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fahq@umich.edu
In 1965, Bob Dylan challenged his fans by committing what many thought to be sacrilege. He plugged in his guitar and got a backing band. Dylan, who had gained fame playing solo acoustic protest songs, dropped his socially-conscious, political messages for songs about love and introspection. He made his debut with his new sound at the Newport Folk Festival, and was booed off stage by "folk purists". Taking his new show on the road, Bob Dylan ended up in England.
Bob Dylan, Live 1966 captures his visit to England during his personal reform period. The two-disc album features a two set show, with the first set having a solo Bob Dylan with an acoustic guitar, and the second, with his plugged in band. The first set of the show runs through such non-political numbers like,"Mr. Tambourine Man" and "Just Like A Woman". Nothing of great interest comes out of this first set. Dylan's voice wheezes through the songs, though is still engaging whether one can bear to hear it or not.
The second set is where the gem of this disc lies. With a Fender
Telecaster guitar and a sharp backing band featuring Robbie Robertson
of The Band fame, Dylan and company roll through his then new
electric compositions. While this came to the dismay of some in
the audience, the second set was still fairly well received. The
group plays songs like "Tell Me, Momma" and "Like
a Rolling Stone" with an infectious energy. Bob Dylan knew
that his musical change would be a big risk that would anger a
lot of people. Fortunately, he had the ear to pick out a fine
cast of musicians to back him up. The second set rollicks in Dylan's
new electric style, and has a lot of fun while producing great
music. This album captures a fantastic period in the career of
one of Americaís greatest musicians. We 
get to see the transformation of genius into a new electric form,
which would later spawn some of Bob Dylan's greatest works.
Daniel Lanois strikes again. One of music's finest producers, Daniel Lanois has helped musicians create some of their best works. With credits such as U2's Achtung Baby and Joshua Tree, and Bob Dylan's Time Out of Mind, Lanois brings his talents to Willie Nelson. The result is calm excellence.
The songs on the album take an easy-going pace, with country and Tex-Mex influences and jazz guitar lines (played by Lanois) that resemble the work of guitar legend Les Paul. As an added bonus, singer Emmylou Harris graces many of the tracks with background vocals. Harris' vocals serve to enhance Willie Nelson's ragged, yet still compelling, voice. The music here is quite upbeat, even on songs that deal with heartbreak such as "I've Just Destroyed the World", giving the album an odd, happy quirkiness.
As Daniel Lanois had showed on Bob Dylan's Time Out of Mind, he is able to take fine songs and lyrics from Willie Nelson, and style a perfectly fitting sound around them. Willie Nelson's strong vocal presence shines through each track on an album that relaxes and passively reflects on happiness and sorrow.
Recently visiting Ann Arbor at the Michigan Theater, the Afro-Cuban All Stars run through classic Cuban tunes on their latest release, A Toda Cuba le Gusta. Brining together four generations of Cuba's finest musicians, the All Stars explore historic Cuban songs, as well as adapt some with new arrangements. Directed by Juan de Marcos Gonzãlez, a variety of performers take lead vocal and solo duties throughout the album.
While the prospect of taking Cuba's greatest musicians and putting them in a recording studio seems to be an idea of genius, the results here are unfortunately average. The album captures the expert timing, rhythm and intonations of the group, but fails to capture the sense of spontaneity and excitement that is best found in a live setting. The performances and performers here are top notch, there is no mistake about that; however, there is no fire or emotion that comes out of their sound. This is a problem that jazz and blues musicians typically run into. Many simply release average albums and then hit the road and do their work justice on stage. This is an album best listened to after one sees them live. Once you have seen them live in all their glory, the album will be a great way to reminisce, and you can add the fire in with your imagination.
bobkim@umich.edu
On Friday, October 30, 7 p.m., the Michigan Theater will provide the backdrop for Columbia Classics' re-release premiere of The Big Chill. The 15th Anniversary edition, featuring a digitally re-mastered soundtrack, will hit screens nationwide beginning November 6.
Although this particular premiere will not include appearances by stars (and the film boasted many) or a gala reception, it still presents a wonderful opportunity to see a "classic film in a classic movie-house," according to Russell B. Collins, Executive Director of the Michigan Theater Foundation. "This is a theater where the characters in the movie could have gone to when they were University of Michigan students in the 1960's," added Collins.
Why the university connection? Lawrence Kasdan (UM '70), director ofThe Big Chill and co-writer with Barbara Benedek, himself was a student in Ann Arbor during the heady days of the late 1960's. This film capitalizes on many of the themes that dominated life and discussion in places like Ann Arbor, Madison and Berkeley at that time.
Seven Michigan alums reunite in South Carolina after the funeral of their friend, Alex (played by Kevin Costner, but not in any scenes that made the final cut). Alex was the catalyst during the group's stay in Ann Arbor and his suicide "chillingly" reminds everyone of their mortality. The characters spend the weekend considering how "far" they have come since their more idealistic days. Kevin Kline's character has traded in an activist role to join the ranks of running-shoe magnates, Mary Kay Place has gone from defending the poor to defending those who actually can pay, and Jeff Goldblum has moved from political treatises to tabloid tales. JoBeth Williams, Tom Berenger, William Hurt and Glenn Close round out the cast of Michigan alums. Meg Tilly plays Alex's girlfriend.
The fantastic 1960's Motown soundtrack (remastered and reissued in September) combines with memorable one-liners to provide an intelligent, entertaining and funny show. People magazine, upon the film's original release in 1983, called it the "closest-to-the-bone movie of the year for the baby-boom generation".
Watch for the cool, yellow MICHIGAN t-shirt sported by Kevin Kline's character, a retro style that only recently has made it back to local racks. Also, note the characters protesting the penalties committed by Michigan's football team on TV. Watch others scream about our team's woes on Friday night and then do the same thing yourself on Saturday afternoon!
Michigan Theater is at 603 E. Liberty St. Just west of State St., across from Borders Books and Music.
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