| "Whispering Pines" | |
|---|---|
 Cover to the French single release | |
| Song by The Band | |
| from the album The Band | |
| Released | September 22, 1969 |
| Genre | Rock |
| Length | 3:58 |
| Label | Capitol |
| Songwriter(s) | Richard Manuel, Robbie Robertson |
| Producer(s) | John Simon |
"Whispering Pines" is a song written by Richard Manuel and Robbie Robertson that was first released by The Band on their self-titled 1969 album The Band . It was released as a single in France, backed by "Lonesome Suzie".
"Whispering Pines" is a ballad on the theme of loneliness. [1] Manuel wrote the melody and vocal line but could not come up with the lyrics, so Robertson wrote the lyrics. [2] [3] According to Robertson, "Richard always had this very plaintive attitude in his voice, and sometimes just in his sensitivity as a person. I tried to follow that, to go with it and find it musically. We both felt very good about this song." [2] [4] [5] The lyrics are filled with images of loneliness such as a lonely foghorn, crashing waves and the titular whispering pines. [1] Allmusic critic Bill Janovitz notes that pines are prevalent in Woodstock, New York, where the Band was living, and in Canada, where most of the group is originally from. [1] According to music critic Barney Hoskyns, "the lyric that Robbie worked around Richard's vocal lines was one of the most beautiful he ever wrote, a song of intense loneliness set beside an ocean that seemed to symbolize the singer's endless sense of loss." [2] [4] [5]
According to Band manager Joe Forno, Manuel had written the melody on a piano that had one key which was out of tune. [2] He decided to tune the piano that was used for the recording the same way, and that provides the repeating piano figure at the beginning of the song. [2] Despite the sad imagery, Hoskins hears resolution and peace in the music, and notes that the last words of the song state that "the lost are found." [2] Rolling Stone critic Greil Marcus also finds optimism in the song, but "only because it is so full of desire." [6] Janowitz finds some hope in the line "If only one star shines, that's enough to get inside." [1]
Associated Press writer Mary Campbell described the song as stressing "the western of country-western," which she described as "a very good idea." [7]
"Whispering Pines" was one of the last three songs recorded for The Band, along with "Up on Cripple Creek" and "Jemima Surrender." [2] [3]
Manuel sings the lead vocal and plays piano. [2] As described by music critic Nick DeRiso, he reaches "for vocal places in an unguardedly heartbroken way." [3] Robertson has stated that "The hurt in his voice ... there's a certain element of pain in there, that you didn't know if he was trying to reach the note or he was just a guy with a heart that had been hurt." [8] [4] Drummer Levon Helm joins him on the last verse in a call and response structure that music critic Barney Hoskyns calls "one of the saddest and loveliest passages of music in the history of rock." [2]
Besides Manuel's "vulnerable" singing and "delicate" piano playing, Janovitz and Hoskins also praise Robertson's acoustic guitar playing, which Hoskins describes as "delicate" and Garth Hudson's Lowrey organ playing, which according to Hoskins provides "magical sounds." [1] [2] Janovitz also explicitly praises Helm's drumming and Rick Danko's "thoughtful" bass. [1]
Janovitz describes "Whispering Pines" as "one of the Band's most beautiful songs, if not the most gorgeous." [1] Music critic Nick DeRiso says "it may be the most unbearably sad thing the Band ever did." [3] Billboard regarded the song as one of The Band's "most haunting ballads." [9] Author George Case likewise wrote that "Whispering Pines" is "one of the most haunting ballads in rock 'n' roll." [10]
"Whispering Pines" has appeared on several of the Band's compilation albums. It appeared as one of the bonus tracks on the 1995 reissue of The Best of the Band . [11] It also appeared on the box sets Across the Great Divide and A Musical History . [12] [13]
"Whispering Pines" has been covered by such artists as Damon & Naomi and Kelly Hogan. [1] Damon & Naomi's version appeared on their 1995 album Wondrous World of Damon & Naomi. [14] Hogan's version appeared on her 2000 album Beneath the Country Underdog. [15]
Dar Williams also covered the song on her 2003 album The Beauty of the Rain . [16] Allmusic critic Gregory McIntosh described Williams' version as being "initially stunning," with a "lovely" backing and new age influence, but criticized the impact of Cliff Eberhardt's guest vocal in the last verse. [16] Jakob Dylan and Lizz Wright covered "Whispering Pines" on Endless Highway: The Music of The Band . [17] Allmusic critic Thom Jurek called this version "gorgeous." [17] Ben Windham of The Tuscaloosa News described it as "absolutely haunting." [18]
The Band was a Canadian-American rock band formed in Toronto, Ontario, in 1967. It consisted of Canadians Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, Robbie Robertson, and American Levon Helm. The Band combined elements of Americana, folk, rock, jazz, country, and R&B, influencing musicians such as George Harrison, Elton John, the Grateful Dead, Eric Clapton and Wilco.
Richard George Manuel was a Canadian musician, singer, and songwriter, best known as a pianist and one of three lead singers in the Band, for which he was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
"Acadian Driftwood" is a song by the Band. It was the fourth track on their sixth studio album Northern Lights – Southern Cross (1975), written by member Robbie Robertson. Richard Manuel, Levon Helm and Rick Danko trade off lead vocals and harmonize on the chorus.
"Up on Cripple Creek" is the fifth song on the Band's eponymous second album, The Band. It was released as an (edited) single on Capitol 2635 in November 1969 and reached No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Up on Cripple Creek" was written by Band guitarist Robbie Robertson, with drummer Levon Helm singing lead vocal.
"Look Out Cleveland" is the title of the Robbie Robertson-written song on The Band's self-titled album, also known as The Brown Album. The song begins with a boogie-woogie blues riff by pianist Richard Manuel followed by lead singer Rick Danko warning -- "Look out Cleveland, storm is coming through, And it’s runnin’ right up on you". The song's reference is presumably to Cleveland, Ohio, but Cleveland, Texas has also been suggested.
"Stage Fright" is the title track of the Band's third album, Stage Fright. It features Rick Danko on lead vocals and was written by Robbie Robertson. According to author Barney Hoskyns, Robertson originally intended it to be sung by Richard Manuel but it became clear that the song was better suited to Danko's "nervous, tremulous voice."
"It Makes No Difference" is a song written by Robbie Robertson and sung by Rick Danko that was first released by The Band on their 1975 album Northern Lights – Southern Cross. It has also appeared on live and compilation albums, including the soundtrack to the film The Last Waltz. Among the artists that have covered the song are Solomon Burke, My Morning Jacket, The Icicle Works, Trey Anastasio and Over the Rhine.
"Rag Mama Rag" is a song by The Band which was first released on their 1969 album The Band. It was also released as a single, reaching #16 on the UK Singles Chart, the highest position for any single by the group. The single was less successful in the US, reaching only #57 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Tired Eyes" is a song written by Neil Young that was first released on his 1975 album Tonight's the Night.
"Sleeping" is a song by The Band, first released on their 1970 album Stage Fright. It was also released as the B-side to the "Stage Fright" single. It was co-written by Robbie Robertson and Richard Manuel. This and “Just Another Whistle Stop” are the only two songs Manuel receives credit for on the album. Music critic Barney Hoskyns rates it as "one of Richard [Manuel's] liveliest performances" and "one of The Band's most intricate arrangements." The Band never featured the song on a live album.
"Daniel and the Sacred Harp" is a song written by Robbie Robertson that was first released by The Band on their 1970 album Stage Fright. It has been covered by such artists as Barrence Whitfield.
"When You Awake" is a song written by Robbie Robertson and Richard Manuel that was first released on The Band's 1969 self-titled album The Band. A live performance was included on the Bob Dylan and The Band live album Before the Flood.
"Ophelia" is a song written by Robbie Robertson that was first released by The Band on their 1975 album Northern Lights – Southern Cross. It was the lead single from the album. It has also appeared on several of the group's live and compilation albums, and has been covered by such artists as Vince Gill and My Morning Jacket.
"Across the Great Divide" is a song written by Robbie Robertson. It was first released by The Band on their 1969 album The Band and was subsequently released on several live and compilation albums. According to music critic Barney Hoskyns, it was one of several songs that contributed to The Band being something of a concept album about the American South.
"Time to Kill" is a song written by Robbie Robertson that was first released by the Band on their 1970 album Stage Fright. It was also released as a single off the album, backed with the more famous "The Shape I'm In" and, although it failed to reach the Top 40 in the United States, it peaked at #13 in the Netherlands. It has also been featured on several Band compilation and live albums.
"Jemima Surrender" is a song written by Levon Helm and Robbie Robertson. It was first released on the Band's self-titled album in 1969. Usual Band drummer Levon Helm played guitar and sang the lead vocal while usual Band pianist Richard Manuel played drums. The song's lasciviousness helped inspire Naomi Weisstein to form the Chicago Women's Liberation Rock 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.
"The Unfaithful Servant" or "Unfaithful Servant" is a song written by Robbie Robertson that was first released by The Band on their 1969 album The Band. It was also released as the B-side of the group's "Rag Mama Rag" single. It has also appeared on several of the Band's live and compilation albums.
"4% Pantomime" is a song written by Robbie Robertson and Van Morrison. It was first released on the Band's 1971 album Cahoots.
