Once or twice: “He was a Friend of Mine”

I don’t know what it means either: an index to the current series appearing on this website.

Once or twice: A review of some of the songs that Bob has performed just once or twice on stage, selecting those of which we have a genuine recording (and “genuine” is important here since I have found a few sites that seem to suggest they are a recording of a live version, but I have my doubts.) Text and video selection by Tony Attwood.

I was thinking about “All over you” for inclusion in this series, but then remembered I had said pretty much all I could say, and included the video of the live performance as well. That piece is still on the site here.

So we can move on to “He Was a Friend of Mine” which according to the official listing was played twice once in 1961 and once in 1962.

This is a traditional song, first collected in the late 1930s and recorded by being sung by an inmate at Clemens State Farm in Texas in 1939 was performed by Smith Casey with the title Shorty George.

Rolf Cahn recorded it using the current title in 1961 and it is reported that Dylan used the Cahn recording as a basis, recording the song for the “Bob Dylan” album in 1961 but of course it was omitted from the album.

This second version says it is live, and it certainly has a smattering of applause at the end…