Favourite Member Of The Band

[hypehat]

Or, The Artists Formerly Known As The Crackers.


Robbie Robertson

Classic case of great talent marred by a repugnant personality. Mean guitarist, when he shuts up - less is more, which makes The Last Waltz a tad grating. Then again, his personality makes The Last Waltz a bit grating. His lack of a singing voice is the greatest service he did for us all, given that he had to get the three greatest singers in rock to sing his songs. And he did start a song with 'The management are very sorry for the inconvenience', which is possibly the least rock and roll lyric in the history of the medium. But then he did write The Weight, Up On Cripple Creek, It Makes No Difference, etc etc.

Beard rating: 4/10. Not feeling the John Lennon schtick.

Richard Manuel.

Poor bastard. Voice of an angel, a wasted songwriting talent (the guy knew a way around a spectral ballad). Does a mean Ray Charles, even with his voice charred by Gran Marnier and cocaine, and despite being barely conscious as in The Last Waltz. Possibly my favourite singer in The Band - the longing and emotion he gives a song like Rockin Chair is just.... goshdarn. His drumming is also great.

Beard Rating: 6/10.  Haggard. Unkempt. Mesmerising. Indicative of the man.

Rick Danko

Locked in perpetual battle with Manuel to sing the most heartbreaking ballad, but there is no shame in defeat here. Major props for throwing down serious moves on the bass. A goof, it seems in The Last Waltz, yet sounds like he gargles gravel on the first lines of the movie. Plays a mean fiddle.

Beard rating: 3/10. In a band of beards he just does not suit them. A tragedy.

Garth Hudson

Oh yes. Mad genius Garth. Favourite anecdote from the Barney Hoskyns book is where someone interviews the group, not expecting much from Garth until one question to him prompts a 40 minute lecture on the history of jazz piano. If more bands had Garth Hudson figures we'd have world peace. Beat Stevie to the clavinet. Plays mad honky tonk piano next to anglican hymns. Writes obit notices in all caps. Restores church organs. Doesn't cash $25,000 cheques. Nigh on monosyllabic in The Last Waltz, which adds to his zen qualities.

Beard Rating: 9/10. Flawless execution with flailing trails of hair during excessive organ playing is on the next level beard game and we mortals must simply look on in awe.

Levon Helm.

Funkiest white boy in rock. The only American in a band primarily concerned with the place. Sang like a frog. According to a Toronto prostitute, was hung like a horse. Watching The Last Waltz schools most drummers and the guy was playing for 4 hours with bleeding hands, sometimes on songs he barely knew. Ain't no thang for him to play with Joni Mitchell and Muddy Waters on the same night. Sang that country cool. Pretty much defines the group by the fact he sang The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down. Mandolin is a bitch to play. Fought bitterly to get Muddy Waters on The Last Waltz, which is a public service. Buddy Rich's favourite rock drummer.

Beard Rating 6/10. Simple, well executed and yet has no 'X Factor' to elevate it to a Garth.

[Summer_Days]

Levon Helm has always been my favorite member of the Band. Awesome voice, good drummer and mandolin player, and is much missed. Danko is my second favorite; 'It Makes No Difference' is a great song made incredible by his voice.

I had no idea Levon was Buddy Rich's favorite rock drummer, that's cool.

[Ovi]

Nice writing, hypehat. I've been wanting to get into The Band for quite some time now as I love this song very, very much:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0WMBYQL14U

That's Richard Manuel singing, right?

[hypehat]

Oh yes. Written by His Royal Bobness. So beautiful. I haven't voted yet, but that's the sort of thing that would tip it for Richard.

Thinkin about Music From Big Pink, it's all about Manuel's tunes for me - The Weight excepted - and it makes me think what kind of band they would have been if Manuel had taken the lead in songwriting. He and Robertson are equal in songwriting credits on that record. We may have been saved the snooze that is Cahoots.

[SMiLE Brian]

Richard Manuel, tried to trade his jacket for a guy's girlfriend.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Or, The Artists Formerly Known As The Crackers.


Robbie Robertson

Classic case of great talent marred by a repugnant personality. Mean guitarist, when he shuts up - less is more, which makes The Last Waltz a tad grating. Then again, his personality makes The Last Waltz a bit grating. His lack of a singing voice is the greatest service he did for us all, given that he had to get the three greatest singers in rock to sing his songs. And he did start a song with 'The management are very sorry for the inconvenience', which is possibly the least rock and roll lyric in the history of the medium. But then he did write The Weight, Up On Cripple Creek, It Makes No Difference, etc etc.

Beard rating: 4/10. Not feeling the John Lennon schtick.

Richard Manuel.

Poor bastard. Voice of an angel, a wasted songwriting talent (the guy knew a way around a spectral ballad). Does a mean Ray Charles, even with his voice charred by Gran Marnier and cocaine, and despite being barely conscious as in The Last Waltz. Possibly my favourite singer in The Band - the longing and emotion he gives a song like Rockin Chair is just.... goshdarn. His drumming is also great.

Beard Rating: 6/10.  Haggard. Unkempt. Mesmerising. Indicative of the man.

Rick Danko

Locked in perpetual battle with Manuel to sing the most heartbreaking ballad, but there is no shame in defeat here. Major props for throwing down serious moves on the bass. A goof, it seems in The Last Waltz, yet sounds like he gargles gravel on the first lines of the movie. Plays a mean fiddle.

Beard rating: 3/10. In a band of beards he just does not suit them. A tragedy.

Garth Hudson

Oh yes. Mad genius Garth. Favourite anecdote from the Barney Hoskyns book is where someone interviews the group, not expecting much from Garth until one question to him prompts a 40 minute lecture on the history of jazz piano. If more bands had Garth Hudson figures we'd have world peace. Beat Stevie to the clavinet. Plays mad honky tonk piano next to anglican hymns. Writes obit notices in all caps. Restores church organs. Doesn't cash $25,000 cheques. Nigh on monosyllabic in The Last Waltz, which adds to his zen qualities.

Beard Rating: 9/10. Flawless execution with flailing trails of hair during excessive organ playing is on the next level beard game and we mortals must simply look on in awe.

Levon Helm.

Funkiest white boy in rock. The only American in a band primarily concerned with the place. Sang like a frog. According to a Toronto prostitute, was hung like a horse. Watching The Last Waltz schools most drummers and the guy was playing for 4 hours with bleeding hands, sometimes on songs he barely knew. Ain't no thang for him to play with Joni Mitchell and Muddy Waters on the same night. Sang that country cool. Pretty much defines the group by the fact he sang The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down. Mandolin is a bitch to play. Fought bitterly to get Muddy Waters on The Last Waltz, which is a public service. Buddy Rich's favourite rock drummer.

Beard Rating 6/10. Simple, well executed and yet has no 'X Factor' to elevate it to a Garth.

LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hypehat, can you PLEASE do this with The Beach Boys? ....... And then every band!

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Oh yes. Written by His Royal Bobness. So beautiful. I haven't voted yet, but that's the sort of thing that would tip it for Richard.

Thinkin about Music From Big Pink, it's all about Manuel's tunes for me - The Weight excepted - and it makes me think what kind of band they would have been if Manuel had taken the lead in songwriting. He and Robertson are equal in songwriting credits on that record. We may have been saved the snooze that is Cahoots.

My vote is Richard.

There was a time in college where I'd just HAVE to play Tears Of Rage (Big Pink version) each and every morning before heading out to class.

[hypehat]

Oh yes. Written by His Royal Bobness. So beautiful. I haven't voted yet, but that's the sort of thing that would tip it for Richard.

Thinkin about Music From Big Pink, it's all about Manuel's tunes for me - The Weight excepted - and it makes me think what kind of band they would have been if Manuel had taken the lead in songwriting. He and Robertson are equal in songwriting credits on that record. We may have been saved the snooze that is Cahoots.

My vote is Richard.

There was a time in college where I'd just HAVE to play Tears Of Rage (Big Pink version) each and every morning before heading out to class.

Oh my god, what a vocal. He just wrenches out some of those lines.

It's a toss up between Richard and the rhythm section, I gave Danko too short shrift in the original post. I guess it all depends on which one I'm listening to at the time...

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Oh yes. Written by His Royal Bobness. So beautiful. I haven't voted yet, but that's the sort of thing that would tip it for Richard.

Thinkin about Music From Big Pink, it's all about Manuel's tunes for me - The Weight excepted - and it makes me think what kind of band they would have been if Manuel had taken the lead in songwriting. He and Robertson are equal in songwriting credits on that record. We may have been saved the snooze that is Cahoots.

My vote is Richard.

There was a time in college where I'd just HAVE to play Tears Of Rage (Big Pink version) each and every morning before heading out to class.

Oh my god, what a vocal. He just wrenches out some of those lines.

It's a toss up between Richard and the rhythm section, I gave Danko too short shrift in the original post. I guess it all depends on which one I'm listening to at the time...

I'd say when they all lock their voices together for the "get your cannonballs" part of The Weight (Last Waltz version): the whole Band is my fave!

My other particular fave Richard moment is during the big group/guests wail-fest of I Shall be Released.... Richard takes a verse but this time in a rich tenor rather than his famous falsetto.......and not a single camera cares to capture the moment........

[Summer_Days]

'Whispering Pines' has my favorite Richard vocal. Incredible song.

[Vegetable Man]

It looks like a three way tie between Levon, Rick, and Richard. All great singers, and even better musicians (Levon inspired my love for the mandolin). I mean, Rob and Garth are nice and all, but when one of these guys steps up to the mic, you know you're in for a treat. Just great stuff all around. Long live The Band.

[Rocky Raccoon]

I have to go with Levon.  He just seems like he was such a sweet guy.  And he was a great drummer and singer.  I know Robertson wrote those songs but I think Levon brought them to life.  Just look at the sad sight that was Robertson, Danko, and Hudson performing as The Band at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction and you'll see how essential Levon really was to the group.

[Lonely Summer]

Danko. Something about that guy, when he is on screen in The Last Waltz, I just can't keep my eyes off him. Maybe I have a man-crush on him or something. Love that voice, and those great bass lines. And my all time fave Band song is one he sings, It Makes No Difference. And my second fave is Stage Fright. Gotta love Levon, too, seemed like the one it would've been most fun to sit down and talk music with. I know he hated the Waltz film, but I think he comes off great in it, great talker, but doesn't come off so pompous like Robbie.

[Mike's Beard]

Oh yes. Written by His Royal Bobness. So beautiful. I haven't voted yet, but that's the sort of thing that would tip it for Richard.

Thinkin about Music From Big Pink, it's all about Manuel's tunes for me - The Weight excepted - and it makes me think what kind of band they would have been if Manuel had taken the lead in songwriting. He and Robertson are equal in songwriting credits on that record. We may have been saved the snooze that is Cahoots.

Am I the only guy on the planet who loves the Cahoots album?

[JK]

Am I the only guy on the planet who loves the Cahoots album?

Maybe, lol. The opening track is stunning but most of the rest loses me. 

As for a favourite member, I can't choose. Like, who is my favourite member of Free? An enlightened poster mentioned them locking together----now that was the strength of The Band (and Free, come to that). The interplay between Garth and Robbie in the instrumental break in "Sleeping", Richard and Levon's heartbreaking call and response in "Whispering Pines"...

[Michael Edwards Love]

I have to go with Levon.  He just seems like he was such a sweet guy.  And he was a great drummer and singer.  I know Robertson wrote those songs but I think Levon brought them to life.  Just look at the sad sight that was Robertson, Danko, and Hudson performing as The Band at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction and you'll see how essential Levon really was to the group.

To be fair, though, The Band in the 80s-90s without Robertson (and without Manuel for the back half of that time) had no magic either (despite some good moments).  It really took all 5 of them to create the transcendent music and be THE BAND.

[Michael Edwards Love]

Oh yes. Written by His Royal Bobness. So beautiful. I haven't voted yet, but that's the sort of thing that would tip it for Richard.

Thinkin about Music From Big Pink, it's all about Manuel's tunes for me - The Weight excepted - and it makes me think what kind of band they would have been if Manuel had taken the lead in songwriting. He and Robertson are equal in songwriting credits on that record. We may have been saved the snooze that is Cahoots.

Am I the only guy on the planet who loves the Cahoots album?

I think it is unfairly maligned because it followed three stone cold classics, but most bands would have killed to have "Life is a Carnival," "When I Paint My Masterpiece," "4% Pantomime, " "Smoke Signal," and "The River Hymn" on one album.  And the rest of the album is solid, just not reaching the heights of the three prior albums.  And certainly on the first two albums, you'd be hard pressed to imagine them without any of the songs on them.  There are no duds.

[hypehat]

RE: Cahoots, yeah any album with Life Is A Carnival and When I Paint My Masterpiece on it isn't dreadful. And I quite like The Moon Struck One, in it's way. The River Hymn sounds amazing but I couldn't sing anything but the backing vocals to you if asked. And the rest sorta plods, I listened to it twice over the weekend and I can barely remember anything about the album apart from the weirdo chimes in the Chinatown song and that annoying effect they keep putting on Danko's voice.

[buddhahat]

Man this is tricky. I think that what's great about The Band beyond the musicianship is that each member brings such a personality to the blend that none of them are superfluous.

After much deliberation, my vote goes to Levon. That he can sing like that and do such awesome drumming at the same time - the man's a miracle. Just listening to Highway 61 live at the isle of wight from the recent Dylan Bootleg, it's Helm that makes the song with his beautifully idiosyncratic drumming and backing vocals.

[Jurrasic Mark]

Levon I think. What a voice and such a fantastic drummer.

I did quite like Robbie's solo album, forget what it is called but Eric Clapton is on it, not so much his voice but he is one hell of a guitarist and wrote some great songs.

The Last Waltz should be watched by anyone who wants to play music, it should be on some sort of rock curriculum.

[hypehat]

Yeah, a lesson on what not to do when you play guitar in a band 

It's annoying, tbh - Robbie spent most of The Band's career being a perfect accompaniment on guitar. Placing his solos properly in the context of the arrangement, neat chord voicings, playing for the song, etc. Never too much of anything. Gives everyone room.

And on The Last Waltz he's just soloing all the damn time, regardless. Cocaine's a hell of a drug.

Also, did Robbie ever play anything but guitar in the band? For all the instrument swapping that went on in the group, I can't place a song where Robbie doesn't play guitar.... he's static on the first two, at least.

[SMiLE Brian]

I love robbie's early guitar work, he plays within the song and let loose when needed. He sounded great on the 1966 tour with Dylan.

[hypehat]

Only one vote for Richard Manuel so far? You damn savages.

[SMiLE Brian]

Only one vote for Richard Manuel so far? You damn savages.

I was the one who voted for him.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Only one vote for Richard Manuel so far? You damn savages.

I was the one who voted for him.

Hey! I did too!!