theme time radio hour with your host bob dylan - whiskey

I'm so pleased there has been another episode of Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio hour. This one is built around the theme of Whiskey / Whiskey, and it's another corker. I'd forgotten the amount of dry humour and poetry, and as usual, heard some great old songs from way back when.

Unfortunately, this might have been a one off, but with the current lockdown situation, perhaps there will be more soon. I certainly hope so. The transcripts of the show can be found here and here

For as long as it lasts, the whole show can be heard on SiriusXFM here or on youtube here 

Methinks it's time to dig out the old episodes and replay them. Hours of fun. They can be found here

Enjoy!

Toodle pip

bob dylan - the rolling thunder revue

It's been a week since Netflix released their Martin Scorsese produced Rolling Thunder Revue, featuring a 'Bob Dylan Story'. I've watched all of it three times since, and parts of it numerous times, and l absolutely love it.
The live footage has been cleaned up and looks amazing, and there's pretty much just the right amount of newsreel crap to emphasise the story. Dylan is on top form, and it's probably the last time he has been so engaged on stage. There's been a bit of a debate online about some of the interviews, as they are related to events or people that are made up, and that uses up time that could be spent showing more live footage, but that sort of obfuscation just makes me chuckle, as it's in the spirit of the Renaldo and Clara movie from the same period, and, although it would be hard to believe, amps up my  love for Dylan even more. I can't wait for the (hopefully) DVD and loads of extra footage
Here's the trailer, plus a couple of clips from it.
Witness the majesty of his Bobness (and Scarlet Rivera).
Avoid Jail, Go immediately to Netflix and watch the full film now!!







toodle pip

record store day and bob dylan - blood on the tracks

As l was awake early and it was Record Store Day, l decided to have a drive through to Stockton and hit Sound it Out records, as l wanted the new Bob Dylan Blood on the Tracks test pressing, which was one of the items on sale that day. After waiting in line for a couple of hours with all the other fellow saddos, l finally made it into the shop. Hurrah!! I saw the person who had been two people in front of me in the queue holding a copy of the Dylan lp, and asked where about they were placed, only to be told that he had just got the last copy. Yes your honour, l did indeed call him a rude name (only half in jest) and ended up leaving the shop without the Dylan album, but with new T.Rex and Van Morrison ones instead (and cursing). l then had a look around the charity shops and headed to the Boro to surprise my matey boy, only to find there was no one in, so drove back home, cursing again. Only to get a phone call shortly afterwards to say they had just got back home from shopping and had just missed me. So, a bit of a mixed bag of a day, as l came home with some goodies, missed my mate, and never got the Dylan album l was after.
Obviously l have since ordered the Dylan lp online, and it was everything l expected, and l love it. Now added to the other versions of the album l already have.
I need to get a life.

 The queue when l arrived

Nearly in the shop!

The two records l did buy

People still queueing when l was leaving Stockton

 The glorious album l was after. Mmmmmmm -  Nice (Sent from The Netherlands)

Other versions l have of the Dylan album

toodle pip

recent trips to the theatre

Some recent trips to the theatre - Darlington Hippodrome to be precise. 

The Travelling Wilburys was pretty good, but the worst one of them was 'Bob Dylan', the person l wanted to see the most. However, it was pretty surreal, and had many moving moments, especially watching 'George Harrison' singing My Sweet Lord. I must be getting sadder in my old age (if that's possible).

As for Aladdin - it was just what you would expect from such a show, some moments of hilarity, nothing particularly outstanding, but everyone went away happy, so job done.

I think the next visit there will be for The Meat Loaf Story, even if l will probably be hassled for autographs.

Stone me - what a life.

toodle pip

the lost bob dylan cds

After erecting (fnaar) some new shelves in the spare room to house a load of CDs and tidy the place up a bit, l realised l was missing a substantial amount by Bob Dylan.  I would normally assume my brother nicked them when staying over, but he's not a fan of his Bobness. It took me ages to locate them amongst all my other crap, but luckily l did, as  I'm pleased to report there's plenty of gems amongst them.
Yes l do realise l have too many and l will never get around to playing them all again before l die, but l like having them as pieces of art as well, and they are there when l do want to play them.
I just need a bigger house, and l don't need reminding l'm a sad git.
The shelves look pretty good as well!

toodle pip

marc bolan defends bob dylan

Back before he became famous, Marc Bolan defended Bob Dylan's 'Self Portrait' album in the pages of Melody Maker.

Here's the lyrics to the song Belle Isle that Bolan was on about (Bob based it on a traditional song)

As there's no video for that, here's one of my favourite Dylan songs, the live version of 'Hurricane'

To demonstrate how unknown Bolan when the letter was printed (Self Portrait was released June 8th 1970), they even printed his home address. How times were to suddenly change.
Bolan had been about for a few years on the underground scene, but in October 1970 T.Rex released this little beauty and his life was never the same.

Ride a White Swan - from 'Beat Club' German TV



And here's some more Bolan  - at the time, the biggest star since The Beatles.









And lastly, one that made me cry playing it after he died - one of his last songs - 'Soul of my Suit'
I loved him



toodle pip

the clintons discuss dylan

Bill and Hilary Clinton discuss the presidency and Bob Dylan winning the Nobel Prize for literature (not)

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bob dylan's nobel prize for literature, plus idiot wind, hurricane and it's alright ma (l'm only bleeding)

Although l do think that novels, poems and songs are different, l also think that Bob Dylan receiving the Nobel prize in literature today is well deserved, not just for the amount of outstanding and influential work he has produced, but for the amount of people around the world he would have turned on to lyrics, books, prose and poetry, as well as activism and political thought (including me). Some of Dylan's output, especially in the early years, was staggeringly good, and he sure knew how to construct strong images and stories with only a few words (and often many, many more). But (and there's always a but), as far as literature in book form goes, although entertaining, Tarantula was not exactly earth shattering, and his Chronicles autobiography has been shown to be pilfered or 'inspired by' old obscure sources in many places, with no credits being given. There's an excellent and informative article about the book and Dylan's apparent plagiarism here, but l'm more than forgiving as far as Dylan is concerned (hence my collection of his later works), so hearty congratulations to him.
Praise him now while he still alive - if anyone warrants it, he does, and l am just thankful that l saw him while he was still producing the goods live.







toodle pip

the new bob dylan live 1966 box set, and neil innes - protest song - plus hancock and oasis!

Well l have a pretty good idea what l will be listening to over this Christmas - the new Bob Dylan box set of the 1966 tour. A mere 36 discs. I've already got the bootleg box set of Dylan's Genuine Live 1966, which is a mere 8 cds, so, rather sadly, l am really looking forward to this.

Here's the bootleg version l already have (not my copy)

And here's the new official version

All of this after the massive Cutting Edge box set last year.
I really need to get a life.

In the meantime- here's a protest song by Neil Innes, live on Rutland Weekend Television. The man who was plagiarised by Oasis. Check out 'How Sweet To Be An Idiot' by Innes, and compare it to Oasis' 'Whatever'.
I rest my case your honour "Did Magna Carta die in vain" etc...



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the bob dylan cutting edge boxset - and rich hall

I'm currently still trying to work my way through the 18 cd version of the latest Bob Dylan boxset 'The Cutting Edge', which, for a sad geek like me is 100% enjoyment, as it features some of his best work (1965-66). Sadly, l've only got the cds, not all the packaging and extras, but l'm living in bliss street at present.
Rather like The Rolling Stones (amongst others), I'm slightly obsessed by him and his music, but have no great desire to listen to any of his current releases, and especially don't want to go and see him live these days, as l'd rather remember him when he was good. And when he was good, he was very good indeed.
Here's one of my favourite comedians, Rich Hall's view on the current Dylan live shows, something l wholeheartedly agree with.



As a flipside, here's Dylan when he was special. A live version of 'Tangled up in Blue' from the 'Desire' album.



toodle pip