Category Archives: List

Bob Dylan: 10 best songs recorded in 1974

February 1, 2014 Egil 7 Comments

1974 is an important year in the life of Bob Dylan.

I’ve put together a list of the ten best songs recorded (studio or live) this year. One rule applies: it has to be officially released in some form. I’ve nominated 25 songs & I challenge everyone reading this to set up their own “Bob Dylan – Top 10 songs recorded in 1974”. Feel free to ignore my nominated songs list and please use the comments section to share lists & thoughts.

…and by the way lists are fun.

Relevant albums

Before The Flood Released June 20, 1974 Recorded February 13–14, 1974, in Los Angeles, except track 4: January 30, 1974, in New York
Blood On The TracksReleased January 20, 1975 Recorded September 16–19, 1974, at A&R Recording in New York, New York and December 27–30, 1974, at Sound 80 in Minneapolis, Minnesota
BiographReleased November 7, 1985 Recorded November 1961-August 1981
The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961–1991Released March 26, 1991 Recorded November 1961 – March 1989
Blood on the Tracks – New York Sessions source: Original test pressingRecorded 16 September – 8 October, 1974 Bootleg

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List

25 Best New Songs released in 2013 (Videos)

January 7, 2014 Egil

This is my list… just need to get it out..

I need to confess that I listen to way more “old” music during a year. Lot’s of old bootlegs & old classics. Hallgeir (my partner in crime here @ JV) is the one always checking out new music, and giving me input.

Anyways, I manage to get my share and there were many great albums released this year as well. For me Jason Isbell’s “Southeastern” was number uno.. by quite a distance, but a late runner: John Moreland’s “In The Throes” came knockin’ when the polls were closing.

I only allow a maximum of 2 songs each artist.

Top 25

Jason Isbell – Elephant
–
I buried her a thousand times,
giving up my place in line,
but I don’t give a damn about that nowThere’s one thing that’s real clear to me,
no one dies with dignity.
We just try to ignore the elephant somehow.

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Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Great albums, List, Stax, The Band, Van Morrison

The 5 Best box sets and reissues of 2013

January 5, 2014 Hallgeir 23 Comments

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I am one of those old guys that still buy physical copies of art (albums). I say it is because I need it to play in the car, but that’s really just an excuse. I love the sensation of unpacking a new album, the feel, the artwork, the printed lyrics, the smell, hell, the whole package!

When the record companies have sold me all the classic albums, they release them again, with better sound, with more songs and bonus features, I don’t feel cheated, I feel blessed. I love archival music stuff, and long to hear studio outtakes, live takes and alternative versions of songs.

It has been a good year for music archivists, and my favorite reissues/archival releases this year are:

1. Bob Dylan – Another Self Portrait (1969-1971) The Bootleg Series Vol.10

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This is from my post right after I bought the box set:

I have now had a few days listening to the new Bootleg series 10 deluxe box set. It is very interesting, and it is actually rather good. I am one of those few that kind of liked the original album, so I expected to like Another Self Portrait. I was not expecting that I would like it as much as I do.

That said, there are two things that stand out however. The first is the demo version of When I Paint My Masterpiece, it knocked me out. It is breathtakingly beautiful.

But the best of the release is the full Isle of Wight performance with The Band, and I really did not expect that!

– Hallgeir Olsen (Johannasvisions.com)

When I paint my masterpiece – Demo:

A fantastic historical document!

2. The Band – Live at the Academy of Music 1971

bandacademyofmusic

A 4-CD/1-DVD box set chronicles Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Rick Danko and Richard Manuel’s 1971 concerts at New York’s Academy of Music, featuring arrangements by New Orleans great Allen Toussaint.

One of the best live albums in rock history got the deluxe treatment, and yes, it got even better. Rock of Ages had 18 wonderful tracks, this upgrade has 56(!) tracks with The Band (and Bob Dylan) at their very peak. 56 best takes of songs from four evenings in 1971 (including the New-Years eve show in its entirety). I have played Rock of Ages so much I thought that nothing could surprise me, but this set did. The sound, the packaging, the liner notes and the pictures, everything is top-notch.

Life is a Carnival (Live, 1971):

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Bob Dylan, List, Sound

The 5 most popular Bob Dylan posts at JV in 2013

January 3, 2014 Hallgeir 3 Comments

bob dylan 1979

When I say the most popular Bob Dylan posts, it means the 5 most popular posts overall. If we exclude the front page/home page the first non-Dylan post is at number 23, Bruce Springsteen plays Bob Dylan. The first post not related to Bob Dylan at all is at 28, Iconic Rock Photos: Keith Richards “Who the fuck is Mick Jagger” (and that post is almost two years old!).

Anyway, here are our top posts in 2013:

1. Bob Dylan videos – 9 May – 22 029 visitors

2. Bob Dylan concerts @ JV – 27 Feb – 13 878 visitors

3. Bob Dylan: Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen) – 8 Sep – 8993 visitors
bob dylan leonard cohen

4. Bob Dylan recording sessions – 7 Mar – 8205 visitors
Bob-Dylan-studio

5. Bob Dylan: Massey Hall, Toronto, Canada 20 April 1980 (Videos) – 19 Dec – 7551 visitors
Bob_Dylan_Gospel_Tour_1980

Great albums, List

Best albums of 2013 number 5 to 1

December 30, 2013 Hallgeir 1 Comment

best albums 5-1

Also check out:
Best albums of 2013 number 25 to 16
Best albums of 2013 number 15 to 6

5. Holly Williams – The Highway

Holly Williams is not new in this game, she has released two (good) albums before, but there haven’t been enough people paying attention. The guest list on new album is impressive and includes Jackson Browne and Jakob Dylan. The record is co-produced by Charlie Peacock (The Civil Wars) and Williams, and it sounds amazing.

“I think every artist has their coming of age record. This one definitely feels like mine in that there was such a shift with me through the process of this record. It was completed in exactly nine months to the day, feeling somewhat like a birth. These songs really brought a focus into my life personally. Since the last record, I turned 30, my grandparents are gone, I’m married now, I’m keeping doggies and gardens alive, I have a clothing store, I have a husband on tour with a huge rock band, so there’s a lot to keep up with. But the highway came calling and I suddenly had this serious longing for the road, the fans, the storytelling, and the life in that living. I’m ready to get back to those wheels and play these songs for everyone.”
– Holly Williams

Highlights
Hallgeir: Railroads, The Highway, Drinkin’
Egil: Railroads, Happy, Without You, The Highway

The Highway (official video):