Whoever it was in 1969 who named the very first Bob Dylan bootleg album “Great White Wonder” may have had a mischievous streak. There are any number of ways you can interpret the title — most boringly, the cover was blank, like the Beatles’ “White Album” — but I like to see a sly allusion to “Moby-Dick.” In the seven years since the release of his first commercial record, Dylan had become the white whale of 20th-century popular song, a wild, unconquerable and often baffling force of musical nature who drove fans and critics Ahab-mad in their efforts to spear him, lash him to the hull and render him merely comprehensible. --- Bruce Handy, NYTimes ____________________________________________ I figured we can start fresh with Bob Dylan. Couldn't resist this photo of him striking a Woody Guthrie pose. Looks like only yesterday. Here is a link to the comments building up to this reading group.
That's an excellent book. Don't lend it out. It'll never come back.
ReplyDeleteI don't plan to let the book out of my sight, rick. Any thoughts on Stephen Oates' The Man and the Artist?
ReplyDeleteOates' book is what I would call a "dramatized" biography. In my opinion you can't go wrong with Joel Williamson's "William Faulkner and Southern History."
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I responded to your email of earlier in the week but fear something went awry.
Thanks for the reference, rick.
ReplyDelete