Band assigned to me by Patrick Maley: The Band! The first time I heard a _Band_ song was Joan Baez’s cover of _The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down_. And it was a GREAT song! I was probably 10 years old when it was a hit on the radio. And we would all sing along with it whenever it came on the radio. It wouldn’t be until years later that I discovered that it was originally done by _The Band_. But at some point I knew that, just like at some point, I knew that _The Band_ was one of those groups that you SUPPOSED to like. Back in the day, if you wanted true rock and roll cred, you like _The Band_. No ifs, ands, or buts. And so I did. For better or worse. I saw _The Last Waltz_, I knew the songs, I knew the history of the group. However, I think if most people are truthful, they will admit that they all have a love hate relationship with this group. So many great songs, so much stuff you don’t care for. Though, to tell you the truth, I bet every one of you have a different list of _Band_ songs you love and _Band_ songs you hate. I never quite figured out how that worked. Maybe it is because they Canadian, I’m not sure. However, I guess I need to get on with the process here: Song I love: _The Weight_ (duh…). I LOVE this song. I really don’t know what this song is really about, I just LOVE the feel of it and how various snippets of the lyrics seem to resonate with my soul. Levon Helm’s weary vocals pull you into the world of that the song. And what can one say about the piano riff that flows through it? Every once in a while, there is something added to a song that changes it from a good song to a GREAT song. For example, I remember listening to _Beat it on Down the Line_ by the _Grateful Dead_ and about 2/3 of the way through the song, someone comes in with this great tambourine shake and somehow it completely changes the frame of the song. And the same is true here. No piano riff, the song pales in comparison. Somehow those repeated notes tinkling throughout the song do some much to make the vibe of the song what it is. Song I like: _Up on Cripple Creek_. Another Levon song. A series of humorous vignettes set in Louisiana with a little yodeling thrown in. What’s not to like. Song I hate: I don’t really have any songs I hate by _The Band_, just songs I would rather not listen to. But if I had to pick one out to satisfy this requirement I think I would have to go with _Chest Fever_. That rather pompous organ intro just throws me off my game. And there is nothing in the rest of the song that redeems it for me. Finally, if you "like" this post, I will assign you a band.
Posted on: Sun, 21 Jul 2013 04:54:35 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015