Comments on: Endless Highway –The Music of The Band http://folksalad.wordpress.com/2007/01/23/endless-highway-the-music-of-the-band/ Information and Opinion of interest to Folk Salad listeners Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:24:17 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: folksalad http://folksalad.wordpress.com/2007/01/23/endless-highway-the-music-of-the-band/#comment-204 folksalad Thu, 06 Sep 2007 12:53:27 +0000 http://folksalad.wordpress.com/2007/01/23/endless-highway-the-music-of-the-band/#comment-204 Alby, I love Levon's "anguished yowl" on Atlantic City, too. What a great description! As for Death Cab's version of "Rocking Chair", my objection is to the vocal quality. Their voices are too young and pretty sounding for a song that calls for the voice of a sailor too old for the sea, resigned to a rocking chair and satisfying memories. It calls for an old-man gravitas that The Band delivers in spades. That's what I meant by unconvincing. I admit, I tend to possibly be a bit more skeptical than you in my attitude to covers. While I do love a good cover, like The Band's "Atlantic City", I still usually find myself asking why I should listen to the cover when I can listen to the original. Sometimes, the answer is, because it's better! Sometimes, the answer is, because the cover lets us hear the old song with new ears. And sometimes, the answer is, you shouldn't bother. --Rich Alby,
I love Levon’s “anguished yowl” on Atlantic City, too. What a great description! As for Death Cab’s version of “Rocking Chair”, my objection is to the vocal quality. Their voices are too young and pretty sounding for a song that calls for the voice of a sailor too old for the sea, resigned to a rocking chair and satisfying memories. It calls for an old-man gravitas that The Band delivers in spades. That’s what I meant by unconvincing.

I admit, I tend to possibly be a bit more skeptical than you in my attitude to covers. While I do love a good cover, like The Band’s “Atlantic City”, I still usually find myself asking why I should listen to the cover when I can listen to the original. Sometimes, the answer is, because it’s better! Sometimes, the answer is, because the cover lets us hear the old song with new ears. And sometimes, the answer is, you shouldn’t bother.
–Rich

]]> By: alby http://folksalad.wordpress.com/2007/01/23/endless-highway-the-music-of-the-band/#comment-197 alby Mon, 03 Sep 2007 18:07:42 +0000 http://folksalad.wordpress.com/2007/01/23/endless-highway-the-music-of-the-band/#comment-197 I respectfully disagree about the Death Cab version of "Rocking Chair." I heard it on commercial radio recently, and it sent me scurrying for this album (flew under my radar at the time, I admit). Despite coming at the regret and loss in the song from the opposite direction from the original, it still captures that sadness, and even adds in a Band-style ragged string-band horn section toward the end. Then again, I have a fondness for covers of all sorts; the Band's take on Springsteen's "Atlantic City," from the Jericho album, drew roars of outrage from Bruce fans I know, but I still like Levon's anguished yowl as much as Bruce's world-weary reading of the bleak lyrics. Add in Garth's stunning accordion runs during the fade-out, and I'm pretty sure I like the Band's version better than the original. I respectfully disagree about the Death Cab version of “Rocking Chair.” I heard it on commercial radio recently, and it sent me scurrying for this album (flew under my radar at the time, I admit). Despite coming at the regret and loss in the song from the opposite direction from the original, it still captures that sadness, and even adds in a Band-style ragged string-band horn section toward the end. Then again, I have a fondness for covers of all sorts; the Band’s take on Springsteen’s “Atlantic City,” from the Jericho album, drew roars of outrage from Bruce fans I know, but I still like Levon’s anguished yowl as much as Bruce’s world-weary reading of the bleak lyrics. Add in Garth’s stunning accordion runs during the fade-out, and I’m pretty sure I like the Band’s version better than the original.

]]> By: elaine http://folksalad.wordpress.com/2007/01/23/endless-highway-the-music-of-the-band/#comment-10 elaine Sat, 24 Feb 2007 20:26:41 +0000 http://folksalad.wordpress.com/2007/01/23/endless-highway-the-music-of-the-band/#comment-10 I left 'em in the big pink. I left ‘em in the big pink.

]]> By: folksalad http://folksalad.wordpress.com/2007/01/23/endless-highway-the-music-of-the-band/#comment-7 folksalad Tue, 20 Feb 2007 03:25:16 +0000 http://folksalad.wordpress.com/2007/01/23/endless-highway-the-music-of-the-band/#comment-7 Hey, sis. I want my records back! ..r. Hey, sis. I want my records back!
..r.

]]> By: Elaine Higgs http://folksalad.wordpress.com/2007/01/23/endless-highway-the-music-of-the-band/#comment-6 Elaine Higgs Sun, 18 Feb 2007 17:52:55 +0000 http://folksalad.wordpress.com/2007/01/23/endless-highway-the-music-of-the-band/#comment-6 I have been a huge fan of "The Band" since I was a teen. I'm sure my brother Rich doesn't realize this, but on week-ends, every time he left the house and I had the time, I would sneak into his room and listen to his collection of "The Band" albums over and over. Before he got home, I always made sure I put them all back in exactly the same position as he had left them and he was none the wiser. It was a way to understand him, a way to understand myself, and a way to be a part of the musical culture of the times. Other people doing their songs? Well, I did their songs: in the shower, on walks, driving alone, to my children as lullabies: kind of hard not to once you know the words, understand the words, understand the music, understand yourself, and understand your brother who probably did know I was listening and just let it be. I have been a huge fan of “The Band” since I was a teen. I’m sure my brother Rich doesn’t realize this, but on week-ends, every time he left the house and I had the time, I would sneak into his room and listen to his collection of “The Band” albums over and over. Before he got home, I always made sure I put them all back in exactly the same position as he had left them and he was none the wiser. It was a way to understand him, a way to understand myself, and a way to be a part of the musical culture of the times. Other people doing their songs? Well, I did their songs: in the shower, on walks, driving alone, to my children as lullabies: kind of hard not to once you know the words, understand the words, understand the music, understand yourself, and understand your brother who probably did know I was listening and just let it be.

]]> By: folksalad http://folksalad.wordpress.com/2007/01/23/endless-highway-the-music-of-the-band/#comment-5 folksalad Fri, 16 Feb 2007 02:44:40 +0000 http://folksalad.wordpress.com/2007/01/23/endless-highway-the-music-of-the-band/#comment-5 Thanks, Jeremy! I hope you enjoy "Endless Highway" as much as I have. It actually has spurred me to order a copy of "The Basement Tapes", and also to read Greil Marcus's book about those recordings: "The Invisible Republic". I think I will have to write and post about my response to "...Republic". It's quite a piece of work. --Rich Thanks, Jeremy! I hope you enjoy “Endless Highway” as much as I have. It actually has spurred me to order a copy of “The Basement Tapes”, and also to read Greil Marcus’s book about those recordings: “The Invisible Republic”. I think I will have to write and post about my response to “…Republic”. It’s quite a piece of work.
–Rich

]]> By: Jeremy Skinner http://folksalad.wordpress.com/2007/01/23/endless-highway-the-music-of-the-band/#comment-4 Jeremy Skinner Thu, 15 Feb 2007 15:40:58 +0000 http://folksalad.wordpress.com/2007/01/23/endless-highway-the-music-of-the-band/#comment-4 I think I'll have to pick this up, it totally slipped under my radar. Nice review Rich! I think I’ll have to pick this up, it totally slipped under my radar. Nice review Rich!

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