Bob Dylan & Cat Stevens: Grumpy Old Men or Lions In Winter?

Bob Dylan and Yusuf, The Artist Formerly Known as Cat Stevens.

Both men. Both singer-songwriters. Both prominently featured on posters at the kids' table for my Bar Mitzvah in New Jersey, a lovely affair held during the Bronze Age.

What does it say that more than three decades later, these two surviving heroes of my youth are still singing and delivering the goods? That I am old? Clearly, but thankfully at least these two are both even older than me and arguably wiser.

So in their honor, I listened to Dylan's new Together Through Life and Yusuf's just released Roadsinger and dared to ask the big question: Are these just two grumpy old men or a couple of lions in winter?

To my ears, they are lions that can still roar mightily. Grumpy old men isn't the right phrase anyway for these two still fascinating fellows, even though Together Through Life opens with two songs called "Beyond Here Lies Nothin'" and "Life Is Hard," while Roadsinger features such titles as "World O' Darkness," "This Glass World" and "The Rain." Let's just call them both world-weary travelers who've been around the block -- or actual grown ups who know better?

I'm not remotely objective here. I am a lifelong fan of each man. I've also had the pleasure over the years of meeting both Bob & Cat -- not to be confused with Bob & Ray, another couple of guys who did well at radio.

Dylan's work means so very much to me that I gave his good, self-imposed name to my firstborn son. And the man himself seems pretty wonderful too -- Dylan once wrapped up some delicious room service cookies for me to bring home to my boys. Now that's the kind of spokesman for a generation I can really get behind. Between that act of generosity and Blood On The Tracks getting me through my first heartbreak and the fact that he made me want to be some kind of writer in the first place, I figure I owe the guy. So does anybody who ever tries to write a song.

Yusuf and I first met working on a special 2000 two-hour Behind The Music documentary about his unique spiritual and musical journey, and along the way I grew comfortable enough to ask him if I could use a picture of the two of us walking in the park together on my Hanukkah card -- probably not a request he gets a lot. I reminded Yusuf of that when the team from our show won the Muslim Public Policy Award in 2001, quite a year to take that honor.

Recently, I got to spend some more time with Yusuf when we filmed an episode of The Chris Isaak Hour for the Biography Channel -- you can see it again Thursday night if you missed it. Some people apparently can't forgive him for things he may or may not have done, but I choose embrace the man and the music that he is himself now re-embracing with grace and gusto. Yusuf performed old and new songs for us, and even sang his very first ever Cat Stevens hit "I Love My Dog" to Rodney, our show's canine sidekick -- a very sweet gesture, especially for a guy called Cat.

Listening now to new powerful albums by Bob Dylan and Yusuf makes me feel younger, and not simply because these two are older than I am. As world weary as their songs might get at times, the very decision for such men to write a new song and sing another night is -- in and of itself -- positive and life affirming to my ears. And so in some very strange way, I was so much older back at my Bar Mitzvah. I'm younger than that now.

Comments

[Michelle Warner]

I was also raised on Bob Dylan and got to know Ani Defranco through him. I think so much of the arguement around old lions is that they give us culture that we won't have forever. I've had continued respect for artists/bands that maintain their style and don't compromise themselves. you probably can't please everyone all the time.With that said, Cat Stevens let me down a great deal.When I was a sad teenager, I listened to his music in the art room at school. He really lifted me up. I can't say I can forgive the path he took with his life. He was a hero of sorts.

[Stu Innyc]

hey david
did you notice that Jesse Dylan took the photos on the Yusuf album? that's why allmusic.com is so helpful...

stu in nyc

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

I did Stu, and I heard from a friend that Jesse -- who is very talented in his own right -- has directed a video for "Boots & Sand" -- Yusuf's song about his run-in getting into this country.

Interestingly, when we had him on "The Chris Isaak Hour," he was backed by one of Ricky Nelson's sons. But as far as I know, he is not doing a special version of "Father & Son" with Frank Sinatra Jr. ut we can always hope!

[thebirdstheword]

gotta say i'm pretty bummed that a comment i made yesterday didn't make it through the huffpost censors.

i merely questioned why dylan would appear to absolve bush/cheney in the new RS as nothing more than victims of history. and that the reason that bush is unpopular is that people are fickle.

also, the fact that dylan seems to trash his contemporaries, or at least give them backhanded compliments, like he did with johnny cash in the same RS.

i wasn't rude or obnoxious. i even complimented david on his articles. i'm just a little confused as to why someone as admired as dylan can say such things in a publication as big as RS and there is absolutely no discussion. it's like it's being swept under the rug.

guess i'll see if this gets posted??????

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

Bird, bird, bird thebirdstheword,
I am glad your words got through this time.
I am ashamed that I have not read the whole interview yet, but now I definitely will this weekend.
Without having read that, my guess is Dylan always like sticking up for the underdog and sometimes just be contrary to prevailing, blowin' winds.
But I WILL read it now.

Thanks

[thebirdstheword]

thanks, david. i appreciate that you take the time to respond to your commenters.

[JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin]

My favorite Dylan albums...

Bringing It All Back Home
Slow Train Coming
Street Legal (extremely underrated gem)
Time Out of Mind
Infidels

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

Street Legal -- the Dylan album I listen to the most probably -- fantastically muddy recording too
One of my first concerts ever was Dylan at Madison Square Garden from the worst seat in the house. The strung out dude next to me kept screaming out, "ZAPPA!"

[JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin]

You'd be surprised at how many Dylan fans LOVE Street Legal. Check out the reviews on amazon, most are very positive, and with good reason.

The critics despised the album back when it was released. Their loss.

The newest CD edition cleaned up the recording quite a bit, which was muddy when first released.

The guy shouting out "Zappa" probably went to the wrong show by mistake. He was too strung out to notice until he saw Bob on the stage.

Did you ever hear Zappa's song "Flakes" where Adrian Belew does a Dylan impression? It's actually really good.

I never saw Zappa live. I wish I had.

I've seen Dylan four times. Each concert has gotten better than the last one. He's phenomenal in concert.

[FilthyHarry]

Dylan... Yeah Dylan. Remember when I made the move from his folk to his rock. Wow. I thought his folk was brilliant, but his 'political' statements were nothing compared to his musical statements.

I know some people just can't get past his voice, so I don't even try to convince those people how great Dylan is. What I do tell them is "If you like pop or rock music, chances are who ever it is you do like, worships Dylan. His influence is incalculable. The number of artists inspired to pick up an instrument, sing or set pen to paper due Dylan is shockingly high.

Cat Stevens... Yeah, Cat... Great artist, great, really great musician... Unfortunately the move from "Peace Train" to "He must be killed" was just a bit too jarring for me so I walked away. Lesson: Don't learn about the artists whose art you like. It just not worth it.

[JDM73]

I'm a big Dylan fan and, while I haven't picked up his new album yet, I still wear out "The Times They Are A-Changin'", "John Wesley Harding", and "Blood on the Tracks" on a regular basis. Thanks for sharing the cookie story, David...it brought a smile to my face.

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

The first Dylan I heard was "The Times They Are Changing" on 8-Track tape. Even in low fidelity, it blew my little mind

[JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin]

It still blows people's minds. It's a great song that hasn't aged at all, like most of Dylan's work.

[JDM73]

'One Too Many Mornings' always gets to me. Brilliant ballad!

[JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin]

David,

I like your post, but the title gives the erroneous, unintentionally snarky impression that you're dissing Dylan and Stevens, which you obviously aren't.

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank you Janeane for reading it and for making a fair point.
In retrospect (from yesterday), I too realized that was too wiseass a title. In my defense, I make it a policy to spend no more than five minutes on these pieces of citizen journalism, so it was my first dumb idea.
Interestingly, I heard directly today that one of the gentleman absolutely loved the piece -- snarky headline and all -- so it's clearly a matter of taste.
Still, sorry for the extra serving of snark.
And if you haven't yet, please check out Yusuf on "The Chris Isaak Hour" -- I'm very proud to have worked on it.

[JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin]

Don't worry about it. I'll cut some slack for any Dylan and Stevens fan.

Now back to Peter Brotzmann....

[saami]

I love both Dylan's and Cat Steven's music and am in debt to them for providing me such wisdom in song and such pleasure. They are Lions in the WInter and long may they roar.

[poomplet]

I always enjoyed Cat's music, and I like how he's come out of hiding & making good music again.

But David...please...don't play the fawning apologist/enabler by glossing over his reprehensible support of the Rushdie fatwa with a casual "..things he may or may not have done".

He called for & supported executing a freaking writer ....clearly & repeatedly, verifiable on numerous video & audio recordings. I read up on his statements, which frankly infurate me more now than ever, given Yusuf's rather pathetic attempts to backpedal from & deny he made those statements. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_Stevens%27_comments_about_Salman_Rushdie

For a man of faith, his lack of contrition & remorse...his refusal to say "I'm sorry, I was a bit loopy back then", is rather shocking.

I do not respect the man, but I enjoy his work. This is not unique or odd; Jews & gentiles alike strike similar bargains w/the works of Wagner, Pound, and other anti-Semetic artists. I know that being in the biz, and working on Chris's show (which I haven't missed yet!), makes this a bit tricky for you, but any discussion of this man merits a stern look at his extremist past.

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

Please know I appreciate what you're saying, and please know that I wrestled with those issues years ago, but in the end, as a not particularly religious man, I put his failings here down to being human and experiencing the zeal of the convert. I agree he made a dangerous mistake, and in my own discussions with him, he has not disputed that. But from my point of view, thank God Rushdie is alive and well, and at a certain point, I'm going to live and let live.

And yes, thanks for watching the show too.

[KickerBoard]

I acknowledge what you say - but he has also backtracked from that. At the time, I was very disappointed - but have also heard him enough since then to know that he regrets it enough for me to cut him a break. Thank heavens Rushdie is alive. No-one should be killed over their ideas. Ol's Cat / Yusuf made a mistake. Allow him to move on.

[Fabini]

We are about the same age and have the same appreciation, although Bob never ordered me cookies. As we baby-boomers age the "youth culture" ages with us and the talent remains. Nothing wrong with old guys or gals.

-
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1441482474/

[alex343]

Cat Steven's is one of the most underrated artist of our time. Unfortunately, at least since John Belushi smashed Stephen Bishop's guitar in "Animal House," the singer-songwriter of the Cat Stevens/James Taylor/John Denver variety has been viewed as very uncool, worthy of derision in popular culture, even seen as a punchline at times.

To want to be "cool" and of Generation X, you almost have to be in the closet about enjoying Cat Stevens. In fact, I had a girlfriend who would hide her Cat Stevens CDs when people visited.

But seen objectively, this genre deserves far more respect than it gets, and no one deserves more respect for his artistry than Stevens.

Thanks David for playing a role in his rehabilitation.

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

Wow alex343, I am genuinely moved by what you said there. I was raised on Bob Dylan, and all the supposed "New Dylans," as well as other great singer-songwriters including all those you mentioned and my childhood hero Neil Diamond too -- who I recently wrote a whole book paying tribute too. And yet you just made me realize that in everything I do, I am trying to get more credit for the fundamental power of what one man -- or woman, like Carole King or Carly Simon -- can do when they sit with a guitar and piano and write a new song.

Thanks so much.

[Gene Lisa]

Why would anyone with functioning ears care in the least about either one of these mediocrities?

[oldschoololdsoul]

How can you call living legends mediocrities? Oh, I forgot, no star from GenX, Y or Z is worth a scrap of flesh from the corpse of Elvis, Sinatra or a dead Beatle. So you're venting. Carry on.

[alexa07]

I was recently reminded of how great (greater than?) music used to be when my cinema club viewed Peter Bogdanovich's classic film "They All laughed" circa 1980 with Colleen Camp's rendition of country music (Johnny Cash band) of that era. I forgot how great country music used to be before the patriots took over. Now I know why I used to love it in the late 70s & early 80s, but rarely listen now.

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

Wow, rough room

[KickerBoard]

Thanks for a wonderful appreciation. I love both men and their work and you've just perfectly articulated why they are the treasures they are. It continues to vex me that Cat was treated so poorly when attempting to visit the US a few years ago. His music is the window to a complex, thoughtful soul - and it was saddening to see him so crassly reduced by a rotten piece of post-9-11 ethnic profiling.

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks KickerBoard. I'm glad to see him return to the world and try and promote a deeper understanding of the man and the music.

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

Wow, Gene Lisa, if these guys are both "mediocrities" what curve are you marking on?

[Solex]

Maybe Gene Lisa called them mediocrities because of the overexposure given to both men by Classic Rot format radio stations. Something to think about when you hear Gen Xers put down music of the past.

And David, you could stand to hear, and write about, some new music. Want to know where it is? Here's a place: http://www.exclaim.ca

Give it a read and a listen, and you'll find a new and exciting world beyond Dylan and Iman Islam.

[alexa07]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I enjoyed reading the article about your view of these two fabulous guys. The recent Chris Isaak show with Yusuf was great. It's good to know that they are still creating great music.

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank you so much alexa07.
Please tell your friends to watch The Chris Isaak Hour repeat with Yusuf on Thursday. It's a great way to get a closer look at the man and the music.

[alexa07]

David, I'm going to watch it again tonight! Chris has just the right atmosphere--he's right in my living room talking to Yusuf. Very relaxed & I learned a lot about Cat's life with his family & his reasons for coming back to his fans!

[RevBookburn]

Both ran out of steam decades ago. Once people become superstars, they can release virtually anything and people will buy it. Rev. Bookburn - Radio Volta

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

Wow, ran out of steam?
So the last four Dylan record were chopped liver.
And Cat Stevens didn't fade away -- he quit for a few decades to explore his Islamic faith, and I for one think he's come back very strong. But thanks for taking your position.

[Solex]

He's got a point-all Dylan ever seems to do is just mumble whenever I hear him sing. As for Yusef, he threw away a good career because he almost drowned, and thought that God 'saved' him.-something that's supposed to be profound, but really is just the visions of a hypochondriac. Not to mention typical behavior for a born-again.