DISQUS

ozarkmatt · 1 year ago

Hey, I live in NW Arkansas. It's a no-brainer whos side I'm on.

Malchus · 1 year ago

I loved... LOVED Robertson's second solo album, "Storyville" when it was released. "What About Now" continues to move me. Enjoying Robertson's music is definitely a case of looking past the artist (ala The Eagles) and just listening to their music.

I recall seeing a documentary about Robertson shot sometime in the mid 90's. The interviewers had set up a scene for Robertson and Scorsese to tell stories of their time living together. Scorsese almost seemed embarrassed and didn't say much while Robertson dominated the conversation. Can you imagine that? Scorsese left speechless!

From the first album, which is essentially Robbie Robertson trying to be U2 and Peter Gabriel, I always loved "Somewhere Down That Crazy River". What a mood that song has; though, that could have more to do with Daniel Lanois than Robertson. I once mused to a friend "What would it sound like if Springsteen ever recorded with Daniel Lanois?" He responded, "Probably Robbie Robertson."

DwDunphy · 1 year ago

Yeesh.

I wonder if Robertson okayed Weezer's awful cover of "The Weight" or just wiped his bum with the residuals.

Russ · 1 year ago

Funny how these publishing rights fights - Beatles, Beach Boys, Pink Floyd, The Band - all swirl around the late 60's Capitol Records roster.

DavidMedsker · 1 year ago

I have always loved this album. Now, however, I feel like I shouldn't. Thanks, Bolin.

Jason · 1 year ago

Google ... “Robbie Robertson is an asshole” and you get four exact matches.

Five, now that this post is up!

Thierry · 1 year ago

Having been down at Helm's Woodstock barn last month for what was one of my all-time great musical experiences (nearly 3 hours standing no more than 5 feet away from LEVON F'ING HELM as he played and sang his heart out on everything from Rag Mama Rag to Atlantic City to Dirt Farmer's Anna Lee), and seeing all the love for Levon that seems to pour out of his bandmates and the people who surround him, I firmly place myself with Team Levon.

Sidenote: Even though I hate the jerk, I'll still rank his solo on King Harvest as one of the Top 5 best I've ever heard.

Pico · 1 year ago

Dirt Farmer was on my '07 year end "best of" list; so rustic, so real, and so defiant of the present. Helm's voice sounds remarkably well, too.

I love reading your accounts of what huge assholes these musicians these are; I don't know if that says more about me than the subject matter, though ;-)

Jayzee · 1 year ago

Robbie Roberston-easily the most overrated guitarist in history. I've always been at a loss to understand what the fuss was all about. "Adequate" is the best I could say about his playing.

Ted · 1 year ago

I absolutely loved Robbie's first solo album. Sure, the fact that U2 and Peter Gabriel were on it didn't hurt, but damn if that tape wasn't played in my car over and over that year. Storyville was good, but I couldn't get into it as much as the first record. And CDs he did with the Native American themes were quite good -- or so I thought. I didn't know he was such an ass, but then again, being an asshole in the music biz is not a rarity.

kar · 1 year ago

Another voice chiming in that they liked this album. "Fallen Angel" with Gabriel was haunting. I listened to it daily for at least a year. Also less famous stuff like "Sonny got Caught in the Moonlight."

Also mentioned months ago that I preferred his version of "Broken Arrow." The gravity and gravitas of his voice added a weariness that rang truer than Rod's over produced cover complete with a gospel choir.

A lot of the impact was due to the great backing vocals by the late Rick Danko and Sammy BoDean. Same thing with "Storyville." I couldn't believe that was Neil Young on my favorite track, Soapbox Preacher. For the first time, I could make out his singing.

He may not have written/performed everything on "Music for The Native Americans," but it was a decent album. Best track wasn't his, Akua Tuta,, but Ghost Dance and Skinwalker more than made up for crap like "Golden Feather."

Is he a moral ideal? Probably not, but Levon's got his own issues.

Ed A · 6 months ago

Having just finished a repeat viewing of The Last Waltz, I have to say that I can see both sides.

Levon Helm is a terrific musician and Dirt Farmer is a great album. Still, if you'll notice, most of his songs are covers or standards. The same was true of his reunion with his former Band mates.

Robertson, meanwhile, produced three albums of quality, original material, with lyrics that echo the tone and style of much of the Band's better work. He may well be an asshole, and I have no doubt , given the musicianship of the other four Band members, that the music they created represented a collaborative effort. Still, the fact that Helm has done mostly covers since the Band broke up strongly suggests that it was Robertson (and Dylan) who wrote most of the lyrics.

I am not a musician, so I can't speak to RR's musical contribution.