As If I Didn't Already Love the Guy...

...Bob Dylan is donating all of his profits and royalties--in perpetuity--from his new Christmas album, Christmas In The Heart (out Oct. 13th) to charity.

Mr. Zimmerman, you're a real mensch.

R.I.P. Ted Kennedy 1932-2009

Thank You

God bless Barney Frank:

Adventures with Johnny, Part 145

Johnny frolics on the White House lawn with President Obama.

He threw a stick, assuming she'd bring it back. But as you can see, she's headed for Adventure!

R.I.P. Jim Dickinson 1941-2009

That's legendary musician Jim Dickinson on the far right, with Bob Dylan and producer Daniel Lanois during the making of Dylan's classic 1997 album Time Out of Mind.

Dickinson died on August 15, at the too early age of 67. Dylan referred to Dickinson as "my brother" at his Grammy Award acceptance speech, and he's had an amazing career before and after (which you can read about here).

Of course, Dylan's worked with so many people, but Dickinson was special to me because right around the time TOOM came out, he did a long interview with the Dylan magazine On the Tracks, where he gave inside details as to what it was like working on the album.

To that point, I had read exactly zero inside reports on what it was like as Dylan crafted an album, so hearing from Dickinson, as he told hilarious/frustrating/amazing stories about working with Dylan was revelatory to me. And he did it in such plain spoken language, you could sort of picture yourself in the room.

It was Dickinson's contention that one of the unreleased songs recorded for the album, "Red River Shore" was, in his words, "the best thing we cut at those sessions." He was disappointed that it didn't appear on the released album, but I imagine he was gratified when it finally saw the light of day on last year's installment of The Bootleg Series.

I think I'm going to go read that interview again! Rest in peace, Jim.

He Just Wants To Not Be Hassled By The Man

July 23, 2009 - Rock legend Bob Dylan was treated like a complete unknown by police in a New Jersey shore community when a resident called to report someone wandering around the neighborhood.

Dylan was in Long Branch, about a two-hour drive south of New York City, on July 23 as part of a tour with Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp that was to play at a baseball stadium in nearby Lakewood.

A 24-year-old police officer apparently was unaware of who Dylan is and asked him for identification, Long Branch business administrator Howard Woolley said Friday.

"I don't think she was familiar with his entire body of work," Woolley said.

The incident began at 5 p.m. when a resident said a man was wandering around a low-income, predominantly minority neighborhood several blocks from the oceanfront looking at houses.

The police officer drove up to Dylan, who was wearing a blue jacket, and asked him his name. According to Woolley, the following exchange ensued:

"What is your name, sir?" the officer asked.

"Bob Dylan," Dylan said.

"OK, what are you doing here?" the officer asked.

"I'm on tour," the singer replied.

A second officer, also in his 20s, responded to assist the first officer. He, too, apparently was unfamiliar with Dylan, Woolley said.

The officers asked Dylan for identification. The singer of such classics as "Like a Rolling Stone" and "Blowin' in the Wind" said that he didn't have any ID with him, that he was just walking around looking at houses to pass some time before that night's show.

The officers asked Dylan, 68, to accompany them back to the Ocean Place Resort and Spa, where the performers were staying. Once there, tour staff vouched for Dylan.

The officers thanked him for his cooperation.

"He couldn't have been any nicer to them," Woolley added.

How did it feel? A Dylan publicist did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment Friday.

Adventures with Johnny, Part 144

Johnny (in the back) stands at attention as President Obama meets with Canadian Prime Minster Harper and Mexican President Calderon for the North American Summit.

Adventures with Johnny, Part 143

From the Vault: Johnny attends a party where President Barack Obama (then "just" Senator Obama) met actor Mike Farrell, most famous of course for playing B.J. Hunnicutt on M*A*S*H.

So Johnny's met one of the cast members of my all-time favorite TV show, and I haven't? Not fair!

The Next Time You Think Peggy Noonan Isn't Insane...

...read this, her latest WSJ column:

We have entered uncharted territory in the fight over national health care. There’s a new tone in the debate, and it’s ugly. At the moment the Democrats are looking like something they haven’t looked like in years, and that is: desperate.

They must know at this point they should not have pushed a national health-care plan.

[....]

You know what would happen if he did this (nixed health care legislation)? His numbers would go up. Even Congress’s would. Because they'd look responsive, deliberative and even wise. Discretion is the better part of valor.

Absent that, and let's assume that won’t happen, the health-care protesters have to make sure they don’t get too hot, or get out of hand. They haven't so far, they've been burly and full of debate, with plenty of booing. This is democracy's great barbaric yawp. But every day the meetings seem just a little angrier, and people who are afraid—who have been made afraid, and left to be afraid—can get swept up.

"They must know at this point they should not have pushed a national health-care plan."

...Yes, Peggy, how dare Barack Obama--who promised health care reform in the campaign, and then won in a landslide--try and do one of the things he ran on?

This is Peggy Noonan basically saying, if the crazy mobs that are showing up with Obama as Hitler signs do something really crazy, like hurt someone, then it'll be Obama and the Democrats fault, because they didn't listen.

That line of thinking is also used by men who beat their wives, saying they knew what sets them off, so its they're fault if they get hit. Sickening.

I've come to learn that, when it comes to the GOP, there are no "less crazy" ones--its just a matter of when that crazy reveals itself, and in what form. Some days, Peggy Noonan sounds measured and reasonable, and then she writes shit like this.

R.I.P. John Hughes 1950-2009

This Can't Possibly Be True, Right?, Part 2

Wow, it sounds like there's actually going to be a Bob Dylan Christmas album:

It seems that this project was being mooted some months back. It is a personal project of Dylan himself rather than an idea put forward by his record company. The sessions took place in May of this year at Groove Masters studio in Santa Monica...

David Hidalgo is once again reported to be among the musicians involved and, at one stage, backing singers were considered but it isn't clear if any will appear on the finished product. The album is said to have been mixed and finished in June.

So far, five songs have been mentioned, none originals. Two reported directly to ISIS were "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" (the popular Christmas carol with the affecting phrase, "The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight") and "Silver Bells" (a song associated with Bing Crosby). Three others have been mentioned by another website, namely "Must Be Santa", "Here Comes Santa Claus" and "I'll Be Home For Christmas". A few years back, "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" was reportedly performed at a soundcheck for a Dylan concert, as was "The First Noel".

Jesus H. Christ, Part 4

...South Carolinian Democratic Congressman Brad Miller receives death threat over the health care bill.

The modern Republican Party: America's Taliban!

This Can't Possibly Be True, Right?

There's rumors floating around that Bob Dylan, who just released his Together Through Life album in April, recorded yet another new album in May, and is slated for release later this year!

Bob putting out two all-new albums in on year would be unprecedented in his 45+ year career as a recording artist, but you never do know with him.

Even more unbelievably, these rumors are saying it might be a Christmas album--i.e., Christmas songs. What?!? Bob Dylan singing "White Christmas", "Jingle Bells", and such?

Like I was about TTL, I won't believe a word of it until I see the title and sleeve show up officially via Sony/Columbia, but its hard not to get excited at the very idea, even if it is one of the most outlandish, hard-to-believe rumors this Dylan fan has ever heard...

And So It Begins

Oh noes! Obama's super-secret plan to kill old people with his health care plan is starting with sweet little Helen Thomas!!

Well, that's what you get when you elect a President who wasn't even born in this country.

Adventures with Johnny, Part 142

Johnny poses with Fmr. President Bill Clinton during their trip to North Korea, to broker the agreement freeing the two imprisoned American journalists.

Adventures with Johnny, Part 141

Johnny attends the "Beer Summit" with Vice President Biden, Prof. Gates, Sgt. Crowley, and President Obama.

Even Johnny is sick of talking about this.