I'm Not There soundtrack

From the Sony Bob Dylan web site:

“The 34-track, Double-CD (as well as an available 4-Piece Vinyl) soundtrack to I'm Not There premieres new interpretations of Bob Dylan songs performed by an eclectic cavalcade of acclaimed and celebrated artists including:

Eddie Vedder
Karen O
Mark Lanegan
Sonic Youth
Iron & Wine
Mason Jennings
Jim James
Ramblin' Jack Elliot
Stephen Malkmus
Jeff Tweedy
Cat Power
Willie Nelson
Jack Johnson
Antony
Sufjan Steven
Los Lobos
John Doe
Yo La Tengo
Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
..And More!

“What makes the soundtrack even more special is the inclusion of two versions of the title track - a new interpretation performed by Sonic Youth and the original recording done by Dylan himself, a rare oft-bootlegged outtake from "The Basement Tapes" sessions in which fans have been asking for an official, pure recording.

“Many of the album's performances even include backing from the Million Dollar Bashers, an ensemble created just for the I'm Not There Original Soundtrack by Sonic Youth guitarist Lee Ranaldo, which features Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley, Television guitarist Tom Verlaine, Wilco bassist Nels Cline, guitarist Smokey Hormel, keyboardist John Medeski and long-time Bob Dylan band bassist Tony Garnier. Other tracks on the album feature the amazing alternative-country band Calexico backing up artists Jim James, Iron & Wine, Roger McGuinn, and Willie Nelson.”

I'm Not There gig in NYC

After the film and the soundtrack CD, there’s an I'm Not There charity gig in the Beacon Theater, New York, next Wednesday, 7 November. Cast reportedly includes Al Kooper, Michelle Shocked, Cat Power, Yo La Tengo, My Morning Jacket and The Roots. Tickets from $50 to $1,000

Further info: sorry I can’t give an official link; Google it.



Gerry Smith

Dylan exhibition opens in Germany

Thanks to Cornelia Grosch in Berlin:

“Did you hear about the exhibition of pictures by Dylan in Chemnitz, Germany (formerly known as Karl-Marx-Stadt)?

“The exhibition is called "The Drawn Blank Series". They were published in a book in 1992 but never shown in an exhibition. The exhibition takes place from 28 October until 3 February 2008.

http://www.chemnitz.de/de/noflash.htm


“I found the first review here:

http://www.welt.de/wams_print/article1305332/Bob_Dylan_zeichnet_nur_was_er_sieht.html

“I don't know if it's worth travelling from overseas to Chemnitz to see the pictures; I have two and a half hours to travel by train, so maybe I will go there!”

Dylan’s everywhere! Final episode of The Sopranos

A long passage from It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding), plus a brief discussion of Dylan’s continuing relevance between AJ and his nubile friend about to get her kit off in his SUV parked in the woods, was a highlight of the compelling, if slightly curious, final episode of The Sopranos, which aired for the first time on Brit TV last night (E4, repeated Tuesday).



Gerry Smith

Mystery Dylan tracks: mystery unravelled

Thanks to Martin Cowan:

“To respond to Clem Harris' recent query:

* "Cross the Green Mountain" - Dylan's contribution to the movie "Gods and Generals", there's a rather fine video to this if you can track it down with Bob and the touring band dressed up in American Civil war garb - superb!

* "Huck's Tune" - Dylan's contribution to the movie "Lucky You".

* "Tell Ol' Bill" - Dylan's contribution to the soundtrack of the movie "North Country"

* "Return to Me" - Dylan's wonderous cover of that old Dean Martin warhorse, as featured in "The Sopranos"

* "Waiting For You" - Dylan's contribution to the soundtrack of the film "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood"

* "Dream About You, Baby", "The Usual", and "Night after Night". These tracks were all on the "Hearts of Fire" soundtrack LP which I would imagine is no longer available. "The Usual" was written by John Hiatt. "Dream About You, Baby" is available on "Down in the Groove" although I think it may be a different version

* Bromberg Sessions - this was a session recorded by Dylan in 1992 with David Bromberg, these four tracks are yet to be officially released but do seem to be circulating unofficially.”

The top 15 vocal performances: encore

Thanks to Liam Mogan:

“Nice concept

1. When He Returns (Slow Train Coming)
2. Like a Rolling Stone (Bootleg Series 4)
3. Isis (Biograph)
4. Blind Willie McTell (Bootleg Series 3)
5. Tangled up in Blue (Blood on the Tracks)
6. Lay Lady Lay (Nashville Skyline)
7. Idiot Wind (Hard Rain)
8. Not Dark Yet (Time Out of Mind)
9. Most of the Time (Oh Mercy)
10. Tomorrow Is A Long Time (More Greatest Hits)
11. The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll (Freewheelin')
12. Never Say Goodbye (Planet Waves)
13. It's Alright ma (I'm Only Bleeding) (Bringing it all Back Home)
14. The Groom's Still Waiting At The Altar (Shot of Love)
15. Changing of the Guards (Street Legal)

“Think I might just go and make a cd-r ... .”

The top 15 vocal performances?

Thanks to Brad Saltzberg:

“Here’s a good one - Bob’s all-time best vocal performances - official releases only:

1. Moonshiner (Bootleg Series v1-3)
2. Idiot Wind (BOTT)
3. One too many Mornings (Hard Rain)
4. Rank Strangers to me (Down in the Groove)
5. The Water is Wide (Bootleg Series v5 Live 1975)
6. Honey, just allow me one more chance (The Freewheelin’)
7. Dirge (Planet Waves)
8. Fixin’ to Die (Bob Dylan)
9. Don’t Think Twice it’s Alright (The Freewheelin’)
10. Hazel (Planet Waves)
11. One more cup of Coffee (Desire)
12. Hurricane (Bootleg Series v5 Live 1975)
13. Youre a Big Girl Now (BOTT)
14. Just like a Woman (Before the Flood)
15. Only a Pawn in their Game (Times)

Dylan & the Blues – in Glasgow

Michael Gray is in Scotland on 16 November for what's likely to be his last 2007 gig - Bob Dylan & the Poetry of the Blues: An Evening with Michael Gray.

Highly recommended - this is an excellent presentation.

Details: Friday Nov 16, 8pm Glasgow CCA, Centre for Contemporary Arts, 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3JD

Box Office 0141 352 4900, www.cca-glasgow.com, tickets £11, concessions £6

http://handmemytravelinshoes.blogspot.com/

http://bobdylanencyclopedia.blogspot.com/



Gerry Smith

Good car to advertise during a war?

Dylan’s new ad for the Cadillac Escalade “gas guzzler” is here (with predictable breast-beating):

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/music/2007/10/bob_dylan_is_the_sellouttiest.html

Mystery Dylan tracks: what are they?

Thanks to Clem Harris:

“I recently came across some odd Dylan recommendations which mystify me. I’d be grateful if any reader could shed light on what exactly they are:

* Cross the Green Mountain, Huck's Tune, Tell 'Ol Bill, Return to Me,
Waiting For You

* Dream About You Baby, The Usual, Night After Night (Hearts of Fire)

* Bromberg - Katskill Serenade, Miss the Mississippi & You, Polly Vaughan, Sloppy Drunk.”

Compilation - the studio recording plus a pair of very different live versions for each song: encore, encore

Thanks to Brad Saltzberg:

“While this doesn’t exactly fulfil Andy Miller’s request, I firmly believe if you compiled and played the following live tracks for your friend he could not deny the power of Bob live:

“Most likely you’ll go your way (Before the Flood)
Romance in Durango (Biograph)
The Water is Wide (bootleg series 75)
Dignity (Unplugged)
One too many mornings (Hard Rain)
Just Like a Woman (Before the Flood)
Shelter from the Storm (Hard Rain)
It’s alright ma (Before the Flood)
Who Killed Davey Moore? (Bootleg 64)
Tomorrow is a Long time (Greatest Vol 2)
It’s all over now, Baby Blue (Bootleg series 66)
One More Cup of Coffee (Bootleg 75)
Don’t think Twice (Before Flood)
Shooting Star (Unplugged)
Like a Rolling Stone (Before the Flood)
Knockin on heaven’s Door (Unplugged)
I shall be released (bootleg 75)”

An ALTERNATIVE DYLAN compilation

Thanks to Brad Saltzberg:

“This is it - the ultimate atypical, alternative Bob compilation. No Rolling Stone. No Heaven’s Door. Only criterion is that all tracks are taken from official releases. Sequenced with loving care:

“Let me die in my Footsteps (Bootleg vol 1)
Moonshiner (Bootleg vol 1)
Sign on the Window (New Morning)
Precious Memories (Knocked Out Loaded)
The Water is Wide (Bootleg 75)
The Usual (Hearts Of Fire)
World Gone Wrong (World Gone Wrong)
Going Going Gone (Planet Waves)
Wallflower (Bootleg vol 2)
The Man in Me (New Morning)
Band of the Hand (Soundtrack)
Shot of Love (Shot of love)
When did you leave Heaven? (Down in the Groove)
Too Much of Nothing (Basement Tapes)
George Jackson (acoustic)
Lord Protect my Child (Bootleg vol 1)
Is your love in Vain? (Street Legal)
Watered Down Love (Shot of Love)
Rank Strangers to me (Down in the groove)”

Mastermind * compilation * Gospel * Patti Smith radio show

Dylan’s everywhere! BBC2’s Mastermind last night

Bristol taxi driver Martyn Brooks was impressive in answering questions on his specialist subject – The Life and Career Of Bob Dylan (Career!? Career? Somebody kidding here?).

Brooks answered 14 of 17 questions correctly in his allotted two minutes – under pressure from arc lights, studio audience, and untold hundreds of thousands watching BBC2.

The Dylan Daily would like to hear from any reader who managed a higher score than the valiant Brooks while watching in real time in the stress-free environment of home.


Gerry Smith




Compilation - the studio recording plus a pair of very different live versions for each song: encore

Thanks to Martin Cowan:

“In response to Andy Miller’s request, there are plenty of candidates that may fit the bill here. Off the top of my head:

“Baby Let Me Follow You Down (BD; Live 1966; The Last Waltz)
Hard Rain (Freewheelin'; live 1975 (Rolling Thunder 1); live 1976 (Rolling Thunder 2 - sadly not officially released); 1994 at the Great Musical Experience)
One Too Many Mornings (Times; Live 1966; Hard Rain)
It's Alright Ma (BIABH; Before the Flood; Budokan; 30th Anniversary Celebration)
Love Minus Zero (BIABA; Budokan; Unplugged)
I Want You (BOB; Budokan; Unplugged outtake)
All Along the Watchtower (JWH; Budokan; Unplugged)
Cold Irons Bound (TOOM; Live 1961 - 2000; Masked and Anonymous)

“And how about:
Hattie Carroll (Times; Live 1975)
Visions of Johanna (BOB; Live 1966)
Country Pie (Nashville Skyline; Live 1961 - 2000)

“There's also a few tracks which have only ever been released as live versions and are great performances:

“Tomorrow Is A Long Time (More Greatest Hits)
Seven Days (Bootleg Series Vols 1 - 3)
Mutineer (Warren Zevon tribute album).”




ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

Your recommendations for a compilation - the studio recording plus a pair of very different live versions, for each song included,

Thanks to Andy Miller:

“I have a new in-law relative who said to me recently that he thought Dylan was a superb songwriter and studio musician but, I suspect on the basis of a few offhand press reviews, no great shakes as a live performer.

“He asked me to convince him otherwise. I mused on this challenge for a while but then whilst listening to, and realising again how much I love the version of Tangled Up In Blue from Paris ‘8, I hit upon a strategy.

“I’m going to make him a CD consisting of a selected studio track plus two live performances that each differ dramatically and convincingly in interpretation. So, I thought the third TUIB might perhaps come from a 1999/2000 concert?

“o other readers think this might do the trick? And, if so, can they suggest pairings of songs that I should consider. My aim is to make a stimulating CD’s worth rather than a repetitive set of rehashes and I would like to be able to range across the 45+ years of concerts. I have a few ideas but would love to hear some other views.”



More on Gospel Bob

The Dylan Daily covered Dylan’s God spell in some detail a few months ago (check out the articles via the SEARCH ARCHIVES function in the right-hand column).

Thanks to Brad Saltzberg for adding his contribution:

“Here is something I have always wanted to see released - Gospel Bob - compilation of his gospel material - it would really put an end to all the bull about his gospel stuff being inferior.

“It’s not inferior, its just less consistent, hence the need to the comp:

When you gonna wake up
Slow Train
Property of Jesus
Groom’s still waiting
What Can I do for you
I believe In You
Im hanging on to a solid rock made before the foundation of the world
Ye shall be changed
Precious Angel
Shot of Love
Every grain of sand
Foot of Pride
Covenant Woman
Lord Protect my Child
Pressing On
When He returns

“Hit me!”



New Patti Smith Dylan show on German radio

Thanks to Cornelia Grosch in Berlin:

“Patti Smith has a show on Radio Eins about Bob Dylan. First show was last week, next show will be Friday 25 October, 00:00-01:00 (or Saturday 26, 02:00-03:00 - German Time, one hour later than Greenwich Mean Time). And it will be continued next weeks (four times), same time!

“I think the show was not only produced for our local radio station, so maybe you heard it on the BBC? The whole show is in English and is called Blowin' in the Wind.

“To have a look at the program: http://www.radioeins.de/_/programm/stundenplan_jsp.html

“You can hear it on livestream:
http://www.radioeins.de/_/livestream_jsp.html

“Enjoy it! I asked the station if there will be a podcast, if I get an answer, I will send details!”

BOBMANIA # 10: new Dyl-Time Theme Radio Hour

Thanks to Mel Prussack:

“This month’s episode of my podcast is finally up. The theme for this month is "Duets".

“I think your readers will really enjoy this episode. Thank you for your continuing support with my project. The last show I posted received most of my listeners thru your posting.”

http://dylanshrine.podOmatic.com/

Sonic Youth record I'm Not There

Thanks to Martin Cowan, quoting the Sonic Youth website:

“SONIC YOUTH RECORDS DYLAN SONG FOR TODD HAYNES FILM

Sonic Youth has recently recorded a version of the rarely-heard Bob Dylan song 'I'm Not There' for the Todd Haynes movie of the same name to be released Nov 21. Recording was done at the band's own studio with John Agnello and Aaron Mullan.

“Lee has also recorded a group of Dylan songs for the film with a group consisting of Tom Verlaine (gtr.), John Medeski (organ/keyboards), Tony Garnier (bass) + Steve Shelley (drums) and guest vocalists including Verlaine, Stephen Malkmus, Karen O, Eddie Vedder and Mira Billotte. The soundtrack album will be released October 30 and will include the SY 'I'm Not There' and many of the Lee recordings.”

Dream Dylan Live: does anyone know the source gigs?

Thanks to Ken Crouch in Somerset:

“Do you know the dates and places of the recently aired show
on Radio 2 called Dream Dylan Live - as it said at the start even pulled from the vaults they have no information on these tracks?”

Can any reader supply the data Ken requests? Most could probably guess the years of the recordings, but guessing exact dates and venues is impossible.


ORIGINAL ARTICLE ON THE DYLAN DAILY:

Dream Dylan Live – a mixed bag

Dream Dylan Live, the BBC radio “gig” created by splicing together 11 songs performed at concerts from 40+ years of shows, was a mixed bag.

It was a welcome “free” gift of some fine performances. The early acoustic material, in particular, forcibly reminded you of Dylan’s magnificent poetry. His internal rhyming and telling alliteration have rarely been more obvious. It also reminded you of his gift for using verbs –

· “the battle outside is RAGING”;
· “..with white skin, they EXPLAIN”;
· “SCROUNGING for your next meal”.

I was less enamoured by the setlist – there was a big gap in the performance years covered. And the order was baffling.

And Radio 2’s packaging and promo was also puzzling. It claimed that four tracks “have never been heard since they were originally performed” – unlikely, I’d wager. The track list on the web didn’t carry source details. The claim that the “gig” represented Dylan’s “greatest hits” caused raised eyebrows in these parts.



Gerry Smith

Your recommendations, please, for a challenging Dylan compilation

Thanks to Andy Miller:

“I have a new in-law relative who said to me recently that he thought Dylan was a superb songwriter and studio musician but, I suspect on the basis of a few offhand press reviews, no great shakes as a live performer.

“He asked me to convince him otherwise. I mused on this challenge for a while but then whilst listening to, and realising again how much I love the version of Tangled Up In Blue from Paris ‘78, I hit upon a strategy.

“I’m going to make him a CD consisting of a selected studio track plus two live performances that each differ dramatically and convincingly in interpretation. So, I thought the third TUIB might perhaps come from a 1999/2000 concert?

“Do other readers think this might do the trick? And, if so, can they suggest pairings of songs that I should consider. My aim is to make a stimulating CD’s worth rather than a repetitive set of rehashes and I would like to be able to range across the 45+ years of concerts. I have a few ideas but would love to hear some other views.”

DYLAN: an alternative track list for CD 3

Thanks to Brad Saltzberg:

“Wondering if anyone shares my opinion about disc 3 of the DYLAN box set. The first two discs, although predictable in the track selection, make sense in terms of representing Bob at his best.

“Disc 3 however is where the compilation gets curious. I don’t find this represents the best of Bob from the ‘80s onwards. My opinion is that Silvio, Under the Red Sky and especially Brownsville Girl should been left off. Also the two tracks from the acoustic albums are questionable. I can understand that the powers-that-be are looking for representation from all phases/albums, but it shouldn’t be to the detriment of the release.

“Furthermore how could they leave Mississippi off the disc? This a much stronger track than High Water in my opinion. Two or three tracks could have replaced the lengthy Brownsville Girl.

“Here is how I would have sequenced disc 3:

1. I’ll Remember You
2. Foot of Pride
3. Blind Willie McTell

4. Ring Them Bells
5. Dignity
6. Shooting Star

7. Blood In My Eyes
8. Not Dark Yet
9. Things Have Changed
10. Trying to get to Heaven
11. Make You Feel My Love
12. Moonlight
13. Mississippi
14. Po' Boy
15. Workingman’s Blues #2
16. Someday Baby
17. When The Deal Goes Down”

The Other Side of the Mirror – encore, encore…

Thanks to John Carvill:

“I agree of course that the Newport footage was great, but did the BBC really show all of Murray Lerner's film? Weren't quite a few performances truncated?

“To coin a phrase, is that all there is?”

(The promo for the DVD claims the film runs for 80 mins – the same timing as the BBC FOUR broadcast; and I wasn’t aware of any Dylan cuts, though Cash and Baez were truncated - thankfully. But the DVD claims a bonus interview with director Murray Lerner, so maybe there is additional material on the disc. Please let The Dylan Daily know if what you see on the DVD differs from the TV broadcast. Gerry Smith, Ed.)



And thanks to Martin Cowan:

“I too enjoyed the film but would disagree with your picking out of "Chimes of Freedom" as the highlight.

“This song has always sounded to me like a dry run for such torrents of imagery like "Tambourine Man", and the performance here was too hectoring, with Dylan ironing out the melody to such an extent that much of the song was delivered on the same note.

“No, for me "North Country Blues" and "If You Gotta Go" were highlights, along with the 4 song closing set - including in my view a superior live version of "Rolling Stone" to the 1966 vintage, even with the couple of fluffs going into the final verse.

“Genius!”



(Reminder for Brit readers who missed it on Sunday: The Other Side of the Mirror is being repeated tonight, Wednesday, at 0030, and on Saturday evening at 2350 on BBC FOUR. Gerry Smith, Ed.)

Dylan, Dylan everywhere - now a special subject on Mastermind!

Thanks to Roy Edgar:

“The Life and Career of Bob Dylan is one of the special subjects on next week's Mastermind - BBC2 Monday 22 Oct at 7.30pm.”

Your Top Ten Dylan Songs #28 and #29

Thanks to Brad Saltzberg for two listings of his favourite Dylan songs:

* “I may be too late for this to be posted but here are my top ten:

Like a Rolling Stone
Times they are a changing
Masters of War
It's alright Ma
Tangled Up in Blue
Idiot Wind
Hurricane
One More Cup of Coffee
Blind Willie Mctell
Ring Them Bells


* “My latter day Dylan compilation:

Mississippi
Foot of Pride
Not Dark Yet
Trying to Get to Heaven
Summer Days
Shooting Star(Unplugged)
Things Have Changed
Ring Them Bells
Standing in the Doorway
Someday Baby
Cold Irons Bound
Dignity (Unplugged)
Make you feel my Love
Blind Willie McTell”

The Other Side of the Mirror – encore…

Thanks to Roy Edgar:

“Yes, the Newport programme last night was riveting. Like you, I picked out Chimes of Freedom but I was also delighted to see such a good performance of North Country Blues (a wonderful song) and I thought the sign-off with It's All Over Now, Baby Blue at the end was magnificent - that really was ‘goodbye, and I mean it’.”



(Reminder for Brit readers who missed it on Sunday: The Other Side of the Mirror is being repeated on Wednesday evening on BBC FOUR. Gerry Smith, Ed.)

The Other Side of the Mirror – vital addition to the Dylan catalogue

Last night’s screening of The Other Side of the Mirror - Dylan at the Newport Festival 1963-1965 (BBC Four, to be repeated on Wednesday) was riveting – the definitive document of the emergence of a great, rare talent.

The 1963 segment shows a precociously gifted young singer playing the role of diffident, unassertive folkie to perfection: he gives his audience what it wants. Highlights are North Country Blues (performed seated) and Only a Pawn in Their Game. The writing is breathtaking, the performances searing.

The middle year has one great performance - Chimes of Freedom. Dylan’s beautifully sung version of one of his leading compositions is probably the highlight of this must-see film. The rest of the 1964 section is blighted by unwelcome intrusions.

The 1965 kiss-off, with the electric band, is magnificent to behold – great performance art, supremely confident performances of Maggie’s Farm and Like a Rolling Stone by Dylan and his well-chosen accomplices.

Visibly affronted by the mixed reaction to the electric set, Dylan’s acoustic encore has him playing as if his life depended on it. He’s never been more commanding than he is on Mr. Tambourine Man and It's All Over Now, Baby Blue.

Throughout the 80 minutes, Dylan’s evolving singing voice is magisterial. We are lucky that the film was a low budget project (shot on one, maybe two, cameras) – because it forced its director to point the lens at Dylan for the duration. Murray Lerner simply recorded the performances - nothing else is allowed to get in the way.

The Other Side of the Mirror is a vital addition to the Dylan catalogue. Though the BBC transmitted the whole 80 minutes, I’ll probably end up buying the DVD, too – just so I can edit out the unwanted distractions of 1964.


TRACKLIST:

All I Really Want To Do (1965)

1963:
North Country Blues
With God on Our Side (with Joan Baez)
Talkin' World War III Blues
Who Killed Davey Moore?
Only a Pawn in Their Game
Blowin' in the Wind (with the Freedom Singers, Joan Baez and Peter, Paul and Mary)

1964:
Mr. Tambourine Man
Johnny Cash, Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
Joan Baez, Mary Hamilton
It Ain't Me, Babe (with Joan Baez)
Joan Baez interview
With God on Our Side (with Joan Baez)
Chimes of Freedom

1965:
If You Gotta Go, Go Now
Love Minus Zero/No Limit
Rehearsal (with electric band)
Maggie's Farm (with electric band)
Like a Rolling Stone (with electric band)
Mr. Tambourine Man
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue



Gerry Smith

Blind Willie McTell celebration

Country blues fans and Dylan hardcore will be heading for a Farringdon (central London) pub on Sunday 4 November where Michael Gray will be helping celebrate Blind Willie McTell and his repertoire with young bands performing McTell covers.

Gray will introduce a couple of the bands and give a few short readings from his book, Hand Me My Travelin’ Shoes: In Search of Blind Willie McTell (Bloomsbury, July 2007).

Event organiser Alastair Harper describes the bands like this:

* Congregation: Beautiful Carter Family via Zeppelin, two-souls-one-guitar-one-bass-drum-one-stunning-female-voice lineup

* Train Chronicles: Lightspeed Champion member and strange Dylan/Robert Crumb hybrid

* Extradition Order: Indie garage blues warriors

* Spinmaster Plantpot: Cockney, diminutive rapper

* Li'l Lost Lou: Rockabilly, Wanda Jackson offspring

* The Cedars: Americana blues conquerors

* David Cronenberg's Wife: twisted Fallish literary dorks . . .


Details: Sunday November 4, 3pm. Hand Me My Travelin’ Shoes: An Afternoon Of Offbeat Willie McTell Music & Readings. The Betsy Trotwood, 56 Farringdon Road, London, EC1R 3BL. 0207 253 4285. Admission on the door: £6, or £5 with the flyer.


Gerry Smith

Newport Festival insights from Encyclopedia and Scrapbook

Gearing up for this weekend’s broadcast of The Other Side of the Mirror - Dylan at the Newport Festival (BBC Four Sunday 14 October 9.40pm), I checked out the coverage of Newport in some of the books in my Dylan library.

The most helpful sources were Gray’s The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia (Continuum, 2006) and The Bob Dylan Scrapbook (Simon & Schuster, 2005).

Gray’s informative article surprised me with its revelations – eg that in 1963 the festival was still in its infancy and that Albert Grossman had been a key player in establishing it. Gray’s killer info, though, is his detailed listing of all the performances at the various Newport events graced by Dylan.

(Oliver Trager’s competitive Keys To The Rain: the definitive Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, (Billboard Books, 2004), which I rely on for song and album info, doesn’t cover Newport, or many other people and places for that matter.)

The Bob Dylan Scrapbook (Simon & Schuster, 2005) surprised me with its wonderfully evocative collection of memorabilia – notably photographs, facsimile ticket stubs and festival posters.

If you don’t own these fine books, you’re missing out.

Thus armed, I’m now ready for what promise to be a very significant – and enjoyable – broadcast.


Gerry Smith

Another BBC Bobfest this weekend

To promote its broadcast of No Direction Home in September 2005 the BBC stuck a wonderful Jerry Schatzberg portrait of Dylan on the cover of its weekly listings mag, Radio Times.

I was so shocked I bought a copy. Radio Times is a big circulation mag (over 1m copies sold every week). It focuses on mainstream middlebrow entertainment. Putting Dylan on the cover was a brave move.

And, blow me, they’ve done it again with the new issue, to promote a second BBC Bobfest this weekend.

That’s two Dylan covers in two years! It illustrates how Bobby now occupies centre stage in UK popular culture.

Thanks to Martin Cowan for supplying the Bobfest detail:

“Dylan is this week's somewhat unlikely cover star of venerable TV listings mag "Radio Times". The reason for this is a TV and radio Bob-fest of epic proportions.

* Sunday 14 October is a date for the diaries of all Dylan fans, as BBC Four kicks off with "Arena: Dylan's folk - the pure, the bad and the holy" which is a look at the Newport Festival at 9pm.

* As mentioned previously on Dylan Daily, next up at 9.40 is "The Other Side of the Mirror - Dylan at the Newport Festival" - a chance to get this for free prior to its DVD release.

* This is followed at 11.00pm by "Arena - Dylan in the madhouse", a look at Dylan's appearance in the TV drama Madhouse on Castle Street, a show that was regrettably wiped by the BBC back in the 1960s.

* Finally at 12.10, is a showing of "Festival", the music documentary filmed at the Newport Folk Festival between 1963 and 1966.

* Also, Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour kicks off again on BBC 6 Music on Friday 19 October at 9pm, with a taster running on Radio 2 on Saturday 13 October at 8pm.

Dylan fans may also be interested in the Culture Show on Saturday 13 October on BBC2 at 7.10, which features an interview with Neil Young.”

Dream Dylan Live – a mixed bag

Dream Dylan Live, the BBC radio “gig” created by splicing together 11 songs performed at concerts from 40+ years of shows, was a mixed bag.

It was a welcome “free” gift of some fine performances. The early acoustic material, in particular, forcibly reminded you of Dylan’s magnificent poetry. His internal rhyming and telling alliteration have rarely been more obvious. It also reminded you of his gift for using verbs –

· “the battle outside is RAGING”;
· “..with white skin, they EXPLAIN”;
· “SCROUNGING for your next meal”.

I was less enamoured by the setlist – there was a big gap in the performance years covered. And the order was baffling.

And Radio 2’s packaging and promo was also puzzling. It claimed that four tracks “have never been heard since they were originally performed” – unlikely, I’d wager. The track list on the web didn’t carry source details. And it was in the wrong order. The claim that the “gig” represented Dylan’s “greatest hits” caused raised eyebrows in these parts.



Gerry Smith

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

BBC RADIO 2 PROMO:

Saturday 6 October 2007, 8.00-9.00pm
BBC Radio 2

Blowing In The Wind,
Only A Pawn In Their Game,
Times They Are A Changin',
Mr Tambourine Man,
Like A Rolling Stone,
Maggie's Farm,
All Along The Watchtower,
Lovesick,
To Make You Feel My Love
Things Have Changed
Groom's Still Waiting...,

Bob Harris introduces Dream Dylan Live, an hour of Bob Dylan's greatest hits, compiled from over 40 years of concerts. It features four performances direct from Dylan's own archives which have never been heard since they were originally
performed. Of special interest to Dylan fans is a November 1980 performance of Groom's Still Waiting At The Altar, which features the last public performance of guitarist Mike Bloomfield, who died three months after making this final appearance.

Washington Post praise for new series of Theme Time Radio Hour

Thanks to PR Gretchen Wagner:

“In yesterday's Washington Post story about the second season of Bob Dylan's "Theme Time Radio Hour" show on XM Radio, the reporter likens it to, "Garrison Keillor meets Alan Lomax meets your weird friend who makes theme-oriented mix tapes in his downstairs rec room."

“Here are some excerpts:

* Keen listener Elvis Costello says Dylan's shows "are a bit like those films of Picasso painting on glass. They don't pretend to explain anything about the host but they offer just a little glimpse of the musical -- and literary -- taste of a great singer and songwriter without obliging him to confess every dark secret."

* "With this show, Dylan is tapping into his deep love -- and I would say his belief in -- a musical world without borders," author Peter Guralnick writes in an e-mail. "I feel like the commentary often reflects the same surrealistic appreciation for the human comedy that suffuses his music."

* "I don't mean in any way to diminish the importance of the quality music he plays," says magician and loyal listener Penn Jillette, "but Dylan's heart is so in this show that you hear Dylan even in other people's music."

Full article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/05/AR2007100500712.html

Dylan, a Road Warrior who still matters - NY Times mag feature

Thanks to Dagg Hereford for this link to an interesting Bob feature in the weekend’s New York Times, as reproduced in The Huffington Post:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jackson-williams/bob-dylan-in-sundays-em_b_67300.html

ANOTHER DYLAN – an alternative 51 track compilation

Many thanks to Martin Cowan for compiling his magnificent alternative 51 track 3CD compilation - ANOTHER DYLAN?

“I have been thinking about an alternative track selection. What the suits should have done, if they'd still wanted to release previously available material, was to select tracks reflecting the strength in depth of Dylan's back catalogue - after all, if someone wants "Blowin' in the wind" or "Like A Rolling Stone", they can go to one of the other compilations or the original albums.

“My alternative selection is as below. I don't think there are any artists who could release such a strong collection of songs, and ignore most of their most famous compositions. This is so mouth-watering, I might have to burn my own 3 CD set!”

1) In my time of dyin (Bob Dylan)
2) Oxford Town (Freewheelin)
3) Quit your low down ways (outtake - Bootleg Series)
4) One Too Many Mornings (Times they are...)
5) Restless farewell (Times they are..)
6) Who Killed Davey Moore (live) (Bootleg Series)
7) Spanish Harlem Incident (Another side of..)
8) Love Minus Zero (Bringing it all back home)
9) Maggie's Farm (live Newport) (No Direction Home)
10) Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues (Highway 61)
11) I Wanna Be Your Lover (outtake - Biograph)
12) it's all over now baby blue (live) (Live 1966)
13) baby let me follow you down (live) (Live 1966)
14) Visions of johanna (Blonde on Blonde)
15) Fourth time around (Blonde on Blonde)
16) tears of rage (basement tapes)
17) I dreamed I saw st augustine (john wesley harding)
18) Grand Coulee Dam (live at Woody Guthrie Memorial show)
(Live 1961 - 2000)
19) I threw it all away (Nashville skyline)
20) Gotta travel on (self portrait)
21) Sign on the window (new morning)
22) Turkey Chase (pat garrett)
23) Never say goodbye (Planet waves)
24) It's alright ma (live - Before the Flood)
25) Buckets of rain (Blood on the tracks)
26) mozambique (desire)
27) Abandoned love (outtake - Biograph)
28) it takes a lot to laugh (live - Rolling Thunder)
29) idiot wind (live - Hard Rain)
30) we better talk this over (street-legal)
31) all along the watchtower (live - Budokan)
32) i believe in you (slow train coming)
33) pressing on (saved)
34) in the summertime (shot of love)
35) angelina (outtake - bootleg series)
36) dead man dead man (live) (Live 1961-2000)
37) man of peace (infidels)
38) masters of war (live - Real Live)
39) trust yourself (empire burlesque)
40) something's burning baby (empire burlesque)
41) rank strangers to me (down in the groove)
42) what was it you wanted (oh mercy)
43) handy dandy (under the red sky)
44) black jack davy (good as I been...)
45) Lone pilgrim (world gone wrong)
46) Hard Rain (live - Great Music Experience - CD single)
47) trying to get to heaven (Time out of mind)
48) Cold Irons Bound (live - Live 1961-2000)
49) Country Pie (live - Live 1961-2000)
50) Mississippi (love and theft)
51) Spirit on the water (modern times)

DYLAN (again)

This is the official Columbia Legacy view of the new compilation:

“DYLAN is the definitive Bob Dylan collection and chronicles the artist's four decades of groundbreaking studio recordings and serves as both a comprehensive introduction for new fans and an expansive, cherished overview for long-time Dylan devotees.

“Fans will truly appreciate the attention to detail in the Limited Edition Boxset which comes housed in a red cloth covered box and featuring all the songs from the 3-CD set but on CDs designed to look like replica vinyl in their own sleevecases and also includes a 40 page booklet with extended liner notes and rare photos, as well 10 limited edition postcard prints.”

A far less positive write-up has been picked up by Martin Cowan - “a spot-on review from Pitchfork:”

(A word of warning, though – if you think Zim/Columbia can do no wrong, this might spoil your breakfast! Ed)

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/45979-dylan

I fear my own (critical) view of DYLAN might have been compromised, though – a slip of a family tongue suggests that a Limited Ed box set might already have been stashed away as my Xmas present… if only they’d asked first… I suppose it’s the thought that counts…



Gerry Smith

DYLAN – everywhere

The one disc version of the new DYLAN album (including the Most Likely 2-track CD single) is available everywhere on my retail rounds – I’ve seen it in all the major supermarket chains, priced just under £10.

Surprisingly, my local ASDA supermarket also has the De Luxe version of the 3CD compilation in the deep red velvet box, priced at £24.97. Nice looking artefact – tempted, but I passed: why would you pay £25 for packaging?



Gerry Smith


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Martin Cowan seems similarly unpersuaded:

“There are reviews for the new Dylan compilation in both UNCUT and MOJO - both equally underwhelmed by the song selection, which Sony claim was as the result of "impassioned pleas" from fans on the Dylan07.com website but really was quite obviously the selection of some tone-deaf committee of soulless suits.

“This is a near identical selection to the Essential Bob Dylan 2 disc set - 30 of the 36 tracks on Essential are on the new Dylan set.

“There's usually an autumnal treat for Bob fans but it looks like there won't be one this year.”

New Dylan releases: unsatisfactory

Thanks to Lol Drake:

“I’ve found most Dylan releases of 2007 unsatisfactory and wanted to check whether my reaction is shared by Dylan Daily readers.

“The De Luxe version of Don’t Look Back was a really satisfying new Dylan product. But I ignored the other two – Wilburys and the new compilation. I have all that music already. Why would I want to buy it over again? Aren’t those extra booklets/packaging simply overpriced bits of nothing?

“And the more I look at the forthcoming new DVD of Newport 1963-65, the less inclined I feel to buy it. It looks like it has some great Dylan performances. But why have they spoilt it by including all the stuff by people I just can’t stand – Baez in particular, but also J Cash and PP&M? The 1964 gig, in particular, only has 2 of 7 tracks which are pure Bob.

“Any other Dylan nut around here feeling short-changed?”

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Here’s the The Other Side Of The Mirror tracklist Lol is complaining about; it’s easy to see why he’s unimpressed. I’ll be tempted to watch the DVD with finger poised on the skip button on the remote control:


The Other Side Of The Mirror DVD

All I Really Want To Do (1965)

1963:
North Country Blues
With God on Our Side (with Joan Baez)
Talkin' World War III Blues
Who Killed Davey Moore?
Only a Pawn in Their Game
Blowin' in the Wind (with the Freedom Singers, Joan Baez and Peter, Paul and Mary)

1964:
Mr. Tambourine Man
Johnny Cash, Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
Joan Baez, Mary Hamilton
It Ain't Me, Babe (with Joan Baez)
Joan Baez interview
With God on Our Side (with Joan Baez)
Chimes of Freedom

1965:
If You Gotta Go, Go Now
Love Minus Zero/No Limit
Rehearsal (with electric band)
Maggie's Farm (with electric band)
Like a Rolling Stone (with electric band)
Mr. Tambourine Man
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue

DYLAN – high retail visibility, low media profile

DYLAN, the new compilation CD, is very visible on my High Street – even Morrison’s, the local supermarket with the smallest CD range (but some of the tastiest prices – eg Traveling Wilburys intermittently at £10), were selling the single CD version today, at £9.77, prominently displayed as album of the week or some such.

As I, like most Dylan Daily readers, already have the songs on the compilation several times over, I chose to pass on DYLAN at Morrison’s, buying instead The Very Best Of Mick Jagger CD/DVD. It’s a wonderful package – review to follow on The Dylan Daily’s sister web site, Music for Grown-Ups:

www.musicforgrownups.co.uk

But I’ve come across surprisingly little media coverage for the new Dylan compilation – limited press, and not much space devoted to the release, even when covered.



Gerry Smith

DYLAN – today’s massive new release – all you need to know in 5 seconds

Today sees the (UK) release of DYLAN, the new compilation album. If you’ve missed all the hype, here’s all you really need to know, in 5 seconds:

1. The breadth and depth of the collection demonstrates the greatness of Dylan the creative artist over 45 years.

2. The 3CD set is now the strongest compilation in all of popular music, replacing the previous Dylan comp, The Essential…

3. There are three versions:

– single CD (bundled with bonus disc, the new 2 track single) – why anyone would choose to buy this version escapes me. Expect to pay about £8
– three disc version (51 song tracklist below) – the one to buy for the music. About £12
– de luxe version – same three discs plus luxury packaging - £17-26 – the one for collectors who don’t mind shelling out up to £14 extra for a few pieces of cardboard.

4. Because there’s no music I don’t already have, I won’t be bothering with any of the versions. Neither will many Bobfans I know. The products are aimed at consumers who don’t have much Dylan music. I envy them their voyage of discovery.

5. The selection is, almost inevitably, idiosyncratic. There’s tons of epoch-defining music, but how, for example, can you possibly leave off a masterpiece like Visions Of Johanna?



Gerry Smith

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DISC ONE
Song To Woody
Blowin' In The Wind
Masters Of War
Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall
The Times They Are A-Changin'
All I Really Want To Do
My Back Pages
It Ain't Me Babe
Subterranean Homesick Blues
Mr. Tambourine Man
Maggie's Farm
Like A Rolling Stone
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
Positively 4th Street
Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
Just Like A Woman
Most Likely You Go Your Way And I'll Go Mine
All Along The Watchtower

DISC TWO
You Ain't Goin' Nowhere
Lay, Lady, Lay
If Not For You
I Shall Be Released
Knockin' On Heaven's Door
On A Night Like This
Forever Young
Tangled Up In Blue
Simple Twist Of Fate
Hurricane
Changing Of The Guards
Gotta Serve Somebody
Precious Angel
The Groom's Still Waiting At The Altar
Jokerman
Dark Eyes

DISC THREE
Blind Willie McTell
Brownsville Girl
Silvio
Ring Them Bells
Dignity
Everything Is Broken
Under The Red Sky
You're Gonna Quit Me
Blood In My Eyes
Not Dark Yet
Things Have Changed
Make You Feel My Love
High Water (for Charley Patton)
Po' Boy
Someday Baby
When The Deal Goes Down