Very sly rave review. Must read now but b/f I get there, really, how much "sickly hatred" and "misogyny"?! More than anything, Dylan is a complex brilliant songbook of American music.
I think Paycheck slings the guitar low on his body because of his seat. Perhaps he needed a chair with sturdy armrests to allow him to sit and rise on his own. And that made for a bit of a complication when he needed to play the guitar. Which makes me wonder if this was an impromptu performance. Albeit, gorgeous.
I want to say it's Jean Shepherd holding the mic, and yes, the plethora of mid range country stars of the 70s and 80s includes Grandpa Jones without the makeup and even Del Reeves, for godsakes, the very definition of 'mid range' (or more accurately, middling). I used to run past these on either The Nashville Network or CMT or somewhere in that vicinity - I have a vague memory of Ralph Emery being involved in all of these, because of course he was, and they have a strange mix of performers holding on to one last dream and yet only feeling comfortable in one another's presence as the world has passed them by. But yes, occasionally, something happens close to this and you can see in their eyes this moment of "Yeah, that's why I got into this line of work". They do, even the most forgettable of them, seem to recognize genius when it appears - and it does here. And that gives me some sense of affection for them even if I couldn't listen to most of their records.
The audience seems to be at least partially made up of other old country stars. I swear that's Grandpa Jones two seats over in the rocking chair. Apparently it's from something called Country's Family Reunion.
At the risk of being pedantic, I suspect that what happens in that performance at 1:51 isn't what you (and Dylan?) suspect. You write,
"“You can’t change the truth, in the slightest way,” Paycheck sings mellifluously, almost too well, and then, as if he’s put too much beauty into the lines, he stops. You don’t know if he’s going to finish the song. “I’ve tried,” he says with finality, speaking, not singing."
But when I watch the video, I hear him hit a bad note as soon as he's sung that line, he makes a surprised face while someone in the back giggles nervously. He smiles, and says, "I try," apologetically referring, I think, to the bad note. You'll see the woman holding the microphone chuckle a bit, forgivingly.
It's a beautiful performance, for sure, but what you see as a dance step appears to me more as a stumble. Perhaps it begins as a stumble and he dances his way out of it? In any case, I'd invite you to give it another look/listen.
This is excellent. I reviewed ‘Philosophy’ a few weeks back and found it best to read alongside your new Dylan biography, ‘Folk Music.’ They’re mutually explanatory texts—and fun to read together. My review brings the books into conversation. https://millersbookreview.substack.com/p/bob-dylan-philosophy-of-modern-song
Very sly rave review. Must read now but b/f I get there, really, how much "sickly hatred" and "misogyny"?! More than anything, Dylan is a complex brilliant songbook of American music.
The fashionable herd going out of their way to pointlessly trash the eagles all these years later is tiring and lazy.
I think Paycheck slings the guitar low on his body because of his seat. Perhaps he needed a chair with sturdy armrests to allow him to sit and rise on his own. And that made for a bit of a complication when he needed to play the guitar. Which makes me wonder if this was an impromptu performance. Albeit, gorgeous.
God I'd love to hear Etta James singing 'Old Violin'! This is a beautiful essay, thank you.
The book is vile. But that's totally Elvis in the opening picture.
I want to say it's Jean Shepherd holding the mic, and yes, the plethora of mid range country stars of the 70s and 80s includes Grandpa Jones without the makeup and even Del Reeves, for godsakes, the very definition of 'mid range' (or more accurately, middling). I used to run past these on either The Nashville Network or CMT or somewhere in that vicinity - I have a vague memory of Ralph Emery being involved in all of these, because of course he was, and they have a strange mix of performers holding on to one last dream and yet only feeling comfortable in one another's presence as the world has passed them by. But yes, occasionally, something happens close to this and you can see in their eyes this moment of "Yeah, that's why I got into this line of work". They do, even the most forgettable of them, seem to recognize genius when it appears - and it does here. And that gives me some sense of affection for them even if I couldn't listen to most of their records.
The audience seems to be at least partially made up of other old country stars. I swear that's Grandpa Jones two seats over in the rocking chair. Apparently it's from something called Country's Family Reunion.
At the risk of being pedantic, I suspect that what happens in that performance at 1:51 isn't what you (and Dylan?) suspect. You write,
"“You can’t change the truth, in the slightest way,” Paycheck sings mellifluously, almost too well, and then, as if he’s put too much beauty into the lines, he stops. You don’t know if he’s going to finish the song. “I’ve tried,” he says with finality, speaking, not singing."
But when I watch the video, I hear him hit a bad note as soon as he's sung that line, he makes a surprised face while someone in the back giggles nervously. He smiles, and says, "I try," apologetically referring, I think, to the bad note. You'll see the woman holding the microphone chuckle a bit, forgivingly.
It's a beautiful performance, for sure, but what you see as a dance step appears to me more as a stumble. Perhaps it begins as a stumble and he dances his way out of it? In any case, I'd invite you to give it another look/listen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vX_Z_fStWmg
This is excellent. I reviewed ‘Philosophy’ a few weeks back and found it best to read alongside your new Dylan biography, ‘Folk Music.’ They’re mutually explanatory texts—and fun to read together. My review brings the books into conversation. https://millersbookreview.substack.com/p/bob-dylan-philosophy-of-modern-song