Summer Concert Series: The Last Waltz (1978)

 Probably no concert film more perfectly captures the pure essence of rock and roll than The Last Waltz. This movie has Martin Scorsese perfectly capture The Band's farewell performance (though they would reunite in 1983). There was no better way for them to say goodbye than with this concert. The group has simply never sounded better and the versions of songs like Up on Cripple Creek, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down and Stage Fright remain the finest versions of these songs. There is so much heart and soul put into this concert and honestly I don't see how anyone could fail to be moved by the pure emotion in these performances. In the interview segments The Band talks about how the road has worn them out and despite loving it, they are not sure they can live that way much longer. However by the performance alone, it would be impossible to tell this. There is so much energy on display here. Probably the highlight of this is the wonderful performance The Band and Bob Dylan do of Baby Let Me Follow You Down. Bob Dylan had previously done this song as a folk ballad on his first album. To be honest it was far from one of the standout tracks on that album. However here it is fully turned into one of the most rocking songs in the movie and this gives it new life beyond what it had before. This song becomes pure rock and roll in the best way possible. Bob Dylan is not the only great guest star here, also appearing in this concert are Eric Clapton, Neil Young (the story of a cocaine booger under Neil's nose being taken out by special effects is completely true, and it is not hard to tell he is on something by looking at him here), Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Neil Dimond, Emmylou Harris, Muddy Waters, The Staples, Ringo Starr, Ron Wood, Dr. John, Paul Butterfield and Ronnie Hawkins. Emmylou is one of my favorites (if you ever get a chance to see her in concert take it), and her voice is as lovely as ever here. Listening to Eric Clapton and The Band perfectly trade guitar licks on Further on Down the Road is not only incredibly impressive but they make it sound like the most natural thing in the world. Not being much of a Neil Diamond fan I was more than a little impressed the first time I saw this movie how much I enjoyed him here. Muddy Waters perfectly shows us the blues at their finest when he performs a soulful rendition of Manish Boy. The Band and Paul Butterfield's version of the Elvis Presley classic, Mystery Train shows the pure energy of rock and roll at its best. Martin Scorsese is a masterful filmmaker, yet he perfectly understands when to let the music speak for itself. Because of this his direction here is beautiful but never calls attention to itself preferring.

If you are a fan of rock and roll music or even just kind of like it, there is no excuse for you not to see this movie.

-Michael J. Ruhland