Fw: [Harp-L] Bob Dylan Exclusive Interview: Reveals His Favorite plus Canned Heat etc

["Billy James" <billyjames@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Patrick... thats interesting thanks.Indeed retro is the way to go...whilst they have there uses.I figure ipods are built basically to be destined for the trash can ( like so much other garbage we consume these days) and digits are digits?Hey, I really like it that Bob Dylan issues his 'records' on the 180 gram vinyl and original the Columbia label. It sounds so much better on a decent stereo system and 'feels' like a collectable product of value. By the way the third album [I mentioned earlier] was of cause his lastest Bootleg series Vol. 8 'Tell Tale Signs' [another double album] which undoubtably contains a fascinating plethra of quality listening.Thats my favorite recent release by far. 
 However, what about going back to Dylan in 1983?I really dig his album 'Infidels'.Has anyone in harpl ever seen the astoundingly [original] clip made for 'Jokerman' ? How is it, a recalcitrant 'folk artist' produces an album, recording with  'reggae' ? guys like Sly Dunbar [Drums etc] and Robbie Shakespeare [Bass] and adds Mick Taylor and Mark Knopfler on Guitars ?
*I can't get a link to the original clip here in Oz but here is the track and someones pics on You tube:
http://www.absolutelyrics.com/lyrics/view/bob_dylan/jokerman/
Oh and by the way..you gotta love a song that mentions "the book of Leviticus and Deuteronomy".
I've been leaping in and devouring heaps of 'perfectly imperfect' boogie & blues music  from 'Canned Heat' [USA] off the Amazon *[ there is of cause lot's of re-issued compilations and other rubbish available of cause]. 
I still think 'Uncanned' the Dble Cd is definately the best value 'mix' *( love the more acoustic version of 'On The Road Again') . So I gather Fito [and Larry?] have been cashing in big time [and why not] pulling out whatever he can find. 
He is a great blues drummer  there is no doubt.How about the Boogie House Series 1,2, 3 & 4? How good is that. lot's of stuff that greets the light of day again.
 The fact is, I'm feeling pretty good 'cos I have driven home tonight from playing my show up north and sitting in [on a Sunday Session in a great little venue up the coast] with  James T. [ James Thornbury]*[ex Canned Heat *'85-'95]. 
James Thornbury leads vocals/guitar and harp with the [at the time] original remaining  three members on a great little European 'live' gig 'Boogie On Up The Country' cd. You can hear Henry Vestine 'ignite' and you'll realise why he was so valued for his psychedelic blues lead guitar style [despite his 'chemical' tendancies].Thats a interesting 'live' set indeed.I also like Robert Lucas *[recently RIP] and his work on 'Canned Heat Blues Band'. However, there is no doubt James T's contribution during his 10 year touring stint with them can not be underestimated. It is critically esteemed as a re-charging period of the the band in the mid 80's and through to the mid 90's. Not only did James cherish the music of Al Wilson & Co. he truely admired Alan and was a genuine friend to Henry and Ronnie Barron from what I understand.I doubt however if people aware that James T. has released around 7 [simple and laid-back]solo blues and folk roots records in this country.He sells an excellent 'best of' Cd and his earlier  excellent Australian band James T. & The Last Volunteers were excellent [particularary 'live']. Those earlier Last Volounteers albums are well worth a listen if you can find a copy. James also happens to be not only a very 'humble' gentleman, he is a very smooth slide & blues/boogie guitarist and of cause excellent harmonica player. Sadly, James T.  is under appreciated by the public and see's most probably nil reward from any Canned Heat CD.However, he continues to perform  locally and in national Blues festivals.Here's a guy who shared the stage with many greats of the blues who now  happily and simply shares his life with his stunning wife and two beautiful daughters in  'country' paradise under the shadow of an amazing 'extinct volcano'. I guess after seeing the documentary [released by Fito Da Parra] about this notoriously 'dyfunctional' Iconic '60's Blues outfit, thats not a bad outcome at the end of the road. 
http://www.jamesthornbury.net -purchase a Best of  Compilation
http://www.myspace.com/jamesthornbury
Ancient article:
http://15min.org/articles/2002/january/30/clublink_1.html
Ancient lineup number ???:
http://docspan.net/doc-span-cd-albums/expatriate-the-cd.html
Recommended CD'S:
"First up" & "Sharpen up" -James T. & The Last Volounteers
The Canned Heat wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canned_Heat
Amazon Bio:
http://www.amazon.com/Canned-Heat/e/B000ARC41Q
Available James Thornbury with Canned Heat on recordings [playing harp, vocals and guitars]:
Boogie on up the Country:
http://www.amazon.com/Boogie-Up-Country-Canned-Heat/dp/B000006O4N
Gamblin' Woman:
http://www.amazon.com/Gamblin-Woman-Canned-Heat/dp/B000005EHS/ref=sr_1_33?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1240222129&sr=1-33
Re-Heated CD:
http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/7048202/a/Reheated.htm
Burnin' 'Live':
http://www.amazon.com/Burnin-Live-Canned-Heat/dp/B000025Y4X/ref=sr_1_99?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1240224204&sr=1-99
Internal Combustion:
http://www.amazon.com/Internal-Combustion-Canned-Heat/dp/B000008NBF/ref=sr_1_151?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1240225065&sr=1-151
*There are more records with James T. on it...but you can find the rest.......adios BJ

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Patrick Lines" <plines@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Billy James" <billyjames@xxxxxxxxxxx>; <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, April 18, 2009 11:51 AM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Bob Dylan Exclusive Interview: Reveals His Favorite


> 
> The other thing I find interesting about Bob's latest albums is the amazing 
> lack of compression in the recording process. The highs are high and the 
> lows are low. You can hear the sparkle of a cymbal and the complexity of the 
> bass. I read in an interview in Rolling Stone that he did this very 
> purposefully because of his disdain for the recording processes that are 
> aimed at the Ipod / digital download market where everything is so 
> compressed that everything is loud and there is no ambiance.
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Billy James" <billyjames@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Friday, April 17, 2009 12:06 AM
> Subject: [Harp-L] Bob Dylan Exclusive Interview: Reveals His Favorite
> 
> 
> FROM BOB LEFSETZ
> "I don't expect Bob Dylan's new album to be good.  I thought "Love and
> Theft" was unlistenable and "Modern Times" not much better.  But I'll
> give it a chance, all because of "Things Have Changed", from the movie
> of the Michael Chabon book, "Wonder Boys".  Bob got it right. He seems
> to get it right at least once a decade, sometimes two or three times.
> He's like Picasso, his flame never extinguishes, he keeps on
> surprising us.  While other acts were left in the folk world, Dylan
> went electric, Christian, took so many left turns that he ended up on
> his own path".
> 
> 
> 
> O.K...although these are reasonable perceptions and descriptions of an this 
> extraordinary artist.
> There obviously are 'many of us' who think Dylan's last 3 albums *[produced 
> by his studio persona Jack Frost]; I think they are indeed great fun to hear 
> and are definitely the best records he's created for quite a while]. 
> 'Contented carefree  Bob' doing 'his thing' enjoying rhyming his couplets 
> and grooving with a really tight blues band on familiar traditional grooves.
> By no means are they 'unlistenable'?
> In fact I would recommend them as some of the best records available in this 
> age of triteness.
> Dylan's ancient vocal delivery I think it's truly excellent. Sung only as 
> Dylan can and characteristically for his age very wise and interesting in 
> tone. If you want to hear something 'unlistenable' check out half the so 
> called white middle-aged blues cover bands on You Tube or My Space or as you 
> mention the fabulously tedious Bon Jovi back catalogue  ?
> I've got my Amazon order in for the 'new Dylan release' and I'm betting it 
> will undoubtedly enhance my driving listening pleasure.
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