Bob Dylan wrote the song, and the Band did their version on their first album, Music from Big Pink. Richard Manuel sang lead on that version and on this one he sings the second verse and background vocals with Dylan singing lead on the rest of the song. Everyone on that stage is great. The Band invited their friends who are some of the greatest musicians in the world.
A great movie was made of this concert... My personal fav song in the concert is Joni Mitchell, singing "Coyote"! Thanx so much for the memories you stir with your reactions!!!
no one mentions the immortal venue Winterland. That is where this concert was filmed. Legendary. I was there many a nights in the 70s. Saw so many great bands there. The Who in 76, Frampton June 75, Robin Trower, Pablo Cruise, Journey, Lynryd Skyrnryd, Ten Years After, Rick Wakman and many more great bands
Check out Van Morrison doing Caravan from the same gig in his sparkly purple suit. This was made by Martin Scorsese and is the greatest ever concert film, so many great performances that night!
Sort of a celebrity sing along, great song. The "Last Waltz" was meant to be the farewell concert of The Band. You are too young too know but there were a lot of stars of that era on stage. The talking at the end was with respect to The Band breaking up.
Juan de fuca U. Don't forget The one that kicked it all off was the concert for Bangladesh George Harrison 71, farm aid as well 85, And in 1992 the 30th anniversary concert for Bob Dylan for me the only ones with mentioning
Don't feel sad Fay. Robbie Robertson is still alive. That was him talking at the end. The other voice was film director Martin Scorsese. Bob Dylan wrote "I Shall Be Released". That's why he sings the first verse. The Band was his backing band. That's how they got their name. Their version of "I Shall Be Released" is the last song on their debut album, "Music from Big Pink", titled after the pink house they lived in for a time back then.
This whole concert film is called The Last Waltz directed by Martin Scorsese and you can hear his voice interviewing The Band guitarist Robbie Robertson and this live performance was supposedly the last tour of their career although they later got together except for Robertson who had and still has a solo career. The song is a metaphor about redemption within life's difficulties and Robertson's comments do have some weight in terms of how touring on the road from city to city is a much harder life than some realize and even brought tragedy to some great musicians' lives and the song in some way is dedicated their fallen compatriots.
