OFF TOPIC Dako bass line on The Weight Last Walz

William Johnson · Post by **William Johnson** » 12 Dec 2005 9:37 am

this ain't PSG but the Jim (error, not Jim but Rick) Danko's bass line on his verse of 'The Weight' on The Last Waltz is over the top!

if you ain't heard it in a while give yourself another reason why music lives.

take care all,

GrievousAngel

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William Johnson (Billy)
Grievous Angel Productions
Statesboro, GA. 30461 USA
http://www.grievousangelpro.com

Derby DB10 E9
Custom BillieTele Telecaster
Peavey NV400
Peavey TubeFex
Goodrich 7A

Please 'Mouse' to see larger photo.

http://usera.imagecave.com/GreivousAngelPro/derbyfront.JPG

Summer 1969

http://usera.imagecave.com/GreivousAngelPro/Billy1969.JPG

[This message was edited by Billy T. Johnson on 12 December 2005 at 09:59 AM.][This message was edited by Billy T. Johnson on 13 December 2005 at 08:10 AM.]

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 12 Dec 2005 9:49 am

Billy,It's Rick Danko..He's my favorite bass player besides James Jameson...Give the "Rock of Ages" listen.Rick also played a Fender Pedal Steel.

William Johnson · Post by **William Johnson** » 12 Dec 2005 9:58 am

thanks for the correction, i knew it didn't seem right when i was typing it . . . Rick Danko. . . Rick Danko . . . yea!

i will check the tune out again as i haven't heard them in a while.

i did not know he played a Fender steel? on what projects?

take care,

Billy

------------------
William Johnson (Billy)
Grievous Angel Productions
Statesboro, GA. 30461 USA
http://www.grievousangelpro.com

Derby DB10 E9
Custom BillieTele Telecaster
Peavey NV400
Peavey TubeFex
Goodrich 7A

Please 'Mouse' to see larger photo.

http://usera.imagecave.com/GreivousAngelPro/derbyfront.JPG

Summer 1969

http://usera.imagecave.com/GreivousAngelPro/Billy1969.JPG

[This message was edited by Billy T. Johnson on 13 December 2005 at 08:12 AM.]

Mike Pace · Post by **Mike Pace** » 12 Dec 2005 10:07 am

If you look closely at the Winterland footage, you'll see that a lot of Rick's lines were overdubbed~ it's really noticable when they bring on Clapton.... Though I dont know if they restored any those perfomances in the latest release.

Regardless, I love his playing~ to me its the perfect blend of melody and percussion.

Mark Lind-Hanson · Post by **Mark Lind-Hanson** » 12 Dec 2005 10:26 am

I'm not so sure Rick played pedal steel at all. There is talk in the Levon Helm book (This Wheel's On Fire) that they were given a pedal steel back at Big Pink- "but none of us could figure out how to play it!" so it went unused.
Rick was indeed a great bass player and is up there in my category of the five I most admire- simple, uncomplicated lines always in harmony & appropriate...

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 12 Dec 2005 10:30 am

The Band. I love those guys!

DZ

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 12 Dec 2005 12:02 pm

In 1976 I was touring with Chris Hillman, and we opened for the Band for a month or so, ending about a month before the Last Waltz.
They were the most amazing musical thing I have ever seen... I watched them every night of the tour.
Danko was awesome... one night I saw him sing Stagefright so over the top it was almost a religious experience.
They were really something, and anyone who saw them live should cherish the memory.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 12 Dec 2005 12:21 pm

Skip, that's cool that you toured with Chris and opened for The Band back then. I saw Chris & Herb, with Sally Van Meter laying down some killer dobro licks several weeks ago in the Bay Area-really good show.

There are few bigger fans of The Band than I, saw them play live several times. Their new boxed set as picked out by Robbie Robertson is on my Christmas list. I love Levon's book, what a page turner.

One of these days I'll tell the sad, pitiful story of why I passed on tickets for The Last Waltz after having priority because they cancelled their show at Oakland's Paramount Theater.

bOb must not be around or this thread would have been moved to "Music" by now!

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Mark
[This message was edited by Mark Eaton on 12 December 2005 at 12:23 PM.]

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 12 Dec 2005 12:43 pm

For me, rock and roll died when the Band broke up. It's been great watching their early days with Dylan on the Sorcese documentary.

They defined american rock and roll even though most of them where Canadian.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 12 Dec 2005 12:54 pm

I forget who wrote it but one pro musician that hung with Rick Danko said that the guy just had music dripping off him, and he wished he could follow him around with a bucket and catch the excess!

If you read Levon's book he impresses on you just how hard those guys worked in their days as the Hawks. Endless gigs and traveling, and in between gigs hours long rehearsals and practice time to hone their skills to the edge of a fine sammurai sword.

Although he obviously had exceptional natural talent, Boston Red Sox hall-of-famer Ted Williams use to say that he became one of the greatest hitters in baseball history because he worked harder at it than anything else. That's what I'm reminded of when I think of The Band.

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Mark

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 12 Dec 2005 2:12 pm

Rick's brother is a much better bass player that he was. Where Rick excelled was his soulful vocals and harmony.

Olli Haavisto · Post by **Olli Haavisto** » 12 Dec 2005 2:40 pm

Stu ,it`s James Jamerson , not Jameson..

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Olli Haavisto,
Finland

[This message was edited by Olli Haavisto on 12 December 2005 at 02:41 PM.]

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 12 Dec 2005 3:56 pm

The first time I saw The Band was in 1970 at Harvard Stadium, Boston. My jaw just dropped. I had the records, but I was completely unprepared for the level of intensity of the live show, and I'd say almost everyone I saw there felt the same way. For me, they are the standard reference point for what it means to be "a band", and not just a bunch of musicians.

Levon wrote about that show in his book - the stage started swaying, and they hustled them off fast. I was right up in front, next to the stage right front-of-house speakers, and a complete riot broke out - switchblade knives and people punching each other. They came back to calm the crowd down, but played real reserved - the stage was still swaying. I guess Altamont was still on everyone's mind.

I saw Rick at a bar gig here in the late 80s/early 90s. He looked and sounded fine, and believe me, I was stunned when I found out he died less than 10 years later. I don't think anybody's more soulful, either his playing or his singing.

Mike Winter · Post by **Mike Winter** » 12 Dec 2005 4:20 pm

Yuppa -- Rick sure was something else. http://theband.hiof.no/band_members/rick.html

I saw them here in Portland back in '95 or '96. I was right up front...watched Rick and Levon all night long. My favorite bassist and drummer for sure.

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Mike
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Blue Moon Highway
(Country Music...and then some.)
www.bluemoonhighway.com

[This message was edited by Mike Winter on 12 December 2005 at 04:23 PM.][This message was edited by Mike Winter on 12 December 2005 at 04:24 PM.]

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 12 Dec 2005 4:25 pm

An outstanding bar gig that I saw awhile before Rick's death was at a hotel in Monterey, when we lived in the Carmel area.

It was Danko, Fjeld, Andersen. It consisted of Rick, Norwegian singer/songwriter Jonas Fjeld, and one of my favorite singer/songwriters of all time, Eric Andersen, who came up through the ranks of the New York folk scene, during the era of the young Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, etc.

Those guys made two outstanding albums together in the 90's, and are they worth getting your hands on, if you you are not familiar with them.

They played a great show, and I remember when my wife and I were out in the bar, which was pretty close to the check in/out counter in this hotel, Rick was checking in after the show to head up to his room. He looked sort of sad and wiped out, and my wife and I thought we should invite him over for a drink-but thought "nah, he probably doesn't want to be bothered."

Within a few years he passed away (he was pretty overweight when we last saw him) and I have always regretted that I didn't ask him.

Eric Andersen has written about him that he and his wife were the kind of people that would always make you feel at home at their place in upstate New York and Rick would give you the shirt off his back.

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Mark
[This message was edited by Mark Eaton on 12 December 2005 at 04:27 PM.]

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 12 Dec 2005 9:58 pm

Mike, I was at the Kean College show, 1980. I remember he had a lead player who looked like Jimi Hendrix.
We blew outta CHS (Cranford High School) and road our bikes over there. It was a daytime gig outside the Student Union building.
I also saw Pure Prarie Leauge there (same spot outside), and The Jerry Garcia Band, Charlie Daniels Band, and Poco there, inside the College theater, between '79-'81. http://theband.hiof.no/band_pictures/rd_kean_college_nj.html

William Johnson · Post by **William Johnson** » 13 Dec 2005 12:15 am

Reading all of ya'lls threads about Rick Danko in his later years, The Hawks up though The Band, the shows of the earliest days of [country]rock (i perfer Americana or Cosmic American Music) splitting off of the New York Folke scene, etc. really convinces me (again and again) that the lyrics, melodies, the artist spirit and passion, was very special. i often wondered how many musicians and fans felt the detail and passion of that genre of music. i sometimes refer to it as feeling 'wrinkles in glass'.

it is a gift or a curse, but regaurdless it was a special time.

Thanks for sharing them with us.

PEACE,

Billy

BTW: who had the pleasure of seeing Rick Danko in his later years of gigging?

i always felt that "When You Awake" was very passionate tune (hell, i guess all of The Band tunes were).

later my friends, Happy Holidays.

GrievousAgel

------------------
William Johnson (Billy)
Grievous Angel Productions
Statesboro, GA. 30461 USA
http://www.grievousangelpro.com

Derby DB10 E9
Custom BillieTele Telecaster
Peavey NV400
Peavey TubeFex
Goodrich 7A

Please 'Mouse' to see larger photo.

http://usera.imagecave.com/GreivousAngelPro/derbyfront.JPG

Summer 1969

http://usera.imagecave.com/GreivousAngelPro/Billy1969.JPG

[This message was edited by Billy T. Johnson on 13 December 2005 at 08:15 AM.]

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 13 Dec 2005 4:10 am

I also always loved Ricks playing.
I got the CD of the seminal band album
with The Weight on it last winter.

Super album stands up well today.

Steel would have been nice on it in places, but it is complete as it is too.

I will likely be playing steel on it and others of that era,
as I break in the band in for "ShoBud time..." maybe this Friday. HA!
It means the lead player has to pick up
a bass with too many strings.. but he'll manage.

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 13 Dec 2005 4:43 am

The Weight: it doesn't get heavier than that.
The Last Waltz shows why they were called The Band.

Jeremy Steele · Post by **Jeremy Steele** » 13 Dec 2005 5:26 am

The Band played Lehigh University when I was a freshman there in 1969...I had worn my "Big Pink" LP out from playing it so much, and the brown album had just come out...the most memorable concert I have EVER seen, truly they were much more than the sum of their parts.

Charles French · Post by **Charles French** » 13 Dec 2005 5:52 am

Great topic! There's no argument with greatness! It jes don't get no better!

Dave Brophy · Post by **Dave Brophy** » 13 Dec 2005 10:50 am

I must have listened to The Weight a thousand times and never paid attention to the bass line.
Then one time I asked a new bass player to learn a list of tunes.He dutifully downloaded some mp3's and learned the bass parts.No band rehearsal.
The first time we played The Weight on a gig,the whole band involuntarily looked around at him as if to say "What the hell are you playing?"
He looked like a deer caught in the headlights,but at the end of the tune insisted "That's the bass line!"
He later played the recording for me,and he was right.It's a truly strange James Jamerson style counterpoint lick.Like a lot of Jamerson parts,the phrasing has to be in perfect time to work.
I'm a huge Danko and Band fan.I saw them a couple of weeks before the Last Waltz.They did a warm-up date in Santa Cruz.

Mark Lind-Hanson · Post by **Mark Lind-Hanson** » 13 Dec 2005 11:55 am

I saw The Band with CSNY at Oakland Stadium in the summer of 1974. Recently watching the DVD included in the Box Set, I am really struck by how greatly appreciated it'd be if there were-
MORE BAND available on VIDEO!
It's almost just a tease, what they chose to include- not that I am complaining but, hey, these people were FUN to watch and a great time-
I don't think I'd have to omany arguments here!

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 13 Dec 2005 12:19 pm

I don't think I'd hold my breath, Mark. I read an interview with Robbie Robertson and he spent a lot of time on the newest boxed set trying to get it right, from his point of view. The impression I got was that this project was sort of like his final visit to The Band archives so that he could make his peace, and then be done with it.

He wasn't happy with any of the other compilations that came out in the past.

When The Band came back together in the early 80's, I was at their first show on the tour at of all places-The Saddlerack in San Jose-we got there about three hours early, got a table next to the stage, right by Richard Manuel.

They were still great-but like Little Feat without Lowell George, or The Dead without Garcia-it just wasn't quite the same without Robbie.

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Mark

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 13 Dec 2005 9:50 pm

If you want to hear some jaw-dropping bass, listen to the Brown Album (THE BAND) - most notably "Get Up Jake" (outtake added to reissue) and "Look Out Cleavland", my favourite band song.

In 1991 I met Rick Danko and chatted with him briefly in Upstate New York before a Band show that featured Billy Preston on Piano (met him too). He was really road-fried but gracious. We posed for a photo and then I watched them play. It was an outdoor show with a laid-back feel to it. I met Levon as well - now there's a friendly guy. Very down-to-earth. Garth was another story. He was...well....unreceptive to say the least. I asked him when the show was starting, and he just looked right through me....it was eerie. I'll never forget it, actually.

Nice to see a Band thread here....they've been my favourite for a long time.