Bob Dylan labels early songs as 'demos'
Troubadour suggests lack of originality in music today
15.May.07 11:09am
Bob Dylan has talked openly about his early albums, labelling a lot of his classic songs as "demos".

Speaking in the current issue of Rolling Stone, the star explained that his early approach to recording was extremely primitive.

Dylan explained: "Those early songs I made with just an acoustic guitar. In a way, those are like demos, because that's what people do when they demo a song."

Meanwhile, the troubadour legend hit out at the current music scene by suggesting that the originality of the '60s is one that has been lost in today's charts.

He said: "I come from a time when you had to be original, and you had to have some kind of God-given talent just to begin with. You couldn't manufacture that. Just about everybody and anybody who was around in the '50s and '60s had a degree of originality."

Dylan also answered his critics who have called for him to play his earlier songs in their original state live.

The star has attracted frequent criticism from punters at his gigs who struggle to recognise his classic songs when they are performed.

He said of the people who pour scorn on his reinterpretations, "I don't know who would, unless it's somebody who bought that record in 1960-what. But it's the same song, and I'm the same person."

http://www.nme.com/news/bob-dylan/28344

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"Moderate intoxication includes additional abnormalities such as hyperactive bowel sounds,"

good.

and thanks for posting.

Of course, he could always go totally hardcore and just not do 40-year-old songs anymore. The fans wouldn't have to bitch, and neither would he.

I understand his point but it's still kind of a shame you can hardly recognize his songs recently when played live...
I saw him last month and I needed like until the middle of the song to realize what it was...

But really, Bob can do no wrong in my eyes

I think if the man's been playing these songs for 40 years, we can cut him a little slack when it comes to twisting them a bit. I'd rather he do that and keep it interesting for himself than not perform at all.

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I'm Squarepusher, and I approved this message.

I haven't seen Bob Dylan many times, but when he has done re-interpretations, I have always been floored (in a good way). I think this is his biggest strength as a performer. Why would people be upset? If you want to hear the "original" version, go put the record on. Or - God forbid - go see a (gakk!) tribute band.