I’m taking advantage of the fine summer weather to get the garden sorted, and am turning off my computer for a few days.
So there’ll be no new content on Friday or Monday. I’ll be back posting new copy on Tuesday 5 August.
Make sure you drop by!
Gerry Smith
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Tell Tale Signs: encore
Thanks to David Faulkner:
“I agree with Liam, a disappointing track list.
Not poor enough to stop me buying it of course, but I won't be investing in the 3-disc set which is priced absurdly high if you just want the music.
“Maybe it will all sound more like a coherent whole when I hear it, but my hopes are not high.
“My respect for Steve Berkowitz and his management of the Bootleg Series has taken a big knock. I am certain that, if they were guided by a consultation with fans (as Sony purportedly was for the Dylan hits collections), we would not being seeing a track listing like this one.
“Now that we are up to Volume 8 of the Bootleg Series, the only market Sony have for these collections is the relatively diehard fans - so why not give us more of what we want and sell more stuff as well as keeping our goodwill? And it can only be goodwill, or a lack of sanity, that has seen me buy, for example, six copies of "Blonde On Blonde" in various formats over the years.
“After the our hero's ‘renaissance’ over the last decade with three excellent albums, the Oscar win, the Chronicles autobiography, the Scorsese No Direction Home documentary, the wonderful Theme Time Radio Hour, the approval of the I'm Not There film idea, the Pulitzer Prize award and the praise for his series of paintings I guess it was about time us fans got brought down to earth by what appears to be a relatively ill-thought-through pasting together of miscellaneous tracks, with lots of ‘repeats’. Of course there will be a huge range of views about what the ‘next’ collection would be but I suspect this one will provide little satisfaction beyond the genuine rarities.
“As with Liam, I had also been kinda hoping for a complete Supper Club live set. I just love those stripped down acoustic performances that Bob and the band deliver with such energy and commitment. Until I saw the article in USA Today I hadn't realised these shows had also been filmed professionally; what a great DVD we may (or may not) get one day.
“Ho hum.
“I was going to suggest we fans put together a proposal for the next three Bootleg Series collections, but we'd never agree, would we?”
And to Cornelius Collins:
“Re: ‘I've already spent stupid prices for the Gods and Generals, North Country and the Lucky You soundtracks and the Ralph Stanley album. I don't particularly want to pay for them again.’
“Sorry to say, but I think it was fairly stupid of Liam M. to have spent so much on these albums for one track apiece. Major artists like Dylan always have their odds and ends compiled eventually.
“I would agree the Bromberg sessions are notable by their absence. And the price is another matter entirely. And probably the repeated versions of songs should all be on the bonus disc, though that's without hearing them--maybe they're quite different sounding.
“But I like how the selection focuses on Oh Mercy forward. There's an integrity to that.”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
EARLIER RELATED ARTICLE:
Thanks to Liam Mogan:
“Just read the track listing from the latest Bootleg Series, Tell Tale Signs. Don't know about everybody else, but I'm feeling kind of underwhelmed.
“It seems that there is a lot of repetition - 3 alternative versions of Mississippi! Now, whilst I think it's a good track (I even have a secret soft spot for the Sheryl Crow version), surely this is barrel scraping at its most brazen.
“Similarly, we get 2 alternative versions of Most of the Time, Born in Time and even the mediocre Can't Wait. Also, there's a few tracks the diehard Dylan fan will already have.
“I've already spent stupid prices for the Gods and Generals, North Country and the Lucky You soundtracks and the Ralph Stanley album. I don't particularly want to pay for them again.
“If it's a true 'bootleg' then give us something truly rare. Especially when you consider the $129.99 price for the Deluxe Edition on bobdylan.com!
“Once it's released I'm sure I'll savour every track. I'm looking forward to hearing some pristine live tracks, the World Gone Wrong outtakes and the real rarities (Red River Shore, Miss the Mississippi etc).
“But where are the rest of the Bromberg outtakes, why no complete Supper Club set or DVD? It seems like a missed opportunity to me, and light years away from the majestic first instalment of the series and the historic Albert Hall set.
“Personally, I was hoping for a live album from the 'born again' era (some of the Toronto bootlegs are breathtaking), but, alas, it was not to be.
“I suppose all the people can't be all right all of the time.”
(Full details, inc full tracklist and stunning artwork, now online at www.bobdylan.com
What do YOU think of the new release? Let me know. Gerry Smith, Ed)
“I agree with Liam, a disappointing track list.
Not poor enough to stop me buying it of course, but I won't be investing in the 3-disc set which is priced absurdly high if you just want the music.
“Maybe it will all sound more like a coherent whole when I hear it, but my hopes are not high.
“My respect for Steve Berkowitz and his management of the Bootleg Series has taken a big knock. I am certain that, if they were guided by a consultation with fans (as Sony purportedly was for the Dylan hits collections), we would not being seeing a track listing like this one.
“Now that we are up to Volume 8 of the Bootleg Series, the only market Sony have for these collections is the relatively diehard fans - so why not give us more of what we want and sell more stuff as well as keeping our goodwill? And it can only be goodwill, or a lack of sanity, that has seen me buy, for example, six copies of "Blonde On Blonde" in various formats over the years.
“After the our hero's ‘renaissance’ over the last decade with three excellent albums, the Oscar win, the Chronicles autobiography, the Scorsese No Direction Home documentary, the wonderful Theme Time Radio Hour, the approval of the I'm Not There film idea, the Pulitzer Prize award and the praise for his series of paintings I guess it was about time us fans got brought down to earth by what appears to be a relatively ill-thought-through pasting together of miscellaneous tracks, with lots of ‘repeats’. Of course there will be a huge range of views about what the ‘next’ collection would be but I suspect this one will provide little satisfaction beyond the genuine rarities.
“As with Liam, I had also been kinda hoping for a complete Supper Club live set. I just love those stripped down acoustic performances that Bob and the band deliver with such energy and commitment. Until I saw the article in USA Today I hadn't realised these shows had also been filmed professionally; what a great DVD we may (or may not) get one day.
“Ho hum.
“I was going to suggest we fans put together a proposal for the next three Bootleg Series collections, but we'd never agree, would we?”
And to Cornelius Collins:
“Re: ‘I've already spent stupid prices for the Gods and Generals, North Country and the Lucky You soundtracks and the Ralph Stanley album. I don't particularly want to pay for them again.’
“Sorry to say, but I think it was fairly stupid of Liam M. to have spent so much on these albums for one track apiece. Major artists like Dylan always have their odds and ends compiled eventually.
“I would agree the Bromberg sessions are notable by their absence. And the price is another matter entirely. And probably the repeated versions of songs should all be on the bonus disc, though that's without hearing them--maybe they're quite different sounding.
“But I like how the selection focuses on Oh Mercy forward. There's an integrity to that.”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
EARLIER RELATED ARTICLE:
Thanks to Liam Mogan:
“Just read the track listing from the latest Bootleg Series, Tell Tale Signs. Don't know about everybody else, but I'm feeling kind of underwhelmed.
“It seems that there is a lot of repetition - 3 alternative versions of Mississippi! Now, whilst I think it's a good track (I even have a secret soft spot for the Sheryl Crow version), surely this is barrel scraping at its most brazen.
“Similarly, we get 2 alternative versions of Most of the Time, Born in Time and even the mediocre Can't Wait. Also, there's a few tracks the diehard Dylan fan will already have.
“I've already spent stupid prices for the Gods and Generals, North Country and the Lucky You soundtracks and the Ralph Stanley album. I don't particularly want to pay for them again.
“If it's a true 'bootleg' then give us something truly rare. Especially when you consider the $129.99 price for the Deluxe Edition on bobdylan.com!
“Once it's released I'm sure I'll savour every track. I'm looking forward to hearing some pristine live tracks, the World Gone Wrong outtakes and the real rarities (Red River Shore, Miss the Mississippi etc).
“But where are the rest of the Bromberg outtakes, why no complete Supper Club set or DVD? It seems like a missed opportunity to me, and light years away from the majestic first instalment of the series and the historic Albert Hall set.
“Personally, I was hoping for a live album from the 'born again' era (some of the Toronto bootlegs are breathtaking), but, alas, it was not to be.
“I suppose all the people can't be all right all of the time.”
(Full details, inc full tracklist and stunning artwork, now online at www.bobdylan.com
What do YOU think of the new release? Let me know. Gerry Smith, Ed)
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
More doubts about Tell Tale Signs, the new Bootleg Series album
Thanks to Bernard McGuinn
“While I found myself nodding in agreement as I read through Liam Mogan's comments (below), I can't help thinking that every Dylan fan, not least myself, thinks that he/she could do a much better job with The Bootleg Series than any record exec, given half a chance.
“The reality is you can't please any of the people, any of the time, when it comes to Bob's archives.
“So, while we may get three versions of Mississippi, and question why they didn't supply us with, say, two more Bromberg out-takes, I also know that there will be some - me included! - who will be wondering how many more versions may be available!
“The obvious solution, from a purely selfish fan-based perspective, is to take advantage of the digital wizardry, and put everything online for downloading at a reasonable price.
“Some hope! ;-)”
And thanks to Brian Fairbanks:
“I would even go further -- I might not even buy them, as a protest. With all the content that's floating around out there, can't we get some of that?
“I'd love to have official versions of the ENTIRE Supper Club run, at least rather than this. I'd love to have Restless Farewell from the Sinatra birthday concert and that good song from Hearts of Fire...
”... and so forth.
“If the record company’s gonna release bootlegs, they should release the best stuff first.”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
EARLIER RELATED ARTICLE:
Thanks to Liam Mogan:
“Just read the track listing from the latest Bootleg Series, Tell Tale Signs. Don't know about everybody else, but I'm feeling kind of underwhelmed.
“It seems that there is a lot of repetition - 3 alternative versions of Mississippi! Now, whilst I think it's a good track (I even have a secret soft spot for the Sheryl Crow version), surely this is barrel scraping at its most brazen.
“Similarly, we get 2 alternative versions of Most of the Time, Born in Time and even the mediocre Can't Wait. Also, there's a few tracks the diehard Dylan fan will already have.
“I've already spent stupid prices for the Gods and Generals, North Country and the Lucky You soundtracks and the Ralph Stanley album. I don't particularly want to pay for them again.
“If it's a true 'bootleg' then give us something truly rare. Especially when you consider the $129.99 price for the Deluxe Edition on bobdylan.com!
“Once it's released I'm sure I'll savour every track. I'm looking forward to hearing some pristine live tracks, the World Gone Wrong outtakes and the real rarities (Red River Shore, Miss the Mississippi etc).
“But where are the rest of the Bromberg outtakes, why no complete Supper Club set or DVD? It seems like a missed opportunity to me, and light years away from the majestic first instalment of the series and the historic Albert Hall set.
“Personally, I was hoping for a live album from the 'born again' era (some of the Toronto bootlegs are breathtaking), but, alas, it was not to be.
“I suppose all the people can't be all right all of the time.”
(Full details, inc full tracklist and stunning artwork, now online at www.bobdylan.com
What do YOU think of the new release? Let me know. Gerry Smith, Ed)
“While I found myself nodding in agreement as I read through Liam Mogan's comments (below), I can't help thinking that every Dylan fan, not least myself, thinks that he/she could do a much better job with The Bootleg Series than any record exec, given half a chance.
“The reality is you can't please any of the people, any of the time, when it comes to Bob's archives.
“So, while we may get three versions of Mississippi, and question why they didn't supply us with, say, two more Bromberg out-takes, I also know that there will be some - me included! - who will be wondering how many more versions may be available!
“The obvious solution, from a purely selfish fan-based perspective, is to take advantage of the digital wizardry, and put everything online for downloading at a reasonable price.
“Some hope! ;-)”
And thanks to Brian Fairbanks:
“I would even go further -- I might not even buy them, as a protest. With all the content that's floating around out there, can't we get some of that?
“I'd love to have official versions of the ENTIRE Supper Club run, at least rather than this. I'd love to have Restless Farewell from the Sinatra birthday concert and that good song from Hearts of Fire...
”... and so forth.
“If the record company’s gonna release bootlegs, they should release the best stuff first.”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
EARLIER RELATED ARTICLE:
Thanks to Liam Mogan:
“Just read the track listing from the latest Bootleg Series, Tell Tale Signs. Don't know about everybody else, but I'm feeling kind of underwhelmed.
“It seems that there is a lot of repetition - 3 alternative versions of Mississippi! Now, whilst I think it's a good track (I even have a secret soft spot for the Sheryl Crow version), surely this is barrel scraping at its most brazen.
“Similarly, we get 2 alternative versions of Most of the Time, Born in Time and even the mediocre Can't Wait. Also, there's a few tracks the diehard Dylan fan will already have.
“I've already spent stupid prices for the Gods and Generals, North Country and the Lucky You soundtracks and the Ralph Stanley album. I don't particularly want to pay for them again.
“If it's a true 'bootleg' then give us something truly rare. Especially when you consider the $129.99 price for the Deluxe Edition on bobdylan.com!
“Once it's released I'm sure I'll savour every track. I'm looking forward to hearing some pristine live tracks, the World Gone Wrong outtakes and the real rarities (Red River Shore, Miss the Mississippi etc).
“But where are the rest of the Bromberg outtakes, why no complete Supper Club set or DVD? It seems like a missed opportunity to me, and light years away from the majestic first instalment of the series and the historic Albert Hall set.
“Personally, I was hoping for a live album from the 'born again' era (some of the Toronto bootlegs are breathtaking), but, alas, it was not to be.
“I suppose all the people can't be all right all of the time.”
(Full details, inc full tracklist and stunning artwork, now online at www.bobdylan.com
What do YOU think of the new release? Let me know. Gerry Smith, Ed)
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Thumbs down for Tell Tale Signs, new Bootleg Series album, due October
Thanks to Liam Mogan:
“Just read the track listing from the latest Bootleg Series, Tell Tale Signs. “Don't know about everybody else, but I'm feeling kind of underwhelmed.
“It seems that there is a lot of repetition - 3 alternative versions of Mississippi! Now, whilst I think it's a good track (I even have a secret soft spot for the Sheryl Crow version), surely this is barrel scraping at its most brazen.
“Similarly, we get 2 alternative versions of Most of the Time, Born in Time and even the mediocre Can't Wait. Also, there's a few tracks the diehard Dylan fan will already have.
“I've already spent stupid prices for the Gods and Generals, North Country and the Lucky You soundtracks and the Ralph Stanley album. I don't particularly want to pay for them again.
“If it's a true 'bootleg' then give us something truly rare. Especially when you consider the $129.99 price for the Deluxe Edition on bobdylan.com!
“Once it's released I'm sure I'll savour every track. I'm looking forward to hearing some pristine live tracks, the World Gone Wrong outtakes and the real rarities (Red River Shore, Miss the Mississippi etc).
“But where are the rest of the Bromberg outtakes, why no complete Supper Club set or DVD? It seems like a missed opportunity to me, and light years away from the majestic first instalment of the series and the historic Albert Hall set.
“Personally, I was hoping for a live album from the 'born again' era (some of the Toronto bootlegs are breathtaking), but, alas, it was not to be.
“I suppose all the people can't be all right all of the time.”
(Full details, inc full tracklist and stunning artwork, now online at www.bobdylan.com
What do YOU think of the new release? Let me know. Gerry Smith, Ed)
“Just read the track listing from the latest Bootleg Series, Tell Tale Signs. “Don't know about everybody else, but I'm feeling kind of underwhelmed.
“It seems that there is a lot of repetition - 3 alternative versions of Mississippi! Now, whilst I think it's a good track (I even have a secret soft spot for the Sheryl Crow version), surely this is barrel scraping at its most brazen.
“Similarly, we get 2 alternative versions of Most of the Time, Born in Time and even the mediocre Can't Wait. Also, there's a few tracks the diehard Dylan fan will already have.
“I've already spent stupid prices for the Gods and Generals, North Country and the Lucky You soundtracks and the Ralph Stanley album. I don't particularly want to pay for them again.
“If it's a true 'bootleg' then give us something truly rare. Especially when you consider the $129.99 price for the Deluxe Edition on bobdylan.com!
“Once it's released I'm sure I'll savour every track. I'm looking forward to hearing some pristine live tracks, the World Gone Wrong outtakes and the real rarities (Red River Shore, Miss the Mississippi etc).
“But where are the rest of the Bromberg outtakes, why no complete Supper Club set or DVD? It seems like a missed opportunity to me, and light years away from the majestic first instalment of the series and the historic Albert Hall set.
“Personally, I was hoping for a live album from the 'born again' era (some of the Toronto bootlegs are breathtaking), but, alas, it was not to be.
“I suppose all the people can't be all right all of the time.”
(Full details, inc full tracklist and stunning artwork, now online at www.bobdylan.com
What do YOU think of the new release? Let me know. Gerry Smith, Ed)
Monday, July 28, 2008
Classic Dylan photographs on view in central London gallery
I must have walked within 50 yards of Blink Gallery, at 11 Poland St London W1, a thousand times without ever realising it was there. Then, for some reason last week, I headed down Poland St, south off Oxford Street, opposite HMV Oxford Circus branch, for the first time.
And there it was – a fabulous small gallery of two floors of framed, signed limited edition rock musician photos.
Pride of place goes to two Dylan pics by Jerry Schatzberg:
* Bob Dylan Pliers 1965 5/20 £2k + VAT 16” x 20” Silver Gelatin print, and
* Bob Dylan 1965 8/30 £2k + VAT 16” x 20” Silver Gelatin print.
Most readers would recognise both from the Blonde On Blonde cover shoot.
The Dylan pics are surrounded by other iconic shots documenting the best of Brit rock, from the Stones to Paul Weller. My favourite is is a wonderful tableau from the Beggars Banquet shoot, and there’s Hendrix, Oasis, Bob Marley et al, if jokey Stones debauchery isn’t your bag.
If you’re in London’s West End with a spare fifteen minutes, a visit to Blink Gallery is highly recommended. It’s free to look, and if you have a couple of thousand pounds to spare, you can buy, too.
(aficionados of soft porn: please brace yourself for a pleasant surprise before clicking the link below)
www.blinkgallery.com
Gerry Smith
And there it was – a fabulous small gallery of two floors of framed, signed limited edition rock musician photos.
Pride of place goes to two Dylan pics by Jerry Schatzberg:
* Bob Dylan Pliers 1965 5/20 £2k + VAT 16” x 20” Silver Gelatin print, and
* Bob Dylan 1965 8/30 £2k + VAT 16” x 20” Silver Gelatin print.
Most readers would recognise both from the Blonde On Blonde cover shoot.
The Dylan pics are surrounded by other iconic shots documenting the best of Brit rock, from the Stones to Paul Weller. My favourite is is a wonderful tableau from the Beggars Banquet shoot, and there’s Hendrix, Oasis, Bob Marley et al, if jokey Stones debauchery isn’t your bag.
If you’re in London’s West End with a spare fifteen minutes, a visit to Blink Gallery is highly recommended. It’s free to look, and if you have a couple of thousand pounds to spare, you can buy, too.
(aficionados of soft porn: please brace yourself for a pleasant surprise before clicking the link below)
www.blinkgallery.com
Gerry Smith
Friday, July 25, 2008
I’m Not There – shame about the extras
Conscious of my petulant decision to delay buying I’m Not There until the 2DVD version becomes available in Europe, a friend came round last night, toting his new single disc UK version.
Watching the film for a second time confirmed the opinion from the original big screen viewing that Todd Haynes’s film is a serious piece of well-executed art and that it will stand repeated scrutiny.
The single disc version’s extras – which compare badly with those on the Collector’s Edition – were our focus last night.
I'm Not There single DVD has:
· a documentary on the making of soundtrack - the most interesting extra
· an option of watching the film with an audio commentary from Haynes. While the film is running. Why would anyone want that?
· a long interview with Haynes. Very long. I can’t remember a single thing he said
· tribute to Heath Ledger – which has little interest for me; I know virtually nothing about him
· an underwhelming Dylan filmography>discography>bibliography
High-quality movie. Shame about the extras.
The extra extras on the 2DVD set apparently include: deleted scenes, featurettes, a music video, audition tapes for Marcus Carl Franklin and Ben Whishaw, a gag reel, unreleased trailers featuring the six actors re-enacting the 'Subterranean Homesick Blues' music video.
Hmmm… Are they worth waiting for? Probably not.
But I’ll still delay buying I'm Not There to register my protest at Paramount Pictures’ discrimination against European consumers.
Gerry Smith
Watching the film for a second time confirmed the opinion from the original big screen viewing that Todd Haynes’s film is a serious piece of well-executed art and that it will stand repeated scrutiny.
The single disc version’s extras – which compare badly with those on the Collector’s Edition – were our focus last night.
I'm Not There single DVD has:
· a documentary on the making of soundtrack - the most interesting extra
· an option of watching the film with an audio commentary from Haynes. While the film is running. Why would anyone want that?
· a long interview with Haynes. Very long. I can’t remember a single thing he said
· tribute to Heath Ledger – which has little interest for me; I know virtually nothing about him
· an underwhelming Dylan filmography>discography>bibliography
High-quality movie. Shame about the extras.
The extra extras on the 2DVD set apparently include: deleted scenes, featurettes, a music video, audition tapes for Marcus Carl Franklin and Ben Whishaw, a gag reel, unreleased trailers featuring the six actors re-enacting the 'Subterranean Homesick Blues' music video.
Hmmm… Are they worth waiting for? Probably not.
But I’ll still delay buying I'm Not There to register my protest at Paramount Pictures’ discrimination against European consumers.
Gerry Smith
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Don’t Look Back: Malcolm McDowell bit part?
Thanks to Andrew Kelly:
“I caught the More 4 screening of Don’t Look Back last night (22 July) and was struck once again by the possibility that one of the others in the drunken confrontation in the Savoy suite over the glass thrown from a window looks as though he could be a young Malcolm McDowell, the actor probably best-known as Alex in ‘A Clockwork Orange’.
“Can anyone give a positive identification of the man who asserts: ‘You're a big noise... I'm nothing’ etc toward the scene's end?”
“I caught the More 4 screening of Don’t Look Back last night (22 July) and was struck once again by the possibility that one of the others in the drunken confrontation in the Savoy suite over the glass thrown from a window looks as though he could be a young Malcolm McDowell, the actor probably best-known as Alex in ‘A Clockwork Orange’.
“Can anyone give a positive identification of the man who asserts: ‘You're a big noise... I'm nothing’ etc toward the scene's end?”
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Dylan v Cohen (and Young)
Thanks to Martin Cowan:
“You may remember a comment that was made a few months back comparing Dylan to Neil Young in terms of ‘value’ in concert.
“I am wondering whether the same can be said when comparing Dylan to Leonard Cohen, whose recent show you enjoyed so much.
“Dylan gives us 90 minutes, 16 songs - (10 minute version of Cats In The Well, anyone?), whereas the boy Len gives us the best part of 3 hours and 25 songs.
“I'm wondering whether Dylan concertgoers are feeling short-changed these days?”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
EARLIER RELATED ARTICLE:
Yes - Neil Young IS upstaging Dylan
Thanks to Dave Dingle:
“Neil Young upstaging Bob? You better believe it!
“Having seen Bob over 100 times (an amateur compared to some, I know), I was struck last week by Neil doing a full one hour acoustic set, the like of which we haven’t seen from Bob since the 1960s, and a storming electric set ... active, prowling the stage, playing his own lead …
“I was left with the feeling that going to see Neil was an altogether more satisfying experience than Bob in recent years, stuck behind the piano, or even doing his few guitar songs.
“Sad to say, my conclusion is that Bob will never undergo the kind of renaissance that Neil obviously has!”
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
EARLIER RELATED ARTICLE:
Neil Young upstaging Dylan?
Neil Young’s current London shows, with long setlists drawn from across his catalogue, have been getting rave reviews.
According to Martin Cowan:
“Interesting to compare Neil Young's 23/24 song sets from his current tour with the 17 that Dylan serves up these days.
“I have been pondering lately on Dylan set lists (further to my last email) and concluded that if he cut short some of the instrumental "noodling", he could play a few more songs and perhaps be a little more generous with that superlative song book. Just a thought.”
Here’s a sample of Young’s ever-changing setlist, from 8 March at Hammersmith Apollo, courtesy of Bad News Beat:
01. From Hank To Hendrix
02. Ambulance Blues
03. Sad Movies
04. A Man Needs A Maid
05. Flying On The Ground Is Wrong (grand piano)
06. On The Way Home (grand piano)
07. Harvest
08. Journey Through The Past (upright piano)
09. Love In Mind (upright piano)
10. Mellow My Mind
11. Love Art Blues
12. Love Is A Rose
13. Heart Of Gold
14. Old Man
---
15. Mr. Soul
16. Dirty Old Man
17. Spirit Road
18. Down By The River
19. Hey Hey, My My
20. Too Far Gone
21. Oh, Lonesome Me
22. Winterlong
23. Powderfinger
24. No Hidden Path
---
25. Roll Another Number
Gerry Smith
“You may remember a comment that was made a few months back comparing Dylan to Neil Young in terms of ‘value’ in concert.
“I am wondering whether the same can be said when comparing Dylan to Leonard Cohen, whose recent show you enjoyed so much.
“Dylan gives us 90 minutes, 16 songs - (10 minute version of Cats In The Well, anyone?), whereas the boy Len gives us the best part of 3 hours and 25 songs.
“I'm wondering whether Dylan concertgoers are feeling short-changed these days?”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
EARLIER RELATED ARTICLE:
Yes - Neil Young IS upstaging Dylan
Thanks to Dave Dingle:
“Neil Young upstaging Bob? You better believe it!
“Having seen Bob over 100 times (an amateur compared to some, I know), I was struck last week by Neil doing a full one hour acoustic set, the like of which we haven’t seen from Bob since the 1960s, and a storming electric set ... active, prowling the stage, playing his own lead …
“I was left with the feeling that going to see Neil was an altogether more satisfying experience than Bob in recent years, stuck behind the piano, or even doing his few guitar songs.
“Sad to say, my conclusion is that Bob will never undergo the kind of renaissance that Neil obviously has!”
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
EARLIER RELATED ARTICLE:
Neil Young upstaging Dylan?
Neil Young’s current London shows, with long setlists drawn from across his catalogue, have been getting rave reviews.
According to Martin Cowan:
“Interesting to compare Neil Young's 23/24 song sets from his current tour with the 17 that Dylan serves up these days.
“I have been pondering lately on Dylan set lists (further to my last email) and concluded that if he cut short some of the instrumental "noodling", he could play a few more songs and perhaps be a little more generous with that superlative song book. Just a thought.”
Here’s a sample of Young’s ever-changing setlist, from 8 March at Hammersmith Apollo, courtesy of Bad News Beat:
01. From Hank To Hendrix
02. Ambulance Blues
03. Sad Movies
04. A Man Needs A Maid
05. Flying On The Ground Is Wrong (grand piano)
06. On The Way Home (grand piano)
07. Harvest
08. Journey Through The Past (upright piano)
09. Love In Mind (upright piano)
10. Mellow My Mind
11. Love Art Blues
12. Love Is A Rose
13. Heart Of Gold
14. Old Man
---
15. Mr. Soul
16. Dirty Old Man
17. Spirit Road
18. Down By The River
19. Hey Hey, My My
20. Too Far Gone
21. Oh, Lonesome Me
22. Winterlong
23. Powderfinger
24. No Hidden Path
---
25. Roll Another Number
Gerry Smith
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Dylan/Cohen: perfect asymmetry?
Thanks to Jane Milton:
“I enjoyed Anne Ritchie’s piece on Bob/Len. (What follows is my attempt to ensure that Dylan Daily carries articles by women on two successive days - for the very first time, if I’m not mistaken.)
“I’m a Bob devotee but have found solace with Lennie in several periods when Dylan has been floundering.
“Leonard’s first two ground-breaking albums were released when Dylan was putting out albums like Nashville Skyline, well below the standard of his mid-60s masterpieces.
“Then, when Leonard’s output floundered, in the second half of the ‘70s, Dylan was back on top.
“And then when Bob went AWOL in the late 80s, L Cohen delivered two more masterpieces – Various Positions and I’m Your Man.
“Has anyone else noticed how their discographies seem to be in perfect asymmetry? For one who loves both, it’s been a lucky coincidence.”
“I enjoyed Anne Ritchie’s piece on Bob/Len. (What follows is my attempt to ensure that Dylan Daily carries articles by women on two successive days - for the very first time, if I’m not mistaken.)
“I’m a Bob devotee but have found solace with Lennie in several periods when Dylan has been floundering.
“Leonard’s first two ground-breaking albums were released when Dylan was putting out albums like Nashville Skyline, well below the standard of his mid-60s masterpieces.
“Then, when Leonard’s output floundered, in the second half of the ‘70s, Dylan was back on top.
“And then when Bob went AWOL in the late 80s, L Cohen delivered two more masterpieces – Various Positions and I’m Your Man.
“Has anyone else noticed how their discographies seem to be in perfect asymmetry? For one who loves both, it’s been a lucky coincidence.”
Monday, July 21, 2008
Leonard Cohen – the Canadian Dylan?
I saw Leonard Cohen for the first time last week, at London’s O2 Arena. It was a magnificent gig (click on the Music For Grown-Ups link to read the detailed review).
So thanks to Anne Ritchie for sending her timely article on Leonard and Dylan:
“Just as Ira B Nadel’s book, Various Positions - A Life Of Leonard Cohen, was turning a little tedious, with its microscopic examination of the (French) Canadian (Jewish) literary scene and references to authors I’d never heard of (and was unlikely to ever want to discover), my interest was reawakened in the middle chapter (Chapter 7), when Bob Dylan appeared for the first time.
“We had arrived at 1966, when Cohen, aged 31, was about to embark on his singing career. At an all-day poetry get-together, none of his fellow poets had heard of this Dylan who Cohen was raving about. One of his friends went out immediately to buy Bringing It All Back Home and Highway 61 Revisited, but when they were played they had little impact. Only Cohen was impressed, declaring he would become the Canadian Dylan: music seemed more lucrative than literature.
“En route to Nashville, Cohen stopped off in New York, where he stayed, on and off, for two years. There he was introduced to fellow Canadian Mary Martin, an assistant to Dylan’s manager, Albert Grossman. It was Martin who arranged for fellow Canadians the Hawks, later known as The Band, to back Dylan. (She also managed Van Morrison for a time.)
“With Martin as his manager, Cohen established himself in the New York music scene. John Hammond, who had also discovered Dylan, signed him to Columbia Records.
“At this point in Various Positions, we see various members of Dylan’s circle from Cohen’s perspective: arguments with Joan Baez over drugs, his infatuation with Nico… .
“It was not until autumn 1969 that Cohen and Dylan met for the first time. Dylan heard that Cohen was at another Village folk club and summoned him to the Kettle of Fish. Their mutual admiration is no secret. Cohen has described Dylan as a Picasso – exuberant, wide-ranging, and assimilating the history of music. Dylan is reported to have gone backstage at several Cohen concerts, and even called in to the recording studios with Allen Ginsberg to sing back-up on Don’t Go Home With Your Hard On, a notorious track on the Phil Spector-produced album, Death of A Ladies’ Man.
“As author Nadel remarks, Cohen and Dylan share some qualities in their song-writing, notably sophisticated lyrics and elegant melodies. They both draw heavily from The Bible. Nadel adds that neither had much of a voice.
“I’d agree that early Lennie can sometimes embarrass with flat notes, but his speaking voice is rich and sonorous and his singing improved with confidence. Dylan could always sing. Listening to his early songs, forty five years down the line, I am often surprised by the force of his singing, the phrasing and the way he holds onto notes. And though his singing voice has seen better days, his speaking voice continues to charm.
“Cohen’s trademark is the most felicitous turn of phrase, both in speech and song. Phrases in his songs impress me with their beauty even when I struggle to comprehend them. Often described as hypnotic, his melodies can draw you in to an intimate world. Only in later songs, as in those in The Future, does Cohen seem to break out from his enclosed world - though his two most recent albums, Ten New Songs, and Dear Heather, see him once again retreating into Planet Leonard.
“Various Positions gives a detailed, informative picture of Leonard Cohen the man and consequently many insights into his (relatively limited) musical output.
“By comparison, Dylan’s vast and varied output reflects a boundless curiosity. It reveals a man looking outwards as well as inwards.”
So thanks to Anne Ritchie for sending her timely article on Leonard and Dylan:
“Just as Ira B Nadel’s book, Various Positions - A Life Of Leonard Cohen, was turning a little tedious, with its microscopic examination of the (French) Canadian (Jewish) literary scene and references to authors I’d never heard of (and was unlikely to ever want to discover), my interest was reawakened in the middle chapter (Chapter 7), when Bob Dylan appeared for the first time.
“We had arrived at 1966, when Cohen, aged 31, was about to embark on his singing career. At an all-day poetry get-together, none of his fellow poets had heard of this Dylan who Cohen was raving about. One of his friends went out immediately to buy Bringing It All Back Home and Highway 61 Revisited, but when they were played they had little impact. Only Cohen was impressed, declaring he would become the Canadian Dylan: music seemed more lucrative than literature.
“En route to Nashville, Cohen stopped off in New York, where he stayed, on and off, for two years. There he was introduced to fellow Canadian Mary Martin, an assistant to Dylan’s manager, Albert Grossman. It was Martin who arranged for fellow Canadians the Hawks, later known as The Band, to back Dylan. (She also managed Van Morrison for a time.)
“With Martin as his manager, Cohen established himself in the New York music scene. John Hammond, who had also discovered Dylan, signed him to Columbia Records.
“At this point in Various Positions, we see various members of Dylan’s circle from Cohen’s perspective: arguments with Joan Baez over drugs, his infatuation with Nico… .
“It was not until autumn 1969 that Cohen and Dylan met for the first time. Dylan heard that Cohen was at another Village folk club and summoned him to the Kettle of Fish. Their mutual admiration is no secret. Cohen has described Dylan as a Picasso – exuberant, wide-ranging, and assimilating the history of music. Dylan is reported to have gone backstage at several Cohen concerts, and even called in to the recording studios with Allen Ginsberg to sing back-up on Don’t Go Home With Your Hard On, a notorious track on the Phil Spector-produced album, Death of A Ladies’ Man.
“As author Nadel remarks, Cohen and Dylan share some qualities in their song-writing, notably sophisticated lyrics and elegant melodies. They both draw heavily from The Bible. Nadel adds that neither had much of a voice.
“I’d agree that early Lennie can sometimes embarrass with flat notes, but his speaking voice is rich and sonorous and his singing improved with confidence. Dylan could always sing. Listening to his early songs, forty five years down the line, I am often surprised by the force of his singing, the phrasing and the way he holds onto notes. And though his singing voice has seen better days, his speaking voice continues to charm.
“Cohen’s trademark is the most felicitous turn of phrase, both in speech and song. Phrases in his songs impress me with their beauty even when I struggle to comprehend them. Often described as hypnotic, his melodies can draw you in to an intimate world. Only in later songs, as in those in The Future, does Cohen seem to break out from his enclosed world - though his two most recent albums, Ten New Songs, and Dear Heather, see him once again retreating into Planet Leonard.
“Various Positions gives a detailed, informative picture of Leonard Cohen the man and consequently many insights into his (relatively limited) musical output.
“By comparison, Dylan’s vast and varied output reflects a boundless curiosity. It reveals a man looking outwards as well as inwards.”
Friday, July 18, 2008
BOBMANIA #26: Dylan fan art
Thanks to Michael Bowman:
“Here's a cool word art/Dylan music page:
http://www.ni9e.com/typo/typo_dylan.html
“Here's a cool word art/Dylan music page:
http://www.ni9e.com/typo/typo_dylan.html
Thursday, July 17, 2008
BOBMANIA #25: new Dyl-Time Theme Radio Hour
Thanks to Mel Prussack:
“Just to let you know that I just posted this month’s Dyl-Time Theme
Radio Hour show.
“The theme this month is Town Hall: I'm sure you are familiar with that show! Thanks again for your getting the word out for me.”
http://dylanshrine.podOmatic.com
“Just to let you know that I just posted this month’s Dyl-Time Theme
Radio Hour show.
“The theme this month is Town Hall: I'm sure you are familiar with that show! Thanks again for your getting the word out for me.”
http://dylanshrine.podOmatic.com
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Don’t Look Back on TV again next week
Thanks to Martin Cowan:
“Don't Look Back is being shown twice next week on More4 - Tuesday 22 July at 10.00 pm and again on 23 July at 1.05am.”
(Readers watching the film for the first time next week might then check out the magnificent Don't Look Back 65 Tour De Luxe Edition. The box, 2dvd, plus book and flipbook, is one of Dylan Daily’s favourite releases of the last decade – Gerry Smith).
“Don't Look Back is being shown twice next week on More4 - Tuesday 22 July at 10.00 pm and again on 23 July at 1.05am.”
(Readers watching the film for the first time next week might then check out the magnificent Don't Look Back 65 Tour De Luxe Edition. The box, 2dvd, plus book and flipbook, is one of Dylan Daily’s favourite releases of the last decade – Gerry Smith).
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
I’m Not There on DVD: even in the “value” supermarket
I’m Not There is a fine film, but it’s not targeted at Mr Joe and Mrs Josephine Mainstream Public. I’d have wagered serious money against seeing it on the supermarket shelves yesterday.
But there it was, on the day of release - in the Top 30 DVD rack, no less - in Asda, the Brit Wal-Mart “value” chain, priced at about £12.75.
Heavens to Murgatroyd!
Is Dylan even more central to the Zeitgeist than I thought?
Gerry Smith
But there it was, on the day of release - in the Top 30 DVD rack, no less - in Asda, the Brit Wal-Mart “value” chain, priced at about £12.75.
Heavens to Murgatroyd!
Is Dylan even more central to the Zeitgeist than I thought?
Gerry Smith
Monday, July 14, 2008
I’m Not There on DVD: better news on Euro release
Thanks to Jörg in Germany:
“Just discovered today at amazon.de that a special edition might be released in August:
http://www.amazon.de/Im-Not-There-Cate-Blanchett/dp/B001BP2YW0/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UTF8&coliid=I211RVJO6UIOJ9&colid=3V77ER07ULT3Q
“Let's keep our fingers crossed... “
“Just discovered today at amazon.de that a special edition might be released in August:
http://www.amazon.de/Im-Not-There-Cate-Blanchett/dp/B001BP2YW0/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UTF8&coliid=I211RVJO6UIOJ9&colid=3V77ER07ULT3Q
“Let's keep our fingers crossed... “
Just Like Bob Zimmerman’s Blues: “valuable”
Thanks to Michael Gray:
“Re your posting re rare early Dylan books: there is a fair amount of detail on both the Ribakoves’ book and the Dave Engel book in The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia.
“Since the entries are people-based, as you know, you’ll find the info on these books under the authors’ names.
“I describe Engel’s Just Like Bob Zimmerman’s Blues: Dylan in Minnesota as “one of the four or five most valuable books on Bob Dylan”: a view I stand by.”
www.bobdylanencyclopedia.blogspot.com
“Re your posting re rare early Dylan books: there is a fair amount of detail on both the Ribakoves’ book and the Dave Engel book in The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia.
“Since the entries are people-based, as you know, you’ll find the info on these books under the authors’ names.
“I describe Engel’s Just Like Bob Zimmerman’s Blues: Dylan in Minnesota as “one of the four or five most valuable books on Bob Dylan”: a view I stand by.”
www.bobdylanencyclopedia.blogspot.com
Friday, July 11, 2008
I’m Not There on DVD: a muted welcome
I’m Not There, Todd Haynes’ art-house film on the many lives of “Bob Dylan”, split Zimfandom; I found it deeply enjoyable (see review below).
Monday (14 July) finally sees the UK release of I’m Not There on DVD (Region 2 - Europe, Japan). Normally, I’d be queueing to buy a copy.
But, as far as I can make out from favoured online suppliers, it’s only available to European buyers in the single disc version. US consumers have had the choice of one or two disc versions since its May release in North America.
So I’ll be ignoring I’m Not There - until a Region 2 2DVD version goes on sale, or the single disc version hits the bargain bins at under £5.
Only a muted Dylan Daily welcome, then, for I’m Not There on DVD, I’m afraid.
Pity, great pity. This isn’t the first time European Dylan consumers have been expected to be thankful for half a loaf.
Gerry Smith
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
EARLIER RELATED ARTICLE
I’m Not There – artful, enjoyable, stimulating
I hadn’t really fancied I’m Not There, probably as a reaction to the incessant wall of hype greeting the film’s release.
And half an hour into yesterday’s showing at my local art-house cinema, I felt vindicated.
Harrumph! Woody, the tiresomely precocious young black version of Dylan, had me gritting my teeth. Hollywood does it again, I was thinking - manages to turn gold into lead. Why was I wasting my time in a cinema on a fine spring Sunday?
Then some new characters were introduced – notably Rimbaud and Ms Blanchett – and I’m Not There took wing and eventually started soaring. And the next 90 minutes was riveting.
Ideas were bursting from the screen so quickly that you had to concentrate hard to pick up all the references, catch all the quotations.
But it was more than a sterile intellectual exercise – it was emotionally engaging, too. You were regularly moved by the script and the performances. The chaos of something approaching Dylan’s world was beautifully evoked. And the use of Dylan’s music was spellbinding.
I’m Not There is not, as I had suspected, an exploitation biopic. No, it’s a major movie in its own right, an artful rumination on Dylan’s genius, and an appropriately masterful contribution to our perception of who he really is (or might be).
I’ll be buying the DVD, partly to max on the enjoyment, partly to try unravelling the complexities of a richly layered piece of art.
If you haven’t yet seen I’m Not There, you’re in for a feast – it’s an enjoyable, endlessly stimulating feast.
Gerry Smith
Monday (14 July) finally sees the UK release of I’m Not There on DVD (Region 2 - Europe, Japan). Normally, I’d be queueing to buy a copy.
But, as far as I can make out from favoured online suppliers, it’s only available to European buyers in the single disc version. US consumers have had the choice of one or two disc versions since its May release in North America.
So I’ll be ignoring I’m Not There - until a Region 2 2DVD version goes on sale, or the single disc version hits the bargain bins at under £5.
Only a muted Dylan Daily welcome, then, for I’m Not There on DVD, I’m afraid.
Pity, great pity. This isn’t the first time European Dylan consumers have been expected to be thankful for half a loaf.
Gerry Smith
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
EARLIER RELATED ARTICLE
I’m Not There – artful, enjoyable, stimulating
I hadn’t really fancied I’m Not There, probably as a reaction to the incessant wall of hype greeting the film’s release.
And half an hour into yesterday’s showing at my local art-house cinema, I felt vindicated.
Harrumph! Woody, the tiresomely precocious young black version of Dylan, had me gritting my teeth. Hollywood does it again, I was thinking - manages to turn gold into lead. Why was I wasting my time in a cinema on a fine spring Sunday?
Then some new characters were introduced – notably Rimbaud and Ms Blanchett – and I’m Not There took wing and eventually started soaring. And the next 90 minutes was riveting.
Ideas were bursting from the screen so quickly that you had to concentrate hard to pick up all the references, catch all the quotations.
But it was more than a sterile intellectual exercise – it was emotionally engaging, too. You were regularly moved by the script and the performances. The chaos of something approaching Dylan’s world was beautifully evoked. And the use of Dylan’s music was spellbinding.
I’m Not There is not, as I had suspected, an exploitation biopic. No, it’s a major movie in its own right, an artful rumination on Dylan’s genius, and an appropriately masterful contribution to our perception of who he really is (or might be).
I’ll be buying the DVD, partly to max on the enjoyment, partly to try unravelling the complexities of a richly layered piece of art.
If you haven’t yet seen I’m Not There, you’re in for a feast – it’s an enjoyable, endlessly stimulating feast.
Gerry Smith
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Folk-Rock: encore
Thanks to Daniel Lobby:
“I think it wrong of keepingitrandom to characterise the Folk-Rock - The Bob Dylan Story book as ‘almost fanzine style’ or to say that ‘the general tone (is) pretty flighty’.
“Published in February 1966, it was presumably written in the preceding months, a time when Dylan was riding on chart success. It is admittedly a quick-fire book written for a predominantly young readership but, within that context, it is fairly serious and quite informative, containing some detail not generally known at that time.
“One could say that it was a ‘cut and paste’ job. After all, the authors, Sy and Barbara Ribakove, cite 20 different publications that they consulted and list 17 articles from which they have drawn material. In addition, however, they thank Izzy Young for allowing access to ‘the research facilities of The Folklore Center’.
“It was never intended to be a formal biography and, the repetition of Dylan's own life-story fables aside, it is reasonably accurate. Even their judgements are far from flippant.
“The book ends: ‘Exactly where Bob Dylan is going, no one can predict. He may never find a permanent stopping place. But the journey will never be dull, either for him or for those who watch, applaud or mock him along the way. It is out of such journeys, sometimes dangerous, always lonely, that great art is made.’
“Not bad, not bad at all.”
“I think it wrong of keepingitrandom to characterise the Folk-Rock - The Bob Dylan Story book as ‘almost fanzine style’ or to say that ‘the general tone (is) pretty flighty’.
“Published in February 1966, it was presumably written in the preceding months, a time when Dylan was riding on chart success. It is admittedly a quick-fire book written for a predominantly young readership but, within that context, it is fairly serious and quite informative, containing some detail not generally known at that time.
“One could say that it was a ‘cut and paste’ job. After all, the authors, Sy and Barbara Ribakove, cite 20 different publications that they consulted and list 17 articles from which they have drawn material. In addition, however, they thank Izzy Young for allowing access to ‘the research facilities of The Folklore Center’.
“It was never intended to be a formal biography and, the repetition of Dylan's own life-story fables aside, it is reasonably accurate. Even their judgements are far from flippant.
“The book ends: ‘Exactly where Bob Dylan is going, no one can predict. He may never find a permanent stopping place. But the journey will never be dull, either for him or for those who watch, applaud or mock him along the way. It is out of such journeys, sometimes dangerous, always lonely, that great art is made.’
“Not bad, not bad at all.”
Folk-Rock - the very first Dylan book
Thanks to keepingitrandom:
“I have a copy of that book, Folk-Rock: the Bob Dylan story.
“It is a paperback book written in an almost fanzine style... although, unlike Zimmerman Blues which I also have & which was published in the '70's, the text repeats early b.s. like the liner notes on his first album... carnivals, Gallup, New Mexico, etc... a few interesting photos... the general tone pretty flighty... interesting for its time...”
“I have a copy of that book, Folk-Rock: the Bob Dylan story.
“It is a paperback book written in an almost fanzine style... although, unlike Zimmerman Blues which I also have & which was published in the '70's, the text repeats early b.s. like the liner notes on his first album... carnivals, Gallup, New Mexico, etc... a few interesting photos... the general tone pretty flighty... interesting for its time...”
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Positively Main Street: delightful new edition of an early classic
You wait for ten years: nothing at all. Then, suddenly, three turn up at the same time. Dylan books, that is.
Bobby had been around for a decade, a global superstar for a big part of it. But, in London at least, you couldn’t buy a single book on the man or his art.
Then, in 1972, along came the first English paperback editions of Gray’s Song & Dance Man, Scaduto’s biography and Toby Thompson’s Positively Main Street. Three very different Dylan books, each one manna from Heaven for the info-starved Zimfan.
The trio encouraged the coming idea that Dylan was even bigger than had been thought, that he was far more important than his 1960s rockpop contemporaries. That here was a musician you might be listening to, carefully, for the rest of your life.
Toby Thompson, an early Dylan fan, had a simple idea: go up to Hibbing and explore Dylan’s background – the place, the people, the culture.
So he did, reporting his findings in a series of articles for New York’s Hipster Bible, Village Voice, in 1969; the pieces were then stitched together to form the original US edition of Positively Main Street in 1971, reaching the UK a year later.
Thompson ended up interviewing Dylan’s mother, Beatty; his brother, David; his uncle Maurice; his first girlfriend, Echo; plus several teachers from Hibbing High, and various other acquaintances.
The whole while, he’s probing, searching for the essence of Dylan. And emoting, excitedly. This from his very first paragraph:
“I just finished speaking with ‘Girl From The North Country’. Right, the very same chick Bob wrote the song about… ”
First time round, I was thrilled by Positively Main Street, because of its myriad insights into Dylan’s background, and because it’s such an impressive piece of writing – part travelogue, part Beat-soaked memoir, part page-turner. It’s a sheer delight to read. And all the while, you sense that, in addition to finding Dylan’s roots, the youthful author is really finding himself.
Thompson has an engaging style, and if you share his passion for his subject, you know exactly what’s driving him. He was a fine writer at a tender age (appropriate, that!).
Just like the first time, I raced through the new edition of Positively Main Street in a single sitting. Thirty-five years after the first read, I found it utterly absorbing.
The new edition, from the University Of Minnesota Press, has several “bonus tracks”, which enrich the original text:
* a new preface by Thompson
* Thompson’s Hibbing photographs, notably of Echo Helstrom posing among heavy-duty industrial machinery in the mining zone: it’s not hard to see why both writer and subject were smitten!
* a revealing 36 page interview with Toby Thompson carried out in 2005 by Terry Kelly for publication in UK fanzine The Bridge
* a different sub-title: the original edition was Positively Main Street: An Unorthodox View Of Bob Dylan.
The new Positively Main Street is a lovely little book, even better than the original, a cherished addition to the Dylan bookshelf. Thompson and the University of Minnesota Press have enhanced what was already a classic and made it available to a whole new audience. Dylan fans owe them a debt of gratitude.
Positively Main Street: Bob Dylan’s Minnesota by Toby Thompson, University Of Minnesota Press, 2008, 215pp, pbk, ISBN 978-0-8166-5445-1, $15.95/£10 (from amazon).
Gerry Smith
Bobby had been around for a decade, a global superstar for a big part of it. But, in London at least, you couldn’t buy a single book on the man or his art.
Then, in 1972, along came the first English paperback editions of Gray’s Song & Dance Man, Scaduto’s biography and Toby Thompson’s Positively Main Street. Three very different Dylan books, each one manna from Heaven for the info-starved Zimfan.
The trio encouraged the coming idea that Dylan was even bigger than had been thought, that he was far more important than his 1960s rockpop contemporaries. That here was a musician you might be listening to, carefully, for the rest of your life.
Toby Thompson, an early Dylan fan, had a simple idea: go up to Hibbing and explore Dylan’s background – the place, the people, the culture.
So he did, reporting his findings in a series of articles for New York’s Hipster Bible, Village Voice, in 1969; the pieces were then stitched together to form the original US edition of Positively Main Street in 1971, reaching the UK a year later.
Thompson ended up interviewing Dylan’s mother, Beatty; his brother, David; his uncle Maurice; his first girlfriend, Echo; plus several teachers from Hibbing High, and various other acquaintances.
The whole while, he’s probing, searching for the essence of Dylan. And emoting, excitedly. This from his very first paragraph:
“I just finished speaking with ‘Girl From The North Country’. Right, the very same chick Bob wrote the song about… ”
First time round, I was thrilled by Positively Main Street, because of its myriad insights into Dylan’s background, and because it’s such an impressive piece of writing – part travelogue, part Beat-soaked memoir, part page-turner. It’s a sheer delight to read. And all the while, you sense that, in addition to finding Dylan’s roots, the youthful author is really finding himself.
Thompson has an engaging style, and if you share his passion for his subject, you know exactly what’s driving him. He was a fine writer at a tender age (appropriate, that!).
Just like the first time, I raced through the new edition of Positively Main Street in a single sitting. Thirty-five years after the first read, I found it utterly absorbing.
The new edition, from the University Of Minnesota Press, has several “bonus tracks”, which enrich the original text:
* a new preface by Thompson
* Thompson’s Hibbing photographs, notably of Echo Helstrom posing among heavy-duty industrial machinery in the mining zone: it’s not hard to see why both writer and subject were smitten!
* a revealing 36 page interview with Toby Thompson carried out in 2005 by Terry Kelly for publication in UK fanzine The Bridge
* a different sub-title: the original edition was Positively Main Street: An Unorthodox View Of Bob Dylan.
The new Positively Main Street is a lovely little book, even better than the original, a cherished addition to the Dylan bookshelf. Thompson and the University of Minnesota Press have enhanced what was already a classic and made it available to a whole new audience. Dylan fans owe them a debt of gratitude.
Positively Main Street: Bob Dylan’s Minnesota by Toby Thompson, University Of Minnesota Press, 2008, 215pp, pbk, ISBN 978-0-8166-5445-1, $15.95/£10 (from amazon).
Gerry Smith
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Dylan in Woodstock: must-see new documentary, featuring Elliott Landy
Thanks to film director David McDonald for details of his new documentary on Woodstock. The 4’11” Dylan sequence, featuring a recent interview with photographer Elliott Landy, is a must-see:
“I am the director of a film called "Woodstock/You Can't Get There From Here”, featuring a section on Bob Dylan's life in Woodstock”:
www.viddler.com/explore/Misanthrope/videos/1/
Gerry Smith
“I am the director of a film called "Woodstock/You Can't Get There From Here”, featuring a section on Bob Dylan's life in Woodstock”:
www.viddler.com/explore/Misanthrope/videos/1/
Gerry Smith
Monday, July 07, 2008
Drawn Blank catalogue (UK) – then there were three: encore
I followed up Ken Crouch’s tip and sourced a catalogue from Smart gallery, Harrogate.
As its full title, The Drawn Blank Series: Bob Dylan Limited Edition Graphics, indicates, it catalogues the collection of prints which has been on sale at 40-plus UK galleries since Saturday 14 June.
It’s a small subset of the catalogue of original paintings exhibited at London’s Halcyon Gallery (and covered in the much bigger Halcyon catalogue) – only 10% of the original canvases were turned into limited edition prints – but is beautiful, desirable collectable.
The structure of the Limited Edition – prints are available in 6 sizes/bundles – is clearly outlined. It’s published by Washington Green in association with The Times newspaper.
www.washingtongreen.co.uk
Gerry Smith
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EARLIER RELATED ARTICLE:
In addition to the various editions of the Prestel catalogue published for the Chemnitz exhibition (detailed recently on The Dylan Daily), there are two Halcyon Gallery catalogues – a small freebie pamphlet (A5, c10 pics, 24pp) and the big coffee table hardback (oversize, 300+ pics, 288pp, £39.99).
Many thanks to Ken Crouch in Wells, Somerset for details of a third (highly collectable) UK variant:
“Went to see the Dylan art exibition in Bath today; visitors to the this site should pop along, it’s free. I couldn’t afford £1,000 for a print but £10 for the catalogue is well worth the money… Bob playing in the background and free coffee… Well done to the organisers.
“The catalogue has all 29 prints, even the sets of four prints. Brief history of Dylan in the back. Andrew Motion reviews the prints. 12” x 8”, 72pp. Published by Washington Green Fine Art, on very good quality paper. Front white and back with Dylan’s sig on front and back. £10."
Sounds worth chasing up - watch this space!
As its full title, The Drawn Blank Series: Bob Dylan Limited Edition Graphics, indicates, it catalogues the collection of prints which has been on sale at 40-plus UK galleries since Saturday 14 June.
It’s a small subset of the catalogue of original paintings exhibited at London’s Halcyon Gallery (and covered in the much bigger Halcyon catalogue) – only 10% of the original canvases were turned into limited edition prints – but is beautiful, desirable collectable.
The structure of the Limited Edition – prints are available in 6 sizes/bundles – is clearly outlined. It’s published by Washington Green in association with The Times newspaper.
www.washingtongreen.co.uk
Gerry Smith
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
EARLIER RELATED ARTICLE:
In addition to the various editions of the Prestel catalogue published for the Chemnitz exhibition (detailed recently on The Dylan Daily), there are two Halcyon Gallery catalogues – a small freebie pamphlet (A5, c10 pics, 24pp) and the big coffee table hardback (oversize, 300+ pics, 288pp, £39.99).
Many thanks to Ken Crouch in Wells, Somerset for details of a third (highly collectable) UK variant:
“Went to see the Dylan art exibition in Bath today; visitors to the this site should pop along, it’s free. I couldn’t afford £1,000 for a print but £10 for the catalogue is well worth the money… Bob playing in the background and free coffee… Well done to the organisers.
“The catalogue has all 29 prints, even the sets of four prints. Brief history of Dylan in the back. Andrew Motion reviews the prints. 12” x 8”, 72pp. Published by Washington Green Fine Art, on very good quality paper. Front white and back with Dylan’s sig on front and back. £10."
Sounds worth chasing up - watch this space!
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Last night’s show in Lorca, Spain
Thanks to Gerald Bamford for phoning in his report on Dylan’s 4 July gig at the Plaza de Toros in Lorca, SE Spain:
“Lovely show tonight in Lorca. The bull ring on a hot evening was the perfect venue. Great atmosphere, smashing crowd of people - clearly still high from winning Euro 2008 the other night.
“My highlights in a strong performance were Ain't Talkin' and Blowin' In The Wind, which had such an unusual intro that I struggled to identify it at first, though I must have heard a hundred or so versions.”
“Hoping to get to the Jaen show tomorrow. Don’t forget to pick me up at Luton Airport a week on Sunday!”
SETLIST:
1. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
2. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
3. Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues
4. Rollin' And Tumblin'
5. Tryin' To Get To Heaven
6. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
7. Moonlight
8. Honest With Me
9. Desolation Row
10. High Water (For Charlie Patton)
11. Spirit On The Water
12. Highway 61 Revisited
13. When The Deal Goes Down
14. Summer Days
15. Ain't Talkin'
16. Thunder On The Mountain
17. Blowin' In The Wind
Dylan’s Euro 2008 tour, drawing to a close, finishes with a Portuguese gig next Friday.
Gerry Smith
“Lovely show tonight in Lorca. The bull ring on a hot evening was the perfect venue. Great atmosphere, smashing crowd of people - clearly still high from winning Euro 2008 the other night.
“My highlights in a strong performance were Ain't Talkin' and Blowin' In The Wind, which had such an unusual intro that I struggled to identify it at first, though I must have heard a hundred or so versions.”
“Hoping to get to the Jaen show tomorrow. Don’t forget to pick me up at Luton Airport a week on Sunday!”
SETLIST:
1. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
2. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
3. Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues
4. Rollin' And Tumblin'
5. Tryin' To Get To Heaven
6. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
7. Moonlight
8. Honest With Me
9. Desolation Row
10. High Water (For Charlie Patton)
11. Spirit On The Water
12. Highway 61 Revisited
13. When The Deal Goes Down
14. Summer Days
15. Ain't Talkin'
16. Thunder On The Mountain
17. Blowin' In The Wind
Dylan’s Euro 2008 tour, drawing to a close, finishes with a Portuguese gig next Friday.
Gerry Smith
Friday, July 04, 2008
Drawn Blank catalogue (UK) – then there were three
In addition to the various editions of the Prestel catalogue published for the Chemnitz exhibition (detailed recently on The Dylan Daily), there are two Halcyon Gallery catalogues – a small freebie pamphlet (A5, c10 pics, 24pp) and the big coffee table hardback (oversize, 300+ pics, 288pp, £39.99).
Many thanks to Ken Crouch in Wells, Somerset for details of a third (highly collectable) UK variant:
“Went to see the Dylan art exibition in Bath today; visitors to the this site should pop along, it’s free. I couldn’t afford £1,000 for a print but £10 for the catalogue is well worth the money… Bob playing in the background and free coffee… Well done to the organisers.
“The catalogue has all 29 prints, even the sets of four prints. Brief history of Dylan in the back. Andrew Motion reviews the prints. 12” x 8”, 72pp. Published by Washington Green Fine Art, on very good quality paper. Front white and back with Dylan’s sig on front and back. £10."
Sounds worth chasing up - watch this space!
Gerry Smith
Many thanks to Ken Crouch in Wells, Somerset for details of a third (highly collectable) UK variant:
“Went to see the Dylan art exibition in Bath today; visitors to the this site should pop along, it’s free. I couldn’t afford £1,000 for a print but £10 for the catalogue is well worth the money… Bob playing in the background and free coffee… Well done to the organisers.
“The catalogue has all 29 prints, even the sets of four prints. Brief history of Dylan in the back. Andrew Motion reviews the prints. 12” x 8”, 72pp. Published by Washington Green Fine Art, on very good quality paper. Front white and back with Dylan’s sig on front and back. £10."
Sounds worth chasing up - watch this space!
Gerry Smith
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Rare Dylan books
Re-reading Positively Main Street in its shiny new edition for review here on The Dylan Daily next week, I came across, in author Thompson’s revelatory interview with The Bridge fanzine in 2005, mention of two rare Dylan books:
* Folk-Rock: The Bob Dylan Story, by Sy and Barbara Ribakova (1966)
* Bob Zimmerman’s Blues: Dylan in Minnesota, by Dave Engel (1997)
I’ve never seen either book, and would be indebted to any Dylan Daily reader able to throw light on them: if you have a copy, please email a few details – content, treatment, style, tone, your opinions…
Thanks, in advance.
Gerry Smith
* Folk-Rock: The Bob Dylan Story, by Sy and Barbara Ribakova (1966)
* Bob Zimmerman’s Blues: Dylan in Minnesota, by Dave Engel (1997)
I’ve never seen either book, and would be indebted to any Dylan Daily reader able to throw light on them: if you have a copy, please email a few details – content, treatment, style, tone, your opinions…
Thanks, in advance.
Gerry Smith
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Feinstein’s Dylan exhibition extended, plus new Sub H Blues photo
Birmingham’s Snap Galleries is extending its Barry Feinstein exhibition of Dylan photographs until Saturday 9 August. Snap is selling prints from the photographer’s iconic catalogue, as published in his new book, Real Moments.
And Snap has unearthed (and is selling) a new colour still, by Tony Frank, from the Subterranean Homesick Blues black and white film shoot.
Snap Galleries runs a remarkable series of rock photography exhibitions.
Their newsletter – itself a visual feast; any rock fan should subscribe (free) – announces some enticing forthcoming shows:
1. "Majesties and Exiles", new Rolling Stones exhibition starts 13 September 2008
2. Dylan “Gets Born” - glorious colour from the Subterranean Homesick Blues film set
3. Oasis: awesome early years singles and albums portfolio collection launches in November 2008
4. Soul with attitude
5. Feinstein Dylan show extended
6. Pepper drumskin at Christie’s
7. Wonderwalls
8. More out of print and 'sold out' books
Snap Galleries Limited, Unit 7 - Ground Floor, Fort Dunlop, Fort Parkway, Birmingham B24 9FD
www.snapgalleries.com
Gerry Smith
And Snap has unearthed (and is selling) a new colour still, by Tony Frank, from the Subterranean Homesick Blues black and white film shoot.
Snap Galleries runs a remarkable series of rock photography exhibitions.
Their newsletter – itself a visual feast; any rock fan should subscribe (free) – announces some enticing forthcoming shows:
1. "Majesties and Exiles", new Rolling Stones exhibition starts 13 September 2008
2. Dylan “Gets Born” - glorious colour from the Subterranean Homesick Blues film set
3. Oasis: awesome early years singles and albums portfolio collection launches in November 2008
4. Soul with attitude
5. Feinstein Dylan show extended
6. Pepper drumskin at Christie’s
7. Wonderwalls
8. More out of print and 'sold out' books
Snap Galleries Limited, Unit 7 - Ground Floor, Fort Dunlop, Fort Parkway, Birmingham B24 9FD
www.snapgalleries.com
Gerry Smith
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
What’s So Great About… Bob Dylan – listen online
You can listen online (until this Friday, 4 July) to What’s So Great About… Bob Dylan, the 30-minute documentary broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Saturday 28 June.
Voices heard include Al Kooper, Andrew Motion (English Poet Laureate) and Bryan Ferry.
www.bbc.co.uk/radio4
Gerry Smith
Voices heard include Al Kooper, Andrew Motion (English Poet Laureate) and Bryan Ferry.
www.bbc.co.uk/radio4
Gerry Smith
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