My Morning Jacket

My Morning Jacket => The Band => Topic started by: ChiefOKONO on Nov 12, 2008, 10:35 PM

Title: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: ChiefOKONO on Nov 12, 2008, 10:35 PM
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/24161972/page/91
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: xmascriminal on Nov 12, 2008, 11:04 PM
Bob Dylan before Robert Plant, Roger Daltrey and Freddie Mercury. Interesting. Rolling Stone's lists are always so fucking terrible. Dylan, Neil Young and Lou Reed all kick ass, but not one of them should be on the 1,00,000 greatest singers of all time list. Get Morissey out of the 90s. And get Thom Yorke out of the 80s. And put Roger Daltrey BEFORE Christina Agulera.  ::) :-? :'(
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: dragonboy on Nov 12, 2008, 11:29 PM
I love Jim's cover of Up On Cripple Creek, even more so when he follows it with Blue Moon Of Kentucky!

Thanks Chief  :)
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: DaFunkyPrecedent on Nov 13, 2008, 02:14 AM
QuoteBob Dylan before Robert Plant, Roger Daltrey and Freddie Mercury. Interesting. Rolling Stone's lists are always so fucking terrible. Dylan, Neil Young and Lou Reed all kick ass, but not one of them should be on the 1,00,000 greatest singers of all time list. Get Morissey out of the 90s. And get Thom Yorke out of the 80s. And put Roger Daltrey BEFORE Christina Agulera.  ::) :-? :'(


...in my opinion, Bobby D should have been fuckin' number 1, but i'll admit, I'm biased.  You must also remember it's Rolling Stone and THEY ARE a pop magazine...
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: bold99 on Nov 13, 2008, 08:19 AM
QuoteBob Dylan before Robert Plant, Roger Daltrey and Freddie Mercury. Interesting. Rolling Stone's lists are always so fucking terrible. Dylan, Neil Young and Lou Reed all kick ass, but not one of them should be on the 1,00,000 greatest singers of all time list. Get Morissey out of the 90s. And get Thom Yorke out of the 80s. And put Roger Daltrey BEFORE Christina Agulera.  ::) :-? :'(

Neil Young should ABSOLUTELY be in the top 100...he should be in the top 10.


Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: lasvegas on Nov 13, 2008, 10:53 AM
QuoteDylan, Neil Young and Lou Reed all kick ass, but not one of them should be on the 1,00,000 greatest singers of all time list.

i mean, really??

this is crazy talk.

neil young is top 10, more likely top 5.

he put out 4 of the best albums ever btwn '73 and '76.

'time fades away' (live album)
'on the beach'
'tonight's the night'
'long may you run'


Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: pawpaw on Nov 13, 2008, 11:08 AM
Quote
QuoteDylan, Neil Young and Lou Reed all kick ass, but not one of them should be on the 1,00,000 greatest singers of all time list.

i mean, really??

this is crazy talk.

neil young is top 10, more likely top 5.

he put out 4 of the best albums ever btwn '73 and '76.

'time fades away' (live album)
'on the beach'
'tonight's the night'
'long may you run'



I agree that Neil put out great albums, some of the best, but this is a list of singers, not song writers or artists. I actually really like Neil's voice, but "100 best of All-Time"...probably not.

That list is bullshit anyway. I only got through the first five and closed out. Aretha, Ray...good start. Elvis had a great voice, but NO WAY is he a better singer than Sam Cooke! And John Lennon with the 5th best voice ever?!?! Paul had a better voice than him, and neither of them should be anywhere near the top 10!

But yeah, that's Rolling Stone for ya...
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: lasvegas on Nov 13, 2008, 11:46 AM
Quote
Quote
QuoteDylan, Neil Young and Lou Reed all kick ass, but not one of them should be on the 1,00,000 greatest singers of all time list.

i mean, really??

this is crazy talk.

neil young is top 10, more likely top 5.

he put out 4 of the best albums ever btwn '73 and '76.

'time fades away' (live album)
'on the beach'
'tonight's the night'
'long may you run'



I agree that Neil put out great albums, some of the best, but this is a list of singers, not song writers or artists. I actually really like Neil's voice, but "100 best of All-Time"...probably not.

That list is bullshit anyway. I only got through the first five and closed out. Aretha, Ray...good start. Elvis had a great voice, but NO WAY is he a better singer than Sam Cooke! And John Lennon with the 5th best voice ever?!?! Paul had a better voice than him, and neither of them should be anywhere near the top 10!

But yeah, that's Rolling Stone for ya...

fair enough, i can agree with this.

and yes, they put together the worst lists!!

sam cooke = amazing.
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: ritchiem4812 on Nov 13, 2008, 12:01 PM
You gotta remember this is Rolling Stone's opinion. I think it's a fun read. And Levon Helm is one of my top 5 singers.
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: DaFunkyPrecedent on Nov 13, 2008, 01:49 PM
Quote
Quote
QuoteDylan, Neil Young and Lou Reed all kick ass, but not one of them should be on the 1,00,000 greatest singers of all time list.

i mean, really??

this is crazy talk.

neil young is top 10, more likely top 5.

he put out 4 of the best albums ever btwn '73 and '76.

'time fades away' (live album)
'on the beach'
'tonight's the night'
'long may you run'



I agree that Neil put out great albums, some of the best, but this is a list of singers, not song writers or artists. I actually really like Neil's voice, but "100 best of All-Time"...probably not.

That list is bullshit anyway. I only got through the first five and closed out. Aretha, Ray...good start. Elvis had a great voice, but NO WAY is he a better singer than Sam Cooke! And John Lennon with the 5th best voice ever?!?! Paul had a better voice than him, and neither of them should be anywhere near the top 10!

But yeah, that's Rolling Stone for ya...


I think your missing the point of "best singer".  A singer is someone who can convey emotion, attitude, purpose etc through his or her voice.  What makes Aretha # 1 is that when she sings, you really feel her pain, her struggle, her love, her what ever.  Think of all the ways Areatha could have sung "Respect".  But the cadence she chose, the voice she chose, the power she put behind each word, made that song what it is.  
The same goes for Lennon - I mean shit, he may not have "the best" voice, but when he sings "Imagine all the people" - your heart aches - it makes you feel something!  Now another person, with an AMAZING VOICE, could sing that same song, the could howl out each lyric in  epic proportion  - but the effect of the song will be lost.  
It's not the voice singing we should be looking at, but how the song is sung.  That's why Elvis is #3 - cause his voice and the way he sang his songs made girls knee's crumble.  Who the fuck else can do that?  That's why Dylan let Hendrix "have" All Along The Watch Tower, because he sang it better.  That's why Cobian made the list - because when he sang, kids felt his anguish.  


It's "The Way That He Sings"

Don't confuse voice and singer - two different entities completely.  
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: SmokinShootin on Nov 13, 2008, 03:20 PM
This is awesome, is this out yet?  I always loved Levon Helm, since I was very young, so this is a treat.
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: aMillionDreams on Nov 13, 2008, 04:04 PM
That's cool they let Jim right up Levon.  The Band is definitely one of his all-time favorites.

yeah, the list is BS though.
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: Love Dogg on Nov 13, 2008, 04:34 PM
Where is Ronnie Van Zant?  He, who happens to be THE best vocalist in Rock n Roll history isn't even on the list.  Even to the greatest skeptics, he would rank no lower that fourth on anyone's list.

>:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: bold99 on Nov 14, 2008, 11:19 AM
Where is Buddy Guy? he's like the Sam Cooke of Blues.
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: Penny Lane on Nov 14, 2008, 11:21 AM
is Chris Robinson on there?
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: walterfredo on Nov 14, 2008, 12:49 PM
QuoteYou gotta remember this is Rolling Stone's opinion. I think it's a fun read. And Levon Helm is one of my top 5 singers.

It actually isn't Rolling Stone's opinion, but rather the combined opinion of a very long list of voters.  JJ was one of the voters.  

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/24161972/page/101
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: Coltrane on Nov 14, 2008, 06:50 PM
QuoteBob Dylan before Robert Plant, Roger Daltrey and Freddie Mercury. Interesting. Rolling Stone's lists are always so fucking terrible. Dylan, Neil Young and Lou Reed all kick ass, but not one of them should be on the 1,00,000 greatest singers of all time list. Get Morissey out of the 90s. And get Thom Yorke out of the 80s. And put Roger Daltrey BEFORE Christina Agulera.  ::) :-? :'(


"All my favorite singers couldn't sing..."

-- d. berman


"My voice coach taught me to sing/ he couldn't teach me to love.."

--s. malkmus
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: pawpaw on Nov 14, 2008, 07:54 PM
Quote
Quote
Quote
QuoteDylan, Neil Young and Lou Reed all kick ass, but not one of them should be on the 1,00,000 greatest singers of all time list.

i mean, really??

this is crazy talk.

neil young is top 10, more likely top 5.

he put out 4 of the best albums ever btwn '73 and '76.

'time fades away' (live album)
'on the beach'
'tonight's the night'
'long may you run'



I agree that Neil put out great albums, some of the best, but this is a list of singers, not song writers or artists. I actually really like Neil's voice, but "100 best of All-Time"...probably not.

That list is bullshit anyway. I only got through the first five and closed out. Aretha, Ray...good start. Elvis had a great voice, but NO WAY is he a better singer than Sam Cooke! And John Lennon with the 5th best voice ever?!?! Paul had a better voice than him, and neither of them should be anywhere near the top 10!

But yeah, that's Rolling Stone for ya...


I think your missing the point of "best singer".  A singer is someone who can convey emotion, attitude, purpose etc through his or her voice.  What makes Aretha # 1 is that when she sings, you really feel her pain, her struggle, her love, her what ever.  Think of all the ways Areatha could have sung "Respect".  But the cadence she chose, the voice she chose, the power she put behind each word, made that song what it is.  
The same goes for Lennon - I mean shit, he may not have "the best" voice, but when he sings "Imagine all the people" - your heart aches - it makes you feel something!  Now another person, with an AMAZING VOICE, could sing that same song, the could howl out each lyric in  epic proportion  - but the effect of the song will be lost.  
It's not the voice singing we should be looking at, but how the song is sung.  That's why Elvis is #3 - cause his voice and the way he sang his songs made girls knee's crumble.  Who the fuck else can do that?  That's why Dylan let Hendrix "have" All Along The Watch Tower, because he sang it better.  That's why Cobian made the list - because when he sang, kids felt his anguish.  


It's "The Way That He Sings"

Don't confuse voice and singer - two different entities completely.  

I'm with you funky, I did use the term "voice" when comparing Lennon and McCartney, and "singer" would've been a more appropriate, all encompassing term. But I meant things in broader terms, and I still feel that McCartney is the better singer. I'd also argue that when John sang Imagine, the impact was more what he was singing, and not how he was singing it, and that's more a compliment to him as a lyricist, not as a singer.

And Elvis certainly did make the ladies swoon, but he can't touch the soul of Sam Cooke.
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: dragonboy on Nov 14, 2008, 10:14 PM
QuoteAnd Elvis certainly did make the ladies swoon, but he can't touch the soul of Sam Cooke.
I don't give a shit about the list (come on people, it's Rolling Stone!) but I'm going to have to respectfully disagree regarding Elvis  ;)

I love Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding etc etc etc & honestly feel that Elvis Presley deserves a place up there with the best of them.  
I think a lot of people when they think of Elvis think of 'movie' Elvis & 'fat' Elvis & fun songs like Viva Las Vegas, which is fair enough but there is so much more to him than that.
I've been an Elvis fan since I was old enough to give a shit & he still blows me way even today. His best vocal performances (songs like If I Can Dream, American Trilogy, Suspicious Minds, Always On My Mind etc) never fail to impress me & gospel songs like How Great Thou Art touch me deeply whenever I listen to them.
I know that 99.9% of the people here will disagree with me & that's fine...I just felt the need to defend my Dad.

Anyway, getting things back on track, Australia's Raven records just released Levon Helm and The RCO All Stars & American Son as a midpriced 2-for-1  [smiley=thumbsup.gif]  
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: ritchiem4812 on Nov 15, 2008, 11:15 PM
Quote
QuoteYou gotta remember this is Rolling Stone's opinion. I think it's a fun read. And Levon Helm is one of my top 5 singers.

It actually isn't Rolling Stone's opinion, but rather the combined opinion of a very long list of voters.  JJ was one of the voters.  

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/24161972/page/101

Doesn't matter. Still the same logic.
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: Kenny76 on Nov 17, 2008, 06:55 AM
All opinion is subjective so it doesn't really matter who makes these lists, but I like to read some of the opinions.  I read this list the other day, but didn't make it as far as #91, so I'm glad I found this thread.   Jim's write-up on Levon Helm is one of the best I've read.  "Levon's voice is the equivalent of a sturdy old farmhouse that has stood for years in the fields, weathering all kinds of change yet remaining unmovable."  Exactly!

I think my favorite Levon Helm vocal is on "When I Paint My Masterpiece", which is a Bob Dylan song.   But Levon sings it exactly the way I want to live it.

It was only a few years ago that I began to truly appreciate The Band.  They sing about nothing but life with all of its troubles and triumphs and you have to live it before you understand it.   Whereas when I was 18, nothing was better than Led Zeppelin, because it took you away from life.  But I still love Led Zep from time to time...
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: Murph on Nov 17, 2008, 04:26 PM
Here is who Jim actually voted for, he has some interesting choices...also think that its ironic that he voted for both Richard Manuel and Rick Danko but NOT Levon Helm.

http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/24160218/the_100_greatest_singers_inside_t/photo/11
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: lasvegas on Nov 17, 2008, 04:44 PM
QuoteHere is who Jim actually voted for, he has some interesting choices...also think that its ironic that he voted for both Richard Manuel and Rick Danko but NOT Levon Helm.

http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/24160218/the_100_greatest_singers_inside_t/photo/11

(http://i.realone.com/assets/rn/img/2/0/5/9/24159502-24159507-large.jpg)
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: The DARK on Nov 17, 2008, 05:08 PM
I like how he gives credit to where his vocal style came from (Wayne Coyne, Neil Young), but as a result I think he's going more for his personal favories than talent (Bob Dylan at #6). Nothing against that though, it just makes for a bad Rolling Stone list.  ;)
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: dragonboy on Nov 17, 2008, 07:35 PM
I enjoyed reading those, thanks 4 posting  :)
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: DaFunkyPrecedent on Nov 17, 2008, 08:20 PM
QuoteI like how he gives credit to where his vocal style came from (Wayne Coyne, Neil Young), but as a result I think he's going more for his personal favories than talent (Bob Dylan at #6). Nothing against that though, it just makes for a bad Rolling Stone list.  ;)

who are you to say what talent is?  really...i'm curious to know.  
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: xmascriminal on Nov 17, 2008, 08:22 PM
People are always comparing Jim to Wayne Coyne but I don't really hear it. The only real similarity is that they're both influenced by Neil Young. I don't hear anything of Wayne specifically.
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: goose on Nov 18, 2008, 01:18 PM
HE also talks about Levon Helm on an video interview on the bonnaroo website.  I saw it this morning on the main page, www.bonnaroo.com.  The video interviews are on the main page under the pics.  I went to check out any news on the coming year, and was welcomed by a pic of Jim from this year doing a leg kick.  Awesome!
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: The DARK on Nov 18, 2008, 09:23 PM
Quote
QuoteI like how he gives credit to where his vocal style came from (Wayne Coyne, Neil Young), but as a result I think he's going more for his personal favories than talent (Bob Dylan at #6). Nothing against that though, it just makes for a bad Rolling Stone list.  ;)

who are you to say what talent is?  really...i'm curious to know.  

Referring more to technical skill. One probably wouldn't call Bob Dylan the most versatile singer compared to, say, Robert Plant or Marvin Gaye. But listening to Nashville Skyline, I would say it's less about what his voice can do than what he decides to do with it.
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: Jbones72 on Nov 19, 2008, 12:08 AM
Quoteis Chris Robinson on there?

Nope...and no Ray Davies, I was glad to see Jim put Gram Parsons on his list!
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: axround3r on Nov 19, 2008, 12:31 AM
i get that gay mag, cool to see JJ on levon... but Jerry not making the list .
like that homo dj. khaled would say the dead are the fuckenn besst
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: xmascriminal on Nov 19, 2008, 06:53 PM
 Jerry Garcia isn't a great singer. Awesome guitar player though.
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: walterfredo on Nov 19, 2008, 06:59 PM
QuoteJerry Garcia isn't a great singer

You are dead to me.
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: xmascriminal on Nov 19, 2008, 10:30 PM
Quote
QuoteJerry Garcia isn't a great singer

You are dead to me.

I've just always prefered the songs Phil Lesh and Bob Weir sing.
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: the_wizzard on Nov 19, 2008, 10:32 PM
Quote
Quote
QuoteJerry Garcia isn't a great singer

You are dead to me.

I've just always prefered the songs Phil Lesh and Bob Weir sing.
Are you serious?  Really?  :-?  You can't be serious.
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: the_wizzard on Nov 19, 2008, 10:35 PM
Beautiful
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np4nyOtXifU[/media]
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: bold99 on Nov 20, 2008, 08:38 AM
Quote
Quote
QuoteJerry Garcia isn't a great singer

You are dead to me.

I've just always prefered the songs Phil Lesh and Bob Weir sing.

Um...I'm the biggest Phil fan in the world...but he can't sing.  Jerry was the man.
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: aMillionDreams on Nov 20, 2008, 05:33 PM
Quote
Quote
Quote
QuoteJerry Garcia isn't a great singer

You are dead to me.

I've just always prefered the songs Phil Lesh and Bob Weir sing.

Um...I'm the biggest Phil fan in the world...but he can't sing.  Jerry was the man.

yeah, I'm pretty sure the "let the bassist sing" chants were not totally genuine or at least based on skill.  And I like the songs Bobby sings but his voice doesn't touch Jerry's.
Title: Re: Jim on Levon Helm
Post by: bold99 on Nov 21, 2008, 10:29 AM
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
QuoteJerry Garcia isn't a great singer

You are dead to me.

I've just always prefered the songs Phil Lesh and Bob Weir sing.

Um...I'm the biggest Phil fan in the world...but he can't sing.  Jerry was the man.

yeah, I'm pretty sure the "let the bassist sing" chants were not totally genuine or at least based on skill.  And I like the songs Bobby sings but his voice doesn't touch Jerry's.

Jerry had so much soul in his voice...it was unique.  I love Phil and there are a few songs he sings that are not bad but yeah for the most it is not very good.  This is why he hires singers for his bands.