Customer Reviews

Ramble at the Ryman

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4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Yeah. I have most of these songs on other albums. True, I've heard most of these songs before. But the quality of band that Levon has behind him makes this album a must have and a must-hear. I had the pleasure of seeing Levon in Philly in 2009. Levon Helm is a national treasure. His band is amazing. Listen to "Deep Elem Blues" and tell me I'm wrong. You need this album.

Who was your favourite member of the Band? It is a question that requires a large bottle of red wine and a number of argumentative souls to fiercely debate the merits of what remains one of the best things to come of American music ever. You will probably never reach a consensus not least because the tragedies of the deaths of the both Richard Manual and Rick Danko when both still had much more music to give. Robbie Robertson and Garth Hudson are still active musicians and then you have this reviewers own favourite, the force of nature that is Levon Helm. In 2007 his album "Dirt Farmer" was his first solo album after 25 years and it was truly worth the wait being a veritable goldmine of organic country, blues and folk. As a slice of Americana roots music infused with southern pastoralism by one of its greatest living exponents it was a true blessing made all the more special because of Helm's battle against throat cancer and the destruction of his recording studio in a fire. Helm is clearly made of strong stuff and his journey from a cotton farm in Arkansas, a member of the Hawks, one of Bob Dylan's great sidekicks and a glorious career in The Band is one of rock music's most remarkable tales. The fact that this story continues should merit a sly acknowledgement upward should anyone reading this review be attending any religious establishments today!

Helm is now 71 and this live album recorded at the legendary Nashville's Ryman auditorium is a rare treat. Certainly his voice is not as strong as it once was but this does not detract from a brilliant performance where he adapts his vocals to the songs and is backed by a set of musicians who can take any song by the scruff of the neck and make it their own. The roll call includes his band leader Larry Campbell, Amy Helm his devoted daughter, Teresa Williams, Tony Leone and Sammy Davis, Brian Mitchell, Paul Ossola and a fine horn section. In addition are a range of special guests including Sheryl Crow, John Hiatt, Buddy Miller and George Rece. The album kicks off with Helm undertaking the lead vocal on Robbie Roberston penned "Ophelia' and produces a version which easily matches his performance on the Last Waltz. Throughout the Band classics are performed with gusto to a massively appreciative audience who can't quite believe their luck. The great duet he undertakes on Cajun flavoured "Evangeline" with Sheryl Crow is a corker and as that weather worn voice with its deep Southern drawl rings out you recognise it as the one of the most familiar and welcome sounds in American music. On the Band front we have great versions of some bona fide classics. You should check that your speakers are properly secured to the wall on a killer version of "Rag Mama Rag" and then there is the concluding triple whammy of the "Shape I'm in", "Chest Fever" and "the Weight". The latter is sung with the great John Hiatt, the most underrated American songwriter alive, who is clearly having the time of his life. Helm however knows about shades of grey and "Wide River to Cross" from Dirt Farmer is as deep as the ocean and would have undoubtedly required the handing out of free Kleenex to an emotional Ryman audience; alternatively "Deep Elem Blues" sung by Larry Campbell is the funkiest thing you will hear this side of Little Feat. All this music and more can be checked out live on the internet as the album soundtracks a PBS special introduced by long time Band fan Billy Bob Thornton. While your at it look out for the great cover performed by Helm and his band of the Grateful Dead's "Tennessee Jed" on the David Letterman show. As the host himself said of the fact of Helm's presence "everyone who is here tonight has reason to feel superior to everyone who is not".

This album should be in the display shelf at the Library of Congress for it captures music that feels timeless in its gestation and played by musicians who properly understand the meaning of the words "heart and soul". At the head of this great bunch of troubadours is Levon Helm a musician who ages like the best fine whiskey and just keeps getting better and better.

This is a great live CD release by the legendary musician Levon Helm, titled 'Ramble At Ryman Live'. The CD (15 live tracks) were recorded in September 2008 at historic Nashville's Ryman auditorium. There is however some overlap with Merlefest CD tracks released in 2008 but most of the tracks have been overhauled. Levon Helm plays great music on this CD release (great bluesy-rock sound, vocals & harmonies). The CD opens with a track "Ophelia" : great orchestral base track sound & vocals). Other great tracks include "Back To Memphis" (saxophone/piano combination), "Baby Scratch My Back", "No Depression In Heaven" (countryish track), "Deep Elem Blues" (a great bluesy ballad & melody), "Rag Mama Rag" (up-tempo bluesy track, great saxophone & vocals reminiscent of Bob Dylan's on this track), "Time Out For The Blues" (great guitar), "The Shape I'm In" (up-tempo track, great saxophone & beautiful husky/croaggy voice of Levon Helm) & "Chest Fever" (great lead guitar overdrive/syncopation). Stand-outs/gems/solid tracks include "Evangeline" (up-tempo track, great banjo/spanish guitar, wonderful melody & vocals), "Wide River To Cross" (a ballad with a beautiful violin/guitar combination & vocals), "Anna Lee" (wonderful violin, melody & harmonies), "A Train Robbery" (a slow bluesy track, great guitar chords, melody & vocals) & "The Weight" (wonderful saxophone/piano combination & melody). Okay track is "Famine Mae". On overall, this is a great live CD by Levon Helm, recorded in 2008, a highly recommended CD listening.

So many times I have gotten excited by an upcoming performance or album only to be let down. Not here. This album starts great with Ophelia and builds from there. Levon Helm brings up his guests and friends to give his throat (recovered from cancer) a break and each one of these guests add something special to the album. From Samie Davis, to Sheryl Crow to John Hiatt each one adds a personal touch which brings the album together in a fun, well paced, performance that is as close to magic on stage as I have heard. Besides, how can you not LOVE an album that has a TUBA solo?!

This is a short review; if you like Levon and any of The Band's great recordings, you will like this. Good solid musicianship, some great singing and guitar not to mention the other instrumentalists. That's it. You can't really go wrong.

I love this CD. Levon Helm is a rock/country/folk music icon. I've been listening to his music for over 40 years, since his days with The Band...as Dylan's backup band and then on their own. This CD has some great old Band numbers, as well as material I've never heard. It has the feel of The Band's Rock of Ages New Year's album from years ago...because of the brass section. Brass fits these songs so well. But there's some acoustic material too and a great group of guest artists. I only wish I had been "Ramblin' At The Ryman" for the original concert!

I liked the Band's music. They were especially good live. This cd is very good and I liked most of the tracks, and, Levon Helm's were the best in my opinion.

I have to agree with other reviewers who rate "Ramble At The Ryman" as mediocre.

Sheryl Crow gives a pretty good account of herself as a country singer, adding the obligatory twang. "Chest Fever" is the standout tune here. Otherwise, there's no exuberance, perhaps due in large measure to Levon Helm's deteriorated voice. "Ramble At The Ryman" reminds me a lot of Bob Dylan's "Before The Flood." Sometime live performances are career defining, and sometimes the artist doesn't pull it off.

I am a huge fan of The Band and of Levon Helm. I own all of The Band's studio and live releases as well as a couple of Helm's other solo efforts. This one is way off the mark. Levon hardly sings lead vocal at all and when he does his voice is nowhere near top form, especially near the bottom of his range. There are a lot of guest artists, easy traditional songs and blues standards which suggests to me that the performance was not well planned or rehearsed. All in all a truly disappointing effort.

I- really - was very very interested in this. That is, until I noticed that Sheryl Crow was one of the guests. The woman has nothing to offer musically -be real, "All I Wanna Do????" But here, she is with the drummer-mandolinist-vocalist for The Band, indisputably one of America's finest musical output. What has the woman done? Who is she..."friends" with? I mean, not only this, but the Stones on TV in '03? Talent, evidentally, means nothing anymore..