Wrote Bob Dylan in "Chronicles: Volume One" about the album "New Morning."
"New Morning" was released 50 years ago today.
For me, "New Morning" is the soundtrack of my sophomore year in college. These songs are intimately interwoven with my memories of that time. Can't you hear that rooster crowin'?
And there was that time we listened to "New Morning" in 2011.
Posts
20 comments:
"For me, "New Morning" is the soundtrack of my sophomore year in college. These songs are intimately interwoven with my memories of that time."
Intimately?
So which song in particular evokes memories of the Obligatory College Lesbian Experiment Phase?
Or do we have to wait for the podcast to get that?
I am Laslo.
I was reminded over the weekend of Laura Nyro. She was the soundtrack for me at age 14. Then I spent the morning listening to her album "Eli and the 13th confession". Great day.
@Leslie The Laura Nyro album "New York Tendaberry" was really important to me when I was in college, where I attended this concert in my first year. Richie Havens opened (and made her seem very distanced by contrast). He was all about connecting with people and she was all about her own world, which we were to understand we were privileged to listen in on.
New Morning is a personal favorite of mine.
Well, now it's off to the garage to dig out my 'New Morning' LP, which I haven't listened to in decades. A shame, as it was one of Dylan's best. If for no other reason (and there are plenty more of them) than that it contained the great 'All Along The Watchtower'...and that that spawned Hendrix's sublime cover. I love both of those and have struggled for years trying to resolve the painful, heretical thought that Jimi's version just might be even better than Bob's.
In 1976, when I was 19 and hitchhiking around Europe, I carried one of those clunky portable cassette players and two cassettes in my backpack - New Morning and something by Charlie Parker. Have no idea why I ended up with those two, but I listened a lot to New Morning and it was the soundtrack of my life for a few months. "If Dogs Run Free" was a song that really got to me. I took the question the song raised to heart and came close to throwing my backpack and passport into a French river with the intent of going feral. Luckily it was just a passing impulse.
A shame, as it was one of Dylan's best. If for no other reason (and there are plenty more of them) than that it contained the great 'All Along The Watchtower'
You're thinking of John Wesley Harding. An even greater album.
"triumph it"?
"I love both of those and have struggled for years trying to resolve the painful, heretical thought that Jimi's version just might be even better than Bob's."
Hmm. I have always thought that just about everyone who ever covered a Bob Dylan song did it better than he did.
If dogs run free, why not me — followed by a couple lines of scatting. It’s one of my favorite Dylan albums.
Bob Dylan can sing many songs he wrote in the seventies in his seventies and the songs make sense and even have added resonance. I admire Mick Jagger for making the effort, but many of the Rolling Stones greatest hits are not meant to be sung by septuaganerians. It ain't dark yet, but it's getting there.
Yeah, no. I was listening to The Allman Brothers Band sophomore year. Study hard and then get up and dance hard to "Whipping Post" and then flop back down to study some more. Wikipedia reminds me that was a 23 minute song.
It's odd how some people connect music, and even specific albums or even songs to times in their lives.
I did all of my album listening mostly '70s - '80s and am familiar with all of the big bands back in the day...
But have never identified with any of them. Sure, I have favorites, but none that grab me like the guy in 'Seinfeld' who goes into a trance when he hears 'Desperado.'
As for Dylan, I appreciate the fact that he is immensely talented as a writer, but as a singer the best I can say is that he's original, and that is OK.
And as I only know his more popular stuff, I will say that 'Rolling Stone' is a masterpiece both in the writing and in his performance.
Btw, AA, I suggest the next time you break out the album you also break out some 'medicinal' weed or gummies (a really good cabernet will do in a pinch).
It might just be a way-back machine to your youth : )
Nothing wrong with nostalgia if it makes you happy...
>>Amexpat said...
A shame, as it was one of Dylan's best. If for no other reason (and there are plenty more of them) than that it contained the great 'All Along The Watchtower'
You're thinking of John Wesley Harding. An even greater album.<<
You're right of course! Like I said, "garage/decades..."
I was gobsmacked a couple of years ago when I realized that "Oh Mercy" (the album of my Sophomore year of college) is now part of the first half of Dylan's career.
This album and its songs are peak "how does someone with a voice like that become an A-list international singing star?"
He was inspirational for those with incomplete talents.
And he got better by Blood in the Tracks.
This album and its songs are peak "how does someone with a voice like that become an A-list international singing star?"
For the writing...
You might want to see what Rod Stewart has to say : )
Joe Smith said...
This album and its songs are peak "how does someone with a voice like that become an A-list international singing star?"
For the writing..
Hence my "incomplete talents" comment. There were other singer/song writer talents who where only famous because of covers by more talented singers, yet the Dylan version is usually the famous one.
Joe Smith said...
You might want to see what Rod Stewart has to say : )
Just as long as we don't have to wake up Maggie May to ask him. {heh!)
p.s. Wonder how old Milffy Maggie is now.....
p.p.s. Have you seen a recent picture of Rod? He has a definite Dr Who look goingon.
Post a Comment