Jim-W said:
Hi Charlie. I wondered where you'd gone!
Yes, I prefer the acoustic side of 'Bringing It All Back Home' to listen to for the unbelievable 'spew of poetics' ; Dylan himself, in an interview, said he has no idea how he wrote those songs and said it would not be possible for him to write like that today, whenever that 'today' was. A few years ago, now, I guess. Like much of his early lyrical outpouring, this is mercurial stuff; I tend to think it just 'came' to him as it's presented because any editing would be obtrusive and the listener would notice the artifice or the deliberate attempt to create an effect: I never notice such artifice which is why I think it just arrived 'whole' if you get my drift. It's seamless, but I guess that could be an illusion because he is just a great writer. It's all those images for me: the metaphors, the allusions, the conceits etc. I just wonder how anybody can write like this: it's virtually impossible and the proof is that it's never been matched. He's also extremely well-read and intelligent of course.
I've still not managed to hear 'Another Self Portrait' but my record bloke is on the case. Might have to get it off ebay because I'd love to hear it. I read in 'Record Collector' that they've discovered a whole new slew of acetates from this period and much of it is different from even 'Another Self Portrait.' What I wouldn't give to have those: not the tapes, but the genuine acetates. My God!
Just wanted to let you know that the Drama group I went in to help achieved 100% A-C grades! 11 bright kids so it was always a possibility. I sill can't believe it though. Hope you're enjoying your holidays.
Regards.
Hi Jim,
Wow, congratulations on your Drama group's success. Our 90 Dramatists "scored" a 60% A-C pass rate. About 10% below predicted targets but hopefully I'll manage to avoid being marched off to the gulag. We'll see.
Yes, I recall reading that Dylan interview where he talked about the writing process for those incredible songs. What do you think of the 1975 Rolling Thunder shows? (Official and boot versions). I love the interpretations of those early to mid 60s songs. (cf. It's All Over, It Ain't Me, less so Blowin' In The Wind).
His voice in the mid 70s, both live and studio, is a chimerical mix of weariness and wonder. The band stoke some ragged, eastern-European folk magic into my least favourite Dyaln song, Just Like A Woman. (cf Woody Allen's rapier sharp demolition of that song's lyrics in Annie Hall or was it Manhattan).
I'm rambling. . .again.
Yes, me too on those acetates. Another other Self-Portrait.
Some vinyl and other discs of recent days:
Dust Sucker - Cpt. Beefheart
Fake Lights From The Land EP - Richard Hawley
Sunshine - Smoke Fairies
Follow The Lights - Ryan Adams/Cardinals
Still Crazy After All These Years - Paul Simon
Goo - Sonic Youth
Limited Edition - Can
Dire Straits debut LP
Axis: Bold As Love - The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Artistry in Jazz - Stan Kenton
Sleight Of Hand - Joan Armatrading
Yo Frankie - Dion
London Town - Wings
Night And Daydream - An Anta
Special Herbs - MF Doom
Under African Skies - Various from 1980s BBC programme
oh, and The Best Of John Denver
Commune - Goat
Doug Tuttle
Morgan Delt
Country Style - Tom & Smiley
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