Bob Dylan sets record to become oldest musician to have No 1 album

[jefferson_dem]

Source: Times (UK)

From The Times
May 4, 2009

Bob Dylan sets record to become oldest musician to have No 1 album



Patrick Foster, Media Correspondent

Bob Dylan rewrote the record books yesterday to become the oldest musician to have a No 1 album, nearly 40 years after he last topped the charts.

The veteran singer-songwriter claimed his seventh British No 1 with Together Through Life, narrowly edging out the claim of his fellow sexagenarian Neil Diamond to be the oldest artist to scale to the summit of the chart.

Dylan, 67, last reached the top of the charts in 1970, when he had two No 1 albums, Self Portrait and New Morning. His last two attempts, Love and Theft and Modern Times, reached No 3 in 2001 and 2006 respectively.

A year ago Diamond, at 67 years and four months, became the oldest person to top the album charts with a new release, when Home After Dark, became his second British No 1. Dylan, who will turn 68 on May 24, now holds the distinction.

Together Through Life beat last week’s No 1, Lady Gaga’s The Fame, into third position, and also outsold second-placed Music for the People, the Enemy’s second album.

It is 45 years since Dylan first topped the charts, with the album that made his name, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. Pete Paphides, the Times critic, described Dylan’s new record, which is virtually guaranteed to top the US charts, as “his warmest, most unforced, set of songs in recent memory”.

Read more: http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article6216754.ece

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[pleah]

1. K&R I don't think he has ever made a bad album.

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[AlbertCat]

7. He has.

[Hissyspit]

11. You've obviously never heard "Knocked Out Loaded" or "Dylan and The Dead"

:D (although admittedly the latter is a live album.)

[xxqqqzme]

37. I saw Dylan & The Dead

when they toured together - strange concert.

[Hissyspit]

38. Yes, strange. Dylan so against "tie-dye" nostalgia at the time.

But actually, the "boots" of some of the shows are supposedly really good. It's just this album is a drag.

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

45. I saw them too, and loved the show.....

Didn't know there was an album out. May have to find it. I especially enjoyed the song "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" the long version it seemed.
We saw them in Oakland, Ca. the outdoor stadium. (I was also fortunate to see Bob in Berkeley at the Greek Theater, sat in the front row!!! A neighbor saved me a seat.)

I didn't get into Bob until "Nashville Skyline", then learned to appreciate his other stuff. Blood on the Tracks is one of my favorites.

[msongs]

2. Neither would have made it to the finals of Corporate Homogenized American Idol nt

[AllentownJake]

3. I'm going to see him July 14th!

He's doing a concert with Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp...should be a good time.

[virgogal]

4. Oh man,I am so jealous. Have fun. n/t

[Veruca Salt]

21. Saw him back in '99

and it was wonderful! Enjoy every minute of it!

On edit: I just realized that was 10 years ago.... and at the time we were wondering about his health so I had wanted to see him 'just in case' and made my dad shell out some good money and called it my graduation present.... Oh boy does the time fly!

[AllentownJake]

23. Its at our new minor league park

Tickets were $75 but I figure small price to pay to see two legends....and Mellencamp.

[HomerRamone]

5. The line it is drawn The curse it is cast

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

6. Bobfest Continues On!!!!!

The new album is wonderful, and I've been a fan forever, but the deal he made with the devil is starting to worry me. Bob never rests, never stops, and the melancholy, the sadness in his songs, while quite beautiful, are troubling.

There'll never be another like him, that's for sure...............

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

8. He's on the cover of the latest Rolling Stone. Douglas Brinkley

interviewed him.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

10. Thank you!

Off to their site to check it out --------------------------------------->

[No Elephants]

9. In the anti war and civil rights movements, the role of Dylan, Seeger, Baez, Peter, Paul and Mary,

et al. was astounding.

[ConcernedCanuk]

13. Yeah it was - I remember going to Mosport Raceway in the 70's - party party party

.
.
.

bonfires in the dumpsters at least once a week - some asshole not satisfied with all the nice little cook-fires going on

Wander from party to party, have a swig, have a puff, move on - whatever . . "see ya later nice to meetcha" sorta thing

and sometimes it happened - you or the neighbor would connect - and WOW - ya got a friend in Never-Never-land!

THOSE WERE THE DAYS My Friend . .

(sigh)

[No Elephants]

40. Imagine if most of the number 1 hits on the radio and the guest shots on TV

for the past 7 years had been about equal rights for all (including gays) and getting the troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan! Sigh.

(No more variety shows on TV until Jay Leno starts his, but plenty of guest shots on talk shows).

[Le Taz Hot]

42. Incorrect about Dylan

and the anti-war movement. He really wasn't that into it as far as actual activism wherein the others you named were. He did write numerous songs but he wasn't actually active IN the movement. It's one of the reasons Baez and he parted ways both artistically and personally.

[No Elephants]

44. I did not say that he was into it, though. I said that he played a role in the

anti-war and civil rights movements, and he did. Songs like Blowing in the Wind and Maggie's Farm had an impact, regardless of his intentions.

I was also aware, before I made that post, that, after the fact, he had said that he was never an activist. I don't know if I believe him, but, again, his internal state of mind was not relevant to my post.

[Jefferson23]

12. Great musician, he has never lost his creativity. Congrats Bob!

[underpants]

14. As much as I love Dylan this is indicative of control over music

Although youtube and other technology has undercut the control that Clear Channel has on what is produced and sold there still exists a control over music we have not seen before. The days of the homegrown band (Dave Mathews for whatever you think of him) are gone. It has to fit a mold to get any real air time to the majority of listeners. In any business the tried and true sure bet is always taken over risk especially if you are the front runner.

Good for Bob, long time fan-I just about wore out the grooves on Highway 61 Revisited but seriously enough with the Dylan and Elvis and Beatles reissues and "discovered" tapes....this goes for Pearl Jam's reissuing of "Ten" too complete with (just saw this on TV) their 15 year old album being featured on "Cold Case"

[Swagman]

15. watch "I'm Not There" (with the brilliant Cate Blanchet ) and then

watch "Don't Look Back"..fantastic films.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

17. "I'm Not There" was actually on one of the HBO channels today; watched it again (I have the DVD).

I need to buy "Don't Look Back." I love that film.

[mvd]

16. Congrats!

Even though I think this album ends his late career winning streak, I'm a big fan. :toast:

[Catamount]

25. Why would you say something like that?

Are you some kind of clairvoyant?

Is he going to die or something?

People have been saying shift like that for years--and see what happened?

He is driven to make music--whether it makes the top 10 here or anywhere--doesn't really matter.


www.savethefrogs.com

[mvd]

26. You misinterpreted

I meant the winning streak in terms of me liking the music. Who knows, he might have 10 more that I like!

[Catamount]

30. No worries--I'm sorry--very sensitive about BOB!

[mvd]

32. I admit it did sound like I was talking about his albums doing well

I'm sorry about that. :hi:

[Lena inRI]

18. DYLAN IS. . .T I M E L E S S

GOLDEN MUSICIANS NEVER GROW OLD. . .

THEY JUST CRANK OUT PLATINUM.

:yourock: :loveya: :yourock: :loveya: :yourock:

[pjt7]

19. Is this all new material?

I'd like to read the lyrics.

[mvd]

24. Yes, I believe so

This is the first time I thought he's just sounded old. Maybe because I don't think the material is as good. Instead of being at the bar, he sounds in the alley. Still a major accomplishment (the #1) for a great artist.

[Enrique]

27. here

http://expectingrain.com/dok/div/ttl_lyrics.pdf

[nolabear]

20. And a fine album it is, too

Dylan defies and defines at the same time, and that voice has acquired aepth of pleasure and pain that is amazing. i understand he was going for the old Chess Records aesthetic and it's a great piece of work.

And maybe we old revolutionaries are coming out and celebrating a bit more, too.

[graywarrior]

22. Not surprised at all

[closeupready]

28. I knew his girlfriend a few years back.

She was fun, a little loud but definitely one who liked to have a good time.

[Catamount]

31. Which one? What century? What city?

Just asking!

[jefferson_dem]

33. Suze Rotolo?

This one on the cover of the Freewheelin' Album? Did you hang out in the Village in the early 1960s? Or Echo Helstrom, the infamous "Girl From the North Country"?

Seriously, he's had so many girlfriends who could be described in the above manner. I'm curious...

[Catamount]

29. Great Post--Great News k&R

This is just so cool for those of us who love the man and his music.

While some of his albums aren't played as often as others in my house--we have them all--and all have been played a million times--and yet I still have time and inclination to listen to other music too.

When we are centered on doing the things in our lives that really mean something to us--we become good at it--and some of us are born with unbelievable talent--like Bob--and they become the best.

I don't know what this means to him personally--but as an author--when someone likes my book--it gives me a thrill and motivation to write some more.

With this in mind--I hope Bob is motivated to continue his fantastic ride and write and sing for us forever--at least well into his 80's like John Lee Hooker and others like him.

I've only heard one of the songs so far--but I've ordered the album--of course.

And Bob--well done--I hope this will make you happy for a little while--or even better--as happy as we are for you!

[mulsh]

34. got the new cd last tuesday first copy out of the crate

got home and listened to the whole cd in one sitting, something I rarely do. my first thought was " not as good as his last few". which was the the same thing I thought the first time I listened to Blond on Blond and Blood on the Tracks.

He may even match Sinatra's record of having records hit the charts in 6 consecutive decades.

Dylan is about my favorite rhythm guitarist.

[napoleon_in_rags]

35. He's a brilliant artist, unrestrained by stereotypes.

His work has always come from his own vision, not cultural pressures. In my opinion, he's the real deal, he's gonna last. 100 years from now people will look at his work as students today look at the work of past poets who put foth a new voice rather than falling into the cliches of their times.

[dreamnightwind]

36. I'm surprised

that noone has mentioned that all but one of the songs on this album were co-written with Robert Hunter, songwriter for the Grateful Dead.

Congrats to Dylan, he's a favorite of mine, as is Hunter. Looks like I'll have to get the album!

[Hissyspit]

39. I meant to do that upthread. I actually only just read that in the Time magazine review

yesterday, though. I bought the deluxe copy of the album which has a bonus CD of one of this XM (or Sirius) radio shows. It also came with a sticker. (Cool!)

[Highway61]

41. Not surprised

Saw him 8 times...each time was different, yet amazing. He is truly a gifted writer. Love to see him win the Nobel Prize for literature one day...he deserves it.

[jazzjunkysue]

43. Somewhere Cher is wondering low long it will be before it's her turn...

But she'll look GREAT!

[BootinUp]

46. Back here in the US, he'd have a better chance if

he was on American Idol.

[DebbieCDC]

47. I think I might have to listen to "Blood on the Tracks" tonight

My all-time favorite Dylan album...well, maybe "Nashville Skyline" is tied with it.

[BluePatriot21]

48. I like Robert Zimmerman more.

Masters of War - Classic for todays world
A Hard Rains Gonna Fall - one of many with great lyrics

countless others...

Dylan and the Dead isn't awful but it more or less shows that the Dead played so many of his songs at shows all the time. They have a huge selection of songs that they played that were from Bob Dylan.

With luck we may be able to make "Rainy Day Women #12 & #35" a reality for Mr Dylan as I am sure all will partake.