fan and about 4 month ago, I came across your The Band site... Due to a 1995 release... a X-mas holiday compilation CD entitled "Winter, Fire & Snow" was released and Robbie Robertson's "Christmas Must Be Tonight" on it, as well as a song by Paula Cole called "St. Nicholas Is Carrying A Gun." The point is that it was re-issued sometime later, with 15 songs and not 12 as the fisrt one, and without Paula's songs. All the cds I can find to buy are this "second" one, with Robbie's. I was wondering if someone could maybe swap the old release with a new one - I can buy it! - or trade o copy of this song with me... I believe true fans/collectors might have a copy of this cd... I'd be whole-heartedly thankful... And, definately, stop bothering you all : ) Please get in touch with me... Even if it's to say "Forget us! " hehehe.. : ) Thank you very much Best regards... Luyde

Posted on Mon Sep 25 02:45:48 CEST 2000 from spider-mtc-td012.proxy.aol.com (64.12.104.152)

Match Head

Typical Christian asshole.

Posted on Mon Sep 25 02:05:58 CEST 2000 from tcnet18-034.austin.texas.net (209.99.96.34)

Laura Holt Lorfing

I'm a happy girl!! I just purchased NLSC, Stage Fright, AND The Last Waltz on vinyl today. All the records are in mint condition and sound pretty good on the ole turntable! I've been keeping my eyes open for The Brown Album...wish me luck!! PEACE EVERYONE :)

Posted on Mon Sep 25 01:59:58 CEST 2000 from (24.41.0.151)

me-again

(active content deleted)

Posted on Mon Sep 25 01:50:52 CEST 2000 from ch8smc.bellglobal.com (206.47.244.58)

brown eyed girl

"Making a noise in this world. Making a noise in this world. You can bet your ass. I won't go quietly. Making a noise in this world....Everyone has a song." (Robbie Robertson Red Boy)

Posted on Sun Sep 24 23:48:08 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-113-98.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.113.98)

BWNWITennessee

I've been thinking about what if they did a Band tribute CD, which they should, since everybody else seems to have one. What current bands or musicians should play what songs on it? I don't know about any particular songs, but I think Bruce Springsteen, Los Lobos, REM, U2, Tom Waits, Wallflowers, R. Thompson, Counting Crows, Black Crowes, Sheryl Crow(s) maybe Hootie (if they're still alive), Jayhawks would be willing to do it. Let's call 'em up! Who else? It's about time Dylan covers a Band song for a change.

Posted on Sun Sep 24 23:33:51 CEST 2000 from stcatherines-ppp109231.sympatico.ca (216.209.112.162)

RP

LEVON: "Life is a Carnival"

Posted on Sun Sep 24 21:44:34 CEST 2000 from dialup-278.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.22)

HANK

HANK WEDELS BAND GB COMPETITION TIME!!!!!!

"ONCE YOU GET IT..... YOU WON'T REGRET IT!!!!"

........AND THE CORRECT ANSWERS ARE!!!!!!

RICHARD: "TEARS OF RAGE"

RICK: "UNFAITHFUL SERVANT"

ROBBIE: "TO KINGDOM COME"

LEVON: ?

.........NOBODY GOT LEVON YET!!!!!!

What I'm a-gonna do is give the prize to CRAZY CHESTER.......who got it in two attempts...

CONGRATS!!!

The first person to get back to me with the correct Levon track ALSO wins a prize!!!!!

Hey, I'm really late for a gig in Killarney tonight but I have to say I was knocked out by the response I got......THANKS!!!!!!......I'll write to y'all again later!!!!!

Posted on Sun Sep 24 20:30:10 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.avnl1.nj.home.com (24.4.252.66)

Brien Sz

It's been posted numerous times throughtout the last year(in dealing with the fued[sic])that everyone besides RR was pressured into signing away their royalties.

A. Who pressured?

B. Why were they pressured?

C. Which rights? performance, writing,etc..,?

Was the feud starting by NLSC, TLW or did that come about after because Levon wanted to continue recording/touring & RR didn't --consequently, the money ran dry, then came the feud?

Being a writer myself, I can tell you I don't give credit to every person who chips in with ideas that i may use or alter--it doesn't work that way. You could then have a laundry list of people you have to give credit to--I chip in ideas to projects but don't get writing credits and vice versa. It's the way it's done. That's why I don't understand this signing away thing--There is more to it then "Just sign right here". If there isn't, then shame on them----

Posted on Sun Sep 24 17:50:42 CEST 2000 from spider-tl083.proxy.aol.com (152.163.207.213)

Ben Turkel

Pat, This is the last time I'm going to post in the GB about this issue. I have nothing against John Simon, but why should we unconditionally believe his recollection on incidents from over 30 years ago and dismiss Levon's? I'm sure there were some songs that JRR wrote entirely, I also believe that there were other songs that JRR wrote the lyrics to, and others contributed to the music, and these were credited solely to JRR. I don't deny that everyone in the Band made a lot of money between 1968-76. Have any of them besides JRR made any money from these recordings since then? John Simon says in the same interview that he hadn't been payed for years for his work with the Band, and after JRR asked him to work on TLW, a large check suddenly appeared and he was asked to sign away any future royalties! I concede that JRR has continued to write songs since TLW. But his output has dramatically declined. He's released 4 solo albums in the 20 plus years since TLW and hasn't toured. Just take a look at the tape archive or the bootleg list and compare the number of JRR appearances since 1978 and any other member of the Band. He certainly has the right not to tour. The other members certainly had the right to reform and perform material they had recorded together.

Posted on Sun Sep 24 16:57:50 CEST 2000 from wc1-int1.nbnet.nb.ca (198.164.200.214)

WS Walcott

Just as I feared, I was not able to catch the CBC documentary on "Festival Express" due to work commitments. Did anyone tune in, how was it?

Posted on Sun Sep 24 16:41:56 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.moline1.il.home.com (24.4.252.114)

Mike

Bayou Sam, cool idea about The Band covering The Beatles. Since Little Feat recently covered "Rag Mama Rag" on their new cd "Chinese Work Songs", let's reverse it. I can hear The band doing Little Feat's "Willin'". Richard, Rick and Levon trading of verses until the chorus, using that sweet blend they had. Also they could do "Trouble", which would be a great song for Richard to sing. Both songs are on the album "Sailin' Shoes" (1972). I'm sure there's more they could do but I just woke up and I am still "sleeping". take care everyone. Peace. Mike

Posted on Sun Sep 24 15:47:09 CEST 2000 from ch8smc.bellglobal.com (206.47.244.58)

brown eyed girl

The Dylan quote I posted earlier was referring to Robbie Robertson. BWNWITennessee was it the guitarist John Jackson's name that you were trying to remember who used to play in Dylan's band? My favourite guitarist playing with Dylan was G.E. Smith. I would love to see Steve Cropper and Robbie play with Dylan in the future... Did I understand correctly in one of your previous posts that you are not a reggae fan like I am, or just that you don't want to hear Band members playing with a reggae groove? What about playing with a rock steady or ska groove instead? Anyway, as Bob Marley would say, "Whoever feels it, knows it."

Posted on Sun Sep 24 13:10:49 CEST 2000 from gw3a60-2-d277.wind.it (212.141.125.23)

The Beards

New Realaudio for The Band to Jersey City 1973 (Drunk? Concert) - ENDLESS HIGWAY - STAGE FRIGHT - I SHALL BE REALEASED AVAIABLES FROM 27/28 SEPTEMBER 2000 . VISIT THE THE BEARDS HOMEPAGE .... THANK YOU ... Emanuele "The BEARDS"

Posted on Sun Sep 24 10:55:53 CEST 2000 from ch8smc.bellglobal.com (206.47.244.58)

brown eyed girl

"He's the only mathematical guitar genius I've ever run into who does not offend my intestinal nervousness with his rear-guard sound". (Bob Dylan)

Posted on Sun Sep 24 08:17:48 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.moline1.il.home.com (24.4.252.114)

Mike

Hello again. I am trying to get a CD-R of "The Complete Last Waltz". I went to a website and tried to make a trade but no dice! If anyone can assist me, I do have plenty of stuff to trade and am willing to do so. Peace. Long live The Band. Mike

Posted on Sun Sep 24 08:12:30 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.moline1.il.home.com (24.4.252.114)

Mike

Hello again. I am trying to get a CD-R of "The Complete Last Waltz". I went to a website and tried to make a trade but no dice! If anyone can assist me, I do have plenty of stuff to trade and am willing to do so. Peace. Long live The Band. Mike

Posted on Sun Sep 24 07:20:53 CEST 2000 from 2cust44.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.137.44)

Crabgrass

Naturally, my opinion of NLSC is not as high as the majority's but I won't go any further for fear of stirring up ten days' worth of tediously boring postings about the history of the hapless Acadians. Anyway, it looks like there's a religious backlash afoot in the GB. Who would've ever thought it? It's a miracle!!

Posted on Sun Sep 24 06:11:45 CEST 2000 from spider-wj011.proxy.aol.com (205.188.198.21)

Bayou Sam

I'm fine rollie - how's by you? (or how's Bayou). It's been awhile since we had a party in the chatroom................ ....The Band doing Beatles? Let's see...off the top of my head - Richard singing Here There and Everywhere, Across The Universe, Goodnight - Rick singing Let It Be, Girl - Levon doing Rocky Raccoon, For You Blue. (Levon could also do a solo Lennon tune called Gimmie Some Truth at this point). Robbie doing I Want You(She's So Heavy) except for the screaming parts. Lastly, Rick, Richard, and Levon doing Don't Let Me Down together. Picture the three voices on the bridge, "I'm in love for the first time......."............. Hank's contest = Richard-I Shall Be Released, Levon-Dixie, Rick-Long Black Veil, Robbie-Out of the Blue.

Posted on Sun Sep 24 05:11:37 CEST 2000 from user-33qtadp.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.169.185)

Pat Brennan

Ben, the quote is "And its true, Robbie was the one who wrote the lyrics and wrote the music. Wrote the lyrics on legal paper, or whatever he wrote it on, and figured out the chords to the song and dictated the melody and chords to the other players." He then describes another "system" wherein all the members of a band get songwriting credit.

I don't know why you would discount Simon's observations, especially since the first two albums seem to contain the majority of Levon's bones of contention. And, again, the musicians in the Band made plenty of money for their musical contributions to all the songs, just as Richard and Rick did for their songwriting. RR displayed a unique writing ability at an early age--see any references by The Hawk in this matter--long before there was "The Band" and he has continued to long after the split.

Posted on Sun Sep 24 04:58:46 CEST 2000 from 143.0102.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.143)

Nancy

This is just a story, so anyone not wanting to indulge me, be warned. Hank mentioned his stint as a DJ and this prompted my memory (btw Hank, congrats. on using paragraphs, but hope you aren’t becoming mainstream).

A while back there was a DJ thing on here and people were slamming a certain type of DJ – the loud, raucous sort who relies on competitions and giving out prizes to attract listeners. Anyone recall this? I was going to recount my story then, but the opportunity was lost in a long line of posts which rapidly put paid to the subject.

So, my story: about 10 or 12 years ago, I used to listen to a local FM station which was the most hip around at the time. I’m trying to think WHY I listened to it when during the day it was deficient in appeal (read: crap and stupid), and it can only be that the others were worse, and that it was hip! The day time DJ’s (and probably the management) were jocks and relied on foolish antics and not-funny comedy routines. Night time however was a completely different story, entirely due to the services of a fella with an excellent knowledge of music, a brain of unusual calibre and a voice with the consistency of molten chocolate. An enticing combination, and I was extremely taken with putting in a bit of night-time listening, as this man was a God!

The other half of the story involves my female cousin, a gorgeous looking leggy blonde who was quite active in the local city night life (btw she’s taken now). She didn’t get married until she was in her early thirties and spent the previous years checking out a ‘large’ number of interesting and not interesting men, the ‘only’ criteria for their selection being that they were moneyed-up, good-looking and at least as tall as her, and preferable taller. Having a brain trailed as a fourth requirement. So, when I heard that she was seeing a DJ from the local station that I listened to, I was curious about who it was, and was surprised to learn that it was the one with the excellent brain and manner. Since I used to hang out with her from time to time, I thought I would get a chance to meet him and find out whether he matched up to my admiring expectations. So did I meet him????

Nah, of course I didn’t! Almost as soon as I heard of the relationship it had fizzled out and I never really found out who was dumped, and whether it was because she was too silly for him or he was too short for her.

Finally, a message for "Me" and your web-site:

You've promoted once here and we've received your message. If we want to access your site, we know where to go. Please don't continue sending the same information.

Posted on Sun Sep 24 04:54:11 CEST 2000 from spider-wn013.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.153)

Match Head

Who's posting all the Christian shit?

Posted on Sun Sep 24 03:13:17 CEST 2000 from hud1-pm-21-81.termserv.net (204.97.156.81)

Diamond Lil

Thought I'd take a stab at Hank's quiz before bed here.

Rick: It makes no Difference
Richard:Whispering Pines
Levon:(My pick would be All la Glory) but I think Hank would say The Night they drove old Dixie Down
Robbie:Fallen Angel

Have a good night everyone.

Posted on Sun Sep 24 03:06:55 CEST 2000 from spider-tl011.proxy.aol.com (152.163.207.176)

Ben Turkel

Pat, I've read the interview with John Simon, portions of which were just quoted in the GB. He seems to feel that an argument can be made for both sides. Obviously Levon strongly feels that the credit should have been shared and since John Simon was only seriously involved in the first two Band albums, I'll defer to Levon's recollection on this. I think Hank made a very good point recently about the publishing money. I don't think anyone involved in the late 60's and early 70's realised that the publishing royalties would be worth a fortune through the 80's & 90's. When they had initally gotten together backing Ronnie Hawkins, 45's were the major format. So I really don't think they ever thought that their albums would be re-released in a digital format or that their "hits" would be re-gurgitated on numerous compilations benefitting the individual(s) credited for the songwriting.

Posted on Sun Sep 24 02:58:30 CEST 2000 from ch8smc.bellglobal.com (206.47.244.58)

Blind Willie McTell

About Hank's 4 lead Band lead singers quiz ...

Levon: All La Glory Richard: Jawbone Rick: Unfaithful Servant Robbie: Out Of The Blue

Bonus signer Garth: Young Blood

Posted on Sun Sep 24 02:57:08 CEST 2000 from (24.41.0.151)

me

(active content deleted)

Posted on Sun Sep 24 02:30:09 CEST 2000 from cfa1.execulink.net (199.166.6.10)

paul godfrey

Dave, great post! Thank you for bringing this site into the 21st century.

Shine ON!

Posted on Sun Sep 24 01:32:05 CEST 2000 from user-33qt8q0.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.163.64)

Pat Brennan

Again, Crabgrass, I know many people--probably a majority here--that love NLSC, myself included. I think the output of the Band suffered because Richard stopped writing, not RR's continued production. You seem to be confusing the issues.

Posted on Sun Sep 24 00:52:49 CEST 2000 from 1cust19.tnt14.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.142.19)

Crabgrass

I'd say the Band's songs "dimmed" after Stage Fright and most Band fans would agree that the lack of creative collaboration was responsible for this. It's also possible that there was a diminished sense of wanting to "give" after RR wound up with all the songwriting credits for the Brown album. Any post Band songwriting doesn't even enter into it - my argument is supported just by the post Stage Fright output alone. And Islands is not only dismissed by the anti-Robbie contingent but also by the Band members themselves - check the info regarding this album on this site. BTW my theory about any halfway decent songs that popped up on RR's solo albums is that they might have been written during his Band days and held back from Islands for future use in Robbie's eventually launched solo career.

Now, can't we all just get along??

Posted on Sun Sep 24 00:48:07 CEST 2000 from user-33qta3o.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.168.120)

Pat Brennan

Ben, there's an earlier John Simon quote that says RR wrote the words and chords. The rest of the musicians, RR included, worked on the performances of those words and chords. Those are two distinct disciplines.

Posted on Sun Sep 24 00:12:00 CEST 2000 from spider-wm046.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.191)

Ben Turkel

Pat, I beleive that Levon states in his book that the members of the Band (with the exception of JRR)were pressured to sign away their royalties to the Band's music, and that several did. This is a different point than the song-writing debate. My take on that Is that if JRR wrote the lyrics himself, he should be credited for that, If they all worked on the music, then they should have split the credit for the music. I don't think anyone has ever denied that JRR wrote the vast majority of the lyrics to the songs he's credited with. It's the music that the debate centers on. BWNIT, why shoudn't the later day Band perform IMND and other songs that are credited to JRR. Rick, Levon & Garth performed on the original songs. They were not the people who wanted to stop touring in '76. Both Rick and Levon began touring in '77 with their release of their solo albums. I would certainly welcome a tour by JRR to hear his versions of these songs. If a full tour is more than he could stomach, how about a 'VH-1 Storytellers' show with people like Bruce Hornsby and John Simon backing him. He could do a couple of shows, perform the Band songs and tell his version of the creation of the songs.

Posted on Sat Sep 23 23:48:48 CEST 2000 from spider-tf052.proxy.aol.com (152.163.197.197)

Dave

~~ I had the good fortune to witness a stellar performance by Levon and the Barn Burners last evening at Moondog's, a mere 5 miles from my home. The set list was comprised of blues standards like "Same ol' Thing" and "Caldonia". Most of the tunes they played were ORIGINALS from their upcoming CD which is in the works as we speak. It is being recorded in the Woodstock area between gigs. I addition to Levon's incredible performance on drums, Pat's guitar playing was reminicent of Brian Setzer and Stevie Ray all rolled in a neat package... check out his '54 Gibson hollow -body WOW !!!!! The stand up bass gave a nice bottom to the mix and Chris' vocals and harmonica were impressive. Amy turned in a respectable job on lead and backup vocals as well. --------------- RE: "The Feud" ****NEWSFLASH*** T H E R E ~ IS ~ N O N E. I had a long chat with Levon and he has definitely moved on with his life,,,especially after his battle with throat cancer. He says he is happier than he has ever been in his life and that includes the music he is making. Let me tell you folks....it shows. Levon was beaming from ear to ear, no doubt proud of daughter Amy and his youthful band of stellar musicians. No; he can't sing anymore but like he told me last night "Dave, that just makes me one hell of an enthusiastic drummer." When I mentioned all the mudslinging that goes on in this GB he asked me to set the record straight. Although he still harbors some resentment toward RJR, he wants that to remain a private matter nowadays. He said that he just wants everyone to get along and be happy. It seems to me that there are some people that participate in this GB that just enjoy "stirring the pot" and love to see what havoc they can wreak. I guess that cannot be avoided in a public forum. Why don't we just spend our time and energy in a positive way and focus on the GOOD....there is SO MUCH THERE. Let's share our concert experiences and meet & greets with the boys and look to the future........... PEACE, ~~~~~ Drummer Dave ~~~~

Posted on Sat Sep 23 23:13:10 CEST 2000 from hud1-pm-09-69.termserv.net (204.97.156.69)

Diamond Lil

The "f-you'd". Hmm...wonder what Freud (or is that Frued?..) would say about that one? :-)

Welcome back Jan. Betcha missed us, hm? :-) Hug.

Posted on Sat Sep 23 23:01:07 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-115-183.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.115.183)

BWNWITennessee

brown eyed girl, the studio version of "Twilight" has a distinct reggae feel to it, probably influenced by Eric Clapton's dabblings, which they subsequently dropped (whew) in latter-day performances of the song.

Regarding the f-you'd, I recently bought the DVD of This Band in New Orleans. I don't think even Levon bothers to argue that anyone other than Robbie had any hand in writing some of The Band's later music, yet they all made a living playing "It Makes No Difference" and "Ophelia" for many years. Sorry, but it just makes Levon's resentment a little hard to take when you're watching him happily bash away through "IMND," a song that Robbie Robertson, the man Levon so loves to hate, inarguably wrote entirely himself. Fair's fair, and if you're going to complain that Robbie is stealing from you by not giving you credit for songs that you wrote, you should not earn money by playing songs that he wrote.

Posted on Sat Sep 23 22:50:20 CEST 2000 from user-33qta6k.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.168.212)

Pat Brennan

Ragtime, there is a great discussion of this very point on the Procol Harum website, and the answer is not quite the slam-dunk everyone has always assumed.

Posted on Sat Sep 23 22:46:42 CEST 2000 from user-33qta6k.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.168.212)

Pat Brennan

Ben, I believe the members of the Band did profit from the performance of the music on their albums. The question of songwriting is a different matter.

Your disagreement with me over the quality of RR's work points up the difficulty of making qualitative judgements over essentially subjective positions.

I would add Broken Arrow and Rules Of The Game to my previous list.

Posted on Sat Sep 23 22:26:33 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime

Pat:

The real composer of "A whiter shade of pale" is a certain Johann Sebastian Bach. This wigged guy lived in the 18th century and now, 250 years after his death, he whishes that he lived in our time and could cash the billions of dollars he deserves for the publication of his music, the many daily performances and the abundances of recordings...

Posted on Sat Sep 23 22:15:09 CEST 2000 from spider-wa074.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.54)

Ben Turkel

Pat, Just because RR has continued to write songs doesn't negate the fact that other members of the Band should have split credit for the music on some of the songs that they all worked on. You're certainly entitled to your opinion that RR's solo songs are equal to songs he wrote with the Band, I strongly disagree. I think the vast majority of his best songs were recorded on the first three Band albums. Hank, I believe the Band collection on Castle is just a compilation of the standard versions of Band songs that was licensed from Capitol/EMI. Regarding your contest, my four picks are: Rick, Stage fright. Richard, I shall be released. Levon, Up on cripple creek. JRR, Out of the blue.

Posted on Sat Sep 23 20:10:07 CEST 2000 from max1-110.intellistar.net (206.105.68.110)

Dan

The Band played "Get Back" at the Lone Star in 1991 w/Billy Preston. MattK's comments the other day were appreciated.

Posted on Sat Sep 23 20:02:26 CEST 2000 from user-33qtacp.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.169.153)

Pat Brennan

Crabgrass, injecting your subjective opinion about the quality of RR's songwriting dims the discussion. I think Fallen Angel and Handsome Lake ranks with anything he wrote in the Band days, but the fact that he continued and continues to write makes the original case.

Mike, I know what you mean about the clubhouse thing, but reality rarely works that way. Another example: A Whiter Shade of Pale is credited to Gary Brooker/Keith Reid, a songwriting duo of power and longevity. Matthew Fisher was upset that he received no songwriting credits even though he came up with the rather well-known organ part. Their feud? They played together in an incredibly well-received concert just last week.

Posted on Sat Sep 23 19:47:40 CEST 2000 from 2cust36.tnt11.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.133.164)

Crabgrass

I'd say the critical factor would be NOT who continued to be a "songwriter" and who hasn't but RATHER the point when the quality of songs credited to RR took a dramatic downturn (obviously due to RR's own admission that interest in writing amongst the other Band members had waned) right after the Stage Fright period. However, I agree that something should have been worked out amongst them way back when. And if the other members eventually sold their interest in publishing rights they "should have known better" as the Beatle song goes.

BTW I don't think any Band or Beatle recorded songs would need to be re-done by anybody else ever, even hypothetically, as they can never be improved upon - the one exception being Michael Jackson's version of "Come Together" naturally.

Okay, that obviously ends the open discussion of the F-U-E-D or is it F-E-U-D??? What's next in the topic rotation? Religion bashing, Crabby bashing, the new releases, rap, disco, Britney, or sax players? I've lost track. Someone please clue me in!!

Posted on Sat Sep 23 19:29:37 CEST 2000 from cobalt.nextlink.net (206.129.70.172)

Mike

Pat -- Granted, those may not be the best examples. They were John Simon's, not mine. Regardless, the details of how the monies are divvied out are not carved in stone. They COULD'VE been split in equal parts, each member getting an equal portion. It didn't happen that way. I don't doubt Robbie had the original creative spark and wrote the bulk of the lyrics and chord progressions, and the others contributed accordingly. I just think it would've really cool if that was the way it went. Three Musketeers. All for one and one for all. Such a monetary arrangement would've been entirely consistent with the way they worked together to create their unique sound. Are we to believe for one minute that Robbie learned about how much money COULD be made, told the guys, and they all REFUSED? "No, man. It's OK. You're doing most of the work anyway. We'll be fine." My opinion, of course.

Any new threads?

Posted on Sat Sep 23 18:44:50 CEST 2000 from user-33qt85l.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.160.181)

Pat Brennan

Mike, if there was an old way and a new way, then it would have been Lennon-McCartney-Harrison-Starr. Lennon-McCartney is also a bad example for another reason: they obviously worked out a legal arrangement that worked.

Were the members of the Band paid for their musical contributions to the albums? No argument there. The feud seems to be over the definition of the term "songwriting." What remains is the evidence accrued since the supposed aggreivement: who has continued to be a songwriter and who hasn't.

Posted on Sat Sep 23 17:43:41 CEST 2000 from dialup-271.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.15)

Hank

ROLL UP!!!! ROLL UP!!!! ONCE YOU GET IT ........YOU WON'T REGRET IT!!!!!!!!

HANK WEDELS BAND GB COMPETION TIME!!!!!!!!

OK!!!!! Greetings, folks!!!!! Every Saturday, I DJ at a pirate radio station here in Cork, K2......Today, I decided to play FOUR tracks by The Band.....but with a twist!! I played 4 songs that featured each of the vocalists in The Band. The competition is to name which four songs I played. I wanted to capture the essence of each singer......YOUR task is to identify which songs I chose...

Levon:

Richard:

Rick:

Robbie:

The Prize is the usual.......The first post up on the GB or email to reach me with the correct four songs wins A Copy of my CD!!!! HooRAY!!!!!!

"Hank Wedels Open Kitchen on Princes Street"

(Hey, if you already got it, I'll send it to you anyway and you can give it to someone for their birthday)

Hey if you don't think I'm serious about this, consider that this is the VERY FIRST TIME I put a post into Paragraphs!!!!........

MIKE.........Your comment, "Which is the greater sin, Levons bitterness, or Robbies thievery? " is the very core of this seemingly endless debate. Thanks for putting that out there for us all to ponder. What'cha think folks????......IMHO RR should make amends to the fellows and Levon should be prompted to invirte RR over to a Barnburners gig for a jam.........until that happens we'll continue to see folks ranting on about it here........I'd love to hear The Band play "Get Back", BTW......Levon singing lead and RR expanding on John Lennons lead guitar line....not so long ago I read something here about The Band jamming on "Come Together" with George Harrison in a recording stufdio once.......

Posted on Sat Sep 23 17:16:58 CEST 2000 from x2-12.poughkeepsie.bestweb.net (216.179.14.186)

Gene

Try saying. "fued fueled by a few", three times fast.

Posted on Sat Sep 23 16:52:25 CEST 2000 from 1cust156.tnt1.topeka.ks.da.uu.net (63.39.63.156)

Dexy

fe-ud: (noun) Bitter long-standing argument between two individuals. fu-ed: (noun) Bitter, long-standing argument between Levon Helm and Robbie Robertson.

Posted on Sat Sep 23 15:46:49 CEST 2000 from ti15a21-0066.dialup.online.no (130.67.112.130)

re: CBC radio

---- Saturday, September 23 4-5pm. *30 years ago, rock stars like The Band, Janis Joplin, Traffic, and The Grateful Dead, boarded a Canadian train together and began a cross-country tour. It was called Festival Express, and the story behind the star-studded train trip, its successes and failures, is a fascinating chapter in Canadian social history. Broadcaster Eric Rosenbaum weaves the tale, with interviews, archival tape, and of course, great music. ---- click on the "home page" link above to find out how to hear the program

Posted on Sat Sep 23 14:00:50 CEST 2000 from tsuchiya-ap.eng.hokudai.ac.jp (133.87.162.184)

Japanese guy

I am 25 years old. Please send e-mail about the BAND.

Posted on Sat Sep 23 12:49:13 CEST 2000 from 226.0103.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.226)

Nancy

If we MUST continue having a feud, can we please at least have a f-e-u-d, rather than a f-u-e-d, as popularly spelt one gonzillion times here in the last week! And Crabby, PLEASE don't reply with an argument that f-u-e-d is the new, correct spelling.

Posted on Sat Sep 23 11:36:29 CEST 2000 from cf3k-3.paradise.net.nz (203.96.152.183)

Rod

OK - the fued thing again.

Generally I'm with RR on this one. As someone else pointed out the songwriting output of the others after '78 testifies that they were not consistent writers - "Blues So Bad","The Caves of Jericho" were hardly classics.The former hardly warrented making it on the RCO album. The latter had some pretty corny lyrics but a great arrangement and yet I don't see the other Band members getting a credit here. I regard Chestfever in the same light. This is one of my very favourite Band songs but the lyrics are largely forgetable and what you remember is Garth's organ and the general groove of the song. Maybe in this case - and I am sure there are others, the other guys should have got a credit.

Posted on Sat Sep 23 05:53:36 CEST 2000 from ch8smc.bellglobal.com (206.47.244.58)

brown eyed girl

I really miss Richard's soulful voice("Whispering Pines") has always been one of my favourite Band tunes. It is easy to see why Van Morrison especially liked Richard. They were both soul brothers. I read in one of my Belfast Cowboy books that "4% Pantomime" was actually about gambling at cards...."though a bottle of hooch does get smashed-as do the singers-for no apparent reason." This song is my favourite on the reissued Cahoots. I agree with Mary Martin(introduced Dylan to the Hawks) that for Van the Man, Richard was the real soul of The Band. "I'm a rebel,REF="MAILTO:amalatches@yahoo.com">amalatches@yahoo.com

I really miss Richard's soulful voice("Whispering Pines") has always been one of my favourite Band tunes. It is easy to see why Van Morrison especially liked Richard. They were both soul brothers. I read in one of my Belfast Cowboy books that "4% Pantomime" was actually about gambling at cards...."though a bottle of hooch does get smashed-as do the singers-for no apparent reason." This song is my favourite on the reissued Cahoots. I agree with Mary Martin(introduced Dylan to the Hawks) that for Van the Man, Richard was the real soul of The Band. "I'm a rebel, soul rebel, I'm a capturer, soul adventurer....." Bob Marley("Soul Rebel") I wonder why The Band never recorded any reggae influenced tunes whereas Dylan has experimented a bit with a reggae vibe in his music.

Posted on Sat Sep 23 05:24:22 CEST 2000 from pm3-pt83.pcnet.net (206.105.29.157)

Laura P.

Oops, I wrote "upside-down-teapot hat" when I meant "upside-down-flowerpot hat" (in the Big Pink photo). Well, it was late.

Richard wearing an upside-down-teapot hat might be pretty funny, though....

Posted on Sat Sep 23 04:15:55 CEST 2000 from london-ppp203098.sympatico.ca (64.228.13.49)

Mike Nomad

Just blown away by the Barn Burners at the Tralf in Buffalo last night (Thursday). This band, yes, indeedy, is fantastic, Chris O'Leary something else. And Levon, still the ageless hard-churnin' boy wonder he was four decades ago. Man, the power! Two sets was not enough. I would have stayed all night (or until my kidneys gave out).

Appropriately, I came with friends from another era, college buds who, like me, were happy to relive some wonderful experiences and savor the occasional whiff of weed, if not actually partake. The music may have been bluesier this time around but the energy from the Barn Burners, Levon and all, was deliciously similar. Wotta treat!

(BTW, thnx, Levon, for autographing my wife's book, even though it was via O'Leary, a very nice guy. And I loved the line, "Be true to yourselves..." Amen, bro!)

Posted on Sat Sep 23 03:13:24 CEST 2000 from well.health.nb.ca (207.179.181.34)

WS Walcott

Heard something interesting on CBC radio today. It was a brief introduction to a documentary to air on CBC Radio no Sat. Sept.23 on "Definitely Not The Opera". I'm not sure about the time - 1pm Eastern maybe? The documentary is about an event called "Festival on Wheels?" or something like that. It took place in 1970 (I was 14 at that time but for the life of me I can't remember this event at all) and it featured rock bands playing/jamming on a railway car across Canada. They would stop at various cities and play concerts. They also played while on the train and did interviews as well. Apparently this is this stuff that will be featured on the program, along with a little history about the event itself. Some of the acts that were involved were Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead, Delaney and Bonnie, and THE BAND. They opened the radio program today with Rag Mama Rag, thats what caught my ear in the first place. I hope you folks stateside can get CBC, great station. Unfortunately I have to work tomorrow but will try to take a later lunch break and catch the show. In the event I miss it it would be nice to hear comments from those who tuned in. Don't forget, CBC Radio, double check broadcast time as I am not sure what time it airs except that it is an afternoon and not an evening program.

Posted on Sat Sep 23 03:00:25 CEST 2000 from (216.201.0.218)

Ruth McD

Hey G-Man and others. Is anyone planning to meet at the show in Cleveland Sat night? I would love to meet other Band fans. ~~ Ruth

Posted on Sat Sep 23 02:30:40 CEST 2000 from spider-wk082.proxy.aol.com (205.188.198.187)

Mike

Pat -- John Simon, from the interview with Lee Gabites:

"And its true, Robbie was the one who wrote the lyrics and wrote the music. Wrote the lyrics on legal paper, or whatever he wrote it on, and figured out the chords to the song and dictated the melody and chords to the other players. Okay. But in the new system you'll see that when a song is written its a much more co-operative thing in a band. You'll see five or six writers on a song that'll say, on a band song on an album, it'll list everybody who's in the band on the song, you know. And you know that, or you may suspect that the bass player and the drummer or somebody - the keyboard player, one of them just had nothing to do with the song. But they're on it because its a sort of democracy and they just happend to be around. Or the band decided ahead of time that that's the way its going to be. Sort of like the Lennon and McCartney deal when they never really divided... Well, 27% of this song is yours and 73% of it is mine. They all just say Lennon & McCartney and you can only figure out by the style of the song who wrote it. So, Robbie was working in the old system. And he's absolutley right in working with the old system. Levon is pissed about that and wishes that Robbie had been working in the new system. But if they hadn't agreed on that ahead of time, you know."

I understand what you mean, Pat. The question a lot of fans have is, IF they were all so close and tight like brothers, then why didn't Robbie work the new system, so the others would get a piece of the pie? There was plenty to go around. All five would've had years of writing and publishing benefits, enough to take them all into their sunset years pretty well fixed. Unfortunately that didn't happen. Robbie, according to John Simon, opted for the old system and reaped the benefits himself. Legal? Yes. Moral? I don't think so. My opinion, of course.

Hank...Hank and Bayou Sam -- what about the Band/Beatles covers? Ideas?

Posted on Sat Sep 23 01:50:56 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-114-149.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.114.149)

BWNWITennessee

And for everyone interested in "A Friend's" post, might I also recommend clicking on the homepage above?

Dear Lord, please save me from your followers.

Posted on Sat Sep 23 01:24:37 CEST 2000 from (24.41.0.151)

a friend

(active content deleted)

Posted on Fri Sep 22 21:08:46 CEST 2000 from user-33qt8bp.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.161.121)

Pat Brennan

Mike, John Simon usually credits Robertson as having the vision that produced the albums--I believe he referred to him as a movie director of some reknown. Since most who voice their opinions about the songwriting feud rarely refer to what historians would call facts, consider Peter Viney's statistical breakdown of recorded songs' authorships, consider the presence on the first two albums of various members' songs, consider the time since the breakup--who of the original five continued writing, who is still writing, and who isn't. Also consider the various solo albums and tally up the authorship of those songs.

Posted on Fri Sep 22 21:07:40 CEST 2000 from (206.15.160.247)

Long Distance Operator

Oh man, I love the Band. The music will outlive me, you, and the Feud. It won't mean a thing in 100 years, the only thing that will is the music itself. I think Garth has the right idea. Why talk about it? Let the music do the talking. Nobody can take the music from us or diminish what it means, not even angry words from one of it's main creators. Nobody can take The Last Waltz from us, either. That's how The Band will be remembered. To me, that is one hell of a legacy.

Posted on Fri Sep 22 21:06:50 CEST 2000 from ihs01.esuhsd.org (170.91.195.3)

Martin

RE Mike's interesting question about which Beatles songs The Band could cover well: I nominate "Why don't we do it in the road" and "I've got a feeling." RE Levon Helm and the Barn Burners: What a great name. I love anybody who can look back and laugh on their own misfortune. Also, reading postings about Levon and the Barn Burners' shows has me hoping they'll tour the west coast some time soon. Pass the word to the booking folks: Come out west, Levon!

Posted on Fri Sep 22 20:35:22 CEST 2000 from 209-23-33-34.ip.termserv.net (209.23.33.34)

TSaxMan16

Sorry esteemed webmaster, using a school computer, so naturally the keyboard is a little messed up :).

To Calm and Critter - Thanks for the CD guys, I really enjoy it. The last couple of years I've really been turned on to all sorts of music, stuff 2 years ago I'd never consider listening too. I like the classical stuff JUST as much as the Jazzy stuff to :). Thanks for taking the time to burn it for me. Sorry it took so long to say thanks or anything, but as you know, Teenager = Procrastinator :).

PS - See ya at the game Lil ;-).

TSM16

Posted on Fri Sep 22 20:31:58 CEST 2000 from 209-23-33-34.ip.termserv.net (209.23.33.34)

TSaxMan16

Posted on Fri Sep 22 20:26:55 CEST 2000 from dap-209-114-157-198.pri.tnt-1.bv.pa.stargate.net (209.114.157.198)

Mary (bear)

Just wanted to say I hope to see some of my fellow Pennsylvanians at Levons show at Moondogs in Pittburgh tonight. I have read so many rave reviews in the gb about the shows, so I am really psyched about seeing them perform. Also, Laura P. the dog that Bob Dylan gave the boys was named Hamlet. And I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your trip to Woodstock and Big Pink. For those of us who can't be there in person, it is great. Thanks again.

Posted on Fri Sep 22 20:09:02 CEST 2000 from usr51-dialup371.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.198.253)

G-MAN

Dave the Phone Guy: The Barnburners did an extended version of Caledonia, yes they surely did!!!!BUTCH-get a second cell phone-for #911, direct to the FIRE dept.!!! FIRE!!!! Let's just say--AWESOME SHOW!!Some college students were really into Levon and the posse--NOW, NOT years ago!!!! Place was packed--lotta folks takin notice. Saw Levon and Amy signin some autographs and takin some time out to talk to a 16 yr old drummer girl--THANKS11 It was plain SUPER. I'd write more-but---got to rest up for for the Barnburners in Cleveland. Man this crew rocks the blues, man, oh man. Thanks for the great show!!!

Posted on Fri Sep 22 20:06:37 CEST 2000 from cobalt.nextlink.net (206.129.70.172)

Mike

Re: MattK’s “brilliant” post…(I always enjoy your posts, Matt, so don’t take this personally.) It’s not brilliant to point out the obvious: The “feud” DOES get old; it’s not going to FIX anything; it tends to bring out the worst in folks, etc. But, even a cursory reading of the GB at any given time will show the JRR supporters in the extreme minority. Even if folks don’t want to be seen as taking sides, you can usually tell where they’re at by what they say, or how they say it. It’s the same half dozen posters always running to his defense and shouting his praise. Anyway, pointing out the obvious is one thing, exaggerated statements are another. Prone to overstatement because you’re ticked off?

“The only guy who persists in running down another member of the group is Levon. Rick didn't. Richard didn't. Garth doesn’t...” Perhaps the key here is “running down.” Anyway, you don’t know that for sure. They were less vocal, that’s all. Richard and Rick’s voices are silent; Garth’s may as well be, as far as interviews go. (About the only ones who I would trust to give an unbiased account of what REALLY happened would be Garth and John Simon.) Levon has always been more vocal about getting ripped off. Maybe it just bothered him more than the others. Who knows?

“Only Levon makes the case, mostly via name-calling, that RR's perceived role was less than the others.” I have read where Levon has said that Robbie’s role was exaggerated, but who doesn’t know that? It’s public knowledge. Read the liner notes from the new reissues. Apparently he did just about everything.

“To believe Levon would be to assert that RR was a pretty good guitarist, who couldn't sing, couldn't really write, and was basically out to screw everyone from the start.” Hardly. He is better than a pretty good guitarist. Most Band fans are thankful he stuck to playing and producing, and NOT singing. Obviously he could write, he just didn’t write everything himself.

“Out to screw everyone from the start?” I don’t think anyone believes that, not even Levon. Most likely it’s a matter of Robbie learning the inside scoop regarding publishing, etc., and not letting the others in on it. None of us really know...They were once as close as brothers and when that type of bond is betrayed, the fallout is usually pretty messy. It’s a matter of degrees. Which is the greater sin, Levon’s bitterness, or Robbie’s thievery?

I agree that we should focus on the music. Most of us do. It’s not our fault, though, that the majority of the people in this Guestbook have opinions on the matter that differ from the Robbie supporters. We don’t actually need to “just get along,” to quote whomever quoted Rodney King. It would be nice to just get along, but real life isn’t always like that. Real life is good times, PLUS death, illness, divorce, taxes, lawsuits, bills, etc. Unfortunately, the Band, like many others, fell apart. Most of us weren’t there to see what really went on. (I still want to know how Robbie could’ve allegedly stopped the others from carrying on without him.) Thankfully the Band, all five of them, produced some great music that helps us get through the tough times. For that I’ll always be grateful.

Bayou Sam and other Beatles fans– How about the Band doing a Beatles tribute album? If they did one, which songs would they cover? And vice versa? If the Band covered Beatles tunes, which ones?

Hank -- There are two new compilation CD's out now, one from Holland, the other from England. Both are greatest hit packages. I don't know it those are the ones you are referring to.

Posted on Fri Sep 22 18:34:45 CEST 2000 from 56k-la-01-32.dial.qnet.com (209.221.212.95)

Dave the Phone Guy

November would be a great time to take a Florida vacation!

The Barnburners closed their set w/ Caledonia last night.Did I hear that right?

Long live The Band

Posted on Fri Sep 22 17:16:47 CEST 2000 from spider-th023.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.53)

weird ol' frankovic

The second in a series of occasional Friday nonsense. For best results, sing along at home (sing along softly if at work in an office setting.) The usual disclaimer - I am a peace loving Dankophile attempting humor while vigorously avoiding my work this morning.

We Can Talk (About The Feud)

We can talk about the feud
In this guestbook forum, we don't need no stinkin' quorum
Did Levon really get screwed?
Well he was writin' all the time, don't forget Strawberry Wine

Robbie wears fine clothes
And gets drunk fans to buy him 'Dom' (drunk fans to buy him 'Dom')
Don't give up your Laker seats
We can talk about the feud

Did Robbie catch that fly?
I slowed down the frames, and I could see it's wings a squirmin'
Who sang Holy Cow? (Holy Cow)
I hear Ricky's vocal, but others swear it's Richard

All you posters, everywhere
Say, what you want in here
But Preview before you post
We can talk about the feud

It seems to me, we keep coming back, to the same old stuff
I'm afraid if we had an original thread, it would bore us, all too much
Woh, look at me, I should talk, with all this lame parody junk
But I'd rather be flamed in this guestbook, than to discuss hip hop and punk

That gig down at Levon's club
Supposed to go on for weeks, was over in a couple of days?
Then there's the Basement Tapes
Conflicts with Steven Hawking's views of time and space, Bessie Smith a Cahoots outtake?

Big Pink, The Band
The two best CD's ever made by man
So let's thank Jan a lot
For lettin' us talk about the feud
For lettin' us talk about the feud

Posted on Fri Sep 22 17:04:37 CEST 2000 from spider-tf021.proxy.aol.com (152.163.197.181)

Amy Jo & Ray

For those of us who use this guestbook to keep updated on the MUSIC & projects; thank you Buffalo Rhythm Blues Project for your post on the Barn Burners show in Buffalo. We agree these guys & all the groups that have "sprouted" from The BAND are doing great jobs in their own right & deserve the support of true Band fans. For Bob Wigo, the address for MOONDOG's is 378 Freeport Road, Blawnox PA (it's off exit #5 (New Kensington) of the PA Turnpike. If you make it to the show, stop by & say hi to us!

Posted on Fri Sep 22 16:51:20 CEST 2000 from gw.itac.ca (209.146.161.1)

Bill

I just read Hank's post mentioning Dave Gilmour. And now I have "The Weight" and the closing song of "Dark Side" ("the sun is in you and the sun is in me") running together in my head - and sounding good. Maybe that's who they should've gotten to take Robbie's place?

Posted on Fri Sep 22 16:50:32 CEST 2000 from tnt3port16.dubois.pcidu.com (205.245.154.30)

Crazy Chester

Ooops! I made at least one mistake about the guitars.I think Robbie was playing a thin hollowbody Gibson 335 or Epiphone (Casino?)on the footage and bonus track of "King Harvest". Like I said this was a spur of the moment thing and I may have a few things wrong and this came to mind right after I hit the submit button.Thanks, CC

Posted on Fri Sep 22 16:38:39 CEST 2000 from tnt3port16.dubois.pcidu.com (205.245.154.30)

Crazy Chester

How about The Bands equipment? Being a guitar player, I've always been curious about Robbie's sound. It seems like the Fender Telecaster was his main squeeze from The Hawks up to ROA at least maybe more.He was pictured on the cover of Guitar Player magazine some time around 1976(?) with a red Fender Stratocaster and in the article he was asked why he made the switch from Tele to Strat and I think he said something about a favorite Tele being stolen. I can't remember much about the article,anyone have that? I think I read in another article that The Hawks travelled with a number of Fender Bassman amps for guitar and bass and keyboard.Seems like in the early Hawks photos RR is playing a white Tele with rosewood fingerboard and with Dylan on the Live 66 cd seems to be the same guitar with Dylan playing a black Tele with maple neck and board. Later,RR is seen on the brown albulm photos with that same type of black Tele that Dylan was using. Could it be the same guitar? Also,RR is pictured with a Gibson Howard Roberts in the big "studio" photo inside brownie and that's the guitar he uses on Cripple Creek and King Harvest in that footage that was shot at RR's place and I think the King Harvest bonus track is taken from that on the reissue.Listen to the difference in guitars from the original King Harvest and the one used in the footage (where he's using the Howard Roberts)sounds like a Fender Tele to me on the original. The next change I see is in the ROA photos where he's got a blonde Fender Tele with a humbucker pickup in the neck position. I've seen this guitar in lots of photos from that time. I only saw The Band twice,summer of 74 with Clapton and Todd Rundgren and fall of 76 with a version of The Byrds.I can't remember what RR played in 74 maybe a Strat. In 76 he used a number of guitars including a Strat and I think I can remember him using a Gibson Les Paul for "Acadian Driftwood". Of course the bronze Strat was front and center for TLW but he also used the sunburst Strat for the Clapton,Van Morrison,Muddy,tunes and maybe some others. I'll have to take notes on next viewing of TLW.He also plays the two Gibson electrics,the double neck and the blonde archtop, on the Staples and Emylou soundstage tunes and the Gibson harp guitar on TLW theme. During "That Old Time Religion" he's playing a Gibson style O guitar same one pictured on The Basement Tapes cover. I saw that guitar at the Washington D.C. Hard Rock Cafe some years ago. Other acoustic guitars seem to be a Martin D-28 at Woodstock and ROA,a Stella at the Woody Guthrie concert and back photo of brownie and the Guild sunburst F model John Simon is seen with inside brownie where he's looking at Levon who has a Martin A stlye mandolin on his lap and he's firing up a smoke. I think that's the battered Guild that Rick strums the opening chords to "Unfaithful Servant" on in the vh1 show. Wow! I wish that guitar could talk! That could also be the guitar that Rick's playing in the photo of Levon's book, 1983 where Dylan and Rick are sharing a mic, mouths wide open in joyous singing.I'm also wondering about the mandolins that Levon used. I seem to notice three different ones. The Martin A that was mentioned,a Gibson F-4,and an electric Gibson double cutaway EM-150? not sure of the model #. The Martin and F-4 are both seen in photos from the brownie sessions.I'd love to see if Levon remembers which ones he used on which tracks. I've played both models and to my ears it sounds like the Martin on "Rocking Chair" with that old woody mahogany sound. Sounds like a Gibson on "Masterpiece". How about one of Levon's buds on here run that by him and let us know. As far as Rick's basses,seems like the early days were Fender VI's,Jazz,and Precision models in sunburst,the switch to the fretless (Ampeg maybe?)and the Gibson on TLW. He had that funny looking electric stand up on the MGM soundstage video from TLW and of course the old acoustic stand up seen on a bunch of the Landy/Woodstock home photos. I hope some of you can expand on this and fill in some info you have from other sources cause I'm just doing this off the top of my head from a guitarist/mandolinist point of view.Be nice to hear about Garth and Richard's stuff too and Levon's drums!

Posted on Fri Sep 22 16:06:15 CEST 2000 from dhcp58207.sunyocc.edu (204.168.58.207)

FREDDIE THE FUNK (i'm not golfermon,I'm fishermon)

Where Is Doctor Pepper: I truly miss hearing from the good doctor. His insightful, mostly poignant straight forward anedotes on Band Insider History is always interesting and often quite entertaining. I think Bashful Bill would agree with this assessment? I can only hope that The Good Doctor will be attending the Sterling Festival On 9/30. The Professor will be happy to see you there as will this FUNK.

Posted on Fri Sep 22 15:55:19 CEST 2000 from 1cust111.tnt1.idaho-falls.id.da.uu.net (63.28.242.111)

rollie

I don't think so Sam. I think from time to time Robbie dresses up in war paint, puts on the ole headdress, sharpens up the ole tomahawk, and thinks about his own version of the REMEDY for all the rubbish he reads on this page. The battle of the Bighorn was nothing next to the battle we'll be seeing soon. By the way, how the heck are ya?

Posted on Fri Sep 22 15:01:42 CEST 2000 from dialup-339.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.83)

Hank

A coupla days ago I posted and asked did anyone know why a "Best of the Band" album I saw had pictures of everyone EXCEPT GARTH!!!!!.....and (sob!) no-one answered me........does anyone (whimper!) CARE anymore? (loud wail!!!!!.....).....it had about 15 of their most well-known songs on it and was put out by the "Castle Communications" company......it did'nt look like a boot.......it seems to have been a legit release......so has anyone else here ever seen it??....or is this something that has been discussed here before??.........OK, I don't know how to deal with this feud thing.....ALL bands feud.......it's part of the essential dynamic of a great band.....artistic feuds and struggle can lead to great music........Lennon-McCartney......brotherly Feuds can lead to injury....The Kinks....sexual/personal feuds can lead to Death....Brian Jones vs. Jagger-Richards.......but FINANCIAL FEUDS can lead to great bitterness.......The Beatles vs. Paul McCartney and The Band vs. RR..........folks, no matter what way you look at it, and if Levon is NOT lying in his book, RR, after years of leading them, ripped 'em off and took their publishing after TLW....... John Simon tells a similiar story with regards to EVENTUALLY getting paid for past work by Grossman and RR..............What you all HAVE to understand is that the money in the music industry is in the PUBLISHING......it's NOT in concert receipts or record sales or session work or merchandise sales....it's in the publishing......nothing else compares to it.....it's the money you make from licensing "The Weight" to Diet Coke or "Revolution" to Nike.... if you don't have your Publishing together.......you have to go out and play rat-holes to pay the rent........that's what happened to The Band ......the other thing is, from comments like RR made about Richard ....."Richard was a drunk from the moment I met him" it's apparent RR lost all respect for his fellow band members...........and THAT really hurt the other guys.....I mean, it's understandable when you consider the drugs, the booze, the crashed cars and boats but at the same time, this is a personal opinion of course, they REALLY were The best Rock'n'Roll band in the history of the universe ever.....and it was taken away from them in one fell swoop..........there's no way we can know exactly how it went down for them boys but, be honest all you Robertsonians, who comes across as the most together in TLW? Levon or RR?......seriously, folks............who REALLY drove that gig?........who REALLY believed in that band on the stage that night?.......imagine if THAT was taken away from you......you'd be bitter............having said all that tho', it would be GREAT if Levon let the bitterness go and invited RR to play a few gigs with The Barnburners........or if RR just showed up on stage at a Barnburners gig and jammed some rock'n' roll guitar........but of course I'm one of those sad people who wishes Ringo would get George and Paul into his all-star band for a few gigs......Actually, McCartney woulda done better with his last Rock'n'Roll record by having George and Ringo playing instead of Dave Gilmore and Ian Paice.....then again........it's all getting a bit silly here....I better stop and get back to real life for the rest of the afternoon!!!!!!!!!.....see y'all later

Posted on Fri Sep 22 14:38:53 CEST 2000 from spider-tl082.proxy.aol.com (152.163.207.212)

bob wigo

Anyone out there on the western end of our fine commonwealth who can provide an address for Moondog's ?

Posted on Fri Sep 22 14:30:01 CEST 2000 from gw3a60-1-d625.wind.it (212.141.121.117)

The Beards

LISTEN ROBBIE ROBERTSON ON FESTIVAL PRIMO MAGGIO IN ITALY ON THE BEARDS HOMEPAGE "THE BAND SECTION" , WITH 1. INTERVIEW TO ROBBIE ROBERTSON FROM ITALIAN TV RAIDUE 2. GHOST DANCE 3. I SHALL BE REALEASED ALL REALAUDIO FORMAT (44HZ STEREO) ------- THE BAND QUIZ ! ........ WHAT A SONG PLAY THE BAND ON THE CLIP FROM THE LAST WALTZ ? COME ON THE BEARDS HOMEPAGE! ............ PEACE ......... EMANUELE "THE BEARDS"

Posted on Fri Sep 22 13:19:43 CEST 2000 from spider-wj083.proxy.aol.com (205.188.198.58)

Ben Turkel

I don't think there's any danger of "the fued" or Levon's bitterness effecting the legacy of the Band. There's a long history of musical fueds such as Ray & Dave Davies and the Everly Brothers. I don't think anyone besides die-hard Band fans (such as myself and most of the people reading this)really care or are even really aware of this. I'm sure that far more people have seen TLW or have a copy of 'Best of the Band' than have read the afterward of 'This wheel's on fire' or some other articles archived here. I for one am thankfull for the music that the various members have released since TLW, both solo and as The Band. But I don't think it's fair to criticise the reformed Band for sounding like the Band and to praise RR for breaking new ground. The fact is the 90's Band recording feature 2 of the lead vocalist (with guest spots by Richard) and 3 of the musicians of the original lineup. So who should they have suddenly sounded like? Yes or Spandau Ballet maybe! I don't see that RR had much choice but to go in a different direction. He didn't have the vocal ability to make a Band sounding recording on his own. What anyone thinks of these recordings is strictly a matter of taste.

Posted on Fri Sep 22 08:07:02 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

"Part of their legacy" (?)

And the feud goes on...

And the feud goes...

And the feud goes...

And the feud goes on...

Guests keep pounding comments to the book...

La-dee-da-dee-dee...

La-dee-da-dee-da...

Posted on Fri Sep 22 07:30:30 CEST 2000 from 209-239-199-234.oak.jps.net (209.239.199.234)

Phil

Matt K: Although I tend to agree with you, you may want to read the July 06 00 "what's new" entry of the Rick Danko interview by Matt Lewis on this site. You said "The only guy who persists in running down another member of the group is Levon. Rick didn't". I'd say he comes pretty close here.

This GB did not create this fued. The members of The Band did. Taking sides is silly, but people tend to do silly things. It is (the fued) part of their legacy and probably always will be. Fans may be debating this till kingdom come. RR said in the VH1 (behind the music) show that certain members of The Band had songwriting and helping with arrangements confused. That helping with arrangements was part of their job for being in The Band. Melody and lyrics are what determines authorship. Will we ever know who's really right? Probably not.

Posted on Fri Sep 22 07:25:57 CEST 2000 from 1cust199.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.136.199)

Crabgrass

My fave Band getup is Robbie decked out in his Armani suit carrying a Gucci briefcase stuffed with $1,000 bills.

Posted on Fri Sep 22 06:56:56 CEST 2000 from spider-tp012.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.177)

Dave Z

Maybe I'm delusional but I'm starting to view the public statements cooked up into what the GB calls the Feud in a slightly different more positive light... If I step back to the 20,000 foot level of a small aircraft that would scare the beejeebees out of RR... I see Robbie saying a lot of positive things about the Band which serve to say... this was a good thing... and these other members were amazing... and, to me Robbie is sticking up for the Band as a team and its place in history in his own way... Out the other window of this plane I also see Levon sticking up for the Band in his own way... not unlike maybe a shortstop who kicks the ground in disgust over a missed play or lost opportunity instead of keeping a happy face... Levon may take brotherly shots at Robbie (who publically doesn't look too personally hurt?)... but he still talks about the time when all were brothers... and he bitches for more money for the other guys who stayed on or later joined... and just maybe being pissed at the guy who left the Band... even if for personally valid reasons which he is entitled to do... is one way he sticks up for the Band and its place in history... maybe one hot line drive got through the end field... maybe things could have been better financially for more of the members and yet have worked out for Robbie too... I see RR winning this feud or argument if you will on rational grounds but just because you win an argument doesn't mean you are right or did the right thing especially in the eyes of your opponents on the other side of the argument... In conclusion, if kicking the dirt works for Levon... prolongs his health... and helps in any way to motivate his musical influence to continue on... and activates any kind of voodoo juice... then I'm for it... Just don't hit RR with the rubber chicken or grab him by the arm all-la-glory... I mean ala Bobby Knight... Also, if this kicking of the dirt does anything to motivate RR to shorten the time period between solo CDs (currently in the ball park of time required for a high school education during the Britney Spears Eminem Mafia Rap Era)... Then, heck... I'm all for the feuding... I guess also I'd like to throw out something an old assistant football coach told me once after I had eaten enough dust kicked up by the head coach... He said something like... It could be worse because if he's not yelling at you it means he don't care... and so to me as long as brothers are feuding there's still delusional hope for me that they could come together again for one last indian summer harvesting... maybe with kids involved too... and make us all look real silly... but it would be a happy silly... and if that just doesn't happen either... well, we still got lots music and stolen memories... and we're all still thieves and we dig it... So pick your weapons and feud on!!!...

Posted on Fri Sep 22 06:42:02 CEST 2000 from spider-mtc-tb062.proxy.aol.com (64.12.104.47)

Buffalo Rhythm and Blues Project

Well, its 12:30 in Buffalo....The Barn Burners finished up an hour ago by doing Caledonia. Say what you want but I tell you, I have just seen one of the greatest drummers on the planet. The Barn Burners did two sets of some of the best R&B and Blues anywhere. Amy Helm has a tremendous voice and the group really kicks it out while proud papa just grins from ear to ear. go see this band if you have the chance.They are tremendous

Posted on Fri Sep 22 06:15:45 CEST 2000 from pm3-pt72.pcnet.net (206.105.29.146)

Too Embarrassed

Favorite piece of Band apparel...? Where did that topic come from? Well, wow, I'd have to say that a few of mine are:

-Richard's upside-down-teapot hat from the Music From Big Pink photo
-Those little sandals Rick, Richard, and Robbie are wearing in Landy's Big Pink kitchen photo (heh)
-That nice brown suede-ish looking jacket Richard wears in the "bringing in groceries" Landy photo
-Just about everything Rick wears in TLW... (especially, but by no means limited to, the hats)

Least faves:
-That weird striped shirt/plaid shorts combo of Rick's from the Big Pink kitchen photo
-(It goes without saying) Richard's hideous plaid suit from TLW

Note: Garth seems to look cool no matter what he wears.

Posted on Fri Sep 22 05:52:10 CEST 2000 from spider-wm032.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.162)

Bayou Sam

do you think?, late at nite, when nobody is around, Robbie puts on an old Sears Roebuck flannel shirt and plays some "pickin' and grinnin" music on his old acoustic? I like to think he does. I don't know why............ trying to pick WHO was a more important member of the Band is without a doubt in the top three stupidest things I've seen in here - it's silly to even discuss it -'nuff said on that........... getting back to the sillyness of clothing, my favorite item of Band aparrel(spelling), would have to be that cool hat that Garth sported in alot of the "90's Band photos............goodnite

Posted on Fri Sep 22 05:32:47 CEST 2000 from pm3-pt72.pcnet.net (206.105.29.146)

Laura P.

I've put "Old Time Religion" online temporarily--click on the "Home page" link above. And no, it's not actual old time religion, it's an mp3. :) I hope everyone enjoys it.

Posted on Fri Sep 22 04:45:23 CEST 2000 from ch8smc.bellglobal.com (206.47.244.58)

brown eyed girl

"One good thing about MUSIC, when it hits you, you FEEL NO PAIN...." Bob Marley("Trenchtown Rock")

Posted on Fri Sep 22 04:00:44 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.blfld1.ct.home.com (24.4.252.36)

AHROOO!!

After reading the same old stuff about the one way feud and some conflicting reports of how things are suppose to go in the music business as opposed to simply loving the music business, I have to say, yes. In there you do have to get with the times. You do need to learn the ins and outs of the music industry. You can't simply plug in an amp and play. Now a days you do need a road manager, a recording manager, a record deal, agents, accountants, and the list goes on. Artists aren't the only ones who get paid, it's the staff that gets its share as well.

If you choose not to follow the rules and regulations in the business, chances are you will feel like you got the short end of the stick. It works very much like the Darwin effect. The stronger get weeded out from the weaker and so the stronger species survive and thrive and multiply. Music is not like what it used to be and if you have the mentality that it should be like a bar band, then guess what? You're in for a very rude awakening. The music that you like so much is run by a network of high end names and big money. If you can pull off having your own label or finding a smaller label, chances are you won't be privy to what the larger labels have as far as marketing and promotion.

I don't think Robbie has gotten to where he is today by scheming his way to the top. He wanted to learn the ins and outs to better himself and not be dependant on other people in the business. He learned from the likes of Dylan and whether you like him or not, Albert Grossman, among others. He prepared for what was to come in the coming years and used his experience and the knowledge that he garnered to further himself for later on. He didn't want to stay stagnent and stay with the same kind of music. Now it has paid off for him. He's still a recording artist but also now an A&R man. So what if he doesn't tour? He's still keeping busy with what he does and is still learning things, that's why he is successful. Not because he screwed his former bandmates when they might have made it further if they followed how to make a success out of themselves. Like so many people say, why couldn't Robbie have sounded more like The Band? Well, why couldn't have The Band ventured out in their solo projects and not sounded like The Band so much?

You might just want to pick up an excellent book by Fredric Dannen called "Hit Men." After reading this, you may never want to buy another CD, album, cassette, etc. again if you really care about who gets your money and what goes into all of it.

After reading Levon's book and then reading what John Simon has said recently I wondered what would make him change his tune after seeing him appear with Robbie on the Good Morning America appearance from the Fall of '98 when they did "Dixie." It just might be that book that saw Mr. Simon in a bad light.

With all of the talk that Robbie screwed Band members out of royalties, can somebody tell me why oh WHY would he give credit on any of his solo efforts to the likes of Martin Page, U2, Ivan Neville, Maria McKee, Tim Gordine, so on and so forth? I figured that they DID contribute to the songwriting, and not by supplying simply just a chord or arrangement and getting credit for it.

I admit that I really do like Robbie but also love The Band's music because it's truly different and could honestly be called a "band." Even with what everybody says that Robbie was the so-called leader and spokesperson, he simply wanted to fill the gaps where they needed to be filled from where nobody else wanted or attempted to do and that is a lot of gaps. If Robbie didn't talk, then who would? Levon loves The Band so much yet his anger always shows through when he talks about them. What good is that? Is this seriously how you are supposed to explain to the next generation how they were? Is this what they will be remembered for, the so-called feud rather than the music or the brief but brilliant history they once had? What?

Also I say Amen to MattK. Truly an unbiased outlook on how The Band should count in history and the gift of their talents.

AHROOO!!

Posted on Fri Sep 22 03:44:24 CEST 2000 from (203.103.135.138)

Michael

Laura P. I think Homer was the name of Dylan's or the boys dog. I may be wrong as the memory does not serve me that well anymore. Regards

Posted on Fri Sep 22 03:07:51 CEST 2000 from proxy2o.dpn.deere.com (192.43.65.245)

MIke

Hello one and all. I have been going through the posts here lately. I would like to extend my thanks to all who love The Band unconditionally, especially mattk. I believe The Band was greater than the sum of it's parts. Levon is no better than Robbie and vice versa. Whether you prefer to bash Robbie or Levon, that's your business. BUT, The Band was a group of 5 talented musicians, 2 of which are sadly no longer with us. Would The Band have existed without any one of these members? Perhaps but would it have been the same? Absolutely not! Richard, Garth, Rick, Robbie and Levon were equally important to The Band. This mindless bashing of these guys is a waste of time. We alll post here because we are fans and love The Band and their music. For those who are bitter about Robbie wanting to quit the road in 1976, well...I am sure he had his reasons. Everything happens for a reason. No sense in being bitter like Levon is. That was 24 years ago. Perhaps it's time for Levon to bury the hatchet. I hoped Rick's passing would have given Levon a wake up call. Life is short. Too bad Levon doesn't read these posts. And I have NEVER heard/read a bad word about The Band on Robbie's part, EVER! But Robbie is the bad guy? So it went, so it goes. Well, I shall be posting later when things calm down here a bit. I'm going to enjoy my reissues and rock out to The Band. Peace. Mike

Posted on Fri Sep 22 02:27:31 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.avnl1.nj.home.com (24.4.252.66)

Brien Sz

Can I have an AMEN!

Thank you Lil and mattk.

Posted on Fri Sep 22 01:50:15 CEST 2000 from cacheflow.nettally.com (199.44.53.3)

Brent

amen mattk. can't we all just get along??? come vote in the all new Rumor Weekly Band Poll!! click the link above! peace, brent

Posted on Fri Sep 22 01:36:57 CEST 2000 from spider-wk031.proxy.aol.com (205.188.198.161)

jcf

Levon is my favorite of the five and I also like Robbie. Can we all agree that, at least if we hold him up to high standards, Micky Jones sucks. Everytime I listen to dylan 66 that is what comes through... A lot of people say that all five were equally valuable and indespensable. But, it almost seems as if some people don't take this literally. I do. Sometimes the feud is fun and sometimes it is not.

Posted on Fri Sep 22 01:24:44 CEST 2000 from m198214178108.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.178.108)

PEHR

thanks MattK, Lil, and David Powell.

Someone kind enough to dicuss music posted "Key to the Highway" as an "embarassment"...

I don't think I'd go that far, but...What is up with that cut?

I got curious about Emmanuel (the Beards) website and really enjoyed it. I've been really living a pretty hectic pace so I haven't had time to check out much, but really enjoyed the live '73 "Dont Do It featuring Rick ,Levon, and Richard singing their collective asses off and a guitar part by RR that sounds like its goin through a chorus.

Thanks Emanual (Dylan spelled that) I really enjoyed visiting and I'll come back soon. gotta go.

good wishes to everyone for a fine safe weekend. and peace.

Posted on Fri Sep 22 01:01:37 CEST 2000 from b103-09.blgs.splitrock.net (209.252.130.57)

Jack Straw

I've been waiting for a year and a half for the right time to insert this tidbit into the GB and now thanks to Paul Godfrey and Crazy Chester I have the chance. You both mentioned The Band/Stephen Foster. If you are truly curious as to what a combination might sound like, check out John Fahey's 1972 "Of Rivers And Religion". Available at flea markets everywhere, I've bought several for $.25. It's instrumental music but I've met no one who hasn't heard wisps of "The Band" at it's most Americana leanings.

Posted on Fri Sep 22 00:18:01 CEST 2000 from www-cache.vuw.ac.nz (130.195.2.96)

Amanda

Ragtime- Should Bobby Z get a Nobel Prize for Literature? I agree he is a songwriter and poet in a class of his own & certainly deserving of the highest accolades. But personally I'm a little cynical about the Nobel prize and prizes for literature in general. They seem to be very swayed by fashion and by a perception that because some authors are politically deserving they should be rewarded for their contribution to literature however unremarkable their writing eg Nadine Gordimer. (Go ahead and flame me. I've been shouted down for this opinion many times & I stand by it anyway.)

Posted on Thu Sep 21 23:58:26 CEST 2000 from h0000f8718e9a.ne.mediaone.net (24.128.16.201)

Long Distance Operator

Bob Dylan should not only get the Nobel Prize, he should be elected President Of The United States.

Posted on Thu Sep 21 23:57:04 CEST 2000 from 64-208-185-91.nas1.mon.gblx.net (64.208.185.91)

Lars

(As the sun sets on the Pacific, the phone next to Martin Scorcese's hot tub rings. Martin stops drinking his Merlot long enough to listen to see if a message comes after his beep)

ROBBIE: Yeah, Marty...canya pickup? It's Robbie.

MARTIN: (oshit)....HEY ROB! ROBBEEE! Whatsupman?

ROBBIE: Ah, I got a little problem.

MARTIN: (oiy) What kindofaproblem...I mean howcan I helpit ....howcanIhelp?

ROBBIE: I got a registered letter this afternoon..from Woodstock, man. Levon wants to fight a duel.

MARTIN: Say thatagain..

ROBBIE: Levon's challenged me to a duel.

MARTIN: Rob, I haftameetsomepeople..and I don't have.. ah...Idon'thavetimeforthis.

ROBBIE: I'm serious. I have a choice of three weapons: flyswatter, plastic bags of horseshit, or a duck.

MARTIN: Long handled flyswatter?

ROBBIE: Short.

MARTIN: Composted manure?

ROBBIE: Fresh.

MARTIN: Is this legal? I thought duelswereoutlawed... I thought wegavethatallupwhenLeesurrenderedorsomething. ........Taketheduck.

ROBBIE: Didja have a certain kind of duck in mind? I mean, what's the meanest duck going?

MARTIN: Whatareyouaskinmefor??? Idon'tknowaFREAKENthingabout ducks.....Can'tyou..ah..getouttathissomehow?...for old time's sake?

ROBBIE:Can't do it, Marty.

MARTIN: Christ....LISTEN...callmewhenyougetbackandwe'll dolunch.

ROBBIE: I was hoping..

MARTIN: Hey, someonejustcameintomyoffice. Gottago. Talk toGarthandseeifhe'sgotanyextrapoultry. Goodluck. (CLICK)

(A saddened Robbie walks away from the pay phone, wondering how bad it would hurt to get repeatedly hit in the face with a hooded merganser.)

Posted on Thu Sep 21 23:42:18 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime

Well said mattk, and (again) I couldn't agree more...

And now for something completely different:

Nowadays the Low Countries are full of... well... six Dutch Olympic medals so far... and of Robert Zimmermann the well-known author of poems like Lay lady lay, Stay lady stay and Knock-knock-knocking on heaven's door. There's a strong movement going on, supporting his candidacy for the Nobel Prize for Literature. Many important (albeit Dutch ;-) musicians, writers and tv-personalities showed up yesterday night at a meeting in Amsterdam to support him. These 50-ish people call him the Voice Of Their Generation and at the same time emphasize the timelessness (is this English...? not sure :-) of his lyrics.

What do you think my guestbook friends. Is Bobby a songwriter or a poet in his own right? Should he be awarded the Nobel Prize? Wouldn't this be a nice thread to keep our minds off our fave perpetuum mobile? There's a strong Band connection after all and at least there's no doubt who earns the songwriting credits...

Posted on Thu Sep 21 23:38:12 CEST 2000 from webcache.netdoor.com (208.137.128.33)

Deb

Thanks, Matt, for being a voice of reason, and David for reminding us why we care so much about the lives of these five men. To paraphrase James Carville, "It's the music, . . ." (I'll leave y'all all to choose your own adjectives here.) BTW, I appreciate the views and the perspectives of those who know the Band members personally. Still there's a comment that crops up frequently that perplexes me. Several people have noted that the other members of the Band were less interested in business than Robbie, in it for the love of the music and the life of the road, etc. Fine. I understand that. I myself chose a profession in which there are few available jobs, most of them paying poorly and I chose it because I couldn't stand to do anything else. It's never occurred to me to expect anyone else to take care of the things I don't like to fool with (writing contracts, billing, dealing with the "suits", hustling up freelance work, etc) because I'm such a free spirit that I can't be bothered. There's a fine line between trusting someone to handle your interests and dumping off all the things you don't want to worry about on someone else and expecting that person to take care of your interests like you would yourself.

Posted on Thu Sep 21 23:28:10 CEST 2000 from hud1-pm-02-62.termserv.net (204.97.156.62)

Diamond Lil

This is not a "for" or "against" anyone post. It is perhaps a knee-jerk reaction to Mattk's last post however, which was well-written and I believe sincere. I would like to add something important though.

Rick died of a massive stroke, his health had been failing for quite awhile, his blood pressure was high, and he passed away peacefully in his sleep. He harboured no ill will towards any of his former Band members in his last days, and that's the way I'd like to remember him. That's the way I think he'd like us all to remember him. I obviously can't speak for him, but knowing him as I did, I seriously doubt that he'd hold _anyone_ responsible for his being too soon gone. His body was tired and he deserves to rest in peace. People are entitled to whatever opinions they may have, even if it's misguided anger or blame. But Rick would be the first to say .. just let it go.

Thanks for listening.

Posted on Thu Sep 21 23:19:07 CEST 2000 from csiewert.student.princeton.edu (140.180.130.73)

Cam

Right on, mattk. It's good to know that there are still people on this GB who truly do love The Band, not just certain parts of it.

Posted on Thu Sep 21 22:55:19 CEST 2000 from pm3-pt0.pcnet.net (206.105.29.74)

Laura P.

Brilliant post, mattk. Thank you.

Posted on Thu Sep 21 22:37:36 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.250)

David Powell

A Band once made this great music that's forever frozen in amber. All this talk today is noise of a different timbre. "I'd fix it but I don't know how." So it's back to the music now.

Posted on Thu Sep 21 22:36:08 CEST 2000 from (137.187.144.172)

bit head

Click home page address for record review.

Posted on Thu Sep 21 21:48:27 CEST 2000 from twmaine-63-167-210-226.twmaine.com (63.167.210.226)

mattk

Richard, forgive my poor writing. Obviously Levon never played with Coltrane (at least to my knowledge, and my Coltrane collection is pretty exhaustive). The substance of my point was not to question Levon's role in THE BAND. Rather, I was replying to Nancy's question (albeit a rhetorical one):

how about a bit of thought as to the size and shape of the band WITHOUT LEVON. No band at all!

I absolutely cannot dismiss Dylan in the "aforementioned titles," which for the record would be all Dylan titles: "Dylan Live '66," "The Complete Basement Tapes," a Dylan/Hawks boot from New Zealand.

However, in the strictest sense of the question, and probably agreeing with your statement, The Band minus Levon is a great, and at the time revolutionary, bar band. The Band minus RR is a great, less revolutionary (because of the historical context) bar band.

Now, please indulge one last manifesto on this topic to the GB at large:

I don't object to the statement that Levon made the Band what it was, and I don't know anyone here who would ever make such a claim with a straight face. But I would ALSO say Robbie made the Band what it was, Rick made the Band what it was, Richard made the Band what it was and Garth made the Band what it was.

I would also argue that John Simon made the Band what it was - personally, I suspect John's the real secret ingredient that kept the boys in balance both musically and in terms of personalities.

Levon's portrayal of John Simon in "this wheel's on fire" is (to me) the biggest travesty in the book - John is portrayed as bitter and reacting to events, that according to subsequent Simon interviews never occurred or registered anger he does not have.

The only guy who persists in running down another member of the group is Levon. Rick didn't. Richard didn't. Garth doesn’t. Robbie doesn't. Four of the five were all very generous about what the other four members provided and made the group what it was. Only Levon makes the case, mostly via name-calling, that RR's perceived role was less than the others.

To believe Levon would be to assert that RR was a pretty good guitarist, who couldn't sing, couldn't really write, and was basically out to screw everyone from the start. Juvenile statements like G-Man's last post only go to prove that Levon's anger is the most divisive and damaging aspect of the Band's legacy.

I guess after two years of GB reading, 90% of it enjoyable, I'm to the point that I can't simply, gently chide the Levonistas or accept the continual "Robbie sucks" drum beating that goes on here like clockwork. Levon's most recent comments regarding Rick's death being blood on Robbie's hands are beyond deplorable and are downright immoral. They’ve gone way over the line, and the fact that anyone could NOT be disgusted by them is beyond my comprehension.

So let me be clear, one last time, and then I'm done with this, period:

----------

We all decry "the feud," yet WITHOUT LEVON, THERE IS NO FEUD! His anger distracts from the music, the reissues, the solo projects, The Barn Burners, Amy, Garth, Rick's legacy, Richard's legacy and on and on.

This upsets me. It's unfair to the group's fans. It's unfair to the members and their families. It's childish. It's unproductive. And it's destructive. Robbie doesn't do this. Rick didn't do this. Richard didn't do this. Garth doesn't do this. John Simon doesn't do this. Only Levon.

The only thing that troubles me nearly as much is this need by some folks to see themselves as Levon surrogates. For some reason, there are people who seem to feel that by adopting Levon's anger, they are somehow becoming his ally.

These people seem to believe that to know Levon's anger is to know Levon. Yet, the fact is, there are only 5 guys who know what happened, and none of them post here. Two are not with us anymore. Two have nothing bad to say about anyone else. ONE GUY has a heap of negative things to spew, and somehow, that ends up being admirable, which I find bewildering.

How does this work? I really want someone to explain to me why the hate-filled spewing of one guy is more redeeming than Robbie's consistent and generous statements regarding the love and honor he feels for the music and the opportunity to make it with such gifted compatriots?

Minus the rants in his book, minus the CONTINUAL bile-filled ranting to the press, minus the constant Robbie-bashing by his fans, minus any of that...

All we would have to talk about are the re-issues, the shows, the memories, the influences, the beauty, the soul and grace of a great group of musicians.

Now, honestly, I ask you. Given the choice. Why is it preferable to unflinchingly buy into Levon’s rage and perpetuate a one-sided fight, which NONE of us are privy to directly? Why is it easier to say things about a guy who you don’t know about a situation you don’t understand? Why is it that you so many have to be Levon fans at the expense of Robbie? I just don’t understand it. Perhaps I should be glad I don’t.

Posted on Thu Sep 21 21:40:32 CEST 2000 from host161-123-26-209.utelfla.com (209.26.123.161)

carmen

I keep telling myself that I won't jump into this issue, however, I can't help my self. My point is that the RR fans are not the one's who throw the first punch. Mattk K and the other strong RR supporters do not seem to harbor any bad feelings for Levon. Anyone who loves the BAND understands that the sum of their parts is greater ... It seems to be the BAND fans who favor one of the others who seem to hate RR and want to dumb down his contributions. I am sure Levon is a great person and I can only hope that he and RR will someday find peace with each other.

Posted on Thu Sep 21 21:36:48 CEST 2000 from cic-proxy01.firstunion.com (169.200.25.140)

Bones

G-MAN: You may need to seek a professional help regarding your anger toward Robbie. I'm amazed that this Robbie/Levon thing evokes such passion in everyone. The bottom line is that these two people represented 2/5 of the greatest band of all time. No more, no less. We've already established that what made them great was that they were a band of equals.

Posted on Thu Sep 21 20:13:47 CEST 2000 from stcatherines-ppp109254.sympatico.ca (216.209.112.185)

Richard Patterson

MATTK: Reading your last post makes me think you have John Coltrane CD's that feature Levon Helm... is this true? Your comparison of the recorded output of 65-66/BT Dylan to the post-LW Band includes several other variables than the presence of RR or LH (like Bob Dylan, Richard Manuel and 20 odd years of hard travelin'). I'm also curious about the names of these seven "aforementioned titles" that feature Robbie and no Levon... Are you saying they rate higher to you than titles that feature both performers? Just how many albums are there in the cream of all the recorded music you own? To me the post-LW Band vs Robbie solo is like a great bar band vs. a bad art rocker (I prefer Peter Gabriel, and I'm not a Gabriel fan)... I'll take a great bar band anytime...

Posted on Thu Sep 21 20:09:12 CEST 2000 from usr51-dialup261.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.198.141)

G-MAN

Dave the DRUMMER from Pitts--ya hit the nail on the head!! Levon came back; the Band evolved to become the Band. I think I'll skip tonites show, and the shows in Cleve. Yep, why listen to good music--get a hand shake, some down home sincerity; tell some football tales, etc-- have some laughs???? NAW I'll go out to the coast take in a ROBSTER show----oh, he doesn't want to perform! YA know the road is an impossible way of life--boo hoo! Yeah, so go make a movie--CARNEY-are you kiddin me!!! I thought I saw a new group---Robbie and the Robbers!!! HEY LOSER-an expensive suit don't mean squat! Hey, go find Marty or Eric!!!!

Posted on Thu Sep 21 18:51:42 CEST 2000 from 56k-la-00-20.dial.qnet.com (209.221.212.35)

Dave the Phone Guy

Robert Hillburn,the music critic for the Los Angeles Times,gave the reissues a four star(excellent)rating in a lengthy article in yesterdays(09/20)calendar section.There is a very large photo of The Band at the top of the page.Perhaps a "bit head" could provide a link.

The Band is The Band to any of the original members.

Long live The Band.

Posted on Thu Sep 21 18:47:58 CEST 2000 from (24.3.160.27)

Brien Sz

IMO I think all the fruit harvested from the Band tree is very tasty. Some of the oranges have had more juice than others but i've never been disappointed by anything reaped.

By the way--I just can't get enough of the Brown remaster--I really enjoy RR's jammin guitar on the alt. take of King Harvest.

Posted on Thu Sep 21 18:26:39 CEST 2000 from cfa1.execulink.net (199.166.6.10)

paul godfrey

Crazy Chester...your thread to Stephen Foster brings back memories of an interview I once did with Ronnie Hawkins. He readily will tell you of his love for Stephen Foster classics. So it may well be that directly or indirectly Stephen Foster influences also became a part of the Hawk's musical makeup!

Shine On!

Posted on Thu Sep 21 18:23:34 CEST 2000 from spider-wn073.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.183)

Dave

Hello to all.... I'm so glad that websites like this one exist to carry on the legacy of The Band and their offspring. I am a drummer from Pittsburgh, Pa. and I have been fortunate; over the last twenty years, to become good friends with all members of the band; except of course R.R. My band has opened for reformed versions of The Band, Rick Danko & Richard Manuel, Paul Butterfield & Rick Danko, and even Levon and Garth. I had dinner with Richard Manuel at a club called "Graffitti" just weeks before he ended his life in '86. What am I trying to say here ????? I have been patiently reading the posts on this website and I could no longer hold my peace. I think it is a disgrace to all members of the band that their fans are bantering about back and forth regarding who is a more "worthy" member or who contributed more. You people have all MISSED THE POINT !!!!!! The group is called THE BAND. They lived together and played music together as a family. Of course Levon harbors some resentment toward Robbie. Robbie took all the songwriting credits and reaped nearly all the royalties, leaving the rest of the members to fend for themselves. The other members of the Band trusted Robbie and were not as interested in the business end of The Band nearly as much as being in it for the love of the music and the life of a traveling musician. I wonder how many of you people who are so quick to condemn Levon actually know him and what he has been through since The Last Waltz. I am here to tell you that Levon Helm is not just ONE of the finest human beings I have ever met but maybe the FINEST. After several gigs , we would sit in the dressing room together and smoke his Merits and drink Rolling Rocks till they were all gone. Levon has a big heart, almost as big as that powerful voice he has recently lost to throat cancer. Levon is a gentle soul and never came off as bitter in all the time we have spent together. If he seems bitter in his books etc. how can you blame him for venting a little. Everyone who is really in the know about The Band will tell you that without Levon Helm's contribution, The Band would not have been The Band. Not only is his voice heard on lead vocals the most,,, but his unique style of syncopation on the drums, mandolin playing, harmonica playing and songwriting contribution more than validate his place in The Band's legacy. I'll be there on Fri. 9/22 at Moondoggs to see "Brother Lee" as I so fondly refer to him. I hope everyone else will do the same and support this great icon of American music.

Posted on Thu Sep 21 17:52:51 CEST 2000 from 1cust113.tnt9.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.128.113)

Crabgrass

Continuing the citrus fruit thread I'd have to say that Robbie, on his own, has produced more than his share of lemons. Also, glad to see that Robbie's recent popularity with the alternative lifestyle community has resulted in some new and exciting Guestbook posters. Welcome aboard!!

I saw Corky Laing headline at the Bottom Line a few months back (joined by guitarists Ricky Byrd and Leslie West it was billed as something like "Guitar Heaven" as Corky's guitarist was ill and could not appear the originally scheduled performance of Corky's new band doing their newly recorded tunes was scrapped) and after about 30 seconds into their set I'd completely forgotten that the Crowmatix (with Garth) had opened for them. Corky is not only an incredible powerhouse drummer but an excellent singer and he thanked the Crowmatix for letting him use their drum kit - which only goes to show that just like "It's the singer, not the song." it's the drummer NOT the drum kit.

Posted on Thu Sep 21 17:24:50 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime

mattk: right you are. I couldn't agree more. Actually you can put it another way as well: there were only two Band members involved with all recordings that bare the name of The Band (original and reunited): Rick and Garth...

Posted on Thu Sep 21 16:54:09 CEST 2000 from twmaine-63-167-210-226.twmaine.com (63.167.210.226)

mattk

Quite correct that the Levon is an indelible part of the Band. I'd argue that RR was too and that what came later was something other than The Band that I'm passionate about.

However, I'd also argue that historically, if you look at it from the Hawks perspective:

Minus Levon, they produced the bulk of the electric Dylan material in '65-'66. The same ensemble, minus Levon, produced what are truly the "Basement Tapes" in a strict interpretation of "the basement tapes." Levon's contribution begins with The Band's demo recordings, which are often lumped into the Basement Tape period, but are really a seperate set of recordings.

This is not to imply the Levon was not critical to the group, but it's not correct to say they did nothing without him. I guess the comparison would be, then:

Group minus Levon: Live '66 and other electric Dylan boots. The Basement Tapes. (I could also add in the first RR album and Storyville to this list).

versus

The Band minus RR - Jericho, HOTH, Jubiliation, various live boots from 1982 to 1998.

Personally, and it's all a matter of taste, my life and CD/tape collection contains no less than seven recordings that I consider amongst the creme of the recorded music that I own - all with RR and no Levon.

With Levon and no Robbie, I have Jubiliation, one live bootleg tape and the two Coltrane CDs I traded Jericho and HOTH in to purchase. None of these, to my mind, hold a candle to the aforementioned titles.

Of course, I really love my one Manuel/Danko tape from the Lonestar, so it seems Rick and Richard were capable.

Before I get shot by the Levonistas, let me be clear. BOTH Levon and RR are integral members of THE BAND. The difference for me, compared to what many here may disagree with, I don't consider the 1982-1998 version of this group to be anything close to the original setup. I think Randy and Jim are wonderful players, and I know they can PLAY. But as a vibrant and ORIGINAL ensemble, I don't see them functioning nearly as well as the ORIGINAL FIVE.

I avoid comparing RR's post TLW work to his Band work because it's markedly different and does not really invite comparison (apples and oranges). However, the 1982-1998 output comes from a group calling itself The Band, and absolutely invites comparison (terrific organic oranges fresh off the vine vs. pretty good sunkist oranges trucked in from Florida).

Posted on Thu Sep 21 16:49:36 CEST 2000 from tnt3port327.dubois.pcidu.com (205.245.155.101)

Crazy Chester

I like what Paul Godfrey had to say in his last post about music and the church and "That Old Time Religion",very true. Laura P. mentioned that song too and I enjoy her posts. Wish I could have taken that ride with her and Mom.The clip of "That Old Time Religion" from TLW proves to me that The Band could have made an awesome recording of traditional hymns much in the same way they covered early Rock n Roll on Moondog Matinee. How about an albulm of Stephen Foster covers? What a hoot!!! I've listened to all the reissues at this point and I have to say I like them all but the brown albulm still sounds odd to me.Seems like some of the warmth is gone but replaced by greater clarity. Kind of like refinishing a nice old piece of furniture or an old guitar. It looks all nice and shiny but that old funk and soul has been scraped down and gone over with something new and shiney. The others sound great and Big Pink seems to just jump out of the speakers. I'm hearing little bits that I never heard B4. I actually like the alternate "Lonesome Suzie" but "Key To The Highway" is an embarassment.Love RR's guitar playing on "Don't Do It".I've always liked "Cahoots" no matter what most people think. I have a great memory of seeing a young Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne at Penn State around 1974 and in between their sets Jackson's crew played "Cahoots" over the sound system as they were setting up.

Posted on Thu Sep 21 16:40:24 CEST 2000 from (199.88.112.211)

Molly Z.

Woaaah Up on cripple creek, she sends me, if I spring a leak, she mends me....

Have a great day everyone!

Posted on Thu Sep 21 16:22:47 CEST 2000 from wc1-int1.nbnet.nb.ca (198.164.200.214)

WS Walcott

"Jazz is the only music in which the same note can be played night after night but differently each time"-Ornette Coleman. I don't know if this a tribute to jazz or a slight on jazz. Good quote though, pretty much sums up what jazz is all about, YAWN.

Posted on Thu Sep 21 16:18:57 CEST 2000 from (206.15.160.247)

Long Distance Operator

"... and I swore as I took another pull, my Bessie can't be beat!"

Posted on Thu Sep 21 16:05:20 CEST 2000 from usr51-dialup297.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.198.177)

G-MAN

Have to pick up the ball here!!(Not bashin you know who--what's his name???) Nobody's the BAND today, history is still great, but I'm goin to see LEVON and the BURNERS tonite(NEW MUSIC)--then trippin to Cleve. to catch em sat & sun. Some people don't want the road and to relate to their(former) fans. SO hit the tailor shop--sit next somebody who can do for ya, and forget your friends. Sounds LIKE -- -----??? Levon, Garth, JW, and Rando, with friends, are still out there for the fans- go see em & support them!!!

Posted on Thu Sep 21 15:52:03 CEST 2000 from 167.0102.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.167)

Nancy

Bashful Bill: I LOVE that line too! Robbie's contribution to The Band gets constant attention here, but how about a bit of thought as to the size and shape of the band WITHOUT LEVON. No band at all! I could rave on a bit more as I have been out for dinner and a drink "or two", but I'll spare you any more of my insights tonight!

Posted on Thu Sep 21 14:49:44 CEST 2000 from spider-wc023.proxy.aol.com (205.188.193.28)

Bashful Bill

"Well that just gave my heart a throb, to the bottom of my feet"....had to throw that in, one of my favorite lines from one of my favorite songs. Who started this, LDO I think? Good distraction.

Posted on Thu Sep 21 13:47:45 CEST 2000 from h-62.96.128.130.user.addcom.de (62.96.128.130)

Michael Spranger

Hi out there! the last thing I ever heard of The band was "The Last Waltz". Shame on me!!! Cool, informative site, nice pix! got to listen to their music again, after visitig this page. cheers Mic

Posted on Thu Sep 21 12:58:13 CEST 2000 from hud1-pm-08-68.termserv.net (204.97.156.68)

Diamond Lil

Laura P: Nice story about your mother-in-law. Thanks for sharing. My mother-in-law is into country music, so I guess I would have to give her Billy Ray Cyrus in a box (not sure I'd put any air holes however..) to get the same reaction you got from yours. She did however buy me tickets to see The Band in the summer of 96, right after my husband died, so I guess that counts for something. Perhaps I should have my mother-in-law go for a drive with your mother-in-law :-)

Have a good day everyone. Miss you Jan. Hurry back. Hug.

Posted on Thu Sep 21 08:54:30 CEST 2000 from pm3-pt8.pcnet.net (206.105.29.82)

Laura P.

Oh yes, almost forgot... perhaps this is old news, as it looks as if the book was published in 1998, but the other day at Borders I started glancing through a book I had never seen before, "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right: Bob Dylan, the Early Years." It supposedly contains the "stories behind every song," between Dylan's first album and Nashville Skyline--a claim which I do not believe for one second (utterly preposterous!). However, the book is kind of interesting because it contains quite a few really nice, high-quality color photos including several very cool ones of the The Band which I had never seen anywhere else.

It also has a chapter on the Basement Tapes (only Dylan's songs) with quite a few quotes from Robbie and I think some from Garth, about how they set up the tape recorder and stuff like that. The part I found most interesting, though, was the writeup on "Open the Door, Homer," which, as any Basement Tapes fan knows, is not "Open the Door, Homer" at all, lyrics-wise, but instead, "Open the Door, Richard."

I've always wondered why the song was called "Open the Door, Homer," and if the Richard is our Richard (presumably so, but who knows...). Well, according to this book, the Richard in the song is Richard Manuel and it's called "Open the Door, Homer" because "Homer" was the Band's nickname for Richard! (Also because of some sort of famous thing in comedy plays were people get all confused coming in and going out of the same door at the same time and getting stuck on either side... I just skimmed the book, and have a very bad memory, so I can't explain it properly.) I have never heard of Homer being one of Richard's nicknames, so I thought that was pretty neat. (I do not, however, trust that everything in this book is 100% true, even the "factual" stuff... I am just very skeptical about it.) Has anyone else heard of Richard being called Homer?

Posted on Thu Sep 21 07:40:43 CEST 2000 from ch6smc.bellglobal.com (206.47.244.56)

brown eyed girl

Wow bwnwitennessee, you actually were able to read between the lines of my post. I do have to admit that I initially was reacting more about the personal feud between the two band members but I guess I was referring to their respective music as well. While I was reading the other posts I kept hearing Van's "Why Must I Always Explain" and Eric Burdon's "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood." Yes Robbie moved on to explore his native roots while Levon continued to sing in his own voice...but the same voice. Don't get me wrong, I love Levon's voice but Robbie is much more experimental in his art.. By the way, does he sing "Out of the Blue" on the newest release of the BLW? I'm also glad that you mentioned Max's post because I feel the same way. O.K. anyone going to the Horseshoe on October 4 for the Rick Danko celebration? One last thing, for those of you who think I have advertised Mr. A too much do you think you could call him and see if I could get a huge discount because I usually just wear 20.00 black jeans? If you're not laughing, you aren't reading between the lines again. I think I like the chat room better than the GB because you can clear things up IMMEDIATELY!

Posted on Thu Sep 21 07:36:16 CEST 2000 from spider-wm027.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.141)

Donna

To Lake Charles, Louisiana, Little Bessie, girl that I once knew. She told me just to come on by, if there's anything she could do.

Laura P.- Great story!

Posted on Thu Sep 21 06:28:49 CEST 2000 from ip-169.dial.webperception.com (64.7.64.169)

Molly Z.

This has absolutely nothing to do with The Band, but I thought I'd share this anyway, for those who are interested. In the Olympics, Norway played soccer against China, and Norway won 2-1!! Go Norway!!

Have a good night everyone. :-)

Posted on Thu Sep 21 04:03:11 CEST 2000 from dialup-293.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.37)

HANK

Well, folks, tonight I went to a gig in Clonakilty, a town 30 miles wesht of Cork City........On Bass Noel Redding, ( of The JH Experience), on electic guitar a guy called Eric, who used to play with The Spin Doctors and Corky Laing.......he used to play with Mountain and he's quite the showman still......he mentioned being Canadian during the course of the gig......they did a buncha Hendrix tunes, old rock'n'roll and some of the stuff they've recorded here for a new album.........I met Corky asfter the gig and asked him if he knew Levon and he said he surely did.....so we had a nice 10-minute rap about The Band'n'stuff......a nice chap.......But c'mere to me, What's the low down on a CD The Band called "The Collection " put out by Castle Promotions??? I saw a copy of it tonight...ALL the Band are pictured EXCEPT GARTH......how lame!!!!....I hope RR does'nt get the bum rap for it........... HWWWOe could THT HAPPEN..........GOTTA GO BED???????

Posted on Thu Sep 21 02:55:02 CEST 2000 from cf3k-3.paradise.net.nz (203.96.152.183)

Amanda

Perhaps we need a contest as to who is the Johnny come latEST Band fan. Its been about 8 months for me. Beat that! Converts I've made: my husband who missed seeing the TLW on tv but who patiently listened to me rave about it for 2 days till I managed to get hold of some cds and then he became a Band fan too. I gave my father "the Band" for his 55th birthday knowing that he'd love it, and he does. And on Sunday my 20 year old sister in law who is currently going through a Leonard Cohen phase was very struck by WS Walcott Medicine Show. "Who is this?" she asked. Naturally I told her, played her some more and as she has a birthday coming up I think she should soon also be on her way to Band fandom.

Incidentally, Garth Hudson from the very limited stories of him I read (& consequently maybe his fans) seems more Green Party-ish than Libertarian to me. The water dowsing, the living in a rural area and the non-squeamishness about discussing spiritual healing aspects of music all seem consistent with the Green Party stereotype- maybe not the owning lots of guns and knives part though.

Anyway, I'm just reading "the Life and Time of Little Richard" by Charles White. Dearie dearie dearie me, life on the road was pretty, ahem, out-there in the old days.

Here is a quote about rock 'n roll for the more things change the more things stay the same files "The screaming idiotic words and savage music of these records are undermining the morals of our white youth in America!"

Greetings to STEPHEN NOVICK from Canada!! You are not alone.

Posted on Thu Sep 21 02:57:18 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-113-12.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.113.12)

BWNWITennessee

Sorry, but I have to agree with brown eyed girl about Levon sort of living in the past compared to Robbie. To me, the sound of The Band isn't rustic, wooden folksy music. It is the sound of experimentation, of going wherever your ear and your creative spirit take you, regardless of what everyone else around you is doing. Well, that's exactly what Robbie has continued to do throughout his career. The other guys basically imitated one sound for the next thirty years. And just because you do release new albums and play shows, I don't think that exactly qualifies as breaking new ground. Really, what is the difference between Levon and George Thorogood, the current version(s) of the Beach Boys or Pink Floyd? Levon did continue to play Band songs until the loss of his voice basically prevented him from doing so. But Levon's hardly the only classic rocker who's done this, and I don't think he should be crucified for it. Some people, like Robbie, are more into creativity, while others find a niche they like and stick with it. After all, that's what most blues and country musicians do. So I don't mean to condemn Levon or anything, but I don't think you can argue that he's really moved forward in the same way that Robbie has. But if he's happier that way, then more power to him.

And I don't think everyone needs to get so upset about the recurring feud debate here. It's something that everyone here's got a strong opinion about, so it's going to come up and people are going to want to argue about it. It's like a political argument - there's no way to win, but it's fun to yell for awhile. Just try to find your Irish genes and jump into the fracass. Pretend it's an abortion or gun control debate. And if you don't like reading about it, just ride it out. It'll get sucked back down under the surface in awhile again, just like everything else around here. Besides, we have to talk about something, lest we be like boys and girls staring at each other in an eighth grade dance. (I'm going for my preacher's degree tomorrow, so I had to get some practice in here.) (P.S. - That's a JOKE!)

It's nice to hear from Max, as a reminder that there are a lot of "regulars" here that we never hear from, but are nonetheless a constant presence. But don't feel intimidated. If everyone else here is like me, they're just full of crap anyway.

On a totally unrelated topic, I guess maybe the talk of Emmylou reminded me, Mandy Barnett is just a fabulous underappreciated country singer with an old-time feel. I was lucky enough to hear her perform in "Always Patsy Cline" many times this summer, and I just have great memories of hearing that voice week after week. There was an article in the paper down here that said something like, if you ask any female singer in Nashville who they think is the best singer in town, they will all say Mandy Barnett. I saw Martina McBride at the Opry (don't ask), and she said that she was asked to portray Patsy Cline in a new movie about the history of country music (what a sin), then she sang one of Patsy's songs. She could not hold a CANDLE to Mandy. Mandy should be in the movie, but she's not skinny enough, nor are her tits big enough, to be a true success in Nashville. Her CD, BTW, was the last music produced by the legendary Owen Bradley.

Whew! Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Posted on Thu Sep 21 02:51:28 CEST 2000 from cfa1.execulink.net (199.166.6.10)

paul godfrey

"That Old Time Religion" from TLW speaks volumes about the Band's childhood upbringing and musical influence. For many of us 40 or 50 years ago growing up in Canada that was the case...particularily in small towns and villages where the church was a major social outlet for us. Plus many of us sang in choirs and some of the first sheet music we had to play on the piano was from the Hymn Book.

I would imagine that would be much the samein the US as well....any thoughts.

Shine On!

Posted on Thu Sep 21 02:05:47 CEST 2000 from x2-4.poughkeepsie.bestweb.net (216.179.14.178)

Gene

Oh yeah, StarClub Beatles, too.

Posted on Thu Sep 21 02:01:29 CEST 2000 from x2-4.poughkeepsie.bestweb.net (216.179.14.178)

Gene

Non-Band related event I would have like to have seen: Daltrey cold-cocking Townsend onstage.

Posted on Thu Sep 21 01:53:30 CEST 2000 from 1cust188.tnt2.idaho-falls.id.da.uu.net (63.25.9.188)

rollie

To the Nicks, Keep up the good work fellas!

Posted on Thu Sep 21 01:36:13 CEST 2000 from ip-169.dial.webperception.com (64.7.64.169)

Molly Z.

LDO: Straight down to the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico.

Posted on Thu Sep 21 00:46:42 CEST 2000 from gw3a60-1-d281.wind.it (212.141.123.27)

THE BEARDS HOMEPAGE

HEY ! COME ALL IN THE BEARDS HOMEPAGE , NOW AVAIABLE ROBBIE ROBERTSON REALAUDIO FROM 1 MAGGIO FESTIVAL , ROMA , ITALY 1995. THANKS ......EMANUELE "THE BEARD"

Posted on Thu Sep 21 00:22:08 CEST 2000 from pm3-pt98.pcnet.net (206.105.29.172)

Laura P.

Oh, and Sammy (from Monday): no, the Band/Staple Singers version of "The Weight" is not on the Complete Last Waltz bootleg. If you want the exact version that's in the movie, you have to do like I did and record it from the videotape. I made my own Last Waltz CD-R with all the movie mixes, plus snippets of dialogue and songs like "Old Time Religion" that aren't included anywhere. I could probably MP3 "The Weight" (and yes, I included the "Beautiful!" part) and put it online if anyone is interested. I just like the movie mixes better than the ones in the released album, and "Old Time Religion" is my favourite part of TLW, so I had to do it.

Posted on Thu Sep 21 00:19:30 CEST 2000 from ch8smc.bellglobal.com (206.47.244.58)

brown eyed girl

I just wanted to clarify that when I said that Levon was living in the past I was not referring to his music. I brought up the designer in relation to Robbie because I was trying to make the point that there is a big difference between appearance versus reality(see Bertrand Russell's work). By the way, Eric Clapton likes the same designer. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

Posted on Thu Sep 21 00:08:51 CEST 2000 from pm3-pt98.pcnet.net (206.105.29.172)

Laura P.

Well, gang, I have a great personal Band triumph to report. As some of you may recall, about a month ago I told my mother-in-law about my Band obsession and took her for a little drive while playing "The Weight." She had never heard of The Band before this, although she did recognize a few of their songs. Anyway, she liked it so much that I somewhat jokingly "threatened" to make her a Band CD-R. Well, I started working on it, then thought, "This is silly... she wouldn't really listen to it," so I sort of stopped. But then my husband told me that she kept mentioning that I was going to make her a Band CD and that she was really excited about it.

So, I spent a lot of time putting together a CD-R for her with artwork, song and vocalist credits, everything... (I'm rather a perfectionist when it comes to stuff like this). It took me a long time to choose exactly which songs to include, and I kept rearranging the order a billion times until I was 100% happy with it.

Well, today I gave her her Band CD, which is titled "We Can Talk," (WCT is my favourite Band song, and my m-i-l is quite a chatty sort of person, so it fit). She completely LOVED it. I drove her all over the place (way too fast, of course) on all these great rural highways and backroads, listening to the whole thing. She BLARED it!!! I mean, seriously, I like to play The Band loud, but she put the volume up far higher than I ever do. It was fantastic! I told her about all the different songs as we listened... you know, "Oh, that's Levon on the right and Rick in the middle, and Richard on the left," ... "Richard wrote this song in the house on Bellows Lane with a piano with an out of tune key, and we drove there a few weeks ago," blah, blah, blah... (I am a completely introverted person, so the fact that I was getting into all these details was pretty amazing in itself). Anyway, unless she's the greatest actress ever, she really loved the music... she was totally into it.

She especially liked "The Weight" (of course), "Dixie," "Whispering Pines," "It Makes No Difference" (the live version from TLW), and "Out of the Blue" (she thought Robbie's voice was incredible, BTW). She also seemed to think "Chest Fever" was pretty amazing, although I'm not sure if she liked it or was just having her mind blown (hopefully both). So that's the conclusion of my attempt at Band indoctrination. Highly successful! The track lineup on my influential CD-R is as follows:

1 - The Weight 2 - We Can Talk 3 - When You Awake 4 - Caledonia Mission (ROA) 5 - Ruben Remus 6 - Chest Fever 7 - Jawbone 8 - Rag Mama Rag 9 - The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down 10 - This Wheel's On Fire 11 - Across the Great Divide 12 - Up On Cripple Creek 13 - Whispering Pines (alternate take) 14 - The Shape I'm In (TLW) 15 - It Makes No Difference (TLW) 16 - Stage Fright (TLW) 17 - Out of the Blue 18 - Bessie Smith

Posted on Wed Sep 20 23:48:02 CEST 2000 from sjiassoc16.erols.com (208.58.12.144)

Jon Lyness

Nice to hear of the rehearsal by Jim & the Gurus. Anyone heard about any new material coming up from them? It's good to see the Big Foot album getting wider distribution, but that is a 2.5-year-old album for us diehards who bought it the first time around. I'd love to see a new project from them soon.

Posted on Wed Sep 20 21:18:20 CEST 2000 from (206.15.160.247)

Long Distance Operator

When I get off of this mountain, you know where I want to go?

Posted on Wed Sep 20 20:04:35 CEST 2000 from cic-proxy01.firstunion.com (169.200.25.140)

Bones

David Powell: Thanks for bringing up Gram Parsons again. I have spent all day listening to Return Of Grevious Angel, the tribute record that Emmylou helped produce last year. It sounds wonderful.

Richard Patterson: Are you saying that you thought that Stephen Davis was responsible for the tone of Levon's book? I agree with you about Davis' earlier work, but why then was the second edition even angrier?

Posted on Wed Sep 20 19:37:19 CEST 2000 from proxy-1421.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.220.220)

Scott

Blah, blah, blah, blah.......This guestbook is getting old. This is 2000 ? Let me check my calender. Yep !!! I can't imagine what the Barnburners, Honky Tonk Gurus, and Garth must think when they read this stuff........Do you think a song must have a complicated chord progression to be creative (Stagefright, Endless Highway, Sleeping Etc...), or can A tune have a simple structure, and still have a creative edge, ( If I Should Fail, Strawberry Wine, Up On Cripple Creek etc...). Just a thought !!!!

Posted on Wed Sep 20 19:21:07 CEST 2000 from dap-209-114-157-194.pri.tnt-1.bv.pa.stargate.net (209.114.157.194)

Mary (bear)

I agree with Donna and Lil about the RR/Levon discussion. It is done and over with. Who seems to be living in the past, those who can't seem to keep from rehashing this whole thing. I love the band, and the solo efforts as well. And remember Levon and Robbie were both very important to the band we all knew and came to love. None of us know for sure what happened, only what is rumored to be. There are also two sides to every story and then there is the truth. I hope we can get on to something else in here, which is the music and respect everyone elses opinion. That is what makes the world go round, the fact that everyone is different. If we all thought alike the world would be a pretty boring place. I myself enjoy reading the posts about shows people have gone to, reviews of the band reissues of their albums, things of that nature, not the I'm right, you're not banter. Thanks.

Posted on Wed Sep 20 19:09:40 CEST 2000 from spider-mtc-td054.proxy.aol.com (64.12.104.174)

bob wigo

To Max on Christmas Island:
An eloquent statement. Thank you.

Posted on Wed Sep 20 19:01:02 CEST 2000 from proxy-1321.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.220.148)

Ed Blayzor

for you CT fans, THE CROMATIX are doing a special in-store acoustic performance at a place called GEROSA RECORDS. i saw the GURUS do one there a couple months ago,it was great and JIM & RANDY were very friendly. Peace-EDDIE

Posted on Wed Sep 20 18:02:01 CEST 2000 from cobalt.nextlink.net (206.129.70.172)

Mike

Wow...A post from "The Out-of-Closeters," and a spacy quote from Bruce Lee (Enter the Dragon, 1973.)

Things have gotten pretty heavy here lately. Pretty passionate bunch, aren't we? There doesn't seem to be a middle of the road regarding JRR. Seems you're either on one side of the fence or the other. Still a great place to visit -- Thanks Jan. Have a great day everyone.

Posted on Wed Sep 20 17:30:49 CEST 2000 from spider-tk012.proxy.aol.com (152.163.206.177)

Don Pugatch

Nice to see some return to the MUSIC. For fans of Emily Lou Harris, and access the N-P---R, there is a great live recording of Orphan Girl and also a duet with Willie Nelson, go to search KBCO and you'll find. Also on this search will be other live recordings. KBCO is a great radio station in Boulder Colorado, has special CD's called Studio C, and KBCO has their own recording studio. Whenever an artist visits the Denver area, a must stop is up to KBCO. Check out their web site, can also stream live music on the net. Note their review area, Rick's latest is there. On anther radio note, for fans living in the Kansas City area, my friend recommends KCUR, on Sunday afternoons 12-2, show is Cypress Ave. On 9/2, the whole show was on The Band, their web site, KCUR.Org.

Posted on Wed Sep 20 17:27:16 CEST 2000 from dub.iinet.net.au (203.12.221.213)

Max

Have been checking in at this site regularly for the last few years and I guess like a lot of people feel a bit "intimidated" by some of the "regulars" with their seemingly unbounded knowledge of the doings of these guys we know and revere from afar as The Band, their music and personal matters.

The latest tirade against Robbie has left me a bit cold I must admit, and even some folk seemingly getting a bit "proprietorial" about this guest book.I have been a follower of The Band since I first heard Garth's organ on Chest fever back in 1968, filtering out through someone's front door as I was walking home from university. I stopped and asked who was playing the music and was invited in to hear the rest of the LP. I was hooked and have been ever since.I hope I am not labelled a "johnny come lately".

I guess the point I am trying to make is that there are a hell of a lot of people like myself out here all around the world with a deep passion for these guys and the music they have "produced" over the years whether it be collectively or individually, and who can not see any benefit for anyone in this introspection of Levon's and Robbie's personal problems.Let them sort it out if they want or don't want, and let's get back to what this fantastic site that Jan has set up is all about.

May post again in another couple of years if something riles but rest assured I will be reading away regularly and absorbing some of the fascinating and insightful posts that appear on this great site relating to that great catalogue of music that is The Band.

Cheers

Posted on Wed Sep 20 17:03:21 CEST 2000 from (24.3.160.27)

Brien Sz

As an olive branch---Everyone open your Brown album booklets to the photo spread. Look at the picture shot through the door of LH and RR working together. Let's remember the good--The bad saps too much energy.

Posted on Wed Sep 20 16:21:43 CEST 2000 from 203.0103.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.203)

Nancy

I have to say that I am sick and weary from seeing the free promotion Mr Armani is constantly receiving on this site. Personally I don't care for the look anyway. I think anyone could whip up a Armani look-a-like set of bags in a couple of hours!!

Posted on Wed Sep 20 16:20:03 CEST 2000 from (64.218.202.50)

nick clark and nick fink

we just wanted to announce our feelings for eachother over the internet so everyone, everywhere knows our true feelings for eachother. we are proud homosexuals. if anyone wants to join in out happiness please e-mail us at www.spicee123@hotmail.com.

Posted on Wed Sep 20 15:36:22 CEST 2000 from m198214176061.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.176.61)

Pehr

I can't believe this rr/lh thing is still going on! I'm about ready to check out on checking in here.

last week I said most RR haters are just jealous and suffer from bad feelings that probably come from not being true to their own hopes and dreams for themselves, and whomever was bothered by that probably was responding to a message from inside themselves. No one said squat for a few hours, I assume there are alot of you out there with better things to do in your short life than whine over RR.

It is very easy to criticize, condemn, slam and put human beings in convenient labelled jars, particularly if you are removed from the situation and have no real business in the affair.

It is very difficult to know oneself, however. and to honestly express oneself, my friends- now that is a very difficult thing to do. perhaps we should focus on the amazing abilities of these great musicians to do this very human thing and not shortchange ourselves by wasting time in this unproductive immature blameletting. We could be gaining inspiration and focus to do something creative in our own lives, and "Helping the neighborhood" by being sensitive, intelligent, with something more useful to others to dwell upon.

"(The Band)...is like a finger, pointing to the moon:

"Dont look at the finger or you will miss all that heavenly glory..."

Posted on Wed Sep 20 15:14:07 CEST 2000 from spider-ta053.proxy.aol.com (152.163.205.68)

Donna

I LOVE ROBBIE'S & LEVON'S MUSIC!!!

Lil" - You Go Girl!

Now can we please move onto a new topic of discussion? The horse has been beaten and died along time ago!

Thank You! :O)

Posted on Wed Sep 20 13:16:18 CEST 2000 from gw3a60-1-d341.wind.it (212.141.123.87)

EMANUELE " THE BEARDS"

NEWS ON THE BEARDS HOMEPAGE : NEW 3 REALAUDIO FILES FOR ROBBIE ROBERTSON AT 1 MAGGIO FESTIVAL 1995,ROMA , ITALY. 1. SHORT INTERVIEW (2 MIN.)TO ROBBIE FROM ITALIAN TV. 2. GHOST DANCE , 1 MAY 1995 , 1 MAY 1995 ITALY 3. I SHALL BE RELEASED , WITH ELVIS COSTELLO , 1 MAY 1995 ITALY AVAIABLE FROM 21 SEPTEMBER !!! THANK YOU ! EMANUELE

Posted on Wed Sep 20 13:11:55 CEST 2000 from spider-ta055.proxy.aol.com (152.163.205.32)

Ben Turkel

I agree with Diamond Lil's post. How exactly has Levon been living in the past while RR's moved into the future. Since 1977, Levon released 4 solo albums, 3 albums with the Band, and 1 album with the Cromatix, while RR has release 4 solo albums. Levon has played hundreds of shows since 1977 with various musicians, while RR has made a handfull of live appearances. So, how exactly is Levon living in the past? If he wanted to trade on the Band's reputation today, it would be real easy for him to play a set of Band songs (obviously with someone else singing). Take a look through Levon's live shows in the tape archive, he generally only performed a few Band songs in his solo shows. Actually Rick generally played more Band songs in his shows than Levon did.

Posted on Wed Sep 20 12:34:47 CEST 2000 from hud1-pm-10-70.termserv.net (204.97.156.70)

Diamond Lil

Ok..it really irks me to read a comment which says that Robbie moved on while Levon was only able to live in the past. Not true. Every one of The Band members 'moved on'.. in different directions. Wearing Armani suits is not a symbol of success. Being happy with what you're doing is.

This Band of ours has not, for all intents and purposes, been The Band for over 20 years now. There have been solo efforts, collaborations, films, concerts by individual members, new cds by those same members, and the re-forming of different bands. Living in the past? I think not. Probably one of the most unfair comments I've ever read in here.

Thanks for listening. Have a good day everyone. Hug Jan.

Posted on Wed Sep 20 10:15:28 CEST 2000 from ch3smc.bellglobal.com (206.47.244.59)

brown eyed girl

Robbie's music is timeless and classic like Armani clothing. Sorry, I'm just so fed up with people putting Robbie down. In all fairness to Levon, he is a better actor and I love how he always sang in his own voice. But Robbie was able to move on and Levon was only able to live in the past.

Posted on Wed Sep 20 09:42:46 CEST 2000 from ch3smc.bellglobal.com (206.47.244.59)

brown eyed girl

I don't get it. The band's music has brought us all together and yet someone always wants to create friction with the whole Robbie and Levon debate.... let's face it, Robbie is Canadian, amazing writer and guitar player(I agree with Daniel Lanois he needs to play more guitar period), articulate and yes he looks good in Armani! The main thing I want to say is that I just want to see him play again!! I'm just talking out of the blue because I couldn't be quiet anymore....l

Posted on Wed Sep 20 08:09:29 CEST 2000 from spider-th044.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.64)

Autumn Vasquez

I LOVE ROBBIE'S MUSIC!!!!!

Posted on Wed Sep 20 06:15:34 CEST 2000 from ts1-25.steveston.axion.net (207.34.146.25)

Cupid

But seriously folks,regardless of which side of the feud[and I suspect the denizens of the GB are more stirred up about this than either of the gentlemen actually involved]I think we can all agree they left us some great music.On a personal note I loved RR's first solo outing,never got much exposure to "Storyville" and only heard bits of the other records.I liked what I heard.I have for years thought Levon has/had the most honest voice in music.If my earlier posts offended I'm sorry I was just trying to bring a little levity to a rather tired subject.Peace Cupid

Posted on Wed Sep 20 06:08:54 CEST 2000 from tcnet21-043.austin.texas.net (209.99.96.232)

Laura Holt Lorfing

I couldn't agree more Bayou Sam!! I will ALWAYS be a RR fan even though there are those who would rather let the Levon vs Robbie feud cloud the fact that he IS a great talent!! J.R.R. Keep up the wonderful writing!!

Posted on Wed Sep 20 05:05:11 CEST 2000 from spider-te071.proxy.aol.com (152.163.195.206)

Bayou Sam

I really ingored the "fued" thing as long as I could stand it. I agree with those of you who feel that the horse has been beaten to dust. I just can't help reacting when folks get to where they don't even want to give Robbie at least his one-fifth credit for The Band. I am a fan of his writing, playing, and YES, his singing. Whatever issues he has with Levon don't confront me. His enormous part of the Band legacy is obvious and certainly can't be denied him. This debate is bound to resurface from time to time, if for no other reason, because new friends come along and join the group in here..... Allright, I'll shut up now - but the next time that the scaffold is high and eternity is near for Robbie, I'll be defending him again..... Give Peace A Chance.

Posted on Wed Sep 20 05:00:29 CEST 2000 from spider-ti044.proxy.aol.com (152.163.194.194)

Ruby

Hey dave Z Glad you caught the Gurus tonight. It was fun watching them reherse. Sorry you won't be able to catch them tomorrow night but I sure hope everyone else will. They will be on Woodstock tv from 4 to 6 then 7 to 8 with garth as special guest. Got to get them anyway you can especially those who have never had the privilege. Peace to all

Posted on Wed Sep 20 03:11:44 CEST 2000 from spider-tj064.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.204)

Dave Z

Did anybody else catch the Gurus rehearsal today on Woodstock Radio internet program?... I really enjoyed their version of Life Is A Carnival... the music sounded real good way across ways here in MN... Wish I could see the show tomorrow with Garth joining in... but I'm playing in a charity golf tournament... Anyway thanks to Gurus and Woodstock Radio!!! I love the Big Foot CD too...

Carmen: I see RR U.S. fans more as Independents (I voted for Jesse last time and I'm an RR fan)... This time I will probably vote for Wynona LaDuke and the Green Party (I'm definitely a Danko fan)... In the end, I'm a liberal Democratic (Foremost a Band fan)... So I think there's maybe some truth to your political characterization at least as far as I'm concerned... I wonder what our European friends take on this would be though?... I don't even know their party names... What party are you Jan?... Or you Peter V?... Levon's kinda a man's man... so I would think he could draw some Republican males too...

Posted on Wed Sep 20 02:39:46 CEST 2000 from x2-1.poughkeepsie.bestweb.net (216.179.14.175)

Gene

Band-related moments that I would have liked to witness:

Ronnie doing that Camel Walk

Levon doing wheelies on that old tractor

Posted on Wed Sep 20 02:31:11 CEST 2000 from dialup-209.246.68.122.newyork2.level3.net (209.246.68.122)

Mike D.

We at Avalon Archives are attempting to find the best Band tribute group in America. We are interested in locating and previewing recordings of Band cover songs. Any band so inclined may E-Mail us with your cover songs and your bands background. You will then be contacted. We will be interested in recordings after contact is made. Your band may be invited to a special performance and recording.Please respond as indicated. Thank you

Posted on Wed Sep 20 01:54:13 CEST 2000 from host-216-76-151-24.bna.bellsouth.net (216.76.151.24)

BWNWITennessee

Hank, Charlie Sexton's been playing in Dylan's band since at least last summer, so they should all be comfortable with each other by now. Although last time I saw him, in November, I didn't notice this myself, but the people in front of me were commenting on the very dirty look Dylan gave to him. I, too, do think that he doesn't really fit in with Dylan, at least in terms of personality and dress. I felt the same way about his counterpart, Doyle Bramhall II, who has played with Roger Waters the last few years and brought a similar pretty-boy '80s hair band feel to the proceedings. I liked the guitar player Dylan had previously, though I can't remember who it was.

Posted on Tue Sep 19 22:05:27 CEST 2000 from pool-209-138-31-83.kgpr2.grid.net (209.138.31.83)

Cousin Brucie Aydelotte

OK, please allow me to forgive Revakatz/Jessica Bianco. She is NOT a bad trader, but is a very slow and cheap one. The reason I hadn't gotten my tape since August 20th, was because she didn't mail it until Sept. 7th, and only sent it at Standard Rate which means it took two weeks to get here from the mailing date. Today is September 19th !! Please accept my apology for calling you a bad trader.

Posted on Tue Sep 19 21:54:59 CEST 2000 from host161-123-26-209.utelfla.com (209.26.123.161)

carmen

The following site lists this year's RRHOF nominees

http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/music294.htm

Posted on Tue Sep 19 21:32:11 CEST 2000 from spider-we024.proxy.aol.com (205.188.195.29)

quincy

HI I FOUND AN ADD FOR A COMPANY SELLING THE RICK DANKO CD TIMES LIKE THESE AND THE CD PREFESSOR LOUIE CD WITH THE BAND FOR 15$ IF YOU WANT THE 800 NUMBER LET ME KNOW.,

Posted on Tue Sep 19 21:02:05 CEST 2000 from ppp7581.on.bellglobal.com (206.172.191.69)

Richard Patterson

Thanks to HANK for the lowdown on Dylan in Dublin... "Song to Woody" floored me in the set I saw...

MATTK and BONES: Sure I'll agree to disagree... but have a look at Stephen Davis' previous books... 'Hammer of the Gods' (his Led Zeppelin book) is the most sensationalistic rock bio I have ever read... this Davis dude is so hungry for myths that Greil Marcus considers him a good writer! There is no friggin' way that Stephen Davis should have written that book...

MARTY BEBURGI IS MARTIN SCORSESE... there is no way that this character is based on anybody else... (IMHO of course :~)

And thanks DAVID POWELL for always bringing us back to the music...

Posted on Tue Sep 19 20:32:24 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.250)

David Powell

" 'Cause I headed West to grow up with the country / Across those prairies with the waves of grain / And I saw my devil / And I saw my deep blue sea / And I thought about a calico bonnet from Cheyenne to Tennessee." --from "Return of the Grievous Angel"

On this day, September 19th, in 1973 Gram Parsons passed away from an overdose of drugs while visiting Joshua Tree, California. His musical legacy lives on. In the early '70s, Chris Hillman & Rick Roberts turned Gram on to a young singer named Emmylou Harris, who was performing at a club in Washington, D.C. Gram's subsequent recordings with Emmylou, along with those he made with the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers, would help define country rock. Born on November 5, 1946, Gram was too soon gone and is sorely missed to this day by many.

Another musician too soon gone is Jimi Hendrix. Born on November 27, 1942, Jimi passed away thirty years ago yesterday, September 18th, 1970. His last concert was at the Isle of Wight in August 1970, where, among others, he shared the stage with Bob Dylan & The Band. Among the many recordings reissued recently by the Hendrix family is a version of Dylan's "Please Crawl Out Your Window" recorded for the BBC. Although it features Jimi's incredibly distinctive guitar work, his version sounds remarkably similiar to the version Dylan himself recorded with The Band.

"When I'm sad, she comes to me / With a thousand smiles, she gives to me free / It's alright she says it's alright / Take anything you want from me / Anything ... Fly on little wing..."

Posted on Tue Sep 19 20:18:29 CEST 2000 from ric-wht-pxy-int02.wheatfirst.com (204.238.130.68)

Bones

Mattk: I completely agree with your post. I have met Levon a few times, and by no means do I presume to know him. He comes off as generous, funny and absolutely happy (as long as the sound man is doing his job but that's another story). However, I cringe every time I read an interview with him. In interviews, he comes off as angry and bitter (not the same Levon you would meet in public). After the first edition of the book, I had heard that Levon was upset with the tone of the book and blamed Stephen Davis and the publishers for the way it came out; BUT, the second edition is even worse with regard to tone.

Posted on Tue Sep 19 19:40:59 CEST 2000 from spider-wc042.proxy.aol.com (205.188.193.37)

Bashful Bill

Hendrix doing the opening riffs on Chest Fever??? Thie reminded me of the strange, not bad by any means, but strange experience of seeing The Band shortly after Richard's untimely passing. On this tour they went out as a 4-some-Rick, Levon, Garth,& Jim Weider. In a few places Jim( who had been with The Band for awhile at this point) gamely tried to fill in some of Richard's piano fills with his guitar. Hearing the opening notes of Stage Fright in this manner was especially strange....& Hank-sounds like your daughter may have a good carreer ahead of her. However, would you, as a musician, be able to handle having a music critic in the family? Seriously though, I think it's great that you get your kid out to shows like that, as your parents did with you a long time ago over on this side of the pond.

Posted on Tue Sep 19 19:26:22 CEST 2000 from twmaine-63-167-210-226.twmaine.com (63.167.210.226)

mattk

Well, this is rich. Crabby taking the high road? Now I know the apocalypse is imminent. I get no end of amusement that so many GB'ers are quick to make the off-hand "Robbie sucks" comment, yet start howling about how pointless "the feud" is when Levon's behavior is called into question.

Still, as hypocritical as I feel such comments are, they aren't without merit. While I'm an unabashed RR supporter, I don't believe the guy was a saint, and I can certainly concede he's as complicit as anyone in the Band's downfall. I have yet to see a Levonista come to grips with the failings of their boy, or hold him to the same fires of judgement they so willingly apply to Robbie.

Of course, being judgemental is the root problem in all of this, no?

Posted on Tue Sep 19 19:08:37 CEST 2000 from du133-1.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.1.133)

Ilkka

Oh yeah, Rollie! Happy Birthday Jimi. Here comes the bass line for "Hey Joe". - Here we go:

dadadadaa-dadadadaa-dadadadaa-dadadadaa--DAMMMM...MMM... DA-DA-DAMMM-DA-DAA-DAMMMMM...

G Bb C C# D F# G G# A C# D D# E G# A A# Bb A F# A F# D Bb

Posted on Tue Sep 19 18:49:40 CEST 2000 from dialup-082.cork.iol.ie (194.125.43.82)

Hank

Bobby Dylan in Dublin.............at the Point Theatre in Dublin last thursday night......5-6,000 people......Dylan had played the night before in a 1,000 seater venue called "Vicar Street".....so there was a huge buzz about his gigs here in Ireland for weeks beforehand........The lights went down and the roar that went up when he took the stage would bring tears to your eyes......the love, admiration and respect for the man was so over-powering.........and when it settled down, Bob and his band were in the middle of some bluegrassy, country 3-part harmony thing and the sound was NOT so great in the hall.......he proceeded thru his back catalogue with a "Song for Woody" here and a "Tombstone Blues" there......the odd bluegrassy country thing again AND a GORGEOUS version of "Simple Twist of Fate"......the PA sound got much better as the concert proceeded but, over all, tho', he seemed unsettled........cuttting verses outta songs and singing new ones, the way he does, as you all know.......Then, after "Leopard -Skin Pill box Hat", an hour after he came on, he left the stage!!......I remember thinking "Woe is me......the crowd will go ballistic at being so short-changed".........Well, he came back out and proceed to wipe everyone out with Truly Magical performances of "Love Sick", "Trying to get to Heaven Before They Close The Door", a few more back catalogue faves and a Truly Sublime version of "Blowin' in The Wind"......his last song, Band-fans, was "Forever Young".....beautiful.......So, all in all, a great gig..........Everyone left the place buzzin'.......He had Charlie Sexton in the band and a topic of converstion between the lead guitarist in my band, who was also there, and I has been whether Sexton was too flashy and too loud...which may explain the unsteady nature of the first half of the gig.........I went with my wife and our five year old daughter who, when asked about Bob Dylan now, sez " He has curly hair......."..... She enjoyed it tho', and we was all dancin' to it but she could'nt get into staying in the one place all the time which meant we had to walk her around the venue a few times.......that was fun in it's own way.......towards the end, with the roar of the crowd she started complaining " We're gonna have to sleep here 'cos Bob Dylan is NEVER GONNA STOP SINGING!!!!!!" ......so there ya go folks, Bobby Dylan in Dublin 2000

Posted on Tue Sep 19 18:44:06 CEST 2000 from 3cust76.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.138.76)

Crabgrass

Would Islands have sounded any better if Jimi played on it instead of Robbie??

BTW glad to see that a "Feud Backlash" has now been added to the topic rotation here in the Guestbook. It's been a long time comin'...

Posted on Tue Sep 19 17:01:03 CEST 2000 from 1cust246.tnt1.idaho-falls.id.da.uu.net (63.28.242.246)

rollie

Errr, something to that effect! What's it been now since his passing? What would Hendrix have sounded like on the intro to Chest Fever?

Posted on Tue Sep 19 16:58:31 CEST 2000 from 1cust246.tnt1.idaho-falls.id.da.uu.net (63.28.242.246)

rollie

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIMI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted on Tue Sep 19 16:43:57 CEST 2000 from hud1-pm-06-66.termserv.net (204.97.156.66)

Diamond Lil

Nancy: Not sure if you misunderstood what I meant, or if I'm misunderstanding what you meant..so please let me clarify. I was in no way, shape, or form trying to put you down..at all. I was in fact, poking fun at myself for the length of time that I've been hanging around here. I enjoy reading _everyone's_ posts. Hope that clears things up.

Posted on Tue Sep 19 16:09:32 CEST 2000 from 224.0103.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.224)

Nancy

Lil: so I did a little queue jumping into the ranks of the semi old timers! Six months of tentatively submitting messages to this site apparently qualifies me as still only a "rookie". I'm not a queue jumper by nature so I'll get back to where I belong....and let you calcified ones get on with it!

Posted on Tue Sep 19 15:56:34 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime

Time for fresh air and fresh discussions.

Was it Robbie who took the vocal lead on Holy Cow?

No?

Thought so...

Posted on Tue Sep 19 15:52:34 CEST 2000 from sjiassoc16.erols.com (208.58.12.144)

Jon Lyness

Hey there Crabgrass, that must have been a great show! I saw Buddy and Julie Miller at the Bottom Line on Saturday night; Emmylou Harris (Last Waltz collaborator; there's our Band connection!) was in the audience, and came onstage to harmonize on a few songs. Thanks to (if memory serves) David Powell for recommending these folks...he didn't lie. Wonderful show.

Posted on Tue Sep 19 15:48:21 CEST 2000 from 1cust43.tnt1.topeka.ks.da.uu.net (63.39.63.43)

Dexy

Not only does Rob Reiner resemble Mr. Scorsese, his character's name is Marty DiBurgi (sp?). But an even clearer homage to TLW is The Last Polka, featuring and written by John Candy and the great (and Band-connected) Eugene Levy. As great as Spinal Tap, although clearly not as well known.

Posted on Tue Sep 19 15:37:19 CEST 2000 from twmaine-63-167-210-226.twmaine.com (63.167.210.226)

mattk

Liz, I don't know how Levon feels about his gigs, but he appears to be smiling in most of them, so I assume he is quite happy about his gig, the barnburners, playing with his daughter, etc - which, of course, is what I said.

Richard, I'm not debating Levon's right to his anger. Merely because one has a right to be angry does not mitigate the FACT of his anger. Levon is angry about an awful lot in his life. Period. And much of that anger, in my view, reveals itself in bitter and unhealthy rage.

My opinion (and it is OPINION) is not derived merely from interviews, Richard. I came to this conclusion from reviewing his own version of the history with the Band, via interviews, but PARTICULARLY his OWN book.

Levon is quick to hand out criticisms regarding the myriad of issues that led to the demise of the original group. More recently, "hinting" that Robbie is responsible for Rick's death is deplorable, and frankly pretty cruel to both Rick's and Robbie's families, in my opinion.

And in response to the remaining portion of your question, what would I do?

For the sake of argument, I'll assume everything you assert in your hypothetical situation is true. Since we're referring to what Levon certainly believes, the relative nature of the facts are moot to our immediate discussion.

My answer, obviously, is I don't know what I would do.

However, I would HOPE that I would, after 25 years, develop an attitude similair to Rick's before he died and move on with my life and ALLOW myself the pleasures of the music I made and the memories I have, and even the possibility of a friendship, that in this case, both men have apparently destroyed. Otherwise, I'd be afraid of becoming a bitter and angry man, which is my greatest fear for Levon and his own health.

I don't doubt that Levon, in person, can be a charming and warm human. I suspect it's a rare and powerful thing to be his friend. I also think that he is an angry angry man, and given that he hasn't been able to give a Band-related interview in ages without spewing venom, I believe his anger is unhealthy and threatens to envelop him, if he's not careful.

Having defended myself in making, what I thought was, a relatively innocuous comment (I didn't think Levon being angry was debatable, but alas), I'll defer to Lil's good advice and request that any further comment be sent to me offline.

Peace all

Matt

Posted on Tue Sep 19 14:58:47 CEST 2000 from (12.34.17.217)

Johnny Flippo

Last night I had a premonition. It was so clear that I know it to be true and not just a crazy dream. In the not-too-distant future, Robbie and Levon will reunite to star in a "truck company" production of Neil Simon's "The Sunshine Boys". Word.

Posted on Tue Sep 19 14:29:47 CEST 2000 from spider-mtc-td022.proxy.aol.com (64.12.104.157)

bob wigo

To the party who called to claim the carcass of the beaten horse: Please be patient. It would appear that some here feel the beating is not yet complete. We wouldn't want to release an insufficiently flogged equine.Thank you for your understanding.

P.S. In response to your inquiry -- we have no mules but can offer a few (bore)asses if you are interested.

And now back to the music.Here's Robbie Robertson's brand new cover of "Whipping Post"..........

Posted on Tue Sep 19 14:09:56 CEST 2000 from spider-tr034.proxy.aol.com (152.163.201.189)

Bashful Bill

I was checking out the Grateful Dead site, & saw that the Other Ones encored with The Weight Sun. nite in Pennsylvania. I saw them last week in Srracuse, was hoping for a Band tune, but didn't get one. Phil Lesh & Friends played Endless Highway & The Weight a couple times on their rercent summer tour.

Posted on Tue Sep 19 13:10:33 CEST 2000 from spider-wo044.proxy.aol.com (205.188.200.39)

Ben Turkel

I agree with Diamond Lil and the other recent posts regarding the Levon/Robbie debate. The only thing I'll add is that I would certainly welcome RR's book as well as Garth or John Simon's books' to provide their version of the story. I agree with the post a few days ago regarding the updated version of 'This Wheel's on fire'. I had certainly hoped for more than 8 pages of new material. I suppose it's possible that Levon & Stephen Davis submitted more and it was edited down. Regarding 'Spinal tap', I assume it's been mentioned before, but Rob Reiner's character seems to have more than a passing resemblance to Martin Scorsese in TLW. Actually Reiner resembles Francis Coppola more than Scorsese.

Posted on Tue Sep 19 12:33:42 CEST 2000 from hud1-pm-01-61.termserv.net (204.97.156.61)

Diamond Lil

Just lost another post to kingdom come. Hmm..did Robbie steal the 'preview' button too? :-)

All kidding aside though, I have to agree with the "semi old timer" Nancy (which I guess makes me decrepit and calicified by now) that this levonrobbielevonrobbielevonrobbie thing is making me dizzy and has been done to death. There's no amount of _fact_ to be gained by continuously batting this back and forth, except to rile each other up, and to take up space in this guestbook (which the fate of, btw, is seriously wavering...) There are different sides to every story, and no amount of arguing or speculating in here is going to make anyone 'right' or anyone 'wrong'. So let's just drop this and move on, ok?

Posted on Tue Sep 19 10:31:46 CEST 2000 from 176.0102.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.176)

Nancy

I realise that I have reached the ranks of being a semi-oldtimer on the GB. This must be the third Robbie/Levon discussion I have sat through: the first was interesting and controversial, the second: mildly thought provoking and this one: well, as Lil says "go figure".

While I support the right of anyone to post whatever they wish here within the guidelines of the site, I find that it is the lack of any new information about this issue that makes the for and against comments so repetitive. I'm not saying that people's opinions are not valid and worthwhile, just that we have heard it all before. So much so that it is possible to have a pretty good idea where certain people stand on the issue.

No offence to the nice people who still want to wage this discussion - nothing personal!

Posted on Tue Sep 19 08:35:19 CEST 2000 from ppp7612.on.bellglobal.com (206.172.191.100)

RP

CRABBY: never thought i'd say this, but you are a breath of fresh air... you know, you're gonna loose your sting if you keep backin' great artists and makin' logical statements... lookin' forward to emmylou in toronto...

Posted on Tue Sep 19 08:18:51 CEST 2000 from 1cust219.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.136.219)

Crabgrass

*********** FEUD REHASH INTERRUPTION **********

Thanks to Emmylou Harris, the incredible Buddy Miller, and Spyboy for a truly wonderful 90 minutes + of great music at Joe's Pub this evening! Amazingly, this was accomplished without playing any Band songs.

Posted on Tue Sep 19 07:16:57 CEST 2000 from proxy1.doit.wisc.edu (144.92.44.76)

Ryan Stang

Ok, I bought the Spinal Tap DVD (I lost my old tape and it was a good excuse to get the DVD), and lo and behold, there appears to be a Band reference in the movie that I never noticed in my previous 100 viewings. During one of the last scenes, after playing "Jazz Odyssey" in front of the festival crowd, when they're having the end-of-tour party, the reporter asks David St. Hubbins if this (the Smell The Glove Tour) is like their "Last Waltz"! Given that the movie came out 1-2 years before the filming started, and was huge, this HAS to be a Band reference, n'est-ce pas?

Posted on Tue Sep 19 06:32:04 CEST 2000 from b103-19.blgs.splitrock.net (209.252.130.67)

Jack Straw

Bayou Sam, once again I'm siding with you. IMMHO I think that after all these years Levon actually believes in things that perhaps didn't happen exactly the way he recalls. Aren't we all guilty of that? I've felt for a very long time that the person Levon is most angry with is Levon.

Posted on Tue Sep 19 06:29:24 CEST 2000 from spider-wo012.proxy.aol.com (205.188.200.22)

Donna

I have to agree with Liz. In my humble opinion, I feel that whatever happened between Levon and Robbie is basically, between them. Levon, may of felt the necessity, to allow his fan's to understand why he feels the way he does towards Robbie. Robbie and Levon, shared alot of experiences together, and no one will ever understand the dynamics that they enjoyed and endured, over all those years together. Levon, speaking out on the subject is a way to let his fans know what has happened with their relationship, from his view point. Agree or disagree, we should not be here to pick sides. We should be here to just enjoy the music that they shared with us. To be thankful to each and every member of this most talented, and gifted group of musicians. Of course, we will have our opinions on the subject, but to be angry with one member or the other may just cause undo bitterness. I do not think that this is what anyone of these guy's intended.

Posted on Tue Sep 19 05:53:36 CEST 2000 from ac9868a7.ipt.aol.com (172.152.104.167)

Liz

Matt K :How do you know how Levon feels ABOUT HIS GIGS ???, I was just curious,( I always loved your posts) have you noticed the amount of GIGS he's playing ?IT LOOKS LIKE HE'S ENJOYING THIS...... my Goodness, I for one,[ as well as many of us here] am so thrilled that the Crowmatix, the Gurus and Levon are all continuing the spirit of the BAND PLAY ON KEEP LISTENING, wonderful post Mr. Patterson.......

Posted on Tue Sep 19 05:52:22 CEST 2000 from ac9868a7.ipt.aol.com (172.152.104.167)

Liz

Matt K :How do you know how Levon feels ABOUT HIS GIGS ???, I was just curious,( I always loved your posts) have you noticed the amount of GIGS he's playing ?IT LOOKS LIKE HE'S ENJOYING THIS...... my Goodness, I for one,[ as well as many of us here] am so thrilled that the Crowmatix, the Gurus and Levon are all continuing the spirit of the BAND PLAY ON KEEP LISTENING, wonderful post Mr. Patterson.......

Posted on Tue Sep 19 05:39:31 CEST 2000 from spider-wl054.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.44)

Bayou Sam

for cryin' out loud - get up off of Robbie. He's taken enough of a beating. He didn't do anything to you people. He was part of the reason you (and I) come here on a regular basis. I know most of the stuff lately is tounge-in-cheek, but the serious beatings are starting. Why are these reissue liner notes heavy on RR? I would suggest that MAYBE it's because Rick and Richard are gone, Garth isn't the talkative type, and Levon probably told them to go to hell. RR probably said "sure, I'd be happy to talk about some of my proudest work". I admit I don't have the damn reissues yet, so I haven't seen the liner note. My comments are just based on obsevations in here.... I have a question for the lynch mob - why did LH,RD,RM,and GH have anything to do with RR for all those years if he was such a miserable, back stabbing, credit stealing bastard? Why?

Posted on Tue Sep 19 05:12:49 CEST 2000 from st-catherines-ppp112448.sympatico.ca (216.209.140.77)

Richard Patterson

MATTK: Imagine, if you will, that you are a public figure (be it poetical or political), and everybody keeps asking you the same questions for 30 odd years about your history... What are you gonna say? Are you gonna publically apologize to some interviewer twit about your comments regarding the person that has screwed up your livelihood?... Especially if relations with that former bandmate are still strained to this day... The person who has f**ked up your career... Taken away the one thing you were most proud of... What would YOU do?...

Sorry folks if this is getting too personal for the guestbook... I'll take it off-line with anybody who wants to e-mail me...

Posted on Tue Sep 19 05:03:28 CEST 2000 from ac986899.ipt.aol.com (172.152.104.153)

Liz

Matt K :How do you know how Levon feels ABOUT HIS GIGS ???, I was just curious,( I always loved your posts) have you noticed the amount of GIGS he's playing ? IT really LOOKs LIKE HE'S ENJOYING THIS...... my Goodness, I for one,[ as well as many of us here] am so thrilled that the Crowmatix, the Gurus and Levon are all continuing the spirit of the BAND PLAY ON KEEP LISTENING

Posted on Tue Sep 19 04:58:35 CEST 2000 from 1cust31.tnt2.providence.ri.da.uu.net (63.21.182.31)

Jake

I have been keeping up with this band site for about four years now, and I find it remarkable that people continue to focus on the divisive Robbie and Levon feud. Now I have not read the additonal sections of Levon's book, though I loved "This Wheel's on Fire" as an eye opening account of much of what was going on behind the scenes. "Across the Great Divide" by Barney Hoskins strikes me as a more objective take, though it's obviously no first-hand account. Now don't get me worng here. I believe that Robbie Robertson is an ego-maniac. He takes longer solos at the Rock n' Roll hall of fame jams than the guitar players being inducted. Listen to an interview and it's all me, me, me. Yes he's simultaneously part of the Native American movement and the Armani crowd, profitting heavily off of the injustice. Yes, "The Last Waltz" was more his debutante party than it was about any mutual agreement to get off the road. That's why Neil Diamond played, because Robbie happened to be producing his album at the time. This made Levon furious, particularly when he learned that Diamond's appearance might be in lieu of Muddy Waters.Luckily that didn't happen. But the bottom line is that Robbie was an incredible guitar player and very obviously the major songwriting talent in the band. How else does one account for the lack of sustained successful songwriting on the part of the rest of them after 1976 ? It really is a shame that Rick passed when he did because "Times Like These" boasts some of his finest writing ever, and he was such a wonderful musician, voice, spirit. And the all made wonderful music together. I do wish Levon would spend more time talking about that. The truth seems to be that Robbie was freaked after sixteen years on the road. Unfortunately, he may have had some very real premonitions about what the future would be like. Yes, we were all jipped out of some wonderful music as a result, but sometimes musicians get tired of doing the same old thing. Look at Dylan or Neil Young, they have reinvented themselves over and over again. Personally, I don't care for most of what Robbie has done post-band, but he doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who could go out there and play "Ophelia" night after night, year after year. Some of the other guys could. We'll never know what could have been, but we should all be thankful for this music that keeps on giving.

Posted on Tue Sep 19 04:50:08 CEST 2000 from spider-tp012.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.177)

Liz

Matt K :How do you know how Levon feels ABOUT HIS GIGS ???, I was just curious,( I always loved your posts) have you noticed the amount of GIGS he's playing ?IT LOOKS LIKE HE'S ENJOYING THIS...... my Goodness, I for one,[ as well as many of us here] am so thrilled that the Crowmatix, the Gurus and Levon are all continuing the spirit of the BAND PLAY ON KEEP LISTENING

Posted on Tue Sep 19 04:39:47 CEST 2000 from parachute1-156-40-64-34.net.nih.gov (156.40.64.34)

Jonathan Katz

If anyone out there has the video "Rick Danko's Electric Bass Techniques" and is willing to dub it for me, or let me dub it please e-mail me. I have some material for a trade.

Posted on Tue Sep 19 04:38:00 CEST 2000 from ts1-46.steveston.axion.net (207.34.146.46)

Cupid

Hey anybody else notice ya never see RR and Yoko Ono in the same place? Hmmmmm.Yoko Breaks up the Beatles and moves to New York with Jock Lenno.Just prior to this Bob Dylan has an "accident" on[or rather off] his motorbike.Jock and Yoko go into seclusion and this Robertson fella suddenly pops out of the woods[a brilliant back story already put in place by the CIA who she met when they were tryning to punt Jock from the Excited States becouse of a dope beef back in Jolly Ol' youknowwhere] and walks into a big pink house, a pink house born out of the same mind that previously gave us a yellow submarine? stay with me folks.To keep up appearances this individual flits back to the city for photo ops with ol' Jock now and again but quickly gets back,gets back gets back to the other "band" in the woods before he or she is missed.Using um it's many contacts in the music buiz it produces some fine songs[bear in mind it has access to on of the finest songwriters the world has ever known,Jock Lenno]and sets out on the road with this "band".After some years Jock starts making noises about wanting to get back in the studio and make music again,the entity panics it can't maintain both persona it must find a way out...of course hold a big bash and walk away from this "band" never to return.As planned Jock records a new record, the entity adds a few vocals sadly revealing it's true self in an ear splitting collection of nonsense songs hidden between many gems.And now it sits alone only occasionally venturing out in one of it's guises to make a record or another post mortum repackaging effort[Jock knew the whole truth and had to be "dealt with"].That's right friends Yoko and Robbie are the same person! you heard it here first.So do I win Crabby? Peace Cupid

Posted on Tue Sep 19 04:28:18 CEST 2000 from dial-01-452-apx-01.btvt.together.net (209.91.3.198)

elbow

I am just reflecting on a wonderful fall, Rick Danko show I had the notion to see. It made me wonder how come I hadn't seen more. I am interested in finding a way to get a hold of some bootleg tapes of Rick or other members for listening enjoyment. Could anybody help out?

Posted on Tue Sep 19 04:25:52 CEST 2000 from ip219.portland.me.pub-ip.psi.net (38.11.101.219)

mattk

Richard, I'm gonna have to side with Carmen on this one. I don't doubt that Levon loves his new gig, and it must be pure joy and a papa's great pride to be playing with his daughter.

HOWEVER, given all of that, Carmen's right. To read Levon's version of history, everything has happened TO him, and he takes little to no responsibility for the negative things in his life, at least publicly. I don't know if I'd call it bitter, but anyone with the kind of long standing bitter rage he carries cannot be called "happy" either.

Carmen, the political thing won't wash. You can never align musical tastes with politics, most days. Ray Charles considers himself a Republican. Me, i'm too much of a leftist to be considered a democrat these days, but I sure ain't no Republican. And my daddy grew up as southern and dusty as any dixiecrat, so I can tell you that you probably won't be able to pin down Levon's politics quite so easy, either.

Hank, that's an old joke we used to tell about Miles Davis. Frankly, it's funnier with Miles in the punchline, IMHO.

Posted on Tue Sep 19 03:48:58 CEST 2000 from hud1-pm-24-84.termserv.net (204.97.156.84)

Diamond Lil

Geez...look at what you guys are teaching my kids! The last few days..Robbie gets blamed for everything around here. Mom asks who broke this, or who misplaced that..and sure enough...it was Robbie. He didn't mow the lawn today either. And I didn't even know he lived here. Go figure :-)

Have a good night everyone. Safe flight Jan..elsker deg :-)

Posted on Tue Sep 19 03:36:18 CEST 2000 from dialup-108.cork.iol.ie (194.125.43.108)

Hank

......and so Bono dies and goes to Heaven and he runs into John Lennon, Rick Danko, Jimi Hendrix and Sid Vicious havin' a puff on a joint of Paradise Weed. He joins 'em and sees this dapper lookin' guy in an Armani suit, an expensive haircut and a red scarf walk by and sez " Hey!!!! Is That Robbie Robertson? I did'nt know he died.......Lennon replies "No, that's God, la.....he just thinks he's Robbie Robertson!!!!!!. and then they all sing along with Rick "This Wheels on Fire" at intervals............ for all eternity.......Amen..................Hey, You know if RR is reading what we're writing here.......none of us will EVER get free tickets or get put on the guest-list for his gigs...........Jimi Hendrix.......30 years gone..........Bob R......I posted a similiar post about "Get Back" a few weeks ago.......If your into The Beatles it's great to listen to......there's one Jam thing they do which sounds like The Dead so much it's uncanny..........I gotta go to bed folks........I Really wanted to write y'all about Bobby Dylan in Dublin last Thursday night.......but I gotta go to Bed........G'night.........

Posted on Tue Sep 19 03:30:26 CEST 2000 from (203.103.135.138)

Michael

Bob R..Agree completely, haven't heard the set you mention but the film/music 'Let it be' def have a strong leaning to getting back to the music and leaving out the bullshit, the Beatles (especially George) like Clapton & Hendrix were listening to and impacted by the Band and their focus on the music. I think the track 'The one after the 109' really supports your feelings. rgds

Posted on Tue Sep 19 02:26:47 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-119-87.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.119.87)

BWNWITennessee

Well, Crabgrass, there was the time that Robbie tried to give an apple to some naked chick... I'm sure Levon'd prob'ly back me up on this.

Posted on Tue Sep 19 02:20:32 CEST 2000 from st-catherines-ppp126472.sympatico.ca (209.226.233.131)

Richard P

CARMEN: Everything I have seen and heard leads me to the conclusion that Levon is a happy man, not a bitter man. Take a look at any of the recent concert reviews of the Barnburners that you will on this site...

EVERYBODY: Go see Levon at the TRALF in BUFFALO on SEP 21!>>>

Posted on Tue Sep 19 01:38:11 CEST 2000 from 185.mercerville-28-29rs.nj.dial-access.att.net (12.78.151.185)

carmen

Richard Patterson, I have to disagree with you on this one. Everything I have read and viewed gives evidence of Levon being a bitter man. He seems to be mad at the world. I am sorry that he feels this way, however, step back and look at the situation as if it was your brother who blamed everyone and not himself. You may come to the conclusion that your brother may be in the wrong. Lets look at the list: RR, Capital, Breeze Hill Records and others he himself has placed blame.

Sorry to the Levon Fans out there, this is just the way I see it.

Here is a political quiz. I think that the majority of Levon Fans will call themselves Democrates and the majority of RR fans will call themselves Republicans.

Does my theory hold up? By the way I am betting that Rick fans are Green Party Members and Garth fans are Libertarians. Richard Fans have got to be Independents.

Best Regards!

Posted on Tue Sep 19 00:00:28 CEST 2000 from ppp7607.on.bellglobal.com (206.172.191.95)

Richard Patterson

BONES: Levon has stayed in character on the subject of the feud since the very beginning... the line in the sand has always clearly been drawn... I respect the guy for stickin' to his guns... he's not a hypocrite... Just scroll back here through the past few days posts and look at all the bad stuff RR has done... Do you think Levon is responsible for these comments being made by some of the Band's biggest fans?. Nope, the feud enhances the image of the Band... it won't tarnish anything... Did Levon always know these awful things about Robbie? hmmm... Maybe we're just beginning to seeing the light...

BILL K: file all your solo stuff under 'D' for Danko... : )

Posted on Mon Sep 18 22:42:10 CEST 2000 from dyn208-6-73-137.win.mnsi.net (208.6.73.137)

matt zalev

hi, nice site. this is sort of about the john hammond album featuring RR, LH and GH, but mostly it's about gord gilmore. i had known who gord was for a few years when i was first introduced to him in 1988. he was in his mid-forties then, weighed about 250. rode a harley. he had long salt-and-pepper hair and scruffy beard. wore boots and leather. although he had once been a cameraman with the CBC news (a good one, i'm told) he was by then employed as a collection agent of sorts ( he would stand, looking mean and saying nothing, on the deadbeat's porch while his partner would ask politely for the overdue payment in cash ).later, when i noticed the books by milton and keats on his shelf, gord told me about his master's degree in english literature. gord was a musician, AFM local 566. i had seen him playing bass at various jam sessions around town, but other than playing organ at his church, he was gigless. back in the mid-sixties, gord was a member of a fairly successful local band, the blues train, who played the detroit-windsor club circuit. they used to own their own truck, a grumman cube van painted bright yellow with the name of the group painted on the sides in dark blue. most local groups, to this day, just rent a truck-if they even own their own sound and light show. if the blues train made a record, i never heard it. their roadie, neil ozad, lived down the block from my childhood home and that cube van was parked on my street between gigs for years.eventually, neil got caught trying to break into the bank around the corner from his house, and that was the last i saw of him-or the van. now, more than twenty years later,and after some years of severe substance abuse, gord was considered unemployable by many in the local music scene. but, needing a bass player, impressed with his chops and reassured by his graduation from rehab, i invited him to join the blues/r&b group i was putting together. we rehearsed for about a month before our first series of shows, and during that time, we discovered that we had not only a good bassist, but a great piano player as well.15 years his junior, i learned much from gord--like, for instance, not to play piano lines on guitar when there's a piano in the group. ouch. at first, things went well- we had done maybe a dozen shows in a month or so, and had been nicely received. but after a while, gord began arriving at the job stoned. at first, it was not disastrous, but gord kind of fired himself the night he phoned me up, wasted, at 2:00 am to ask for a ride to the emergency room. he had sliced about twelve stitches worth out of his right index finger while attempting to make the hole in his guitar strap bigger-with a foot long kitchen knife. i got up and drove him there, but obviously, he couldn't play the next few dates, and given the fact that gord was now deeply back into hard drugs, we felt we couldn't work with him. so the cat that subbed for him eventually got the gig. i hadn't ever fired anyone before, and i hated to axe as nice a guy as gordzilla, but even he conceded his own contribution to the situation. i wished him well, and it was an amicable split. the rest of the group disbanded a couple of months later, anyway. after that, i lost touch with gord gilmore, and about a year later (maybe 1990) i heard he was dead. od'd. what has this got to do with members of THE BAND playing on a john hammond album? once, during a set break, i asked gord about the blues train, the roadie and the van. he told me the blues train had worked at some of the better detroit clubs with some of the better groups of the day. names like mitch ryder and paul butterfield were mentioned. "paul butterfield?" i asked,"with michael bloomfield?" "yeah, i think their first or second album was out then, and he was still with them." "bloomfield had also done an album with john hammond by that time" i said,"and i always wondered why robbie robertson got to play lead guitar on it. he was pretty much unknown then, and bloomfield already had a reputation as a hot-shot guitar hero." "yeah, i asked mike about that," gord said. "well,what did he say?" i asked. "he said it was because he was also a hot-shot piano hero." it's really quite amazing when you consider that it was shortly after that record was made that robbie robertson invented telemarketing.

Posted on Mon Sep 18 21:50:48 CEST 2000 from spider-wi073.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.53)

Kevin T.

Okay guys I'll stop beating on that dead horse-I just listened to the Big Pink reissue and I'm in total bliss at finally hearing the whole of Ferdinand the Imposter. Thank you Capitol records. I think though that I like the version of Yazoo on the Basement Tapes(yeah,I know it was messed with by the record company,but I think Ricks bass sounds better on that one-or maybe it's my tin ear!) Oh well,forget all those bad things I said about Rob Bowman and RR. Sorry to have riled you all up! Can't wait to buy the rest-anybody want to help me do a bank job so's I can afford the rest?

Posted on Mon Sep 18 20:48:06 CEST 2000 from spider-tj063.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.203)

QUINCY

HI I JUST GOT MY COPY OF LEVONS BOOK. IT MAKES ME HATE ROBBIE EVEN MORE. I NEVER KNEW HIS MIC WAS OFF DURING THE LAST WALTZ HE LOOKS LIKE HE IS SINGING UP A STORM. IS THAT ROBBIE THAT SINGS THE LINE IN KINGDOM COME "WE BEE SITTING IN HERE FOR SO DARN LONG" SOUNDS LIKE A LITTLE KID.

Posted on Mon Sep 18 20:35:01 CEST 2000 from (130.219.229.173)

BK

Now I seem to have a dilemma, and I'm crying for help. I'm trying to organize my cd's which have gotten fairly messed up, and I need to decide whether the solo albums should be put with the rest of the Band cd's, or put under "D" for Danko, "R" for Robertson etc.. Looking through it as it is, I don't seem to have stuck to a particular pattern in the past.

If it seems like I'm obsessing about this, it's because I am.

Thanks - Bill

Posted on Mon Sep 18 20:22:19 CEST 2000 from (205.232.50.31)

Dave Hopkins

mattk: Good call on Michelle Shocked's "Arkansas Traveler" as a terrific album with a great contribution from Levon and Garth on "Secret to a Long Life." Sadly, I believe the CD is currently out of print due to a dispute between Ms. Shocked and Mercury Records. I was lucky to find it in a used CD store. A great Band-like album showcasing country, folk, bluegrass, soul, gospel, and rock influences reminiscent of a certain group we all know and love.

Posted on Mon Sep 18 20:05:22 CEST 2000 from cic-proxy02.firstunion.com (169.200.25.141)

Bones

Ben T: You are right. What makes the Band special was that each member carried his own weight. However, the one who is constantly telling the press that is not Levon BUT Robbie. Levon trashes Robbie at every chance he gets. He blames him for not showing up at a funeral AND he blames him for showing up at a funeral. In his revised book, he gives the impression that Robbie was responsible for Rick's death. As I've said before, I worry that Levon's bitternes is starting to affect the legacy of the Band. I understand that Robbie's ego upsets a lot of people, but he is the one who always speaks glowingly about Levon and the others.

Posted on Mon Sep 18 19:41:57 CEST 2000 from twmaine-63-167-210-226.twmaine.com (63.167.210.226)

mattk

I was surfing cable the other night and ran across the filme version of "Paint Your Wagon." Seeing the picture of Levon during the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" brought a thought to mind.

The film version of "Paint Your Wagon," is an overall surreal experience, mostly because the two male lead roles, and thus primary singers, in the film are Clint Eastwood and Lee Marvin. Neither is any kind of singer, and other than the fact of a pretty decent score (and soundtrack leaning heavily on the aforementioned Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), the musical aspects of the film leave me wincing quite a bit.

I wonder, though, wouldn't it have been a pretty cool film, if Levon had portrayed Lee Marvin's character, and say Rick, had done Clint's part? Levon singing, granted in tenor, "they call the wind mariah," leaves me thinking. But I really get kind of jazzed at the thought of Rick singing "Gold Fever" or "I Talk to the Trees."

Ok, maybe not, maybe it would have still sucked, but at least would have been a better listen...

Posted on Mon Sep 18 18:52:25 CEST 2000 from 2cust18.tnt1.providence.ri.da.uu.net (63.21.180.82)

Jake

Do any guitar players out there know the chords for "Driftin Away" off of the first Danko/Fjeld/Anderson album ?

Posted on Mon Sep 18 18:10:36 CEST 2000 from 1cust61.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.136.61)

Crabgrass

I've noticed a similarity between "Ferdinand the Impostor" and "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" - did Dylan steal this melody from Robbie during one of the stoned Basement sessions? Also, I note that this is the first inkling of Robbie's obsession with movie related music as the film upon which it is loosely based is The Great Impostor (the story of Ferdinand Waldo Demara Jr. - check www.lawrencepl.org) a 1960 film starring Tony Curtis and based on the book by Robert Crichton. I would imagine this song to date back to that time - and btw agree with whoever said it a while back that it is fairly weak (although I think the word used was "sucks" which I find too crude) compared to later Band songs - a catchy chorus is missing. Interesting subject matter though.

Didn't Robbie lend his hammer to the guy who nailed Christ to the cross?

(If nobody can top that one I suggest we move on.)

Posted on Mon Sep 18 18:02:02 CEST 2000 from (205.230.10.2)

Bob R

Was litening to a 5-CD set of the Beatles "Get Back" sessions this weekend and was struck by how much they reminded me of an english version of the Basement Tapes... some old rock & roll played just for fun, some joke songs, some truly horrendous jams & some real gems as well..the only true difference I can see is that the Band was in its infancy "finding" a voice of its own, and the Beatles were in the midst of a free-fall. However, if you get the chance to play the Basement Tapes & some of the Get Back sessions back to back, I think you'll get some of the same feel... anybody agree / disagree ?

Posted on Mon Sep 18 18:01:32 CEST 2000 from wireless-068-024.tele2.co.uk (212.19.68.24)

sammy

I just got the last waltz cd, and although i've only seen the film twice [consecutively of course!] i could tell that "the weight' is blatantly not the version featured in the film. levon's vocals sound unsure to begin with, and let's just say the sudden swooning/ blackout sustained after miss Staple Singer's verse was NOT reproduced... where can I get the proper version? is it on that last waltz bootleg?

Posted on Mon Sep 18 17:48:26 CEST 2000 from 1cust149.tnt1.idaho-falls.id.da.uu.net (63.28.242.149)

rollie

That horse that was found beaten in the Band guestbook was in fact beaten by, you guessed it , RR.

Posted on Mon Sep 18 17:28:17 CEST 2000 from (149.160.24.223)

Kooba Jalu

Freaky things that Bob said floated down my bath-tub drain last night. And the monkey was sittin' on the edge, whispering about bananas and smack dogs. Then, as the monkey was lookin' between my legs, momma came in and smacked me up side the head and told me my pecker would never be as handsome as Dad's. So I gave up on tryin' to seduce Frank's goldfish, and turned my attention to Joe's bunny rabit. Dude, you should have been there when Joe came home and found me in bed with his bunny! Anyway, he kicked me in the nuts, and the next thing I know Bob is picking me up out of some gutter in New Orleans. "That was some bad shit" Bob said. I said, "Yeah man, bad trip." So, me and Bob took his dog to an Eagles concert and we smoked some good stuff and drank some bad stuff and we both cried when Henley sang Desperado, but Bob cried when Walsh sang In The City. He said, "I remember when I wrote that song." I says, "You wrote that Bob?" He says, "No, but I should have." I said, "Yeah, man, you should have." But then again Bob did write some good stuff in the 60's, (but he had some help from his dog). So, where was I? Oh, yeah, Julie got knocked up back in '68, by a guy who used to wax nostalgic about Frank's monkey. Anyway, we all knew he was cheatin' on the monkey's uncle, so we took him out to thw swamps and fed him to an albino aligator. It was pretty damned funny! Oh, by the way, Joe's favorite album is Music From Big Pink, or is it Pink Floyd's his favorite group? I can't remember. But, anyway, I'm only a little earlier than I was yesterday when I was later because of being on time the day after tomorrow.

Posted on Mon Sep 18 17:19:27 CEST 2000 from (149.160.24.223)

Kooba Jalu

No, Robbie didn't catch that fly, he faked it! As for who the fly was though: It was Jeff Goldblume, man!

Posted on Mon Sep 18 17:02:22 CEST 2000 from twmaine-63-167-210-226.twmaine.com (63.167.210.226)

mattk

I figured given my Robertsonian bent, my fave solo list would be chided somewhat, especially since I'm not (admittedly) a fan of the reconstituted variety of the Band. But bullets and butter being what they are (I have no idea what that means, I just made it up), here goes:

1. (tie) Music For Native Americans
2. Red Boy
3. Storyville
4. Robbie Roberston
5. Rick Danko
6. Jim Weider, Bigfoot

1. Levon Helm - Arkansas Traveler - Michelle Shocked
2. Robbie Robertson - Weird Nightmare - Meditations on Mingus
3. Garth Hudson - Wavelength by Van Morrison
4. Robbie Robertson - Beauty by Ryuichi Sakamoto
5. Levon Helm - The Neighborhood by Los Lobos
6. Robbie Robertson - Life is a Carnival - Wild Magnolias
7. Garth Hudson - Best of The Call *(was never much of a Call fan, though I like them enough for a 'Best of' purchase, and they remind that I used to be able to get my hair to stick up REALLY HIGH when I was an angsty slam dancing kinda kid)
8. Garth Hudson - El-Rayo-X by David Lindley
9. Richard Manuel - Green Light by Bonnie Raitt
10. Rick Danko (this is sort of a quota selection) - Charlie Sexton by Charlie Sexton

I really like the Bonnie Raitt album listed here, but I don't know that I would put the Sexton album on the same level as the other listed items. It's interesting that of the original 5, Rick actually seems to have spent the most time and energy on a solo career, if you go by album output, and include the trio albums as part of his solo output.

Illka, my friend. I don't dispute your assertion that RR's decision led to the breakup of the original Band. However, in my view, RR was reacting to the inevitable when he called it quits on touring. The breakup was a subsequent event that occurred over the ensuing years as they failed to re-unite, as promised, for studio-only projects.

One could argue that RR simply saw the handwriting on the wall. Relations in the group were, by all accounts, very strained at that point, and you could argue that even without TLW, Islands would have likely been the last record from the original 5. I suspect many in Band-land are angry at RR primarily for this reason, and personally, I think that's the root of Levon's bitterness - that RR could just "walk away" as he did.

The barriers between RR and Levon (in particular), it seems to me, were in place prior to TLW, but grew to chasm-like proportions in the subsequent years, particularly as RR flourished financially, and the others did not - and I won't go any further down that road...it's been beaten to death.

But, you raise a good question: "is RR responsible for the death of the original Band?" I'd say no, any more than the guy who files for divorce is necessarily responsible for a marraige breaking up. Sometimes marraiges are long-past dead or are terminal when someone call's their lawyer.

In this case, the Band was on the rocks, at least as it was originally built, even if they did have on last great show to do as a quintet.

Posted on Mon Sep 18 16:53:26 CEST 2000 from spider-wq042.proxy.aol.com (205.188.200.164)

franko

Bob - I happen to have a west coast source who claims to know who beat that horse...

I was a reissue skeptic but broke down ($13.99 x 4)and haven't stopped playing them for the past week and a half. Oh, Richard, Richard , Richard. Alt Tears of Rage, Endless Highway, LDO, breezy Lonsome Suzie, alt Whispering Pines with the squeeky wooden toes, it's all great. I do wish there were more alt. Rick, but he gave us a lot the past several years and the Richard tracks are a gift.

Thank God the Rap discussion is over...oops, did I say God? I'm only moderately religious but have a friend who very recently was the beneficiary of true religious miracle - made me wonder.

This weekend I attended a Van Gogh exhibit and, while looking at the portraits, couldn't keep from thinking that I was the only one at the museum who was trying to figure out what the lyrics to Last Of The Blacksmiths meant.

Posted on Mon Sep 18 16:33:35 CEST 2000 from (137.187.144.172)

Jonathan Katz

I was told that somebody named Robertson moved the Dodgers to LA.

Posted on Mon Sep 18 16:18:08 CEST 2000 from spider-mtc-td053.proxy.aol.com (64.12.104.173)

bob wigo

Found: One dead horse -- badly beaten.
Please claim carcass at http://theband.hiof.no/guestbook/sign_guestbook.html

Posted on Mon Sep 18 16:09:35 CEST 2000 from 1cust42.tnt1.idaho-falls.id.da.uu.net (63.28.242.42)

rollie

It seems quite likely now that Lee Harvey Oswald was in fact attempting to negotiate a contract that would have kept the Band performing on the road for another 20 yrs.

Posted on Mon Sep 18 16:04:34 CEST 2000 from 1cust42.tnt1.idaho-falls.id.da.uu.net (63.28.242.42)

rollie

Good eyes Cupid! Now check out closely the face under the hat of the guy we thought was Jack Ruby. Look familiar? The telltale signs are visible in that infamous picture of Lee Harvey Oswalds demise. The gun in one hand, and the check stubs from Capitol sticking out of the back pocket, another Warren Commission oversight. It is quite possible that Gerald Ford also played no small role in the breakup of the Band!

Posted on Mon Sep 18 15:45:44 CEST 2000 from spider-wo062.proxy.aol.com (205.188.200.47)

Terry Cagle and the Jungle Bush Beaters

The Jungle Bush Beaters will be cutting a "live" CD this New Year's Eve for their First Annual Jungle Jam. Morton Entertainment and Sound will be producing the event...Terry Cagle, former drummer with the Cates Brothers and Levon's newphew leads the Jungle Bush Beaters. Fayetteville's Free Weekly Newpaper called Terry Cagle "one of Arkansas' Best Legendary Drummers along with his famous uncle Levon. The All About Town Entertainment Newspaper says, The Jungle Bush Beaters are one of best bands in the four state area.

Posted on Mon Sep 18 15:11:16 CEST 2000 from pool-209-138-25-148.kgpr2.grid.net (209.138.25.148)

Cousin Brucie Aydelotte

Bad Trader Alert: Please be aware that I have recently been burned on a BAND Video trade with a Jessica Bianco from Sherman Oaks, California. She uses the screen name of Revakatz@aol.com...........DO NOT TRADE WITH HER....she will periodically post lists of BAND material that she wants to offer for trade. DON'T..she will burn you!!!

Posted on Mon Sep 18 14:54:23 CEST 2000 from gatekeeper.calfee.com (208.11.92.2)

Bud

Terrific to see The Simpsons make a brief appearance here in the ol' Guestbook. Personally, I've always thought that the name Bleeding Gums Murphy was based on another sax man whose oral cavity was less than pristine -- John Coltrane. Consider the following, taken from _The Rolling Stone Album Guide_: "... a junkie and a compulsive overeater, addicted to, among other things, the Lifesavers that rotted his teeth, causing him extreme irritation whenever he played..."

For you Guestbook purists, a connection between The Simpsons and The Band: The "Flaming Moe" episode where Moe makes a fortune selling (and taking complete credit for) a drink invented by Homer was allegedly inspired by a well-known larcenist of intellectual property -- our own J.R. Robertson.

Posted on Mon Sep 18 14:45:51 CEST 2000 from usr2-dialup4.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.66.68)

G-MAN

Have to give RR is just as a writer. Some good songs w/Band and solo. Workin on worthy cause now with helping Native Americans. Hm, maybe he could be President--he could out-slick Slick Wil!!!! Hate put Rick Danko in w/RR, but! Times Like these was something; Chain Gang, Times Like These, You Can Go Home, Change,etc., etc.. He sang super.., however, it just .....got to cut out cause I don't want to get into it. Let's just leave it at a cryin shame & too soon gone.

Posted on Mon Sep 18 14:36:20 CEST 2000 from spider-wg034.proxy.aol.com (205.188.196.34)

Kevin T.

Just got my copy of the reissued Big Pink. After reading the booklet that accompanied the CD I'm surprised that the Capitol people didn't rename the album "Robbie Robertson and The Band present Music From Big Pink" The whole write-up from Rob Bowman is a load of crap. You'd think that noone else in The Band knew what they were doing.Too much of RR saying I and me when it should we and us-too bad that the other guys didn't get a say. The statement about RR telling Levon how to tune his drums-come on,has anyone asked LH about this? Also to write about the album for what about 8 pages,then almost as an aside bring up the fact that Richard did contribute three songs is a great disservice to one of the finest singers around. Richards songs stand right along RR's writing on this album! I almost can't wait to get the brown album and read about how RR bought the plane tickets to California so that they could join him in sseeing how he wanted the album to sound. Maybe further chapters of Mr. Bowmans synchophatic writing will tell us how RR told Rick to buy a fretless base or how he taught Lh to play drums or showed Garth and Richard fingering techniques! Sorry guys but there were five guys(and one great helper)making that special music-could someone tell Bowman that?

Posted on Mon Sep 18 14:20:23 CEST 2000 from (208.239.2.197)

DJMitchison

Interesting comparison of RR to JSB, though I fear that JSB was prolific enough that a little duplication would go largely unnoticed.
The various allegations and accusations levelled at RR by Levon have been pretty well documented about the place, but are there any interviews or press releases etc. in which RR gives his side of the story? Given that there is still some ill-feeling towards him in the Band-admiring community, I'd be interested to hear what he has to say about it all.

Oh, and by the way, Robbie Robertson ate my hamster.

Posted on Mon Sep 18 12:31:15 CEST 2000 from hud1-pm-08-68.termserv.net (204.97.156.68)

Diamond Lil

My my...seems like Robbie's had a very busy life, hm? :-)

Dexy: I'm intrigued by the ska version of IMND that you heard. Any idea what band it was? I'd like to hear it. Thanks.

Just to repeat what Lamont posted...don't forget the live broadcast from WDST radio in Woodstock on Weds evening (also on the web). In adition to Garth and some great horn playing, you'll also have the pleasure of hearing the beautiful voice of Maud Hudson..who incidentally is also the world's best rear-view window holder-upper...Hi Maud :-)

Have a good day everyone. Hug Jan.

Posted on Mon Sep 18 06:16:40 CEST 2000 from ts1-11.steveston.axion.net (207.34.146.11)

Cupid

I thought that guy on the grassy knoll looked like Robbie now I'm sure it was him! Cupid

Posted on Mon Sep 18 03:10:59 CEST 2000 from 1cust8.tnt1.topeka.ks.da.uu.net (63.39.63.8)

Dexy

A couple of fairly random notes: 1) On the way to the store, managed to p.o. my wife by calling twice. First time because the local college station was playing IMND, the second because they followed it with some really new-wave sca version of the same song. What was that??? 2) The not-really-so-wonderful Al Gore gets a Band note. In the new Entertainment Weekly, it notes that The Call is getting to reissue an album (after losing its contract) because he played a song called "Let the Day Begin" at the Convention. Is Garth on it??? 3) Mr. Viney -- you hit it on the head about Danko's songwriting. My first thought, hearing the first cut on the new CD, was: "I like his songs. Why didn't they do more of them?"

Posted on Mon Sep 18 02:58:19 CEST 2000 from pm4-47.delrio.com (208.246.53.47)

Just Wonderin'

Re: RR's Redboy cd...I like it just fine. Especially the Japanese issue because it has "Pray" and "Holy Hell" on it. Actually I think "Pray" would have worked well on the Music for the Native Americans.

My favorite solo work by RR though, is The Music for the Native Americans. I love "Good Day to Die". The words: "What law have I broken, what wrong have I done, that makes you want to bury me on this trail of blood?" just tears me up every time I hear it.

The funny thing about RR's music is I may not listen to it for a while and then a phrase will come to my mind and I have to go dig out the cd. Same with the Band's music.

Posted on Mon Sep 18 02:28:00 CEST 2000 from (168.191.117.16)

LAMONT DEPEW

The Honky Tonk Gurus tore down the Club Helsinki pub in Great Barrington MA friday night! Jim Weider burned through a barrage of hot tunes,as did Randy Ciarlante!! Malcolm and Jeremy feuled the fire with some soulful playing to round out a smokin' show by anyones standards! Thanx for having me up to do "Lucille" it's always a blast to sing with you guys. Be sure to check out the live webcast on WDST Radio Woodstock dot com with the Gurus,and Garth Hudson (with a horn section) wednesday eve at 7:00 Monty

Posted on Sun Sep 17 22:56:47 CEST 2000 from spider-wi064.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.49)

Zach Walsh

Times Like These would rank 2nd on my top ten list right next to RR's first solo album. At first I had trouble listening to the Cd it made me too sad but once I got beyond that it was pure joy. Ripple is the best song on the CD even if it is a Dead cover. Professor Louie's arrangement was incredible and Rick sang it beautifully. All Our Past Times is better than the original sung by EC. If Rick had been able to finish the CD it would have been truly a masterpiece.

Posted on Sun Sep 17 22:26:11 CEST 2000 from cacheflow.nettally.com (199.44.53.3)

Brent

Hey Rumor Fans! Come check out the latest site updates and vote in The Rumor Weekly Band Poll, which was inspired by the recent conversation here! Thanks everyone! brent

Posted on Sun Sep 17 20:51:29 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime

1. Ilkka said about Robbie Robertson: "How about putting an end to a band which gathers us here every day?". Well, what do you expect when someone really is fed up with "that goddamn impossible way of life" on stage and on the road? Would you force him to stay on forever if the wanted to stop? What would you do if YOU really wanted to quit your job? Just stay on forever because your colleagues would miss you so much?

2. Ilkka my friend, I don't want to hurt your feelings, but actually I did buy the first 4 reissues yesterday. When I found out that they were available in the Land of Pope and Glory - thanks to Emuanele, my friend with at least two beards - I figured that they must have arrived in the Dutch record stores as well.

3. And yes! Although I'd have preferred one or two separate discs with the extra tracks only - and reissuing the alleged BT tracks like Katie and Bessie just like that is a shame - I wouldn't miss Richard's version of "Endless Highway" for the world. And what about "If I Lose": this relaxed, uncomplicated country song with great vocal work by Levon and Rick is a delicatesse.

4. DJMichison asked about the close relation between "Forbidden Fruit" and "Go Back To Your Woods" (their musical, not lyrical content that is). Yes I agree, the latter is almost a remake of the first. And no, I don't think this was discussed before in here. RR is just like JSB - the man who recycled the music of his peasant & hunting cantatas for devoted church cantatas, just by altering the texts. But this was 250 to 300 years ago...

5. And now I want to make A Great Statement just for once in my miserable life. Here it comes: my favourite après-TLW song by RR is "It Is A Good Day To Die". Wow, now I've said it...

Posted on Sun Sep 17 19:06:23 CEST 2000 from atmax-9-14.enter.net (207.16.154.162)

Little Brøther

-- Well, Hank, the "Bleeding Gums"/"Sonny Boy" parallel certainly comports with the evidence. But unless another Matt (Groening) is lurking about, we'll never know for sure. My guess is that Bleeding Gums is the quintessential "self-destructive genius musician" archetype, like "Blind Boy Horribly Crippled", with bits taken from real-life artists. Like that character Dexter Gordon played in "'Round Midnight". But enough "Simpsons" chat! No, I don't want to speculate on which Band member(s) are Stonecutters...

-- The video described by Ryan Stang, which elicited much drooling and panting, sounds an awful lot like "The Band Compilation 1969-1994" listed in this site's Videography. Like Crabgrass, I'd jump at a chance to get one. I bet all but the most Zen-like of us who've bought or just watched Band-related videos are greedy for every frame of vintage Band footage! The clips are like the minuscule fragments of actual chicken one finds in commercially-produced chicken soup or pot pie; the carrot/chicken ratio is exactly the opposite of what it should be. (Those with offended sensibilities may substitute "carrots" for "chicken" and "noodles" for "carrots" here.)

Why must such a video be only available as a bootleg? Is it comparable to the CD reissues, i.e. that it wouldn't be profitable enough to legally release such a video because there's not a big enough demand? (Of course, even if it were undertaken as a legitimate project, the stuff would probably be edited anyway and packaged with some cumbersome narration and other misguided cosmetic touches.)

Still, without being too precious, noble, or self-serving about it, a legit version would have the advantage of adding a few coins to the artists' coffers.

Perhaps those GBers with more knowledge or experience in the biz could comment.

-- Having belatedly waded through the religious skirmishes of preceding days, I'm not quite ready to take on the politics. There's almost too much to deal with, from "The Politics of Virgil Caine" through the (apparent) friendly nod to Jimmy Carter in releasing "Georgia On My Mind". There's the question of politics in the sense of "ideology expressed in the music" vs. "public affiliation with parties, movements, causes". And there's that gray area: Musician celebrities who are welcomed to official functions as a mark of general esteem or public recognition, like Levon appearing with Gov. Pataki at Woodstock.

This slippery slope will probably be least appreciated by those among us who are or were politically active, and come here to get away from all that and be about the music.

Posted on Sun Sep 17 19:02:31 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.avnl1.nj.home.com (24.4.252.66)

Brien Sz

Wow What a week i missed here in the good ol GB!

Too bad i missed the good God sessions. So if it's not to late--Crabster, I have met some of the most wonderful religious people. Even if i don't agree with their zealousness, they will always lend a helping hand and have a kind word, a warm blanket or whatever a particular person may need. I don't consider myself a religous person but i do consider myself a spiritual person. Having just spent the last week in Alaska, i can tell you that there were many times that i just took a few seconds to thank the Lord for giving me the opportunity to witness all the beauty and majesty that surrounded me. I didn't think about praying--it just came to me to do so. By the way is your atheism a by product of going to Catholic school--Only asking because i've read your other posts on this topic in the past and it seems your views are rooted into a hate of church dogma not God. I too am not a church guy but am also far from an athiest. Just curious.

Solo stuff--When Storyville cam out I liked it but thought the first RR cd was better. But as time has passed i feel Storyville is the stronger of the two. D/F/A cd's are also excellent recordings. I happen to enjoy everyones solo works. They are very diversified which is refreshing. I only wish Richard had put out a solo work as well as Garth. At least we are fortunate enough that we may still get one from the teacher.

Posted on Sun Sep 17 18:20:59 CEST 2000 from wc1-int1.nbnet.nb.ca (198.164.200.214)

WS Walcott

Did you know that Robbie set off a firecracker just as Bill Buckner was about to scoop up that ground ball at first causing it to go through his legs and causing the Red Sox to lose the 1986 World Series? RR had money riding on the Mets. I think Robbie has a gambling problem.

Posted on Sun Sep 17 16:07:35 CEST 2000 from dialup-266.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.10)

HANK

Saw Bob Dylan in Dublin on Thursday night........Magical!!!!.....I'll file a full report later......On another topic, it was suggested to me last night that the "Bleeding Gums Murphy" character, the saxophonist of "The Simpsons", was inspired by the story of Sonny Boy Williamson story from TLW. What'cha think, anybody?........ The only thing wrong with RR is that he does'nt play enuff Rock'n'Roll guitar anymore......he was pretty good at that..........I also think his first solo album woulda been sooooo much better if he brought those songs to Rick, Levon and Garth........there's great songs and song ideas to be sure......anyway, all these RR conspiracy theories are a hoot.....I remember hearing that RR joined the right Masonic lodge and therefore gets all the best advice and all the best deals.............. ........but I don't believe it.......that sorta thing is'nt true in Upstate New York in the late 60ies or Cali in the early '70ies, is it? .........What'cha reckon, anyone?........

Posted on Sun Sep 17 13:01:26 CEST 2000 from spider-ta035.proxy.aol.com (152.163.205.24)

bob

The star tabloid reported that yes it was robbie who gave elvis the recipe for the fried peanut butter banana sandwiches that slowly killed him.when robbie attended elvis's funeral he met a man there called ray hubbel. they got to talking and robbie was invited to tweek his new invention the hubbel telescope.the rest is history.no really i thought storyville was ok.then i saw robbie on saturday night live twice.he performed go back to your woods and tetimony.it really blew me away, the energy that came through those songs was incredible.it must be wild to see him perform some of his new material live.

Posted on Sun Sep 17 04:58:33 CEST 2000 from proxy-543.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.133)

Jake

Mike. Interesting comment on the cd version of Stage Fright being the alternate mix. The only obvious difference I picked up when I first heard the Cd was the different ending to W.S.Walcott Medicine show from the album version. According to Robbie or John Simon there were two mixes one by glynn johns and one by Todd rundgren.

Posted on Sun Sep 17 04:40:41 CEST 2000 from hse-sudbury-ppp197999.sympatico.ca (64.229.27.30)

Jamie Frith

Thanks so much for such a comprehensive site. It obviously is a work of love and I truly appreciate it. It's always hard as a young music lover (I'm 25) to keep up with all the great new music without missing out on such treasures. I've always known what a beautiful ensemble the band was but only through limited contacts like Bob Dylan and the more well known tunes that can't be kept back even in an age of throw-away pop music. Now that I've finally managed to take the time to go a little deeper into their library I'm kind of embarrassed I didn't do it sooner. Special thanks for the sheet music section. I'm learning Whispering Pines right now. Keep up the great work and thanks again.

Posted on Sun Sep 17 03:42:42 CEST 2000 from parachute2-156-40-65-109.net.nih.gov (156.40.65.109)

Jonathan Katz

I purposely left the D/F/A albums off the list that I posted because I do not consider them solo albums. I was also considering leaving off RR & the Red Road Ensemble for the same reason but decided that it should be left on because RR was the driving force. Arguably, Robbie's 1st album might also have been left off as a RR/U2 collaboration, but again RR was the driving force. Not that Rick wasn't a force on the D/F/A albums, he just wasn't the force - they were more of an equal collaboration [IMO].

Posted on Sun Sep 17 03:40:58 CEST 2000 from (199.105.252.66)

Charlie Young

A friend from Rounder Records just sent me a review copy of a great collection of Alan Lomax field recordings from the 1930s, mostly recorded in Virginia prisons. One song, performed in 1936 by Lemuel Jones and titled, "Po' Farmer," has a line that fans of The Band might find interesting:

"...every night when I get home, peas in the pot and a old jawbone..."

Speaking of poor farmers: tomorrow I'm taking my daughter to Farm Aid here in Virginia. She wants to see the five man Canadian band called Barenaked Ladies and I'll go for CSNY and Arlo Guthrie and the other old fogies. Maybe Shannon Curfman will play "The Weight" if we're lucky.

Posted on Sun Sep 17 03:13:40 CEST 2000 from host-216-76-150-207.bna.bellsouth.net (216.76.150.207)

Back with no wife in Tennessee

And no, Robbie didn't singlehandedly build the great pyramids in Egypt. He just took credit for doing so.

Do people really not like "Redboy" that much? No one's mentioned it at all in their favorite solo albums. I like it. I don't think the songwriting is top-notch, but it sounds wonderful and creates a great atmosphere. At first I thought it was too conservative in its use of dance/techno elements, but now I think it works. And I think "Take Your Partner" is great.

Posted on Sun Sep 17 03:08:04 CEST 2000 from spider-tj024.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.184)

Stephen Novik

Jeez! You would think that by the way people responded to my last post that I wrote out the words to Leave Me Alone by the Canadian Squires! Well, in order for me to try and contribute to this wonderful site and interesting resource of all kinds of various aspects of the greatest ensemble ever in rock n roll, here are the words--

Im the talk of the neighbourhood,

Cause I dont do what I should.

I dont care what people say,

Im gonna do things my way.

I think Im growin,

Ive got my own things goin,

Leave me alone! Leave me alone!

Trouble, fight -- almost every night.

Batman dont come around or Im gonna lay your body down -- Down!

People dont understand,

Just what bugs this man.

Dont tell me what to do,

Or Ill put you down too.

I think Im growin,

Ive got my own thing goin,

Leave me alone! Youd better leave me alone!

Trouble, fight -- almost every night.

Batman dont come around or Im gonna lay your body down -- Down!

People dont understand,

Just what bugs this man.

Dont tell me what to do,

Or Ill put you down too.

I think Im growin,

Ive got my own thing goin,

Leave me alone! Leave me alone!

you know I think Im growin,

Leave me alone!

Ive got my own thing goin,

Leave me alone!

Ive got my own thing goin,

Leave me alone!

(yeah, leave me alone)

Such a shame this keyboard will not produce apostrophes, but such is the hardship of the western world. Off to dinner now, see ya all later!

Posted on Sun Sep 17 01:28:37 CEST 2000 from d185fd04b.rochester.rr.com (24.95.208.75)

Dave Hopkins

Jake: I share your theory about the actual source of the Band "Basement Tapes" songs; in my view, the reissues have conclusively contradicted the claim that they were recorded in the basement. Please see my article on the reissues if you're interested further!

Posted on Sat Sep 16 23:37:28 CEST 2000 from spider-te012.proxy.aol.com (152.163.195.177)

Ben Turkel

Regarding a list of favorite solo albums, I would rate the two D/F/A releases at the top. Next I would probably put 'Times like these', 'Levon & the RCO All-stars', 'Live on Breeze hill', 'Rick Danko, 'Souvenir', 'Storyville' and 'Robbie Robertson'. As an honorable mention I would definetly include the collection 'Ties that Bind' which includes both versions of the Band and solo Levon recordings. As best Band album by somebody else, I'd pick 'Live at Winterland' by Paul Butterfield's Better Days. This features live versions of 'Small town talk' and 'He's got all the whiskey' among others. I think Peter Viney makes an interesting point about the lack of Rick's songs appearing on the 90's Band albums. Although 'Driftin' away' was written with Eric Andersen so it makes sense that it was recorded by D/F/A rather than the Band.

Posted on Sat Sep 16 22:58:46 CEST 2000 from host213-1-41-216.host.btclick.com (213.1.41.216)

Colin Shields

Now I know that this is a bit out of line, but does anyone have any midi files (.mid) of any band tracks ? OK I could do them myself but just don't seem to have the time. If there's anything I can do in return all you have to do is ask ! You can send them as attachments directly to my email address - I will reply to all. The track I would like most is Acadian Driftwood, but all are welcome. Colin

Posted on Sat Sep 16 21:51:50 CEST 2000 from ucs313.surrey.ac.uk (131.227.107.43)

DJMitchison

Following various recent postings, I dug out my copy of "Storyville" (unlistened to in years) and found myself enjoying it far more than I remembered having done so before. Admittedly, not all of the songs held my attention all the way through, but I would say it's stronger on the whole than Rick Danko's eponymous album. I must say that I enjoyed "Resurrection" a lot though, which shows how little I know. In fact, in general I thought the up-tempo, funkier numbers seemed to work better than some of their slower counterparts, and I'm wondering if this is maybe because of their suggestions of past glories. How much of the fondness for "Go Back To Your Woods" can be attributed to its near-identity with "Forbidden Fruit"? Or has this been discussed before?

Posted on Sat Sep 16 19:27:15 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.moline1.il.home.com (24.4.252.114)

Mike

Great website all around. I should have done this much sooner. I thought you all should know this: if any of you have the old Stage Fright on cd, keep it! It's a cd of alternate mixes. The newly remastered version is the ACTUAL album from 1970! And I was reading about the Watkins Glen cd too. After that article, I can say that I think the version of "Henry" is from Woodstock as the drums have the same tone. And sickening to have tracks edited, in my opinion! Maybe Capitol can release the entire UNEDITED Watkins concert someday?! P.S., can anybody help me in obtaining a CD-R of the 1976 King Biscuit Show? Thank you.

Posted on Sat Sep 16 19:11:28 CEST 2000 from cobalt.nextlink.net (206.129.70.172)

Mike

Couple of things: The Band played at Clinton's "Blue Jean Bash (Ball?)in '92. Was it videotaped and if so, is it available? Does anyone know what they played?

On the ending of the original Band in 1976, I've read that Levon said they could continue as The Band without Robbie. Robbie then replied that "we" or "they" could stop it. I've always wondered about that. Songwriting credits aside, what was that all about? Does anyone know? Was it in reference to using the name, The Band? Anyone?

Posted on Sat Sep 16 18:33:19 CEST 2000 from (129.237.77.56)

RPence

Politics and music: my opinion of Al Gore went up when I read that he sang part of "Up on Cripple Creek" to Tipper. And I seem to remember a photo of Levon with fellow Arkansan Bill Clinton. Today I looked at a story at www.salon.com about how several musicians, including Sting, Mellencamp, and Los Lobos, have stopped the Bush campaign from using their music. What I'm interested in is if any other guestbookers have views on the political content of the Band's music and lyrics. My definition of political is not confined to who endorses whom, or if someone votes or not. I think everyone is political because we all are part of power relationships to some extent, and that when someone says, "I'm apolitical," that's one of the biggest political statements of all. Anyway, whether or not you agree, I wonder if the Band's music, like much rock and roll, contains both strong conservatism and strong progressive impulses. There is populism in "King Harvest" and similar songs, but the ethos behind a record like Big Pink was a real rebuke to the hate America, kill your parents "revolution" of the sixties. There is also the issue of the Band's attitude toward women--interestingly enough, in the middle of widespread feminist action in the US, rock and roll bands were peddling the kind of sexism that you wouldn't even find in Rat Pack songs (though you would find more than enough in their hotel suites). I know some people tune out whenever anything remotely political comes up, but I'd like to hear others on this subject.

Posted on Sat Sep 16 18:19:35 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-104.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.104)

Peter Viney

It has to be said that Rick Danko was singularly unlucky about getting compositions onto Band albums, both with the original Band and the new Band. Small Town Talk had been around five years before the solo album, and thoroughly deserved a Band recording. Probably it was too thematically similar to The Rumor. Sip the Wine (disputed authorship here) and New Mexico(e) are others that should have made it. All Our Past Times was definitely worth a go, but maybe they felt they couldn’t significantly improve the Clapton version. Beautiful Thing (Manuel-Danko) dates back to the basement. Who knows when Bessie Smith (Robertson-Danko) dates back to?

The "New" Band should have recorded (at least) Driftin Away, All Creation, Times Like These, Never Again or Forever and put his cover of Chain Gang on High on the Hog.

He was also financially unlucky that both All our Past times and This Wheel’s On Fire failed to make The Last Waltz album. The point is that people say he didn’t get his fair share of material on "old" Band albums, blaming Robbie. I’d add that he didn’t get his share on "new" Band albums either. Was he too diffident about his material?

The Storyville question is presumably restricted to those singers alive at the time of recording, but in any case Rick always made a great job of "taking over" Richard songs. Breaking The Rules sounds like it was not only written for Rick, but also would have stood next to It Makes No Difference as a perfect Rick vehicle. Soap Box Preacher? Rick and Levon. Day of Reckoning? Night Parade? Robbie for sure. Go Back To Your Woods? Shake This Town? Levon. What About Now? Robbie and Rick. Those are certainties. The rest they’d have had to play with and hopefully they’d have used three voices on several. . Interestingly, in such a hypothetical situation, I think Robbie would have deserved to retain several lead vocals. I can’t imagine Rick or Levon improving on Fallen Angel over Robbie and Peter Gabriel from the first album (but it’s musically as well as lyrically a tributeto Richard), and only Robbie could do justice to Crazy River.

Posted on Sat Sep 16 17:47:13 CEST 2000 from du227-2.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.2.227)

Ilkka (again, sorry)

To Ragtime and Emanuele (The Beards): Give a damn if the re-issues cost "21 dollars X 4" or "210 dollars X 4" or "2100 duisenbers X 4" or "Acceleration of the mass at the sea level or at the equator X 4". Go to the bank, buy a check, send it to a worthy cause (I did so). Maybe to a charity which stayd close to Rick Danko's heart. www.breezehill.net might give some advice. - By all means, buy these re-issues if you don't already have this great music.
BTW sorry about being so negative tonight, but I've got the blues :-(

Thanks, Jan, for this great site :-)

Posted on Sat Sep 16 16:50:01 CEST 2000 from du227-2.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.2.227)

Ilkka

My friends Ragtime and Mattk:
No, no, he's not in responsibality of those horrible things (you forgot Tjernobyl nuclear accident, which has poisoned the deer here in the North.) BUT, how about putting an end to a band which gathers us here every day? - Yes or no?

Posted on Sat Sep 16 16:44:53 CEST 2000 from ppp7564.on.bellglobal.com (206.172.191.52)

Richard Patterson

The idea of robbing songs off of Rick Danko's first solo lp to go on 'Islands' is kind of backwards, since Rick's album is superior in every way, and sounds more like a good Band album to start with... maybe adding to 'NLSC' would be a better idea? At any rate, "Small Town Talk" would have boosted the quality of the original Band's final studio days (I love the bridge, "you can't believe everything you hear, and only half of what you see" - could relate to our ongoing discussion of RR's exploites :~). "Java Blues" is another great song (and RR already knows the guitar parts). And then of course there's "Sip the Wine" (w/Doug Sahm)... Know what? I wouldn't change a note on Rick Danko's first solo album... and it get's my vote for best Band related solo lp...

I heard the Stones wrote "Sympathy for the Devil" about Robbie...

Posted on Sat Sep 16 15:36:14 CEST 2000 from wit-p1a-77.wittenbergnet.net (206.40.103.80)

Ron Shankland

I am told Robertson put his elbow against the Tower of Pisa on the '71 Europe tour and forever made it lean!

Posted on Sat Sep 16 15:16:59 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime

Emanuele:

I can reassure you, the money you spent on the reissues is not the equivalent of 210 dollars x 4, but no more than 21 dollars x 4. Which sounds like a bit more moderate... Anyway I'm surprised that they sell the reissues in Italy already, since there is no sign of them yet in the Low Countries.

Nice thread on Danko songs that should have made it to Islands. I nominate "Once Upon A Time" which is as good as any of the first-rate Band songs on the first 3 albums, and additionally "All Our Past Times" which was erroneously omitted from the official TLW, "Java Blues" en maybe "New Mexicoe" in spite of the -e :-)

Posted on Sat Sep 16 14:20:04 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-059.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.59)

Peter Viney

Can't resist more messing around: Is it true that Robbie organized people to boo throughout the 1965 American tour, in order to get Levon to quit? I have it on good authority that he'd started the booing at Newport.

Posted on Sat Sep 16 12:29:10 CEST 2000 from gw3a60-1-d272.wind.it (212.141.123.18)

Emanuele " The Beards"

Very Expancive the Band Reissue in Italy 46.000 lire , for 4 albums reissued I spend 200.000 (it is as if an American spent 210 dollars x 4 cds) I'm very sad , the Italian musical market makes disgust! --------------- yeah ! the Outtakes are wonderfull..... I adore Endless Higway sing by Richard , and Daniel and the sacred harp.. BYE ! EMANUELE

Posted on Sat Sep 16 11:27:14 CEST 2000 from 88.mercerville-28-29rs.nj.dial-access.att.net (12.78.151.88)

carmen

Was thinking about PV's comment regarding Storyville being the lost BAND cd. I also think this is the best release of any individual member with Rick Danko's self titled release a real close 2nd.

My question is this: If Storyville was a BAND release what singer would best match each song.

2nd question: What songs from Rick's solo would have qualified to be on a BAND release, and if Rick was writing in 1977/78 why did none of his songs appear on Islands?

Posted on Sat Sep 16 08:45:26 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime

mattk my friend: yes Garth's playing is wonderful on "Resurrection" but the song itself is weak, in my most humble opinion. Especially the chorus is the lamest of the lamest, IMMHO of course.

And BTW Robbie Robertson did NOT invade Kuwait and he kept his hands off Monica Lewinsky. Those were other guys I can tell you.

Posted on Sat Sep 16 07:45:34 CEST 2000 from 1cust213.tnt1.idaho-falls.id.da.uu.net (63.28.242.213)

rollie

To Richard Whelan Stevens. That was actually Ronnie Hawkins and not Robbie Robertson seen jumping out of Buddy Hollies airplane. Just to keep the record straight!

Posted on Sat Sep 16 06:23:31 CEST 2000 from proxy-523.public.rwc.webtv.net (209.240.200.113)

Jake

Maybe this question hs been asked already but here goes anyway. after listening to two of the remastered cds (big pink and cahoots) I noticed that Bessie Smith on the cahoots bonus tracks and Katies been gone from the Pink cd bonus tracks are not only similar to the versions on the Basement Tapes but are actually the same recording no doubt.So my question is. were these actually recorded in a basement and remastered and redubbed in the studio to sound as good as they first appeared on the basement tapes or were these outtakes from these original sessions that were included on the basement tapes which was released by Columbia in 1975 . The latter seems to be the only possibility. ???

Posted on Sat Sep 16 06:20:22 CEST 2000 from spider-tj012.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.177)

Bayou Sam

Bud - I took your Levon quote as an attempt to say "hey look, one of your favorite guys likes rap so maybe you should". It wasn't through an "over simpification filter". It was my take on it. We obviously have different takes on things in this world because the idea of rap being either "vibrant", or "essential" makes me lose my lunch. I hope I'm not oversimplifying, but I would propose changing vibrant and essential to "violent", and "forgetable" - but that's what's great about this world. We are all different. This website IS described in the first verse of the W.S. Walcott Medicine Show. Saints, sinners, losers, and winners. I like to think that I'd fall into any one of the catagories on any given night.... BTW, Levon IS a bitter old man. But we still love him............................. ........... I can't beleive it's time for another round of RR bashing. I thought it was Neil Diamonds turn again.......

Posted on Sat Sep 16 06:06:44 CEST 2000 from parachute1-156-40-64-49.net.nih.gov (156.40.64.49)

Jonathan Katz

OK here goes another top 10. This one is Top 10 solo albums by members of the Band. I enter into this with some trepidation. One reason is that I have not yet heard "Times Like These." "Gasp! Gasp! How can you be a true fan," I expect to hear. Well I've been busy etc. etc. From what I have heard on radio, I expect it to be in the middle somewhere, but it probably won't crack the top three. These are my all-time favs [other than all of them together - original or this Band]. Most important, after three it gets muddy for me - on any day of the week any one of these might creep up to #4 [I listened to a new (to me) CD of "American Son" last night.]

1. Robbie Robertson - Storyville

2. Rick Danko - Rick Danko

3. Robbie Robertson - Robbie Robertson

4. Levon Helm - American Son

5. Robbie Robertson - Contact From the Underworld of Redboy [Japanese release]

6. Jim Weider - Big Foot

7. Robbie Robertson & the Red Road Ensemble - Music For the Native Americans

8. Levon Helm; 1978

9. Rick Danko Band - Live on Breeze Hill

10. Levon Helm & RCO Allstars

Another category

Best "Band album" by someone else: Bobby Charles

Posted on Sat Sep 16 05:56:35 CEST 2000 from 209-239-204-230.oak.jps.net (209.239.204.230)

Phil

Just Wonderin': I think you may have nailed it. All for one and one for all. How could he have meant anything else? He would lose every true Band fan under the sun if that were to be taken literally. If RR is as business savy as everyone thinks, then that would be about the last thing he would want to suggest.

Posted on Sat Sep 16 05:46:44 CEST 2000 from d176-136.rslyny.optonline.net (24.188.176.136)

Tori and Lauren

We love the intelligence and the compassion of the band and in particular Robbie's independent work celebrating his native background. We're wondering when Robbie will be playing in the New York area within the near future? What is he doing now?

Posted on Sat Sep 16 05:29:17 CEST 2000 from (207.3.148.120)

Jim

I read in the chat room the other night that some members of the Band had gotten together recently and performed "Acadian Driftwood" (and other Band rarities) at a private function last month. Can anyone elaborate on this? Is it possible to get a tape of the show (assuming it was recorded). Was Levon there? What other songs were played?

Posted on Sat Sep 16 04:10:21 CEST 2000 from ip64.portland.me.pub-ip.psi.net (38.11.101.64)

mattk

Storyville rules! I know it's tempting to want to make it a Band album, and at times it almost is, particularly where Garth's keyboards make an unmistakable impression, particularly on Resurrection (funny that many here don't like that song). There is a strong Woodstock contingent on the album with Garth, Rick, Tony Levin and Jerry Marotta all making appearances (Peter, I lost that Kate Bush CD about the time it was recorded, and I think Gabriel gave my CD to his rhythm section, which in turn gave it to RR--you can understand my confusion). Indeed the album itself was mixed at Bearsville.

I was thinking about Storyville just yesterday, and realized that's the last time I heard anything from Paul Buchanan. Is he still recording? Is Blue Nile still around? I always loved the ambience of that band...

matt

Posted on Sat Sep 16 04:06:30 CEST 2000 from pm1-60.delrio.com (208.246.52.80)

Just Wonderin'

Didn't Robbie have a hand in the design of the Titantic? How's that for absurdity?

Great posts Peter and Matt!

BTW:If my memory serves me well...any interview I've ever read or heard with Robbie he always STRESSES that they were a real group as in community. Isn't that what "playing guitar in a one man band" means in the song "Testimony"?

Posted on Sat Sep 16 01:49:01 CEST 2000 from athe530-e186.otenet.gr (212.205.247.186)

pretty little girl

ENOUGH!! just stop all these Robbie accusations. You guys are seriously overdoing it. He's not that bad. I don't, I WON'T believe a word of it. Besides, I just saw him on TV. He was lighting the Olympic flame in Sydney.

Posted on Sat Sep 16 01:32:39 CEST 2000 from h129.n-c6ac1f.sac.verio.net (198.172.31.129)

Richard Whelan-Stevens

I have also heard that it was Robbie who introduced John to Yoko, pushed Dennis Wilson off the boat, held Brian Jones's head underwater, introduced Charles Manson to some rather strange interpretations of the Beatles's White Album, was seen parachuting off of the plane that killed Buddy Holly,Richie Valens and the Bopper right before it went down, and was handing out free lighters at the last Woodstock concert. In spite of this, I'm still a big fan, and would probably agree with Peter Viney that "Storyville" is the lost great Band album. The main problem I have with "Storyville"...is it just me, or do a lot of the songs have a tendency to go on and on for a couple of minutes after they're really over? I find myself really enjoy the songs until I start to get bored with these really LONG fade-outs. By contrast, almost all Band songs in the original line-up have a real crispness and economy with not a single wasted note. Maybe my attention span is just too short, but I think better production on "Storyville" could have tightened up some of the songs and really improved it, at least for me. I think that losing the whole rap ending of "Go Back to Your Woods" might have improved things as well. Still a very fine album though.

Posted on Sat Sep 16 00:46:53 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime

Yevgeny Onegin was great tonight, apart from a few mise-en-scène flaws... Just came home and checked our beloved guestbook, which wasn't changed yet, thank heavens...

I agree (as usual) with Peter V. about the merits of Storyville. "Resurrection" is the only tune on that album that really stinks. I also like "Broken Arrow" and "Sonny" but I wish Robbie had written them years earlier, so that Richard's singing could have lifted them to a higher level.

BTW I always considered Dylan's misspelling of "Manual" as a little tongue-in-cheek allusion to the magic hands of Richard the piano player. Was I wrong? Shame on me!

Posted on Fri Sep 15 22:39:56 CEST 2000 from m198214181105.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.181.105)

pehr

Most RR haters are jealous of his talent, sucess, and significance as a first rate artist, as well as his ability to express himself eloquently, not in any order.

Note that I said MOST.

Note: if this post got your panties in a twist maybe your shadow archetype is trying to tell you something.

Posted on Fri Sep 15 22:09:39 CEST 2000 from wc1-int2.nbnet.nb.ca (198.164.200.230)

WS Walcott

Matt K you are a riot! Wasn't it Robbie who set off an explosion in Candlestick Park in '89 that caused the Giants to lose the World Series? I heard he had big money riding on the A's. Just bought "Red Boy". Gotta go have a listen.

Posted on Fri Sep 15 20:52:23 CEST 2000 from host161-123-26-209.utelfla.com (209.26.123.161)

carmen

Matt K, you forgot that RR administered the fatal overdose to Jim Bellucci (spelling ?), picked up Elvis' last perscription and poured Jim Morrison's last drink.

Peter V. Right on!

Regards to all!

Posted on Fri Sep 15 20:10:27 CEST 2000 from twmaine-63-167-210-226.twmaine.com (63.167.210.226)

mattk

Fred...errr...former-president Bush, overkill was precisely the point I was making.

Posted on Fri Sep 15 20:00:00 CEST 2000 from dhcp58207.sunyocc.edu (204.168.58.207)

FUNK (aka freddie the funk)

A KABU JULU HEY? This question would be better asked of TZAR NICHOLAS the II.. He would at lest have somekind of an answer for you. Probably know the name of the correct planet too.

Posted on Fri Sep 15 19:52:06 CEST 2000 from dhcp58207.sunyocc.edu (204.168.58.207)

FREDDY the FUNK

TO THE GOOD DR. PEPPER: IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT WITH ALL OF THESE CROWMATIX RUNNIN AROUND THERE HAS BEEN NO CONFIRMED DEATHS FROM CROWMATIXS AS A RESULT OF ALBANY ANALYSIS OF A CROWMATIX FOR THE WEST NILE VIRUS.

Posted on Fri Sep 15 19:41:51 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-016.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.16)

Peter Viney

Matt: I think you're going too far by accusing RR of running away with your copy of the Kate Bush album. I'd heard that Peter Gabriel had that one.

Posted on Fri Sep 15 19:34:33 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-016.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.16)

Peter Viney

My post was (partly) tongue-in-cheek – which can be read two ways by those of a rude turn of mind. I did include Don’t do it and R&R Shoes but forgot Watkin’s Glen (and Ferdinand the Imposter for that matter …) You could restrict it to only stuff the five were involved in and the percentage to RR might go up. It was supposed to be approximate. You could go mad on the maths, and the formulae for even a simple spreadsheet are beyond my own maths ability. RR wrote 100% of NLSC but that’s only eight songs, while the brown album is twelve! You could do it by the minute and second, or you could argue quite reasonably that "We Can Talk" is worth three tracks on Cahoots or Islands. How about three quarters as a reasonable figure for RR’s writing contribution? Whatever, the point was that it’s overwhelming. I’d argue that ALL four of RR’s solo albums are essential listening. "Storyville" is the great lost Band album. The sound, the lyrics have got it all. The first solo album has two tracks which are as good as anything he’s ever written – Somewhere Down The Crazy River and Fallen Angel, plus two very, very good songs, Broken Arrow and Sonny Got Caught in the Moonlight. And I could lose the stuff with U2. The two Native American albums are totally different but that’s to his credit. Oh, and what about Between Trains? If I could only have one of the albums, solo by any of them, and by the "new" Band recorded since TLW, it’d have to be Storyville. That is until Garth does his solo album!

WSW: if you read back through the archives and search for "The Fly" you’ll eventually turn up a wonderful definition of how we stand on Robbie- I think it was Lars’s idea. I’m paraphrasing from memory, but it was that there are those of us who believe he caught the fly in TLW, and there are those who believe he pretended to catch the fly, and there are those who believe there was never a fly at all. You could add the hard-line group who believe the fly belonged to the other four and he stole it.

Just enjoyed Madonna’s excellent and funny "Music" video again. Crabgrass forgot to mention her "Sex" book which is far steamier than page 3 of British tabloids (so I’m told), but she really is reading crap if she sticks to the papers with nudes on page 3 – The Sun, the Daily Mirror, The Daily Star. All have a greater percentage of male readers. The other two tabloids have more female readers and far fewer nude pictures. I believe the nipple index has decreased in recent years from around 25 per issue of the low-grade tabloids to less than 12. I don’t know whether this counts males in (e.g.) photos of boxing matches. This has been seriously discussed in the British press, I’m not making it up. As I’m having a mathematical day, I’ll point out that if someone’s sitting side on to the camera, or has a boxing glove over the chest region, that enables odd numbers in nipple counts.

Posted on Fri Sep 15 19:34:25 CEST 2000 from dhcp58207.sunyocc.edu (204.168.58.207)

George Herbert Walker Bush

MATT K. Can You Say Overkill?

Posted on Fri Sep 15 19:20:48 CEST 2000 from twmaine-63-167-210-226.twmaine.com (63.167.210.226)

MattK

Ok, I've kept this to myself long enough. The burden of my secret knowledge is wearing to heavily on my conscience.

Actually, I have it on good authority that Robbie:

1. Is responsible for the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa
2. Is in charge of safety evaluations at Firestone and Ford, a position he's held since taking over the Pinto development project back in the 70s.
3. Is the true Unabomber, having convinced Ted Kazinski to take the rap for a few percentage points in his ill-gotten residuals
4. Is responsible for 88.6% of all flurocarbon emissions
5. Was seen near the grassy knoll in Dallas, 1963 (explains the Jack Ruby Club link)
6. Wrote the "i love you" e-mail virus
7. Was G. Gordon Liddy's right-hand man in the plumbers and was in the Watergate in August 1972
8. Sold Elvis Presley the bottle of pills he ingested prior to passing out in the bathroom
9. Stole my copy of Kate Bush's "The Dreaming"
10. Framed Claudine Longet in the shooting death of Spider Savage
11. Gave the Hydrogen Bomb plans to the USSR and set up Julius and Ethel Rosenberg
12. Sank Atlantis
13. Killed the last bigfoot
14. Flies around in a saucer-shaped airplane kidnapping unsuspecting civilians in a green velour suit
15. Is really L. Ron Hubbard
16. Stabbed Nancy Spungen
17. Perpetrated the Vinland Map hoax
18. Is a member of the trilateral commission.
19. Was really driving OJ's white bronco in June of '94
20. Has been known to kick puppies, particularly golden retrievers, basset hounds, and dalmatians

Posted on Fri Sep 15 19:01:58 CEST 2000 from wstisp4c02.ml.com (199.43.48.23)

Ben Turkel

The point I'm trying to make reagrding 'MM' and the other covers is that the Band have always performed and recorded a good deal of outside material. So to claim that RR is The Band as WS Walcott did earlier is simply false. I wouldn't argue with saying that about John Fogerty or Mark Knopfler in regards to CCR & Dire Straits. But The Band was a true collaboration and RR was only 1/5 of that despite what Rob Bowman or Rolling Stone whoever else claims.

Posted on Fri Sep 15 18:47:59 CEST 2000 from spider-wi073.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.53)

bob wigo

Ben,
Those ten covers also bring everyone else's percentage down. Let it go man. The dead horse has been properly beaten.

Posted on Fri Sep 15 18:35:33 CEST 2000 from telisp1c01.ml.com (199.43.32.21)

Ben Turkel

Peter Viney, Why would you exclude 'Moondog Matinee' from your calculations? According to my calaculator when you figure in those 10 non RR songs that brings his songwriting ratio down to about 72%. I would also argue that you should include 'Don't do it', 'Rock n' roll shoes', and 'loving you is sweeter than ever' as part of their output as they appeared on at least one live album (ROA, Watkins Glen) and have been included on several compilations, thus becoming part of the Band cannon alongside tracks like 'Twilight' and 'Endless highway' which were not released on the studio albums either.

Posted on Fri Sep 15 18:13:53 CEST 2000 from 56k-174-055.cis.net (207.77.174.55)

inda

if your memory serves you well,we will meet again somehow....is one of the best lyrics I have heard

Posted on Fri Sep 15 17:54:21 CEST 2000 from 1cust150.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.136.150)

Crabgrass

Gee, I thought posting in the Band Guestbook WAS "serious work!"

Enjoyed the detailed review of someone's newly acquired Band video compilation. Just one question - how the Hell can I get one without being arrested?

I find the vision of an "awesome" God humbling his prideful little inferior creations truly inspirational btw!! I might even renew my Plain Truth and Watchtower subscriptions!!

Posted on Fri Sep 15 17:30:15 CEST 2000 from cobalt.nextlink.net (206.129.70.172)

Mike

Hate Robbie? Too strong of a word for most of us. Even though many of us don't REALLY know what happened regarding TLW, songwriting credits, etc., I think it would be true to say that the majority of GB regulars have put two and two together and figure there's SOME truth to most of the accusations. Some have tried to remain neutral; others have taken sides, taking it personally, as if THEY got ripped off. Although I have my opinion on the matter, I would rather focus on the music. I would however, suggest that Robbie change his intials to PR after reading the liner notes in the reissues. If I didn't know any better, I'd think he WAS The Band after reading those!

Butch -- Any chance of Levon and company heading out west?

Crazy Chester -- would that Bob Gray?

Posted on Fri Sep 15 17:38:23 CEST 2000 from gatekeeper.calfee.com (208.11.92.2)

Bud

Bayou Sam, sorry that you were reading my quote from "Free Your Mind" through an over-simplification filter -- I certainly wasn't citing to Levon as the final authority on the rap discussions occurring in these pages. In fact, I'm of the belief that through his comments in and since his book, Levon has lost some credibility (his bitter-old-man routine is getting a little old -- yeah, yeah, we know that record execs are crooks, Robertson took too much credit for the music, etc.)

Speaking of the book, did anyone here pick-up the re-released version with the new afterword? What a disappiontment. Since the first edition, The Band has released two studio albums, Rick's been arrested, Levon's battled cancer, began performing with his daughter (his new band is excellent, BTW), and Rick has left this mortal coil. All of these significant events, and the afterword weighs in at a hefty 10 pages (two of which are devoted to commentary about Rick dying too young because Robertson's got his money). Granted Levon owes us nothing, but you know that the most likely purchasers of this second edition are those people who bought the first one and those people who discovered the existence of the first one after it was pulled from the shelves. Sorry, now I'm a little (okay, a lot) off topic.

Anyway, I threw out the "Free Your Mind" quote because I thought it was a nice fit in a discussion about rap on a web site devoted to The Band (and because I think that in the early 90's, rap was the most vibrant and essential of all mainstream music)

Posted on Fri Sep 15 17:26:40 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.250)

David Powell

Crabgrass brought up an interesting point: Freedom's just another word for "free from". I commute during the week to work by train and always carry my portable CD player with headphones. Often someone on the train chooses to publicly espouse their faith or otherwise engage in a rambling discourse of some indeterminate nature in a loud voice. At times like these, I just turn up the volume on the CD player and drown them out. What else can one do? I just choose to fight back with the power of music.

On this subject of public expression, here's what one noted religious authority had to say:

"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." (Matthew 6:4&5 -- from Christ's "Sermon on the Mount")

Back to the subject of music -- an e-mail this morning from a fellow guestbook regular reminded me of the inherent power of music. Beyond the beauty of the actual music itself, it can evoke the emotions & memories from when one may have first heard & experienced that music. While listening to the first four Band reissues these past few weeks, I've found myself recalling memories from the times when I first heard these recordings, which for me were when they were first released. So powerful is this art form of music, that it can effect each listener in such a unique way. Beyond its literal form it can mean something different for each of us. For me, one of the ways to judge great music is how well it holds up over time. Listening to the Band albums today, some thirty years after I first heard them, only reinforces my feelings of how wonderful their music is. This music can take me back to times past as well as cast its warm glow in the present. Excuse me while I put my headphones back on.

"Go out yonder, peace in the valley..."

Posted on Fri Sep 15 17:27:12 CEST 2000 from spider-wi083.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.58)

bob wigo

RR = rm x [rd -bd] + GH(lh) - 4% Pantomime

Who don't know that ?

Posted on Fri Sep 15 17:21:31 CEST 2000 from proxy1.doit.wisc.edu (144.92.44.76)

Ryan Stang

OK, since a bunch of people asked me to comment on the tape I just got (see below in the Guestbook), I shall do so. The video tape opens with the entire Ed Sullivan performance of 'Cripple Creek. Garth refuses to look at the camera, and hides in the back when they go to meet Ed after playing. Ed screws up Levon's name. Then, The Weight and Tears of Rage from Woodstock. During The Weight, there are no shots of Richard at all. For every Richard line, they show Robbie; kind of like the Last Waltz, but at least at Woodstock (if people have this set on tape they already know) Robbie was pretty much singing the whole time into a live mic anyway. Tears' is basically a head shot of Richard the entire time, except for the very end they show Rick next to him singing. Then the tape has a version of The Weight that looks like how it would be in the movie, with clips of the festival and what not. Next is the promo film for The Band, recorded in that house on Robbie's property that the new liners talk about. These are: the new bonus track of King Harvest (with beginning jam), and Cripple Creek. This is what they show during a lot of Classic Albums. Next, it has a black and white (tv show? the credits look German) 4-5 song set from Pittsburgh 1970. Robbie is starting to go into that 70's porn-star mustache/long hair thing like on Cahoots-era pictures. Also notable is the first taste I've ever gotten of seeing Rick playing his fretless live. Next, and perhaps the coolest, is 35-minutes of the Toronto Pop Festival film. It's in color, with widescreen black stripes on the top and bottom. It looks like a sort of documentary that was never finished. This is the footage, for instance, that in the Authorized Biography, shows them doing Chest Fever, with Robbie wearing a sportcoat and Levon a cowboy hat. This footage is incredible. Highlights include Time To Kill (with Levon playing drums instead of guitar), Don't Do It, Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever, Long Black Veil, and Slippin' and Slidin'. Next is one of those old at the farm/black and white/all animals cartoons with Promised Land from Moondog Matinee over it, like a weird MTV video. Some guy introduces it; I'm not sure who he is. Then, all four performances from SNL in '76: 'Carnival, 'Dixie', Stage Fright, and Georgia'. Finally, perhaps the weirdest thing I've ever seen, is a Rick Danko (and his band) performance from some show in '78? '79? doing Java Blues. It is truly surreal. Rick playing electric guitar, doing all these rock-star moves with it. The biggest revelation I had is that throughout all the live footage from 1970, Robbie is singing into a live mic the whole time. Suprisingly, he doesn't really show any discretion as to when he sings in relation to everybody else during the 1970 shows. He's screaming in a voice that makes To Kingdom Come from Isle of Wight sound beautiful. It's really overpowering. I'm not trying to be anti-Robbie, because I think he gets railed on too hard sometimes and has a decent voice, but after watching this, and then knowing that he's singing into a dummy mic at the Last Waltz, it makes me think that they either started turning him off in the mix, or didn't want his voice to be heard in the live situation of the Last Waltz. He sounds fine in the whole Woodstock tape that I have, and not that bad in the Isle of Wight tape, but here it's almost painful.

Posted on Fri Sep 15 17:15:23 CEST 2000 from tnt3port304.dubois.pcidu.com (205.245.155.78)

Crazy Chester

Life truly is a carnival! There's nothing like a little religion to stir the pot. These posts remind me of the lines from W.S.Walcott"There'll be saints and sinners,you'll see losers and winners. All kinds of people you might want to know." Sorry, I was generalizing about rap. I realize it's not all bad,evil, or sinful but much of it is and the lifestyle it promotes and I'd rather see people getting along in love and peace than spewing hate,pride,and violence and me,me,me all day long. It's the message not the music that I rave against. We're a very prideful people and someday we're all going to be humbled before an awesome God. That's fact.So, you can run and you can try to hide but...you better get ready. Look, I think The Band's music is some of the best I've ever heard or I wouldn't be here reading and talking about it.Their music is so spiritual and that's what draws me to it.We're all created in God's image and I hear that in the music and the voices. This stuff is real.Richard sang from that place deep inside,the soul, and there's no denying that when you listen to "Whispering Pines".I think it's very revealing that The Band was influenced by The Staples and their Gospel music and had a lot to do with that "soul" feeling in their own music.But,hey, what do I know I'm just a voice crying out in cyberspace,"Prepare ye the way of the Lord."

Posted on Fri Sep 15 17:06:55 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-126.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.126)

Peter Viney

Right, I’m sitting here waiting for a plumber, and it’s not worth starting any serious work . So Time To Kill. Discounting Moondog Matinee, The Band recorded 80 different songs as "The Band", excluding live versions of earlier songs, BT versions of later songs and all the bonus tracks. I include Get Up Jake, Endless Highway, Twilight, the new stuff on TLW. I count the four new tracks only on ROA. Count a co-credit as 0.5 and a three way split as 0.33. Robbiw wrote 51 on his own, and collaborated on 14. That’s 65. Richard did three alone and six collaborations. Rick did 6 collaborations, Levon three, Garth one(Genetic method) and one collaboration. Dylan two and two collaborations. Others (excluding MM) 6 + one collaboration (Van) with Robbie. That means Robbie wrote or partly wrote 81.25%. So 90% was a mild exaggeration, but it wasn’t out of the park. And W.S.W was the closest so gets a prize.

Posted on Fri Sep 15 15:56:31 CEST 2000 from helena.prin.edu (155.106.10.234)

Glenn Trueman

I have some information on an album with heavy involvement from Garth Hudson. I could scan the front/back covers...how would I send them in? The album (LP record) is called "Green Pastures Are Before Me" by Larry Groce (of "Junk Food Junkie" fame). It's an album of hymns from 1979 on Peaceable Records label, produced by C. Randolph Nauert. The musician credits are: Larry Groce: guitar and vocals, Garth Hudson: keyboards, Emory Gordy, jr: guitars, bass, mandolin, Berke McKelvey: bass. Garth's playing is beautiful. One of the tracks was mixed at The Band's Shagri-La studio.

Posted on Fri Sep 15 15:23:33 CEST 2000 from levon.hiof.no (158.36.51.54)

jh

WS Walcott,
At least Dylan sort of remembered Richard's last name on Planet Waves. That was not always the case... here's an example %-}

Posted on Fri Sep 15 15:14:57 CEST 2000 from twmaine-63-167-210-226.twmaine.com (63.167.210.226)

mattk

LDO and Bayou Sam,

First, I was not making fun Walcott's faith. I was making fun of the incongruous nature of the topics dujour, rap, religion, and *gasp*, the Band.

Second, I never said I was atheist (that was Crabby), and in fact I'm not. To laugh at the human folly of religious zealotry is not making fun of either God or faith.

Matt

Posted on Fri Sep 15 15:01:03 CEST 2000 from user-33qtakn.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.170.151)

Pat Brennan

WS, I meant "touchy" in reference to all of us. Religion doiesn't have to be such a hot-button topic. Of course, not being affiliated with any religious organization makes it pretty easy for me to talk like that. My ribbing of Crabgrass was also of a gentle nature.

Posted on Fri Sep 15 14:55:06 CEST 2000 from wc1-int1.nbnet.nb.ca (198.164.200.214)

WS Walcott

I see I'm already starting to get some flack concerning my post about Robbie. Okay Ben T. so he didn't write 90% of the material. I didn't go over the album credits to see who wrote what. I was making a generalization. I think you all get the point I was trying to put across. I'm not very good at math anyway. Glad to see Ben and Pat both both like Storyville. I thought I'd really get hammered on that one. I think RR did more than play guitar. Unfortunately my LPs are in storage along with the rest of my furniture(long story)so I can't verify songwriting and musician credits but I am pretty sure RR played some other stringed instruments on Daniel and the Sacred Harp(Stage Fright)and I know he did on TLW. I didn't forget Moondog Matinee, I just never considered it a true Band album, although the cover tunes they do are excellent, Richards vocals on Great Pretender comes to mind. I always liked Richards vocals the best. Anyway, thanks for your feedback. Who loves ya Robbie! PS: Did you know Dylan misspelled Richards name on the album credits of Planet Waves(Manuel spelled Manual)? A very good and underrated/often unjustly criticzed LP.

Posted on Fri Sep 15 14:26:43 CEST 2000 from telisp1c02.ml.com (199.43.32.22)

Ben Turkel

I have to respond to WS Walcot's post. He wrote that..."I have seen a lot of Robbie bashing in here but, like it or not, RR WAS The Band. He either wrote or co-wrote,what,90% of the material?"... While I won't argue with the point that RR does get bashed here from timt to time. Your other assertions are rhetoric and not based on facts at all. How can you claim that RR was the Band? How many songs did RR sing with the Band ? How many instruments did he play on their recordings? Last time I checked, he sang on two or three songs and played just one instrument with the Band. Regarding the song writing. You're also exagerating things quite a bit. If you take the Band's 7 studio albums made with RR, there were several Richard songs, a few collaborations with Dylan, a few songs credited to several members of the Band, an entire albums of covers, and several other covers spread around their other albums.So how do you come up with RR writing 90% of their material! I haven't figured the math, but I'd guess it's more like 60%. Just for the record, I happen to enjoy 'Storyville' quite a bit. I just put together a 90 minute Band compilation tape and included 'Go back to your woods'.

Posted on Fri Sep 15 12:15:09 CEST 2000 from hud1-pm-13-73.termserv.net (204.97.156.73)

Diamond LIl

DaveZ: Good question. I'm not sure that there is a 'story' behind the lyric changes in 'Times Like These'. I've heard it live many times over the years, and have it on a few tapes here..and each time there were changes in the lyric content it seemed.

eg: The new cd: People like to say, everyone likes to cry a little more everyday. With odds like that, given a choice, only a fool would stay.
Other versions: Nobody wants to laugh, everybody wants to cry a little more everyday. And with odds like that, given a choice, only a fool would play.
Nobody wants to stay, everyone wants to die a little more everyday. And with odds like that, given a choice, only a fool would stay.

In my opinion, I think the lyric changes were just Rick being Rick..and since it was his tune...he sang what he sang when he sang it :-)

Have a good day everyone. Hug Jan.

Posted on Fri Sep 15 07:24:16 CEST 2000 from 1cust19.tnt14.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.142.19)

Crabgrass

I read the news today, oh boy! It seems that "Supermom Madonna" (formerly "Superslut Madonna") now living in London is annoyed by seeing nude photos in the Brit tabloids. "My God, you see nothing but naked women in the newspapers here." she said. "I just have not been able to get used to the naked girls on page 3." (You could try reading the London Times or Observer, my dear - just buy a good dictionary so you can look up the big words.) All this, of course, hypocritical and ironic from the woman who starred in Truth or Dare and did a world tour with her "Nudie Revue" featuring herself in a pointed metal bra with a bevy of topless backup dancers. But maybe Madonna's just getting conservative in her old age. And what ever happened to that "personal trainer" guy who fathered her first child? Is he chauffeuring her and baby Rocco around town in a Rolls-Royce these days or is he completely off the payroll? Inquiring minds want to know!

The First Amendment is all well and good but I think some restrictions should apply especially to loud aggressive Bible thumping ministers who seek to turn crowded subway cars into churches on wheels. Congress, it seems, is quite good at making laws that it doesn't see fit to follow. In this country, as in most others the majority generally has its way hence "In God We Trust" on our currency, "under God" which was inserted in the Pledge of Allegiance during the McCarthy Era in the 50s, and Bibles in municipal courtrooms. What we really need in this country is Freedom FROM Religion rather than Freedom OF Religion. BTW I've never noticed religion making anyone that I've ever met a better behaved, more kind, or more generous person. And I have noticed religion drive quite a few people nuts.

Now, back to the discussion of The Band - you remember them, don't you? They were real good until Robbie broke them up!!

Posted on Fri Sep 15 06:58:46 CEST 2000 from spider-wm028.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.142)

STEPHEN NOVIK

I want to submit for the scrutiny of the GBrs the following testimony -- John Sebastian appears in the Kiss Me You Fool video for the Northern Pikes. So does Garth, playing the accordian from Last Waltz and Man Outside. Garth also appears in their video for Girl With A Problem. This all comes from memory, folks. Unfortunately I cannot say anything about involvement on the part of Rick Danko, or Stan Szelest. I post this in another effort to garner some response. I am quite tired of having my posts fall on deaf ears (or so it seems.) Granted I have not been a Band fan all that long, only about half my life. So I cannot contribute the most wonderful stuff all the time-- but I have been somewhat lucky before. Remember White Cadillac, anyone?

Posted on Fri Sep 15 06:04:02 CEST 2000 from wc1-int1.nbnet.nb.ca (198.164.200.214)

WS Walcott

Thanks for your comments Patrick B. Not too sure what you meant about me being touchy about the God discussion though. I always considered myself open minded about such things. Please clarify. Rock on brother!

Posted on Fri Sep 15 05:43:46 CEST 2000 from user-33qt8e5.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.161.197)

Pat Brennan

WS Walcott, you are simply noticeing two different styles. People who don't like RR for whatever reason tend to sound off, while people who respect him are content in their beliefs. Although others will make fun of you, Storyville is a great album. However, it was only four years between studio albums for the original quintet, that after four albums in four years. You also forget Planet Waves which sounds like a Band album to me.

As far as the God discussion goes, I think both sides are open to fair-minded ribbing. Don't be so touchy. I also believe God has a wonderful sense of humor, hence Crabgrass.

Posted on Fri Sep 15 05:23:20 CEST 2000 from wc1-int2.nbnet.nb.ca (198.164.200.230)

WS Walcott

I guess that I am a relative newcomer to the GB. Been submitting and reading posts for about 2 months. Its a great site and the postings are very well written. You folks really know your stuff. There is one thing that bothers me however. Is it just my imagine or does everybody in here hate, maybe hate is too strong a word, dislike or not care for Robbie Robertson? Sure, he is very successful now, gone a bit Hollywood perhaps, and is probably making more money now than he ever did with The Band. Are people bitter because he was the one who basically put an end to The Band? I love The Band but we must admit they were pretty stagnant. I think there was a gap of 6 years between their last 2 studio LPs. I have seen a lot of Robbie bashing in here but, like it or not, RR WAS The Band. He either wrote or co-wrote,what,90% of the material? As well as arranging and producing or at least having a large input into the production end of it. He has acted in some movies, i.e. Carny, as well as movie soundtracks and producing albums for other artists. Hey, RR has more than payed his dues. Some may see him as a sellout, thats okay. He has the talent and in the post Band era he has gotten some recognition. Whats wrong with that? IMHO RR's first album is the best solo album of any Band member by far. Storyville was very good as well.

Posted on Fri Sep 15 05:11:33 CEST 2000 from h0000f8718e9a.ne.mediaone.net (24.128.16.201)

Long Distance Operator

Funny how many people in here can wear their atheism like a favorite shirt without recrimination, but the moment somebody enthuses about God they are roundly hooted and mocked. Is religiosity scary? I guess the truth hurts. Amen, brother Chester. Amen.

Posted on Fri Sep 15 05:03:20 CEST 2000 from spider-tq074.proxy.aol.com (152.163.201.79)

Dave

Hey All, I am looking for any and all Rick Danko tapes that you may have and be willing to share via trade or b+P. I love Rick and his music and want to make sure that it lives forever. Please help me.>>Thanks for your time.>>Let me hear from some of you.>>Dave.

Posted on Fri Sep 15 04:47:45 CEST 2000 from spider-wl044.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.39)

Bayou Sam

So, people are screaming about the right to express one's self, then when Crazy Chester does just that - he gets made fun of - Interesting.

Posted on Fri Sep 15 04:45:17 CEST 2000 from spider-tq074.proxy.aol.com (152.163.201.79)

Dave

I love the Band and I love Rick Danko. Anyone who wants to trade Rick Danko tapes please contact me. I have a small amount and I am looking to make that collection grow.>Dave.

Posted on Fri Sep 15 04:41:48 CEST 2000 from spider-wl044.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.39)

Bayou Sam

OOOOOOOOO Levon likes rap music and hip hop clothes. I guess I wiil too. C'mon man!

Posted on Fri Sep 15 04:13:44 CEST 2000 from spider-wk042.proxy.aol.com (205.188.198.167)

Dave Z

Lil: Do you know the story behind the content changes of the lyrics to Times Like These mentioned in the page for the CD?... I'm also trying to figure out some of the lyrics to this song as well as Change Is Good... I really love both those songs...

I surfed through the Related to the website for Kings In Disquise and it says they were working with Rick prior to his death... Does anybody know what became or is to become of that effort?

Thanks to all who post the shows... I had plans to fly out East but they recently fell through and I'm still hoping... so I had to settle for a vivid dream of a show instead... must be the cool fall air and full moon... coming through the windows open...

Awhile back somebody quoted Dylan's "don't crittersize what you don't undersand"... related to rap music... Lauryn Hill says it another way too that I like... in a hip hop song... that goes... something like (OK it's Elmopaluzoo again)... "Not trying to be different just doing our own thing"... and then some other stuff follows... like a Fugee dude singing... "I'm in ma peejays"... "I'm drinkin OJ"... and another sings... following some spitting "pa-do pa-dooo's" accompanied by record scratching... "A is for Achievement"... "B is for Barnburners"... "C is for Catch It"... I bet the Band could have done a great guest spot on Seasame Street if they had wanted to... maybe All La Glory would have worked... or even Ferdinand which I also can't stop listening to on the way in to work...

Posted on Fri Sep 15 03:26:14 CEST 2000 from (203.103.135.138)

Michael

Dear all, if you get the chance listen to an album called 'Realization' by Johnny Rivers, drawing a long bow here but the muso's on this album are James Burton, Hal Blaine, Joe Osborn and Larry knechtel, in my opinion if these people made their own music instead of backing hacks (not including Elvis) you would have something close to the magnificence of the Band, Larry's keyboard playing on this album gets very close to Garth's brilliance. Regards

Posted on Fri Sep 15 01:29:01 CEST 2000 from (209.19.78.25)

Frank Dracman

there was talk of emmy lou on letterman recently. short notice, Friday AM (9/15), she'll continue on CBS on the Early Show (according to a paper I just read).

Posted on Fri Sep 15 00:18:50 CEST 2000 from proxy.lfpress.com (204.101.153.10)

Mike Nomad

Jon Lyness: Thnx for yr review of Sept. 9 NYC show. Muchly appcd.

Posted on Fri Sep 15 00:11:59 CEST 2000 from a130.goes.com (63.76.36.130)

Keith

Anybody have an opinion on what Stage Fright would have turned out like if they had used the Simon formula as on the first two records? It would have been nice if a concert video was released fron the 66 Dylan tour that Pennbraker shot. I just got the Liverpool show and I have to say that some of the songs are more powerful than the Manchester show. "Tell Me Momma" (appears in Eat the Document) in particular, Robbies sweet fills are more evident. Also Leopardskin has chunkier solos and "Ballad" is far more ominous, Garth's sound is much more up front. It seems to me that Eat the Document has clips of songs from differnt shows, meaning Pennbraker filmed more than one show. The awesome clip of "Ballad" (the best I've heard from the tour) isn't from either Manchester or Liverpool. You can hear Dylan "shhhhhhhhh, and then Robbie sends shivers down the spine. Anybody know what show the "Ballad" in Eat the Document is from?

Posted on Fri Sep 15 00:06:14 CEST 2000 from hud1-pm-30-90.termserv.net (204.97.156.90)

Diamond Lil

I want some of whatever Mattk and Pehr are drinking :-)

Posted on Thu Sep 14 23:20:15 CEST 2000 from m198214181209.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.181.209)

pehr

MattK- how dare you call me a hermit! brood of vipers! I have every right to like the new picture of levon. even if it is subliminable!

Posted on Thu Sep 14 22:56:56 CEST 2000 from twmaine-63-167-210-226.twmaine.com (63.167.210.226)

mattk

Pehr, you heathen. It's heretics like you that are bringing this Band-fearing nation...errr...guestbook down to the amusical pit of sin it's become!

Posted on Thu Sep 14 21:56:40 CEST 2000 from m198214181209.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.181.209)

pehr

DANGER! INFLAMMATORY POST WARNING!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really enjoy that bluesy outake before the "King Harvest" outtake. It's ashame it cuts out so soon. just an opinion. please dont flame me.

Posted on Thu Sep 14 21:38:40 CEST 2000 from cic-proxy02.firstunion.com (169.200.25.141)

Bones

Jon Lyness: Great review! Thank you! Did Levon and Garth actually play together?? It sounds like they played on different sets.

Bobby Jones: I, too, would love a Last Waltz reissue. They also need to put it out on DVD with a lot of extra goodies.

Does this "Double R Back In Town" bootleg have anything on it that has NOT been released? It seems like a mostly Jimmy Hollywood soundtrack.

Posted on Thu Sep 14 21:36:13 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-032.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.32)

Peter Viney

To add to the danger warning, no problems yet, but if we can get really heated in here about what Levon and Robbie said or didn’t say thirty years ago, or even more importantly whether Robbie really caught that fly in TLW, then I suspect the subject of religion, sin and salvation is beyond our capabilities for pleasant and reasoned argument. And I agree, let The Band play on.

Posted on Thu Sep 14 20:08:06 CEST 2000 from twmaine-63-167-210-226.twmaine.com (63.167.210.226)

LL Cool J

Buddha said knock you out!
Buddha said knock you out!
So put your Dharma in the air
Shake it like you just don't care!
It's Saturday night, my karma's feeling alright
So everybody just say OM...

Posted on Thu Sep 14 19:11:39 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.250)

David Powell

"Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances." -- The First Amendment to the Constitution of The United States

I believe the above just about says it all regarding the current guestbook topics of rap music & religion. People should be free to peaceably express themselves in whatever manner they choose, without either the interference of government or OTHERS. The freedom of religion guaranteed by the First Amendment also means the freedom from the tyranny of what other people may believe. We did not need the sanction of government establishing how we must worship or express ourselves.

Listen to the music and let The Band play on.

"I'll let you be in my dream if I can be in yours." -- Bod Dylan said that.

Posted on Thu Sep 14 19:01:32 CEST 2000 from tcnet08-58.austin.texas.net (209.99.35.184)

Laura Holt Lorfing

Hello all! Mattk: I didn't say ALL rap now...just as I know that SOME not ALL rock and roll is just as violent as the rap crud. GEEZ!! On another topic today..can anyone tell me if Levon is planning to come towards the south part of the US anytime soon? I heard about the Tribeca gig a few weeks back from another GB'er and I was told the show was fabulous! I'm still waiting for the Barnburners to set the south on fire down here and I'm starting to get restless!! PEACE :)

Posted on Thu Sep 14 18:58:56 CEST 2000 from 1cust12.tnt12.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.136.12)

Crabgrass

Being an atheist I somehow overlooked the fact that Rap promotes SIN. At least there's something good about it!! Run of Run DMC btw is now a Christian minister affiliated with a church on the upper west side of Manhattan and I'd say this is logical since one of the roots which Rap developed from is the rhythmic rhyming patterns of black ministers later borrowed by club DJs. The Little Richard brand of rock 'n' roll of course stems back to gospel music so there's some relation to rap though thankfully barely recognizable.

Actually, I always liked Run DMC's crossover hit which they borrowed from Aerosmith but basically because it's not in the usual form of the monotonous in your face rap which has predominated the genre. That's why people like Puffy have extended Rap by sampling and combining Rap with rock tunes - they recognized the stagnation and lack of original melody and the larger record buying public's boredom with it. I am sure that already there are rappers performing Jesus Rap and that a Church of Rap is now establishing itself in this context much as the Catholic church's "Folk Mass" was an attempt to attract new parishioners back in the 60s by trying to make religion appear to be "in step with the times." (They didn't fool me though!!) For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction as a law of physics states. Someone's probably working on a "Jesus Christ the Rapper" for Broadway right now (shades of Lord Buckley!!).

BTW I think the fact that I've NEVER EVEN ONCE seen anyone trying to earn a living by performing Rap in the subways or on the streets of NYC says something about the "Public At Large's" opinion of it.

Maryanne Faithful performed that song in question ("Why'd You Do It") on PBS's Sessions at West 54th last year totally uncensored - personally I found it G-R-O-S-S like Maryanne herself.

Posted on Thu Sep 14 18:51:59 CEST 2000 from stcatherines-ppp109205.sympatico.ca (216.209.112.136)

Richard P

Christ for President!

Posted on Thu Sep 14 18:40:39 CEST 2000 from twmaine-63-167-210-226.twmaine.com (63.167.210.226)

mattk

Danger Will Robinson! Danger!

Religious rhetoric detected of the starboard bow. Long distance sensors also pick up potential political disruptions. GB in imminent danger of being swallowed up into unwinnable arguments. DANGER DANGER!

Posted on Thu Sep 14 17:50:51 CEST 2000 from (12.34.17.217)

Johnny Flippo

Crazy Chester -- Now wait a minute Chester, you know I'm a peaceful man, but sheesh, the Bible "overlooked"? Come on! American Fundementalist Christianity, and it's country cousin American Talk Radio (conservatism) permeate both the audio and video airwaves to the point that all its postulating and grandstanding have been done to death.

Posted on Thu Sep 14 17:36:12 CEST 2000 from proxy1-external.blfld1.ct.home.com (24.4.252.36)

AHROOO!!

With all of this talk about Rap and stuff, I remember when hip-hop and break dancing were in. I admit I listened to some Run DMC for a time. The only problem I have is when did rap get a bad rap? When did all of this "gangsta" crap start? Nobody and nobody's child needs to learn about rape, cop killings, or degrading women by calling them bitches or hos. Was this started by prison inmates?

I believe it's a matter of taste and how the music is put together. Some people don't like Robbie's latest album because it's too techno for them, rather than Band-ish. Hey, I didn't mind U2's stuff until I heard "Zooropa." It sounded too much like sounds jumbled together. I chucked it in the trash. All a matter of opinion.

Society is warped.

AHROOO!!

Posted on Thu Sep 14 17:13:11 CEST 2000 from usr53-dialup5.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.199.5)

G-MAN

MATTMAN--Mr. Lyness gave a good description of a Levon show. I'll try give you an overall view. Take a RICK DANKO show; great voice, songs, stage prsence, crowd interaction & FUN, FUN, FUN!!!!! Take the GURUS; GREAT musicianship, hard-drivin RR, GREAT tunes & GREAT SHOW. Mix it together(don't have to cook it). Add a whole lot of LEVON, AMY, O'LEARY, O'SHEA. & FRANKIE. Mix that in with a whole LOT of TRADITIONAL BLUES. Their show will be cookin, and light you and your friends up!!!! It is an experience and an adult dose of great music!!!!

Posted on Thu Sep 14 17:06:29 CEST 2000 from gatekeeper.calfee.com (208.11.92.2)

Bud

"I like rap music, and hip-hop clothes."

As sung by Levon Helm in "Free Your Mind" (I still dislike The Band's version of this song, but I do like rap)

Posted on Thu Sep 14 16:30:20 CEST 2000 from sjiassoc16.erols.com (208.58.12.144)

Jon Lyness

Doh! You're right about "Wheel's on Fire", Dexy; I should have said "not a single Band song was SUNG" (but then I still wouldn't get away with it, since Aaron and Marie always come in with vocals at the very end of the instrumental). You get the idea. :) Thanks for the kind words.

Posted on Thu Sep 14 16:25:15 CEST 2000 from tnt3port89.dubois.pcidu.com (205.245.154.103)

Crazy Chester

Hey Corked Hank,I agree with what you said about the 17-25 crowd and their shock/rebellion music from Motzart to rap and I'm a Fundalmentalist Christian to boot.The thing that gets me about all this rap crap is that peoples morals have sunk so low that they actually allow and worship this kind of garbage. There is no SHAME anymore in our society. When I was a kid if you used the F word or any other words that were considered vulgar,you would bring down the wrath of your parents,teachers,neighbors,etc. and you knew you shouldn't be talking that way or there was a price to pay for it. Some kind of punishment or shame was passed out. Nowadays you can spew forth any kind of obscenity in song and be glorified for it and rewarded financially and be known as an artist. When you gonna wake up people? There's this ancient overlooked book called "The Bible" and in the New Testament portion of the book there's writing about this guy named Jesus and he taught people about Love,Peace, (he was actually before John Lennon on this subject),Loving God and treating your neighbor as you would like to be treated,loving your enemies,sharing and taking care of widows and orphans and a lot of other cool stuff. The opposite of all those things and putting yourself before God and your fellow man is called SIN. Rebelling against God. So rap promotes sin. It's the pride of life. Look at me! What can "I" get out of any situation? I don't care who I have to use,abuse, or kill to get what "I" want. There are a lot of people who thought that taking prayer and the 10 commandments and Bible reading out of schools was this seperation of church and state and how proper that was and gave everyone such freedom from those Christian Fundalmentalist teachings but I'm hear to tell ya that it's bondage and rebellion... SIN that we're reaping and tolerance of rap is just the tip of the iceberg. So, while we're all enjoying the reissues in all their carnal splendor I suggest we take the time to explore The Bible even more and get the blinders off.Brother Bob said it right,"When you gonna wake up and strengthen the things that remain"

Posted on Thu Sep 14 16:22:15 CEST 2000 from 1cust111.tnt1.topeka.ks.da.uu.net (63.39.63.111)

Dexy

Thank you Jon Lyness for the great review of a great show. Would have loved to have been there for that one. But, hey -- Isn't Wheels on Fire still a Band song??? That show was billed as a release party for the new Danko (I think...). Was there any discussion of the new CD?

Posted on Thu Sep 14 15:43:23 CEST 2000 from sjiassoc16.erols.com (208.58.12.144)

Jon Lyness

Levon Helm and the Barnburners
The Crowmatix with Garth Hudson
Tribeca Blues, New York City
September 9, 2000 (early show)

I was lucky enough to see the Levon & Barnburners, Garth & Crowmatix show at Tribeca Blues last Saturday night. It was a tiny club and pretty well packed, so your experience probably varied depending on how far back you were sitting or standing...so I will speak only for myself: This was one unbelievable show.

This year I've seen Garth/Crowmatix in February and Levon/Barnburners in July, and as good as those shows were, I'd have to say I felt a certain bittersweetness about them; Garth/Crowmatix because of Rick's recent death, and Levon/Barnburners because of the strangeness of not hearing Levon sing (it seemed like a rather short set, too). This, then, was the show I'd been waiting for...it was a family reunion, and a party. What an experience.

Got there an hour or so early. The club was tiny...and appeared not to have a back entrance...so those of us waiting out on the street were treated to the sight of the poor band members pulling up in cars and vans, and lugging their own equipment in through the front doors! After the opening act (The Bennett-McLaughlin Band) performed and equipment was set up, Garth and the Crowmatix (with Tom Malone) took the stage. The Crowmatix played a terrific set, very high-energy. Highlights for me were Next Time You See Me (with great synth improv by Garth), Restless Islands (where they were joined by Kevin Doherty, who shared vocals with Aaron), Running Out (Marie on vocals), and of course the mournful instrumental This Wheel's on Fire that they've been playing this year (Garth on accordian for a verse). There was a ten-minute-or-so instrumental jam from all the players, that was introduced as a piece written by Tom Malone...Aaron said they would be helping him on an upcoming (instrumental?) album he is working on. The song was sort of an R&B/jazz/rock/blues instrumental...usually that kind of free-form jamming puts me to sleep (hellllooo, Phil Lesh & Friends!) but this was great, very pleasingly energetic & funky. Nice work from Garth throughout the set, though it was difficult to see him through the multitude of musicians crowded onto the comically tiny stage! Some great piano from Aaron.

Between sets Levon passed through the crowd, and they went wild...people were hugging him, high-fiving, etc...it was wonderful & quite touching. Watching Levon's smiles that night will stay with me.

A long delay, and then Levon and the Barnburners took the stage. I thought the Crowmatix were good, but these guys took things to a whole other level...they were truly red-hot. It was great too to see them in a real blues club, with a capacity crowd, as opposed to the comparatively rather sterile upscale setting of the BB King club. The crowd was really into it and the Barnburners responded with a fantastic show. Highlights for me were Chris O'Leary's Marines song, Blues Is a Woman, I'm Ready (a Muddy Waters cover), and just about anything that Amy Helm sang on (Hound Dog, Make Love to You, Just One Look, others I don't know the names of). Towards the end of the set, Garth climbed on stage and joined them on a run of songs...what a thrill to have him together with Levon, and to see him improvising on (or "sweetening" if you will) blues songs. Everyone on stage seemed to be having a great time and it was infectious. The Barnburners' energy was phenomenal.

It was only later that I realized: at least in the early show, not a single Band song was played. Not one. And somehow (once more, I can speak only for myself) it didn't matter. Watching (above all) Levon playing and seemingly having the time of his life, after so much tragedy and after even the most ardent of us Band fans might think that his performing days would be behind him, I can describe it only as inspirational. After a show like that, I can accept that (though I still want him to sing again) we won't be hearing Band songs from him, and that he may have truly closed the doors on that part of his life. Only time will tell, I guess. In the meantime, I will anticipate the first Levon/Barnburners CD...enjoy Rick's and the Crowmatix' new albums, among many others...and treasure the memory of this show. (Just praying my photos come out...I will post them when I finish this roll of film!)

I think every Band-related concert review these days closes with an appeal to go see these guys play if they come to your town. This review is no exception. You know how I feel. You know how you feel. Go see these guys play.

Thanks for listening, folks. :)

Posted on Thu Sep 14 15:21:25 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-084.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.84)

Peter Viney

Bob: Yes, I saw one of the first dates with Van and Linda Gail Lewis – and the single came out this week (Let’s talk about us)- nice bonus of "Singing The Blues" (not on the album). Wavelength magazine reviews all Van gigs and I reviewed the Linda Gail Lewis one in Poole, which might be in the next issue – space is a problem because they get a lot of reviews. The other reviews I saw of the same night were positive, but mine was overwhelmingly negative, I think it’s the worst I’ve ever seen Van live. The backing band (The Red Hot Pokers) were a leaden, plodding group who just couldn’t do anything outside a 12 bar, and while reviewers have waxed eloquent about Boogie Chillun, I thought it was awful beyond description on stage. They play on the new album. The stuff they really had difficulty with on stage was old Van songs where they just didn’t have the flexibility. They lack dynamic on stuff like Shot of Rhythm & Blues and also Let’s talk About Us. Linda G-L is on every track of the new album, and though she can imitate her brother’s piano playing superbly, she has an accent so over-the-top that she would have been thrown out of a "Dukes of Hazzard" episode for over-doing the accent. BUT – let’s face it, a second-rate Van Morrison album is still twice as good as 99% of the stuff coming out, and it’s full of country classics – Jambalaya, Crazy Arms, You Win Again, so, yes, let the lion roar.

Posted on Thu Sep 14 15:20:26 CEST 2000 from twmaine-63-167-210-226.twmaine.com (63.167.210.226)

mattk

Laura,

It's an open mike for any no talent a**hole to spew forth a bunch of negativity and violence..not to mention the degrading of women etc. etc.

Could also be used to describe a lot of Rock-n-Roll...

Posted on Thu Sep 14 14:32:09 CEST 2000 from spider-wi032.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.32)

bob wigo

Peter,
Have you seen any of Van's performances with Linda Gail Lewis , The Killer's little sister ? I've heard she plays a mean piano and she is featured on the new release.
The scheduled release date for "You Win Again" is October 3 here in the states.
I'm always glad to hear The Lion roar!!!

Posted on Thu Sep 14 10:27:56 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-142.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.142)

Peter Viney

Mojo this month is devoted to "Abbey road" but includes "Back to the Garden" a review of the first four reissues by Richard Williams (who wrote well on The Band at the time of initial release, when he was about the most reliable critic around). Though his description of the first two is fine writing, he dismisses Stage Fright (and Cahoots) in a few words. Come to think of it, he may have been the first to knock it in 1970. Let me repeat the words of John Bauldie, (the LP) Side two of Stage Fright is the full equal of the first two albums. As Rob Bowman’s notes make clear, it’s almost a suite on the effect of success on The Band. I’d assumed "W.S. Walcott Medicine Show" was the only one on a different topic, but Bowman quotes RR that the carnival show was also the Band.

The next few weeks look expensive – a new Paul Simon, new Van Morrison, new Eliza Carthy, Taj Mahal reissues …

Posted on Thu Sep 14 09:23:55 CEST 2000 from cf3k-3.paradise.net.nz (203.96.152.183)

Amanda

Believing in freedom of speech doesn't mean you have to like or respect what other people say, just their right to say it.

I agree the rival musicians East Coast- West Coast thing sounds deplorable but lets not forget the music industry has always had a darker side to it. Wasn't it funny in Levon's book when the Hawks went and BURNT down a club where they hadn't been paid?

Even if the biggest names in rap are now millionaires it doesn't mean their audiences are. Far from it. I thought it was interesting what Peter Viney was saying about the lack of an audience for gangsta rap in the UK. In New Zealand its biggest audience is young urban Polynesians. They go to some lengths to adopt the whole "gangbanger" culture. We have gangs in South Auckland called the bloods and the cripps and some of them call each other "N*ggA etc. I don't like it that Polynesians in my own country who are a totally different culture to Afro-Americans somehow seem to identify with a very violent form of foreign music and sub-culture but I don't think it's the music that is actually the problem.

I wish I lived in a perfect world with no misogyny or violence but as long as we don't this will be reflected in art. There's probably more BAD WORDS nowadays but I think less acceptance of misogyny and sexism. I don't like commercialized corporate music so I ignore it. Through the internet I can find out about music from anywhere in the world and any period in history and discuss it with people all over the world. I guess I just don't agree with people who think that things are somehow now worse than they used to be.

Incidentally has anyone who is appalled by rap lyrics listened to any Marianne Faithful recently??? WHY'DJA DO IT? SHE SAID… Read any Robert Crumb? Bought any parrots??

Posted on Thu Sep 14 08:02:29 CEST 2000 from 2cust95.tnt9.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.129.95)

Crabgrass

Amen!! I totally agree. Rap is a valid art form and a reaction to the kind of corporate tyranny that RR is involved in. Finally, someone hit the nail on the head!!

And now, for something completely different...

Posted on Thu Sep 14 07:31:51 CEST 2000 from truelies31.dpo.depaul.edu (140.192.157.31)

Peter Shaw

Rap is no more or less an expression than any other art. It reflects feelings, which may or may not reflect the artists' life. It is as valid as any other music. One could argue for its violence, but inner cities (code word for places occupied by black people) are often very violent, and The Band or for that matter, most white rock acts are incredibly removed from that existence. Of course, we decry to art, but never bother to examine the system that spawns it...say like corporate tyranny, of which I understand Robbie Robertson has a hand in these days.

Posted on Thu Sep 14 07:14:24 CEST 2000 from spider-te012.proxy.aol.com (152.163.195.177)

Stephen Novik

I just noticed a post in the GB that mentioned the quote on the back cover of the Brown Album. I know that it's from "The Darktown Strutter's Ball" and I know that Shelton Brooks is from Amhestberg, ONTARIO. So, there's another songwriter for the thread, and Canadian to boot. I wonder why it was chosen, possibly for just the words THE BAND, possibly because of it's Canadian connection, or, because it's from some ol' (jazz) song that over time has kinda faded away from memory but still sounds familiar, much like the Brown Album itself, TIMELESS.

Posted on Thu Sep 14 07:02:55 CEST 2000 from tcnet04-16.austin.texas.net (209.99.40.205)

Laura Holt Lorfing

I have to agree with Bayou Sam, Lil and several other GB'ers on the "rap thing"..I HATE IT!! I must admit that I don't like sounding like my parents sounded or maybe how THEIR parents sounded about disaproving of the "music of today" thing but the deal is...IT'S NOT MUSIC!! It's an open mike for any no talent a**hole to spew forth a bunch of negativity and violence..not to mention the degrading of women etc. etc. I don't believe that ALL rap is this way but quite a bit is. Look at some of the rappers that have this East Coast vs West Coast gang thing going on. GEEZ...what a great example for the youth of today (now I REALLY sound like an old fart) I guess I see things a little bit like this ...the 60s and 70s were pretty violent times as far as the war and protest marches went but you didn't see or hear of the musicians gunning each other down or wanting to start a "Gang related riot" because they didn't dig each others music..it's retarded!!! I guess it would be nice to hear some of these NO TALENTS sing of peace and harmony every once in awhile instead of the same old same old I usually hear when I tune into the rap stations for kicks. I heard a song the other day that went sort of like this: "I'm getting laid cuz I just got paid and my old ladys sick cuz I beat her with a stick..don't call me a scrub bitch!!" hmm..those are some REAL profound lyrics (tee hee). I don't buy this line some people have told me in defense to it all by saying "Oh these rappers are singing about their hard times..THEIR LIVES growing up and all the hell they have been through living in the hood blah, blah". The way I see it to all the violent rappers out there...you've made your millions..be happy now and rap about something positive and creative. Well..enough prattle from me. I'll get off my soapbox and go to bed now. Thanks for putting up with my rapping on the rap subject!! To Jan: Thanks for all you're hard work ..I for one greatly appreciate it!! PEACE :)

Posted on Thu Sep 14 06:16:27 CEST 2000 from wc1-int2.nbnet.nb.ca (198.164.200.230)

WS Walcott

Sure RP, I remember Barcley James Harvest, how about Family, Gentle Giant and Steeleye Span? All great bands.

Posted on Thu Sep 14 05:54:00 CEST 2000 from pool-209-138-13-209.ipls.grid.net (209.138.13.209)

Bobby Jones

In looking at the new Greatest Hits I noticed that Twilight is not on there. Where will this appear on the re-issues. I also noticed that Acadian Driftwood was included. I remember reading that A.D. had a few more verses but was cut down to 6:40 because it was to long. Could there be a longer out take? Also any thought as to when Warner Brothers will Re-Issue the Last Waltz. A friend tells me they(W.B) are watching the results of the reissues. Could we finally be offered a copy of the COMPLETE LAST WALTZ remastered and cleaned up?

On this rap thing. I saw Rick play at a club in Queens one night. The opening act was a HEAVY METAL group that was way to loud for the club we were in. Rick came out and started to get ready to play, but before he started he asked "What was all that noise out here? Every one laughed and cheered, then Rick said "You know it's noise to everybody, but the people who like it, to them it's music."

Posted on Thu Sep 14 04:42:13 CEST 2000 from spider-wl013.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.23)

Bayou Sam

No, one shouldn't try to criticize something that they don't understand. As far as the rap recordings that I've heard, there isn't much to understand. I was working at a prom last year (I'm a photographer), and was forced to listen to this stuff. There was a song played that shocked and saddened, and angered me. I haven't got a clue of the title, but the lyrics were sung by a guy, who was telling a girl, in the crudest way possible, to shake "it" and stick it here, and suck this - you get the idea. I felt that I had a pretty good "understanding" of what the people involved in the creation of this "song" were trying to convey. This is the feeling that most of the music(I hesitate to call it music) gave all night. What the hell is there to understand? ..................................... ................... Dave Z -I really did like your "restroom" post. I didn't find it vulgar. I found it "real".............................. W.S. Walcott - you're not a twit man.

Posted on Thu Sep 14 04:09:33 CEST 2000 from proxy1.doit.wisc.edu (144.92.44.76)

Ryan Stang

Here's one that Hank and any other musicians out there will appreciatte. Yesterday, after much research, I received via Ebay a 1930's Ludwig & Ludwig 5 X 14 wooden-rim snare. This is the model of snare that Levon used. It's amazing to be able to hear that special sound right in the room with you!

Posted on Thu Sep 14 04:02:11 CEST 2000 from proxy1.doit.wisc.edu (144.92.44.76)

Ryan Stang

GOOD LORD! I have just been blessed with a tape that may beat Classic Albums: The Band. It's a video tape that I got that has the Ed Sullivan appearance, The Weight and Tears... from Woodstock, the "movie cut" of The Weight from Woodstock, the Promo film from The Band (where they're all playing in the wooden room with the dogs), Pittsburgh 1970, Toronto 1970, and there's still a half-hour to go...

Posted on Thu Sep 14 03:51:28 CEST 2000 from dialup-330.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.74)

HANK

Peter Viney.....Yep, I've read that the '66 Dylan Hawks tour was the first Rock tour to carry it's own PA system.............Someone gave me a boot of The Beatles last ever gig at Candlestick Park, 'Frisco in '66. .........wow!!!!!.....lots of screaming, but they were ROCKIN'.......they sounded loud onstage alright but I was surprised how tight they sounded considering what they'd been thru doing those gigs..... McCartney sings soooo powerful on it...George has his guitar sounds right for every song...... Ringo bashing it good'n'hard and John giving it loads of attitude and humour.....great stuff!!!!!........it WAS their last gig and I suppose they kinda knew it too..........What a pity that, like The Band, they got freaked out by the road.........funnily enuff, Levon got freaked out by the road in '66, too........musta been pretty intense time for those guys, eh?........One more thing about modern music...so to speak......someone pointed out here recently about how modern recording of drums is by and large machine driven these days........many modern engineers and producers could'nt be bothered to learn how to record DRUMS properly......this is very telling in the standard of songs or tunes you hear from new artists these days......THAT is Surely a pity.........drums and people playing drums and percussive instruments is at the heart of all good music......when it's sample driven, it may be in time, but eventually it all sounds like the ticking of a clock.....instead of a sound that comes from the human heart.....like Levon or Richard or Ringo or that guy or gal you saw in a punk band last week completely outta time but playing from the heart or Buddy Rich or Stewart Copeland or Moe Tucker.....yeah, yeah, Yeah, it's just my humble opinion...but there ya go........There IS a difference.............I want to make it clear I got NOTHING against Drum Machines or Samplers or computer driven sounds/rythmns.......they are very effective tools to learn from and practise with, no doubt........but that's about it, really............the thing about GangstaRap and Punk and something like Death Metal is that purely demographic......there's ALWAYS a buncha disaffected or 17-25 year olds seeking for the most outrageous way to behave and the latest LOUD music to listen to.........no matter where ya go in time or space........there they are looking out for the loudest, rude, flashy, most offensive way to act........One day it's Brass bands, the next day it's Bo Diddley......one day it's Mozart the next day it's Muddy Waters.....One day it's Elvis...the next day it's Biggie Smalls.......one day it's Janis Joplin, the next day it's Jimi Hendrix..........Jim Morrison or Sid Vicious.......what matters is the songs these people perform and record and how long they last and HOW they keep turning people on......I listened to a Gillian Welch album........she's got a song called "Honey Now Now Now"......the horniest song I've heard about sex in a many a moon.........no swear words at all.......REAL rock'n'Roll stuff......I THINK Jim Keltner is involved in it someway......I sometimes think the modern music industry hates Rock'n'Roll as much as the Christian Fundamentalists of yore..... or of the present........Ah well, gotta go to bed......I'll tell y'all Tell all about Bob Dylan on friday!!!!!!!!!.......g'night all,.........

Posted on Thu Sep 14 03:36:39 CEST 2000 from gdh2-437.twcny.rr.com (24.24.5.55)

Dr. Pepper

He's a Funk, She's a Funk, Wouldn't you like to be A Freddy (Funking) Funk (too)? With all due apologies to Tipper! Watch out for those Crowmatix! They are all over the place!

Posted on Thu Sep 14 03:30:16 CEST 2000 from spider-ta043.proxy.aol.com (152.163.205.63)

Dave Z

Little Brother & Bayou Sam: I didn’t mean to come off soooo vulgar or lacking self-esteem regarding my opinion of the GB role on this website… fan community is probably the better description… I am just continually tickled big pink that there is a place where fans can have a public dialogue on the Band… and the correspondence is participatory and doesn’t have to be perfect, commercial or corporate… having said that… I also didn’t mean to excite the Kooba monkey…

Ilkka The Anarchist: You got me thinking… that this re-formatting is a marketing scheme or conspiracy to keep the afflicted I mean addicted at the PC terminal more often so we can view the new forthcoming website ads… and what’s to follow next?… a Bush campaign ad guy who will quickly fix up the subliminal “RAT” screen to read “Hippies Fork Over Your Secret Sauce”?…

Finally, “Let The Four Winds Blow” is growing on me… I know somebody took a shot at it earlier… and I initially agreed but now… I’m likin’ it… What a wonderful Danko CD… makes me think of the Band in a whole different way…

Posted on Thu Sep 14 02:44:48 CEST 2000 from spider-to012.proxy.aol.com (152.163.204.47)

J Ryan

I just finished Levon's book. This wheels on fire. Loved it and couldn't put it down. Levon is a down to earth nice guy. It is a must read for any rock or band fan. I have only seen Levon perform with the Barn Burner's ( Once in Woodstock and again at the Egg at the capital in Albany NY). Both shows were great. I just wish I had seen him and the Band years ago! I now find myself in the pool house or working in the yard with the stereo up and listening to the Band! So Levon, if you find your way up to Troy, look me up! And bring Garth, Amy and the rest of the Burners! Just don't bring RR! Thanks Jay

Posted on Thu Sep 14 02:16:44 CEST 2000 from host-216-76-151-77.bna.bellsouth.net (216.76.151.77)

Back with no wife in Tennessee

Hey, Funk, what the hell's a Kooba Jalu and what planet did it come from?

Posted on Thu Sep 14 01:51:24 CEST 2000 from m198214191036.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.191.36)

Pehr

funny, I was just admiring the brown re-issue cover lastr night.

I like the sepia tone on that, but it messes up the painting on big pink for those of us that like it

my old brown cd doesnthave the inside photos, (I'd almost forgotten about them) or the quote from the old song, "when The Band starts playin'"

I love "Get up Jake"... (I never really cared that much for the ROA version)

please dont get me wrong on Gore/Leiberman. I abhor censorship. I'm not much for advertising criminal behavior and murder as free speech either.

but as was said, enough.

Posted on Thu Sep 14 00:30:20 CEST 2000 from stjhts18c09.nbnet.nb.ca (142.166.254.14)

WS Walcott

Thanks for clearing that up RP. Isn't twit a British expression? Heard it used on Monty Pythons Flying Circus. Anyway, enough of that. Lets all be nice people here in Band land.

Posted on Thu Sep 14 00:14:51 CEST 2000 from yvonne.fvrl.org (204.119.30.144)

Peter Shaw

I have finally found some complaints about the reissues. First, what's the deal with the slanted "The Band" on the cover of the eponymous CD (brown album)? Also, why are the colors not as bright as on the records? The music, which is the real deal, is wonderful. Somehow they need to come up with the technology that a CD player can randomly add the pops and hisses as if you were listening to a record: to my ears, "The Band" does seem a little off without it. Regarding a comment about Al Gore and Joe Lieberman and views of censorship, it should be noted that many leaders in history have used the morality of censorship to further their own ends. Joseph Stalin, Adolph Hitler, and other totalitarian leaders have supported free speech for their approved ideas, but have curbed it for others. There are only two views on the issue of free speech: you are for it or you are against it. If you are for it, you are for it precisely for the views you do not like. Outside of totalitarian circles, this has been understood for a bit of time. And enough of that.

Posted on Wed Sep 13 23:03:45 CEST 2000 from spider-wm068.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.201)

Terry Cagle

I'm alive and well.....Rumor had it that I passed away. My good friend and drummer for the Cates Brothers, Porky Hill passed away this past weekend. I'm still kicking it with the Jungle Bush Beaters......Terry

Posted on Wed Sep 13 22:40:09 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-012.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.12)

Peter Viney

Hank – excuse me if I do this from memories rather than checking sources, but around the same piece as the Brando quote, there was something about Dylan & the Hawks being the first band to tour their own PA rather than picking up. I’ve never been sure how true this was, because The Beatles had the Vox Beatle amp specially built for their US tour (at a massive 100 watts!), but presumably they still used picked-up PA systems. One of the results of having their own PA was the quotes that they were incredibly loud. Now in modern terms, I guess that your own band carries far more wattage than Dylan & the H awks. So if we were transported back in time, we’d probably assume the remote control was on "mute". But I bet it was LOUD then. Of course, in those days a watt was a watt, apples tasted better and gas was 5 cents a gallon.

Posted on Wed Sep 13 22:25:24 CEST 2000 from m198214176061.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.176.61)

pehr

one last rap thing. I ran out of time yesterday and wanted to get to this. I mentioned that I feel like ward cleaver on this subject. I didn't grow up in southeast L.A., though I have lived in a couple of bad neighborhoods in my day. I recognize that I am not the intended audience, except maybe to offend.

but I am gonna criticize something I can't understand about this Rap Music/ culture. (Bob Dylan has been guilty as anyone about criticizing what he blah blah blah so here goes)

It's the violence (Stupid)- as they say here. This shooting each other, the Biggie Smalls the Tupac and whatever else they condone, glorify, and go out and do. It pisses me off when these athletes go crazy and get violent and abusive and murderous to where I hardly follow sports at all because the thuggery. but this rap culture seems to really go for this lack of respect thing. Recently they tried to have an awards program and violence broke out and they had to shut it down, and I really lost alot (not all) of hope and respect and desire to even put in the slightest good word for them. there is a point you just dont go beyond... you are trying to celebrate, share , communicate, honor, promote, etc. and you come off with a zoo instead.

Equally disturbing, I might add is the Gore/Leiberman desire to legislate morality through censorship. As I think about it, it can get really scary where blatant flaunting of lack of respect can lead us. Rebellion and anarchy I understand to a great point, but I believe you can get so far and really hurt people, and hold your own evolution up, and really damage things in a very real, very serious way.

I'm going to check out some more of this stuff, but I'll stick to the blues for now. Alan Lomax's book describes to my thinking a much more disturbing social millieu to say the least, and a culture that dealt with frustration in a much more dignified way with simplicity, directness, sensitivity, humor, understatement, and irony to name a few things. once again I dont mean to upset any rap fans, but this history of violence makes that music very hard to accept- though I am still willing to try.

The Band, always and always, btw.

peace to the memory of Porky Hill, his friends and family.

best to the Jungle Bush Beaters! I had no Idea that they are still rockin!'

Posted on Wed Sep 13 22:25:00 CEST 2000 from twmaine-63-167-210-226.twmaine.com (63.167.210.226)

mattk

oops, that's Turrentine. Jesus, I can't even get the poor guy's obit right.

Posted on Wed Sep 13 22:23:59 CEST 2000 from twmaine-63-167-210-226.twmaine.com (63.167.210.226)

mattk

Tenor Saxophonist, Stanley Turrentind died today at 66...Stanley was one of my personal influences, particularly is work with organist Jimmy Smith in the late 50s on Blue Note. Stanely broke into the music business by replacing John Coltrane in Earl Bostic's band - a band that also featured a young Ray Charles.

Posted on Wed Sep 13 22:01:34 CEST 2000 from spider-wj082.proxy.aol.com (205.188.198.57)

Joe

Hey Mattman!! The only info I can give you is....DON'T MISS 'EM!!!!!!!

Posted on Wed Sep 13 21:48:01 CEST 2000 from (208.49.128.30)

Mattman

Can anyone tell me more about Levon Helm and the Barn Burners? They are in town next week and I would like to know what is in store for my friends and I. I've seen Rick Danko and Jim Weider at the same place and the shows were fantastic. The intimacy of the small venue is key as well. I would appreciate any info on Levon and his band. You can either e-mail me or post your response in the guestbook. Thanks for your help.

Posted on Wed Sep 13 21:06:34 CEST 2000 from (12.40.113.50)

Funk ( of "and Wagnall" fame)

twit

Pronunciation: 'twit
Function: noun
Date: 1528
1 : an act of twitting : TAUNT
2 : a silly annoying person : FOOL

Posted on Wed Sep 13 21:00:04 CEST 2000 from hud1-pm-11-71.termserv.net (204.97.156.71)

Diamond Lil

Jan: So nice to come home to your 'secret sauce'. Thanks. Keep it comin, ok?

Posted on Wed Sep 13 20:47:42 CEST 2000 from stcatherines-ppp109220.sympatico.ca (216.209.112.151)

RP

hey FUNK, what's a twit?

Posted on Wed Sep 13 20:51:20 CEST 2000 from spider-we074.proxy.aol.com (205.188.195.54)

quincy

i want to add on the rap comments. music always influenced the way people acted peoole protested that listened to protest music, people paried all night that listen to disco, people believed in peace and love when listening to hippie music i guess. with rap people that listen to it act it out when i was into it there was a swagger in my walk tough talk coming out my mouth. it becomes the soundtrack to someones life. now that rap has taken a turn from the worst to worse its all about sex. money and being tough. id take tears of rage over big pimping anyday!!!!

Posted on Wed Sep 13 20:49:24 CEST 2000 from spider-wi072.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.52)

bob wigo

Like WOW Daddio.

Posted on Wed Sep 13 20:46:30 CEST 2000 from (149.160.23.187)

KOOBA JALU

The freakish thing about Bob's cat, is, that it's not where it's at, man. The friendly reminder was just supposed to boost the last thing Frank said to the bumblebee last weekend on his Trip, dude. Also, you ain't got no honey for the bear, baby! You ain't got it!! And I saw your monkey last week, climbing all over your back, buddy. The freakish thing about your monkey is that he looks just like Bob's cat. The freakish thing about Bob is that he looks just like my wife, Beula. Beula bought the ticket that rocketed you to the moon, man, and that was all she wrote! Freddy thinks Frank's monkey is funny, but I think Frank is Freddy's Lapdog. Lapdogs and monkeys and cats, man. That's what it's all about! For sure, the rocks and the rolls ain't spinnin' towards a never-ending swoop of dogshit in the grass, and my momma told me when I was young. She said, "Watch out for the quiet ones, 'cause the quiet ones are all refugees from '68!" Mom was funny like that. She never liked Bob, but she did Frank. In fact, she did Frank every night like the ex-hippie whore she was. Besides, Fred took Frank's monkey to Botswana, or some shit like that, and Bob's cat has been okay ever since. Then, that teen-boppin' beat-head, what's his name, called me on my uncle's nieghbor's phone and told me that I was in the wrong damn house. So I split as fast as I could, wishing I was, like, a goddamned cheeta or somethin'. The cops didn't show up until the 12th, which was 4 days before the 16th and 9 days after the 31st of May. When mom came to get me outa jail, she said, "I always knew you'd end up making a million dollars someday." And I did. But mom took half of it for her crack habit. She was funny like that. So, Bob came over with his cat, and we talked about Frank's monkey and Joe's big white elephant in his living room. We smoked some good stuff, and we drank some bad stuff, and we cried and had a bit of a make-shift memorial for the monkey. Anyway, I'd let you in on a secret, excpet that it wouldn't be a secret, that Joe's Elephant tried to hump Frank's monkey once. We laughed so damn hard, man!!!!!!!!!Joe's elephant was funny that way.

Posted on Wed Sep 13 20:24:28 CEST 2000 from stcatherines-ppp109220.sympatico.ca (216.209.112.151)

RP

Great to hear from TERRY CAGLE. Terry, the rumours of your demise have been greatly exagerated...

HANK: I think the Who have been responsible for several examples of heavy metal... no doubt John Entwhistle is a happy camper... The Band / Dylan and heavy metal? How about "Baby Let Me Follow You Down"...

Posted on Wed Sep 13 20:24:15 CEST 2000 from stjhts18c36.nbnet.nb.ca (142.166.254.41)

WS Walcott

Relax RP. Just having some fun. If I offended you Megan I am sorry. Can't anybody take a joke? What is a twit?

Posted on Wed Sep 13 19:59:01 CEST 2000 from dialup-314.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.58)

Hank

Is The GB The Museum where The Bands Infinity Goes Up On Trial???? HMMMMMNN............

Posted on Wed Sep 13 19:56:24 CEST 2000 from dialup-314.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.58)

Hank

I meant OUTside The Museum.........

Posted on Wed Sep 13 19:53:38 CEST 2000 from dialup-314.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.58)

Hank

So I sez to Mabel, I sez....What's the closest The Band got to Heavy Metal? In the Studio, "The Shape I'm In"???....... Hey! Is it Possible?...... Did Bob Dylan and The Hawks actually INVENT Heavy Metal in '65-'66??...........Marlon Brando is quoted as saying it was the loudest thing he ever heard.......Actually, here's something.........can anyone here wrtiting to The GB actually remember how LOUD Dylan and The Hawks actually were compared to what you might hear today at any random gig or club????........I sorta avoided the "re-formating The GB" thread but I LOVED Jans most recent reply!!!!! Whatevers cool with you, Jan, is fine by me...... for what it's worth........

Posted on Wed Sep 13 19:48:20 CEST 2000 from spider-wm018.proxy.aol.com (205.188.199.138)

Terry Cagle

In spite of any rumors, I'm still alive and kicking....Unfortunately our good friend, Porky Hill, the current drummer for the Cates Brothers, pass away this past weekend. We'll miss him! Terry Cagle

Posted on Wed Sep 13 18:49:05 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-018.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.18)

Peter Viney

Your sons and your daughters are beyond your command … I like that one, Lil. Actually, I think the most irritating and aggressive thing you could to your kids is to LIKE what they’re playing. For some reason, my parents found Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley quite acceptable (and both were "grandfathers" of rap, try The Story of Bo Diddley) but The Four Seasons absolutely excruciating, which might even be why I still like the Four Seasons today. They also found Dylan’s voice incredibly annoying, and couldn’t believe that I’d play his "House of the Rising Sun" when The Animals were manifestly superior.

It’s a bit different in the UK and Europe where rap is definitely not as influential as the drums ‘n’ bass / trance / dance kind of thing. Or at least it gets a much smaller section in stores . I don’t think many people in Europe would feel rap has had (or will have) an influence as great as rock, probably because the lyrics are inaccessible to non-native speakers of English, and some of them to non-Americans. One of the interesting things about "dance" is that the American-British stranglehold on rock has been broken. Some of it is a logical extension of what was going on years ago, and I find Kid Loco, St Germain and a few others very listenable, and will even purchase the odd CD, even though I don’t run on the right fuel for full appreciation of the music. Note that both artists are French. I think there’s an argument that the preponderance of rap has greatly DEcreased the accustomed American domination of popular music because it has greatly INcreased the language barrier – not because it’s dialect or informal (though it doesn’t help when you can’t yet find the words in your dictionary) but because the words are more important than the music. While blues, rock, soul and country were all American forms that reached out to the world, I think rap is too parochially American to do the same, even though it has adherents in the UK (but then Ali G springs immediately to mind- he’s the British comedian who plays the chauffeur in Madonna’s new video). But the French have French-language rap, as I noticed when browsing stores in Paris.

Some "dance" is actually called "R&B" which gives record stores a problem with categorizing.

"I’m looking for the R&B section …"

"Would that be, like Blues-type R&B … that’s in the blues section, or Rock & Roll type R&B or soul type R&B or dance type R&B?

What I find problematic is the computer beat, and the fact that at a distance all you get is the computer bass without any of the other elements being audible. Mind you, muscians tell me there have been more computer drums than you think on records of every type for at least 15 years even when there’s a drummer in the band, but at least they program in a random factor of slight speed fluctuations to make it feel human. Which is why we often fail to realize how often they're used.

Posted on Wed Sep 13 18:35:37 CEST 2000 from dap-209-114-157-238.pri.tnt-1.bv.pa.stargate.net (209.114.157.238)

Mary (bear)

Jan, I'm glad to see the gb will remain relatively the same. I always say "If it isn't broke, no need to fix it." I love this gb and the readers and contributors alike. It is a wonderful part of my day. I may not always agree..and for the most part I learn, I laugh, I enjoy, and things would not be the same without it. Thanks for listening to us. I love this web site. Also, I am going to see Levon in the "Burg" on September 22 nd at Moondogs. I hope to see some of you who post in the guestbook from this area...such as....Amy & Ray, Medicine Hat, etc..Everyone take care and have a great day. Hi to Lil, Calm, Jhwygirl, Acadian Ruby, Tom & Marianne Izzo, Molly just to name a few. Take care

Posted on Wed Sep 13 18:27:09 CEST 2000 from 1cust57.tnt14.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.142.57)

Crabgrass

Whew!! I'm glad there seems to be a technological solution to the GB overload problem. I was all set to organize a resistance movement, chain myself to the website, and start chanting "Up against the wall...!!"

Posted on Wed Sep 13 17:56:52 CEST 2000 from dhcp58207.sunyocc.edu (204.168.58.207)

FREDDY the FUNK

SEEKING DR. PEPPER: DOCTOR, WHERE ARE YOU. YOU DON'T CALL, YOU DON'T WRITE. YES, I AM ANXIOUS TO LEARN ABOUT THE RESULTS OF YOUR MOST RECENT SCHEME. PLEASE CALL! THANX, FRED.

Posted on Wed Sep 13 17:44:05 CEST 2000 from sy-ce-02.free.net.au (202.147.2.241)

Scaping

Couldn't agree more with BWNWITennessee and Hank. Personally I think commercialism is a beast out of control, people are greedy, period; but they also want the new thing to be better than the last, particularly with entertainment: bigger explosions, longer concerts with fancier lighting etc.. The corporations naturally feed this public demand the best they can, but often the art itself isn't really up to scratch, so they cover up its short comings with flashy marketing campaigns and vast quantities of hype.

To me The Band are the finest example of a 'real' band, not just because of their immense individual talents and their timeless songs, but because they weren't overly concerned with what everyone else was doing, and just got down to what they could do best, make records and play their music. Their music alone was enough to make them popular, hence the anonymous name.

What worries me is that these days it would be nigh on impossible for an act to become more than marginally popular based solely on their music. The public, ie the consumer, via the media, demands interviews, glossy smiley photos, nice tits/pecs etc. (Spears, N-Sync), or endless controversy for the gossip rags and tabloids to feed off, regarding private lives (Oasis) or lyric subject matter (the infamous 'Rap' genre), for it to be successful. Yes there was controversy over lyrics in the sixties, but it was more incidental and due to the fact that a large chunk of society was still stuck in the pre-war world, rather than being the product of contrived publicity seeking.

I wasn't alive in the sixties, although I sometimes feel like I was, but I am aware that it was a decade when an ample amount of hype surrounded popular music; but as Hank said, when you deliver the goods, as was often the case, the hype is justified. The problem is that too much music these days doesn't live up to the hype.

As a relative young un, I feel I should try to stick up for my generation, music-wise, but I couldn't honestly try to argue that music is better now than it was in the sixties. Yeah, I know that recent discussions have taught us that its all in the eye of the beholder etc. etc., but IMHO, certainly as far as popular music is concerned, it doesn't come close. Certain acts, like Radiohead and Ben Harper, are fantastic but they are too few and far between.

At the risk of sounding like a political activist, there's a growing feeling among people of my age group, throughout the Western world, that commercialism is going or has gone too far, as has been literally demonstrated in recent disturbances at important global trade or finance meetings. Yes they were protesting about various things, such as globalisation (which I think is good), but commercialism was certainly high on the agenda. I am not supporting or condoning the actions of the protesters that cause trouble, but I just think that these events say something about modern society. The relevance of this is that young people are starting to realise what is going on, regarding the cynical marketing men and their money making machine, and are actively opposing them. My point is that hopefully all this will lead to a renaissance of quality, relatively hype-free, honest music, where acts are successful largely due to the quality of their MUSIC. We can but hope I s'pose.

Sorry about the length, humourlessness and overt political-ness of this post, but you know, once you get started...

Posted on Wed Sep 13 16:41:48 CEST 2000 from stk-pm1-42-170.dialup.slip.net (207.171.230.170)

Guenevere

I too have been philosophically enriched and enlightened by recent posts and now realize that sh*t doesn't really smell bad -- I just don't happen to enjoy smelling it!

Posted on Wed Sep 13 16:39:01 CEST 2000 from cobalt.nextlink.net (206.129.70.172)

Mike

Reissues: After getting over my initial first listen, I have to admit that the new reissue of Pink is amazing. I listened through half a dozen times, then went through both old and new one song at a time, "Tears" (old), "Tears" (new), etc. It's so clear. I just wish the vocals were just a little bit more "up" in the mix. I'll definitely get the Brown Album next.

The GB: I like it the way it is. It's like a community and I like that part of it. Jan, you're the Big Cheese though, so whatever you think is best. I'm sure you'll figure it out!

Rap, Heavy Metal, MTV, Teen Awards, et al: No thanks.

Posted on Wed Sep 13 16:28:58 CEST 2000 from sjiassoc16.erols.com (208.58.12.144)

Jon Lyness

With such interesting discussions going on here, I'm a little embarrassed to bring up the Band...:) but wanted to say that I've just picked up the Crowmatix and Rick Danko albums, and am very much enjoying them. "Restless Islands" has been echoing through my head the last few days...really like that song. I've been working on a review of that great Tribeca Blues show that featured Levon & Garth, and will post it shortly. Have a good day, all!

Posted on Wed Sep 13 16:20:16 CEST 2000 from spider-tq031.proxy.aol.com (152.163.201.56)

Paul DiGuglielmo

Any comments on the cover version of Rag Mama Rag, by Little Feat. I think they do a great job. Also, has there ever been any talk of reissuing the Basement Tapes, remastered, and with bonus tracks? I think they would be a valuable addition to the legacy of the Band.

Posted on Wed Sep 13 15:57:13 CEST 2000 from twmaine-63-167-210-226.twmaine.com (63.167.210.226)

mattk

Lil, you ask the $100,000 question. Personally, I think there are a couple ways to look at it. In a sense, you answered your own question in your last post. Making socially relevant statements is one of music's enduring abilities, as witnessed in Bob Dylan, who himself is often sexist, mysoginist, bitter and angry. Music is entertainment, and it is also a political and social tool for communication.

Every major poltical and social movement of any size has to varying degrees embraced, and even attempted to control music. It's a very powerful propaganda device, but it's also an incredible tool for being subversive.

I think the subversivness is what appeals to us when we're young. In youth, we're naturally rebellious and challenge the world around us. As we get older, we put a stake in that world with our homes, our spouses and our children. We seek, rightfully, to protect that stake. Rebellion has less and less appeal, and even becomes frightening as it challenges that stake.

For youth, particularly in this century, rebellion has been harder and harder to come by. Most of the old social structures have been challenged in one way or another. Some fell, some did not. When you're a kid, you don't want to challenge something that's already been challenged. You don't want to do what's been done, repeat what's been said.

When I was a teen, back in the early 80s, it was rebellious to maybe wear a mohawk, wear a lot of black, or maybe become a metalhead and drive your parents nuts with Judas Priest. It was passe' to be a hippie, and 60s-style rebellion was about as cool as hip waders. The 70s, to us, was a disco decade, and that had been safely killed off by 1980-81. We were left with punk and heavy metal when you wanted to piss off mom and dad. Of course, we were too clueless to realize that both punk and heavy metal had been around for 10 years by that time, but for whatever reason, thanks in part to MTV, that was the most rebellious image we saw out there, and it was embraced.

Today, 20 years later (egads), 80s metal is considered cheese by our youth culture. Punk and Rap have survived, mostly because they've been continually braced by bands through the 80s and 90s. They've kept their "underground" persona, where metal when 100% corporate in the late 80s.

People embrace music that reflects the images they see in themselves in one fashion or another. When you are a kid, with all that energy, and all the chaos of an uncertain future in front of you, it's natural to alternately embrace music that heightens that chaotic sense, or very "safe" music.

I don't know, specifically, why the lyrics of an Eminem appeal to our current youth culture. I suspect Eminem himself explains it inadvertantly. He feels that allegations of his homophobia are exaggerated.

He claims his use of certain words does not reflect how he feels about homosexuals - claiming [paraphrasing] "anyone can be a fag, it's just a word to me." I expect most kids don't take the lyrics seriously as some sort of manifesto. There's something in the swagger that they like and appeals to them.

Posted on Wed Sep 13 14:36:23 CEST 2000 from 130.0102.bun.iprimus.net.au (202.138.60.130)

Nancy

Megan deserves a thankyou for her reality-check message. It takes a lot of guts to challenge the "opposition" in the way she has. Now that she has set a precedent, I'm tempted to take a hike over to the Nine Inch Nails website......

What has been overlooked in this 2-3 day discussion about music then and music now is the generation gap, which has caused a furore since long before big corporations started messing up our world. It seems obvious to me that we parents and our young people have specific roles to play in the partnership of our life stories, and to step too far out of these roles can slow or derail a teenager's journey to independence. For parents to attempt to completely avoid conflict with their teenagers is as futile as trying to stop the tide; growing independence in an adolescent is an inevitable change, and a sign of normal development away from the need for continuing total protection. It should be welcomed by parents, even while they wring their hands and fantasise of wringing their teenager's neck.

I hope that the small measure of annoyance and intolerance towards some music that exists in our house is overshadowed by an overdose of humour and affection, a little like that displayed by Little Brother's grandmother.

Posted on Wed Sep 13 14:14:03 CEST 2000 from levon.hiof.no (158.36.51.54)

jh

ok, ok... you don't want threads (what else could be expected from a bunch of ex-hippies that still are stuck with this 30 year old music :-). But we need to do something to divide the guestbook into smaller "pieces."

How about if I program something that does this then:

• the guestbook stays as it is, i.e. unthreaded, but will only contain e.g. the 20 latest entries at any given time.
• there are links to separate pages with e.g. the last 50 entries, the entries from the last two days and the last week, and then we keep the monthly archives as they are today.

Posted on Wed Sep 13 13:05:27 CEST 2000 from du88-4.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.4.88)

Ilkka The Anarchist

About the NEW GB. - The Norwegians are our dearest enemies in cross country skiing. It was a challenge for me to cook "a secret sauce" for keeping the old gb look. It's this:
Everyone starts a new thread and writes his/her signature as a subject. The gb will have the old look. - However, I'm afraid Jan has a secret cream under his skis and he'll leaves me slipping far behind with my miracle cure :-)

Posted on Wed Sep 13 12:19:19 CEST 2000 from hud1-pm-12-72.termserv.net (204.97.156.72)

Diamond Lil

Joe: From Dylan's "The times they are a changin".

Mothers and fathers throughout the land
Don't criticize what you don't understand
Your sons and your daughters are beyond your command

Your old world is rapidly aging
So grab on to the new one if you can lend a hand
For the times they are a changing.

Indeed.

Posted on Wed Sep 13 12:09:53 CEST 2000 from dialup-077.cork.iol.ie (194.125.43.77)

HANK

HEAVY METAL..........What's the closest The Band ever got to Heavy Metal? Maybe RRs solo at the end of "Stagefright" at TLW..........Yeah?........John Entwistle of The Who compared Heavy Metal to farting. He said something like "Every man likes the sound of his own Heavy Metal".......having played loads of loud, electric guitar myself, I'd HAVE to agree with him.....D'y'know what?....There have been so many GREAT posts lately that I don't know where to begin in thanking people for their views and insights........It's been REALLY GREAT reading.....THANKS.......////// my own two cents........If there's ANYTHING wrong with music today it's this........It's the triumph of HYPE over CONTENT..........Once upon a time, no amount of hype could sell a bad act, nowadays, the hype WILL sell a bad act.........Patsy Cline was hyped and sold just like Brittany Spears but who do you think could sit down in a room with you and REALLY sing a song for you? The Beatles were hyped as much as New Kids on the Block, but they could play and write..........Jimi Hendrix put on a display of violence at Monterey which puts any gangsta rapper in the shade......but Jimi delivered great records and great performances.............it's OK to be hyped......so long as you deliver the goods.......alot of music these days is hyped and because of technological advances, SEEMS to deliver and SEEMS to be of worth....not to mention that the modern media community is enormous these days and when it deems something to be successful, then by golly, it WILL be successful.........Does anyone remember Bette Midler introducing Madonna at Live Aid?..........It was like "Listen, World, you WILL like this Madonna because WE said she was good, right? Got that?"......and so Madonna, who really could'nt sing, at THAT point anyway, got worldwide exposure..........I've got nothing against Madonna and actually enjoy the thing she does when I come across it on TV or radio........same with Brittany Spears.........but it's not music these people are interested in........the music is a small part of what they're projecting......it's a fashion parade, a cosmetic display, a dance routine for all the dancers on contract, a video shoot, a politically correct policy, so they can all give a cheque to tax-deductible charitable organiSA-TIONS!!!!!!!! ( going to see Bob in Dublin tomorrow night!!!!!!!!!).........Y'all know what I mean????..... Good!!!!.........I'm losing the run of myself here......gotta stop......I'll see y'all later......once again THANKS to everyone for providing some thought provoking reading.........

Posted on Wed Sep 13 12:05:08 CEST 2000 from user___3.nf.sympatico.ca (209.128.34.3)

Joe

Here it is. I stuck it up on the wall above my desk when my oldest bought his first rap disc. It's been covered up for a while but I started peeling off sticky notes. Must be from the Good Book what? "Don't criticize what you don't understand."

Posted on Wed Sep 13 07:04:51 CEST 2000 from st-catherines-ppp126351.sympatico.ca (209.226.233.10)

Richard Patterson

Lester Bangs on 'Heavy Metal':

"As it's detractors have always claimed, heavy-metal rock is nothing more than a bunch of noise; it is not music, it's distortion - and that is precisely why its adherents find it appealing. Of all contemporary rock, it is the genre most closely identified with violence and aggression, rapine and carnage. Heavy metal orchestrates technological nihilism, which may be one reason it seems to be running dry in the mid-seventies. It's a fast train to nowhere, which may be one reason it seems to feel so good and make so much sense to it's fans."

Posted on Wed Sep 13 06:38:51 CEST 2000 from atmax-2-40.enter.net (207.16.153.96)

Little Brøther

Well, tonight isn't the night to comment on the charms of "If I Lose"-- but I pledge to be open to future comments on the reissues material as folks in far-flung areas, or who need to come up with the scratch, acquire them. Hmmm, am I at last coming to terms with the concept of a "thread"? Because as a cybertech-challenged guy, I stupidly enjoy the traditional GB format and wish it would continue. But of course I'll defer to Jan's superior wisdom, not to mention the fact that he does all the work! Obviously, I like seeing myself in print on the Big Screen too much to abandon this cybercommunity lightly, no matter what the form. (Pass the plate, I'll gladly contribute.)

Not only myself-- from last night to now there's been a tremendous rush of fine posts that have been a real pleasure to read: MattK, Bob Wigo, BWNWIT, Amanda, Pehr, Pat... lest I get (more) tedious, I'll leave off the litany with Megan. Your words felt like they came straight from the heart. Nicely done.

Dave Z: "I guess I've always looked at this GB area as the murky shadowy subconscious area for us fans to pee our thoughts in... " The GB as a dimly-lit urinal? Hey, I thrive on low self-esteem, irony, and deprecation, but I think you just lowballed even me. The image sort of echoes the rap discussion though-- a variation of "one person's nectar is another's excreta".

BTW, my own exposure to rap & hip-hop (and Wagner beyond "Flight of the Valkyries") is pretty minimal. I have a kind of archetypal rap thread in my head: A bone-rattling, woofer-shredding monotonous pulse and sound effects as accompaniment to harsh doggerel word-strings. It doesn't do much for me esthetically, i.e. I don't get it. I also don't get oversized, ugly "Mr. T" style jewelry, extensive body tattooing, and the mania to insert studs, rods, rings, and rivets in every fold of loose flesh.

Still, as MattK and others so eloquently noted, one can still imagine that there's some redeeming quality to such things. That whole bogus, deplorable censorship bandwagon (for which Tipper Gore was a zealous majorette) that rumbled out of the hinterlands a few years back was filled with well-meaning parents who couldn't imagine what possible redeeming or entertaining qualities Heavy Metal had. It's noisy, it's ugly, it's edgy, and it's sinister! A seductive, diabolical brand of trash brewed and foisted on innocent kids by an unholy, greedy, unprincipled, amoral, cartel! Trouble, with a Capital T, etc.!

And all that may be true, especially about those recording-industry weasels. But it wasn't the whole truth-- there was something there that resonated with listeners, that spoke to their lives, that was worth embracing. And could be outgrown or abandoned without deep psychic scarring. I bet this is also the case with rap.

I remember a period-- before my brother brought a kit from Lafayette to add a stereo headphone jack to our Magnavox hi-fi-- when I'd blast "Bringing It All Back Home" in the living room. At one point, trying to learn all the words to "Mr. Tambourine Man", I would replay it over and over. My grandmother, who lived nearby and would often stop in, used to call it "The 'A' Song", since it began with Bob's nasal "Aaaaay, Mr. Tambourine Man..."

She would tease me: "My God! Are you still listening to that terrible 'A' song? Do you call that music?" She'd shake her head and cluck, smiling as she did. I'm certain that her distaste for the tune was quite real, but so was her tolerance. I think grandma got it about right.

Posted on Wed Sep 13 06:06:44 CEST 2000 from 1cust252.tnt9.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.128.252)

Crabgrass

It's pretty obvious that the idiot who incited this whole rap furor a few days back is responsible for screwing up the Guestbook as we know and love it simply because we Band posters are in a sense way ahead of the currently available internet technology!!

Anyway, I have to admit that after reading a few recent posts defending rap I've done a complete about face on the issue and have just adorned several of my walls with large posters of the late and great Biggy Smalls, the late and great Tupac Shakur, and Puff Daddy (not yet dead). I even went out and bought a few rap CDs to kickstart my collection - at the moment blaring from my stereo is the chorus which I so despised just a few short days ago when I heard it belch forth from a car loaded with rowdy teens - "wHaT tHE f*cK yOU wANt, mUTha f*cKA??" - and I'm rapping along with it and enjoying the hell out of it!!!

Thanks to those who have opened my mind - a good rap is a terrible thing to waste!!! (Incidentally, Crabby Jr. thinks I've flipped and has locked himself in his room with my Big Pink re-issue. I'm gonna crank up the rap and bum him out just for laffs!!)

Thanks for the reminder that Emmylou is on Letterman tonight - I'm gonna see her next Monday and then go out to a rap club afterward just to keep things in balance!!

Posted on Wed Sep 13 05:52:49 CEST 2000 from st-catherines-ppp126351.sympatico.ca (209.226.233.10)

Richard Patterson

sorry... I'm so pissed at Walcott, I forgot to say THANKS MEGAN!

Posted on Wed Sep 13 05:20:37 CEST 2000 from spider-wc012.proxy.aol.com (205.188.193.22)

Bayou Sam

Dave Z - loved your last post.... nothing like a good pee. Some of us even poop in here occasionally - but we usually clean it up.

Posted on Wed Sep 13 05:14:09 CEST 2000 from st-catherines-ppp126351.sympatico.ca (209.226.233.10)

RP

W S WALCOTT: You're a twit... That was the best post I've seen in here in weeks...

Posted on Wed Sep 13 05:12:12 CEST 2000 from spider-wc012.proxy.aol.com (205.188.193.22)

Bayou Sam

Dave the phone guy........that was a great butcher cover story. If you had left the butcher on the original album, you would have what us Beatle collectors call a "peeled butcher" (I've got one of those). The way I always understood the story was that The Beatles were getting tired of Capitol yanking a few songs off each album to be able to create another album to release. When Capitol asked for a cover photo for Yesterday and Today, the Beatles delivered an appropriate photo of them in butcher smocks and covered with ripped apart baby dolls and raw meat(George looks like an ax murderer in the photo). These covers hit the stores and people freaked out. The albums were recalled and the "wholesome" cover that you soaked off was slapped over the butcher. So now, if you find a copy of an original sold before the recall - you're sitting on many thousands of dollars, depending on stereo/mono, condition, etc. A good peel job is worth a good amount, and a "non-peeled"issue with the butcher underneath is valuble too. You can see the picture underneath in certain spots................ .......................... We've gotten nuts in here on music that sucks and all. Of course there are ears for all music, and that's great. I must say though that if I say "rap music sucks" - it doesn't mean that I am the final word on rap music and it will suck from this point on for everyone, and for all eternity. It is this guys humble opinion on rap. If I say "Neil Diamond made the Last Waltz what it is" - you can assume that I mean that it's "my opinion", for what it's worth.All of a sudden people are becoming overcome with guilt about saying they think something is no good. It's just opinions man. That's what makes us human............................. One more Beatle thing - if anyone is into recording session stuff, there was a fantastic book published in 1988 in England called The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions. The author is Mark Lewison who had worked on Beatle related projects for EMI. He was given open access to the Abbey Road studio vaults and did this book documenting every single recording session that the Beatles did. It has the dates, times, and what was worked on and recorded that day. It's a facinating book if you're into that kind of stuff... Imagine such a book on The Band............. Anyway, have a nice day folks - and BTW, even though I think he gets unfairly hammered, I DON"T feel that Neil Diamond made TLW what it was. I was just trying to make a point and be humorous at the same time. Not easy. :-)

Posted on Wed Sep 13 05:08:23 CEST 2000 from stjhts19c02.nbnet.nb.ca (142.166.253.8)

WS Walcott

I think Megan should use spell check. Kids today! What are we gonna do with this MTV Generation?

Posted on Wed Sep 13 05:01:20 CEST 2000 from spider-mtc-tc072.proxy.aol.com (64.12.105.182)

Dave Z

Jan: I like the feel of this GB too... Would it somehow be possible for us to periodically download archives electronically prior to you removing them from the website?... and then you would only have to manage some kind of moving window amount of discussion which was ultimately deleted... and if someone missed a download they could of course buy it from you somehow?... If I'm talking non-sense just ignore me...

I guess I've always looked at this GB area as the murky shadowy subconscious area for us fans to pee our thoughts in... and the good stuff you seem to article-ize and put somewhere else on the site anyway... given that opinion... I then ask you why not remove archives from the site periodically?... In a way I see such a disappearance as being kinda appropriate... and maybe it will help you sell a book down the road...

Anyway, I'm sure you will figure something out in the end... you run a great site in my opinion and I thank you...

Posted on Wed Sep 13 04:38:01 CEST 2000 from spider-tk044.proxy.aol.com (152.163.206.194)

Megan

Hello everybody, I would like to make a comment about some stuff that you guy's have been talking about lately. First I don't agree about what any one is saying about music today. all of you guy's are talking about "how horrable music is today" but it isnt horrable at all! just like Matt K said you guys are just saying rap is bad because you don't like it! I think rap is nice to listen to every once in awhile!! remember everbody has there own escapes threw music. and everybody is talking about how rap has so many curse words in there song's and "they arent putting out any good messages" first in music videos they block out the curse words so you can't hear them! and then on the radio they do the same thing! the only way you could hear the curse word's is if you buy the cd which has parental guids on them so parents know that there child is buying a desent cd. Or if you get a song on napster thats the only way youll hear the curse word's. second of all I don't like how everybody is putting down nsync and bsb! I mean no, they don't have any musical talent but yes they do have harmonizing talent's. but probaly no one in here would know that because you probaly wouldnt take the time and listen to them. ya know my mom always tell's me to try new thing's. I would be the first one to admitt I listen to rap and pop and rock! but my mom try's to get me to take a change and listen to the blue's and The Band. I think you should do that to. Iam not saying to that nsync is better than the band or anything but Iam saying that you guys are dising all these groups when half the time you don'teven know what ur talking about because you dont even listen to them! now Brittney spears I don't think she has talent at all but....believe it or not she is giving a message out to teenage girls (like me for instants) she's kinda saying that you don't have to be stick skinney and beatiful to be sucsesful but when you put ur mind to it and have confidence you can do it!. now Christiana augulera does has a voice but she shouldnt be as popular as she is. she only popular because shes a blonde and shes skinney. but I don't think anyone has any right to say that these people are horrable when u barley even know them and there music! I mean I do listen to The band, Bob Dylan,Rick Danko, ...and all these other great performers becuase they are truly talented but they arent "better" than any of the groups out there! all of you adults now are acting like your parents did when there children listened to there music. Every Genaeration has there own kinda music. and kid's like the kinda music that out generation has. Mabey if you spent time with your kid's a little bit more you would learn to like some of the music today and you would learn that there are some messages. Other times when your just having a bad day you can put on... Oh I don't know....emeinem or somthing and just drift away and relate to some of the words this is my last comment and then Iam out....I know no one in here probaly like's eminem but his next single (stan) take a minute to listen to the word's its a really pretty song and it isnt a bad rap song. My mom who writes in the gustbook listened to that song becuase I put it on for her one day And it looked like she had tears in her eyes. The song is about a obssesed fan that eminem had once who use to write to eminem and he nevre wrote back so the boy killed himself and in the song hes trying to say that if your having a bad times you should get help and that killing urself or any body else is not the answer. well to make a long story short I got my mom to start liking eminem. all becuase of one song mabey if one person listened to different music then mabey one person can change the way we think. Thank you for listening I know you all are probaly saying "eww who is she telling us who to listen to and who not" but Iam not doing that, Iam just telling ya agein that you shouldnt dis music when u barley know the performer and that somtimes you should try new things. bye~

Posted on Wed Sep 13 04:30:06 CEST 2000 from 216-164-192-242.s242.tnt2.atn.pa.dialup.rcn.com (216.164.192.242)

Krispy

Saw Emmylou Harris mentioned in here...nice review of Red Dirt Girl Don!! That's the featured cd of the week on WXPN in Philly!! Anyhow, thought I'd mention that she's gonna be on Letterman tonight. Gonna try to pop a tape in :)

Posted on Wed Sep 13 03:12:15 CEST 2000 from user-33qt8qh.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.163.81)

Pat Brennan

That said, The Miseducation of Laurin Hill is a great album. And, BWNWITenn, corporate greed knows no generational line.

Posted on Wed Sep 13 03:01:50 CEST 2000 from user-33qt8qh.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.163.81)

Pat Brennan

Rap's primary audience is white, suburban, teen-aged dudes. And there's music that sucks that I like. And there's music that doesn't suck that I don't like. Rap reminds me of 60's bubblegum music. I found nothing interesting about the fact that people bought bubblegum music in bushel baskets, nor do I find it interesting that a segment of today's youth market buys rap. Didn't Oscar Wilde say there's nothing less interesing than an angry millionaire?

Posted on Wed Sep 13 02:56:05 CEST 2000 from st-catherines-ppp126351.sympatico.ca (209.226.233.10)

Richard Patterson

I agree with AMANDA. It would be really great if this was an e-mail discussion list. JAN: Maybe you could start an e-mail list and keep this guestbook for comments like "The Band Rocks! - Rich from Ontario". The community that has congregated here is without peer, and I think a threaded discussion board would drain the life out of it...

In the mean time I'll keep hitting "reload" and trying to follow 5 threads at the same time : ).

Posted on Wed Sep 13 02:54:44 CEST 2000 from host-209-214-118-161.bna.bellsouth.net (209.214.118.161)

BWNWITennessee

Okay, all you fellow old people, let's just admit it - basically everything in life sucks today. Most movies are just nothing but plot-less excuses for lots of explosions and stupid computer effects that make it look like someone stuck animation in the middle of a live-action movie. Get a DVD with old movie preview from ten or fifteen years ago - they were so calm and relaxed compared to today's previews -every single one has the same guy doing this dramatic voiceover with lots of quick shots to make it look as exciting as possible, with the sound booming as loud as it can go, accompanied by bass-y, intense music. TV commercials are the same way. God forbid anything relatively low-budget ever gets made. Six screens in a theater isn't enough, now there has to be 23. There are ads on everything concievable; it's apparently impossible for any type of a stadium (at least in this country) to be named after anything other than a corporation. You watch sports or the news on TV and they have to cover every inch of the screen with animation; rather than just showing the score they have to show the player's face, stats, number, all moving around and morphing every ten seconds. Music sucks. Someone like Sheryl Crow or the Counting Crows are considered to be high-quality level, serious artists. Nothing against them, but compare them to people in the late '60s or early '70s. No popular band is capable of creating a follow-up album that sells anything. Everyone has to be in-your-face and attitudey. Cartoons suck, kid's shows suck. They still show the Charlie Brown Christmas special on TV every year, even though it's thirty years old now, but when was the last time something similar was made that was that simple and nice, or even tried to be? I mean, people have complained about the world becoming corporate since time immorial; I've read things from the turn of the century (the last one) complaining about commercialism. But it just seems that it's gotten really, really bad in the last ten years. I mean, I pretty much don't like anything mainstream nowadays. It used to be where you could listen to the radio and hear something popular that was still pretty good. I used to complain in the '80s that none of the bands around then would be remembered in twenty years. Now it seems like none of the ones around today will be remembered in two years. Seriously, of course, there are still good things being produced, but very little in the mainstream, I think. But maybe it'll be a good thing, maybe this generation will get so fed up the the garbage that they'll turn to real art as an act of rebellion, they'll do a Bob Dylan (or a Band). Kind of like Alt-Country, or whatever (which, by the way, is already being assimilated by the majors). Personally, I hold the '60s generation, the one with all the ideals, responsible. After all, the baby boomers are the ones running all the corporations now (I'm only 28, a Gen-X [God], so I can say that. No piercings, though). It's kind of ironic that now all the companies basically try to predict what people will like, then they give it to them, and the people end up liking because they don't know any better. It used to be, with music at least, or I think so, anyway, that the record companies would give people choices and let them decide what they liked. Now they tell people what they like, and a lot of people don't even realize it.

"When I was a kid, we didn't have these fancy-schmansy seatbelts. If we got into a wreck, we went flying out the windshield and smashed our heads on the street, and that was the way we liked it. We didn't have all these medicines, if we stepped on a rusty nail we died a slow and painful death, and we liked it that way."

Well, that's my stream-of-consciousness rant for the day. Now back to more pleasant conversation.

The Guestbook is like The Band - a victim of its own success. Let's don't have a Last Waltz, though. (But if we do, I'm taking Lil. I'll be the one in the baby blue tux with a ruffled shirt).

Posted on Wed Sep 13 02:15:21 CEST 2000 from ip-174.dial.webperception.com (64.7.64.174)

Molly Z.

Happy to say that a pretty good friend of mine just loaned me the book "Invisible Republic: Bob Dylan's Basement Tapes." Can't wait to read it!

Jan, you do whatever you think is best, because it's your website. But I feel that this Guestbook should be just left alone as it is. Anyway, take it easy and have a good night to you and everyone!

Posted on Wed Sep 13 00:50:52 CEST 2000 from m198214181209.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.181.209)

pehr

MattK- another fine post. thanks for taking the time to answer. I agree with what you have to say, and appreciate your list of resources, alot of which I was hoping to be referred to that I haven't heard yet and will be interested in hearing.

I am admittedly very attracted to the cadence, the call and response nature of the rhythms and basic structure of the music, however close to monotony it gets. I do wonder though, in my critique of what I have seen, at the lack of what I would call sensitivity in some of the musicianship in particular, lyrics notwithstanding.

well, I gotta run, but thanks again for sharing with me. If rap really doesnt"suck" i'll be the first person to be delighted, as I am a big blues fan and wish to see the folk/blues tradition alive at all costs, but prefer to see a step that I can relate to .

I do feel like I'm stuck in leave it to beaver reruns sometimes on these issues but have to be honest to about my take on it.

many thanks.

sorry I gotta cut this short but duty calls!, pick it up later perhaps!

Posted on Wed Sep 13 00:43:17 CEST 2000 from www-cache.vuw.ac.nz (130.195.2.96)

Amanda

Hooray for mattk!! I'm not qualified to say what is good about rap(especially gangsta rap) because I don't know much about it & what I do know I don't particularly like. But it seems to speak to and for a lot of people; marginalised people like teenagers and minorities who are angry & maybe rightly so sometimes. If only for that reason I'm not prepared to say it does not have merit.

And lets not forget that The Band were sometime called The Crackers. Didn't Levon say he thought they were performing the music of poor white folk? People who were generally looked down on for being poor and outside the mainstream. In that case, should we be so quick to condemn the music of other people who are poor and outside the mainstream just because its not what we like to listen to?

A while ago I went to an exhibition of prisoners art. A lot of it wasn't what one would call good art. It wasn't original or always that well executed. There was a preponderance of images of skulls and blood. But, it was a good exhibition & I felt enriched by it. I would hate to live in a world where only the educated, the tasteful and even the talented were allowed to make art. I have to respect any effort that goes into creating an art work or a song however much I may dislike the artifact itself.

Good rock bios? I like Mac Rebennack's under a Hoo Doo Moon & I'm just finishing the Real Frank Zappa Book which is hilarious. He has some very interesting things to say about the importance of artistic freedom of expression & he also makes the point that all the grown ups condemned rock 'n roll and thought everyone associated with it was a bad element when it first came out. Now they aerobicise to it.

Of course its up to Norways greatest son to do as he thinks fit. I've sometimes wished the GB was actually an email discussion list so I could file reviews of things I wanted to follow up later & not have to check the GB for new posts when there were none.

Posted on Wed Sep 13 00:39:20 CEST 2000 from hud1-pm-25-85.termserv.net (204.97.156.85)

Diamond Lil

Mattk: I read your last post several times and I have a question for you (or anyone else who can answer it). You mentioned alot of factual, socially relevant reasons why alot of the 'lyrics' in rap are so angry...but I'm trying to understand where the 'entertainment' factor comes into play here. I mean..if you believe in something strongly enough and want to make a statement...make it...but don't call it "music" in order to shove it down the throats of young, impressionable kids. I always thought that music was supposed to soothe..to comfort..to ease the everyday problems that we all have to deal with. It's my opinion that when 'music' is only exacerbating those problems...something's just not right.

Richard Manuel asked "Can't we have something to feel?" Is that what it's about? Music doesn't have to make you feel good..it just has to make you feel _something_?

Posted on Wed Sep 13 00:39:48 CEST 2000 from twmaine-63-167-210-226.twmaine.com (63.167.210.226)

mattk

It's too bad there's nothing free that works similair to Prospero's application on Delphi. I like how it allows you to surf messages by thread, or chronologically, based on most recent submissions. It requires site registration, however, which is probably more that Jan has time or inclination to deal with, and probably would hinder our community as well.

These pages must get huge, and running a process and cleaning errant HTML on a regular basis must be incredibly time consuming. Ideally, we could keep this format, but my guess is we've out grown it, technologically speaking, and it must put a pretty big input/output strain on Jan's server.

My concern with threads, like many here, is that it takes away the interactive nature of things and the freeflow of ideas. In that sense, I'd be concerned that we'd end up being a lot like the usenet group or the Capitol sites, which can go days without any activity. Either that, or we'd all end up in one thread anyway, which would render the whole concept moot.

Jan, is Freeware your only option? Is shareware possibly? I may know of a few decent and cheap alternatives if so. Maybe we could take up a collection?

Viva la GB!

Posted on Wed Sep 13 00:24:41 CEST 2000 from pm4-42.delrio.com (208.246.53.42)

Just Wonderin'

I cast my vote with Lil, although I know it is up to you Jan. Whatever works for you of course!

Posted on Tue Sep 12 23:30:50 CEST 2000 from twmaine-63-167-210-226.twmaine.com (63.167.210.226)

mattk

Pehr, I guess my point is, specific styles not withstanding, what is butter to one person is anathema to someone else. I'm not denigrating your opinion that you don't like Rap, specifically, only that because you don't like does not mean the style is without merit. There are people out there who would make a case, I'm sure, that The Band is not to their liking, that they don't get it, and they find it, I don't know, boring or irrelevant. Obviously, here we would all strongly disagree, yet if that person were to state "I don't like The Band, therefore they suck, we would rightfully be bothered by the fact of such an objective observation were made.

Specifically, I personally would agree with many that the anger in much of today's "gansta" rap seems gratuitious and seems gruelingly monothematic. However, in that very statement, I'm admitting as much that I don't "get" the style - which does not mean that the style is without merit, simply that the style lacks relevance to myself.

The danger implicit in making such general statements is that it by definition closes the mind to the possibilities. A good example would be the style of "trip hop" or "downtempo" made popular by Tricky of Massive Attack or Howie B. It would be easy to generalize the style as monotonous. However, thank goodness for us RR fans that he did not see it this way. By incorporating disparate styles and incorporating them into his own, to my mind, RR has extended one style to the point that it has meaning far beyond the core audience, and even uses it to reach out to Native peoples in expressing his current "vision," musically.

Another example would be in the Rap group NWA or N***a's With Attitude. While the content of their music and subsequent solo albums by members may elude me in a direct sense, when "Straight Outta Compton" came out, I was blown away by the agression and directness in their music - a welcom relief at the end of the hyper-produced, corporate driven '80s. And while songs like "F*** the Police" or Ice-T's "Cop Killer" seemed needlessly hateful and incendiary, the country ignored those sentiments to their own peril, in so far as they were a bellweather for precisely the anger and resentment that resulted in the LA Riots in 1992. If instead of knee-jerking, US had taken the time to delve into what was INSPIRING such vitriol, LA may not have burned, and both Rodney King and Reginald Denny might never have entered our public vocabulary.

Still, while Dr. Dre, Easy E and Ice Cube have not produced work that thematically thrills me, Dre in particular has proven himself to be a kind of production master who has nearly single handedly redefined the nature of what a Rap album sounds like.

Getting past some disturbing content, what Dre does in albums he's produced has radically changed popular music. Even in his most recent, and equally disturbing, content-wise, protege, Eminem, while his homophobia is abhorrant, it's clear to my ears that something very new and exciting is going on under the covers from a musical standpoint.

As much as we decry the milquetoasting of corporate pop via the likes of Brittany Spears, etc, it's album's like "Jerry Mathers" that will ultimately open new doors of possibility in popular music and help keep it vital in our culture, as it should be. This doesn't mean I agree with Eminem's lyrics, but I can't help but be impressed by the musical structures being flushed out there.

Like you, I am a big fan of The Bomb Squad and Terminator X's work with late-80s, early-90s Public Enemy. But lets not forget, the controversy du jour when PE was hot, was a number of anti-semetic comments. 10 years later, PE's music stands as some incredible composition and production, even while much of their content seems dated. At the very least, it provided a platform for society to discuss these issues that were lurking under our collective skin.

Of course, this can be taken too far if we completely ignore the lyrical content contained in music that offends our collective sensibilities. Wagner's opera's were prophetic tomes to the attitudes and hatred that would erupt in the Holocaust, yet the music world was so blown away by Wagner's revolutionary musical and compositional skill, his anti-semetic views were ignored or overlooked (even embraced) by an adoring public.

To write off any form of music that strikes a cord, particularly with a younger generation, has ALWAYS ended in disaster for the older crowd. There's a reason our sons and daughter's like Eminem, Insane Clown Posse, Marilyn Manson, and such. Writing off the music as irrelevent ignore's it's power and effectively buries our heads in the sand to the currents rising and ebbing in our society. Instead of shrugging and walking away, I believe we're better off with at LEAST understanding why we do or don't like something. Personally, anything that really rubs me wrong is always' fodder for learning something important. By embracing categorical bias, all we do is empower the Corporate Music drones and deprive ourselves of the dynamic and society shaping power that music and culture really should be, instead of the series of pre-digested labels fed to us by marketing types at Sony, Capitol, et al.

Posted on Tue Sep 12 22:30:46 CEST 2000 from spider-th052.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.67)

Bashful Bill

to the ever eloquent David Powell-thanks for the Emmy Lou review. To Jan-if u need a guniea pig let me know. To Ruby- Don't ever give up bro!

Posted on Tue Sep 12 22:12:11 CEST 2000 from schltns.demon.nl (212.238.41.164)

Ragtime

I agree with Lil. Of course I agree with Lil.

I don't like these threaded bulletin boards... it won't be a community anymore.

Please please Jan... don't do it... don't you break my heart...

Posted on Tue Sep 12 22:04:45 CEST 2000 from m198214181209.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.181.209)

Pehr

MattK- I always appreciate your posts, but i am one who hinted at the possibility that Rap might really suck. I dont think that this is a ridiculous comment. I just cannot see the emperor's clothes other than the song "Fight the Power" as I mentioned. they all are alike to me, conservative they glorify themselves and sing of death to all others. someone brought up LCD (lowest common denominator) this is what i see and hear all over this stuff. please educate me as to why this doesnt "Suck" because I have heard people talk about it on tv and i'm definitly not convinced. no offense anyone.

Posted on Tue Sep 12 21:49:03 CEST 2000 from sjiassoc16.erols.com (208.58.12.144)

Jon Lyness

Bob Wigo, I second Lil's sentiments: Great writing!

David Powell, thanks for the review of Emmylou's album. Sounds terrific...I will look out for it...

And Jan, thanks again for everything you do here. (I guess I'm just adding to the clutter with this fascinating post! ;)

Posted on Tue Sep 12 21:43:41 CEST 2000 from hud1-pm-21-81.termserv.net (204.97.156.81)

Diamond Lil

I don't know Jan...I kind of like the guestbook the way it is. An interesting, continuous mingling ( is that a word?) of thoughts and emotions...alot of which I think would be lost in another type of setting. Understandably, if changing things will make it easier on you, then go for it. But if it doesn't matter to you .. then I vote for keeping things just the way they are.

Hug oh hard-working, dedicated and fair-minded one (have I sucked up enough? :-)

Posted on Tue Sep 12 21:34:23 CEST 2000 from gw.itac.ca (209.146.161.1)

Bill

Malcolm Burn is no doubt of the Daniel Lanois school of producers, having been Lanois' understudy/assistant for years. Around '80 he recorded as a member of the Toronto post-punkish band, the Boys Brigade. I think he went on to marry Daniel's sister Jocelyn, who'd been in Martha and the Muffins.

Posted on Tue Sep 12 20:56:56 CEST 2000 from jan-hoiberg.hiof.no (158.36.52.15)

jh

Less than two days of traffic here, and we already have a larger-than-100K guestbook file, with Levon..I mean God knows how many active topics and threads. A change is gonna come.

I just found some free software for creating threaded web discussion boards. When I find the time to modify it to fit this site, I'll put up a "test area" for you guys to check it out and test for bugs/ improvements before we send the current guestbook to kingdom come.

For an idea of how it'll function (the "look-and-feel" will be different, of course), see this demo. It's a Perl-based server-side thing, meaning it will also work for Java-challenged browsers and users that turn off Java/Javascript for security or other reasons. The technicalities can be found here.

Posted on Tue Sep 12 20:42:56 CEST 2000 from spider-wj033.proxy.aol.com (205.188.198.33)

quincy

I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT IN THE PROCAL HARUM BIO THEY MENTION THAT IN THERE LINER NOTES THERE MANAGER MADE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THE BAND NEGATIVE ONES EVEN THOUGH THEY WHERE GOOD FRIENDS WITH THE BAND AND THEY THEN GOT INTO A FUED WITH ROBBIE. IT ALSO SAYS THAT THEY RECORDED SOME DEMOS WITH THE BAND.

Posted on Tue Sep 12 19:50:43 CEST 2000 from usr51-dialup293.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.198.173)

G-MAN

Missed the we show in NYC; my old car-really-broke down. Thanks JOE and DONNA(the other Donna), sounds like another KNOCK-OUT show!! PEACE !!!!

Posted on Tue Sep 12 19:43:55 CEST 2000 from hud1-pm-18-78.termserv.net (204.97.156.78)

Diamond Lil

Bob Wigo: Beautiful post! Thanks for sharing.

Posted on Tue Sep 12 19:37:27 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.250)

David Powell

I've been listening to Emmylou Harris' beautiful new album, "Red Dirt Girl", that was just released today. It is her first new studio recording since her 1995 "Wrecking Ball" Grammy award-winning album. In addition to a new label, Nonesuch, and new management, Ms. Harris has taken a new approach in her choice of songs -- all but one of the CD's twelve were either written or co-written by Ms. Harris herself. Always a great interpreter of other people's songs, I believe that her creative involvement in this album's material helps add an extra dimension to the emotional impact of her singing.

"Red Dirt Girl" was produced by Malcolm Burn, who is also a multi-instrumentalist on all of the tracks. Mr. Burn seems to be an adherent to the Brian Eno / Daniel Lanois school of production. As Mr. Lanois previously proved with his work on "Wrecking Ball", this stripped-down, atmospheric approach to recording, in my opinion, really highlights Ms. Harris' rich, yet delicate, voice.

The cast of excellent back-up musicians includes Daryl Johnson, Ethan Johns, Buddy & Julie Miller, Jill Cunniff, Renee Coman, Jim Watts, and Carlo Nuccio, along with Mr. Burn. There are guest appearances by Patty Griffn, Kate McGarrigle, Dave Matthews and Patty Scialfa & her husband, some guy by the name of Bruce Springsteen.

Highlights from the album include the title song, "Red Dirt Girl", "Tragedy" (written by Ms. Harris & Rodney Crowell) featuring the singing of Mr. & Ms. Scialfa, "My Baby Needs A Shepherd", "Bang The Drum Slowly (written by Ms. Harris & Guy Clark), "Boy From Tupelo" featuring Kate McGarrigle on piano & harmony vocals, and the only non-original song, "One Big Love" (written by Patty Griffin & Angelo). In my opinion, Ms. Harris' duet with Dave Matthews on her "My Antonia" has hit-single potential, with the combination of a stunning performance of a lovely song.

Perhaps the following lines from Ms. Harris on her opening song, "The Pearl", best sum up the mood of this fine album: "Sorrow is constant and the joys are brief / The seasons come and bring no sweet relief / Time is a brutal but a careless thief / Who takes our lot but leaves behind the grief." But make no mistake about it, beneath the shell of heartache, sorrow & regret there lies a pearl of exquisite beauty in what I believe is Ms. Harris' best work to date.

Posted on Tue Sep 12 19:27:30 CEST 2000 from twmaine-63-167-210-226.twmaine.com (63.167.210.226)

mattk

Richard, no slight intended on Crimson. I am a big fan of Fripp. The only thing that costs me points amongst most Crimson hardcores is I prefer the two more recent incarnations (Fripp/Belew/Bruford/Levin and Fripp/Belew/Bruford/Levin/Gunn/Mastelotto) over past editions of the group...

Posted on Tue Sep 12 19:21:44 CEST 2000 from spider-mtc-td013.proxy.aol.com (64.12.104.153)

bob wigo

Thanks Matt. No offense taken. Your points are perfectly valid.

Music , the soundtrack of our lives , is a wonderful mystery.A friend who is an enormously gifted classical guitarist once said to me "Imagine the world without the music and it becomes one gigantic cemetery." He's right.

I'm sure when our parents ( and their's before them ) heard "I Saw Her Standing There" pulsating from our tinny AM car radios their blood ran a bit cold just as some of ours does now at the sound of alliterative urban slang over punched up bass lines.

I think back to a night in Manhattan some ten years ago. I (fortuitously) find myself at a party in the Rainbow Room atop the NBC building.The skyline of the city creates a magical illumination through the huge plate glass windows.The room is charged with the energy of a thousand souls in celebration. Champagne, among other things, is flowing freely and the atmosphere alone is enough to intoxicate anyone with a pulse. There is a wonderful orchestra playing and I am dancing with a beautiful woman They break into "Summer Wind" with a recorded vocal by you know who. Now I have been a Sinatra detractor all my life and despise what he stood for and who he stood with--but I have to tell you I spent about five minutes in heaven right then and there thanks to that orchestra , that beautiful woman and that fabulous arrangement and vocal performance. The moment was timeless because of the music.I carved it deep into my memory as not to allow myself to forget the power of music upon the moments of our lives.It may sound trite to some but I have recalled that feeling and that moment countless times along with so many more musical experiences. Each recollection has strengthened my appreciation and broadened my range.If it's good I'm there.

My apologies for a recollection I'm sure some will find mundane.My point is this-- and this only: Listen with your ears and your heart. Move away from that which does not stir the emotions you are seeking to stir and towards the sounds that take you where you need to go.If it makes you laugh then, damn it , laugh. If it makes you cry, the tears will wash some sorrow from your heart. And if it makes you dance then dance with your arms waving and your head thrown back and drink in all the joy you can possibly swallow. There is so much to choose from, so many moments begging for a song.There is so much magic in the music.

Peace all.

Posted on Tue Sep 12 19:09:48 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-081.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.81)

Peter Viney

As was pointed out earlier, "Magical Mystery Tour" was a 6-track EP with booklet release in Britain, and oddly, in spite of being a huge seller, the EP is now collectable, probably because no one was stupid enough to get rid of it. The US LP began to appear in increasing quantities as an import, and the LP was finally released in the UK sometime in the mid 70s. When the CDs were released, it was felt rightly that the US edition was the logical release. The LP had the actual 6 track MMT on one side and singles (A & B sides) on the other … but what a collection of singles. Strawberry fields, Penny lane, All you need is love, Baby you’re a rich man, Hello goodbye. I think it holds together well as a collection.

The Moody Blues: I never used to like them either, due to sharing a house with a guy whose only album was a Moody Blues one circa 1970. BUT I went along to see them with some friends earlier this year (I’ll see anyone once) and was pleasantly surprised. The voices in particular were excellent, and like The Band they used a second drummer to great effect. I went in highly sceptical and came out persuaded. It was a full house (about 2000) and sold out in a couple of days. Like a lot of bands that have been around that long, they can genuinely play. Someone who was possibly weak on guitar in 1970, has probably improved a great deal over 30 years.

Posted on Tue Sep 12 19:09:07 CEST 2000 from cic-proxy02.firstunion.com (169.200.25.141)

Bones

Thanks to everyone who has posted about Garth and Levon playing at Tribeca Blues. I hate that I missed it. What did they play together? How was it billed?

Posted on Tue Sep 12 18:57:55 CEST 2000 from stcatherines-ppp109206.sympatico.ca (216.209.112.137)

Richard Patterson

I like the Muddy Boots, uh sorry, Moody Blues in their r&b days. Bessie Banks did a better version of "Go Now" (talk about fake stereo... ouch!), but their mid-sixties singles like "I Go Crazy" (yes, believe it or not the Moody Blues covered James Brown), and "Bye Bye Burd" (Willie Dixon?) really kicked out the jams. Dennie Lane and Mike Pinder penned a couple of good tunes too. For a brief moment they were worth mentioning in the same breath as the Animals, Manfred Mann and the Who...

Anybody remember Barclay James Harvest?

W S WALCOTT: I didn't forget 'Magical Mystery Tour'... it wasn't released in the U.K. in the lp version we North Americans know until the late seventies... but I did forget the 'Yellow Submarine' soundtrack... it appeared in the U.K. at the same time and in the same format (one half George Martin instrumentals) as the U.S. version, between 'The Beatles' and 'Abbey Road'.

MATTK: What was the point you were making about King Crimson?

Posted on Tue Sep 12 18:15:26 CEST 2000 from spider-wn053.proxy.aol.com (205.188.197.173)

Donna

Went to see Tribeca Blues, on Satuday night. As we approached the club I noticed Garth standing outside talking to this other couple. I was so surprised to see him standing right outside wearing jeans and a baseball cap. I said "hello" to him and he came right over and talked to us for about ten minutes. He is so laid back and down to earth. The club was packed, and I was lucky enough to get next to the stage. The show was awesome! The Crowmatix and the Barn Burner's were great. The best part for me was seeing Levon and Garth up on stage at the same time. It was a show that I will not soon forget!

Posted on Tue Sep 12 18:14:15 CEST 2000 from (12.34.17.217)

Johnny Flippo

Bravo MattK. Bravo. I guess that I was blessed with parents who _never_ questioned my listening, but were always interested, if not in agreement. I try to be the same with mine and though it is a challenge at times, I've learned a lot and have even been turned on to stuff I would never have given a hoot about (hello Wycleff, Neneh Cherry, Trent, De la Soul, The Roots, Speech, et al.) BTW, "Whoops...I Did It Again", pure pop for dumb people -- that's me. I've always been a sucker for a good hook.

Posted on Tue Sep 12 17:57:20 CEST 2000 from twmaine-63-167-210-226.twmaine.com (63.167.210.226)

mattk

Sorry, Bob, no desire to offend. In point of fact, it was (probably) an ill-advised attempt at irony. One man's pretentious, middle-aged and irrelevent rock band is another's authentic remeniscence of times past.

I've always been bothere by the tendency in the GB to render any form of music, e.g. Rap, Punk, what have you, as musically bankrupt ("oh those kids") at the expense of glorifying their own tastes. Perhaps reversing the logic here to show the folly and rudeness of applying objective statements to subjective tastes makes my point as well as yours.

To those who persist in making such ridiculous comments, please note:

1. Rap does not suck, you just don't like it.
2. Punk is not worthless, it has no worth to you.
3. When you disdain the music that kid's are listening to, you sound just like your parents.
4. All music, if it touches someone and has value to them is relevant, whether you personally approve of the message, execution, or what have you. I don't doubt that Metallica would sound awful on "Backdoor Man." But I doubt the Band, even in their heyday, could pull off "Seek and Destroy."

Instead of simply railing against Marilyn Manson, Eminem, etc, wouldn't it be more productive to try to understand WHY your kid digs them? Seems like a great opportunity for some teaching and learning by both parent AND child.

All that said, I will whole-heartedly agree with Pat's assertion that we've lost something in pop music today. Not so much in the music itself, but in the ACCESS or lack thereof to open-format radio.

After all, "oops I did it again" really any more commercial and pre-chewed than "seasons in sun?" or "don't sleep on the subway" or "midnight at the oasis?" (btw, happy b-day Maria, we KNOW you can sing so you're forgiven). The problem seems to be that packaging, MTV, marketing "synergy," and corporate consolidation make categorization all the more powerful.

When the history of 20th century music is written, the second-half of the century will be dominated by discussion of two forms - Rock and Roll and Rap. Both emerged as a style that connected with their respective generations to the fear of their parents. Both were eventually co-opted and diluted by the major labels, which mistook rebellion for crassness, energy for violence, and anger for hatred.

Peace

matt

Posted on Tue Sep 12 17:38:45 CEST 2000 from 56k-la-01-26.dial.qnet.com (209.221.212.89)

Dave the Phone Guy

Bayou Sam,

What do you mean when you said the "butcher" cover to Yesterday and Today was a collectible?

When that album first came out in California my brother and I heard there was another cover photo underneath.We soaked the cover with the photo of the Beatles around the open trunk until it could be peeled off.Low and behold, under the trunk cover was the butcher photo.The cardboard was a little worse for wear so we transferred the butcher cover to a Winter Nationals Drag Race album.(no kidding,an album with just drag race sounds)I've still got it.

Posted on Tue Sep 12 17:37:08 CEST 2000 from gw.itac.ca (209.146.161.1)

Bill

mattk: I'm making this up as I go along, but I think we can intuitively distinguish great "art" rock 45s from great "dance" rock 45s. You slag Trevor Horn, but the Buggles' "Video Killed The Radio Star" is certainly in my top five in the former category (along with "The Stones I Throw", "The Weight", "Half-Closed Eyes" by Kensington Market and "You Make Me High" by Luke and the Apostles). In the latter category there'd be things like "Runaround Sue" by Dion, "Do You Love Me" by the Contours, "Good Lovin' by the Young Rascals ...

Posted on Tue Sep 12 16:45:48 CEST 2000 from (208.218.212.250)

David Powell

For better or worse, the Beatles were label mates with The Band on Capitol here in the States. Of all the liberties Capitol took with the Beatles' recordings, perhaps the most egregious was what they did with the actual sound of the tapes. All of the early Beatle sessions were recorded in mono by George Martin. As Mr. Martin related in an interview with Michael Fremer in the July/August issue of "Listener" magazine, he used a two-track stereo machine and recorded twin mono tracks, putting the voices on one track and the backing on the other. He would later mix them down in mono, keeping the vocals "forward" in the mix in order to give them "plenty of impact". He used this method because he didn't have true multi-track equipment until they finally got a four-track machine in 1965.

Capitol's arrangement with EMI was that they would send over for the Beatles' masters in England. What they did, according to Mr. Martin, was take the two-track mono tapes before his final mix, without his knowledge or permission, and electronically reprocessed them in stereo with added reverb. On the first Beatles album released by Capitol, they even had the nerve to print "Produced in America by Dave Dexter" on the cover. Mr. Dexter, of course, had nothing to do with the actual recording sessions. All he did was take credit for the stereo reprocessing. Needless to say, Mr. Martin was not happy with this situation. As he recounted to Mr. Fremer, he didn't find out what Capitol was doing with the recordings until afterwards, when it was too late to do anything about it. What horrified him even more was that most people got used to this stereo effect and "loved it!"

Posted on Tue Sep 12 16:35:28 CEST 2000 from spider-tk063.proxy.aol.com (152.163.206.203)

bob wigo

Isn't it a grand view from up here on our golden perches ? I'm not a fifty-something quite yet but we are all entitled to our memories and the music that accompanies them. I'm certain that has a lot to do with why we all stop here so often.

My experience has taught me that it is best not to look down my nose at someone else's success. Surely we must have learned by now that all of the music has ears anxious to hear it.

Posted on Tue Sep 12 15:42:00 CEST 2000 from twmaine-63-167-210-226.twmaine.com (63.167.210.226)

mattk

Hmmm, lumping Floyd in with the Moody Blues is like lumping Yeats in with Wordsworth because their both poets. Floyd, like King Crimson, Gabriel-era Genesis, 801, etc are by definition pretensious. After all, they are "art rock," and prone to wearing their intellect on their sleeves.

The question should be, is the intellect of any interest? In the case of Floyd, for my money, it's an emphatic yes (I'm not counting anything that came after Roger Waters' departure, though I do like Gilmour's guitar playing).

For my money, the Moody Blues are an act that aging promoter signup to do a yearly gig with the local symphony so a bunch of suburban 50-somethings can reminisce about the time they dropped Acid when they caught the same band at the state fair in '70. If Crimson is a the pinnacle of both art rock execution, then the Moody Blues are the corporate bottom feeders, ranking below even ELP or [insert name of Trevor Horn project here].

(Author's Note: Pardon the generalities at the expense of humor here, but I'm feeling Crabby today)

I think I'm going to hang out with Hank in the bee-loud glade over yonder...

Posted on Tue Sep 12 15:37:44 CEST 2000 from spider-tk063.proxy.aol.com (152.163.206.203)

bob wigo

Hank,

"Go Now" ????

Posted on Tue Sep 12 12:10:51 CEST 2000 from dialup-101.cork.iol.ie (194.125.43.101)

Hank

WS Walcott............thanks for your reply.............I caught the Johns Lodge bit, too..........very funny!!.....I can't get over the never-ending Beatle rants that rage here.........both bands, The Band and The Beatles, really paid their dues..........I guess The Beatles have the edge 'cos they were really on their own, unlike the Band, who had Ronnie Hawkins to guide 'em in their formative years........but it's amazing to hear people like George and Ringo talk in total awe of The Band.........well, anyway, here's something.......I got on an Irish Radio station the other day.....I was quoted as saying "Oasis would'nt know Rock'n'Roll if Chuck berry came up and bit them on the ass".........I sorta like a coupla Oasis songs but in general I think they are a massive PLOT on behalf of The Military-Industrial-Entertainment Complex to discredit EVERYTHING The Beatles and John Lennon, in particular, ever did...........I've got more thoughts on that, but I'll hold my peace until I get some feedback........plus, I just got up and what am I doing tapping this stuff into my computery box before the first cup of coffee even????........I will arise and go now................

Posted on Tue Sep 12 09:17:47 CEST 2000 from well.health.nb.ca (207.179.181.34)

WS Walcott

Hey Hank, IMHO The Moody Blues are pretentious and boring. Just thought I'd give you some feedback on your query. You can throw in Chicago, Pink Floyd, and Fleetwood Mac as well. Many years ago there was a pretty good blues band called Fleetwood Mac. Whatever happened to them?

Posted on Tue Sep 12 09:02:51 CEST 2000 from well.health.nb.ca (207.179.181.34)

WS Walcott

Has anybody read the Chuck Negron bio "3 Dog Nightmare?" I'm no 3 Dog Night fan but have heard the book is supposed to be quite good. Maybe we can start a new topic - best and worst rock bios. I haven't read that many but among the worst I've read are: The Lives of John Lennon, Goimg Down With Janis, No One Here Gets Out Alive, Lennon Remembers, Up and Down With The Rolling Stones. The best - come to think of it I haven't read any good rock bios. I did enjoy A Spaniard in The Works and In His Own Write, 1960s poems and stories by Mr. Lennon. Haven't read Levon's book yet. Maybe it will make my good list.

Posted on Tue Sep 12 08:19:23 CEST 2000 from ip8.houston13.tx.pub-ip.psi.net (38.27.213.8)

Michael Shiloh

Hey, the first rap song I ever heard was when I was 8 -- "Subterranean Homesick Blues" by Bob Dylan, just before he signed on with The Band (or was it the other way around?).

Posted on Tue Sep 12 07:16:15 CEST 2000 from h123.n-c6ac1f.sac.verio.net (198.172.31.123)

Richard Whelan-Stevens

Actually, the "Yesterday and Today" cover was not intended as a protest to Capitals's American repackaging, although it that is often reported. In fact, those and several other offbeat photos were taken months before by an avant garde photographer in an unrelated photo shoot. Somehow, Capital got ahold of the pictures and used it without the Beatle's permission. There is a website which details the whole affair whose UL escapes me. For the record, my favorite Beatle album would be REVOLVER, which just might be the best album of the rock age, although PEPPER, the WHITE ALBUM, ABBEY ROAD, RUBBER SOUL and HARD DAY'S NIGHT are right behind...Regarding the rap comments: I really hate the stuff. You really can't compare the lyrics to The Band or Robert Johnson, or even the most sexist and violent rock bands like the Stones. The only thing that would compare to rap lyrics is the hardest core thrash metal like Slayer or WASP. That stuff is very hardcore for rock, but almost all rap lyrics are that bad. Artists like Bob Marley, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye were able to deal with the grim realities of the ghetto, but find something redemptive, transformative and healing. Most rap music just celebrates and glorifies violence and carnage. Oh yeah, I know that there are a few rap acts that aren't like that, and even a few that actually play their own instruments (what a concept). But overall I am tempted to say that rap is to music what pro wrestling in to sports, except that's unfair to wrestlers, who after all are fine atheletes.

Posted on Tue Sep 12 06:13:29 CEST 2000 from well.health.nb.ca (207.179.181.34)

ws walcott

I see my post about jazz died a quick and painless death but the rap hip hop thing really got a lot of mileage!

Posted on Tue Sep 12 06:07:49 CEST 2000 from well.health.nb.ca (207.179.181.34)

ws walcott

BTW Richard Patterson, you forgot Magical Mystery Tour.

Posted on Tue Sep 12 05:56:02 CEST 2000 from ppp7575.on.bellglobal.com (206.172.191.63)

Richard Patterson

Please Please Me, With the Beatles, A Hard Day's Night, Beatles For Sale, Help!, Rubber Soul, Revolver, A Collection of Beatles Oldies, Sgt. Pepper, The Whitey (sorry) White Album, Abbey Road, Let It Be...

That's the running order of British Beatles releases, and to my mind THE way to collect Beatles music... The mid-seventies 'The Beatles 1967-70' anthology is even more significant in the U.K. than here because it is the first appearance of singles like "Stawberry Fields Forever", "Hey Jude", and "Revolution" on 33 1/3. Also, the version of "Get Back" is the single take... w/ the cool outro...

PAT BRENNAN: nice post... To whoever posted a bunch of Beatles songs and asked if they were "Pop Music"... Yes they are... "Pop" stands for popular... at one time Procol Harum, the Rascals, the Who, Cream, and Dylan were all pop music... unfortunately (as Pat B. points out), the currency has been debased...

Posted on Tue Sep 12 05:35:28 CEST 2000 from spider-wk073.proxy.aol.com (205.188.198.183)

Dave Gouck

Saw Steve Forbert at the Tin Angel in Phila. last night. The last time I was there was in Nov. to see Rick Danko which unfortunately turned out to be one of his last performances. I left my friend's wedding reception early to see the show. I was glad I did. I had a chance to say "hi" to Rick, I even gave him my Elvis tie. So naturally I was thinking about Rick and the fine show he put on as I watched Steve Forbert. I was very moved when Steve went into a new song he had just written in tribute to Mr. Rick Danko.

Posted on Tue Sep 12 05:18:18 CEST 2000 from dialup-379.cork.iol.ie (193.203.148.123)

HANK

I like The Moody Blues......always kinda have......nowhere as great as The Band, of course....but I like 'em just the same.........I betcha there's a few of y'all who love and loathe 'em........did The Band and The Moodies ever play the same festivals, hang out drink'n'drug together?.......I guess not......it's not in Levons book..........BTW, I was only half serious with the "Lettuce Prey" thing......I's just trying to join in on the general drift of conversation here...........

Posted on Tue Sep 12 04:50:22 CEST 2000 from spider-wc014.proxy.aol.com (205.188.193.24)

Bayou Sam

Help!

Rubber Soul

Yesterday and Today

Revolver

Sgt. Pepper

Magical Mystery Tour

The Beatles(white album)

Yellow Submarine

Abbey Road

Hey Jude

Let It Be

This is the order of U.S. releases from Help! on up. Yesterday and Today, and Hey Jude were not U.K. releases. They were the American record companies effort to squeeze more money out of us. Mystery Tour was an "ep" in England, Here, it was baisically a collection of singles - as was Hey Jude.When they re-released all the Beatles work on CD it took awhile to get used to some of the albums in the form that the Beatles released them everywhere but here. It was from Sgt. Pepper on, that they put collective foot down and said that the albums got released the same everywhere. It was Capitols antics that prompted the famous "butcher cover" for Yesterday and Today which is one of the ultimate Beatles collectables........................................ When Robert Johnson recorded his songs, he was singing about the hard realities of his life experiences. I'm sure he did it because it felt good to sing it and people he played for related to it. He probably wasn't thinking about how he could shock the music world and make a cool video to impress the kids and sell a ton of cd's. He wasn't going after the young , impressionable, music buying kids. This is the difference, IMHO, between Robert Johnson and todays rap stars. You can't compare the two....... I just shake my head when a car goes by (as Crabby said recently), and these horrible, violent, filthy, valueless, lyrics come spewing out of it. I think of John Lennon writing "In My Life", and I wonder how it evolved to this.

Posted on Tue Sep 12 04:22:56 CEST 2000 from user-33qt8jd.dialup.mindspring.com (199.174.162.109)

Pat Brennan

It's called style, aplomb, touch, feel, swing. It's the difference between art and bullshit, between Taxi Driver and Rambo, between Public Enemy and Eminem, between Fast Times At Ridgemont High and American Pie. It's why Long Black Veil enlightens the human condition and the Thong Song debases it. But note: rap/hip-hop careers are only marginally longer than those of the 60's bubblegum groups, which isn't as ironic as it seems, given that they both market to the LCD of the most malleable segment of society.

Too bad, though, for them. Back when I was fifteen, long before corporate America put its stranglehold on rock, I would hear Procol Harum, the Rascals, the Who, Cream, Dylan (among a million others), all blasting out of the radio speakers everywhere. That's what most kids were listeneing to because the corporations had no control over the content. Now, only music with the LCD makes it to the airwaves, marketed like toilet paper for the masses.

A good friend and former tour manager works for a big tour support organization. Much to his chagrin, he's out with a boy band doing a mall tour. They can only dance and lip-sync, much like Milli Vannili, much like everything the Grammy's now trumpet. What happened, Hollywood? Why strip Rob and Fab of their little trophy when that's all you produce now?

Make some roon on the porch, Gramps. I'd rather be here anyway.

Posted on Tue Sep 12 04:09:20 CEST 2000 from spider-ta071.proxy.aol.com (152.163.205.76)

Joe

Hey Bashful! I think your right on the swimming, but its the boxing we have to be careful with. I hear they've got a ringer....a kangaroo in boxing trunks.

Posted on Tue Sep 12 04:02:33 CEST 2000 from mat-17-6.enter.net (207.16.158.108)

Little Brøther

-- Like Billy Preston, forgotten but not gone! I'm riding-- or getting ridden by-- a streak of work-related mayhem, chaos, and dirty-dealing, and the bad luck seems to be metastasizing. For instance, my set of the Reissues were MIA for over a week in my apartment manager's office…

-- But before I get to that, a belated thanks to Laura for her photo-tour of Band country. We may yet see the day of Band re-enactments, when appropriately hirsute enthusiasts dress up in period Band wardrobe and re-enact Great Moments in Band History, even spurious ones like Garth bringing down the heavens at Watkins Glen!

-- Anyway, once I pried the reissues from my landlord's clutches, I soon found that my ears were far bigger than my-- um, music belly? I expected to rush through all four reissues, piled by my CD player like a plate piled with too much of everything when you're really hungry at a really good buffet. Or smörgåsbord, if you prefer.

Instead, I find myself drinking them in s-l-o-w-l-y-- this may be because of the aforementioned drain on time and energy, but it's not a bad approach. A tip of the hat to those venal, scumsucking, squamulous parasites at Capitol for at last managing to achieve the rich, full, crisp, clear, vibrant sound worthy of the music!

To back up to the Markedly Unimpressed Department: The Orangina Effect on the Big Pink cover is surely unnecessary and perverse; they might as well have titled it, "Music From (The) Big Peach". And I join with those who shuddered a bit at the extent to which the liner notes relied on the Gospel of Robbie; I too would have preferred a more Synoptic point of view. A certain someone might sneak up on RR and loosen his lug nuts if he isn't careful…

Still, the music is glorious. I agree with the view that the out-takes were correctly taken-out, but luckily I find that I'm able to suppress the comparative view and just delight in the alternate takes as if they were early live performances. Even as sound-check, dress-rehearsal takes, the Band magic was so vibrant! Rick's bass roller-coasting and chuckling on "Yazoo"; those superlative interstitial interludes on the draggier "Tears of Rage", when the instruments surge, mix, and roll like a wave cresting and falling in a sparkling shower of rainbow iridescence. I can actually feel the foam breaking and swirling around my heart, every time. And I'm only up to "Orange Juice Blues"! I can't believe everyone just wolfed them all down and, well, rolled over and went to sleep! I need to talk! I need to cuddle, dammit, even if I am the man. (sob)

Oh, and the Wilonsky article was OK, except for the gratuitous slam on Peter V. and, by inference, the rest of us who appreciate and enjoy his work. (Although the "Phoenix New Times" probably gained at least one new subscriber I can think of.) The slam was tacked-on as a cheap rhetorical ploy to capture the really discerning readers, the true cognoscenti who know what it is to Live in the Present and Be About the Music. Who do you think you're playing with, ya self-serving pissant? Kids?

PS-- I'm glad the rap thing kind of worked its way around, 'cause for a while there I was beginning to feel like Grandpa Simpson sitting on the porch of the Springfield Retirement Home, alternating between senile moralizing and mooning over a medley of Broadway hits from "Kids!" (Bye-Bye, Birdie) to "My Favorite Things". Now let's all sing a few select verses from "Black Mountain Blues" (Dave van Ronk, Smithsonian/Folkways SF 40041):

Well, it's on Black Mountain / Where a child will spit in your face (2X)

All the babies cry for whiskey / All the birds sing bass…

Well it's on Black Mountain / Can't keep a man in jail (2X)

If the jury finds you guilty / Judge will go your bail

--- Final verse, after the "sweetest girl in town" meets "a sweetback man" and throws the narrator down

Goin' back to Black Mountain / Me 'n my razor 'n my gun (2X)

Gonna cut her if she stands / Shoot her if she runs

Posted on Tue Sep 12 02:55:40 CEST 2000 from spider-wg063.proxy.aol.com (205.188.196.48)

Bashful Bill

Nice work, Joe! In my opinion, not only does Nancy deserve such an honor due to her always intelligent, positive & thought-provoking posts, but this is the perfect time for promoting good relations between our two countries. Having said that, however, our swimming team is gonna kick Australia's swimming teams collective, um, butts! (;

Posted on Tue Sep 12 01:00:08 CEST 2000 from spider-wc062.proxy.aol.com (205.188.193.47)

Amy Jo & Ray

Just got back last night after seeing 2 GREAT shows Friday & Saturday nights. Friday night, saw Jim Weider and the Honky Tonk Gurus at the Pattenburg House. These guys are hot-hot-hot.... They really click & they had the dance floor filled...a great evening of Excellent music! Randy - thank you; you learned from the best & are quite gracious. We look forward to you guys getting the recognition you all deserve!!! Saturday it was off to the Big Apple.... Tribeca Blues was Packed & the crowd got their moneys worth in our humble opinion. The Crowmatixs and the Barn Burners deserve the support of all Band fans.... These are 2 living, breathing & forward moving groups.... We bought The Crowmatixs latest cd and it was great to hear some songs performed live.... It's also apparent the Barn Burners are putting in time & hard work in cutting their cd... They get better and tighter as a group everytime we see them.... thanks to all you guys, especially Pat & Levon for all their extra time and attention.... Can't wait to see younz when ya hit PA & Cleveland....

Posted on Tue Sep 12 00:27:23 CEST 2000 from spider-th084.proxy.aol.com (152.163.213.84)

Bashful Bill

WARNING: there is absolutely NO point and probably no real value to this post. Due to work obligations and a strange schedule which we somehow make work in our house, I often don't get to check in with Jan's excellent website from Fri evening until Mon evening(or late afternoon like now for instance) When this happens, I always wonder what I'll be met with. It's rare that Jan doesn't have something on What's New-today yet another article on the reissues(haven't read it yet). The GB-I will find anything from high drama to new news (a wedding from one of the regulars,congratulations Laura; a death in the far-flung Band family, sympathies to the family & friends of the Cate Bros. drummer) to new threads & continuation of some old ones. Today it took me almost an hour to scroll through all I was behind in, I read almost all posts completely, scanning only a few. I guess maybe there IS a point-the Gb is one of the things I look forward to catching up on after a hard 3 days at work. Also a request: will you lucky people who were at Tribeca a couple nights ago please fill us not so lucky ones in?

Posted on Mon Sep 11 23:37:04 CEST 2000 from spider-we043.proxy.aol.com (205.188.195.38)

Joe

Hey G-Man I was down at Tribeca Blues Sat. nite. Great show as usual!!Garth joined Levon & the Barn Burners for a coupla tunes. Along with Tom "Bones" Malone. Place was packed!! I was lucky enough to get Levon, Garth and the Barn Burners and a few others to sign a copy of "This Wheels On Fire" For our friend Nancy in Australia. Right Nanz!!!!!

Posted on Mon Sep 11 21:51:22 CEST 2000 from (206.191.15.194)

Bill

Amanda: you may be the only person here whose favourite Canadian group appears NOT to be the Band! (Not that there's anything wrong with that.)

Westwingstein: I think the real question is, Has anybody here seen Jimmy Webb?

Posted on Mon Sep 11 21:20:57 CEST 2000 from spider-wa041.proxy.aol.com (205.188.192.36)

quincy

i saw yestarday cahoots and the genuine basement tapes for sale can someone please tell me if they are worth getting

Posted on Mon Sep 11 21:08:47 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-075.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.75)

Peter Viney

Bones: Jan already has this up under 'Discography" then "Best of / Compilations" and it is remastered. theband.hiof.no/albums/band_greatest_hits_2000.html

Posted on Mon Sep 11 20:58:32 CEST 2000 from cic-proxy02.firstunion.com (169.200.25.141)

Bones

What do we know about a new "Greatest Hits" version coming out later this month. Is Rob Bowman writing liner notes for it? Are the songs remastered? I did see the cover to it and it looked great!

Posted on Mon Sep 11 20:43:59 CEST 2000 from spider-we014.proxy.aol.com (205.188.195.24)

quincy

hi i would like to add on the rap comments being 20 for awhile i was in love with rap i even had a rap group but then i heard groups like the band, the rascals, the beatles, otis and ray charles and i completely aboandoned rap and started playing piano and now i am into music with a melody like the band and so on...

Posted on Mon Sep 11 20:13:44 CEST 2000 from usr50-dialup335.mix2.boston.cw.net (166.62.197.89)

G-MAN

Did anyone see Levon & the Barn Burners in NYC this W/E ???

Posted on Mon Sep 11 19:58:26 CEST 2000 from proxy-1371.public.svc.webtv.net (209.240.220.188)

Ed Blayzor

Ws Walcott i disagree on your comments on Jeff Lynne,i always veiwed him as a diciple of Sir George Martin`s style of producing. even Martin told McCartney that Lynne was the best person for the Anthology series, but i respect your opinions.

Posted on Mon Sep 11 19:25:41 CEST 2000 from d223-205.hcvlny.optonline.net (24.189.223.205)

John C.

I've heard people knock this album, but PLANET WAVES is beautiful! Just wanted to get that out=} ~john C.

Posted on Mon Sep 11 19:16:22 CEST 2000 from cfa1.execulink.net (199.166.6.10)

paulgodfrey

IIKA..

At the time I thought of LETTUCE PREY as a charming tongue in cheek play on words. Still do!

Shine On!

Posted on Mon Sep 11 19:10:16 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-029.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.29)

Peter Viney

As you can see, I’ve finally got the Stage fright & Cahoots remasters. Capitol does it’s usual fine and accurate research job on credits by crediting "Don’t do it" to "Gaye" on the cover. All other versions credit Holland-Dozier-Holland, as does Marvin Gaye’s original version. Well, it proves they don’t read the liner notes which get the credits right. Pity, as Rob Bowman has done another fine piece of work.

Crabby: Sorry to hear that incessant computer beat and rap lyrics from Slim Crabby Jnr is disturbing you. I know, it’s hard to listen to Stage Fright when Eminem is thumping through the wall. My solution when my daughter was similarly afflicted was to give her 60s and early 70s soul/ disco compilations, as apparently classic soul songs are sometimes played in the "clubs" (as I believe they now call discotheques) for light relief when they feel like hearing something with an actual melody line. Now we still get music shaking the house, but at least it’s Irma Thomas, Millie Jackson, Aretha Franklin et al. Abba’s Dancing Queen is the current "fave rave" which may not be soul, but is not bad considering the possible alternatives. You could even try Robbie’s "Take Your Partner By the Hand" as this is, I’m told, played in the clubs.

The longer UK "Rubber Soul" (now the CD) was what the artists intended. The shorter US one was the record company … oh, yes, Capitol again … pursuing the policy of getting three US releases out of two British ones. But it’s how you remember it that counts. Basically all Beatles CD releases are the original UK / European albums, as sequenced by The Beatles, and are therefore longer. All Rolling Stones CD releases are the shorter US ones … as sequenced by the record company to squeeze out extra albums. The problem everyone is having with the release order of Beatles LPs is perhaps that they’re not ingrained on the collective memory in the US because there was other stuff like Yesterday and Today, Hey Jude etc which are not on CD. But, it’s Help > Rubber Soul > Revolver.

I loved the comments on "reprehensible" lyrics in Band songs as well as in anecdotes. Here in Britain, after tabloid-inspired panic-buying due to political protests on fuel prices (now 81p a litre or £3.64 per US gallon), the gas stations are all closed in my area as they’ve run dry. I just drove 15 miles looking for a place with petrol for sale without success. Interestingly the same tabloid can attack rising fuel prices in one breath, and bemoan the size of the ozone hole in the Southern Hemisphere in another (currently bigger than North America). But what came into my mind was to lock the garage doors tonight, and the anecdote that prompted me was Ronnie Hawkin’s explanation of "an Arkansas credit card".

Posted on Mon Sep 11 18:57:29 CEST 2000 from 216-1-128-56.akorn.net (216.1.128.56)

Mike Carrico

Regarding appropriate song subject matter, any artist worth a damn dealing with life in a serious way is bound to bump up against some of its unsavory aspects. This is certainly true in the case of a songwriter like Robbie, who (at least in his Band days) was writing musical short stories populated with all manner of humanity. This richness of character is one of great strengths of The Band songbook. I'm glad to have made the acquaintance of the thief ("Jawbone"); the gun-cowed alcoholic lover ("Divide"); the rootless ex-jailbird ("Shape"); and Miss Brer Foxhole, just to name a few. These folks breathe with vitality. They leap off the record. To apply the politically correct scrubrush to these creations would lay waste to all save Pollyana.

Posted on Mon Sep 11 18:57:30 CEST 2000 from m198214176061.austin.cc.tx.us (198.214.176.61)

pehr

in the first part of Willie Dixon's autobiography he connects blues to the facts of life. he goes on to say that blues wiilk be forever because blues was created with man as the facts of life. I love the blues and can hear that one grain of the blues and truth in it, and respect that.

that said, to my ears, that Rap, Hip Hop crap is so decorative and most all of it I've ver heard is devoid of any significant form. Other than "Fight The Power" i think its a bunch of self serving , self worshipping illiterate crap, personally. A good friend of mine is into it, I started to play some guitar to it and was astounded at how boring and mind numbing the music is to even play. maybe it will turn into something but it seems so tired, like a bad joke that wont go away. its not shocking, its cliche ridden generalities, a music of total conformism. I hope for a type of youth revolution that wakes kids up to a more creative way of finding themselves.

like the Band!

Posted on Mon Sep 11 18:42:05 CEST 2000 from 1cust36.tnt11.nyc3.da.uu.net (63.23.134.36)

Crabgrass

I'm back!! That Christian music is boring as hell - I think I even prefer Rap.

Spector is a bona fide nutcase (read May Pang's book Loving John to verify) which is probably why Lennon was attracted to him. However, his production excesses could not ruin the songs he produced (some would say overproduced) on Let It Be because they were just too damn good. While Let It Be is more of a hodge podge than most of the Beatles albums it contains some great songs the unadorned "Two of Us" being one of their best songs ever just for the John and Paul harmonies alone.

As I've said before I much prefer the half-hour long American version of Rubber Soul which starts with "I've Just Seen A Face" rather than the British version which omits it and includes some inferior tunes as well. Anyone know who made this decision?? I've never seen anything regarding this in print. Harrison, btw said that he thinks of Rubber Soul and Revolver as the same album in his mind because the recording sessions were so close which I find strange as Rubber Soul to my mind is a very acoustic album whereas Revolver is much more piano and electric oriented. It leads me to believe that the musicians don't sit around listening to their albums as much as we do.

Glad to hear the Beastie Boys have mellowed since the days of their idiotic teen anthem "Fight for Your Right to Party."

Posted on Mon Sep 11 18:33:18 CEST 2000 from du48-4.ppp.algonet.se (195.100.4.48)

Ilkka

To HANK - about LAWRENCE FERLINGHETTI on TLW
You are right, what had he doing there anyway? His "City Lights Booksellers and Publishers", 261 Columbus Avenue (SF) was only a few blocks away from Winterland, wasn't it. We should hope that he was only taking an evening promenade and nobody in the production team wasn't playing an Intellectual. - Maybe Paul Godfrey & co. who was there could tell us more.

Personally, I take Ferlinghetti's prayer as a joke. However, I prefer "Ol'Time Religion" which has the warmth and the humour which "Lettuce Prayer" never has.

Posted on Mon Sep 11 18:02:47 CEST 2000 from stjhts18c35.nbnet.nb.ca (142.166.254.40)

ws walcott

BTW somebody mentioned Phil Spector and that he always was an "over the top type producer". I totally agree, I never cared for him. I feel the same way about Jeff Lynne. ELO stuff was always overdone and he did the same sort of thing on a couple George Harrison albums. I guess he cooled it with the Travelling Wilburys. Anybody agree with me on this. Just curious but how did Todd Rundgren end up producing a Band album (Stage Fright I think)? It never seemed like a good fit to me. The album turned out good anyway so Todd must have known what he was doing, although I think Robbie had some input too.

Posted on Mon Sep 11 17:56:35 CEST 2000 from stjhts18c35.nbnet.nb.ca (142.166.254.40)

ws walcott

You are right Lars, Help! did come before Revolver. I stand corrected. Someone in here said Rubber Soul came after Revolver but I don't think so. Tell me I'm right on this one will ya Bayou Sam.

Posted on Mon Sep 11 17:47:02 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-072.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.72)

Peter Viney

Remasters, If you can remember the 70s … Barney Hoskyns in ‘Across the Great divide" – As it happened Toussaint HADN’T heard of The Band. "I didn’t realize what I was missing", he told Barbara Charone in July 1973.

Rob Bowman (Cahoots remaster): Robbie: ‘He (Toussaint) said, Oh, yeah, I know your music well"

Glyn Johns: 1971 … The tape duly arrived, and it was a bit of a mess up actually. I was led to believe it was on an eight-track tape, so I’d booked the studio at Olympic, Studio One, and when it arrived it was sixteen track … I ended up at Island in Basing street.

Remasters note, 2000: In June 1970 Glyn Johns began remixing … at Trident studios. By June 13th he had mixed and compiled the whole album … On June 13th he began remixing at Island Studios …

Must have been hard working with that 16 track tape on an 8 track machine … but in the recent Record Collector piece on the Beatles, they note that McCartney believes Revolver was released before Rubber Soul (some problems on this Guestbook with the Beatles release sequence too) and that Lennon asked once to be reminded of the title of "that album with the white cover". In the 1985 Woodstock Times interview, Richard Manuel was sure the lyrics were printed on the first three albums. This repeats my point ages ago that participant observers are not necessarily more reliable than outside observers.

Posted on Mon Sep 11 17:03:37 CEST 2000 from spider-tf033.proxy.aol.com (152.163.197.188)

Don Pugatch

As I read all the posts about "Rap", I am listening to probably one of the most "UnRap" songs, Shanti, done by Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. Bela makes his banjo into a sitar and Victor does the stand up bass, and Futureman, well, he just does his thing. I am not sure if Jeff Coffer is on this song, may be incorrect, but I do not think so, but the flute, perfect harmony. Next, is Bob Marley, singing "Redemtion Song". Words, so pointed, that it cost him his life. My point, music is very personal, and brings comfort, memories, excitement, etc. To classify "Rap" as music, is difficult for some, and easy for others. I cannot remember what Ray Charles said exactly about "Rap" but referring to it as music was not in his definition. Me, Amen, Ray.

Posted on Mon Sep 11 16:28:42 CEST 2000 from (193.14.47.2)

Lars Davidsson

The Beatles (like The Band) had their ups and downs. I don´t want to be without any of their records but my favorite-Beatles effort is Abbey Road. It was the last LP they did (but released before Let It Be!) so to my mind they sure left in style. By the way: Help came before Revolver.

Posted on Mon Sep 11 16:22:26 CEST 2000 from trtn-sh1-port33.snet.net (204.60.39.33)

Jimmy Jones

Just surfed in and this site is great!! Music is my madness and this site soothes my soul. Saw Levon at Tribecca Blues this weekend, made us wait 40min to come on stage. Crowmatix were great and their new website is way cool it must be new cause their old site was bad! Check it out www.breezehill.net..

Posted on Mon Sep 11 15:14:21 CEST 2000 from du-tele3-119.mailbox.co.uk (195.82.121.119)

Peter Viney

Looking at the advance Autumn release info, two albums we discussed here as "still unobtainable on CD" will finally appear. Taj Mahal’s "The Real Thing" is next week, while Area Code 615 is 10 October. The first two Taj albums (remastered, bonus tracks) appear at the same time as "The Real Thing." The other reissue of interest is the first four Amazing Rhythm Aces (on 2-on-1 reissues) which was 11 July – I missed them.