Post Tagged with: "Richard Manuel"

The Band, “Get Up Jake” from ‘Rock of Ages’ (1972): Across the Great Divide

The Band, “Get Up Jake” from ‘Rock of Ages’ (1972): Across the Great Divide

“Get Up Jake” initially got left off 1969’s ‘The Band,’ apparently because it sounded too much of a piece.

The Band, “The Rumor” from ‘Stage Fright’ (1970): Across the Great Divide

The Band, “The Rumor” from ‘Stage Fright’ (1970): Across the Great Divide

The Band’s ‘Stage Fright,’ it seems, could only have ended in one of two ways: Damnation or salvation. “The Rumor” seems to represent the latter.

The Band, “Daniel and the Sacred Harp” from ‘Stage Fright’ (1970): Across the Great Divide

The Band, “Daniel and the Sacred Harp” from ‘Stage Fright’ (1970): Across the Great Divide

After a series of very dire warnings about the Band’s new rock-star lifestyle, perhaps this utterly scarifying parable was all but inevitable.

The Band, “W.S. Walcott Medicine Show” from ‘Stage Fright’ (1970): Across the Great Divide

The Band, “W.S. Walcott Medicine Show” from ‘Stage Fright’ (1970): Across the Great Divide

Away from the Band’s circus-like chorus of characters, from faith healers to woman stealers, there’s something else going on here.

The Band, “The Shape I’m In” from ‘Stage Fright’ (1970): Across the Great Divide

The Band, “The Shape I’m In” from ‘Stage Fright’ (1970): Across the Great Divide

“The Shape I’m In,” despite its galloping cadence, finds the Band’s Robbie Robertson desperately attempting to reach out to the badly faltering Richard Manuel. You May Also Like: The Band – ‘Stage Fright: 50th Anniversary Edition’ (2021) A Legacy Reclaimed: Robbie Robertson and the Band How Deep Cuts on ‘MusicRead More

The Band, “Just Another Whistle Stop” from ‘Stage Fright’ (1970): Across the Great Divide

The Band, “Just Another Whistle Stop” from ‘Stage Fright’ (1970): Across the Great Divide

A song of dimly lit, strange salvation, “Just Another Whistle Stop” is a gem worth digging up for those who rarely get past the Band’s first two albums.

The Band, “Sleeping” from ‘Stage Fright’ (1970): Across the Great Divide

The Band, “Sleeping” from ‘Stage Fright’ (1970): Across the Great Divide

The Band begin turning away from the enveloping narrative worlds that defined their first albums to deal with the very real issues of their lives.

The Band, “King Harvest” from ‘The Band’ (1969): Across the Great Divide

The Band, “King Harvest” from ‘The Band’ (1969): Across the Great Divide

Levon Helm once summed up the place that “King Harvest” occupies: “It was like: There, that’s the Band.”

The Band, “Jawbone” from ‘The Band’ (1969): Across the Great Divide

The Band, “Jawbone” from ‘The Band’ (1969): Across the Great Divide

After a mirage of an intro, “Jawbone” – one of the most underrated moments on ‘The Band’ – catches a shambolic groove .

The Band, “Rockin’ Chair” from ‘The Band’ (1969): Across the Great Divide

The Band, “Rockin’ Chair” from ‘The Band’ (1969): Across the Great Divide

That a group of men in their 20s, as the Band were at this moment, could say so much about the pull of old ways remains simply remarkable.