Sign on the Window isn't the Bob Dylan podcast you need, but it's definitely the one that you want! Each week we select a Dylan song at random, live with the song for a week (or two) and then get together to discuss. This week take a trip back to St. Patrick's Day with our FIRST EVER GUEST as we talk "Baby, I'm in the Mood For You."
Officially a crowd, welcome Kindra to talk the song (6:00), the versions we listened to (10:00), mood, and a bit of Suze (19:00). We talk recommendations and pick our next episode.
Next week: There's a house in New Orleans...
The first of our now annual St. Patrick's Day episodes — and our first with a guest, our great friend Kindra. We open saying hello, taking a few shots, talking about our last few St. Patrick's Days together (and apart) and welcome her to the show!
CONTEXT (6:00)
Dylan recorded this song in 4 takes on July 9, 1962 (along with two songs that would make Freewheelin' — "Down the Highway" and "Bob Dylans' Blues" — and a fellow future outtake "Quit Your Lowdown Ways"). Take 3 was released on Biograph.
Four days later, he'd sign with Witmark publishing. In December of 1962, he'd make this one of the songs he'd demo for the company (released in TBLS Vol. 9: Witmark Demos).
From the liner notes in Biograph, Dylan states*:*
Probably influenced by Jesse Fuller. I'd done a few of his songs. San Francisco Bay and some others, this was more'n likely my version of the thing.
As to who Dylan is in the mood for? In a letter to absent Suze (who left for Italy in June), notes alludes that this song
is for you but I don't mention your name
Versions (10:00)
We listened to the 1962 studio version, as well as his December Witmark demo.
In addition, we discussed Odetta's version from her 1965 Odetta Sings Dylan and, more recently, Miley Cyrus' excellent cover with the Roots on Jimmy Fallon in 2016.
SONG ITSELF (19:00)
Everyone proved quite taken by the song, including Dylan's wild performance. Daniel discusses the direct links to "I Don't Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met)," "I Wanna Be Your Lover," and "If You Gotta Go, Go Now." Musically, the speed proved seductive and was a terrific blend of a variety of musical styles — as if everything within popular, folk, and blues music was in his head and all tumbling over each other to get out and be recorded.
In the end, our narrator is in the mood to do many things. He leaves, hears, hits the road, overfills, makes out, head for the walkin' hill, lay, climb, laugh, sleep, do nothin', fly like a cannonball, back against a wall, crawl, change my house, change this here town, change the world around.
DOES IT WORK TODAY? (34:00)
Absolutely. Miley proved it can be reworked to, perhaps, greater effect than Dylan's '62 cuts.
THE EPISODE’S BOOKLET & PLAYLIST
RECOMMENDATIONS
Kindra recommends Agaloch (who recently disbanded) and Kamala. She also watched Bohemian Rhapasady, A Star is Born and I, Tanya. If you wanna follow Kindra, Instagram is a great place to start — @kindromeda.
Kelly has been listening to Noname.
Daniel has been playing La Dispute's videogame for their upcoming PANORAMA — Pilgrimage, as well as the new singles "Daytime" and "Nighttime" from Fresh!
ENDINGS
There's 430 songs left. We changed things up a bit: random.org selected #98, "Lone Pilgrim." Kelly guessed #197, which would've been her favorite "You Angel You." Kindra selected our next track, #274, "House of the Risin' Sun." Thanks K!
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081 - "Baby I'm In The Mood For You"