Didsbury-Magazine-Jun-Jul-2013

While you were out...
Blood On The Tracks
Bob Dylan 1975
There is no argument that Bob
Dylan is a musical legend and a
songwriter of poetic lyrical genius.
He has a multitude of classic ‘must have’
albums to his name (Blonde On Blonde,
Highway 61 Revisited, Time Out Of Mind,
to name but a few) but, there is also no
doubt he is rather an acquired taste.
In my early musical years I recall being
much more drawn to the thrashing
guitars on my parents’ Led Zeppelin
albums and the mind-warping sounds of
their Pink Floyd collection rather than the
irritating screeching of that scruffy Dylan
bloke who, after all, couldn’t even sing!
However, similar to my development for a
love of single malt whisky and evolution
from drinking sweet cider to cask ales, I
have grown to appreciate the rough but
deep quality of Dylan, and a large part
of this education is due to Blood On The
Tracks.
Though not as famous as some of his
earlier recordings, this album, recorded
in 1975, signalled his return to Columbia
records after a rather fallow period
of experimentation. It showcases his
majestic storytelling which, to my mind, is
his real genius, surpassing even his earlier
acclaim as a protest singer.
The themes of this record are anger,
heartache and pain, which have almost
universal resonance with most people
some time in their
lives. The album
opener, ‘Tangled Up
In Blue’ chronicles a
ragged relationship
and is followed by
the seven-minute
narrative of ‘Simple
Twist of Fate’,
which describes
a desperate love
story of life’s fitful
nature and the
lost opportunities that
litter our lives. The vitriolic name-calling
of the searing ‘Idiot Wind’ beautifully
articulates, in the most acutely painful
manner, the frustration and pain of his
marital breakdown but, paradoxically, it
also serves as a cathartic soul-cleanser.
The medicine may be bitter, but it does
work!
It isn’t all dark, though, as Dylan allows
some light to shine through with the
beautiful ‘Shelter From The Storm’ and
‘You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When
You Go’. They speak of the all-engulfing
nature of love and its precarious status.
Love is great but never forget, Dylan
reminds us, that it could all end…
My favourite tracks are ‘If You See Her,
Say Hello’, a glorious acoustic lament
to lost love, and ‘Lily, Rosemary And
The Jack Of Hearts’, which highlights
...and busy living your life, have
you ever wondered about the
things you may have missed?
Dylan’s storytelling at its best. It’s this
mastery of the ‘story’ that qualifies ‘Blood
On The Tracks’ as a true hidden gem; it
signifies the moment Dylan changed from
a messianic voice of popular protest to
what he actually is - an unrivalled musical
storyteller of the human condition.
Give it a spin, with a soothing tumbler of
single malt to hand.
Dominic Rothwell is a scientist at The
Paterson Institute for Cancer Research.
Do people constantly talk about a book, a film,
a record, fashion, a place, a person, an event or
absolutely anything that’s completely passed you by
(while you were out busily...) and do you wish you
had experienced it? Or do you feel there’s a great
piece of cultural art only you seem to know about
and you want to let the rest of us know what we’re
missing? Well, in around 500 words, here’s your
chance to tell us about a piece of popular culture
you love and nobody else seems to know about.
The only proviso is that your nominated artefact
must still be readily available to buy or view.
After all, we want to experience the undoubted
joys of your good taste. Email Mark Kureishy
mark@salutions.co.uk
JUNE/JULY 2013 I 75