Tenacious_Peaches Posted February 28, 2005 Report Share Posted February 28, 2005 I was singing ?The Weight? because the AT&T commercial is on every five minutes, and I realized that I don?t know much about the Band at all. I know 2 songs by them (?The Weight? and ?The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down?) and I know that Robbie Robertson is the guitarist and main songwriter, but that?s it. I?d love it if you knowledgeable folks would let me know your opinions on them. What is the best song of theirs? If I were to by an album of theirs, what should it be? A ?Best Of? or an original release? I can?t buy their entire catalogue (baby needs diapers), but I would be willing to make one purchase. Help wanted, please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunt_Acid Posted February 28, 2005 Report Share Posted February 28, 2005 You know one more song than I do. I asked this question a while back, and people threw a whole bunch of reccomendations at me, but I forgot them all. Once I cash my paycheck, I'll buy an album or two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Joe Posted February 28, 2005 Report Share Posted February 28, 2005 Peaches, if you like those two songs you're gonna like a whole lot more from The Band. I guess you know they first gained widespread notoriety when they were the backing band for Bob Dylan on tours. He mentored them and they became a huge success on their own in no time. Some other great songs off the top of my head are Rag Mama Rag, Stage Fright, Up On Cripple Creek, Life Is A Carnival, Ophelia, The Shape I'm In and many, many more. Albums worth checking out are: Any of the greatest hits collections, Music From Big Pink, The Last Waltz (see the movie, too), Stage Fright, and Cahoots to name just a few. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryansgirl319 Posted February 28, 2005 Report Share Posted February 28, 2005 Levon Helm played Loretta Lynn's father in Coal Miner's Daughter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steel2Velvet Posted February 28, 2005 Report Share Posted February 28, 2005 There is a great documentary out on The Band, and I believe it is available through larger libraries and some video stores in VHS or DVD. One fact; Robbie recruited a classically trained pianist into the group who taught the other members how to read and write music because they were all playing by ear and by memory before they became big. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazooka Posted February 28, 2005 Report Share Posted February 28, 2005 UncleJoe has got it right, except I'm not sure where you can find a "Best Of" album. I saw the Stage Fright CD insanely discounted (like a buck apiece) around last Christmas (in a grocery store, of all places. It must have been a dumb mistake. Don't think you'd catch that kind of luck again). Definitely try to find The Last Waltz for rent on DVD or VHS. From an Amazon.com review Martin Scorsese's 1978 capsule history of The Band is mixed with footage of the group's allegedly last performance (certainly their last performance as a quintet) in this particularly stylish concert film. Scorsese shoots the players and their sundry guests with...flair and enthusiasm...He also proves a good interviewer with Band members, particularly Robbie Robertson...But the film's real hook is the stage show, which features a rotation of rock legends (Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, Paul Butterfield, Bob Dylan, and so on) playing with the Band before a wildly appreciative audience. --Tom Keogh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazooka Posted March 1, 2005 Report Share Posted March 1, 2005 Some other great songs in no particular order Daniel and the Sacred Harp The Moon Struck One Chest Fever Jemima Surrender W.S. Walcott Medicine Show King Harvest (Has Surely Come) When I Paint My Masterpiece Across the Great Divide Long Black Veil Shoot Out In Chinatown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesboy Posted March 1, 2005 Report Share Posted March 1, 2005 The Band was one of a kind. Americana meets rock 'n roll. Imo, their self-titled 2nd album is their greatest. ( Whispering Pines is one of my favorites that got less radio air play than the singles that were released off that album.) Like everybody said, search out some dvds. There's more and more concert and documentary footage being released every day. Peaches, maybe a compilation cd of greatest hits ! here's more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonJonSurfer Posted March 1, 2005 Report Share Posted March 1, 2005 The Last Waltz was on TV last week. Encore or something like that. Read their biography, "Beyond The Great Divide". That is one of my favorite rock books ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Joe Posted March 1, 2005 Report Share Posted March 1, 2005 UncleJoe has got it right, except I'm not sure where you can find a "Best Of" album. Click here The Band at Amazon Better yet, clcik on Amazon at the top of Songfacts and search for The Band. PS: Zooks, I like your list. And yours too BB! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted March 1, 2005 Report Share Posted March 1, 2005 I guess any record of The Band is good... If I was to choose, maybe I´d say "Songs from Big Pink" but in any case, "The Last Waltz" is a film you will absolutelly love... there´s not only the Band... mucho surprise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenacious_Peaches Posted March 2, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2005 Thank you guys so much! I appreciate the input from everybody. I have a "connection" who is going to make me a compilation CD...I'll let you know how it turns out. I love my SF family! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxy Posted March 3, 2005 Report Share Posted March 3, 2005 I subscribed to Uncut a while ago, today I had this months delivery, which has a huge feature on 'The Untold Story Of The Band', haven't read it yet, but looks very good. It also came with a CD called 'Across The Great Divide: Music Inspired By The Band'. If you love The Band and haven't yet got Uncut, then go and get the April 2005 issue now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Posted March 4, 2005 Report Share Posted March 4, 2005 The Band is from Ontario, Canada (my very own home province). The best documentary I've seen on them is "The Last Waltz". They perform "It Makes No Difference", and it is about the sweetest, saddest song I've heard. Check it out if the chance presents itself. It makes no difference where I turn I can' get over you and the flame still burns It makes no difference night or day Your shadow never seems to fade away And the sun don't shine anymore... And the rains fall down on my door... Now there's no love As true as the love that dies untold but the clouds never hung so low before It makes no difference how far I go Like a scar the hurt will always show It makes no difference who I meet They're just a face in the crowd on a dead end street And the sun don't shine anymore... And the rains fall down on my door... These old love letters I just can't keep but just like the gambler says read 'em and weep And the dawn don't rescue me no more... Without your love I am nothing at all like an empty hole It's a lonely fall Since you've gone it's a losing battle stampeding cattle that rattle the walls And the sun don't shine anymore... And the rains fall down on my door... Well I love you so much and its all I can do just to keep myself from telling you that I've never felt so alone before Regards always, Ken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenacious_Peaches Posted March 14, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2005 My ?connection? sent me The Band?s Greatest Hits last week, and I have listened to it non-stop since I got it. Here is my official review ? I LOVE IT! I can?t believe I have been missing out on this all these years. The lyrics, the music, the diversity?amazing. I love the toe-tappin? melodies of ?Up On Cripple Creek?, ?Rag Mama Rag?, and ?The Shape I?m In?. I love the achingly beautiful lyrics of ?It Makes No Difference?. I love the ?storyteller? aspect of ?King Harvest (Has Surely Come)?, ?Acadian Driftwood?, and ?The Saga of Pepote Rouge?. Now that I have gotten a taste of them, I will definitely be expanding my collection of their music. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my ?connection?. It is someone you all know and love, but I don?t know if he would be embarrassed by my calling attention to him. He was so thoughtful to offer to send me the CD, and so incredible about his attention to detail in the packaging. Hip, hip, hooray for him! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesboy Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 Try the self titled 2nd album ('69), also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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