Two old ladies left the London Palladium disappointed and annoyed in April, wondering what happened to the hero folk singer of their youth, Bob Dylan. In their eyes, he had nothing to do with the riverboat gambler standing and swaying on the stage in the beautiful old theater. Even if I respect their right to … Continue reading Bob Dylan + Folk = True!
Author: johnnyborganblogg
Bob Dylan + Rock´n Roll = True!
"Billy (Lee Riley) was a son of rock 'n' roll, obviously. He was a true original. He did it all: He played, he sang, he wrote. He would have been a bigger star but Jerry Lee came along. And you know what happens when someone like that comes along. You just don't stand a chance. So … Continue reading Bob Dylan + Rock´n Roll = True!
Bob Dylan + Soul = True!
Between the 1920´s and 1940´s the term "race records" was used, tagging the records made in african-american music genres, marketed to the african american market. All the way to 1949 the term was used, even Billboard had its own chart for "Race Records". Then one of their journalists, Jerry Wexler, suggested a change, more fitting for … Continue reading Bob Dylan + Soul = True!
Bob Dylan + Gospel = True!
"All my loyal and my much-loved companions They approve of me and share my code I practice a faith that's been long abandoned Ain't no altars on this long and lonesome road" (Bob Dylan, "Ain´t Talkin´, 2006) The use of religious imagery, imagery based on faith in a higher power or in the dream of … Continue reading Bob Dylan + Gospel = True!
Bob Dylan + Blues = True!
The blues runs in Bob Dylan´s veins, and it always did. His first album is soaked in it, and on his second we find this statements about how he sees it: "Down the Highway" is a distillation of Dylan's feeling about the blues. "The way I think about the blues," he says, "comes from what … Continue reading Bob Dylan + Blues = True!
Bob Dylan + Bluegrass = True!
The link between Bob Dylan and bluegrass goes way back. This is some of the music he grew up with, and he describes from his childhood a near religious experience when he first listened to the recording of "Drifting Too Far From The Shore": "I found something else in there, it was kind of mystical … Continue reading Bob Dylan + Bluegrass = True!
Bob Dylan + Country = True!
Bob Dylan´s love for country music is well known and started early, as he was listening to the country radio stations already as a child, getting "Grand Ole Opry", "Louisiana Hayride" and lots of other programs conveying the genre, and this music has been following him through all his career. One of his heroes was … Continue reading Bob Dylan + Country = True!
Bob Dylan Uncovers
The greatest songwriter of our times has been making cover versions all his life - obviously from his first self titled album until this years album, "Triplicate". In the following list I´ve collected original versions or in some times more relevant versions of mostly all songs Bob Dylan has covered on regular studio albums from … Continue reading Bob Dylan Uncovers
Bob Dylan + Jazz = True!
"Now, when you think of jazz and are in the Apollo Theatre, there is one name that comes to mind....Bob Dylan!" This words are Wynton Marsalis short introduction to Bob Dylan´s visit with Wynton Marsalis Septet in a 2004. It´s a joke, but it´s also not a joke. Bob Dylan´s attitude in both making music … Continue reading Bob Dylan + Jazz = True!
Bob Dylan – Openings & Endings.
Does it really matter - what song that opens an album? Does it have a message? Does the closing song have some hidden meaning, a hint of what´s coming next? Always - or sometimes? Maybe just in a phase? When it comes to Dylan, it´s not so easy to tell. The artist himself will not tell … Continue reading Bob Dylan – Openings & Endings.
Johnny B. 