Comments on: When Good Albums Happen to Bad People: Robbie Robertson, “Robbie Robertson”

By: RWillie

RWillie — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 02:28:00 +0000

Incredibly biased article. Could have been written by Levon. The essential debate is whether Robertson wrote the songs, or The Band wrote the songs. Listen to anything The Band put out after Robertson left, and listen to the music Robertson put out after he left The Band, and the debate is over. Even if Robertson is an asshole, it doesn’t mean that Helm wrote the songs.

By: Mggit

Mggit — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 19:11:00 +0000

You nailed it. The Band members likely deserved arranging credits (which could be substantive money) but Robertson was definitely the writer.

The only person in The Band who really seemed to have an issue with all this is Helm. I have met Levon Helm and was fortunate enough to jam with him. I can say he was a gentleman, funny and very giving and patient with all my “fan” questions (and he played HUGE grooves!). He is a great guy.

It is only my opinion, but I think his hurt is clouding his recall…Robertson may well be an asshole, but not a thief.

By: Bottom Feeders, The Rock End of the '80s, Part 43 | Popdose

Bottom Feeders, The Rock End of the '80s, Part 43 | Popdose — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 13:53:33 +0000

[...] could just be good I suppose.Matthew Bolin actually wrote about this album a long while back in his When Good Albums Happen To Bad People Series. You should go back and check that out.Rock City Angels “Deep Inside My Heart” 1988, #49 [...]

By: H20time

H20time — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 22:44:00 +0000

Correct.

By: H20time

H20time — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 22:44:00 +0000

Correct.

By: H20time

H20time — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 22:44:00 +0000

Correct.

By: H20time

H20time — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 17:38:00 +0000

They all caved to drugs and occasional poor judgement… they were human. Robertson caved to conceit, greed and foregoing friendship and trust… human also, yet also inhumane. Go to Lavon’s barn and hear the truth for yourselves. Just bring a plate to share with your new friends.

By: M_alicia67

M_alicia67 — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 11:39:00 +0000

If certain artists called Robbie Robertson an “asshole”, then what does that make them?

By: Lawrence

Lawrence — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 18:17:00 +0000

Hi Adam, that’s a fair question and a valid point of how RR has actually benefited from someone else’s input, and I’ll address that in a moment. Excuse the long and rambling reply

The real issue for me has always been that such a private and united band should never fracture so publicly and air its dirty laundry. Levon and the guys should have got royalties for their part, but the industry doesn’t automatically recognise the difference between a band member or a session musician unless you make them. Robbie assumed the role of chief songwriter because he did write the songs. And the industry automatically recognises and rewards the song writer unless he makes them aware that it is a writing partnership. That makes Robertson the bad guy? It isn’t so straight forward.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeoNmojBZVY – Robertsons demo of Twilight shows just how comprehensive his sketches could be, both vocally and melodically, using the piano to great effect. (He does a very good job on the vocal here, considering he is the Bands 5th best singer.) Now I am not saying every song he brought to the table was presented as complete as This but it does show that he was able to produce more than a skeleton chord chart and some lyrics. This is a very competent songwriter at work.

But on the other hand Chest Fever really was a collaborative effort. It should have Manuel and Helm added to the lyrics. Robertson used many of their ad-libs, when demoing the track, in the final draft. Hudsons’ intro is also cruelly under recognised.

What we’ll never know is which one of the above examples was more commonplace. Obviously if Robertson

Coming back to royalties – I feel this would have never been an issue if the band unity extended to the music royalties. Had all 5 got a credit for the music and the songwriter got a credit for the lyrics everyone would have been happy, or at least happier. Sadly that never happened and suddenly towards the end of the bands original timeline Levon realised it and it was already too late.

Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays

By: Adam Zero

Adam Zero — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 05:06:00 +0000

Just one song: “Chest Fever.” Did Garth’s magnificent introduction write itself? Does it not qualify somehow as original music? Or did Robbie write it down in notation for Garth to play?