Super-Tuesday?

Biiig elections come and gone. Republicans have a pretty clear front-runner, John McCain, who I actually could live with, out of all the Republican choices out there at the moment. Democrats are currently head to head. Some races are down to just a handful of votes separating Clinton and Obama, which is very exciting.
It’s the perfect time to watch The West Wing – I’m surprised that NBC hasn’t pulled it out for a massive run on TV.

West Wing Theme – W.G. “Snuffy” Walden
Obama - Extra Golden
The Times, They Are A Changin’ – Bob Dylan

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Cover & Original – All Along The Watchtower

All Along The Watchtower is one of my favorite Bob Dylan songs, and it’s one of those songs that’s covered a lot. Off all the covers that I have, it’s got the most versions, good and bad.
There’s quite a bit of variety here. The definitive version, by Jimi Hendrix, seems to be the one that’s the most copied, although there are some other groups, such as the Dave Matthews Band (who features it regularly in their concerts), who’ll do their own take. My favorite version is probably Bear McCreary and BT4′s version, which was featured in the show Battlestar Galactica, which was really cool.
Some of the versions that I’m not a huge fan of is the Alexi Murdoch and Blues Traveler set and the one by the Grateful Dead. Just didn’t work for me really.

It’s an interesting song, with a number of different meanings through the lyrics. Dylan started writing the song after a motorcycle accident and when he began reading the bible, and there’s several biblical and end-of-the-world references in the lyrics.

All Along The Watchtower (Bob Dylan) – Bear McCreary
All Along The Watchtower (Bob Dylan) – The Fratellis
All Along The Watchtower (Bob Dylan) – Dave Matthew’s Band
All Along The Watchtower (Bob Dylan) – The Grateful Dead
All Along The Watchtower (Bob Dylan) – Bryan Ferry
All Along The Watchtower (Bob Dylan) – Alexi Murdoch and Blues Traveler
All Along The Watchtower (Bob Dylan) – Eddie Vedder and the Million Dollar Bashers
All Along The Watchtower (Bob Dylan) - Jimi Hendrix
All Along The Watchtower (Bob Dylan) / Best of You (Foo Fighters) – Prince
All Along The Watchtower (Bob Dylan) – U2
All Along The Watchtower - Bob Dylan

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And thus it begins…

The end has begun – the Iowa voting starts today, so if you’re in that fair state, go out and vote. Preferably for Obama, who I’ve been following, but the main thing is to get out and vote.

The Times, They Are A-Changin‘ – Bob Dylan

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The Best … Best of Albums

This year, there were three albums that really stood out for me for they were some of the best best of compilations and re-masters of some really good artists.

The first one released this year was Nick Drake’s Family Tree, a collection of rare takes and alternate songs that have never before been heard. Over his short time working on music, he did quite a bit – the 29 song album is a really, really good insight behind his albums.

Black Mountain Blues – Nick Drake

The second one was the fantastic Dylan, a compilation of Bob Dylan’s music over his entire career. This was released in a couple of sets – a one disc release and a three disc release, as well as a special edition with a couple of DVDs. Starting from the beginning and going on to his more recent releases, this one just blue me away.

Subterranean Homesick Blues – Bob Dylan

And lastly, Mothership was just released, right on the heels of a reunion concert from one of Hard Rock’s best bands ever. I’ve only had a chance to go through a couple of tracks, but this is another fantastic gathering of some of their favorites.

Black Dog – Led Zeppelin

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Weekend Mix – Home

So, I have a new apartment. I have to say, I lucked out completely here. a) The rent is fantastic. b) it’s big, and I don’t have a roommate. Bedroom’s big, second bedroom is now a library/office, good sized kitchen as well as a living room. c) heat and water included and d) it’s not far from where I work, and it’s in a city (well, as close as you can get in Vermont).
Needless to say, I’m very pleased with this, especially since I’m no longer living at my parent’s house. Not that I have anything against my parents, but it’s nice not being the geek in the parent’s house. I’m currently awaiting two more bookshelves from UPS, who apparently can’t find my place. I also need to pick up a bunch of odds and ends, like a cutting board, pizza cutter and some pots.

Yeah… So, here’s some songs about homes:

Home - Alexi Murdoch
Going Home With You - The Alternate Routes
Interior of a Dutch House - Beirut
Can’t Find My Way Home - Blind Faith
Subterranean Homesick Blues - Bob Dylan
Home - Carbon Leaf
Home - Foo Fighters
On Your Porch - The Format
I’m Goin’ Home - Hootie and the Blowfish
Home Life - John Mayer
Welcome Home - Peters and Lee
Homeward Bound - Simon & Garfunkel
Screen Door - Uncle Tupelo

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Duet – Dylan & Cash

Here’s a fantastic duet between two of the America’s greatest singers to ever live. I don’t think that there’s anything else to say here about this. Their voices are perfectly matched for this song and it’s just wonderful to listen to.

Girl of the North Country – Johnny Cash & Bob Dylan

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I’m Not There

This looks like a really, really cool concept for a movie, a biotopic of Bob Dylan. It has a pretty high profile cast, with Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Richard Gere, Cate Blanchett, Ben Whisaw and Marcus Carl Franklin all starring. All starring as Bob Dylan. It looks facinating, from the trailer:

What also looks to be really cool is the soundtrack, which will have two discs, and will be all Dylan covers.

Here’s the list, courtesy of I am Fuel, You Are Friends:

I’M NOT THERE (FULL SOUNDTRACK LISTING)
Disc 1
1. Eddie Vedder & the Million Dollar Bashers: “All Along the Watchtower”
2. Sonic Youth: “I’m Not There”
3. Jim James and Calexico: “Goin’ to Acapulco”
4. Richie Havens: “Tombstone Blues”
5. Stephen Malkmus & the Million Dollar Bashers: “Ballad of a Thin Man”
6. Cat Power: “Stuck Inside of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again”
7. John Doe: “Pressing On”
8. Yo La Tengo: “Fourth Time Around”
9. Iron and Wine and Calexico: “Dark Eyes”
10. Karen O and the Million Dollar Bashers: “Highway 61 Revisited”
11. Roger McGuinn and Calexico: “One More Cup of Coffee”
12. Mason Jennings: “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll”
13. Los Lobos: “Billy”
14. Jeff Tweedy: “Simple Twist of Fate”
15. Mark Lanegan: “The Man in the Long Black Coat”
16. Willie Nelson and Calexico: “Señor (Tales of Yankee Power)”

Disc 2
1. Mira Billotte: “As I Went Out One Morning”
2. Stephen Malkmus and Lee Ranaldo: “Can’t Leave Her Behind”
3. Sufjan Stevens: “Ring Them Bells”
4. Charlotte Gainsbourg and Calexico: “Just Like a Woman”
5. Jack Johnson: “Mama You’ve Been on My Mind”
6. Yo La Tengo: “I Wanna Be Your Lover”
7. Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova: “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere”
8. The Hold Steady: “Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window”
9. Ramblin’ Jack Elliott: “Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues”
10. The Black Keys: “Wicked Messenger”
11. Tom Verlaine and the Million Dollar Bashers: “Cold Irons Bound”
12. Mason Jennings: “The Times They Are a-Changin’”
13. Stephen Malkmus and the Million Dollar Bashers: “Maggie’s Farm”
14. Marcus Carl Franklin: “When the Ship Comes In”
15. Bob Forrest: “Moonshiner”
16. John Doe: “I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine”
17. Antony and the Johnsons: “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”
18. Bob Dylan: “I’m Not There”

This looks like it’s going to be something not to miss.

Simple Twist of Fate – Jeff Tweedy
(The Watchtower cover is below.)

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Cover & Original – Soundtrack Edition

I’m doing a bonus Cover and Original this week, because two cover versions of Bob Dylan’s song All Along The Watchtower are being released in soundtracks, and both are somewhat different takes from the original version.

The first is Bear McCreary’s version, performed by BT4, on the Battlestar Galactica soundtrack, which is in stores today. This is a very different take on the song, with a science fiction/Galactica feel to it, which was really cool to here, and the screenwriters took the time to really incorperate the song into the finale of last season.

Two Riders Approaching

The second versions is from the soundtrack from the upcoming Dylan film, I’m Not There, performed by Eddie Vedder and The Million Dollar Bashers. This is a fun take on the song, although I really like the Galactica version better.

And of course, there’s the fantastic original version.

All Along The Watchtower – Bear McCreary

All Along The Watchtower – Eddie Vedder and the Million Dollar Bashers

All Along The Watchtower – Bob Dylan

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