Category Archives: Bob Dylan

February 17: Bob Dylan’s 4th recording session for Nashville Skyline (w/Johnny Cash) in 1969

bob dylan nashville skyline

I like Johnny Cash a lot. I like everything he does really.
~Bob Dylan (to Nat Hentoff – Autumn 1965)

In the end, Nashville Skyline is a lovely album but not a heavyweight contender, though its effects were major ones. Country music was despised, hick music when Dylan took it up. People were divided into the hip and the non-hip. The counterculture was in full swing and riddled with its own self-importance and snobbery. Nashville Skyline was a hard pill to swallow: but it did ’em good.
~Michael Gray (Bob Dylan Encyclopedia)

The 4th recording session for ‘Nashville Skyline’ took place on February 17, 1969. Two master versions emerged.. the lovely “Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You” & “Nashville Skyline Rag”. Johnny Cash joined the session halfway through & they tried out “One Too Many Mornings”, “I Still Miss Someone” (Cash) & “Don’t Think Twice”. A video from one of the takes on “One Too Many Mornings” is available (& included in this post).. fantastic stuff!

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Bob Dylan – On This Day – February 16





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Levon Helm, Bob Dylan & Rick Danko @ Lone Star Cafe, NYC – Feb 16, 1983

Historic event

Feb 16, 1964

Dylan takes his friends up to Central City [Denver], where he had spent a few weeks back in 1960. They then start the long trek toward San Francisco, where he is scheduled to perform on the 22nd. The night is spent in Grand Junction, CO.

Feb 16, 1983

Dylan attends Bonnie Koloc’s set at the Other End in New York then heads across town to the Lone Star Cafe where he joins Levon Helm and Rick Danko on stage during their scheduled set, providing backup vocals and guitar on “Your Cheatin” Heart,” “Willie and the Hand Jive,” “Blues Stay Away from Me,” “Ain’t No More Cane,” and “Going Down.” The whole performance is ragged, reflecting the impromptu nature of Dylan’s appearance.
~Clinton Heylin (Bob Dylan: A Life in Stolen Moments Day by Day 1941-1995)

Bob Dylan, Levon Helm & Rick Danko performing “Ain’t No More Cane” @ Lone Star Cafe – 1983:

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Bob Dylan: Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right @ Wellington, New Zealand 2003





It ain’t no use to sit and wonder why, babe
It don’t matter, anyhow
An’ it ain’t no use to sit and wonder why, babe
If you don’t know by now
When your rooster crows at the break of dawn
Look out your window and I’ll be gone
You’re the reason I’m trav’lin’ on
Don’t think twice, it’s all right

Queens Wharf Events Centre Arena
Wellington, New Zealand
24 February 2003

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February 13: Bob Dylan history

Bob Dylan - Los Angeles, Feb 13, 2011
Bob Dylan – Los Angeles, Feb 13, 2011

 

Anyway, on Nashville Skyline you had to read between the lines. I was trying to grasp something that would lead me on to where I thought I should be, and it didn’t go nowhere – it just went down, down, down.
~Bob Dylan (to Jonathan Cott, Sept 1978)

Historic event

Feb 13, 1961

Dylan turns up at Gerdes Folk City with his birth certificate and gets to play. It is very likely that he now starts to play every Monday night at the Gerdes hootenannies, until Porco finally books him for a paying gig.
~Clinton Heylin (Bob Dylan: A Life in Stolen Moments Day by Day 1941-1995)

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February 13: Bob Dylan – 2nd Nashville Skyline recording session 1969

bob dylan nashville skyline

Well, Jann, I’ll tell you something. There’s not too much of a change in my singing style, but I’ll tell you something which is true… I stopped smoking. When I stopped smoking my voice changed… So drastically, I couldn’t believe it myself. That’s true. I tell you, you stop smoking those cigarettes (laughter)… and you’ll be able to sing like Caruso.
~Bob Dylan (to Jann Wenner Nov 1969)

Anyway, on Nashville Skyline you had to read between the lines. I was trying to grasp something that would lead me on to where I thought I should be, and it didn’t go nowhere – it just went down, down, down.
~Bob Dylan (to Jonathan Cott, Sept 1978)

The first recording session for “Nashville Skyline” was held on February 12, 1969 – but no recordings sheets are available from this session. The second session took place the day after – February 13, 1969. Dylan landed 3 master versions this evening.

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