Perspectives: A Jukebox Experience - Curated by Elvis Costello

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Perspectives: A Jukebox Experience, Bob Dylan Center, Tulsa, OK.
2022-05-07 Tulsa photo 01 bdc.jpg
2022-05-07 Tulsa photo 02 bdc.jpg


Songs on the Jukebox at the Bob Dylan Center - Tulsa, OK. Curated by Elvis Costello

Elvis has curated a jukebox of songs by Bob Dylan, alongside songs that inspired Dylan, designed “to plot a line in and out of some of the greatest songs ever written.”

LAY DOWN YOUR WEARY TUNE


Elvis Costello

Anyone coming through these doors could probably fill this jukebox with the Bob Dylan songs they love or feel best represent his songwriting. My assignment was merely to plot a line in and out of some of the greatest songs ever written. Okay, on another day, perhaps some of the choices might have been different but most of them are undeniable.

There are clues and echoes throughout the Dylan song catalogue: the rhythm or a motif from an old blues record; an air that bore up a tale of doomed lovers becomes an alarm sounded at the approach of a wider dread.

The strangeness of old songs provided the carriage for a wilder love or cold accounts of the brutal spilling of blood; the price of theft and the beauty of the songs people made in order to endure all of this; songs of “the folk,” wherever they came from, wherever they intended to be. So a glimpse of Buddy Holly or an echo of Sinatra on a Tommy Dorsey side on the radio turns up on records made decades later, just as surely as folk tunes shared among companions in Greenwich Village were sent back to England to be electrified and then traveled back to America to be broadcast to the world.

Some of Dylan’s earliest recordings were made for his music publisher, so it is that his songs have lived in many other interpretations and translations into other languages, his melodies inspiring his contemporaries and colleagues, jazz instrumentalists, or transformed by vocal artists with entirely different gifts. This is a process that stretches from recordings of Dylan songs by The Soul Stirrers and Elvis Presley to today’s popular music stars.

The deeper, darker corners of the catalogue sometimes found advocates for songs the author had not yet recorded himself, so tunes cut down in a basement became secrets, whispered about by the curious before appearing in the hit parade.

On occasion, I have chosen the more recently released Bootleg Series versions of famous songs. It is tempting to hear something more intimate and unguarded in these renditions but if one only hears the clarity and unwavering focus of Dylan’s vocal on multiple takes of “Like A Rolling Stone” as the ensemble gathers in force towards the master take, you will learn that songs are a lifelong work-in-progress.

If you asked me to name my favourite Bob Dylan song, one day I might cite “Not Dark Yet” or “Every Grain of Sand;” the vivid, regretful scene of “One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later)” or, in other words, “I Threw It All Away.” On another day I would point emphatically to “Cross the Green Mountain,” a song of such deep and mysterious sadness that it stands entirely outside of its origins and seems to have something to offer in every tragic moment.

If asked to summarize, I might not even select a single Dylan title but one of his own wonderful interpretations from the riches of popular song to which he had added so much.

I go away weekends, leave my keys in the door" - “Why Try to Change Me Now”

So turn the key and walk right in.

Yours through music and song. - Elvis Costello, New York City, 2022

Part One
01 Rave On Buddy Holly 1958
02 This Land Is Your Land Woody Guthrie recorded 1944
03 Song To Woody Bob Dylan 1962
04 Man of Constant Sorrow Ralph Stanley 1972
05 Mixed-Up Confusion (Single Version) Bob Dylan 1962
06 My Son David Jeannie Robertson recorded 1953
07 A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall Bob Dylan live 1964
08 Restless Farewell/Parting Glass Ronnie Drew & Eleanor Shanley 2000
09 Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance Bob Dylan 1963
10 No et Cansis Més a Fer Cançons Isidor Marí 2013
11 Girl From The North Country Bob Dylan 1963
12 Girl From The North Country Rosanne Cash 2009
13 Nottamun Town Jean Richie recorded 1949
14 Masters of War The Staples SIngers 1966

Part Two
01 The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll Bob Dylan 1964
02 The Times They Are A-Changin' Bob Dylan 1964
03 House of the Rising Sun The Animals 1964
04 Subterranean Homesick Blues Bob Dylan 1965
05 Too Much Monkey Business (Single Version) Chuck Berry 1956
06 Maggie's Farm Bob Dylan live 1965
07 Baby, I'm in the Mood for You Dion recorded 1965
08 Love is Just a Four Letter Word Joan Baez 1968
09 I'll Keep It with Mine Bob Dylan recorded 1965
10 I'll Keep It with Mine Nico 1967
11 It Ain't Me Babe Nancy Sinatra 1966
12 Mr. Tambourine Man The Byrds 1965
13 Tombstone Blues (Take 9) Bob Dylan recorded 1965
14 All I Really Want to Do The Byrds 1965
15 Ballad of a Thin Man Bob Dylan 1965
16 Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window? Bob Dylan 1965

Part Three
01 It's All Over Now, Baby Blue (Take 1) Bob Dylan recorded 1965
02 It's All Over Now, Baby Blue Them 1966
03 Tomorrow Is a Long Time Elvis Presley 1966
04 Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I'll Go Mine) Bob Dylan 1966
05 Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) The Beatles 1965
06 Fourth Time Around Bob Dylan 1966
07 Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again Bob Dylan 1966
08 Me and My Chauffeur Blues (Single Version) Memphis Minnie with Little Walter 1941
09 Obviously Five Believers Bob Dylan 1966
10 Blowin' in the Wind (Single Version) Stevie Wonder 1966
11 Just Like a Woman (Take 1, Complete) Bob Dylan recorded 1966
12 Just Like a Woman Nina Simone 1971
13 One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later) Bob Dylan 1966
14 Blowing in the Wind Ernest Ranglin 1966
15 I Don't Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met) Bob Dylan live 1966
16 Like a Rolling Stone Bob Dylan live 1966

Part Four
01 Like a Rolling Stone Jimi Hendrix live 1967
02 The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest Bob Dylan 1967
03 Drifter's Escape Patti Smith 2012
04 I Pity the Poor Immigrant Bob Dylan 1967
05 All Along the Watchtower Jimi Hendrix 1968
06 One Too Many Mornings Bob Dylan and The Band recorded 1967
07 Lo and Behold! (Take 1) Bob Dylan and The Band recorded 1967
08 Evidently Chickentown John Cooper Clarke 1980
09 I Shall Be Released Wilco with Fleet Foxes live 2008
10 Goin' to Acapulco Bob Dylan and The Band recorded 1967
11 The Mighty Eskimo (Quinn the Eskimo) Manfred Mann 1969
12 The Mighty Eskimo (Quinn the Eskimo) Manfred Mann 1968
13 I'm Not There Sonic Youth 2007
14 I'm Not There Bob Dylan and The Band recorded 1967

Part Five
01 Tears of Rage The Band 1968
02 Wanted Man (San Quentin Prison, 1969) Johnny Cash 1969
03 Million Dollar Bash (7” Version) Stone Country 1968
04 Country Pie Bob Dylan 1969
05 You Ain't Goin' Nowhere The Byrds 1968
06 I Threw It All Away Scott Walker 1996
07 Peggy Day Bob Dylan 1969
08 Nothing Was Delivered The Byrds 1968
09 Tell Me that It Isn't True Bob Dylan 1969
10 Lay Lady Lay The Isley Brothers live 1972
11 She Belongs to Me Ricky Nelson 1969
12 Blowin' in the Wind The Soul Stirrers 1969
13 If Not for You (Alternate Version) Bob Dylan recorded 1970

Part Six
01 The Man in Me Bob Dylan 1970
02 The Man in Me The Persuasions 1971
03 Si Tu Dois Partir Fairport Convention 1969
04 Time Passes Slowly Bob Dylan 1970
05 Went to See the Gypsy (Demo) Bob Dylan recorded 1970
06 Watching the River Flow Bob Dylan 1971
07 Wallflower Diana Krall live 2014
08 Percy's Song Fairport Convention 1969
09 Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues Nina Simone 1969
10 Ballad of Easy Rider The Byrds 1969
11 It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding) Roger McGuinn 1969
12 Down in the Flood Bob Dylan and The Band live 1971
13 Down in the Flood Flatt & Scruggs 1967

Part Seven
01 Forever Young The Pretenders 1994
02 Tough Mama Bob Dylan 1974
03 Going Going Gone Emma Swift 2020
04 Going, Going, Gone Bob Dylan 1974
05 Dirge Bob Dylan 1974
06 You're a Big Girl Now Chrissie Hynde 2021
07 Simple Twist of Fate (9/16/74, Take 1) Bob Dylan recorded 1974
08 Tangled Up In Blue Bob Dylan 1975
09 One More Cup of Coffee (Valley Below) Bob Dylan live 1975
10 Oh, Sister Bob Dylan 1976
11 Isis (Live, 1975) Bob Dylan recorded 1975
12 Baby, Stop Crying Bob Dylan 1978
13 Rita May Jerry Lee Lewis 1979
14 Is Your Love in Vain? Bob Dylan 1978

Part Eight
01 When He Returns Rance Allen 2003
02 The Groom's Still Waiting a the Altar Bob Dylan live 1980
03 Every Grain of Sand (Publishing Demo) Bob Dylan recorded 1980
04 I Believe in You Bob Dylan 1979
05 I Wish It Would Rain (Shot of Love outtake) Bob Dylan recorded 1981
06 Gotta Serve Somebody (Take 1) Bob Dylan recorded 1979
07 Jesus Christ Woody Guthrie recorded 1944
08 Lenny Bruce (Shot of Love Alternate Mix) Bob Dylan recorded 1981
09 Blind Willie McTell (Take 5, Infidels Outtake) Bob Dylan Recorded 1983
10 Don't Start Me to Talkin' Sonny Boy Williamson II 1955
11 Jokerman (Infidels Alternate Take) Bob Dylan Recorded 1983
12 Un angioletto come te (Sweetheart Like You) Francesco De Gregori 2015
13 License To Kill Elvis Costello 2012
14 New Danville Girl Bob Dylan recorded 1984

Part Nine
01 With God On Our Side The Neville Brothers 1989
02 Everything Is Broken Lucinda Williams 2020
03 Ring Them Bells Bob Dylan 1989
04 What Good Am I? Tom Jones 2010
05 To Ramona Texas Tornados 1992
06 Blood In My Eyes Bob Dylan 1993
07 Duncan and Brady Dave Van Ronk 1956
08 Tryin' To Get To Heaven Lucinda Williams 2012
09 Standing in the Doorway (Demo) Jenny Lewis 2019
10 Love Sick Bob Dylan 1997
11 Standing In The Doorway Bonnie Raitt 2012
12 Not Dark Yet Tom Jones 2021
13 Can't Wait (Alternate Version #2) Bob Dylan recorded 1997
14 Make You Feel My Love Adele 2008
15 Cold Irons Bound Bob Dylan 1997
16 Tryin' to Get To Heaven David Bowie 2007

Part Ten
01 Things Have Changed (Single Version) Bob Dylan 2000
02 The Mississippi Flood Vernon Dalhart 1927
03 High Water (For Charley Patton) Bob Dylan 2001
04 High Water Everywhere, Pt. 1 Charley Patton 1929
05 Mississippi (Outtake) Bob Dylan recorded 1997
06 Floater (Too Much to Ask) Bob Dylan 2001
07 ‘Cross the Green Mountain Bob Dylan 2003
08 Workin' Man Blues Merle Haggard 1969
09 Workingman's Blues #2 Bob Dylan 2006
10 Nettie Moore Bob Dylan 2006
11 Señor (Tales of Yankee Power) Willie Nelson & Calexico 2007
12 Spirit on the Water Bob Dylan 2006
13 Huck's Tune Bob Dylan 2007
14 Positively 4th Street Bryan Ferry 2007
15 Life Is Hard Bob Dylan 2009
16 Beyond Here Lies Nothin' Bob Dylan 2009

Part Eleven
01 Duquesne Whistle Bob Dylan 2012
02 Must Be Santa Bob Dylan 2009
03 Don't Think Twice Dolly Parton 2014
04 Long and Wasted Years Bob Dylan 2012
05 All or Nothing at All Frank Sinatra 1939
06 The Night We Called It a Day Bob Dylan 2015
07 Melancholy Mood Frank Sinatra 1939
08 This Dream of You Diana Krall 2020
09 Why Try to Change Me Now? Frank Sinatra 1959
10 False Prophet Bob Dylan 2020
11 If Lovin' Is Believing Billy "The Kid" Emerson 1954
12 I'll Change My Style Jimmy Reed 1962
13 Goodbye Jimmy Reed Bob Dylan 2020
14 Down On The Bottom Elvis Costello & The Imposters 2019
15 I've Made Up My Mind to Give Myself to You Bob Dylan 2020
16 Mother of Muses Bob Dylan 2020

External links