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Robbie Robertson — Tango For Django
Album: How To Become Clairvoyant
Avg rating:
7.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1315









Released: 2011
Length: 3:38
Plays (last 30 days): 1
(Instrumental)
Comments (85)add comment
Rock on in that other realm, Robbie! You're dearly missed by me in this one, but your Music Spirit lives!
RIP RR!!

These great artists from the boomer generation (not quite RrR born in '43) will start dropping like flies, sadly, though at least they made it past 27!!

LLRP
 MLavender wrote:


Good post, but I wouldn't put him in the top 10 song writers. Has he written many good songs? Sure. But so have a lot of other people. He's never even had a #1 hit. Not that popularity is everything, but still.... I like Robbie. I have paid money for some of his albums. I'm willing to agree with everything else you wrote except that one line.

Off the top of my head, I'd put Dylan, Lennon, McCartney, Roger Waters, Taylor Swift, Joni Mitchell, Prince, Thom Yorke, Springsteen, Bowie, Paul Simon, Jimmy Page, Tom Petty, and Bernie Taupin all ahead of Robbie. And I didn't even include artists that might be considered more R&B, like Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye.



Bernie Taupin was a lyricist for Elton John, not a song writer.
 h8rhater wrote:

Wow... I fight the h8, but this might be the most ignorant comment I've seen on these boards. 

Robbie Robertson is thin musically?!?! 

His musical career began in 19-friggin-59 AND he released a fantastic album just last year!

He only wrote every great hit The Band ever had (including Chest Fever, The Wait, Up On Cripple Creek, and The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down) and was the lead guitarist of the band.  His solos are legendary and he is among the best guitarists in rock history. 

He is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Walk of Fame, and received Lifetime Achievement Award from no less than The National Academy of Songwriters.

Non Rock and Rollers might know him from his many contributions to the scores of Martin Scorsese's greatest movies.

In 1965 he was recruited by Bob Dylan to be part of his first electric touring band.  He refused unless his whole band was recruited.  They were and became The Band.  As Dylan's backing band they embarked on Dylan's world changing electric tour in 1966.

He is among the top 10 of song writers in the Rock and Roll era.

On this very album he was joined by: Eric Clapton, Robert Randolph, Taylor Goldsmith, Trent Reznor, Tom Morello, and Steve Winwood.  His latest album (Sinematic) contains contributions from: JS Ondara, Derek Trucks, Doyle Bramhall III, Van Morrison, Citizen Cope, Afie Jurvanen, and Jim Keltner.  All these artists get some significant play on RP and represent no small group of folks with, shall we say, less than "thin" musical abilities.

This guy has walked the musical walk and talked the musical talk for 60 YEARS!!  "Thin musically"?  There's something "thin" going on here, but it's got nothing to do with Mr. Robbie Robertson.


AMEN! And thank you. I know everyone is entitled to their opinion but that doesn't make it true. Sheesh! 
 h8rhater wrote:

Wow... I fight the h8, but this might be the most ignorant comment I've seen on these boards. 

Robbie Robertson is thin musically?!?! 

His musical career began in 19-friggin-59 AND he released a fantastic album just last year!

He only wrote every great hit The Band ever had (including Chest Fever, The Wait, Up On Cripple Creek, and The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down) and was the lead guitarist of the band.  His solos are legendary and he is among the best guitarists in rock history. 

He is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Walk of Fame, and received Lifetime Achievement Award from no less than The National Academy of Songwriters.

Non Rock and Rollers might know him from his many contributions to the scores of Martin Scorsese's greatest movies.

In 1965 he was recruited by Bob Dylan to be part of his first electric touring band.  He refused unless his whole band was recruited.  They were and became The Band.  As Dylan's backing band they embarked on Dylan's world changing electric tour in 1966.

He is among the top 10 of song writers in the Rock and Roll era.

On this very album he was joined by: Eric Clapton, Robert Randolph, Taylor Goldsmith, Trent Reznor, Tom Morello, and Steve Winwood.  His latest album (Sinematic) contains contributions from: JS Ondara, Derek Trucks, Doyle Bramhall III, Van Morrison, Citizen Cope, Afie Jurvanen, and Jim Keltner.  All these artists get some significant play on RP and represent no small group of folks with, shall we say, less than "thin" musical abilities.

This guy has walked the musical walk and talked the musical talk for 60 YEARS!!  "Thin musically"?  There's something "thin" going on here, but it's got nothing to do with Mr. Robbie Robertson.


Good post, but I wouldn't put him in the top 10 song writers. Has he written many good songs? Sure. But so have a lot of other people. He's never even had a #1 hit. Not that popularity is everything, but still.... I like Robbie. I have paid money for some of his albums. I'm willing to agree with everything else you wrote except that one line.

Off the top of my head, I'd put Dylan, Lennon, McCartney, Roger Waters, Taylor Swift, Joni Mitchell, Prince, Thom Yorke, Springsteen, Bowie, Paul Simon, Jimmy Page, Tom Petty, and Bernie Taupin all ahead of Robbie. And I didn't even include artists that might be considered more R&B, like Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye.
 h8rhater wrote:

Wow... I fight the h8, but this might be the most ignorant comment I've seen on these boards. 

Robbie Robertson is thin musically?!?! 

His musical career began in 19-friggin-59 AND he released a fantastic album just last year!

He only wrote every great hit The Band ever had (including Chest Fever, The Wait, Up On Cripple Creek, and The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down) and was the lead guitarist of the band.  His solos are legendary and he is among the best guitarists in rock history. 

He is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Walk of Fame, and received Lifetime Achievement Award from no less than The National Academy of Songwriters.

Non Rock and Rollers might know him from his many contributions to the scores of Martin Scorsese's greatest movies.

In 1965 he was recruited by Bob Dylan to be part of his first electric touring band.  He refused unless his whole band was recruited.  They were and became The Band.  As Dylan's backing band they embarked on Dylan's world changing electric tour in 1966.

He is among the top 10 of song writers in the Rock and Roll era.

On this very album he was joined by: Eric Clapton, Robert Randolph, Taylor Goldsmith, Trent Reznor, Tom Morello, and Steve Winwood.  His latest album (Sinematic) contains contributions from: JS Ondara, Derek Trucks, Doyle Bramhall III, Van Morrison, Citizen Cope, Afie Jurvanen, and Jim Keltner.  All these artists get some significant play on RP and represent no small group of folks with, shall we say, less than "thin" musical abilities.

This guy has walked the musical walk and talked the musical talk for 60 YEARS!!  "Thin musically"?  There's something "thin" going on here, but it's got nothing to do with Mr. Robbie Robertson.



     
 dyharenas wrote:


That's what you call a fat rebuke!


Shouldn't that be a "phat" rebuke :-)
 dyharenas wrote:


That's what you call a fat rebuke!


Shouldn't that be "phat" :-)
 dyharenas wrote:


That's what you call a fat rebuke!


A phat rebuke indeed!
The only thin thing here is between his ears obviously..
 h8rhater wrote:

Wow... I fight the h8, but this might be the most ignorant comment I've seen on these boards. 

Robbie Robertson is thin musically?!?! 

His musical career began in 19-friggin-59 AND he released a fantastic album just last year!

He only wrote every great hit The Band ever had (including Chest Fever, The Wait, Up On Cripple Creek, and The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down) and was the lead guitarist of the band.  His solos are legendary and he is among the best guitarists in rock history. 

He is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Walk of Fame, and received Lifetime Achievement Award from no less than The National Academy of Songwriters.

Non Rock and Rollers might know him from his many contributions to the scores of Martin Scorsese's greatest movies.

In 1965 he was recruited by Bob Dylan to be part of his first electric touring band.  He refused unless his whole band was recruited.  They were and became The Band.  As Dylan's backing band they embarked on Dylan's world changing electric tour in 1966.

He is among the top 10 of song writers in the Rock and Roll era.

On this very album he was joined by: Eric Clapton, Robert Randolph, Taylor Goldsmith, Trent Reznor, Tom Morello, and Steve Winwood.  His latest album (Sinematic) contains contributions from: JS Ondara, Derek Trucks, Doyle Bramhall III, Van Morrison, Citizen Cope, Afie Jurvanen, and Jim Keltner.  All these artists get some significant play on RP and represent no small group of folks with, shall we say, less than "thin" musical abilities.

This guy has walked the musical walk and talked the musical talk for 60 YEARS!!  "Thin musically"?  There's something "thin" going on here, but it's got nothing to do with Mr. Robbie Robertson.
 
Written from the perspective of one who I doubt has read "This Wheel's on Fire" by Levon Helm. I still think of Levon every time a Robertson song comes on.
 Skydog wrote:

Robbie has always been very thin musically
 

These guys agree with your assessment.
 h8rhater wrote:
Robbie Robertson is thin musically?!?!     His musical career began in 19-friggin-59 AND he released a fantastic album just last year! 

MUST Read:   Robbie Robertson Interview -- Really gets into Robbie's head
I found this fantastic interview, done at the time this album came out.  He talks extensively about both this record, his whole career, many other past, present, and future projects, and most everyone he's ever worked with.  Although I just wanted to learn a bit about him, I got a new insider's look at the music business, scoring for movies.  Then, I also really got to live in his head for quite a long time.  I don't know if the interviews of other artists are this good, but if they are, you need to bookmark this website as a treasure of music research.
Awesome, I love this. Has depth and history. Plays on a theme from one of the Romantic pieces for piano and violin Op. 75 by Dvorak.
Canadian Eh!

 h8rhater wrote:

Wow... I fight the h8, but this might be the most ignorant comment I've seen on these boards. 

Robbie Robertson is thin musically?!?! 

His musical career began in 19-friggin-59 AND he released a fantastic album just last year!

He only wrote every great hit The Band ever had (including Chest Fever, The Wait, Up On Cripple Creek, and The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down) and was the lead guitarist of the band.  His solos are legendary and he is among the best guitarists in rock history. 

He is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Walk of Fame, and received Lifetime Achievement Award from no less than The National Academy of Songwriters.

Non Rock and Rollers might know him from his many contributions to the scores of Martin Scorsese's greatest movies.

In 1965 he was recruited by Bob Dylan to be part of his first electric touring band.  He refused unless his whole band was recruited.  They were and became The Band.  As Dylan's backing band they embarked on Dylan's world changing electric tour in 1966.

He is among the top 10 of song writers in the Rock and Roll era.

On this very album he was joined by: Eric Clapton, Robert Randolph, Taylor Goldsmith, Trent Reznor, Tom Morello, and Steve Winwood.  His latest album (Sinematic) contains contributions from: JS Ondara, Derek Trucks, Doyle Bramhall III, Van Morrison, Citizen Cope, Afie Jurvanen, and Jim Keltner.  All these artists get some significant play on RP and represent no small group of folks with, shall we say, less than "thin" musical abilities.

This guy has walked the musical walk and talked the musical talk for 60 YEARS!!  "Thin musically"?  There's something "thin" going on here, but it's got nothing to do with Mr. Robbie Robertson.
 

That's what you call a fat rebuke!
 Skydog wrote:

Robbie has always been very thin musically
 
Wow... I fight the h8, but this might be the most ignorant comment I've seen on these boards. 

Robbie Robertson is thin musically?!?! 

His musical career began in 19-friggin-59 AND he released a fantastic album just last year!

He only wrote every great hit The Band ever had (including Chest Fever, The Wait, Up On Cripple Creek, and The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down) and was the lead guitarist of the band.  His solos are legendary and he is among the best guitarists in rock history. 

He is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Walk of Fame, and received Lifetime Achievement Award from no less than The National Academy of Songwriters.

Non Rock and Rollers might know him from his many contributions to the scores of Martin Scorsese's greatest movies.

In 1965 he was recruited by Bob Dylan to be part of his first electric touring band.  He refused unless his whole band was recruited.  They were and became The Band.  As Dylan's backing band they embarked on Dylan's world changing electric tour in 1966.

He is among the top 10 of song writers in the Rock and Roll era.

On this very album he was joined by: Eric Clapton, Robert Randolph, Taylor Goldsmith, Trent Reznor, Tom Morello, and Steve Winwood.  His latest album (Sinematic) contains contributions from: JS Ondara, Derek Trucks, Doyle Bramhall III, Van Morrison, Citizen Cope, Afie Jurvanen, and Jim Keltner.  All these artists get some significant play on RP and represent no small group of folks with, shall we say, less than "thin" musical abilities.

This guy has walked the musical walk and talked the musical talk for 60 YEARS!!  "Thin musically"?  There's something "thin" going on here, but it's got nothing to do with Mr. Robbie Robertson.
Soundtrack material!!!
Im in a movie now baby :-)
Must be a dark-lit rooms thing. Boo!
Is this a soundtrack for Marty?
 primm wrote:
{#Jump} bought this when it first came out, I recommend it highly
 
That's how I prefer to listen to music as well. 
brilliant
 misterbearbaby wrote:
Where's the music?  I just heard noodling in a mode, like some crappy movie background drone for "Hero wakes up in a fog wandering Istanbul airport (3 minutes). Zzzzzzzz...
 

Haha! Love your description. Like the song. 7
[ misterbearbaby wrote:Where's the music? I just heard noodling in a mode, like some crappy movie background drone for "Hero wakes up in a fog wandering Istanbul airport (3 minutes). Zzzzzzzz... ]


[ Plug your speakers in. It's there. ]

I like Robbie Robertson, but these 2 comments are pretty darn funny.
 primm wrote:
{#Jump} bought this when it first came out, I recommend it highly
 
Might be I'll heed your words.
Regardless of what one thinks of this mood song, this album in total is very good and somewhat underrated in my opinion.
 deepwoodskev wrote:
Not the best thing to listen to after finishing a very filling lunch while staring at a computer screen in a dimly lit room.

 {#Sleep}

 
Hmm, what song would be good to listen to given those conditions?
{#Jump} bought this when it first came out, I recommend it highly
Wow.  I am listening to this carefully (i.e., not focusing on work or something else) for the first time and this is quite good.

I have listened to jazz-rock-tango fusion in BA.  This compares well.
Sweet.

 
Not the best thing to listen to after finishing a very filling lunch while staring at a computer screen in a dimly lit room.

 {#Sleep}
 misterbearbaby wrote:
Where's the music?  I just heard noodling in a mode, like some crappy movie background drone for "Hero wakes up in a fog wandering Istanbul airport (3 minutes). Zzzzzzzz...

 
Plug your speakers in.  It's there. 
 Skydog wrote:

Robbie has always been very thin musically

 
Really?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Songs_written_by_Robbie_Robertson

Is this the embodiment of the old joke?
How many guitarists does it take to play a solo?
Answer: 5. One to play the solo and 4 to say how much better they could play it.


 misterbearbaby wrote:
Where's the music?  I just heard noodling in a mode, like some crappy movie background drone for "Hero wakes up in a fog wandering Istanbul airport (3 minutes). Zzzzzzzz...

 
Robbie has always been very thin musically
Where's the music?  I just heard noodling in a mode, like some crappy movie background drone for "Hero wakes up in a fog wandering Istanbul airport (3 minutes). Zzzzzzzz...
Very good 
{#Bananapiano} ..... v nice
It's really cool how Robbie Robertson continues to stretch and grow in interesting directions musically after all this time, and it's always interesting to hear where he goes . . .

This tune strikes me as moody and not for every occasion, but fun to hear for the first time. 
Awesome Python reference! I have written a bunch of lines while in the RP zone!
 
When I see that hoodie,  I think of Trayvon......
Funny. Bill just mentioned Jango (not a python language project). I'm staring to write some python code now :)
Has a very movie soundtrack feel to it.
As I sit struggling with django code...
Very nice.
I like much of Robbie's solo work, but not this.
Nice {#Cool}
This is the first thing off this album that I've found approachable. Beautifully done. 7.
 Byronape wrote:

I learned some Python in college not that long ago.  Does anyone actually use it for anything serious?
 
Yep, it's a big thing in the web apps development world these days. See Applications written in Python and List of Python software. The 'meta-CMS' Zope is written in Python.
Kind of sounds like the sad music near the end of last week's (2012 04 22) Mad Men.  
What is it that makes this so darn good? Is it a kind of sweeping composition from a sort of philosophical period of his life? Perhaps, as he gets on in years, he's trying to 'say something' like Duke Ellington did with his orchestral compositions? Or maybe he's just a great rock  guitarist playing with a few of his friends like Clapton, Winwood, Trent Reznor, working on a big idea. Whatever it is, it works.  
 abbey_normal wrote:
Django! I loves me some Python!

This sounds a lot like something from the Babel soundtrack to me.

 
I learned some Python in college not that long ago.  Does anyone actually use it for anything serious?  It always came off to be as a red-headed step child to C+, VB, and PowerScript.

Of course it could have been written for Robbie's mate Django Smith.
 Dinges,_the_Dude wrote:

And you're on your own?  ;-) 
Not too bad, but I don't think Django would have been pleased by this music...
 
I'm with you, this is definitely not along the lines of Django and he would have found it , shall I say a bit over the top
 Stingray wrote:
FROM FLOYD to ROBBIE...?

That is certainly a long-long-long-long way!!
 
Yes, but that's what makes RP so much fun!  Isn't it wonderful to make the jump ... ?
 romeotuma wrote:


Everybody in my hotel room loves this music...

 
 
And you're on your own?  ;-) 
Not too bad, but I don't think Django would have been pleased by this music...

Bump: lawfitzg wrote:
This is what separates RP from its competition...whoever they are.

 



I prefer Adam Hurst or even David Darling...but for a change-up... it's ok.


 lawfitzg wrote:
This is what separates RP from its competition...whoever they are.

 

whichever it is?
Django! I loves me some Python!

This sounds a lot like something from the Babel soundtrack to me.

perhaps he is from planet clair
I think the boy done good on this one!  Nice.
For Django Fett? - that's very nice of him.




 mandolin wrote:


1987 - Robbie Robertson (Geffen)
1991 - Storyville (Geffen)
1994 - Music for the Native Americans (Capitol)
1998 - Contact from the Underworld of Redboy (Capitol)
2002 - Classic Masters (Capitol)
2011 - How to Become Clairvoyant (Macrobiotic / 429)

...classic masters is a compilation of selected tracks from about half of music for the native americans and contact from the underworld of redboy, with remasters generally superior to the original albums and including the definitive remix of take your partner by the hand...
 
Thank you, mandolin - I'm off to do some serious sleuthing... You are awesome! {#High-five}
FROM FLOYD to ROBBIE...?

That is certainly a long-long-long-long way!!
That was tasty. Robbie discussed this album on Q (CBC Radio 1) recently. You can find the podcast through iTunes. Good stuff.
This is what separates RP from its competition...whoever they are.

This is nice — like it. 

Funny comment about the cover shot!  With the sunglasses & stoic face he reminds me of "Lenny" from the Today Show crowd....
Lenny

 Cynaera wrote:
Which ones would those be?  Share, please. I'm on the hunt, and I know people...
 

1987 - Robbie Robertson (Geffen)
1991 - Storyville (Geffen)
1994 - Music for the Native Americans (Capitol)
1998 - Contact from the Underworld of Redboy (Capitol)
2002 - Classic Masters (Capitol)
2011 - How to Become Clairvoyant (Macrobiotic / 429)

...classic masters is a compilation of selected tracks from about half of music for the native americans and contact from the underworld of redboy, with remasters generally superior to the original albums and including the definitive remix of take your partner by the hand...
Sure seems INCREDIBLE to me...first listen...and I sure do like it...hearing another cut off this earlier made me find his self-titled and Music for Native Americans and play them back to back...and now I come back to RP and not long after, THIS comes on...Wait, did you hear that?  Oh, this is sure stirring up some ghosts for me...

 Cynaera wrote:

Which ones would those be?  Share, please. I'm on the hunt, and I know people...
 
I can't bring myself to this to such a limited rating system.  Must hear it again I guess {#Drunk}

 mandolin wrote:


...he actually has four other solo albums, but good luck finding either of his geffen releases these days - they've been out of print for decades, now...
 
Which ones would those be?  Share, please. I'm on the hunt, and I know people...

 SuzG wrote:
First listen left a good impression...
 
OMFG

 fredriley wrote:
...He looks like he's wearing a flasher's mac in the cover photo.
 
I think that's an "Executive" he got from Kramer.  


 fredriley wrote:
Pretty enjoyable, mainly because yer man doesn't sing in that straining, agonised voice of his. 7 from the Nottingham jury. The album title reminds me of the apocryphal story about a psychic's meeting cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances ;). He looks like he's wearing a flasher's mac in the cover photo.
 
LOL :)
A nice trio of Canadian pop
Pretty enjoyable, mainly because yer man doesn't sing in that straining, agonised voice of his. 7 from the Nottingham jury. The album title reminds me of the apocryphal story about a psychic's meeting cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances ;). He looks like he's wearing a flasher's mac in the cover photo.


...you know, for ten years i checked his website at least three or four times per year looking for news of his next solo project, then this one snuck up and caught me completely offguard browsing through the record store a couple of weeks ago!..how to become clairvoyant is a great album, albeit more straight-up blues/rock than his previous solo efforts, so this track definitely stands out stylistically compared to the balance...
An homage to Mr. Reinhardt?

 MoM$CooKin wrote:
aniticipated the arrival of this new cd which I am sure will be just as tasty as his other 2 solo discs..
 

...he actually has four other solo albums, but good luck finding either of his geffen releases these days - they've been out of print for decades, now...
aniticipated the arrival of this new cd which I am sure will be just as tasty as his other 2 solo discs..
First listen left a good impression...