The legend returns to Borgata for Black Friday show
Here, in celebration of what will most likely be Bob Dylan’s final Atlantic City performance before he becomes a septuagenarian next May 24, are 69 things to love about one of the greatest musicians, singers, songwriters, performers, humorists, thinkers, dreamers and — as 2004’s Chronicles, Vol. 1 (Simon & Schuster) exemplified — writers that America has inspired and been inspired by. We could only fit 30 things we love about Dylan in this week's print edition, so don't let the cover image fool you. Here is the entire list of 69 things we love about the 69-year-old troubadour.
1. After performing exclusively on the keyboards for most of the 2000s, he has started playing guitar again. Expect about 4-5 songs with Dylan playing guitar during his Borgata set.
2. He once had Passover with Marlon Brando.
3. Christmas in the Heart — Dylan’s most recent studio album, which came out last October, raised money for charity with all the proceeds going to fight hunger. Time to dust it off for the holidays.
4. John Wesley Harding — Easily one of the most imaginative, spookiest and haunting-sounding albums of all time. Released in 1968 at the height of Flower Power, this acoustic-based record inspired the folk-rock genre that would soon blossom.
5. Dylan turned the Beatles onto pot. There’d be no Sgt. Pepper otherwise. Think about it. [Editor's Note: It was actually the late journalist Al Aronowitz who claimed to introduce the Beatles to Dylan and marijuana. Story goes Aronowitz pulled out some pot to make the meeting between Dylan and the Fab Four a little less anxious].
6. He doesn’t leave his foreign fans hanging out to dry. This year alone he has performed shows in Seoul, South Korea; Istanbul, Turkey; Bucharest, Romania; Sofia, Bulgaria; Skopje, Macedonia; Belgrade, Serbia and Zagreb, Croatia. The dude gets around.
7. There haven’t been just a few or several books written about Bob Dylan, but more like hundreds or even close to thousands worldwide. This includes the latest hailed offering by Princeton professor Sean Wilentz, Bob Dylan in America. Good gift idea for the Dylan fan in your life.
8. His relentless touring around the world since 1988 has caused some to refer to Dylan’s ambitious road trek as the “Never-Ending Tour.”
9. World Gone Wrong — Always prophetic, steeped in old America, and downright funny, Dylan released this solo acoustic album of old (but timeless in their subjects) blues and folk tunes in 1993, following the release of 1992’s Good as I Been To You, another stunning collection of old blues and folk covers showing off Dylan’s fantastic solo acoustic guitar playing and finger-picking.
10. The 1965 album that changed the course of rock ‘n’ roll: Highway 61 Revisited. Featuring the first six-minute single, “Like a Rolling Stone.”
11. Other Firsts — Some would call Dylan’s 1965 video for “Subterranean Homesick Blues” one of the first music videos and his 1985 career-spanning, multi-disc set Biograph one of the first of the modern box sets. Another first: 1966’s Blonde on Blonde was the first double album in the pop music field and the album’s final song, the 11-minute “Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands,” was the first of its kind for sure, taking up the entire fourth side of the set. His 1974 tour with The Band was also one of the first arena tours of that type and scope that America has ever witnessed.
12. In 2000, for the soundtrack album The Sopranos: Peppers and Eggs, Dylan sang the Dean Martin classic “Return to Me.” In Italian!
13. He rapped on a 1980s Kurtis Blow record. Ask him.
14. In 2002, Dylan made first appearance at the Newport Folk Festival since he historically went “electric” there in 1965. And he wore a fake beard and a dirty-blonde wig to celebrate the occasion.
15. For reasons still not understood, some of Dylan’s most brilliant songs (“Blind Willie McTell,” “Nobody ’Cept You,” “Mississippi,” “Series of Dreams,” and “Girl from the Red River Shore,” are mere examples) were left on the cutting-room floor and not officially released on the albums they were recorded/intended for.
16. In December 1960, when Dylan left his home in Minnesota at just 19 years old, he changed his name from Robert Zimmerman to Bob Dylan and accomplished two of his early goals: to find his hero Woody Guthrie, who was holed up in a New Jersey hospital, and to start his professional music career. A year later, his first album Bob Dylan was released on Columbia and he had befriended the sick Guthrie. Dreams can come true. But you got to work hard.
17. He was the subject of one of the great rock docs of all time: the 1967 D.A. Pennebaker film Don’t Look Back. Some classic and hilarious press mockery by Dylan throughout.
18. He made a cameo appearance in a Wyclef Jean video. Seriously.
Plus, Danielle Gomes Book Signing at Cuba Libre, Somers Point Summer Beach Concert Series Line-up, and the Album of the Week.
Rock Art Show at Hamilton Mall Feb. 8-10; Horseback Riding on the Atlantic City Beach
Plus, the Atlantic City Triathlon, the Album of the Week (Bob Dylan's superb 'Tempest') and Drew Toonz.
"We felt that divine intervention came in some place, to put this group together, because this is a group that didn’t know each other. We didn’t grow up together; we all grew up in different parts of the South, different states. And we all came to New York, around the same time, and moved into the same neighborhood, and we would go in the park everyday and play basketball and start singin’."
For the first family of American folk, Ocean City is a traditional stop on a nationwide tour that’s filled with late-night highways, city skylines and crowds of music lovers both new and old.
The musician and artist will make two special Jersey Shore appearances this weekend , including a show at Borgata and an artist reception in Stone Harbor at Ocean Galleries.
How does it feel — to be a Rolling Stone? “Feels great,” says Wood. “It’s an unbelievable thing that’s been going on for this length of time and we’re certainly covering new ground by being the first rock and roll band to be 50 years old.”
Martin Scorsese not only directed the 2010 pilot for HBO's Boardwalk Empire, but remains a very important part of the series set in 1920s Atlantic City, serving as executive producer on the first two completed seasons. He also filmed The Color of Money (1986) in A.C. Dylan, on the other hand...
Plus DrewToonz (Ron Pauly D!) and the Album of the Week: 'The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams'
While Hurricane Irene has everybody signing the wrong words to the 1982 Dexy's Midnight Runners No. 1 hit "Come on Eileen," the following songs have likely come to mind for many in the path of the big storm.
"It was a very exciting deal. Ravi Shankar had asked George to help him because Bangladesh had suffered a huge weather-related disaster. And a lot of people were starving over there and he wanted George to help him. Willie Nelson told me, later, that the U.S. Government made them cut all their hemp fields, which they used for many different things ..."
Tunes, a music shop in Northfield — which is part of a chain of four other shops in New Jersey— participated in National Record Store day on April 16. According to co-owner Anthony Tedeschi, his small staff found themselves busier than ever with record sales.
In the 40 years since Bob Dylan "plugged in" for his notorious electric tour, it's become even more evident how that string of concerts affected the world of popular music. As author Ron Bowman notes...
By Jeff Schwachter AS BOB DYLAN IS ONCE again set to roll into the Jersey Shore this weekend, I got to thinking about the similarities between the legendary performer and this, his coastal destination. What immediately comes to mind is how, like the coastline, Dylan's music has shifted and fluctuated throughout his 40-plus year career. His constant transformations as an artist are what have helped him become such a unique one. From 1963's "The Times They Are A-Changin'" to 2001's Oscar-winning track from the film, The Wonder Boys, "Things Have Changed," Dylan's music has evolved again and again. Yet, like the sand on the beach, the enduring and ineffable qualities of his work remain. Like the coastline, Dylan, who just turned 63 last month, has always symbolized the edge of things -- with one foot on land and the other in the fluid supernatural. His ability to stand between the two for so many years is his gift. Whether he was fusing the writing style of the beat poets with the popular sounds of rock 'n' roll or combining the elements of early American mountain music with the "wild, thin mercury sound" he heard in his head in the mid-60s, Dylan...
This doesn't happen normally as most Dylan fans know. He barely talks during shows except to introduce his band. Why in Atlantic City?
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1. Anonymous said... on Nov 24, 2010 at 09:54PM
“”
2. bobcat214 said... on Nov 25, 2010 at 12:04AM
“RE#64- There is another "kid" song--"Man Gave Names to All the Animals," from 1979's "Slow Train Coming," which is now offered in a lovely, illustrated book with CD. I'm the same age as Bob and am happy to report that my GREAT grand-daughter delights in coloring in the book while listening and dancing to the CD. Yes, pass it on....and on....
Great article! Thanks.”
3. Allen K said... on Nov 25, 2010 at 01:41AM
“Awesome article! Never saw Hearts of Fire before, now i must!”
4. Zachary Thais said... on Nov 25, 2010 at 03:07AM
“Watch Dylan's San Francisco Press conference interview from '65. He's asked whether or not he would ever sell out. He said perhaps someday, probably for a women's underwear company.”
5. Tas said... on Nov 25, 2010 at 10:10AM
“Totally agree with your thoughts on Street Legal. My favorite lyric of all time "If you don't believe there's a price for this sweet paradise just remind me to show you the scars". (Journey through dark heat)
Thanks for the list! So enjoyable and true (I found this article on expecting rain.com this morning) lol”
6. Mark from Rochester said... on Nov 25, 2010 at 10:37AM
“Great article but Street Legal? I'd add New Morning, Freewheelin' and Another Side to the list. I do actually check out expectingrain.com every morning. That's how I found your article.”
7. Phil T. Listener said... on Nov 25, 2010 at 10:45AM
“I have to agree with your selection of Street Legal.
Probably the most critically underrated Dylan album relative to the material.
Hints of greatness similar to BOTT, songs that could be right up there with Idiot Wind, Tangled Up in Blue and Shelter From the Storm are:
Changing of the Guards
Where are You Tonight
Senor
Baby Please Stop Crying
My Desert Island Discs:
FreeWheelin' Bob Dylan
Bringing it All Back Home
Highway 61
Blonde on Blonde
New Morning - also very underrated in my opinion
Blood on the Tracks
Street Legal
Live at Budokan - great arrangements, smokin sax, fiddle and guitars
Oh Mercy
Infidels - another underrated masterpiece
And two extra to sneak through customs:
Desire
Planet Waves
”
8. LJM said... on Nov 25, 2010 at 01:25PM
“Dylan always sucked, he just now sucks worse.”
9. Michael Macken said... on Nov 25, 2010 at 02:09PM
“Excellant article(found on expectingrain.com, yes I check it at least 2 times a day.), we could do with more of the same. Makes a change from the usual lazy stuff we get when it comes to Dylan.Thanks a lot”
10. rebelrivers said... on Nov 25, 2010 at 02:28PM
““Dylan always sucked, he just now sucks worse.”
Idiot”
11. Belle Starrr said... on Nov 25, 2010 at 07:48PM
“““Dylan always sucked, he just now sucks worse.”
Dickhead....
”
12. Paul said... on Nov 25, 2010 at 10:56PM
“Ten Desert Island discs:
1. Blood on the Tracks
2. Time Out of Mind
3. Bootleg 4: Royal Albert Hall
4. Freewheelin
5. Desire
6. Bringing it all Back Home
7. Bootleg 5: Rolling Thunder Revue
8. Blonde on Blonde
9. Oh Mercy
10: Highway 61”
13. Richard Nason said... on Nov 26, 2010 at 12:33AM
“"Dylan always sucked..."
You don't get it, never will and it's your loss...”
14. florence matera said... on Nov 26, 2010 at 02:44AM
“DYLAN HAS BEEN MY HERO FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. HIS
WONDERFUL INTERPRETATION OF HIS SONGS AND HIS SINCERE
BELIEF IN THE PHYLOSOPHY OF THE WORDS AND THOUGHTS HE
PRESENTS TO US THROUGH HIS MUSIC MAKES US ALL THINK.
i CAN LISTEN TO HIM ALL DAY LONG....HE IS A SPECIAL MAN
LIVING IN SPECIAL TIMES.
OLGA O'BRIEN A MAJOR FAN”
15. Jim said... on Nov 26, 2010 at 11:52AM
“Street Legal greatest of all time. Seen him Nov. 14th. What a great show. When he first time during never ending tour he played @ the same venue. GE Smith was the band leader. You could walk right up to the stage. Then Bob was ill and had to cancel his europe tour. Had tickets to see him a PNC in NJ. Thought we would cancel but played. The place was packed and finally Bob was on top again. Heard a new song not out yet. It was cold irons bound. Then Time out of mind release. Stuck with Bob thru good times and bad times. Just like life. He is a champ! A hard working man, what else can you say.”
16. 4thTimeAround said... on Nov 26, 2010 at 01:48PM
“this could be the coolest Dylan list I've read in a newspaper in a long long time and I HAVe seen Dylan like 300 times. Just one question: When is Bob coming back to Bethel Woods? Great venue for him. Especially the small room where Leon Redbone just played.”
17. Paula said... on Nov 26, 2010 at 05:22PM
“Thanks for the list. First time I heard him (1964) He was talking to me.
Can't even imagine what my life would be like without him. He's like
part of my family. He makes me smile.”
18. don said... on Nov 26, 2010 at 05:50PM
“Hey, you forgot one thing, he's a nice guy!!!”
19. oldbobfan said... on Nov 27, 2010 at 08:25AM
“re: #54
you can't get "Hearts of Fire" through Netflix. It's out-of-print. The only ways to obtain any copy of the film are spending a fortune on a used VHS tape through Amazon.com or finding a bittorrent link and illegally downloading a crap-copy.”
20. Aron said... on Nov 27, 2010 at 12:59PM
“or you can rent it from some video stores if they still exist in your area. I rented it before ...several times”
21. Jim Thornberry said... on Nov 30, 2010 at 11:21AM
“One album not mentioned, Slow Train.”
22. Anonymous said... on Nov 30, 2010 at 05:25PM
“Worst concert I ever witnessed and I have been around since he started in the village.Totally unprofessional. He was horse the band was loud and unmixed. A musical performance it was not. Borgata should be ashamed for not offering everyone their money back. He was totally under the infulence of some medication and you could see it and hear it. My kids could put on a better performance. Again totally unprofessional but the Dylan fans just wanted to be with their hero and the worse he sounds the better they like it. My wife cryed as she felt so sorry for him as she was a fan from the sixties and seventies. I felt sorry for the suckers who paid good money to see him.”
23. Rock Turtleneck said... on Dec 1, 2010 at 10:07AM
“Great list, you know your Dylanology. To #15 I would add "Lay Down Your Weary Tune," one of his most beautiful songs. Was recorded for Another Side of BD I believe but left off, and didn't see the light of day till Biograph.”
24. Anonymous said... on Dec 1, 2010 at 11:12AM
“Reason Number 70:
Because Bob will release a new studio album for his 70th birthday in May!
I loved him way back when, but his post 1997 material is the best.
Listen to Bing Crosby, then listen to "Working Man Blues #2" from Modern Times. The most beautiful singing my ears have ever heard.”
25. Anonymous said... on Dec 1, 2010 at 11:19AM
“My kids saw him in 1999 with Paul Simon at Jones Beach, NY. He was amazing. PS was great, too. Self effacing and humble.
The Supper Club (1993) is, perhaps, the greatest live album ever.
Another: The Great Music Experience, Nara, Japan 1994. My wife cried when she heard "Ring Them Bells" in Tokyo, given that this is a song about idols and they were at a buddhist festival for young people. His voice reached unimaginable depths of emotions.
Imagine what awaits us when the vaults are opened up for us! If he considers "Red River Shore" a throw-a-way, imagine what he treasures?
On an island, I would likely not take things that I have listened to too many times.
I would, however, want:
Self Portrait
Dylan
Blood on the Tapes
Mixing Up the Medicine
Complete supper club
Completely Unplugged
Solid Rock
along with Good As I Been To You, Modern Times, World Gone Wrong, Love and Theft, Together Through Life,”
26. Masked said... on Dec 1, 2010 at 12:19PM
“#40 At a 1995 show at Philly’s TLA, Dylan pulled out “Visions of Johanna” for the first time since 1966.
This isn't accurate. He sang Visions of Johannna during the Rolling Thunder Review, in Lakeland, Fl, in 1975. I was at that show and it was a stunningly good. version. Great article otherwise!”
27. Anonymous said... on Dec 1, 2010 at 07:57PM
“I TOTALLY Love Tony!!!!”
28. js said... on Dec 1, 2010 at 11:02PM
“Not Dark Yet,Rita May and Stop Crying are among the best written and performed just to name a few....remember when people used to say they couldn't understand the lyrics....the times they did change and i used to care but things have changed.....”
29. Anonymous said... on Dec 1, 2010 at 11:09PM
“Not Dark Yet,Rita May and Stop Crying are among the best written and performed just to name a few....remember when people used to say they couldn't understand the lyrics....the times they did change and i used to care but things have changed.....#71 he survived a heart condition that got him on this Never Ending Tour”
30. Masked said... on Dec 4, 2010 at 08:03PM
“Slow Train ...Slow Train Comin”
31. Maggie F. said... on Sep 27, 2012 at 07:40PM
“Tempest”