The Band - The Last Waltz
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Free Music Notes for The Last Waltz
Free Music Review: Loved it!!
Hit: 5 Stars
Probably one of the best albums of our time.
It is also a must-see movie...
Free Music Review: The only way to experience The Last Waltz on CD
Hit: 4 Stars
The Last Waltz is a controversial beast. As a rock documentary, it's an absolute classic, bringing to life the interviews of a diverse lineup of rock stars and depicting a marvelous one-night-stand concert in a very exciting way. As an event for The Band, it was a bit of an act--Robertson was the only one who wanted to quit, and the performance was especially forced for drummer Levon Helm, who didn't like the entire concept and found the film to be especially biased to Robertson's ego. For better or worse, though, here it is on CD in as complete a form as has ever been released (a few tracks are still missing and horns are overdubbed on a few as well, and the tracks aren't in their original order). The group is certainly not as on top of their game as they once were, since the road and drugs have taken their toll, but they give it their all and the star-studded guest appearances make for a once-in-a-lifetime event. This boxed set is the only way to experience this concert--it has the music that wasn't in the movie, it has the studio theatrical music, and it has the rehearsals that were (in some cases) better than the actual performances.
When the concert is good, it's great. Van Morrison's "Caravan" is a transcendent rock and roll moment, and The Band really cuts it up on some of their own material, like Rick Danko's classic "Stage Fright" vocal and The Band's final, barnstorming encore, "Don't Do It." A lot of great songs are on here that didn't make it to the movie either, like the group affair "Acadian Driftwood" with Neil Young and Joni Mitchell, and Neil Young's "Helpless," which sounds great with The Band's vocalists as backup singers. The rehearsals are great too, with "King Harvest" as a highlight (I still don't know why they're withholding the actual live version of this classic).
When The Last Waltz is mediocre, though, it's pretty mediocre. For instance, "Out of the Blue." With three amazing vocalists, Robbie Robertson's egotistical advancement of his own middling voice is pretty disappointing. A few of the takes are pretty middle of the road too, like the live "The Weight," and the rushed "W.S. Walcott's Medicine Show." Neil Diamond, though he performs his song with his usual grace (I admit it, I'm a fan) doesn't really belong with The Band on such an important night. Sorry Robbie.
Overall, The Last Waltz is a solid experience on CD, but it's definitely overshadowed by the truly essential film version of the concert which has great visuals and interview footage (not to mention a lot of close-ups of Robbie, thanks to Marty's infatuation with the guitarist). As a CD it doesn't capture the visual scope of the night and can't compare to the performing quality of Rock of Ages, the group's first and superior live album. If you're going to buy The Last Waltz on CD, though, this one has the most music and captures ALL of the best moments, where the other versions are even more heavily-edited and miss out on some of the greatness.
Free Music Review: A sumptuous feast, but not everything on the menu
Hit: 4 Stars
For starters, I'll say that the Band is my favorite group of players/singers of any type of music; if I had to give up all my music except for one artist, the choice of whom to keep would be easy. This is an indispensable set, an unshakeable foundation for the serious lover of music that is emotionally honest and played with incomparable originality, versatility, and soul. There's a quote in the booklet: "The Band didn't sound like a group of teenage millionaires." That sums it up. The subject matter of their songs and their manner of putting it across took you inside a whole way of life, populated by people who paid their dues, took their chances, earned their wisdom and shared it with others. Having said all those nice things, I want to throw in some details on why I can't give it five stars, at least this version of it. I'd prefer the songs presented in their original sequence, which you can hear on the bootleg of the show. There was drama in that structure, and you get something dramatic here too, but it's not the same--originally, the Band played their own set, then most of the guests followed, all but for Bob Dylan. After an intermission with poetry reading by some members of the Beat Generation and a Hell's Angel, The Band came back for a few numbers, playing "The Weight" before Dylan's set. Also, while it is true that MOST of the material from the original show is here, there still are a few things left out, such as Richard Manuel singing "Georgia on my Mind" and ragged versions of "Evangeline" and "The Last Waltz." Finally, even though I'm as impressed by the improved sound as anyone, it wouldn't have hurt to leave some of the rough edges intact. The horn sections on "Shape I'm In" and "Don't Do It" were overdubbed after the fact: those are just two of the more obvious examples of post-production sweetening. The true live version of "Don't Do It" is looser and longer, and, to my ears, much more moving. By all means, purchase this set--but be aware that it is a version of the Last Waltz, not a complete or completely faithful document of it.Free Music Review: The Band does it again
Hit: 4 Stars
26 years after the concert, The Band has managedto come back hard with this 4 CD box set. Songs
that were edited on the 1978 release; The Last
Waltz, are now intact. The sound has been greatly
improved as well under Robbie Robertson's direction.
The Band may have had only a handful of great
songs over their career, but they played them like
a glass of fine wine. And with the inclusion of 24
additional tracks, this set is a must for people
who enjoy good music played by a band who knew how.
Free Music Review: I wish I was there
Hit: 4 Stars
The package arrived in perfect condition. This is my favorite concert with multiple performers. I have the video but it's great to be able to take the music on the road.