The Band!!!

[Piddzilla]

Since we spoke about Neil Young before and a little earlier Bob Dylan also I came to think about a great documentary I saw about The Band the other night.

Man, aren't they just the coolest dudes that has ever been in the business?? I mean, there's just no weak link.

Robbie Robertson, what a great songwriter and underrated guitarist. And he looks so cool. There's not many songwriters that would stand back and let other people sing such great works of their own.

Rick Danko, did you ever hear a bass player during that time playing traditionally rooted music that funky? Terrific singer too. Passed away just a year or two ago.

Garth Hudson, I just can't believe this man really exists. He looks like a rural magician or something with the beard and all, and he must be one of the most musically gifted persons ever existed. Multiinstrumentalist.

Richard Manuel. Guess noone really knew how real that pain in his voice was before he hung himself. A great singer/pianoplayer. He made Dylan's "I Shall Be Released" his own.

And so, Levon Helm. My favourite. The only american in The Band (the rest are canadians) and a genuine southener. He sings with so much soul and power. But it's the drumplaying that just gets me. Now that is groovy! He was so cool in the documentary. This 60-year old really polite guy, speaking with a real strong southern accent (I think he's from Arkansas), wearing shades, spinning his drumstick and still playing like a god. Man, I wanna be like that when I'm sixty.

I order you all to see "The Last Waltz" by Martin Scorsese, a documentary about The Band's last show in 1978. It's filled with excellent "special guests performances" and the versions of the songs are brilliant. It's also very interesting interviews. I wish I could find out what that documentary that I saw last night is called, but I can't find it.

You should also check out some albums. If you're only getting one album, get "The Band", their second. It's a masterpiece. Then you can cheat and get "Before the Flood", a live album with Dylan from 1974, where The Band is backing him AND also playing a large number of their own songs. Both Dylan and The Band at their best.

[Holden Pike]

Besides Scorsese's The Last Waltz (1978) of course, the best documentary on The Band is part of Rhino's "Classic Albums" series, taking a close look at The Band (aka "The Brown Album"). But it also covers Music from the Big Pink and their history in general. All four of the then-living Band members give their thoughts (this was produced in 1997, before Danko died in late '99), plus George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Don Was, Bernie Taupin and others add their two cents as well. 75-minutes long, every second a joy.

Another terrific piece is the documentary Robbie Robertson: Going Home (1995). It focuses on Robertson, but as you'd expect much time is devoted to The Band, from Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks to Dylan to their own success, covering much of the same ground as the Rhino Classic Album, but not in as much detail. But there are other benefits, including friends Robbie and Marty Scorsese talking to each other on camera. Not only about The Last Waltz (as you'd rightly expect), but also Scorsese as an assistant director at Woodstock filming The Band for Michael Wadleigh's documentary (footage that never made the final cut of that influential concert film), Robbie living with Marty for a while in New York (hysterical), and their collaboration on Raging Bull (Robbie also helped out on The King of Comedy, Casino and The Color of Money). Some good stories there. You also get to see Robbie's post-Band, non-Scorsese career, and even a bit of behind-the-scenes footage of him acting in Sean Penn's The Crossing Guard.

And naturally, if you can even locate a copy, the Dylan in Europe documantary Eat the Document (1972) featuring his one-time sidemen is a must-see too.

There's another documentary or two on The Band that I've seen, I believe one maybe the BBC produced, but they weren't anywhere close to as good as the two I highlighted above. I fear the BBC one may be the one you saw, Piddy. Not bad, but certainly not great, especially by comparison.


Both "Classic Albums: The Band" (http://tf.dvdplanet.com/productimages/front/1589.jpg) and Robbie Robertson: Going Home (http://tf.dvdplanet.com/productimages/front/7023.jpg) are currently in-print and available on R1 DVD. If you have a multi-region player or can find them in your neck of Scandanavia, pick 'em up ASAP. And hopefully everybody knows The Last Waltz was released on R1 DVD as a fantastic special edition earlier this year (retrospective, audio commentary, etc.).



And if you couldn't tell, I love The Band (duh). Evidenced in earlier posts on this board, such as THIS (http://www.movieforums.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=63470#post63470post63470) one where I named "The Brown Album" my second-favorite of all-time, and THIS (http://www.movieforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2083&perpage=15&pagenumber=1) thread where I listed "The Shape I'm In" as my third-favorite song of all-time and The Basement Tapes my second-favorite album cover art of all-time.

[Henry The Kid]

The Last Waltz is probably the best fan recruiter possible. I absolutely love this movie.

[Holden Pike]

The Last Waltz was re-mastered not only for the DVD (finally got to retire my old LaserDisc), but re-released theatrically earlier this year too. I went to see it three times, and likely would have gone back for more - but it left too quickly. The only negative about seeing The Last Waltz in the theater: you can't fast-forward through the Niel Diamond segment! That's when I always went for a potty break, whether I needed one or not.

The soundtrack CD was re-mastered this year as well, including a 4-disc set that includes a nice 75-page booklet as well as rehearsal cuts and outtakes on the discs themselves.

[Henry The Kid]

Originally posted by Holden Pike
The Last Waltz was re-mastered not only for the DVD (finally got to retire my old LaserDisc), but re-released theatrically earlier this year too. I went to see it three times, and likely would have gone back for more - but it left too quickly. The only negative about seeing The Last Waltz in the theater: you can't fast-forward through the Niel Diamond segment! That's when I always went for a potty break, whether I needed one or not.

The soundtrack CD was re-mastered this year as well, including a 4-disc set that includes a nice 75-page booklet as well as rehearsal cuts and outtakes on the discs themselves.

Yea I have the DVD of it, Neil Diamond is PAINFUL. Who likes him, by the way? I have never met anyone who have actually admitted to liking him.

[Holden Pike]

My parents both liked him in the '70s.

But their taste was (and still is, more or less) pretty dreadful, middle-of-the-road, AM dial stuff: Neil Diamond, The Captain & Tennille, Linda Rondstat, Oliva Newton-John, The Carpenters, etc. I got dragged to a Linda Rondstat concert when I was eight-years-old: second row, dead center. The Little River Band was her opening act. My folks went to see Neil Diamond a couple times, but happily I wasn't subjected to it. I've seen his godawful re-make of The Jazz Singer (1980) plus the yawn-inducing dud Saving Silverman (2001), and isn't that punishment enough for anybody?


On the commentary track of The Last Waltz DVD, Robbie mentions that they invited guests that were their friends of course, but also they wound up representing most phases of American popular music. Diamond was the Tin Pan Alley delegate, but couldn't they have gotten Carol King instead?!? If only.



*for another link - though a little more tenuous, between Scorsese and Neil Diamond, check out Marty's excellent documentary American Boy: A Profile of Steven Prince (1978). Scorsese's pal Prince, who had a very memorable role in Taxi Driver as the gun/drug/car salseman "Anytime Andy", was among many other things a Roadie for Neil Diamond in the early 1970s. He's got a couple stories.

And Marty used Diamond's "Red, Red Wine" in Bringing Out the Dead (1999).

[Henry The Kid]

Originally posted by Holden Pike


And Marty used Diamond's "Red, Red Wine" in Bringing Out the Dead (1999).

Don't remind me. It is one of the two things I actually didn't like about that movie, luckily I usually block it out.

[Piddzilla]

Originally posted by Holden Pike
Besides Scorsese's The Last Waltz (1978) of course, the best documentary on The Band is part of Rhino's "Classic Albums" series, taking a close look at The Band (aka "The Brown Album"). But it also covers Music from the Big Pink and their history in general. All four of the then-living Band members give their thoughts (this was produced in 1997, before Danko died in late '99), plus George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Don Was, Bernie Taupin and others add their two cents as well. 75-minutes long, every second a joy.

I think this is the one they showed here on tv. All those people were in it and that was pretty much what it was about. Yeah, it's great. At first I didn't recognize Rick Danko. He was always the pretty boy of the band, and here he was fat and looked like he was in pretty bad shape.

I just love the parts where Levon is in the studio listening to the original tracks with the sound technician. Or the parts where Robbie shows how he came up with the ideas for songs. When he plays "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" on the piano and sings it.... Magic. Or when Levon demonstrates his drum- and singing-techniques on "The Weight" - in shades. Coolness in a nutshell. Or when Garth Hudson is totally absorbed by his own keyboard-playing. Man, I just love The Band.

And naturally, if you can even locate a copy, the Dylan in Europe documantary Eat the Document (1972) featuring his one-time sidemen is a must-see too.

Yeah, I've got to check that one out....

Thanks for all the tips, Holden. Nice to know that there's others with excellent taste in music around. :D

[Holden Pike]

Rick Danko was easily my least favorite member of The Band. Far from a pretty boy, I think he's the ugliest fella of the five.


And did you know Robbie isn't the only one who's flirted with acting? Levon Helm played father to Sissy Spacek's Oscar-winning Loretta Lynn in Coal Miner's Daughter (1980), and he hijacked a train with Wilford Brimley from a company that was downsizing their station in End of the Line (1988). Those are his two biggest roles, but you can also spot him in The Right Stuff and Feeling Minnesota.

[OG-]

I watched this with my dad once and I have to say it is really good. I thought I wasn't going to like it, but it was great. I'm not from anywhere close to that generation, but I don't see how there aren't musicians out there as good as these guys were...it just doesn't make sense to me.

By the way, don't remember the guys name, but my dad once had a meal with the Rolling Stones guitarist (i think thats what he was)...if my memory serves I think he is wearing a white jacket in the movie. He was in a bar late night and the guy asked if he could sit down beside him and they ended up talking for several hours. My dad said he didn't recognize who it was (this was a few years ago) until the end of the meal. The guy never mentioned he was a rock star or anything, they just chatted. Thought that was neat.

[Nikki]

My father tortures the family when we are in the car travelling by playing Neil Young and Cat Stevens..................:sick: .....to make it worse......he sings along.....:frustrated:

Apologies to all Neil Young and Cat Stevens fans.............but it just aint me!!!!!!!!............:indifferent:

[Piddzilla]

Originally posted by Nikki
My father tortures the family when we are in the car travelling by playing Neil Young and Cat Stevens..................:sick: .....to make it worse......he sings along.....:frustrated:

Apologies to all Neil Young and Cat Stevens fans.............but it just aint me!!!!!!!!............:indifferent:

Shame on you!!! I don't care that much about Cat STevens but don't you ever talk like that about Neil again! ;)

How can anyone not like Neil's stuff from the 70's???

I have to ask you. What records/songs with Young does your dad play? What is it about him that you don't like?

[Nikki]

Priddzilla...........the cd list goes on and on.....
Sleeps with Angels.....
Road Rock........
Are You Passionate
Life
After the Gold Rush
Harvest
Silver and Gold
Rust Never Sleeps
:sleep:
Zuma
Comes A Time
Freedom
Buffalo Springfield
1966-1776 Decade..........................

THEN!!!!!!!!......we get the lecture!!!!!!!!...........His life story.........what a great man he is...................how he has children with disabilities............how he helps numerous charities etc...............How all the big names in the music industry look up to him.....:sleep: .........how he is married to the same woman for whatever how many years (so was Clinton!!!!)
.................yep..........we get the lecture!!

It's just that "voice" that gets to me..........don't like it.........:eek:

[Piddzilla]

Originally posted by Nikki
Priddzilla...........the cd list goes on and on.....
Sleeps with Angels.....
Road Rock........
Are You Passionate
Life
After the Gold Rush
Harvest
Silver and Gold
Rust Never Sleeps
:sleep:
Zuma
Comes A Time
Freedom
Buffalo Springfield
1966-1776 Decade..........................

THEN!!!!!!!!......we get the lecture!!!!!!!!...........His life story.........what a great man he is...................how he has children with disabilities............how he helps numerous charities etc...............How all the big names in the music industry look up to him.....:sleep: .........how he is married to the same woman for whatever how many years (so was Clinton!!!!)
.................yep..........we get the lecture!!

It's just that "voice" that gets to me..........don't like it.........:eek:

BLASPHEMY!!!