Op-ed: Leo Sayer Dissects Bob Dylan's Epic 'Murder Most Foul' - Noise11.com
Leo Sayer. photo by Ros O'Gorman Noise11.com

Leo Sayer. photo by Ros O'Gorman

Op-ed: Leo Sayer Dissects Bob Dylan’s Epic ‘Murder Most Foul’

by Leo Sayer on March 28, 2020

in News

Bob Dylan still has the ability and surprising agility to shoot the occasional missile deep into our hearts and minds. The title of his latest release ‘Murder Most Foul’ comes directly from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, a fitting reference since Bob’s opus deals with the assassination of John F Kennedy, surely the last great leader of the U.S.A. – his death indeed a ‘Murder Most Foul’.

Bob Dylan Murder Most FoulThe song teases us with information of what we know and don’t know about the murder, about the players, the plotting and the aftermath. Bob’s now tired old voice growls surprisingly clearly through the 17 or so minutes here. The music is static, limpid, chords, soft cymbal beats and notes suggested and teased out, rather than truly set down. Yet it all suits the words as smoothly as a tailor’s perfect bespoke cut.

If ever you read the liner notes on the back of those classic albums of his, ‘Another Side Of Bob Dylan”, ‘Bringing It All Back Home’ or ‘Highway 61 Revisited’, you’ll understand the time shifting, stream of consciousness, quick talkin’ style of the writer here, much the same style as he fashioned in his strange, but intriguing autobiography ‘Chronicles’.

The Dallas killing may have marked the moment we lost our freedom, even lost our true democracy, so it is indeed a fitting moment in time to return there.

Bob’s timing with this YouTube release is perfect. Having obvious fun, he plays it forward too, the second part of the piece referencing The Who, Queen, Carl Wilson, Don Henley, Dicky Betts, Stan Getz, Patsy Cline, Stevie Nicks, even Altamont and Woodstock.

Time travelling, unravelling a whole pile of decades in one single leap, the scope of the work is wide and immense. What to make of it? Dylanologists will probably have a field day here, but ‘yours truly’ is happy to play it over and over, let the relevant phrases fall out once at a time, and they sure do – like diamonds hidden in the lining of a dusty old bag.

I’ve been a fan and follower since my older cousin played me Bob’s debut album back in ’63. That record introduced me to a whole new world of realities and possibilities, introducing wrong-doing men and righteous heroes that fashioned my moral position, influenced my entire life.

Still the man keeps surprising us. I can only hope young folks are listening to this too. They need to see how far we’ve come, maybe arrest the blind ‘progress’ that leads us on to what seems like a thoroughly unwanted destiny.

So thank you Bob, and may you enjoy all your remaining time, and the effect you still have on us all.

http://www.leosayer.com

Noise11 on Instagram

You’ll discover music news first following Noise11 on Twitter

Comment on the news of the day, join Noise11 on Facebook

Noise11.com

Related Posts

The Beatles Australasian Tour 1964
New Beatles Book Marks 60 Years Since The Australian Tour

A new book on The Beatles by Andy Neill and Greg Armstrong is focused on The Beatles one and only ever Australian tour from back in 1964.

1 day ago
The Who Roger Daltrey. Photo by Ros O'Gorman
Roger Daltrey Closes Princes Trust 2024 Event With Plant, Vedder, Weller

Closing a week of incredible shows last night was Ovation - A Celebration of 24 Years of gigs for Teenage Cancer Trust, a show featuring Roger Daltrey’s friends and fans, many of those who helped establish these gigs as a celebrated annual event: Roger himself, alongside Kelly Jones, Robert Plant with Saving Grace, Eddie Vedder and Paul Weller.

4 days ago
Deep Purple: Photo By Ros O'Gorman
Deep Purple Reveal UK Dates For End of 2024

Deep Purple are hitting the road this November.

March 20, 2024
Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend, The Who. photo by Ros O'Gorman
Roger Daltrey To Do Most Acoustic Tour of UK

Roger Daltrey has announced a "mostly acoustic" solo tour this summer.

March 20, 2024
Crosby, Stills & Nash - Photo By Ros O'Gorman
Todd Rundgren, Rickie Lee Jones To Play Crosby, Stills & Nash Tribute Show In New York

A tribute show to Crosby, Stills & Nash is planned for May with Todd Rundgren and Rickie Lee Jones just two of the star lined up to perform.

March 18, 2024
Smokey Robinson, Noise11, Photo
Smokey Robinson Could Be In For Glastonbury

Smokey Robinson is being lined up for his first Glastonbury headline slot.

March 14, 2024
The Doors Alive
The Doors Alive To Return To Australia In October

Since 2008 The Doors Alive have been performing the music of The Doors with around 200 performances in 20 countries over that time.

March 12, 2024