AARP, is the unlikely forum – (perhaps not so unlikely – its magazine is sent to every AARP member, and thus is the largest circulation magazine in America) – that Bob Dylan chose back in 2015 for his first-for-a-long-time in-depth extended interview. He appears in its pages once again in the current October/November issue – “Treasures From the Bob Dylan Vault – See Exclusive Photos Artifacts” (an exclusive review/preview of The Bob Dylan Center‘s “Mixing Up The Medicine“, written and edited by Mark Davidson and Parker Fishel – (“the first wide-angled look at the Dylan archive”, its publishers declare it), 608 pages, official release date October 24
“The centerpiece”, the publishers explain, is a carefully curated selection of over 600 images including never-before-circulated draft lyrics, writings, photographs, drawings and other ephemera from the Dylan archive.
With an introductory essay by Sean Wilentz and epilogue by Douglas Brinkley, the book features a surprising range of distinguished writers, artists and musicians, including Joy Harjo, Greil Marcus, Michael Ondaatje, Gregory Pardlo, Amanda Petrusich, Tom Piazza, Lee Ranaldo, Alex Ross, Ed Ruscha, Lucy Sante, Greg Tate and many others. After experiencing the collection firsthand in Tulsa, each of the authors was asked to select a single item that beguiled or inspired them. The resulting essays, written specifically for this volume, shed new light on not only Dylan’s creative process, but also their own.”
See also (for more about the book) – here
Among AARP’s advanced gleanings. This little note to Bob from Allen, dated July 9, 1969, from Cherry Valley:
Dear Bob, Enclosed a pamphlet worth reading and memorable, whatever your or one’s first reaction, by Diane Di Prima.
I am almost finished recording the twenty or more melodies to Blake’s Songs of Innocence and Experience that I have been working on now for a full year as of this august. I couldn’t manage to deal with the business men in time & so financed the production myself, and learned studio manners and means as I went along. Despite my naievete, the music itself may be good. The worst thing is my own voice, half the time strained and worried. But half the record is archetypal eternal tunes adequately rendered. I wonder what you’ll make of it.
Enclosed also a little book from England Good luck. As ever – faithfully in Poesy
– Allen
p.s. I’m beginning to appreciate the difficulties and solitude of your recording work
Im glad I witnessed this tailor of words and song
I was born in 1955