the band - the weight (+ thoughts on classic rock)
Nov 28, 2003 23:48:50 GMT -5
Post by irock on Nov 28, 2003 23:48:50 GMT -5
from the summer of love - 1968 - this is probably the band's best-remembered song, thanks in part to the famous aretha franklin cover version (miss retha's was a much bigger hit, btw, but it wasn't necessarily better; it was different and much more a.m. radio friendly). if you don't recognize the title, you may remember this by the repeated line 'take a load off, fanny'.
after thanksgiving dinner and football last night we watched martin scorcese's 1978 documentary of the band's final concert tour 'the last waltz'. that film is a grand display of what rock music was really about in the 70s. if you - in gross ignorance - think that the best music of that era can be heard today on classic rock radio PLEASE get a dvd print of this and watch it. (the opening credits say that this picture is meant to be played loud. you'll want to heed that notice.) a wide consensus of critics, both of film and music, calls it the greatest concert picture ever made, and no matter what kind of music you like i can almost guarantee you'll enjoy it.
what kind of music? mostly rock, but also lots of soul, blues, country and even a little cajun. consider the guest stars who offer up some of their own biggest hits: neil young, dr. john, the staple singers, emmylou harris, muddy waters, joni mitchell, van morrison, ringo starr and eric clapton.
sadly, this type of uniquely american rock died out in the early 80s. with it, at least in my opinion, went all the creativity and fun of rock. with only a few exceptions, there wasn't much rock music of any merit at all until nirvana came along just before the 90s.
after thanksgiving dinner and football last night we watched martin scorcese's 1978 documentary of the band's final concert tour 'the last waltz'. that film is a grand display of what rock music was really about in the 70s. if you - in gross ignorance - think that the best music of that era can be heard today on classic rock radio PLEASE get a dvd print of this and watch it. (the opening credits say that this picture is meant to be played loud. you'll want to heed that notice.) a wide consensus of critics, both of film and music, calls it the greatest concert picture ever made, and no matter what kind of music you like i can almost guarantee you'll enjoy it.
what kind of music? mostly rock, but also lots of soul, blues, country and even a little cajun. consider the guest stars who offer up some of their own biggest hits: neil young, dr. john, the staple singers, emmylou harris, muddy waters, joni mitchell, van morrison, ringo starr and eric clapton.
sadly, this type of uniquely american rock died out in the early 80s. with it, at least in my opinion, went all the creativity and fun of rock. with only a few exceptions, there wasn't much rock music of any merit at all until nirvana came along just before the 90s.
