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…
So I guess we have recordings of both the performances Dylan gave of the song.
And although this is not by Dylan, I have to add this, just to give a feel of what else can be done with the song.
Also in this series…
- A satisfied mind
- Blood in my eyes
- Caribbean Wind
- Corina Corina
- The Girl on the Greenbriar Shore
- Highway 51 revisited
- Lay Down your weary tune
- Lily, Rosemary and Stage Fright
- Meet me in the morning and From a Buick 6
- North Country Blues
- Only a hobo
- Oxford Town
- Restless Farewell
- Roll on John
- Sally Sue Brown
- Spanish Harlem Incident
- Stage Fright
- Talking New York
- You Angel You
TMQ Dylan bootleg (1974 ) Early Sixties Revisited, side 2, track I
He Was A Friend Of Mine – early 60’s studio recording, not live