Bob Dylan, Bob Dylan video, Film, Sound

Down The Tracks: Bob Dylan and the Music That Influenced Him (documentary)

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Down The Tracks: Bob Dylan and the Music That Influenced Him (documentary)

Just as Bob Dylan has inspired four decades of musicians, so too was his own musical style influenced by those who came before him. This documentary profiles the folk performers who had the greatest impact on Dylan’s early career. Leadbelly, Pete Seeger, Mississippi John Hurt and other musicians appear in vintage clips, while special focus is given to Woody Guthrie, whose bond with Dylan is reflected in nearly all of Dylan’s music.

down the tracks

While there isn’t a note of Bob Dylan singing in this documentary from 2008, it is still a very worthwhile watch. It gives us a depiction of what influenced Bob Dylan as he grew into the greatest songwriter of all time. There are great and rare clips of Pete Seeger, Leadbelly and many more.

A very interesting addition to all the films about Dylan and the music that influenced (and still influences) him.

 

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Bob Dylan, Bob Dylan - The songs he didn't write, Bob Dylan albums, Bob Dylan books, Bob Dylan Concerts, Bob Dylan other, Bob Dylan recording sessions, Bob Dylan tours, Bob Dylan video, Bob Dylans's best songs

May 24: Happy Birthday Bob Dylan

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bob dylan

Happy Birthday to the GREATEST Artist of Our Time.

Here @ alldylan.com we got about 1500 Bob Dylan posts alive. In this tribute I’ll try to give an overview & hopefully lead you [the reader] to material you might find interesting.

My favorite quote of all time is off course:

 That he not busy being born is busy dying
~From – It’s Alright, Ma (I’m only bleeding)

Dylan has always been busy being born. At the age of 74 he’s still [never ending] touring the world, performing at peak level, bringing awe & joy to those lucky enough to understand & participate. If you’re a true “performing artist”, you can’t retire. You gotta be yourself to the end. And we all know that Zimmy will not back down.

Enough with the chit chat, let’s get down to it.

Here is how we have organized our Bob Dylan material & some essential links:

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Great albums, The Who

May 23: “Tommy” by The Who was released in 1969

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the who Tommy

Ever since I was a young boy I’ve played the silver ball.
From Soho down to Brighton, I must have played them all.
But I ain’t seen nothing like him in any amusement hall.
That deaf, dumb and blind kid, Sure plays a mean pinball!

It is 46 years ago that the rock opera, Tommy was released, one of the first attempts at treating rock as an art form. The artists were The Who.

It’s a double album telling a loose story about a “deaf, dumb and blind kid”, Tommy was the first musical work to be billed overtly as a rock opera. Released in 1969, the album was mostly composed by Pete Townshend. In 1998, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for historical, artistic and significant value.

the_who_1

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Bob Dylan, Bob Dylan Concerts, Bob Dylan video

Bob Dylan: 5 Great live versions of Senor

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bob dylan 1978
Photo: Chris Bradford

Señor, señor, do you know where we’re headin’?
Lincoln County Road or Armageddon?
Seems like I been down this way before
Is there any truth in that, señor?

Señor, señor, do you know where she is hidin’?
How long are we gonna be ridin’?
How long must I keep my eyes glued to the door?
Will there be any comfort there, señor?

A Great song from Street-Legal (1978).

Dylan has performed it ~250 times live, top year was 1978 with 77 performances.

–

Universal Amphitheater
Los Angeles, California
7 June 1978

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Bob Dylan, Cover versions, Gospel, List, Sound

10 Good cover versions of Bob Dylan’s Christian songs (edit)

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Bob Dylan

10 Good cover versions of Bob Dylan’s Christian songs

I love the “Christian period” in Dylan’s career, always have. In the beginning I felt quite alone in my belief in Dylan, but now he is finally getting recognised for his faith-based songs. The Bob Dylan records from that period are so much better than the critics at the time wrote, they were simply too shocked by his conversion to see the beauty in the songs. I have to say that not all critics were harsh, some recognised quality.

And so what if he’s taken up with the God of Wrath? Since when have you been so crazy about the God of Love? Or any other species of hippie bullshit?
– Robert Christgau

First his live shows from these years got well deserved praise and now finally the albums. They might not be among his best by Dylan’s standard, but by anyone else’s they’re actually quite decent!

Bob Dylan Gospel 2

Here are evidence that the songs are solid Bob Dylan compositions. I have tried not to only include gospel choirs, there are a lot of performances I could have chosen, but instead I’ve tried to show how the songs work in different styles.

Enjoy!

I Believe In You – Sinead O’Connor

Such a presence, and the voice, man!

What can I do for you – Helen Baylor:

Good gospel/soul!
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