The Last Waltz is a gorgeous documentary. (I would say rockumentary if I didn't despise that term.) I've loved Van the Man's music from an early age; I have a vivid memory of seeing a picture of him from the '80s and realizing for the first time that not all rock gods look like rock gods -- some look like drunken Irishmen. Which is a-okay with me if they produce Moondance. EDIT: In a somewhat similar vein to The Last Waltz and Don't Look Back, have you seen footage of the Concert for George? One of the best lineups of musicians in one place ever, and feat. McCartney on the uke. Here's another favorite moment, never been sure why. So much to like from that night.
Read Levon Helm's brilliant biography This Wheel's On Fire if you want the real dope on what happened in the Last Waltz. He claims Robbie and Martin Scorsese holed up alone in a cutting room for months doing monstrous amounts of coke and wound up with a finished product that looked more like Robbie Robertson + 4. Screw-ups in the recording sesh resulted in them having to completely redo Rick Danko's bass parts in post-production. Oh, and Levon wasn't happy about Robertson's attempt to cut Muddy Waters set down in favour of Neil Diamond, who he was producing an album for at the time. Levon exploded when he heard this and said "Someone phone Neil Diamond and tell him we don't know who the fuck he is!"
Come Dry Your Eyes is one of the only songs I consistently fast forward through on the Last Waltz.
I've certainly read it -- and once you go back and watch some of the tightly-framed free-flowing interviews of the whole band together, they gain a lot of subtext with the knowledge from the book. But it doesn't diminish the music for me at all, luckily. Although it's a goddamn shame because Muddy Waters > Neil Diamond forever.
Although it's a goddamn shame because Muddy Waters > Neil Diamond forever.
Very true. His performance in the Last Waltz was the first time I saw him. I was/am amazed by the man.
Introduced me to Paul Butterfield and Dr. John!
Although it's a goddamn shame because Muddy Waters > Neil Diamond forever.
Very true. His performance in the Last Waltz was the first time I saw him. I was/am amazed by the man.
scrimetime, is This Wheels On Fire something you've read?
I've never watched the Concert for George in full, only in snippets. I will though. Thanks.