well Empire is a low point writing and production wise but I'm thinking down in the groove goes lower. . . anyway Dark Eyes is a special tune. oddly enough Ive always had a soft spot for Tight Connection (it's not a bad pop melody) and When Night Comes falling....
Yes, I quite like "Tight Connection" too. In fact, a number of the songs are not bad. It's the production I find hard to take, I think. I normally run out of enthusiasm/patience for the project about halfway through "Clean-Cut Kid," which seems to last *much* longer than four minutes. This interview makes me feel sympathetic toward Arthur Baker, who was after all only doing what he was asked to do.
Another great interview, Ray. You've done an immense service to Dylan fans with all of these fascinating conversations. As a whole they provide more insight into what it must've been like to work with Dylan than any of the thousand biographies out there. Thank you and thanks to all those who've shared their memories with us.
I think it's a great album, great songwriting, Dylan sounds like he's enjoying himself and I like the 80s sound. I'm a child of the 80s though, so it has a nostalgia effect for me, although I never heard this album at that time.
I think this album is pretty much the nadir of the man's entire career. I listened to it again the other day in preparation for this series, and it hadn't improved. Even the decent songs are hard to take with that cheesy production and Bob's strained vocal. By the time "Dark Eyes" comes on at the end, I'm almost wondering if the folkies had a point back in the day when they made such a fuss about him plugging in. Enjoying these interviews, though!
Absolutely killer interview - I'm not much of an Empire Burlesque fan, but it has its moments ("Dark Eyes" and "Something's Burning Baby" are great). Baker had a rough hill to climb, and it sounds like he did a great job under the circumstances; love the details about Knopfler and Live Aid! Alas, I wish we could hear that "When the Night Comes Falling" remix.
I wasn't a fan of that album. I tried and I tried but I couldn't get into it except for Dark Eyes like most people. That gem of an addendum.... the drum sound was horrid on this Empire album...Sounded like Born in the USA. That thumping gated effect. Now it sounds so dated., big punchy 80s mainstream jive...I enjoyed this interview though , thank you
well Empire is a low point writing and production wise but I'm thinking down in the groove goes lower. . . anyway Dark Eyes is a special tune. oddly enough Ive always had a soft spot for Tight Connection (it's not a bad pop melody) and When Night Comes falling....
Yes, I quite like "Tight Connection" too. In fact, a number of the songs are not bad. It's the production I find hard to take, I think. I normally run out of enthusiasm/patience for the project about halfway through "Clean-Cut Kid," which seems to last *much* longer than four minutes. This interview makes me feel sympathetic toward Arthur Baker, who was after all only doing what he was asked to do.
Yes I forgot about clean cut kid. But baker as producer should have been aware of Dylan's arcane request to sound modern and draw a line somewhere
Another great interview, Ray. You've done an immense service to Dylan fans with all of these fascinating conversations. As a whole they provide more insight into what it must've been like to work with Dylan than any of the thousand biographies out there. Thank you and thanks to all those who've shared their memories with us.
Dylan in the 21st century has been incredibly consistent & generally fantastic.
The best things he did were, in no particular order:
Stopped trying to be ‘relevant’ or ‘contemporary’
Pretty much entirely stopped having anyone famous play on his records.
Produce his albums himself.
Give him a small group of sympathetic musicians capable of getting down the sound is his head, and you get something utterly timeless.
Sadly it took him about 20years of mostly losing the plot to work it out.
But hey, in 65 year career we can overlook that 😀
I think it's a great album, great songwriting, Dylan sounds like he's enjoying himself and I like the 80s sound. I'm a child of the 80s though, so it has a nostalgia effect for me, although I never heard this album at that time.
I think this album is pretty much the nadir of the man's entire career. I listened to it again the other day in preparation for this series, and it hadn't improved. Even the decent songs are hard to take with that cheesy production and Bob's strained vocal. By the time "Dark Eyes" comes on at the end, I'm almost wondering if the folkies had a point back in the day when they made such a fuss about him plugging in. Enjoying these interviews, though!
Bob wasn't exactly oblivious to hip-hop, seeing as he guested on a Kurtis Blow album not long after.
And interestingly he ended up working with Arthur and Afrika Bambaataa on the Sun City project later on.
Absolutely killer interview - I'm not much of an Empire Burlesque fan, but it has its moments ("Dark Eyes" and "Something's Burning Baby" are great). Baker had a rough hill to climb, and it sounds like he did a great job under the circumstances; love the details about Knopfler and Live Aid! Alas, I wish we could hear that "When the Night Comes Falling" remix.
I wasn't a fan of that album. I tried and I tried but I couldn't get into it except for Dark Eyes like most people. That gem of an addendum.... the drum sound was horrid on this Empire album...Sounded like Born in the USA. That thumping gated effect. Now it sounds so dated., big punchy 80s mainstream jive...I enjoyed this interview though , thank you