Post Tagged with: "Across the Great Divide"

Levon Helm, “A Mood I Was In” from Levon Helm and the RCO All-Stars (1977): Across the Great Divide

Levon Helm, “A Mood I Was In” from Levon Helm and the RCO All-Stars (1977): Across the Great Divide

Levon Helm and the RCO All-Stars seemed to come together through happenstance. Unfortunately, they went their separate ways in a similarly random way.

Rick Danko, “Times Like These” from Times Like These (2000): Across the Great Divide

Rick Danko, “Times Like These” from Times Like These (2000): Across the Great Divide

When Rick Danko’s posthumous “Times Like These” ends, it’s like coming awake again after a beautiful – if powerfully sad – reverie.

Bob Dylan Found Refuge, Rebirth with the Band on ‘The Basement Tapes’

Bob Dylan Found Refuge, Rebirth with the Band on ‘The Basement Tapes’

“Don’t Ya Tell Henry,” released 40 years ago this month on ‘The Basement Tapes,’ illustrates how Bob Dylan and the Band pushed each other to greatness.

Levon Helm, “Tennessee Jed” from Electric Dirt (2009): Across the Great Divide

Levon Helm, “Tennessee Jed” from Electric Dirt (2009): Across the Great Divide

‘Electric Dirt,’ and standout cuts like “Tennessee Jed,” marked Levon Helm’s return not just as a grizzled survivor but as an artist in full again.

Bob Dylan + the Band, “Clothes Line Saga” (1967): Across the Great Divide

Bob Dylan + the Band, “Clothes Line Saga” (1967): Across the Great Divide

A wicked parody of “Ode to Billie Joe,” Bob Dylan’s “Clothes Line Saga” might be the most hilarious moment of his ‘Basement Tapes’ work with the Band.

Robbie Robertson, with Neil Young + Garth Hudson, “Soap Box Preacher” from Storyville (1991): Across the Great Divide

Robbie Robertson, with Neil Young + Garth Hudson, “Soap Box Preacher” from Storyville (1991): Across the Great Divide

“Soap Box Preacher” rewarded those who’d waited in the hopes that Robbie Robertson’s solo career could conjure that old Band magic again.

Vinyl

Levon Helm’s Essential Band Songs: Gimme Five

Levon Helm is known today as a country proselytizer, an inventive interpreter and a one-of-a-kind drummer. It all started right here.

Rick Danko, “Tired of Waiting” from Rick Danko (1977): Across the Great Divide

Rick Danko, “Tired of Waiting” from Rick Danko (1977): Across the Great Divide

As with much of 1977’s ‘Rick Danko,’ “Tired of Waiting” feels loose and personable, but an added bit of funk gives it no small amount of grit.

The Band, “The Well” from ‘The Last Waltz’ (1978): Across the Great Divide

The Band, “The Well” from ‘The Last Waltz’ (1978): Across the Great Divide

In this moment, the Band’s Richard Manuel sounds whole again, entirely present, a world away from the fading figure depicted in ‘The Last Waltz.’

The Band, “Don’t Wait” from Jubilation (1998): Across the Great Divide

The Band, “Don’t Wait” from Jubilation (1998): Across the Great Divide

“Don’t Wait” first reveals itself as one of their last era’s very best moments – and then as one of the Band’s very best, period.