Bob Dylan and Miles Davis: Sony’s big box sets compared

As far as Bob Dylan and Miles Davis, its major assets, are concerned, Sony does a creditable job managing the treasures locked away in its priceless vaults.

However much hardcore fans might moan about the slow drip-feed of the unreleased Dylan legacy, Columbia Legacy is to be commended on its Bootleg Series.

Columbia Legacy also manages its Miles Davis assets pretty astutely, though some Miles aficionados whinge that Sony has released too much inconsequential blathering by the Prince Of Darkness!

But the imminent release of the Complete Miles Davis Columbia Album Collection will leave Bobfans drawing unfavourable comparisons with the Zim equivalent, 2003’s Bob Dylan Revisited: The Reissues Series.

The two reissue projects are similar in key respects – all the albums in both collections have remarkable upgraded sound and both boxes reintroduce the original album artwork, in seductive digipak format.

But, in other ways, the new Miles box is more compelling:

* it pulls together all of the label’s Miles albums – Bob Dylan Revisited: The Reissues Series was selective, with only 15 titles, against the Miles box’s whopping 52, many of them double albums!

* many of the Miles albums carry worthwhile bonus tracks – the Dylan reissues eschewed any.

* even if you already own most of the original recordings, the incentives to buy the Miles box are persuasive – a newly released live DVD, a couple of previously unreleased CDs-worth of music, a substantial 250 page book by two leading Miles experts, and striking packaging.

* value: the “street” launch prices of the two boxes are similar, but the Miles box gives you far more bang for your buck.

Bottom line: I already had virtually all releases by both musicians. I passed on the Dylan box; I’ve ordered the Miles box.

Gerry Smith

New Age Dylan: Oh Lord, please give me strength…

Thanks to Sarah Hunt:

“New Age Dylan? Oh Lord, please give me strength…

“This is certainly not ‘appropriate’. If people want to listen to this stuff, fine by me. Same with the Xmas album. But you couldn’t pay me to listen to either.

“Am I the only Dylan Daily

New Age Dylan – soothing furrowed brows?

The record label have sent me details of a new album “which transforms popular rock bands [sic] like Bob Dylan, The Beatles and U2 into relaxing meditation music.”

But is this appropriate?

Having been surprised by some positive fan reaction to the Xmas album, I’m not sure any more…

Gerry Smith

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Information and song samples:

www.modernmeditations.com

FROM THE PRESS RELEASE:

Slated for release November 17, the ³Modern Meditations² series¹ ³Rock Classics² and ³Modern Classics² 12-track collections feature meditative renditions of some of rock music¹s best-known
and most beloved songs. Also available on November 17 is an album dedicated to the songs of The Beatles. Aimed at introducing a brand new, modern rock perspective on ³new age² music fare, the ³Modern Meditations² series will be available for purchase at all traditional music retail outlets and online services, as well as distributed to many high-end lifestyle retailers.

Featuring the work of renowned producers from across the globe, ³Modern Meditations² has transformed contemporary rock favorites into meditation music for the rock & roll generation. Shimmering rock guitars and warm percussion create lush instrumental soundscapes. While yoga, Pilates, and meditation have all entered the mainstream, the music has not. The ³Modern Meditations² series aims to introduce an alternative to traditional new age fare to the growing modern rock audience.

The first of two compilation releases, ³Rock Classics,² features serene instrumental versions of songs from classic rock¹s most revered artists including Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Police, Led Zeppelin and many others. ³Modern Classics² dives into the contemporary rock catalog with tranquil renditions of songs by The Verve, U2, The Cure, Oasis, R.E.M., Nirvana and more.

Bob Dylan in LA: very enjoyable

Thanks to Rob Schultz:

“Bob in LA: not a lifetime highlight show (my 41st) but very enjoyable.

“Highlight has to be the return of the great guitarist Charlie Sexton, news which will cheer every Bobcat.

“Recent setlists are the usual ever-changing mix – standards for the casuals, recent highlights for product promo, and a lucky dip for those knowledgeable enough to recognise rarity and great art when they hear it.

“Setlist (though I’m not 100% sure of the order towards the finale):

I’m Gonna Change My Way of Thinking
Shooting Star
Beyond Here Lies Nothin’
Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
Cold Irons Bound
Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I’ll Go Mine)
My Wife’s Home Town
Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again
High Water (for Charlie Patton)
Highway 61 Revisited
I Feel a Change Comin’ On
Thunder on the Mountain
Nettie Moore
Ballad of a Thin Man
Like a Rolling Stone
Jolene
All Along the Watchtower.

“Keep up the good work – I call into Dylan Daily regularly and admire your unique take on all things Bob.”

How do I start to explore Dylan? New fan seeks advice

Thanks to Pierre L:

“I’ve just seen the light! After avoiding Dylan for many years, I finally get it.

“But Dylan’s work is so vast. Where do I start? Best studio album? Is there a recommended compilation? Best book to guide me – there seem to be dozens? Any good DVDs? Is it worth going to live shows? Does he play France?

“Suggestions from the expert readers of Dylan Daily will be gratefully received.”

More on Joan Baez

Thanks to Kurt H:

“Well said re Joan Baez. I used to love her stuff – I remember buying four albums at once in the late ‘60s, unusual for this cheapskate!

“But I did tire of her, and can’t tolerate Joan’s singing any more.

“However, I do get angry when Dylanistas gratuitously insult her. I remember reading one “expert”, who described her as “awful in many ways”, or words to that effect. Can’t remember where I saw it, but such nastiness is quite common. And disgracefully mean-spirited.”

Early Xmas shopping

Thanks to Matthew Zuckerman:

“Gordon Macniven writes:

> ³I’m intrigued, however, by the timing of this unfortunate venture – why bring
> out a CHRISTMAS album before mid-October? Surely a late November/early
> December release would have been more appropriate?

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

“I presume it is connected to the fact that profits from the album will go towards feeding the hungry at Christmas. In order to do so, the money will be needed sooner than the week before Christmas.

As for its “mawkish sentimentality” being “deeply embarrassing”: in 1969 and 1970 when Nashville Skyline and Self Portrait were released, much of the indignation was aimed a the very fact that Dylan had chosen to sing country music. I mean, country music!

“To newly serious ears that had forsaken “pop” music a few years earlier for “rock”, this seemed the ultimate betrayal. Redneck music. That the world of country music might have anything to teach
these young pioneers was a ridiculous thought.

“Now, of course, we know better than that. We have outlaw country, country rock and alt country, we listen to music from all over the world, Paul McCartney writes classical music and classical musicians perform arrangements of Jimi Hendrix.

“Sentimentality is the last frontier, and it seems to be a tough one. We listen to Jimmie Rodgers’ Blue Yodel, In the Jailhouse Now and Waiting for a Train and we applaud, but when he starts to sing The Soldier’s Sweetheart or Mother the Queen of My Heart, we look the other way.

“My wife calls Sony the prince of darkness, the Walkman being the devil’s tool. It taught generations of music lovers how to listen in private, make their own musical world, and lose the sense of music as a shared experience.

“Why do people chat during a concert? Why do people recoil at music that is designed to be shared across the generations? Why do people treat music as a way to retreat from the world where it used to be a cement to hold it together?

“Christmas in the Heart may not solve this state of affairs, but if it can awaken a few people to the fact that fun, sentiment and the quality of sharing are at least as central to music as being cool, then it will have more than justified its existence.”

Shop early for Xmas?

Thanks to Gordon Macniven:

“For what it’s worth (having listened to the samples) I won’t be buying the Christmas album either.

“Its mawkish sentimentality is deeply embarrassing, but I expect it to be a hit on “Sing Something Simple” (English radio series aimed at over-80s early school leavers – Ed).

“I’m intrigued, however, by the timing of this unfortunate venture – why bring out a CHRISTMAS album before mid-October? Surely a late November/early December release would have been more appropriate?

“Very odd.”

And thanks to Humberto:

“Yes, agree with Johanna…

“If anybody wants to cry “sellout!” once again, so be it. Probably
Bob will just smile to himself and know people still care enough to be outraged. And maybe, they will listen with an open mind and judge the performances, not the idea.”

More on the Christmas album

Thanks to Kenneth Crouch:

“I’ve just listened to samples. I’ve been a fan since the sixties but this a joke; the only good thing if any are sold is that the money goes to charity.

“If my son buys me it, then it will stay in the wrapper.

“No more like this, Bob, please.”

And thanks to Johanna Moore:

“The ongoing discussion about the new album makes me smile… Bob Dylan has done it again, created something that some of his fans are unwilling to forgive him even before they got the chance to listen.

“Many of “us” of course will buy it anyway, I know I will. It is really only just history repeating. People seeing electric guitars and disagreeing with the idea, without giving it a chance. People shuddering at the idea that “the voice of promise of the 60s counter culture (etc etc)” will be heard singing Christmas songs.

“It has nothing whatsoever to do with whether any of “us” ever bought Christmas albums before. Would it really be the first time for Bob to introduce “us” to something new, that we hadn’t considered thinking about before? I guess it will sell okay in this time and day.

“If anybody wants to cry “sellout!” once again, so be it. Probably Bob will just smile to himself and know people still care enough to be outraged. And maybe, they will listen with an open mind and judge the performances, not the idea.”

Christmas album: I can’t wait

Thanks to Martin Cowan:

“I laughed like a drain when I read Chris Walker’s comments about the upcoming Dylan Christmas album.

“Chris would no doubt have been there with Pete Seeger hacking through the electricity cables at Newport ‘64 and booing and heckling in ‘66 and ‘79-’80!

“Creative artists will always be pushing the boundaries and it’s interesting that what Dylan is doing here is perceived as both pushing further into the mainstream (“showbiz bullcrap”) and behaving in a boundary pushing way (not afraid of the reaction of his fans).

“Personally, I can’t wait for the LP, and I hope that the end result is as good as it could be (the difference between an album like “Good as I Been To You” and an album like “Down in The Groove”).

As we know with Dylan, either is possible!