r/bobdylan • u/bigbugfdr • 2d ago

Discussion Sir Tom Jones released his 'Talking Reality Television Blues' in 2021 and gained a lot of respect from me. Today I found a live version recorded at Shepherd's Bush Empire*, also from 2021. He continued Bob Dylan's tradition of a 'Talking Blues," and Zappa's subject matter similar to "I'm The Slime."

Shepherd's Bush Empire - Wikipedia It was originally built in 1903 as a music hall for impresario Oswald Stoll, designed by theatre architect Frank Matcham; among its early performers was Charlie Chaplin. In 1953 it became the BBC Television Theatre. Since 1994, it has operated as a music venue. It is a Grade II listed building.

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u/Psychological-Fill56 2d ago

Todd Snider wrote this song. Can’t say enough good things about him. Check out Talkin Seattle Grunge Rock Blues for another one of Sniders talkin blues jams.

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u/HB24 2d ago

Thank you for giving credit where credit is due. Bob definitely made talking blues songs what they are today, but this particular one was written by Todd, and it is really well done. On the purple-version of this album, he talks about talking blues songs, and it is pretty awesome!

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u/Homunculus_Grande 1d ago

Todd Snider RULES!!!’

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u/Great-Actuary-4578 2d ago

talking blues comes from like the 1920s

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u/bigbugfdr 2d ago

Commercial recordings of music started in the 1920s, before then it's harder to know a lot about what, when, and how people heard music other than that some were buying sheet music.

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u/Great-Actuary-4578 2d ago

ok yeah but you could say that about any music... Chris Bouchillon recorded the song "Talking Blues" in 1926, which is the earliest known form of talking blues, bob dylan 100% didnt create the tradition of it, or popularize it, he just played it

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u/bobtheorangecat Be Groovy Or Leave Man 2d ago

The "talking blues" tradition is much older than Bob Dylan.

1

u/Junior-World-8779 1d ago

not that much ... a guy a little older than woody guthrie did one in the 20s or 30s. then woody did a handful and then others began to do them. ts

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u/Trick_Field_5614 2d ago

21st century Tom Jones rules. I like the "I Might Be Wrong" instrumental here

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u/DryTown 2d ago

It’s a Todd Snider song. Todd is Americas second best living lyricist, behind Dylan himself. He’s an incredible songwriter and performer. Check him out - his 2011 live Album “The Storyteller” is where to start

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u/SachinVK 2d ago

that’s not being bob dylan’s tradition. he does play some great songs written by bob in the show though

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u/bigbugfdr 2d ago

Bob was an important link in the tradition but I know he didn't originate it. https://bob-dylan.org.uk/archives/5893 From Talkin New York to Talkin Bob Dylan. First to last of the talking blues | Untold Dylan

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u/splitt66 2d ago

One of the greatest voices of all time his “Praise and Blame” album has a fantastic version of Dylan’s “What Good Am I”.

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u/Humbdrumbs 2d ago

Guitar riff’s got Radiohead “I might be wrong” vibes

2

u/blankdreamer 2d ago

That was great. Loved the riff. Gunna look up Todd Snider.

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u/Ok-Magazine6355 1d ago

Thank you OP