 |
| Image by S Flip |
What the DNT did was place a survey online (crowdsourcing) asking folks to name Bob Dylan's worst song. It was a fun read, at times surprising, and worth making a few comments about, which is what I am doing now.
The proverb "One man's trash is another's treasure" came readily to mind when I saw the various songs being slammed. The article begins with "Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts" from Blood on the Tracks. That's one that many fans find to be something akin to a joyride, a story in song that rumbles forward like a fast-moving freight train. If you thought that Lily was long, try "Highlands" at near double the length.
Here are some of the other songs selected for the honor of "worst" with accompanying anecdotes.
About 25 years ago, while on a business trip in St. Louis, I was in a massive karaoke bar with about 400 patrons. Rainy Day Women was the song I selected to sing, not because it gives one the opportunity to showcase silver vocal chords, but because it just seemed like the mood of the place that night. When the horns kicked in at the open, the crowd was all in, joining in on each chorus. As I sang, the MC pulled out some Zig Zags and began rolling a joint which he then pretended to toke. Dylan's best? No, but it is what it was, a raucous "in your face" kind of anti-establishment statement by the Youth of the day. Remember, this was 1966. This was a very different tune from the number one Billboard single that year, "Ballad of the Green Berets."
Wiggle Wiggle
This wasn't the first time we've seen "Wiggle Wiggle" get called out as Bob at his worst. It's my understanding he wrote it for kids, or grandkids. He's just like all of us grandpas. Some would say it falls into the same category as "Man Gave Names to All the Animals." It is what it is.
Gotta Serve Somebody
It's apparent that when it comes to discussions about the songs of his Gospel period, there's a pretty large rift there. Despite the fact that Slow Train Coming won a Grammy, there's a philosophical animosity toward some of the content. Bob himself has played the song 476 times in concert now, right up till just this past month in Germany, Switzerland and Spain.
Must Be Santa
Well, gosh. I love this song. It's just Dylan having fun. The album Christmas in the Heart took a lot of heat when it came out -- see my review here -- but this is the good track. You can decide for yourself here after you watch the video. For those who enjoy the accordion, an underrated later album that I enjoy is Together Through Life. After listening to more than 50 years of Dylan music the title certainly feels apropos.
 |
| Ralph Gleason, helped create Rolling Stone. |
The song "All the Tired Horses" which opened Self-Portrait was also mentioned, receiving an infamous brickbat from Greil Marcus when he reviewed the album for Rolling Stone. "What is this sh**?" And yet, even this unusual Dylan song was resurrected like a Phoenix when I heard Gaelynn Lea's phenomenal rendition during a Duluth Dylan Fest concert a few years back.
* * * *
For the full schedule of events, visit BobDylanWay.com. If you like music, there will be plenty, including an evening with Joan Osborne at Sacred Heart May 23. (Tickets here.)
My favorite "event" is the Bill Pagel archives at Karpeles Manuscript Museum Library. There's always something new to see each year and this year is no different.
Meantime, when you're out on the street... if you see me, say hello.
Related Links
Bob Dylan's Amazing Balancing Act
We asked for the worst Bob Dylan song. You got pretty mad
Gaelynn Lea: Duluth Treasure to National Treasure
Full Duluth Dylan Fest Schedule
ReplyDeleteI Love Rainy Day it may not be his greatest song but the original recording
captures a spirit of camaraderie fun and defiance. For me Dylan so much more
than simply reciting lyrics from a blank page .
I believe this survey had Brownsville Girl as # 300 out of 350 listed! Era these people nuts?
ReplyDeleteDuluth's Hometown Boy, Louis Kemp, will be reading from his new book at the Karpeles Museum next weekend. The book is called "Dylan And Me" and is about the fifty year friendship between the author, Louis Kemp, and Robert Zimmerman. Louis Kemp was the Rolling Thunder Revue Producer and that movie is going to be out June 12, 2019. I do not locate Louis Kemp in any of the schedule for Dylan Fest so far although I heard Louis Kemp was to be there.
ReplyDeleteThis isn't much different than Jay Leno walking out on the street and showing how ignorant the masses are about government or the world. All the songs listed as "worst" are from the most well-known in the catalog. Few would even be able to identify the best songs on half Bob's albums. It's like asking a teetotaler to name the worst brands of whiskey. The only names they could think of would be ones they heard of.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of whiskey, I wonder if there will be some Heaven's Door available somewhere this week. :-)
what's worse than "To Ramona?"
ReplyDeleteSorry I wasn't able to come to DDF this year. I have too much hard travelin' to other places scheduled for this summer.
ReplyDeleteMy last comment was about the Brownsvillle Girl Comment.
ReplyDeleteCyrilla: actually Louis will be reading at Karples Tuesday eve in June, on the 19th.
Hope you can attend.
ed