Bob Dylan! - Print Topic

Quoted from McLennon

what do people think of Bob?

I think he's great!! love his songs and lyrics! I have booked tickets to go see him in April this year! which will be great!!

and whats your favorite dylan lyrics??

I like him saying something like "some the people can be part right all of the time, all the people can be part right some of the time but all the people can't be all right, all of the time"

also "theres no sucess like failure and failures no sucess at all"! :D

No when you see him live, it will not be great, he sucks live.

Anyway his music is amazing, and i agree with mairi that some of his best lyrics are in that song, especially at the end. The song is about dylan who goes and discovers america and explores it with some shipmates, and finds everyone there's crazy, and they all get thrown in jail. Bob escapes and tries to find numerous ways of getting the others out of jail too. At at the end:
" But the funniest thing was as i was leaving the bay, i saw 3 ships sailing, they were all heading my way. I asked the captain what his name was and why he didn't drive a truck. He said his name was Columbous, i just said good luck."

Love that song. Chimes of freedom i also think has some of his best lyrics. His music can take you through all drifferent scenes and feelings!

Quoted from Kevin

I can't remember the songs name (Desolation Row?) but the Dylan line " somethings happening here but you don't know what it is, do you, Mr Jones?" is brilliant. Sums up what was going on perfectly. Genius.
It's on songs like this that I think his sneering vocal and "I don't give a sh*t" harmonica all meld so well. When everyone else was seeking musical perfection he was content to sound like some punk bashing out songs on a street corner. (and some will see that as good and some as bad. For me it's good.)

yes thats good! the song is ballad of a thin man!

yeah I have heard he just plays piano and turns away from the audience but still worth it!

Quoted from 197

No when you see him live, it will not be great, he sucks live.

From what I've heard, he's either a hit or miss live. It probably doesn't help that he's started smoking again after quitting to record Modern Times. Silly man...

I saw him last year and thought he was great. He's a freaking legend for God's sake. You need to appreciate him for what his is at this point. My friend did point out though that he ended every sentence on a high note no matter what the song. Blowin' in the WIND. Like a rolling STONE. Forever YOUNG. Lay lady LAY. After she pointed that out, it got a little annoying. But oh well. He's Bob. He was never normal.

hahaha that would be so funny if he does that!!

I looked at some set lists from 2006 and he never seems to keep it the same from night to night!!

I really hope he does some old classics!

The thing that disappointed me was that he seems to have given up guitar. First I read that it's because he had arthritis. Then I read that it was because he just felt like it. So who knows. He didn't really play the keyboards though but he stood behind them the whole time pushing a few keys. Sort of like Brian Wilson these days. Only Bob stands and Brian sits. Maybe this is the new thing amongst eccentric musical geniuses from the sixties.

Word on the street is back pain.  It's easier for him to sit/half stand at the keyboards.

I saw him a couple years ago.  Even if you hated Dylan, his band is magnificent.  There are good song lists on expectingrain.com--he rotates through about forty or fifty tunes.  Usually does about fifteen songs with two encores (Like a Rolling Stone and All Along the Watchtower were it for awhile).

He did a little chit-chat.  Mentioned doing some albums in Nashville with Charlie Daniels and said you can't do much better than Charlie.

The vocals can be hit and miss (as you'd expect), but when he really hits one like Highway 61, boy, you better watch out.

Bob goes off stage first and hopes onto his bus.  Then the rest of the band goes--to their bus.

Merle Haggard made some jokes about that bus thing. Like Bob was anti-social or something. He actually made quite a few jokes about Bob! It was pretty funny. He even did an imitation of him singing Blowin' in the Wind. I think Merle was a bit pissed at how much less he was being paid and was a bit bitter. He gave a great performance though.

Anyway, I LOVE Bob Dylan. His talent is amazing. I�m reading his autobiography Chronicles Volume One and it�s just awesome. But his music is on some other level. When I look at his catalogue of songs I�m just astounded that it all came from one guy. I think he�s the best of our generation by far. Anyone who gets a chance to see him really should. I mean it would be like not going to see the Beatles when they were around. You�d be missing out on something historic. Anyway, I think Bob�s voice is unfairly panned. He sings his songs with such sincerity and passion. I think I prefer him to most of the covers of him. Of course it took me years to get to this point. I used to hate his voice. I don�t know what was wrong with me! I�m curious as to what other Dylan fans think about covers as compared to the original. Here�s a list of some I can think of. Please add your opinion on which you think is better and why. I find that stuff fascinating.

Mr. Tambourine Man-The Byrds or Dylan (Bob all the way for me. I hate the Byrds version.)
All Along the Watchtower-Hendrix (Jimi�s version is the definitive version. That intro rules.)
I Shall Be Released-The Band (I like the Band�s arrangement better, but I�d rather hear Bob sing.)
Mighty Quinn (Quinn The Eskimo)-Manfred Mann (Bob�s version is better. Their version is corny.)
Blowin' In The Wind- Peter, Paul, and Mary (Bob�s version for the same reason as above.)
Knockin� On Heaven�s Door-Guns and Roses (I like both versions a lot. I can�t choose.)

I know there's more but I can't think of anymore right now. What big ones did I miss?

As for lyrics, right now I'm obsessed with Subterranean Homesick Blues. I so want to memorize it.

Favorite verse:

Ah, Get sick, get well
Hang around a ink well
Ring bell, hard to tell
If anything is goin' to sell
Try hard, get barred
Get back, write braille
Get jailed, jump bail
Join the army, if you fail

So cool. BTW, the beginning of that song sounds suspiciously like a jump rope song.

All along the watchtower is Brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!! Knockin' on Heaven's door is Great! Plus Jimmy Vaugn And Junior Brown played guitar on his new c.d. !!!!!!!That'll complement the already Great lyrics!!!!!!! Iknow- off topic!!!!!!! :B

Merle's kinda a sorehead.  But I love him.

Jimi is probably the only performer to outperform a Dylan version IMHO.   With the possible exception of The Band.  I like Rick Danko's "Wheel on Fire" better than the Dylan Basement Tapes.  Also, The Band's version of "Blind Willie McTell" (sung by Levon and Rick on "Jericho") is much better than Dylan's demo (with yapping dog) on the Bootleg series.

In fact, I think that "Blind Willie McTell" rivals Hendrix as the greatest Dylan cover of all time.  I told Garth Hudson that one time and he said the version by him and his wife Maude was better.

I love Garth, but . . . .

Dylan's voice was in its prime in the 60s-70s.  Check out the Live 1975 or Live 1966 to hear him sing (Apparently even Frank Sinatra appreciated Dylan's singing).

Too much smoking and arena shouting started to do his voice in the 80s.

mine is " the harmonicas play the skeleton keys and the rain and these visions of johanna are now all that remain ".............. love bob : )

My favorite DYLAN period is from FREEWHEELIN to BLONDE ON BLONDE from that time he`s untouchable,so many great songs its hard to choose .JUST LIKE A WOMAN thats proberly my favorite at the moment .
Seen him live twice not that great, but hey! its his bobness 8)

Quoted from pc31

i never dug bob...

. . . cep' you be willin' to dig his grave?

do i gotta wait till he's toes up???

As long as you see that his grave is kept clean . . . .

Love the lyrics to Like a Rollin' Stone. BTW- Brian Jones thought ' Ballad of a aga thin man "waswritten about him .Off Topic,again! :B

BOB!

Even Charlie Brown's a fan:

Bob has excellent fashion sense. Or he used to anyway. I don't know lately.

I love that picture of him and Joan. Sooo cute. I actually painted it on a huge ceiling tile for my school and it turned out pretty well.

I see that Bob is playing his guitar again this UK tour! sunday will be a blast!! :D

Sunday was a blast!! he played eletrci guitar for first half and then electric keyboard!! his voice is funny these days but what a great show!!

1. Cat's In The Well (Bob on electric guitar)
2. It Ain't Me, Babe (Bob on electric guitar)
3. Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues (Bob on electric guitar)
4. It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)
(Bob on electric guitar, Donnie on violin)
5. The Levee's Gonna Break
(Bob on keyboard, Donnie on electric mandolin, Tony on standup bass)
6. Spirit On The Water (Bob on electric keyboard and harp, Tony on standup bass)
7. Highway 61 Revisited (Bob on electric keyboard)
8. When The Deal Goes Down (Bob on electric keyboard, Tony on standup bass)
9. Rollin' And Tumblin' (Bob on electric keyboard)
10. Chimes Of Freedom (Bob on electric keyboard)
11. Blind Willie McTell (Bob on electric keyboard, Donnie on banjo)
12. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
(Bob on electric keyboard and harp)
13.  Nettie Moore (Bob on electric keybo, Donnie on violin)
14. Summer Days (Bob on electric keyboard, Tony on standup bass)
15. Like A Rolling Stone (Bob on electric keyboard and harp)

  (encore)
16.  Thunder On The Mountain (Bob on electric keyboard)
17.  All Along The Watchtower (Bob on electric keyboard)

Try as I might I can't get my girlfriend interested in The Beatles. But I played Highway 61 the other night (as background to a little evening bbq) and it immediately caught her attention. It is truly a great album.

Good set list. Nice mix of hits and more obscure songs for the fans.

Quoted from mr kite

My favorite DYLAN period is from FREEWHEELIN to BLONDE ON BLONDE from that time he`s untouchable,so many great songs its hard to choose .JUST LIKE A WOMAN thats proberly my favorite at the moment .
Seen him live twice not that great, but hey! its his bobness 8)

Agreed. As much as I love The Beatles I would have to rank Bob as the most important artist of the 60's, perhaps of the last 40 years. While the debt works both ways, I think that without his influence The Beatles would have dissapeared (like Gerry Marsden, Hermans Hermits) once Beatlemania ran out of steam and they lost their tennybopper audience. I think Highway 61 (1965) shows an imagination and breadth of vision that people like John Lennon could only gape at in awe and copy as best they could.

At the same time, we have to acknowledge the Beatles' influence on Bob. He has stated before that it was hearing the lads that re-kindled his interest in rock and roll.

Didn't somebody just post a quote from Dylan talking about how amazed he is by Paul McCartney? Wasn't that here? I think the Beatles would have evolved without Dylan, but there's no doubt he was an important influence. I think Lennon would have eventually gone that route as he tended to write about himself and what he was feeling. I think everything that happened in the late sixties (in the US) was an influence on them. Everyone became more outspoken. Bob was just doing it a few years earlier than most.

As much as I love Bob, you have to put his achievement as a songwriter into the context of the Beat movement and the big debt he owes to Allen Ginsberg, in particular, from whom Bob adapted the prophetic persona, French symbolist imagery and post-Whitman long line structure.

As that pic with Baez shows, Bob's a short little fellar, but he stands on pretty big shoulders.

Quoted from adamzero

As much as I love Bob, you have to put his achievement as a songwriter into the context of the Beat movement and the big debt he owes to Allen Ginsberg, in particular, from whom Bob adapted the prophetic persona, French symbolist imagery and post-Whitman long line structure.

No man is an island - everyone has an influence. Whatever context you put his songwriting into it changed a generation. Everyones got a big debt to someone.

Quoted from Sandra

Didn't somebody just post a quote from Dylan talking about how amazed he is by Paul McCartney? Wasn't that here? I think the Beatles would have evolved without Dylan, but there's no doubt he was an important influence. I think Lennon would have eventually gone that route as he tended to write about himself and what he was feeling. I think everything that happened in the late sixties (in the US) was an influence on them. Everyone became more outspoken. Bob was just doing it a few years earlier than most.

I don't think there's any guarantee of that. Before he started listening to Dylan Johns lyric was very much aimed at his tenny bopper audience. When he decided to be Bob everything changed - the way he wrote (like bob) the way he sang (like Bob) the way he dressed (like Bob). Of course he might have eventually gotten the idea from somewhere else, if someone else with Bobs genius had emerged in the vaccuum. But I really don't think that person would have been John Lennon.

Quoted from Mairi

At the same time, we have to acknowledge the Beatles' influence on Bob. He has stated before that it was hearing the lads that re-kindled his interest in rock and roll.

Totally agree. The Beatles inspired Bob to pick up an electric guitar. Bob inspired The Beatles to change the way they made music. Fair swap.

This is all fanofthefab4's fault by the way. Before she got me reading that article by that guy who's name I can't remember I was happy in the belief that The Beatles were the most innovative, important thing EVER to happen to rock, perhaps to the universe. Now I've got seeds of doubt, and everything I took as a given I'm looking at anew. I thought I have just believed what I have been told and had never looked at things for myself. Bits of me now think that things like the sitar and backward tapes are just silly little trends made popular by a band elevated to greatness on the back of Beatlemania, which had less to do with music than image and time.
I need an intervention! I need hands upon me! I am lost.
But I swear, if I hear Imagine one more time or see one more story about that bloody piano I'll puke.

Quoted from Kevin

Bits of me now think that things like the sitar and backward tapes are just silly little trends made popular by a band elevated to greatness on the back of Beatlemania, which had less to do with music than image and time.

Most of me thinks this!!

I generally think that everything about The Beatles should be taken a little less seriously. Sometimes people are beyond reproach, as far as the press go for instance. If someone had dared to give a crap reveiw to 'Love You Too', or suggested that the sound engineer must have got his tapes mixed up on 'I'm Only Sleeping' then they'd probably never have done it again.

Quoted from Sandra

Didn't somebody just post a quote from Dylan talking about how amazed he is by Paul McCartney? [...]

Quoted from raxo

Bob Dylan talks about Paul to Rolling Stone:

"....Hard to find a better singer than [John] Lennon was or McCartney was and still is. I mean I'm in awe of McCartney. He's about the only one that I am in awe of. But I'm in awe of him. He can do it all and he's never let up, you know. He's got the gift for melody, he's got the rhythm. He can play any instrument. He can scream and shout as good as anybody and he can sing the ballad as good as anybody, you know so... And his melodies are, you know, effortless. That's what you have to be in awe... I'm in awe of him maybe just because he's just so damn effortless. I mean I just wish he'd quit, you know. [laughs] Just everything and anything that comes out of his mouth is just framed in a melody, you know ..."

from here: http://dmbeatles.com/forums/b-mccartney/m-1176284442/s-60/

Since some said that Paul sounds as an old man on Ever Present Past I thought that that one was the thread to post this at ...

The question and complete answer were these:

In the 40th Anniversary issue of Rolling Stone magazine, Dylan was asked:

"RS: What was your relationship with John Lennon like? Somewhat competitive?

Bob: "Yeah. Only to a certain extent, but not really. Him and McCartney both, really, they were fantastic singers. Lennon, to this day, it's hard to find a better singer than Lennon was, or than McCartney was and still is. I'm in awe of McCartney. He's about the only one that I am in awe of. He can do it all. And he's never let up. He's got the gift for melody, he's got the rhythm, he can play any instrument. He can scream and shout as good as anybody. And his melodies are effortless, that's what you have to be in awe of...He's just so damn effortless. I just wish he'd quit [laughs]. Everything that comes out of his mouth is just framed in melody."

Quoted from raxo

Since some said that Paul sounds as an old man on Ever Present Past I thought that that one was the thread to post this at ...

That was me Rax. But this is what I actually said:

Quoted from BlueMeanie

The trouble with this is that we all know how Paul's voice used to sound, and what he could do with it. Can we accept it any other way? Cash never had a 'great' voice, and his took on a character and feeling all of it's own which I'm sure is what encouraged his and Rick Rubens' choice of songs. Paul's will never have that. In fact when unprocessed he's getting dangerously close to sounding like an old man with a cold.

Quoted from BlueMeanie

That was me Rax. But this is what I actually said:

You could be one of them but not the only one ;) ... before you said anything this was posted there (I don't like to give names so I've deleted author's name here :))

Quoted Text

Cool. Definately a step up from Fine Line. Love the guitar riff - sounds quite modern. I'm a little critical of the vocals - a bit too processed and polished. Would have been better a bit rawer. Won't set the world on fire, but a good effort and should get some decent radio play (which after all is its job.) My score: 7/10.
Not bad for an old codger.

Quoted from Kevin

Totally agree. The Beatles inspired Bob to pick up an electric guitar. Bob inspired The Beatles to change the way they made music. Fair swap.

Were you being sarcastic there? I was just wondering. I'm not offended or anything, it's just hard to tell on the internet.

I think a lot of people don't realize how huge a deal it was for Bob to go electric. The electric guitar was a relatively new invention at the time and generally associated with mainstream rock and roll. Many folkies were outraged and furious, and thought Bob was a sell-out. You can see the concert footage and everything where he gets called "Judas", but still, many people forget what a big thing it was. The public responded more to Bob going electric than they did to any of the changes the Beatles made to themselves. (Except the Jesus comment)

I don't think it's as simple as all that. Bob had an influence mainly on Lennon and how he wrote lyrics. I don't think Bob's influence was all that encompassing. The Beatles were influenced by MANY things. They did things in the studio that Bob never even dreamed of. If Lennon became a more introspective lyricist thanks to Bob, than that's great but I think that's pretty much the end of it. I don't think Dylan changed the way the Beatles made music. Lennon copied his style only very briefly. McCartney had his own style and influences including things like the Beach Boys, avant garde and so on. Lennon also fed off of many influences and lets not forget about George. Dylan was just another piece of the puzzle. As for the political aspect of it, I think they would have spoken out sooner or later anyway. That's just the way the tide was turning.

I liked what Bob had to say about Paul. Coming from Bob, well, that show's you where Paul really ranks--no matter what detractors may say. Thanks for the link, Sandra.

BTW, there's a good bootleg of Bob and George doing "Yesterday" which some have called a send-up or a joke. I think it's a fairly serious version, with Dylan really singing it (maybe thinking of using it on "Self-Portrait"). I also think it's a great adaptation that someone alt-country flavored should try out.

Course I can't hear Bob doing "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" but who knows--maybe he could pull it off.

Quoted from Kevin

I need an intrervention! I need hands upon me! I am lost.

Here you go, Kevin! Step into the healing hands. You will be cured of excessive Beatles admiration forever, just like Blue Meanie!

Quoted from harihead

Here you go, Kevin! Step into the healing hands. You will be cured of excessive Beatles admiration forever, just like Blue Meanie!

I think I'm looking pretty admiring in that picture. ;D

Quoted from Sandra

I don't think it's as simple as all that. Bob had an influence mainly on Lennon and how he wrote lyrics. I don't think Bob's influence was all that encompassing. The Beatles were influenced by MANY things. They did things in the studio that Bob never even dreamed of. If Lennon became a more introspective lyricist thanks to Bob, than that's great but I think that's pretty much the end of it. I don't think Dylan changed the way the Beatles made music. Lennon copied his style only very briefly. McCartney had his own style and influences including things like the Beach Boys, avant garde and so on. Lennon also fed off of many influences and lets not forget about George. Dylan was just another piece of the puzzle. As for the political aspect of it, I think they would have spoken out sooner or later anyway. That's just the way the tide was turning.

Yeah - you're probably right. I got a bit carried away there. There's never any one simple answer to these things. Music evolves with everyone adding their bit, and we could trace influences back to Zog banging a rock. Sandra's right - it was just the way it was heading.
Mairi - I was trying to be funny (and failing), not sarcastic. (well maybe a little) Apologies.

Quoted from BlueMeanie

I think I'm looking pretty admiring in that picture. ;D

You can't fool me, BM. That smile is just painted on! ;)

Kevin, there's no need to apologize! I was just trying to be playful. I did take it as funny, which is why this picture sprang to mind. Now, back to the musical discussion. :)

(Wait a minute-- reads Kevin's response again) You said Mairi and not Hari. I'm blind. *stumbles off to get more coffee*

^I'm a bit annoyed with myself over that. I'm really into human evolution, and reading all those books has changed the way I think about things. I try to put the same reasoning to Beatles music (hence my recent obsession with the why's rather than the how's) and to put all my eggs in the Bob Basket like that was just plain dumb. Dumb dumb dumb.
Bob's my Piltdown Man and I'm the Charles Dawson of DM's.
I have to go wipe myself now.

Nothing to do with his influence on the Beatles but just a random thought on Bob.

I was listening to Highway 61 last night and Queen Jane Approximately came on (which is purportedly about Joan Baez). It got me thinking what a jerk he could be back in those days. He has a lot of nerve to write a song like that about her, putting her down. After all, he was the one who treated her like crap, cheated on her, and broke her heart. Just goes to show that you can be the total a**hole in a relationship, but if you write a good enough song about it, people will take your side.

I still love him though, of course. He was arrogant as hell in the '60s but he was only in his early twenties. I don't know too much about his relationship with Sara but I hope he's learned to treat women a little better.

^Agreed Mairi. Can't stand the guy. In his autobiography he calls himself a visionary. His delight in torturing John in the cab scene is excrutiating. He's a tosser.

Mmm, well, I wouldn't go that far.

Quoted from Mairi

Mmm, well, I wouldn't go that far.

Oh no. Dylans' a twat!

George said he's bonkers.

Any genius worth his salt has to be a little crazy.

I don't even know what "worth his salt" means, but it sounded good so there you go.

Quoted from 366

George said he's bonkers.

Oh, that's interesting! Can you tell me more about that? Cheers.

Quoted from Sandra

Any genius worth his salt has to be a little crazy.

I don't even know what "worth his salt" means, but it sounded good so there you go.

OK, here we go. Many moons ago salt was a very valuable commodity. In fact Roman soldiers were often paid in salt (Salis - where the word salary is derived from) so they could trade it. So the expression 'Anybody worth his salt' is taken to mean somebody who deserves what they are being paid.

Having trouble thinking of a genius who isn't slightly nuts. But then, I'm having trouble thinking of anyone I personally know who isn't either!!

Thanks for the history lesson, Blue Meanie!

There does to be a connection between being a highly creative personality and being a little off-balance. I have an artist in the family, and in order to keep the peace I have to give her special dispensation to be... an irritant. ;D

This is not meant to excuse creative people when they hurt the ones that they love. I just think that a number of creative people are not as calm or kind as some others. We all have our strengths... and weaknesses.

Quoted from Kevin

[...] In his autobiography he calls himself a visionary. [...]

So I wonder what he would consider his vision to be? Wouldn't we know by now? The thing that annoys me about Dylan is the way a lot of people seem to speak of him in as though he's some kind of great hero. Dylan made a film in the eighties (anyone heard of it?), for which a documentary was also made. The funny part was when Dylan's agent, or whoever, was telling someone forcefully on the phone that something was not good enough for 'BOB DYLAN!!!' Had a good laugh at it later on with someone else who saw it.

Quoted from 366

George said he's bonkers.

Well he did once.

I can recall things I just don't know where I recall them from.

A book I believe, something like he's harmless but completely off his rocker.

The 'Cousin Bob' lyric in Brainwashed is a favorite.

Quoted from adamzero

I liked what Bob had to say about Paul. Coming from Bob, well, that show's you where Paul really ranks--no matter what detractors may say. Thanks for the link, Sandra.

BTW, there's a good bootleg of Bob and George doing "Yesterday" which some have called a send-up or a joke. I think it's a fairly serious version, with Dylan really singing it (maybe thinking of using it on "Self-Portrait"). I also think it's a great adaptation that someone alt-country flavored should try out.

Course I can't hear Bob doing "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" but who knows--maybe he could pull it off.

yes, i have that bootleg of bob and George singing yesterday! its really good! do you know when it was from? possibly the basement tapes? are there anymore covers that bob done of the beatles?

I know the beatles sang "blowin in the wind", "positvly forth street" from dylans list! they are cool! not too clear though!

I think thats really cool what Bob said about McCartney, i always got the impression that Bob didn't respect McCartney as i don't think he has ever played with him? he has with george and stuff so assumed he was closer with him which is probably true, i just don't see bob to be one of those people who likes Pauls ballad songs!

Quoted from McLennon

I think thats really cool what Bob said about McCartney, i always got the impression that Bob didn't respect McCartney as i don't think he has ever played with him? he has with george and stuff so assumed he was closer with him which is probably true, i just don't see bob to be one of those people who likes Pauls ballad songs!

I think that had more to do with Paul's decision not to surround himself with superstars post breakup. And George had hung out with Bob prior to the split. I may be wrong, but I don't think John did anything with Dylan (?)

Quoted from Kevin

I think that had more to do with Paul's decision not to surround himself with superstars post breakup. And George had hung out with Bob prior to the split. I may be wrong, but I don't think John did anything with Dylan (?)

thats a true point, I always just think bob and john did something after the car scene and similar styles but maybe they didn't perform together! obviously george had the travelling wilbury's!
I saw that in some paul interview a few days back that when Paul had formed wings he didn't want a group of famous people which would have been too easy or something, and wanted just decent people who were less known! i think he made a wise choice on that one!

Quoted from McLennon

thats a true point, I always just think bob and john did something after the car scene

You mean in '66? Poor old John - I think the thought of doing anything with Bob would have mortified him. I think John was in awe of him, and scared shitless. Bob would have torn him to shreds.
There's that scene in the Dylan movie (the name escapes me) when he's in the room with Donovan, and he's pretty merciless towards him. I think he regarded them (rightly or wrongly) as imitatators and was rather contemptious of them

Quoted from Kevin

You mean in '66? Poor old John - I think the thought of doing anything with Bob would have mortified him. I think John was in awe of him, and scared shitless. Bob would have torn him to shreds.
There's that scene in the Dylan movie (the name escapes me) when he's in the room with Donovan, and he's pretty merciless towards him. I think he regarded them (rightly or wrongly) as imitatators and was rather contemptious of them

in "don't look back"? i have got that, i don't remember him mentioning the beatles, or maybe actually, during an interview!
the only simulairty would have to be norwegian wood/fourth time round and i'm a loser!

Quoted from McLennon

in "don't look back"? i have got that, i don't remember him mentioning the beatles, or maybe actually, during an interview!
the only simulairty would have to be norwegian wood/fourth time round and i'm a loser!

No sorry, I meant he was merciless towards Donovan. Knowing Bob, and reading how John was so nervous about meeting Dylan in that cab (he was sure Dylan was setting him up) that it wouldn't have gone well.
Do you really think those songs are the only ones that are similar? I hear many more. John changed the way he sang - lowering his voice - in a bid to be Dylanish. He wore a Bob Dylan hat. Girl, Help!, You've Got To Hide Your Love Away ( a real showcase for John's growly Dylan-voice)

Quoted from McLennon

I saw that in some paul interview a few days back that when Paul had formed wings he didn't want a group of famous people which would have been too easy or something, and wanted just decent people who were less known! i think he made a wise choice on that one!

I know that Paul said that but I still think it's crap. He didn't want anyone taking the focus away from him. Whereas George was quite happy to sit back and be the sideman at times, Paul would never have been happy with that. Even in The Beatles! Witness how out of place and uncomfortable he looks on Concert For George because he's not the main man.

I don't agree with that assessment at all. I think it would have looked ridiculous for Paul to put together some kind of super group right after the demise of the Beatles. George at least waited many years before taking that leap so it worked better. And even then it was more of a novelty act or something. I think Paul would be more than willing to share the spotlight if he found another partner he could fit with. I don't think it's so easy for him to go from the type of working relationship he had with John, George and Ringo to something subpar. He did try something with Elvis Costello. That worked out fairly good for both of them. At any rate, I think it's rough being a Beatle and NOT being the center of attention. Especially for Lennon or McCartney. You notice John was never into the super group thing much either. Other than for a joke. George was the quiet one, so of course it was easier for him to blend.

Also, I don't think he felt out of place because he wasn't the center of attention at the Concert for George. I think that had more to do with tensions from past relationships and things like that. He was pretty laid back and supportive. I mean, stick Paul McCartney on a piano so Clapton can showcase himself? I think he handled it pretty well. And another thing about the concert and Dylan. Why are people getting on Dylan for not appearing? He did his own tribute during his show at Madison Square Garden. He sang Something and spoke about his friend. I mean, does he have to go make a public appearance to show his respects? How do we know what he did in private? None of the Harrison family seemed to be offended about it. It was all Clapton's doing anyway. It was his way to make himself feel better. How many of them or even Beatles showed up to the Lennon tribute?

Wait a minute. I'm confused. Is it the wake that Paul didn't go to, or Concert for George, or both? Or does the concert count as a wake? None of the wakes I've gone to were like that.

Quoted from Mairi

Wait a minute. I'm confused. Is it the wake that Paul didn't go to, or Concert for George, or both? Or does the concert count as a wake? None of the wakes I've gone to were like that.

Bob didn't go to The Wake (Concert For George).

I somehow don't think George had a conventional wake Mairi.

The Concert was basically a 'wake'.

Quoted from Sandra

I don't agree with that assessment at all. I think it would have looked ridiculous for Paul to put together some kind of super group right after the demise of the Beatles. George at least waited many years before taking that leap so it worked better.

The personel on All Things Must Pass:
� Guitars: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Dave Mason, Peter Frampton
� Bass guitar: Klaus Voorman, Carl Radle
� Orchestral arrangements: John Barham
� Keyboards: Gary Wright, Bobby Whitlock, Billy Preston, Gary Brooker
� Drums and percussion: Ringo Starr, Jim Gordon, Alan White, Phil Collins, Ginger Baker
� Pedal steel guitar: Pete Drake
� Tenor saxophone: Bobby Keys
� Trumpet: Jim Price
� Rhythm guitars and percussion: Badfinger
� Fender Rhodes and backing vocals ("I Live for You") and ("My Sweet Lord", 2000 version): Dhani Harrison
� Tambourine ("My Sweet Lord", 2001 version): Ray Cooper
� Additional lead vocals ("My Sweet Lord", 2001 version): Sam Brown
and the shadow presence of Dylan.

Plastic Ono Band was a supergroup. and the personel for Imagine:
John Lennon: Guitars, piano, harmonica, whistling, vocals.
George Harrison: Guitars, slide guitar, dobro.
Tom Evans (Badfinger): Guitar.
Joey Badfinger: Acoustic guitar.
Tommy Badfinger: Acoustic guitar.
Rod Linton: Guitars.
Joey Molland (Badfinger): Guitars.
John Tout (of Renaissance): Piano (erroneously credited with guitar).
Ted Turner: Guitar.
Klaus Voormann: Bass guitars, double bass.
Nicky Hopkins: Piano, electric piano.
John Barham: Harmonium, Keyboards, Vibraphone.
Alan White: Drums, percussion.
Michael Pinder: Percussion.
Jim Gordon: Drums, percussion.
Jim Keltner: Drums, percussion.
J&P Duo Group: Backing vocals.
King Curtis: Saxophones.

Paul's approach was definately different to the others. No one considered them surrounding themselves with topnotch names as ridiculous. I can't begin to guess Paul's motives for this. But I would hazard a guess that by 1971 his name was mud (unfairly of course) and he may have found his own company more congenial than musicians who regarded Lennon and Harrison as "cool to be seen with."

Quoted from BlueMeanie

I know that Paul said that but I still think it's crap. He didn't want anyone taking the focus away from him. Whereas George was quite happy to sit back and be the sideman at times, Paul would never have been happy with that. Even in The Beatles! Witness how out of place and uncomfortable he looks on Concert For George because he's not the main man.

Well I would agree with Paul even if he didn't want the focus taken off him, i respect him enough to think he should deserve much focus on him, I mean yes its good to work with others but i agree with sandra, it would have been too much of a leap to go streight in with others! and he done stuff with jackson and many famous people but do you think Paul would have had as good a songs on his albums or taken the same route of creativeness if he had others along side him! His albums show his thinking and contribution, had other famous stars helped on alot of his stuff it could have ruined it! I think having the band like he does now with rusty and abe shows alot more excitement and creativeness then it would do anyway with him along side clapton or someone!

Quoted from McLennon

, I mean yes its good to work with others but i agree with sandra, it would have been too much of a leap to go streight in with others!

But John and George did and made what are generally considered the best works of their solo careers. Paul didn't and made McCartney and Wild Life.

Quoted from Kevin

The personel on All Things Must Pass:
� Guitars: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Dave Mason, Peter Frampton
� Bass guitar: Klaus Voorman, Carl Radle
� Orchestral arrangements: John Barham
� Keyboards: Gary Wright, Bobby Whitlock, Billy Preston, Gary Brooker
� Drums and percussion: Ringo Starr, Jim Gordon, Alan White, Phil Collins, Ginger Baker
� Pedal steel guitar: Pete Drake
� Tenor saxophone: Bobby Keys
� Trumpet: Jim Price
� Rhythm guitars and percussion: Badfinger
� Fender Rhodes and backing vocals ("I Live for You") and ("My Sweet Lord", 2000 version): Dhani Harrison
� Tambourine ("My Sweet Lord", 2001 version): Ray Cooper
� Additional lead vocals ("My Sweet Lord", 2001 version): Sam Brown
and the shadow presence of Dylan.

Plastic Ono Band was a supergroup. and the personel for Imagine:
John Lennon: Guitars, piano, harmonica, whistling, vocals.
George Harrison: Guitars, slide guitar, dobro.
Tom Evans (Badfinger): Guitar.
Joey Badfinger: Acoustic guitar.
Tommy Badfinger: Acoustic guitar.
Rod Linton: Guitars.
Joey Molland (Badfinger): Guitars.
John Tout (of Renaissance): Piano (erroneously credited with guitar).
Ted Turner: Guitar.
Klaus Voormann: Bass guitars, double bass.
Nicky Hopkins: Piano, electric piano.
John Barham: Harmonium, Keyboards, Vibraphone.
Alan White: Drums, percussion.
Michael Pinder: Percussion.
Jim Gordon: Drums, percussion.
Jim Keltner: Drums, percussion.
J&P Duo Group: Backing vocals.
King Curtis: Saxophones.

Paul's approach was definately different to the others. No one considered them surrounding themselves with topnotch names as ridiculous. I can't begin to guess Paul's motives for this. But I would hazard a guess that by 1971 his name was mud (unfairly of course) and he may have found his own company more congenial than musicians who regarded Lennon and Harrison as "cool to be seen with."

I was talking more about an official band type thing. I think it's cool that George and John had their friends play on their tracks, but it's not the same thing. Even when George brought up forming a band again after playing for him John thought it was a bad idea. He said he was embarrassed for him for even thinking he would consider such a move. So it's a different thing being in an actual band together. I think Paul wanted a band thing with consistent members. That's what made him feel comfortable and that's what he did.

I think Paul basically wanted bandmates who would play what he told them to play. And smile, dammit!

Aww, you guys just won't give Paul a break will you!! ;)

Quoted from BlueMeanie

Bob didn't go to The Wake (Concert For George).

I meant to say Bob in that last post, but I think everyone knew that right?

Anyway, now that I know that the Concert was considered George's wake, I can't really get too upset with Bob. Everyone has different ways of dealing with grief, and Bob especially is notoriously private about his personal life. You can't expect him to grieve openly the way, say, Paul did with Linda, or Clapton did with his son. Not everyone wants to make a big public affair of their losses. You're being a little hard on him. I'm sure he spoke privately with Olivia and Dhani.

You don't ave to live on your sense of greif
As it won't ever die on your own belief

Quoted from Sandra

Even when George brought up forming a band again after playing for him John thought it was a bad idea. He said he was embarrassed for him for even thinking he would consider such a move.

If I understand the situation, John was disappointed that George would ask him to be in a band that did not include Yoko. John said (paraphrasing), "George knows that I don't want to do anything without Yoko." It wasn't the band that John was objecting to so much, as a band without Yoko in it.

One of my regrets is that both John and George did not form a band again after the Beatles broke up (I mean just any band, not a band with both of them in it). George is an incredibly social creature, and he enjoyed it when he played with other players. I think John also did better when he had other people around him than just Yoko. I think just the two of them tended to get rather isolated in their own world. John was a tricky beast to coax out of his shell.

Quoted from Sandra

Aww, you guys just won't give Paul a break will you!! ;)

I have tried not to speculate on Paul's reasons for not using his superstar buddies. I just wanted to show that such an idea was not as fantastical as some people have said.
And I see your distinction between using them for recording and touring.
I think it's obvious that Paul tried to keep his immediate post-Beatle career relatively low key compared to the others. If I were to speculate I would put it down to a loss of confidence rather than a desire to surround himself with yes-men. He got a lot of (unfair in my opinion) bad press over the breakup, and he may not have felt overly comfortable in the kind of company the others were keeping. And I find that very understandable. To his credit his approach worked better in the long run -the quality of his work increased while the others deteriorated.

My brothers (two different ones) sent me this link. Puts Bob and fandom in perspective: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7007232453

Hahaha! That's quite funny!

For the ladies: One very hot photo of Bob.

*le sigh*

Oh that picture is amazing
*melts*

Everyone I know thinks Bob is hideous! o.o
Well, my bestie thinks he was kind of attractive..
But my mum says he's a creep!
AH! He's beautiful<33

Bob must be thinking he's gotten too popular.  So he's shilling for Cadillac.  Check out the ads.  http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/music/2007/10/bob_dylan_is_the_sellouttiest.html

My first question is when did Bob start talking like a transsexual Wolfman Jack?  Second, why the pimp-mobile Escalade of all the cars he could possibly pimp?  At least they used The Clash for Jaguar.

Third, is Bob really just a real-life form of Krusty the Clown--who found that he was ultimately better at selling out than being a "serious" clown?  (Remember the Simpson's episode about the Canyonero?  Bob's driving a Canyonero!  With black leather "driving gloves"!)

Finally, who in the Escalade-buying demographic listens to, or cares about Bob?

This is truly puzzling.

If you like Bob..
Or scrawny people in general

(: pretty divine, isn't he?

Does anyone have many of his bootlegs?
They're personally my favourites.
I have the Bootleg Series 1-7 and the Basement Tapes
Along with various unreleased songs
Sooooooooo dear to me (:

Quoted Text

I gave her my heart but she wanted my soul

Quoted Text

All I can do is be me, whoever that is.

Dylan's bootlegs are great. Bootleg series volume 4- the version of visions of johanna is soooo awesome. I like volume six but I think the song choice could have been improved. I love dylan more than anything and all my friends just don't understand.

Oh yes. Every bootleg I hear..They're all so amazing.
My father always told me the Basement Tapes were horrible..
..I think they are pleasant as can be! :]

The Basement Tapes are about the loosest and unself-counscious you can ever hear Dylan. Garth's organ is pretty cool throughout. Too bad these two couldn't get together to make a record for old times. "Crash on the Levee" is a perfect example: the version on Greatest Hits II is very respectable, if not austere, but the version on Basement Tapes is goofy and downright spooky at the same time. Some blues phantoms were visiting Big Pink.

I think I must be one of the only people in the world who likes the Dylan album from 1973. I think his version of Big Yellow Taxi is great.

Dylan has so many Bootlegs around, is quite amazing at times!

What do you guys think of his 1978 release Street Legal?

I like his version of "If Not For You" :)

Quoted from number14

What do you guys think of his 1978 release Street Legal?

I like "Senor" and "Changing Of The Guard." I think it was first record after 1975's Desire and his marriage had ended in the interim, which perhaps explains the record's mood. It's a patchy album, but more good than bad.

My gf has gotten me into Dylan since she sent me all of her favorite songs by him :)

I just bought the new 'Dylan' box set. Very nice. My only Dylan album!

Live version of "Hurricane", my favorite Dylan song :)

I just got "Modern Times" from the library and bunged it on my walkman (how 21st century am I.) It's ok, funny in places, but my initial thoughts are that it's dissapointing. But then again I suppose he has the same dilema (sp) as Macca - he's already changed the course of popular culture once and nothing is going to match that.

Quoted from Kevin

But then again I suppose he has the same dilema (sp) as Macca - he's already changed the course of popular culture once and nothing is going to match that.

Bloody good point. It's late, and I shall respond more tomorrow, but that's possibly a thread in the making!

OMG!!!!!! I'm going to see Dylan in May! I waited in line for four hours to get tickets, but it was worth it!!! They are great tickets, too- sixth row!

Sorry for my over-use of exclamation points but I'm just soooooo excited!

Quoted from Kevin

But then again I suppose he has the same dilema (sp) as Macca - he's already changed the course of popular culture once and nothing is going to match that.

Yeah, and he's trapped by now long preconceived notions of what a "Dylan" record is supposed to be like. Everybody thinks "Blonde On Blonde" or "Freewheelin'." He's stuck with the public image he had at the time he made his biggest impact, and the same is true of The Beatles of course: whenever newspapers over here do a story about them, it's the 1964 image, complete with "moptop" cliche that's most likely to be rolled out.

Quoted from Mairi

OMG!!!!!! I'm going to see Dylan in May! I waited in line for four hours to get tickets, but it was worth it!!! They are great tickets, too- sixth row!

Sorry for my over-use of exclamation points but I'm just soooooo excited!

Hey, tell me how that is (:
I've wanted to see Bob for SO long now ):

My favorite solo-artist, I'm going to a concert with him 26. May :D

Quoted from dabbik

My favorite solo-artist, I'm going to a concert with him 26. May :D

you make it sound like you know him personally. :P

Oh dear, I think this may be the gig that Mairi went to.

Quoted from BlueMeanie

Oh dear, I think this may be the gig that Mairi went to.

Sorry, Mairi: that review's so badly written that the writer has made his own competence more the issue than he has the substance of what he's written. I've taken it down. I was just wondering if anybody had seen Dylan anywhere lately and what they'd thought of the performance. :)

Well, I thought he was great. The guy who wrote the review obviously wasn't a big Dylan fan because he would have known that Dylan always changes up his songs when playing them in concerts. Also I was glad he didn't do the whole "Hey how ya doin, you're a great audience!" thing. He doesn't care how Halifax is doing, we know he doesn't care, so why pretend otherwise?

I hadn't bothered to read the whole thread, of course, or I wouldn't have posted such a poorly written piece of journalese in the first place. The writer was parroting the usual conventional banalities about Dylan's live shows, and after reading it I wondered what non-parrots not writing semi-literate hackwork for pay made of Dylan these days. The link's here:

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Columnists/9006883.html

Glad to hear Leonard Cohen's still performing.

I adore Bob a.k.a Robert.
He's Amazing.

Great pic of him. Gah! So cute!!

A couple of my favorite Dylan photos of the mid sixties. Not sure where the second one came from:

I love his just woke up look. Which he pretty much always has. It works for him though.

Quoted from Sandra

I love his just woke up look. Which he pretty much always has.

;D

I hadn't thought of it that way: great point.

I've never seen a picture of Bob where he looks like he's had a decent night's sleep. 8)

omg.
bob is amazing. (second time to say it)
i love him just as mich as The Beatles.
They should of done some songs together...
man, that would have been great.

Quoted from Sandra

Haven't seen that one before; thanks. Love the Lou Reed shades on the guy in the center right. :)

Quoted from Sandra

put em' up, put em' up! ;D

The guitar dwarfs him. He must be a tiny guy!

Quoted from Geoff

Haven't seen that one before; thanks. Love the Lou Reed shades on the guy in the center right. :)

I believe that's none other than Donovan Leitch. And the blond looks like Mary (Paul is in the background, don't know where Peter is.) Must be from Newport Folk Festival--Bob's got his "dukes" up.

IMDB says Bob is five-seven and a half. I'd say that half is in his boots. Otherwise that sounds about right.

IMDB says Robbie Robertson is 6'1" and Van Morrison is 5'5" (poor Van, having to stretch . . .)

Compare the picture from the Last Waltz: http://www.van-morrison.com/images/thelastwaltz.jpg

Just for scale: Neil Diamond is 5'11".

So Bob is ginormous, just not height-wise.

Quoted from adamzero

I believe that's none other than Donovan Leitch. And the blond looks like Mary (Paul is in the background, don't know where Peter is.) Must be from Newport Folk Festival--Bob's got his "dukes" up.

IMDB says Bob is five-seven and a half. I'd say that half is in his boots. Otherwise that sounds about right.

IMDB says Robbie Robertson is 6'1" and Van Morrison is 5'5" (poor Van, having to stretch . . .)

Compare the picture from the Last Waltz: http://www.van-morrison.com/images/thelastwaltz.jpg

Just for scale: Neil Diamond is 5'11".

So Bob is ginormous, just not height-wise.

Thanks for the info! Is that Bobby Neuwirth in the upper right?

My friend always calls Van Morrison a leprechaun. For obvious reasons. It always amazes me that that amazing soulful voice comes out of that little funny looking white guy.

There are some pretty small guys up on that stage, yet bigger than life. Didn't know Robbie Robertson was so tall. Must be that fresh Canadian air!

Paul Simon is 5'3. When Woody Allen cast him in Annie Hall, he said it was because he wanted to lose the girl to a guy who was shorter than him.

That's funny. I love Woody Allen.

It would be weird to meet someone like that and be taller than them.
Bob and lil' Paul. Wonder what they're singing??

Another cool pic.
Look how thrilled Neil is chatting with his hero.

I think it would be weird to meet one of your musical idols and be taller than them. It just doesn't seem right, you know? Especially if they were a male and you were female.

Quoted from adamzero

I believe that's none other than Donovan Leitch. And the blond looks like Mary (Paul is in the background, don't know where Peter is.) Must be from Newport Folk Festival--Bob's got his "dukes" up.

Thanks; I hadn't even thought about who it might be, but this is Donovan from Top Of The Tops:

... and another good mid sixties shot of Bob (Blonde On Blonde period, I'll bet), still looking sleep deprived:

Ha ha! This is funny. I never realized how often Bob looked sleep deprived in his photos. Now I'm going to think about that every time I see a picture of him. Guess he got a lot of lovin'.

I LOVE that picture of Bob. Beautiful. And man does Donovan look just like his daughter. Or the other way around. But you know what I mean. Whatever became of her anyway? She was pretty popular in the eighties. Oh well.

Donovan has a daughter? Who is she?

Ione Skye:

The only movie I remember her from at the moment is River's Edge. Which was a brilliant movie.

Oh wait, she was in Say Anything too with John Cusack. She's his radio girl. You know the scene right?

oh that movie rocks! She was pretty good in it.

I'm not sure "sleep-deprived" adequately describes Dylan during the 1966 period.  Strung out (on heroin, mandrax, who knows . . . .) seems more accurate.  Some of the film clips from "No Direction Home" show the guy totally effed up.  It's a shame drugs got hold of him.

Just think of the inspirational songs he could have written.  "How many roads must a man walk down" and stuff like that.  Something to raise us up.  Real anthems, not navel-gazing introspective paeans about his "conscious" exploding ("Visions of Johanna").

For crying out loud, he didn't even write a song about the assassination of Martin Luther King, but he writes laments for George Jackson, Hurricane Carter and Joey Gallo (and portrays them as no less than saints).   I mean, what's wrong with this picture?

Quoted from adamzero

I'm not sure "sleep-deprived" adequately describes Dylan during the 1966 period.  Strung out (on heroin, mandrax, who knows . . . .) seems more accurate.  Some of the film clips from "No Direction Home" show the guy totally effed up.  It's a shame drugs got hold of him.

Just think of the inspirational songs he could have written.  "How many roads must a man walk down" and stuff like that.  Something to raise us up.  Real anthems, not navel-gazing introspective paeans about his "conscious" exploding ("Visions of Johanna").

For crying out loud, he didn't even write a song about the assassination of Martin Luther King, but he writes laments for George Jackson, Hurricane Carter and Joey Gallo (and portrays them as no less than saints).   I mean, what's wrong with this picture?

You share Joan Baez's and a million or so fans same frustrations. I don't think the drugs had anything to do with Bob's non-involvment in certain movements. He was very aware of what he was doing. Or not doing.

Thanks for the response. Course I'm halfway kidding. I love "Visions of Johanna" even if Bob uses conscious instead of consciousness. I guess it wouldn't fit the line.

But I do think drugs warped his sensibility and limited his range of topics (maybe he went Christian to expand his range?)

Drugs tend to make everything about "me"; and I think that's been pretty much the trajectory of his life and career. Although classics do come through: "Jokerman" or "Blind Willie McTell."

I always thought it was his conscience that was exploding.

You're right, Mairi. Bobdylan.com does say "conscience." But it doesn't make sense like "conscious" or "consciousness" exploding for me.

Is the speaker's vision of right and wrong (conscience) exploding? I guess you could make a good argument for that since his love for the unattainable Johanna is keeping him from being honest with Louise (and her lover so entwined--maybe himself). Or maybe being with Louise is exploding his conscience when he knows the right one for him is Johanna.

But I like the idea of fish truck loads/conscious explodes because his longing for Johanna seems to be shattering all objective points of reference and taking him inside to the subjective world where Johanna is his Fairie Queen.

Dylan�s Poetic Pause in Hollywood on the Way to Folk Music Fame

By JULIE BOSMAN
Published: August 15, 2008
New York Times

Barry Feinstein, the rock �n� roll photographer, was digging through his archives last year when he came across a long-forgotten bundle of pictures, dozens of dark, moody snapshots of Hollywood in the early 1960s.

A fan crouches on Sophia Loren's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, from a book of photos featuring poems by Bob Dylan.

And tucked next to the photographs was a set of prose poems, written around the same time by an old friend: Bob Dylan.

�It was the lost manuscript,� Mr. Feinstein recalled in a telephone interview from his home in Woodstock, N.Y. �Everybody forgot about it but me.�

The poems were so lost that Mr. Dylan, when told of the discovery, had forgotten that he had written them. (In his defense, it was the �60s.)

But after languishing in storage for more than 40 years, the text and photographs will be published in November in a collection titled �Hollywood Foto-Rhetoric: The Lost Manuscript.�

It is the latest installment in Mr. Dylan�s seemingly never-ending body of work, which includes more than 50 albums, a critically acclaimed autobiography and a recently published collection of arty sketches called �Bob Dylan: The Drawn Blank Series.�

The new book, to be published by Simon & Schuster, includes more than 75 of Mr. Feinstein�s photographs and 23 of Mr. Dylan�s prose poems, which are each marked alphabetically to correspond to a photo.

The book was created during a period in the 1960s when Mr. Feinstein was a 20-something �flunky� at a movie studio, he said, having arrived in Hollywood eager to be part of the industry and having landed a job working for Harry Cohn, the legendarily abrasive president of Columbia Pictures.

�I was living in California, in Hollywood, working at the studio, and I thought there was something there journalistically in taking these pictures that were not at all glamorous,� Mr. Feinstein said. �They were really the dark side of glamour.�

He roamed around movie sets, snapping pictures backstage and in dressing rooms, and during off hours he drove around Hollywood with his camera in tow.

The result is a collection of pictures that are sometimes dreary and sometimes tongue-in-cheek, shots of movie props and roadside stands, topless starlets and headless mannequins. In one photo a young woman, visible only from the ankles down, crouches on Sophia Loren�s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a hand pressed onto the cement. In another photo a parking lot at 20th Century Fox, marked by a large sign for �Talent,� is completely empty.

After assembling the photographs, Mr. Feinstein thought of Mr. Dylan, whom he had met before on the East Coast. �I asked him as a joke, �Wanna come out and maybe write something about these photographs?� � Mr. Feinstein said. �So he came out and wrote some text.�

Mr. Dylan, then in his 20s, arrived in Hollywood, examined the photographs and wrote his own prose poems to accompany them.

No one involved in the book can recall exactly when Mr. Dylan wrote the poems, which are by turns sparse, playful, witty and sarcastic. But the words faintly recall �Tarantula,� Mr. Dylan�s book of prose poems (or �Dadaist novel,� as some would call it) that was written in 1966, and they bear a strong resemblance to the �11 Outlined Epitaphs� in the liner notes of �The Times They Are A-Changin,� his 1964 album.

As the �11 Outlined Epitaphs� begin:

�I end up then

in the early evenin�

blindly punchin� at the blind

breathin� heavy

stutterin�

an� blowin� up

where t� go?

what is it that�s exactly wrong?

The �Foto-Rhetoric� poems use similar punctuation and style. In the text accompanying a photo of Marlene Dietrich appearing stricken at Gary Cooper�s funeral in 1961, Mr. Dylan wrote: �t dare not ask your sculpturer�s name/with glance back hooked, time�s hinges halt.�

After the photos and text were pulled together into a rough manuscript, Mr. Dylan and Mr. Feinstein took it to a publisher, Macmillan, where executives expressed interest but were afraid that the pictures would bring a lawsuit from the studio.

So the manuscript was put aside, and Mr. Feinstein kept it for more than four decades in his vast collection of photographs, books and other papers.

�I knew it was an important document,� he said. �So I kept it in the back of my head all that time.�

Mr. Feinstein went on to develop a close collaboration with Mr. Dylan. He shot the cover photo for �The Times They Are A-Changin,� and dozens of photos of Mr. Dylan throughout the years.

Through his manager, Jeff Rosen, Mr. Dylan declined to comment on the book, and he is not expected to promote it.

But at 67, Mr. Dylan is just as prolific as ever, writing, touring and releasing albums. Just this week, he performed in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, and in October he is expected to release another collection of songs, �Tell Tale Signs: The Bootleg Series Vol. 8.�

�Hollywood Foto-Rhetoric� is the fourth book that David Rosenthal, the publisher of Simon & Schuster, has worked on with Mr. Dylan, including �Chronicles: Volume One,� his 2004 memoir, which sold nearly 750,000 copies.

�They�re lyrical, they�re funny, they�re singular,� Mr. Rosenthal said of the prose poems. �And everybody looking at them, when we first saw them, knew they could be by no one other than Bob.�

David Remnick, the editor of The New Yorker, said that this fall the magazine will publish two of the poems and perhaps a photograph or two.

Christopher Ricks, a professor of the humanities at Boston University and the author of �Dylan�s Visions of Sin,� an admiring study of Mr. Dylan, noted the contrast between the Hollywood book, in its black-and-white starkness, and Mr. Dylan�s most recent book, the collection of cheerful, brightly colored paintings.

�From the beginning, he�s been a mixed medium artist,� Mr. Ricks said. �He�s never been a straight linear person. He�s had a whole lot of miscellany.�

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/16/books/16poem.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

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