On June 5, 1965, Joan Baez played a special concert at the BBC Television Theatre in Shepherd’s Bush, London. This is Joan Baez in her prime. The show was recorded less than a month after Dylan’s 1965 tour of England, depicted in Pennebaker’s film Don’t Look Back, in which Dylan failed to invite Baez onstage despite the fact that she had introduced him to national audiences in America.
Continue reading Video of the day: Joan Baez live at the BBC 1965
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):
Continue reading 5 great cover versions of Ring Them Bells
How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
Yes, ’n’ how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, ’n’ how many times must the cannonballs fly
Before they’re forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind
The answer is blowin’ in the wind
update: I’ve now included a couple of more videos from this concert.
St. Pauli Stadion
Hamburg, West Germany
31 May 1984
How many years can a mountain exist
Before it’s washed to the sea?
Yes, ’n’ how many years can some people exist
Before they’re allowed to be free?
Yes, ’n’ how many times can a man turn his head
Pretending he just doesn’t see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind
The answer is blowin’ in the windHow many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, ’n’ how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, ’n’ how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind
The answer is blowin’ in the wind
–
Jokerman:
Band intro + The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll:
Check out:
-Egil
Sometimes two voices or two musicians come together in an inspired pairing that is truly special and Bob Dylan has had several such inspired moments through the years. We have dug up some really special treats for you today.
Bob Dylan and Joan Baez – Never Let me go (Renaldo & Clara):
Written by Joseph C. Scott (but made famous by Johnny Ace) performed by Bob Dylan and Joan Baez during the first Rolling Thunder Revue (1975).
Continue reading 5 incredible women on stage and record with Bob Dylan
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Nobody sings Bob Dylan as Bob Dylan off course. There are however nice interpretations of many of his songs.
Here are 8 fine covers of “Simple Twist Of Fate”:
Jerry Garcia Band, August 7, 1977, Keystone – Berkeley, CA
Continue reading 8 fine cover versions of Bob Dylan’s “Simple Twist Of Fate”