On that note, everyone talks about Elvis Presely's descent in to a decadent, self-destructive lifestyle, but what about old Rick Danko? This guy was the next best thing to a heartthrob that whole Woodstock scene could produce, Canada's finest one might say. As time passed, he gained a considerable amount of chins, as well as plaque on his heart, leading to his inevitable passing 9 years ago from Heart Failure. It's worth noting that toxicology reports came up negative for even trace amounts of Drugs in his system at the time of his death.
Skinny Rick
Fat Rick
Anyone who likes the Band has undoubtedly uncovered many songs that they find aurally pleasing. A few of my personal favorites are:
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down performed live at The Last Waltz. With the addition of a fantastic horn section, arranged by Allan Toussaint, and some inspired Drumming/Singing (hard to decide which comes first) by Levon Helm. The clip from the Martin Scorsese directed documentary begins with some silly jamming.
Long Black Veil off of Music From Big Pink, another fantastic album to drop in the Roman calendar year 1968. While not a Robertson & Co. original, no song really captures how fucking country these guys could be nearly as well. Others might chime in that Evangeline is a straight up country song, especially w/ Emmylou Harris singing on it, and therefore is more country than LBV, but I have to disagree. Just listen to how fucking spot on the shift in the harmonies are in the chorus and verses. Danko takes the lead, with Levon Helm providing some simple 3rds and 5ths on top, whereas in the Chorus Helm takes the melody and Danko soars in to some impressive falsetto work. They may not sing like angels, but there is something haunting about this rendition of this rustic ballad.
Look Out Cleveland off of the S/T album is a gem to me for several reasons. The most important one is that they shout out two obscure ass cities for 1970 in the hook; everyone was singing about NYC, Paris, Chicago, and what have you, but these guys had the balls to sing it somewhere else, and mean it. Robbie Robertson plays pretty average for what he is generally capable of, I much prefer his work on King Harvest, or Up on Cripple Creek, but Rick Danko plays his ass off on this track.
Skinny bitches, when the revolution comes, you're first on the wall.
