Robbie Robertson (1) (1943–2023)

I enjoyed this book a a lot more than I thought I would. I kind of expected Robbie to include a lot of myth making (as he did in the interview segments of The Last Waltz) and maybe more name-dropping; I also thought he would be getting even with some of the things that other Band members, notably Helm, said about him over the years.

I was wrong. Robertson's prose is lean and descriptive, and he's good at capturing characterizations. His characterizations of Band members are warm and seem, from listening to them over the decades, accurate as to their talents and shortcomings. He doesn't try to counter some charges as the others, or not explicitly, but presents the story as he sees it without arguing.

In the end, it's an engaging book. Oftentimes funny, and he doesn't shy away from his own problems (notably, drugs, though not as bad as some of his Bandmates, and womanizing). I very much enjoyed his descriptions of how the Band worked in its early days. His characterization of Body Dylan was interesting, mostly because Bob was more of a bandmate and collaborator to him than a hero figure.

Towards the end, before The Last Waltz, the book feels a bit name-droopy, he talks about his friendships (and sometimes affairs) with such as Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon, David Geffen, Martin Scorsese, Jimi Hendrix, etc. etc. It feels a bit tiresome at the time, but on the other hand, this is Robbie Robertson, and if you had the likes of Michaelango Antioni visiting you, wouldn't you make sure to mention that in your memoirs? And also, his characterizations of many of these people are fascinating.

Finally, it's interesting and likely that he ends the book after The Last Waltz. His life became a lot less, what, groundbreaking after that. It seems this may have been a late decision, as many things he mentions, notably his wife's nascent drinking problem, are left unfinished.

All in all, a good book. Not up to the heights of the recent Springsteen, but if you care about The Band, a must read.… (more)

1 Coyote Dance
Backing Vocals – Delphine Robertson
Drums – Sal Fararas
Guitar, Keyboards [Chamberlin] – Bill Dillon
Written-By, Programmed By – Dave Pickell, Jim Wilson
4:07
2 Mahk Jchi (Heartbeat Drum Song)
Drums – Benito Concha
Guitar [Guitorgan] – Bill Dillon
Performer – Ulali
Translated By [Saponi] – Lawrence Dunmore
Written-By, Performer – Jen*, Pura Fe*, Soni
4:17
3 Ghost Dance
Bass – Tony Green
Keyboards – Elodie Lauten
Percussion – John Bartlit
Vocals [Intro] – Denis Toupin
Written-By – Robbie Robertson
Written-By, Programmed By – Jim Wilson
5:12
4 The Vanishing Breed
6-String Bass – Bill Dillon
Flute, Keyboards, Programmed By – Spotted Eagle*
Guitar [Solo] – Robbie Robertson
Written-By – Douglas Spotted Eagle, Robbie Robertson
4:39
5 It Is A Good Day To Die
Written-By – Robbie Robertson
5:46
6 Golden Feather
Written-By – Robbie Robertson
5:22
7 Akua Tuta
Acoustic Guitar – Jeff Smallwood
Backing Vocals – Claude Pelletter
Bass – Pierre Duchesne
Drums – Denis Toupin
Electric Guitar – Rejean Bouchard
Performer – Kashtin
Violin [Alto] – Daniel Jean
Written-By, Performer – Claude McKenzie, Florent Vollant
4:51
8 Words Of Fire, Deeds Of Blood
Written-By – Robbie Robertson
4:52
9 Cherokee Morning Song
Arranged By – Rita Coolidge, Robbie Robertson
Guitar [Guitorgan], Omnichord – Bill Dillon
Performer – Coolidge, Laura Satterfield, Priscilla Coolidge
2:58
10 Skinwalker
Bass – Tony Green
Written-By, Guitar [Solo] – Robbie Robertson
Written-By, Keyboards, Organ, Programmed By – Patrick Leonard
5:56
11 Ancestor Song
Performer – Kevin Tarrant, Louis Mofsie, Randy Whitehead, The Silvercloud Singers, Troy Richardson, Ulali
Written-By – Traditional
Written-By, Performer – Jen*, Pura Fe*, Soni
2:54
12 Twisted Hair
Programmed By – Jim Wilson
Vocals – Bonnie Jo Hunt
Voice – Robbie Robertson
Written-By – Dave Carson*, Jim Wilson
3:23… (more)

1 Robbie Robertson– Making A Noise (Olympic Version)
Remix [New Mix] – Dan Gellert
Written-By – Robertson*
3:51
2 Robbie Robertson– Stomp Dance (Unity)
Featuring – The Six Nations Womens Singers*
Written-By – Robertson*, Wilson*
4:47
3 Robbie Robertson– Unbound (Glen Ballard Remix)
Remix – Glen Ballard
Written-By – Robertson*, Gordine*
4:37
4 Robbie Robertson– Ghost Dance (New Mix)
Drums [New Mix] – Walfredo Reyes, Jr.*
Remix – Dan Gellert
Written-By – Robertson*, Wilson*
5:15
5 Robbie Robertson & The Red Road Ensemble– Coyote Dance
Written-By – Pickell*, Robertson*
4:07
6 Robbie Robertson– In The Blood
Written-By – Robertson*, Gordine*
4:33
7 Robbie Robertson– The Code Of Handsome Lake
Written-By – Robertson*
6:10
8 Robbie Robertson & The Red Road Ensemble– Mahk Jchi (Heartbeat Drum Song)
Written-By – Kreisberg*, Dunmore*, Pura Fe*, Moreno*
4:17
9 Robbie Robertson– Sacrifice
Featuring – Leonard Peltier
Written-By – Robertson*, Peltier*, de Vries*
6:18
10 Robbie Robertson– The Sound Is Fading
Arranged By – Robertson*, Hicks-Manning*
Featuring – Leah Hicks-Manning
Written-By – Traditional
5:01
11 Robbie Robertson & The Red Road Ensemble– Golden Feather (New Mix)
Remix [New Mix] – Dan Gellert
Written-By – Robertson*
5:24
12 Robbie Robertson– Peyote Healing
Featuring – Johnny Mike, Verdell Primeaux
Written-By – Robertson*, Mike*, de Vries*, Primeaux*
6:10
Bonus Track
13 Robbie Robertson– Take Your Partner By The Hand (New Mix)
Featuring – Howie B.
Remix [New Mix] – Dan Gellert
Written-By – Bernstein*, Robertson*
6:57… (more)