Tempest

Tempest – Bob Dylan

Released last week, Tempest is the 35th album from Bob Dylan, 50 years on from his first album.

I picked up a copy last week, the deluxe limited edition version, from Record Corner during an afternoon in Godalming.

I had a listen this evening, or at least a quick flip through the tracks, as that was as far as I got.

It is rubbish, money down the drain.

The deluxe limited edition is a rip-off and waste of money. All you get extra is poorly put together note book with pictures of magazine covers featuring Dylan over the last fifty years.

The CD itself has a simple folded over sheet, no booklet, no additional information.

It is easy to see why CD sales are falling.

In UK has shot straight to No 1, but that would be Dylan fans on a nostalgia trip, and they were in for a grave disappointment.

It is a collection of poorly recorded hill billy songs, Duquesne Whistle a pleasant enough little ditty.

Where is the Dylan of Blowin in the Wind, Like A Rolling Stone, Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door?

As I was writing I was listening to AVO Session, Mark Knopfler, Festsaal Messe, Basel, Switzerland, 12 November 2007. Far, far better.

• Bob Dylan: Tempest – review (a pretentious review in The Guardian)

Duquesne Whistle – Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan

Listen to that Duquesne whistle blowing
Blowing like it’s gonna sweep my world away
I’m gonna stop in Carbondale and keep on going
That Duquesne train gonna ride me night and day
You say I’m a gambler, you say I’m a pimp
But I ain’t neither one
Listen to that Duquesne whistle blowing
Sounding like it’s on a final move.

Listen to that Duquesne whistle blowing
Blowing like she’s never blown before
Look like blinking, red light blowing
Blowing like she’s at my chamber door
You smiling through the fence at me
Just like you always smiled before
Listen to that Duquesne whistle blowing
Blowing like she isn’t gonna blow no more

Can’t you hear that Duquesne whistle blowing
Blowing like the sky is gonna blow apart
You’re the only thing alive that keeps me going
You’re like a tie bound to my hear
I can hear a sweet voice gently calling
Must be the mother of our Lord
Listen to that Duquesne whistle blowing
Blowing like my woman’s on a board

Listen to that Duquesne whistle blowing
Blowing like it’s gonna blow my blues away
You old rascal, I know exactly where you’re going
I’ll leave you there myself at the break of a day
I wake up every morning with that woman in my bed
Everybody telling me she’s gone to my head
Listen to that Duquesne whistle blowing
Blowing like it’s gonna kill me dead

Can’t you hear that Duquesne whistle blowing
Blowing through another no good town
The lights of my native land are glowing
I wonder if they’ll know me next time around
I wondered if that old oak tree’s still standing
That old oak tree, the one we used to climb
Listen to that Duquesne whistle blowing
Blowing like she’s blowing right on time

— Bob Dylan

A strange ditty, an even stranger video.

The song grows on one.

Duquesne Whistle is from the Bob Dylan album Tempest released today.

Note: Tempest is due for release tomorrow, but this evening I saw it was on sale (unless posters in window of shop were for tomorrow).

It is 50 years since Bob Dylan released his first album. Tempest is his 35th studio album.

• Song Premiere: Bob Dylan, ‘Duquesne Whistle’
• Bob Dylan Debuts Shockingly Violent New Video
• Darcey Bussell, Bob Dylan reviewed, and the Bristol Old Vic reopens (pretentious Dylan review ten minutes into programme)
• Bob Dylan on His Dark New Album, ‘Tempest’
• Bob Dylan’s New Album, ‘Tempest,’ Hits Stores on September 11th
• Bob Dylan Announces Extensive Fall Arena Tour with Mark Knopfler

A somewhat amauturish recording of Bob Dylan and Mark Knopfler (of Dire Straits) at Hamersmith last year which nevertheless captures the magic of Bob Dylan.

Many years ago I saw Bob Dylan play with Eric Clapton. Have also seen Dire Straits.