It's my very close pal Keith's birthday today. Driving to work this morning , my mind flashed back to this day in 1992 when our other very close pal Gaurav gifted him Robbie Robertson's 1991 Storyville album. On the inside flap of the box-tape (Magnasound?) Gaurav had written 'Don't let the rapture pass you by' which turned out to be from album track Soap Box Preacher.
My acquaintance with Robbie Robertson up to then was as Dylan-paraphernalia guitarist. The mind was blown by that smouldering duel with Eric Clapton on Further On Up The Road in the The Last Waltz (my intro to The Band) and it was bent by his playing style: the shimmer and shiver of those pinched harmonics. (The mini-solo that ends Going Going Gone from Dylan's Planet Waves ? Very few have spoken so much guitar in such few words !)
But Robertson's solo career I had no idea about.Storyville is a great great album. It's a mixed bag to be sure , as this review notes. But the strong tracks more than offset the weaker ones for it to make it to your list.
Soap Box Preacher tops the lot for me. Beautiful piece. Lovely melody , ace voice and a guitar that defines what the 'understated' style of playing is supposed to be like : simple, skillful and rich.
But Robertson's solo career I had no idea about.Storyville is a great great album. It's a mixed bag to be sure , as this review notes. But the strong tracks more than offset the weaker ones for it to make it to your list.
Soap Box Preacher tops the lot for me. Beautiful piece. Lovely melody , ace voice and a guitar that defines what the 'understated' style of playing is supposed to be like : simple, skillful and rich.
An aside which is quite a New Orleans voodoo story(ville) in itself :
Unable to find the CD either in India or in Dubai for a long time, I finally got it a few years ago on an unexpected offchance in Paris. I'd stopped at this obscure little shop somewhere off the Left Bank. It was selling second hand books. I was basically taking a break from the walking and didn't expect to find anything - it was all French, right?
And there it was , this CD , in this huge Sale box - the only non-French title in a heap of books and CDs. What were the odds ? Very odd ! I'd have shouted joie de vivre if I knew how to pronounce it - which of course I don't !
Unable to find the CD either in India or in Dubai for a long time, I finally got it a few years ago on an unexpected offchance in Paris. I'd stopped at this obscure little shop somewhere off the Left Bank. It was selling second hand books. I was basically taking a break from the walking and didn't expect to find anything - it was all French, right?
And there it was , this CD , in this huge Sale box - the only non-French title in a heap of books and CDs. What were the odds ? Very odd ! I'd have shouted joie de vivre if I knew how to pronounce it - which of course I don't !
Here's to lots of joie de vivre anyway Keef , long may the rapture remain !
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