Happy b'day, Garth Hudson!

Today the keyboard & horn specialist from The Band turns 71 yrs young.

http://www.garthhudson.com/

The Band's Brown album name mystery.

We recently rec'd an honest question from one our readers (Rob Mullins):

I am a new fan of The Band and love their music. Can anyone out there give me a brief history of the "Brown Album"? I can't seem to find it anywhere....or even that it exists. Love the blog, Thanks

We responded w/ the following:

The Brown album (1969), also self-titled The Band (Brown album is sort of a nickname for the album) was predominantly recorded in LA w/ producer John Simon who resides near Woodstock, NY & was almost considered the 6th member of The Band. The Band was housed & recorded much of the album in a frmr home of Sammy Davis, Jr. (it’s currently for sale for $2-3 mill – we have a past posting about it). The Brown album is one of the most original albums ever made, especially when The Band did not subscribe to the typical hippy culture & genre of the time. The Band created its own sound. The cover of the album was photographed by famed Woodstock, NY resident & official ’69 Woodstock Festival photographer Elliott Landy (his house is located fairly close to Big Pink). The pic was taken on John Joy Rd (now paved) & we have a post about it as well. One of the best ways to learn about the album is to rent or purchase A&E’s Classic Albums episode about the Brown album. Everyone except Richard Manuel was interviewed, including John Simon.

All you veteran fans & associates to The Band, please feel to chime in. Thanks, Rob.

Newport Folk Festival this wkd.

The famed Newport Folk Festival will be continuing this wkd.

New Bob Dylan & The Band survey.

It's your chance to vote @ the top of our links section for you favorite Bob Dylan & The Band collaboration. Were you a fan when The Band, then The Hawks, joined Bob when he went electric or as time rolled along & The Band had presented its own genre of music?

Happy B'day, Ramblin' Jack.

Ramblin' Jack is 77 yrs young today.

Happy B'day Jerry!

Jerry Garcia would be 66 yrs old today (passed away in '95).

Your votes are in!

Thank you for the 155 votes cast over a two-week period for their favorite The Band album. The results are as follows:

1. Brown Album 60 votes
2. Music from Big Pink 38 votes
3. Rock of Ages 16 votes
4. The Last Waltz 15 votes
5. Northern Lights Southern Cross 7 votes
Jubilation 7 votes
6. Stage Fright 4 votes
7. Cahoots 3 votes
Jericho 3 votes
8. Moondog Matinee 2 votes
9. Islands 0 votes
High on the Hog 0 votes

Revamped Bob Dylan website.

Check out Dylan's updated site. Nicely done & easy to navigate.

http://www.bobdylan.com/

Mike Morris website.

Here is the link to the wonderfully talented Mike Morris who opened for the Manchester, NH Ollabelle show we caught July 17th:

www.mikemorris.us/index.php

Great Bob Dylan blog by Mary Wogan.

We've had the fortunate chance to coomunicate w/ Ireland-based Mary Wogan & experience her love for everything Dylan. Checkout her Visions of Dylan UK blog:

http://visionsofdylan.co.uk/blog

Bob Dylan motorcycle anniversary.

Today marks the 42nd anniversary of the "supposed" Bob Dylan 500cc Triumph motorcycle accident that "supposedly" occurred on Striebel Road in Woodstock, NY (near his mgr Albert Grossman's residence). Many celebrate & question the accident as it led to much controversy regarding if it even happened or was it just a stunt or ploy fabricated by the publicly enigmatic artist & his strategic mgr. Those of us who are fans of both Dylan & The Band applaud the accident's timing as it seemingly led to the amazing musical collaberation by the two parties.

Here are photos we took during our late March '08 Woodstock, NY trip. The Striebel Road sign was taken @ the intersection of Striebel & Glasco Turnpike (@the top of Striebel) - take a right onto Glasco & that leads up to Dylan's frmr Byrdcliffe residence. The other two photos are of Grossman's grave stone behind his Bearsville Theater (near the base of Striebel) & Big Pink, the 2nd recording location of the famous Dylan & Band Basement Tapes. The recordings began @ Dylan's frmr house.

Actor/musician Billy Bob Thornton to open for Levon Helm.

We just purchased tix from Levon's Helmland for the Aug 23rd Midnight Ramble w/ opening act Billy Bob Thornton & the Boxmasters - cannot wait!

www.levonhelm.com

Great Bob Dylan discussion group.

Fans can get a lot of past & current insite on Dylan through this Google rec.music.dylan discussion group site. Here's the link:

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.music.dylan/topics?lnk=rgh