Saturday, September 19, 2009

ROSH HASHANAH: "Tangled Up in Blue" BOB DYLAN


Today (September 19th) is Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

A New Year implies regeneration, and Bob's noted for revitalizing his old songs when he revisits them. Bob's newest version of "Tangled Up in Blue" (this soundboard version is from a July 2009 show) features a sneaky blues that does a chromatic strut up and down the scale. It turns a formerly bitter folk tune into some kinda jitterbug rag. He's also rhyming "Tropicana" with "Atlanta" where we once heard "Topless place" and "Side of her face."

Those thinking Bob's voice is a bit shot will not find that much evidence here; he sings this one with sly enthusiasm and less of a morbid croak. Bob will be releasing a holiday album shortly...of Christmas songs. Which makes about as much sense as putting tinsel on your tegelach. But Bob has always had a unique vision that, over time, is usually proven to be wise and/or profound. So a cheerful Muppet growl of "Here Comes Santa Claus" from the former Mr. Zimmerman, could just be the surprise hit of the season. If it isn't, he may have something to atone for next Yom Kippur.

TANGLED UP IN BLUE 2009 VERSION

6 comments:

  1. Anonymous7:49 AM

    I thought this coming Christmas album was just another Jewish joke.

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  2. It arrives on the 13th. Writer Lane Brown reports:

    Well, we certainly hope you didn't have anything important to do for the rest of this afternoon. Some benevolent person has uploaded to YouTube all of those 30-second samples of Bob Dylan's Christmas album that appeared for a short time on Amazon yesterday, and they are outstanding. As we'd hoped, the Andrews Sisters–style backup vocals and hilarious accordion make clear that this thing is probably intended to confound his more serious-minded fans, like Masked and Anonymous, that Victoria's Secret commercial, and every interview he's even given. Our favorite tracks: "Must Be Santa" and "Christmas Island," which we absolutely cannot wait to hear after a few glasses of eggnog. Enjoy!

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  3. Just when I've written the Bobster off some download like this turns up. I swear he does sound great.

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  4. Anonymous6:06 PM

    Christmas over Klezmer!

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  5. thank you very very mock (much)
    ?

    http://georgeandbetty.blogspot.com/

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  6. Hiya Pix, Gladda see ya droppin' by

    ReplyDelete