Category Archives: Rock and roll

Chimes of Freedom all Bob Dylan all the time

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What’s not to like about a 4-CD 76-song tribute to Bob Dylan and Amnesty International for $20

Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan is a lot of Bob Dylan songs for only $20 sung by artists famous and not-so-famous. The project will raise money for Amnesty International.

Amnesty International are fighting for human rights and freedom around the world. They deserve our $20 and more for defending people from oppression.

It’s the 50th Anniversary of Amnesty International, Bob Dylan’s 50th anniversary of recording. The project seems like a winner.  Continue reading →

Harlan Pepper on the move

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Performance at Seniors Home showcases alt country appeal with Kitchen Rag and Wine

It takes guts to video your gig playing in the lobby of a seniors home. It’s a tough room but Harlan Pepper turns a few smiles and gets them dancing in the aisles.

Since graduating from high school almost three years ago, Harlan Pepper have honed their chops with a fresh mix of alt country, folk and rock.
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Bonnie Raitt set to launch first new CD in 7 years

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Slipstream will feature Raitt’s bluesy singing and hot slide guitar coming April 2012

Bonnie Raitt Slipstream (photo Redwing Records)

After taking a 7 year break for personal reasons, Bonnie Raitt is roaring out of the gate with a new record, new record label and a national tour during 2012.

Raitt has had a long career in rock and blues with highlights like the award winning Nick of Time and rock classics like “Something to Talk About”, and the ballad “I Can’t Make You Love Me”.

On the new CD, Raitt covers two Bob Dylan songs Million Miles and Standing in the Doorway.  Continue reading →

Bob Dylan’s 2011 Christmas lump of coal

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Expecting a new Bob Dylan release this Christmas has been a disappointment

Christmas in the Heart (artwork Sony Music)

Bob Dylan’s Christmas gift to fans this year only has one of his songs.

Bob Dylan was executive producer of The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams.

Hank Williams wrote the lyrics decades ago but didn’t finish the songs.

Dylan enlisted a who’s who of country, indie and rock music to make those lyrics come alive.

Every Christmas for ages I have looked forward to some Bob Dylan gift in my stocking.

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CBC needs a kick in the pants

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Cut the subsidy, fire the old birds at the top, something

When you subsidize an organization, it has no reason to be competitive. That’s the CBC.They are not really trying to keep up with the times.

The CBC Radio 3 Bucky Awards is a great idea to promote Canadian talent. Unfortunately Radio 3 don’t have the time or initiative to make their web page compatible with mobile devices that most of the audience use. Continue reading →

Paul Leka Na Na Hey Hey composer dies

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Song written as B-side throw-away goes #1 with sports fans

Paul Leka (photo Joseph Bly NY Times)

In 1969, all songs had to have a B-side for the 45 record. Paul Leka,then a Mercury Records producer, and studio musicians Garrett Scott and Dale Frashuer wrote a throw-away song, so useless that no DJ would play it.

Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye went # 1 for a band called Steam. Today it is the sports chant of fans for retiring pitchers and sports losers of all stripes.

Paul Leka died of lung cancer on October 12th in hospice near his Connecticut home. Leka was 68.
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Outlaw Blues innovative iPad book or shill

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Jonathan Taplin`s book is part personal history, part rock and roll journey in multimedia iPad book

You know me – I`m into all things Bob Dylan and 60s rock and roll. When Apple released Outlaw Blues – Adventures in Counter-Culture Wars by Jonathan Taplin I was like `show me the store`.

Soon I was trapped in the iPhone store.

The book promised first person narrative from Jonathan Taplin who now teaches at USC. He  was Bob Dylan`s tour manager.

Outlaw Blues is a searing tale of the rock and roll and film revolutions of the 1960s and 1970s told by an insider who worked with Bob Dylan and The Band, George Harrison and Martin Scorsese to change the cultural landscape of America. Continue reading →

Melanie Brand New Key video

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Singer songwriter from the 60s had this hit banned for sexual innuendo, go figure

Melanie

Our lives are filled with songs. I was reminded today of the song Brand New Key by Melanie when messaging a band in Allentown, PA.

Back in the 60s, I dated a girl in Easton, PA down the highway from Allentown. She was dead ringer for Melanie, at least to me. The resemblance would stick with me despite the fact that Melanie was just another folk singer in Greenwich Village in 1966 when I was hitch hiking to the States.
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The Beatles sultans of swing or just a cover band

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Updated with Animal House version of Shout – The Beatles cover version of Shout compare to the original

The Beatles Shout

The British Invasion brought most black rhythm and blues home to white audiences in America.

The Beatles recordings show a love for covering R&B tunes.  Continue reading →

Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary Concert DVD

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One of the great Bob Dylan concerts is on DVD but only partially

Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary Concert

If there is one Bob Dylan concert to have on video, it’s the 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration.

Ironically Bob Dylan only sings on 5 of the 30 plus songs. It’s like a who’s who of rock and roll and country singing Bob Dylan. Continue reading →