12/24/2023 0 Comments Lyrics tear stained eye son volt![]() ![]() Despite my saying that the music sounds rushed on Planet Waves, it’s not here. The interplay between the members of The Band during the verses is masterful: Richard Manuel’s piano is playing off of Garth Hudson’s organ, who is responding to Robbie Robertson’s lead electric guitar. The music shifts to the verse, and we’re back to a major key. This minor key intro sounds like the beginning of a noir movie, with an uneasiness of tone. Robbie Robertson’s electric guitar comes in with a jagged, strangled lead part. The song opens with an acoustic guitar, played by Dylan, slowly asserting minor key chords. “Going, Going, Gone” is the second track on Planet Waves. Thus began the rushed nature of Planet Waves. The Band and Dylan agreed to get back together for a big United States tour in 1974, and, at some point, someone decided that an album should be released before the tour began. The last album of full original songs was New Morning from three years earlier (not counting the soundtrack work of Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid explored in earlier posts here and here). Dylan himself was not in a much better place. Record sales were not what they once were, and the reviewers weren’t nearly as kind. The highs of Music from Big Pink and The Band were behind them by a few years. ![]() But what does that mean? Is Dylan and The Band’s music on the album so strong that you can’t resist it’s pull, similar to the tractor beam from Star Wars?Īt the time of the recording of Planet Waves in late 1973, The Band was in a trough of sorts having released an album of covers called Moondog Matinee earlier in the year. Apparently, the original name of the album was to be Ceremonies of the Horseman, drawn from Dylan’s 1965 song “Love Minus Zero/No Limit.” Dylan must have thought titling an album from a song written nine years before would not reflect well on his current music, so went with Planet Waves instead. While containing some strong moments, everything about it feels rushed, from the writing of the songs to the performances with The Band to even the naming of the album. Planet Waves is not among my favorite of Dylan’s albums. ![]()
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