5 great cover versions of Ring Them Bells

October 25, 2014 Hallgeir 9 Comments

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photo: Taken from a bootleg of Oh Mercy outtakes

The lyrics of the Dylan’s song Ring Them Bells are dark, to me, they are much darker than the melody reveals. The Melody sounds sombre but uplifting in its own dignified way. I can understand why so many artists have made their own interpretations of the song. I have picked a few that I like especially good.

Let us start with Sarah Jarosz’s acoustic performance of Ring Them Bells for Vanguard and Sugar Hill Record’s The Americana Sessions recorded and taped at Minutia Studios in Nashville, TN. It is taken from Jarosz’s 2011 album, Follow Me Downavailable on Sugar Hill Records.

Sarah Jarosz – Ring Them Bells:

My second choice is quite different but equally good.

Sufjan Stevens – Ring Them Bells (audio):

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Bob Dylan, Film

Top 3 use of Bob Dylan songs in movies

October 25, 2014 Hallgeir 7 Comments

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Bob Dylan is a pop culture icon.His songs (as either writer/composer or performer) are used in close to 400 movies and TV shows. Bob Dylan has been very liberal with his licensing (not like the Beatles or Tom Waits). The rules are, no cover songs, no performances, but scenes where the music of Bob Dylan is used in a way that enhances the action and/or mood. These are my three favorites.

Tell us about what you favorite Dylan cues in movies are (in the comments).

The best western ever made (some days I think it is the best film, period.) This is classic!

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1) Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid – Knockin on Heaven’s Door (starts about 1.50 in,but it is so good you should see it all):

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Blues, Film, Muddy Waters

Chicago Blues 1972 documentary

October 24, 2014 Hallgeir

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This is a very fine “time capsule” directed by Harley Cokeliss, an American director, producer, writer and actor born February 11, 1945 in San Diego. The cinematography is by master cameraman Tak Fujimoto.

CHICAGO BLUES explores the hard lives of bluesmen in Chicago narrated by an insightful and incendiary commentary from comedian turned political activist Dick Gregory. CHICAGO BLUES is a an interesting document of a generation of great musicians trying to make a living in a racially divided America.

‘‘CHICAGO BLUES” is an angry film. To document Chicago blues at its source, the British director Harley Cokliss went to South Side clubs, storefront churches and homes. He wound up with both a performance film and an anti-travelogue on ghetto life. It is a stark, forceful combination.
– Jon Pareles (NYT, 1983)

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