Posted by Avanhizzle in avanhizzle, Bob Dylan, Gram Parsons, Hand Me Down tuesdaY, The Band, The Byrds | 3 Comments
HAND ME DOWN tuesdaY
Happy Tuesday everyone! I’ve got one of my favorite songs and subsequent covers to put in your ear today, “You Aint Going Nowhere” originally recorded by Bob Dylan and The Band in 1967 for The Basement Tapes and one year later by the Gram Parsons inflected lineup of The Byrds. There won’t be quite as much commentary today, the songs kind of speak for themselves! Enjoy
It is written that Dylan’s 1966 motorcycle accident led him to commission The Band to record the glorious and much sought after collection. Nearly every track is so laid back that if the police busted in that basement for fear of a fire from all the smoke, Dylan’s plea of ‘”medicinal” would’ve been laughable. I choose this track from The Basement Tapes not only because I love it, but also because it opened the door for Music From Big Pink and was an entry way to John Wesley Harding and Nashville Skyline, my two favorite Dylan albums. The Band’s chunky barroom playing and background vocals populate the landscape as Dylan’s lazy and newly country-ish croon pollinates it. Such a great song.
MP3: Bob Dylan & The Band-You Aint Going Nowhere
In 1968, LA scenester, Gram Parson’s joined harmoniously psychedelic icons The Byrds and along with his sweet voice brought his love for honky tonk music. His one and only record with the band is the country rock juggernaut, Sweetheart of the Rodeo, and his influence is all over it. In my opinion, it is one of the greatest albums ever recorded as it blends the beauty The Byrds were consistently capable of with the great sounding swing and twang that Parsons injected into their veins. Sweetheart dominates nearly every summer and was a huge lead in to a lot of the music that keeps my heart fluttering today. Open your windows and let the breeze billow.
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Had no idea that Dylan recorded with The Band. Then again that’s not surprising coming from a guy who’s only really heard “The Weight” since it’s the only one they play on the radio. <–(That statement alone could get my house fire bombed by you guys if thou kneweth where I lived.) Seriously though, burn me some of those "favorite records" of yours. I could do with an injection of some solid music.
dock 10
P.S. For sure like Dylan and the band for this one. The slower tempo seems to fit so much nicer. And hey, if you aint goin nowhere, chances are you aint goin very fast.
dock 10
hahhaha, yea the band was the backing band when Dylan went electric. Everyone went ape shit. That is the stuff arson is made off!!! Get on it brother.
There are a ton of vids on you tube around that time, focusing on how Dylan handled the backlash. The Band are gem of a band. As an introduction I strongly recommend you rent ‘The Last Waltz’. It really shows you how ingrained they really where in the music scene at that time. There are cameos from Clapton, Neil Diamond, and a really drunk Van Morrison (thats worth it alone).. I hit on that a lil bit earlier this week at:
http://www.seizurechicken.com/2009/07/the-thursday-retrospect-geggy-tah-my-morning-jacket-the-band-cold-war-kids-black-keys/
*that may be my favorite The Band track. whatevs, let me know what you think.
- Material Ways