Bob Dylan

Gavin B. · 08-29-2013, 01:40 AM

Dylan made this rare introspective album in the wake of his divorce from his first wife Sara (Noznisky) Dylan, who almost as much as a mysterious enigma, as Dylan himself.

The narrative of Tangled Up In Blue does roughly follow Dylan's early wanderings before eventually ending up in New York in 1961. From around age 17 to 20 Dylan was indeed traveling around the Midwest and South and working menial jobs prior to surfacing in Green Village and nearly instant stardom. Dylan did indeed live in an apartment on Montague St. in the East Village when revolution was in the air, as he sings in the song.

The Tangled Up In Blue narrative seems follow Dylan's hitch-hiking expeditions that led him to finally settling in New York and meeting Sara Nozinsky who was,as the song goes, was a topless dancer but she was also a Playboy model and aspiring actress. As the song goes, Sara was married at the time to Hans Lownds who was a character on the fringes of the cafe scene in Greenwich Village.

It wouldn't surprise me if Dylan had worked as a cook in Minnesota's Great North Woods when he just out of high school or during his short lived year or so at University of Minnesota. We know during this period he auditioned to play in Bobby Vee's band under a false name, he met blues musician Jesse Fuller while travelling in Denver and tried unsuccessfully to meet Fats Domino in New Orleans. Did he work on a fishing boat in Delacroix? Who knows... Dylan doesn't talk about the past.

Bob and Sara Dylan's son Jakob comments on Blood on the Tracks: "The songs are my parents talking" Apparently Dylan wrote another album's worth of music about his separation with Sara but he refused to record the songs. Dylan's friends who heard the unrecorded songs said they were even better than the ones on Blood on the Tracks.

Moshe · 12-21-2013, 04:21 AM

Bob Dylan is an uneven artiste, I think, both on record & even more so on record.
But he was one of the greatest songwriter's of the 20th Century, and has had a profound influence on folk, rock & country music.
There are my favourite Dylan albums:
His debut, self titled album from 1962 contained only two Dylan originals, but is one of the great folk albums & the two Dylan songs on it, "Song To Woody" & "Talking New York Blues" are both good ones.
John Wesley Harding from 1967 is one of Dylan's all time best. Some great, sometimes obscure, song writing, delivered superbly. All acoustic, & with country closing track "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight".
"Nashville Skyline" from 1969 will always be a favourite, with a nice country vide & my personal fave "Tonight I'll be staying here with you"
"Self Portrait" from 1970 is often disregarded. But on this double album of covers, Dylans' voice had seldom sounded better.
"Desire" from 1976 is, I think Dylans' best from that decade. Wonderful musicianship, great production (often a weak point on Dylan albums) and some solid songs.
Not that much after that I'm interested in from Dylan. I saw him in concert at the Docklands arena some years back & I thought he was awful.
I would love to see Dylan, just acoustic guitar plus a few backing musicians, in a club situation.
Dylan never convinced me as a Rocker. It is his songwriting that sets him apart from the rest.
I have one Dylan bootleg. It is the sessions Dylan did with Johnny Cash. It is of historic interest- the two friends who so admired each other- singing a variety of well known songs in an informal atmosphere. But it is weak. I am not surprised that neither wanted to see it released.

Lisnaholic · 12-21-2013, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moshe

John Wesley Harding from 1967 is one of Dylan's all time best. Some great, sometimes obscure, song writing, delivered superbly. All acoustic, & with country closing track "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight".
"Nashville Skyline" from 1969 will always be a favourite, with a nice country vide & my personal fave "Tonight I'll be staying here with you"
"Self Portrait" from 1970 is often disregarded. But on this double album of covers, Dylans' voice had seldom sounded better.
"Desire" from 1976 is, I think Dylans' best from that decade. Wonderful musicianship, great production (often a weak point on Dylan albums) and some solid songs.

I agree about John Wesley Harding, and liked some of the softer numbers like Copper Kettle on Self Portrait, but overall that album is way too patchy for me. Have you listened to Another Self Portrait ? To me, it´s a much more consistent collection of songs.
Yes, Desire is wonderful, but the chronologically next, Street Legal is even more powerful imo.

Quote:

I would love to see Dylan, just acoustic guitar plus a few backing musicians, in a club situation.

^ Dream on, Moshe ! I don´t think he does that any more, but your comment reminded me of this. It´s from when I invited the guys around to my house in Athens one time:-

Moshe · 12-21-2013, 09:21 AM

Great clip!!
I wasn't that keen on "Street Legal", but loved (& still love) Desire.
I have not heard "Another self portrait". Was that a bootleg?

08-29-2013, 01:40 AM	#1 (permalink)
Gavin B. Model Worker Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,248	Dylan made this rare introspective album in the wake of his divorce from his first wife Sara (Noznisky) Dylan, who almost as much as a mysterious enigma, as Dylan himself. The narrative of Tangled Up In Blue does roughly follow Dylan's early wanderings before eventually ending up in New York in 1961. From around age 17 to 20 Dylan was indeed traveling around the Midwest and South and working menial jobs prior to surfacing in Green Village and nearly instant stardom. Dylan did indeed live in an apartment on Montague St. in the East Village when revolution was in the air, as he sings in the song. The Tangled Up In Blue narrative seems follow Dylan's hitch-hiking expeditions that led him to finally settling in New York and meeting Sara Nozinsky who was,as the song goes, was a topless dancer but she was also a Playboy model and aspiring actress. As the song goes, Sara was married at the time to Hans Lownds who was a character on the fringes of the cafe scene in Greenwich Village. It wouldn't surprise me if Dylan had worked as a cook in Minnesota's Great North Woods when he just out of high school or during his short lived year or so at University of Minnesota. We know during this period he auditioned to play in Bobby Vee's band under a false name, he met blues musician Jesse Fuller while travelling in Denver and tried unsuccessfully to meet Fats Domino in New Orleans. Did he work on a fishing boat in Delacroix? Who knows... Dylan doesn't talk about the past. Bob and Sara Dylan's son Jakob comments on Blood on the Tracks: "The songs are my parents talking" Apparently Dylan wrote another album's worth of music about his separation with Sara but he refused to record the songs. Dylan's friends who heard the unrecorded songs said they were even better than the ones on Blood on the Tracks. __________________ There are two types of music: the first type is the blues and the second type is all the other stuff. Townes Van Zandt

12-21-2013, 04:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
Moshe Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: London Posts: 165	Bob Dylan is an uneven artiste, I think, both on record & even more so on record. But he was one of the greatest songwriter's of the 20th Century, and has had a profound influence on folk, rock & country music. There are my favourite Dylan albums: His debut, self titled album from 1962 contained only two Dylan originals, but is one of the great folk albums & the two Dylan songs on it, "Song To Woody" & "Talking New York Blues" are both good ones. John Wesley Harding from 1967 is one of Dylan's all time best. Some great, sometimes obscure, song writing, delivered superbly. All acoustic, & with country closing track "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight". "Nashville Skyline" from 1969 will always be a favourite, with a nice country vide & my personal fave "Tonight I'll be staying here with you" "Self Portrait" from 1970 is often disregarded. But on this double album of covers, Dylans' voice had seldom sounded better. "Desire" from 1976 is, I think Dylans' best from that decade. Wonderful musicianship, great production (often a weak point on Dylan albums) and some solid songs. Not that much after that I'm interested in from Dylan. I saw him in concert at the Docklands arena some years back & I thought he was awful. I would love to see Dylan, just acoustic guitar plus a few backing musicians, in a club situation. Dylan never convinced me as a Rocker. It is his songwriting that sets him apart from the rest. I have one Dylan bootleg. It is the sessions Dylan did with Johnny Cash. It is of historic interest- the two friends who so admired each other- singing a variety of well known songs in an informal atmosphere. But it is weak. I am not surprised that neither wanted to see it released. __________________ http://moshe55.hubpages.com/ http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=...2962343424893- listen to & enjoy music!

12-21-2013, 09:21 AM	#4 (permalink)
Moshe Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: London Posts: 165	Great clip!! I wasn't that keen on "Street Legal", but loved (& still love) Desire. I have not heard "Another self portrait". Was that a bootleg? __________________ http://moshe55.hubpages.com/ http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=...2962343424893- listen to & enjoy music!