Bob Dylan: 1975-1981: Rolling Thunder & The Gospel Years Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm one so I did...

This thing is four hours long and some of it is pretty hard to take.

We see Dylan impersonator Joel Gilbert traipsing about the country apparently also attempting to impersonate a journalist. Unfortunately, it doesn't work.

The use of primitive and amateurish graphic effects during the interviews is unbelievably annoying. A yellow rubber ducky swims across the screen quacking to illuminate Reuben Carter's comment that he took to boxing "like a duck takes to water". When he mentions that boxing was a profession for which he was paid, hundred dollar bills flash before our eyes. As Gilbert asks Carter the deep question "what percentage of boxing is psychology?" the image of Sigmund Freud appears and disappears.

Enough already! And at this point we are only a few minutes into this four hour marathon.

Those true diehards who are able to keep on keeping on are eventually rewarded with some interesting perspectives. Claudia Levy describes theatrical aspects and the staging of the Rolling Thunder concerts. Scarlet Rivera shares in her own words the oft repeated story of Dylan discovering her as she was walking down a Manhattan street with nothing to distinguish her but her violin case and her exotic appearance. Rob Stoner talks about his role maintaining order in the recording studio and on tour...

But it is the interviews from the period of Dylan's conversion to Christianity and its aftermath that are most interesting. Vineyard Christian Fellowship pastor Bill Dwyer describes Dylan as a student in his Bible study class. San Francisco Chronicle writer Joel Selvin characterizes the betrayal felt by many fans blindsided by the Christian content of the 1979 tour. Legendary producer Jerry Wexler speaks to the musical excellence of Slow Train Coming. And back up singer Regina McCrary resonates as she gives glory to the presence of the Holy Spirit in the middle of it all.

Too bad that at the end we must put up with the blather of self proclaimed Dylanologist AJ Weberman. The inclusion of the opinions of Weberman, who made it his business to sift through Dylan's garbage in the Village in the early 70's, adds nothing of value and certainly underscores that this is, in fact, a "totally unauthorized documentary".

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Director & Producer Joel Gilbert weaves the story of this monumental period of Dylan's life and music through revealing insider portraits, exclusive photos, live concert video clips and TV footage from 1975-1981, and with visits to the Vineyard Church, th

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Backstage Passes and Backstabbing Bastards (Book) Review

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(More customer reviews)Al Kooper has been rightly called the "Forrest Gump" of rock and roll. Throughout the 60's and 70's he seemed to turn up as a producer or band member with the right group of musicians until he either checked out of a band (the first electric Bob Dylan tour in 1965) or was thrown out (Blood, Sweat and Tears). Over the course of 40 years he's amassed an amazing amount of experiences that he's collected in Backstage Passes and Back Stabbing Bastards. This is the third edition of his music biography first published in 1979, then updated in the mid-90's, and now reissued covering 1998 to the present. "BP&BB" reads very much like a long-form interview you'd see in Rolling Stone (when it was good) or MOJO (always good). While he's never quite gone beyond cult figure status on his own, behind the scenes he's worked with some legends, most notably Bob Dylan and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Dylan pops up at various times throughout the book and Al's stories about him are alternately revealing but mostly hilarious. It was Dylan who gave Kooper his "calling card" to rock stardom when he overruled producer Tom Wilson and turned up the organist on "Like a Rolling Stone". The organist was Kooper, who'd BS'd his way onto the session and only jumped on the organ (an instrument he couldn't turn on let alone play) when Mike Bloomfield showed up and shattered Kooper's guitar hero dreams just by tuning up. That session would be both a blessing and a curse for Kooper, who got a ton of session work from producers looking for "that Dylan sound" but left Al wanting something more substantive musically. Enter Dylan, who dragged him onstage at the legendary Newport Folk Festival when he went electric. Al sets the record straight on that show and has a much different version of the event than the history books because he was RIGHT THERE. He was also "right there" when Bob went to Nashville to record "Blonde on Blonde". Al's relationship with Dylan has certainly evolved over the years and from his stories you get the impression that Bob's been doing everything he can to run away from his legacy instead of embracing it.

From there, he joined the Blues Project until they imploded. Organized and performed at Monterey Pop, then formed Blood Sweat and Tears until he was ousted by their drummer following their debut album. That might be the end of the story right? Wrong! Taking the phrase "if you can't beat `em, join `em" to heart, he became a staff producer at CBS Records under "Captain Clive" Davis. His first project would be the legendary "Super Session" album with Mike Bloomfield and Stephen Stills. Kooper's work with "Bloomers' is a case of missed opportunities, when things were good with him they were very good. They would produce 3 albums together but Mike could be exasperating to deal with. He only appeared on ½ of "SS" and "The Live Adventures", leaving suddenly midway through both due to chronic insomnia and/or a heroin addiction that eventually took his life.

After leaving CBS, he relocated to Atlanta with the idea of forming his own record label (ala` Phil Walden at Capricorn Records). While scouting local talent he spotted a guitar army from Jacksonville and "Sounds of the South's" first artist was Lynyrd Skynyrd. LS seem to have a love/hate relationship with Kooper. While grateful for producing their first 3 albums (as well as hits like "Free Bird", "Gimme 3 Steps" and "Sweet Home Alabama") his production methods seemed to soften the powerhouse sound they had live. It's no wonder he was immortalized as "Mr. Yankee Slicker" in the song "Workin' for MCA".

The one story I wished he'd expanded on was playing with Jimi Hendrix on "Electric Ladyland". They'd met at Monterey Pop and Al received one of Jimi's Strats as a thank-you for his work. That guitar would prove to be more trouble than it was worth later on.

The last 10 years have been something of a rough road for Al. He became an associate professor at Berklee College of Music in Boston, became a grandfather, and endured a long recovery from a debilitating eye disorder. But he's still out playing live (with his academic colleagues no less!) and his dry wit is still there, can't wait for volume 4!

Highly recommended!

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°A rock 'n roll classic, back in print, updated and revised.°¶One of the funniest rock memoirs ever, Al Kooper's legendary °Backstage Passes° is available again! Al's quirkly life, from would'be teenage rocker, to crashing Bob Dylan's recording session and playing the organ on °Highway 61°, to forming Blood, Sweat, and Tears and masterminding the Super Sessions, it's all here...plus, in this updated version, Al rides with us all the way back to the end of the 20th century. There has never been a more wickedly humorous and honest book by a man who has made such rock history.

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Across the Great Divide: The Band and America (Book) Review

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(More customer reviews)First written some years ago, this book has long been out of print. Now Hal Leonard has finally issued a new revised and expanded edition. It contains all the information from the original book plus updating the information on the members of the band. This includes an obituary of Rick Danko and a brand-new interview with Robbie Robertson.

With the years that Mr. Hoskyns has put into this book, it is likely to remain the definitive book on 'The Band' and on the early years of rock. The Band pioneered not only music, but many other things. Here were a group of young men that were suddenly thrust into the spotlight. Here was a band that put out two of the most significant albums of our time, and then fell apart.

This book chronicles the interplay between the members of the band that led to their breaking up, it talks about the suicide of Richard Manuel, and of course the life that Rick Danko lived with drugs and pain killers until his fatal heart attack.

This is one of those books that is literally a labor of love by a professional writer of course, but also by a devoted fan.

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The Big Beat: Conversations with Rock's Greatest Drummers Review

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(More customer reviews)I really like this book and the drummer I gave it to says it's really great too! It has a lot of tips in it as well. I especially like Charlie Watts and was happy to see his interview in it!

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This much-sought work has been re-issued after years of being unavailable! In The Big Beat, Max Weinberg speaks to fourteen pioneers of rock drumming. Included are fantastic interviews with Hal Blaine, Earl Palmer, DJ Fontana, Levon Helm, Jim Keltner, Charlie Watts, Ringo Starr, Roger Hawkins, Bernard Purdie, Dino Danelli, Kenney Jones, Russ Kunkle, Dave Clark and Johnny Bee. This book has been out of print and unavailable for many years. Hudson Music has located the last remaining supply. Highly recommended.

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Songwriting: A Complete Guide to the Craft Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a very engaging book, and is very enjoyable to read, though it definitely shows its age--the examples only run up through the early to mid 80s. If you are looking for all the latest information about currentstyles, this isn't your book.
Having said that, this is an extremelyinteresting book that has its roots primarily in classic Broadway musicals,and the kind of timeless songwriting that created standards that havelasted for generations (though other genres, from blues to country to rock,are also covered).
There's a lot of discussion of lyrics, rhyme schemes,various themes for songs, and the different structural parts of a song, butnot as much discussion of writing a song line-by-line as Sheila Davis'sexcellent book on lyric writing.
There's also what seems to me to be anextremely thorough section on melodies, chords, harmonies, and common chordprogressions. He discusses ways to fix up a stock melody, and evendiscusses when to use different intervals, and what they accomplish. Ican't compare this with Jai Josefs's book--which I have heard good thingsabout--because that is out of print as of this writing, and I haven't beenable to locate a copy yet.
If you are just looking for a template to useto create songs that sound like what's on the radio, this book isn't yourbest choice. But if you want a broader background which you can then adaptyourself to styles that interest you, this is an excellent book to have.

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Which do you write first, the music or the lyrics? How can you give a song a country sound? How can you make your lyrics "sing?" What is the simplest way to protect a copyright? Song Writing answers these and other questions on the art of musical composition. Musical examples throughout.

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Fingerpicking Dylan (Bob Dylan) Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this book after having learnt 'Don't Think Twice' from a magazine and was very disappointed with the transcriptions.'Don't think twice' was a very poor representation; even a averageguitarist would be able to see it was quite far off the recorded version.Another problem was the lack of good songs - Fantasic fingerpicking pieces were missed out:'Spanish Boots', 'Girl from north country', 'One too many mornings', etc did not feature.Also no words were included.

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Includes 13 of his greatest hits, specially arranged for fingerstyle guitarists at all levels. Titles include Buckets Of Rain, Just Like A Woman, Simple Twist of Fate.

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More Classic: Bob Dylan Review

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(More customer reviews)This is simply a very good songbook, containing all songs from two of Dylan's most highly rated early albums and two of his best albums recorded in the eighties. All songs are transcribed with lyrics, melody, basic chordal accompaniment, a bass line and some short riffs/ intros. Simple chord boxes are also provided for guitar players, though if you want all the correct tunings and capo positions you will have to look elsewhere. A minor quibling is that, as in most Dylan songbooks, there are one or two instances where they got the key wrong (only 'Desolation Row' I think in this one), but overall it's all very solid. Also solid, and not unimportant, is the binding, so that the pages do not start to come loose after some use, as I've experienced with other songbooks. So if you want to play or sing some of Dylan's wonderful songs, you can't go wrong with this one. It also perfectly complements the other songbook called "The Songs of Bob Dylan".

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4 matching folios in one volume, including the albums Bringing It All Back Home, Highway 61 Revisited, Oh Mercy and Infidels. Arranged for piano, vocal and guitar.

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Pedal Steel Guitar Winston/Keith (Music Sales America) Review

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(More customer reviews)There is nothing that compares with this book.It explains how the instrument works, teaches you how to play it, and introduces the reader to the culture of steel guitarists.Plenty of old pictures of the greatplayers, and an appendix of their tunings (as of 1975!).I can't recommendthis book highly enough.

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A simple, straightforward instruction manual, starting at the very beginning with tuning and playing fundamentals. Discography and soundsheet included.

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Bob Dylan: Leatherette Review

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(More customer reviews)"BOB DYLAN Made Easy for Guitar" is more title than description.Featuring 22 songs ranging from the well known (Tangled Up in Blue), to the obsure (Man Gave Names to All the Animals), Dylan Made Easy doesn'tgive any hints or suggestions to accomplish that promise.This is simply asongbok featuring Dylan's material in their orginal keys;however, thesongs are notatated with chords and rythm slashes.The songs themselvesare not necessarily easy. Most songs quite often contain barre chords orwould be easy to play with barre chords or capo's.I was hoping that thisbook would explain simpler, easier, methods to obtain the melodies andrythms that pervade Bob Dylan songs. This book is good is a fairly goodsongbook if your looking for a variety of Dylan material.

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71 of Dylan's early best, arranged for piano/vocal with chord diagrams and full lyrics in a re-release of the classic collection. Includes Blowin' In The Wind, John Brown, Long Ago, Far Away, Knockin' On Heaven's Doors, Only A Hobo, Mr. Tambourine, Farewell, Man, Gypsy Lou, It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding), To Ramona, and Like A Rolling Stone.

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The Traveling Wilburys Collection (Piano/Vocal/Guitar) Review

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(More customer reviews)Wonderful book for the musically gifted guitar, piano or organ/keyboard player. Some musical nohow required not for a beginner, if you can read music all the better. definately worth buying.

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The Essential Bob Dylan Review

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(More customer reviews)This book is terrible. I have never experienced a less accurate book than this one. I am playing guitar 20 years, and bought this book as a gift for someone. It is rubbish, and I'm being kind! I'm contacting the publisher to see if I can send this piece of trash back to them in the hope that they may agree, but mainly just to make me feel better. Would give it negative stars if that was possible. Basically, selling this book is akin to theft!

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Matching folio to album released December 2000, containing over 30 songs including his classics as well as tracks from Time Out of Mind and the previously unreleased hit song from the movie Wonder Boys, "Things Have Changed". For piano, vocal and guitar.

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Bob Dylan: The 6 Chord Songbook, Easy Guitar Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)Advanced players stay away, but this is as good a beginning guitar book to learn to play and strum that there is. The chords are simple, so spending time with this book will really teach you to comfortably play G and C chord songs.

Many of the songs are "dumbed down" or have had the key moved. Purists will be unhappy, as the songs lose a lot of that Bob Dylan funk, but, nonetheless, virtually every song in the book sounds good when played and is recognizable. Plus, for beginners, almost every song can be played with either a Carter-Style strum or a simple 1 2 3+ 4+ strum pattern.

Within weeks, you'll be able to play Dylan songs recognizably and, if you have even been playing for 6 months, you'll be able to play many of these songs on the first run-through.

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The Bob Dylan 6 Chord Songbook allows even the beginning guitarist to play and enjoy the magic of Dylan's music. By learning 6 simple chords you will soon master 20 of his best songs.
The Bob Dylan 6 Chord Songbook does not use musical notation. All you need to learn is 6 chords and their symbols. The chord boxes are printed on each page to remind you, and the chord changes are shown above the lyrics. If you find the pitch of a song outside your vocal range, simply place your capo behind a suitable fret and use the same chord shapes! The strum rhythm or picking pattern most suited to the song is left for you to decide. The Bob Dylan 6 Chord Songbook guarantees hours of enjoyment for guitarists of all levels, as well as providing a fine basis for building a strong repertoire. When you have mastered the first 6 chords, you will want to progress to six more chords with these lessons. These are described within the text and illustrated in a comprehensive Chord Glossary at the back of the book.

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