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.
''Way Down Yonder In New Orleans''"
ReplyDeletewell, way down yonder in new orleans in the land of the dreamy scenes
there's a garden of eden, ah-you know what i mean
yeah, creole babies with flashin' eyes softly whisper with tender sighs
and then you stop
oh won't you give your lady fair a little smile
and then you stop
you bet your life you'll linger there a little while
yeah, there is heaven right here on earth with those beautiful queens
yeah, way down yonder in new orleans
whoo
way down yonder in new orleans, whoo, in the land of the dreamy scenes
there's a garden of eden, you know what i mean
well, creole babies with flashin' eyes softly whisper with tender sighs
and then you stop
oh won't you give your lady fair a little smile
and then you stop
you bet your life you'll linger there a little while
yeah, there is heaven right here on earth with those beautiful queens
well, way down yonder in new orleans
yeah whoo
No doubt these photos inspire such lyrics.
Anyone else ever see this movie about Bellocq?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078111/
I'd sure like to see it again.
Years ago, but can't remember any of it. May have to check it out again.
ReplyDelete