down the highway, down the tracks

bob dylan does it for me. i love the man, and i've never even met him. i don't have to. i get everything i need by hearing his music and reading about his life. i've had the fortune of seeing him live twice now, and each time it's played an integral part in shaping a major psychological shift in me. his albums have gotten me through the most melancholy periods of my life, shedding light on situations i didn't even know were hidden to begin with. he was there when i was 7, riding in the car with me and my mom while we sang his songs from highway 61 revisited. he was there when i experienced heartbreak, and emotional distress, spinning tales of forlorn lovers and troubled situations. he made me feel like i wasn't alone, and gave me a connection i could relate to. bob dylan changed my life, more so than any other artist or musician. he did more for me than anyone ever could: he gave me shelter from the storm. somewhere to go when i couldn't deal, and i needed comfort.

i know i'm not alone in my affection for this man and his genius. his ability to go beyond generational gaps and have his words and sound be as pertinent today as they were 40 years ago, is a feat seldom accomplished by few. he is an iconic pillar that is as strong as granite, but as soft as sand slipping between one's fingers. his own life and vast musical catalog have painted a picture of a man, not unlike the rest of the world, flawed in his perfection; a man who has made mistakes but also made it through. a person who has transcended genres and labels to become an iconic artist in the true meaning of the phrase. simply put, he is a man who had a story to tell. and that he has.

of course, i've been eagerly anticipating Tell Tale Signs: Vol. 8, the latest chapter in his vast career-spanning bootleg series. it features new tracks, live cuts, demos, rarities, and previously unreleased goodies from 1989-2006. it came out yesterday, so make sure you pick it up if you haven't already.

one of the tracks on volume 8 is called "dreamin' of you." if you're a hardcore dylanologist, you've probably been streaming the album for a couple of weeks now on his website and have already heard it. today, i stumbled upon the music video for this new track, recorded at the same time he was penning the rest of the tunes that ended up on 1997's Time Out Of Mind. it's amazing, and the video stars harry dean stanton. you've done it again, bob.



and just because i'm feeling it, here's dylan live in 1976 singing "idiot wind" with the infamous rolling thunder revue (from NBC televised event of "hard rain"):



you'll find out when you reach the top
you're on the bottom.