The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show
"The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show" | |
---|---|
Song by The Band | |
from the album Stage Fright | |
Released | August 17, 1970 |
Genre | Roots rock |
Length | 2:58 |
Label | Capitol |
Songwriter(s) | Robbie Robertson |
Producer(s) | The Band |
"The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show" is a song written by Robbie Robertson that was first released on the Band's 1970 album Stage Fright. It was also frequently performed in the group's live sets and appeared on several of their live albums. Based on Levon Helm's memories of minstrel and medicine shows in Arkansas, the song has been interpreted as an allegory on the music business. Garth Hudson received particular praise for his tenor saxophone playing on the song.
Lyrics and music
The song is based on stories Band drummer
Music critic Barney Hoskyns criticized the lyrics for being "almost too contrived as tintype portraiture" and for asking the listener to be enchanted with the characters without the song creating a "compelling vignette from the material."
Helm takes the lead vocal on "The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show" with bassist Rick Danko singing some passages.[7] Hoskyns finds the song to be "as tailor made for [Helm] as "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," stating that this song comes closer than any on Stage Fright to the mood of the Band's previous album The Band.[1] DeRiso states that Helms' "age-old timbre" and Danko's "down-home charm" transport the listener back to the time of Helm's youth.[7]
Hudson plays both
Reception
Q magazine critic John Bauldie called "The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show "The Band's greatest Americana song."[9] Musichound author Leland Rucker referred to "The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show" as one of the Band's classics.[10] David K. Blake described it as "a delightfully funky take on vaudeville."[11] The song has been included on several of the Band's compilation albums, including To Kingdom Come: The Definitive Collection in 1989 and Across the Great Divide in 1994.[12][13] A live version was included on A Musical History in 2005.[14]
The Hans Staymer Band covered the song in 1972.
Performers
- Levon Helm – 1st lead vocal, drums
- Rick Danko – 2nd lead vocal, bass guitar
- Richard Manuel – piano
- Robbie Robertson – electric guitar
- Garth Hudson – tenor saxophone (including solo), baritone saxophone
with:
- John Simon – trombone[8]
Live versions
The Band frequently played "The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show" in their live sets. For their shows at the Academy of Music in New York City recorded for the live album Rock of Ages the group was augmented by a number of horn legends for this song, with Allen Toussaint charting the additional horn parts.[1] Additional players included Snooky Young on trumpet, Howard Johnson, Joe Farrell on tenor saxophone, Earl McIntyre on trombone and J.D. Parron on alto saxophone. Although some of these musicians had played with the likes of Count Basie, Jimmie Lunceford, Ray Charles, Elvin Jones and Charles Mingus, Hudson played his own solo.[16] Rolling Stone critic Ralph J. Gleason called Hudson's solo on this performance "outstanding."[16] According to Robertson, the other "horn players were cheering him on ... blowing with one fist in the air," which Gleason called a "deserved tribute."[16] Aaron states that this live version does the song "full justice."[3] Hoskyns said that it "swung like big-band jazz."[1] Peter J. Barsocchini of the San Mateo County Times described it as a "stand out" of side 1 of the album.[17]
The Band performed the song at the
References
- ^ ISBN 9781423414421.
- ^ ISBN 9780810889040.
- ^ ISBN 9781617136139.
- ^ a b c d Burks, John (September 17, 1970). "Stage Fright". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2017-04-29.
- ISBN 9781554905522.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 2017-04-29.
- ^ a b c d e DeRiso, Nick (16 January 2014). "The Band, "W.S. Walcott Medicine Show" from Stage Fright ( (1970): Across the Great Divide". Something Else!. Retrieved 2017-04-29.
- ^ a b c "Stage Fright". The Band. Retrieved 2017-04-29.
- ISBN 9781576470930.
- ISBN 0825672562.
- ISBN 9781440803406.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 2017-04-29.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 2017-04-29.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 2017-04-29.
- ^ Billboard Magazine. September 9, 1972. p. 49. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
- ^ a b c Gleason, Ralph J. (October 12, 1972). "Rock of Ages". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2017-04-29.
- ^ Barsocchini, Peter J. (October 28, 1972). "Rock of Ages: Musical Memoir of Year's Eclipse". San Mateo County Times. Retrieved 2017-04-30 – via newspapers.com.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 2017-04-29.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 2017-04-29.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 2017-04-29.