****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Someday, when my time is running out, I will remember the moments in my life when my soul was truly lifted, and prominent among those memories will be the hours I spent in Levon's Barn being overwhelmed by the greatest music I've ever heard. But among those shining memories there will be a tinge of regret that I have never gotten over, because I was busy the day Mavis came to play. And this recording of that very event doesn't help. It is simply incredible!In case I need to say it, Levon and Mavis are and were two certified American national treasures. And for this event, they each brought their full band with them, especially notable because of the combined backup singers who on this night combined to form a great gospel choir. And although there is not even a mediocre moment in this performance, there are a few real standouts. "When I Go Away", written by Levon's cohort Larry Campbell and recorded by Levon for his "Dirt Farmer" album, is a perfect fit for Mavis and she really sings the hair off the thing. And this Ramble, like all the ones I attended, ended with The Band's "The Weight" (the greatest "non-gospel" gospel song ever written), which was Levon's song then and still was forty years later. But while this song has rarely been credibly covered, Mavis made it her own set-closer some time back, and here she really blows the roof off the joint with it. And Levon takes a verse here, which is his only vocal appearance on the album (his voice was often fragile in those days), and it's worth the wait. Of course, his brilliant drumming puts its distinctive stamp on the entire session, too.But the real revelation here is the old 1930's gospel song, "Farther Along", which has been covered by many more modern bands, not the least of which was a version by Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt on "Trio". But Mavis brings it back home, belting it out from somewhere down around her toes, with only the full compliment of backup singers to accompany her, and it is nothing less than a three-minute lesson in what gospel music is all about. Simply stunning!If you love Mavis and/or Levon, or if you ever had your brain melted at a Midnight Ramble, you'll want to hear this. Make that NEED to hear this. Likewise if you love gospel or just great musicians making great music for the soul. This is some of the best music I've heard in years.
