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How would you classify Robbie Robertson as a guitarist?


Dr. Ellwood

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Robertson is the real thing. He's one of those dudes that brings the real rock when you stand beside him and play. There's a rawness to his sound, like he drags it out of the soul of the string, unwilling, coiling like a pissed off snake. Robertson brings it. Every time. You won't find his voodoo analyzing riffs. He da mojo man. I'd love to have him sit in with my band. I hung out with The Band on Martha's Vineyard in '86 but Robbie had left by then. I got to know Ricky Danko a little then, but he's since dropped the body. R.I.P.
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Robertson was well-known as a hotshot lead guitarist before the Band days. He even played with Roy Buchanan, and said something like, "Roy knew more tricks, but I beat with raw aggression..." (No, it's a 100% accurate quote... anyone who knows it better please pipe up!)

 

I always liked the Band and enjoyed Robbie's playing. Obviously he's a fine musician (and songwriter).. even though he doesn't play lots of flashy stuff on Band records.

 

His stuff after the band, well, the man is just not a singer...

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I couldn't tell you what Robbie's guitar playing is because I have no idea how much of the playing I've heard is Robbie.

 

I love The Weight (and the Rhythm, Country & Blues version featuring Marty Stuart and the Staples Singers, too) and was very fond of Somewhere Down On Crazy River and Showdown At Big Sky from his mid-1980's solo album, but again, I didn't really think of him as the guitarist so much as frontman.

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I couldn't tell you what Robbie's guitar playing is because I have no idea how much of the playing I've heard is Robbie.

 

I believe that all the guitar playing you hear on The Band's albums before The Last Waltz is all Robbie.

 

The things he was most notable for IMO are 1) the wild virato that he sometimes used to emulate a slide and 2) the way he would "pinch" notes out of his Tele.

 

I love the band especially on "Rock of Ages" and the self-titled album.

 

By the time of "The Last Waltz" Robbie was too full of himself and it shows on film. He acts more like a wanna-be movie star than a musician.

 

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I didn't really think of him as the guitarist so much as frontman.

 

I see his strength as a band leader or frontman overshadow his abilities as a guitarist or a vocalist. Perhaps that's in large part to his experience supporting others.

 

The Martin Scorsese documentary left me with the impression of a guy who, while still having a ball at his own ball was concerned with it going well. His face tells the story of a working man's guitar player to whom it does not come easy nor is it taken easily. He stays true to what's in his blood doesn't he, never far from his roots but able to stylize the simple in a very personal way.

 

He's a grinder...

 

He sings like he plays guitar in my opinion and I quite liked the vocals on his solo efforts.

I still think guitars are like shoes, but louder.

 

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Ha..

 

Perhaps what I thought was concern was actually concern for being in front of the camera!

Good point.

 

While the film did make a mark in history as did their exit I never thought it was a very good evening for them nor any of their guests.

I still think guitars are like shoes, but louder.

 

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What I always liked about Robertson's playing is he often seemed just about to lose it, but from what I've seen, never did.

 

Dylan's "Blonde on Blonde" is my all-time favorite album, so I also have to give Robertson credit for playing a part in that masterwork.

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Death - THE BAND

 

Robertson is a great guitar player He isn't showy so a lot of people who have seen him play, do not realize how good he is.

 

Someone mention he and Clapton playing. He has played several times with Clapton that has been captured on video. He holds his own.

 

He was also more of the front man and leader of The Band so he never got the moniker as the lead player

 

Peace

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Robertson was well-known as a hotshot lead guitarist before the Band days. He even played with Roy Buchanan, and said something like, "Roy knew more tricks, but I beat with raw aggression..." (No, it's a 100% accurate quote... anyone who knows it better please pipe up!)

 

I always liked the Band and enjoyed Robbie's playing. Obviously he's a fine musician (and songwriter).. even though he doesn't play lots of flashy stuff on Band records.

 

His stuff after the band, well, the man is just not a singer...

 

I read a really great bio of Roy Buchanan's life recently. There is a great chapter, where Roy hung with the Band before they really were known. It basically detailed how Robbie learned some from Roy, but that basically Roy scared the living crap out of Robbie!! Roy was a very intense man, and player.

Don

 

"There once was a note, Pure and Easy. Playing so free, like a breath rippling by."

 

 

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Well, yes. The Last Waltz.

 

I don't really care about the film 'cause you can edit footage to make people come across like whatever you want. I'm far more interested in the album.

 

And in that (triple) album, he plays with Clapton, and Paul Butterfield and Muddy Waters and Dr. John and Dylan and Neil Young and Emmylou Harris and Joni Mitchell (and does a neat doppler effect, too) and a heap of other people. The band's own songs go through the whole "Americana" thing even down to faux New Orleans jazz (ie Ophelia). The guy is nothing if not versatile.

 

Oh, and the Band's songs were pretty good too. So what more do youse want? :grin:

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He never strays far from the pocket. His playing doesn't overwhelm, but it always works in the song, so much so that it belongs there, and makes it difficult to imagine anyone else's style matching as well.
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