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Takes one to know one

I find what one artist has to say about another fascinating. Here's what Eric Clapton has to say about one such:

"I met the genius of that outfit, who was Richard Manuel. He was as close to genius as I've ever met in a white guy---all the other geniuses I've met have been black Blues players, like B.B. and Buddy Guy. The reason I say they're geniuses is that they do what they do effortlessly with a gift that is so powerful that they don't need to engage in any kind of thinking to pursue it."

I would add Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, and even Robbie Robertson (somewhat begrudgingly ;-), the other members of The Band, to the list of geniuses. There has never been, and never again will be, a Group containing so much talent. I listen to their music every single day of my life, and have done so for years. Their debut and second album are in my Top 10 albums of all-time list. Both are available on LP and SACD from Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs. Ignore them at the cost of your own musical wealth!

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Showing 4 responses by tomcy6

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tomcy6
2,542 posts
 
IIRC, Robbie was married or seriously involved with someone during the Big Pink days.  He did not live at Big Pink.  This helped him remain more sober and grounded while the others, except Garth, were into excess of every kind.  Drugs, drink. women, smashing cars on the winding roads, etc.

If you read Robbie's version of the story, he frequently urged the others to write.  If you read Levon's version, Robbie took all credit for songs that they had worked out together.  No telling what the truth is but the others should have confronted Robbie sooner rather than waiting till the money stopped rolling in.  Levon was very bitter about it but Rick Danko and Garth never complained that much about it that I'm aware of.
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,542 posts
 
Robbie KNEW that would be the case, and knowingly tricked, manipulated, John Simon into signing away his future royalties for what he, Robertson, knew would be very little.

I'm not defending Robbie in any way, but shouldn't someone in the music business this long have a lawyer?  After Robbie screwed his bandmates out of all their royalties, why would anyone trust him? 
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,542 posts
 
Lawyers are expensive
  Not as expensive as not having one.  When you don't get your royalty payments for two years, you ask for them nicely and if Capitol tells you to screw off, you get a good lawyer and sue them.  I wouldn't wait two years.

I can't understand why anyone would trade his royalties for two classic albums that he produced for a piece of some project he had nothing to do with.  I find it hard to believe that John Simon could become a producer at Capitol and not know that if he gave anyone the chance to screw him, they would.  Don't let me interrupt the discussion of the albums, though.  We'll never really know what happened business-wise unless someone can get ahold of all the contracts.
 
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,542 posts
 
+1 onhwy61.  I think "Northern Lights Southern Cross" is my favorite.  The songwriting, musicianship and sound are all top notch.  They really got it all together for this one.
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