The lead up to the release of Dylan's 'Tell Tale Signs" (Bootleg series #8) on Oct 8th, or 7th or 6th depending which part of the world you are in, sees Sony/Columbia offering another teaser. The Guardian today has a free download of a bare, stripped back acoustic version of 'Mississippi' which first appeared as a solid rocking track on Love & Theft. I've loved this song in it's original form. Listening to the new version takes some getting used to, but it's still a great song. Grab it today as it may not be there tomorrow.
Well my ship's been split to splinters and it's sinking fast
I'm drownin' in the poison, got no future, got no past
But my heart is not weary, it's light and it's free
I've got nothin' but affection for all those who've sailed with me
Everybody movin' if they ain't already there
Everybody got to move somewhere
Stick with me baby, stick with me anyhow
Things should start to get interesting right about now
Meanwhile on Expecting Rain, the deluge of complaints about the pricing of the new release rampages on, with as many counter complaints poking at the whinging middle-class who can afford to whine about the price of a deluxe CD collection from their state of the art laptops when others cannot afford to pay their rent or feed their kids. I am torn between wanting the 3 CD version but not wanting to let the Co. think it is OK to charge US $140 for it.
Anyway - its all about the music - not the rip-off fleecing of fans for an extra $100 by adding a fancy package with booklet, poster, keyring etc, so I may just wait & see if a straight 3 CD comes out at a regular price.
For those who missed it, a new track 'Dreamin of You" is free to download here. Great lyrics, atmospheric, and it has an addictively rythmic bass line.
5 comments:
So Mandy.... I've noticed you quite like Bob Dylan ;-)
I'm a Bob novice... Where would you advise someone like me to start?
Tricky one. So many eras to choose from and a total of 34 studio albums that vary in quality and style. To be safe I'd probably recommend you start with one of the classics but not the real early 'finger-pointing' stuff or the religous/gospel period. 'Blood on The Tracks' or 'Desire' would be a good start. Or 'John Wesley Harding', 'Oh Mercy' or 'Time Out of Mind'. I started with 'Blood on the Tracks' and it blew my mind but I was only 14 at the time. Then again you could ask someone you know whose a bit of a Dylan nut to send you a selection for your iPod so you can work out what you like for future delving.
Mmmm, maybe substitute "Blonde On Blonde" and forget 'Oh Mercy" for now. You can get to that later if you want whereas B.O.B is essential listening, and despite it being mid-sixties it doesn't sound dated apart from the over hyped "Rainy Day Woman"... "everyone must get stoned"...
P.S. you have to listen to Bob lying down - with or without a cat on your chest - and savour the words, the way he emphasises them
Thanks Mandy. I think that I might try Blood on the Tracks. Going to take the Bob plunge. Bit scared of The Voice though... I'll let you know ;-)
BOTT is an interesting one.
As I said, I loved it at age 14 and its still one of my all-time favorites.
Not all Dylan albums are alike; in fact there are no 2 similar!
This one was written around the time he split from his wife Sara, and many tracks are full of that sadness, some like 'Idiot Wind' are quite vitriolic. ‘Shelter from the Storm’ would be my favourite.
Yeah. The voice. It gets some people. I guess I've grown to love it like a comfy pair of old shoes. David Bowie wrote:
“Oh, hear this Robert Zimmerman
I wrote a song for you
About a strange young man called Dylan
With a voice like sand and glue
Some words of truthful vengeance
They could pin us to the floor
Brought a few more people on
And put the fear in a whole lot more”
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