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Personally, I would never criticize anybody for singing these great songs. Back in the day, they're what everybody sang, all the time, nest-ce pas?
That said, I don't know why Mr. Dylan in this interview seems so thin-skinned and defensive about his newest album gig. And so pretentious: You'd think he was the first folker or rocker to decide to sing the Great American Songbook.
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There is a list of similar efforts entitled:
Night and Day: When Rock and Pop Singers Tackle the Standards
http://rateyourmusic.com/list/monocle/night_and_day__when_rock_and_pop_singers_tackle_the_standards/
But there can be no list of countless singers way under the radar who equally loved and dedicated their craft to “standards,” (with superior voices and technique IMHO) who never “made it.” Always struggled (some even committed suicide) in small venues, be they jazz, cabaret or saloon. At times ridiculed and disrespected as old fogie “crooners” and “songbirds.” There is an current niche of performers though, thank goodness.
They never enjoyed the wealth and acclaim of the majority. They never were part of the youth, rock & roll and “counterculture” of these ensconced artists – who now, release material which they would not have during their heyday, so as to offend their fans.
This has been a generalized statement vent on my part and maybe misconstrued as a backhanded slap at Mr. Dylan but all the more so, kudos to him. The GREAT part of this is that there will be MORE listeners introduced to standards and hopefully intrigued enough to follow-up and discover more singers & songs on You Tube. So exposure is a plus.
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Posted: |
Jan 25, 2015 - 7:22 PM
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By: |
Richard-W
(Member)
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Dylan has written quite a few torch ballads and saloon songs of his own. Listen to "Wedding Song" on the PLANET WAVES album (1974), "Oh Sister" and "Sara" on DESIRE (1975), "Sweetheart Like You" on INFIDELS (1983), "Dark Eyes" on EMPIRE BURLESQUE (1986), "Forgetful Heart" on TOGETHER THROUGH LIFE (2009), to name only a few. These are songs Sinatra could have sung. When Dylan was invited to sing at Sinatra's 80th Anniversary (in 1991, I think it was) he rehearsed a cover version of one of Frank's songs, but at the least minute Sinatra requested "Restless Farewell" a ballad Dylan had penned in 1964 and hadn't sung since. He had to teach it to his band very quickly. There's a video of that performance on youtube. Dylan's known for his love ballads as much as for his protest songs and his rock and roll.
My personal favorite is "Sweetheart Like You' from the INFIDELS album. It would have fit right in with the other songs on Sinatra's concept albums IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS, NO ONE CARES, WHERE ARE YOU? and ALONE.
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Posted: |
Jan 30, 2015 - 6:12 PM
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By: |
Jim Phelps
(Member)
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Dylan has written quite a few torch ballads and saloon songs of his own. Listen to "Wedding Song" on the PLANET WAVES album (1974), "Oh Sister" and "Sara" on DESIRE (1975), "Sweetheart Like You" on INFIDELS (1983), "Dark Eyes" on EMPIRE BURLESQUE (1986), "Forgetful Heart" on TOGETHER THROUGH LIFE (2009), to name only a few. These are songs Sinatra could have sung. When Dylan was invited to sing at Sinatra's 80th Anniversary (in 1991, I think it was) he rehearsed a cover version of one of Frank's songs, but at the least minute Sinatra requested "Restless Farewell" a ballad Dylan had penned in 1964 and hadn't sung since. He had to teach it to his band very quickly. There's a video of that performance on youtube. Dylan's known for his love ballads as much as for his protest songs and his rock and roll.
My personal favorite is "Sweetheart Like You' from the INFIDELS album. It would have fit right in with the other songs on Sinatra's concept albums IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS, NO ONE CARES, WHERE ARE YOU? and ALONE.
I'd add "If You See Her, Say Hello" from Blood on the Tracks as another Dylan torch song--it's my all-time favorite song by Bob.
Excellent interview. Bob was firing on all cylinders.
Preston, I don't see how Dylan is being "thin skinned" in the interview. He's nothing short of adulatory towards Frank and to the material.
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I just listened to a clip of the Dylan version of "Stay With Me" at the Itunes store. Lordy, what a strange experience to hear Dylan doing the theme from THE CARDINAL. As Carson used to say, "Wild Stuff!"
(Strangely, I'm suddenly finding myself thinking of the Schmenge's "Tribute to John Williams" on SCTV!)
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Jim, you sent me back to re-read the interview to see if I'd used too strong a term with "thin-skinned" and had perhaps flown off the handle.
I won't insist on "thin-skinned," but on the second reading Bob still strikes me as unnecessarily A) defensive -- in his insistence on avoiding the label, "cover" version, a non-pejorative description of a time-honored practice stemming at least as far back as the swing era hit parades, and B) pretentious -- in his stance as great white savior of these abandoned relics. I'm very fond of Mr. Dylan, (I happen to have been at Newport '65 on that fateful night when he "went electric"), and I wish him nothing but well with this new project. I certainly hope his album will introduce some classic tunes to some new listeners, and it probably will, but, even in a pop world ruled by hip-hop, there are those of us who have always known and loved the Great American Songbook, some of us even "rockers," and, while we welcome the attention a Dylan album will bring to this music, it will continue to endure for a long time to come.
(SIDEBAR: As I type this, NPR is broadcasting an interview with jazz artist Diana Krall, who apparently has reversed the process on her new "Wallflower" album by singing romantic songs by people like Paul McCartney, Elton John, Randy Newman and Bob Dylan…)
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I'd forgotten about your post, but of course now that you've reminded me your point is well taken. It's gotten so bad that I'll have to start amending any future comments about news reports with the disclaimer, "Assuming, that is, that the quotes are both accurate and un-manipulated by an irresponsible reporter…"
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Anyway, a few minutes later I'm whistling the thing at the checkout and the lady clerk was delighted. She then said how much she likes the older tunes and asked if I knew the one that went "It Must Be Him". I said, oh, you mean Vickie...Vickie...and she threw in Carr before mine came out. I said wow, classic early 60s. She said she was born in '63. I almost choked. I've got a good 7 years or so on her but she looked older. But enough digressing. Rod and those standards was not a good match. 
