Today being the beginning of this new year, 2014, I was thinking about songs that really get me going in the morning, songs that when I hear them, I feel an energy and I want to get things rolling. Or songs that make me laugh, or smile, or dance around the room.
Bob Dylan has quite a few of those kinda songs, and today I feature a selection of them. Enjoy.
“New Morning” always makes me smile. It’s one of Dylan’s most upbeat songs, a great way to start any day and certainly a great way to kick off the new year:
“Black Crow Blues” off Another Side of Bob Dylan starts off a bit down and out but it’s filled with Dylan’s humor. I dig his honky tonk piano the most, and there’s a drive to it that energizes me:
“Girl From the North Country” off Nashville Skyline always blows my mind because the song itself is a classic and both Dylan and Johnny Cash deliver terrific vocals. Their voices go together so well here. I always smile at the end when they trade off and repeat the line “true love of mine”:
“Country Pie,” also from Nashville Skyline, is a throwaway, but what the hell, it’s upbeat and fun and if I get this one playing in the morning no way can things go any way but right:
“Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream” from Bringing It All Back Home false starts with Dylan and his producer cracking up, before Dylan launches in to a shaggy dog story that presents a surreal view of pre-Columbus America. This one nails it on so many levels:
“Romance In Durango” off Desire is a beautiful Spanish-flavored song with a great ragged vocal; this one makes me want to dance around the room:
“Please, Mrs. Henry,” from the “Basement Tapes” is so much fun. How can the new year be anything but great when music this good exists:
“Open the Door, Homer,” another crazy track from the “Basement Tapes” that is more fun than two barrels of monkeys:
“Rainy Day Women #12 & 35” off Blonde On Blonde is the perfect way to end this mix of Dylan songs to start off the new year with an oomph. Dig it!
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