NYS Music 202​0

Tag: Bob Dylan

  • Bob Dylan Sells Entire Songwriting Catalog to the Universal Music Publishing Group

    Bob Dylan has sold his entire songwriting catalog to the Universal Music Publishing Group. The catalog includes over 600 songs including the classics “Blowin’ in the Wind,” “The Times They Are A-Changin’” and “Like a Rolling Stone.”

    At the age of 79, Bob Dylan is one of the most well known folk singers in the world and selling the catalog of his music, which the rights have been held by him for most of his career, is huge news, not only in the music realms but in the world as a whole. It has been a trend for musicians to sell their catalogs of music during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

    Just last week another big name, Stevie Nicks, sold a majority stake in her songwriting catalog for an estimated $80 million to Primary Wave Music which is an independent publisher and marketing company. It’s unclear if these buyouts are directly influenced by the ongoing pandemic but it’s hard to believe they aren’t connected. 

    It’s unclear how much Bob Dylan received in compensation for his songwriting catalog but according to The New York Times, it is estimated at more than $300 million.

    The deal covers the entirety of Bob Dylan’s long career. All the way back to his earliest work right up to his latest album, Rough and Rowdy Ways. This deal was struck directly with Bob Dylan by Universal Music Publishing Group.

    Bob Dylan at the Civil Rights March on Washington.

    The deal leaves Dylan with 100 percent of rights for all the songs of his catalog. What this means is that he will still collect the income he receives as a songwriter and will still be in control individual song copyrights. So what is Universal Music Publishing Group getting out of it?  Universal Music Publishing Group’s division of the French media conglomerate Vivendi, will collect all future income from the songs. 

    Dylan has made no public comment on the deal. 

  • Bardavon Presents 50th Anniversary Tribute to The Velvet Underground

    The Bardavon Opera House has announced a 50th anniversary celebration of Loaded by legendary rock band The Velvet Underground. Streaming free on Youtube November 15th at 8 p.m., the set includes curated commentary by Bardavon’s Stephen LaMarca with Chris Silva, Michael Nickerson and others.

    The Velvet Underground

    Formed in 1964 singer/guitarist Lou Reed, multi-instrumentalist John Cale, guitarist Sterling Morrison, and drummer Angus MacLise, The Velvet Underground’s sound pushed the envelope by introducing rock to something sexier and with more grit. Although having a sound way beyond their time, a unlikely benefactor helped skyrocket the group to success.

    At the end of 1965 pop art icon Andy Warhol saw the band at a club and quickly as sold.Warhol assumed management of the group and incorporated them into his mixed-media/performance art ensemble, the Exploding Plastic Inevitable. By spring 1966, Warhol was producing their debut album. Besides album sales never reflected such, The Velvet Undergound’s is still revered as one of the best rock bands of all time.

    Featuring original performances from Loaded by The Velvet Underground, created especially for the Bardavon: 

    “Who Loves the Sun” – Tracy Bonham w/ Kevin Salem

    “Sweet Jane” – Simi Stone

    “Rock & Roll” – Steve Wynn from Dream Syndicate

    “Cool it Down” – Lost Leaders

    “New Age” – Leah Hennessey from Hennessey

    “Head held High” – Deerhoof

    “Lonesome Cowboy Bill” – John Doe from X

    “I Found a Reason” – Matthew Logan Vasquez of Delta Spirit

    “Train Round the Bend” – Satellite Mode

    “Oh! Sweet Nuthin’” – Harmony Rockets w/ members of Mercury Rev, Psychedelic Furs and Hugo Largo

    Session outtake: Ocean – Shana Falana

    Bardavon’s streaming series became an important way for the opera house’s to stay connected to music fans during Covid-19. Archived albums currently available for viewing on their Youtube channel include; Bob Dylan’s ‘Highway 61’, Grateful Dead’s ‘American Beauty’, Hudson Valley Philharmonic, Randy Fleischer and HVP Virtual Concert Hall #1.

    A portion of all donations from this streaming series will benefit People’s Place in Kingston & Dutchess Outreach in Poughkeepsie

  • ‘Jimmy Carter Rock & Roll President’ Documentary now Streaming

    Jimmy Carter Rock & Roll President documentary hit theaters across the United States and the virtual cinema stage on September 9, 2020. The documentary covers how Jimmy Carter relied on musicians’ support during the Democratic primaries to build up his name recognition and support from the general public.  

    Jimmy Carter Rock & Roll President

    The documentary focuses on how youth culture and politics join forces in Jimmy Carter being elected as the 39th President of the United States. Jimmy Carter’s love of music was crucial to who he was and he made that known throughout his presidency and his campaign. His love of music affected who he was as a father, a citizen, a man of the South, and as a leader and he made that known to everyone and anyone he could. 

    The documentary includes interviews with big names like Bob Dylan, Bono, Willie Nelson, Paul Simon, Gregg Allman, Garth Brooks, and many others. There will also be interviews included with former President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Jimmy Carter.

    The film is directed by Mary Wharton and written by Bill Flanagan. It is produced by Chris Farrell and Dave Kirkpatrick. The executive producers include Dan Braun, Mary Wharton, Peter David Conlon, David Crawford. Peter Afterman and Tracy Falco are the consulting producers on the film. The film is edited by Mari Keiko Gonzalez and has Tom Beard, Jim Free, Frank Moore as consultants on it. The production coordinator is Linzy Hayes. The drone photography is done by Brad McColl and James Fideler worked as the director of photography on the documentary. All the original music is composed by Bradley Cole Smith and Bill Wharton (The Sauce Boss). 

    People interested in seeing the film have two options for viewing it. They can see it in select theaters across the United States or on the virtual cinema stage. All the theatrical listings and locations can be found on here. The virtual cinema tickets can be bought here for $9.99 and will be available  for 14 days once the viewer unlocks the film. Once the viewer begins the film, they will have 72 hours to finish watching it. 

    For more information on Jimmy Carter Rock & Roll President documentary visit the films’ website.

  • Bardavon Pays Tribute To Bob Dylan’s ‘Highway 61 Revisited’

    The Bardavon Opera House in Poughkeepsie has temporarily closed its doors, but the music is still coming. Their “Albums Revisited” streaming series will resume on Sunday, August 30 at 8:00 p.m., with a tribute to Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited. Known as Dylan’s first true rock album, the tribute falls on Highway 61’s 55th anniversary. To celebrate the occasion, Bardavon’s Production Manager Stephen LaMarca has curated a setlist of artists to perform each of its nine songs. While the event will be broadcast on Bardavon Presents’ YouTube for free, they’re accepting donations for People’s Place in Kingston and Dutchess Outreach in Poughkeepsie.

    Dylan Highway 61

    The full list of performances includes:

    • “Like a Rolling Stone” – Jack DeJohnette & John Medeski
    • “Tombstone Blues” – The Weight Band
    • “It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry” – Jimmy Vivino, Rich Pagano & John Sebastian
    • “From a Buick 6” – Guy Davis
    • “Ballad of a Thin Man” – Steve Earle
    • “Queen Jane Approximately” – Lucinda Williams
    • “Highway 61 Revisited” – Kate Pierson w/ The Restless Age
    • “Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues” – Happy Traum w/ special guests
    • “Desolation Row” – Simone Felice
    • “Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window” – Laura Stevenson

    The event will also feature commentary from Bardavon’s Executive Director Chris Silva, as well as others. 

    Bardavon Presents’ next “Albums Revisited” installment is at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 1, where they’ll celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Grateful Dead’s American Beauty. They’ll also be streaming a Hudson Valley Philharmonic virtual concert hall at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, as well as a live DJ set at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, October 8.

    For more information regarding this stream and future shows, go to Bardavon’s website.

  • Truckin’ off to Buffalo: The Grateful Dead open for Bob Dylan and Tom Petty at Rich Stadium on July 4, 1986

    It’s not too often you see the Grateful Dead opening for another band, especially not in the 1980s. But on July 4, 1986, the Grateful Dead linked up with Bob Dylan and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers for one of only four shows together that summer, performing at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, NY, home of the Buffalo Bills.

    The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette characterized the show on the 4th of July perfect for “The Dead’s vagabond odes and Dylan’s outspoken songs of freedom.” Sweltering heat during the day led to a first set that was cut short, but rain during “Cold Rain and Snow” to start the second set provided respite for the crowd. Perhaps out of exhaustion, fans were reported to have left after the Dead encored with “U.S Blues.”

    While the Dead opened, a trio of songs were featured in a satellite broadcast live to Farm Aid 3. Prior to “The Wheel,” Bob Weir said to the crowd “America is an example of an agrarian nation, let’s keep it turning.”

    Six days and two shows later, Jerry Garcia slipped into a diabetic coma and was unconscious for a week, but would recover and be back on stage later that year. This show at Rich Stadium would be one of the last times the Dead would perform in New York for nearly a year, before returning to Rochester on July 2, 1987.

    Setlist, Grateful Dead, July 4, 1986, Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, NY

    Set 1: Jack Straw, Dupree’s Diamond Blues, CC Rider, Tennessee Jed, My Brother Esau, Touch Of Gray

    Set 2: Cold Rain & Snow-> Fire On The Mountain-> Samson & Delilah*-> The Wheel*-> I Need A Miracle*-> Uncle John’s Band-> Drums-> Gimme Some Lovin’-> Goin’ Down The Road Feelin’ Bad-> Turn On Your Love Light

    Encore: U.S. Blues

    *broadcast as part of Farm Aid 3

    Dylan and fellow Traveling Wilbury Petty joined up for a tour featuring the Heartbreakers backing Dylan. Dylan played a few solo acoustic songs, while the Heartbreakers played their hits that are still classics today, and all joined together for “Rainy Day Woman # 12 & 35.”

    Bob Dylan with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, July 4, 1986, Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, NY

    Set: So Long, Good Luck And Goodbye, Positively 4th Street, Clean Cut Kid, Emotionally Yours, Trust Yourself, We Had It All, Masters Of War, Straight Into Darkness (Petty & The Heartbreakers), Think About Me (Petty & The Heartbreakers), The Waiting (Petty & The Heartbreakers), Breakdown (Petty & The Heartbreakers), To Ramona (Solo acoustic), One Too Many Mornings, (Solo acoustic), A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall (Solo acoustic), I Forgot More Than You’ll Ever Know, Band Of The Hand, When The Night Comes Falling From The Sky, Lonesome Town, Ballad Of A Thin Man, Bye Bye Johnny (Petty & The Heartbreakers), Make It Better (Forget About Me) (Petty & The Heartbreakers), Spike (Petty & The Heartbreakers), Refugee (Petty & The Heartbreakers), Rainy Day Women # 12 & 35, Seeing The Real You At Last, Across The Borderline