NEW FORMAT: ‘Seven Days’ is now two posts each Sunday. This one covers news and links, the other delivers lists of shows, podcasts, events, and more.
Bob Dylan in Barcelona June 24 by Paolo Brillo.
Best Links This Week
The very best news and posts and reviews and links of the week. A more exhaustive list is in the ‘Complete Links’ section below.
Dylan Grateful Dead Streak Continues with Stella Blue (Rolling Stone)
"PRIOR TO A couple of months ago, Bob Dylan had only played covered four Grateful Dead songs (“Friend of the Devil,” “West L.A. Fadeaway,” “Alabama Getaway,” “Black Muddy River”) throughout his entire career as a live performer."
Forever Young and Daily Growing (Johnny Borgan)
"The vocals of “Black Rider” gives both me and my friend goosebumps, and then the new arrangement of “My Own Version of You” tonight really shows its full potential, Dylan delivering his impressive percussive rap in an exceptional effective way – he is almost dancing by the piano, attacking the microphone with the moves of a snake that bites."
Just Like Nina Simone's Blues (Shadowchasing)
"Simone paid Dylan the highest compliment one musician can give another by performing several of his songs, and doing so with profound sensitivity. Late in life, her esteem for Dylan was unequivocal. Please tell my public that there aren’t many of us geniuses still living. Hardly any of us left at all. It’s down to Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, and Frank Sinatra, except Frank’s already dead”"
Shadow Kingdom: A Ghostly Narrative for Our Post-Pandemic World (Air Mail)
"Where does the magic come from? Dylan said, “It’s not me, it’s the songs. I’m just the postman. I deliver the songs.” Under lockdown, in the sanctuary of the studio, Dylan hid with his masked band and conjured this wonderfully spooky music and delivered it to us. Turn the lights down, play it end to end, and when a word or phrase or line hits you with the thrill of unexpected recognition, wonder how could he know, once again, that this is exactly what you needed to hear right now."
Dylan's New 'Deep Focus' Art Series Released (Castle Galleries)
"Referring to a cinematic technique that communicates narrative through the foreground, middle, and background, rather than focusing on one visual plane over another, Deep Focus captures four remarkable scenes; available individually or as a portfolio set of four."
Cover A Day: Seven Days (Untold Dylan)
"Do try Born 53’s version of the song, if for nothing else, then for the fact that they’ve changed the beat and so changed the meaning of the entire song. Suddenly it’s bouncy and a fun celebration of what is going to happen. It really does work."
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This Week’s Complete Link List
For our Paid/Premium Subscribers, below is the full list of news and links that Dylan fans should know about. Additional content: 8 stories about the tour, 8 news links, 8 blog links, 6 reviews & new releases, on Premium-Only Podcast, and one extra video.