Straight from Uncut's editor Allan Jones's blog
I'm looking forward to what news the next few days might bring about Bob Dylan's Christmas album, as reported last week on uncut.co.uk.
If you missed the reports, let me quickly bring you up to speed.
According to the website of long-running Dylan magazine Isis, they heard rumours a couple of months ago that following his last European tour, Dylan went straight back into the studio to record a new album - even though Together Through Life was at that time only just in the shops.
That Dylan was recording again so quickly was surprising enough - but what Isis heard next was cause for eyebrows to be further raised in quizzical amazement. Dylan apparently was recording a CHRISTMAS ALBUM - not an album to be released at or around Christmas, but, you know, a CHRISTMAS ALBUM, of songs about or inspired by the Yuletide celebrations. Whether these were Dylan originals or covers of traditional carols, hymns or seasonal sing-a-longs, Isis wasn't sure.
A couple of days after breaking this news, even seasoned Bob-watchers still shaking their heads in something close to and-we-thought-we'd-heard-it-all disbelief, Isis had even more information on the album, which they now described as a 'personal project' of Dylan's that had actually been talked about for some months.
According to Isis, the sessions for the album - or the first of them, anyway - took place in May at Jackson Browne's Groove Masters studio in Santa Monica, with Los Lobos' David Hidalgo, a star turn on Together Through Life, again in close attendance.
The album, Isis went on, was completed in June and the Isis report mentioned five songs, all of them covers. They include - "O Little Town Of Bethlehem", "Silver Bells" (a Bing Crosby favourite), "Must Be Santa", "Here Comes Santa Claus" and "I'll Be Home For Christmas". According to Isis, there were reports a few years back that Dylan has performed "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" at a sound-check, as was "The First Noel", at which news the mind, she duly boggles, even as we hope, if this is all true, that Dylan's maybe covered Neil Young's "Star Of Bethlehem" as part of all this.
Full Version: Somebody's Taking The Pish.
...!!K.R.O.
O.M.G!!!
What's wrong with a highly respected Jewish recording artist doing cheesy songs about the birth of Jesus?
Dear Friends,
We at Columbia Records are happy to announce the October 13 release of Bob Dylan's brand new album of holiday songs, Christmas In The Heart.
Christmas In The Heart will be the 47th album from Bob Dylan, and follows his worldwide chart-topping Together Through Life, released earlier this year. Songs performed by Dylan on this new album include, "Here Comes Santa Claus," "Winter Wonderland," "Little Drummer Boy" and "Must Be Santa."
All of Bob Dylan's U.S. royalties from sales of these recordings will be donated to Feeding America, guaranteeing that more than four million meals will be provided to more than 1.4 million people in need in this country during this year's holiday season. Bob Dylan is also donating all of his future U.S. royalties from this album to Feeding America in perpetuity.
Additionally, Bob Dylan is partnering with two international charities to provide meals during the holidays for millions in need in the United Kingdom and the developing world, and will be donating all of his future international royalties from Christmas In The Heart to those organizations in perpetuity. Details regarding the international partnerships will be announced next week.
Bob Dylan commented, "It's a tragedy that more than 35 million people in this country alone -- 12 million of those children -- often go to bed hungry and wake up each morning unsure of where their next meal is coming from. I join the good people of Feeding America in the hope that our efforts can bring some food security to people in need during this holiday season."
Christmas In The Heart will be available for pre-order starting today on Amazon.com
Your friends at Columbia Records
We at Columbia Records are happy to announce the October 13 release of Bob Dylan's brand new album of holiday songs, Christmas In The Heart.
Christmas In The Heart will be the 47th album from Bob Dylan, and follows his worldwide chart-topping Together Through Life, released earlier this year. Songs performed by Dylan on this new album include, "Here Comes Santa Claus," "Winter Wonderland," "Little Drummer Boy" and "Must Be Santa."
All of Bob Dylan's U.S. royalties from sales of these recordings will be donated to Feeding America, guaranteeing that more than four million meals will be provided to more than 1.4 million people in need in this country during this year's holiday season. Bob Dylan is also donating all of his future U.S. royalties from this album to Feeding America in perpetuity.
Additionally, Bob Dylan is partnering with two international charities to provide meals during the holidays for millions in need in the United Kingdom and the developing world, and will be donating all of his future international royalties from Christmas In The Heart to those organizations in perpetuity. Details regarding the international partnerships will be announced next week.
Bob Dylan commented, "It's a tragedy that more than 35 million people in this country alone -- 12 million of those children -- often go to bed hungry and wake up each morning unsure of where their next meal is coming from. I join the good people of Feeding America in the hope that our efforts can bring some food security to people in need during this holiday season."
Christmas In The Heart will be available for pre-order starting today on Amazon.com
Your friends at Columbia Records
The Bob Dylan of the sixties must be cringing..
He's always been contrary old git but this is very weird. I suppose he gets a few brownie points for donating all the proceeds to to feed the homeless at Christmas.
Id rather they starved 
QUOTE (Telfy @ Aug 27 2009, 11:50 PM) 
Id rather they starved
They should be made to listen to the old fool croaking his way through such twee garbage. And to think I used to idolize His Bobness! Someone should check his medication- it's either far too strong or nowhere near strong enough.
Or contrary..................
Maybe, just maybe, Mr Zimmerman has mellowed in his old age and is no longer the spewing out the anti this, anti that stuff? There is absolutely no doubt the reason he is doing this is to give to those most in need of this gift!
How many roads must a man walk down before they call him a man? Bob Dylan, I salute you for being man enough to cast off your ideals and give something back.
Those who dare criticise are just blowing in their own wind!
Maybe, just maybe, Mr Zimmerman has mellowed in his old age and is no longer the spewing out the anti this, anti that stuff? There is absolutely no doubt the reason he is doing this is to give to those most in need of this gift!
How many roads must a man walk down before they call him a man? Bob Dylan, I salute you for being man enough to cast off your ideals and give something back.
Those who dare criticise are just blowing in their own wind!
QUOTE (puds @ Sep 2 2009, 04:58 PM)
Or contrary..................
Maybe, just maybe, Mr Zimmerman has mellowed in his old age and is no longer the spewing out the anti this, anti that stuff? There is absolutely no doubt the reason he is doing this is to give to those most in need of this gift!
How many roads must a man walk down before they call him a man? Bob Dylan, I salute you for being man enough to cast off your ideals and give something back.
Those who dare criticise are just blowing in their own wind!
Maybe, just maybe, Mr Zimmerman has mellowed in his old age and is no longer the spewing out the anti this, anti that stuff? There is absolutely no doubt the reason he is doing this is to give to those most in need of this gift!
How many roads must a man walk down before they call him a man? Bob Dylan, I salute you for being man enough to cast off your ideals and give something back.
Those who dare criticise are just blowing in their own wind!
His Bobness was never an idealist, Puds. He never sought to provide answers but he once asked some damned difficult questions.
The damned difficult question he posed to me was 'how the chuff did this three chord wonder who couldn't hum a tune of his life depend on it' become so well loved.
And you're right Bloopy, he has yet to provide the answer.
Of all the identikit protest folk singer songwriters that were about at the same time, I suppose one of them had to make it...
And you're right Bloopy, he has yet to provide the answer.
Of all the identikit protest folk singer songwriters that were about at the same time, I suppose one of them had to make it...
QUOTE (davekermito @ Sep 3 2009, 02:37 PM)
The damned difficult question he posed to me was 'how the chuff did this three chord wonder who couldn't hum a tune of his life depend on it' become so well loved.
And you're right Bloopy, he has yet to provide the answer.
Of all the identikit protest folk singer songwriters that were about at the same time, I suppose one of them had to make it...
And you're right Bloopy, he has yet to provide the answer.
Of all the identikit protest folk singer songwriters that were about at the same time, I suppose one of them had to make it...
Three chords, No Show? He surely didn't know that many.
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