Wednesday 4 July 2012

WEDNESDAY CLUB - Bob Dylan - Most Definitely Not Van Gogh/Please Crawl from your Window(the version)

MIDWEEK CRISIS you crave some Dylan, come to WEDNESDAY CLUB we got the man himself with a couple of Priceless Classic Hidden Gems.
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'How can you say he will haunt You'

BOB DYLAN - Please Crawl from Your Window(the version)(1965)

This version is one of my favourite Dylan songs and I for the life of me cannot understand why this version was not released. It is fantastic and must have been done at the same sessions as Positively 4th Street, the backing is so similar. 'PCFYW' was released just after P4st and I was disappointed with it at the time. I thought it was a step back from 'Like a Rolling Stone' and 'P4st'.  If this version was released, the song would have been as popular as  any of the Dylan 'Biggies'. I first heard it on the the fabulous Boot. 'Thin Wild Mercury Music.

Oh! I remember it well,  there was this Record and Tape fayre in Ealing which was every few months and I always went hoping to find some treasure, but especially to find Dylan bootlegs. It was here one rainy Saturday morning I picked up 'Thin Wild Mercury Music' at the same time I picked up a boot of a concert in '81 at Earl's Court, where I had the joy of attending, Happy dayzzz, it literally blew my mind. A few years later' when you could burn CD's on your PC the flood gates opened and you could swap and get as many Dylan Boots as you wanted.....it became a beautiful obsession and I, like many others ended up with hundreds of Dylan Boots, a strained marriage and no time to listen to them all. They are now in boxes in a garage. Sad really. One day I will put them all online to share.

'If he needs a third eye he just grows it!'

Come on all you Dylan fans!  WHAT DO YOU THINK? this is the version!
BOB DYLAN - Most Definitely Not Van Gogh??(1966)

This is my favourite Bootleg track, and I first heard it on a Boot called Denver Hotel Room and as the title suggests it is Dylan in a Hotel Room in Denver, being taped as he jams through some majestic songs, the world had not yet heard.  It was on the 13th March 1966 the magic took place. It goes on for about 10 minutes with various stops and starts. This is an edited piece but takes in the best parts.

This was Dylan at the top of his game and this song could have easily been on 'Blonde on Blonde' if it was ever finished and could easily have joined the long list of Dylan classics. I just love it and everybody should hear it, (Well if you like Dylan that is)

Although the song is normally called 'Most Definitely Not Van Gogh' there is not an official title and several variations have cropped up. 'The Painting by Van Gogh', 'Positively Van Gogh' and another title which has been suggested is 'Spuriously Seventeen Windows' (very Dylan like indeed). It appears Dylan never actually recorded the song and whether he has ever played it live I doubt. I am sure some of these Dylan experts will have an idea (I'm only a part timer).  
Most positively, definitely, spuriously Dylan

For more Wednesday Club gems

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WEDNESDAY CLUB - Bob Dylan - Most Definitely Not Van Gogh/Please Crawl from your Window(the version)
4/ 5
Oleh

5 comments

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4 July 2012 at 12:06

Magnificent stuff OPC, truly magnificent.

I wouldn't be without either version of Please Crawl, they each have their merit, as do all the alternative versions of Desolation Row, She's Your Lover Now, Can't Wait, Mississippi, Visions of Johanna, Blind Willie McTell etc scattered around bootlegs, official and otherwise. They all add to the big picture.

A beautiful obsession indeed - and long may it continue.

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4 July 2012 at 12:18

The S - I suppose you are right, it is all about the big picture...roll on the next instalement of the official 'Bootleg Series' or otherwise!

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Anonymous
4 July 2012 at 19:43

So good to hear these beauties again. Like you, I have literally hundreds of Bob boots but 'Thin Wild Mercury' is definitely one of the best. As for 'The Denver Hotel Room' tape, that is pure magic. Mind you, of all the 'lost' songs from the '66 tour period, surely 'I Can't Leave Her Behind' is the greatest?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-Q6Tttb4DY

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4 July 2012 at 20:30

SB- yes that is an absolute classic....it was a great day when I managed to get 'Eat the Document'....'No Direction Home' was the One especially with 'Judas'

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8 July 2012 at 09:05

Anon - Glad you liked it Sir

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