In praise of sparks
The liner notes to Bob Dylan's self-titled 1962 debut album included selections from an interview with the journalist Stacey Williams. Dylan spoke of his first steps in the music business and declared:
"I never thought I would shoot lightning through the sky in the entertainment world"
Almost half-a-century later we know that Dylan went on to literally electrify the night sky of modern music, sparking the synapses of a generation with lyrics that seared between heaven and earth.
The songwriter's gift to do this draws on the vision of poets to touch the nerves of humanity through incisive observation. Dylan was, and is, unique - but there are thousands of artists contributing to that great body of static that delivers insight to the world. I guess my own favourites would include Dylan first and foremost, then Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen and Nick Drake, followed (in no particular order) by artists such as Neil Young, John Martyn, Emiliana Torrini, Michael Chapman, Rickie Lee Jones, Dar Williams, Suzanne Vega, Shawn Colvin, Sophie Zelmani, Kathryn Williams, Abra Moore, Stina Nordenstam, Laura Cantrell, Patty Larkin, Gillian Welch, Roy Harper, Karine Polwart, Martha Wainwright, Kate Rusby, Ane Brun, Laura Veirs, Rosie Thomas, Tina Dico, etc ...
by invitation only
