カテゴリー: The Band

The Last Waltzは、1978年制作のVHSビデオ（映像時間約117分）で所有している。まだ、CDやDVDがなかった時代だ。その後、CD化されていることを知り、迷わず購入。やはりいい音で聴きたいのだ。2枚組CDは2時間14分。

ニール・ヤングがアルバムDeja Vuに収録したHelplessを歌い、ディランはザ・バンドと共に制作したアルバムPlanet Wavesに収録したForever Youngを歌っている。さらに、参加ミュージシャン全員によるディラン作I Shall Be Releasedでコンサートのラストを締め括る。そこには、ヤングやディランだけでなく、エリック・クラプトン、ジョニ・ミッチェル、リンゴ・スターなども。

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
10. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
11. Mystery Train
12. Mannish Boy
13. Further On Up Road

Disc 2
1. The 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. The Last Waltz Suit: The Well
13. The Last Waltz Suit: Evangeline
14. The Last Waltz Suit: Out Of The Blue
15. The Last Waltz Suit: The Weight
16. The Last Waltz Suit: The Last Waltz [Refrain]
17. The Last Waltz Suit: Theme from The Last Waltz

Rick Danko - vocals. bass, fiddle
Levon Helm - vocals, drums, mandolin
Garth Hudson - organ, accordion, synthesizer, saxophones
Richard Manuel - vocals, piano, drums, organ, clavinet, dobro
Robbie Robertson - guitars, piano

The horn section
Rich Cooper - trumpet, flugelhorn
James Gordon - flute, tenor saxophone, clarinet
Jerry Hey - trumpet, flugelhorn
Howard Johnson - tuba, baritone saxophone, flugelhorn, bass clarinet
Charlie Keagle - clarinet, flute, alto, tenor and soprano saxophones
Tom Malone - trombone, euphonium, alto flute, bass trombone
Larry Packer - electric violin
Horns arranged by Henry Glover, Garth Hudson, Howard Johnson, Tom Malone, John Simon and Allen Toussaint

Paul Butterfield - harmonica, vocal
Bobby Charles - vocal
Eric Clapton - guitar, vocal
Neil Diamond - guitar, vocal
Dr. John - piano, guitar, congas, vocal
Bob Dylan - guitar, vocal
Emmylou Harris - guitar, vocal
Ronnie Hawkins - vocal
Bob Margolin - guitar on "Mannish Boy"
Joni Mitchell - guitar, vocal
Van Morrison - vocal
Pinetop Perkins - piano on "Mannish Boy"
Dennis St. John - drums on "Dry Your Eyes"
John Simon - piano on "Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ral"
Cleotha Staples - harmony vocal on "The Weight"
Mavis Staples - vocal
Roebuck "Pops" Staples - guitar, vocal
Yvonne Staples - harmony vocal on "The Weight"
Ringo Starr - drums on "I Shall Be Released"
Muddy Waters - vocals
Ronnie Wood - guitar on "I Shall Be Released"
Neil Young - guitar, harmonica, vocal

Recorded on November 25, 1976 at Winterland Arena, San Francisco, CA.

ザ・バンドの最高傑作の1つと言われているアルバム。確かにその通りだが、余りにも完成度が高く不安定な要素がないことに、物足りなさすら感じてしまう。Wikipediaによると、Northern Lights - Southern Cross was recorded using a 24-track tape recorder, which allowed Garth Hudson to include multiple layers of keyboards on several tracks.とあるので、作り込んでいったことが分かる。

印象的なジャケットは申し分なく、タイトルとも合致している。それでも、もう一つの物足りなさは、決め手となる曲がないこと。Southern Cross（南十字星）を示すような曲がない。全曲をロビー・ロバートソンの作品で通す必要がどこにあったのだろうか。

1. Forbidden Fruit
2. Hobo Jungle
3. Ophelia
4. Acadian Driftwood
5. Ring Your Bell
6. It Makes No Difference
7. Jupiter Hollow
8. Rags & Bones
9. Twilight [early alternate version)
10. Christmas Must Be Tonight [alternate version]

Rick Danko - bass, guitar, fiddle, harmonica, trombone, vocals
Levon Helm - drums, guitars, mandolin, piano, keyboards, vocals
Garth Hudson - organ, keyboards, accordion, saxophones, synthesizers, brass, chants, woodwind, bass
Richard Manuel - acoustic and electric piano, keyboards, congas, Hammond organ, clavinet, drums, vocals
Robbie Robertson - guitars, bass, piano, keyboards, clavinet
Byron Berline - fiddle on "Acadian Driftwood"

Recorded in Spring - Summer 1975 at Shangri-La Studio, Zuma Beach, CA.
Released on November 1, 1975.

オールディーズのカバーアルバム。1968年のMUSIC FROM BIG PINKから5年目で、カバーアルバムを出すことになったのは、何かを打破するためだったと想像する。ザ・バンドにとって気分転換のアルバム。なので、そんな感覚で気楽に聴けば良いアルバムである。結果、2年後に名作Northern Lights - Southern Crossへとつながった。ONとOFFが大事。

1. Ain't Got No Home
2. Holy Cow
3. Share Your Love
4. Mystery Train
5. Third Man Theme
6. Promised Land
7. The Great Pretender
8. I'm Ready
9. Saved
10. A Change Is Gonna Come
11. Didn't It Rain [outtake]
12. Crying Heart Blues [outtake]
13. Shakin' [outtake]
14. What Am I Living For [outtake]
15. Going Back To Memphis [outtake]
16. Endless Highway [studio version]

Rick Danko - bass guitar, rhythm guitar, vocals
Levon Helm - drums, bass guitar, rhythm guitar, vocals
Garth Hudson - organ, piano, accordion, synthesizer, clavinet, tenor saxophone
Richard Manuel - acoustic and electric piano, drums, vocals
Robbie Robertson - guitars
Billy Mundi - drums on "Ain't Got No Home" and "Mystery Train"
Ben Keith - pedal steel guitar on "The Promised Land"

Recorded in March - June 1973 at Bearsville Sound Studios, Bearsville, NYC and Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA.
Released on October 15, 1973.