specialk Posted January 8, 2010 Posted January 8, 2010 What a great voice for such a song. It's off his Dirt Farmer CD.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gm2_7o8DGtI
belgian Posted January 8, 2010 Posted January 8, 2010 I gave up on The Band later albums, but what Levon does on his latest album is fantastic. I'll have to pick up Dirt Farmer too, now.
tbabinec Posted January 8, 2010 Posted January 8, 2010 There's Dirt Farmer and the more recent Electric Dirt. Helm suffered throat cancer and his voice is not what it used to be, but it's great to see him still active. He has a signature sound on drums. Can't imagine some of the Band songs without him singing.
geoff_hartwell Posted January 8, 2010 Posted January 8, 2010 He's a freakin genius. Beat the cancer, still smokes weed like it's going out of style, and is still going strong. His autobiography is a top five as well- you'll never see the Last Waltz the same again! Geoff
tomteriffic Posted January 8, 2010 Posted January 8, 2010 He's a freakin genius. His autobiography is a top five as well- you'll never see the Last Waltz the same again! Geoff True. I read it and you're dead right. P.S. I just gave that a proper listening. That stuff gives me chicken skin. Just wow.
elduave Posted January 8, 2010 Posted January 8, 2010 Without giving away too much ('cause I wanna read the book), please tell us about the book! An overview maybe with a juicy tidbit, opinion, anecdote or two? Thanks.
cmatthes Posted January 8, 2010 Posted January 8, 2010 He was born a woman.You don't find out until the last page.
tomteriffic Posted January 8, 2010 Posted January 8, 2010 Without giving away too much ('cause I wanna read the book), please tell us about the book! An overview maybe with a juicy tidbit, opinion, anecdote or two? Thanks.OK, Dave. The book is written like Levon just sat down with a tape recorder and it was transcribed later. Maybe it was. It'll have you looking for pre-Band bootlegs of their days in Toronto. You'll gain a whole new opinion/appreciation of the members of the group.The keyboardist in the Toronto days, prior to Richard Manuel and Garth Hudson, could pound a piano so hard that the hammers would come flying out.Their original recording contract has them listed as "The Crackers". They didn't have a name at that point and Levon just blurted it out.Having had two opportunities to spend a little quality time with Levon, I'll tell you that, from that little bit of exposure, that's Levon talking in that book. He's still a stone crazy, but very shrewd, redneck kid at heart.
elduave Posted January 8, 2010 Posted January 8, 2010 Excellent. Thanks!I just started Neil Pearts R30 book, mostly 'cause I couldn't find Levon's book in any area brick n mortars.I'll order Levon from Amazon.
Joe G Posted January 8, 2010 Posted January 8, 2010 He was born a woman. You don't find out until the last page.
belgian Posted January 8, 2010 Posted January 8, 2010 Carolyn Wonderland was over here last November, and we had to re-scedule her whole tour because she got a invitation to play at Levon's barn. We stayed up the whole night at my Whiskey table before she left because she had a very early flight from Brussels.The whole story is here in her blog : go to Novemberhttp://blogs.myspace.com/carolynwonderland
specialk Posted January 8, 2010 Author Posted January 8, 2010 His autobiography is a top five as well- you'll never see the Last Waltz the same again! Geoff Thanks for the heads-up, Geoff! I will be looking for it.
Scottcrud Posted January 9, 2010 Posted January 9, 2010 His voice has brought me too tears, don't really know how to explain it really.The Night they drove old Dixie down is my favorite.
tbabinec Posted January 9, 2010 Posted January 9, 2010 "This Wheel's on Fire: Levon Helm and the Story of the Band." Lotta good road stories. Talks about the early days backing Ronnie Hawkins, & times with Dylan and the Band. Likes Muddy Waters. Doesn't like Robbie Robertson. He tells you why. Great read.
Frank Posted January 9, 2010 Posted January 9, 2010 Thanks. I saw that on Amazon today. I'll have to pick it up. A couple of years ago a friend gave me "The Band: A Musical History". It comes with 5 CD's and a DVD. It's pretty good, too. There are a lot of unissued tracks on the CD's.
Disturber Posted January 10, 2010 Posted January 10, 2010 I gave up on The Band later albums, The Bands 1993 album JERICHO is killer. I highly recommend it. Their 1998 album JUBILATION is also very very good. Check that out as well. It was licensed to different labels and has come with different album cover art. Min has a big whale on it. Well worth checking out! There is also a 1996 album called High on the hog that I have not heard, but it is supposed to be a weak effort, perhaps that is the one you've heard?
specialk Posted February 8, 2010 Author Posted February 8, 2010 His autobiography is a top five as well- you'll never see the Last Waltz the same again! Geoff Thanks for the book rec, Geoff. It's definitely a keeper. I just finished it and am rewatching The Last Waltz now. Puts it in a bit more perspective and answers the age-old question: What the HELL was Neil Diamond doing up on stage that night?
mirrorimij Posted February 8, 2010 Posted February 8, 2010 I saw Levon a few years ago when he played with Hubert Sumlin at a small college in Manchester, CT. He was absolutely phenomenal. I will have to read the book. Thanks for the heads up.
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