All posts by Egil

Today: Robert Plant is 65

robert_plant

 

It’s sort of a feeling of power onstage. It’s really the ability to make people smile, or just to turn them one way or another for that duration of time, and for it to have some effect later on. I don’t really think it’s power… it’s the goodness.
~Robert Plant

My vocal style I haven’t tried to copy from anyone. It just developed until it became the girlish whine it is today.
~Robert Plant

Whole Lotta Love – live 1970:

From Wikipedia:

Birth name Robert Anthony Plant
Born 20 August 1948 (age 64)
West Bromwich, (then Staffordshire, now West Midlands), England
Origin Kidderminster, Worcestershire,
England
Genres Rock, hard rock, heavy metal, blues rock, folk rock, world music, country rock
Occupations Singer-songwriter, musician
Instruments Vocals, harmonica, percussion, guitar,bass guitar
Years active 1966–present
Labels Atlantic, Swan Song, Es Paranza,Sanctuary, Mercury, Universal, Rounder
Associated acts Band of Joy, Led Zeppelin, The Honeydrippers, Page and Plant, Strange Sensation, Alison Krauss, The New Yardbirds

Robert Anthony Plant, CBE (born 20 August 1948) is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career. In 2007, Plant released Raising Sand, an album produced by T-Bone Burnett with American bluegrass soprano Alison Krauss, which won the 2009 Grammy Award for Album of the Year at the 51st Grammy Awards.

robert-plant

With a career spanning more than 40 years, Plant is regarded as one of the most significant singers in the history of rock music, and has influenced contemporaries and later singers such as Freddie Mercury and Axl Rose. In 2006, heavy metal magazine Hit Parader named Plant the “Greatest Metal Vocalist of All Time”. In 2009, Plant was voted “the greatest voice in rock” in a poll conducted by Planet RockIn 2011, a Rolling Stone readers’ pick placed Plant in first place of the magazine’s “Best Lead Singers of All Time”.

Legacy:

  • In 2006, heavy metal magazine Hit Parader named Plant No. 1 on their list of the 100 Greatest Metal Vocalists of All-Time, a list which included Rob Halford (2), Steven Tyler (3), Freddie Mercury (6), Geddy Lee (13), and Paul Stanley (18), all of whom were influenced by Plant. 
  • In 2008, Rolling Stone named Plant as number 15 on their list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All-Time. 
  • In 2009, he was voted the “greatest voice in rock” in a poll conducted by Planet Rock. 
  • Plant was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2009 New Year Honours for his “services to popular music”. 
  • He was included in the Q magazine’s 2009 list of “Artists Of The Century” and was ranked at number 8 in their list of “100 Greatest Singers” in 2007. 
  • In 2009, Plant also won the Outstanding Contribution to Music prize at the Q Awards.
  •  He was placed at no. 3 on SPIN’s list of “The 50 Greatest Rock Frontmen of All Time”.
  • On 20 September 2010 National Public Radio (NPR) named Plant as one of the “50 Great Voices” in the world.

Black Dog – Live:

No Zeppelin on Spotify.
Album of the day – Raising Sand (Plant/Krauss):

Other August-20:

Continue reading Today: Robert Plant is 65

Bob Dylan: Glasgow, Scotland 23 June 2004 (full concert video)

bob dylan glasgow 2004

 

Hall 4
Scottish Exhibition And Conference Center
Glasgow, Scotland
23 June 2004

  • Bob Dylan (vocal & piano)
  • Stu Kimball (guitar)
  • Larry Campbell (guitar, mandolin, pedal steel guitar & electric slide guitar)
  • Tony Garnier (bass)
  • George Recile (drums & percussion)

Setlist:

  1. The Wicked Messenger
  2. The Times They Are A-Changin’
  3. Cry A While
  4. Tryin’ To Get To Heaven
  5. It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
  6. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
  7. Man In The Long Black Coat
  8. Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum
  9. Boots Of Spanish Leather
  10. I Don’t Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met)
  11. Forever Young
  12. Honest With Me
  13. Every Grain Of Sand
  14. Summer Days
  15. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
  16. Like A Rolling Stone
  17. All Along The Watchtower

Check out:

-Egil

Bob Dylan – Across The Borderline (Cooder/Hiatt/Dickinson) – Audio & Video

Dylan cooder hiatt dickinson

 

There’s a place where I’ve been told
Every street is paved with gold
And it’s just across the borderline
And when it’s time to take your turn
Here’s one lesson that you must learn
You could lose more than you’ll ever hope to find

 

Other versions

Written by Ry Cooder, John Hiatt & Jim Dickinson, this beautiful song was released on Ry Cooder’s 1987 album “Get Rhythm”.

ry cooder - get rhythm

1. Ry Cooder his album “Get Rhythm” (1978):



Bob Dylan played Ry Cooder & Freddy Fender’s version on show 44 (themed “Texas”) of his “Theme Time Radio Hour”.

freddy-fender-across-the-borderline-mca

2. Here is Freddy Fender:

A couple of more great versions before we move on to Dylan..

Willie Nelson - AcrossTheBorderline

3. Willie Nelson’s version from his 1993 album.. “Across the Borderline”:

jim dickinson a thousand footprints

4. Jim Dickinson live –  from the album “A thousand footprints in the sand” (1997 ):

Bruce Springsteen has covered this pearl many times… there is a couple of great videos on YouTube, BUT my Springsteen choice has to a “audio only YouTube”:

bruce springsteen jackson brown bonnie raitt

5. Bruce Springsteen (with Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt) – 17 November 1990 – Shrine Auditorium, LA:

 

Bob Dylan versions:

When you reach the broken promised land
And every dream slips through your hands
Then you’ll know that it’s too late to change your mind
‘Cause you’ve paid the price to come so far
Just to wind up where you are
And you’re still just across the borderline

Continue reading Bob Dylan – Across The Borderline (Cooder/Hiatt/Dickinson) – Audio & Video

Today: Billy Joe Shaver is 74 – Happy Birthday

billy joe shaver

‘Cause movin’s in my soul, i guess a gypsy boy got a hold
Of somebody in my family long ago
If some night while half asleep you hear the back door softly squeak
You’ll touch my empty pillow, then you’ll know
That restless wind, is calling me again
– Billy Joe Shaver (from “Restless Wind” (one of his best songs))

“He may be the best songwriter alive today”
– Willie Nelson

«He’s a real writer like Hemingway. He’s timeless»
– Kris Kristofferson

«Billy Joe is unique. One of a kind. They threw away the mold. The best.»
– Robert Duvall

I’m listening to Billy Joe Shaver And i’m reading James Joyce
-Bob Dylan (I Feel a Change Comin’ On)

Restless Wind:

Billy Joe Shaver is one of my greatest “Honky Tonk Heroes”.

«Throughout my career as a songwriter, I’ve just written songs about me – the good and the bad, the funny and the sad….. The songs are my story»
– Billy Joe shaver

«..I’ve lost part of three fingers, broke my back, suffered a heart attack and a quadruple bypass, had a steel plate put in my neck and 136 stitches in my head, fought drugs and booze, spent the money I had, and buried my wife, son & mother in the span of one year… I’m not proud of my misfortune – I’m proud of my survival»
– Billy Joe Shaver

billy joe shaver

From Wikipedia: 

Birth name Billy Joe Shaver
Born August 16, 1939 (age 74)
Origin Corsicana, Texas, United States
Genres Country Music
Outlaw Country
Occupations Singer and Songwriter
Instruments Acoustic Guitar
Associated acts Lee Clayton
Jessi Colter
Waylon Jennings
Kris Kristofferson
Willie Nelson
Mickey Newbury
Steve Young
Johnny Cash
Website www.billyjoeshaver.com

From amazon.com: Willie Nelson says “Billy Joe Shaver may be the best songwriter alive today,” and legions of fans agree that Billy Joe is the real deal. Many describe his songs as pure poetry. Shaver sings about a life that’s been full of hard times, wild living, and a forty-year-long passion for his late wife Brenda. His songs are raw, honest, and so true that people hear the story of their own lives in his music. No wonder, then, that his songs have also been recorded by artists such as Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, George Jones, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Patty Loveless, John Anderson, Tom T. Hall, the Allman Brothers, the Oak Ridge Boys, and Tex Ritter.

 

billy joe shaver

Here is my list of his 15 best songs:

  1. Live Forever
  2. Restless Wind
  3. Georgia on a Fast Train
  4. When The Fallen Angels Fly
  5. Fit To Kill And Going Out In Style
  6. I’m just an old Chunk of Coal
  7. Black Rose
  8. Old Five & Dimers Like Me
  9. Honkey Tonk Heroes
  10. You Asked Me To
  11. Ride Me Down Easy
  12. Highway of Life
  13. Heart of Texas
  14. Willie The Wandering Gypsy and Me
  15. Moonshine & Indian Blood

Some videos from youtube:

Live Forever (best version):

I’m gonna live forever
I’m gonna cross that river
I’m gonna catch tomorrow now
You’re gonna wanna hold me
Just like I’ve always told you
You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone

Nobody here will ever find me
But I will always be around
Just like the songs I leave behind me
I’m gonna live forever now

You fathers and you mothers
Be good to one another
Please try to raise your children right
Don’t let the darkness take ’em
Don’t make ’em feel forsaken
Just lead ’em safely to the light

When this old world is blown us under
And all the stars fall from the sky
Remember someone really loves you
We’ll live forever you and I

I’m gonna live forever
I’m gonna cross that river
I’m gonna catch tomorrow now

 

billy joe shaver

Georgia on a Fast Train:

When the Fallen Angels Fly:

Black Rose – GREAT live version (Austin City Limits):

A lot of his best songs.. and best versions of his best songs missing on spotify.. but here are some:

Recommended reading:

Honky Tonk Hero” (Billy Joe Shaver)

billy joe shaver book

Other August 16:

Continue reading Today: Billy Joe Shaver is 74 – Happy Birthday

Today: Jim Dickinson passed away 4 years ago

jim dickinson

“(Jim Dickinson is)…. that magical musical maestro from Memphis….   he was the kind of guy you could call to play piano, fix a tractor, or make red cole slaw from scratch.”
-Bob Dylan

“There are cool cats and there are cool Memphis cats but no one, not Elvis, not Jerry Lee, not even the Wolf came close to epitomizing Memphis and cool like Jim Dickinson did. He was the Top Cat Daddy, an inspiration, a mentor and my friend.

If you knew his music and understood his role as one of the links between black and white culture and between blues and rock and roll, you know what I’m talking about. If he is unfamiliar to you, now’s as good time as any to get to know him, even though he’s checked out of the motel.”
-Joe Nick Patoski

John Brown (from his great 1972 album “Dixie Fried” – words by Bob Dylan):

From Wikipedia:

James Luther “Jim” Dickinson (November 15, 1941 – August 15, 2009) was an American record producer, pianist, and singer who fronted, among others, the Memphis based band, Mudboy & The Neutrons.

Some highlights:

  • In the late 1960s, Dickinson joined with fellow Memphis musicians Charlie Freeman, Michael Utley, Tommy McClure and Sammy Creason; this group became known as the “Dixie Flyers” and provided backup for musicians recording for Atlantic Records. Perhaps their best-known work was for Aretha Franklin’s 1970 Spirit in the Dark.
  • In December 1969, Dickinson played piano on The Rolling Stones’ track “Wild Horses” at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama
  •  In 1972 Dickinson released his first solo album, “Dixie Fried”, which featured songs by Bob Dylan, Furry Lewis, and the title song by Carl Perkins.
  • In 1974 he produced Big Star’s Third
  • Co-produced with Alex Chilton on the 1979 Chilton album Like Flies on Sherbert.
  • He has produced Willy DeVille, Green on Red, Mojo Nixon, Neon Wheels, Jason & The Nashville Scorchers, The Replacements,Tav Falco’s Panther Burns, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, and The Dick Nixons, among many others
  • in 1977 an aural documentary of Memphis’ Beale Street, Beale Street Saturday Night, which featured performances by Sid Selvidge, Furry Lewis and Dickinson’s band Mud Boy and the Neutrons.
  • He has also worked with Ry Cooder, and played on Dylan’s album Time Out of Mind.
    He played keyboards, Wurlitzer electric piano, pump organ on “Love Sick”, “Dirt Road Blues”, “Million Miles”, “Tryin’ to Get to Heaven”, “Til I Fell in Love with You”, “Not Dark Yet”, “Can’t Wait”, and “Highlands”
  • In 1998, he produced Mudhoney’s, Tomorrow Hit Today.

jim dickinson

Introducing himself – from www.artistshousemusic.org:

jim dickinson

Down in Mississippi:

Check out this great blog:

Spotify playlist of the day: 

More August-15:

Continue reading Today: Jim Dickinson passed away 4 years ago