WAR DECLARED AT THEME TIME

Dear Readers,

Bob came up with a pretty explosive theme this week: War. For once,"Night Time in The Big City" became "Fight Time in The Big City" as Dylan found a 'conflicting' mix of tunes. March along to tracks like "Fightin' In The War With Spain" and "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" for bummer reminders of the folly of conflict. Also included are some songs that weren't exactly 'number one with a bullet', but recall the greatness of somewhat forgotten artists like Joe Tex, The Bailes Brothers and Wilmer Watts & The Lonely Eagles.
What a blast it was to hear again Bob Marley & The Wailers doing 'Buffalo Soldiers' with Dylan filling in the song's backstory. Tom Waits nails the despair of the young soldier in Day After Tomorrow' and the great Freida Payne gives us 'Bring The Boys Back Home', a song that has clearly come back into fashion. Another track from (I kid you not) a rock 'n roll version of 'Othello' has Jerry Lee Lewis musically demanding to 'Let A Soldier Drink'. What must 'The Killer' have looked like in doublet and hose?
Bob keeps up the attack for over 90 minutes (as opposed to the usual 60) but brings the show to a successful outcome with Los Lobos' 'Peace'. Interestingly, he shows considerable modesty by leaving out 'Masters Of War' and 'Talking World War III Blues', but displays his wicked sense of humor by adding in 'The Cold War With You' by Floyd Tillman (Whaaat?).