The Band: A Musical History (Great CD/DVD release)

[lbpesq]

Given all the Deadheads lurking about, I suspect there are at least a few who, like me, also have a soft spot for The Band.  If you do, you should check the new boxed set that came out recently.  A hardcover book on the history of the group, 5 CDs covering the old Ronnie Hawkins & the Hawks/ Levon & the Hawks days (many of these in the old mono), through times with Dylan, and across the whole gamut of their career.  A lot of previously unreleased and alternate takes - not just the same old previously released tracks repackaged.  In addition there is a DVD with numerous live takes from '70-'76, including Robbie's studio, the Festival Express Tour, NYC, London, and Saturday Night Live.  Right now I'm listening to Dylan and the boys (with Mickey Jones instead of Levon on drums) do Tell Me Momma from 1966.  (My wife is complaining about Bob's whining - LOL).  About $75 from deepdiscountcd.com.  A MUST for fans of the Band.
 
Bill, tgo

[tom_z]

Thanks for the heads up Bill. Something to put on my Christmas wish list. It seems like The Band was one of the earliest bands to bring instruments like the fiddle, mandolin, etc. to the world of big-time rock and roll. They brought a great wealth of musical influences to their music. And I can never get enough of Rick Danko's singing - he has one of the most soulful, haunting voices in modern music. Plus, he sings so beautifully while playing fairly sophisticated bass lines, often on his fretless Ampeg bass.
 
Hmmm . . . not sure I can wait for Christmas . . . =) I'll have to pull out Rock of Ages.
 
Tom

[pace]

Rick supposedly had two Alembics~ anyone know the details?!?

[flaxattack]

yes
first there was the first
then there was the second....
lmao

[jacko]

Mike.
Are you sure you're not thinking about Ampeg? Rick played a fretless Ampeg for some time.  I've never heard of him playing an Alembic but I guess he was around at the right time.
 
Graeme

[David Houck]

Mike; I ran a google search and came up empty.

[chuckc]

Didn't he play one of those gosh awful Gibson Ripper basses for awhile as well???

[keith_h]

I found these on the net.  
 
Keith
 
from a 1976 Guitar Player interview:
 
Rick, what basses do you have?
 
I've got an Ampeg standup bass, an Ampeg fretless, and an Ampeg fretted. I also have a Gibson Ripper, a Fender fretless and a Fender fretted--both Precisions. And I have some instruments that I left in Canada. I have a Czechoslovakian bass that has as much glue as wood--it's terrific. A guy came by and gave it to me in pieces, and I had this old violin maker in Woodstock put it together. It's well over a hundred years old. And I have some Telecaster guitars with the same humbucking pickups as Robbie's Strats. In fact, he decided to have that feature after I'd done it. I've got a Guild 6-string acoustic that's fabulous. It has that big body. Tommy Smothers plays one just like it.
 
From a 1994 Bass Player interview:
 
Though he still has the Gibson Ripper and the old Ampeg fretless visible in The Last Waltz - and present throughout Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band tour and disc in 1989 - Danko now relies on two new basses. One, built by New York guitar maker Mark Dann, features a custom semi-hollow Strat-sized body, an ebony fingerboard, and active Alembic JJ pickups. The other is a Norwegian-made Guitar Workshop bass with active Alembic PJ pickups and a rosewood board.

[David Houck]

Thanks Keith!!

[edwin]

Some friends of mine are recreating the Last Waltz at Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom in Denver tomorrow night (11/23). I am very curious to see how it goes! Should be a great time. I remember when the original was happening and trying to figure out how to get my teenage self out to CA to see it. I guess this is as close as I will come.
 
Edwin