Jason Isbell sings 5 Bob Dylan songs – Happy Birthday Jason Isbell

Posted on by Egil Mosbron

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_message message_box_color=”mulled_wine” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-quote-left”]When he (Dylan) was at his best he was as good as anybody,” Isbell said. “I think Dylan is a starting point that you will come back to a lot of times if you write songs for a living. I still find myself going back to his catalog and finding new things in it. … With Bob Dylan, I know I’m never going to wake up and not want to listen to Bob Dylan anymore.
–Jason Isbell (2015)[/vc_message][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Michael Jason Isbell (born February 1, 1979) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is known for his solo career, his work with the band The 400 Unit, and as a former member of Drive-By Truckers for six years, from 2001 to 2007. Isbell has won four Grammy Awards.
Continue reading “Jason Isbell sings 5 Bob Dylan songs – Happy Birthday Jason Isbell” →

The Saddest Songs: Walking On A Wire by Richard and Linda Thompson

Posted on by Hallgeir Olsen

Walking On A Wire by Richard and Linda Thompson from the album, Shoot Out The Lights

The clear sound of a marriage falling apart. It is about regret and resignation but no anger, and so much more sad for it. The Album, Shoot Out the Lights was a culmination of Richard & Linda Thompson’s career together.

In hindsight, we see how their records and Richard Thompson’s texts of jealousy, rage, and betrayal lead to this emotionally  document of sadness. Continue reading “The Saddest Songs: Walking On A Wire by Richard and Linda Thompson” →

Video of the day: Hellacopters – All Along The Watchtower

Posted on by Hallgeir Olsen

Today we rock out! Hellacopters does a hard, fast and furious version of the Bob Dylan classic, All Along The Watchtower. The clip is taken from the tv-show “Live på spåret” (Live at the track?) from Swedish television.

The Hellacopters – All Along The Watchtower (January, 2021):

Continue reading “Video of the day: Hellacopters – All Along The Watchtower” →

The Saddest Songs: Marie by Townes Van Zandt

Posted on by Hallgeir Olsen

Marie she didn’t wake up this morning
She didn’t even try
She just rolled over and went to Heaven
My little boy safe inside

Townes Van Zandt’s Marie from his album, No Deeper Blue

Marie is one of the most harrowing but touching songs ever written; if you’re not affected in some way by this tune upon hearing it, then you have no soul!  I’m kind of joking (but not much…)
No other songwriter brings out emotions the way Townes do, and that’s why his songs stand the test of time. It is a late career masterpiece. Townes Van Zandt said the song was inspired by Meryl Streep’s character in the film Ironweed and describes the harrowing plight of a homeless couple who wind up living under a bridge until the woman dies with the protagonist’s unborn child “safe inside her.” Townes Van Zandt performed the song years before he recorded it.

Continue reading “The Saddest Songs: Marie by Townes Van Zandt” →

Great new book: Bob Dylan in London: Troubadour Tales

Posted on by Egil Mosbron

London Calling (The Clash)

Performed by Bob Dylan at Brixton Academy, London, England – November 21, 2005.
Only first verse.

With an even flow of new Dylan books each year, at least 15 in 2020 and 17 in 2019, it’s hard to keep up.
Being a music fan who loves to visit places relevant to music history, the title of this book stirred some interest.
I’ve visited London many times during the last 30 years and checked off a lot “plaques” (and other spots) on my different bucket lists (music is not my only passion).
So did this book bring anything new to the table? Yes, indeed.
Continue reading “Great new book: Bob Dylan in London: Troubadour Tales” →

Bettye LaVette sings 6 Wonderful Bob Dylan songs – Happy 75th Birthday Bettye LaVette

Posted on by Egil Mosbron

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_message message_box_color=”mulled_wine” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-quote-left”]I was in Italy on the same festival that he was on and coming out of my dressing room. Security would not let anyone out of the dressing room, and I said, “Well, why?” And they said, “Because Mr. Dylan is going onstage,” and I’m like, “Well, I don’t care! Let me out of my dressing room!” So I come out of my dressing room and I’m angry because he’s got my band and me and everybody trapped while he takes 50 steps to the stage. So I’m walking along the same path that he is, but on the other side of the room, and I said, “Hey, Robert Dylan!” And he was walking with his bass player and his bass player mouthed to him: “That’s Bettye LaVette!” He walked over to me, took my face in both his hands, kissed me dead on the mouth and walked on the stage. So that’s what we’ve done thus far [Laughs].
–Bettye LaVette (NPR interview, May 2018)[/vc_message][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Bettye LaVette (born Betty Jo Haskins, January 29, 1946) is an American soul singer-songwriter who made her first record at sixteen, but achieved only intermittent fame until 2005, with her album I’ve Got My Own Hell to Raise. Her eclectic musical style combines elements of soul, blues, rock and roll, funk, gospel, and country music.

In 2020, LaVette was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.

Continue reading “Bettye LaVette sings 6 Wonderful Bob Dylan songs – Happy 75th Birthday Bettye LaVette” →