2. King Harvest (Live at a Studio in Woodstock)
Up next, we’ve got a really cool insight into The Band’s life in Woodstock. This clip features the group either recording or rehearsing King Harvest at their place in town. Richard Manuel’s voice sounded so good back then.
3. Tears of Rage (Live at the Woodstock Festival)
The Band were not interested in being featured in the documentary about the legendary Woodstock Festival, but their entire set was shot – just not released. Thanks to the magic of YouTube we can enjoy their performance of Tears of Rage from the most famous rock fest of all time.
4. Rockin’ Chair (From Festival Express)
Long after the tour took place in 1970, 2003’s Festival Express documentary showed a number of musical highlights from the Trans-Canadian Tour the group took part in including the gorgeous Rockin’ Chair.
5. Up on Cripple Creek (Live on Ed Sullivan)
Most folks in America got their first look at The Band when they appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show shortly after the release of their first album in 1968. It’s unbelievable how young the guys look.
6. The Shape I’m In (Live in Vancouver ’83)
The Band reunited in 1983 without Robbie Robertson and toured the world. This clip of The Shape I’m In was shot during this reunion tour in Vancouver.
7. Chest Fever (Live at Wembley ’74)
Chest Fever always started with an exploratory organ solo by Garth Hudson that was sure to keep audience members on their feet before Garth led into the gritty rocker. This clip was shot at Wembley Stadium in 1974 where The Band opened for Joni Mitchell and CSNY.
8. The Weight (Festival Express)
This raucous version of The Weight was filmed at the previously mentioned Trans-Canadian Tour for the Festival Express documentary.
9. Hazel (w/ Bob Dylan – The Last Waltz)
We couldn’t end this piece without listing at least one clip from the best concert of all-time – The Last Waltz. We’ve got two videos for you – one that was part of the film that Martin Scorsese put together about the concert and the other wasn’t in the film. This clip of Bob Dylan performing Hazel with The Band was shot from the balcony and sync’d with soundboard-sourced audio. Dylan wouldn’t allow Scorsese to film this tune so all we have is this audience-shot clip.
10. It Makes No Difference (The Last Waltz)
We end with this performance of It Makes No Difference from The Last Waltz. Unlike the song above, this one was shot by Scorsese and released as part of the film.
4 Responses
WOODSTOCK LIVES!!!! Levon Helm of The Band still lives here in Woodstock. Most Saturday nights he puts on His Midnight Ramble at his house…3 hour of great music ending with Levon and his band.
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Listen to RADIO WOODSTOCK 69 which features only music from the original Woodstock era (1967-1971) and RADIO WOODSTOCK with music from the original Woodstock era to today’s artists who reflect the spirit of Woodstock. Watch Woodstock TV.
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This is a great list but I really am absolutely stunned that you would include this statement “Richard Manuel’s voice sounded so good back then” for the King Harvest video when the performance is not really that different than a lot of the later live ones while the Tears of Rage performance from Woodstock is one of the most amazing Manuel vocals of all time, in my opinion.
Still, fantastic list, great band.