November 23: The Rolling Stones at the Ed Sullivan Show in 1969

In the fall of 1969, Ed Sullivan flew to Hollywood where the touring Rolling Stones were to tape three performances at CBS Television City. With their new guitarist onboard they performed “Gimme Shelter” and “Love in Vain” from their latest album, Let It Bleed, along with their new hit single “Honky Tonk Women.” The performance aired on November 23, 1969 and also featured jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald on The Ed Sullivan Show.

 

That would mark the last time The Rolling Stones appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show.

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November 22: Elvis Presley released Elvis (NBC TV Special) in 1968

I want everyone to know what I can really do
~Elvis Presley (to producer Bob Finkel)

Elvis delivered an incredible performance throughout the television special. His vocal performances were loose and gutsy…
~John Bush (allmusic.com)

Medley: Heartbreak Hotel / Hound Dog / All Shook Up:

Continue reading “November 22: Elvis Presley released Elvis (NBC TV Special) in 1968”

November 15 – 16: Bob Dylan Camera rehearsals MTV Unplugged sessions 1994 (Videos)

Sony Music Studios
New York City, New York
15–16 November 1994
Camera rehearsals for MTV Unplugged taping sessions

  • Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar)
  • Bucky Baxter (pedal steel guitar & electric slide guitar)
  • John Jackson (guitar)
  • Brendan O’Brien (keyboards & guitar)
  • Tony Garnier (bass)
  • Winston Watson (drums & percussion)

Amazon about the CD release:
THE RARE REHEARSAL RECORDINGS FOR THE CLASSIC DYLAN UNPLUGGED BROADCAST MTV s ever popular Unplugged series had been running more than five years before Bob Dylan a troubadour almost custom made to fit the program s format – agreed to take part. Having already achieved huge success with featured bands and artists as diverse as Nirvana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney and Eric Clapton – amongst numerous others – by 1994 the series was a much anticipated feature in the cable channel s schedules. Dylan had hoped to record a selection of folk traditionals for his episode, much in keeping with the two albums he d released prior to the MTV show, 1992 s Good As I Been To You and 94 s World Gone Wrong.

However, at MTV s behest, he settled on performing a set made up almost exclusively of classic album cuts from his early albums – perhaps a good move in retrospect, as 1995 s Columbia Records release MTV Unplugged album provided Bob with his best sales in years. The CD features the rehearsal sessions for the finally aired program, recorded during the afternoons of 15th and 16th November 1994, and includes some very different versions of a selection of the songs that would end up in the show and subsequently on the album. However, in true Dylan fashion, a number of tunes that were not performed for the actual transmission were also rehearsed and are included here alongside those that were. Continue reading “November 15 – 16: Bob Dylan Camera rehearsals MTV Unplugged sessions 1994 (Videos)”

Bob Dylan film and tv appearances through the years

This is a fun post, a post with some of those moments that makes a “Bob Dylan film” worth watching. There’s no order here, just a listing of the clips I really like.

I have included films that had cinema distribution, not including straight documentaries (yet).

Some of the clips are great concert clips, some are cinematic milestones, some are just funny and some are Bob Dylan in theme and spirit, at least that’s what I think.

And I have included one TV clip, it was just so damn funny, I couldn’t leave it out!

By the way, James Mangold is making a new Bob Dylan film set during the period when he was poised to become folk music’s most important figure. Bob Dylan instead chose rock ‘n’ roll and traded his acoustic guitar for an amp and an electric guitar, it created a huge outcry. Jeff Rosen, Dylan’s longtime manager, is working on Dylan’s behalf with Mangold on the film, which they say has no title yet but has been referred to as Going Electric. We will have to update this post when the film is ready.

Ok, lets start

Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story

I was thinking a bit about this one, “maybe I should have included Scorsese’s Rolling Thunder film, but isn’t it a documentary no matter how “dramatised” it is?” As you can see I decided it should be included, it is a documentary, kind of, and it is a made up story, kind of, with worldwide release on Netflix. And Netflix is the new cinema, right?

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September 10 – Watch: Bob Dylan @ WTTW-TV Studios Chicago, Illinois 1975

bob dylan 10 september 1975

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_message message_box_color=”mulled_wine” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-quote-left”]His presence burns from the video screen. His music bursts with aliveness. Anyone can see he’s being driven by some kind of primal force.
~Paul Williams (Bob Dylan: Performing Artist, Vol 2: The Middle Years 1974-1986)[/vc_message][/vc_column][/vc_row]

GREAT performance from Dylan & his trio (core of what would become the The Rolling Thunder tour band).. They were the last act this day.. the filming was running late & they didn’t get to play before 2 am. Still there is fire in Dylan’s eyes.. and he drives his band through the songs.

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Classic TV: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers VH1 Storytellers 1999

Tom Petty talks about how he wrote his songs, and even writes one on the spot (kind of)! This is episode 1 in season 4 of this classic TV-series. It shows us what a wonderful storyteller Tom Petty was, through his songs and in between. He was one of the nicest guys around, and a very talented songwriter. This VH1 episode gives us Tom Petty at the height of his powers performing to an intimate audience and explaining with humour the inspiration for his songs.

Very insightful, funny and touching, enjoy! Continue reading “Classic TV: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers VH1 Storytellers 1999”