Thursday Tidbits...

Sparks Of Insanity By Vinny "Bond" Marini Thursday, October 09, 2008

Bob Dylan's award-winning XM music show, "Theme Time Radio Hour," launched its highly-anticipated third season on last evening, Wednesday, October 8 at 10:00am (ET) on XM Satellite Radio.

Additionally, in what promises to be a banner week for Bob Dylan fans, Tell Tale Signs – the 8th installment in the best-selling and critically heralded Bootleg Series which launched 1991 - is in stores now.

The advance critical response to Tell Tale Signs has been overwhelmingly ecstatic:

Robert Hilburn, writing in the Los Angeles Times (September 30, 2008), observed that "Tell Tale Signs: The Bootleg Series Vol. 8 is a rich, revealing look at how this master songwriter put together one of the most dramatic creative renaissances in pop history….Tell Tale Signs is not just "extra" Dylan. It's essential Dylan."

Chris Willman, giving the album an "A" review in Entertainment Weekly (September 30, 2008), made this analysis: "Excitingly, Tell Tale Signs jumps decades ahead to offer an alternate history of … the creative renaissance that started at the end of the 1980s and has been bearing fruit ever since….the generally superb Tell Tale Signs repurposes known material in simple, languid, semi-acoustic settings that hark back to '70s classics like Blood on the Tracks."

A treasure-trove of 27 songs spanning two discs, Tell Tale Signs features previously unreleased recordings and alternate versions of tracks from sessions which generated some of Bob Dylan's most acclaimed and commercially successful albums from the last two decades, including Time Out Of Mind, Love And Theft, Modern Times and Oh Mercy. A limited-edition deluxe three-CD package of Tell Tale Signs -- featuring all of the elements of the two-disc set, plus an exclusive bonus disc of 12 additional rare and unreleased recordings and a hardcover book of Bob Dylan singles artwork spanning his entire career, presented in a specially-designed hardcover slipcase -- is also available now.

Bob Dylan's weekly radio program will air on Deep Tracks XM channel 40 on Wednesdays at 10:00 am (ET), The Village XM channel 15 at 12:00 pm (ET) and all day every Wednesday on XMX XM channel 2, the channel showcasing XM's most popular and critically-acclaimed original music shows all in one place.

Themes on season three of "Theme Time Radio Hour" will include "Money," "War," "Presidents," "Cats" and "Famous People."

"Theme Time Radio Hour," an hour-long radio program hosted by Bob Dylan, has been described as "revelatory" by Rolling Stone magazine. Each episode features an eclectic mix of songs, from a wide variety of musical genres, related to that week's theme with Dylan's on-air thoughts and commentary interspersed with phone calls, email readings, contributions from special guests and an array of classic radio IDs, jingles and promos from the past.

I found out yesterday, I will be getting a copy of Tell Tale Signs to review shortly. I did try and get a second copy to use as a give-away but was not able to do so, but you know in the past I have acquiesced and after transferring the music, passed along my copy to a lucky guest here on The Couch....

We shall see...


I am off to DMA08 Conference & Exhibit in the quiet, non-assuming city of Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday. The Conference runs through Wednesday and I return home on Thursday.

This is the first time in quite a few years that I have been able to attend this event and I am looking forward to it. There are a number of seminars that I am interested in attending and the Exhibit Hall always allows me to renew old friendships and begin new ones.

Then there are the parties! Many of the vendor companies host cocktail parties and events which turn into great networking opportunities (and free drinks! LOL).

I am not sure if I will have time to post, and am considering writing up some posts and scheduling them for posting while I am gone. I have a post for Ruby Tuesday and also another for Roger's Photo Contest, so that is two days!

Believe it or not, this is my first trip to the Oasis in the Desert. It will also afford me the opportunity to get together with an old friend who moved out there a few years ago. Plans are for me to spend Wednesday evening with he and his wife and he has already mentioned a great jazz club he wants to introduce me to.

Back a number of years ago I wrote industry related articles for a number of web-sites dedicated to the print and direct mail industry. Recently, my company asked me to contribute to an article for Direct Magazine. Yesterday, I was made aware the article was published and also appears on their online version.

Dry stuff to those who are not in the industry, but in case you are interested, you can read the article HERE

NOTE: The article is back!



Have always loved this band...


Blood Sweat & Tears
"You've Made Me So Very Happy"
Brenda Holloway (with Berry Gordy, Frank Wilson and Patrice Holloway)

I lost at love before
Got mad and closed the door

But you said "Try, just once more"

I chose you for the one

Now we're having so much fun

You treated me so kind

I'm about to lose my mind

You made me so very happy


The others were untrue

But when it came to loving you

I'd spend my whole life with you

Cause you came and you took control

You touched my very soul

You always showed me that

Loving you was where it's at

You made me so very happy

I'm so glad you came into my life yeah


I love you so much you see

You're even in my dreams

I can hear you, I can hear you callin me

I'm so in love with you

All I ever want to do is

Thank you baby, thank you baby


You made me so very happy

I'm so glad you came into my life

You made me so very happy

You made me so so very happy baby

I'm so glad you came

Into my life

I want to thank you girl

Every day of my life

I want to thank you

You made me so very happy


23 Of Your Sparks

  1. katherine. Says:
  2. always had a soft spot in my heart for Dylan....

    How is it that you have never been to The Meadows? If you get a chance....go see "LOVE"....trust me. Truly. Unlike anything I have ever seen...New York...Los Angeles...no where.

    have a good time...well...not TOO good of a time...smile.

     
  3. Schmoop Says:
  4. Have fun in the desert Vin, and congrats on the article that has been removed. I got an error message when I clicked the link dammit. Cheers!!

     
  5. KATHERINE: Just never had an opportunity to go. Not sure time will allow, but if so, I plan on trying to get there

    MATT-MAN: Thanks Matt...I am not sure where the article went...will check it out when I get to work.

     
  6. Dana Says:
  7. Have a GREAT time in Vegas and please do something there for me that can stay there *wink*

     
  8. So, you're coming to the desert, huh? That would explain my dream last night, then. Hmmmm....

     
  9. DANA: As long as it does not cause ME to stay in Vegas! (behind a cell!)

    SONGBIRD: That's it? you can't just say that and NOT explain!

     
  10. Oh Dude, KEEP THE DYLAN. Seriously that is one to hang on to you overly generous man.

    Oh and if you get a chance keep an eye open for this upcoming PBS special

    It Might Get Loud

     
  11. Tug Says:
  12. Wow, wish I was going to Vegas, I miss that town. Enjoy!

    Can't wait to hear the review, and BS&T? LOVE.them!

     
  13. Tiggerlane Says:
  14. I always loved that Blood, Sweat and Tears song...and loved his voice.

    Robert Zimmerman fan, huh? My husband likes to irritate me by singing like him or Neil Young. Great songwriters, both - HATE their voices, though!

     
  15. STARR: Looks fantastic! I will ask TiVo to watch for it and record when it is on...and I know..I might not want to give up the Dylan just for the packaging!

    TUG: Business and fun...but more business...BS&T were incredible

    TIGGER: I am not sure, but I think I liked them even more when Al Kooper was with them...but that is one of my fav songs...
    "like a rollllling stone..." heheheh

     
  16. Any song can be Dylanized. Just ask kidlet. I do a dead on Bobby Z version of Hit Me Baby One More Time.

     
  17. Do a little something naughty for me too while you're in Vegas, baby!

    Enjoy! Nothin' like a good trade show after party!

     
  18. Lu' Says:
  19. So very happy in deed :)

     
  20. SONGBIRD: That's it? you can't just say that and NOT explain!

    Yes I can!

     
  21. STARR: LOL...I bet you do!

    RRL: LOL...Man, who is holding the bail money? Thanks..

    LU': Yup yup

    SONGBIRD: Well to that i say pffffttttttttttttttttttt!

     
  22. Travis Cody Says:
  23. Vegas was made for conferences and conventions. Sounds like you have a pretty good set up.

    Have fun!

     
  24. Jay Says:
  25. I love Dylan and Vegas both. Dylan a little more I think. Maybe I should get XM Radio too.

    Anyway, have fun in Vegas. Luckily there isn't any trouble to get into out there, so nobody will be worrying about you. ;-)

     
  26. Liz Hill Says:
  27. OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!!


    I picked THIS song to do as a surprise to do for Brad when we do karaoke on Friday! AWESOME!

    Have a great time in Vegas sugar---I expect a full report.

    Smooch

     
  28. DrillerAA Says:
  29. Ahhhh...BS&T, David Clayton Thomas! It just doesn't get any better than this. I liked them better than Chicago. Thanks for the memories.

     
  30. TRAVIS: Should be fun fer sure...

    JAY: XM Rocks dude...really does...Are YOU holding the bail money?

    TURNBABY: A most fantastic song...Are YOU holding the bail money??? LOL

    DRILLERAA: Yup I also liked them more...more soul than Chicago

     
  31. Julie Says:
  32. First time? **gasps**

    I'm reading you backwards as I enjoy my lunch. Well...not really backwards backward....chronologically backwards though...

    **giggles wondering if Vegas is prepared**

     
  33. JULIE: Yup..first time! Vegas better be prepared!

     
  34. sghael Says:
  35. pretty cool review of the Bob Dylan Bootleg series over at JamsBio today:

    http://magazine.jamsbio.com/2008/10/15/bob-dylans-tell-tale-signs-the-bootleg-series-vol-8-1989-2006/

     

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