Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Dylan on a Wednesday?


Doesn't seem right to do it on Wednesday, but I actually had someone complain that there was no Dylan on a Sunday entry this week. I apologize to my loyal reader.

This a little note on young Dylan verses old Dylan. I like old Dylan better. I like the guitar better, I like the razor blade voice better, I like the songs better, I like the hats better. I'm hoping that my move past midlife goes as well.

That said, there are early classics you just have to hear at a Dylan concert. And the ones we got in Dallas last February were perfect. Senor, Ballad of a Thin Man, All Along the Watchtower (which felt more like Dylan doing Hendrix than Dylan doing Dylan). But my favorite of the night was Lay, Lady, Lay. Of course it is a great song. Classic. But the original doesn't sound like Dylan at all. It's not his typical loopy, sliding, overwrought vocal. It's almost like a normal singer, except with Dylan's nose. And while its a great lyric and melody, its always been hard for me to listen to.

Which is why one of my favorite moments that night was Bob's 12 packs a day for 60 years rendition of Lay, Lady, Lay. Old Dylan singing young, classic Dylan. So, great. Someone captured it on their cell phone and put it on youtube. So, I'm sharing the moment with you, on a Wednesday. Sigh.

Lay, lady, lay, lay across my big brass bed
Stay, lady, stay, stay with your man awhile
Until the break of day, let me see you make him smile
His clothes are dirty, but his hands are clean
And you're the best thing he's ever seen




2 comments:

Richard Beck said...

Mark,
Okay, here's my deal. I've never followed Dylan. But your posts make we want to. The question is, how best to do that? Sample his old stuff? The new? Go with a Greatest Hits mix? Given my book budget I'm only willing to spead about $20 to get started. If I'm hooked past $20 I'll go deeper.

So, what are your recommendations?

Mark Love said...

The gateway is different for us all. But for me the newer stuff is more satisfying. I would start with Modern Times. And if that didn't do the deal, I might access his music through others. The I'm Not There soundtrack is amazing. That is a good movie, btw, out now on dvd. I think you'd like it, and volume one on his autobiography (the only volume to this point) is great to read (the title I think is Chronicles).