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Customer Reviews of The Last Waltz

The addition of the missing songs, new mixing of the music and the improved layout are things that make this package something very special.

The box set includes no less than 15 songs, which were dropped out from the original publications. Plus, there are a few concert rehearsal versions. It was high time to hear the performances of such songs as 'WS Walcott Medicine Show' and 'Don't Do It' - the very last song The Band ever played together on stage. As far as guest performances are concerned, 'Caldonia' (with Muddy Waters) and 'Hazel' (with Bob Dylan) are nothing to be left as takeouts. For the sake of curiosity it's worth mentioning that Robbie's 12-bar Clapton-imitation guitar solo (which is there in The Last Waltz film as Eric fiddles with his guitar strap) on 'Further on Up the Road' can be enjoyed now on CD as well.

Thanks to the new mixing, the overall sound of The Last Waltz is different. For example, 'The Shape I'm In' is stronger than ever as a perfect The Band song: Richard growling the lyrics, Robbie filling in with delicate guitar licks, Rick bouncing about irresistibly with the bass and Levon hitting the drums like throwing big rocks on a tin roof. All this sweetened by Garth's capturing organ. The Last Waltz sounds brighter and fresher - basically it sounds much more authentic. Close your eyes and you are at Winterland...

The layout is improved by a thick booklet. It includes a lot of behind-the-scenes stories about The Band and The Last Waltz as well as a tidy collection of photos. Fine supporting material.

The Last Waltz box set is pleasingly short of letdowns. Joni Mitchell's 'Coyote' is great, but her two previously unreleased songs, especially 'Furry Sings the Blues', bring an unwanted plunge of quality to the set. Neil Diamond's less-than-magical 'Dry Your Eyes' was familiar already from The Last Waltz LP.

Although The Last Waltz box set is a little pricy, it's worth every penny. Money becomes a secondary issue as one listens to Rick, Levon, Richard, Robbie and Garth play gloriously with and without the friends. The Last Waltz really happens. To quote Dr John a little: 'Thanks to The Band and all the fellas.'

a set to spend your last dollar on
walking out of the theater on a late chicago night I was completly stoned off of what I had just experienced. The Last Waltz had just been re-released in theatre's, and in being the big classic rock fan that I am I just had to see it (although, I admit that I didn't know much about the band at that time but now, thanks to the movie and box set I own all their pre-ego split records).In short I wasn't to be dissapointed. As incredible guest after incredible guest rolled out I had to slap myself a couple of times just to contain myself. But then to add to that I found out that the music was also being given the box set treatment by Rhino.

I've never heard the original but after completely diving into this extreme package I can't help but be grateful that I never had to buy it twice. Were the first set was good, this set is darn right awesome. I mean imagine a c.d where a live version of Neil Young singing "Helpless" (although truly great as he can only be) is not the best song. there are so many like Rick Danko's soulful singing on all his tracks but especially "it makes no difference", or the Staples included version of "The Weight" where it just seems like it was meant to be sung that way right from the beginning. Throw in a little Van Morrison or Dr. John along with every one else and you've really got somehing. Heck this set even challenges one to think a little less harsh of the other Neil:)

so much great music and the sound is incredible. it is so reassuring that in this age of really so-so or just down right terrible, over-priced box sets...there are a few good ones that come along that don't make you wish you hadn't given up eating for a week or gone without electricity for a couple of days!BUY THIS SET AND YOU WONT BE SORRY!!!

The Last Waltz Didn't Mean The Dance Was Over
"There's a flood out in California, and up North it's freezin' cold! And this a-livin' off the road is gettin' purty old!", drummer Levon Helm twangs as The Band gives a fiery performance of 'Up On Cripple Creek,' one of their many signature songs. And indeed, the actual meaning of "The Last Waltz" was that The Band (or more specifically, songwriter/guitarist Robbie Robertson) were saying goodbye to the touring life, and had the intent of being reborn as a studio unit (think Steely Dan). But that didn't exactly go as planned, and the odds-and-ends album "Islands" was the only product of this idea (but even that album was released mostly as a contract-filler for Capitol Records). And though Band members were still talking about a new album as late as 1979, Robbie Robertson was obviously now focused on his work in terms of films, and the legendary five-man version of The Band was no more. And though some critics are cynical as to why a group would give up touring when touring is what a rock group does for a living, Robertson obviously had good reason to say goodbye to the road; it was obviously taking its toll on the personal lives of the Band members, most notably pianist and one of three lead vocalists Richard Manuel. Robertson said in 1987 "To see people teetering on the brink constantly...Richard scared us to death. We scared ourselves to death." (It's been argued that the touring hassles that the reunited Band went through in the 80s is what caused Manuel's suicide, but that's too personal to get into.)

It's ironic that Helm could deliver such a powerful vocal performance, belting out the lines that began this review, but the whole time, he was certainly not happy to be a part of this "celebration." And indeed, the rest of The Band may not have been either, despite bassist/vocalist Rick Danko's energy on stage and the musical prowess of Manuel and genius Garth Hudson. They were not ready to end The Band's life as a touring unit, or else they wouldn't have reunited without Robertson. When "The Last Waltz" was released as an album of film it was a definite success, and the movie has been called the greatest rock film ever made. But Helm was the most disappointed. He wrote has gone on record as saying "the camera focused almost exclusively on Robbie Robertson, long and loving close-ups...the film was edited so it looked like Robbie was conducting the band with expansive waves of his guitar neck...for me it was a real scandal." Helm also claims he was scammed financially, but it's easy to agree that the film does feature Robertson a bit prominently, which is why this beautifully packaged box set re-release is an essential item, showcasing each brilliant member, even if sometimes they're buried under the guest stars.

This 4-CD set features a heap of tracks that were left off of the original release making it the almost-complete concert. Band essentials like 'Rag Mama Rag,' 'The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show,' and 'This Wheel's On Fire' are fortunately included, as well as additional performances from the long line of guest stars that appeared at the concert (the songs from Eric Clapton, Neil Young and Bob Dylan are the best of the guest-stars). Concert rehearsals (including another essential 'King Harvest') and studio sketches are enjoyable listening as well. The album (and film) "The Last Waltz" is a timeless, definitive piece of rock history, and an important if not controversial piece of The Band's history.
In conclusion, it's important to note the song 'The Last Waltz Suite' (from the wonderful six-part "Last Waltz Suite"). Ironically co-sung by Robertson, this song is eerily but charmingly prophetic; as the song goes, "It's the last waltz, the last waltz with you, but that don't mean the dance is over...The last waltz was through, but that don't mean that the party is over."
How true this was. It wasn't meant to be finished, the studio was meant to be The Band's new home. And though that notion never unfolded, the dance was certainly not over Helm, Danko, Hudson, and Manuel, as they would re-unite as The Band in 1983, touring until Manuel's death in 1986, and releasing three studio albums to surprisingly good reviews in the 90s, until Danko's passing in 1999.