Those that praise Robbie robertson

[willmusic]

Yeah asshole!....get a life and stuff. I know Edward James Olmos too and, yeah, he'll play you under the table. That's right...I'm talking to YOU! No not you...YOU!

[acidrain30005]

I bet Robbie was a real dick back in the day and decided to take all the royalties from the songs. Who knows what really happened though? There's always two sides to the story. And I hope one of these days Robertson and Helm can bury the hatchet because regardless of their personal differences, they made great music together. I mean, I wouldn't really want a Band reunion tour with only three guys but it'd still be good if they were on good terms.

That being said, I happen to think Robbie's a great guitar player although being the cokehead that he was (or is) his ego was (and could still be) huge. And towards them turning his mike off, well who can't laugh at that haha.

[BlobWeird]

I just gotta say that Robbie Robertson wouldn't be a famous songwriter if it weren't for The Band. His solo albums are pretty weak in my book. Whereas Rick's and Levon's records tended to be pretty good and the reunited Band w/out Robertson also tended to be pretty good. No doubt that Robertson wrote those great songs but it is bullshit that he gets more royalties than the other guys

Same can be said for alot of people though. People that we love dearly. Look at Robert Hunter. Think he would've every been known? Doubt it. The best Ive seen his band do is open for The Other Ones lol. So its the same thing there.

[bodiddley]

I just gotta say that Robbie Robertson wouldn't be a famous songwriter if it weren't for The Band. His solo albums are pretty weak in my book. Whereas Rick's and Levon's records tended to be pretty good and the reunited Band w/out Robertson also tended to be pretty good. No doubt that Robertson wrote those great songs but it is bullshit that he gets more royalties than the other guys

Disagree strongly. I think his self titled album with "Broken Arrow" is a masterpeice...though he did have a lot of guest help.

[BlobWeird]

I just gotta say that Robbie Robertson wouldn't be a famous songwriter if it weren't for The Band. His solo albums are pretty weak in my book. Whereas Rick's and Levon's records tended to be pretty good and the reunited Band w/out Robertson also tended to be pretty good. No doubt that Robertson wrote those great songs but it is bullshit that he gets more royalties than the other guys

Disagree strongly. I think his self titled album with "Broken Arrow" is a masterpeice...though he did have a lot of guest help.

Ok now go up to 50 people that dont listen to Grateful Dead and say "Who is Robert Hunter?" Watch all the people scratch their heads and shrug. My point exactly

[CountryMile Cadillac]

Certainly is alot of bitching going on...

[bodiddley]

No need to come off that way. I'm sure there are many here that hold certain albums in very high regard that 90% of the masses never even heard of. I'm not sure what you point is.

[Chuckles]

My .02:

RR is a great songwriter, but the Band was a classic example of the gestalt.. the total being greater than the sum of its parts. While his solo stuff has been pretty good, it sure hasn't gotten anywhere near the attention as his work with the Band.

While one can't say for certain, without the Band does Robertson even get the chance to make those solo albums?

This is a lot like the "what if Bobby and Phil never met Jerry?" thread... no-win arguments on both sides. None of us knows what really went down. But for my part, the songwriter should get the royalties for the written piece; the entire band for broadcasts or - and this is important - performances thereof. Writing royalties are an exercize in publishing, not performing.

[BlobWeird]

No need to come off that way. I'm sure there are many here that hold certain albums in very high regard that 90% of the masses never even heard of. I'm not sure what you point is.

Dunno what way I came off? Went and re-read the posts and I wasnt being a dick. But anyways. The original thing I replied to said that if it wasnt for the Band Robertson, who wrote the songs, would be a nobody. Somethin along those lines. So I said well what about Robert Hunter, who also wrote the songs (well lyrics at least). And my point still stands.

[bodiddley]

Ok, I understand now and agree you are probably right on that point. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

[BlobWeird]

Ok, I understand now and agree you are probably right on that point. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

Its all good

[KCJones]

I ran across this interview with Rick Denko from 1999. Seems appropriate for this thread.

Q.
There are other issues related to songwriting, in disputes you've had with Robbie Robertson over sharing credit for much of the Band's repertoire.

A.
I don't have a problem with any of it, you know? I'm a very thankful person. Whatever publishing I've shared with people, whatever songwriting credits I've shared and whatever payments I've gotten, I'm thankful. I could have ended up having to get a real job. I'm thankful for what the Band has represented and what the Band has done. I'm not gonna sit here and tear the Band apart.

http://theband.hiof.no/articles/rd_120799.html

[Smelodies]

He must go down in history as the best lead guitar player who didn't fetishize the guitar or got bored of playing solos pretty early on.

[High Peaks]

I write all of the originals for High Peaks. Lyrics and music. When I bring it to the band, unless i hear a specific thing in my head, I let them decide what to play as long as it fits. In that sense the song becomes a High Peaks song. However, the songwriter should be the one who benefits the most fiscally speaking. The person who wrote the song has a lot more time into it.

If RR wrote the songs(music and lyrics) in my opinion he should be entitled to the rights to the songs and the monetary gains that come with it.

The fact that he did what he did doesn't mean he's an asshole. It means he is a shrewd business man.

[bodiddley]

Many said Bill Graham was an asshole to, OR....maybe just a shrewd business man? I'm sure Jerry was an asshole at times too, Hell, aren't we all?