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Michael Gray @michaelgray1.bsky.social · 16h

I am: because most of it will be takes I've not heard (or not heard in good audio quality) before, and mostly taken from his toweringly good early phases, when every sound & breath came out exactly how he intended, with none of the later live slurring, showbiz contamination or weary posturing.

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Reposted by Michael Gray

David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 1d

The Holy, Beat, and Crazy Next Thing. A signed Jack Kerouac episode from On The Road, written in London, was found in the estate sale of a 40-year dead, murdered mafia boss. You couldn't make it up (and Kerouac didn't, he only changed the names). Here's page one. www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...

First page of 'The Holy, Beat, and Crazy Next Thing' by Jack Kerouac, the whole things is yours for six grand or so.

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Michael Gray @michaelgray1.bsky.social · 1d

Clearly a tad less marvellous than the originally released version, except for a beautiful, distinctively light-hearted (perhaps, in context, philosophically light-hearted) harp solo in the middle:

Dag B @dagb.bsky.social · 1d

One we haven't heard before. www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EF8...

Boots of Spanish Leather (The Times They Are A-Changin' Alternate Take, NYC, 1963)

YouTube video by Bob Dylan - Topic

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Michael Gray

Keith W. Dickinson @keithwdickinson.bsky.social · 3d

Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.

The Verge @theverge.com · May 26

Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry

Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.

buff.ly

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Michael Gray @michaelgray1.bsky.social · 4d

Not everyone on X is part of the cesspool; nor, given that it's a near monopoly, does using it mean endorsing it any more than having a US passport means endorsing Trump. And for those not part of the cesspit, X works. I have small numbers of Followers everywhere but - on here, 431; on X, 3,473.

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Michael Gray @michaelgray1.bsky.social · 4d

It also seems to be run on a shoestring: far slower to load, far more prone to malfunction. It's just feeble. Pity, but it is.

Michael Gray @michaelgray1.bsky.social · 4d

But this place is a void. I'm only on social media because as a freelance writer & speaker I need to promote my work. I'm on none of it out of fondness for the medium. But look: when I posted recently about my Sept 26 gig in Ireland, I had a good response there & Fbook, and almost zero here.

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Reposted by Michael Gray

Anne Margaret Daniel 🌻 @annemargaretdaniel.bsky.social · 13d

Meet seven month old puppy Dandelion. She's been suffering at NYC ACC for days. They could have sent this little dog to one of many New York City area vets who offer care to shelter animals for free or at a huge discount. Please get her out of there today.

Adopt, foster, rescue her.
Please repost 🙏

Beautiful seven month old girl puppy, Dandelion, in need of medical help at the New York City Manhattan Animal Care Center

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Michael Gray @michaelgray1.bsky.social · 16d

TOMORROW NIGHT!
Friday Sept 26, 8pm
The Séamus Ennis Centre, Naul, Dublin:
tseac.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/...

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Michael Gray @michaelgray1.bsky.social · 17d

That's the one.

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Michael Gray @michaelgray1.bsky.social · 18d

I've heard it. It's good but this version first emerged when he had guest guitarist Billy Strings play on it with him earlier in the year. THAT is the one. The Farm Aid version is a far paler echo.

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Michael Gray @michaelgray1.bsky.social · 20d

Unutterably horrible version of 'To Ramona'.

Michael Gray @michaelgray1.bsky.social · 20d

This Friday - September 26, 8pm at Naul, Dublin:
tseac.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/...

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Michael Gray @michaelgray1.bsky.social · 29d

I shall try to confront this challenging question, explore its complexity and also play a robust selection of Dylan's music, including on video.

tseac.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/...

Ticketbooth

tseac.ticketsolve.com

Michael Gray @michaelgray1.bsky.social · 29d

Bob Dylan, 84 and still performing, became a star over 60 years ago, and the recent biopic 'A Complete Unknown' ends its story of his life in 1965!

Can Dylan now be anything but a historical figure for those who are young today? Or is his influence everywhere, whether people know it or not?

Ticketbooth

tseac.ticketsolve.com

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Michael Gray @michaelgray1.bsky.social · 29d

Two weeks today, just outside Dublin, Ireland. Why not come over?

IS BOB DYLAN NOW HISTORY?
IS BOB DYLAN NOW HISTORY?
IS BOB DYLAN NOW HISTORY?

I'm returning to The Séamus Ennis Arts Centre stage, to give this new talk with audio & footage:

tseac.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/...

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Michael Gray @michaelgray1.bsky.social · Sep 10

Never liked it. Never play it.

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Michael Gray @michaelgray1.bsky.social · Sep 10

Queasy.

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Michael Gray @michaelgray1.bsky.social · Sep 8

Thank you to you and Atlantic Magazine. Two of my books have been used. I have now submitted my claim.

Michael Gray @michaelgray1.bsky.social · Sep 4

This Murray quote is taken from Sarah Ogilvie's book "The Dictionary People: The unsung heroses who created the Oxford English Dictionary" (2023).

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Michael Gray @michaelgray1.bsky.social · Sep 4

There are parallels between Robert Browning & Dylan in my books, but today I found a parallel in their attitude to questions about their work. OED editor James Murray: "I believe Browning once answered a request for explanation of a passage with "I really do not know: ask the Browning Society."

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Reposted by Michael Gray

Route @routebooks.bsky.social · Aug 31

Final weekend of our summer sale. Use the voucher code SUMMER25 at checkout to get 25% off Bob Dylan titles:

A Route To Bob Dylan

www.route-online.com

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Reposted by Michael Gray

Route @routebooks.bsky.social · Aug 30

Final weekend of our summer sale. Use the voucher code SUMMER25 at checkout to get 25% off. www.route-online.com/all-books/ca...

Manchester Music Books

YouTube video by Route

www.youtube.com

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Michael Gray @michaelgray1.bsky.social · Aug 26

And all these years later, I too am still around - and giving a talk (with Dylan tracks) at the Seamus Ennis Arts Centre at Naul, Dublin, on Friday Sept 26: Details and tickets now on sale:
tseac.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/...

Ticketbooth

tseac.ticketsolve.com

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Michael Gray @michaelgray1.bsky.social · Aug 26

Published in Japan 52 years ago yesterday:

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