May 23, 2007 Playlist

"The Basement Tapes" by Bob Dylan & The Band (rec. 1967)
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Bob Dylan & The Band "The Basement Tapes" rec. 1967, rel. 1975 (USA/Canada)
Bob Dylan had a motorcycle accident in 1966 when he was at the height of his popularity -- and so he spent the "summer of love" jamming with a gang of Canadian musicians in rural upstate New York.  While the rest of the country was turning into one big cosmic hippie love-in, the Bobster just had to go in the opposite direction!  Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, Garth Hudson and Levon Helm were originally Ronnie Hawkin's backup band, The Hawks, hired by Dylan for his 1965-66 tours after he went electric.  They'd use the demos from these sessions to land a recording deal as The Band (after the record company rejected their suggestion of calling themselves "The Crackers"!)  But the truly amazing thing about these recordings is that they were not made with the intention of being heard by the public, resulting in informal sessions of traditional American music such as hadn't been heard since the Smithsonian folk and blues recordings of the Great Depression.  (Well, actually this album isn't quite as "verite" as its represented -- The Band actually overdubbed some parts in the mid-70's. )  The Basement Tapes album includes 16 Dylan songs performed with The Band, and eight songs by The Band without Dylan.  More songs from these sessions have been circulating among fans for years, and have started seeing legitimate release in the age of CD reissues.
"The Miles & Bob Show"
Miles Dewey Davis III    Robert Zimmerman

The annual birthday tribute to Bob Dylan (b. 24 May 1941) & Miles Davis (b. 26 May 1926)

Levon Helm

and also Levon Helm of The Band (b. 26 May 1940)

Artist Song Album Year Country
Bob Dylan Tombstone Blues Highway 61 Revisited 1965 USA
Miles Davis Sivad Live Evil 1971 USA
 
 
Bob Dylan & The Band Goin' To Acapulco The Basement Tapes  
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		 rec. 1967, rel. 1975 USA / Canada
The Band Bessie Smith The Basement Tapes  
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		 rec. 1967, rel. 1975 Canada / USA
The Band Yazoo Street Scandal The Basement Tapes  
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		 rec. 1967, rel. 1975 Canada / USA
The Band Tears of Rage (by Bob Dylan & Richard Manuel) Music From Big Pink 1968 Canada / USA
Miles Davis On Green Dolphin Street Jazz Track LP / '58 Sessions CD rec. 1958 USA
   
 
Manfred Mann Please Mrs. Henry (by Bob Dylan) All Manner of Menn CD compilation rec. 1968 UK
The Byrds Chimes Of Freedom (by Bob Dylan) Mr. Tambourine Man 1965 USA
Stevie Wonder Blowin' In The Wind (by Bob Dylan) Up-Tight 1966 USA
William Shatner Mr. Tambourine Man (by Bob Dylan) The Transformed Man 1968 Canada
Alan Ginsberg (with Bob Dylan - guitar & backing vocal) Vomit Express Holy Soul Jelly Roll: Songs and Poems CD box set rec. 1971 USA
The Hombres Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out)
(basically a parody of Bob Dylan)		 Let It All Hang Out 1967 USA
   
 
Miles Davis Calypso Frelimo Get Up With It rec. 1973 USA
 
 
Bob Dylan Isis (by Bob Dylan & Jacques Levy) Desire 1976 USA
The Byrds Chestnut Mare (by Roger McGuinn & Jacques Levy) Untitled 1970 USA
Neil Young Sugar Mountain B-side / Decade compilation rec. 1968 Canada
Joni Mitchell This Flight Tonight Blue 1971 Canada
Velvet Underground I Found A Reason (demo version) Loaded: Fully Loaded Edition CD reissue rec. 1970 USA
 
  
Herbie Hancock Maiden Voyage Maiden Voyage 1965 USA
Miles Davis Footprints Miles Smiles 1966 USA

  
Bob Dylan Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again Blonde On Blonde 1966 USA
      
   
   
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