I knew you weren’t a Leonard Cohen fan. Neither am I, but I actually was wondering if there was at least one well regarded poet who turned you off in a similar way.
On a different note I have my own take of a Bob Dylan song that seems to reflect this current time surprisingly well but it isn’t Gates Of Eden which I feel similarly about with you. My choice is It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding) which is also on my shortlist of favorite Dylan songs.
It has such relentless vehemence you can feel it daring time to catch up with it, and time always fails. Think of the scene in "The Sopranos" where A.J. hears it for the first time.
I was once doing a bookstore reading for one my books on Dylan. A person asked if he could play a song as part of the event. I said sure. He played all of "It's Alright Ma." Good, too.
I'm sure that sounded better than me reciting it from memory unaccompanied, which I sometimes do when I'm alone. That's how strong my feelings for the song are.
I'm sure at some time you must have heard the (to my ears) extremely flat acoustic version of Tombstone Blues from the Contemporary Songs Workshop at Newport, 1965. The crowd laughs at all the right times, but it's played like the sequel to Gates of Eden/It's Alright Ma that no one needed and sung like he's reading a shopping list.
It's the day before the electric set and a week before he recorded the version that ended up on Highway 61 Revisited (which is a miracle by comparison - or maybe just a miracle full stop) and sounds like the last hint of compromise and self-consciousness until... Nashville Skyline?
Thanks for the Ferry video. The look on his face , you're right no joke. I wonder how long Gabriel Byrne stared at it until he was able to become its mirror.
Thank you, Greil, for your thoughtful and inspirational response. I’ll remember that the great refusal I want is in the songs already—and that will be—written and sung. Now it’s time to listen again to 1973 Bryan Ferry sing “Hard Rain.” ✌️
I think that you are right about the songs and events of the 1960's and 1970's. It was a unique time and place. The times and music have changed. It can never be recreated and should not be, as you say. Thanks for your honest words.
“409” … “four-speed dual quad positraction 409,” the muscle car that made other muscle cars look like Arnold Stang, was my favorite Beach Boys song for a long time. It was all in the details…and the detailing.
Hello, Greil! this is wonderful. so good just to hear your voice (sic). love/ Joyce
I knew you weren’t a Leonard Cohen fan. Neither am I, but I actually was wondering if there was at least one well regarded poet who turned you off in a similar way.
On a different note I have my own take of a Bob Dylan song that seems to reflect this current time surprisingly well but it isn’t Gates Of Eden which I feel similarly about with you. My choice is It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding) which is also on my shortlist of favorite Dylan songs.
It has such relentless vehemence you can feel it daring time to catch up with it, and time always fails. Think of the scene in "The Sopranos" where A.J. hears it for the first time.
I was once doing a bookstore reading for one my books on Dylan. A person asked if he could play a song as part of the event. I said sure. He played all of "It's Alright Ma." Good, too.
I'm sure that sounded better than me reciting it from memory unaccompanied, which I sometimes do when I'm alone. That's how strong my feelings for the song are.
I'm sure at some time you must have heard the (to my ears) extremely flat acoustic version of Tombstone Blues from the Contemporary Songs Workshop at Newport, 1965. The crowd laughs at all the right times, but it's played like the sequel to Gates of Eden/It's Alright Ma that no one needed and sung like he's reading a shopping list.
It's the day before the electric set and a week before he recorded the version that ended up on Highway 61 Revisited (which is a miracle by comparison - or maybe just a miracle full stop) and sounds like the last hint of compromise and self-consciousness until... Nashville Skyline?
"one thing you won't find inside the Gates of Eden is humor. "
Well Greil I'm with ya there ....
But then again Aint Talking isnt exactly a box of giggles either .........
One of my fave albums of thee year is:
Ghost Dubs -- Damaged
As one reviewer wrote ...
"If David Lynch had ever been driven to dub, it might well have sounded like this"
Stay Safe
Thanks for the Ferry video. The look on his face , you're right no joke. I wonder how long Gabriel Byrne stared at it until he was able to become its mirror.
Thank you, Greil, for your thoughtful and inspirational response. I’ll remember that the great refusal I want is in the songs already—and that will be—written and sung. Now it’s time to listen again to 1973 Bryan Ferry sing “Hard Rain.” ✌️
I think that you are right about the songs and events of the 1960's and 1970's. It was a unique time and place. The times and music have changed. It can never be recreated and should not be, as you say. Thanks for your honest words.
I appreciate your wisdom and experience.
“409” … “four-speed dual quad positraction 409,” the muscle car that made other muscle cars look like Arnold Stang, was my favorite Beach Boys song for a long time. It was all in the details…and the detailing.