Robbie Robertson Once Led Stunning Global Version Of The Band's Best-Known Song

The classic track was given an unforgettable makeover.
Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist Robbie Robertson performing with The Band at Wembley, London, in 1974.
Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist Robbie Robertson performing with The Band at Wembley, London, in 1974.
Michael Putland via Getty Images

Rock icon Robbie Robertson, who died this week at age 80, is being remembered for writing many of The Band’s most beloved tracks.

And the best-known of those was given an unforgettable makeover just a few years ago, when Playing for Change released its version of “The Weight” as part of its 2019 “Song Around The World” project.

The organization is known for its globetrotting videos featuring musicians in multiple countries collaborating remotely on a track. In this case, “The Weight” was anchored by Robertson himself, who got a little help from a friend Ringo Starr on drums.

What happened next was pure musical magic:

Robertson and others involved in the track spoke about how it came together in a two-part video series:

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