A Complete Unknown

[strummingram]

ever read Shakespeare, Robert Frost, Walt Whitman etc?

Thomas Wolfe!

Or... Dylan Thomas (the guy Robert Zimmerman took his name)

 

[bluetoe]

ever read Shakespeare, Robert Frost, Walt Whitman etc?

what band were they in?

 

[tarheel0910]

Thomas Wolfe!

Or... Dylan Thomas (the guy Robert Zimmerman took his name)

 

[bluetoe]

@strummingram, did you know this? I didn't, and it has blown me away.

 

[tarheelinfl]

"he's so unhip, when you say Dylan, he thinks you mean Dylan Thomas, whoever he was, the man ain't got no culture"

 

[strummingram]

@strummingram, did you know this? I didn't, and it has blown me away.

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I hadn't heard about Charlie Daniels at those Nashville sessions. I know Dylan specifically wanted that polished Nashville sound that he got in abundance. It eventually became known as Country-politan.

 

[HookUNC75]

If you have about 8 minutes free, here is an interesting interview with Al Kooper. He finagled his way into playing the Hammond Organ for the recording of "Like A Rolling Stone" when he had never even played one before. He didn't even know how to turn one on.

 

[HookUNC75]

 

[Heelicious]

I guess I mean who would I pay to go see (now or in their prime) ... Dylan is WAAAAAY down the list. The Boss would be about halfway down the list.

This is a good clarification. Robert Zimmerman ( Bob Dylan) is a Jewish kid from Duluth/ Hibbing MN. He is idolized here in MN.

My son considered going to see Dylan here in Mpls soon. I advised against it. If he was ever listenable in concert that ship sailed 20-25 years ago.

But I do think he’s a musical / poet genius. I’m a huge fan of his songs and influences, not so much his performances. His writing and influence is amazing

His songs and the ones he wrote for others or inspired in others make him imo a top 10 US musician in the last 100 years

 

[Heelicious]

I've paid to see Dylan perform about a dozen times. His shows are sometimes fantastic and sometimes not. I get the reasons people don't want to listen to his music. He's not everyone's cup of tea. But in no world is he "overrated". He's as influential in modern music as any artist ever, if not more.

Just a head's up, but I'm probably turning this thread into videos of my favorite Dylan songs.

As for the movie, I've heard it's good. Haven't seen it. Probably won't until I'm flicking around on my TV one day in the future and see that it's on.

Let's get it started with some old Dylan. My favorite song from his first album.

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This is one of the first songs in the movie. And btw Edward Norton is an outstanding performance as Woody G in the movie. I’m a big Dylan fan and liked the movie a lot. The guy who played Dylan (Chalamet?) was crazy good - learning and performing all the music himself

 

[Heelicious]

When most people think of Dylan, they think of his early folk stuff. But he evolved like no other artist. I think 80s Dylan is vastly underrated. Some of my favorite Dylan stuff was off Slow Train Coming (1979), Infidels (1983) and Oh Mercy (1989).

He had tried his hand at Christianity in the late 70s and that's what inspired the Slow Train Coming album. The below song "Precious Angel" is probably my favorite and easy to pick up on the Christian themes as are "When He Returns" and "Gotta Serve Somebody", both off of Slow Train Coming.

A sample of the Christian themed lyrics from Precious Angel:

Precious angel, you believe me when I say
What God has given to us no man can take away
We are covered in blood girl, you know our forefathers were slaves
Let us hope they've found mercy in their bone-filled graves.
You're the queen of my flesh, girl, you're my woman, you're my delight
You're the lamp of my soul, girl, and you torch up the night
But there's violence in the eyes, girl, so let us not be enticed
On the way out of Egypt, through Ethiopia, to the judgement hall of Christ.

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Infidels doesn't have the same Christian themes (I think Bob was done with it by then). But it's got some bangers. "I and I' is my favorite off this album and probably a top 5 Dylan song of all time for me. I've seen him play it live a couple times and it totally hits. The guitar licks are fantastic.

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I also really like "Don't Fall Apart On Me Tonight" and "License To Kill" from this album. Tom Petty does a great cover of the latter as well.

Then, at the end of the 80s decade, he came out with Oh Mercy., which has themes of self examination and he takes shots at society's desire for materialism and such. This is one of those Dylan albums where I can legit listen to every song from start to finish but if I had to choose one, it's the following.

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Great post @gunslingerdick . I’m a big Dylan fan including the Christian albums. A sort of personal theme song for me by Dylan is Pressing On. Also love When He Returns. Property of Jesus and Gotta Serve Somebody are also greats.

Excellent songs he wrote (parts or all) for others: All Along the Watchtower, Love Rescue Me (U2)
Man of Comstant Sorrow (and dozens more)

Check out Gotta Serve Somebody which is a colllectiom of great singers and performers singing covers of Dylan gospel songs. A top 20 all time album for me.

 

[Heelicious]

If you have about 8 minutes free, here is an interesting interview with Al Kooper. He finagled his way into playing the Hammond Organ for the recording of "Like A Rolling Stone" when he had never even played one before. He didn't even know how to turn one on.

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This has a small part in the movie too. Great musicians like this amaze me how their brains are wired to just pick up ability to play most any instrument including switching between guitar and piano which mix be difficult