From Newsgroup: rec.music.dylan

On Sat, 1 Feb 2025 15:58:47 +0000, Norbert wrote:

I've read an account that on meeting Dylan for the first time, the
Beatles offered him a drink. Dylan asked for "cheap wine." The Beatles
also offered him speed, which Dylan declined. Dylan proposed instead
that they smoke marijuana. The Beatles admitted to him that they had
never used it -- which astonished Bob. "What about your song, the one
about getting high?" Eventually, the issue was sorted out; Dylan had misheard the lyric "I can't hide" from "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" as "I
get high."

Dylan or a colleague of his then produced a joint, which Dylan lit up
and offered to John. John, instead, handed the cigarette to Ringo, whom
he pronounced "My royal taster." Ringo smoked the entire thing, and
went into a laughing fit. The other guys agreed to partake of the
substance, and at least two of them, John and Paul, became regular users
-- so much so, that when Lennon's retiring personal assistant showed his understudy Fred Seaman the ropes of his new job, he showed him about procuring Thai stick for John.

Just curious: Does anyone in here still smoke weed? I used to, for a
while. However, I find today's marijuana culture, at least in suburban Massachusetts, disturbing. There are now three dope dispensaries in my
small town, and the regulars shuffle up and down the street, murmuring
to themselves in Jeffrey Dahmer monotones about how that want to
purchase Greenland, take over Canada, and rename the Gulf of Mexico.
These people have doped themselves into thinking they ARE Donald Trump.

I wonder who would play John Lennon beside Timothee C. as Bob Dylan in a
future movie?
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From Newsgroup: rec.music.dylan

On Sun, 2 Feb 2025 11:36:30 +0000, Norbert wrote:

I assume Paul still smokes it. I remember reading, after McCartney
married Heather Mills, that she did not approve of the drug -- and that
he had promised to quit it. My gut reaction was: "That marriage is not
long for the world."

Some people can function on marijuana. The Beatles exemplified this (it
was LSD and smack that took Lennon out). Pete Townshend was a heavy
user of pot until 1969 or so, and he later stated that: "The problem
with marijuana is that in te long-term it turns you into a softball."

Other people become literally insane on the stuff, and develop schizophrenia-like symptoms; they believe in *nothing but* paranoid delusions. This applies to the Trump/Alt-Right-Q-Anon freaks who hang
out around the dispensaries in my area.

I had to give weed up a decade or so ago. The new stuff is just way too powerful for me.
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From Newsgroup: rec.music.dylan

Growers of marijuana found ways to make it very powerful, but something
else is going on. Today's users, at least in suburban Massachusetts,
are permanently paranoid and delusional. Maybe, if not certainly, they
suffer underlying mental eealth issues.

And when did potheads go right=wing? Not just right, but radical,
Trumpian Alt-Right? Such stances would have been unthinkable among me
and my fellow smokers of a few decades earlier.

I quit smoking marijuana because the high was no longer pleasurable.
Instead, it made me anxious.

Looking at the screw-ups mumbling Trumpspeak to themselves as they
shuffle, glazed-eyed to the nearest dispensary, I'm glad I quit while I
was ahead. At the same time, I know that *no* amount of any drug would
have turned me into a Putin-worshipping misogynist.
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From Newsgroup: rec.music.dylan

Paul is chummy with Putin...
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From Newsgroup: rec.music.dylan

On Tue, 4 Feb 2025 13:46:05 +0000, pamina58 wrote:

Paul is chummy with Putin...

Wow, that's weird!
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From Newsgroup: rec.music.dylan

I'm reading a merchant mariner's memoir, whose author made two voyages
into Russian waters in the 70s. One of the author's hard-drinking
shipmates liked to challenge Russians to drinking contests with prizes
at stake. There was never a want for Russians who were eager to
compete. During the contests, the American sailor would play "Back in
the USSR," to the delight of everyone.

What the Russian contenders did not know is that the American guy had a
supply of everclear, and that he would lace the bottles of Stolichnaya
from which the Russians were served with the grain alcohol.

He won every contest, to the great embarrassment of the Russians.
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From Newsgroup: rec.music.dylan

On 5/02/2025 8:08 am, W.Dockery wrote:

On Tue, 4 Feb 2025 13:46:05 +0000, pamina58 wrote:

Paul is chummy with Putin...

Wow, that's weird!

Not as weird as pamina58 !
--
geoff
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From Newsgroup: rec.music.dylan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueCxeQC5-YU
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From Newsgroup: rec.music.dylan

On Tue, 4 Feb 2025 21:48:00 +0000, Norbert wrote:

I'm reading a merchant mariner's memoir, whose author made two voyages
into Russian waters in the 70s. One of the author's hard-drinking
shipmates liked to challenge Russians to drinking contests with prizes
at stake. There was never a want for Russians who were eager to
compete. During the contests, the American sailor would play "Back in
the USSR," to the delight of everyone.

What the Russian contenders did not know is that the American guy had a supply of everclear, and that he would lace the bottles of Stolichnaya
from which the Russians were served with the grain alcohol.

He won every contest, to the great embarrassment of the Russians.

Interesting story, thanks.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.music.dylan

On Wed, 5 Feb 2025 16:32:43 +0000, Norbert wrote:

"I'm afraid we only have champagne"!!!

So the Beatles, or at least John and Paul began using pot after the
release of A Hard Day's Night and before the writing & recording of
Rubber Soul. AHDN is really good, but the evolution evident in Rubber
Soul is astounding. Goldman, for one, argued that marijuana was a key
factor in the musical changes.

Of course, John and Paul were supremely focused on their work -- and marijuana was a different thing back then. There was no dawn-till-dusk
dope digestion followed with Fox.

Agreed, again, Rubber Soul is often my favorite Beatles album.
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From Newsgroup: rec.music.dylan

Same here.

I need to correct myself on something. I wrote, sincerely but mistaken,
that Albert Goldman attributed the change in the Beatles' songwriting
style to their marijuana use. No; Goldman actually wrote that Peter
Brown ascribed the guys' stylistic changes to pot. Goldman, in fact,
devoted several eloquent paragraphs to his own argument that the change
in style was due to McCartney's copping of black musical styles.

And he was right. McCartney has owned up to this -- to, e.g., his
efforts to play bass like "the Motown Guy," James Jamerson.
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From Newsgroup: rec.music.dylan

On Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:34:13 +0000, Norbert wrote:

Same here.

I need to correct myself on something. I wrote, sincerely but mistaken,
that Albert Goldman attributed the change in the Beatles' songwriting
style to their marijuana use. No; Goldman actually wrote that Peter
Brown ascribed the guys' stylistic changes to pot. Goldman, in fact,
devoted several eloquent paragraphs to his own argument that the change
in style was due to McCartney's copping of black musical styles.

And he was right. McCartney has owned up to this -- to, e.g., his
efforts to play bass like "the Motown Guy," James Jamerson.

That's fascinating information.
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From Newsgroup: rec.music.dylan

On 21/02/2025 8:49 pm, W.Dockery wrote:

On Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:34:13 +0000, Norbert wrote:

Same here.

I need to correct myself on something.-a I wrote, sincerely but mistaken,
that Albert Goldman attributed the change in the Beatles' songwriting
style to their marijuana use.-a No; Goldman actually wrote that Peter
Brown ascribed the guys' stylistic changes to pot.-a Goldman, in fact,
devoted several eloquent paragraphs to his own argument that the change
in style was due to McCartney's copping of black musical styles.

And he was right.-a McCartney has owned up to this -- to, e.g., his
efforts to play bass like "the Motown Guy," James Jamerson.

That's fascinating information.

There is nothing to 'own up about' in being influenced by a particular
or different style or performer of music.
--
geoff
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From Newsgroup: rec.music.dylan

On Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:46:00 +0000, Geoff wrote:

On 21/02/2025 8:49 pm, W.Dockery wrote:

On Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:34:13 +0000, Norbert wrote:

Same here.

I need to correct myself on something.-a I wrote, sincerely but mistaken, >>> that Albert Goldman attributed the change in the Beatles' songwriting
style to their marijuana use.-a No; Goldman actually wrote that Peter
Brown ascribed the guys' stylistic changes to pot.-a Goldman, in fact,
devoted several eloquent paragraphs to his own argument that the change
in style was due to McCartney's copping of black musical styles.

And he was right.-a McCartney has owned up to this -- to, e.g., his
efforts to play bass like "the Motown Guy," James Jamerson.

That's fascinating information.

There is nothing to 'own up about' in being influenced by a particular
or different style or performer of music.

Definitely, "own up to" is probably not the best choice of words there.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.music.dylan

On Sat, 1 Feb 2025 15:58:47 +0000, Norbert wrote:

I've read an account that on meeting Dylan for the first time, the
Beatles offered him a drink. Dylan asked for "cheap wine." The Beatles
also offered him speed, which Dylan declined. Dylan proposed instead
that they smoke marijuana. The Beatles admitted to him that they had
never used it -- which astonished Bob. "What about your song, the one
about getting high?" Eventually, the issue was sorted out; Dylan had misheard the lyric "I can't hide" from "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" as "I
get high."

Dylan or a colleague of his then produced a joint, which Dylan lit up
and offered to John. John, instead, handed the cigarette to Ringo, whom
he pronounced "My royal taster." Ringo smoked the entire thing, and
went into a laughing fit. The other guys agreed to partake of the
substance, and at least two of them, John and Paul, became regular users
-- so much so, that when Lennon's retiring personal assistant showed his understudy Fred Seaman the ropes of his new job, he showed him about procuring Thai stick for John.

Just curious: Does anyone in here still smoke weed? I used to, for a
while. However, I find today's marijuana culture, at least in suburban Massachusetts, disturbing. There are now three dope dispensaries in my
small town, and the regulars shuffle up and down the street, murmuring
to themselves in Jeffrey Dahmer monotones about how that want to
purchase Greenland, take over Canada, and rename the Gulf of Mexico.
These people have doped themselves into thinking they ARE Donald Trump.

I don't smoke weed or use any drug now but did in the past, and when I
did a search of "590 Sherwood Road" "1981" this piece I wrote that's in
the Google Groups archives turned up,
"Listening to Dylan on LSD":

https://groups.google.com/g/rec.music.dylan/c/7rLq6LFsDhs/m/TW3SgUK8AgAJ

***
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From Newsgroup: rec.music.dylan

"Acknowledged" would have been a better way of phrasing it, I agree.
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From Newsgroup: rec.music.dylan

On Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:03:02 +0000, Norbert wrote:

"Acknowledged" would have been a better way of phrasing it, I agree.

Yes, agreed.
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From Newsgroup: rec.music.dylan

Sounds like an intense (in a bad way) experience.

My parents met in Cambridge, MA., in the 60s, and I grew up with them
playing stuff by Dylan, Donovan, and Cat Stevens. My mother eventually
moved up to Gordon Lightfoot.

Anyway, so I thought I liked Dylan. Or perhaps I was merely used to his
stuff. Then, in the mid-1970s, a live Dylan concert was broadcast from Colorado. Joan Baez joined him onstage. I was eager to see it. But
what Dylan proceeded to do was to make a mess. The songs were sloppy
and barely recognizable. His longtime collaborator Joan Baez was out of
sync with him,

And I began to suspect that Dylan was an emperor with no Clothes.

The same thing happened at Dylan's Grammy awards "speech/performance" in
the early 90s. He couldn't play, sing, or deliver a speech. In that
case, he was probably out of his mind on substances.

Still, I think he's an emperor with no clothes. People deify him
because they think they're supposed to.
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From Newsgroup: rec.music.dylan

On Fri, 28 Feb 2025 13:28:06 +0000, Norbert wrote:

Sounds like an intense (in a bad way) experience.

My parents met in Cambridge, MA., in the 60s, and I grew up with them
playing stuff by Dylan, Donovan, and Cat Stevens. My mother eventually
moved up to Gordon Lightfoot.

Anyway, so I thought I liked Dylan. Or perhaps I was merely used to his stuff. Then, in the mid-1970s, a live Dylan concert was broadcast from Colorado. Joan Baez joined him onstage. I was eager to see it. But
what Dylan proceeded to do was to make a mess. The songs were sloppy
and barely recognizable. His longtime collaborator Joan Baez was out of
sync with him,

Your opinion.

That's the Hard Rain concert,band it was some brilliant stuff.

And I began to suspect that Dylan was an emperor with no Clothes.

The same thing happened at Dylan's Grammy awards "speech/performance" in
the early 90s. He couldn't play, sing, or deliver a speech. In that
case, he was probably out of his mind on substances.

Still, I think he's an emperor with no clothes. People deify him
because they think they're supposed to.

No, I suppose with Bob Dylan either you get it or you don't.

Sorry to see that you don't.
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From Newsgroup: rec.music.dylan

On Tue, 11 Mar 2025 6:42:46 +0000, Pluted Pup wrote:

On Sat, 01 Feb 2025 07:58:47 -0800, Norbert wrote:

I've read an account that on meeting Dylan for the first time, the
Beatles offered him a drink. Dylan asked for "cheap wine." The Beatles
also offered him speed, which Dylan declined. Dylan proposed instead
that they smoke marijuana. The Beatles admitted to him that they had
never used it -- which astonished Bob. "What about your song, the one
about getting high?" Eventually, the issue was sorted out; Dylan had
misheard the lyric "I can't hide" from "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" as "I
get high."

Is this Dylan's testimony or someone else's? Anyway what he
said was not what he believed, he was hustling the Beatles
into taking pot.

Is it true that the Beatles used speed and offered it
to others, or was that just part of Dylan's story?

Supposedly the Beatles used Preluden and Black Beauties back in the
Hamburg days.

Dylan or a colleague of his then produced a joint, which Dylan lit up
and offered to John. John, instead, handed the cigarette to Ringo, whom
he pronounced "My royal taster." Ringo smoked the entire thing, and
went into a laughing fit. The other guys agreed to partake of the
substance, and at least two of them, John and Paul, became regular users
-- so much so, that when Lennon's retiring personal assistant showed his
understudy Fred Seaman the ropes of his new job, he showed him about
procuring Thai stick for John.

Just curious: Does anyone in here still smoke weed? I used to, for a
while. However, I find today's marijuana culture, at least in suburban
Massachusetts, disturbing. There are now three dope dispensaries in my
small town, and the regulars shuffle up and down the street, murmuring
to themselves in Jeffrey Dahmer monotones about how that want to
purchase Greenland, take over Canada, and rename the Gulf of Mexico.
These people have doped themselves into thinking they ARE Donald Trump.

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2