Spanish Harlem Incident

"Spanish Harlem Incident"
Song by Bob Dylan from the album Another Side of Bob Dylan
Released August 8, 1964
Recorded June 9, 1964
Length 2:23
Label Columbia Records
Writer Bob Dylan
Composer Bob Dylan
Producer Tom Wilson
Cover versions
The Byrds, Dion
Another Side of Bob Dylan track listing
"Spanish Harlem Incident"
album track by The Byrds from the album Mr. Tambourine Man
Released June 21, 1965
Recorded April 14, 1965, Columbia Studios, Hollywood, CA
Genre Folk rock
Length 1:57
Label Columbia
Writer Bob Dylan
Producer Terry Melcher
Mr. Tambourine Man track listing
  1. "Mr. Tambourine Man"
  2. "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better"
  3. "Spanish Harlem Incident"
  4. "You Won't Have to Cry"
  5. "Here Without You"
  6. "The Bells of Rhymney"
  7. "All I Really Want to Do"
  8. "I Knew I'd Want You"
  9. "It's No Use"
  10. "Don't Doubt Yourself, Babe"
  11. "Chimes of Freedom"
  12. "We'll Meet Again"

"Spanish Harlem Incident" is a song written and performed by Bob Dylan which was released on his 1964 album, Another Side of Bob Dylan, on August 8 (see 1964 in music).[1] The song has been described as "a gorgeous vignette" by critics and been praised for its multilayered, poetic dimensions.[2][3] When Dylan himself has been questioned about the song's subject matter he has confessed that he has no idea.[4] However, author Paul Williams describes the song as a portrait of a gypsy girl that Dylan has seen only fleetingly but who has completely captivated him.[2] Williams goes on to say that within the context of the song, Dylan is falling in love with not only the gypsy girl but also with the whole idea of gypsies and of himself in love with one.[2]

Music critic Tim Riley writes that "'Spanish Harlem Incident' is a new romance that pretends to be short and sweet, but it's an example of how Dylan begins using uncommon word couplings to evoke the mysteries of intimacy...her 'rattling drums' plays off his 'restless palms'; her 'pearly eyes' and 'flashing diamond teeth' off his 'pale face.'"[5] Dylan only ever performed the song in live concerts during the period immediately following the release of the Another Side of Bob Dylan album in 1964.[4]

The song was covered by The Byrds on their 1965 debut album, Mr. Tambourine Man, and had first been performed by the band during their pre-fame residency at Ciro's nightclub in West Hollywood, California.[6] The song was one of four Dylan covers to appear on their debut album. After its appearance on the Mr. Tambourine Man album, The Byrds performed the song infrequently at live concerts.[6]

"Spanish Harlem Incident" was also covered by Dion on his 1978 Return of the Wanderer album.[4] Chris Whitley covered the song (as well as Dylan's "4th Time Around") on Perfect Day in 2000.[7] In 2006, a live cover of the song by Silkworm was featured on their final EP "Choke!", featuring posthumous vocals from drummer Michael Dahlquist.[8] In addition, The Burden of Paradise, a band in which Snake Davis plays, covered the song on their 2008 album, Things That Sting.

References

  1. ↑ Trager, Oliver. (2004). Keys to the Rain: The Definitive Bob Dylan Encyclopedia. Billboard Books. ISBN 0-8230-7974-0.
  2. 1 2 3 Williams, Paul. (1990). Performing Artist: Book One 1960 - 1973. Xanadu Publications Ltd. p. 114. ISBN 1-85480-044-2.
  3. ↑ Grey, Michael. (2000). Song & Dance Man III: The Art of Bob Dylan. Continuum International Publishing Group. ISBN 0-304-70762-7.
  4. 1 2 3 "Spanish harlem Incident review". Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-03-01.
  5. ↑ Riley, Tim. (1992). Hard Rain: A Dylan Commentary. Knopf/Vintage Books USA. p. 87. ISBN 0-679-74527-0.
  6. 1 2 Rogan, Johnny. (1998). The Byrds: Timeless Flight Revisited (2nd ed.). Rogan House. pp. 83–87. ISBN 0-9529540-1-X.
  7. ↑ "Perfect Day review". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
  8. ↑ "Chokes! Review". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2010-09-23.

External links

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