JOTTING DOWN NOTES
DYLAN AND GORDON LIGHTFOOT JOINT TOUR?
Following Dylan's recent Stateside jaunt with Paul Simon, Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot has revealed that a tour with Dylan next summer is a possibility.In an interview with New York City reporter Eric J. Greenberg, to promote his new 4-CD set, Songbook, Lightfoot was asked about possible tour plans with his famous songwriting friend.
Lightfoot said: "It's possible with Dylan. They want to team people up. Sure, we're thinking about doing that next summer. I don't know if it will be Dylan, but I can tell you one thing for sure. I can let him close." (Laughs).
Dylan has long been a great admirer of Lightfoot. On November 30, 1975, Dylan and Lightfoot were filmed at the latter's Toronto home during the Rolling Thunder Revue. Lightfoot's version of Dylan's Ballad in Plain D from this session was later used in Renaldo and Clara.Last year, the Dylan-Lightfoot mutual appreciation society continued, when Dylan covered I'm Not Supposed To Care in concert, while Lightfoot returned the compliment in the same week by singing Ring Them Bells, a song he also included on a studio album several years ago.
DOWN IN THE GROOVE - OFFICIAL RELEASES
Columbia Records has released newly remastered versions of Street Legal, Greatest Hits and Greatest Hits Volume II. All three albums have been remastered from the original tapes and Street Legal has been remixed under the supervision of the original producer, Don DiVito. The packaging for each release has been restored to include all artwork from the original vinyl releases.
For a limited time participating record stores are offering a limited edition Bob Dylan sampler free with the purchase of any two of the three newly re-issued albums.
The sampler details are as follows:Million Miles Live Recordings 1997-1999
1. Love Sick (Live “Grammy(r)” Version) (5:28)
Performed at Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY on Feb. 25, 1998 for the 40th Annual Grammy Awards telecast.
Mixed by Mark Howard.
2. Can’t Wait (Live Version) (6:03)
Live “Field Recording” at El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles, CA on Dec. 20, 1997
3. Million Miles (Live Version) (4:45)
Live “Field Recording” at Broome County Arena, Binghamton, NY on Feb. 19, 1999.
4. Cold Irons Bound (Live Version) (6:49)
Live “Field Recording” at El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles, CA on Dec. 20, 1997
Written by Bob Dylan. Published by Special Rider Music (SESAC). Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound, New York, NY.
Traveling Again?
Meanwhile, there is talk of a re-formed Traveling Wilburys and a new album. This may, or may not happen but the good news is that ownership of George Harrison’s entire 1976-92 Dark Horse/Warner Bros. catalogue has reverted back to him. This includes the two Traveling Wilburys’ albums. Harrison is contemplating recirculating these recordings, with possible bonus tracks. Watch this space.Steve Goodman Sessions
Two albums by the late and much-lamented Steve Goodman, featuring Dylan on vocals and piano, have just been reissued. Using the alias of Robert Milkwood Thomas, (a reference to the boozy Welsh poet, Dylan Thomas), Dylan contributed piano and harmony vocals to the tracks, Somebody Else's Troubles and Election Year Rag at the Atlantic Recording Studios, New York, in mid-September 1972 (according to Clinton Heylin) or October of that year (as Glen Dundas believes).The newly remastered Somebody Else's Troubles (RCA 99626) features Dylan on the title track, while Steve Goodman (RCA 996625) features His Bobness on Election Year Rag.
Bob On The Net
After a pause in the posting of new material on the official Bob Dylan web site, it seems Columbia are back in business. Although, after this batch of new tracks of new tracks arrived there has been another lull.
40. Love Sick, Municipal Auditorium, Nashville, Tennessee 2/6/99
41. Blowin’ In The Wind, Ice Palace, Tampa, Florida 30/1/99
42. Tears Of Rage, RPI Fieldhouse, Troy, New York 22/2/99
43. Make You Feel My Love, UNO Lakefront Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana 3/2/99
44. Watching The River Flow, Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center, Tallahassee, Florida 1/2/99
45. Friend Of The Devil, Broome County Arena, Binghamton, New York 19/2/99
46. Visions of Johanna, Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, Maine 25/2/99
47. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right, RPI Fieldhouse, Troy, New York 22/2/99
48. Silvio, Ice Palace, Tampa, Florida 30/1/99
49. Never Gonna Be The Same Again, Ice Palace, Tampa, Florida 30/1/99
50. To Be Alone With You, RPI Fieldhouse, Troy, New York 22/2/99
51. Man In The Long Black Coat, Ice Palace, Tampa, Florida 30/1/99
52. Not Fade Away, RPI Fieldhouse, Troy, New York 22/2/99
Cover Versions
Portraits Of Bob Dylan - Steve Howe
(Eagle Records EDLEAG175 - 2)
Yet another collection of Dylan songs, this time from the former Tomorrow and Yes man, with a little help from his friends, Jon Anderson, P.P. Arnold and Phoebe Snow. As you might expect the musical backdrops and soloing are immaculately executed and the versions are very faithful, almost reverential. The problem is that there is very little spark evident in any of these covers. Put plainly they are extremely dull.The major point of interest is the inclusion of Well, Well, Well which Dylan co-wrote with Danny O’Keefe. Unfortunately, this version is pretty awful.
FORMS OF PSYCHIC EXPLOSION - MEDIA NEWSVIDEO AND TELEVISION
The Crossroads I’m Standing At
Eric Clapton pulled out all the stops for his all-star benefit concert for the Crossroads Center, the rehabilitation facility he established last year on the Caribbean island of Antigua. Bob Dylan joined other luminaries such as Sheryl Crow, Mary J. Blige and D’Angelo at the June 30 concert at Madison Square Garden.
According to Clapton’s spokeswoman, Ronnie Lippin, the guitarist wanted Dylan — with whom he performed at the Prince’s Trust Concert in London three years ago — to be on the bill from the very start. “He was on Eric’s wish list from the beginning, but they just had to make sure Dylan’s schedule was free.” Fortunately, Dylan had a four-day break on his cross-country swing with Paul Simon which accomodated a Manhattan stop en route to his Minnesota homecoming.
IS IT ROLLING BOB?
Augusta, Georgia - 26 November 1975
Yet another gap-filler has emerged and very welcome it is too containing, as it does, a version of 4th Time Around. The tape features the whole show and is in quite good sound quality.Mansfield - 12 September 1993 Line recording
A first-rate recording of this engaging show is now around and is worth tracking down.House Of Blues, Atlanta - 4 August 1986 Line recording
This is taken from the partial video of the show plus the tracks issued on the previous official free CD.
EDUCATED RAPBOOKS
Al Kooper: Backstage Passes & Backstabbing Bastards (Billboard 1998) - a review by Dave BrazierIn this hugely entertaining, and extremely readable autobiography, Al Kooper takes us on a wide journey, from his early days as a staff writer for Dick Clark, through his days in Blood Sweat and Tears, his production for the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd, and many other musical interludes. But of course, for most of us here, the real meat of the book is Al’s long time (and very fruitful) relationship with Bob Dylan.
SNAPPY, HUH!
A Review of Dylan’s Daemon Lover
by Terry KellyScanning The Century - The Penguin Book of the Twentieth Century in Poetry, edited by Peter Forbes (Viking)
This almost 600-page tome attempts to capture various historical, political and aesthetic aspects of the fading twentieth century in poetic terms. Dylan’s My Back Pages is included in a section called, appropriately enough, Younger Than That Now: The Sixties, alongside Joni Mitchell’s Woodstock, Lennon and McCartney’s A Day in the Life and more conventional literary poetic selections.
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