Bob Dylan 951119
at the Frank Sinatra 80th Birthday tribute
to be broadcast 951212 on ABC
Date: Mon, 20 Nov 1995 19:34:21 GMT
From: Kaliph Hayes (kfh105@PSU.EDU)
Subject: Re: SETLIST 11-19-95 Los Angeles
In article <30B0C435.167E@sgi.com> John Howells writes:
>reach@fishnet.net wrote:
>>
>> Dylan performed one song at the Frank Sinatra 80th Birthday tribute at the
Shrine
>> Auditorium in Los Angeles on 11-19-95. This tribute will be broadcast on ABC
television sometime
>> near Frank Sinatra's 80th birthday, which falls on 12-12-95. Dylan and his
complete band were
>> there. Several other artists, including Bruce Springsteen, Hootie and the
Blowfish, Paula Abdul,
>> Patti La Belle performed. Dylan came on just after a stand-up comedy bit by
Norm Crosby. Dylan's
>> performance was excellent.
>>
>So what song did he do?
Restless Farewell
kaliph
Mark Gonnerman has done some research at the library.
Date: Thu, 14 Dec 1995 09:11:27 -0800
From: "W. H. Horton, Jr." (horton@BWAY.NET)
Subject: Sinatra Preview
>From this morning's NY Times review of tonight's Sinatra special:
"By far the most haunting moments are provided by Bob Dylan, looking more
ethereal than ever and singing an original work called "Restless
Farewell."
Date: Thu, 14 Dec 1995 13:58:04 -0500
From: Michael Collins (collins_michael@BAH.COM)
Subject: Re: sinatra birthday bash
...
Got this from the Reuters web site - looks like our man Bob is on last:
"Sinatra: 80 Years My Way (Thur. (14); 9-11 p.m.; ABC)"
With (in order of appearance): Bruce Springsteen, Arnold Schwarzenegger,
Natalie Cole,Roseanne, Ray Charles, Dennis Franz, Tommy Lasorda,
Salt-N-Pepa, Hootie & the Blowfish,Robert Wagner, Patti LaBelle, Bono, Tony
Danza, Angela Lansbury, the Moulin Rouge Dancers,Tom Dreesen, Little
Richard, Tom Selleck, Luis Miguel, Paul Reiser, Danny Aiello, Chazz
Palminteri, Tony Bennett, Gregory Peck, Paula Abdul, Don Rickles, Steve
Lawrence, Eydie Gorme, Vic Damone, Norm Crosby, Bob Dylan.
- Michael
(posted & mailed)
Date: Thu, 14 Dec 1995 21:44:36 -0800
From: "Keith S. Mazur" (mazur1@IX.NETCOM.COM)
Subject: Dylan at Sinatra Gala
Just finished watching Dylan perform at the Sinatra bash. Superb. I
think that whatever questions people had about the Sinatra-Dylan
connection were answered in the lines: "A false clock tries to tick out
my time..." and "the dust of rumors covers me" and "I'll bid farewell
and not give a damn" and...well, the whole song pretty much. Anyone
who writes off Dylan is a fool. He's not done yet. Then again, WE all
know that already, don't we?
--Steve
Date: Fri, 15 Dec 1995 00:27:06 -0500
From: Joe McKeon (logo@PASSPORT.CA)
Subject: Restless Farewell Power
Just now heard Mr. Bob sing for Mr. Frank his Restless Farewell. You heard
it too, right? Well, is it only me, or do other people get the feeling
these days that that ragged clown is just now beginning to come into his
power, and you ain't seen nothin yet Katy-- bar the door?
Just a feeling, you know?
-- Joe
Date: Tue, 12 Dec 1995 23:23:17 GMT
From: Sven Erick Alm (sea@CHELEB.TDB.UU.SE)
Subject: Concentrated Dylan on Sinatra Tribute
Swedish TV Channel TV1000 showed the Sinatra 80th Birthday Tribute
tonight (on the actual birthday).
The highlight was by far Dylan's beautifully concentrated + 6 minute
version of "Restless Farewell", a song which contains much of the
Sinatra spirit of "My Way".
Bob did all five verses with acoustic guitar backed by his tour band,
with JJ on electric guitar, Tony Garnier on upright bass, Bucky Baxter
on steel guitar and an unusually soft Winston Watson with brushes (?).
Added was also a country flavoured string quartet.
Dylan ended his performance with a "Happy birthday Mr Frank"!
Strangely, he was not given a standing ovation, as was Ray Charles
(deservedly) and Patti LaBelle (totally incomprehensible for a non-
american).
Apart from Springsteen's "Angel Eyes" and Salt 'n' Pepa, there were
few enjoyable performances during the 84 minute show. Some interesting
film clips were shown though, e.g. a duet with Elvis Presley.
Fortunately, Dylan did not join in the Grande Finale version of "New
York, New York".
You've got to see this!
Sven Erick
Date: Fri, 15 Dec 1995 04:01:32 GMT
From: nate (nates@LL.MIT.EDU)
Subject: Re: Concentrated Dylan on Sinatra Tribute
In article <4al2t5$1pnu@columba.udac.uu.se>, sea@cheleb.tdb.uu.se says...
>
>Swedish TV Channel TV1000 showed the Sinatra 80th Birthday Tribute
>tonight (on the actual birthday).
>
>The highlight was by far Dylan's beautifully concentrated + 6 minute
>version of "Restless Farewell", a song which contains much of the
>Sinatra spirit of "My Way".
>
>Bob did all five verses with acoustic guitar backed by his tour band,
>
>Dylan ended his performance with a "Happy birthday Mr Frank"!
>Sven Erick
thanks sven.
i just saw the usa version. they only had 3 verses???
weird.
more tomorrow on this. he sounded great, looked good. :-( hope
this means he wont need stadiums next!!!
- nate
Date: Fri, 15 Dec 1995 19:31:47 -0600
From: ethelred (rwlingsw@STUDENTS.WISC.EDU)
Subject: Re: Concentrated Dylan on Sinatra Tribute
>Swedish TV Channel TV1000 showed the Sinatra 80th Birthday Tribute
>tonight (on the actual birthday).
>
>The highlight was by far Dylan's beautifully concentrated + 6 minute
>version of "Restless Farewell", a song which contains much of the
>Sinatra spirit of "My Way".
>
>Bob did all five verses with acoustic guitar backed by his tour band,
>with JJ on electric guitar, Tony Garnier on upright bass, Bucky Baxter
>on steel guitar and an unusually soft Winston Watson with brushes (?).
>Added was also a country flavoured string quartet.
>
>Dylan ended his performance with a "Happy birthday Mr Frank"!
>
Whoa! What's this about a six minute plus performance? Mine clocked
in at between 3 and 4, with only three verses sung.
Of course, they were the most beautiful 3 verses I heard from the
whole special.
But what happened here? Is there some "director's cut" version of
the special out there somewhere? Or was the report of Bob doing the whole
song made from a rehearsal or something?
At any rate, I thought it was a pretty classy affair (Paula Abdul,
Salt 'n Pepa, and Tony Danza aside). The Chairman seemed profoundly moved
by all of the adoration and the audience seemed to be held rapt during
Bob's performance (I know I was. Anytime I see him perform without
sunglasses on, I usually brace myself for something great.).
I missed the beginning, but Bruce Springsteen was excellent, as well.
Ryan Lingsweiler
rwlingsw@students.wisc.edu
Date: Fri, 15 Dec 1995 04:47:52 GMT
From: David Sage (dsage@UOGUELPH.CA)
Subject: The Sinatra Segment
Dylan was transcendant in every sense of the word. I am in the middle of
writing finals so my defenses are down, but even so, it sent shivers up
and down my spine.
I can see why people are commenting on his approved appearance and health
now. If he's drinking, he's not drinking much; the weight off his face is
quite noticeable. The silver suit was a nice touch too, every bit the
world weary troubador with an urgent message for any who can or will hear
his song. He looked great and sounded greater. I really envy the people
who are catching this east coast tour.
David.
w.o.t.s
-----------------
dsage@uoguelph.ca
Date: Thu, 14 Dec 1995 22:15:56 -0800
From: Thad Williamson (thwilliamson@IGC.APC.ORG)
Subject: Dylan salutes Sinatra restlessly wel
I liked the performance quite a lot, certainly blew all the fluff right
off the stage. The last verse, to sing that to Sinatra, was a
remarkably fitting tribute to Mr. "My Way", really the same kind of
sentiment but in dylanesque form. I liked the arrangement and playing
and bob's voice and especially intonation were in fine form. In terms
of one-off TV things in the last 10 years this might be the best one.
I wonder what percentage of the audience had a clue what song that was.
as jeff rosenberg mentioned on the phone to me tonight, too bad they
didn't pan to sinatra's face right after bob stopped singing.
you know, I watched most of the show and it was actually pretty good
for the genre. only the can-can was completely over the top, that and
salt-n-pepa.
cheers,
Thad
Date: Fri, 15 Dec 1995 18:44:16 GMT
From: Andrew Mullins (mullins@ARTSCI.CONCORDIA.CA)
Subject: Re: Dylan at Sinatra Gala
In article <199512150544.VAA19685@ix11.ix.netcom.com>,
"Keith S. Mazur" wrote:
>Just finished watching Dylan perform at the Sinatra bash. Superb. I
>think that whatever questions people had about the Sinatra-Dylan
>connection were answered in the lines: "A false clock tries to tick out
>my time..." and "the dust of rumors covers me" and "I'll bid farewell
>and not give a damn" and...well, the whole song pretty much. Anyone
>who writes off Dylan is a fool. He's not done yet. Then again, WE all
>know that already, don't we?
> --Steve
Superb is right. Tabernack! as they say in my fair little French town.
Took a minute or so for it to register that this was Restless Farewell
since everyone to that point had been singing songs for which Sinatra
was famous. And Bob closes the show, too (discounting the Citizens
of New York version of New York New York). I would have expected
Patti Labelle screaming her head off in front of a chorus of
disadvantaged children to take that honour.
A beautiful version, string section (!) and all. Makes me want
to here him with the Tokyo Philharmonic or whatever it is on
the Dignity EP. Whole lotta dignity in the performance last
night. I confess to watching it about ten times, drinking my wine,
dropping my jaw.
As for the audience, I wonder if they tuned into the tune or were
thinking "I don't remember Frank singin' this." Watching a
beatific Gregory Peck watch Bob Dylan sing to Frank Sinatra was
just a little wierd for me. Perhaps only Brooce and maybe
Hootie :-) recognized the song. Perfect choice of tune as
a tribute.
Applauded my T.V. when it was over. Haven't done _that_ too
often.
Andrew Mullins
Montreal, Canada
Date: Fri, 15 Dec 1995 14:25:25 GMT
From: "John H. Zureick" (zureick@UCUNIX.SAN.UC.EDU)
Subject: Re: Dylan salutes Sinatra restlessly wel
In article ,
Thad Williamson wrote:
>I liked the performance quite a lot, certainly blew all the fluff right
>off the stage. The last verse, to sing that to Sinatra, was a
I liked the song but it was too TV-ised. TV is like a great vise
that squeezes the life out of art. For instance, there should have been a
very long instrumentation break in there somewhere. They did about one
fourth of a good break and then went back to a verse. Really a shame
I thought.
>as jeff rosenberg mentioned on the phone to me tonight, too bad they
>didn't pan to sinatra's face right after bob stopped singing.
They showed that pan of Sinatra looking interested about 10 times, and
I started thinking, "this is the same shot!" Maybe they did insert
the same shot. TV has no absolutely no shame. It's
all pablum, packaged for the lowest comm. Really we are all on the same
truck to the stockyards when we fall for entertainment like this show.
>you know, I watched most of the show and it was actually pretty good
>for the genre. only the can-can was completely over the top, that and
What almost drove me to tears is seeing entertainers like Rickles and
Sinatra, guys who learned their craft and cut their teeth in the great
nightclub environment, crammed into two minute segments between
advertisements for soap. What art an environment like that is likely to
produce, I don't want to know.
Zuke
Date: Sat, 16 Dec 1995 05:16:55 GMT
From: Stephen Scobie/Maureen Scobie (sscobie1@SOL.UVIC.CA)
Subject: restless farewell
So was Dylan's performance in fact cut? Early reports suggested that he
had sung the complete text of "Restless Farewell," but what we got was
only 3 out of 5 verses. Magnificently sung, though, and with a wonderful
scowl into the camera on the "every foe I've ever fought" line. In the
midst of an evening of surpassing banality and falseness, this performance
stood out as moment of uncompromising sincerity. No wonder the audience
looked stunned.
Stephen Scobie
--
Stephen Scobie Maureen Scobie
Dates 1995
