Versions of "The Weight"

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This is one of my favourite songs by The Band, and I love hearing how others have covered it.

Here are the ones I know about, and loosely in order of favourite to least:

The Band and the Staples Singers on The Last Waltz DVD.
The Band (the original release)
Aretha Franklin with Duane Allman
The Grateful Dead and the Allman Brothers Band.

If I'm just listening to it as any other song, Aretha's version might pull ahead, but I just love how the different verses are sung so appropriately by each of the different singers in the version on The Last Waltz, and even just by Levon and Rick in the original version.

Anyone have any comments or further versions for me to check out?

― shorty (shorty), Friday, 2 June 2006 18:28 (twenty years ago)

Rotary Connection cover it on their Songs LP...

― hank (hank s), Friday, 2 June 2006 18:34 (twenty years ago)

the one on Before the Flood beats all of those

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Friday, 2 June 2006 18:34 (twenty years ago)

and the one on Rock of Ages beats the BtF, and every other one ever…

― veronica moser (veronica moser), Friday, 2 June 2006 18:45 (twenty years ago)

This isn't a Taking Sides thread folks!

Thanks for the recommendations though.

― shorty (shorty), Friday, 2 June 2006 18:59 (twenty years ago)

I'm fairly sure I've heard a Travis version... could be worth checking that out (if I didn't just make it up).

― Andrew Munro (andyboyo), Friday, 2 June 2006 19:04 (twenty years ago)

Spooky Tooth did this one

― Joe (Joe), Friday, 2 June 2006 19:19 (twenty years ago)

and the one on Rock of Ages beats the BtF, and every other one ever…

yeah, but BtF is a better album than RoA

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Friday, 2 June 2006 19:40 (twenty years ago)

Jackie DeShannon's version is terrific. It's on her Laurel Canyon LP.

― Hatch (Hatch), Friday, 2 June 2006 20:10 (twenty years ago)

I rate the Last Waltz one highest, but that's just cuz every time I see/hear Pops play guitar the heavens weep

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 2 June 2006 20:14 (twenty years ago)

Oh and Mavis' vocals were fantastic! As I said earlier, each of the vocal parts in that version are great (in my opinion).

― shorty (shorty), Friday, 2 June 2006 20:18 (twenty years ago)

I like a few Travis covers, this being one of them.

― billstevejim (billstevejim), Friday, 2 June 2006 20:35 (twenty years ago)

Off-topic but related, has anyone purchased "The Band: A Musical History" box set yet?

― shorty (shorty), Friday, 2 June 2006 20:47 (twenty years ago)

Giant Sand did a nice version in 1988.

― willem -- (willem), Friday, 2 June 2006 21:15 (twenty years ago)

Al Kooper does one on the Unclaimed Freight album. Thumbs up from me!

― LOL Thomas (Chris Barrus), Friday, 2 June 2006 21:59 (twenty years ago)

There's one solely by the Staple Singers on their "Soul Folk In Action + We'll Get Over" 2-on-1 Stax UK CD. Also versions by Amen Corner and Jackie DeShannon.

All of them worth checking out - "The Weight" is one of those songs that seems to defy any attempt at a crap version.

― Dee Xtrovert (dee dee), Saturday, 3 June 2006 01:46 (twenty years ago)

Well put Dee.

― shorty (shorty), Saturday, 3 June 2006 02:03 (twenty years ago)

Have y'all heard Ryan Adams' "Answering Bell" ?

― RalphTheHardDrive (RalphTheHardDrive), Saturday, 3 June 2006 03:17 (twenty years ago)

I finally heard the version on Before the Flood, and yes it too is great!

The version on The Last Waltz is still my fave though. :)

Still have to hear the one on Rock of Ages, in addition to all of the cover versions mentioned here.

Thanks folks.

― shorty (shorty), Sunday, 4 June 2006 12:21 (twenty years ago)

is yr e-mail address valid, shorty? i can send you the giant sand version if you wish...

― willem -- (willem), Sunday, 4 June 2006 14:26 (twenty years ago)

The version Gillian Welch + band do live is lovely. I have a boot (in MP3) from the 2004, Eugene, OR show if anyone wants.

― caek (caek), Sunday, 4 June 2006 15:21 (twenty years ago)

And of course the note-for-note version that ended up on the "Easy Rider" soundtrack album (for contractual reasons) by these dorks :

http://theband.hiof.no/band_pictures/a_group_called_smith.jpg

― Matt #2 (Matt #2), Sunday, 4 June 2006 15:33 (twenty years ago)

caek - i want! :)

― willem -- (willem), Sunday, 4 June 2006 18:21 (twenty years ago)

nineteen years pass...

Not cover versions but they may as well be:

#1 - Bee Gees, "Marley Purt Drive"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqtzloiPxZE

― Clarinet Cop (Tom D.), Tuesday, 5 May 2026 18:46 (one month ago)

#2 - Demis Roussos, "End of the Line"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tegJ-_VkC54

― Clarinet Cop (Tom D.), Tuesday, 5 May 2026 18:47 (one month ago)

#3 - The Cowsills, "II x II"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFbKQ2YK7gE

― Josefa, Tuesday, 5 May 2026 22:08 (one month ago)

Bonus points for super-talented singing drummer!

― Galactic Poetaster (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 5 May 2026 22:14 (one month ago)

He's holding a bass so I assume it is Barry singing, but where is Bill? Oh, Bud must have already fired him.

― Galactic Poetaster (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 5 May 2026 22:16 (one month ago)

Yeah it was their first post-Bill album, but a commenter says Bill secretly wrote the tune

― Josefa, Tuesday, 5 May 2026 22:18 (one month ago)

Right, saw that.

― Galactic Poetaster (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 5 May 2026 22:57 (one month ago)

Maybe he was already in the group with Waddy Watchel by then.

― Galactic Poetaster (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 6 May 2026 00:44 (one month ago)

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