Bob Dylan Goes Electric
Jim and Greg continue their appreciation of Bob Dylan. This week they are joined by legendary music figure Al Kooper as Dylan goes electric.
Music News
Jim calls Poly Styrene one of the most important female rock figures from the 1970’s - right up there with Patti Smith. And this week, she died at age 53. Marianne Elliot-Said adopted the persona of Poly Styrene after seeing the Sex Pistols play in London. She went on to front her own band X-Ray Spex. They only put out one album, Germ Free Adolescents in 1978, but it's a classic. To say farewell to Poly, Jim and Greg play a track from that record called "I Live Off You."
Bob Dylan
Today is Part 2 of our appreciation of Bob Dylan. During this episode, Dylan plugs in. Jim and Greg discuss how and why Dylan went electric in 1965, and get a first-hand account of his famous, or infamous, concert at the Newport Folk Festival from musician, songwriter and A&R man Al Kooper. Al performed with Dylan onstage at Newport, and he explains to Jim and Greg that there has been a lot of misinformation when it comes to the "boos." He also lent his signature organ playing to tracks like "Like a Rolling Stone," which really changed the game in rock ‘n’ roll.
In the second half of Jim and Greg's discussion with Al Kooper, they focus on the masterful double album Blonde on Blonde, which turns 45 this year. Al shares memories from the recording sessions in Nashville where he, Dylan and Robbie Robertson were joined by harmonica player, guitarist and bassist Charlie McCoy, guitarist Wayne Moss, guitarist and bassist Joe South, and drummer Kenny Buttrey. Al recalls being truly impressed with the musicians, and describes the vibe as much more refined than during the chaotic sessions of Highway 61 Revisited. He compares Blonde on Blonde to a finely manicured lawn. To go out, Jim and Greg play their two favorite tracks from the album. Jim goes with "Leopard Skin Pill-box Hat," which illustrates Dylan's sense of music history and also his great use of humor. Greg plays "Visions of Johanna" which he describes as the quintessential song from the quintessential Dylan album.
Featured Songs
- Poly Styrene, " I Love Ur Sneakers," Generation Indigo, Future Noise, 2011
- X-Ray Spex, "I Live Off You," Germ Free Adolescents, Virgin, 1978
- Bob Dylan, "Subterranean Homesick Blues," Bringing It All Back Home, Columbia, 1965
- Bob Dylan, "Maggie's Farm," The Other Side of the Mirror: Live at Newport Folk Festival 1963-1965, Sony Music Distribution, 2007
- Bob Dylan, "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue," The Other Side of the Mirror: Live at Newport Folk Festival 1963-1965, Sony Music Distribution, 2007
- Bob Dylan, "It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It takes A Train To Cry," The Bootleg Series, Vol. 7: No Direction Home - The Soundtrack, Columbia Legacy, 2005
- Bob Dylan, "Like A Rolling Stone," Highway 61 Revisited, Columbia, 1965
- Bob Dylan, "She's Your Lover Now," The Bootleg Series, Vols. 1-3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961-1991, Sony Music Distribution, 1991
- Bob Dylan, "One Of Us Must Know," The Original Mono Recordings, Columbia Legacy, 2010
- Bob Dylan, "Pledging My Time," Blonde On Blonde, Columbia, 1966
- Bob Dylan, "Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine)," Blonde On Blonde, Columbia, 1966
- Bob Dylan, "Rainy Day Woman #12 & 35," The Original Mono Recordings, Columbia/Legacy, 2010
- Bob Dylan, "I Want You," Blonde On Blonde, Columbia, 1966
- Bob Dylan, "Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands," Blonde On Blonde, Columbia, 1966
- Bob Dylan, "Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again," Blonde On Blonde, Columbia, 1966
- Bob Dylan, "Just Like A Woman," The Bootleg Series, Vol. 4: The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert, Columbia Legacy, 1998
- Bob Dylan, "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat," Blonde On Blonde, Columbia, 1966
- Bob Dylan, "Visions Of Johanna," Blonde On Blonde, Columbia, 1966
- The Black Angels, "Telephone," Phosphene Dream, Rykodisc, 2010
- Superchunk, "Crossed Wires," Majesty Shredding, Merge, 2010
- Bob Dylan, "Moonshiner," ," The Bootleg Series, Vols. 1-3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961-1991, Sony Music Distribution, 1991
- Foo Fighters, "Everlong (Acoustic)," Greatest Hits, Roswell, 2009
Dear Listeners,
For more than 15 years, Sound Opinions was a production of WBEZ, Chicago's public radio station. Now that the show is independent, we're inviting you to join the band and lend a hand! We need your support more than ever because now we have to do all the behind-the-scenes work that WBEZ handled before (like buying insurance and paying for podcast hosting, ugh). Plus, we have some exciting ideas we'd like to try now that there's no one to tell us no!