The Band - The Last Waltz [4 CD Box Set, Remastered] (2008)

This 4-CD box set of THE LAST WALTZ includes the complete original album, 24 tracks of previously unreleased rehearsals, performances from the show, film, and studio demo tracks. Includes an 80-page booklet.

The Band: Robbie Robertson (vocals, guitar, piano); Richard Manuel (vocals, dobro, keyboards, drums); Levon Helm (vocals, mandolin, drums); Rick Danko (vocals, violin, bass); Garth Hudson (accordion, soprano & tenor saxophones, horns, piano, electric piano, organ, synthesizer).

Additional personnel includes: Neil Young (vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica); Joni Mitchell (vocals, acoustic guitar); Dr. John (vocals, guitar, piano, conga); Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Roebuck "Pops" Staples (vocals, guitar); Paul Butterfield (vocals, harmonica); Mavis Staples, Ronnie Hawkins, Muddy Waters, Van Morrison, Bobby Charles (vocals); Stephen Stills, Ron Wood (guitar); Joe "Pinetop" Perkins (piano); Ringo Starr (drums).

Producers include: Robbie Robertson, Rob Fraboni, John Simon.

Reissue producer: Robbie Robertson.

Recorded at Winterland Arena, San Franciso, California; MGM, Culver City, California; Shangri La, Malibu, California; Village Recorders, Los Angeles, California in 1976. Originally released on Warner Brothers (3146). Includes liner notes by Robbie Robertson and David Fricke.

The Band's farewell concert was lavishly presented on Thanksgiving night, 1976 at San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom. Originally released as a three-record, 30-song set, it's been expanded to 54 songs spread over four CDs. The concert presented an overview of their entire body of work, with music from most of their albums. They're joined by a series of guests who are all either peers (Van Morrison, Neil Young) and contemporaries or mentors and sources of inspiration (Ronnie Hawkins, Muddy Waters).

With the exception of Bob Dylan, all of the artists were originally heard performing only one song with accompaniment from the Band. This longer format allows for a further look at what transpired on that night. The live material is also joined by previously unissued studio recordings, including a theme that frames the work as a whole. Additional material also includes a few rehearsal takes, demos for some of the studio tracks, and 15 minutes of jamming with even more guests (Ringo Starr, Stephen Stills). This is not a traditional career overview or hits run-through; rather, it's a celebration of this important ensemble's legacy.

Entertainment Weekly (4/19/02, pp.72-73) - "Time hasn't diminished The Band's uniqueness or mythic mystery…" - Rating: A

Q (May 2002, p.127) - 4 out of 5 stars - "…Ever conscious of their place in history, [The Band] went out in style….full of invention, twists and…moments of other-worldly genius…"

Mojo (Publisher) (5/02, p.117) - "…The original highlights are highlights still: Danko's heartrending solo turn on 'It Makes No Difference', big Ron's yelping 'big time, Bill, big time' turn on the Diddley-stompin' 'Who Do You Love'; the soulful Staples on the after-the-fact studio version of 'The Weight'…"

Amazon sez:

Even taking into account inflation, it's ironic in this era of $250 concert tickets that critics harped when the Band charged $25 for their legendary November 1976 farewell show at San Francisco's Winterland. That price not only included Thanksgiving dinner, but also numerous guest superstars who'd influenced, worked with, and/or shared the Canadian roots of Robbie Robertson and crew. What transpired was a grand celebration of North American musical forms. There are numerous definitive performances here–from Van Morrison's goose-bump-inducing "Caravan" and solo rendition of the beautiful Irish standard "Tura Lura Lural" (Celtic music inspired those Appalachians in the first place) to Bob Dylan and "the Hawks" delivering a pop-metallic "Baby, Let Me Follow You Down," first captured on the Royal Albert Hall Concert tapes. But because this new fleshed-out version–produced and compiled by Robertson–includes surprises (late blues legend Muddy Waters's endearing take on Louis Jordan's "Caledonia"; current blues legend Dylan's "Hazel"), treasures ("This Wheels on Fire," Neil Young's "Four Strong Winds"), and two jam sessions that just don't add much, the new box set simply matches and enhances–but doesn't top–the original three-LP version of this wonderful slice of rock & roll history.

Product Description:

More than twice the content of the original soundtrack release! Over 4 hours of music (on 4 CDs), featuring performances by The Band, Muddy Waters, Van Morrison, Dr. John, Ringo Starr, Paul Butterfield, Stephen Stills and Ron Wood. Includes the complete original 1978 album plus 24 previously unreleased tracks (23 exclusively available here!). Contains an 8o-page book with a forward by Robbie Robertson, new liner notes by famed rock journalist David Frike and rare photos. Digitally remixed and remastered by Robbie Robertson. Housed in a cloth-bound digi-book.

Official homepage

The Band at Wikipedia




Disc: 1

1. Theme From The Last Waltz (w/ Orchestra)
2. Up On Cripple Creek
3. The Shape I'm In
4. It Makes No Difference
5. Who Do You Love (w/ Ronnie Hawkins)
6. Life Is A Carnival
7. Such A Night (w/ Dr. John)
8. The Weight
9. Down South In New Orleans (w/ Bobby Charles)
10. This Wheel's On Fire
11. Mystery Train (w/ Paul Butterfield)
12. Caldonia (w/ Muddy Waters)
13. Mannish Boy (w/ Muddy Waters)
14. Stagefright

Time: 68:43


Disc: 2

1. Rag Mama Rag
2. All Our Past Times (w/ Eric Clapton)
3. Further On Up The Road (w/ Eric Clapton)
4. Ophelia
5. Helpless (w/ Neil Young)
6. Four Strong Winds (w/ Neil Young)
7. Coyote (w/ Joni Mitchell)
8. Shadows And Light (w/ Joni Mitchell)
9. Furry Sings The Blues (w/ Joni Mitchell)
10. Acadian Driftwood
11. Dry Your Eyes (w/ Neil Diamond)
12. The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show
13. Tura Lura Lural (That's An Irish Lullaby) (w/ Van Morrison)
14. Caravan (w/ Van Morrison)

Time: 71:10


Disc: 3

1. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
2. The Genetic Method/Chest Fever (Excerpt From Movie Soundtrack)
3. Baby Let Me Follow You Down (w/ Bob Dylan)
4. Hazel (w/ Bob Dylan)
5. I Don't Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met) (w/ Bob Dylan)
6. Forever Young (w/ Bob Dylan)
7. Baby Let Me Follow You Down (Reprise) (w/ Bob Dylan)
8. I Shall Be Released (Finale)
9. Jam #1
10. Jam #2
11. Don't Do It
12. Greensleeves (From Movie Soundtrack)

Time: 53:43


Disc: 4

1. The Well
2. Evangeline (w/ Emmylou Harris)
3. Out Of The Blue
4. The Weight (w/ The Staples)
5. The Last Waltz Refrain
6. Theme From The Last Waltz
7. King Harvest (Has Surely Come)
8. Tura Lura Lural (That's An Irish Lullaby) (w/ Van Morrison)
9. Caravan (w/ Van Morrison)
10. Such A Night (w/ Dr. John)
11. Rag Mama Rag
12. Mad Waltz (Sketch Track For "The Well")
13. The Last Waltz Refrain (Instrumental Version)
14. The Last Waltz Theme (Sketch)


Time: 53:06












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