Bob Dylan Masters of war.

Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Masters of war.
From: Little Hawk
Date: 11 Aug 10 - 11:09 AM

Now and then Bob does a really lousy show. Other times he does a great show. It must depend on his mood, I suppose...or his energy level.

I think the best performance on record of "Masters of War" is a solo acoustic version by Bob recorded live in the early sixties. It's on one of the "Bootleg Series" albums. My feeling is that the song benefits from being done in the simplest manner possible, because the words need to be clearly heard.

As for Bob Dylan and Tom Petty...yeah...they did not become millionaires by sitting on their asses. They worked hard for it.

Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Masters of war.
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 11 Aug 10 - 10:35 AM

I like it when live versions of songs are different to the standard recordings, and enjoyed some of the interpretations Dylan did on the one decent performance he turned in of the 3 gigs I've seen him at.

But my feeling is that MOW is a song that really doesn't lend itself to being rocked up. The version you linked had pretty unintelligible words and take away the sense of the words and you have "just another" rock song that could be about anything or nothing. But if you like it...well, "chacun a son gout" (and if I drink much more of that Courage beer, gout'll be a definite possibility).

Dylan's never *shocked* me, but twice he's *disappointed* me with really bad performances where he could hardly be bothered to go through the motions, showing such a contempt for the people who *made* him a millionaire that I've never bothered to go to one of his live gigs since....the last one being just up the road at the Hop Farm. Five minutes drive for me (well, my mate, until this cast's off) but I just couldn't be arsed :-)

Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Masters of war.
From: Pierre Le Chapeau
Date: 11 Aug 10 - 10:13 AM

I value Woodsie comments
"but in regards to "Two millionaires fucking about on stage?

Well Bob and Tom did not Become Millionaires Darning socks did they?
I think they are excellent together and inspire each other.

The only thing I do not like about Masters of War is the last verse and when I learn Masters of War and Play it I wont sing the last verse and if folk do not like it Huh
Regards Pierre.

Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Masters of war.
From: Pierre Le Chapeau
Date: 11 Aug 10 - 09:59 AM

What I.... like about Bob Dylan is that he is very Deep Man.
He is always thinking and does not tell no one his thoughts
he just go ahead and does it,
If you like it "Good"
If you dont .Huh
He shocks his fans
has the very link above with petty proves ?

Pierre.

Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Masters of war.
From: pavane
Date: 11 Aug 10 - 07:54 AM

I think it was collected long before that

Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Masters of war.
From: GUEST,Woodsie
Date: 11 Aug 10 - 07:43 AM

Yeah Pete at the end of the day you like what you like and that's good. If we all liked exactly the same stuff what a boring world it would be. Nottamun Town is a good song, I'm not sure if it (the tune that is) predates Masters Of War (1963), it probably does. I have versions by Davey Graham and Fairport, 1965 & 1968 respectively.

Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Masters of war.
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 11 Aug 10 - 07:32 AM

Well, I thought it was a great version! Bob has been changing live versions of his songs like this for years. It's what he does....

Thanks for the link, Pierre.

Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Masters of war.
From: Pierre Le Chapeau
Date: 11 Aug 10 - 07:21 AM

"Well that went down with you lot
like a concreate Kite didnt it?

I would not sing it like that myself.
But I do like the version.(my choice)
Thanks for your reponses and for the above links

I play John Brown in a similar fashion Re fast Rythum
Regards to all Pierre.

Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Masters of war.
From: pavane
Date: 11 Aug 10 - 04:32 AM

Warlike Lads of Russia words

Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Masters of war.
From: pavane
Date: 11 Aug 10 - 04:28 AM

I prefer the original (Nottamun town) which Dylan took as the tune for Masters of War - but it isn't a war song.

If you want Napoleonic songs - listen to Nic Jones' "Warlike lads of Russia" for one which hasn't been overdone. How Napoleon fled from
Moscow (Words form an old broadside)

Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Masters of war.
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 11 Aug 10 - 04:20 AM

Agree with Woodsie, Pierre....that's an awful version. As Bobert says above, you can't (or at any rate shouldn't) "rock up" a song like that one.

Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Masters of war.
From: GUEST,Woodsie
Date: 11 Aug 10 - 12:09 AM

Pete - sorry mate but it's awful - just millionaires on stage fucking about!

Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Masters of war.
From: Bobert
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 11:11 PM

Yeah, G... Lotta that in music... Very curious but it seems that some folks don't get the essence of the story and are like, ahhhh, just thinking *not of the essence* but the *musicaltiy* of the voice???

Ain't me... I do a song and I want the story to get, at the least, equal time...

BTW, I agree on the Rubber Soul lp...

B~

Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Masters of war.
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 11:01 PM

Speaking of The Beatles, you know the song You Won't See Me, from the album, Rubber Soul? That always struck me as an oddly upbeat setting of some very downbeat lyrics. Though the days are few/They're filled with tears/Since I lost you/It feels like years/Yes it seems so long/Girl since you've been gone/And I just can't go on/If you won't see me. This guy is almost suicidal, yet he's singing this bouncy little number.

Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Masters of war.
From: Bobert
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 10:27 PM

Just another thought... If war is so friggin' happy and upbeat why not sell War-Cola??? Or have "War Sales" at the local department stores???

Think about it...

Be like takin' the old Beatles song "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and trying to make it into a boohoo downbeat dirge'r... Some stuff just ain't right...

Dylan??? I donno what got into him that night... I mean, I been in enough jams where ya' just get caught up in someone else's rhythum/groove... We all been there... Maybe that was the case... But then again??? It is Dylan... He ain't all that consistent in his groove...He does seem to roam around musically which is fine with me... I just hold the option of havin' the clicker when it comes to his stuff... He's either in a groove I am real comfy with 'er very much not...

B~

Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Masters of war.
From: Beer
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 10:13 PM

Terrible version. Watched less than 30 seconds. Dylan's original is the one. God on Our Side is A Great Song "period"
ad.

Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Masters of war.
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 09:31 PM

I've always preferred Bob's original version.

De gustibus....

Russ (Permanent GUEST)

Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Masters of war.
From: Bobert
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 09:26 PM

The Dylan/Petty version in the clip absolutely sucks!!! "Masters of War" ain't this upbeat song... It's a very serious song about some very serious shit... Ther's only one way to do it and that is the way that Dylan did it originally...

BTW, this is one hard song to squeeze into a set without ruining yer set... And the worst part about it is the better you do the song the more it brings yer set down... I mean, if yer audience consists of alot of folks who wnat serious downbeat dirges then let 'er rip... I save songs like this for the right situation which doesn't presnt itself too often... Gotta be respectfull and carefull about these kinds of songs if yer on stage...

b~

Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Masters of war.
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 06:45 PM

Listened for about 60 seconds. Did not recognize the song as anything I've ever heard. Wasted about sixty seconds on that video.

Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Masters of war.
From: Rafflesbear
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 05:25 PM

Now this I like

Neville Brothers - God on our side

Subject: RE: Bob Dylan Masters of war.
From: Rafflesbear
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 05:11 PM

Personally I would say if you're going to sing a protest song then it probably makes sense for the audience to be able to hear the words. From the two versions I heard they could be the words to Eidelweiss

I'm sure your version will be superior when it comes and better even than the Pigs Ear version

Written as a BIG Dylan fan

Subject: Bob Dylan Masters of war.
From: Pierre Le Chapeau
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 04:32 PM

I have recently been given a request to play Master of War.
I sing Napolionic War songs and anti war songs so I took up the request and played it fore the 1st time last Monday gone and made a right pigs ear off it.

None the more fore that?
But I am researching the song and I have seen a brilliant version of the above title on Utube with Tom Petty and its fantastic.
What do fellow Dylan fans think of this version
Title on utube
Bob Dylan Masters of War with Tom Petty
Beats the Free wheeling version much more of a beat and Dylan at his best?
Kindest regards to all Pierre.