Dylan in London, 1962/63

If you missed Bob’s Big Freeze, Tuesday’s one-hour Radio 2 documentary on Dylan in London in 1962/63, you can still catch it online - until next Tuesday, 2 Dec (2230 GMT).

It’s a richly detailed account of Dylan’s first trip outside North America. Martin Carthy claims the trip was vital in Dylan’s development as a writer, exposing him to sources which inspired some of the big early anthems like Spanish Boots, Girl From The North Country and Bob Dylan’s Dream. The first masterpiece LP, Freewheelin’, followed in mid-1963.

Strengths? Apart from the evocative music clips, it’s a well-researched feature - as you’d expect from a co-production by long-time Dylan scribe Patrick Humphries. The number and variety of eye witness accounts is impressive.

And don’t be put off by the extraneous noises in the first few minutes of the playback – Nigel Ogden on the organ, and a trail for another Radio 2 show.

Bob’s Big Freeze: recommended.


www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer



Gerry Smith

Bootleg Series vol 9: your suggestions

Thanks to Gerald Bamford:

“Which unreleased songs or takes of Bob's should be part of a future Bootleg Series? I would certainly recommend an outtake from Under The Red Sky - 'TV Talking Song' - which fairly rocks along and should have been included somewhere on Tell Tale Signs

“I learn from Michael O'Shea (via John Baldwin) that the French edition of Rolling Stone has an 8-page Bob feature including an article on a fantasy Bootleg Series vol. 9 by Frédéric Lecomte, which picks out 25 unreleased items.”

Dylan’s weakest song #10

Thanks to Peter Mackie:

“For those who think Sad-Eyed Lady is one of his strongest and most evocative songs, there is a treat on YouTube in the form of what seems to be the hotel rehearsal.

“I am in the Martin Carthy camp - from ‘62 to ’83, the quality control for such a prolific writer was outstanding. There are slight songs (I shall be free, Pill Box Hat), there are songs of their time (With God on our Side was pretty powerful in 1963, how does it feel now?), there are songs which have improved with age (Boots of Spanish Leather, Where are You Tonight?) but precious few weak songs.

“I think side three of Blonde on Blonde, with the exception of Absolutely Sweet Marie, dips below the standards of the holy trilogy. But that just goes to show how stellar those standards are.”

Jerry Schatzberg catalogue: a handsome must-have for collectors - Dylan Bookshelf #140

Proud Central hasn’t produced a new catalogue for its exhibition of Jerry Schatzberg’s Blonde On Blonde-era Dylan photographs now showing at its gallery near Charing Cross station.

But it is selling the next best thing: Bob Dylan par Jerry Schatzberg is a catalogue produced for very similar Paris shows at Galerie Dina Vierny and Galerie Luc Bellier in 2006.

Its 46 images, a pretty accurate record of the current London show, are prefaced by a four page introduction (in English and French) by the photographer – The Dylan I Knew.

Proud is retailing the handsome 79pp catalogue for £15. It’s a beautifully produced artefact and a must-have for Dylan collectors.

Bob Dylan par Jerry Schatzberg is the 140th book added to my groaning Dylan bookshelf.


Gerry Smith

Magnificent new London show of Blonde On Blonde-era photographs

Jerry Schatzberg’s Blonde On Blonde-era Dylan photographs are now showing in a new London exhibition at Proud Central gallery, near Charing Cross station.

If you’re in London in the next couple of months, make time for this magnificent exhibition. The gallery is showing about 50 pieces – the familiar Blonde On Blonde cover shoot, including THAT portrait, plus many pics you probably won’t have seen before – several were new to me, at least.

The signed limited editions silver gelatin prints are on sale at prices ranging from £900 to an eye-watering £16,350 (plus VAT).

The show is popular. When I called in on Saturday afternoon, the second day of the two-month run, there were about ten other Dylanistas circulating, in awe. The small gallery is playing Bob songs on shuffle so you can easily spend an hour there.

Thin Wild Mercury: Photographs Of Bob Dylan by Jerry Schatzberg, runs at Proud Central, John Adam Street London WC2 (just behind Charing Cross station) from 21 Nov to 25 January.

www.proud.co.uk



Gerry Smith

Tell Tale Signs CD 3 - now online - legally

Thanks to Martin Cowan:

“Just wanted to let readers know that visitors to the official Bob Dylan site can now listen to songs from the man's vast canon in full (with a nifty rotating record graphic) and - most exciting of all - listening pleasure extends to the elusive 3rd Disc of latest release Tell Tale Signs!”


www.bobdylan.com

Joey: Dylan’s weakest song #9

Thanks to Liam Mogan:

“I think the issue of Dylan's worst song is a difficult one. So often the performance and production can make a good song seem bad and vice versa.

“Andrew Kelly's point about the lack of originality of thought and expression on Dylan's born-again songs is a moot one. But Slow Train Coming and many of the concerts from that era feature some of Dylan's most impassioned performances, which often transcend the actual ideas in the song. Paul Williams has a lot to say on this type of thing - ie you don't have to buy the ideas to be blown away by the performance.

“Similarly, the mid-eighties output, especially, suffer from some of the most unflattering production imaginable. (Empire Burlesque anyone?) There are still some fantastic songs from that time though.

“Personally, I have a real issue with 'Joey'. Not only does it glamorise a highly dubious individual, it prattles on for ages, with its dumb phrases. 'King of the streets?'. Do me a favour - you only have to type 'Joey Gallo' into Google to see that he wasn’t. I don't mind songs about criminals/gangsters per se, only rubbish syrupy/sentimental ones.”

Bob’s Big Freeze: Dylan’s first London trip

Thanks to Gerald Bamford:

“Check this out: (from John Baldwin) - Bob on UK Radio: ‘On 25 November at 10.30 p.m., BBC Radio 2 will be airing a one-hour programme about Dylan's first visit to Britain in December 1962 and January 1963. Entitled Bob's Big Freeze, it will cover his appearances in London folk clubs and the recording of the Dick Farina and Eric Von Schmidt album at Dobell's, as well as the Madhouse On Castle Street television play.’

“Worst songs indeed! - curmudgeonly lot of critics - not a soul replied to my call to list songs Bob has never sung live - now that would be more positive.”



And thanks to Nigel Boddy:

“Just to let you know that there is a programme on BBC Radio 2, next Tuesday 25th November 2008 at 10.30pm called Bob's Big Freeze. It's about Bob's first trip to London during the winter of 1962/63! There is a small 1/4 page article in next week's Radio Times (22-28 Nov. 2008) (by writer/presenter) Patrick Humphries."

Ballad in Plain D: Dylan’s weakest song #8

Thanks to Matthew Zuckerman:

It's only an opinion, but when one's own choice of weakest Dylan song is shared by the man himself and Martin Carthy -- arguably the best judge of song in the country -- it is probably at least worth repeating.

“Here's an extract (quoted from memory since I'm redecorating my house and all the books are in storage -- it's reprinted in the first Isis collection) from an interview I did with Carthy a few years ago for Isis:

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Carthy: He's only written one rotten song...

MZ: Let me guess... Ballad in Plain D.

MC: Right. It's a dreadful song.

MZ: He thinks so himself and singled it out in an interview with Bill
Flanagan.

MC: So I gather. He wanted to get revenge. "I'm gonna get you?" he said to himself, and he missed by a fucking mile. But one dog out of 500 is pretty good.

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Some have affection for this song, due I imagine to the delicate tune and sensitive performance, but just look at the callow writing, the kind usually associated with teenage angst and poems scrawled in school notebooks:

Myself, for what I did, I cannot be excused,
The changes I was going through can't even be used,
For the lies that I told her in hopes not to lose
The could-be dream-lover of my lifetime.

That's bad enough -- from the cod-mature "Myself for what I did" to the muddy excuse to jaw-clenchingly bad "could-be dream-lover of my lifetime" -- but it is nothing to the excruciating following two verses:

With unknown consciousness, I possessed in my grip
A magnificent mantelpiece, though its heart being chipped,
Noticing not that I'd already slipped
To a sin of love's false security.

From silhouetted anger to manufactured peace,
Answers of emptiness, voice vacancies,
Till the tombstones of damage read me no questions but, "Please,
What's wrong and what's exactly the matter?"

Around the same time, Dylan was kicking the English language into a
fantastically flexible instrument (wild cathedral evening, for example -- what an amazing leap to use cathedral as an adjective), but his own post-adolescent rage blinded him to its beauty in this case.

Even the penultimate verse, which reaches for the recognition of shared pain that he achieves at the end of Idiot Wind is scuppered by such wooden language as "fully aware" -- not to mention the risible "room it is wet". Close the window, you drip.

Having said all that, it is an enchanting tune, a fine performance, and a pretty good first line.


All lyrics quoted are used for the purpose of criticism or review.
Ballad In Plain D, by Bob Dylan, Copyright © 1964 by Warner Bros Inc; renewed 1992 by Special Rider Music.

Dylan’s weakest song #7

Thanks to Gordon Macniven:

“Sorry to be an anorak on the subject of Dylan's worst songs (which, despite his vast output, I would estimate are no more than about 10%) but surely those on the abysmal Down in the Groove would almost all count!?”

Dylan’s weakest song #6

Thanks to Andrew Kelly:

“I'm surprised nobody has mentioned them as yet, but surely the songs on Slow Train and Saved have to be up there somewhere?

“They are simply a bunch of received ideas. The salient feature of his nibs' work excluding these two albums is originality of thought and expression.

“Whatever his conversion's other effects, it plainly booted his critical faculties into touch.”

Dylan’s weakest song #5

Thanks to Martin Cowan:


“Just a thought to add to the debate - my own personal view is that "Sad Eyed Lady..." is one of the greatest songs in his canon. Great lyrics, a haunting melody, a late-night vibe - just fantastic.

“Mind you, I do think critics have poured unjust praise on some songs just because they are long - I have never been convinced of the merits of "Brownsville Girl" or "Highlands".

“Meanwhile, "Under The Red Sky" is in my top five Dylan albums, and I don't really see any difference between something like "Wiggle Wiggle" and something like "Yea Heavy and a Bottle of Bread".

Dylan’s weakest song #4

Thanks to Jeff Whitely:

“Dylan’s weakest song? Take your pick from most of “Love And Theft”. Top contenders: Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, Summer Days or Floater.

“Whenever any of them pops up in a gig, they kill the vibe Bob’s just created with a run of masterpieces. Dreadful.”

Dylan on the mystery of creativity – on YouTube

Thanks to film director David McDonald:

“I was messing around with this a few weeks ago, and I posted it onto YouTube as a lark. However, people seem to really like it. I do too, for that matter... What Dylan has to say is quite beautiful...

“Bob Dylan on the mystery of creativity:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrJdk14jGaw

Dylan’s weakest song #3

Thanks to Peter Truin:

“I think Emmett Till is a good song, with its very powerful message about the racism that was prevalent in the US at the time. Musically, it may be a little like House of the Rising Sun, but it sounds good to me. I am sure there are many later songs (and a few early ones) much more worthy of the epithet "Dylan's weakest song".

“As for Skip Johns' choice, well I couldn't be further away from his views, as Sad Eyed Lady is in my opinion the best Dylan song, and Highlands is also one of my favourites.

“Although we all like Dylan, as there are so many "sides of Bob Dylan" it's probably not surprising that we can have such differing views of what is good and what is not.

“However, surely there must be more chance of a concensus if we look at some of the songs on "Knocked out Loaded" or "Under the Red Sky". How about "Wiggle Wiggle" or "They Killed Him" as my nominations?

“There may well be others I like even less, but I really don't want to listen to the songs I know I don't like very much, just to decide which one I think is the worst ... there's no fun in that, is there?”



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EARLER RELATED POSTS:

Dylan’s weakest song #2

Thanks to Skip Johns:

“Like you, I loathe The Death Of Emmett Till. It makes me cringe. But there are a few even bigger shaggy dog stories in Dylan’s songbook. Two in particular – Sad-Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands and Highlands.

“I must have tried a hundred times, but I’ve never yet managed to listen to either song to the end.

“Let’s put it in context, though – weak Dylan songs are a tiny proportion among hundreds of timeless compositions.”

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Emmett Till: Dylan’s weakest song?

The Dylan Daily celebrates the art of its subject – and writing is the very core of Dylan’s art.

The deeper and longer I delve, the more I find to respect Dylan’s achievement as a wordsmith. I’m still hearing exciting new things in Dylan 45 years after first raving about that new American folkie.

So stumbling across a weak Dylan composition always comes as a surprise. But there are a few poor songs. I’ve long loathed John Brown – an interminable shaggy dog story. But I’d forgotten until I re-heard it a few days ago the awful The Death Of Emmett Till.

Dylan would eventually work the same theme into a masterpiece, Hattie Carroll. But Emmett Till shows what happens when an artist gets it wrong. It was a good call to leave it on the cutting room floor – it would have spoiled Freewheelin’, a near-perfect album.

Emmett Till - Dylan’s weakest song - surely?


Gerry Smith

Two important Dylan exhibitions about to open

Two important Dylan exhibitions about to open in/near London later this month:

* Thin Wild Mercury: Photographs Of Bob Dylan by Jerry Schatzberg, runs at Proud Central, John Adam Street London WC2 (just behind Charing Cross station) from 21 Nov to 28 January.

www.proud.co.uk


* Drawn Blank, the lovely exhibition of Dylan paintings which ran at London’s Halcyon gallery in the summer, moves to The Lightbox, Chobham Road, Woking, Surrey, from 25 November to 6 January.

www.thelightbox.org.uk


I saw the Drawn Blank show in London and recommend it strongly. I’ll be reporting on the Schatzberg photographs show here on The Dylan Daily.

Gerry Smith

Dylan’s weakest song #2

Thanks to Skip Johns:

“Like you, I loathe The Death Of Emmett Till. It makes me cringe. But there are a few even bigger shaggy dog stories in Dylan’s songbook. Two in particular – Sad-Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands and Highlands.

“I must have tried a hundred times, but I’ve never yet managed to listen to either song to the end.

“Let’s put it in context, though – weak Dylan songs are a tiny proportion among hundreds of timeless compositions.”

Emmett Till: Dylan’s weakest song?

The Dylan Daily celebrates the art of its subject – and writing is the very core of Dylan’s art.

The deeper and longer I delve, the more I find to respect Dylan’s achievement as a wordsmith. I’m still hearing exciting new things in Dylan 45 years after first raving about that new American folkie.

So stumbling across a weak Dylan composition always comes as a surprise. But there are a few poor songs. I’ve long loathed John Brown – an interminable shaggy dog story. But I’d forgotten until I re-heard it a few days ago the awful The Death Of Emmett Till.

Dylan would eventually work the same theme into a masterpiece, Hattie Carroll. But Emmett Till shows what happens when an artist gets it wrong. It was a good call to leave it on the cutting room floor – it would have spoiled Freewheelin’, a near-perfect album.

Emmett Till - Dylan’s weakest song - surely?


Gerry Smith

Back Pages tribute gigs/New episode of podcast: BOBMANIA #35/36

Thanks to Gerald Bamford:

“Back Pages will pick and choose from the Bob Dylan songbook at The Ostrich in Castle Acre on Sat Nov 15 and at the Queen Vic, Snettisham on Wed Dec 3. And that will be it for this year.”


And thanks to Mel Prussack:

“My 26th podcast of Dyl-Time Theme Radio Hour is now online. The
theme this month is Television. I think it is a very good episode
and I hope everyone enjoys it!”

http://dylanshrine.podOmatic.com

Free issues of Judas! magazine

The Dylan Daily was a keen supporter of Judas! It was a stimulating, attractive Dylan quarterly magazine, expertly edited by Andrew Muir. It burned brightly for 20 issues, before closing in January 2007.

If you missed out, here’s your chance to acquire back issues; all contain high quality writing.

Publisher Keith Wootton is now offering free copies of the following issues:

6,7,8,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19/20.

All you pay is postage. Shipping costs vary depending on destination, but (for the) UK he charges a flat £12.00.

Judas! was a formidable achievement - a fine body of Dylan writing, and a source of pride for all concerned. It’s highly recommended. But act quickly - when they’re gone, they’re gone.


Details:

www.judasmagazine.com




Gerry Smith

Key Dylan product at bargain prices

Thanks to Terry Kelly:

“I don't know if this applies throughout its stores in the UK, but I picked up a copy of the limited edition deluxe 3CD DYLAN set from last year at HMV Newcastle yesterday for the princely sum of £7 (normally £35).

“A bargain, or what?”


(And Fopp, HMV’s discount subsidiary, had the long box version of Biograph, the 3CD masterpiece which kicked off the box set trend, at £10 when I was in the Cambridge branch recently – Gerry Smith)