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The Last Temptation of Dylan- Watching the new documentary.
slate ^ | Posted Friday, Sept. 23, 2005 | David Yaffe

Posted on 09/25/2005 3:47:51 AM PDT by dennisw

Edited on 09/25/2005 10:11:40 AM PDT by Lead Moderator. [history]

About an hour into Bob Dylan: No Direction Home, Joan Baez—in an interview that will be edited by your PBS station—recalls an invincible young Dylan imagining what they'll be saying about him in the future: "A bunch of years from now, all these (expletive deleted) are going to be writing about all this (expletive deleted) I write, and I don't know where the (expletive deleted) it comes from and I don't know what the (expletive deleted) it's about, and they're going to write about what it's about." Here we are. This documentary comes complete with a Starbucks tie-in, an Apple logo, and a celebrity director's credit. That director is Martin Scorsese, who has surely coveted access to this footage—donated by D.A. Pennebaker, Murray Lerner, and others—having already shot Dylan as the pièce de résistance to his documentary about The Band, The Last Waltz. But before you get too excited about this crossroads meeting, viewer, beware: This project was co-produced by Dylan's manager Jeff Rosen. Scorsese was brought in well after Rosen had already conducted the interviews and approved the material. What will all these assholes be saying about Dylan? In this "Martin Scorsese Picture," whatever the Dylan people want.

We'll take it gratefully, of course. No Direction Home is framed by footage from a 1966 European tour in which Dylan was hounded by the folkie furies for plugging in with the Hawks, who later became The Band. (This footage is from Pennebaker's never-released and seldom-seen Eat the Document.) As the documentary opens, we see Dylan performing the classic rock warhorse "Like a Rolling Stone." The record had already been a No. 2 single, but it was still a rock 'n' roll Rite of Spring, too raw


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Political Humor/Cartoons
KEYWORDS: bobdylan; documentary; dylan; music; poetextraordinaire
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To: Gay State Conservative
Have you ever heard Judy Collins do it? Amazing,IMO.

I have not heard that version. I will try to look it up. Thanks

261 posted on 09/28/2005 7:43:06 AM PDT by Michael.SF. ('That was the gift the president gave us, the gift of happiness, of being together,' Cindy Sheehan")
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To: Skooz

My problem with todays Bob Dylan is his voice. It's terrible either on purpose or from years of cigarettes. His band is always the best and so is the music. I rather listen to him on record than to see him in person butcher his oldies.

The last two nights PBS shows were great. The interviews with his old buddies from Greenwich Village. The England '66 performances were immaculately restored. Play effing loud, baby!


262 posted on 09/28/2005 7:56:46 AM PDT by dennisw (You shouldn't have other people get your kicks for you - Bob Dylan)
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To: buckeyeconvert
I read some quote, don't know if I have it right or not, but in his autobiography from last year he mentions his favorite politician was Barry Goldwater.

You must bear in mind he likes to make offbeat remarks to surprise people so they can't pigeon hole him. He's always been like that

263 posted on 09/28/2005 7:58:34 AM PDT by dennisw (You shouldn't have other people get your kicks for you - Bob Dylan)
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To: Gay State Conservative

I like any Dylan tune the Byrds do better than the way Dylan did it. I like the McGuinn 12 string jingle jangle and Gene Clark's voice and the harmonies with David Crosby


264 posted on 09/28/2005 8:01:43 AM PDT by dennisw (You shouldn't have other people get your kicks for you - Bob Dylan)
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To: dennisw
My problem with todays Bob Dylan is his voice.

When I first listened, his voice was distracting. But, I have gotten used to it and have actually come to appreciate it as it is now. I have come to like his 21st century voice.

Do yourself a favor and buy "Love and Theft." It contains some of his best songs ever. "Mississippi," "Floater," and "High Water" are up there with his best. I'm listening to "Lonesome Day Blues" right now. Amazing. Just amazing. He's never been better.

265 posted on 09/28/2005 8:10:37 AM PDT by Skooz ("Political Correctness is the handmaiden of terrorism" - Michelle Malkin)
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To: Northern Alliance
I think he is one of the greatest poets ever. I'm thinking particularly of songs like Tambourine Man.

"Heeeeeeeeey Mr. Tambourine Man..." < sung w/clothespin on nose> Sorry, I can't get past that.

266 posted on 09/28/2005 8:11:04 AM PDT by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
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To: dennisw
I lovelovelovelovelove Dylan.

I go through phases with his music. Sometimes I'll just pick an album (any album!) and play it for weeks on end.

My latest obsession is the lazy man's approach, currently Disc 2 on his latest "Hits" compilation -- Silvio, Everything Is Broken, Near Dark, and my absolute latest favorite Things Have Changed. It's just too darned good.

I'll buy this DVD.

267 posted on 09/28/2005 8:36:47 AM PDT by AnnaZ (><>Read Hebrews Chapter 11<><)
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To: buckeyeconvert
But, I'm curious to know more about his philosophy. ...

read Chronicals, Volume 1

268 posted on 09/28/2005 8:39:34 AM PDT by martin gibson (I know not what course others may take, but as for myself, give me Ralph Stanley or give me death!!!)
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To: dennisw
I watched most of the 2nd night on PBS - Dylan is hilarious!

The footage from the 60's was incredible . . . Dylan was dissing the press, dissing the leftist peacenik crowd, dissing the "folk" music establishment and even dissing his fans . . . but I don't know if any of them realized it, he was so perfectly deadpan . . .

I found the comments of Joan Baez particularly revealing as to Bob's connection with the radical left - basically she said "he was never with us" . . .

269 posted on 09/28/2005 8:43:22 AM PDT by LikeLight
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To: dennisw
My wife was watching bits and pieces of this and I caught one segment where a reporter tried to get the young Dylan to comment on the Vietnam war.

BD said something to the effect that the question was ridiculus, why would you ask an entertainer about such a complex subject? Entertainers are not equipped to address those types of issues said BD.

it was refreshing candor.

270 posted on 09/28/2005 8:49:37 AM PDT by Pietro
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To: WorkingClassFilth

The point is that the author is hand-wringing BECAUSE Dylan isn't a bloviating, frothing-at-the-mouth-liberal as he no doubt hoped.

And you are wrong about only boomers caring about boomers. In fact you couldn't be MORE wrong. This economy is being driven by boomers. The health care industry, the recreation industry, and; who do you think is buying all those SUVs?

Are you one of those jealous young punks under 35?


271 posted on 09/28/2005 8:52:35 AM PDT by subterfuge (Obama, mo mama...er Osama-La bamba, uh, bama...banana rama...URP!---Ted Kennedy)
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To: LikeLight

Bob Dylan was with the left back in his early years but he never got in as deep and crazy as a Joan Baez. When he wanted out of the protest singer niche, the true believer leftists were mighty peeved. For BD his career and poetry always came first.

I never liked BD until he went to rocking electric.


272 posted on 09/28/2005 9:34:18 AM PDT by dennisw (You shouldn't have other people get your kicks for you - Bob Dylan)
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To: Northern Alliance

Senior year of High school, we had to do a paper on our favorite poet. I chose Dylan


273 posted on 09/28/2005 2:22:04 PM PDT by CharlieOK1 (Have you read my #1 Bestseller? There is a test. -God)
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To: Gay State Conservative
I thought it was interesting that he got his record deal based on the cover songs he was performing at Folk City.

I don't think he wrote a single song on his debut album,
274 posted on 09/28/2005 4:22:53 PM PDT by YankeeFan
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To: Gay State Conservative
I thought it was interesting that he got his record deal based on the cover songs he was performing at Folk City.

I don't think he wrote a single song on his debut album,
275 posted on 09/28/2005 4:39:45 PM PDT by YankeeFan
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To: subterfuge

No, I'm an informed boomer.


276 posted on 09/29/2005 5:55:27 AM PDT by WorkingClassFilth (Do you know Landru, Brother?)
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To: Northern Alliance

She wrote Diamonds and Rust I believe. Pretty good song. Come to think of it She wrote it about Dylan


277 posted on 09/29/2005 6:02:27 AM PDT by ABN 505
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To: Aquinasfan
"Heeeeeeeeey Mr. Tambourine Man..." < sung w/clothespin on nose> Sorry, I can't get past that.

Your loss.

278 posted on 09/29/2005 6:07:56 AM PDT by Northern Alliance
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To: WorkingClassFilth
Bob Dylan = Joan Baez = Martin Scorcese = all the other subverted and, ultimately, wasted talent of my g-g-generation. Nobody but aging boomers will recall this man in the not too distant future

I saw this documentary and developed a STRANGE NEW RESPECT for Bob Dylan. And what did he do that was so horrible? Yeah, he offended the dopey folk song "purists" like that idiot Pete Seeger by playing an electric guitar but is that really so bad? Also, if you SAW the documentary, Dylan did NOT get involved with the leftwing protests. He just played his music and figured it was enough to entertain people.

279 posted on 09/29/2005 4:27:59 PM PDT by PJ-Comix (Join the DUmmie FUnnies PING List for the FUNNIEST Blog on the Web)
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To: dennisw

Bob Dylan : Bringing it All Back Home. That's my favorite. Was that his first electric album? I'm not sure.


280 posted on 09/29/2005 4:30:48 PM PDT by mysterio
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