by Robert Wilkinson
We kick off our musical weekend celebrating the birthday of two amazing musicians! Levon Helm was a unique musical talent, and gave us some very danceable music, while our other birthday magical musician was the great jazz master Miles Davis!
First, the singing drummer! Levon Helm (May 26, 1940 – April 19, 2012) was originally from Arkansas, and once he was recruited by rockabilly great Ronnie Hawkins, the legend began. I’ll give you a few pieces of his bio from AMG:
Levon Helm wore many musical hats throughout his long career, including multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, singer, impresario, studio owner, studio engineer, and producer. He grew up working on a farm in Arkansas; his first instrument was guitar, which he began playing at age eight, but after seeing the F.S. Walcott Rabbits Foot Minstrels, he decided to switch to drums.... Accompanied by his sister Linda on washtub bass, he played various fairs and civic club shows until forming his first group, the Jungle Bush Beaters, while in high school.After seeing an Elvis Presley concert, Helm became keenly interested in rock & roll and musicians like Bo Diddley. Eventually, he moved to Memphis, where he began sitting in with Conway Twitty. Later, he was discovered by a fellow Arkansan, rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins, who asked the 17-year-old Helm to join the Hawks, his backing band. The group soon relocated to Toronto…
In the early '60s in Toronto, Helm and Hawkins recruited the rest of the members of the group that would become the Band, adding guitarist Robbie Robertson, pianist Richard Manuel, organist Garth Hudson, and bassist Rick Danko to the lineup. After numerous road trips with Hawkins, the group grew tired of the singer's abrasive manner, and they re-formed as Levon & the Hawks... Shortly after, they changed their name back to the Hawks. In the mid-'60s, Bob Dylan decided to electrify his sound and wanted the Hawks to be his backing band. After putting up with too many boos at Dylan's newly electrified shows in 1965, Helm decided he'd had enough, and went back to Arkansas, thinking he would leave the music business behind him forever.
But Helm returned to action in mid-1967, when the Hawks (since renamed simply the Band) began working on Music from Big Pink, the first in a string of classic records that made them one of rock's most legendary acts.
Today I found a LOT of great performances featuring Levon and his Bandmates from the earliest performances right up to 2010. Without further ado, here’s the magnificent Levon Helm!
We begin when he was the drummer for Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks. I found three great early videos of Levon on the drums with the Hawks, with the first his 1959 breakthrough hit “Forty Days”
His second hit was a smoky R&B cousin to “Fever!” For your enjoyment, a great 1959 video of “Mary Lou” and we’ll close with another video performance, this time of "I Need Your Loving,"
I found three good ones from the studio. From 1961, "I Feel Good,” which we’ll follow with another from 1961 with Levon on lead vocals! “Farther Up the Road,” and close with this single from 1963, "Bo Diddley."
Now we go to his time drumming for the Band and some great live video clips!
The Band live at Woodstock! “The Weight” and “Tears of Rage”
Here’s the set! The Band Live at Woodstock
Their classic Ed Sullivan 1969 performance of “Up on Cripple Creek” has disappeared, but I found this great live video of them performing at the Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh in 1970! "Up On Cripple Creek"
From what looks to be a “live in the home studio” video, this is from 1969 and a classic offering of "Up on Cripple Creek"
We now go to some footage of an event few have heard of, but it made history! From one of the video posts, Festival Express is a rousing record of a little-known, but monumental, moment in rock n' roll history, starring such music legends as Janis Joplin, The Band, and the Grateful Dead. Set in 1970, Festival Express was a multi-band, multi-day extravaganza that captured the spirit and imagination of a generation and a nation. What made it unique was that it was portable; for five days, the bands and performers lived, slept, rehearsed and did countless unmentionable things aboard a customized train that traveled from Toronto, to Calgary, to Winnipeg, with each stop culminating in a mega-concert. The entire experience, both off-stage and on, was filmed but the extensive footage remained locked away -- until now. A momentous achievement in rock film archeology, Festival Express combines this long-lost material with contemporary interviews nearly 35 years after it was first filmed."
Last year I found the entire movie in 9 separate parts. They’ve now all disappeared from the internet. But I did find this link, which will take you to 9 clips of the movie, leading with the trailer explaining what this extraordinary musical movable feast was all about! For your enjoyment, a very rare moment in music history!
Here are some specific performances by the Band!
Levon sings lead on this classic roots number, “Strawberry Wine”
I don’t know if this is from Festival Express or Woodstock. “I Shall Be Released”
Last year I had the “Rockin’ Chair” festival performance, but it disappeared. Here’s one from the same era! “Rockin’ Chair”
I found it again! Here’s their Festival Express performance of the Little Richard classic “Slippin’ and Slidin’”
This reappeared as well! Here’s their performance of “Lovin’ You Is Sweeter Than Ever”
A bit of introduction to this remarkable man by way of the Band’s first album. When this hit the airwaves in 1968, it was immediately obvious that this kind of music had never been done before. That album opened the door to a thousand variations on the “roots music” done by the proverbial 10,000 pickers since then. Music from Big Pink – the entire album in single song clips in its original sequence.
I found it again! This is a brilliant 8 minute clip featuring an interesting series of interviews with the members of the Band showing how they made their monster hit “Up On Cripple Creek.” For your enjoyment, (especially if you want to see music history being made!) “The Making of ‘Up On Cripple Creek’”
As most know, the Band had a long association with Bob Dylan off and on for many years and albums. They backed him in the 1966 and 1974 tours, and were musicians on "the Basement Tapes," "Self Portrait," "Planet Waves," and "Before the Flood."
Here’s Bob backed by the Band in an audio-only live performance at Carnegie Hall in 1968 doing Woody Guthries’s "I Ain’t Got No Home"
This year we got lucky again! From the classic performances by Bob Dylan and the Band at the 1969 Isle of Wight Festival, I found the video of "The Mighty Quinn (Quinn The Eskimo)” and the audio of “Lay Lady Lay” (“Highway 61 Revisited” Is still nowhere to be found, and “I Threw it All Away” has disappeared. )I did find this bootleg version on the Great White Wonder IOW album of Dylan’s performance of “Wild Mountain Thyme”
This is the only live video of the Band at that historic show! “The Weight”
Last year I had each tune from the Band’s set, but they’ve disappeared. Instead, I found this 37 minute audio of the set.
The Band at the 1969 Isle of Wight Festival
I found 19 minutes of pure gold from “The Band” live in Pittsburgh 1970! Here's a four song set of "Time to Kill," "The Weight," "This Wheel's on Fire," and "Up on Cripple Creek"
Live in 1970, the video of “Lovin’ You Is Sweeter Than Ever”
Here’s a great video of the Band in France in October 1971, very live cranking out “Slippin’ and Slidin’”
Classic audio-only footage of Bob Dylan backed by the Band in 1971! From New Year’s Eve 1971 at the Academy of Music, “Like a Rolling Stone”
2 years ago I had all the clips from what is said to be 2012’s best music video documentary! It tells the story of Bob Dylan, the Band, and their legendary collaboration in the 60s and 70s. However, this year 3 parts have disappeared, and they are nowhere to be found.
“Bob Dylan and the Band - Down in the Flood Part 2”
“Bob Dylan and the Band - Down in the Flood Part 3”
“Bob Dylan and the Band - Down in the Flood Part 5”
“Bob Dylan and the Band - Down in the Flood Part 7”
From The Last Waltz, here’s a great live performance by Bob Dylan and the Band of “Forever Young” and “Baby Let Me Follow You Down.”
From the same gig, a live performance of the Band backing Ronnie Hawkins doing "Who Do You Love." We’ll finish this Last Waltz with the iconic “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” and one of my all time favorites rockers, "The Shape I'm In."
Here’s an audio-only hour and 46 minutes in 1974 of a live performance of Bob Dylan and the Band in Maryland
From July 1976 in Asbury Park New Jersey, an hour and 20 of The Band Live at Casino Arena 1976
The Band (without Robbie) opened for Grateful Dead on New Year’s Eve 1983. Last year I had the 78 minute set but it’s disappeared. So instead, here’s an hour and 27 of the Band in 1983 in Vancouver! The Band in Vancouver 1983
It’s gone again. Every so often a great 1987 clip surfaces from the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ with Levon and Bruce Springsteen in a 13 performance of “Up On Cripple Creek" and "Lucille" but it’s disappeared again.
Here's a show recorded at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles on December 3, 1989, during the first tour of the All-Starr Band. This show featured Ringo backed by Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, Billy Preston, Dr. John, Joe Walsh, Nils Lofgren and Clarence Clemons. This is a major ensemble! For your enjoyment, "The Weight," “The Shape I’m In,” and “Up on Cripple Creek.”
From 1994, a short segment on the 1990s-era Band from the music TV series The Road. Concert material shot at the Peoria, IL 8-5-94 show & an unknown show that same period in Rockford, IL. The Band on The Road
Last year I had 3 parts of a great documentary titled THE BAND - The Authorized Video Biography but this year they’ve all disappeared. So instead, I found you this!
The Legendary Tales: Bob Dylan and the Band – the Basement Tapes
The Band – 1995 documentary has completely disappeared.
From January 1995, Levon, Rick Danko, and Garth Hudson on Letterman with Paul and the house band joining in on a great version of "The Weight"
Here’s a great live performance on video featuring Levon, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, and Richard Manuel grinding out “Willie and the Hand Jive”
From 1996, a live performance of Sheryl Crow, Emmylou Harris, and Levon Helm doing "Evangeline"
Now for some newer stuff!
This one will get you dancing! It’s a full hour and change of The Levon Helm Band at the Newport Festival 2008
Here are 5 from the 2009 PBS Special Levon Helm Ramble At The Ryman.
From the 2010 Edmonton Folk Festival, the Levon Helm Band doing a great live performance of "The Shape I’m In"
Here's a great 21 minute short film inspired by and featuring music from Levon Helm's Grammy Award winning 2007 album Dirt Farmer.
Back to the studio!
From the 1978 album Levon Helm
Here’s a great 1 hour 7 minute live show! From 1983 in Oregon, Levon Helm and Rick Danko – The Living Room Tapes
As the you tube site explains about the pieces I’m about to give you, Electric Dirt is the second album in the last two years from American musical treasure Levon Helm. Its predecessor, Dirt Farmer, his first solo LP in a quarter century, followed Levon's near-miraculous recovery from throat cancer, and as such represented a new lease on life for the legendary artist...
The accolades poured in after the release of Dirt Farmer in the fall of 2007. 'This album is nothing less than a return to form by one of the most soulful vocalists in rock history,' raved the San Francisco Chronicle, reflecting the universal sentiment. Levon was named Artist of the Year by the Americana Music Association, and the album was awarded the 2008 Grammy for Best Traditional Folk Recording. Meanwhile, Rolling Stone hailed Helm's "Midnight Ramble," which takes place monthly at Levon Helm Studios—a.k.a. The Barn—in his longtime home of Woodstock, N.Y., as 2008's Best Jam Session.”
From Dirt Farmer
For your enjoyment, some live footage and interviews of “The Making of Electric Dirt”
We’ll close this tribute with a few tracks off of his 2009 album, Electric Dirt. I figured it would be a great send off, since it’s some of his most joyous music, having survived a bout with throat cancer and he sings it straight!
Here’s Levon live on Letterman performing “Tennessee Jed”
Here’s the studio version of "Tennessee Jed"
"I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free"
We close this birthday celebration of Levon Helm with a song he wrote that seems a fitting epitaph to his life. For your consideration of the Spirit of a man made real through music, some pretty amazing lyrics set to joyous music:
Happy Birthday and RIP Levon. You led an amazing life and gave us some amazing music. Thanks for everything. "Don't want no sorrow, For this old orphan boy, I don't want no crying, Only tears of joy..."
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A big Happy Birthday also goes out to jazz legend Miles Davis (May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991). Due to time constraints, I can't really do justice to this all-time great musician who has blown a lot of minds for many decades. I'll try to compose something longer next year. For now, here are five albums in their entirety, followed by some really great live concert footage of Miles with some of the best of all time!
Round About Midnight (1957)
Kind of Blue (1959) This is the 2 hour “legacy edition.”
Sketches of Spain (1960)
Bitches' Brew (1970)
Live-Evil (1971)
Last year I had a 40 minute audio-only clip recorded in multiple sessions between 1957 and 1963 of hard bop but it’s disappeared.
From March 21, 1960, an entire 1 hour 26 show of Miles Davis and John Coltrane in Paris
From the next night an entire 1 hour 11 show, this year in two parts! Miles Davis and John Coltrane in Stockholm Pt.1 and Miles Davis and John Coltrane in Stockholm Pt.2
Now for some more concerts!
First, a great 10+ minute live video clip from 1959 of Miles Davis and John Coltrane giving us “So What”
From that same year, Miles and Gil Evans in a 12 minute live video of “The Duke” and “Blues for Pablo”
(The 14 minute live 1959 video of them doing “Miles Ahead” is gone.)
From 1963 here's a 45 minute video of Miles Davis Live at Antibes, France - 1963
I found it again! Here’s the entire one hour 1964 film clip of Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams! Miles Davis Quintet Live at Teatro dell'Arte in Milan, Italy 1964
From that tour I did find this great 12 minute video from Milan with Miles performing “MY Funny Valentine”
From 1967, 45 minutes of vintage video! The Miles Davis Quintet - Around The Midnight
From Nov 1967, an hour and 5 of The Miles Davis Quintet Live in Germany
Here’s an hour and 10 of Miles Davis Live in Copenhagen 1969
From 1969 here's a great hour and 4 video of Miles Davis Live at Antibes, France
Also from 1969, a full 2 hours of Miles, Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, Dave Holland, and Jack DeJohnette giving us some far out jazz! Miles Davis Quintet "Salle Pleyel Paris 1969 'Second Concert"
From Tanglewood in 1970, 45 minutes of pure gold! Miles Davis at Tanglewood
From the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival, Miles live giving us “Call It Anything” and two audio-only tracks, “Spanish Key” and “Bitches Brew”
From 1971, a great 41 minute video of "Miles Davis live in Turin, Italy"
Also from 1971, Miles Davis Live in Stadthalle Dietikon, Switzerland
From 1971 in Oslo, Norway, Miles giving us “What I Say” and “Yesternow”
Here’s that entire show! It’s an hour and 20 of Miles and Keith Jarrett in Norway. Miles Davis and Keith Jarrett – The Oslo Concert
The hour and 11 clip of their show in Berlin from this tour is gone, but I found this 26 minute “jazz video” of the Berlin show! The Miles Davis Septet – Philharmonie, Berlin
Here’s a full hour of Miles Davis Live in Vienna 1973
Also from 1973, a full hour of Miles Davis Live in Tokyo 1973
Last year I had a great 1986 PBS Great Performances show titled Miles Ahead" - The Music of Miles Davis, but this year it’s disappeared. I also had all 3 parts of Kind of Blue – Miles Davis Documentary but it too has disappeared.
From 1985, a full one hour show! Miles Davis Live in Montreal 1985
And for our closer, from 1984, an hour and 40 concert! Miles Davis Live at Montreux 1984
For our encore, a great documentary!
Miles Davis Electric - A Different Kind Of Blue Parts 1-7
© Copyright 2022 Robert Wilkinson
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