What a (Theme) Time

This past week, Bob Dylan won a Pulitzer and had a profile about his Theme Time Radio Hour in Vanity Fair. What a week!

Well, I doubt he cares about the Pulitzer (and frankly, neither do I), but the article in Vanity is an impressive account of how many times Dylan has played certain artists on his radio show (George Jones leads the pack with nine, while Tom Waits has eight), and the lessons learned if you listen to the show, like How to Hang Drywall.

The article also has some of Dylan's best Theme Time quotes, including:

“All of our shows are for truckers, if not about truckers.”

“The harmonica is the world’s best-selling musical instrument. You’re welcome.”

Re: Howlin’ Wolf, “This next song is entirely without flaw and meets all the supreme standards of excellence.”

“I always liked songs with parentheses in the title.”

Re: Leadbelly, “One of the few ex-cons who recorded a popular children’s album.”

“John Lee...one of those guys that always sounds better without a band. Thirteen bars here, eleven bars there, nine there. Doesn’t matter to him. Nobody can do more with less than John Lee Hooker.”

“I don’t trust a man who doesn’t tear up a little watching Old Yeller.”

Thanks for those, Bob.