I just thought of The Band, which in the beginning had multiple writers. I think their first two albums are in the same league as the Beatles. But they didn't have the longevity and one too many live albums repeating the same songs.
Their first album had a huge impact (like the Velvet Underground's). Everyone from Clapton to George Harrison wanted to hang out with the Band and the Woodstock scene.
But in the end the Band were no Beatles. They never could adapt/adjust the way the Beatles did. And the 70s weren't the same thing as the 60s. How would the Beatles have adjusted to Reggae and Disco. If the solo albums are any clue . . . who knows.
But I've been thinking lately of the synergy the Beatles as a recording unit had in their heyday. I think they could have done some cool reggae ("Obladi" pretty good ska) and John had some really good funky songs on "Walls and Bridges" that might have been great with a tight Beatles work-through.
I think that's what the post-Beatles recordings tend to lack--a sense of tightness and unity beyond the singer or the song. The Beatles at their best were great because they were having so much fun together. They made each other greater. When you hire a bunch of session guys it just doesn't have the same magic.
Don't get me wrong, Willie Weeks played some kickass stuff for George's records. But I still think Paul and the Beatles could have made magic out of "Woman, Don't You Cry for Me." Or think of the backing vocals on "Crackerbox Palace." Really good songs become great.
I might be off topic by now, but to be honest, I've forgotten what the topic was.
I saw The Last Waltz eight times (pre video-MTV days) and fell in love with The Band. But I've bought a couple of albums and not liked them. Not pop enough for me I suppose.
the band are great...i almost lost it when they toured as dylans band for a spell...see even bob knows talent when he hears it...the weight is a great song as is their virgin of the night they drove old dixie down(with respects to mairi,i like that one better than joans).they are borderline rock..more like country...
I still think it's the Eagles. I think the Eagles are All-American in a way that the Beatles are All-British. But I also think the connection, if there is one, is CSN, their fondness for the Beatles and perhaps the presence of the English-born Nash in CSN(Y).
I love the freaking 'Band'. If theres ever music to sit down to and burn one with,,,its 'The Band'. 'Music From The Big Pink', 'Stage Fright' (my personal favorite), 'The Band', and 'Cahoots' are all incredible. Hell, everything they ever did was good in my opinion.
the band are great...i almost lost it when they toured as dylans band for a spell...see even bob knows talent when he hears it...the weight is a great song as is their virgin of the night they drove old dixie down(with respects to mairi,i like that one better than joans).they are borderline rock..more like country...
Yes. Great great songs. And I thought they were the bees knees in the movie. But other than those songs I found their studio stuff dissapointing. Mind, I've also been dissapointed with albums by The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Flying Burritos and Gram Parsons. Maybe I need to accept it's not a genre for me, which is a pisser, cos it looks like fun. Burn me in the desert baby.
I've gotten to record with Garth several times now. He's an amazing guy. Part Yoda, part Mozart.
"Chest Fever" is an all-time rock-n-roll classic.
The Band probably are the best answer to the Beatles in terms of making serious "art" rock-n-roll. Three great voices: Levon, Rick and Richard. A great guitarist. Great songs. And one of the best "undersung" keyboardists around.
I've listened to Garth practice (he practices 6 hours a day still). On piano. The guy's chops are incredible. He's sorta like Thelonius Monk except smoother. Playing this great little bits--then on to something new.
Too bad you don't like the Byrds, Gram, et al, Kevin. The first Flying Burritos Brothers album is incredible. "Sin City" is amazing. Hot Burrito # 1 and 2. And that's Sneaky Pete playing all that overdriven guitar-sounding stuff on his steel guitar.
The Byrds are great too--I like the Gene Clark early stuff, but also the middle period--Eight Miles High through Notorious Byrd Brothers.
I feel like a retard now. The Band album I had was a "greatest hits", the Byrds was the album with Rock and Roll Star (?) on it. The Gram album just had his face on it (twas many many years ago.) Maybe I need to listen again (my Beatles sickness was at its height then). Gram is someone I especially would like to appreciate.
Has anyone listened to Nash's Wild Tales and did it deserve to bomb?
I know the song Wild Tales, not the album. It is the album title too, right? Not a great song, but I know the live version on the 4-CD box set I have which is worthy of drooling over. IMO, Nash was the least songwriter in the combo, but, he did some great ones too: Teach Your Children, Chicago, Just A Song Before I Go being among the more obvious. On the After The Storm album, Find A Dream is so great. Interestingly, sounds more Stills than Nash.
Mr. Nash deserves full credit for making CSN harmonies reach the sky, more important than his songwriting. Nash's high vocals on Long Time Coming make it so fabulous. But, I'd say that Crosby was the best songwriter in the band. There often seems to be an element of longing and wistfulness in his songs. I can really get into that.
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DM's Beatles forums › Other music forums › Various Artists, Lyrics, Discographies, URLs › Crosby,Stills and Nash - The American 'Threetles'?