LARS on Self Portrait
Tony Pignataro
Portrait. But one of the lesser moments (for me) is the version of LARS
that appears on there. I mean, is there a story on how that ended up on
that album? The many mistakes really kill that version. Was that a Bob
decision to put it on the album? A Columbia decision? Was this just an
attempt to show what Bob sounded like live since there hadn't been any
live shows in so long? I listen to that track and just laugh. How many
times can he repeat the Mystery Tramp line anyway before it becomes
pathetic? I know the story goes that Bob wanted the general public off
his back for a while and Self Portrait was his way of doing that. But if
Columbia had any say at that time as to the content of Bob's albums, I
am surprised that LARS ended up on there.
Tony P.
don freeman
> I have always felt that there is certainly enough to like on Self
> Portrait. But one of the lesser moments (for me) is the version of LARS
> that appears on there. I mean, is there a story on how that ended up on
> that album?
Actually, when the album came out, it was kind of a treat to hear Dylan have
such fun with the melody of Like a Rolling Stone. Consequently, I never
learned to hate it.
John Howells
It's my understanding that the entire Isle of Wight show was recorded
with the idea of releasing it, but when the show didn't come off
as well as they had expected they undoubtedly decided to shelve
that project. Still, they didn't want it all to go to waste, so
they chose a few songs to include on Self Portrait because, after
all, the album was pretty skimpy and needed some more filler. Why
they chose those particular songs I'm not sure. I have no argument
with "Quinn the Eskimo" and "Minstrel Boy", but I would have liked
to have heard "One Too Many Mornings" and "Highway 61" or a few
others instead of "She Belongs To Me" and "Like a Rolling Stone",
two of the weakest performances from the show. Maybe some day the
entire show will be officially released.
I have always suspected that one of the reasons Self Portrait was
released at all was because of the failure of the live album to
happen. Self Portrait may have been more of a last minute contract
filler than anyone ever thought.
--
John Howells
how...@punkhart.com
http://www.punkhart.com
PGPearson1954
>with "Quinn the Eskimo" and "Minstrel Boy", but I would have liked
>to have heard "One Too Many Mornings" and "Highway 61" or a few
>others instead of "She Belongs To Me" and "Like a Rolling Stone",
There is no excuse to have excluded "Wild Mountain Thyme". This and "Minstrel
Boy" would have sufficed from the live show.
Paul Pearson
Don't Tread On Me
favorites. Most certainly the most unique.
"Tony Pignataro" <DAB...@YAHOO.COM> wrote in message
news:3C10EAFC...@YAHOO.COM...
MittensOnFire
don freeman
President_dudley
PGPearson1954 wrote in message
<20011207163837...@mb-ch.aol.com>...
>
>There is no excuse to have excluded "Wild Mountain Thyme".
Who are you & how can you read my mind?
It's been awhile (every since the outlet my "record player" plugs into
shorted out) since I've listened to my 2vinyl boot ("While the Establishment
Burns" being the first slab o'vinyl, both of 'em white vinyl with a kind of
marbled-effect black running thru 'em) IoW, but I've always thought of WMT
as being a strong argument against the "Bob can't sing" contingent here on
Earth.
What I find most charming about the LaRS, tho'... Is it the first extant
version of Bob forgetting the words?
"Hem-en-hem-en-eh in his eyes"
rdd