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Dylan Revisited

@dylanrevisited.bsky.social

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Revisiting Bob Dylan's back catalogue one album/bootleg/live record at a time. Visit www.dylanrevisited.com for more. If you like my threads, why not support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/DylanRevisited/membership

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Dylan Revisited @dylanrevisited.bsky.social · 15d

The latest episode of the Dylan Revisited podcast is out now.

Listen now to revisit the peak and completion of Bob Dylan’s protest phase on The Times They Are a-Changin'.

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/d...

The Times They Are a-Changin' (1964)

Podcast Episode · Dylan Revisited · EP6 · 26m

podcasts.apple.com

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Dylan Revisited @dylanrevisited.bsky.social · 2h

What do you think of the Riverside Church performance?

Let me know in the Comments below.

Dylan Revisited @dylanrevisited.bsky.social · 2h

The latest spark is the film that uses the Riverside Church show as a simple boy meets girl catalyst.

Kalb's presence on the real-life Riverside recording reminds us of the more multi-dimensional world, awash with influences and ideas, that helped shape Bob Dylan as an artist.

Dylan Revisited @dylanrevisited.bsky.social · 2h

Again, there are parallels with Dylan's own mid-60s issues that culminated in his infamous motorcycle crash and relatively reclusive existence in Woodstock.

But unlike Kalb, Dylan recovered, reemerged and regained his relevance for new generations.

Dylan Revisited @dylanrevisited.bsky.social · 2h

Kalb’s promising music career was short-lived after a bad acid trip caused him to suffer from severe psychiatric issues.

He all but disappeared from the late 60s onwards, until returning to the spotlight for a Blues Project reunion show with Kooper in 1996.

Dylan Revisited @dylanrevisited.bsky.social · 2h

This trajectory anticipated the electric folk and blues crossover that Dylan later embraced (Kalb was even in the studio for the recording of Like a Rolling Stone).

A simplified version of that controversial shift is, of course, the main narrative driver of A Complete Unknown.

Dylan Revisited @dylanrevisited.bsky.social · 2h

At least Riverside Church had a cameo in A Complete Unknown, unlike Dylan's stage partner on the day.

Danny Kalb went on to play on Phil Ochs’ 1964 debut album, All the News That’s Fit to Sing, before forming The Blues Project with Al Kooper and Steve Katz.

Dylan Revisited @dylanrevisited.bsky.social · 2h

The station lasted longer than Bob and Suze’s on-off three-year relationship.

Though, ultimately it is now most famous as a footnote in the love story that lives on in the timeless Dylan songs that he would write after that first meeting at Riverside Church.

Dylan Revisited @dylanrevisited.bsky.social · 2h

While Rotolo forgot all about it, WRVR-FM, or Riverside Radio, continued broadcasting for another 15 years.

The station even earned a Peabody Award for its coverage of the Martin Luther King-led civil rights marches in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963.

Dylan Revisited @dylanrevisited.bsky.social · 2h

Suze remembers her and Bob leaving for the afterparty “pretty much glued to each other”.

Less memorable for her was what happened to the radio station that hosted the day of folk music that brought her and Dylan together.

📷 Ted Russell

Dylan Revisited @dylanrevisited.bsky.social · 2h

It would also result in Carla being referred to as a “parasite” in a future Dylan song about his breakup with Suze, Ballad in Plain D.

But for now, let’s leave Carla’s good name untainted while the happy couple talk, flirt and get acquainted.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=goi8...

Bob Dylan - Ballad in Plain D (Official Audio)

YouTube video by BobDylanVEVO

www.youtube.com

Dylan Revisited @dylanrevisited.bsky.social · 2h

Amongst all the music, Bob Dylan got talking to Carla Rotolo, a relatively well-known figure in the Village folk circle as she worked as an assistant to the legendary archivist Alan Lomax.

Carla then introduced Bob to her sister Suze, which led to the whole banana leaves thing.

Dylan Revisited @dylanrevisited.bsky.social · 2h

Then they launch into Eric Von Schmidt’s teen rock’n’roll parody Acne, with Dylan singing and Elliott doo-wopping in a deep bass backing vocal.

It's fun to hear the two Guthrie disciples laugh their way through this decidedly un-folk number.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAIJ...

Acne (Live at the Riverside Church)

YouTube video by Bob Dylan - Topic

www.youtube.com

Dylan Revisited @dylanrevisited.bsky.social · 2h

As Kalb and Dylan left the stage at the end of Mean Old Southern Railroad, host Bob Yellin reminded Bob that he left behind his broken harmonica holder.

Later in the day, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott invited Dylan to join his set and mentioned that he now has a new harmonica holder.

Dylan Revisited @dylanrevisited.bsky.social · 2h

It’s possible that this performance caught the ear of another of the day’s acts, Victoria Spivey.

In March 1962, she invited Dylan to play harmonica on a studio session along with Big Joe Williams.

Bootleg vol. 18 will feature two of these songs.

youtu.be/aXnzKHmcKWA?...

Wichita

YouTube video by Joe Williams - Topic

youtu.be

Dylan Revisited @dylanrevisited.bsky.social · 2h

This was a Kalb-penned reworking of Brownie McGee’s Southern Train, which allowed Dylan's friend to show off his high-speed chugging guitar style.

And with Kalb on lead vocals, Dylan spent the song howling away on his harmonica.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN7F...

Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee - Southern Train - 1959 Blues

YouTube video by Scott Johnson

www.youtube.com

Dylan Revisited @dylanrevisited.bsky.social · 2h

Kalb went on to be regarded as one of the best folk guitarists in Greenwich Village, even if he thought of himself as more of a bluesman.

At the Riverside Church in July 1961, he joined Dylan for the rollicking Mean Old Southern Railroad.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ABG...

Mean Old Southern Railroad (Live at the Riverside Church)

YouTube video by Bob Dylan - Topic

www.youtube.com

Dylan Revisited @dylanrevisited.bsky.social · 2h

After Dylan continued his pilgrimage to the east coast, Kalb decided that the troubadour’s life was also for him, later saying “We had so much fun, I dropped out and followed him.”

After joining Bob in New York, he even took guitar lessons with Dylan's mentor Dave Van Ronk.

Dylan Revisited @dylanrevisited.bsky.social · 2h

Danny Kalb and Bob Dylan first met in Madison, Wisconsin, where the latter had stopped on his journey from Minnesota to New York in early 1961.

Kalb was a student at the city’s university but that didn’t last long after hanging out with Bob. 🧵

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Dylan Revisited @dylanrevisited.bsky.social · 3h

Young Bob just loved the ladies

Reposted by Dylan Revisited

SemprePhi @semprephi.bsky.social · 1d

They were once connected, before the Atlantic started forming …

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Dylan Revisited @dylanrevisited.bsky.social · 1d

No way - that's amazing. Just looked it up - the Scottish Highlands as well. Thanks for the tip.

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Dylan Revisited @dylanrevisited.bsky.social · 1d

A song that Bob Dylan recorded way back in 1962 for his debut album.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVTq...

Bob Dylan - Gospel Plow (Official Audio)

YouTube video by BobDylanVEVO

www.youtube.com

Dylan Revisited @dylanrevisited.bsky.social · 1d

Tremendous take on the old spiritual Gospel Plough by
@robertplant.com that finds landfall somewhere between the Atlas and Appalachians.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeMQ...

Robert Plant - Gospel Plough (Official Audio)

YouTube video by Robert Plant

www.youtube.com

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Dylan Revisited @dylanrevisited.bsky.social · 1d

Cheers as ever Colin. Interesting to dive into the reality after seeing the film.

Reposted by Dylan Revisited

Colin J Donnelly @cjdonnelly72.bsky.social · 1d

Fascinating thread😎

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