Pro
04
2011
The Band – The Band (Classic Album)
The Band’s self-titled sophomore effort spent 24 weeks in the Billboard Top 40 at a time when the US album charts were taken over by the psychedelic rock movement, and despite this, it would go on to sell over one million copies. This edition of the „Classic Albums“ series focuses on The Band’s follow-up to „MUSIC FROM BIG PINK“. Featuring classics such as „Up On Cripple Creek“, „The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down“, and „Rag Mama Rag“, the story of the album is told through interviews with surviving members of The Band, fellow musicians Eric Clapton, Don Was, and George Harrison, and vintage footage. To purchase in the UK: www.amazon.co.uk To purchase in the US: www.amazon.com
Video Rating: 4 / 5
the bastard with the glasses is a motherfuckin nazi!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@SwampDaddy7 The Beatles???? You don’t know Beatle history at all: became a power struggle between L & M who, in turn, wouldn’t let George put his songs on Beatle albums (apart from the odd token one). Two dictators for the price of one. You may be right about RR’s character, but I think your wrong to take the word of Levon Helm, who’s family life suggests he wasn’t an angel either. I assume Stranded Travelers is your group – so I will check them out.
@anthonythirteen Stranded Travelers (Look ‘em up on Facebook), the Beatles . . . the point is nobody becomes a dictator in the band. To be honest, to some bands the dictator shit works, but I’m just going to agree to disagree. It’s freedom of speech, I think you’re sickeningly wrong, but Robbie’s just trying to save face. Great guitar player, but I wouldn’t trust him.
@SwampDaddy7 Name me a band in which there’s been a true ‘collective leadership’? It’s not only egos, but the ‘issues’ that mean they cannot fully function in the decision-making. It often means that 1 person becomes a dictator, sadly. The real tragedy is that The Band always appeared to be a true collective entity, but the same old issues came to the surface. I just don’t buy the Levon ‘story’ that attempts to blame RR for everything.
@anthonythirteen Nobody HAS to pick up the reins. They either choose to or they don’t.
The fame and money are nice but personally I wouldn’t set my entire course of music in that direction.
@SwampDaddy7 But, once Levon left, someone had to pick up the reigns. I don’t know personally, but plenty seem to be happy to focus upon the fame & money, yet still make good music.
@anthonythirteen Levon got tired of the road and the crowd harassing the group when he was touring with Bob Dylan. I saw arguments on Robbie’s behalf (especially recently) and I’m not that swayed. As a matter of fact, I AM a professional musician and that „in it for the money“ in truth is a bunch of unadulterated crap. The money’s nice, but once that’s your sole persuit, pick another job ’cause the ones that are „in it for the money“ have lost direction.
@SwampDaddy7 Ah yes, Levon’s story is the only one we hear, of course! The ‘we were just in it for the music’ line is peddled over & over again: fact is, all full time professional musicians are in it for the money. It’s just that some are more explicit in their pursuing of the almighty dollar. Does Levon say anything why he walked out on The Band?
@anthonythirteen They had a leader only by necessity. Remember, back in the sixties a band leader was almost a necessity. There is no „right choice“ for a dictator when the band was just in it for the music, Anthony. Levon (according to This Wheel’s on Fire) didn’t want ANYONE being „in charge“ because they were in it for the music. Robbie just waltzed up to claim leadership but there was no need for a dictator. They were a jazz band in a Rock N’ Roll world.
@SwampDaddy7 Who says they didn’t want one? Do you mean Levon didn’t want RR in charge? Ronnie Hawkins made a great point: when they walked on him, Levon was the leader. By the time they met up for The Last Waltz, Robbie was leader. I assume that when Levon walked out of the Dylan tour, Robbie moved in. After all, Ricky & Richard had various personal issues & Garth lived in his own world: maybe RObbie was the right choice as dictator???
Robbie is extremely talented …and he knows it.
@tarrera2005 I agree!
@AngusShanks Exactly . . . I mean, this band almost even had guitar great Roy Buchanan in the band, that’s why I said Robbie’s alright. Look at the others in comparison. Levon, Garth, Rick, Richard were (and still are for Levon and Garth) all multi-instrumentalists. I think the reason that Robbie tried to take control was he was still accustomed to having a leader. Remember, Ronnie Hawkins led the band for a few years when Robbie was still a Prospect for the Hawks.
@SwampDaddy7
Agreed 100%. In fairness to him it would have been near impossible to be as good a guitar player as anyone else in the band was to their instruments. Everyone else was known as an ace player, even Manuel, who played mean drums as well.
@AngusShanks That’s what I mean, but in comparison to the band together he almost is sub-par in his solo efforts, I’m not trying to bring him down at all, his guitar playing and songwriting are up there in my book with Dylan, Waits, ect. but I hold him back because he was some dude trying to be the leader in a band that didn’t want one. At least we can agree that he takes more credit than he should.
@SwampDaddy7 He is a genius musician, not simply „alright“. He is an alright guitar player but part of being a great musician is your ability to write, create,arrange etc. Robbie is not a great player, if that is what you mean. The rest of the Band were great players. Robbie had great writing skills and was the arranger. For that he is/was a genius. I will also be the first to agree that he took more credit for the sounds than he deserves. And for that he is a douchebag.
Robbie is an alright musician, but I will never forgive him for breaking up The Band for his own personal gain.
@rotolo What Did He Really Do?
@tarrera2005 are u kidding , this statement doesnt make any sense.. do u even know what he did
I know it is fashionable not liking Robbie, but it is a bit unfair I think
is this called classic albums or classical bums?
Nice seeing Bernie on here, always love hearing or reading his insights.
greil marcus is one florid, wordy sonofabitch but he always gets in right.
yeaaaah – great vid