R.I.P Rick Danko

chuck3 · #1 12-10-2010, 07:09 AM

12/29/43 - 12/10/99

BulbousMoses · #2 12-10-2010, 07:17 AM

Wow...11 years already. RIP Rick.

Hoover · #3 12-10-2010, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BulbousMoses

Wow...11 years already.

Wait, what? Geez, I gotta start reading the obits, I completely missed that one...

loendmaestro · #4 12-10-2010, 01:19 PM

Danko was brilliant. I didn't realize it had been 10 years already!

greenboy · #5 12-10-2010, 06:59 PM

Still think of it every time I check out THE LAST WALTZ or listen to the albums. Great players and singers all.

deaf pea · #6 12-10-2010, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenboy

...Great players and singers all.

You got that right . . . The Band from Big Pink . . .

RIP Rick Danko (1943-1999)
RIP Richard Manuel (1943-1986)

chuck3 · #7 12-10-2010, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenboy

Great players and singers all.

Great songwriters all, too.

deaf pea · #8 12-11-2010, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuck3

Great songwriters all, too.

Robbie Robertson wrote nearly all of the Band's "hits" all by himself . . .

Rick Danko, Levon Helm and Richard Manuel DID co-write with Robertson on some songs . . . Garth Hudson only co-wrote one song with Robertson . . .

wateroftyne · #9 12-11-2010, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deaf pea

Robbie Robertson wrote nearly all of the Band's "hits" all by himself . . .

Nevertheless, they're all great songwriters. The point still stands...

greenboy · #10 12-11-2010, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deaf pea

Robbie Robertson wrote nearly all of the Band's "hits" all by himself . . .

Rick Danko, Levon Helm and Richard Manuel DID co-write with Robertson on some songs . . . Garth Hudson only co-wrote one song with Robertson . . .

Ah, well, like so many bands, a lot of the animosity that later developed was "he gets to put his stuff on the album, no room for mine", and "that's a crock - I had a lot to do with some of the songs he got his name on". I've read a lot of interviews and of course seen the various film and video ones. There was some contention. Probably the truth is somewhere between the lines.

And you know when you come up with a great very individualistic bass part or even the changes for a song, and some hooks... but if you didn't write the melody and/or the lyrics, you may as well be dipped in glue regardless of your real contribution.

I think Manuel was too far gone to make much of a mark anyway, and Danko seemed easy going enough to back away and just sing and play if push came to shove. Levon kinda wanted more face time and less domination, and who knows: maybe "the music teacher" Garth was shaping a hella lot without ever really needing credit.

Robertson definitely had a lot of ideas and a canny sense of business at least at some levels back then, and was ambitious overall, and maybe had less of a monkey on his back. So it was natural to see his name waxing while others were waning.

Levon Helm has done well for himself in more recent times, some good albums and acclaim. I've enjoyed some of Robbie's projects a lot too. I wish I had a better fix on Garth, because the guy is UNREAL.

I guess you can tell I love 'em all ; }

deaf pea · #11 12-11-2010, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenboy

...I guess you can tell I love 'em all ; }

Yeah, it shows . . .

. . .

me, too . . .

jmela · #12 12-12-2010, 08:33 AM

Levon Helm's autobio "This Wheel's on Fire" is a great read. Their group had a great story and he tells it well.

He claims Robertson's songwriting credits as being a surprise to the rest of the group. In addition, feels "The Last Waltz" was an indulgent POS concocted b'ween Robertson and Scorsese.

greenboy · #13 12-12-2010, 09:33 AM

Well, it's almost natural he'd say that about the film because he was already not feeling real well dsiposed towards RR - and in fact Robertson was the point of contact man with Scorsese. But I think the truth lies somewhere between the lines nevertheless. And judging just the music onstage, it's hard not to get something good from that regardless of what you think of the rest.

As for the songwriting credits, the others somewhat substantiated that in various places, but were not as vociferous perhaps due to it being "water under the bridge now" and their differing personalities.

robass · #14 12-12-2010, 09:36 AM

every time I hear "it makes no difference" I get all misty - what sadness in that voice. best (worst) breakup song ever

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJXc0NRCmRQ

The Mouse · #15 12-12-2010, 09:51 AM

[quote=deaf pea;10111986]Robbie Robertson wrote nearly all of the Band's "hits" all by himself.

I dunno about that. Robbie Robertson took credit for writing nearly all of the Band's hits all by himself..

I spoke to Garth Hudson after a Flying Burrito Brothers gig in Ireland some years ago and he was adamant that all of the songs were written by everyone in the band and probably wouldn't have been written at all if it wasn't for himself, Manuel, Danko and Helm in particular.. I have to say, I believed him that evening. Can't see oul' Garth tellin' tales outta school..

I saw The Band play live some years ago. They played two evenings in Dublin. My friends went to the first nights gig. It was a disaster apparently. A drunken druggy mess.. I went to the second nights gig.. They played their asses-off. Danko especially. I don't know how he played bass and sang like that. I went out and bought a bass shortly after that...

greenboy · #16 12-12-2010, 10:53 AM

I gotta say it's great just to hear Danko and The Band discussed at all. I thought most of the world had forgotten.

wateroftyne · #17 12-12-2010, 01:31 PM

Here's one night of my life I won't forget in a hurry...

Mrs. WoT and I came over to CA for our Honeymoon, and ended up watching Gath & Maud play in a club in SF, along with about 40 other people. I couldn't believe it.

After the show, we were invited to stay behind and have a drink and chew the fat with them. The accordion jokes flowed for hours... what a wonderful couple - so easy to talk to, even a starstruck fan like me.

greenboy · #18 12-12-2010, 02:55 PM

That's just too awesome. I was always in awe of the guy way back when, and then to see him on PBS maybe 6 or 8 years ago, playing a keyboard with each hand - with his back turned to them - and a different difficult composition for each hand, simultaneously... And it sounded musical.

Just a brother from another planet, who never really seems like he's showboating.

deaf pea · #19 12-12-2010, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Mouse

...Robbie Robertson took credit for writing nearly all of the Band's hits all by himself...

I, too, think that that's more like "the truth" . . .

Edit: I'd like to think that ALL of the guys in the Band had a lot to do with all of the songwriting . . .

The Mouse · #20 12-13-2010, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deaf pea

I, too, think that that's more like "the truth" . . .

Edit: I'd like to think that ALL of the guys in the Band had a lot to do with all of the songwriting . . .

Yeah man, me too.