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The Band
Last Waltz
Release Date: 1978 04 zz
Running Time: 129:06
Label: WEA International
Rating:

As a film, The Last Waltz was a triumph -- one of the first (and still one of the few) rock concert documentaries that was directed by a filmmaker who understood both the look and the sound of rock & roll, and executed with enough technical craft to capture all the nooks and crannies of a great live show. But as an album, The Last Waltz soundtrack had to compete with the Band's earlier live album, Rock of Ages, with which it bears a certain superficial resemblance -- both found the group trying to create something grander than the standard-issue live double, and both featured the group beefed up by additional musicians. While Rock of Ages found the Band swinging along with the help of a horn section arranged by Allen Toussaint, The Last Waltz boasts a horn section (using Toussaint's earlier arrangements on a few cuts) and more than a baker's dozen guest stars, ranging from old cohorts Ronnie Hawkins and Bob Dylan to contemporaries Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, and Van Morrison. The Band are in fine if not exceptional form here; on most cuts, they don't sound quite as fiery as they did on Rock of Ages, though their performances are never less than expert, and the high points are dazzling, especially an impassioned version of "It Makes No Difference" and blazing readings of "Up on Cripple Creek" and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" (Levon Helm has made no secret that he felt breaking up the Band was a bad idea, and here it sounds if he was determined to prove how much they still had to offer). Ultimately, it's the Band's "special guests" who really make this set stand out -- Muddy Waters' ferocious version of "Mannish Boy" would have been a wonder from a man half his age, Van Morrison sounds positively joyous on "Caravan," Neil Young and Joni Mitchell do well for their Canadian brethren, and Bob Dylan's closing set finds him in admirably loose and rollicking form. (One question remains -- what exactly is Neil Diamond doing here?) And while the closing studio-recorded "Last Waltz Suite" sounds like padding, the contributions from Emmylou Harris and the Staple Singers are beautiful indeed. It could be argued that you're better off watching The Last Waltz on video than listening to it on CD, but either way it's a show well worth checking out. Mark Deming, All Music Guide

Tracks:
TitleComposerTime
1Theme from The Last WaltzRobertson3:40
2Up on Cripple CreekRobertson4:35
3Who Do You Love?McDaniel4:16
4HelplessYoung5:47
5Stage FrightRobertson4:25
6CoyoteMitchell5:50
7Dry Your EyesDiamond, Robertson3:57
8It Makes No DifferenceRobertson6:48
9Such a NightRebennack4:00
10Night They Drove Old Dixie DownRobertson4:20
11Mystery TrainParker, Phillips4:59
12Mannish BoyWaters, London, Diddley6:54
13Further on Up the RoadRobey, Medwick5:08
14Shape I'm InRobertson4:06
15Down South in New OrleansAnglin, Charles, Anglin, Wright3:06
16OpheliaRobertson3:53
17Tura-Lura-Lural (That's an Irish Lullaby)Shannon4:15
18CaravanMorrison6:02
19Life Is a CarnivalHelm, Danko, Robertson4:19
20Baby, Let Me Follow You DownDavis3:00
21I Don't Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met)Dylan3:33
22Forever YoungDylan4:42
23Baby, Let Me Follow You Down (Reprise)Davis2:46
24I Shall Be ReleasedDylan5:25
25Last Waltz Suite: The WellRobertson3:27
26Last Waltz Suite: EvangelineRobertson3:17
27Last Waltz Suite: Out of the BlueRobertson3:08
28Last Waltz Suite: The WeightRobertson4:38
29Last Waltz Suite: The Last Waltz RefrainRobertson1:28
30Last Waltz Suite: Theme from The Last Waltz [With Orchestra]Robertson3:22

Other Releases:
Last Waltz [DVD]
Release Date: 1978
Label: Rhino

Last Waltz [2003 Remaster]
Release Date: 1978
Label: Warner Bros./Rhino








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