The Last Waltz is a great flick/concert-one of Scorsese’s earliest works. Great musicians at the top of their form. This song was written by the great Levon Helm, a drummer with The Band and a truly gifted musician/songwriter.
Why did he make it all about Robbie Robertson, though? Some of the shots of Neil Young were hilarious. He was high for years after that night. Oh wait, I realize why Scorsese made it all about Robertson – because Scorsese was high as fuck.
Because it was Robertson who cut the deal with Scorsese to do the film as their swan song, and to glorify himself (Robertson). The other members of the Band were blindsided by this, including their permanent dissolution, which they weren’t anticipating, perhaps thinking they’d stop touring and only do studio work. It caused a lot of resentment, particularly between Robertson and Helm, who became aware of what a charlatan Robertson really was. He took credit for everything, even though the song writing was very much collaboration by all.
A Fourth Turning song?
I’m curious to know what encouraged this post.
I watched The Last Waltz last night.
good song and the best version–
The Last Waltz is a great flick/concert-one of Scorsese’s earliest works. Great musicians at the top of their form. This song was written by the great Levon Helm, a drummer with The Band and a truly gifted musician/songwriter.
Why did he make it all about Robbie Robertson, though? Some of the shots of Neil Young were hilarious. He was high for years after that night. Oh wait, I realize why Scorsese made it all about Robertson – because Scorsese was high as fuck.
Because it was Robertson who cut the deal with Scorsese to do the film as their swan song, and to glorify himself (Robertson). The other members of the Band were blindsided by this, including their permanent dissolution, which they weren’t anticipating, perhaps thinking they’d stop touring and only do studio work. It caused a lot of resentment, particularly between Robertson and Helm, who became aware of what a charlatan Robertson really was. He took credit for everything, even though the song writing was very much collaboration by all.
Total agreement on gifted.
A favorite Levon Helm moment is his portrayal of the old gunsmith in the movie “Shooter’ with Mark Wahlberg. Classic.
Damn good song.