Levon Helm is probably best known to most people as That Guy Who Played Loretta Lynn's Dad in Coal Miner's Daughter. He's also, of course, well known as the drummer and occasional (and best) singer for the legendary, if unfortunately named The Band, who backed Dylan, released their own records, and co-starred in the legendary Neil Diamond concert movie The Last Waltz. (I'm kidding. It's their movie. But Neil Diamond really is in it, with fabulous hair and shades.)
Helm was the voice of "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" and "The Weight," and "Up on Cripple Creek," probably the three best-loved songs from a much-admired band that inspired more respect than love.
In the 90's, Helm was treated for throat cancer and only recently regained his singing voice.
Which makes "Dirt Farmer" that much more remarkable. Helm's voice sounds fantastic, and, with the help of a band and backup singers including his daughter, he's produced what might be the greatest album of traditional American music since the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's "Will The Circle Be Unbroken."
The song selection is everything you might hope for--no overly familiar songs, but all songs covering the familiar roots music territory of outlaws, lovers, broken-hearted lovers, dead lovers,and, um, dead kids. Jesus is absent from the proceedings, but otherwise, the album covers just about every theme of traditional American music.
The album also sounds fantastic--it's got a deep, rich sound and, despite the treble-heavy fiddle and mandolin, never sounds shrill, which can be a downfall of this kind of music in the hands of some producers.
Some tracks ("Poor Old Dirt Farmer" "Got Me a Woman" "Single Girl, Married Girl") are funny, some ("Anna Lee" "Blind Child") are almost unbearably sad, and "A Train Robbery" is totally badass.
Every track on this record is a keeper, and everyone sounds like a really tight band sitting on the back porch and ripping through some really great traditional songs. I was surprised to find that Levon Helm plays several instruments on this record, because it has the warmth and intimacy of a live recording.
This is a nearly perfect album. (If I can pour some gasoline on the fire of the Levon Helm-Robbie Robertson rivalry, you damn sure can't say that about any of Robbie Robertson's solo material.) If you like traditional American music, or The Band, or just the sound of very talented musicians playing the shit out of songs they love, this album is essential.
My Trusted MOGs
I like your review a lot, and it's great that Levon is back in action. But I do take issue with your dis of Robbie. I think his first and self-titled solo album is an amazing album, and very underrated. Dig it out and listen to "Somewhere Down The Lazy River," "Fallen Angel" and "Broken Arrow." I'm listening to the Levon Helm album right now and it sounds just as good as you describe it :-)
My Trusted MOGs
Thanks for reminding me about this album. It's nice to know that the traditions of American music just won't go away.
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Levon lives... Levon lives, brother. Really interesting review. I'll be sure to get some glimpse or sound-bites from it.
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very cool
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thanks for this great levon review
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Just picked it up and on first listen it's great. Maybe even better than any of the Band's albums. Maybe.
Just because it's fun - Michael I love some of the tunes on the Robbie Robertson album especially the ones you mention, but when was the last time you popped on "American Roullette"?
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excellent post, thank you. just finished watching the last waltz and forgot how talented and interesting levon and his story is. happy new year!
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This is why I love MOG. Not only can I find a post about this album, BUT it's on the homepage. Anyways...I just got this album after putting it on all my Christmas lists, nobody could find it so I had to order it. It is so perfect. If you have Sirius, Outlaw Country has been playing a bunch of the tunes from this album and that cemented it at #1 on my CD list. _Poor Old DIrt Farmer_ is as good as anything The Band ever did. And brendan my brother...Levon whoops Robbie hands down!~
~comment made out of ignorance considering I have not heard any of his solo albums.~
What really got me going 'Levon crazy' was a serendipitous movie rent _The Wendall Baker Story_ which has possibly the best movie soundtrack (Wes Anderson aside) ever. Short story long....When I Paint My Masterpiece starts the whole movie. I couldn't shake that song for a week! I nearly drove my wife insane listening to it over and over. I learned it on guitar. I sang it in the shower....then I got _Dirt Farmer_ a perfect end to my psychotic endeavor.
BTW- _'co-starred in the legendary Neil Diamond concert movie The Last Waltz.'_ .................funny,funny,funny
Thanks for the post & sorry for the rant!
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Of course, does not really capture the essence of the movie(what trailer does) but you get the idea.
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just got this, excited to hear..............his voice on ophellia and the night they drove old dixie down will be etchedin my head forever
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If you want to throw gas on the fire of the Robertson/Helm rivalry you should ask the question: If Levon claims to have cowritten the Band's songs, why hasn't he written anything since? Robertson continued to write prolifically post-Band, while Helm sank into Heroin abuse. Dirt farmer is great, but Levon didn't write any of the songs. That's the real controversy; who gets credit for the Bands songwriting. If their careers after the Band are any guide the credit clearly goes to Robertson.
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levon co wrote shit, maybe danko or manual on a few but everyone knows robbie had the words. and was/is a prick
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OK, so we agree on the writing. But I dont' get why the fan base is so split on the personality issue. Or, why calling him a prick matters when you consider the monster talent. I mean, I've seen people accuse him of killing Richard because "he quit the band and richard drank himself to death and used a rope to finish it and it's Robbie's fault."
The whole crew that worships at Levon's feet despises Robertson and it makes no sense to me. After all, Manuel was depressed that the Band had become a traveling jukebox (his words) with Levon in it and Robertson out of it... and we're supposed to believe Levon was the creative force?
Nutz. Anyway, you clearly don't know the man, so where do you get off calling him a prick? Ah, it's a fan thing. Kind of the way I hate Barry Bonds, even though I love the Giants and I don't know Bonds the man at all.