It must have been around 1990 or 1991. Ot was the SECC in Glasgow and visiting the city was Bob Dylan. It was the only time (until now) I have ever bothered to go and see him play. To be honest, even then I was a little half hearted. As I remember it wasn’t much of a gig. Realising half way through a song that you are listening to Rainy Day Woman wasn’t my idea of a great night out at that time. Years later I chatted it over with my companion that evening, the venerable Swan, who knows a good deal more about Bob and gigs than I will ever do. He mentioned that, contrary to my opinion, he’d rather enjoyed himself.
Reflecting on it now I often wonder whether I and many others have taken the wrong approach with listening to Dylan live. In our heads are these great recordings and all we want to do is hear them again with some years and a little gusto. In Bob’s head – well who knows – but from what I’ve read it seems as if he remembers nothing of the recording and much about the song. As someone from the folk tradition that is wholly correct and wholly believable. So rather than a willful maverick tearing apart his back-catalogue we perhaps now see a balladeer remembering and passing on the song. What more can you ask?
I say all this as we’ve come to 1990 and a fairly difficult record by the most ardent fan’s admission – “Under The Red Sky.” It must have been the album Dylan was ‘promoting’ at the time of that show. Yesterday I drove up to my old home town of Dundee and listened to the album from beginning to end. I can’t say I’ll be playing all of it again soon but there are real moments of insight which help build the picture of the artist. For that alone it’s worth talking about and playing. We’ll do all of that on Friday.
I’m also pleased to say we’ll be broadcasting the Jim Jones Revue session and interview.
They came in to the AC recently and I’m delighted to say they were the first band ever I’ve heard booming out of the studio a good 100 yards before I got to the door. That was overdue. A great session, a wonderful chat with the band about the joy of roots music and some choice songs in the spirit of rock n roll. What else? New things from Emmylou and The Low Anthem, Ben Glover and Alison Krauss. All the usual treats and more on The Another Country Movie Club’s next gathering. All from five past 8 on BBC Radio Scotland.
Have always had a soft spot for Under The Red Sky! Oh Mercy was always going to be a tough act to follow but Bob went back into the studio a few months later and made a totally different record. 50% of the album would have been good enough to make it on to its predecessor: Born In Time, God Knows, Unbelievable, Handy Dandy and Cats In The Well are all fine songs and great recordings (as good as anything Bob recorded in the previous 10 years). After weighty lyrics aplenty on Oh Mercy Bob went in a different direction on the title track, a nursery rhyme about his childhood according to producer Don Was and on the lesser nonsense songs 2×2, and Wiggle Wiggle (Slash’s guest guitar solo is faded out as soon as it begins)! I also have a soft spot for Bob live after seeing him at the SECC in 1998 (on a double bill with Van Morrison) and 2000. I wasn’t sure if i was going to enjoy the 1998 gig after having read all the critics tear into Bob’s approach to live performance but thought he had a great band (Larry Campbell and Bucky Baxter were probably the stars) and there was a nice mix of new stuff from Time Out Of Mind as well as great reworkings of classics like Tangled Up In Blue, and when the band went unplugged for Mama, You Been On My Mind and Boots Of Spanish Leather Bob delivered some heartbreakingly great vocals.
Paul Williams has some brilliant books concentrating on Bob’s approach to delivering concerts, I think there are 3 volumes of his “Bob Dylan: Performing Artist” series and his enthusiasm becomes infectious and will send many readers hunting for some of the better live bootleg recordings.
Ricky, if you ever get the chance to read, or even better, listen (audiobook) to Bob Dylan’s ‘Chronichles Vol 1,’ then you’ll get to understand a little more the inner Bob, if that is ever possible. It is a remarkable peice of literature itself. After reading – listening, I hear his music in a deeper- more enjoyable way.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not interested in deeper meanings. Some things are just better left unsaid, but in the book, he tries to explain how he composes in such a romatic-spiritual way, it’ll make you want to compose more yourself.
I learnt so much from that book, not just about music, but about, well, a lot. It spoke to me like nothing before. Like a teacher you understand. Like a friend.
I suggest, with a smile, you get the audiobook and stick on in the car. Sean Penn’s voice is almost Bob like and makes you feel at ease with everyhting in the world.
Maybe you’ll listen, maybe you won’t, but I swear you’ll certainly take something from it. Just like the words in his songs.
“The road out would be treacherous, and I didn’t know where it would lead but I followed it anyway. It was a strange world ahead that would unfold, a thunderhead of a world with jagged lightning edges. Many got it wrong and never did get it right. I went straight into it. It was wide open. One thing for sure, not only was it not run by God, but it wasn’t run by the devil either.”
All the best
Brendan
I’m actually consider going to the London Feis, albeit chiefly due to another kind of music altogether, since a personal favourite band of mine – Clannad (I’m nothing if not eclectic) – are playing a rare gig with their original line-up restored, and of course Dylan would be another draw. It’s a matter of minutes up the road for me, so it would be rude not to!
Needless to say another fine instalment, but I’m looking forward very much to this week’s upcoming show focussing upon “Oh Mercy”. Forgive me for jumping ahead, but it was my first Dylan album and remains a personal favourite due to songs such as “Political World”, “Everything Is Broken” and “Man in the Long Black Coat”. Bring it on!
P.S. “Old No. 7” is surely a reference to another personal favourite of mine, Jack Daniel’s, right? So named by the man himself as it was his 7th batch or recipe or some such. Of course, I should add the disclaimer that many other brands of whisky – including some rather superior Scottish malts – are also available.
Dear Brendan,
Thanks for responding. I agree with you fully on Chronicles. I loved it…keep hoping for part 2, but in the meantime – if I didn’t have a pile of other things to read..I’d read it again anytime.
Stay with us…
Adam and Dougie I thank you too. Great recommendations Dougie and thanks for the Jack Daniel’s thing Adam – I should have known!
R x
Hi Ricky
Yeah, me too. I hope that it won’t be too long. Keep up the writing Ricky. You write so well, especially things like… ‘The Germans Are Out Today’. Remember that one!!!!!
Looking forward very much to new DB material, and of course, your own.
Brendan
You’re welcome, Ricky. I think you should pick up a bottle by way of penance 🙂
I’ll second Brendan’s point too about your own writing, and likewise really looking forward to the new DB material, and hopefully more besides…