Definitely, the film is basically a lesson in American music history as they go thru all of the bands influences and musical life with all of the current greats featured in the concert/film
Levon Helm was the drummer,he was from Arkansas.The song was written after Robbie having coversations with Levons Dad about the Civil War and the devastation of the south continuing long after the war.Levon was also an actor,he was in Coal Miners Daughter,playing Sissy Spacek's dad.There is only one member left now,Garth Hudson,which is 86 now.'The Weight' off 'The Last Waltz' is another great song,featuring The Staples.The Band was inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.R.I.P. Robbie,Levon and all the rest of the members passed.
Yup 3 members of the band are Canadian, one British and Levon Helm the drummer and vocalist here was from Arkansas. Robbie Robertson ( who wrote the song ) is Canadian - Half Mohawk and half Jewish, so the song is not in any way racist or what have you, it's really just talking about the devastation that war leaves on those left standing. Could be any war, just happens this one was Civil war based....
One of the greatest bands there every was - 3 brilliant vocalists, Robbie a great songwriter and guitarists, and they almost single handedly re-invented American music, along with Dylan and bands like the Grateful Dead.
For more band stuff, just keep checking out clips from this film, The last Waltz. There's "Baby don't do it", "Cripple Creek", "It makes no difference", Stagefright, and many duets with other artists including Dylan, Muddy Waters, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Ronnie Hawkins, Eric Clapton, etc....
I was going out with my future wife back in the late seventies and being polite i asked her what she wanted to do and she said go to see a film called The Last Waltz .I had visions of it being about people dancing to The Blue Danube by Strauss .How wrong I was .Still one of my favourite films
The Band has always been one of my favorite groups. Incredible talent (they have 3 lead singers, and Robbie was lead guitarist, songwriter, and mostly harmony vocals). Levon Helm (drummer) was an American icon (in a band of Canadians!) RIP Robbie
They have 3 strong lead singers and drummer Levon Helm is THERE and a driving force in The Band's music. (Yes, all were Canadians except for Helm -- from Arkansas. Roberson said, "I aimed it right at him!" and it shows.)
Robbie suffered from stagefright and the song he wrote about it is one of my favourites, sung by the wonderful bass player Rick Danko, give it a listen. To be honest they have so many good songs that were all mainly written by Robbie Robertson
Up On Cripple Creek The Weight (obviously) Stage Freight The Shape I'm In Acadian Driftwood King Harvest It Makes no Difference. Dylan cover "I shall be Released"
Also worth pointing out that as Levon’s family fought in the union side, he was no great fan of this song and this performance was the last time in his life he ever sang it.
@@AMPR45 Hilarious! Where did you you get that silly idea? Helm hated the far more popular version of the song by Joan Baez so he refused to sing the song again. Helm was a full blown junkie by this time and his neurotic and bizarre behavior was really starting to manifest itself.
That’s Levon Helm, young fella. One of the greatest drummers to ever live, and a crazy great voice. Listen to Ophelia, and hear Levon’s incredible voice. Damn, sometimes I forget I’m older than I feel. I’ve been a fan of The Band since I was 8-years-old. RIP Levon, Robbie, Rick, Richard. 😞
This was Levon's best vocal performance, IMO. He just nails. But really, the versions of these tunes in this move are almost always the best, including Neil Young's version of "Helpless."
" and like my brother abooooooooooooooooooooooooove me " ! you felt it bro ! i could see that on your smile :) we all feel it when levon helm sang those line ! A master
They had amazing luck getting that name for their band. That must have been like getting the name you want for your World of Warcraft character that you assuem everyone already tried to get.
Saw the Last Waltz with wifey when it came to movies in Norway back in the day. Its loaded with great artist. Incl Bob Dylan and Dr John to mention a couple😈😎🇧🇻 and still have the Vinyl version.
Canadian band with the exception of drummer Levon Helm who hailed from Arkansas. He was the Southern influence. Robbie Robertson was the guitarist and main songwriter. He and organist Garth Hudson were the only ones in The Band who were not lead vocalists.
I guess Charlie Rich never heard of Buddy miles. Of course Buddy Rich was a well known racist so he probably didn't even consider Black musicians. ua-cam.com/video/1gdLZByXVaU/v-deo.html
You should check out Don’t do it (the live version that is not from the last waltz). You get to really see how crazy talented Levon is there as well. It’s crazy how he can drum and sing lead at the same time.
The drummer is the co-lead singer..Levon Helm. So many treats that you are on the verge of discovering!! *SS* Check out "The Weight" from this concert...with The Staples Family! You will be stunned!
The Band ...the most respected and admired group America ever produced ! If you think I'm over egging it , check out the cream of the Rock world who participated in the Last Waltz concert ? Everyone who was invited to perform that night on Thanksgiving ,1976 , did so in a heartbeat because of what The Band meant to them and music . Of course there have been and are great groups over the decades performing , but none with the musicality and stature of The Band ...we will never ,ever see or hear another like them again RIP Robbie Robertson...a true original artist of the greatest kind !
Levon (lead singer here) was from Arkansas. The rest were Canadian though. Robbie, who wrote the song, was half Jewish and half Cayuga and Mohawk Indian.
You need to view any video you can from "The Last Waltz"....the farewell concert of The Band in 1976. 80% Canuck, 20% American. And a guest list the size of a large galaxy!
If I remember correctly this song comes from a visit Robbie took 'down south' with Levon to visit his family. Sitting around talking about 'the war of northern aggression ' led to this, a song from a different angle. This the concert film The Last Waltz, filmed by Martin Scorsese, Robbie did a whole chunk of soundtrack stuff with him right up to Scorsese's newest film.
Yes singing drummers are rare but some great bands over the years have had singing drummers. Don Henley with the Eagles. Karen Carpenter with the Carpenters. Phil Collins with Genesis. There are more for sure but those are a few examples.
The Band was amazing! Rick Danko (Bass) and Robbie Robertson (Guitar) hit NYC and stared playing for John Hammond ua-cam.com/video/Bv8OwZgRC9Q/v-deo.html. before Bod Dylan hired them for a Studio AND touring Band ua-cam.com/video/cAI-N9PWm_0/v-deo.html Drummer/ Vocalist Levon Helm was also an Actor Appearing in "The Right Stuff" and in "Coal Miner's Daughter" (the Loretta Lynn Biopic) as Loretta's Father. As others may have mentioned you really must watch the Last Waltz movie to get a good Idea of just how great The Band was!
@@BobSoltis1 He was for awhile, but according to Barney Hoskyns biography of The Band, Levon was not enough of a decision maker. Robbie became the defacto leader, seems it came natural to him, and from the late sixties Richard, Rick and Levon was too stoned, (doing heroin) and Garth was an introvert.
@@hannejeppesen1809 For a very short while after they left Ronnie Hawkins and Helm was the senior member he sort of took the job until his lack of any sort of business or leadership abilities became obvious. Don't forget that he also bailed on his bandmates mid-tour with Dylan and quit the band. Quite a selfish and infantile move on his part. Helm was an incredibly talented individual - but he was no leader.
I have this album on Wax and let me tell you it was difficult to find but I was luck and find it at local record show where I live in Michigan and it was wrapped in cellophane so I think it wasn't even played on the record player yet I was looking for it everywhere and somehow got lucky at this random place I actually hugged the guy that sold it to me I was so happy💜😂
Check out the movie or hear the hole album "The Last Waltz" and decide for yourself which great musicians they are. That was theire farewell concert with the best musicians of their time. My favorite song is "The Weight" with the Staples but the whole album is a masterpiece. Best wishes @all from germany
I'm working through your reactions oldest to newest atm, so - in case you haven't already, please check out The Band with the Staples Singers, The Weight. One of the all time greatest live performances, IMO.
No daniel ....u rock. Thank you so much. In their earlier iteration they supported Bob Dylan and are said to have influenced Eric Clapton Elton john and George Harrison
The Band is as hard to describe as their mentor and friend, Bob Dylan. What can I say? If you want real emotion combined with intellect, they give it their all. The bad. the good, the ugly, the spiritual with occasional surprises of humor. I never get tired of "The Weight" which has been acclaimed the world over with the video, "Playing For Change" where all the money went to feed people after a natural disaster. Yet, if I need my spirits risen with laughter, check out "Up On Cripple Creek'. They were known for years among musicians for being good before Dylan used them as his back up band when he went electric from folk. Dylan recovering from an accident hid away in a place called Big Pink and wrote some timeless classics which even today aren't fully appreciated. The legendary Woodstock concert which changed music forever was began in an attempt to lure Dylan out of hiding. I have yet to hear The Band's performance there, they were over shadowed by emerging artists such as Santana, Joe Cocker, Canned Heat, and the list is longer than my memory. My association with the '60's was in S.F. and Monterey Pop which directly led to Woodstock on the East Coast. Pennipacker and Dylan's friend Bobby Nuerwith produced the film of Monterey but that experience was put on by none other than John Phillips of the Mama & Papa's fame. The music took precedence over the egos of the performers which many of them gave their best ever. If they did gain acclaim later in their careers, it was to try to recapture the moment.
The Band had 3 great singers, Levon Helm (singing on this song) Richard Manuel and Rick Danko, they were all great, but I have a soft spot for RIck. Robbie wrote this song and most of the songs for The Band, he was a great songwriter and guitar player, he didn't have a great voice, but with 3 exceptional singer in The Band, he didn't have ot be.
The writer was Canadian. The SUBJECT was one that an American would hesitate to cover. Same as Neil Young also a Canadian writing about the Kent State murder by cops. I often felt we should not comment on our neighbors faults but things need to be said sometimes and those close keep silent
Unfortunately, some think this song is racist. Nothing could be further from the truth. Robbie merely wanted to write a song that showed how everyone suffers in a war, especially just the regular people who were just barely getting by. Robbie's mother was Mohawk and Cayuga, and his father (who died before Robbie was born) was Jewish, he is not racist, in fact because of his background he experienced prejudice himself.
I noticed how much the Maryland flag is represented in your studio,...and on your shirt. I have been a Marylander for over 50 years. Do you live in Maryland?
Not a Canadian band...Levon Helm was born in Arkansas. Robbie Robertson was Canadian, but in my opinion never the heart and soul of the group, I saw them live in the early 1980's without Robertson and they were phenomenal.
The Last Waltz is one of the great music films .If you haven't seen it , you must , even if it's in your own time .
Definitely, the film is basically a lesson in American music history as they go thru all of the bands influences and musical life with all of the current greats featured in the concert/film
Levon Helm was the drummer,he was from Arkansas.The song was written after Robbie having coversations with Levons Dad about the Civil War and the devastation of the south continuing long after the war.Levon was also an actor,he was in Coal Miners Daughter,playing Sissy Spacek's dad.There is only one member left now,Garth Hudson,which is 86 now.'The Weight' off 'The Last Waltz' is another great song,featuring The Staples.The Band was inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.R.I.P. Robbie,Levon and all the rest of the members passed.
Yup 3 members of the band are Canadian, one British and Levon Helm the drummer and vocalist here was from Arkansas. Robbie Robertson ( who wrote the song ) is Canadian - Half Mohawk and half Jewish, so the song is not in any way racist or what have you, it's really just talking about the devastation that war leaves on those left standing. Could be any war, just happens this one was Civil war based....
@@PodieM18 British? Which member of The Band do you think is British? They were all Canadian except for Helm.
@@BobSoltis1 I was wrong I thought Richard Manuel was a Brit, but he was also Canadian...
One of the greatest bands there every was - 3 brilliant vocalists, Robbie a great songwriter and guitarists, and they almost single handedly re-invented American music, along with Dylan and bands like the Grateful Dead.
The drummer/singer Levon Helm was American, the rest were Canadian. But Robbie, the writer was Canadian, RIP.
For more band stuff, just keep checking out clips from this film, The last Waltz. There's "Baby don't do it", "Cripple Creek", "It makes no difference", Stagefright, and many duets with other artists including Dylan, Muddy Waters, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Ronnie Hawkins, Eric Clapton, etc....
You are on target
I was going out with my future wife back in the late seventies and being polite i asked her what she wanted to do and she said go to see a film called The Last Waltz .I had visions of it being about people dancing to The Blue Danube by Strauss .How wrong I was .Still one of my favourite films
The Band has always been one of my favorite groups. Incredible talent (they have 3 lead singers, and Robbie was lead guitarist, songwriter, and mostly harmony vocals). Levon Helm (drummer) was an American icon (in a band of Canadians!) RIP Robbie
They have 3 strong lead singers and drummer Levon Helm is THERE and a driving force in The Band's music. (Yes, all were Canadians except for Helm -- from Arkansas. Roberson said, "I aimed it right at him!" and it shows.)
Can't go thru life without knowing and loving The Band.....Levon helm the drummer was from Arkansas.....Robbie Robinson was from Canada.
One of the biggest legends of American Music, and I´m mostly european music fan, respect Robbie and the rest
The genre was Americana, but the band was Canadian, except for Levon Helm.
These guys are one of my all-time favorites.
Robbie suffered from stagefright and the song he wrote about it is one of my favourites, sung by the wonderful bass player Rick Danko, give it a listen. To be honest they have so many good songs that were all mainly written by Robbie Robertson
Up On Cripple Creek
The Weight (obviously)
Stage Freight
The Shape I'm In
Acadian Driftwood
King Harvest
It Makes no Difference.
Dylan cover "I shall be Released"
This song is so emotional you can feel it and the way the band performs it is magical!!!!!!!
Saw the Band in July of 73 at Watkins Glen NY. They printed 150,000 tickets and 600,000 people showed up
"The last waltz"......... iconic!!!!
Best Band ever!!!!!! Levon Helms on drums is the sole US member. Now check out The Weight with the Band and The Staples. Work of art!!!!!!
Robbie was Canadian and Mohawk heritage, but ironic to write such fantastic songs of the south. A masterpiece of singing and lyrics.
Lot of people in the UK happily singing along to this with absolutely no idea of what it was really about. 😀
Yep. I was one when I was a kid and heard it on the radio.
Also worth pointing out that as Levon’s family fought in the union side, he was no great fan of this song and this performance was the last time in his life he ever sang it.
@@AMPR45 Hilarious! Where did you you get that silly idea? Helm hated the far more popular version of the song by Joan Baez so he refused to sing the song again. Helm was a full blown junkie by this time and his neurotic and bizarre behavior was really starting to manifest itself.
That’s Levon Helm, young fella. One of the greatest drummers to ever live, and a crazy great voice.
Listen to Ophelia, and hear Levon’s incredible voice.
Damn, sometimes I forget I’m older than I feel. I’ve been a fan of The Band since I was 8-years-old.
RIP Levon, Robbie, Rick, Richard. 😞
Levon Helm was a gift to us all. And there is no bad song from The Band. You can't miss.
Yes a singing drummer and I've heard this song loads of times but do not know how lol
This is from the film The last waltz. A great film and we'll worth watching.
It's sad when people eventually only find great music upon the death of the artist.
The Band was revolutionary, more so than any band you listen to.
This was Levon's best vocal performance, IMO. He just nails. But really, the versions of these tunes in this move are almost always the best, including Neil Young's version of "Helpless."
These guys were just so good!!!
Arguably there would have been no Americana music genre without these guys.
Certainly no Americana without Robbie who wrote the stuff that made the whole thing work.
" and like my brother abooooooooooooooooooooooooove me " ! you felt it bro ! i could see that on your smile :) we all feel it when levon helm sang those line ! A master
Robbie Robertson is the guitar player
My next selection would be " the weight" . Such a great tune that Robbie wrote and was covered by everyone from The Staples Singers to Aretha Franklin
They had amazing luck getting that name for their band. That must have been like getting the name you want for your World of Warcraft character that you assuem everyone already tried to get.
Saw the Last Waltz with wifey when it came to movies in Norway back in the day. Its loaded with great artist. Incl Bob Dylan and Dr John to mention a couple😈😎🇧🇻 and still have the Vinyl version.
Canadian band, but the drummer (Levon Helm) was from Arkansas.
The drummer Levon Helm was from Arkansas and the rest of The Band were Canadian. Robbie Robertson is wearing the red scarf
Canadian band with the exception of drummer Levon Helm who hailed from Arkansas. He was the Southern influence. Robbie Robertson was the guitarist and main songwriter. He and organist Garth Hudson were the only ones in The Band who were not lead vocalists.
Addition of horns was brilliant. Charlie Rich supposedly said, "Unless you're Levon Helm don't drum and sing at the same time."
I guess Charlie Rich never heard of Buddy miles. Of course Buddy Rich was a well known racist so he probably didn't even consider Black musicians.
ua-cam.com/video/1gdLZByXVaU/v-deo.html
You should check out Don’t do it (the live version that is not from the last waltz). You get to really see how crazy talented Levon is there as well. It’s crazy how he can drum and sing lead at the same time.
The drummer is the co-lead singer..Levon Helm. So many treats that you are on the verge of discovering!! *SS* Check out "The Weight" from this concert...with The Staples Family! You will be stunned!
Robbie wrote this song after visiting Levon Helm's family and talking to his dad. Levon was from Arkansas.
The Band ...the most respected and admired group America ever produced ! If you think I'm over egging it , check out the cream of the Rock world who participated in the Last Waltz concert ? Everyone who was invited to perform that night on Thanksgiving ,1976 , did so in a heartbeat because of what The Band meant to them and music . Of course there have been and are great groups over the decades performing , but none with the musicality and stature of The Band ...we will never ,ever see or hear another like them again RIP Robbie Robertson...a true original artist of the greatest kind !
"The most respected and admired group America ever produced"???? 🤣😂🤣
The band was Canadian except for drummer Levon Helm.
@@BobSoltis1 ok ..amerada group ever produced , captain ! Is that better ? I can tell that you are a HUGE music lover !
The Band had 3 lead vokalister, the guitar player, Robbie Robertson was the composer of the group!
Levon (lead singer here) was from Arkansas. The rest were Canadian though. Robbie, who wrote the song, was half Jewish and half Cayuga and Mohawk Indian.
You need to view any video you can from "The Last Waltz"....the farewell concert of The Band in 1976. 80% Canuck, 20% American. And a guest list the size of a large galaxy!
"The drummer" is the late, great Levon Helm.
Checking out who robbie robertson is and who the band is !!!!!!!! Insane !!!!!!
R.I.P Robbie Robertson
If I remember correctly this song comes from a visit Robbie took 'down south' with Levon to visit his family. Sitting around talking about 'the war of northern aggression ' led to this, a song from a different angle.
This the concert film The Last Waltz, filmed by Martin Scorsese, Robbie did a whole chunk of soundtrack stuff with him right up to Scorsese's newest film.
Hey there another MD family
Great Tune...last year of the Civil war..
Yes singing drummers are rare but some great bands over the years have had singing drummers. Don Henley with the Eagles. Karen Carpenter with the Carpenters. Phil Collins with Genesis. There are more for sure but those are a few examples.
Pau from The Warning is the latest drummer / singer .
Don't forget Don Brewer with Grand Funk Railroad.
The Band was amazing! Rick Danko (Bass) and Robbie Robertson (Guitar) hit NYC and stared playing for John Hammond ua-cam.com/video/Bv8OwZgRC9Q/v-deo.html. before Bod Dylan hired them for a Studio AND touring Band ua-cam.com/video/cAI-N9PWm_0/v-deo.html Drummer/ Vocalist Levon Helm was also an Actor Appearing in "The Right Stuff" and in "Coal Miner's Daughter" (the Loretta Lynn Biopic) as Loretta's Father. As others may have mentioned you really must watch the Last Waltz movie to get a good Idea of just how great The Band was!
Check out "when I go away" by Levon Helm the drummer from The Band. He sadly passed shortly after he released it. Brilliant!.
You need to watch the film “the last waltz” ….also Joan Baez made Dixie a top 10 hit!
Levon Helm and his Band
Hilarious! Helm was not the leader of this band.
@@BobSoltis1 He was for awhile, but according to Barney Hoskyns biography of The Band, Levon was not enough of a decision maker. Robbie became the defacto leader, seems it came natural to him, and from the late sixties Richard, Rick and Levon was too stoned, (doing heroin) and Garth was an introvert.
@@hannejeppesen1809 For a very short while after they left Ronnie Hawkins and Helm was the senior member he sort of took the job until his lack of any sort of business or leadership abilities became obvious. Don't forget that he also bailed on his bandmates mid-tour with Dylan and quit the band. Quite a selfish and infantile move on his part. Helm was an incredibly talented individual - but he was no leader.
I have this album on Wax and let me tell you it was difficult to find but I was luck and find it at local record show where I live in Michigan and it was wrapped in cellophane so I think it wasn't even played on the record player yet I was looking for it everywhere and somehow got lucky at this random place I actually hugged the guy that sold it to me I was so happy💜😂
Check out the movie or hear the hole album "The Last Waltz" and decide for yourself which great musicians they are. That was theire farewell concert with the best musicians of their time. My favorite song is "The Weight" with the Staples but the whole album is a masterpiece. Best wishes @all from germany
I'm working through your reactions oldest to newest atm, so - in case you haven't already, please check out The Band with the Staples Singers, The Weight. One of the all time greatest live performances, IMO.
What do you know? One I have heard before. But, I remembered it with a female voice, so I checked and it looks like the version I heard was Joan Baez.
The drummer is American. Robbie Robertson, the songwriter, is the tall guitar player.
No daniel ....u rock. Thank you so much. In their earlier iteration they supported Bob Dylan and are said to have influenced Eric Clapton Elton john and George Harrison
Listen to "The Weight" by The Band.
Oh my goodness. LEARN who you are 'featuring'!
The Band is as hard to describe as their mentor and friend, Bob Dylan.
What can I say? If you want real emotion combined with intellect, they give it their all.
The bad. the good, the ugly, the spiritual with occasional surprises of humor.
I never get tired of "The Weight" which has been acclaimed the world over with
the video, "Playing For Change" where all the money went to feed people after a
natural disaster. Yet, if I need my spirits risen with laughter, check out "Up On Cripple
Creek'. They were known for years among musicians for being good before Dylan used
them as his back up band when he went electric from folk. Dylan recovering from an
accident hid away in a place called Big Pink and wrote some timeless classics which
even today aren't fully appreciated.
The legendary Woodstock concert which changed music forever was began in an
attempt to lure Dylan out of hiding. I have yet to hear The Band's performance there,
they were over shadowed by emerging artists such as Santana, Joe Cocker, Canned Heat,
and the list is longer than my memory.
My association with the '60's was in S.F. and Monterey Pop which directly led to
Woodstock on the East Coast. Pennipacker and Dylan's friend Bobby Nuerwith produced
the film of Monterey but that experience was put on by none other than John Phillips
of the Mama & Papa's fame. The music took precedence over the egos of the performers
which many of them gave their best ever. If they did gain acclaim later in their careers,
it was to try to recapture the moment.
Don't forget sir and you'll that song was an anti war song. No south no north, only poor young americans shot down. Peace and love as they said !!!!
The Band had 3 great singers, Levon Helm (singing on this song) Richard Manuel and Rick Danko, they were all great, but I have a soft spot for RIck. Robbie wrote this song and most of the songs for The Band, he was a great songwriter and guitar player, he didn't have a great voice, but with 3 exceptional singer in The Band, he didn't have ot be.
The writer was Canadian. The SUBJECT was one that an American would hesitate to cover. Same as Neil Young also a Canadian writing about the Kent State murder by cops. I often felt we should not comment on our neighbors faults but things need to be said sometimes and those close keep silent
Unfortunately, some think this song is racist. Nothing could be further from the truth. Robbie merely wanted to write a song that showed how everyone suffers in a war, especially just the regular people who were just barely getting by. Robbie's mother was Mohawk and Cayuga, and his father (who died before Robbie was born) was Jewish, he is not racist, in fact because of his background he experienced prejudice himself.
I noticed how much the Maryland flag is represented in your studio,...and on your shirt. I have been a Marylander for over 50 years. Do you live in Maryland?
100%
Not a Canadian band...Levon Helm was born in Arkansas. Robbie Robertson was Canadian, but in my opinion never the heart and soul of the group, I saw them live in the early 1980's without Robertson and they were phenomenal.
Bob Dylan!
It’s not a Canadian band. Robbie was Canadian not the whole band 😉 Levon Helm, drummer/singer(RIP also)
4 of them were Canadian with only Levon from USA.
It is a Canadian band, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, Rick Danko and Robbie Robertson, all Canadians. The only American was Levon Helm.