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THE BOB DYLAN SCRAPBOOK FROM HIS EARLY CAREER 1956-1966
Every once in a while something comes along that is unique, and is worth a second helping. Following the excellent collection of photographs of Bob Dylan at the Proud Gallery this autumn comes the ultimately wantable Bob Dylan Scrapbook. Believe me this slip-cased hardback is collectable, is masterly and beautiful in its presentation, and top of my Christmas list.
This is not just a book. You get your very own pop-up guitar weilding Bob, emblazoned with the album title Bringing It All Back Home, the Columbia LP that featured hit songs, Subterranean Homesick Blues, Mr Tambourine Man and It's All Over Now Baby Blue. And there's a poster, a reproduction from 1961, of an advert for his performance at Gerdie's Folk City with the blues artist John Lee Hooker. "Held over by popular demand!" it says.
The book, which is authorised by Dylan, contains reproductions of draft lyrics in his handwriting, sometimes scribbled on hotel stationery. On notepaper from The Waldorf Astoria Ontario in 1964 there's the song Chimes of Freedom, and from London's own The May Fair Hotel in Berkeley Square, the legendary It Ain't Me Babe.
There are also personal notes, rare interviews, artefacts, striking photographs, including a clean shaven Robert Zimmerman Hibbing High School graduate of 1959.
There is also the astonishingly original looking reproduction of the book cover Of Bound for Glory, by folk singer Woody Guthrie, inside Bob has written his name, and the date in in April 1961. Detailing Guthrie's days criss-crossing the USA, it is the book that changed Dylan's life.
And if that wasn't thrilling enough, there's an audio CD with 60 minutes of early interviews, such as the first radio interview with Oscar Brand on a Folk Song festival for WNYC, on 29 October 1961; interviews from No Direction Home: Martin Scorsese's 2005 monumental documentary on Dylan's early life, and some extremely rare performances.
For any bobcat worth his or her salt, riffling through all this information it must be a bonus to find these gems of archive material. And Robert Santelli's text throughout the book, gives good clear background to the memorabilia, fellow musicians and Dylan friends.
I would feel that this is one scrapbook that is a must-have Xmas or New Year present for all Dylan fans, and for anybody interest in this musical culture.
Don't think twice, it all right. Just go out and purchase this book.
The Bob Dylan Scrapbook - An American Journey, 1956-1966
Published by Simon and Schuster Price £30
MOZART CELEBRATES HIS 250 BIRTHDAY JANUARY 2006
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart will be 250 years old on 27 January 2006, but he is still the most popular composer of western classical music.
The President of Austria will offically open Mozart Year on his birthday. And his two hometowns Salzburg, where he was born and Vienna where he married and enjoyed his greatest triumps will stage numerous cultural projects for the whole year.
There will be opera - including a globally unique project, of all the composer's 22 operas and other works for the stage performed within a six week period, and orchestral concerts, art exhibitions and talks.
Over the coming year I will update from time to time, on classical gossip and which events are taking place.
Meanwhile on January 8 2006, it is the inaugural concert with Placido Domingo and Julian Rachlin at Theatre An der Wien, Vienna. On January 20 Salzburg International Mozart week starts with the premiere of the opera, La Finta Giardiniera, and from January 27 there will be Mozart films at the Salzburg museum. And that is just for starters!
This looks to be a wonderful year for all Mozart fans all over the world.
Enjoy.
Mozart events can be found on: www.mozart2006.net
Vienna events: www.wien.info
Salzburg events: www.salzburg.info
Salzburg International Mozart Week: www.mozarteum.at
Mozart films at the Salzburg Museum: www.smca.at
Theater An Der Wien: www.theater-wien.at
I wish all the arty readers of Hot Gossip UK, a really wonderful festive season, a very happy enriching New Year 2006. See you all in Febuary.
ArtyRegards, cheers and love to you all.
Michael XX |
