The craggy gravel voiced Levon Helm and the smooth, almost spoken style of Bobbie Smith may seem far apart but I've always loved their voices. Wherever I am I will stop, loiter and listen when a song plays with their vocals. Both were in service to the material, not over singing or with showy vocal calisthenics. While Levon's voice is jarring at first listen, its distinctive qualities stand out as warm, full and southern. In a group that produced as much an American sound as any rock band, Levon was the lone American with his Canadian band mates that made up the Band. Their love of the blues, rockabilly and southern soul showcased with three excellent vocalists; Helm, Rick Danko and Richard Manuel made a lasting and influential mark in music history.
I also enjoyed his records, guest vocals on Los Lobos records, the material from the reformed Band minus Robbie Robertson and Richard Manuel. Helm was also a fine mandolin player and a drummer who pushed the rhythm without any solos or set drum pieces. I would be happy to write about the great vocals and songs of Richard Manuel and the bouncy Rick Danko (who wrote my favorite song about coffee; Java Blues -the only pick me up that's here to stay). Or how Garth Hudson couldn't join the band unless it was sold to his parents as he being hired as their music teacher! It was a mix of distinct voices harmonizing, contrasting and crashing together that made the Band unique. After recovering from cancer (unfortunately not a full recovery) and some financial woes, Helm was able to enjoy the last five years with many musicians eager for his company and to honor his contributions.
Levon Helm and Bobbie Smith of the Spinners were always overshadowed by a larger presence in their groups - and for the most part, they seemed happy enough to give up the spotlight. In the last years of the Band, the members found themselves in the shadow of Robbie Robertson, the primary songwriter who was focused on his next career as an actor and soundtrack scorer for Martin Scorcese, the director of the Last Waltz, the concert film of the Band's last concert. This was evident in the film where Scorcese frames Robertson as not one of five, but the one the other four surround. Helm wrote that he didn't like the way the Band played in that concert but there's nothing lacking in his performance that i can see. It might be that drug abuse has effected Richard Manuel moving his performance to the background- perhaps Helm felt that by presenting his friend Manuel in this lasting image, the film did more harm than good. And maybe that says much more about Levon Helm.
Bobbie Smith is cool!. His vocals make it easy to not notice how effortlessly he guides a song to where it needs to go- communicating feeling while rocking the rhythm. He delivers an understated performance but always soulful and genuine. Most people will recognize the Spinners song, Ill Be Around and that vocal is Bobbie's. He too existed in the shadow of an overwhelming prescence; usually a gospel slinging lead singer , Phillipe Wynne or later, John Edwards. Often, Smith would set the tempo and then move aside for Wynne or Edwards to drive the crowd crazy.
The clip is grainy, the setting is overdone (an awards show) but it shows Bobbie in his smooth graceful splendor. Smith movements are so perfect and fluid. In his time, you sang and performed the choreography. The Spinners are still out there touring but only Bobbie Smith and Henry Fambrough are still in the group.
The Spinners were another group that had three excellent vocalists, part of the Philadelphia sound, although the members were from Detroit spending some unsuccessful years on the Motown label. It wasn't until they moved to the Atlantic label and their association with producer Thom Bell did they find their voice.
Some of their outfits (it was the 70's after all) were loud but their stage moves were always fun.
Maria and I once saw the group in the late '80's and after the show saw the members leaving Kimball's East in Emeryville out through the parking lot. I was shocked to see that my fave, Bobbie was smoking a cigarette but we followed (stalked the Spinners!) in our car as they walked across the street to their hotel.
Levon Helm died last month.
Bobbie Smith won't live forever.
Their sounds will always be with me, and their recordings will still satisfy many as long as there are recordings and memories.
This piece is dedicated to the young man who asked me once what i was playing, for it was music his father used to play when he was a child. On that day, sitting in the cafe, it made him happy to hear Dizzy Gillespie. Whenever I listen to Levon or Bobbie, I'm feeling fine.
Below are two YouTube links
the spinners
levon helm/theband
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