Dylan on Letterman featured some great pedal steel playing

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 22 May 2015 8:43 am

That (unidirectional) mike right next to the singer is there so the audio engineer in the control room can hear exactly what the singer is hearing. Thus, he can mix for the singer as well as the audience, without saying "How's that sound, Bob?".

Would you know if that's something exclusive to Dylan? I'm asking because I've never noticed that approach used with anyone else (appearing on Letterman) except him...

Tom Quinn · Post by **Tom Quinn** » 22 May 2015 9:40 am

Probably recording the performance with the big mic...

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 23 May 2015 7:09 am

my guess is no purpose other than quirky ambience.

Mark Hershey · Post by **Mark Hershey** » 23 May 2015 7:30 am

chris ivey wrote:my guess is no purpose other than quirky ambience.

I think it's because he doesn't have a guitar or a key board up there. Just something to sort of have between him and the audience.

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 23 May 2015 7:33 am

chris ivey wrote:my guess is no purpose other than quirky ambience.

Think that's probably right on. Perhaps it was Bob's weird way of a tribute to Sinatra. If so, he should have gone all the way with a fedora on his head, a cocktail in one hand, and a heater in the other. Like the old photo in the recording studio.

Jason Duguay · Post by **Jason Duguay** » 24 May 2015 5:48 am

My money would be on it being a room mic to capture the natural sound of a well balanced and well rehearsed band.

Nice playing.

Tyler Spry · Post by **Tyler Spry** » 24 May 2015 4:21 pm

Anybody know what vocal mic Dylan is using on this performance? Sounds phenomenal on his baritone vocal.

W. C. Edgar · Post by **W. C. Edgar** » 25 May 2015 5:21 pm

Donnie is a good steel player but he's as good as they come on the fiddle.
He played on some of my demos in Nashville when we all lived there.
I've been around the block and I mean really smokin fiddle as good as it gets.

Brett Lanier · Post by **Brett Lanier** » 26 May 2015 3:23 pm

Brint Hannay wrote:The mic seems to have been akin to the old Fender non-pedal steel Dylan apparently has had onstage in recent years without anyone playing it.

I've seen him play the intro to Rollin' and Tumblin' on that old non pedal Fender. And he nailed it.

Brint Hannay · Post by **Brint Hannay** » 27 May 2015 10:13 am

Cool!

Wally Pfeifer · Post by **Wally Pfeifer** » 27 May 2015 11:04 am

$:\$

Bob Dylan needs a rest. Ho Hum
It has been a week already.

Joe Goldmark · Post by **Joe Goldmark** » 28 May 2015 8:43 pm

It's amusing to hear people complaining about Bob's singing. He's actually trying his best to sing clearly and enunciate and be a crooner on this album. His singing is way better than his previous albums, and if you really want to hear a brutal un-listenable album, check out his recent Christmas album. However, even doing his best singing in years, you still have to be a fan to like that voice.

For my money, the greatest songwriter ever in the 1960s, and mostly miss after that. But nobody can sustain it very long. Think of the greats like Merle Haggard, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, etc. Creative genius for a period and then it's basically over.

Joe

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 29 May 2015 5:02 am

He is catching a lot of flack. He adapted English tunes and some classical themes pop into songs
(Bob Dylan's Dream / Nessun Dorma). Both things are intelligent writing; Paul Simon did it.

For someone who wrote more songs than Don't Think Twice, when no one objected to his voice and many copied it--
it's odd to forget that he penned many anthems of the generation--Masters of War, Hard Rain, AND All Along the Watch Tower--
not to mention 'Tomorrow is a Long Time,' which Sandy made into a beautiful piece with Sneaky Pete.

His voice changed a couple of Times. So did he. So did Miles. I do think we like to shoot our idols down.
Fortunately Miles, Haggard, Stevie Wonder and Dylan's songs withstand time--but yes, it's a fairly brief window for each.

Brett Lanier · Post by **Brett Lanier** » 29 May 2015 8:31 am

Joe Goldmark wrote: For my money, the greatest songwriter ever in the 1960s, and mostly miss after that. But nobody can sustain it very long. Think of the greats like Merle Haggard, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, etc. Creative genius for a period and then it's basically over.

Joe

Well said, but I would argue that's Dylan's period of greatness lasted longer than most. "Blood on the Tracks" and "Desire" came in the mid 70's. Two albums that I would consider to be among his very best work.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 29 May 2015 9:36 am

50 years as one of the most influential songwriters of our time. enduring songs. good actor. good artist.
true to himself. no sold out bubblegum. was never on 'keeping up with the kardashians'.
to me, he is absolutely one of the greatest artists of my generation....if not 'the' greatest!

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 29 May 2015 10:16 am

chris ivey wrote:50 years as one of the most influential songwriters of our time. enduring songs. good actor. good artist.
true to himself. no sold out bubblegum. was never on 'keeping up with the kardashians'.
to me, he is absolutely one of the greatest artists of my generation....if not 'the' greatest!

Bravo. Well said.