C/D: The Last Waltz

er, DeMent, I meant.

Robbie? Urban? that's an interesting take.

He's from Toronto I believe? That's kind of a big city.

Sure, but nobody would describe the Band's music as urban, would they? Even if they did their first album in NYC and their second in LA.

"Hobo Jungle" and "Rags and Bones", the two songs under reference, are both set in the city.

...and, the songs under accusation of being grossly sentimental, that makes Robertson an "urban sentimentalist" a year later.

Yeah, although xgau admits he likes the *sound* of the songs, and even gives the album a B+. Don't get so hung up on lyrics, 'gau (seems like he does that more and more). But since The Band did have some good lyrics some time before that record came out, guess he was struck by the difference.

He seems to consider Islands their worst, though I've never heard it. Is he right? Seems plausible at that point (I take it the title had to do with gaps).

Islands was an odds'n'sods set (that according to Robbie was promoted as a proper album) they delivered as a contractual obligation to Capital so Warners could release The Last Waltz.

If you like The Band, it's worth hearing as sort of a last hurrah of the original lineup as a studio band. They cover "Ain't That A Lot of Love" of which I know not a bad version. "The Saga of Pepote Rouge" is a sweet sing-along that appears on comps. "Twilight" is them doing Reggae.

I seem to also recall it was front-loaded with weaker material, a fatal move in the vinyl days.

my friends watch this every year on Thanksgiving

this year I went away thinking that Dr. John steals the show

Re: Islands, I think the last three tracks are keepers: "Georgia on My Mind," "Knockin' Lost John" and "Livin' in a Dream" (probably my favorite of the three). I enjoy them but don't care for the rest though "Pepote Rouge" and the Christmas song definitely have their fans.

The Last Waltz was my first real introduction to Dr. John. I only knew him as a piece of pop culture (Popeye's Chicken, Dr. Teeth's inspiration) and not as a musician - I was completely unfamiliar with "Such a Night" and absolutely loved it. The whole film was my introduction to a lot of things: "Helpless," "Caravan," Paul Butterfield, and above all the Band, and speaking as a kid who didn't know any of those songs or those particular people, the movie was amazing. So despite all the issues one would have with it (for good reason), I still think there's a lot that's great about it that can still make converts.

there's a lot you could sneer at, make fun of, poke holes in -- but as a once-a-year Thanksgiving ritual, it's brilliant. i always look forward to making fun of Neil Diamond, laughing hysterically at Van Morrison's kicks, grooving to Joni and Muddy Waters

the part where Clapton's guitar strap falls off and Robbie, without missing a beat, jumps right in and smokes him: classic

I don’t know if I buy that Robbie smoked him

Re: Neil Diamond, I'm not a fan, but I love his Bang recordings. Wish they played one of THOSE songs, it would've made the case for his inclusion rock solid. (Besides their history together, Robbie wanted Diamond as a representative of the Brill Building - every guest was supposed to represent one vital aspect of rock history up to that point, minus the proto-punk and avant-garde side that Robbie never seemed to care for.)

XP Fresh Smoked Clapton

I don't remember Diamond in that; what songs did he do, just ones from xxxpost Beautiful Noise? Don't know if it was out yet, but shoulda done "Sweet Caroline" with The Band x Toussaint's horns, also yeah Brill Building.

“Dry Your Eyes” iirc

And yeah the Bang stuff is great.

XP Fresh Smoked Clapton

minus the proto-punk and avant-garde side that Robbie never seemed to care for

Now pining for the Iggy & Zappa collabs that could have been.

Robbie: "The man...IGGY POP! He was in the Stooges!"

<The Band + Iggy perform shaky version of "Search & Destroy">

<Zappa's guitar strap breaks, Robertson smokes him by picking up the solo on "Pumping The Poodle (Variations #2)">

Robbie: "The man...IGGY POP! He was in the Stooges!"

<The Band + Iggy perform shaky version of "Search & Destroy">

Moe Tucker continues all the while unfazed and focused on pounding out the rhythm on her upended bass drum, doesn’t miss a beat.

David Crosby makes face to show that he is not amused, picks fights with all and sundry, including Graham Nash and a very out of it Michael Clarke.

i want this as my xmas card, i'm inbetween levon and garth lookswise at this point in my life

https://www.upstatefilms.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/theband-2048x1307.jpg