365 Days of Dylan, Day 22 Masters of War

365 Days of Dylan, Day 22 Masters of War from The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan. Lyrics.

This song has been in heavy rotation this week as our new president convenes his cabinet of generals. Led me to seek wisdom in the words of a past president and general.

I hate war as only a solider who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity. - Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Dylan performed "Masters of War" in 1990 at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Hall at West Point on the eve of Eisenhower's 100th birthday. "Times They Are A-Changin': It's Dylan at West Point." (NY Times) 

   

We must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex - Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Some powerful versions of this song by Dylan and others.

   

   

+NPR Songs We Love: Charles Lloyd & The Marvels, 'Masters Of War (Feat. Lucinda Williams)'

  

   

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365 Days of Dylan, Day 21: Senor (Tales of Yankee Power)

365 Days of Dylan, Day 21: Senor (Tales of Yankee Power) from Street-Legal (1978), one of Dylan's less-loved albums.

• Greil Marcus' 1978 Rolling Stone review of Street-Legal. Interesting, his comparision of Senor (Tales of Yankee Power) to the Eagle's Hotel California.
• Ultimate Classic Rock's look back at Street-Legal. Evidently, the album did much better in the UK.

Performances by Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia and Tim O'Brien.

From Garcia plays Dylan.

From Red on Blonde, one of my favorite Dylan cover albums. Solid stuff, every song.

Senor (Tales of Yankee Power) lyrics.

Despite negative reviews of Street-Legal, Senor (Tales of Yankee Power) is listed as 100 on Rolling Stone's list of 100 Greatest Bob Dylan Songs.

        

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365 Days of Dylan, Day 8: Everything is Broken

365 Days of Dylan, Day 8: "Everything is Broken" from Tell Tale Signs: The Bootleg Series Vol. 8

"Everything is Broken" first appeared on Oh, Mercy. But I like the alternate version on Tell Tale Signs.

That's the thing with Dylan, you scratch a song and find other versions you like just as well or better. Or you see him live and he takes a classic song in another completely different direction. Art breathes. Art evolves. As it is with Bob Dylan's music.

Along with alternate takes, another thing you get plenty of when you scratch are amazing covers of Dylan's music. Until I sat down for some heavy listening to prep for this post, I had not yet heard Kenny Wayne Shepherd's or R.L. Burnside's versions of "Broken."

Though I had heard Tim O'Brien's from Red on Blonde, his fabulous album of Dylan songs.

Bob Dylan on tour.

Radio Barz Bob Dylan Store on Amazon.

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