Dylan Duets: Celebrating Bob Dylan's 80th Birthday

Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, and Tom Petty at Farm Aid, 1995

During the month of May, I've been celebrating Bob Dylan's 80th Birthday (May 24) by featuring videos of Bob as he is accompanied by another artist in a duet. If you missed any, or want to hear one again, here is the list:

With God on Our Side (with Joan Baez)

Crossroads (with Eric Clapton)

One Irish Rover (with Van Morrison)

The Times They Are a-Changin' (with a fan from the audience)

The Sound of Silence (with Paul Simon)

Abraham, Martin, and John (with Clydie King)

Pancho and Lefty (with Willie Nelson)

Dark Eyes (with Patti Smith)

One Too Many Mornings (with Johnny Cash)

Knockin' On Heaven's Door (with Tom Petty)

NATIONAL ARCHIVES/HULTON ARCHIVES/GETTY IMAGES

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Monday Music: Holy Mother (Eric Clapton, Luciano Pavarotti, and the East London Gospel Choir)

 

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Monday Music: Not Dark Yet (Bob Dylan Live at Madison Square Garden)

Several years ago, after having written poetry for some time I began writing essays reflecting my own experiences as well as the human condition. My wife suggested I should start a blog to put some of my writing out there. I thought about it for a while and wondered what I might call my blog. One day while doing yard work it came to me, I'll call it Not Dark Yet,  after one of my favorite Dylan songs. And so it began on New Year's Eve, 2009.

Here is Bob Dylan along with Eric Clapton performing "Not Dark Yet," live in New York at Madison Square Garden on June 30, 1999, with Eric Clapton accompanying on guitar.

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Bob Dylan & Eric Clapton at Madison Square Garden, New York City – 1999

As a public service, Not Dark Yet is today presenting the 1999 benefit concert by Eric Clapton and Friends at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The concert is on YouTube and you can see it here in three parts:

Madison Square Garden
New York City, New York
30 June 1999
Eric Clapton & Friends To Benefit Crossroads Centre Antigua

Musicians:
Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar)
Eric Clapton (guitar)
Andy Fairweather Low (guitar)
Nathan East (bass)
Tim Carmon (keyboards)
Steve Gadd (drums)

Songs:

1. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
2. It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry
3. Born In Time
4. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
5. Not Dark Yet
6. Crossroads (Robert Johnson)
7. Sunshine Of Your Love (Cream)
8. Bright Lights, Big City (Jimmy Reed)

Part 1: – song 1,2 & 3:
Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry
Born In Time

Part 2: song 4,5 & 6:
Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
Not Dark Yet
Crossroads (Robert Johnson)

Part 3: – end of song 6, 7 & 8
Crossroads (Robert Johnson)
Sunshine Of Your Love (Cream)
Bright Lights, Big City (Jimmy Reed)

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Dylan Covers: Two from Eric Clapton

Continuing with Dylan covers on Bob's Birthday today, Eric Clapton gives a soulful rendition (with some ethereal guitar solos) of Love Minus Zero/No Limit and Don't Think Twice, It's Alright.

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Monday Music: Moon River (Eric Clapton & Jeff Beck)

There is no archetypal image quite like a river. "Moon River," music by Henry Mancini and lyrics by Johnny Mercer, taps in beautifully to that archetype. The song was written in 1960 to be sung by Audrey Hepburn in the movie, Breakfast at Tiffany's. Andy Williams' recording of the song put him on the map as one of the last great crooners. A host of other singers have recorded it.

Here we have the guitar work of Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck to help the song sail further on.

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Monday Music: Knockin' on Heaven's Door

A reggae version of Bob Dylan's song, performed by Bob Marley and Eric Clapton. Dylan first recorded the song for the soundtrack to the movie Pat Garret and Billy the Kid. (To hear the original, go here. For the Guns N Roses rendition go here)

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Monday Music: Beware of Darkness

Ben Gerson of Rolling Stone claims that "Beware of Darkness" may be the best song on George Harrison's  All Things Must Pass, commenting on its "enigmatic" music and the combination of "warning" and "affirmation" in its lyrics.(from Wikipedia). Here is a stellar performance by Eric Clapton from the Concert for George.

Monday Music: While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Here's a great performance of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" from the Concert for George (held on November 29, 2002, "a year from the day" that George Harrison died). And what a great concert it was! You should get the DVD and watch the whole thing. Doing a little research, I learned that Eric Clapton did the guitar solo for the original recording on the Beatles eponymous double album ("The White Album"). According to biographer Mark Lewisohn, George Harrison later said of that recording session that in addition to providing them with an excellent guitar solo, Clapton also had a positive effect on the band. His presence "made them all try a bit harder, they were all on their best behaviour." (The Beatles Recording Sessions, Harmony Books, 1988).

In addition to Ringo Star and Paul McCartney, watch for George's son, Dhani, playing with the band.