And sometimes Jesus has the best tunes

The world of Bob Dylan bootlegs is a deep and mysterious one. I've dabbled on the edges and have a shelf of CDs to show for it, but I'd never claim to be an expert. (Talk about setting yourself up for a fall...)

Anyway, I was intrigued to hear that vol 10 of Sony's official bootleg series may be a set of Self Portrait out-takes and stripped-down versions of the official release. And a taster single featuring a demo of 'Wigwam' may appear for Record Store Day.

That sent me back to listening to the album as released and reminding myself of how much decent stuff there is on there. (The Rolling Stone review began 'What is this shit?', you will recall...) Try 'Alberta', 'Days of 49' and 'Belle Isle' for size, and then go on to 'Spanish Is The Loving Tongue' from the quasi-SP out-takes album Dylan.

That occupied this morning quite nicely.

This evening I've been reflecting on how much quality Dylan stuff is still in the vault, ten splendid volumes into the Bootleg Series.

So here I am now, glorying in Solid Rock, recorded live at Massey Hall in Toronto in April 1980. In the heart of Dylan's still-by-some-derided overtly Christian period, which generated three hit-and-miss studio albums.

As a live document, Solid Rock is the real deal: engaged, passionate, beautifully sung and played... Try 'Ain't Gonna Go To Hell For Anybody' and feel the hairs rise on the back of your neck. 

It's true. The devil may often shade it, but sometimes Jesus does have the best tunes, after all.

When are they going to get an official release?

Kevin Ayers

Yet another sad and premature loss today, with the news that Kevin Ayers has died, aged 68.

He was one of the first performers I saw live, in 1971, at one of the legendary Clitheroe Pop festivals, with a very youthful Mike Oldfield on bass... in an incarnation of the Whole World similar to the one featured, splendidly, here.

An endearing combination of wit, style and imagination, all wrapped up in the quintessentially English act of never seeming to try too hard.

The Soft Machine were never quite the same without him. His early run of solo albums on Harvest are deeply collectable: some lovely songs in beautiful sleeves. The next stage, on Island, was also memorable - as was an energising return to live performance at the end of the 90s with a young prog band, the Wizards of Twiddly.

He had the taste and good fortune to collaborate with a host of great performers - from Robert Wyatt to Lol Coxhill, Ollie Halsall to Nico - and wrote a host of fine songs.

I'm off to raise a glass of red wine now and listen to some of the old stuff.

Brief updates

In yesterday's post about William Tyler, I failed to make the connection to his fine contribution to the excellent Oh Michael, Look What You've Done compilation of Michael Chapman covers which was fifth in my albums of last year list. Consider that connection made, the album replugged and William's tremendous take on 'Naked Ladies and Electric Ragtime' heartily recommended...

And if anyone is still looking for an introduction to the delights of Saint Dominic's Flashback here's an extract discussing the title track of the album.

Breaking the Palmeira's jinx

The first two 2013 gigs I had booked have both been cancelled, and coincidentally both were scheduled for the Palmeira, an intimate and unpretentious pub in Hove.

Kelly Joe Phelps was the first to drop out of the diary. I was properly sympathetic when I heard he has a neurological complaint which stops him playing the guitar - which he normally does astonishingly well - and his whole tour has had to go.

I was less sympathetic with the normally ebullient Fred Eaglesmith, who apparently woke up rather late in the day to the fact that his European tour schedule posed some logistical challenges. 'Wimp' was my first (and, indeed, second) thought - but then I found that he was supposed to have played Utrecht, Hove and Glasgow on successive nights... Doable by plane, but less straightforward in a van. I'll let you off this time, Fred.

So, I am less than completely confident in urging all within travelling distance of this watering-hole to hold 3 May in your diaries. Who knows what will happen in the next 10 weeks? But, as of now, the unequivocally wonderful Hiss Golden Messenger are due to appear, with William Tyler also on the bill. Who he? Well, try this for size - quite extraordinary guitar playing... So book up anyway, and let's hope it's third time lucky and the gig actually happens.

In other news, Michael Chapman is due back at the West Hill Hall next weekend... And I have just booked flights to Alberta aiming for the Canmore and Edmonton Folk Festivals in August. Edmonton introduced me to both Kelly Joe and Fred: it would be very nice if one or both were back there this year.

As always, watch this space.

New from Steve Earle

Thanks to Expecting Rain for linking to this fine new track from Steve Earle, 'Calico County' - with news of an album to follow in April called The Low Highway. It's an infectious, driving, slogger of a song, with fine guitars - Chris Masterson, I presume, sounding in great shape - and Steve's vocals in excellent, growling form. More than a little hint of 'Subterranean Homesick Blues' in its DNA, and something of Elvis Costello's 'Pump It Up' too, which is pretty acceptable ancestry. Lovely stuff, and a very nice looking cover to go with it.