Conference mr1pst::music

    
    
    He totally inhaled on SNL! His voice was SHOT! Eewwww! Time to retire!

    The voice may have been shot (or having an off night) but the
    mood/feeling was definitely still there.
    
    Mo
    

    
    	Pete, I couldn't agree more.  I sure hope he had bronchitis
    	or laryngitis or whatever.  I've never heard such a voice.
    
    	Also, he seemed like he was totally nervous.  He was shaking
    	and could barely play the guitar.
    
    	re: .0 - Sorry about this - I've liked him too.  If this is
    	out of place, I'll delete it gladly.
    
    	Tom
    

    Everyone has their own opinion.  My is of course that he is just
    wonderful.  I hope it was just an off night.  I wouldn't like to
    think that his voice is gone.  It is surprising since he sounds
    great on his new album and the 2 new videos are really good too.
    
    I was reading Rolling Stone Mag a few weeks ago and they gave
    it one of their highest ratings (like his first album).
    
    I still wants to go to one of his concerts though.  
    
    A fan forever.
    
    Mo
    
    
    

    Was surprised to learn that he wrote the Rod Stewart song
    called "Broken Arrow" ?? that's playing on the radio a lot.
    
    It's the one that goes...."Who else is going to give you
    a broken arrow...."  kind of catchy ballad.  I never liked
    Rod too much but I do like that song.  It does sound like
    a RR song if you listed to it again, you will hear his
    influence.
    
    --CJ--
    

    "Broken Arrow" was on Robbie Robertson's album before this one (I think
    his first, solo).   As I mentioned in another note, it is 1000% better
    than the Rod Stewart version.
    
    I'm surprised it was redone so {relatively} quickly.
    
    kim

Just a comment/question about Robbie Robertson's voice. I can't
recall any songs from The Band that he sang lead on,
maybe someone more knowledgable can fill us in. What I am getting
at is, I don't think that he is really known for his vocal capabilities
anyway. On "Storyville", his use of background singers, and the
incredible mood and mystery of the songwriting itself make up for this.

    If I remember correctly he wrote most of the songs for The Band but
    he only sang backup.  When I watched "The Last Waltz" which was
    The Band's last concert, he sang only background vocals and never
    sang lead.  
    
    .07 - I think you are write when you say that he is more known for
          song writing.  
    
    Hope you have a chance to see his two new videos from Storyville.  The
    a quite good.
    
    Mo
    

    Great hair for such an old guy.
    
    karl

Robbie Robertson sang lead on at least one Band song, I think it was "Up On
Cripple Creak". (Actually, he didn't sing all the leads, but he takes the
lead on just one verse....)

I loved his first solo album! It was phenomenal! While I also like 
"Storyville" a lot, its gonna take a few more listens to get used to it. It
starts out on some really high notes, with more of the real "airy" songs
(similar to "Somewhere Down The Crazy River" on the first album). But when
the album starts to get more upbeat, I think it goes downhill a bit. Its
one of the few albums I can think of where I actually prefer the softer 
material over the "rock"/upbeat material.

alan

    Well, if you had Levon Helm, Rick Danko, and Richard Manuel in your
    band, would you be doing much singing?  I always thought that Robbie's
    mic was not turned on when he sang harmonies with The Band!  BTW - he
    wrote virtually ALL the songs ever performed by The Band... truly one
    of the great songwriters of our time.
    
    More recently, his two solo albums are truly brilliant work.  I think
    "Broken Arrow" was the best song on the first solo album, but there
    were a half dozen strong contenders ("American Roulette" and "Somewhere
    Down the Crazy River" spring to mind).
    
    Storyville is also quite fine, although a bit laid back for my
    tastes... he doesn't really let it completely loose anywhere on the 
    record.  Nevertheless, it contains several great compositions, such as
    "Go Back To Your Woods," which he opened with on SNL, and
    "Resurrection," to name two.
    
    Robbie's voice came across pretty well on both the solo albums, but I
    think it needed quite a bit of processing to get that way.  The man is
    really known for his songwriting and guitar playing primarily.
    
    On SNL, I also though he seemed very nervous, but overall the two
    numbers had alot of energy and emotion.  Without the studio tricks to
    help, I wasn't surprised how his voice came across.  My wife thought 
    maybe he is sick in some way (I certainly hope not).  Maybe he was 
    nervous because he hasn't played in public much in the last 10 years.  
    I would love to see him if he goes on tour.
    
    I thought it was kinda funny a few seconds into "The Weight."  There
    was a murmur from the crowd as half the people in the audience thought
    to themselves "Ohhhhhhh... so _that's_ who Robbie Robertson is!).
    
    								Marc
    
    P.S.   Who are those two guys in feathers standing up there with him?
    	   He seemed to call one of them "Big Chief."

    I can't say whether or not he was sick on SNL, but I saw both
    performances and LOVED them.  What I can say is that I'm sure we can
    all think of performers who have made a carrer on gravelly (is that a
    word?), gruff, hoarse, and/or coarse voices.  I for one think that his
    voice adds a lot to the texture of his music and hope he never stops. 
    I too would be psyched for a tour.
    
    -Jesse

    I liked J. Robbie a lot as guitarist and songwriter, both with the Band,
    and before that with Dylan & the Hawks (Blonde on Blonde, '66 tour
    boots, '67 Basement Tapes including non-Dylan cuts, and I suppose the
    '74-5 Dylan/Band album & tour).  Before that, some of his stuff with
    Ronnie Hawkins had its moments -- him with his self-taught licks (he
    didn't realize blues players used slides to create many of the licks he
    adopted).
    
    I hear the 2nd solo album is very good, and am looking forward to
    hearing it.  However, the first does nothing for me; to my taste it's
    way overproduced, rendering his voice and guitar unrecognizable.  To me
    the songs, even the one to departed Bandmate Richard Manuel, didn't hit
    any marks.  Sounds to me like he was influenced by alien sensibilities
    (e.g., Peter Gabriel).  Still a fan though,   Jay

Robertson completists and anthology enthusiasts might want to keep an eye out
for the soundtrack to "The King of Comedy".  It was produced by Robbie and
includes originals by him (and Van Morrison, I think) along with B.B. King
and other notables.  About 9 good cuts out of 12.

And, if you like Robbie's ambiance and presentation, check out the movie
"Carnie".

    re: Jay
    
    I personally thought the first solo album was dynamite, but I agree
    with your point about it being somewhat overproduced, and there wasn't
    NEARLY enough guitar work standing out.  The good news is that the
    second album doesn't suffer the same problems, to my ears, especially
    concerning the guitars, which are quite prominent and featured on
    nearly every track.
    
    I didn't realize any of the songs were dedicated to the memory of 
    Richard Manuel.  Please point out which one.
    
    								Marc

    	Well as said before...Robbie is formost a songwriter and guitarist
    he is not much of a singer. The basenote writer, check out the
    movie "The Last Waltz" or get the soundtrack CD (I like the movie much 
    better) also give the CD "Rock Of Ages" a listen too !! I like his solo
    stuff alot but for me Robbie was a team player and this is very
    noticable with The Band.
    
    Chris
    
    ps. I bet ya can't guess which guest I like the most from TLW movie :')

    I noticed that Bruce Hornsby played keys on the SNL gig, and took a
    verse in "The Weight".  Who was the black keyboard player, who ditto?
    
    karl

    <<< Note 120.15 by ELWOOD::HERTZBERG "History: Love it or Leave it!" >>>
>    I didn't realize any of the songs were dedicated to the memory of 
<    Richard Manuel.  Please point out which one.
    
yeah,  I like the 1st solo lp (I think there must be a discussion about it
in the records note file)...ditto to what you said about there not being 
enough guitar work.  

As for a song about Richard Manuel - this would have to be "Broken Arrow" 
with such phrases as "you got to play the hand your dealt"....

As for Storyville - I haven't heard it yet....
bob

re:  big chief, black piano player etc

from the net:

From: [email protected] (Jay King)
.....
The vocalists were (in case anyone is still wondering):
Robbie> Bruce> Bo Dollis> Ivan Neville.....Sweet!!!

Robbie is supposed to start a tour in the spring.  I only hopes he
makes it north to Vermont.  The "guys dressed as indians" are 
Chief Bo Dollis of the Wild Magnolias and Chief Monk Boudreaux of
The Golden Eagles!!!  These guys are New Orleans Indians and the heads
of their respective tribes.  They both appear on "Storyville" and also
have great albums on Rounder Records.  Definitely worth checking out.
Bo Dollis and the Wild Magnolias "I'm back at Carnival Time" features
the Rebirth Brass Band throughout.  A classic album along the lines of
the legendary Wild Tchapitoulas.  I've heard that the entire band 
wears similar outfits on stage.
.....

    Everyone who sang with Robbie on SNL is also on the Video that just
    came out a few weeks ago.  I have seen it on VH1 along with the first
    video/song "What About Now".  
    
    I am glad there are more R.R. fans out there.  Most of the people
    that I talk to about music have never heard of him and they look
    at me with these blanks looks and ask "How long has he been around?"
    and "Is he a new singer?"
    
    Thanks for the info on his tour.  I will keep looking for dates.
    Hopefully he will be in the area.  
    
    Mo
    

    >  As for a song about Richard Manuel - this would have to be "Broken 
    >  Arrow" with such phrases as "you got to play the hand your dealt"....
    
    Wasn't that one "Fallen Angel?"

>    Wasn't that one "Fallen Angel?"

   Correct, "Fallen Angel" is the song for Manuel, and includes the line
   "You gotta play the hand that's dealt ya".  The printed lyrics conclude
   with the dedication "(For Richard Manuel)".  The song begins:

   "Are you out there/ Can you hear me/ Can you see me in the dark//
   I don't believe it's all for nothing/ It's not just written in the sand/
   Sometimes I thought you felt too much/ And you crossed into the
   shadowland..."                          - Jay

re:  fallen angel (broken arrow)

yeah my mistake,  thanks for the rest of the lyrics too.

    
    	He's on David Letterman tonight at 12:30.
    
    	Tom
    
    

    Yup, Robbie was on last night on David Lettermen and he was 
    great.  His voice wasn't that good on SNL Saturday night but
    it was back to normal last night.  
    
    David Lettermen kept saying how great the Storyville CD was (he said
    about 10 times) and then said that Robbie was up for 2 Grammy Awards
    this year (Yahoo).  
    
    Then David interviewed him for about 10/15 minutes with stories from
    the old days (The Band days) and Bob Dylan.
    
    Think I will be going to bed early tonite.
    
    Monique
    

    
    Count me in as a major, major fan of J R Robertson.  Absolutely one of
    the very best north american songwriters around.  He was the one who
    would never sing the Bands material, there were efforts by the others
    to get him to sing, but he wouldn't.   Frankly, i like alot what i
    hear!
    
    Rick danko and garth hudson did Fall'en Angel i think a j swifts a
    couple of years ago, a few weeks after Richard died. I didn't hear it,
    but those who did loved it (it was done acoustically).
    
    I think both albums have been terrific. I do not go to many shows
    anymore (actually the only one in 10 years has been McCartney) but
    i'll definitely try to see this one.  I've been doing his material for
    years, and NEVER get tired of it. I am dismayed to hear Rod Glitz is
    doing such a fine song though!
    
    	bob
    

    I noticed at Tower Records the other night that Robbie Robertson has an
    album due out.  I think the date was some time in November, and I think
    the title was "The Native Americans" or something like that.
    
    Anybody have any more info about this?
    
    							Marc

    No, but I suspected something was up when I heard a promo on the radio
    last week for a special hour long Robbie Robertson feature on Sunday
    night.

    check out the newest rolling stone, theres a complete write up on it.

    He was on Jay Leno last night playing the music from the new
    release.  It is basically music that he did for a TBS special
    on Native Americans which starts next week (4 hour special on 2 
    nights).  
    
    He and the group (can't remember the name) only played one song
    but from what I heard, I think I will really like it.
    
    Mo