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Forum di Assago Assago Milan, Italy 14 November 2011 1. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat |
Continue reading Bob Dylan & Mark Knopfler: Milan, Italy, 14 November 2011 (20 min video)
Tag Archives: Bob Dylan
Today: Delbert McClinton is 73 Happy Birthday
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Continue reading Today: Delbert McClinton is 73 Happy Birthday
Bob Dylan: 10 best songs recorded in 1983
This is an updated & revised post originally published a year ago.
The “Infidels” Birthday inspired me to set up a list of Dylan’s best songs recorded in 1983.
I’ve chosen to include 2 versions of “Blind Willie McTell”. This is by far the best song Dylan recorded in 1983… and the both versions are fantastic.
| 1 | Blind Willie McTell – electric version | not released* |
| 2 | Blind Willie McTell – acoustic version | The Bootleg Series 3 |
| 3 | Jokerman | Infidels |
| 4 | Foot of Pride | The Bootleg Series 3 |
| 5 | Someone’s Got A Hold Of My Heart – alt.version | not released* |
| 6 | License To Kill | Infidels |
| 7 | I & I | Infidels |
| 8 | Lord Protect My Child | The Bootleg Series 3 |
| 9 | Sweetheart Like You | Infidels |
| 10 | Tell Me | The Bootleg Series 3 |
* My source is the “Rough Cuts” bootleg:
Check out bobsboots.com
Now for the goodies..
1. Blind Willie McTell – electric version:
I didn’t think I recorded it right. But I don’t know why that stuff gets out on me. I mean,
it never seems to get out on other people.
~Bob Dylan (to Kurt Loder, March 1984)
–
Seen the arrow on the doorpost
Saying, “This land is condemned
All the way from New Orleans
To Jerusalem”
I traveled through East Texas
Where many martyrs fell
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTellWell, I heard that hoot owl singing
As they were taking down the tents
The stars above the barren trees
Were his only audience
Them charcoal gypsy maidens
Can strut their feathers well
But nobody can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTellSee them big plantations burning
Hear the cracking of the whips
Smell that sweet magnolia blooming
See the ghosts of slavery ships
I can hear them tribes a-moaning
Hear that undertaker’s bell
Nobody can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTellThere’s a woman by the river
With some fine young handsome man
He’s dressed up like a squire
Bootlegged whiskey in his hand
There’s a chain gang on the highway
I can hear them rebels yell
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTellWell, God is in His heaven
And we all want what’s His
But power and greed and corruptible seed
Seem to be all that there is
I’m gazing out the window
Of the St. James Hotel
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell
Today: Bill Wyman is 77 Happy birthday
I didn’t want to stay in the Stones, and be stuck in a position having to play a music I didn’t like anymore and that restricted me from doing all the others things I’m interested in because of time.
~Bill WymanI wanted a variety in my life but after a couple of years I thought that music is what I do so maybe I should start doing it again.
~Bill Wyman
From Wikipedia:
| Birth name | William George Perks |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Lee Wyman |
| Born | 24 October 1936 (age 76) Lewisham, London EnglandUnited Kingdom |
| Genres | Rock, rock and roll, swing,rhythm and blues, jazz, blues,skiffle |
| Occupations | Musician, composer, author,record producer, film producer,bandleader, photographer,inventor |
| Instruments | Vocals, bass guitar, guitar,keyboards, percussion,autoharp |
| Years active | 1962–present |
| Labels | Velvel, Koch International,Rolling Stones, BMG |
| Associated acts | The Rolling Stones, Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings, Wilie & the Poor Boys, The Cliftons |
| Website | www.billwyman.com |
Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings – Chicken Shack Boogie:
Bill Wyman (born William George Perks; 24 October 1936) is an English musician best known as the bass guitarist for the English rock and roll band the Rolling Stones from 1962 until 1993. Since 1997, he has recorded and toured with his own band, Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings. He has worked producing both records and film, and has scored music for film in movies and television.
Wyman has kept a journal since he was a child after World War II. It has been useful to him as an author who has written seven books, selling two million copies. Wyman’s love of art has additionally led to his proficiency in photography and his photographs have hung in galleries around the world. Wyman’s lack of funds in his early years led him to create and build his own fretless bass guitar. He became an amateur archaeologist and enjoys relic hunting; The Times published a letter about his hobby (Friday 2 March 2007). He designed and markets a patented Bill Wyman signature metal detector, which he has used to find relics in the English countryside dating back to the era of the Roman Empire.
As a businessman, he owns several establishments including the famous Sticky Fingers Café, a rock & roll-themed bistro serving American cuisine first opened in 1989 in the Kensington area of London and later, two additional locations in Cambridge and Manchester, England.
Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings, Albert Lee & Peter Frampton – Green River:
From allmusic – Jason Ankeny:
As a member of the Rolling Stones for three decades, Bill Wyman established himself among the greatest bassists in rock & roll history; in tandem with drummer Charlie Watts, he belonged to one of the most stalwart rhythm sections in popular music, perfectly complementing the theatrics of Mick Jagger and the gritty guitar leads of Keith Richards. …. read more @ allmusic.com
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Album of the day – Bill Wyman – Compendium Complete Solo Recordings:
Other October 24:
5 great cover versions of Blind Willie McTell by Bob Dylan
Seen the arrow on the doorpost
Saying, “This land is condemned
All the way from New Orleans
To Jerusalem”
I traveled through East Texas
Where many martyrs fell
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell
Let’s start this party by reminding ourselves what a fantastic song this is. Here are the official released Bob Dylan version from The Bootleg Series Volume 1-3:
“One of Bob Dylan’s absolute masterpieces, “Blind Willie McTell” is the jewel of The Bootleg Series and arguably one of the finest songs ever written. Recorded in 1983 for the album Infidels, it was deemed superfluous to requirements, and all that remains is one take of the song with a full band (yet to be officially released) and this haunting demo, with Dylan playing piano with accompaniment from Mark Knopfler.”
– Thomas Ward (allmusic)
And the outtake, the electric version from the Infidels sessions (audio), my favorite:
Ok, so here are those wonderful cover versions.
The magnificent Mick Taylor did this great version in Germany in 2009 (Rockpalast):
This cover version by Dream Syndicate from a free single given away with Bucketfull of Brains. No dates of the recording are listed. Apologies as it cuts just before the end of the song (audio):
“I started playing it live because I heard the Band doing it. Most likely it was a demo, probably showing the musicians how it should go. It was never developed fully, I never got around to completing it. There wouldn’t have been any other reason for leaving it off the record. It’s like taking a painting by Monet or Picasso – goin’ to his house and lookin’ at a half-finished painting and grabbing it and selling it to people who are ‘Picasso fans.'”
– Bob Dylan
Levon Helm Band “Blind Willie” Live at Pompano Beach Amphitheater, Pompano Beach, FL 11-4-2010:
I want to include a very fine interpretation in Swedish by Mikael Wiehe (Spotify):
Finally a jazz/blues instrumental, wonderfully done by Jef Lee Johnson (Audio):
– Hallgeir