There isn’t too much footage of Dylan in the studio floating around, but this clip from his 1969 sessions with Johnny Cash will more than suffice. In addition to the undeniable chemistry these two legends clearly shared, it’s worth noting that you could pinpoint the era by simply hearing a few seconds of Dylan’s silky smooth Nashville Skyline voice.
You may have caught this clip before if you’re among the 12 million YouTube streamers to give it a spin to date, but I can’t resist pointing out a priceless moment from Charlie Watts at :50-57.
See also: Watts listens to playback of “Wild Horses” (2-minute mark).
Given my longtime obsession with both Neil Young and Motown, I’d be remiss in not sharing this old gem (for posterity, at least): Rick “Super Freak” James with the 1965 Rolling Stones-inspired group Mynah Birds, a band signed to Motown that featured Young at just 20 years old — before he broke through in the U.S. with Buffalo Springfield a year or so later. There’s plenty of info about the unlikely Young-James connection here, but this is my favorite bit:
“Those lucky enough to see any of the band’s few gigs say they were electrifying. Neil would stop playing lead, do a harp solo, throw the harmonica way up in the air and Ricky would catch it and continue the solo.”
Nobody’s safe from a wonderfully awkward interview with Nick Cave, not even the 27-year-old Smashing Pumpkins leader at a stop along the Lollapalooza ‘94 tour.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjJuxMHvwr8
In which Frank Sinatra bangs out a classic 1965 performance in just one take, live in the studio with an orchestra. Note the way he works the microphone, quickly turning his head to avoid plosives on certain consonants. Watching Ol’ Blue Eyes enjoy the playback is pretty priceless, too.
http://youtu.be/gqMvkqKBmq0
Of all the early Cure clips available online, this performance on French television in 1979 is my favorite, as it not only captures the beginnings of what would become the iconic English band’s signature ’80s goth-rock sound, but it shows how little has changed in Robert Smith’s voice and delivery since he was just 20 years old. The only thing he left behind, it seems, are those bright pink hot pants.