The Weight  (Click on title to listen to the song)

The "Band" has always been one of my favorite groups. I think Levon Helm has one of those unique voices that very few people in this world are blessed with.
I always wanted to record some of the Band's songs and I got my first chance in 1992 when I recorded "Ophelia" on my album entitled Larry Patton/1992 and my next chance in 2004 with the Chillbillies, so I recorded "The Weight".

We had been performing the song on all of our live shows and the crowd response was really amazing so we decided to record it.
I really liked the horn work that Don Taylor and Scott Pederson did on this song. I have always loved a good horn section.

Victor's work on the mandolin reminded me a lot of Levon's mandolin playing. It just adds a very distinct sound.

We also did the harmonies a little different than the way the Band did them. Instead of stacking the harmonies, we just had one single harmony, which was done by Jenna Jefferson (singer for Jenna and the Joneses).

Due to publishing problems beyond our control this song did not make it on the Chillbillies CD.

Be sure to check out Jenna at www.jennaandthejoneses.com
and the Chillbillies at www.chillbillies.net