16 Comments

Congratulations, Ray. This looks terrific. Two questions, if I may: Was there anyone you wanted to interview, but could not? Declined for some reason? And, second, curious why you included Mr. Soy Bomb among your interviews? Best of luck with the book!

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Yes, many lol! Dylan bandmembers are generally reticent to talk. Took me a year plus to convince some of the people I did get. But will keep trying others for the newsletter. Really wanna talk to George Receli, such a fan of his drumming. And why NOT include Soy Bomb! Certainly in a category all his own.

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Thanks, Ray. ICYMI (and assuming this link works!) Larry Campbell gives the book a shoutout on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CuAgwNzReg0/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

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Not that you need any help or extra opinions, but I think Blake Mills would be the man to get. Was he the unacknowledged producer of Rough and Rowdy Ways? Enquiring minds want to know.

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Just ordered my copy from Amazon--can't wait to get it! If you do a volume 2, or maybe for the blog, you should seek out Dave Alvin, he told me he jammed and recorded with Dylan. Steve Soles and Blake Mills are a couple of other guitar slingers I'd love to hear from. And Elana Fremerman/James, who played with the band for a couple of weeks would be interesting.

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Can't believe you had to do this without mainstream or even "off-Broadway" publisher support. This looks like a winner to me, Ray. I'm buying.

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Didn't have to — CHOSE to!

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Ahh, that's the spirit!

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Well, the book came this morning and I dug right in, reading interviews with a lot of my favorite musicians, like Larry Campbell, Benmont Tench and Jim Keltner. Just amazing stuff in there. Congratulations on creating the latest essential Dylan book. You're a first rate interviewer and did a great job! (Plus, it's really well edited, haven't come across any typos.)

One question: is Jeff Kramer still managing Dylan, or is it Jeff Rosen now? Seeing a lot of mentions of Kramer in there. Can you give a timeline?

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Thanks! I only have the roughest of ideas tbh, but I think they overlap, JR as business manager and JK as personal or something vaguely along those lines.

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Pledging legend

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Love the list of musicians in the TOC. Looking forward to reading this. When you start compiling interviews for volume 2, my vote is for Patti Smith

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For any who haven't bought yet, trust me: this book rocks. (I was the designer and also the last of 3 copy editors - so I read every word, multiple times !)

Too many great anecdotes, insights, quotes, and stories to count. I've read dozens and dozens of Dylan books so far - probably more than 40 - and this is in the upper echelon. Well done, Ray.

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Awesome!!!! Can’t wait for my copy

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This looks like a great book and I am looking forward to reading it. I was surprised that G.E. Smith was not included with all the other great players that have played with Dylan over the years.

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Can't believe you had to do this without mainstream or even "off-Broadway" publisher support. This looks like a winner to me, Ray. I'm buying. Sorry for the duplication: I haven't figured out "also publish to Notes yet"!

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