Search - Richard Manuel :: Whispering Pines: Live at the Get Away

The Knight of Sad Figure Whispers from Behind the Grave

Pasi Tuominen | 11/27/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"`Whispering Pines - Live at the Getaway' is the new posthumous album by Richard Manuel, The Band's former keyboardist and vocalist. The album is strong, emotional and very much sympathetic.Richard Manuel's sensitiveness could never stand the heavy shock caused by the break-up of the original Band. The 1980's reunion was able to bring back some strength to the man, but nevertheless it was all too much for him. His appetite for alcohol did not help in recovering, either. He ended his own life in a Florida motelroom in 1986.However, Richard left a priceless musical heritage for his followers. His singing skills were outstandingly versatile and, during the earlier days of his career, he composed such greats as 'Orange Juice Blues (Blues for Breakfast)' and 'In a Station'. Maybe most importantly, his singing on (especially live versions of) 'The Shape I'm in' is immortal.`Whispering Pines - Live at the Getaway' is a new chapter in Richard Manuel's musical heritage. It is a long-awaited answer to the rumours that have for long suggested that this material exists. Now it is possible for all of his fans to experience just how he sounded after The Band's break-up.The album kicks off with the set's best song, a bluesy interpretation of Ray Charles's `Grow too Old'. Both his singing and playing flows joyfully, bringing a great start for this live recording. Also old favourite `Georgia on My Mind', two instrumentals and `Miss Otis Regrets' (something he calls a `novelty tune') run in the same pleasing fashion.What would a superstar's gig be without star guests? Here Richard brings in Jim Weider, `mean guitar man' as he calls his mate, for a few songs. Jimmy's guitar on `Across the Great Divide' could be much more audible, but anyway he fills in some nice guitar work. On later tunes on the album, Weider's guitar sounds better and better.And of course, Richard is happy to introduce one of the fellows from The Band - Rick Danko. `I Shall Be Released' is their duet, and unfortunately it gives some indication of what is going to go down later on the gig. Neither of them can hit the high notes and the performance is overall rather incoherent. But are they having fun together!J.J. Cale's `Crazy Mama' is a groovy gang-rock by Richard, Rick and Jim with Sredni Vollmer on harp. After this, things start to nose-dive as, presumably, Richard's drinking habits step into the picture. As soon as we get to the title track `Whispering Pines' his work becomes shaky and he even forgets the lyrics of some lines. What was bright and energetic in the beginning has turned into pathetic by now. One can bet that both Richard and the audience were relieved after the show was over, following a disturbingly unsteady version of `Tears of Rage'.In addition to the (mostly) pleasing music, this album tells a lot about Richard Manuel's personality. He loved music, he loved to perform for a live audience and above all, he was a hugely gifted musician. But he was also a sensitive and fragile human being that was taken over by alcohol-fuelled escapism. This resulted in an untimely death of a fine man.If you listen very closely to this album, you can hear Richard whisper to you: `Hey, I'm still here.'"

Richard Manuel, 1943-1986: Too Soon Gone.

Bud | Seminole, Texas, USA | 04/06/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Despite the public acclaim garnered by The Band from 1968-77, one of its members, the late Richard Manuel, has never really stood out on his own when mentioned to the public; one has to mention The Band along with Manuel to see the appreciation for his contributions. His silver-throated, heartbreaking voice helped define The Band's sound and artistic purpose. When the group first split in 1977, Manuel did not pursue a high profile solo career, rather participating in low-key projects. Of course, The Band (minus lead songwriter Robbie Robertson) reunited in 1983, but their tours were far from the success of years past.
Richard Manuel hanged himself in a fit of depression in 1986. Since then, his memory has been tarnished by a very childish dispute between Robbie Robertson and another Band vocalist Levon Helm, a dispute which basically boils down to an ethic of "Who respected Richard more?" Robertson claims it was the frustrations of The Band's reunion tours that drove the singer to suicide, while Helm fires back with claims that Robertson never gave Manuel credit where it was due, citing that there are "only a few shots of Richard" while the camera focused almost entirely on Robertson in The Band's concert film "The Last Waltz."
But fortunately, Dreamsville Records has given the memory of Richard Manuel a great justice with this excellent album, culled from a performance at The Getaway club in Saugerties, New York, just five months before his death. There have been several bootlegs that showcase the singer and are worth seeking out, such as "The Last Moving Shadows" (named after Ron Horning's morbid, sick article about Manuel's suicide). But this volume is better, and has a surprisingly clean, pure sound quality. Band member Rick Danko even shows up, but it's Richard Manuel in the spot light. He covers songs from his roots and influences and his days with The Band. Renditions of 'She Knows,' 'Crazy Mama,' and 'Miss Otis Regrets' are stirring and enjoyable, while the song selection from The Band eerily reveals a bit more; performing the beatiful 'I Shall Be Released,' then falling back to the dark 'The Shape I'm In' gave the audience a clue as to what the singer was going through personally.
"Whispering Pines" is an essential buy for anyone who is looking for an album that does justice to the memory of Richard Manuel, and for anyone unsatisfied with the available bootlegs. The feud between Robertson and Helm can overshadow many things, but not the voice God gave to Richard Manuel."

Richard Manuel's swan song

Eric McDonald | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | 04/06/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Years after the Band folded suit due to a precious and tapped-out Robbie Robertson, Manuel was still on the road playing small gigs to fans dedicated to hearing his music. The archived material on this disc stems from two 1985 shows at the Getaway Club in West Saugerties. The material ranges from jazz standards to Manuel's usual signature Band tunes, but what makes the recording remarkable is the determination with which he delivers the songs. Years of hard-living had, of course, damaged his voice considerably. By 1985 his upper register was all but shot, yet Manuel commits himself to belting out the music with nothing but a microphone and a piano (& the odd help of bandmate Rick Danko on bass and Jim Weider on guitar). As he wrestles his way through Whispering Pines, Manuel's legacy becomes clear. Here is the last stand of a man who has committed to wax some of the most poignant songs in the rock & roll canon. Despite his failing voice and poor health, he still manages to make his own songs as unique and as achingly beautiful as he had at the beginning of Big Pink 17 years earlier."