Testimony by Robbie Robertson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fascinating firsthand narrative from someone who lived through the early days of rock 'n roll and who made incredibly valuable contributions as a member of the highly creative group called The Band. Robbie Robertson is an amazingly skillful & creative guitarist who started touring with Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks as a 16 year old teenager. Through his songs--in collaboration with the other incredibly gifted members of The Band--Robbie left an indelible mark in the development of rock 'n roll, helping to really develop and move forward what is today known as Americana or Roots music. Old hillbilly mountain music that is real, raw, story-based & character-driven, with a wide spectrum of instrumentation & harmonies, all if which is very moving, memorable, and totally engaging. Classics too many to name, like The Weight, Up On Cripple Creek, Rag Mama Rag, Stage Fright, Chest Fever, Across the Great Divide, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, Orphelia, The Shape I'm In...the list goes on & on. Go listen to some of their early recordings and soak it in: Music From Big Pink, The Band, Cahoots, Rock of Ages (live), and also the absolutely exquisite The Last Waltz CD & movie (directed by Martin Scorsese). Then there's also--of course--The Band's work as Bob Dylan's house band and their work on The Basement Tapes (ah, so classic!), Before the Flood, & Plant Waves.


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