"We Can Talk" is a 1968 song by The Band that was the opener for the second side of their debut album Music From Big Pink[1] Written by Richard Manuel, it features The Band's three main vocalists (Manuel, Levon Helm and Rick Danko) in nearly equal turns, often finishing each other's phrases. Initially a staple of their concerts (including Woodstock and the Isle of Wight Festival 1969), it was dropped from the set list in 1971.[2]
| "We Can Talk" | |
|---|---|
| Song by The Band | |
| from the album Music from Big Pink | |
| Released | July 1, 1968 |
| Recorded | Early 1968 |
| Genre | Rock |
| Length | 3:06 |
| Label | Capitol |
| Songwriter(s) | Richard Manuel |
| Producer(s) | John Simon |
Theme
edit"We Can Talk" shows unrelated snippets of conversation between members of The Band. Levon Helm wrote in his autobiography[3] "It's a funny song that really captures the way we spoke to one another; lots of outrageous rhymes and corny puns."
Personnel
edit- Robbie Robertson - electric guitar
- Garth Hudson - Lowrey organ
- Levon Helm - lead vocal, drums
- Richard Manuel - lead vocal, piano
- Rick Danko - lead vocal, bass guitar
References
edit- ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Music From Big Pink". All music guide. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
- ^ Viney, Peter. "We Can Talk". All music guide. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
- ^ Levon Helm, Stephen Davis (1993). This Wheel's on Fire – Levon Helm and the Story of The Band. Chicago Review. ISBN 1556524056.