Comments on: “Song to Woody”: Dylan’s breakthrough.

By: charlie finch

charlie finch — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 17:52:04 +0000

Other spectacular Dylan performances on YouTube:”Lakes of Ponchartrain” (1989), “Blowin in the Wind” (Barcelona 1984), Earl Scruggs TV Special (1969), “Waggoner’s Lad” (1989), “Only a Pawn in Their Game” (1963, March on Washington)” “When the Ship Comes In” (1963, March on Washington), “Restless Farewell” (1997, Sinatra tribute) “Trail of the Buffalo” (1989) “Ring Them Bells” (Japan 1991), “Girl From the North Country” (Johnny Cash Show 1969)

By: charlie finch

charlie finch — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 16:59:02 +0000

“There is no right or wrong answer”-Bob Levinson (ne “Levin”) Wanna test that theory? Check out Bob’ extraordinary Massey Hall Gospel Concert, 1980 Toronto, on YouTube especially “Coverdown Breakthrough”, to my mind his greatest concert work, and all in the name of Jesus!!

By: charlie finch

charlie finch — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:55:13 +0000

Also Dylan’s spoken poem “Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie”. Our President could use a bit of Woody in him. It was up to Rep. Howard Berman to speak courageously about Iran from the House floor instead.

By: mokami

mokami — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:03:31 +0000

I love the live version he did in 1999 (despite some asshole near the mike yelling out “Leadbelly”). It’s absolutely masterful, a mature reading which to me is even more devastating and beautiful than that first burst of genius-promise so many years ago.

By: Bob Levinson

Bob Levinson — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:44:13 +0000

I hosted the class and can say, unequivically, that Ron was a fantastic guest, he was filled with insight, openness, candor, warmth and passion, he set a standard for future guests that will be hard to exceed. Ron spent a week interviewing Bob, how many can claim that kind of access? And, read the interviewed, discover what Ron discovered, its inspiring. As to ‘Song to Woody,’ and all other Bob things, there is no right or wrong answer. Its all right, ma and its all wrong, except that its always right for you, which is the only thing that matters. Enjoy what you enjoy, skip what offends or disappoints. As for me, I love the arc of Bob career and, even at this age, whatever joint he shows up in next will be one that I’ll respond to, I don’t think he wants any more from any of us.

Bob Levinson

By: charlie finch

charlie finch — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:48:45 +0000

In general the early Dylan holds up to repeated listening today. Let me recommend the first disc of “Bootleg Series 1-3″ and the first discs in the unofficial Genuine Bootleg Series, nine disc set in three volumes. If you’ve got the vinyl boot “Ten of Swords”, that has the most complete compilation of the 1962 Minnesota tapes. Dylan was fully formed before his first album was released. The breadth and richness of material that he recorded before the release of “Times They Are a Changing” is staggering. We are talking about 65 or 70 distinct sides, recorded between the ages of 18 and 22. To a certain extent, drugs and women wrecked him, or at least wrecked that boy/man hitchhiking through the crossroads. In this light Dylan’s jive/beat/put-on persona, which he donned upon arriving at the Chelsea Hotel, so to speak, was a devolution of his talent. Hard listening to the virgin work, amazingly, proves it

By: Bill Altreuter

Bill Altreuter — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:36:20 +0000

What I’ve always liked about this side– and what is enjoyable about the Live at the Gaslight recording is that you can clearly Dylan becoming something more than a folk singer. He is so young, but he is also well on the way to inventing “Bob Dylan”, and his singing, his playing, and his ear for melody are already sophisticated and advanced.

By: charlie finch

charlie finch — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:08:26 +0000

Listen to the boots of the 1962 Minnesota Hotel Tapes to see how “Bob Dylan” was a step back from the bluesy stuff he was doing. The guy could mimic a mynah bird!

By: charlie finch

charlie finch — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:59:09 +0000

Ah, who can resist that baby face on the cover? Check out the bootlegs of “Freewheelin’” outtakes for the transition bewteen the two albums. It really all began with “Bob Dylan’s Dream”, done in one take, as an afterthought, at the end of the “Freewheelin” sessions. “Freewheelin’” made the first album shine in its light and, at the time, we experienced them as a twofer. And give Woody a break, far looser and genuine than the unctious, humorless fraud Seeger!!!!

By: johnshade

johnshade — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:37:43 +0000

In a backward-looking way, I’m kind of partial to that early version of “Baby Let Me Follow You Down” on that record. So make it 11 out of 13 for me (though I don’t really know the album well).