OMG! I think I just flunked music appreciation. Never-heard-of-the-Band. Never. Mid 60's to Mid 70's eh, and noticed by whom? My guess would be music critics and other genre' musicians. Dang, I didn't think there was a band of that era of some fame that I'd not at least heard once, like them or not. In this case, if the video clip here is typical, then they didn't fit my view of the world at that time which I admit was harsh.
Aridog, I'll bet you've heard their songs. "The Night They Drove Ol' Dixie Down" and "The Weight" maybe? We've posted their music here on TCKT before, and you may remember us ladies appreciating/drooling over Robbie Robertson.
The movie "The Last Waltz" is one of my favorites of all time. I've seen it again and again. It's a concert film, and features many greats performing with The Band, including Muddy Waters, Joni Mitchell, Dr. John, Eric Clapton, and many others. I think you would love it too.
It's a sad day in our home. We loved Levon Helm, and our hearts are heavy.
Yeah, I've heard (and still have her album with it) "The Night They Drove Old Dixie down" ... but it was by Joan Baez, apparently covering a "The Band" song. A little research shows me "the Band" was involved with Bob Dylan a lot, both writing and singing. To make this short, I loved some of Dylan's lyrics, but as a singer and entertainer, I'd rather have a root canal. Gifted writer, talentless performer from my perch. In simple terms, no aspersion intended, they just weren't on my radar I guess.
In those days, late 60's and early 70's, as I have said before, perhaps without comprehension by many, that many of us, hard cases otherwise, loved the hippie rock & roll for the aura it gave us in our minds...and in theirs. A come walk with me sort of thing ...
Stream of consciousness from back in those days: ...F**k yes, we'll go up country mother F**ker! Come home in a box? Not if I'm quicker than the Dink is! All y'all smoke your shitty sticks and seeds, we're walking in the fields where weed begins, the land of nod! Come run through the jungle with us "bitch" and find reality!
It took me over 10 years to lose most of that attitude. By then I was 40+ and deep down still finding risk alluring, such as the galloping rides gross country on our horses, or skiing down a black diamond chute .... only advancing age put a check on all that. Sigh.
Actually, Ari - the song I linked is rather atypical of them - most everything else they did was much 'rock'ier, but always with a powerful leavening of country & blues.
They were, as you noted, the band that backed up Bob Dylan on some of his albums, as well as live shows, including the first folk festival (I can't remember where) at which he 'went electric' and was nearly lynched by the 'peacable folkies'.
As Ladt Red said, their two most well-known were 'The Weight' (Take a load off, Annie, take a load for free) and 'The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down'.
As with so many bands of the era, though, their best stuff was from the albums and never really played on the radio.
As an aside, 'The Weight' was one of the songs in my own bands repertoire, and I really did my very beast to put a twang in my voice so I sounded like Levon.
Man, what a bummer. He had cancelled a show at a local venue earlier this month (due to some issue with his back?) Not that I'm a huge fan of The Band, but I know- and like- quite a few of their songs (you guys left out "Up on Cripple Creek"). I did see Levon a few years ago when he played at a Howlin for Hubert show. I was just trying to find out when that was, and found that Hubert (Sumlin) died this past December. I may have already know this, but things have been crazy the past several months, so it's possible I just completely forgot. Damn.
OMG! I think I just flunked music appreciation. Never-heard-of-the-Band. Never. Mid 60's to Mid 70's eh, and noticed by whom? My guess would be music critics and other genre' musicians. Dang, I didn't think there was a band of that era of some fame that I'd not at least heard once, like them or not. In this case, if the video clip here is typical, then they didn't fit my view of the world at that time which I admit was harsh.
ReplyDeleteAridog, I'll bet you've heard their songs. "The Night They Drove Ol' Dixie Down" and "The Weight" maybe? We've posted their music here on TCKT before, and you may remember us ladies appreciating/drooling over Robbie Robertson.
ReplyDeleteThe movie "The Last Waltz" is one of my favorites of all time. I've seen it again and again. It's a concert film, and features many greats performing with The Band, including Muddy Waters, Joni Mitchell, Dr. John, Eric Clapton, and many others. I think you would love it too.
It's a sad day in our home. We loved Levon Helm, and our hearts are heavy.
Yeah, I've heard (and still have her album with it) "The Night They Drove Old Dixie down" ... but it was by Joan Baez, apparently covering a "The Band" song. A little research shows me "the Band" was involved with Bob Dylan a lot, both writing and singing. To make this short, I loved some of Dylan's lyrics, but as a singer and entertainer, I'd rather have a root canal. Gifted writer, talentless performer from my perch. In simple terms, no aspersion intended, they just weren't on my radar I guess.
DeleteIn those days, late 60's and early 70's, as I have said before, perhaps without comprehension by many, that many of us, hard cases otherwise, loved the hippie rock & roll for the aura it gave us in our minds...and in theirs. A come walk with me sort of thing ...
Stream of consciousness from back in those days: ...F**k yes, we'll go up country mother F**ker! Come home in a box? Not if I'm quicker than the Dink is! All y'all smoke your shitty sticks and seeds, we're walking in the fields where weed begins, the land of nod! Come run through the jungle with us "bitch" and find reality!
It took me over 10 years to lose most of that attitude. By then I was 40+ and deep down still finding risk alluring, such as the galloping rides gross country on our horses, or skiing down a black diamond chute .... only advancing age put a check on all that. Sigh.
Actually, Ari - the song I linked is rather atypical of them - most everything else they did was much 'rock'ier, but always with a powerful leavening of country & blues.
ReplyDeleteThey were, as you noted, the band that backed up Bob Dylan on some of his albums, as well as live shows, including the first folk festival (I can't remember where) at which he 'went electric' and was nearly lynched by the 'peacable folkies'.
As Ladt Red said, their two most well-known were 'The Weight' (Take a load off, Annie, take a load for free) and 'The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down'.
As with so many bands of the era, though, their best stuff was from the albums and never really played on the radio.
As an aside, 'The Weight' was one of the songs in my own bands repertoire, and I really did my very beast to put a twang in my voice so I sounded like Levon.
Man, what a bummer. He had cancelled a show at a local venue earlier this month (due to some issue with his back?) Not that I'm a huge fan of The Band, but I know- and like- quite a few of their songs (you guys left out "Up on Cripple Creek").
ReplyDeleteI did see Levon a few years ago when he played at a Howlin for Hubert show. I was just trying to find out when that was, and found that Hubert (Sumlin) died this past December. I may have already know this, but things have been crazy the past several months, so it's possible I just completely forgot. Damn.