Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I believe Big Pink was one of the last, and perhaps the last notable, LP pressed with the rainbow label, and I think only first pressings received it. I believe first pressing of the S/T album is on the green label.

I can't remember, but is the Basement Tapes on Columbia? I believe it is. If so, that must have been Bob's connection. I had an 80s pressing of the S/T where they left off the songs "King Harvest" and "When You Awake." Can you believe that?! It's like leaving A Day in the Life off of Pepper! Those #%&*s at Capitol. I actually have the reissue on cassette without those songs. They did that to Beach Boys albums as well. Why? Just so they could save a few inches of tape on the cassette version.

"Makes No Difference" is from the Northern Lights Southern Cross LP, quite likely their best after the first three and the Tapes set.

Hey John, I just re-read your original post"...and The Bands eschewing of media attention from their hideaway in Woodstock/Bearsville, NY would only serve to let their legend grow larger."

This is interesting for several reasons; it was partly a product of Albert Grossman's style of management (worked great for Dylan, if you don't buy into the "accident" theory.) And it was partly a result of the fact that they played next to no gigs (as a result of Danko's car wreck, which did happen.)

I'm not sure of the exact timeline. But I think they played hardly any shows in '68, and '69 (couldn't even support the "brown" album. I think Danko's wreck was after they played a show or two.) Their first major tour may have been after Stage Freight was released. I know one of my brothers told me his friend's brother, who lived on the corner of our block, saw them at the Arie Crown theater in Chgo then. There are photos on the web from that gig. And this is from that tour:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIpfhEwlw5c

My other brother, who's a certified freak for The Band, saw them on one of their mid 70s tours, I think at an outdoor show.

If you read Levon's book, it's amazing they drove all those miles at the speeds they did back in their clubs days, without any problems. But when they put out one of the best albums ever cut, Rick took a turn too fast in Woodstock and put them out of commission for a year or so. The same thing happened to Carl Perkins when his career was just taking off.

My parents saw them in support of Dylan and hated the Band's half of the show, lol.

Don't we already know everything in the original post?

iamthebassman wrote:Don't we already know everything in the original post?

It was just my way of opening up the topic for discussion.

Always been a big Band/Danko fan, The Last Waltz premiered just as I was learning to play bass and I was truly inspired after seeing it in the theatre. That's why I own this:

studiotwosession wrote:My parents saw them in support of Dylan and hated the Band's half of the show, lol.

Many of my friends could not get excited by their music either.

Speaking of Dylan. I liked Dylan's work in the very early days of his career but to me his concerts very quickly became boring when he was so stoned that he could hardly talk, let alone play and sing. Too many musicians took that path. Of those that survived, not very many returned to their glory days.

winston wrote: Unfortunately this is a band that has flown under many peoples radar.

Most of my friends who are really into the Band tend to be musicians, not all of them, but a ratio of about 3/4. That "Danko" bass is way cool. What was the first album he played it on? Stage Freight? The bass is my favorite part of Strawberry Wine.

Band freaks in the making should definitely check out Moondog Matinee, their cover songs album, most if not all of which were probably staples of their club days.

Very cool John! Excellent post!
Besides the music, "The Last Waltz" had so many classic lines...a few of my favorites are
"I just wanna break even"
"New York City was an adult dose"
"You won't make much money but You'll get more xxxx then Frank Sinatra"

There are some other great ones credited to Ronnie Hawkins in Levon's book.