Many years ago, there was a little bar in Harvard Square, Cambridge,, MA. The band had sort of broken up, sort of for good but occasionally they would get together without Robbie, and it would basically be the Cate Brothers, sometimes Garth, Levon, of course. But this evening it was just Richard Manuel and Rick Danko. This was like the middle 1980s and things were pretty loose. it was, after all, Cambridge! So, being a musician, myself, I knew with a green room was and I quietly walked back and wanted to make sure that I didn’t surprise and possibly embarrass myself and others I began to sing, “ oh, you don’t know the shape I’m in..’ Suddenly I heard what must’ve been Mr. Rick Danko do a stage whisper to Richard. “ Richard hush up… I think Mr. Jay Robbie Robertson has discovered us in our hidden layer back here in Cambridge, Massachusetts, amongst the deep fryers, and the soggy french fries.” My response? I did a kind of a Joe Mannix gonna break down your door fumble and the three of us collapsed the laughter. It was extraordinary because of course they didn’t know who the fuck I was! I became a little serious and introduced myself and asked least to find gentleman permission if I could give them a demo tape that had six songs on it. I was 26 years old and I was the sum of my recording career. And this is when I begin to understand the difference between generosity of spirit, and the bullshit that usually passes for good manners, and show business. easing back into his comedic role: “ what do you think Richard “, to which Richard said well remember, do you know how much trouble we got in the last time we excepted somebody’s demo tape.” Yes, yes I remember I remember… But at least I got a marriage out of the whole deal. Yeah but he was only married for six weeks which Rick said, well that’s true, but they were probably the finest six weeks of that whole year…. So all siding chuckled and Rick Danko took the tape, and he said., Richard and I really do appreciate you coming back and saying hello. We’d be honored to take your tape and listen to it. We got a lot of driving to do to which Richard Manuel said, “ friend, what Rick Danko is trying to tell you is that have a lot of driving to do, and he sleeps in the backseat on a pile of tapes of people having us all up and down the highways and highways of this country, known as the United States. But then Rick said something that was not bullshit, he said, do you have all your contact information? Let me see if I can read your handwriting… He sort of sounded out my name, my address and my phone number. I forgot to mention was such thing as Gmail or email I should say. “ Yes Rick it’s all there and I thank you so much. Let me get out of your hair so you guys can do your thing and if you want to pal around after the show look for me down front there’s only one or two places to eat breakfast in the Boston area and I know both of them so if you got the it’d be my pleasure to take you out to breakfast. Well, my friend, that sounds fantastic but of course you must understand that if we meet some señorita will be dropping you like a bad habit. I smiled and said “ I would expect nothing less.’
Saw The Band in 73 at Watkins Glen, it was their time to shine..I’ve never heard anything like that since. …again w/o Robertson a couple years later, there was a piece missing, and they knew it.
Please always remember and never forget...Richard's Opus, Tears of Rage w/ Bob, Rocking Chair the harmonies in any Band Song...And of course his timeless rendition of I Shall Be Released.
Richard was the most talented of the group. Also the most underrated. He could play any instrument. Wrote great songs and his singing was above and beyond professional and flawless. He was an innocent victim of circumstances he could not grasp. So sad he had so much to offer. RIP♥️
As far as talent Robbie runs circles. People never talk about how he inspired Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and George Harrison they literally wanted to play like Robbie and his catalog blows away the few Richard tunes.
The were all talented, that is what makes The Band so great, they were all multitalented, singing (Richard, Rick and Levon) writing songs, playing guitar (Robbie) and Rick, Richard, Levon and Garth could play multi instruments. He wrote a few songs. I agree his voice were unique. I like all the members of The Band, but have a soft spot for Robbie and Rick, could be because I'm partial to good looking men. (I'm female).
I see all the songs mentioned in the commentary which I agree are classic, but the one that pulled the heart right out of me was "Rags and Bones" on The Band's Northern Lights which I feel contains some of The Band's finest work.
So did Robbie he wrote about in his book Testimony, how helpless he felt and some of the other Band members as well. They all did drugs, Richard, Levon and Rick did heroin, Robbie did not. Richard tried to kick his heroin habit by shooting cocaine. Some of The Band members went to see him, (I think Rick, Garth and Robbie) and he had the DT's, Robbie left with tears in his eyes. As he wrote we didn't know much about addiction, all we had was love, anger and threaths for the guy. We were ill equipped to help, we were no angels.
I Shall Be Released....people forget that this Awesome Falsetto is the Same Man....as The Shape I'm In...most think it's different singers....that's why he doesn't get the full respect he so richly deserves...
Garth was my hero, as a piano player and overall musician whose contributions made Robbie's songs into The Band. Yet, Garth is the last living member with a net worth of $250k. As the songwriter, Robbie was entitled to more. But $50M more??
Robbie made more money than the other guys, because he wrote the songs. He was also more responsible, except for Garth, when 3 members were stoned and slept late or didn't show up for practice Robbie was up early working on stuff. By the time Robbie was 27 he was married with 2 small children, he still managed to write songs and kind of managing the Band, although he did do drugs, music always came first with Robbie. As for the money, the other member's did get 20 percent of the publising rights, and Robbie made more money scoring movies for Scorsese than he did with the Band.
A man that wrote songs with Dylan, could sing like Ray Charles and play anything he picked up. He was duped though re the sex drugs rock n roll? So many have been duped into thinking the drink n drugs lifestyle had something to offer, to the point where it was necessary.
@@abw48 Yes it was suicide, o one says otherwise. But drugs are mind altering, it s what they do! He was using a lot drugs, alcohol God knows what demons "got him" that night & after just coming off stage! He alone knew & left all fans to mourn & wonder 💔
@@patderrick3401 : I have done, or did, just as many drugs and Booze as Richard ever did, but I got clean and sober over 30 years ago, most of us dont make it.
@@abw48 Yes exactly & Richard didn t make it. That s what drugs can do, some handle them far better than others. No one knows what was in his head that night & v sadly he can t & didn t tell us. Such a loss of talent. Such a sad loss of a really nice guy 💔
My sweet and I were at the last show they played with Richard. Winter Park, Florida. I can tell you, it was a fine show and there was NO indication that anything was wrong. What a shocker the next day! So sad…
Never forget the beginning of Martin Scoccese film documentary called The Last Waltz they were throwing names around to find a band name.Then a zoom in of a lanky man with wild adventure in his eyes spoke in a strong startling manner "So we decided to call ourselves... THE BAND!
The Chocolate Subway or the Marshmallow Overcoat. Great names! Levon’s pick still cracks me up: The Honkies. True Story: Capitol Records signed them as The Crackers. It was a misreading of the sleeve that helped rename them.
I loved the way he sang King Harvest, so emotional and so perfect. Truly a great talent in a great band.
Many years ago, there was a little bar in Harvard Square, Cambridge,, MA. The band had sort of broken up, sort of for good but occasionally they would get together without Robbie, and it would basically be the Cate Brothers, sometimes Garth, Levon, of course. But this evening it was just Richard Manuel and Rick Danko. This was like the middle 1980s and things were pretty loose. it was, after all, Cambridge! So, being a musician, myself, I knew with a green room was and I quietly walked back and wanted to make sure that I didn’t surprise and possibly embarrass myself and others I began to sing, “ oh, you don’t know the shape I’m in..’
Suddenly I heard what must’ve been Mr. Rick Danko do a stage whisper to Richard. “ Richard hush up… I think Mr. Jay Robbie Robertson has discovered us in our hidden layer back here in Cambridge, Massachusetts, amongst the deep fryers, and the soggy french fries.”
My response? I did a kind of a Joe Mannix gonna break down your door fumble and the three of us collapsed the laughter. It was extraordinary because of course they didn’t know who the fuck I was! I became a little serious and introduced myself and asked least to find gentleman permission if I could give them a demo tape that had six songs on it. I was 26 years old and I was the sum of my recording career. And this is when I begin to understand the difference between generosity of spirit, and the bullshit that usually passes for good manners, and show business. easing back into his comedic role: “ what do you think Richard “, to which Richard said well remember, do you know how much trouble we got in the last time we excepted somebody’s demo tape.” Yes, yes I remember I remember… But at least I got a marriage out of the whole deal. Yeah but he was only married for six weeks which Rick said, well that’s true, but they were probably the finest six weeks of that whole year…. So all siding chuckled and Rick Danko took the tape, and he said., Richard and I really do appreciate you coming back and saying hello. We’d be honored to take your tape and listen to it. We got a lot of driving to do to which Richard Manuel said, “ friend, what Rick Danko is trying to tell you is that have a lot of driving to do, and he sleeps in the backseat on a pile of tapes of people having us all up and down the highways and highways of this country, known as the United States. But then Rick said something that was not bullshit, he said, do you have all your contact information? Let me see if I can read your handwriting… He sort of sounded out my name, my address and my phone number. I forgot to mention was such thing as Gmail or email I should say. “ Yes Rick it’s all there and I thank you so much.
Let me get out of your hair so you guys can do your thing and if you want to pal around after the show look for me down front there’s only one or two places to eat breakfast in the Boston area and I know both of them so if you got the it’d be my pleasure to take you out to breakfast. Well, my friend, that sounds fantastic but of course you must understand that if we meet some señorita will be dropping you like a bad habit.
I smiled and said “ I would expect nothing less.’
Everyone of these guys were so talented 👏
Saw The Band in 73 at Watkins Glen, it was their time to shine..I’ve never heard anything like that since.
…again w/o Robertson a couple years later, there was a piece missing, and they knew it.
Was there too. Rain was bad.
I was also at that show. I was one of the 150 thousand that bought a ticket for $10. 450 thousand people crashed the fence and got in free!
The Band were unmatched. Tears of Rage.
Watch the Woodstock version. Then prepare for the hairs on the back of your neck to stand.
Please always remember and never forget...Richard's Opus, Tears of Rage w/ Bob, Rocking Chair the harmonies in any Band Song...And of course his timeless rendition of I Shall Be Released.
Richard was the most talented of the group. Also the most underrated. He could play any instrument. Wrote great songs and his singing was above and beyond professional and flawless. He was an innocent victim of circumstances he could not grasp. So sad he had so much to offer. RIP♥️
I think he would be the first to tell you...he wasn't that innocent....
I understand what you’re saying……
As far as talent Robbie runs circles. People never talk about how he inspired Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and George Harrison they literally wanted to play like Robbie and his catalog blows away the few Richard tunes.
The were all talented, that is what makes The Band so great, they were all multitalented, singing (Richard, Rick and Levon) writing songs, playing guitar (Robbie) and Rick, Richard, Levon and Garth could play multi instruments. He wrote a few songs. I agree his voice were unique. I like all the members of The Band, but have a soft spot for Robbie and Rick, could be because I'm partial to good looking men. (I'm female).
"Innocent"? Manuel abused alcohol and used cocaine.
Rocking chair is one of the most beautiful songs sung ever.
Thank you, Richard....
I always liked his playing n thought the best of him but life has plans for us that cannot be explained
Heroin really did a job on him. He aged so rapidly. Such a sad ending for one of the great voices of our time.
STAY OFF H CHILDREN
THE Band.
OF BOB DYLAN....
@@roalziroalzi ...they were a thing in their own right; when they hooked-
up with Bob :
they became THE thing.
Lonesome Susie, In A Station... untouchable
I can relate. And he crossed into the shadowland.
This is a really, really good song!
Thanks Sven!! Here is a link to the whole thing on Spotify!!! open.spotify.com/track/0lZqtRzjZWhTofRh6ukTzG?si=bc722b351aee441d
@@marcdelgado3478 Thanks! Already found it and added it to one of my playlists!
@@svenknutsen8937 right on!!! thank you!!!
Always love his singing on Hobo Jungle.
love that song. very moving.
Thank you for this beautiful treasure of a song. It's too short tho. Lol I guess I'll finish the second half.
GRANDE MUSICISTA POLISTRUMENTISTA COM I COLLEGHI DELLA BAND .
I see all the songs mentioned in the commentary which I agree are classic, but the one that pulled the heart right out of me was "Rags and Bones" on The Band's Northern Lights which I feel contains some of The Band's finest work.
"Hobo Jungle" is good too.
really good
Love it @@@@@ ;) ;)
Richard was lured down a bad road..he was a sweet, talented genius who deserved better..wish I could have helped him.
Many in music were led down that dark path......
@@user-fu2mi1nd5l many were exploited by awful people. It's an ugly world.
So did Robbie he wrote about in his book Testimony, how helpless he felt and some of the other Band members as well. They all did drugs, Richard, Levon and Rick did heroin, Robbie did not. Richard tried to kick his heroin habit by shooting cocaine. Some of The Band members went to see him, (I think Rick, Garth and Robbie) and he had the DT's, Robbie left with tears in his eyes. As he wrote we didn't know much about addiction, all we had was love, anger and threaths for the guy. We were ill equipped to help, we were no angels.
@@hannejeppesen1809 I knew Richard, he was very sweet, kind and funny as Hell. Levon and Rick were also good guys.
Who can sum it up?
I'm cryin again
I Shall Be Released....people forget that this Awesome Falsetto is the Same Man....as The Shape I'm In...most think it's different singers....that's why he doesn't get the full respect he so richly deserves...
I enjoyed this tune sounded like the Wallflowers but give me more!
PetertheRock!! Here’s a link!! open.spotify.com/track/0lZqtRzjZWhTofRh6ukTzG?si=_FKfule3TtuBibVGYD4n0Q&dl_branch=1
The shape I'm in ❤
Good tune, added.
Right on!! Thank you!!! Contact me if you would like a download of the record!!
The (5) most talented musicians in any music genre
Apparently you haven’t studied any Boys to Men music.
@@chrisdher65 richard is right
Garth was my hero, as a piano player and overall musician whose contributions made Robbie's songs into The Band. Yet, Garth is the last living member with a net worth of $250k. As the songwriter, Robbie was entitled to more. But $50M more??
Robbie made more money than the other guys, because he wrote the songs. He was also more responsible, except for Garth, when 3 members were stoned and slept late or didn't show up for practice Robbie was up early working on stuff. By the time Robbie was 27 he was married with 2 small children, he still managed to write songs and kind of managing the Band, although he did do drugs, music always came first with Robbie. As for the money, the other member's did get 20 percent of the publising rights, and Robbie made more money scoring movies for Scorsese than he did with the Band.
A man that wrote songs with Dylan, could sing like Ray Charles and play anything he picked up. He was duped though re the sex drugs rock n roll? So many have been duped into thinking the drink n drugs lifestyle had something to offer, to the point where it was necessary.
Andrew Bowen: Richard hung himself in a Florida Motel Room, he didnt OD on dope.
@@abw48 Yes it was suicide, o one says otherwise. But drugs are mind altering, it s what they do! He was using a lot drugs, alcohol God knows what demons "got him" that night & after just coming off stage! He alone knew & left all fans to mourn & wonder 💔
@@patderrick3401 : I have done, or did, just as many drugs and Booze as Richard ever did, but I got clean and sober over 30 years ago, most of us dont make it.
@@abw48 Yes exactly & Richard didn t make it. That s what drugs can do, some handle them far better than others. No one knows what was in his head that night & v sadly he can t & didn t tell us. Such a loss of talent. Such a sad loss of a really nice guy 💔
That is as good a description of many artists as i have ever read.
Great band too rip saw the band at palladium 76 77 sic fucking hot good ol days stay strong Yanks allways win
.....love this tune, where can i get this ?.......
Hey Steve!!! Here’s a link!! open.spotify.com/track/0lZqtRzjZWhTofRh6ukTzG?si=_FKfule3TtuBibVGYD4n0Q&dl_branch=1
Tq
The circumstances surrounding his ( suicide) are strange to say the least. Apparently he gave absolutely no indication that he would do it.
My sweet and I were at the last show they played with Richard. Winter Park, Florida. I can tell you, it was a fine show and there was NO indication that anything was wrong. What a shocker the next day! So sad…
Where?
The poor guy passed on, way too early. Hence the "Cautionary Tale Of Richard Manuel".
Sad
WHAT SONG IS THIS
open.spotify.com/track/5pgI43jWHU8QlCVR17zZRl?si=41TIi_ExQRa3khuak893Ew
“The Cautionary Tale of Richard Manuel”
who when and where?
Huh ?
Never forget the beginning of Martin Scoccese film documentary called The Last Waltz they were throwing names around to find a band name.Then a zoom in of a lanky man with wild adventure in his eyes spoke in a strong startling manner "So we decided to call ourselves... THE BAND!
The Chocolate Subway or the Marshmallow Overcoat. Great names!
Levon’s pick still cracks me up: The Honkies.
True Story: Capitol Records signed them as The Crackers. It was a misreading of the sleeve that helped rename them.
I remember how strange that segment was