No, wait -- Knopfler didn't produce STC.
― Roman Polanski now sleeps in prison. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 6 October 2009 22:05 (fourteen years ago) link
Wexler ennit. altho Dylan specifically was going for Knopfler's sound and wanted him originally iirc
― the taint of Macca is strong (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 6 October 2009 22:07 (fourteen years ago) link
Doesn't Knopfler play on Slow Train, though? Or am I making that up.
― tylerw, Tuesday, 6 October 2009 22:10 (fourteen years ago) link
He sure does, which explains my confusion (he did produce Infidels).
― Roman Polanski now sleeps in prison. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 6 October 2009 22:12 (fourteen years ago) link
I said that Wexler better figures out Dylan's vision on Saved than on Slow Train Coming, but a better way to put what I was trying to express is: Wexler helped Dylan realize a better sound for the vision Dylan had, such as they understood it, on Saved than on Slow Train Coming. Dylan may not have agreed, since he dumped Wexler for Plotkin on Shot of Love and then, yeah, Knopfler for Infidels.
― Euler, Wednesday, 7 October 2009 04:16 (fourteen years ago) link
This topic has provided the only praise that I have ever seen for the 'Christian' period of Bob Dylan.
― Josh L, Wednesday, 7 October 2009 13:03 (fourteen years ago) link
I think you'll find that serious (haha) Dylan fans have plenty of good stuff to say about this period. Obviously the evangelism of the lyrics is always going to be a turn-off for some, but it really is a fascinating time for Dylan.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 7 October 2009 13:43 (fourteen years ago) link
The cover art is great too:
http://www.earthwaverecords.com/pictures/albumimg/d/a0115351.jpg
― Euler, Wednesday, 7 October 2009 18:55 (fourteen years ago) link
haha, that cover is nutso. you'd think it was some super-obscure private-press xtian rock record from 1977. But no, it's a BOB DYLAN record.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 7 October 2009 21:02 (fourteen years ago) link
There's conviction there, but whatever he experienced, his lyrical voice was having trouble expressing.
That sounds about right. The songs seem to be either literal renderings of scripture or these terrifically confused metaphors.
Count me as a fan of Budokan (since someone referenced it upthread)--to a point. It seems like a bit of a conceptual coup, actually: rendering his '60s songs, including some protest numbers, as fully-arranged, showstopping Vegas numbers. Actually it sort of anticipates his Perry Como-esque Xmas album in its nonchalant mindfuckery.
Also, I thought the brief segment w/Christian Bale in I'm Not There captured this era of Dylan pretty well/amusingly. Although I am not a big fan of that film as a whole.
― amateurist, Wednesday, 7 October 2009 23:01 (fourteen years ago) link
Yeah, I actually thought that the I'm Not There/Christian (!) Bale segment was the most successful in that movie. Just the utter sincerity of Bale's performance caught something vital about this period in Dylan's career. Of course, the sincerity is just another mask, but it's maybe one of the more convincing masks.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 7 October 2009 23:04 (fourteen years ago) link
you guys are nuts that movie is awesome
"look its Allen Ginsberg!"
― the taint of Macca is strong (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 7 October 2009 23:10 (fourteen years ago) link
oh i liked it! it's like catnip for Dylan nerds.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 7 October 2009 23:11 (fourteen years ago) link
did you guys catch moondog in the greenwich village sequence??
― amateurist, Wednesday, 7 October 2009 23:12 (fourteen years ago) link
i've been trying to get my gf (not a Dylan nerd) to watch it so I can get a neutral assessment
― feed them to the (Linden Ave) lions (will), Wednesday, 7 October 2009 23:13 (fourteen years ago) link
yeah i honestly don't think anyone not steeped (DEEPLY steeped) in Dylan lore would get a whole lot out of the movie. Maybe I'm wrong ...
― tylerw, Wednesday, 7 October 2009 23:14 (fourteen years ago) link
Film nerds, maybe ...
― tylerw, Wednesday, 7 October 2009 23:15 (fourteen years ago) link
btw i'm not kidding about moondog, haynes sticks a guy in a moondog costume in one of the quick panning shots of the early '60s village. i kind of want to hug haynes for that.
― amateurist, Wednesday, 7 October 2009 23:17 (fourteen years ago) link
I saw the film with two folks I wouldn't really characterize as Dylan nerds (ie, my wife and an old gay buddy of ours) and they both really dug it. They don't hate his music or anything but they're hardly obsessives (y'know my wife has some sorta weird childhood associations with Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, buddy likes early 70s Dylan, etc.)
I think I was the only one of the three of us who was excited about all the detail/ephemera tho.
― the taint of Macca is strong (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 7 October 2009 23:23 (fourteen years ago) link
and yeah I spotted Moondog
yeah it's possible that I actually didn't appreciate the movie as a "movie" just because of the Dylan trivia overload that is practically every frame.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 7 October 2009 23:25 (fourteen years ago) link
I didn't enjoy it as much the second time - it kinda lacks some narrative motion, there's no real arc to it. But it is fun and I love that Haynes does this kind of thing (I am also a big fan of Velvet Goldmine)
― the taint of Macca is strong (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 7 October 2009 23:27 (fourteen years ago) link
it was real splashy and my immediate reaction was overstimulation and enthusiasm, but within minutes i was like, "what was that all about?" and my impression began to sour. i should see it again.
― amateurist, Wednesday, 7 October 2009 23:28 (fourteen years ago) link
I've still not seen the film (or heard the soundtrack, though I'm less excited about the latter---I fell for too many tributes in the 90s)...mostly because I don't watch any films these days. I'll try to check it out in the next few years, though; I've heard lots good about it.
― Euler, Thursday, 8 October 2009 07:27 (fourteen years ago) link
Soundtrack has some duds, but is overall pretty good. Willie Nelson w/ Calexico doing "Senor" is probably my fave.
― tylerw, Thursday, 8 October 2009 14:46 (fourteen years ago) link
oh "Angelina" is really great, isn't it? The organ playing is terrific, and overall the playing is very sympathetic to what Dylan is trying to get across: a lament, presumably for a woman; but it's much more sympathetic to the woman than his 60s songs about women (and more sympathetic than the Blood on the Tracks too I think). Her relationship with God is confusing Dylan: she's surrounded by God's angels, but she doesn't seek God, exactly. But Bob isn't sure about his relationship to her: she can read his mind, but she's wearing a blindfold too. There is too much occlusion, but he'll do anything for her in God's truth.
― Euler, Wednesday, 5 May 2010 08:43 (fourteen years ago) link
oh man it's so good. Do I need your permission to turn the other cheek?If you can read my mind, why must I speak?
― tylerw, Wednesday, 5 May 2010 14:49 (fourteen years ago) link
A Better Contract: November 16, 1979 @ Warfield, SF...wow. Dylan's singing on "I Believe In You" sounds like it comes from a very deep place, like crying somehow expressed as a moaning shout. There are none of the "greatest hits" on this show: just the new gospel songs, and the playing is hot; not so different from the 1978 live sound (that we talked about sorta recently on the Street-Legal thread), but more focused. The crowd seems into it, too!
― Euler, Tuesday, 15 June 2010 17:39 (fourteen years ago) link
What ferocious courage he has! his preaching at the end of "Precious Angel", going into "Slow Train", about how the world is going to be destroyed & Christ is going to set up his kingdom in Jerusalem for a thousand years; & after the crowd erupts he asks, "Do you believe those things?" and they just shout back, & it's hard to tell what they really think. But I'd gather that a typical Dylan show in San Francisco is not going to attract a lot of people believing those things. It's pretty in-your-face!
― Euler, Tuesday, 15 June 2010 17:59 (fourteen years ago) link
i don't think i've heard that one -- is it a good recording? euro tour from 1981 is probably the best gospel-era tour recordings I've heard.
― tylerw, Tuesday, 15 June 2010 18:42 (fourteen years ago) link
The only boot from that era I have is Rock Solid - the Massey Hall 1980 show. Absolute stunner.
― EZ Snappin, Tuesday, 15 June 2010 18:56 (fourteen years ago) link
yeah, that's a killer show -- the 81 stuff is a little less fire n brimstone (he mixes in older material), but the arrangements/band are very nice.
― tylerw, Tuesday, 15 June 2010 19:01 (fourteen years ago) link
The recording is pretty ace, as far as I can hear---they could put it on a Bootleg Series. Actually a comp of this with the Massey Hall show would make a great Bootleg Series.
― Euler, Tuesday, 15 June 2010 19:03 (fourteen years ago) link
yeah, a gospel bootleg series would be welcome. one of the rare pre neverending tour eras not represented by a live album ... guess there's no official petty/dylan live album.
― tylerw, Tuesday, 15 June 2010 19:43 (fourteen years ago) link
The 30th anniversary show is a Dylan/Petty show of sorts, no?
― Euler, Tuesday, 15 June 2010 19:48 (fourteen years ago) link
well, it's not from the period when they were touring together -- 1986-87, I think? 30th anniversary thing is 92, right?
― tylerw, Tuesday, 15 June 2010 19:52 (fourteen years ago) link
ah, ok---and anyway they only play together on a few songs.
― Euler, Tuesday, 15 June 2010 19:55 (fourteen years ago) link
i dl'd something recently that was a SF show from 1980 w/ Jerry Garcia sitting in on a few tracks. Haven't listened yet, but a cool setlist. I'll see if I can dig up the link for it.
― tylerw, Tuesday, 15 June 2010 19:59 (fourteen years ago) link
I'll highly recommend this 1979 show: high energy, great guitar work (I guess by a guy from Little Feat?).
― Euler, Tuesday, 15 June 2010 20:02 (fourteen years ago) link
yeah, it's a cool band - spooner oldham, jim keltner, tim drummond ... buncha top notch 70s session dudes.
― tylerw, Tuesday, 15 June 2010 20:23 (fourteen years ago) link
Euler did you find this online somewhere or is it a physical boot?
― underwater, please (bear, bear, bear), Tuesday, 15 June 2010 20:58 (fourteen years ago) link
If it's online, please point us in that direction.
― EZ Snappin, Tuesday, 15 June 2010 21:50 (fourteen years ago) link
I checked Dime, it's there but there are no seeders at the moment.
― anagram, Wednesday, 16 June 2010 15:36 (fourteen years ago) link
http://www.dylannl.nl/Live-1979/1040-1979-11-16-San-Francisco/View-details.html
― tylerw, Wednesday, 16 June 2010 15:38 (fourteen years ago) link
Thanks Tyler!
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 16 June 2010 15:40 (fourteen years ago) link
that site is sort of weird to navigate, but it's pretty comprehensive
― tylerw, Wednesday, 16 June 2010 15:48 (fourteen years ago) link
I'm currently reading Volume 2 of Clinton Heylin's Songs of Bob Dylan, and I'm at the Born Again part. That era makes for pretty samey reading, but I was shocked at how little I knew Slow Train Coming and especially Saved. I'm incapable of considering Shot Of Love with anything approaching objectivity as it was my first Dylan album and I loved it then and still. I put Saved on for the first time in years yesterday, and man, it is great.
There was talk of one of the gospel gigs being recorded for a potential live album release, it's bootlegged as Rock Solid and was recorded in Toronto 1980. From everything i've read about them, the Warfield shows could come up with an outstanding Bootleg Series between them.
― Officer Pupp, Wednesday, 16 June 2010 17:31 (fourteen years ago) link
yeah, I got it online; tyler's link looks good! I might try the other Warfield shows too; reading around, they're evidently legendary, and I can see why: the one I was writing about yesterday is smoking.
― Euler, Wednesday, 16 June 2010 17:48 (fourteen years ago) link
Thanks Tyler/Euler!
― underwater, please (bear, bear, bear), Wednesday, 16 June 2010 18:27 (fourteen years ago) link
Okay, this is great
― underwater, please (bear, bear, bear), Wednesday, 16 June 2010 18:59 (fourteen years ago) link
"every grain of sand" has been one of my fav dylan songs ever since i heard emmylou harris' cover, i was happy to love his version. "in the summertime" is amazing. heavy van morrison energy to these records (i guess it's all the gospel?)
― mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Thursday, 19 March 2020 14:50 (four years ago) link
supposedly there's a Clash version of "In the Summertime" with a howling Joe Strummer plonking away on the piano
― TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 19 March 2020 14:54 (four years ago) link
I mixed this down to a wieldy 4hrs w/ segues and some other odds-and-ends, it never leaves my phone
hmu anybody if you would like!
https://i.imgur.com/zqquwMw.jpg
1 Ain't No Man Righteous, No Not One Take 62 When He Returns Take 23 Slow Train Toronto April 18-19 19804 Dead Man, Dead Man Outtake5 Making a Liar Out of Me Rehearsal6 Are You Ready? Toronto April 18-19 19807 Ain't Gonna Go to Hell for Anybody Toronto April 18-19 19808 Watered-Down Love Outtake9 When You Gonna Wake Up? Oslo, July 910 You Changed My Life Take 411 Do Right To Me Baby Toronto April 18-19 198012 Cover Down, Pray Through Toronto April 18-19 198013 Stand By Faith Rehearsal14 Gotta Serve Somebody Bad Segeberg [July 15]15 In the Summertime Boston [October 21]16 Groom's Still Waiting at the Altar Take 217 Precious Angel Toronto April 18-19 198018 Solid Rock Toronto April 18-19 198019 I Believe in You Toronto April 18-19 198020 Shot of Love Outtake21 City of Gold San Francisco, CA, November 2222 Gonna Change My Way of Thinking Memphis [January 31]23 What Can I Do For You? Toronto April 18-19 198024 Man Gave Names To All The Animals London, June 2725 Slow Train London [June 29]26 Caribbean Wind Rehearsal (pedal Steel)27 Jesus Is The One Lorelei, Germany, July 1728 Rise Again Rehearsal29 Knockin' On Heaven's Door London, June 2730 Saving Grace Toronto April 18-1931 Radio Spot Portland, January 198032 Blowin' In The Wind London, June 2733 Gotta Serve Somebody London, June 2734 When He Returns Toronto April 18-1935 Thief On The Cross New Orleans, LA, November 1036 Covenant Woman Take 337 Dead Man, Dead Man London, June 27, 198138 Trouble in Mind Take 139 Pressing On Take 140 Blessed Is The Name Santa Monica [November 20]41 Groom's Still Waiting at the Altar San Francisco [November 13]42 Solid Rock San Diego [November 1981]/Philadelphia [October 1979]43 I Believe In You London, June 2744 Ballad of a Thin Man London, June 2745 Shot of Love Avignon [July 25]46 Help Me Understand Soundcheck47 Caribbean Wind San Francisco [November 12]48 Ye Shall Be Changed Outtake49 Every Grain of Sand Rehearsal50 Slow Train San Francisco [November 16]51 Gotta Serve Somebody Take 152 Band Introduction London, June 27, 198153 Like a Rolling Stone London, June 27, 198154 Pressing On Toronto April 18-19
― Webcam Du Bois (Hadrian VIII), Thursday, 19 March 2020 15:10 (four years ago) link
Pressing On is my jam
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 19 March 2020 15:17 (four years ago) link
also one of the few songs from this period where I actually think the album version is the best one
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 19 March 2020 15:18 (four years ago) link
Trouble No More is the perfect soundtrack to these times. "When you gonna wake up?"
― Why, I would make a fantastic Nero! (PBKR), Thursday, 19 March 2020 23:32 (four years ago) link
coming at you chinaski
― Webcam Du Bois (Hadrian VIII), Thursday, 19 March 2020 23:42 (four years ago) link
D/l now - should keep me plenty busy. An immense thank you.
― Vanishing Point (Chinaski), Friday, 20 March 2020 17:37 (four years ago) link
"caribbean wind" is a great song, should've been on shot of love
― mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Friday, 27 March 2020 15:29 (four years ago) link
The cry of the peacock, flies buzz my headCeiling fan broken, there’s a heat in my bedStreet band playing “Nearer My God to Thee”We met at the steeple where the mission bells ringShe said, “I know what you’re thinking, but there ain’t a thingYou can do about it, so let us just agree to agree”
fuckin amazing
― mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Friday, 27 March 2020 15:32 (four years ago) link
xxp you're welcome!
― Yanni Xenakis (Hadrian VIII), Friday, 27 March 2020 15:35 (four years ago) link
every time i hear "when he returns," no matter the arrangement, studio or live, it's the best song i've ever heard, but the live version with the burning organ on it and the second studio take on trouble no more really hammer it home
― mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Friday, 27 March 2020 16:25 (four years ago) link
Yeah, Caribbean Wind has an amazing cinematic quality to it like some of the stuff off Desire.
― Why, I would make a fantastic Nero! (PBKR), Friday, 27 March 2020 16:49 (four years ago) link
Those lines Brad quoted are nearly a screenplay.
― Why, I would make a fantastic Nero! (PBKR), Friday, 27 March 2020 16:50 (four years ago) link
just watched the trouble no more film! bob's harmonica solo during "what can i do for you?"! literally transcendent
― mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Friday, 27 March 2020 21:20 (four years ago) link
That is one of my favorite things of this entire period. Like he is channelling the holy spirit.
― Why, I would make a fantastic Nero! (PBKR), Friday, 27 March 2020 22:14 (four years ago) link
Fuck yeah brad otm wrt Caribbean Wind, just floored me the first time I heard it on Biograph
― Evans on Hammond (evol j), Saturday, 28 March 2020 00:32 (four years ago) link
i know i said upthread that shot of love was maybe the best of these but that was initial excitement i think, even though "property of jesus" and "in the summertime" really knock me out. saved is the best one imo and is swiftly becoming... my... favorite... dylan... record?
both of the complete live shows in the box set are AMAZING. toronto 1980 is perfect, and then just the next year at earl's court all the arrangements are completely fuckin different!
― mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Tuesday, 31 March 2020 13:41 (four years ago) link
Agree that Saved is the best studio and that Toronto 1980 show is the best period.
― Why, I would make a fantastic Nero! (PBKR), Tuesday, 31 March 2020 13:47 (four years ago) link
Bob Dylan acting out "Shot of Love."If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times: Interpretive Dance Bob Dylan is the best Bob Dylan. pic.twitter.com/QLRWlmnvN4— HarryHew (@harryhew) August 30, 2023
Gestures aside, I find this musically scintillating.
Extraordinary that he had this much vitality after almost 20 years and numerous other career phases.
― the pinefox, Wednesday, 30 August 2023 17:22 (nine months ago) link