TANGLED ’84
(Originally TANGLED UP IN BLUE by Bob Dylan)
Bob Dylan has put out so many albums they get lost in the sands of time. He put out a live album in 1985 that featured Mick Taylor, fresh off his 5 year stint with the Rolling Stones, on lead guitar. It’s a mostly forgettable batch of music with an Arena Rock feel. The one track that caught my attention was an acoustic rendition of TANGLED UP IN BLUE that not only had a different chord structure but different lyrics. I quickly transcribed it to a sheet of paper and proceeded to eliminate the version I had been doing since 1996 and do this one instead. I played it for Dom one day at an early practice session for Mr. Fables and that was that. It was our new baby. We worked diligently to ensure we gave it the gravitas it deserved. We thought we had something new and fresh to offer. Dom had ideas for the music side and I had my work cut out for me getting these new lyrics down and making them song worthy with a twist of…well…me. 😉 We went in to record it at the Rock Barn with Paul Lusky and the band just rose to the occasion. It’s not every day you get to record one of the most treasured pieces of art ever created, and we all wanted to make sure we did our best. I’m so proud of it to this day. When Bob came to Mohegan Sun in 2003 I walked straight up to the soundboard and gave his technician a copy of HINDSIGHT wrapped in cellophane and looking all brand new. I turned it over and showed him the track listing and only said, “Please?” He tipped his reading glasses down and gave me a wink. I’ll never know if Bob heard it, but there’s a chance.
Performed by Rich Yirga on bass, Jonathan Lichtig on drums,
and featuring Dom Ursone on rhythm and lead guitars.
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