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when you awake has a video of the boys with mavis singing this tune. It is nice to see Mavis having such a good time. Has anyone been able to confirm if a new dvd of the recent chicago shows is in the works?

 

http://whenyouawake....-and-nick-lowe/

 

Usually when a band is filming a show for DVD release, you see tons of cameras and camerapeople and stuff like that and there really wasn't much, if any, of that at the Chicago shows, at least that I saw. So I wouldn't expect there'll be any official DVD or anything. Maybe random clips shot by one of the band's official photographers, like the backstage rehearsal of "The Weight," will sporadically emerge, but that's probably about it.

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Usually when a band is filming a show for DVD release, you see tons of cameras and camerapeople and stuff like that and there really wasn't much, if any, of that at the Chicago shows, at least that I saw. So I wouldn't expect there'll be any official DVD or anything. Maybe random clips shot by one of the band's official photographers, like the backstage rehearsal of "The Weight," will sporadically emerge, but that's probably about it.

 

Well, they do have an extended 'semi-residency' in The City of the Angels coming up...could be a chance for some pro-shooting of some shows.

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The Weight does carry around some extra baggage doesn't it? I can understand a certain weariness with the song.

 

The Staple Singers were the masters of the faux gospel songs (along with real gospel of course). They also got plenty of mileage out of Slippery People too. I recently found a version they did of Life During Wartime. All of this sounds like gospel music in their hands.

 

LouieB

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Please explain the baggage. I would love for the guys to cover as much of The Band as they want. 2 of my all time favs colliding in one way or another!!!!!

 

It's just a matter of it being played so often and covered so often, and used and abused in so many tv comnercials and movies. It's a great song, but at some point, overexposure sets in.

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My problem with it is this: It seems to be the go-to song whenever there is a need for a big epic number at the end of a concert with multiple "special guests", with different people singing different verses, etc. Unfortunately, "special guests" don't usually have tons of time playing together or to practice together. So there might be one weakly sung verse, a failed attempt to pick up someone's cue, someone improvising something without the others knowing it is going to happen, etc. When they did it at SS with Levon Helm last year, it had some strong and weak parts. When I saw the ABB do it with Natalie Cole and David Crosby and Graham Nash, it had weak and strong parts. I always seem to come away with it with a feeling of "eh". Exception is The Last Waltz. The Staples Singers version is great as well. I think it is a song that has to be heavily rehearsed, not just done because everybody knows it.

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First, the Staple Singers LP that Life During Wartime is on is just called The Staple Singers and is on Private I records which is a Columbia imprint, so it seems from 1985, so close to the end of their career. David Byrne had some input and plays on part of it. Of course Pops was in David Bryne's movie True Stories around that time.

 

The Weight is a great song on many levels, but the lyrics, well....kinda hippie surreal. Don't get me wrong, I have been listening and singing along most of my life, but really??

 

I pulled into Nazareth, I was feelin' about half past dead;

I just need some place where I can lay my head.

"Hey, mister, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?"

He just grinned and shook my hand, and "No!", was all he said.

 

(Chorus:)

Take a load off Annie, take a load for free;

Take a load off Annie, And (and) (and) you can put the load right on me.

 

I picked up my bag, I went lookin' for a place to hide;

When I saw Carmen and the Devil walkin' side by side.

I said, "Hey, Carmen, come on, let's go downtown."

She said, "I gotta go, but m'friend can stick around."

 

(Chorus)

 

Go down, Miss Moses, there's nothin' you can say

It's just ol' Luke, and Luke's waitin' on the Judgement Day.

"Well, Luke, my friend, what about young Anna Lee?"

He said, "Do me a favor, son, woncha stay an' keep Anna Lee company?"

 

(Chorus)

 

Crazy Chester followed me, and he caught me in the fog.

He said, "I will fix your rags, if you'll take Jack, my dog."

I said, "Wait a minute, Chester, you know I'm a peaceful man."

He said, "That's okay, boy, won't you feed him when you can."

 

(Chorus)

 

Catch a Cannonball, now, t'take me down the line

My bag is sinkin' low and I do believe it's time.

To get back to Miss Annie, you know she's the only one.

Who sent me here with her regards for everyone.

 

(Chorus)

 

Great tune, great feel, but the words are kinda nonsense when you look at it.

 

Also it is the go to sing and play along, But again, dumb lyrics don't sink a great tune. (Although I just read the Wikipedia article and that helps.) I have just always envisioned Robbie Robertson trying to out do Bob Dylan with sly references and surreral lyprics. But it is now a rock standard, in large part due to the Stape Singers doing it with the Band in the Last Waltz. You can't argue with success.

 

And you can't argue with the Staple Singers embracing songs that sound like gospel and making them their own. At some point feel outweighs content.

 

LouieB

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There is an exhaustive analysis of the song here, including whether the charcters were real, whether the words are really "Take a load of Fanny" instead of "Annie", who was involved in writing the song. I think it's a good case of someone over interpreting lyrics but it's an interesting read. Seems like if you dig deep enough in any obscure lyrics, they can be made to refer to the spread of VD:

 

http://theband.hiof....ight_viney.html

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Wow, this is long. Too long for me to read today for sure. Sounds like we need to take a load of Robbie....

 

LouieB

 

That's what she said.

(sorry had to say it)

 

Regarding covering the song, I guess if you pick someone to do the cover with Helm and Staples would be the go to people.

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My problem with it is this: It seems to be the go-to song whenever there is a need for a big epic number at the end of a concert with multiple "special guests", with different people singing different verses, etc.

I agree. And if it is not The Weight it is I Shall Be Released. I remember hearing that Wilco and Fleet Foxes were going to put out a song together and I was excited and then I heard it was going to be I Shall Be Released. It's fine but not something I go back to very often.

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My problem with it is this: It seems to be the go-to song whenever there is a need for a big epic number at the end of a concert with multiple "special guests", with different people singing different verses, etc. Unfortunately, "special guests" don't usually have tons of time playing together or to practice together. So there might be one weakly sung verse, a failed attempt to pick up someone's cue, someone improvising something without the others knowing it is going to happen, etc. When they did it at SS with Levon Helm last year, it had some strong and weak parts. When I saw the ABB do it with Natalie Cole and David Crosby and Graham Nash, it had weak and strong parts. I always seem to come away with it with a feeling of "eh". Exception is The Last Waltz. The Staples Singers version is great as well. I think it is a song that has to be heavily rehearsed, not just done because everybody knows it.

 

but the version posted here has only strong parts. thats why its good and thats why Wilco posted a video of it

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I Shall be Released is a great song (greater than The Weight) and perfectly appropriate for big sing alongs. The contrast of these songs is pretty interesting; written at about the same time, Dylan's command of his lyric is much more impressive than Robbie's.

 

LouieB

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