Levon Helm Ramble At The Ryman "The Shape I'm In" on PBS

Excerpt from PBS Special "Levon Helm Ramble At The Ryman" premiered nationwide on August 2009. Join legendary musician and singer Levon Helm as he brings his Midnight Ramble to the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. Check you local PBS listings.

[@liaghetta]

I discovered Levon and The Band only last year and I'm totally addicted to their music. Levon is (present tense) and forever will be the greatest.

[@TXGrampa]

Difficult to accept it's been 13 years. We miss you, Levon.

[@haroldfloyd9385]

At age 85 I enjoy real music. This is one of my favorites.

[@mikeburton8916]

I have watched this 1000 times and it still makes me happy. What a band.

[@charatwell4519]

Not only do we missed the band. We miss Levon, and the Ryman was such a classic place for this event.

[@dappy848]

Now that's real music. Thank you.

[@danielhaggerty7209]

It makes me sad to watch this and be the first person to comment on it in 5 years. Levon and the Band are gone and there will never be another. and You Don't know the shape I'm in....

[@williambutterfield7551]

you are so right!

[@redskindan78]

I miss Levon and the Levon Helm Band. We saw two Rambles at Levon's barn. Sitting so close we could almost shake hands with the musicians...not that we paid extra for special seats, more that the barn holds a small audience and every seat is special.

[@beekind466]

I listen to all of these great tunes every day...keeps me rollin through the shitpile with ease!💓

[@urseldoran9782]

NO WORRIES SIR!! Talent blows all the non believers away!

[@williamhoeweler8259]

Thank God for recordings its fun to rember the things we were doing when these records were made ,so many memories that come back while listening to this golden sound it definetly brings tears to the eyes ,love this stuff

[@proberts209]

I'm still listening Levon. Exceptional people, exceptional music. Bless you one and all for the gifts you gave us.

[@frankwall5177]

An awesome tune. Can’t get my fill never gets stale.😊😊😊

[@paulfogarty9842]

It just shows you how great The Band was!! Timeless.

[@timstivers9649]

I play levon songs to my kids. He is an absolute legend

[@joshuameighan344]

What a legend Levon Helm was his music will live an eternity. God Bless you Levon .🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼

[@LH-of4jp]

It’s a shame they aren’t missed until they are gone. Levon Helm was a one of a kind. No one can get close nowadays.

[@aprilskies1051]

I'm still listening to Levons Band, The Band and just bought Mavis Staples and Levon Helm...we'll never get this standard again. Brilliant. Bought 3 books by Levon and a t shirt with his photo on the front..proud to wear it...an amazing gentleman

[@jkajje2945]

yes

[@Michaelg176]

Levon. The Ryman. Downtown Nashville. Giddyup!

[@waynewilliams8554]

Thank you for the wonderful ride Levon !!

[@stephaniesmith9715]

Love this it doesn't get any better than this.

[@jacquelinejenkins2616]

Love Levon Helm! ❤️ One of my favorite song's from The Band!

[@davidpedersen1757]

What better place to hear that all-time great piece of music then at the RYMAN FREAKING AUDITORIUM!? God bless the Mother Church!

[@urseldoran9782]

BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE!!!! One for the history books from the legends!!!!!!!!!

[@estellamoore9207]

Levon Helm, what a guy.

[@urseldoran9782]

PRICELESS music for all times by BRILLIANT talented musicians assembled by Levon and pals!!!! Confirmed that there are 27 folks living in a hole!

[@sappermade6012]

Levon. FOREVER!!! Always

[@haroldfloyd9385]

They just don’t get any better than this.

[@wallysmomable]

We were there...today is Levon 's birthday....miss you

[@unclebudus]

Holy crap they left every bit of this right there on the stage, no holds barred.

[@garryr486]

So much talent on one stage. Including Levon, Larry and Buddy, three American treasures.

[@ytell12]

I like Brian Mitchell's voice on this song. It looks as though Levon is quite happy with it, too. Some people are never happy no matter what.

[@billyshane3804]

Good honest Rock'n'roll Timeless music. RIP The Band

[@zenzen1916]

Miss you Levon,🥀 thanks for introducing me to Paul, our son is 44 now, reminds me of him .🎶✨🎶

[@billschwalb9486]

I met Mavis Staples' guitarist on the bus leaving Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in SF some years. I asked if he went with Mavis to Levon's place. He did. Two of the greatest!

[@JoeDiego]

Fantastic lead vocal here, really suits the song

[@jkajje2945]

I love Levon What a man

[@oriolquintana4637]

Hearing the guy sing, one can't help but missing Richard Manuel more than ever

[@leonardkeanu8379]

I know im asking the wrong place but does anybody know of a method to get back into an Instagram account?? I was stupid forgot the password. I would appreciate any assistance you can give me!

[@marlondavid1106]

@Leonard Keanu Instablaster ;)

[@leonardkeanu8379]

@Marlon David Thanks for your reply. I found the site thru google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff atm. Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@leonardkeanu8379]

@Marlon David it did the trick and I finally got access to my account again. I'm so happy! Thanks so much, you saved my account!

[@marlondavid1106]

@Leonard Keanu You are welcome xD

[@sup393]

this was great thank you. My only regret in life. Not seeing Mr Helm.

[@pbjstark5178]

I totally agree.

[@angelaallen340]

Loved helm.....

[@khzvaleriesmith6428]

and the BAND! i did get to unexpectedly get to see garth the wizard(thats what he is)

[@SumanDuarahabcdefis6]

Far far away I leave. But regret is same Such a voice, drums, musicianship.

[@joehernandez3163]

Levon RIP my man , 🙏🏻

[@robertforrest9021]

As for Levon in Shooter, he was spot on

[@hfgmusic2948]

Richard Manuel's song! Rip! Rip, alll!!!

[@617mch]

cant we just savor the music for what and who it is not pick it apart

[@IdealDanl]

AYE THAT!!!

[@redskindan78]

That's Brian Mitchell on keyboard and singing on this song. Brian M. also took the lead on "Tangled Up in Blue" at typical Ramble in Levon's barn.

[@raphaelryan3394]

Funny I was just thinking how much I liked his voice.

[@GayleMI]

Wow. Awesome horns!

[@urseldoran9782]

Really important that Levon brought all the horns in!!! Springsteen did it also!!

[@timrichter2197]

gonna have to say boo hoo to those disparaging Brian's voice. Manuel is a unique gravelly voice and clearly Brian is trying to evoke the Manuel growl so I say kudos

[@virginiabarton1056]

❤that smile! Peace…

[@charlesatwell4403]

Richard Manuel would approve

[@carladewolf7375]

Does my soul good !

[@Gary198101]

From knowing Levon personally and going to at least 20 midnight rambles, Larry Campbell is the band leader, and he only picked the absolute best for the Levon Helm Band, there is 3 multi instrumentalist(s) on that stage, Brian Mitchell, Larry Campbell, and last but certainly far from the least Levon Helm. Levon had a true love of music and it ran in his blood all of his life, Little Sammy Davis which makes 2 appearances here is one of the last surviving true blues instrumentalists. After Levon recovered from throat cancer and came back to give us 10 more years of great music, which has not changed here, he won 3 Grammy Awards in his last 10 years and also a life time achievement award for his songs with The Band. If you know anything about The Band, Levon got the short end of the stick from Robbie Robertson, these songs you here in this performance, Dirt Farmer album and Electric Dirt Album, were all about and stories of his life living in Helena, Arkansas. The Band was all Canadian except for Levon, the songs you heard were from the south and southern tales, not from Robbie Robertson's Canadian Pen. Robertson beat Levon out of millions in song writing credits, that is why the Midnight Rambles came to be, after all the medical bills Levon was in danger of loosing his home and everything he had, did anyone from the band step up to help him, no not a one of them with the exception of Rick Danko which shared a long and great friendship between the two men. Rick died just before Levon, and Rick was often at the Midnight Rambles. Every musician on that stage at the Ryman was there out of love and respect for Levon. As for Brian Mitchell's voice, it was perfect for this song, look up the original recording and see how it matches. Little Sammy had one song he sung by himself,and of course there were others to give Levon a break. This is history and a work of art, cherish it and enjoy the music, not clamor over who's voice was for this or that.

[@pac401]

Gary198101 Just to be accurate, Danko died 13 years before Levon and really wasn't involved in the rambles which started after Levon's first bout with throat cancer in the late 90's early 2000's.

[@Gary198101]

You are indeed correct Pac. Rick Danko is buried in the same cemetery in Woodstock as Levon is. Levon was diagnosed in 1998 with Cancer of the Vocal Chords. Rick and Levon were really close, Levon dedicated the studio in memory of Rick and Richard.

[@rtriplett33]

Poor guy,,,NO ONE rom the Band did anything? They all so rich and he s so good,looks like they were tight band, or rather they sounded like tight band,one would assume they would help one another, everyone perceives THE BAND as such. A shame as Levon so talented.

[@tulsatombob2769]

Gary: I had the honor of playing bass in the opening act for Levon Helm in Tulsa a few years ago. He was a very nice and down to earth person. Levon was in the class of the best of the best musicians that never sold out, like the late J.J. Cale and Leon Russel. They will all be missed but never forgotten. They left us their timeless gift of some of the best music of the 20th century.

[@jimlabos]

Haven't read ahead to see all the "trash talk" but I appreciate your love for Levon and these great musicians. To be fair other than Robertson no one in The Band was left with that much. Actually Levon was second to Robertson probably. Robertson claimed all the songwriting credits and that was the big mistake they all made (to not get in there. They could have requested a few points and they would have been well off from it). They should have ironed it all out at the beginning. But in those days other than The Beatles and some others bands. everyone thought they would never make that much money and "they are all friends so they'll share....". Then Mr. Greed set's in. Still if you play in a band with your brothers (and that is what they often become if you are lucky to play with the right people) and they get into trouble later on in life something should and could be done to help. However unless you know the real inside story and all sides it's not fair to judge. Who knows what really happened. Thing is that without Robertson, Levon was still able to create great music and it sounded very close to The Band sound. On the other hand Robertson sounded very different on his own compositions away from The Band. To me it shows that Levon had an incredible influence on those songs from The Band. Levon seems to me was much more prolific as well. Anyways we are really lucky to have lived in a time when all these great artists were able to live their art.

[@MultiSCALES]

The Band !!!!

[@mywotzone]

Thanks for uploading this on upon request :) ....

[@sonnyt1227]

Yes that's Levon in Shooter

[@williamhoeweler8259]

Id so love to see any footage at one of levon's midnite rambles at his barn in woodstock. Anyone with footage ?

[@jeffmame605]

It is a sad thing, but nobody else is gonna do it better

[@stephenchisholm6708]

The best of music: purposeful prose.

[@craftbrewer4032]

everyone that comments here please go see/listen to Avett Brothers. There's still good music out there

[@robertforrest9021]

Brian Mitchell has the perfect vioce for this song

[@brucewells6996]

I almost bought some Gran Mariner in honor of Richard Manuel. I will next time.

[@michellei2297]

Cool drumer

[@brentcowan5957]

The gunsmith from the movie shooter plays drums? 🤷‍♂️

[@garybrinker4522]

Yea, thats him !

[@robertbruce8492]

And Loretta Lynn’s Dad also!

[@1948tricky]

I can agree he,s not Levon or Richard rut its still great music ... You may want to comcider where theyre at. The city that gave birth to an then Killed country music ....thanks for the upload....

[@buckfan1969]

As far as I'm concerned, if he's good enough for Levon, he's certainly good enough for me.

[@thorsmagicstone]

👍👍😃

[@robertcalamusso1603]

Americana 🇺🇸

[@1stshepherd]

🎹⚘️🎸⚘️🎤⚘️🎺⚘️🥁

[@stixplayer]

BRIAN MITCHELL !! CLARK GAYTON!!

[@evelynovercash1147]

Then there is Sam Bush doing the rocking chair.

[@GayleMI]

Now that's a great guitar solo! Sorry, Robbie.

[@tonyennis1787]

Dang!! Vin Diesel can really blow that trumpet!

[@MrJimc2]

IpheltaThei Clearly you missed somewhere on the roots of southern music-it's about soul and feel. Don't believe it, then have Pavarotti or Streisand sing this behind the same musicians.

[@BC-2U]

That’s what’s missing. The soul and feel.

[@davidwilloughby316]

Sure wish I could have met Mr. Helm. Take a load off fanny...

[@dragmyre]

does anyone here know Levon is an actor? movie.. SHOOTER.

[@jime6996]

+Fred Libby he was in top gun too

[@jime6996]

+Fred Libby also coal miners daughter

[@richardduke7199]

The Right Stuff is his most famous role.

[@EtTuYoube]

www.imdb.com/title/tt0092967/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_12

[@EtTuYoube]

End Of The Line

[@robertwmassey]

I miss them all…………except one. He’s the one that failed to share publishing rights with the rest of the band. One member took all the money and left the other members with only tour money. Even in a tight knit band that shared hardships on the road had a selfish member.

[@pac401]

Hey I don't like the way Mitchell sings this song. But you know what? Levon does and that's good enough for me.

[@IdealDanl]

He's good on the Hammond, though!

[@jamesa6272]

Nothing beats the last waltz. Sorry

[@jelenson]

1st

[@BC-2U]

Not even close to the original version.

[@pbhales]

I'm sorry to see someone named I felt a thigh impugning the voice. He has obviously never sung live, never understood how sprachsingen works, and has no understanding whatsoever of American music, never heard Clarence White sing "The Cuckoo," or Doc Watson sing "Deep River Blues", both of them missing notes in order to hit the emotional core. Sorry young pretentious boy. You are lucky. You have a great deal of rich listening and learning ahead of you. Perhaps someday you will put it to good use-- perhaps you will try to sing with verve and feeling, surrounded by the greatest musicians of the moment.

[@irenemaguire3839]

Ya just don't get the soul of this man and his voice.

[@jasonwiley798]

So robbie was a better businessman than Levon. Every group needs someone who pays attention to the bottom line.

[@iceaxe56]

Yeah that mitchell guy ruins it-