Chapter 2: The Other Side Of The Coin - The Myth and Mystery of Creation on Rough And Rowdy Ways

UPDATE: You can now read the full transcript of this episode here.

In Chapter 2 of Definitely Dylan’s mini series on Bob Dylan’s Rough And Rowdy Ways, Laura discusses the myth and mystery of creation in “My Own Version Of You” and “Mother Of Muses”.What insight can these very different songs give us into the creative process of the songwriter? How do they portray the creator’s role in society? And what does any of this have to do with the Nobel medal?

Here's the radio episode in which we discuss Bob Dylan’s borrowings from Billy “The Kid” Emerson’s song “If Loving Is Believing” for Dylan’s “False Prophet”.

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"They've been there since Christmas Morn" – Shaking the January Blues

Definitely Dylan wishes you all a Happy 2021, especially those of you who haven’t gotten rid of their Christmas trees yet! In the first episode of the new year, Laura and Robert play songs to help you shake out the post-holiday blues!

Playlist:

1. Three Angels (Early Take)

2. Huck’s Tune

3. Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues (from the Bootleg Series Vol. 4)

4. Marchin' to the City

5. Meet Me In The Morning (Take 1, Remake)

The George Harrison Sessions (1970 Anniversary Collection)

In the last radio episode of the year, Laura and Robert sink their teeth into the latest cloak-and-dagger Dylan release, the 50th Anniversary Collection with all previously unreleased recordings from the year 1970. We’re particularly putting our focus on the session from the 1 May where Dylan was joined in the studio by George Harrison. We discuss the impact of Harrison’s presence on Dylan’s performance, as well as what these recordings can tell us about Dylan’s creative process in the studio, and we wonder whether a particular harmonica solo in this session already foreshadowed a song released years later on Blood On The Tracks.

If you have enjoyed listening to the show this past year and would like to show your support for Definitely Dylan, you can buy us a virtual coffee here.

Playlist:

1. Song To Woody

2. Yesterday

3. Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues

4. All I Have To Do Is Dream

5. It Ain’t Me Babe

6. I Don’t Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met)

7. I’ll Be Home For Christmas

Bob Dylan and George Harrison – Their Musical Friendship

In the penultimate radio episode before the winter break, Laura and Robert are talking about the latest instalment of the 50th anniversary collection, which was surprise-released last week and covers the remaining unreleased material from 1970, including a session with George Harrison. We’re talking about what to expect and discuss the difference between these releases and the Bootleg Series. By the time we recorded, we hadn’t gotten our hands on the CD yet, so expect more on the topic next week! In the meantime, if you want to brush up on the friendship between Bob Dylan and George Harrison, you can listen to this episode on Dylan and the members of the Beatles after the band broke up. We also discuss other stuff and there’s lovely music. Enjoy!

PS: I don’t remember if I said in the episode that If Not For You was the only thing from the Harrison session that had been officially released, but just in case: a few other tracks for the session have also been released, for example the versions of “Time Passes Slowly” and “Working On A Guru” on the Another Self Portrait Bootleg Series.

If you’re still looking for a Christmas present for the Bob Dylan fan in your life (or for yourself), why not check out the Definitely Dylan shop, where you can find t-shirts and tote bags!

Playlist:

1. If Not For You (with George Harrison)

2. Honey Just Allow Mr One More Chance (with Earl Scruggs)

3. I Contain Multitudes

4. Hard Times

5. I Threw It All Away (Hard Rain)

6. Silver Bells

John Wesley Harding – Bob Dylan's 60s Wildcard

This week, Laura and Robert are dedicating the hour to an album that has a special place in Bob Dylan’s back catalogue: John Wesley Harding. We discuss what the album is and, crucially, what is isn’t, and how the album sits in the context of the rest of Bob Dylan’s 1960s output.

As mentioned in the episode, if you feel like making a direct comparison, here’s a video of Bob Dylan performing live acoustic in 1966.

Playlist:

1. I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine

2. Sign On The Cross

3. As I Went Out One Morning (Take 1)

4. I Pity The Poor Immigrant (Live at the Isle Of Wight Festival, 1969)

5. All Along The Watchtower

6. I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight