While moviegoers grapple with the decision of whether to sit through the three and a half hours of “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Martin Scorsese’s latest opus, there’s another classic from the legendary director hitting theaters this weekend with a much more palatable running length of just under two hours.
“The Last Waltz,” arguably the greatest concert film ever made, was the Thanksgiving Day 1976 farewell performance by The Band, the roots-rock outfit comprised of Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson and Richard Manuel.
Originally released in the spring of 1978, it effectively set the bar for music documentary movies and now sees a special screening for its 45th anniversary on Sunday, Nov. 5.
Starting with the idea of a simple concert, it became a celebration filled with superstars of the day and beyond. In fact, that turned into the tagline: “It Started as a Concert. It Became a Celebration. Now It’s a Legend.”
Filmed at San Francisco’s iconic Winterland Ballroom, where The Band made their debut in 1969, the show included a dozen or so special guests, recognized today as rock ‘n’ roll royalty.
Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Ringo Starr, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Muddy Waters, Neil Diamond and Ronnie Wood were just a few of the artists on hand to help the group sail off into the sunset.
Regionally, shows will be screened on Sunday in the afternoon and evening at 4 and 7 p.m.
The Regal King of Prussia, AMC Plymouth Meeting, Regal Brandywine Town Center, Regal Downingtown Water Tower Cinema in Lansdale, AMC Neshaminy 24. R/C Reading Movies 11 & IMAX and AMC Fairgrounds 10 in Reading are just a few of the local theaters showing “The Last Waltz.”
A full list of cinemas can be found by heading to fathomevents.com and searching “The Last Waltz.”
The screening event includes a never-before-seen introduction from the late Robertson, who sadly passed in August, providing a quick look into the genesis and impact of the concert film that changed the genre forever.
Through his unique perspective as a member of The Band and a frequent Scorsese collaborator, Robertson unveils the untold stories and emotions that made this legendary
farewell concert a historic moment in music.
Celebrating “The Last Waltz” continues with the accompanying soundtrack getting a three-LP audiophile pressing courtesy of Rhino Records. It shows why, without question, The Band was among the most acclaimed groups in rock.
Along with stirring live versions of “Up on Cripple Creek,” “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” “The Shape I’m In” and signature songs from some of the guest stars, the triple-album closes with an elegiac suite recorded specifically for the occasion.
Vinyl of the Week
Keep an eye on this spot as each week we’ll be looking at new or soon-to-be-released vinyl from a variety of artists. It might be a re-pressing of a landmark recording, special edition or new collection from a legendary act.
This week, it’s the 10th anniversary of a modern blues classic.
• Ben Harper with Charlie Musselwhite, “Get Up!”
Hailed for his socially conscious lyricism and soulful blend of folk, alt-rock, roots and blues, Ben Harper has had a momentous career with the albums “Burn to Shine,” “Diamonds on the Inside” and numerous collaborative LPs.
One of the latter was with Blues Hall of Famer and harmonica virtuoso, Charlie Musselwhite, who has remained one of the most respected musicians in his genre, with a catalog that now spans over 40 solo and collaborative albums.
Musselwhite and Harper first crossed paths in 1996 when they were both on the bill at a music festival in Australia.
The musicians hit it off instantly and began to collaborate on stage, as well as in the studio, with Harper guesting on Musselwhite’s Grammy-nominated 2004 album, “Sanctuary” and Musselwhite joining Harper on bonus tracks for “Both Sides of the Gun.”
Finally, in early 2013, the stars aligned for the two artists to release a full album together in “Get Up!”
Joined by guitarist Jason Mozersky, bassist Jesse Ingalls and drummer Jordan Richardson, the duo recorded 10 tracks, all of which were written or co-written and sung by Harper.
Each song paints a vivid portrait of emotions: from the heated “I Don’t Believe a Word You Say” and the impassioned “Blood Side Out” to the coy honky-tonk of “She Got Kick.”
Another highlight is the swaggering “I’m In I’m Out and I’m Gone,” which Harper once called “one of the crown jewels of the album.”
Produced by Harper, alongside Chris Goldsmith and engineer Sheldon Gomberg, “Get Up!” became an instant critical and commercial sensation.
In addition to debuting atop Billboard’s Blues Albums chart, the record entered the Billboard 200 at No.27 and was a Top 10 album on the Rock chart, while “You Found
Another Lover (I Lost Another Friend)” was certified gold by the RIAA.
It eventually landed a Grammy Award for Best Blues Album. Now, Craft Recordings has delivered a standard black vinyl reissue of “Get Up!” for its 10th anniversary.
In addition to their celebrated collaborations, both artists have remained busy with their respective solo careers.
At 79 years old, Musselwhite shows no signs of slowing down and is enjoying his status as a blues legend. Last year, he released his latest album, “Mississippi Son,” while still playing a full slate of live shows.
Harper, meanwhile, released his latest effort, “Wide Open Light,” in June.
Look for the 10th anniversary of “Get Up!” online and from all respectable retailers who carry vinyl.
To contact music columnist Michael Christopher, send an email to [email protected]. Also, check out his website at thechroniclesofmc.com.