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From: deerfried
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  • best vid ive seen in a long while!

  • Allen Toussaint tore this up! Great voice and the piano skills are out of this world.

  • Elvis is wild. Nick Lowe has seemed to age but his voice has vintaged very well. I've heard him him in recent concerts and he still sounds great. Levon Helm. One of the best drummers of all time. He can rest on his laurels tonight. He has sung this song like no one can!

  • Hahaha look at Elvis costello hog the mic when him and Ray sing together!!!

  • Many years ago I heard Richard Thompson and his band do "Up on Cripple Creek" during a sound check in at a small club in Houston. They were having a lot of fun.

  • @EVPhoto1 That must have been amazing! I hope RT releases some covers of The Band in future.

  • @EVPhoto1 Ok.

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  • Wow wee.

  • Majestic is about the only word that's even halfway appropriate to describe this. Richard Thompson adds something that would not be there if he wasn't.

  • Jawdroppingly good, and historic

  • What show is this?

  • @hippiejill Elvis Costello's 'Spectacle'

  • Gillian Welch and Old Crow Medicine Show does an awesome live cover of this song as well.

  • Man, that LaMontaigne guy is so perfunctorily "soulful" to my ears. It's like he learned how to sing from reading some Mel Bay "How To Sing Stax/Volt soul" without ever listening to Stax or Volt. Maybe that's his appeal? All I know is I want to gently pull him aside and explain that it's not about the gruff voice or the phrasing cliches, but the spontaneity and "in the music-ness.".

  • I just saw Ray Lamontagne opening for Levon and they were both great!! But Levon really lights up when the great Allen Toussaint chimes in here!!

  • I said "Wait a minute Chester...!"

  • Toussaint does the most creative phrasing of the third verse I've ever heard...and RT was channeling Danko on the fourth. Fantastic!!!

  • I've got a fucking brilliant idea.

    How about a little less commentary from the peanut gallery, whattya say?

  • a shame the piano player felt the need to try to "fancy" it up, very distracting. Garth would roll is his grave. Richard Thompson is awesome as usual...

    what a great tribute to Levon.

  • @blackbeard1991 I think "Richard" would roll in his grave at you mixing him up with Garth, the organist.

  • @XZYOE Actually Garth played piano on "The Weight", Richard switched it up by playing the hammond organ (very quiet in the original version) and singing backup

  • @spaceghostcoastcoast Hmm, well we were both wrong. Garth wouldn't be rolling in his grave, he isn't in one yet.

  • whatever

  • For five minutes and twenty seconds, the world is as it should be.

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  • Talent like this doesn't come along very often...at least not with the breadth and width of these guys' experiences. Thank God for YouTube. Preserved for the masses to watch and listen forever!

  • whoever thinks ray had a bad night is damn idiot.

    One of the best voices in the business

  • @eric24weber what are you talking 'bout? are you drunk?

  • @maxxxx1972 I might be drunk but it doesn't change the fact that he's an incredible talent.

    More Ray, more Elvis, less maxxxxx

  • @eric24weber i agree 100% on Elvis...just for him!

  • First of all!!!! It's not a Helm song, it's a Robbie Robertson song.

  • It was never meant to be taken literally, but I know which one is the best version, and so do most other people. Times change and people expect purer sound these days but it spoils the gut feelings. Back then there was no enhancement, it all depended on talent. That isn't the case today. The original will always be the unadulterated original. I'm sure Levon and Ray get along just fine, but it ain't the same, and it doesn't really matter I guess.

  • It was never meant to be taken literally, but I know which one is the best version, and so do most other people. Times change and people expect purer sound these days but it spoils the gut feelings. Back then there was no enhancement, it all depended on talent. That isn't the case today. The original will always be the unadulterated original. I'm sure Levon and Ray get along just fine, but it ain't the same.

  • Robbie Robertson does indeed get most of the credits for the song, but I think you'll find it is a Levon Helm song with assistance from Danko and Robertson, and I was around at the time which is why i know it sounded much better then.

  • Brilliant

  • Take a load off Annie.

  • I think this is a great cover.

  • ONLY TWO GUYS COULD DO THIS SONG RICK DANKO AN THE DRUMMER ON THIS VIDEO LEVON HELM"S

  • @beboploo i agree over the 100%!!!!

  • who's that clown with the beard, and who told him he could sing?

  • @pretorious700 moreover: i always hated who sings keeping the hands joined back!!!

  • @jovis1949

    Looks like he's having the time of his life.

  • @deerfried

    yes he does, I know I would be if I was in his seat.

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  • @jovis1949 You might be right. But I think he got over it since he agreed to tour with Ray a year after this was filmed.

  • @jovis1949 I think you'll find it was written by Robbie Robertson.

  • @jovis1949 are you kidding?! Levon loves Ray ... they went on tour together and did this song together every night.

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  • @jovis1949 Levon Helm has probably played this song with thousands of people - good and maybe not so good. This is a great band (small b) and remember, they've met, rehearsed, and are playing live - which is a very different experience to watching. I'd think this is a good one to be part of and added cause it's his song.

    Plus, it's been forever since the Band did it.

  • @jovis1949 sorry, but Levon's smilin BIG TIME that people with Ray's talent are coming along to carry on the legacy ~ to paraphrase Robin Williams "whhhhyyyyyyyy are you HERE" ???!!

  • wow!! this is awesome!!!

  • Ray what? first time ever heard his name!!!

  • Dream Ticket or what ?

  • probally one of the best songs for singing with a bunch of people

  • magnificent

  • Come on that is Levon Helm!

  • not as good as the cover by gillian welch and old crow medicine show

  • AND Richard Thompson!

  • Richard Thompson...:) Singing what's probably my favourite verse. Thanks for the upload, deerfried. :)

  • Fantabulous!!!!

  • I think E C and R t could make one hell of an album together, with there song writing talent and Richards guitar work, it could be amazing.

  • Holy crap-- that's Richard Thompson, too!

  • @joebsummit. I love you.

  • Wow...Zach Galafanakis sure can sing! And he's lost a lot of weight too.

  • Alain Toussaint!

  • I started listening thinking "Elvis - why risk it?" How can you improve on the original - it could could end up a fiasco, or a spectacle, but not in a good way! Then Allen Toussaint started singing a verse (I hadn't expected it with all those frontmen on the front of the stage.) Immediate spine tingles as soon as he started singing. Definitely worth it and no one else disgraces themselves.

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  • Not exactly what you would call a shabby house band, is it? That is some major lineup there and tight with it. some of these big "get togethers" can get a bit loose but this is right on the money.

  • Ray LaMontagne is a badass.

  • squeezebunt..........holy shit is right. It just doesn't get much better than this !

  • wow what a lineup

  • all they need is richard

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  • I agree with @SluggerOtoole. I understand that Levon was in recovery but it was awesome to see him mouthing the words anyway. This was a grea performance. Thank you for posting it.

  • Richard Thompson..sensacional!!!!

  • i'll be damned if that isn't luther vandross on the keys..dude has an amazing voice! (i am aware that looks nothing like luther vandross/sounds nothing like him)

  • its great to see that Ray fits right in with these guys

  • Fantastic perfomance! Alan Toussaint (spell?) is really impressive

  • @jozsefkacsa "The Weight" is a Band original.

    "The song was also included on the Easy Rider soundtrack, but was performed by the band Smith because of contractual problems preventing use of The Band's version. The Band's version is the one that appears in the movie."

    (from the Wikipedia entry on the song)

  • Elvis, Ray, Nick, Allen they all sound great, in fact truly great. But no one and I mean No One can sign that song that good old Levon Helm

  • I'm listening to this great piece of Music, my Cat on my lap, a drink in my hand... and life can't be better right now. Thanks for the post Man.

  • Who originally performed this song? I mean, who's the author?

  • @Gurra88 The Band!

  • @deerfried I'm pretty sure "The Weight" is The Band's song.But as I know(I could be dead wrong) it the first the song was released on a single for the movie"Easy Rider"and it was released by the"Smiths".Even on the original "Easy Rider"sound track is by the "Smiths" Thanx for the upload it's awesom.We're here in Canada are real proud of "The Band" and even made Levon Helm an Honorary Canadian Citizen

  • @Gurra88: The author of the song is a Canadian musician and singer, born in Ontario on 12/29/1942 by the name of Richard Clare Danco. Better knows as Rick Danko, a member of The Band. He died on 12/10/1999. I just came back from the Senior Recital of UofMiami student Alexandra Stewart, also a Canadian, and she performed this song "The Weight" and that is the reason I was looking at the video. The official UM program has Rick Danco as the author.

  • @Gurra88 The Band! Robbie Robertson got most of the songwriting credits, though Levon Helm (drummer here) and Rick Danko got some credits too. When you discover them they'll never leave you.

  • @Gurra88 The Band. Robbie Robertson got credit for this song, I think. Levon Helm (Drummer featured here) and Rick Danko also wrote songs for The Band. Discover them. You won't regret.

  • @jensrealia "got credit" is exactly right. Think the others had a little to do with it maybe? Too bad Levon couldn't sing on this. He's been limited for a couple of years by virtue of risking his voice completely if he sings too much.

    Great post, deerfried. Thanks

  • @Gurra88 The Band were the original performer of The Weight, but it has since been covered by many others, including Joan Baez and Bob Dylan. The song was written by Robbie Robertson.

  • Ray is on shit hot form that night, u wud die for that voice ........

  • Levon is the Man.

  • It's so nice to see Levon still so in love with this song.

  • Por qué no celebrar, escuchando esta insuperable versión de un clásico imperecedero, el haber terminado—à la Fogwill—un artículo muy bueno. (Además, sirve a modo un apenas tardío homenaje al finadito creador del irónico réclame: “El placer de fumar”.)

  • who's the one on the piano? he's voice is mighty sexy

  • @skooleskool that is the wonderful New Orleans songwriter Allen Toussaint

  • Love this... a great blend. Having Costello & Thompson on the same stage alone is enough to get me excited. One question: when did Nick Lowe turn into a 75 year old man? Holy crap! I had NO idea who it was until I read the caption. Anyway, great version.

  • It's not 'The Band' but this version is still mighty good!!! I'm going to send the link to my daughter(Annalee) let's see what she thinks.

  • this made my day... shivers and tears !!!

  • man, now that's what i call a supergoup!!!!!!!!!!

  • Jesus Christ!

  • @Quickstoptim : Is he the one with the beard ?

  • what a crew of great players, man.... that was a gas to see!

  • Levon did not sing because his voice was shot again for a couple months last winter.  His voice is back and going strong now.

  • yeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!! yeees yess yesssssss

  • Great cover

  • I just discovered this and can't stop watching it. It's too bad Levon couldn't sing a verse or two at the time, but if he had, the world might have ended. Because how would you top that? In any case, I think Danko and Manuel would approve of this.

  • amazing

  • oh my goodness, this is a beautiful surprise. I LOVE The Band. And Ray is not too bad himself. :)

  • perfection

  • perfection

  • I can only imagine the goosebumps the audience had, upon hearing this performance.

  • Dang, is that Nick Lowe playing the acoustic singing the second verse? He looks old, time happens.

  • allen toussaint should have sung a longer part....he has an incredible voice

  • I wondered if Ray had ever sung this song. Wow this is art.

  • Almost breaks your heart to see Levon there, only able to mouth the words to a song that he had made entirely his own. But it did me good to see him smiling, at least he was happy.

  • To me, Spectacle is the best musc series since Don Kirshner's rock concert in the 70's. Couldn't wait for the next show!

  • I love Elvis Costello. I love Spectacle.I love this song.

  • amazing, just great

  • I'm learning the song The night they drove old dixie down on drums which levon sings. (When he was young)

  • LEVON'S AWESOME!

  • Fucking brilliant...hurrah!!

  • Probably the most awesome show on TV since American Music Shoppe.

  • I love every musician on the stage. The song has never been a favourite of mine but this version has put me in earthly heaven. Thanks for the clip.

    Tony

  • so many great artists

  • Amazing performance, thanks for uploading!

  • double A absolutely awesome

  • Who's that Beardy McBeardo singing the first verse?

  • @ensiform

    Ray LaMontagne

  • @deerfried the king

  • @ensiform ray lamontagne. get used to the name.

  • @ensiform give me a break you know who is he, even if you didnt he was introduced at the beginning of the video, you just wanted an excuse to say Beardy McBeardo and try and be funny, so you are both stupid and very very lame.

  • @TheBlueStar22 No, I genuinely had never heard of the guy. Why are you so defensive? Is he your uncle or something? Calm down, buddy. Have a nice beer.

  • @ensiform ...no, BlueStar22 is just one of the millions of folks who apparently can't recognize when someone's hype writes checks their talent can't cash. I mean, this is the classic "song that anyone can sing".. and I honestly don't think Ray sounds good singing it. He's like John Mayer, but without the guitar chops...

  • @ugmodude Oh man, that last line was a nicely put. Ouch.

  • Where has everyone been? Levon is very much alive, winning Grammys and still touring, even after recently beating throat cancer and constantly having laryngitis. Catch his 70th bday party at Mountain Jam this summer!

  • Holy Shit!!! what a line up.... this is awesome

  • Nice!

  • Holy Shit! I thought Levon Helm was dead.

  • The Weight a fifth of Jose beat down and out, But the next day things were somuch clearer.

    1990

    CLB

  • OhWow!!! Caught this on TV the other night, and nearly fell off the couch. One of my all-time favorite songs, and now it transcends the generations with Ray LaMontagne, one of my daughter-in-law's favorites.

  • Frogging awesome! Finally, real celebrities.

  • This is incredible!

  • Fantastic performance. Great tribute to an all time great rock and roll song.

  • Levon barks..........

  • the piano is the unsung hero of this song....

  • This was EPIC

  • this nearly made me cry...elvis, nick, and levon all on one stage?!? holy shit.

  • richard too!11

  • @squeezebunt r u fuckin dumb ??? wat about Ray Lamontagne ?????

  • @squeezebunt Richard feckin' Thompson too.

  • @squeezebunt  and don't forget Thompson!!!

  • levon kicks ass

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  • Okay, I have frigging chills. Dang a ranga...and I didn't think this song could ever grab me again.Lordy mama...

  • Agreed re: chills.

  • A bona fide supergroup. I just knew RT was going to do the 'Crazy Chester' verse.

    Great to see Levon back in action and having fun!

  • That was great but Levon should have sung a verse. Toussaint sounded amazing.

  • Levon did not sing (or speak) as he was recovering from vocal strain.

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  • @SluggerOtoole83 levon couldnt sing at the time, he was just getting over throat cancer

  • absolutely amazing

  • Wow, Richard Thompson has a really powerful voice. Still.

  • @mattrech0 Yes. Made me want to go and get Henry The Human Fly out of the shed. Brilliant, but no mistake. 

  • Levon Helm doesnt need a second drummer assisting.

  • I don't even know how cool that just was.

  • This is the best thing I've ever seen in my life.

  • I don't think I've ever seen more sheer talent on one stage... thanks deerfried!