When I started my NYC magazine career in 1970 at the legendary Zygote we put on the cover an acclaimed but little-known singer-songwriter named Jesse Winchester. We had to send our writer to Montreal to interview him because (classic for the era) Jesse was up there honorably avoiding the Vietnam War draft. Could have easily been me. He went on to record several other fine albums and, back from exile, moved to Nashville and became an honored songwriting fixture there, before passing away a few years back.
But that debut album! Wow. (Not to brag, but I still have it on vinyl.) Got Robbie Robertson, then at the height of The Band fame, to produce and play guitar with Levon on drums and mandolin. Little-known youngster named Todd Rundgren engineered it for Bearsville. So the musicianship is off the charts, as are many of the songs. Jesse so much in exile this must be the only double-fold album with the same big ass promo photo on all four surfaces!
So if you loved the early Band, and miss that sound and want to hear something from Robbie you probably have not heard before….here you go, below, six tunes. He even wrote with Jesse the fairly minor “Snow.”
Also, here is my Robbie tribute from yestereday with ten songs, some of which are surprises. And you can still subscribe for free.
The immortal “Biloxi”
Rocking “Payday”
Perhaps his most-covered, “Brand New Tennessee Waltz”
The haunting “Black Dog” (no, not the Nick Drake song)
“Yankee Lady”
“That’s a Touch I Like”
Bonus: Rosanne Cash cover of “Biloxi.”
Lyle Lovett, “Brand New Tennessee Waltz.”
Loved Jesse, and that first album is indeed brilliant.
I am in mourning. With Robbie's passing, I feel like I've lost a lifelong friend. Hail the Traveler!