A Journal Concerning Todd Haynes' Dylan Film (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} im_not_there) wrote,@ 2007-09-05 22:15:00 |
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Dylan's Musical Sensibility
Even a casual fan of Dylan is aware of his mastery of the folk, blues and rock genres. His influences include American icons Woody Guthrie, Robert Johnson, and Little Richard, as well as Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill.
It's a pleasure to be able to listen to his satellite show Theme Time Radio Hour with your Host Bob Dylan, and hear the encyclopedic listings of his favorite songs, grouped by theme. The first season aired 50 shows and a second season is planned for this September.
The format is simple - the hour long show is titled with a basic, usually one word, theme - but it results in a thought provoking mix of genres, with diverse artists, spanning decades. Weather, Coffee, Summer, Jail, Flowers, Eyes, Drinking are typical titles. For example, the Time episode includes songs by Irma Thomas, Dr. John, Arthur Dooley Wilson [playing 'As Time Goes By' from Casablanca, of course], Derrick Morgan, Etta James, Cab Calloway, Willie Nelson, Lou Reed, [singing the above mentioned Kurt Weill's 'September Song'], Ray Charles, Patsy Cline, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, and The Chambers Brothers.
In between songs, Dylan relates details and anecdotes in his deep, authoritative speaking voice that evokes the feeling of listening to radio back in the day when you could tune in stations from across the country late at night. Of course Dylan has the help of producers and researchers for this project but there is an essential intelligence and sense of playfulness evident in the chosen material that reflects the depth and breadth of his love for and knowledge of music.
Even a casual fan of Dylan is aware of his mastery of the folk, blues and rock genres. His influences include American icons Woody Guthrie, Robert Johnson, and Little Richard, as well as Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill.
It's a pleasure to be able to listen to his satellite show Theme Time Radio Hour with your Host Bob Dylan, and hear the encyclopedic listings of his favorite songs, grouped by theme. The first season aired 50 shows and a second season is planned for this September.
The format is simple - the hour long show is titled with a basic, usually one word, theme - but it results in a thought provoking mix of genres, with diverse artists, spanning decades. Weather, Coffee, Summer, Jail, Flowers, Eyes, Drinking are typical titles. For example, the Time episode includes songs by Irma Thomas, Dr. John, Arthur Dooley Wilson [playing 'As Time Goes By' from Casablanca, of course], Derrick Morgan, Etta James, Cab Calloway, Willie Nelson, Lou Reed, [singing the above mentioned Kurt Weill's 'September Song'], Ray Charles, Patsy Cline, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, and The Chambers Brothers.
In between songs, Dylan relates details and anecdotes in his deep, authoritative speaking voice that evokes the feeling of listening to radio back in the day when you could tune in stations from across the country late at night. Of course Dylan has the help of producers and researchers for this project but there is an essential intelligence and sense of playfulness evident in the chosen material that reflects the depth and breadth of his love for and knowledge of music.
