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As I promised a few days ago when I first heard the sad news of the passing of Levon Helm, one of the true greats of music, here is concert by The Band, during their reunion tour of 1983. Recorded live in Chicago on July 1, 1983.

The Band always stood out - they were different - they were special. They came to symbolize the true essence of Rock and Roots music, without all the pretense and fakery. They were the real deal. And their music was memorable and continues to leave its impression on countless musicians coming up in the ranks.

They were one of a kind, and founder and linchpin Levon Helm made it all happen. He will be sorely missed, but his contribution to the world will be around until they stop playing music. Which, with any luck, will be never.

Thank you for all those days and all those years.

And here's a reminder.

In honor of Bob Dylan's 70th (ouch!) birthday, here's a concert recorded during his legendary 1974 tour he did featuring The Band. It's the early show, recorded February 11, 1974 in Oakland.

This concert has been around the collectors circles for a while, but if you aren't familiar, it gives a pretty good taste of what the early-mid 70's period of live Dylan was like.

Here's the list of what's on:

Bob Dylan & The Band
Feb. 11, 1974
Oakland Flood
Oakland, CA.
Early Show:

Most Likely You Go Your Way
Lay Lady Lay
Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues
Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
It Ain't Me Babe
Ballad Of A Thin Man
Stage Fright *
Night They Drove Old Dixie Down *
King Harvest *
When You Awake *
Up On Cripple Creek *
All Along The Watchtower
Ballad Of Hollis Brown
Knockin' On Heaven's Door
The Times
Just Like A Woman
Gates Of Eden
Don't Think Twice

The sound is a little awkward in places, mostly because it's an old tape and the mix doesn't settle down for a bit. But it's a good concert and a nice tribute to one of the most enduring and iconic figures in Popular Music of the later 20th century.

Birthday Week continues . . . .

(On December 10, 1999 - this guy was big news)

December 10, 1999 - another one of those days where seemingly nothing earth shattering happened. Bill Bradley was temporarily sidelined from his Presidential bid owing to a recurring heart problem.

Bill Whitney (CBS News): “Presidential hopeful Bill Bradley has cancelled campaign appearances until Sunday. Spokeswoman Anita Dunn says he suffered a recurrence of a heart irregularity

Anita Dunn: “Senator Bradley in 1996 was diagnosed as having Atrial Fibrillation which is an irregular heartbeat. It’s a condition that’s shared with over 2 million Americans and that his doctor really describes as an inconvenience rather than a problem.”

Chinese spy charges were flying around, Rick Danko of The Band died and a woman claiming to be 114 years old was celebrating a birthday.

Another December 10th, exactly ten years ago.

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