All respect to Eric (and bdp for posting)...
For me, these two pretty much tell the full story about Richard...always have, always will.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXhj45urx3Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlUkTxCBAg8
Takes one to know one
I find what one artist has to say about another fascinating. Here's what Eric Clapton has to say about one such:
"I met the genius of that outfit, who was Richard Manuel. He was as close to genius as I've ever met in a white guy---all the other geniuses I've met have been black Blues players, like B.B. and Buddy Guy. The reason I say they're geniuses is that they do what they do effortlessly with a gift that is so powerful that they don't need to engage in any kind of thinking to pursue it."
I would add Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, and even Robbie Robertson (somewhat begrudgingly ;-), the other members of The Band, to the list of geniuses. There has never been, and never again will be, a Group containing so much talent. I listen to their music every single day of my life, and have done so for years. Their debut and second album are in my Top 10 albums of all-time list. Both are available on LP and SACD from Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs. Ignore them at the cost of your own musical wealth!
Showing 2 responses by ghosthouse
I’ll defer to input from bdp here. From what I’ve read, at a point in their lives when the other members were struggling financially, Robbie came around and bought their individual rights to The Band’s music "for a pittance" as the expression goes. Kind of the old Jacob stealing Esau’s birthright story in a different form. Though no one forced them to sell, Robbie is seen as taking advantage of them. At least some of the bitterness towards him stems from that. On top of this, I think Levon had his own issues with Robbie over group "ownership and leadership" conflicts. Robbie did write a lot of The Band lyrics. Seems like he was well read (and gifted)...leastways that is my impression; consequently, lotta grist for the mill. According to Wikipedia, the lyric of Whispering Pines is a case in point. Richard wrote that beautiful music, Robbie contributed lyrics that, to my mind, are a mirror on Richard’s soul and that ain’t no simple parlor trick. There are many, many others too, like the excellent Acadian Driftwood and one of my favorites, below... I tend to think...maybe more than working with Dylan, it was during their time with Ronnie Hawkins when they really learned their chops (not to take anything away from time with Dylan, of course). http://theband.hiof.no/history/part_2.html @bdp24 - Like yourself, Levon also expressed great admiration for Richard’s singing (as well as his drumming!). Anyway, this isn’t meant as "one ups manship" at all because, while I love those 2 songs by Richard, for me from a singing/performance point of view, this is the one that always knocks me out. It’s Rick from Live in Japan. Just put this on repeat. What a fantastic song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSHzODm-Ik8 If you want to turn this into some kind of "The Band for Aficionados", I’m there. Okay...done (for) now. :-) |