The Explanation
(for those who require one)
And, of course, that is what all of this is -- all of this: the one song, ever changing, ever reincarnated, that speaks somehow from and to and for that which is ineffable within us and without us, that is both prayer and deliverance, folly and wisdom, that inspires us to dance or smile or simply to go on, senselessly, incomprehensibly, beatifically, in the face of mortality and the truth that our lives are more ill-writ, ill-rhymed and fleeting than any song, except perhaps those songs -- that song, endlesly reincarnated -- born of that truth, be it the moon and June of that truth, or the wordless blue moan, or the rotgut or the elegant poetry of it. That nameless black-hulled ship of Ulysses, that long black train, that Terraplane, that mystery train, that Rocket '88', that Buick 6 -- same journey, same miracle, same end and endlessness."
-- Nick Tosches, Where Dead Voices Gather
7 comments:
Our hearts were young and gay....
Dylan played harmonica on a couple of her records I think, eh?
He did just this one session for Hester, but it was pivotal; for that is where he met John Hammond, who shortly thereafter signed him to Columbia Records.
From the vantagepoint of 46 years, I'd say it's worked out well for both Columbia and Dylan.
'Zat Spike's dad?
I believe it is, yes. Though I'm not sure what else he did before he started writing those strange scores for his kid's pictures . . . until Spike tossed him over the side, that is.
This is a great photo and interesting story that this was the session that helped John Hammond at Columbia discover Bob Dylan. Thanks also for comment re: jazz musician/composer Bill Lee. Has Carolyn Hester written her biography?
Great photo of the session before John Hammond discovered Bob Dylan and don't know a lot about Bill Lee's music or career. It would be an amazing photo to reunite all four musicians for a photo/documentary about their experiences of these sessions.
Post a Comment