Sunday
Sep122010
Cultural Recommendation (43)
Sunday, September 12, 2010 at 10:05AM From the 1978 movie The Last Waltz, The Band performs an outstanding rendition of the The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down. As an aside, the movie was directed by Martin Scorsese and was focused around The Band's final concert.
Reader Comments (5)
Just loved this Pundit...I'm so proud to be an American, but i'm also proud of my
Southern heritage and the many things i learned as a kid growing up in the south...
I can look back today and thank my parents and many friends for keeping our history
alive and forever embedding these wonderful things in my heart and my memory...
Southern and Proud, we are all one today and that is the way its supposed to be....
Thank you God for our beautiful America....
Yes ... this one is in my DVD collection as well. As the story goes, Clapton sought inspiration from the Band's "Big Pink" album to kick his drug habit. Simple, honest music, performed as it was meant to be performed.
This is one of my favorite live performances. Robbie Robertson wrote the song and Joan Baez had a hit with a cover. The Band didn't really have a lead singer, Levon Helm, Richard Manuel and Rick Danko all sang lead on different songs. Levon Helm, the drummer and singer on this song, battled throat cancer and is back touring the last couple years. He says his voice is about 80%. On You Tube you can find live performances from the last year or so by Helm and his band performing classics from The Band like Ophelia, Don't Do It, and others. He looks skinny as a twig but the voice is mostly still there and the songs are great. Supposedly they used to kill Robbie Robertson's mike during llve performances, even though he makes a big show of mouthing the words. His voice is like Warrent Zevon just getting over a bad cold but worse. The high pitched backing vocals on the video are Rick Danko, the bass player. He passed away several years ago, he sang lead on Stage Fright and other songs for The Band. Love The Band!!! Excellent choice!!!!!
First , thank U FL PUNDIT for once again posting a great performance this time by one of my all time favourite groups , THANK U .
Secondly , GeorgiaDawg you are truly Blessed being able to have been born in America and doubly blessed to be born in the South thank you for your words that were so eloquently written. I only can dream of being an American in the South but one day I will travel and search for some Southern Soul to try to experience a small portion of what you have expressed . I sure would like to meet you.
Thirdly , Herb Tarlek thank you for some of the history you provided on The Band well written ,sir .
Good song! Be sure to listen to Mavis and Roebuck Staples join them on "The Weight" on the "Last Waltz" CD.
Hope to see Blues Traveler on here soon.