songs for the journey: Bob Dylan- Saved

I fear I've been duped. Actually I'm a little annoyed because I was stupid enough to listen to others without checking it out myself - I should have known better than that. The word 'out there' was that Saved - one of only 3 Dylan albums I don't have (others are Knocked Out Loaded and Down in the Groove) - was a terrible album. I'd heard it wasn't worthy of the great man, it was far too full of evangelical zeal to bear listening to - simply it was as bad as Self Portrait and I already knew that was a disaster. So I never bothered with it. CLICK HERE to read more

Bob Dylan and the Feminine

I posted this on Sophie’s Ladder as well. It’s a review of three of Dylan’s love songs. I think they can be instructive as to our relationship with God. I encourage you to read the lyrics and listen to the songs. As you do, think about your relationship with God and how it’s so similar to the relationship between man and woman: CLICK HERE to read more

Christmas With Dylan A true-life pilgrimage

It was a few days before Christmas 1968, and my family had gathered. The living room was filled with the intense, clean, resinous smell of the tree. Once we had it hoisted into place, we set about the bristly business of decorating. I was 20, and my mind was full of music. Withdrawing to the sofa, I thought: Bob Dylan wouldn't be caught dead doing this. Click HERE to read more

Hanukkah Receives Kosher Pop Welcome

Matisyahu deployed what may be the only large, mirrored, rotating dreidel in show business — a Jewish answer to a disco ball — at Webster Hall on Sunday night, the first night of Hanukkah. It was also the first of eight New York City shows for Matisyahu in his third annual Festival of Lights series, bringing different opening acts and guests each night. A large menorah was set up for a mid-concert lighting ceremony, with the blessings declaimed in Hebrew by an audience volunteer. CLICK HERE to read more

This Hallelujah chorus is far from festive

AGED ZEN BUDDHIST JEW composes Christmas smash: who said pop music was lost to irony? Venerable bohemian Canadian poet-monk gets his first (and no doubt last) number one, moreover, thanks to a TV talent show and a young performer who plainly has not a single clue what she is singing. Just as well, really. Leonard Cohen, were he to bother to comment, would no doubt judge all this to be droll. CLICK HERE to read more

The Biblical origins of Bob Dylan's IT'S ALRIGHT MA (I'm Only Bleeding)

In Ecclesiastes, King Solomon explains what he set out to accomplish thusly:

"I applied my mind to seek and probe by wisdom all that happens beneath the sky. I have seen all the deeds done beneath the sun, and behold all is futile." CLICK HERE to read more

Bob Dylan: A Messianic Jew (2007)

The background (or "wallpaper") on my computer's desktop screen is a blurry picture of a man in desperate need of a haircut, wearing tefillin. People often say, "Cool picture, but who is that?" When I tell that it's Bob Dylan at the Western Wall attending his son's bar mitzvah, I get a mix of reactions that range from "I didn't know he was Jewish" to "Who's Bob Dylan?" CLICK HERE to read more

Articles of Faith: Good karma for Cohen

Hallelujah, written by Leonard Cohen, is heading to be the Christmas number one after Alexandra Burke won X-Factor with it. Times writer Alan Franks, who met the legendary Canadian songwriter soon after he ended his retreat as a Buddhist monk, analyses the song's spiritual significance in an exclusive article for this blog. Watch a video of the Alexandra's Hallelujah below. There is a good discussion going about Hallelujah and X-Factor on the forums at Leonard Cohen's own site. CLICK HERE to read more

Your Favorite Cross-Over Song

I recently did a rare thing of preaching through a song (for more, see post "Singing vs. Preaching"). The scripture reading was Romans 8:31-39 ("...nothing can separate us from the love of God..."). And for the sermon I sang the Bob Dylan (as popularized by Garth Brooks) song "To Make You Feel My Love." As I sang, I had images on the screen of Jesus carrying the cross ("I'd go hungry, I'd go black and blue / I'd go crawling down the avenue, / there's nothing that I wouldn't do / to make you feel my love"), walking on the water, and of course, being crucified. You get the idea. CLICK HERE to read more

"In the time of my confession", Memory, prayer and religious roots in the music of Bob Dylan, with Dr Malcolm Guite

Oh the streets of Rome, are filled with rubble,
Ancient footprints are everywhere
You could almost think that you’re seeing double
On a cold dark night on the Spanish stair

This beautiful vignette from When I paint my masterpiece, written in 1971 shows us how aware bob Dylan is of the layering of time, of the latent memories in place and in language, the ways in which poetry can enhance awareness, and deepen vision, especially if we become alert, as he is, to the power of memory. CLICK HERE to read more

GOTTA SERVE SOMEBODY: The Gospel Songs Of Bob Dylan. Directed By Michael Borofsky. Image Entertainment.

When Bob Dylan "went religious" in 1979, many of his fans were lost, incredulous -- rabid with ire; I imagine in their minds they just couldn’t understand how the media-proclaimed prophet of the 60s could abandon them. Yet, because of their own naked prejudices, they missed some of the most passionate, bare-boned music Dylan has ever made. CLICK HERE to read more

Odetta, Voice of Civil Rights Movement, Dies at 77

Bob Dylan, referring to that recording, said in a 1978 interview, “The first thing that turned me on to folk singing was Odetta.” He said he heard something “vital and personal,” and added, “I learned all the songs on that record.” It was her first, and the songs were “Mule Skinner,” “Jack of Diamonds,” “Water Boy,” “ ’Buked and Scorned.” CLICK HERE to read more

Saving Grace--song by Bob Dylan

I remember friends getting me to listen to Bob Dylan's gospel music. It was new and old at the same time, I was thinking as the borrowed tapes copied from albums played over my headphones. Dylan was different but I couldn't figure out how. He almost reminded me of the old gospel programs on television in the 60's, mixed with the intelligence of the Psalms of the Bible and the depth of the hymns. As quickly as I was introduced to his music, it quickly disappeared. I couldn't find it in the record store nor the Christian bookstore. It seemed as though no one--secular or inspired--liked him at all. CLICK HERE to read more

BRAND NEW ARRANGEMENT OF GOTTA SERVE SOMEBODY

Bob Dylan kicks off his final performance of his current tour with a rousing new version ofGotta Serve Somebody (hit track on his first Gospel album, Slow Train Comin') on Friday night in New York City.   CLICK HERE to read and hear more

Bob Dylan at Church

This is just a quicky but quite amusing…I decided to venture to the Catholic church closest to my house on Sunday. It’s always quite an interesting experience going to church in countries where religion plays such a huge part of life. CLICK HERE to read more

The Liturgical Bob Dylan

Back in the day, I was a college freshman with
Mike Gilmour at the same institution where he’s now a New Testament professor. I didn’t know at the time that he was a Bob Dylan fan, but he’s since written a book about the biblical themes in Dylan’s music, so I guess one could say he’s well-versed in the topic. I imagine books like his Tangled Up in the Bible: Bob Dylan & Scripture (CBD Link) represent an awakening to the spiritual themes ushered forth from places long-considered by the church to be simply “unspiritual.” This is a good thing, but let’s come back to it. CLICK HERE to read more

Interview explores Bob Dylan's faith

Kasha said that one of the regulars at his Bible study in 1979 was Bob Dylan and at the recent 10th Annual Media Fellowship International Praise Brunch at the Beverly Hill Hotel in Beverly Hills, he agreed to talk about what happened to Dylan for an interview I was doing for Safe World's IPTV and ANS. CLICK HERE to read more

DylanTube Bob Dylan - In The Garden, Live in 1980

I started getting into Bob in about 2001 and it took me until last year to find that his Christian work is the most compelling he has done - in my opinion anyway. There is no doubt that Bob Dylan was very high off Christianity, possessed by God and on a mission to sing these songs. I’m sure these songs would have easily come to Bob Dylan after the overload of information he received during Bible School. This was clearly a very important part of Dylan’s life. CLICK HERE to read more

Album Of The Day #99: SAVED - Bob Dylan

I bought this album with the lowest expectations possible. I had heard nothing but awful things about it. When I first put it in and sat through it, I realized immediately that the critics had no idea what they were talking about. This album’s got some great material on it.  CLICK HERE to read more

BROKEN

As a priest, I stand Sunday by Sunday before a worshiping community and I break a piece of bread. It strikes me as a deeply profound and important gesture. "Everything is broken." CLICK HERE to read more

Sermon Notes from 19 October

A few weeks back I was sitting in the library at St. John’s reading through some commentaries on today’s lectionary readings. I had my Ipod on random play and while I was sitting there thinking about how I was going to approach today’s texts, this song came on and the lyrics stuck in my head:

You may be a state trooper, our you might be a young Turk CLICK HERE to read more

The Biblical Roots of 'Blowin' in the Wind'

Everyone is familiar with these lines from Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind": 

"How many times must a man look up 
Before he can see the sky? 
How many ears must one man have 
Before he can hear people cry?" 

Oliver Trager, author of Keys to the Rain: The Definitive Bob Dylan Encyclopedia, apparently had no idea what he was stepping in when he wrote of Bob Dylan's most famous song: 

“… this song for the ages could have been spoken by the ancient sages—it seems to have been around at least that long.”   CLICK HERE to read more

Beatles songs as likely to explain Christianity as the Bible, says bishop

The Rt Rev Nick Baines, Bishop of Croydon, has urged churches to use hits by bands such as U2 and the Beatles in their services.

In a book backed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, he argues that pop music writers can convey deep theological concepts in a way that is more accessible to the younger generation. CLICK HERE to read more

It's alright, ma. I'm only preaching (2007)

The latest study of Bob Dylan's work could have Christian scholars singing in the aisles

In his new book, Dylan Redeemed: From Highway 61 to Saved, the University of Chicago-educated theologian seems destined to raise even more hackles among his subject's secular followers than did the brief time in the late 1970s - date stamped by three muscular evangelical recordings, Slow Train Coming, Saved and Shot of Love - that is commonly regarded as the sum total of Dylan's flirtation with an aggressive "born-again" stance. CLICK HERE to read more

Restless Pilgrim

The decade-spanning career of Bob Dylan intersects with nearly every major movement of our times. CLICK HERE to read more

Fandemonium: 18+ Bob Dylan Fan Sites

Bob Dylan has had a unique and sometimes contentious relationship with his fans. As JBev notes in his review of the new Bootleg Series release, Tell Tale Signs, Dylan has been “loved, hated, electrified, wrecked, forgotten, deserted, misunderstood, saved, overrated, and restored.” Even Dylan himself has been quoted as saying, “What good are fans? You can’t eat applause for breakfast. You can’t sleep with it.” Well, no matter how much he might alienate or piss off his legions of followers (whether “going electric,” releasing a lousy Christian album a la Saved or playing mind-numbingly horrific live shows) Dylan will always have his fans, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health. In honor of these diehard Dylan disciples, JamsBio has rounded up 18 of the best Dylan destinations on the World Wide Web. Whether you’re a Dylan neophyte or a certified Dylanologist, there’s something out there for to enjoy. CLICK HERE to read more

The Great Bob Dylan Conspiracy

Yesterday, there was a link on Expecting Rain to an article called “Exhuming Bob X: Lubavitcher Bob.”

If you don’t have the patience to click on the link and read the article, let me summarize it: The writer asserts as a premise that Jews, in their synagogues, are taught that “Jews are to rule the world and all the peoples” and that it “is the duty of every Jew to further that work.” CLICK HERE to read more

“What Happened?:” Paul Williams’s take on Bob Dylan’s ‘Born Again’ Period

Bob Dylan’s turn to premillenial, charismatic Christianity in the late 70s is a baffling chapter in his career. From writing anthemic ‘protest’ songs to introspective love songs, Dylan had spent more than fifteen years speaking into the lives of countless fans. Although he had renounced all prophetic mantles, Dylan couldn’t live up to or escape his iconic status. Even when he found Jesus. CLICK HERE to read more

Art And Astrology… Another Example Of Saturn Opposing Uranus : Bob Dylan

On the blog controversy, there is another analogy that comes to mind. I have been a Bob Dylan fan since I was 11 years old and there was a point in the late 70’s he started writing God music. CLICK HERE to read more

Pluto Direct In Sagittarius - “Gotta Serve Somebody” By Bob Dylan

If you want the history on this… Bob Dylan being booed in concert when he came out with these songs circa 1979 and the like you can see part of a documentary here The Gospel Songs Of Bob Dylan. CLICK HERE to read more

CONCERT REVIEW: Crowd energized by Bob Dylan's mix of new and old

"I Believe In You," a gospel song originally recorded on "Slow Train Coming," was a departure from his normal setlist. It was, however, well-received, and Dylan seemed to enjoy playing it. CLICK HERE to read more

Bob Dylan Performs ‘Changing of the Guards’ from 1978’s Street Legal

To many, this album is all gloss with a level of slickness which undercuts the depth of the songs. But, I really like this tune in particular; this is classic Dylan in the role of the aging prophet, with spiritual imagery presented on a Biblical scale. The song’s lyrics are firmly in Dylan’s own world of watchtowers and wicked messengers. I actually think the lush arrangement and call-and-response backing vocals helps this effect. This is big music, even if it’s a little bit of its time. CLICK HERE to read more

Bob Dylan, won't you please come home? What could have been — and yet be

It was something I learned from Bob Dylan songs that helped to get me here. It's not that I owe Dylan a special debt of gratitude. As he would probably be the first to admit, he was just doing what he had to do. He was part of the great orchestration of the world by The Master Composer, and if it hadn't been him, there would have been someone or something else to do the job. CLICK HERE to read more

Jerry Wexler, famed record producer, dies at 91

In the '80s, he made albums with Dire Straits, Carlos Santana, and George Michael, among others. His 1979 album with Bob Dylan, "Slow Train Coming," Dylan's first recording after his conversion to Christianity, won Dylan his first Grammy Award for "Gotta Serve Somebody." CLICK HERE to read more

Jerry Wexler, R&B Impresario, Is Dead at 91

Jerry Wexler, who as a reporter for Billboard magazine in the late 1940s christened black popular music with the name rhythm and blues, and who as a record producer helped lead the genre to mainstream popularity, propelling the careers of Ray Charles, Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin and other performers, died on Friday at his home in Sarasota, Fla. He was 91. CLICK HERE to read more

John Lennon: Serve Yourself

Shortly before his December 1980 shooting, John Lennon, a skeptic of organized religion, recorded "Serve Yourself", a negative response to Bob Dylan's "Gotta Serve Somebody". CLICK HERE to read more

U2: Love Rescue Me

The song that probably comes across as most epic, however, is probably “Love Rescue Me”; 6:23 doesn’t make it the longest song on the album, but the quiet start with harmonica builds up to something huge, bringing in the brass along with the big rock setup (for some reason, U2 have never used brass before or since Rattle and Hum in any big way), before bringing in a final calm. Bob Dylan supposedly turns up, although which bits of the lyrics are Dylan’s is anyone’s guess. CLICK HERE to read more

eMusic Q&A: Sinead O'Connor Posted By : Alan Light

Her new album, Theology, is a two-disc set offering parallel versions - one disc acoustic, one with full-band arrangements - of new compositions by O'Connor that interpret Biblical texts, plus a few appropriate covers. The afternoon following a stellar performance at a small New York City nightclub, O'Connor - now a 40-year-old mother of four - settled in over coffee and cigarettes to discuss her musical, spiritual and personal journeys. CLICK HERE to read more

Go & Do - U2charist anniversary

St. George's Church in York, Maine, will host a third anniversary U2charist on Sunday, Aug. 3, at 5 p.m., to honor the work that has been accomplished by the U2charist movement that began at St. George's on July 31, 2005. CLICK HERE to read more

Fri 07/25/2008 The Cleveland Museum Of Art

Screening:
Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan
The Cleveland Museum Of Art
Lecture Hall 7:00 PM

This Friday 7/25
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