Years ago I bought The Band's The Last Waltz and immediately was enthralled with its essence. It's tough to revisit something you didn't witness live (I was four years old in 1976) but art is all-relative. Tomato, tomah-toe. In one sitting, I was introduced to rock music in its most pristine comforts.
What blew me away was the endless stream of legendary and extraordinary musicians and performers of our time that took part in that concert: Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Ronnie Hawkins, Van Morrison, Ron Wood, Dr.John, Emylou Harris, Paul Butterfield, and The Staples among others. Together they produced some of the greatest songs in the pantheon of 20th century music.
A few years after that I caught Martin Scorsese's documentary film of that landmark concert in San Francisco. Watching those musicians in the flesh and live some 25 years later was one of those 'wow' moments. In a time where the live concert is less a celebration and movement and more a corporate bottom line exercise, was a welcomed breath of crystal pure northern air. Listening to Neil Young gently kick into "Helpless" still sends shivers down my spine. "There's a place in North Ontario..." It's so rare we hear of musicians chronicling Canadian themes it seems. Indeed, who is Canada's answer to Bruce Springsteen?
The Band and their success is especially remarkable because they were a Canadian band that emerged during a time when Canadian acts were still in their infancy stage and struggling to gain exposure in America. The Band are a pop culture icon on the rock scene - and they were Canadian. Indeed, Canada's list of acts in the '60s and '70s should be pointed out here. What they lacked in numbers they made up in quality - Gordon Lightfoot, Anne Murray, Paul Anka, and The Diamonds did their part on the easy listening side of things. Andy Kim, Joni Mitchell, The Guess Who, Steppenwolf, Leonard Cohen, B.T.O, Rush and, of course the giant of rock'n roll Neil Young.
Article comments
1 - Vern Halen
For many years, I didn't get The Band - workmanlike, dull, no sense of adventure and flash, heck, more country than rock. One evening, as I was driving about town minding my own affairs, my local rock station broke with their local top 40 classic rock Zep/ACDC/ZZ Top format and played "Chest Fever", which I had heard before but never really listened to. Frankly, it's kinda inscrutable - and I was hooked. Picked up The Basement Tapes, and the reissues of Big Pink & the second album, and experienced a revelation - more craftsmanship than drudge work, not dull but solid, not even flashy but technically perfect, and hey - rock and country are more closely related than you think. Their music is timeless - old Appalachia meets the modern age of recording and writing.
Yeah, Im a fan now. Not only am I glad I never got rid of my garage sale VHS copy of The Last Waltz, but I just found a copy of the Rock of Ages reissue CD last month - another fascinating aural document featuring horn charts by Allan Toussaint.
It's been said before, but this is one of the few groups in rock history that could actually live up to a name as imposing as The Band.
2 - alessandro nicolo
Wow. Well said, Vern. That Americana sound hooks me. My aunt had the same revelation with Van Morrison. Couldn't connect to Moondance when it came out in 1970. 20 years later she 'got it.' Anyway, there is something majestic to The Band.
3 - Mark Saleski
i saw The Last Waltz when i was in movie theatres. this was at a time when i really didn't care all that much for most of the artists involved, Dylan included (hey, what can i say....i wanted sledgehammer guitar...The Band is not Bad Company).
...and as the long list of stars came out, i realized that there was a whole musical world out there (actually, many of them) that i needed to check out.
i've got the dvd/cd box now. the performances are still great.
4 - Vern Halen
Mark - Bad Co. ain't the Band fer shure, but Paul Rodgers and... company were a decent little mid 70's rock outfit, as were their forebares (forbears? forbearers?) Free & Mott the Hoople - which you already know, of course, being also a grad student of the sledgehammer school of guitar appreciation.
5 - alessandro nicolo
From Emylou Harris, Dr.John et al in The Last Waltz to the Glam Rock of Mott the Hoople and guitar bands of Bad Co.! Mark, I agree. Van Morrison and Muddy Waters remain among my all-time favorites. Has there even been a farewell tour concert like this one? Even the venue was great.
6 - Cristofer Gross
It's great to read a conversation about The Band, especially since Thursday was the 30th Anniversary of The Last Waltz concert. A couple more notes to add to this little tribute: 2006 was also the 20th Anniversary of the unfortunate end of Richard Manuel (favorite tracks that show his range from good times to bad are 'Honky Tonks' from 'A Musical History,' and 'Share Your Love' from 'Moondog'); and Rick Danko passed on in 1999 in his sleep (one of the reasons I think 'Makes No Difference' is such a special part of the Last Waltz film is that Rick plays a little tape of it during at a time in an interview with Scorsese that reveals he really has no idea what he'll do next). Given the preceding mentions of Neil Young and 'Chest Fever,' it seems worth noting that this was the only Band song covered " and covered very well " by Neil Young. For more on The Band, Levon Helm's book is recommended, as are the Classic Albums "Making Of" dvd of the second album, and the new 'Musical History' package, which includes a book's worth of text and a full dvd of performances (including 'Don't Do It' from the 'Rock of Ages' concert. You can also go back and read Greil Marcus' landmark 'Mystery Train,' for its chapter on the lads.
7 - alessandro nicolo
Thanks Cristofer. Where an we find 'Mystery Train?"
8 - Marty Katz
I suppose it is a minor correction to the review of The Last Waltz, but Dylan's interest in Christianity did not start until two years later. The important thing is that it was the concert of the decade (IMHO) and I appreciate reading that someone else recognizes its' importance in the history of rock music. It is one of my biggest regrets that I decided against flying to San Francisco from New York City because of the expense. What was I thinking?
9 - alessandro nicolo
Thanks Mary. I know. I made a mistake. I checked this with my Uncle the day I after I wrote it. I wanted to make sure. I was then too lazy (I admit it) to edit. Now that you spotted it maybe I should! Here's a question. Do you think he was on his way by the time the concert came around?
10 - Vern Halen
I believe that Marcus' book for some reason now is published under a different title - I think it's called "The Old, Weird America" or something like that. And it's ABSOLUTE REQUIRED READING for grad studies at the School of Rock and Roll (not to be confused with the similarly titled Jack Black School of Rock just down the street).
11 - Cristofer Gross
Here's a link to the Greil Marcus page with a note for his books. Apparently he's still selling something called 'Mystery Train.'
And since we're all Amazonians on this bus, here's the ISBN at Amazon.com: 0452278368 It's 4th Edition is the most current, published in 1997.
12 - Vern Halen
Cool - but I have seen it under a different title too - at least a couple of years ago now - trade paperback size I think.
13 - tink
There are many outstanding performances in the concert package, both video and audio. Hands down (to me) is the inclusion of "Stagefright", a song that I felt never got the recognition that it deserved.
Nice work!!
14 - alessandro nicolo
Thanks for both commetns, Tink.