Thanks to Liam Mogan:
“It’s been interesting to read the Bob v Van debate, especially the seriousness with which some of your (admittedly fine) contributors take it.
“I find any barbs at Dylan quite humorous really and take it all with a pinch of salt. His genius is unquestionable and his longevity to be marvelled at. Sure there are fallow periods, even within albums, never mind over decades, but ultimately you will always find moments of unparalleled insight and humanity.
“Similarly, I listen to Van on a regular basis and enjoy the majority of his work. The only criticism I can really level at him is there is a certain homogeneous quality to a lot of his albums especially on the later ones which can be boring after a while.
“Listen to any of his songs independently from this period you'll find almost all perfectly acceptable. However, if you try a whole album, you'll soon be twiddling your thumbs, looking out the window or reaching for a good read.
“The debate though has got me thinking about other artists in the post-60s era who could possibly compare to Dylan.
“Springsteen? - certainly as a performer but not as a writer; Neil Young? - possibly but again suffers from a Van-like late period decline; Costello? - musically he may be more adventurous, but where's the human connection?.
For me only that quintessential British talent, Richard Thompson comes even close. After starting out with Bob covers, he dropped the 'dylanisms' of his early songs to concentrate on creating a stunning body of work which encompasses folk/pop/rock/country and any other genre you care to name.
“At least 3 of his albums 'I Want to See the Bright Lights..', 'Shoot Out the Lights' (the nearest thing to the passion Blood on the Tracks I've ever heard) and 'Rumor and Sigh' are genuine classics.
“Whilst the quality does soar and dip throughout the catalogue, even some of the poorer releases contain their moments. He even has an advantage on Dylan of being able to match his brilliant song writing with almost peerless guitar playing - anyone who has heard his live epic 'Can't Win' on the 'Watching the Dark' box set can vouch for that.
“If you also take into account his time with Fairport Convention (the best Dylan covers band ever?), his constant touring schedule and his sterling session guitar work, you have an artist who deserves to be named in the same breath as Dylan. Even if it is just for a moment.”
Friday, July 31, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Highway 61 Revisited, new University of Minnesota book: recommended, B+
Highway 61 Revisited: Bob Dylan’s Road From Minnesota To The World is an intermittently fine addition to the Dylan bookshelf.
Inevitably in a collection of 20 essays (originally delivered as papers at a 2007 symposium), it’s patchy, its chapters veering from the must-read to the, frankly, risible.
Half a dozen of Highway 61 Revisited’s articles cover important aspects of Dylan’s art, and do it with enviable expertise.
The star piece is Bob Dylan’s Memory Palace by Robert Polito, a minute dissection of Dylan’s literary references on the last few albums - from Ovid, Timrod, but oh so many more.
David Yaffe on Dylan’s debt to black musics, Charles Hughes on Civil Rights, Marilyn Chiat on the Jewish settlement of the Iron Range and Anne Waldman on the Beats are original and illuminating.
A second group of papers is solid, workmanlike, without adding much to the knowledge or perspective of the seasoned Dylan buff, though they will inform the book’s primary (student) market.
Several contributions are so peripheral that it crossed my mind that they might be put-ons.
As the Dylan book market grows, the rock scribes with limited horizons who used to rule the roost are being elbowed out by salaried intellectuals; many of them, bright and well-educated, have a lot to offer the seeker after Zim Truths.
Highway 61 Revisited is a welcome addition to the library. Place its best pieces alongside the pick of the recently published Cambridge Companion (reviewed on The Dylan Daily on 29 May) and it’s clear that Dylan Studies is coming of age, successfully addressing the mass market as well as the callow strollers in the Groves of Academe.
Recommended: B+.
Highway 61 Revisited: Bob Dylan’s Road From Minnesota To The World, edited by Colleen J Sheehy and Thomas Swiss, Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Press, May 2009, pbk, 278pp, $22.95. ISBN 978-0-8166-6100-8
Gerry Smith
Inevitably in a collection of 20 essays (originally delivered as papers at a 2007 symposium), it’s patchy, its chapters veering from the must-read to the, frankly, risible.
Half a dozen of Highway 61 Revisited’s articles cover important aspects of Dylan’s art, and do it with enviable expertise.
The star piece is Bob Dylan’s Memory Palace by Robert Polito, a minute dissection of Dylan’s literary references on the last few albums - from Ovid, Timrod, but oh so many more.
David Yaffe on Dylan’s debt to black musics, Charles Hughes on Civil Rights, Marilyn Chiat on the Jewish settlement of the Iron Range and Anne Waldman on the Beats are original and illuminating.
A second group of papers is solid, workmanlike, without adding much to the knowledge or perspective of the seasoned Dylan buff, though they will inform the book’s primary (student) market.
Several contributions are so peripheral that it crossed my mind that they might be put-ons.
As the Dylan book market grows, the rock scribes with limited horizons who used to rule the roost are being elbowed out by salaried intellectuals; many of them, bright and well-educated, have a lot to offer the seeker after Zim Truths.
Highway 61 Revisited is a welcome addition to the library. Place its best pieces alongside the pick of the recently published Cambridge Companion (reviewed on The Dylan Daily on 29 May) and it’s clear that Dylan Studies is coming of age, successfully addressing the mass market as well as the callow strollers in the Groves of Academe.
Recommended: B+.
Highway 61 Revisited: Bob Dylan’s Road From Minnesota To The World, edited by Colleen J Sheehy and Thomas Swiss, Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Press, May 2009, pbk, 278pp, $22.95. ISBN 978-0-8166-6100-8
Gerry Smith
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Take 2: Van Morrison - a greater talent than Dylan?
Thanks to Martin Cowan:
“Need to take issue with Andrew from Adelaide on a couple of points:
1) Dylan v Van
I'm not sure you can compare Van's "Astral Weeks", "Moondance", "St Dominic's Review" and "Veedon Fleece" (released over a 6 year period) with Dylan's "rolled gold" classics as selected by Andrew, "Freewheelin’", "Bringing It All Back Home", "Highway 61 Revisited", "Blonde on Blonde" which were not only released over just 4 years, but the last three were recorded and released over a ridiculously tight time frame:
* Bringing It All Back Home (14 and 15 Jan 1965); (2 days)
* Highway 61 (15 June, 29/30 July, 2/4 August 1965 (5 days)
* Blonde on Blonde (14 -17 Feb, 8/9 March 1966 (6 days)
So, three undeniable classic LPs recorded in 13 days over a 14 month period! Can anyone else match that? And wasn't he touring during that time too...?
2) Dylan's second golden era
Planet Waves 1973
Blood on the Tracks 1974
Desire 1975
Hard Rain 1976
StreetLegal 1978
3) Classic songs
I would suggest that Dylan has more classic songs in his songbook than Van that are more well known to the public at large eg Blowin in the wind, lay lady lay, knockin on heaven's door etc
4) Sustained sequence of clunkers
Can anyone top Van's output of clunkers from 1995 to the present?
· Tell Me Something: The Songs of Mose Allison (1996)
· The Healing Game (1997)
· Back on Top (1999)
· The Skiffle Sessions - Live in Belfast 1998 (2000)
· You Win Again (2000)
· Down the Road (2002)
· What's Wrong with This Picture? (2003)
· Magic Time (2005)
· Pay the Devil (2006)
· Live at Austin City Limits Festival (Live) (2006)
· Keep It Simple (2008)
· Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl (Live) (2009)
That's not to deny the brilliance of "Astral Weeks" which is unique in the Van canon, and possibly one of the greatest albums of all time.
“Need to take issue with Andrew from Adelaide on a couple of points:
1) Dylan v Van
I'm not sure you can compare Van's "Astral Weeks", "Moondance", "St Dominic's Review" and "Veedon Fleece" (released over a 6 year period) with Dylan's "rolled gold" classics as selected by Andrew, "Freewheelin’", "Bringing It All Back Home", "Highway 61 Revisited", "Blonde on Blonde" which were not only released over just 4 years, but the last three were recorded and released over a ridiculously tight time frame:
* Bringing It All Back Home (14 and 15 Jan 1965); (2 days)
* Highway 61 (15 June, 29/30 July, 2/4 August 1965 (5 days)
* Blonde on Blonde (14 -17 Feb, 8/9 March 1966 (6 days)
So, three undeniable classic LPs recorded in 13 days over a 14 month period! Can anyone else match that? And wasn't he touring during that time too...?
2) Dylan's second golden era
Planet Waves 1973
Blood on the Tracks 1974
Desire 1975
Hard Rain 1976
StreetLegal 1978
3) Classic songs
I would suggest that Dylan has more classic songs in his songbook than Van that are more well known to the public at large eg Blowin in the wind, lay lady lay, knockin on heaven's door etc
4) Sustained sequence of clunkers
Can anyone top Van's output of clunkers from 1995 to the present?
· Tell Me Something: The Songs of Mose Allison (1996)
· The Healing Game (1997)
· Back on Top (1999)
· The Skiffle Sessions - Live in Belfast 1998 (2000)
· You Win Again (2000)
· Down the Road (2002)
· What's Wrong with This Picture? (2003)
· Magic Time (2005)
· Pay the Devil (2006)
· Live at Austin City Limits Festival (Live) (2006)
· Keep It Simple (2008)
· Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl (Live) (2009)
That's not to deny the brilliance of "Astral Weeks" which is unique in the Van canon, and possibly one of the greatest albums of all time.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Van Morrison - a greater talent than Dylan?
Thanks to Andrew Robertson:
No surprise that Oh Mercy was rated the best Dylan album of this period (1978-89) – it was, indeed, the only album of that period that I would rate as a classic Dylan album or potentially a Desert Island Disc.
To provoke debate among other music lovers (and perhaps to annoy Dylan Diehards) I would like to repeat my previously expressed view that this confirms Van Morrison as the greater music talent, and indeed, the greatest in contemporary music.
The same period (1978-89) was Morrison’s second golden era in which he produced 6 “rolled gold” classics, as follows (in chronological order):
Into The Music
Common One
Beautiful Vision
No Guru No Method No Teacher
Poetic Champions Compose
Avalon Sunset
In addition, several other worthy additions to his canon (also in chronological order):
Wavelength
Inarticulate Speech of the Heart
Live at the Belfast Grand Opera House
A Sense of Wonder
Irish Heartbeat (with the Chieftains)
And not one weak album, not one that is not a worthy addition to my music collection.
A very significant difference to Dylan’s output from the same years, as your reader poll confirms.
Ah, but what of Dylan’s early years, do I hear you – and Bernard McGuinn – say (defiantly)?
OK, ignoring Bob Dylan, on which he only wrote 2 tracks, Dylan’s only golden era comprised 7 albums of which 4 were “rolled gold” classics:
Freewheelin’
Bringing It All Back Home
Highway 61 Revisited
Blonde on Blonde
While 3 were simply excellent:
The Times They Are A-Changing
Another Side
John Wesley Harding
In Van Morrison’s case, ignoring Them and the Bang output, his first golden era also comprised 7 albums of which, similarly, 4 were “rolled gold” classics:
Astral Weeks
Moondance
Saint Dominic’s Preview
Veedon Fleece
While 3 were simply excellent:
His Band and the Street Choir
Tupelo Honey
Hard Nose the Highway
I would argue that Morrison’s “best of the best” (namely Astral Weeks) is better than Dylan’s but putting arguably subjective judgments aside, my point is that Morrison had two golden eras compared to Dylan’s one (not that Dylan hasn’t had other great albums – Oh Mercy being a case in point – however he hasn’t, in my opinion, had another sustained period of such extraordinary excellence).
Let the debate begin…
Andrew in Adelaide
No surprise that Oh Mercy was rated the best Dylan album of this period (1978-89) – it was, indeed, the only album of that period that I would rate as a classic Dylan album or potentially a Desert Island Disc.
To provoke debate among other music lovers (and perhaps to annoy Dylan Diehards) I would like to repeat my previously expressed view that this confirms Van Morrison as the greater music talent, and indeed, the greatest in contemporary music.
The same period (1978-89) was Morrison’s second golden era in which he produced 6 “rolled gold” classics, as follows (in chronological order):
Into The Music
Common One
Beautiful Vision
No Guru No Method No Teacher
Poetic Champions Compose
Avalon Sunset
In addition, several other worthy additions to his canon (also in chronological order):
Wavelength
Inarticulate Speech of the Heart
Live at the Belfast Grand Opera House
A Sense of Wonder
Irish Heartbeat (with the Chieftains)
And not one weak album, not one that is not a worthy addition to my music collection.
A very significant difference to Dylan’s output from the same years, as your reader poll confirms.
Ah, but what of Dylan’s early years, do I hear you – and Bernard McGuinn – say (defiantly)?
OK, ignoring Bob Dylan, on which he only wrote 2 tracks, Dylan’s only golden era comprised 7 albums of which 4 were “rolled gold” classics:
Freewheelin’
Bringing It All Back Home
Highway 61 Revisited
Blonde on Blonde
While 3 were simply excellent:
The Times They Are A-Changing
Another Side
John Wesley Harding
In Van Morrison’s case, ignoring Them and the Bang output, his first golden era also comprised 7 albums of which, similarly, 4 were “rolled gold” classics:
Astral Weeks
Moondance
Saint Dominic’s Preview
Veedon Fleece
While 3 were simply excellent:
His Band and the Street Choir
Tupelo Honey
Hard Nose the Highway
I would argue that Morrison’s “best of the best” (namely Astral Weeks) is better than Dylan’s but putting arguably subjective judgments aside, my point is that Morrison had two golden eras compared to Dylan’s one (not that Dylan hasn’t had other great albums – Oh Mercy being a case in point – however he hasn’t, in my opinion, had another sustained period of such extraordinary excellence).
Let the debate begin…
Andrew in Adelaide
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
The ‘80s: a “lean period” for Dylan albums?
Thanks to Martin Cowan:
“Interesting to see the voting on this period of Dylan's releases.
“Not sure about "lean years" though (if you disregard weaker contractual obligation albums).
“Compare:
Street 78
Slow Train 79
Saved 80
Shot of Love 81
Infidels 83
Empire Burlesque 85
Oh Mercy 89
(all very strong albums, in my opinion), with:
TOOM 97
L and T 01
Modern Times 06
Together Through Life 09
“Which is the leaner?”
“Interesting to see the voting on this period of Dylan's releases.
“Not sure about "lean years" though (if you disregard weaker contractual obligation albums).
“Compare:
Street 78
Slow Train 79
Saved 80
Shot of Love 81
Infidels 83
Empire Burlesque 85
Oh Mercy 89
(all very strong albums, in my opinion), with:
TOOM 97
L and T 01
Modern Times 06
Together Through Life 09
“Which is the leaner?”
Monday, July 20, 2009
Top Dylan albums of the 1980s: the fans’ ratings
Oh Mercy is easily the most popular album from 1978-1989 among Dylan fans.
The Daniel Lanois-produced album, released at the very end of the period, is the clear favourite among the Dylan Daily readers who ranked the 13 releases of these relatively lean years.
Street-Legal, Slow Train Coming, Infidels and Biograph also enjoy substantial support, but the other eight albums from the period have very few supporters among Dylan Daily readers.
Dylan albums 1978-1989 rated by fans
1. Oh Mercy (108 points)
2. Street-Legal (75)
3. Slow Train Coming (67)
4. Infidels (58)
5. Biograph (56)
6= At Budokan (8)
6= Saved (8)
6= Shot of Love (8)
9. Dylan and the Dead (6)
10. Empire Burlesque (5)
11. Down in the Groove (3)
12. Real Live (2)
13. Knocked out Loaded (1)
Seventy readers submitted entries in a competition to win a copy of the new DVD - Bob Dylan 1978-1989: Both Ends Of The Rainbow. The winner has been informed, and the two-disc set will be sent tomorrow.
Competition entrants were asked to rank their three favourite albums from the period. Each nomination in first position was assigned 3 points, second place nominations got 2 points, and third choices were given one point. Scores were then aggregated to produce the ranked table, above.
Thanks to all 70 readers who voted.
Gerry Smith
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Knocked Out Loaded: least popular Dylan album?
Is Knocked Out Loaded the least popular Dylan album?
It certainly seems so, according to a preliminary analysis of fan rankings of the 13 albums released between 1978 and 1989, Dylan’s least popular decade.
Knocked Out Loaded managed to pick up only a single nomination and it was the respondent’s least favourite of three albums selected.
So which are the most popular albums of the period? Come back to The Dylan Daily on Monday for a full analysis of the impressive response to this competition.
Gerry Smith
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Win new DVD - Bob Dylan 1978-1989: Both Ends Of The Rainbow
Thanks to MVD Entertainment Group’s Clint Weiler for supplying Bob Dylan 1978-1989 on DVD as the prize in a new Dylan Daily competition.
To win a copy of the new Special Edition 2 Disc Set of Bob Dylan 1978-1989: Both Ends Of The Rainbow, all you have to do is rank your three favourite Dylan albums released in the period covered by the DVD – number your three favourites 1, 2 and 3 – in an email sent to info@dylandaily.com, with the subject header “DVD comp”.
All entries will be put into a (virtual) hat and the winner will be drawn this Friday, 17 July, @ 1600 GMT and announced on The Dylan Daily (unless the lucky winner has specified “privacy” in his/her email entry).
Here’s a reminder of the albums to consider in your ranking:
Street-Legal (1978)
At Budokan (1978)
Slow Train Coming (1979)
Saved (1980)
Shot of Love (1981)
Infidels (1983)
Real Live (1984)
Empire Burlesque (1985)
Biograph (1985)
Knocked out Loaded (1986)
Down in the Groove (1988)
Dylan and the Dead (1989)
Oh Mercy (1989)
Good luck!
Gerry Smith
The Daniel Lanois-produced album, released at the very end of the period, is the clear favourite among the Dylan Daily readers who ranked the 13 releases of these relatively lean years.
Street-Legal, Slow Train Coming, Infidels and Biograph also enjoy substantial support, but the other eight albums from the period have very few supporters among Dylan Daily readers.
Dylan albums 1978-1989 rated by fans
1. Oh Mercy (108 points)
2. Street-Legal (75)
3. Slow Train Coming (67)
4. Infidels (58)
5. Biograph (56)
6= At Budokan (8)
6= Saved (8)
6= Shot of Love (8)
9. Dylan and the Dead (6)
10. Empire Burlesque (5)
11. Down in the Groove (3)
12. Real Live (2)
13. Knocked out Loaded (1)
Seventy readers submitted entries in a competition to win a copy of the new DVD - Bob Dylan 1978-1989: Both Ends Of The Rainbow. The winner has been informed, and the two-disc set will be sent tomorrow.
Competition entrants were asked to rank their three favourite albums from the period. Each nomination in first position was assigned 3 points, second place nominations got 2 points, and third choices were given one point. Scores were then aggregated to produce the ranked table, above.
Thanks to all 70 readers who voted.
Gerry Smith
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Knocked Out Loaded: least popular Dylan album?
Is Knocked Out Loaded the least popular Dylan album?
It certainly seems so, according to a preliminary analysis of fan rankings of the 13 albums released between 1978 and 1989, Dylan’s least popular decade.
Knocked Out Loaded managed to pick up only a single nomination and it was the respondent’s least favourite of three albums selected.
So which are the most popular albums of the period? Come back to The Dylan Daily on Monday for a full analysis of the impressive response to this competition.
Gerry Smith
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Win new DVD - Bob Dylan 1978-1989: Both Ends Of The Rainbow
Thanks to MVD Entertainment Group’s Clint Weiler for supplying Bob Dylan 1978-1989 on DVD as the prize in a new Dylan Daily competition.
To win a copy of the new Special Edition 2 Disc Set of Bob Dylan 1978-1989: Both Ends Of The Rainbow, all you have to do is rank your three favourite Dylan albums released in the period covered by the DVD – number your three favourites 1, 2 and 3 – in an email sent to info@dylandaily.com, with the subject header “DVD comp”.
All entries will be put into a (virtual) hat and the winner will be drawn this Friday, 17 July, @ 1600 GMT and announced on The Dylan Daily (unless the lucky winner has specified “privacy” in his/her email entry).
Here’s a reminder of the albums to consider in your ranking:
Street-Legal (1978)
At Budokan (1978)
Slow Train Coming (1979)
Saved (1980)
Shot of Love (1981)
Infidels (1983)
Real Live (1984)
Empire Burlesque (1985)
Biograph (1985)
Knocked out Loaded (1986)
Down in the Groove (1988)
Dylan and the Dead (1989)
Oh Mercy (1989)
Good luck!
Gerry Smith
Friday, July 17, 2009
Knocked Out Loaded: least popular Dylan album?
Is Knocked Out Loaded the least popular Dylan album?
It certainly seems so, according to a preliminary analysis of fan rankings of the 13 albums released between 1978 and 1989, Dylan’s least popular decade.
Knocked Out Loaded managed to pick up only a single nomination and it was the respondent’s least favourite of three albums selected.
So which are the most popular albums of the period? Come back to The Dylan Daily on Monday for a full analysis of the impressive response to this competition.
Gerry Smith
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Win new DVD - Bob Dylan 1978-1989: Both Ends Of The Rainbow
Thanks to MVD Entertainment Group’s Clint Weiler for supplying Bob Dylan 1978-1989 on DVD as the prize in a new Dylan Daily competition.
To win a copy of the new Special Edition 2 Disc Set of Bob Dylan 1978-1989: Both Ends Of The Rainbow, all you have to do is rank your three favourite Dylan albums released in the period covered by the DVD – number your three favourites 1, 2 and 3 – in an email sent to info@dylandaily.com, with the subject header “DVD comp”.
All entries will be put into a (virtual) hat and the winner will be drawn this Friday, 17 July, @ 1600 GMT and announced on The Dylan Daily (unless the lucky winner has specified “privacy” in his/her email entry).
Here’s a reminder of the albums to consider in your ranking:
Street-Legal (1978)
At Budokan (1978)
Slow Train Coming (1979)
Saved (1980)
Shot of Love (1981)
Infidels (1983)
Real Live (1984)
Empire Burlesque (1985)
Biograph (1985)
Knocked out Loaded (1986)
Down in the Groove (1988)
Dylan and the Dead (1989)
Oh Mercy (1989)
Good luck!
Gerry Smith
It certainly seems so, according to a preliminary analysis of fan rankings of the 13 albums released between 1978 and 1989, Dylan’s least popular decade.
Knocked Out Loaded managed to pick up only a single nomination and it was the respondent’s least favourite of three albums selected.
So which are the most popular albums of the period? Come back to The Dylan Daily on Monday for a full analysis of the impressive response to this competition.
Gerry Smith
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Win new DVD - Bob Dylan 1978-1989: Both Ends Of The Rainbow
Thanks to MVD Entertainment Group’s Clint Weiler for supplying Bob Dylan 1978-1989 on DVD as the prize in a new Dylan Daily competition.
To win a copy of the new Special Edition 2 Disc Set of Bob Dylan 1978-1989: Both Ends Of The Rainbow, all you have to do is rank your three favourite Dylan albums released in the period covered by the DVD – number your three favourites 1, 2 and 3 – in an email sent to info@dylandaily.com, with the subject header “DVD comp”.
All entries will be put into a (virtual) hat and the winner will be drawn this Friday, 17 July, @ 1600 GMT and announced on The Dylan Daily (unless the lucky winner has specified “privacy” in his/her email entry).
Here’s a reminder of the albums to consider in your ranking:
Street-Legal (1978)
At Budokan (1978)
Slow Train Coming (1979)
Saved (1980)
Shot of Love (1981)
Infidels (1983)
Real Live (1984)
Empire Burlesque (1985)
Biograph (1985)
Knocked out Loaded (1986)
Down in the Groove (1988)
Dylan and the Dead (1989)
Oh Mercy (1989)
Good luck!
Gerry Smith
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Win new DVD – final call for entries
This is the final call for entries to the competition to win a copy of Bob Dylan 1978-1989: Both Ends Of The Rainbow.
Entries close tomorrow, Friday 17 July, @ 1600. Details of how to enter: below.
Thanks to all readers who have already entered.
Gerry Smith
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Win new DVD - Bob Dylan 1978-1989: Both Ends Of The Rainbow
Thanks to MVD Entertainment Group’s Clint Weiler for supplying Bob Dylan 1978-1989 on DVD as the prize in a new Dylan Daily competition.
To win a copy of the new Special Edition 2 Disc Set of Bob Dylan 1978-1989: Both Ends Of The Rainbow, all you have to do is rank your three favourite Dylan albums released in the period covered by the DVD – number your three favourites 1, 2 and 3 – in an email sent to info@dylandaily.com, with the subject header “DVD comp”.
All entries will be put into a (virtual) hat and the winner will be drawn this Friday, 17 July, @ 1600 GMT and announced on The Dylan Daily (unless the lucky winner has specified “privacy” in his/her email entry).
Here’s a reminder of the albums to consider in your ranking:
Street-Legal (1978)
At Budokan (1978)
Slow Train Coming (1979)
Saved (1980)
Shot of Love (1981)
Infidels (1983)
Real Live (1984)
Empire Burlesque (1985)
Biograph (1985)
Knocked out Loaded (1986)
Down in the Groove (1988)
Dylan and the Dead (1989)
Oh Mercy (1989)
Good luck!
Gerry Smith
Entries close tomorrow, Friday 17 July, @ 1600. Details of how to enter: below.
Thanks to all readers who have already entered.
Gerry Smith
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Win new DVD - Bob Dylan 1978-1989: Both Ends Of The Rainbow
Thanks to MVD Entertainment Group’s Clint Weiler for supplying Bob Dylan 1978-1989 on DVD as the prize in a new Dylan Daily competition.
To win a copy of the new Special Edition 2 Disc Set of Bob Dylan 1978-1989: Both Ends Of The Rainbow, all you have to do is rank your three favourite Dylan albums released in the period covered by the DVD – number your three favourites 1, 2 and 3 – in an email sent to info@dylandaily.com, with the subject header “DVD comp”.
All entries will be put into a (virtual) hat and the winner will be drawn this Friday, 17 July, @ 1600 GMT and announced on The Dylan Daily (unless the lucky winner has specified “privacy” in his/her email entry).
Here’s a reminder of the albums to consider in your ranking:
Street-Legal (1978)
At Budokan (1978)
Slow Train Coming (1979)
Saved (1980)
Shot of Love (1981)
Infidels (1983)
Real Live (1984)
Empire Burlesque (1985)
Biograph (1985)
Knocked out Loaded (1986)
Down in the Groove (1988)
Dylan and the Dead (1989)
Oh Mercy (1989)
Good luck!
Gerry Smith
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
London signing for new book tomorrow (Wednesday)
If you’re in central London tomorrow evening (Wednesday 15 July, 6-9pm), you’re warmly invited to attend the signing event for my new book, Music For Grown-Ups.
Dylan will doubtless be mentioned – he’s one of the book’s central characters!
I’ll be signing copies from the numbered limited edition; Music For Grown-Ups is not available from High St bookshops.
The evening is hosted by AMUTi, the specialist collectable and book dealer, at its delightful gallery/shop near King’s Cross/St Pancras/Euston railway stations.
I’ll be giving a short talk about music for grown-ups, before enjoying a drink with the audience.
You’ll be able to marvel at AMUTi’s unique selection of music-related rare books and collectables.
If you manage to make it, please ensure that you ID yourself to me as a reader of this website - I look forward to seeing you tomorrow evening!
Details:
www.amutionline.com
Gerry Smith
Dylan will doubtless be mentioned – he’s one of the book’s central characters!
I’ll be signing copies from the numbered limited edition; Music For Grown-Ups is not available from High St bookshops.
The evening is hosted by AMUTi, the specialist collectable and book dealer, at its delightful gallery/shop near King’s Cross/St Pancras/Euston railway stations.
I’ll be giving a short talk about music for grown-ups, before enjoying a drink with the audience.
You’ll be able to marvel at AMUTi’s unique selection of music-related rare books and collectables.
If you manage to make it, please ensure that you ID yourself to me as a reader of this website - I look forward to seeing you tomorrow evening!
Details:
www.amutionline.com
Gerry Smith
Monday, July 13, 2009
Win new DVD - Bob Dylan 1978-1989: Both Ends Of The Rainbow
Thanks to MVD Entertainment Group’s Clint Weiler for supplying Bob Dylan 1978-1989 on DVD as the prize in a new Dylan Daily competition.
To win a copy of the new Special Edition 2 Disc Set of Bob Dylan 1978-1989: Both Ends Of The Rainbow, all you have to do is rank your three favourite Dylan albums released in the period covered by the DVD – number your three favourites 1, 2 and 3 – in an email sent to info@dylandaily.com, with the subject header “DVD comp”.
All entries will be put into a (virtual) hat and the winner will be drawn this Friday, 17 July, @ 1600 GMT and announced on The Dylan Daily (unless the lucky winner has specified “privacy” in his/her email entry).
Here’s a reminder of the albums to consider in your ranking:
Street-Legal (1978)
At Budokan (1978)
Slow Train Coming (1979)
Saved (1980)
Shot of Love (1981)
Infidels (1983)
Real Live (1984)
Empire Burlesque (1985)
Biograph (1985)
Knocked out Loaded (1986)
Down in the Groove (1988)
Dylan and the Dead (1989)
Oh Mercy (1989)
Good luck!
Gerry Smith
To win a copy of the new Special Edition 2 Disc Set of Bob Dylan 1978-1989: Both Ends Of The Rainbow, all you have to do is rank your three favourite Dylan albums released in the period covered by the DVD – number your three favourites 1, 2 and 3 – in an email sent to info@dylandaily.com, with the subject header “DVD comp”.
All entries will be put into a (virtual) hat and the winner will be drawn this Friday, 17 July, @ 1600 GMT and announced on The Dylan Daily (unless the lucky winner has specified “privacy” in his/her email entry).
Here’s a reminder of the albums to consider in your ranking:
Street-Legal (1978)
At Budokan (1978)
Slow Train Coming (1979)
Saved (1980)
Shot of Love (1981)
Infidels (1983)
Real Live (1984)
Empire Burlesque (1985)
Biograph (1985)
Knocked out Loaded (1986)
Down in the Groove (1988)
Dylan and the Dead (1989)
Oh Mercy (1989)
Good luck!
Gerry Smith
Thursday, July 09, 2009
London signing for new book next Wednesday
If you’re in central London next Wednesday evening (15 July, 6-9pm), you’re warmly invited to attend the signing event for my new book, Music For Grown-Ups. (Bob Dylan is the key musician featured in the book.)
I’ll be signing copies from the special numbered limited edition; Music For Grown-Ups is not available from High St bookshops.
The evening is hosted by Amuti, the specialist collectable and book dealer, at its delightful gallery/shop near King’s Cross/St Pancras/Euston railway stations.
I’ll be giving a short talk about music for grown-ups, before enjoying a drink with the audience.
You’ll be able to marvel at Amuti’s unique selection of music-related rare books and collectables.
If you manage to make it, please ensure that you ID yourself to me as a reader of this website - I look forward to seeing you next Wednesday!
Details:
www.amutionline.com
Gerry Smith
I’ll be signing copies from the special numbered limited edition; Music For Grown-Ups is not available from High St bookshops.
The evening is hosted by Amuti, the specialist collectable and book dealer, at its delightful gallery/shop near King’s Cross/St Pancras/Euston railway stations.
I’ll be giving a short talk about music for grown-ups, before enjoying a drink with the audience.
You’ll be able to marvel at Amuti’s unique selection of music-related rare books and collectables.
If you manage to make it, please ensure that you ID yourself to me as a reader of this website - I look forward to seeing you next Wednesday!
Details:
www.amutionline.com
Gerry Smith
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Roger McGuinn, ex-Byrd, tells his Dylan stories
Completing a short English solo tour in St Albans last week, Roger McGuinn spared us his born-again folkie stuff and focused mainly on the luminous Byrds legacy.
His likeable 90-minute performance thrilled the crowd of 500 ageing pop-pickers, well up for a night of comforting nostalgia. In delivering it, McGuinn, using only his 12-string Rickenbacker and his 7(!)-string Martin HD-7 acoustic, demonstrated that he’s a fine multifaceted musician and singer, and an engaging, generous-minded raconteur.
His debt to Dylan was all over the evening. As well as My Back Pages, the opener, McGuinn explored the Zim locker with Mr Tambourine Man, All I Really Want To Do and You Ain’t Going Nowhere, plus the Dylan-influenced Ballad Of Easy Rider.
He recounted his story of the writing of The Ballad Of Easy Rider – how Dylan, too busy to supply a song for the movie soundtrack, scribbles a few lines of lyrics on a paper tissue, gives it to lead actor Peter Fonda, tells him to fly coast-to-coast and hand it personally to Roger - “Give it to McGuinn, he’ll finish it…”.
McGuinn also recounted how, when The Byrds first played Dylan their version of All I Really Want To Do in the studio, he expressed a liking for the song - before being reminded that he’d written it!
Gerry Smith
His likeable 90-minute performance thrilled the crowd of 500 ageing pop-pickers, well up for a night of comforting nostalgia. In delivering it, McGuinn, using only his 12-string Rickenbacker and his 7(!)-string Martin HD-7 acoustic, demonstrated that he’s a fine multifaceted musician and singer, and an engaging, generous-minded raconteur.
His debt to Dylan was all over the evening. As well as My Back Pages, the opener, McGuinn explored the Zim locker with Mr Tambourine Man, All I Really Want To Do and You Ain’t Going Nowhere, plus the Dylan-influenced Ballad Of Easy Rider.
He recounted his story of the writing of The Ballad Of Easy Rider – how Dylan, too busy to supply a song for the movie soundtrack, scribbles a few lines of lyrics on a paper tissue, gives it to lead actor Peter Fonda, tells him to fly coast-to-coast and hand it personally to Roger - “Give it to McGuinn, he’ll finish it…”.
McGuinn also recounted how, when The Byrds first played Dylan their version of All I Really Want To Do in the studio, he expressed a liking for the song - before being reminded that he’d written it!
Gerry Smith
Monday, July 06, 2009
Hattie Carroll quoted on Question Time: Dylan in the ether…
Thanks to Andrew Kelly:
“I can't have been the only fan watching Question Time last Thurs (BBC TV, 2 July).
“In answering a question about Jack Straw's recent intervention in the matter of Ronnie Biggs' parole, columnist Peter Hitchens described the Justice Secretary's statement as calling "strongly, for penalty and repentance".
“The 21st century Weltanschauung is permeated!”
“I can't have been the only fan watching Question Time last Thurs (BBC TV, 2 July).
“In answering a question about Jack Straw's recent intervention in the matter of Ronnie Biggs' parole, columnist Peter Hitchens described the Justice Secretary's statement as calling "strongly, for penalty and repentance".
“The 21st century Weltanschauung is permeated!”
Thursday, July 02, 2009
New Heylin book – signed copies and 25% discount if you buy direct
Thanks to publishers Constable Robinson for offering Dylan Daily readers limited signed copies of Clinton Heylin’s new book, Revolution In The Air, at 25% discount.
Access the web page below and enter promo code Dylan1.
http://www.constablerobinson.com/?section=books&book=signed_revolution_in_the_air_9781849011549_hardback
Gerry Smith
Access the web page below and enter promo code Dylan1.
http://www.constablerobinson.com/?section=books&book=signed_revolution_in_the_air_9781849011549_hardback
Gerry Smith
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
“Bob Dylan Speaks”: new issue of MOJO has Flanagan interview
“Bob Dylan Speaks” is the banner headline on the cover of the new (UK) issue of MOJO, the achingly beautiful heritage rock monthly.
But if you printed off Flanagan’s three-part promo interview for Together Through Life from the official Sony site in March/April, you might not need the “Ultimate MOJO Interview”.
When I copped a quick glance in the supermarket tonight, it looked like the same interview – worth checking before buying.
Gerry Smith
But if you printed off Flanagan’s three-part promo interview for Together Through Life from the official Sony site in March/April, you might not need the “Ultimate MOJO Interview”.
When I copped a quick glance in the supermarket tonight, it looked like the same interview – worth checking before buying.
Gerry Smith
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