I ordered an Amazon Kindle today

Since today is Cyber Monday I just had to jump on the bandwagon and purchase something online.  Of course I wouldn't have to fight the crowds and wait on line at a shopping mall.  I have been mulling this over for several months and today finally took the plunge and bought an Amazon Kindle.  I very often purchase books which are large and heavy and difficult to schlep to work.  If a book is heavy, I can't read it unless I get a seat.  The Amazon Kindle obviously solves that problem.  I have to think of what will be the first book that I order online.  Hmm, I have probably read every Bob Dylan book that has ever been written.  I have a couple of days to think about it until my package arrives.  Readers of Bruce's Journal or my Facebook friends are welcome to make suggestions.

How Many Roads: Black America Sings Bob Dylan

When I listen to the radio, I try to be play close attention to what the DJ says.  This morning as I was listening to my favorite show Sounds of the 60s on BBC2 Brian Matthew played Maggies Farm by Solomon Burke who recently passed away.  Brian said that this cut was from a compilation CD titled How Many Roads: Black America Sings Bob Dylan.  I have several CDs of Bob Dylan covers in different genres of music.  I did some quick research and found it on Amazon.com.  I ordered it right away after I saw the track listing:

1. BLOWING IN THE WIND - O.V. Wright
2. GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY - Howard Tate
3. I PITY THE POOR IMMIGRANT - Marion Williams
4. MAGGIE'S FARM - Solomon Burke
5. DON'T THINK TWICE, IT'S ALRIGHT - Brook Benton
6. FROM A BUICK 6 - Gary US Bonds
7. THE MAN IN ME - The Persuasions
8. LIKE A ROLLING STONE - Major Harris
9. WITH GOD ON OUR SIDE - The Neville Brothers
10. MR TAMBOURINE MAN - Con Funk Shun
11. MASTERS OF WAR - The Staple Singers
12. I'LL BE YOUR BABY TONIGHT - Bill Brandon
13. MOST LIKELY YOU GO YOUR WAY AND I'LL GO MINE - Patti La Belle
14. KNOCKIN' ON HEAVEN'S DOOR - Booker T Jones
15. ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER - Bobby Womack
16. JUST LIKE A WOMAN - Nina Simone
17. I SHALL BE RELEASED - Freddie Scott
18. LAY LADY LAY - The Isley Brothers
19. TONIGHT I'LL BE STAYING HERE WITH YOU -Esther Phillips
20. EMOTIONALLY YOURS - The O'Jays

I am familiar with only a few of these versions of Dylan songs.  I greatly anticipate my package from Amazon.com this week.  Thank you Brian Matthew for bringing this compilation CD to the attention of your loyal listeners.  You are truly a "Radio Mensch".

The Last Boy Mickey Mantle

I bought this book a couple of weeks ago and finally found some time to read it.  I am about half way through it.  Baseball as a game and as a business was certainly much different in the 1950s than it is today.  Back then the owners had the upper hand since there was a reserve clause.  Every player had to fight for a raise after every year and could not declare free agency.  It was certainly difficult for Mickey who was born in Commerce, Oklahoma to play in New York.   Despite his many injuries he really could smack the ball.  The author Jane Leavy devoted much time to a home run that he hit in Griffith Stadium in Washington, DC that supposedly traveled 565 feet.  Sadly the Mick's drinking problem lead to his early passing at age 64.

From 1958-1961 I rooted for the Yankees since there was no National League baseball in NYC back then.  The book brought back memories on how the Yankees dominated baseball in that era.  When I pick up the book again I will read about the historic 1961 season where Maris and Mantle aimed at Babe Ruth's 60 home runs without steroids.  I highly recommend this book to younger baseball fans so they could learn about Mickey Mantle's impact in that earlier era.

Random Thoughts on "Black Friday"

Wikipedia reports that the term Black Friday was first used in Philadelphia in 1966 to describe the shopping frenzy on the day after Thanksgiving.  The article states that the term became more common starting in 1975.  Since I just hate shopping, I just stayed away from all shopping malls today,  I just hate the crowds and waiting to pay.  For those reasons I have become a big online shopper over the years.

The closest I got to a shopping mall was the College Point Multiplex where we saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.  Since this was the second week of its release the theater was not too crowded.  These fantasy movies are just not for me.

Karen and Lee voted for their top 5 oldies on the poll done on the Oldies Message Board.  After Christmas Bob Radil will play the top 77 hits as voted by the listeners.

 The TV show Live with Regis and Kelly is holding a contest for a male radio co-host of the day.  I voted for Cousin Bruce Morrow.  I hope my radio friends vote for their favorite host.

Alice's Restaurant - A Thanksgiving Tradition on New York Radio

For as long as I can remember Alice's Restaurant has been played at 12 noon on both WFUV and Q-104.3 here in NYC on Thanksgiving.  Years ago it was played on heritage radio station WNEW-FM.  You can read the lyrics written by Arlo Guthrie at http://www.arlo.net/resources/lyrics/alices.shtml .  If you have 18 1/2 minute free you can see and hear Arlo Guthrie perform it.  

Bob Dylan at Terminal 5 November 24

It's night time in the big city as I get off the New Jersey Transit train at Penn Station.  The place is a mad house as people are traveling to their destination for Thanksgiving.  I am early so I decided to walk up 8th avenue to 57th Street where I met Karen and Lee at 6:30.  We walked over to Terminal 5 at 6:45 where there is already a long line. Some people likely arrived hours earlier to get a close standing spot.  When we entered we got a standing place in the middle of the floor.  Many of the early birds were standing in the balcony where they had a birdseye view of the stage.  My only complaint was that the people were standing very close to each other like a rush hour subway train.  In the past I stood up for Bob at the Roseland Ballroom, Manhattan Center, and William Paterson University where there was some room to move around.  A loyal Dylan fan does mind standing.

At 8:10 the show began with Gonna Change my Way of Thinking. Before I write any further I must applaud Bob's backup band who was absolutely superb:

Tony Garnier - bass
George Recile - drums
Stu Kimball - rhythm guitar
Charlie Sexton - lead guitar
Donnie Herron - banjo, violin, electric mandolin, pedal steel, lap steel

Here is the set list from Bill Pagel's web site.  It actually appeared on Facebook before 11:15 PM.


1. Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking (Bob on keyboard)
2. The Man In Me (Bob center stage on harp, Donnie on electric mandolin)
3. Beyond Here Lies Nothin' (Bob on guitar, Donnie on trumpet)
4. Tangled Up In Blue (Bob center stage on harp, Donnie on electric mandolin)
5. The Levee's Gonna Break (Bob on keyboard)
6. Spirit On The Water (Bob on keyboard and harp)
7. Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum (Bob on guitar)
8. Can't Wait (Bob center stage on harp)
9. Summer Days (Bob on keyboard)
10. Forgetful Heart (Bob on center stage on harp, Donnie on violin)
11. Honest With Me (Bob on keyboard)
12. Nettie Moore (Bob on keyboard)
13. Thunder On The Mountain (Bob on keyboard)
14. Ballad Of A Thin Man (Bob center stage on harp)

(encore)
15. Jolene (Bob on keyboard)
16. Like A Rolling Stone (Bob on keyboard)
17. All Along The Watchtower (Bob on keyboard)

Dylan fans know that he varies the set list with each performance.  This set leaned heavily on the more recent recordings.  I was disappointed that there was no acoustic set but he can't please all the people all of the time.  He did play Lee's favorite Tangled Up in Blue as #4.  I just loved the harmonica part on this.  Bob's voice was good considering that he performed for the third night in a row.  When I heard Like A Rolling Stone, I just wished that Al Kooper was on stage with him.  All of the concerts had only 16 songs, but we were surprised to hear Watchtower as the third encore.

As I left the concert I wondered when the Never Ending Tour will end.  We have seen him in NYC 3 Novembers in a row.  Next year will mark Bob's 70th birthday.  Will there be a special concert on 5/24/11 as there was for Ringo Starr on 7/7/10?

Thanks for a great concert.  At least I got a seat on the subway going home :)

Tomorrrow is the Big Night Bob Dylan at Terminal 5 in Manhattan

Dylan is at Terminal 5 for 3 nights.  Here is Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues from lat night's concert.  "I'm going back to New York City, I do believe I've had enough."



Here is a short article about the 3 concerts from the Villiage Voice.  I thank Alan Berman for bringing this to my attention.