Needles & Grooves

This took place in late June/early July 1970. The Band, The Grateful Dead, Janis, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Buddy Guy and more on a train trip across Canada where they stopped to play some concert dates along the way.

The timing is really interesting. This train tour took place a few weeks after Gram Parsons was fired from the Burrito Brothers, and just a few months before Janis died. The Dead had just released "Workingman's Dead, and The Band were pretty much at their peak as well.

Borrowed this from the library a few months back after I read about it in a Band biography book. Would have been very cool to see. The scenes where they're all just jamming on the train cars are great.

Oh that's a great doc! Really fun.

There's a similar doc - the one about 5 artists that travel from SXSW to Boston. With Ben Howard, Nathaniel Ratecliff (before his breakout), the Staves and some others I'm forgetting. Check that one out!

I was excited to see footage of Gram with the Flying Burrito Brothers since there isn't a ton of it around, and when their song started, I was like, 'Where's Gram?" I had to do some research on when he left because I thought he was still with them in 1970. He had just been fired a few weeks before this train tour took place. Although Gram on that train with that group may have been too much.

That train looked both fun as hell but also - terrifying. SO MANY DRUGS!!!! No amateurs allowed.

Janis looked to be in her element. She had a drunken perma-grin throughout the train jam with Danko and Garcia. Danko looked like he was dangerously close to collapsing at various points, but Janis looked like she was having the time of her life.

The Band had some demons. Really sad what happened to each of them.

You're right about that @Teeeee. I think Garth Hudson is a wizard, as he seems to have come through rather unscathed. He seemed to stay in the shadows for the most part, but from the stuff I have seen with him, he's pretty out there.

Last month I read the 33 1/3 book on Music From Big Pink. Unlike most others in the series, it's actually a novella about a dude who lived in Woodstock when they were there with Dylan. Highly recommended. Humanizes Richard especially. One of the most tragic figures in rock history.

The Band is one of my Dad's favorites. Danko was his man. I will check that out, Bjorgen! Thanks for the rec.

I love The Band. Surprisingly, I haven't really read any books on them. My sister gave me Robbie's "Testimony" a few years back, but I never cracked it. I'm familiar with their general story arc, and the in-fighting. I know many fans of the group dislike Robbie and don't care for his version of the group's history. I still like him though. And I loved Levon too. They all brought stuff to the table.

One of my favourites, too. I haven't read Testimony yet either, though I saw the new doc based on it last fall (wide release very soon if not already) and loved it, taking it with a couple huge grains of salt that it's Robbie's version of events. Incredible songwriter and you can't fault him for his changing interests and ambitions but even watching the Last Waltz it's hard not to sympathize more with the other guys.

@Teeeee Danko is my guy too! Such a unique vocal delivery that's impossible to imitate. So loveable.

Now, I'm biased by my parents' views. But Robbie is an ass. Lol

I definitely get the bitterness from the songwriting credits issue. That is money that should have been shared more evenly, particularly with the balance that The Band had. It's no small thing. "The Last Waltz" thing is a little more iffy for me. Yes, it became a vanity project, but, it captured the most enduring event/performances associated with the group. Not sure he should have to apologize for that.