Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Theme from The Last Waltz
2. Up on Cripple Creek
3. Who Do You Love?
4. Helpless
5. Stage Fright
6. Coyote
7. Dry Your Eyes
8. It Makes No Difference
9. Such a Night - David Bromberg, Dr. John
10. Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
11. Mystery Train
12. Mannish Boy
13. Further on Up the Road

Disc 2:

1. Shape I'm In
2. Down South in New Orleans
3. Ophelia
4. Tura-Lura-Lural (That's an Irish Lullaby)
5. Caravan
6. Life Is a Carnival
7. Baby, Let Me Follow You Down
8. I Don't Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met)
9. Forever Young
10. Baby, Let Me Follow You Down (Reprise)
11. I Shall Be Released
12. Last Waltz Suite: The Well
13. Last Waltz Suite: Evangeline
14. Last Waltz Suite: Out of the Blue
15. Last Waltz Suite: The Weight
16. Last Waltz Suite: The Last Waltz Refrain
17. Last Waltz Suite: Theme from The Last Waltz [With Orchestra] - The Band, The Orchestra

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #41183 in Music
• Released on: 1990-10-25
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: Live
• Dimensions: .29 pounds

Amazon.com
"As you might have heard, we got a couple of friends joining in with us tonight," mutters Robbie Robertson dryly. Recorded at San Francisco's Winterland on Thanksgiving Day 1976, the Band's swan song is a rousing celebration, not a bittersweet eulogy. The friends in question: Ronnie Hawkins, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Neil Diamond, Dr. John, Paul Butterfield, Muddy Waters, Pinetop Perkins, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Ron Wood, Ringo Starr. Add studio sequences featuring the Staples and Emmylou Harris, and you have a pretty formidable supporting cast for the Band, who always did quite well on their own. All involved have done better work elsewhere, but that's far beside the point, which is that anyone who wasn't there should be very, very jealous. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews

Hall of Fame Performers and Performance
This disc is a great way to visit the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame without ever leaving your house. The number of artists who performed at The Band's farewell concert that later were inducted into the Hall of Fame is staggering. Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Ronnie Hawkins, and Bob Dylan, among others, all provide performances that are burned into my memory more than 20 years after I first saw the movie. It was my first introduction to Muddy Waters, Paul Butterfield and Dr. John. I went out the very next day and bought the album.

But it's The Band, both collectively and individually, that make this a must have addition to any music collection. They sound (and on the video, look)like they're having a great time. Robbie Robertson jams with Clapton and sings lead vocal on "Out Of The Blue"; Levon Helm and Richard Manuel turn in classic singing performances; Garth Hudson shows his versatility on the organ, sax and accordian. But for my money, it's Rick Danko that steals the show. His singing on "Stage Fright" and "It Makes No Difference" is astonishing; these are still the best version of both songs I've ever heard.

The video is great for seeing the performers and for the off stage interviews. But the cd is essential for capturing the true magic of one of the best concerts ever.

It would be 5-stars if it wasn't for the controversy
Before you read further, I would like to make a bold statement many would agree with. Robbie Robertson undermined the philosophy that The Band had established with his entire attitude towards this concert. These were five men who each considered themselves equals amongst eachother and Robertson decided he would simply end the group's sixteen years with a film none of the others were interested in pursuing. Not only that, Robbie had Martin Scorcese film him almost exclusively, both on stage and during interviews. Notice how rare the shots are of Garth Hudson and Richard Manuel, two pieces of The Band just as important as the guitarist. This is all without considering the studio overdubs present on the album. With the exception of Levon Helm, each musician's performance was enhanced during the production of both the film and the album. The special moments are present however: arguably the finest live version of "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down", Muddy Waters' "Mannish Boy", Van Morrison's "Caravan", and The Staples joining in for "The Weight" (studio). What makes this 4-stars however, is what is missing: a spectacular version of "Wheel's On Fire", a stunning cover of "Acadian Driftwood" (a difficult song to perform live), Muddy Waters' "Caledonia", and most glaringly, "Don't Do It", the group's final live song with the original five members. Each of these can be heard on "The Complete Last Waltz", a historically valuable (if not in sound quality) bootleg that was released about five years ago. I hope that I have enlightened some of you as to the content and history of this concert. Rick and Richard, your music will live forever in our ears. Rest in peace.

FIVE STARS .............
..... Namely Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, and the late Rick Danko and Richard Manuel. They are, without a doubt, stars that shone brightly from the day "Music From Big Pink" was released until Thanksgiving night, 1976, when "The Last Waltz" was recorded and The Band, at least in its original form, ceased to exist.

And speaking of stars - the cast of characters who showed up that night to, in the words of Robertson, "help us take it home," is a veritable Who's Who of Rock and Roll. (See reviewer "Reed"s mention of the parallel between the performers here and the inductees of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame).

The Band members are in fine form, seemingly ready to tackle the road for another 16 years. They play off one another beautifully on standards such as "Stagefright," "The Shape I'm In," "It Makes No Difference,", "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," and "Ophelia." Robertson seems to be playing otherworldly guitar licks. Danko is in fine form - his vocals are among the highlights of the show and his bass playing is extraordinary. Manuel is as solid as ever on keyboards, while Garth Hudson just seems to play with effortless brilliance. Helm's raw vocal style is a sheer delight, while he holds the rhythm section together with his superb drumming.

This show could not possibly have been an easy undertaking, with the diverse styles of the guest artists, not to mention their egos. It was rumored that Bob Dylan had to talk Van Morrison into walking onstage after Van the Man had decided he didn't feel like singing that night. For the most part, however, The Band sounds as though they had been playing backup for all of these people for years.

Highlights of the live performance are almost too many to mention. The rousing "Who Do You Love," by Ronnie Hawkins, former mentor to the Band members, is tremendous. Morrison's "Caravan" is almost a show unto itself. Eric Clapton nearly forgets to finish "Further On Up The Road" after Robertson stuns him with a searing guitar lick. Muddy Waters' "Mannish Boy" has the Band whipped into a frenzy of admiration. Bob Dylan's medley (After all, he IS Bob Dylan - why shouldn't he play more songs than the others?) of "Forever Young / I Don't Believe You / Baby Let Me Follow you Down" has Robertson and Danko scrambling to pick up Dylan's chord changes. The result is great free-for-all jam.

The Band is to be commended for giving proper nods to many of their musical influences. Doctor John's "Such A Night" is a treat, while the two Neils, Young and Diamond, turn in stellar performances, as do Paul Butterfield and Bobby Charles. Ringo Starr and Ronnie Wood are there to help out with the finale, Dylan's "I Shall Be Released." Among the live performers, only Joni Mitchell seems oddly out of place. Her uninspired "Coyote" just doesn't fit. In addition, she manages to detract from Young's "Helpless" with an annoying tag vocal. No doubt a talented and well - respected artist, Mitchell's sound simply doesn't mesh with those of the other performers.

If the live performances weren't enough, this disc also provides a spectacular studio version of "The Weight," with The Staples adding a gospel feel to the classic song. Also, Emmylou Harris adds a nice country touch with "Evangeline," with Danko and Helm serving up great harmony vocals. The new songs Roberston wrote for this recording are also excellent, especially "Out Of The Blue," on which he uncharacteristically sings lead and turns in a fine vocal performance.

"The Last Waltz" is a one of a kind recording, with one of the top five bands ever assembled playing at their peak, not to mention playing backup to a couple handfuls of rock legends.

Every serious music lover should own this recording, as well as the video. They capture a moment in time not soon to be rivaled. Perhaps Doctor John said it best - "Such a night."