coreywood

“…and then there was one “

One of the greatest bands to ever walk our stages and play with our hearts has been taking the final curtain – one by one.

Ricky Danko

Levon Helm

Richard Manual

This week – the heart of The Band -  Robbie Robertson

Left to carry the flag Garth Hudson.

Very few artists can ever lay claim to changing popular music. Just a handful.

Then one day it hits you– hammers you actually.  You get total clarity and begin to change everything you’ve known and held sacred.   So it was when Eric Clapton heard The Bands Music from Big Pink.  It was like all of a sudden he heard this record and said to himself, “Now this is what music should sound like.” For me personally– this has always been one of the most interesting moments in rock music history.

My pal Corey Wood called me just as I was finishing recording Saturdays Stew. “sorry to tell you this but Robbie’s gone”

He knew how special I thought Robbie Robertson was.

Dixie Down, Cripple Creek, I shall be Released, Chest Fever, King Harvest, Stage Fright, Acadian Driftwood, Somewhere down the crazy river. Once were brothers.

 

On the eve of the 50th anniversary of The Band’s landmark self-titled 1969 album, Terry David Mulligan catches up with Robbie Robertson. As the lead guitarist and principal songwriter for the brotherhood known to all as The Band, Robertson holds an esteemed place in music history.

On September 20th, his sixth solo album Sinematic will be released. The record will be followed by the release of the documentary Once Were Brothers, the story of The Band on film. Robbie talks with Terry about his many projects, including the soundtrack he wrote for Martin Scorcese’s film The Irishman.  

The Oscar Awards are always one of the stand out events of any year!

This year is no exception.  It is, after all,  the year following

The Slap!!

Oscars  take place Sunday March 12 Live from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

For many delightful  years I was the co-host and then host of Movie Television for CityTV.

The key to the success of MT across Canada and around the World was the support staff. We talked film 24-7.

That’s what I wanted to recapture with this Episode of The  Mulligan Stew Podcast.

Film fans and film friends just riffing  thoughts and calling out the possible winner of various awards.

 

Actor/Actress

Supporting actor/actress

Director

Screenplays

Adapted Screenplay

Film of the year

 

Our guests and my dear friends are –

Lorraine Clark – Associate Producer

Alfred Tonna – Post Production Director & Segment Producer.

Dan Duford – Producer.

Between we four, we have visited 100’s of film sets capturing the story of the film and 1000’s of media junket interviews with the stars.

Have a listen and see if you agree.

Episode #200 – it’s a blur but I think captures what the times were like during a pandemic. The role that music played in getting people through.

Joni and I shared a band house in Regina. For 10 days.  Maybe 1966.

Then we reconnected when I hosted the first Greenpeace concert that Joni headlined in Vancouver. We would cross paths much later at The Last Waltz.

This is a video interview I can’t remember doing. I also had forgotten the Greenpeace concert for some bizarre reason.

She talks about  The Last Waltz, being incorrectly painted as a Canadian ex-pat in LA,  the effect her songs have on people, the changing of “the old guard” at the Last Waltz, and how she wasn’t ready to retire.

We cover a lot of subjects and her music history.

How she calls her songs “her babies” and that it's part of female nurturing

She waxes about Dylan, Steely Dan and answers the question do we know her as well as we think we do? Joni speaks out strongly on Indian rights!!

Neither one of us mention an album or name a song.  So I’m not exactly sure when this was recorded. But I’m thinking 1982???

I mention she’s on a speaking tour and Joni talks about organizing a date with  Sting,  Peter Gabriel, Bryan Adams that speaks of The Human Rights Concerts (Live in New Jersey). That first concert was in 1986..so let's call this interview mid-80s.

The time of

82’s Wild Things Run Fast

86’s Dog Eat Dog

88’s Chalk mark in a rainstorm

 

Being influenced by Steely Dan, Thomas Dolby, Willie Nelson, and Peter Gabriel.

It’s the perfect interview to celebrate Podcast 200.

(Thank You Elliott Garnier and Corey Wood for getting me there)

God Bless Joni Mitchell