ALBUMS
- BOB DYLAN: LOVE AND THEFT : 2001: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Released on 9.11.01. As strong as the previous album- the great comeback album- Time Out Of Mind.
- RICK JAMES: STREET SONGS:1981: 4 1/2 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Super Freak one of the great singles of the 80’s. This is the song- and album that put James over the top- his fifth album and his peak.
- THE BAND: THE BAND: 1969: 5+ STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: On my Mount Rushmore of Favorite Albums.
- BILLY JOEL: 52ND STREET: 1978: 4 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: The follow up to his ground breaking ‘The Stranger.” Joel didn’t dilly dally around- released 13 months after The Stranger- which hadn’t left the radio yet when this came out. It earned Joel two Grammy’s. Not as strong as The Stranger- but that isn’t a fair criticism since that was his best .
- BOB DYLAN: MODERN TIMES: 2006: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: The third album in Dylan’s string of critically acclaimed albums over a ten year period. It became Bob’s first #1 album in 30 years-since Desire.
- ROBERT JOHNSON: THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS- ROBERT JOHNSON: 1990: 5+ STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: I am currently reading a new biography on Robert Johnson- Up Jumped The Devil-The Real Life Of Robert Johnson- by Bruce Conforth and Gayle Dean Wardlow- which is excellent. There are probably holes in Johnson’s life that no one will ever be able to fill. Here is a fella who has only two known photographs. Excellent book- had to get out The Complete Recordings for another listen. Beyond a masterpiece.
slicethelife 
I wanted to like Modern Times – and I sort of do but still nothing like his best
Would be interested to hear your final thoughts on the Robert Johnson book as well. Fascinating subject
Just finished it- will write some on it when I get a little time. Good read.
I’m adding the Robert Johnson and the 52nd Street to the L list. Used to have 52nd Street and The Stranger albums (well my ex-hub did he likes Billy Joel).
i like 52nd Street- I have some problems with the next one- Glass Houses when he tries to go rock…. Hope you like the Robert Johnson.
Any idea why there are only 2 photos of him? Seems a little eerie.
Just a guess- he lived from 1911-38 only 27 years. He was born in the Mississippi Delta to a poor sharecropping family. Maybe there were more photos taken of him that haven’t turned up? His family life was rather confused growing up- he never met his father. His mother abandoned him at times- he would live with a step father’s family. ….in his adult life he appears to have been secretive about his background and life- people who knew him said he never talked of family- never revealed much about his life to them. As a musician he was someone who would go from town to town earning his money playing juke joints – on the streets. … Maybe as far as photography goes-the opportunities weren’t there/ maybe he wasn’t someone who wanted it. My guess is he had more photos taken than have been found. His great fame came years after his death.
Thank you for the info, Hans. I’m glad someone was able to record his music so he could be heard. I wonder how many Robert Johnsons out there who weren’t/aren’t recorded…
Have you ever read any of Chuck Klosterman’s stuff? He has a book called But What If We’re Wrong– and one of the chapters deals with how will the future look at our present? He was discussing how in X number of years what musicians/ authors will stick out to THEM as being essential- and he made a case that for example the author from NOW that may mean the most to them could be someone now who doesn’t even have a huge audience–or could even be some blogger out there–not necessarily the most popular or best selling or highly acclaimed today by critics.. he was saying the same thing about music- that while not likely- its possible that there is some music stored away from the 1940’s in someones closet that has never been heard that will be discovered- and be essential to a future generation- like say Robert Johnson’s is now- when he died it would have blown his mind to think his music would influence generations of musicians and that his complete works would sell in the millions.. in the book i just read the fella that taught him- Ike Zimmerman- was said to have been one of the greats- but sadly his music was never recorded.
Wow, no, Hans, I haven’t, but I like the way Chuck Klosterman thinks. I like the idea of “hidden pieces” of the cosmic picture that will/may be found that enrich the human experience. None of us knows if there is an “end game” in this expanse of all-that-is, but I like to think the “game” isn’t finished until all of the pieces are found.
He was talking in the book about how things change and there may be writers/ musicians who during their time just don’t fit into their time- but the way life is lived- people are feeling in the future- may be just right for them… i think David Bowie although hugely popular of course in his own time- will even be bigger in decades to come. I sense people are feeling more and more alienated- and he certainly speaks for that crowd.
YES. I agree. By extension, the “consumers” or appreciators of literature and music may also not “fit into their time.” If a person is able to escape the black hole pull of their culture, whether creator or consumer, they may be free to enjoy it all 😉 Very provocative topic, Hans. I like that author and I’m glad his message is resonating with you.
When you listen do you listen to the entire album? How do you listen?
Yes I always listen to the entire album- I never skip a song- even for example the John Lennon- Yoko Ono album “Double Fantasy” where you have half the album given to Yoko- i even listen to Yoko’s songs. Always- even years ago when I wasn’t posting on it.
Are they all vinyl? Can you listen on your job?
I think we’ve discussed this before but I actually liked a couple of Yoko’s songs.
I listen to vinyl- CD’s- I have a couple of the old IPOD Classics filled with songs- and the Apple Music… so its usually a mixture. I am usually up early- today for example 3am- and listened to a few albums.. At work when I am unpacking and packing I have my IPOD on other than that I can’t listen when I work.
That’s neat- Yoko’s autograph- where did you see her?
I actually had the cassette, was it Walking on Thin Ice? It was the one with the ghostly figure of John overshadowing she and Sean.
Stepped out on faith and mailed it to her at The Dakota with a short note and a SASE.
Got it back with “Yoko Ono” written on the front in sparkly gold ink.
That’s pretty cool that she would sign it and send it back.
Yeah, it definitely made me like her, and be less judgmental towards her.
Modern Times has two of my favorite late period Dylan, Spirit on the Water and the great, great, Nettie Moore.