Love Minus Zero/No Limit

This is probably my favorite Bob Dylan song. I can remember hearing it for the first time when my friend Tony Gauthier played it for me sometime back in 1974. Dylan is as good a topic as any to start a blog. I've seen him more than a dozen times in concert. Some of the shows were good, a few were part, but he's never boring.

I saw him for the first time in 1986 when he was touring with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. I caught two shows on that tour. Dylan was pretty disinterested during both shows. I hated the back up singers. Tom Petty simply kicked butt and I became a fan of his music because of his energy and outstanding catalog of tunes.

It really wasn't until Dylan started playing with Larry Campbell and Charlie Sexton that I thought he came out of whatever funk he suffered through. While his voice was shot the shows carried a lot more energy and his song choices were certainly interesting. The albums of original music starting with Time Out of Mind running through today are simply incredible. What singer/songwriter can claim such longevity?

The one I didn't get to see is one I remember. It was 1975 and Steve Riley wanted me to take a road trip with him to Massachusetts to see Rolling Thunder. My mother turned thumbs down and I was too chicken to make the journey so it was an easy cop out. Steve went and witnessed history. That offer from Steve marked the beginning of a long friendship. It's one that I will always treasure.

Steve and I have made an effort to stay in touch, much like Tony Gauthier has, though the years. It's the friendships that I've let slip away that gnaw on me. Unfortunately I've moved around a lot and lost and let go of people that I care about. My cousins Bob and Nancy Fields come to mind. One of my all time favorites Mike Carothers and his father Jim were very important to me as is Walt Riker. It pains me that I let these were important people in my life slip away. I think about them but we just don't stay in touch. Some others I've managed to reconnect with thanks to the Internet.

Seeing blogs by my friend Lew Jetton, who is a heck of a blues guitarist, singer, songwriter, and an old DJ Randy Raley, our paths crossed back in the good old days of Kansas City radio and television, inspired me. Plus writing has been a major part of my life.

I hope I a few of these folks find this blog. I also hope that I can provide a little entertainment for my friends and family with my ramblings. Enjoy!
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