Shakespeare in the Alley
My shows
Show 1: Dylan as Poet
From Bill King | Part of the Shakespeare in the Alley: Bob Dylan's Poetics series | 59:54
Introduction to this series on Bob Dylan's Poetics with focus on "To Ramona"
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- Show 1: Dylan as Poet
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- Bill King
Show one introduces three questions the series will address: What kind of poet is Dylan? How can we deepen our appreciation of his work? How does his poetry work? This show provides short answers to each. Later shows develop these much more fully. The song, "To Ramona," becomes the primary focus. It is a simple song in appearance with deep philosophical implications about the state of "radical solitude" in which each of us exist.
There is a substantial companion web site at http:\\www.dylanalley.org
Show 2: Dylan and the Three Kings
From Bill King | Part of the Shakespeare in the Alley: Bob Dylan's Poetics series | 59:35
Radical Solitude in "Just Like a Woman" and a Radio Drama
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- Show 2: Dylan and the Three Kings
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- Bill King
Show 2 continues to develolp the idea of "radical solitude," focusing on "Just Like a Woman" and then turning to the question of interpretation, including a radio drama based on "The Three Kings," the liner notes to the "John Wesley Harding" album.
There is a substantial companion web site at http://www.dylanalley.org
Show 3: The Joker and the Thief
From Bill King | Part of the Shakespeare in the Alley: Bob Dylan's Poetics series | 59:23
Joker and Thief: Two Masks of Bob Dylan
- Playing
- Show 3: The Joker and the Thief
- From
- Bill King
Using songs from all five decades of Dylan's career, this show demonstrates how Dylan alternates between two artistic masks: the Joker and the Thief. He fluctuates back and forth between a Classical mode of moderation and a Romantic mode of excess. The most concise expression of these two modes is found symbolically expressed in the joker and the thief from "All Along the Watchtower." They reveal Dylan's alternation between Dionysian rebellion and Apollonian order.
There is a substantial companion web site at http:\\www.dylanalley.org
Show 4: Ballads, Part I
From Bill King | Part of the Shakespeare in the Alley: Bob Dylan's Poetics series | 59:58
This show begins a two part series by focusing on ballads in the early albums released in 1963-65.
- Playing
- Show 4: Ballads, Part I
- From
- Bill King
This two part series of shows focuses on narrative songs, the form we call “ballads.” The first part looks at ballads on albums in ’63, ‘64,’ 65 and ’68. The theme of America emerges in three of these ballads: “ Motorpsycho Nightmare,” “Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream,” and “As I Went Out One Morning,” where America appears as the “fairest damsel that ever did walk in chains.”
There is a substantial companion web site at dylanalley.org.
Show 5: Ballads, Part II
From Bill King | Part of the Shakespeare in the Alley: Bob Dylan's Poetics series | 59:01
Fate in Dylan's Long Ballads
- Playing
- Show 5: Ballads, Part II
- From
- Bill King
Show 5 is completes the sequence on Dylan's ballads. It moves from analysis of short ballads on the "John Wesley Harding" album to a close reading of two long ballads: "The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest" and the much more powerful and mythic "Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts." It closes with a look at the incredible "A Simple Twist of Fate" which reverses the gender roles in the "Jack of Hearts." All three reveal Dylan's concerns with the human condition.
A substantial companion web site is available at http://www.dylanalley.org
Show 6: Love Songs, Part I
From Bill King | Part of the Shakespeare in the Alley: Bob Dylan's Poetics series | 59:40
Discussion of Dylan's Love Songs
- Playing
- Show 6: Love Songs, Part I
- From
- Bill King
This two part sequence begins by demonstrating Dylan's rejection of the phoniness of Tin Pan Alley love song as well as "protest" songs. This leads to a focus on his love songs. Some are really love song, some explore the artist/audience relationship, some are about spiritual love. This show closes with an analysis of "I Want You" as critique of popular love song tradition, with the Beatles portrayed in the final verse as "your dancing child with his Chinese suit."
A substantial companion web site is available at http:\\www.dylanalley.org
Show 7: Love Songs Part II
From Bill King | Part of the Shakespeare in the Alley: Bob Dylan's Poetics series | 59:20
Extends part 6 by looking at "Visions of Johanna"
- Playing
- Show 7: Love Songs Part II
- From
- Bill King
Part II focuses on a single song, "Visions of Johanna," one of Dylan's richest and most complex songs about human longing for the eternal. The real vs. the ideal is explored as Dylan declares, "Inside the museum infinity goes up on trial." This is perhaps Dylan's finest song in the Romantic mid-sixties period, where "little boy lost" longs for the ideal.
The companions web site: dylanalley.org
Show 8: Myths
From Bill King | Part of the Shakespeare in the Alley: Bob Dylan's Poetics series | 01:01:55
Dylan Debunks False Myths
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- Show 8: Myths
- From
- Bill King
Dylan debunks the false myths of "true love" in "Love Sick" and American righteousness in "With God on Our Side," seeking those true myths (explored in show 8) which lead to salvation. Dylan's central purpose is to promote the true myths which help us find our place in the eternal rather than the immediate.
A substantial companioin web site can be found at dylanalley.org.
Show 9: Quinntessence
From Bill King | Part of the Shakespeare in the Alley: Bob Dylan's Poetics series | 59:36
Quinntessence: Dylan's Spiritual Quest
- Playing
- Show 9: Quinntessence
- From
- Bill King
Following up on the false myths in show eight, this show explores other songs which convey Dylan's quest for the eternal rather than the temporal in "Mr. Tambourine Man," "Quinn the Eskimo," and "When I Paint My Masterpiece."
The companion web site: www.dylanalley.org.
Show 10: John Wesley Harding
From Bill King | Part of the Shakespeare in the Alley: Bob Dylan's Poetics series | 01:02:25
The JWH album traces Dylan's relationship with America and his spritual journey from outlaw to family man, from joker to thief.
- Playing
- Show 10: John Wesley Harding
- From
- Bill King
This show focuses entirely on one album, moving through the album analyzing each song as a step in the progression from the outlaw figure of John Wesley Harding to the totally moderate family man who says, "I?ll Be Your Baby Tonight." This show builds on show three where the joker/thief dichotomy is introduced as well as the ballad shows which cover several songs on the album.
There is a substantial companion web site at dylanalley.org
Show 11: Art/Artist/Audience in Dylan' Songs
From Bill King | Part of the Shakespeare in the Alley: Bob Dylan's Poetics series | 59:13
Dylan's Relationship to His Art, to himself as Artist, and to his Audience
- Playing
- Show 11: Art/Artist/Audience in Dylan' Songs
- From
- Bill King
Following up earlier references to the theme of art's relationship to the artist and his audience, this show compares Dylan's song in Romantic & Classical modes, his relationship to both folk and fine art, both popular and high culture as seen in such songs as "She Belongs to Me," "Visions of Johanna," and "When I Paint My Masterpiece."
The companion web site: http://www.dylanalley.org.
Show 12: Dylan and the Traditions
From Bill King | Part of the Shakespeare in the Alley: Bob Dylan's Poetics series | 01:00:13
Dylan & the Traditions: Literature, Popular Song, Folk Song
- Playing
- Show 12: Dylan and the Traditions
- From
- Bill King
This show explores Dylan's relationship to three traditions: modern poetry, popular song, traditional song. Dylan is indebted to all three but he tries to overcome the limitations which each tradition imposes on the artist. My conclusion: he takes the best, leaves the rest.
A substantial companion web site is available at http:\\www.dylanalley.org