News catch-up

* Dylan in Nashville

Thanks to Steven Pearce for alerting The Dylan Daily to the excitement generated by Dylan’s appearance at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium last week (19 September).

Rave reviews on Bob Links mark the show, maybe energised by the ghost of Hank Williams and the support of Jack White and Elvis Costello, as a masterpiece of performance art - appropriate for such a historic venue.


* The Other Side Of The Mirror – TV transmission date

Thanks to Andy Vanfan for confirmation of the transmission date for The Other Side Of The Mirror on BBC TV – it’s scheduled for 14 October on BBC Four’s Arena series.


* BOBMANIA # 9 – new Back Pages dates

Thanks to Gerald Bamford for new dates for Back Pages, his recommended Norfolk tribute band:

“As if to celebrate all the Bob activity, Back Pages will be pickin' 'n' choosin' from the Dylan songbook in Norfolk (it's always Norfolk unless anybody has other ideas) at the Stuart House Hotel, King’s Lynn on Friday Oct 12; then at the Fox 'n' Hounds, Heacham nr Hunstanton on Tuesday Oct 23; and 'Tracks', The Railway Freehouse, North Elmham nr East Dereham on Fri Nov 23.”


* Video of Most Likely You Go Your Way And I'll Go Mine – another view

Thanks to Ian Woodward:

“I'm afraid that I disagree entirely with your (and your fellow Bobcats') assessment of the recent "Most Likely" video.

“To describe it as "silly" is facile in itself and to describe it as "sh*te" is just unbelievable.

“Whilst I would not pretend that it is my favourite Dylan video, it displays a wit and intelligence that I am surprised that your combined energies fail to recognise. The video has a theme that relates both to the song in question and to Dylan's most recent album; it has a host of Dylan references (look out, for example, for the man with 20lbs of headlines stapled to his chest followed, soon after, by a newspaper with a Dylan headline); and it even uses the aspect ratio of the screen itself to emphasise its theme.

“What seems obvious to me must be too subtle for some Dylan-watchers. Seek and ye shall find.”


* Dylan Daily Best of Bob v3 1978-81

Thanks to all who voted for their favourite Dylan tracks recorded for the albums released 1978-1981 (Street-Legal to Shot Of Love, and out-takes later released on Biograph and Bootleg Series v1-3).

No fewer than 35 songs attracted votes – not bad for a “weak” period. Ranking the songs by popularity, and discounting those attracting only a single vote, here’s the new Dylan Daily Best of Bob v3 1978-81:

Every Grain of Sand
Caribbean Wind
Angelina
In the Summertime
Changing Of The Guards
Slow Train
Groom's Still Waiting at the Altar
Gotta Serve Somebody
Senor
When He Returns

The second disc of the 2CD Deluxe version contains:

Heart of Mine
I Believe In You
Is Your Love in Vain
No Time To Think
Pressing On
Saved
Solid Rock
True Love Tends To Forget
Where Are You Tonight
Ye Shall Be Changed
You Changed My Life

It’s already on my iTunes and it’s wonderful. Weak period? You kidding?


* All the new Dylan stuff – an aide-memoire

Losing track of the mountain of new Dylan activity/stuff? Me too! Here’s an aide-memoire – if something’s missing, or you have more info, please let me know and I’ll update it:

16 September: Dylan on the road in the USA for six weeks

19 September: the wonderful Theme Time Radio Hour - series 2, 50 more programmes – started in the USA on XM satellite radio. It airs on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. ET on XM's Deep Tracks (XM 40), and all day every Wednesday on XMX (XM 2).

Meanwhile in England, BBC 6 Music continues with the first series, at 9pm on Fridays. There are about 7 or 8 programmes to go.

24 September: 3 versions of the remix of Most Likely You Go Your Way And I'll Go Mine: 7" vinyl (remix plus original); CD single (same); and - the one to buy - CD single (same plus a live version of Down Along the Cove).

1 (UK)/ 2 (US) October: the new 3CD album, Dylan, aimed at new fans, and with no new content, will be a non-event for many Dylan Daily readers. The De Luxe version looks like a desirable collectable.

6 October, 8pm: BBC Radio 2, The Dream Dylan Concert - a compilation of 11 Dylan performances played 1962-2001, including: Like A Rolling Stone from 1974, and Things Have Changed from 2000.

28 October: Chemnitz, Germany: opening of Drawn Blank Series, an exhibition of Dylan’s artwork.

30 October (US): The Other Side Of The Mirror, an 80 minute DVD of Dylan at the Newport Folk Festival 1963-1965 - by far the most interesting new release of the season.

? October: The Other Side Of The Mirror will also be shown on BBC Four, rumour has it.

30 October (US): soundtrack of I'm Not There, with Dylan singing the title track.

21 November: opening in NYC/LA then a small number of other US cities of I'm Not There, the Todd Haynes-directed biopic-and-more feature film praised at the Venice Film Festival - includes a performance of Dylan singing the title track. Expect a rapid roll-out to more theatres.

So, it looks like a busy autumn for Dylan aficionados!


Gerry Smith